Free Web NovelChapter 25: Complete Ritual
“Soul, return. Soul, return...”
At the silent hour of the rat, the mournful cries echoed endlessly through the darkness.
The maid was an interesting one. At first, she trembled with fear, but as she kept calling, she gradually grew used to it. The fear faded, and memories of how well the mistress had treated her before falling unconscious welled up in her heart.
Her voice began to carry sobs, sending chills down the spines of many servants.
Wang Daoxuan’s expression was grave. He lit several small oil lamps one by one, placing them from the courtyard gate all the way to the mistress’s abode, finally setting one at the head of the unconscious woman.
Li Yan stood nearby, observing silently, not daring to interrupt the process. The two of them had already reached an agreement.
Wang Daoxuan would help him with the visualization method and building the temple in his mind, while Li Yan would temporarily partner with him, using his spiritual sense to assist the Daoist in taking on larger commissions. Wang Daoxuan would earn silver and escape his current predicament. In return, Li Yan would learn the intricacies of the mystic path.
Though the practices of the mystic path seemed complex, they actually followed a structured framework. In ancient times, disasters were frequent and malevolent entities roamed freely. Faced with the unknown, people began observing patterns.
They saw lightning strike trees and discovered fire. They observed the cycles of the seasons and stars and created calendars. The mystic path was the same, just a little more mysterious. However, it was ultimately about understanding patterns to deal with phenomena beyond ordinary perception.
It could be summarized in three steps: omen, taboo, and resolution.
Omen referred to deducing the root cause based on observable phenomena and information gathered through their divine ability. Various forms of divination arose from that step.
Taboo referred to the nature of the event, with two approaches to dealing with it. One was to obey the taboos and avoid disaster altogether. For example, not whistling at midnight. It was fine for most people, but those with a tongue-based spiritual sense or those in places heavy with yin killing qi might attract sinister entities. Another example was not pointing at divine statues, not turning back when someone called at night, and the many rules surrounding weddings and funerals.
Over time, these had become widely accepted taboos. As long as they weren’t violated, calamity could often be avoided. But if avoidance failed, then resolution was required. This came in the form of rituals that would resolve the issue.
These three steps formed the foundation of all techniques of the mystic path. Wang Daoxuan’s earlier act of burning the hair into ash had been a simple form of divination. It determined the location of the living soul, allowing for the summoning.
The next step, after the soul returned, was to perform rituals and chant calming scriptures so it would no longer leave the body. Wang Daoxuan had a small yin soldier that could have easily located the soul, but he feared frightening it into dispersal, which would be akin to killing the person. So he had chosen the gentler method.
Li Yan’s role was to rely on his sense of smell to detect the soul’s movements and alert Wang Daoxuan, ensuring the timing for stabilizing the soul wasn’t missed.
Among the six yang root senses, each had its strengths. The most direct was the yin yang eye, which could see spirits. Geomancers with that ability could observe qi from high vantage points, while exorcists could more accurately target evil entities.
The most mysterious was the mind root. Shamans and spirit mediums could communicate with spirits from within their homes. But when it came to tracking those entities, nothing surpassed the nose root. A powerful practitioner could inhale once and detect abnormalities within miles, sharper than any hound.
When the ritual started, Li Yan felt somewhat annoyed. With the Lu estate cleared of idle people, he used the pretense of exorcism to wander the entire compound, carrying a willow branch. Yet he could not detect the sweet scent from that night.
What exactly is that treasure? Could it be hidden in Master Lu’s treasury?
As he pondered, movement came from afar. The maid stood on the roof, waving the soul-summoning banner, calling out continuously. After half an hour, her throat had grown hoarse.
With fear gone, doubt crept in.
Had the master hired a fraud?
Just then, a gust of cold wind swept past her. She suddenly felt a chill on her back, as if something had appeared behind her. The sensation was unmistakable.
Her hair stood on end, goosebumps covering her skin. Terror rose within her, and she almost screamed, but remembering Wang Daoxuan’s instructions, she shut her eyes and continued calling out with a trembling voice.
In the stillness of night, the shift in her tone immediately caught the attention of the two men in the courtyard. Li Yan took a deep breath and faintly caught a scent. It was cold, but unlike the blood-tainted chill of the Cold Altar Soldier.
He nodded to Wang Daoxuan and whispered, “It’s here!”
Wang Daoxuan immediately picked up a bowl of water from the altar, chanting as he stepped forward, then back, and finally to the side in measured movements.
Li Yan watched intently without blinking. This was called the Astral Step. It was paired with incantations and the altar to perform techniques of the mystic path. Each lineage had its own variations, some more advanced than others. According to Wang Daoxuan, masters could step in alignment with celestial constellations, channeling xiantian astral qi to wield their arts.
It sounded almost mythical.
As Wang Daoxuan worked, Li Yan sensed something different. A special presence was forming around the altar, carrying a faint warmth, enveloping it as a whole.
Astral qi!
Li Yan immediately understood. Wang Daoxuan, who was fully immersed in the ritual, lifted the bowl, chanted, took a mouthful of water, and sprayed it into the air. The mist scattered, falling upon the wooden fish. As if water stirred by wind, the altar’s qi began to circulate around it once the mist arrived.
Setting the bowl aside, Wang Daoxuan struck the wooden fish.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The sound echoed through the night, bringing an inexplicable sense of calm. Li Yan could sense the qi expanding outward with each strike. The maid felt as though she had been granted amnesty. She stopped calling, clutching the banner as she shakily climbed down from the roof.
Though a ladder had been set up, her nerves made her weak and unsteady.
With a thud, she slipped halfway down and fell. Fortunately, she was quick-witted. Though her backside now ached, she kept the banner raised high and unharmed. She scrambled to her feet, too frightened to brush off the dirt. She ran toward the back courtyard with tears in her eyes.
Thankfully, no voice called out to her from behind. freёwebnovel.com
The courtyard was dark, but guided by dim moonlight and familiarity with the layout, she quickly arrived. Seeing the lamps Wang Daoxuan had prepared, she finally relaxed, feeling as though she had reached the end of a perilous path.
At the same time, Wang Daoxuan and Li Yan both held their breath. On top of the banner the maid held stood a figure.
In the Central Plains, temple fairs featured a custom known as “carrying the doll.” A man would stand below wearing a metal frame, while children stood above, dressed as deities or historical figures, moving with the procession. It was a form of ritual entertainment.
What they saw now was eerily similar. But instead of a child, the figure atop the banner was an old woman dressed in black, exuding yin energy. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes hollow and dark. It was an utterly chilling sight.
A living soul seen with the naked eye was truly astonishing news.
The maid, having just relaxed, noticed the men’s expressions and sensed something wrong. Too afraid to look, she trembled and stammered, “D-Daoist...”
“Don’t be afraid!” Though he didn’t know why this was happening, Wang Daoxuan knew there could be no mistakes now.
A living soul was like a timid rabbit. It would instinctively hide if startled. By day, it lurked in cracks beneath the earth, yet remained attached to its body, appearing only at certain times. If startled, it would vanish instantly, fleeing into the wilderness and be nearly impossible to find again. If it scattered, the madam would die.
Wang Daoxuan spoke slowly and softly. “It’s alright. Don’t be afraid. Walk back inside slowly. Don’t extinguish the guiding lamps.”
“Okay.” The maid nodded, trembling as she walked toward the room with the banner.
The mistress’s soul atop it grew heavier with yin energy. The guiding lamps flickered violently when they passed, as though they might go out at any moment, making Wang Daoxuan’s heart race.
Li Yan held his breath, barely daring to breathe. Sensing something and seeing it with one’s own eyes were completely different experiences. Fortunately, nothing went wrong along the short path.
The moment the maid stepped into the room, the lamp at the mistress’s bedside flared, and the soul vanished.
Wang Daoxuan immediately looked to Li Yan. He had been watching closely. He could smell the cold aura of the soul merging into the madam’s body and gradually fading away. It was the sign of yin and yang harmonizing.
Noticing Wang Daoxuan’s gaze, he nodded silently.
Without hesitation, Wang Daoxuan rushed into the room. Taking a long red cord, he wrapped it around the madam’s body in intricate patterns, quickly tying a peculiar knot. During the process, the guiding lamp flickered wildly.
Finally, once the soul was secured, Wang Daoxuan took a bell from his waist, rang it, and began chanting, “Supreme star above, ever-changing and unceasing, protect life and guard the body. Clarity of mind and spirit, tranquility of heart. The three souls eternal, the seven spirits unharmed. Soul return to its palace, spirit return to the body...”
Though his cultivation was only at the first level, Wang Daoxuan had clearly practiced diligently. Once he began chanting, he entered the proper state immediately. His voice carried a steady rhythm, calm and far-reaching.
As the chant continued, the guiding lamp gradually steadied. Li Yan let out a breath of relief. The steady flame was a sign of success.
With his task complete, Wang Daoxuan could finally escape his current hardships and focus on helping him establish his inner temple, formally stepping into the path of cultivation.
Before he could let his guard down, a gust of cold wind swept through the courtyard. Li Yan’s eyes widened as he looked around. That mysterious sweet scent had returned once more!
