https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-124-Summoning-and-Inquiring-Evil-Spirits/12898620/
Chapter 123: Year-Taming Evil Summoning Technique
Chapter 123: Year-Taming Evil Summoning Technique
Everything had to be directed at the thing in the river...
Hu Ma understood clearly that this was not a standoff between two forces, but three.
If it weren’t for the threat from the thing in the river, the Blue Robe Gang would have swarmed in and hacked Yang Gong and his companion to death in the Water God Temple.
The two Red Fragrance Disciples, despite learning some techniques, were still far from the level of the Red Lantern Lady. How could they possibly withstand so many people?
And Hu Ma also thought that in terms of manpower, his side was far inferior to the other side. He didn’t want to risk his life for this credit by fighting the Blue Robe Gang. Therefore, the only way to gain an advantage was to borrow the power of the thing in the river.
If he had only learned the skills of the Age Keepers, he might not have been able to deal with the thing in the river, but the Book of Year-Taming had a solution.
The Book of Year-Taming, which his grandmother left him, seemed to be connected to something significant. Hu Ma had been very cautious in his studies, but this time, after returning to the village, he first saw the Village of Extinction left by his grandmother and received a reminder from the old tree stump. He knew he needed to delve deeper into the Book of Year-Taming.
The words his grandmother said before she left echoed in his mind again. She was waiting for him to learn the skills in this book so he could help her.
But to learn, he had to admit that the methods in the Book of Year-Taming were quite strange. Unlike the practical skills of the Age Keepers, which were tangible and visible, the methods in the book involved some mysterious and ethereal content.
To put it simply, one was a technique that was internal, within the body.
The other was a method that was external, outside the body.
Normally, a Ghost Walker would need an elder to guide them, allowing the younger ones to observe and learn, accumulating experience. Only when they were confident would they be allowed to try things on their own.
But Hu Ma had no choice. The Book of Year-Taming could not be shown to others. If he wanted to learn, he had to figure it out on his own.
Previously, he had learned some basic things from Wu He Sister, catching up on his studies, and then understood the Book of Year-Taming, learning a few methods for summoning and inquiring about evil spirits.
But he had only memorized them and understood the procedures; he hadn’t tried them yet.
There was no way to test them. The methods in the Book of Year-Taming were strict and could only be used on evil spirits. There was no way to practice them.
With this in mind, he slowly approached the fishing village on the riverbank, finding a fisherman who was cooking outside his house. He smiled and greeted him, saying, "Greetings, villager. I’m from Xiaoliang County and am delivering an urgent letter to Mingzhou Prefecture."
"I’m in a hurry to cross the river, but I don’t know what’s going on up ahead?"
"It looks like there are a lot of fierce and menacing people there. I have a small heart and dare not go near."
"..."
The fisherman, seeing the question, quickly waved his hand and lowered his voice, saying, "You’re right not to go, guest."
"These people are very dangerous. They’ve been causing trouble in the village since yesterday and are now gathered at the Water God Temple!"
"..."
"Water God Temple?"
Hu Ma was startled and whispered, "These people are really bold. Isn’t the Water God Temple a place for immortals?"
"Would they dare to wield weapons there?"
"..."
The fisherman, hearing Hu Ma say this, sighed helplessly and waved his hand, saying, "You don’t know, guest. The Water God Temple has long been abandoned."
"Let them do as they please. We can’t do anything about it, and it’s just delaying our fishing."
"..."
"Abandoned?"
Hu Ma was somewhat surprised and asked, "There are no immortals in the river anymore?"
But perhaps because he asked too many questions, the fisherman stopped talking and just bowed his head to cook.
Seeing this, Hu Ma decided to use money to get information.
He took out a small silver coin, about one tael, and quietly handed it over, saying, "Villager, I’ve been traveling since early morning and am very hungry. This silver is for you to buy me a bowl of porridge..."
"Ah?"
The fisherman, surprised by this unexpected kindness, hurriedly refused, saying he would give a bowl of porridge for free.
Hu Ma insisted and pushed the silver into his hand, and was immediately invited into the house. The table was wiped clean, and a full bowl of porridge and a dish of pickled fish were served.
While eating, he continued to ask questions. Facing this honest fisherman, he didn’t need to fabricate elaborate lies. He simply said he would often travel this river in the future and wanted to understand it better for peace of mind.
The fisherman, having received the silver, felt obliged to speak and sighed, "The thing in the river has a long history..."
Hu Ma listened carefully and felt his eyes opened wide.
According to the fisherman, there was indeed something in the river, and it had always been there.
In the past, there were often water ghosts and water monkeys, and the fishermen, generation after generation, had learned some local remedies to deal with them.
But at some point, something powerful appeared in the river. After that, fishing became increasingly difficult, and anyone who fell into the river never came back alive. The fishermen on both banks began to fear it.
To seek peace, they started making sacrifices to the river, first with chicken blood, then with pigs and sheep, at great cost.
But even this didn’t work. The disturbances grew worse, and at their worst, many people died. Even children from the villages on both sides were stolen away.
It wasn’t until later that a capable person passed through and, after understanding the situation, gave the fishermen a private suggestion: build a temple by the riverbank to offer incense and sacrifices to the thing in the river, ensuring the offerings were never lacking.
Initially, the fishermen were unhappy, but the village elders understood and followed the advice, building the temple. On the first day, the thing in the river seemed quite pleased.
Some fishermen who went to burn incense even said they sometimes saw water marks in the temple, and the offerings had been nibbled on.
For a while, it seemed the thing in the river was being merciful, and the fish catch increased.
But it didn’t last long. One night, thunder rumbled, and a cold wind howled. By dawn, people saw that half of the Water God Temple was destroyed, and there were traces of blood in the river.
The villagers pretended not to know and repaired the temple, continuing to make offerings. However, the offerings were never consumed again, and the thing in the river became much more docile, causing far fewer disturbances and no longer demanding sacrifices.
Over the years, the Water God Temple gradually fell into disrepair, but the fishermen on both banks and the thing in the river lived in peace.
Occasionally, they would burn incense and throw some chickens and ducks into the river, but there were no more disturbances.
“This thing got tricked…”
After hearing the story, Hu Ma had a better understanding.
He had always found the appearance of the Water God Temple strange and puzzling.
Not to mention the spirits in the river, how fierce was the Red Lantern Lady?
The only menace in Mingzhou Prefecture.
Not only fierce, but the apprentices in various villages helped the neighbors a lot, and many people sincerely came to kowtow and burn incense to the Red Lantern Lady. Even so, the Red Lantern Lady didn’t dare build a temple.
The villages were “counters” for business, not for receiving incense offerings. According to the Old Shopkeeper, building a temple was easy, but you had to be able to withstand the consequences.
The spirit in the river, however, boldly built a temple for itself. Wasn’t that asking for trouble?
The capable person who passed through the fishing village must have had exceptional insight. Without using weapons, he managed to suppress the spirit’s arrogance.
With this understanding, Hu Ma felt more confident but still didn’t rush. He asked detailed questions about the river conditions and other rumors about the thing in the water, regardless of their truthfulness.
After finishing his porridge, he had a good understanding of the thing in the water. He then bid farewell to the villagers and bought some items, including a basin, a bowl of rice, and some red paper left over from the New Year’s couplets in the corner of his house. He already had incense, but there was no ink or brush in the fishing village, so he used other methods to substitute.
Hu Ma took the items and left the fishing village. He pulled a handful of straw from a rice stack at the edge of the village, weaving it as he slowly made his way to the river.
The place was still some distance from the Water God Temple, but they couldn’t see each other clearly.
Hu Ma poured out the rice, filled the bowl with river water, and then found a secluded spot.
He placed the bowl of river water on the ground and scattered the rice around it, leaving a gap facing the river.
He placed the straw figures he had woven on both sides, two on each side.
Fortunately, he had joined a handicraft club in college in his previous life, so his hands were quite skilled.
Of course, the figures were crude but usable.
Normally, paper figures would be more appropriate. His grandmother actually had the skill to make paper figures, but unfortunately, Hu Ma never had the chance to learn.
After finishing, he took out a fire flint, placed a fire basin in front of him, and lit a fire. He then picked up a branch and used charcoal to write the word “Imperial Command” on each piece of red paper, sticking them on the straw figures. Finally, he sat facing the river.
“Little Red Apricot, you have to keep a good watch…”
Before doing all this, Hu Ma called Little Red Apricot over and gave her the red wooden sword.
“If everything goes smoothly, that’s fine. If not, stab it!”
“…”
Thinking about it, he still felt uneasy and added, “If things go really badly and you can’t subdue it, run.”
“Don’t look back, run as fast as you can. Don’t worry about getting lost; I’ll use incense to summon you back…”
“…When that happens, I’ll have to run too, so I might not be able to take care of you.”
Little Red Apricot, holding the red wooden sword, nodded forcefully, “Okay, I’ll definitely run, no matter what.”
“Is something off?”
Hu Ma pondered for a moment but decided her understanding was fine, so he didn’t say anything more. He quietly thought about the methods in the Year-Taming Book.
After thinking for a while and preparing an emergency plan, Hu Ma took a deep breath, burned three incense sticks, and began to chant silently.
“Heaven is solemn, Earth is solemn, living beings avoid, sun and moon are dim!”
“I set up the altar, calling the River God!”
“Swiftly come, River God, do not delay or obstruct the appointed time!”
“…My words are commands, why have you not come yet?”
(End of Chapter)
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