Chapter 24: Soul Summoning

Chapter 24: Soul Summoning

"This..."

Lord Lu hesitated, his expression darkening as he glanced sideways.

Steward Lu, who had been standing nearby, winced and hurriedly protested, "Master, I-I didn’t say anything!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.

This was practically a confession that the Lu family had something to hide.

Though he usually handled affairs with meticulous precision, fear of Lord Lu had thrown him into panic, exposing his flaw.

Lord Lu’s face darkened further.

Before he could erupt, Wang Daoxuan interjected calmly, "Master Lu, there’s no need to blame others. The steward said nothing. It’s just that I’ve noticed something unusual."

He led the group outside the courtyard, pointing at the moss-covered corner of the wall and a distant tree. "Days of scorching sun with no rain, yet the wall has mold and moss. The jujube wood is damp, and a dead bird fell here... This is definitely Yin-Slaying Aura."

Everyone looked closer and realized he was right.

What had seemed trivial now appeared suspicious.

Li Yan, standing behind the crowd, smirked inwardly.

Though Wang Daoxuan was a decent man, his Jianghu skills were sharp. Since deciding to join the Mystic Gate, the Daoist had traveled the land, seeking masters. Though he’d failed to break through and been scammed countless times, he’d still gained knowledge.

He understood many Mystic Gate techniques, though his Divine Abilities were peculiar—his "Tongue Divine Abilities" required tasting things to discern their nature.

Could he really lick everything? How would he handle zombies or vengeful ghosts? Or worse, a possessed maiden?

Eventually, he’d found a workaround: using talismans or other tools to absorb scents before analyzing them. Even so, he often worked as a geomancer, since that profession included the practice of tasting soil.

While his tongue abilities had potential—enhancing incantations at higher cultivation levels—Wang Daoxuan hadn’t reached that stage.

The recent Shrine-Establishing Spirit-Preserving Ceremony had drained his savings and left him in debt.

Meeting Li Yan had been fortunate. Li’s ability to detect unusual scents complemented Wang’s skills perfectly.

Earlier, Li had smelled faint Yin-Slaying Aura and subtly signaled by flipping his hand (palm up, back down—yin) and tilting his pinky toward the courtyard’s anomaly.

Wang had already pieced it together upon entering, allowing him to play the wise master before the Lu family, planting his authority firmly.

"Master Wang’s insight is truly remarkable!"

Sha Lifei clapped theatrically, playing the role of the impressed sidekick.

Three ordinary men could still outwit a genius when working together.

Lord Lu’s expression shifted slightly. After a long look at Wang, he bowed respectfully, "Master Wang, your wisdom is unmatched. Please, be seated."

Back indoors, Lord Lu hesitated again. "I didn’t mean to hide anything, but this matter..."

"Rest assured", Wang interrupted with a smile. "My cultivation may be modest, but my discretion is ironclad."

Sighing, Lord Lu relented, "This situation is deeply strange. Last night, Zhao Jiu, one of our night guards, heard noises and investigated. He saw a figure floating in the air—my late wife."

"Zhao Jiu cried out, and many others saw her too. Then she vanished before everyone’s eyes."

Wang Daoxuan frowned. "That’s impossible! How could this happen?"

Li Yan agreed—their Divine Abilities allowed them to sense ghosts, spirits, or immortal entities, but ordinary people only saw them when near death, possessed, or in dreams.

A crowd witnessing this was unheard of.

Sha Lifei, already stuffing his face with food and gulping wine, mumbled, "The madam has ascended to heaven?"

"Not quite", Lord Lu replied bitterly. "My wife has been ill for years, bedridden and unconscious for months. After the incident, we checked... she’s still alive."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard. "This is Living Soul Separation. A Soul-Summoning and Soul-Anchoring Ritual is needed. But for a living soul to be visible to many? Unprecedented."

Beside him, Li Yan devoured roasted beef and fish with equal vigor, his eyes flickering with calculation. Could this phenomenon relate to the treasure he sought?

Lord Lu clenched his jaw. "Master Wang, how do we resolve this?"

Wang pondered, "Living Soul Separation has many causes. My guess? Prolonged illness has weakened her yang energy, causing her soul to wander. We’ll perform a soul-summoning ritual first."

...

Night fell, windless and bright with lanterns illuminating the Lu estate.

Contrary to Sha Lifei’s assumptions, Lord Lu hadn’t abandoned his ailing wife. The main courtyard, though occupied by a woman bedridden like a vegetative patient, was meticulously maintained.

The ritual altar stood in the courtyard—a simple table adorned with the statue and tablet of Mystic Qi Manifesting Majesty Chen Tianjun. Behind it: red candles, an incense burner, sandalwood tray, pure water, ritual tablets, a wooden mallet, a peachwood sword, yellow talisman paper, and the Soul-Wandering Vase—a small black jar wrapped in red rope, sealed with yellow cloth and talismans, faintly pulsing with Yin-Slaying Aura.

Inside was a minor yin soldier Wang had painstakingly acquired—useful only for delivering messages or searching for objects.

Eager for this high-paying job, Wang had brought every tool he owned.

Now, Lord Lu and the household guards stood nearby as Wang counted his fingers and commanded:

"The madam was born in the Year of the Tiger. All born in the Years of the Ox, Tiger, Snake, or Monkey must leave the estate until dawn!"

"Cover all mirrors in the house!"

"The madam’s personal maid stays. Everyone else, retreat to your rooms. No matter what you hear, do not come out!"

The orders stunned the crowd.

Lord Lu snapped, "What are you waiting for? Do as he says!"

Servants scrambled. The Zhao Family martial artists exchanged glances but left without protest.

"Must I leave too?" Lord Lu asked hesitantly.

Wang nodded. "A wandering soul is fragile. Any disturbance could scatter it forever."

"Understood. I’ll leave it to you, Master Wang."

Lord Lu departed without further words.

Only Li Yan, Wang, and the maid remained. She entered the room to cut a lock of hair and a piece of clothing from the emaciated, unconscious woman.

Li Yan muttered, "Lord Lu reeks of urine, masked by expensive powder. I couldn’t get close."

"I noticed", Wang replied. "Once, I visited a village where families castrated their second sons to seek palace fortunes. Many became eunuchs. Those who failed entered the world outside—plump, pale, beardless, with sagging skin."

"Your Divine Abilities returned?"

"Intermittently", Li admitted. His abilities had been unstable since their awakening outside Xianyang City—sometimes weak, sometimes surging with sudden strength before fading.

That explained Lord Lu’s pride in keeping two concubines close. If he were a eunuch, it made sense.

Li’s mission was to find a mysterious treasure. Could Lord Lu be connected to a relic from the imperial palace?

Frustratingly, his abilities chose this moment to falter.

Unaware of Li’s thoughts, Wang explained, "Soul summoning originates from ancient shamanic rites. The Book of Rites says, ‘The soul is summoned and restored.’ For the madam’s condition, this ritual may double as her funeral."

As he spoke, he cut yellow paper with swift scissors, shaping a Soul-Summoning Banner adorned with cloud patterns and human figures.

"Master Wang, your craftsmanship is impressive", Li Yan praised.

Wang chuckled. "You haven’t seen true skill until you meet a Mystic Gate paper artisan. I’m just an amateur."

As they spoke, the maid returned with the hair and cloth.

Wang burned the hair, scattered the ashes into a water jar, observed their movement, then stuffed the cloth into the Soul-Summoning Banner’s pole.

"At midnight, hold this banner on the northeast rooftop and chant, ‘Soul, return!’ If you feel cold, close your eyes and keep chanting. When you hear the wooden fish, run back immediately. And whatever you do—"

"—don’t look back if someone calls your name", the maid finished, trembling but determined.

Li Yan frowned. "Even living souls can be dangerous?"

"Living souls are delicate", Wang whispered. "Like sleepwalkers, they need gentle guidance. I fear the maid might scare it away."

Li Yan chuckled at Wang’s caution.

...

Midnight arrived. The estate plunged into darkness.

The maid stood on the roof, eyes shut, waving the banner and chanting, "Soul, return! Soul, return!"

Her voice echoed, sending servants shivering under blankets.

In a nearby wing, Lord Lu and his concubines huddled in a dark room.

His face hardened. "Bring them out."

The concubines retrieved two jujubes from beneath their robes and handed them to him.

Lord Lu swallowed them whole, chewing slowly as he listened to the distant chant, his eyes flickering between shadow and light.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end