This entire charade from beginning to end was a setup orchestrated by Chen Qingshui, and Chen Ruolian should have died long ago, or perhaps never existed at all.
The so-called reincarnation involved a soul entering the body of an unborn infant. Furthermore, the child Chen Qingshui was carrying had no soul. Such a child was destined to die at birth, more like a lump of flesh than a person. This was also why Chen Qingshui was not afraid of the Kanglong Jian.
Chen Ruolian looked up at Yu Daohan, then lowered her head.
"If Madam Lu was coerced, I can help you switch her back."
As he spoke, Yu Daohan drew the Kanglong Jian from the soil, his expression turning serious.
Yu Daohan was not joking. With his strength, Chen Qingshui would absolutely not stand a chance. Although Yu Daohan himself didn't understand this type of sorcery, he could find someone who did to perform it.
Chen Ruolian shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, Master. I did this willingly."
Yu Daohan looked puzzled but didn't press further. Even the best doctor couldn't save someone who was determined to die. Since Lu Wenxia said it was voluntary, why should he interfere?
Putting away the Kanglong Jian, Yu Daohan had taken only two steps towards the edge of the woods when he stopped and asked, "I want to know why you killed Chen Xiaobao and his wife?"
Lu Wenxia did not conceal anything and explained, "To keep this corpse alive, someone had to die in her place. So..."
Yu Daohan clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it, and walked out of the woods.
Yin and Yang divide into two paths, humans and ghosts tread different roads. Humans know the terror of ghosts, but ghosts know the venom of human hearts. The most terrifying thing in this world is not ghosts, but the human heart.
Upon reaching the edge of the woods, Liu Zhonghe saw Lu Wenxia and Chen Ruolian following behind Yu Daohan, and the worry in his heart finally subsided.
Liu Zhonghe walked up to them. "I'm glad you're both alright."
Lu Wenxia hugged Liu Zhonghe. "Let's go home."
Liu Zhonghe comforted her. "We'll go home after this matter is settled."
Chen Ruolian watched this unfold with a blank expression, a single tear escaping unnoticed.
When Yu Daohan rushed into the woods, the minor ghosts had retreated en masse.
Yang Guofu and the other three men once again lifted the coffin and headed towards the Huasha Tomb.
Arriving at the Huasha Tomb, they worked together to place the coffin upright in the pit.
Dahu and the others began to fill the earth, while Liu Zhonghe and the other two lit paper money and spirit money.
Yu Daohan watched for a while, then walked to a large tree nearby and sat down, gazing up at the stars in the night sky.
"How did Young Master Yu discover that Chen Ruolian was Chen Qingshui?" Yang Guofu walked over and sat beside Yu Daohan.
Yu Daohan shook his head. "Yang Ergou told me that when the Kui trees and the willow forest were planted in front of the Huasha Tomb, I already suspected it."
Yang Guofu's face broke into a smile. "So, Young Master Yu plans to leave it at that?"
Yu Daohan sighed. "A doctor does not save those who wish to die, and a wealthy man does not give to a beggar with ambition."
Yang Guofu fell silent. It was hard for even an honest official to settle family disputes. Since Lu Wenxia was willing, even if he switched her back, she would switch herself back. It was better to pretend not to know anything.
Dahu and the others worked quickly. It took about half an hour to finish the burial.
Yang Guofu instructed Liu Zhonghe, "This Huasha Tomb will be used for now. The tombstone can be erected another day. The grave must not be moved for at least three years."
Chen Qingshui nodded.
When everyone returned to the entrance of the Chen family's old house, Liu Zhonghe looked worried. "Master, what about Uncle Chen and Auntie?"
Liu Zhonghe had already heard from Yang Guofu that Chen Xiaobao and his wife were not human and might even harm him.
Yang Guofu shook his head. "Chen Qingshui's matter has been resolved. I believe Chen Xiaobao and his wife are now completely dead."
As he spoke, Yang Guofu looked at Lu Wenxia, his expression complex.
Chen Qingshui was still somewhat uneasy, but he couldn't disbelieve Yang Guofu's words.
"Then please, Master, help us find a good burial site to inter Uncle Chen and Auntie together."
Fearing that Yang Guofu would refuse, Liu Zhonghe added, "Of course, the money will be paid to you separately."
The times had long since changed. Two hundred years ago, both major and minor sects would send disciples down the mountain to help the common people eliminate demons.
In the past, hiring someone to perform rituals for exorcism only required food and three taels of pork offal as payment.
With the changes in the times, hiring people for exorcism had completely changed. They would first state what they would do, and then charge extra for anything else. This was the current way of doing things.
Yang Guofu hesitated for a moment before agreeing. After all, their purpose for coming was to make money.
Yang Guofu looked at Yu Daohan.
Yu Daohan waved his hand. "Since the matter is concluded, I should be returning to my shop."
Chen Qingshui's issue had been resolved, and Chen Xiaobao and his wife were just ordinary corpses. There was no point in him staying any longer; it was better to return to the shop early.
"Master, why don't you leave tomorrow? It's very late now," Liu Zhonghe said.
Yu Daohan shook his head, a smile on his face. He couldn't bear to stay at the Chen family's old house for another moment. "No, I have business to attend to at my shop."