The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew solemn, and everything around felt oppressively heavy.
Drip, drip.
Only the sound of blood dripping onto the floor could be heard.
Just as Yu Daohan prepared to fight to the death, the black energy bypassed him and lunged directly at the little boy outside the room.
In the afterglow of the sun, the black energy dissipated into the air like steam.
Yu Daohan clutched his wound, and as he let out a sigh of relief, a chill swept over him, instantly spreading throughout his body.
Yu Daohan knelt on the ground, his breathing growing heavier, his vision blurring. In a daze, he felt himself being helped to lie down somewhere.
In the early morning, as the sun just began to rise, painting the surrounding sky red, a rooster's crow woke Yu Daohan from his slumber.
Yu Daohan slowly opened his eyes. His long-lost left eye had regained its sight. He raised his right hand and discovered that his wound had already been bandaged.
Turning his head, he saw a young girl sitting beside him, embroidering with a needle and thread.
Seeing Yu Daohan awake, she smiled and said, "Master is awake."
Yu Daohan nodded. As he tried to push himself up with his hand, a chill spread from his chest.
Seeing that Yu Daohan was unwell, the girl turned and ran out of the room, "I'll go call Elder Hua."
Inside the room, Yu Daohan's breathing intensified. He clenched one fist, while the other hand covered his chest.
This time, it was more severe than ever before. The chill was like icy blades, piercing every inch of his skin.
Just as Yu Daohan was about to faint, Elder Hua walked in from outside.
He approached Yu Daohan, lifted his clothes, and saw a black palm print on his chest, with a blue energy surging towards his entire body.
Seeing this, Elder Hua took out a small box from his waist, opened it, and took out a silver needle. He then pulled out a yellow talisman from his pocket.
Elder Hua looked at Yu Daohan, who was already covered in cold sweat, and said, "Bear with it."
Yu Daohan nodded. Elder Hua gripped the silver needle and thrust it into the palm print.
The silver needle pierced the skin and flesh, and then Elder Hua placed the other end of the needle onto the yellow talisman in his other hand.
The moment the yellow talisman touched the silver needle, a black energy was drawn out by the talisman, following the needle and adhering to the talisman.
The black energy surged towards the yellow talisman at a visible speed. As the yellow talisman absorbed the last wisp of black energy, the palm print on his chest dissipated.
Elder Hua picked up the now blackened yellow talisman and threw it towards the wall.
The moment the black yellow talisman embedded itself in the wall, a puff of black gas directly emerged.
Yu Daohan glanced at the vanished palm print on his chest and breathed a sigh of relief, "This thing is finally gone."
Elder Hua shook his head, staring at the yellow talisman on the wall, his brow furrowed, "This thing is a bit strange. Although I've drawn it out, its roots haven't been severed. It's unclear if it will act up again in the future."
Yu Daohan shook his head, "At least I don't have to endure that chill for now. We'll take it one step at a time. Haste makes waste."
Elder Hua nodded.
The two of them went to the main hall and saw Old Cai's wife cooking.
Old Cai saw Yu Daohan awake and said anxiously, "Master Yu, are you alright?"
Yu Daohan shook his head, "A minor issue, nothing serious."
"If Old Cai hadn't gone to the village to find me all night, you would have probably fainted by now," Elder Hua said, looking at Old Cai.
Yu Daohan looked at Old Cai. Although he had been injured and fainted because of Old Cai's son, his willingness to go to the village to fetch someone in the middle of the night showed that he was a grateful person.
The three of them sat down, and Old Cai began to recount the entire story.
Five days ago, Old Cai and Liu Qidong from the village went up the mountain to chop wood. As they were descending, they saw a peach tree by the roadside.
Beneath the peach tree was a dilapidated stone lion statue.
Liu Qidong, seeing the peaches on the tree, prepared to pick them. Old Cai stopped Liu Qidong, seeing the stone lion statue below.
"Legend has it that what's on the stone carving cannot be eaten, and eating it will bring great misfortune." Liu Qidong didn't believe it. He climbed the tree, picked a peach, wiped it on his clothes, and began to eat.
Old Cai, seeing this, could only sit aside and smoke.
After finishing, Liu Qidong still wasn't satisfied. He stood on a branch and urinated on the stone lion below.
As he urinated, Liu Qidong looked at Old Cai and said, "Let's see what great misfortune befalls me."
After urinating, he sat on the tree and ate again. But before Liu Qidong could pick another, he lost his balance and fell.
Old Cai went forward to help Liu Qidong up. Liu Qidong touched his backside, his face contorted in pain.
Liu Qidong glanced at the stone lion and kicked it.
The stone lion was kicked over, and Liu Qidong raised his axe and swung it.
The already dilapidated stone lion was split in two by Liu Qidong's blow.
Liu Qidong felt it wasn't enough and swung his axe at the peach tree next to it.
After three swings, Liu Qidong paused, then continued chopping, "Old Cai, why are you just standing there? Help me!"
Old Cai, helpless, also picked up his axe and began chopping. Thus, the two of them worked all afternoon.
It was only after chopping down the tree that strange occurrences began to happen one after another. First, the chickens in the house died for no reason, and then their younger son, Cai Wen, would often stare outside the door, saying that a large lion was watching him.
Hearing this, Yu Daohan frowned. Logically, everything in the world was related to souls. Whether it was evil spirits, malevolent ghosts, or monstrous beasts, only beings with souls could have thoughts.
Seeing Yu Daohan's confusion, Elder Hua asked, "Little Yu, do you know about vengeful spirits?"
Yu Daohan nodded, "Vengeful spirits are formed from resentment and have no souls but possess life."
Elder Hua nodded. Yu Daohan pondered. Although there were such things as vengeful spirits in the world, he had never encountered one.
Elder Hua explained, "In ancient times, stone statues were used to guard lonely souls and ghosts in the mountains. Over time, with people's offerings, they gained sentience."
At this point, Old Cai's back was covered in cold sweat, realizing he had offended a mountain spirit.
Elder Hua continued his explanation, "Legend has it that a peach tree is planted next to every stone statue. If a fruit from the peach tree grows into a second peach tree, the stone statue accumulates merit and becomes a mountain god."
Hearing this, Yu Daohan finally understood what was happening, "Are you saying that this is all the doing of the stone lion that turned into a vengeful spirit?"
Elder Hua nodded. Old Cai's heart sank upon hearing this, "Elder Hua, what should we do?"
Elder Hua shook his head and sighed, "This matter is originally your fault from the start."
Hearing Elder Hua's words, Old Cai immediately knelt on the ground, "Elder Hua, please think of a way to save my son."
Elder Hua sighed. "Get up first, prepare some things, and follow me up the mountain."
Seeing that Elder Hua was willing to help, Old Cai quickly nodded and got up to prepare the items Elder Hua mentioned.
Yu Daohan looked at Elder Hua beside him, "Old man, have you encountered these vengeful spirits before?"
Elder Hua nodded, "I have encountered them a few times in the past."
Author's Note:
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