Previously, Zhongshan Baijiao was always taken out directly by Mochou. At that time, I didn't notice the behavior of the Mochou family.
That stuff is already scarce, and it's even more so from the Mochou family's dowry for their daughter and the Zhou family's wedding gift.
Actually, directly asking for it would be somewhat inappropriate.
Mochou Changzai just didn't take it out immediately, saying it would be tomorrow. That's not a big deal.
Some of the Mochou family's faces changed, which was normal.
"Grandpa, why is it tomorrow?" Mochou Ying shows a slight confusion.
"Nothing." I interrupted Mochou Ying's words.
After a moment's thought, I took out something.
It was exactly the jade nose I took out from the old temple, which was originally an item that Lao Qin was going to reward to Xu's family.
According to the marriage agreement, Xu's family would give me a growing yang spirit when their daughter was married off. The items Lao Qin was willing to give were definitely invaluable.
Since Xu's family is no longer fortunate enough to enjoy it, I might use up all of Zhongshan Baijiao from Mochou's family, and naturally, I can't just use it for free.
Under the light, the jade nose looked even more translucent, refracting a faint green glow.
The gazes of everyone in the scene fell on the jade nose in my hand, surprised and bewildered.
"Manifesting a spirit, this is..." Mochou Changzai's eyes were radiant.
Mochou Ying's face changed slightly, biting her lower lip, and sent me a glance, as if signaling me to put it away.
I shook my head slightly with her and stood up, putting the jade nose in my palm, explaining: "I don't know what this thing does, but my master instructed me that it is a reward for a family. The family has no fortune to enjoy it, and today I arbitrarily let Mochou Ying ask for Zhongshan Baijiao. I can't just use it for free. It should bring some benefits to Mochou's family. As for how much the benefit is, I don't know."
Mochou Changzai's face instantly became very excited, muttering: "The items of a Yin-Yang Master are used to reward a family, so they must be not simple. Grandson, your items are too valuable... According to the rules, Mochou's family should not accept it. However, since you and Xiao Ying will get married and start a family sooner or later, grandpa will not refuse. All of Mochou's Zhongshan Baijiao will be taken out for you! And whatever benefits Mochou's family gets, you can enjoy them too!"
I smiled. If Mochou Changzai accepts the item, it would be much better.
Mochou Qiong walked over to me, reaching out carefully and taking the jade nose in his hands.
When he reached Mochou Changzai's side, Mochou Changzai took the jade nose and carefully examined it, as if he couldn't let go of it.
However, Mochou Qiong then leaned in, as if he had a few words with Mochou Changzai.
Mochou Changzai's expression remained unchanged, still exuding confidence.
"Go back, have dinner," Mochou Changzai said again.
Mochou Qiong sat back into his chair.
The subsequent meal was enjoyed by everyone, with more people in their eyes full of anticipation.
After dinner, everyone dispersed. Mochou Ying saw me back to my room. She hung her head, looking somewhat gloomy.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have brought you back. Master Qin's things, how can they be so easily..." Mochou Ying bit her lip as she said.
"Your family isn't just anything. Plus, what they use doesn't concern us. If Master Qin has arranged something, it must be better. And if there's nothing arranged, giving it to your family can make the most of it." I shook my head to explain.
After a pause, I also talked to Mochou Ying about something else, such as I am now staying at Mochou's house, and the time won't be too short. There will be many places to use at Mochou's house. If Mochou's family is good, as Mr. Mochou said, the help I can get will be more.
At this moment, Mochou Ying's agitation slightly subsided.
As we reached the door of my room, she cautioned me to rest well tonight and not to stay up late studying anymore.
After I agreed, she and Yu Xiu walked back together.
Just two steps, Mochou Ying stopped again and said: "Oh, by the way... I still need to ask Grandpa why it can't be taken over tonight. Otherwise, I will have to wait until tomorrow night to use it for Lao Gong. Little Qi has left, and I was thinking about whether Lao Gong would wake up and say where Little Qi went."
"Going already?" I frowned.
"Um... she just disappeared suddenly. Her parents said that for a while, she had shown signs of wanting to leave home, so it seems like she left without telling anyone." Mochou Ying replied.
I remained silent, without saying much.
After Mochou Ying and Yu Xiu walked away, I closed my room door.
I sat at the table and read a while.
A member of the Mochou family came to deliver the ink, paper, brush, and inkstone that Mochou Ying had mentioned earlier.
I experimentally grinded the ink and mixed it with cinnabar, drawing a talisman on a piece of paper.
The talisman is called the Ghost Binding Talisman, which is used to pacify ghosts and suppress evil spirits.
The operation of the nine school arts to seal ghosts is very complicated. The Lock Soul Method uses black dog blood, cinnabar, and a string of copper coins, but it also requires initially subduing the ghost.
Talisman is much simpler.
However, when I drew the talisman for the first time, despite having mentally rehearsed it thousands of times and hand-drawn it hundreds of times in the air, it still ended up looking crooked and messy on the paper.
It felt rather like a ghost drawing talismans...
Moreover, drawing talismans is very tiring, and I feel like my eyes are a bit sore.
If Lao Gong were awake now, it would be good to try the talisman on him to see if it works.
I drew another Ghost Binding Talisman, which still looked crooked and messy. The sense of fatigue was even stronger, and my head felt like it was barely able to handle it.
Putting down the pen, I breathed heavily, taking a moment to regain some strength.
Gathering the two books and placing them by the bedside, I lay down and fell asleep deeply.
This sleep I slept especially dead, with no dreams throughout the night.
However, I was not awakened naturally, but by the urgent knocking on the door.
I got up and opened the door.
Mochou Ying stood outside the door, her delicate face pale, while Yu Xiu stood there like a dummy with no reaction.
"What's the matter?" I frowned and asked Mochou Ying.
Resulting in two streams of clear tears flowing down.
"It's as if someone's going to die, get the incense, candles, paper money, and prepare for the funeral." Yu Xiu said in a muffled voice, her tone just as hollow as before...
This gives people a feeling that she has returned to being a village guardian like before.
My brows furrowed tightly, and my eyes held more confusion.
Mochou Ying wiped away her tears and said shakily, "Follow me."
She turned around and hurriedly walked towards the hall.
I followed her up and waited until we arrived in the hall.
At a glance, my face turned pale instantly!
I had thought it was something wrong with the Mochou family, with someone falling ill or dying.
But to my surprise, the person lying in the hall was not someone else but Mochou Changzai.
The bed in the hall was covered in blood, and Mochou Changzai's body was full of wounds, as if she had been torn apart by something.
His half-opened eyes quivered slightly, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't, and he didn't have the strength to open his eyes wider.
Several people stood beside him, all members of the Mochou family, looking restless.
Mochou Qiong crouched beside him, his teeth clenched tightly, his hands trembling slightly.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice slightly hoarse.
Overnight, the Mochou family was fine, but now Mochou Changzai is on the brink of death!
Last night, nothing major happened at the Mochou family, right? Or did I sleep too soundly and not hear any noise?
Mochou Ying bit her lip tightly and then whispered, "Last night, we were asking for Zhongshan Baijiao, right? Grandpa said it would be tomorrow, and I mentioned asking Grandpa later."
"However, Grandpa has already left home."
Mochou Ying's gaze fell on Mochou Qiong again, and she quavered in a shaky voice, "My father said that Zhongshan Baijiao was put in another place and would be brought back tomorrow morning."
"However... this morning, Grandpa was brought here on a stretcher, with mourning couplets and flower wreaths placed here. Those two things weren't brought in!"
"Father! Master Qin is here; you still won't say what's going on! What are you people doing?"
Mochou Qiong's face turned pale, and he sighed in distress. His face alternated between red and white.
