"Lao Gong's words seem to be right, but I still feel that there are some issues, I can't quite put my finger on it."
"Zhang Si goes after it, I can't just sit and watch, so I quickly take a few steps to catch up."
As we chased to the dock on the center island, in the twilight, we could see across to the other side where Ji Kui and others were carrying a coffin onto a car by the roadside, and the car drove off into the distance.
The boatman is actually a lay disciple of Zhong Huang Daogou, he knows Zhang Si and respectfully invites us to board the boat.
After getting on the ferry, Zhang Si kept looking into the distance and took out his mobile phone to make a call.
With just a few words, I understood that he was contacting the disciples across the river to arrange for a vehicle.
Lao Gong, however, was muttering to us, saying that "fake gentlemen are the most ferocious, otherwise what are they called? The garbed beasts?" He continued, "This Ji Kuai says that he will exorcise the demons and ghosts, and yet he can remember the body of a corpse that was stolen two years ago. Why doesn't he just exorcise more evil corpses instead? Maybe, like you said, he is involved in such activities."
Lao Gong's speech was becoming more and more incoherent.
At least that's how it sounds to me.
However, Zhang Si's expression changed repeatedly, and he said, "If that's true, then today we would be inviting disaster upon ourselves. The Taoist Pure Yang refers to the harmonious combination of yin and yang. The yin of a jade corpse would be in direct opposition to the yang of the Taoist Pure Yang, which goes against heaven's laws."
"Yes, the sun without the moon doesn't last long, and the moon without the sun doesn't produce life. The yin and yang complement each other, and he might even cultivate into a true being. Heh heh, Tian Shou old man is eating people; he drinks in ghostly vitality. What other things might happen? I don't even want to think about it." Old Gong's demeanor was that of someone who enjoys the show without fearing it will become too big, but what he said made me shiver with dread.
"I think that the most revengeful ones are those dressed in robes but acting like beasts. He, your master, will definitely come back to seek revenge. Then it's going to be trouble for you," Old Gong added one more sentence.
"We're not waiting until later. We're already chasing him. If something like this happens right under the nose of Zhong Huang Daogou, the three Tians of Yunjinshan will definitely not forgive me!" Zhang Si's tone was filled with a strong sense of killing intent.
However, he soon turned to me, speaking with caution: "Luo Daozhang, I can't handle Ji Kuai, but his disciples and grandchildren are another matter. With combined efforts, we have a chance of winning. The only thing we need to consider is whether there are any other 'things' at his residence."
The deep meaning in Zhang Si's words was about the ghostly corpses.
Only after closing my eyes slightly did I say, "Let's see."
Following that, I looked at Lao Gong and said in a deep voice, "Lao Gong, don't let your anger of the moment lead you to make up things."
For a long time, Lao Gong has been full of fire and brimstone, and I've got used to it.
However, in the battle at Heicheng Temple, Lao Gong's performance was somewhat out of control. In fact, when he consumed more ghosts, he showed signs of it. At that time, I feared that such hidden dangers might resurface.
"Master, what are you saying? Am I that kind of person?" Lao Gong rolled his eyes. He jumped up but landed on Zhang Si's shoulder instead.
Zhang Si was slightly unaccustomed to this.
But I remained silent.
We crossed the river shortly thereafter.
There were vehicles waiting by the side of the road, and after we got on board, Zhang Si began to give directions.
I realized that he knew where Ji Kuai was heading?
Before I could ask, Zhang Si explained to me that the Kui Mountain where Ji Kuai lives is located near Daxiang City.
I ran into one of his disciples on the high-speed train. It should just be an apprenticeship practice for him, and Ji Kuai himself wanted to go to Zhong Huang Daogou's ghost tablet, so the disciples and grandchildren of the master happened to be in the same place, resulting in a fight with me.
I nodded in understanding.
Zhang Si then said, "Master Luo, your concerns are not without reason. However, I do believe what Lao Gong said. Even though the Yang Shen ghost may be a bit mischievous, it is still a Yang Shen ghost, and its foundation is sound. Ji Kuai indeed deserves suspicion. A visit will confirm this."
I no longer added any more words.
I'm not doubting Lao Gong. I just have a bit more caution, avoiding any unresolvable conflict.
The scenery outside the car window receded rapidly. The city, just as it was entering the night, was still bustling with traffic and very crowded. It took a considerable amount of time to bypass to another road, and the car speed immediately increased.
Lao Gong didn't stay on Zhang Si's shoulder the whole time. He returned to me and started chatting with me again, smiling.
The doubts lingering in my mind were finally dispelled.
Just that, I had a few more knots of melancholy in my heart.
Giving the jade corpse to Ji Kuai is also one way I resolve conflicts, although Ji Kuai's words are difficult to hear, he will willingly admit defeat without holding onto his status.
But who would have thought that, by mistake, a hidden danger was created instead.
Lao Gong seemed to notice my emotional change and licked his lips, saying, "Master, you're a good Taoist. You know a person's face but not their heart. This really isn't a big deal. If you don't give him the jade corpse, and he doesn't take it back with him, how would we know he has a problem?"
"When you encounter such people more often, you will naturally develop a sense of caution in the future," Lao Gong comforted me.
"I'm sorry, Lao Gong." I sighed lightly.
In the end, I still have to admit that due to some of Lao Gong's actions, I have developed some suspicions about him.
This shouldn't have happened.
"Once your strength reaches a certain level, and your heart is not at peace, you are easily susceptible to becoming possessed by demons. Master, this is not your fault. You must remain extremely vigilant in the near future to prevent outside evil spirits from infiltrating." Lao Gong spoke again.
A shiver ran through my heart.
My chaotic thoughts were actually caused by this reason?
Zhang Si listened to our conversation and he also seemed to be thinking deeply, nodding slightly.
"Tang Wu Lao Tianshi often lectures at various cultivation places. He has mentioned that both strength and cultivation spirit are essential. If the cultivation spirit is not enough, the strength will first reach a higher level, which will lead to the appearance of mental demons. Particularly before the threshold of true person, it is more susceptible to this influence. Often, the three corpse bugs will appear at this time. Suspicion, desire, greed, hatred, anger - all positive and negative emotions can become dangerous when they exceed a certain boundary. This is when the three corpse penetration occurs..."
"The stage of approaching a true person is not difficult to achieve, but breaking through the three corpse spirits is where the challenge lies. This is why Tian Gongquan strives for it among the Daoists across the world."
Tang Wu's insights must be useful.
However, for a Taoist like Tian Gongquan or Zhang Si, they may not understand it deeply and may not realize that it is a much greater hidden danger.
I previously thought that the three worms would leak out of me at Gaotian Temple, but that was a misconception. It was actually Mao Zhan possessing me at the time.
At this time, when I truly reached the stage of approaching a true person, I realized that my cultivation spirit was far from reaching the point where three corpse bugs would emerge.
There is also the fact that Tian Gongquan does not expel mental demons; he only avoids the three corpse bugs that afflict the body.
The mental demons still exist; they just won't die when crossing the threshold to become a true person.
The potential risks in the future were exchanged for the convenience of the present.
However, how should one improve their cultivation spirit?
This matter is likely something that neither Lao Gong nor Zhang Si can give me an answer to, and even if I were to ask He Youtian, I wouldn't get the explanation I want.
"People with different beliefs cannot conspire together."
As the night grew deeper, Lao Gong reminded me, and my heart gradually became still.
Finally, the car came off the expressway and onto the national highway.
The surrounding mountains are numerous, with continuous undulations. They add a few more shades of darkness to the night.
Finally, a somewhat familiar car appeared in sight, which was the vehicle of Ji Kuai's master and disciple and grandson.
We've caught up with them!
There are many vehicles on the national highway, and we maintain a certain distance, so we should not have been noticed. As for the car in front of us, its speed has never increased, so we haven't been detected.
We drove for about half an hour longer, and the car stopped at a mountain foot.
We pulled over to the side of the national highway further away.
Two people got off the car on the front, one being an old man named Ji Xiang and the other being a young man named Ji Yang.
There was no sign of Ji Kuai.
"Hmm... Where did the old fellow go?" Lao Gong muttered.
Ji Xiang is ahead carrying the coffin, while Ji Yang supports him from behind. The coffin is very light, and even with Ji Yang's left arm amputated, he can still lift it.
Zhang Si appeared very vigilant, scanning the area around him.
"At least during our pursuit, the car they didn't stop, does this mean Ji Kuai got off the road?" Zhang Si furrowed his brow, turned his gaze back, and found nothing.
"It's better if he's not there. Let's dig up his whole background, so we catch him red-handed with both the goods and the evidence. I think he's definitely not just waiting for this one corpse." Lao Gong said with a narrowed gaze.
In sight, the old man Taoist Ji Xiang and the young Taoist Ji Yang have climbed a sloping mountain path and are quickly disappearing from view.
Only then did we follow them.
Of course, the young Taoist driving the car didn't follow us. It was only myself, Zhang Si, and Lao Gong the ghost.
Passing the car in front, we stepped onto the mountain path. Lao Gong softly exclaimed, "Hm..."
"Enchantment?"
I was about to stop and take a look, but Lao Gong shook his head: "No problem. He has knowledge of Feng Shui, so it's normal for him to set up some enchantments in front of his home."
Zhang Si also nodded.
We continued on ahead.
About ten minutes later, a dilapidated Daoist temple appeared in sight, with peach trees planted in front of the door.
The courtyard of the temple was not enclosed by a wall, just a solitary old house.
At a distance, we could see a mud sculpture statue standing in the old Daoist hall.
The thin coffin was placed under the mud sculpture, and the master and disciple Ji Xiang and Ji Yang were constantly wrapping red strings, sticking talismans, and preparing for defense.
We did not approach closer to the temple. From this angle, we couldn't see inside the temple, so we might not be noticed if we walked a few steps further.
"Sealing the coffin and binding the body, it seems to have no major issues." Zhang Si frowned.
"I didn't say it before, did I? He even tricks his disciples," Lao Gong reminded.
"Hmm." Zhang Si's demeanor was serious, and he did not relax.
After waiting for about ten more minutes, inside the old Daoist hall, there remained only a thin coffin, surrounded by white candles. Ji Xiang and Ji Yang had disappeared.
Lao Gong clicked his tongue and whispered, "It looks like the master and disciple are taking a break. But we don't know what Ji Kuai is up to. Alright, let's go and take a look ahead."
Only then did Lao Gong remind us to proceed forward.
Soon, we reached the main gate of the old Daoist temple. Upon closer inspection, it was confirmed that the coffin was indeed secure, sealed by some special means. There were no problems within the temple either.
Lao Gong's entire body emerged silently, and just at that moment, a series of wind chimes beneath the eaves of the hall seemed to start swinging.
A little purple mist began to float out of his body, and as it wrapped around the wind chimes, the wind chimes emitted a burst of white smoke, without making any sound. The surface immediately rusted and melted...
This scene shocked Zhang Si's eyes wide open.
"Purple? What level of ghost is this? Not a green ghost?" Zhang Si's voice was weak, but his shock was intense.
