Chu Yu remained in a deep slumber, her breathing even and showing no signs of discomfort. Her complexion had even improved significantly.
At this moment, Uncle Zhang, in gratitude for our help, had his private chef prepare a lavish meal for us in the house. We decided to stay, as we needed to send off the soul of Steward Li's wife later.
The spread was truly abundant, with the chef introducing each dish. Many of the ingredients were completely new to me. Mo Ting and I ate heartily, but our master didn't partake much. Daoist Master Tang enjoyed his drink, and Uncle Zhang had some fine wines on hand, which he didn't hesitate to share. My master ate a little, then sat with Uncle Zhang, smoking and chatting.
Uncle Zhang expressed his disbelief in such matters during the first half of his life. Today, however, had broadened his horizons, revealing the existence of skilled Daoists like us behind the scenes of society. He was filled with admiration and even suggested that my master and Daoist Master Tang become Feng Shui consultants for his company. My master and Daoist Master Tang simply smiled and did not commit.
After dinner, we rested for a while. It was past nine in the evening. The Hour of the Boar was also the optimal time for soul sending. Thus, after a brief rest, our masters prepared to head to the villa's backyard to send off Steward Li's wife and child.
The reasons were twofold:
First, to fulfill Steward Li's wish, allowing him to serve us with peace of mind and to lure out the mastermind behind the scenes.
Second, to send off this mother and child, who had lingered in the mortal realm for ten years, which was also an act of accumulating merit. Although they had committed some wrongdoings, they were not inherently malevolent spirits. They would likely face some punishment in the afterlife, but they were misguided by a demon and controlled by the box. My master had also promised to write them a plea talisman, to ensure they received a lighter sentence from the underworld judges. After all, in our line of work, from the moment of initiation, we have been marked by incense and burnt talismans, as if registered in the underworld. We are, in essence, external "on-duty personnel" of the mortal realm. A plea talisman would offer some benefit to the mother and child.
Just as we were about to leave, the black-clad bodyguards who had left earlier returned to the villa, escorting a bruised and battered middle-aged man. It was clear this was the person responsible for Chu Yue's predicament, the one who had brought back the "evil horse entangled with a snake" curse from his business trip to Dongyang Island. The situation suggested that Zhang Youguo would not let him off lightly.
As they approached us, the two black-clad bodyguards roughly threw the man onto the ground. The man, sprawled on the floor, gasped for breath and frantically knelt before Zhang Youguo.
"Mr. Zhang, I apologize, I apologize. I had no idea that figurine would harm the young lady. I… I am innocent, innocent…"
Zhang Youguo, incensed, kicked him in the face. "Innocent? With your birth date and hair, you claim innocence? You almost killed my daughter, do you know that?"
Zhang Youguo’s anger was that of a father. The man, kicked over, crawled back on his knees. "Mr. Zhang, I… I know I was wrong, so wrong…"
Zhang Youguo suppressed his rage and gestured to the bodyguards beside him. The two bodyguards nodded understandingly. They grabbed the man and began to drag him away… Only the man’s terrified cries for help could be heard. Zhang Youguo then addressed my master and Daoist Master Tang, "Daoist Masters, please excuse me. You are free to do as you please, I won't disturb you." It was evident that Zhang Youguo was going to deal with the man who had harmed his daughter. We watched this unfold with cold indifference. Such a person deserved it. We had no interest in contemplating what Zhang Youguo would do to him. Afterward, Zhang Youguo left with an imposing demeanor.
We, along with Steward Li and his group, headed directly to the backyard to send off Steward Li's wife and child. Upon arriving in the backyard and seeing the vast garden and its complete amenities, Mo Ting let out another gasp of surprise. My master found an open space.
"This will do!" he declared. Daoist Master Tang then took out the Yin-Yang Eight Trigram Bag containing the mother and child spirits. Untying the rope, the two spirits emerged. To better observe the entire process, Mo Ting and I activated our Heavenly Eyes. After all, these spirits had lingered in the mortal realm for too long. Ordinary soul-sending methods would not suffice to dispatch them. They required more specialized techniques…
Once they appeared, the mother and child spirits embraced Steward Li again. However, Steward Li's face was now bandaged, making him resemble a mummy, but he no longer looked as terrifying as before. Simultaneously, Mo Ting and I began to light incense and burn paper money. The incense was for sustenance, to give them strength for their journey. The paper money was for their passage toll in the underworld…
"Steward Li, please ask them to come and eat some incense! They need to be full to set off," I called out. Hearing this, Steward Li said, "Thank you." He then led his wife and child towards us. They bowed to us and expressed their thanks before standing before the offering incense, inhaling the curling smoke. Wisps of smoke were drawn into their mouths and noses. The incense burned rapidly and soon dwindled. Steward Li, holding the paper money we had given him, crouched beside them, burning it continuously. With a choked voice, he said, "Eat more, take the money, and set off well. In this life, I made you suffer…"
I approached my master and asked, "Master, can we perform the ritual to send them off now?" My master, holding the box, checked the time. "The box still cannot be opened. We must wait a while longer! The remains of this mother and child are locked within this box. We need to open the box, burn the remains, break the seals, and release the locks. Otherwise, if we send them off now, they will be dragged back before dawn tomorrow."