My martial uncle was truly good to Old Mo and me.
He claimed he was afraid of getting entangled with the karma of Mother Wudi and didn't dare to eat her whiskers.
In reality, he just wanted to leave this treasure for Old Mo and me to consume.
This medicinal wine had already been prepared for the two of us.
All I could do was engrave this kindness deeply in my heart.
Taking the medicinal wine from my martial uncle's hand,
I sincerely nodded to him and said,
"Thank you, Martial Uncle."
My martial uncle grunted,
"Alright then!
How about letting Martial Uncle give you a few acupuncture treatments to relax your muscles and invigorate your blood?
It could speed up your recovery!"
After speaking, my martial uncle brought the wine gourd to his lips and took a sip.
He let out a belch.
"Urrgh..."
The sound was drawn out, accompanied by a strong scent of alcohol.
My martial uncle's acupuncture skills were indeed excellent, that much was true.
Even when my master was alive, he often mentioned that my martial uncle's acupuncture techniques were superb.
But looking at my martial uncle's drunken state,
and recalling how Old Mo had wailed like a ghost after being needled by my martial uncle at noon, I felt a pang of unease.
I waved my hands repeatedly,
"Uh, Martial Uncle, I have something to do.
Next time, next time, alright?
Old Mo, Martial Uncle, I'll be heading back now..."
With that said, I directly walked towards the door.
I was genuinely afraid my martial uncle would push me onto the sofa and start needling me.
"Xiao Qin, why are you running?
Don't you trust your Martial Uncle?
Never mind then.
Xiao Mo, you come here.
Your master has thought of a new acupuncture technique. Lie down."
"Ah? Master, I, I think it's best not to do it?"
"..."
Faintly, I could still hear the conversation between Old Mo and my martial uncle from within Wanshou Hall.
All I could do was pray for Old Mo...
Taking the medicinal wine my martial uncle gave me, I returned to the shop.
I had run too fast earlier, and it had pulled on my wound.
I noticed the bandage on my chest had been stained red with blood again.
But it wasn't a major problem.
After eating Mother Wudi's whiskers tonight, my recovery should be swift, I thought.
I hadn't planned on opening for business today anyway.
After resting for a while in the room, I took a box of spirit money and yuanbao, along with several paper figurines, to the backyard.
Xiao Mei had stopped watching television and was now sleeping in her den in the backyard.
As she inhaled and exhaled, spiritual energy swirled around her, indicating she was cultivating through breathing.
I didn't disturb her, but instead set up a brazier in a corner.
I also brought my master's spirit tablet over.
With the spirit tablet present, there was no need to write birth date and eight characters charms, which was much less troublesome.
I lit incense and candles, paying respects to my master.
Now that I had successfully extended my lifespan, I had to report my safety to my master below.
I remembered my master saying that it was very costly for him to appear in my dreams and use the "Returning Light Mirror."
I would burn more spirit money for my master, so I wouldn't have to worry about him being rushed next time he appeared in my dreams.
I lit the spirit money, and as I burned it, I began to speak,
"Master, the red-skinned fire ghost has been killed by our combined efforts.
Your disciple has also successfully extended his life.
I'm no longer using the Ghost Life Money bracelet; I'm now using the Purple Bone Vine, which is more effective.
Today, I'm burning more spirit money and yuanbao for you.
Don't be stingy with spending it down there. If you need more, just let your disciple know, and I'll burn it for you.
Also, you were single your entire life.
I'm burning these paper figurines for you too, so they can serve you down there..."
I spoke as if I were chatting about everyday matters, squatting by the brazier, burning paper and talking.
Although I couldn't see my master for extended periods,
the thought of my master being incorporated into the celestial bureaucracy down there, becoming a Yin Messenger,
even if he was just a doorkeeper, still made me quite happy.
At least he no longer had to suffer the pains of reincarnation.
When I die and go down there, I could see my master again and continue our master-disciple bond.
I burned more than half the spirit money in the shop, continuing until it was dark.
Spirit money, yuanbao, paper figurines, paper houses, paper cars, a brand new iPhone, etc., whatever could be burned, I burned it all.
I hadn't been able to properly show filial piety to my master when he was alive.
Even after his death, I couldn't let him be a poor ghost.
After finishing the burning, I took my master's spirit tablet back into the room.
It was already dark.
My stomach was also hungry, so I went to a nearby restaurant and had a rice bowl, then returned to the shop.
I still felt very uncomfortable all over; many places ached.
I changed my dressing, then sat cross-legged in my bedroom to practice breathing.
Sixteen streams of true qi flowed within my dantian, and wood-attribute spiritual energy permeated my entire body, accelerating my recovery and the improvement of my cultivation.
Before I knew it, it was midnight.
I checked the time; it was almost twelve midnight.
This was the time my martial uncle had mentioned for consuming Mother Wudi's whiskers.
I retrieved the medicinal wine and whiskers my martial uncle had given me.
Looking at the ten-centimeter-long rat whiskers in my hand, which still looked quite stiff, they were rather difficult to swallow.
These things were meant to be chewed raw.
I could only imagine them as scallions and took a bite.
They were harder to chew than gluten, and quite tough on the teeth.
They made "bang bang" sounds as I chewed them in my mouth. Fortunately, they didn't have any strange taste.
Once I felt they were crushed, I took a sip of my martial uncle's medicinal wine.
But this medicinal wine, I didn't know what it was brewed with, it was very potent and strong.
Moreover, it was high-proof white liquor, and its pungent, spicy flavor was almost unbearable.
But for the sake of my own rapid recovery, I had to pinch my nose and swallow.
Holding the plastic bottle of red medicinal wine in one hand and a ten-centimeter-long rat whisker in the other,
I chewed and drank simultaneously.
The taste was truly unpleasant.
Yet, I absolutely couldn't stop; I could only endure the discomfort and swallow...