The surrounding Wei family relatives and Qing Shi Village villagers, who were unaware of the situation, were now chattering and casting doubts on Old Mo and me.
The Wei family naturally didn't mind. They had witnessed our abilities firsthand. We were certainly not the "old Southern Daoists" they described...
Old Mo and I listened, feeling a bit uncomfortable. However, true gold fears no fire. We didn't refute them, but focused on our tasks.
What happened next instantly dispelled the doubts about us. As we were performing the ritual, the little fox ran out from the house and sat before our altar. It wasn't afraid of people and curiously watched everyone around. Seeing this, the onlookers were stunned into disbelief. Some elders exclaimed, "A white fox delivering the coffin! This means the Wei family has received good fortune and blessings."
Villagers gasped, staring at the little fox. But Xiao Mei was too human-like. Having attained spiritual awareness, her gaze was different. This further convinced the villagers that it was a spirit fox from the mountains.
Because the little fox was obstructing my ritual, I said to it, "Xiao Mei, move aside." Xiao Mei glanced at me, gave a soft "Mm," and trotted away obediently. It didn't make a fuss.
This scene left the surrounding villagers utterly astonished. The entire scene froze. They stared at Xiao Mei, wide-eyed, hardly believing their ears. A white fox, a spirit beast from the mountains, came to deliver the coffin and even obeyed the young Daoist, responding with an "Mm" earlier. This showed its profound spirituality. Such a spiritual white fox obeying me suggested that our cultivation could not be measured by age.
"This... this Daoist priest is so capable, able to command such a spiritual white fox?"
"Indeed. I heard this is the kid from the Qin family in the next village. He even killed the malicious yellow immortal in the mountains before!"
"Ah! I heard that too, is it him?"
"That's right! Don't let his young age fool you, his skills are immense!"
"..."
Amidst the murmurs, Old Mo's and my reputations were quickly recognized by all the villagers. Without further ado, after finishing the ritual, Old Mo let out a low growl, "Lift the coffin!"
Since it was cremation now, only ashes remained. Thus, lifting the coffin only required the direct descendants to carry it. Wei Laoda didn't hesitate and stepped forward, holding Mr. Wei's urn. I scattered some paper money and then, drawing out my words, said, "On your way..."
I walked ahead, scattering paper money to clear the path, followed by Wei Laoda holding the urn and the Wei family relatives. Old Mo brought up the rear, scattering rice and paper. Xiao Mei also followed us, walking step by step within the crowd.
Under the gaze of everyone, the entire village was abuzz. They all rushed to see the white fox. At the same time, the Wei family felt incredibly proud. Just a few days ago, when Mr. Wei's coffin couldn't be lowered, their family had been subjected to gossip from the villagers. They were saying bad things about the Wei family behind their backs, accusing them of wrongdoing, being unfilial, and causing Mr. Wei's death, which was why the coffin couldn't be lowered or sent off. The rumors grew more outlandish. While there was a kernel of truth in some of it, most of it had strayed far from the facts. But now, with the spirit fox delivering the coffin, this grand ceremony made countless villagers envious. Mountain folk believed in spirit beasts from the mountains, especially creatures like foxes, weasels, and snakes. The spirit fox delivering the coffin silenced the villagers.
Before long, we arrived at the cemetery. Although I wasn't yet proficient in geomancy, I had learned the basic principles. Geomancy, or Feng Shui, concerns places with good winds and water, and favorable celestial and terrestrial energies. Such places offer warmth in winter and coolness in summer, protecting against floods and disasters. These are considered good locations. To differentiate them precisely would require a lifetime of study, and even then, mastery would be difficult.
I scanned the surroundings. Here, the mountains were continuous, with lush green hills and clear waters. Beside us, there was a small waterfall. The place was vibrant, filled with the fragrance of flowers and the songs of birds. Even an ordinary person could tell it was a beautiful, scenic spot.
However, I noticed that this Feng Shui layout bore a resemblance to a particular geomantic formation described in a book I had read: the "Jade Ring Belt." The "Jade Ring Belt" formation refers to a semicircular arrangement where a watercourse or road encircles a house or grave. The dwelling or grave lies within this arc. The encircling road and flowing water create the appearance of a belt wrapped around it. Such Feng Shui is called the "Jade Ring Belt." Mr. Wei's chosen burial site was such a formation.
As I was observing, Wei Lao San suddenly approached me. "Daoist Priest Qin, Daoist Priest Mo, this is the auspicious land my father chose during his lifetime. A wandering Daoist priest recommended it to him, saying it was a good spot. What are your opinions, both of you?" Wei Lao San asked with a smile, clearly testing our geomancy knowledge. At the same time, he wanted us to showcase our skills in front of the relatives and villagers, bringing honor to the Wei family and silencing those who doubted our age.
But he didn't know that while we possessed cultivation and could subdue ghosts, geomancy was still in its nascent stages for us. Old Mo became somewhat embarrassed, stammering. Clearly, he hadn't grasped the subtleties of the Feng Shui here and looked at me, bewildered. Besides Old Mo, the villagers and Wei family relatives all turned their gazes towards us. If we couldn't say anything insightful, we would truly lose face...