Though I said that, I still felt uneasy. I was asked to handle a matter, only for all the attention to be stolen by Gou Danzi in the end. That feeling was unbearable, like being slapped in the face.
"Village Chief, it's really fine. If Gou Danzi wants to be the village's shaman, you agree, and you don't need to comfort me here. Don't worry, I'm fine."
The Village Chief sighed and shook his head. "Then Qingyun, you should go back and rest first!"
I nodded and turned to walk home. Hearing the Village Chief's approval of Gou Danzi behind me, I felt like I had swallowed a fly.
I just don't know how long they will be happy. Perhaps they will be crying tomorrow?
Back home, I pushed open the courtyard gate. Bai Ling'er was still coiled on my master's recliner, and Huang San, with his descendants, was laboriously roasting rabbits on a branch. The rabbits were roasted to a golden brown, and the oil dripped onto the fire, making sizzling sounds.
"Ling'er, why are you having a barbecue at home again? Do you really think this is a barbecue joint?"
Facing my questioning, Bai Ling'er didn't even lift her head. "What's it to you? I already asked the Ancestral Master, and I even offered him a roasted rabbit. He didn't have any objections, so what are you complaining about?"
"Wh-what? You offered the Ancestral Master roasted rabbit?"
I stumbled, almost tripping over the threshold. I felt an urge to vomit three liters of blood. I knew Bai Ling'er sometimes did outrageous things, but I never expected her to be this outrageous.
Who offers roasted rabbit to the Ancestral Master? Isn't that asking for trouble? If the Ancestral Master gets angry, I'll be skinned alive even if I don't die. This isn't just roasting a rabbit; it's practically roasting me!
Without bothering to scold it, I rushed into the ancestral hall to apologize to the Ancestral Master. Upon entering, I saw no roasted rabbit on the offering table, but instead, a plate of wild dates.
Seeing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was clear that the wild dates were the "roasted rabbit" Bai Ling'er mentioned. I lit an incense stick for the Ancestral Master and asked him not to blame Bai Ling'er for her mischief before leaving the hall.
In the courtyard, Bai Ling'er was heartily enjoying the rabbit roasted by Huang San, completely ignoring me standing in front of it with a dark expression.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't stand in front of this young lady and delay my meal."
I was so angry my teeth itched, but I couldn't do anything about it. However, I still had to warn it. I said, "Ling'er, I don't care how you mess around outside, but don't turn your master's house into a mess. If the Ancestral Master gets angry, I won't be able to protect you."
"I know, why are you so naggy? You're almost like an old woman, so annoying..."
"..."
Seeing that it was incorrigible, I sighed and turned to go inside to pack my things, preparing to go to the small river east of the village to see what was going on.
Gou Danzi tampering with these children couldn't have been a simple attempt to become the village shaman. Besides, shamans wouldn't use crooked methods to detain children's souls.
On the surface, these children's souls had returned, but their eyes were vacant. And the first thing each child did upon waking was to cry, and they cried terribly, as if they were being beaten with sticks. After crying for a while, they fell asleep again.
Gou Danzi's explanation for this was that the children were too young and their souls were unstable, so they were a bit weak after waking up. They would be fine after a few days of rest. I didn't believe his words, but the children's parents and aunts did. Even the Village Chief, who didn't believe Gou Danzi, eventually compromised and believed he had saved the children. Su Dan Novel Network.
But I knew that the children's souls had only been temporarily "borrowed" back, and their temporary clarity was just that – temporary. Their souls were still being held captive by evil spirits by the riverside.
After packing, as soon as I stepped out, I felt something flash past my feet, and Huang San's voice reached my ears.
"Oh, Mr. Song, can't you watch where you're going? You almost stepped on me."
I frowned and looked at him. "What trick are you playing now? Weren't you just roasting rabbits?"
Huang San's eyes darted around, and he chuckled. "Another rabbit is roasted, and I wanted Mr. Song to taste my craftsmanship and see if there are any areas for improvement."
I was amused by Huang San's words. As the saying goes, unsolicited kindness is either a plot or theft. Weasels visiting chickens are never well-intentioned. How could Huang San, who had been cultivating for who knows how many years, be so kind as to ask if I had eaten?
"I'm not hungry, and I don't have time. Be careful with the fire at home, and don't burn the house down." After saying that, I walked past Huang San, intending to leave, but in a blink of an eye, he blocked my path again.
"Mr. Song, please wait..."
Seeing Huang San blocking my way again, I became a little displeased. "What exactly do you want? If you don't give me a clear explanation, don't blame me for kicking you out."
Huang San quickly explained, "I don't mean anything else. I just feel like Mr. Song has something going on. If you need help, just ask. I, Huang San, will go through fire and water for you without hesitation."
I sneered inwardly. If I asked for your help, who knows how you would scheme against me. I can't afford a "benefactor" like you.
"Thank you for your kindness. You'd better stay home and be Bai Ling'er's cook. Watch the fire and don't let it go out..." After saying that, I didn't care if Huang San had anything else to explain and turned to head towards the small river east of the village.
The small river east of the village is about three kilometers from my master's house. On both sides of the main road are several responsibility fields. The corn has already grown to be taller than a person, and when the wind blows, it rustles, sounding like thousands of horses galloping in battle. If a timid person were to come out at night, they would surely wet their pants from fear.
When I reached the river, it was almost completely dark. I walked dozens of steps upstream and downstream, but I didn't feel any Yin energy or smell the scent of wild spirits, which made me frown.
It seems I have to use some means!
"Heaven and Earth Infinite, Borrowing Power - Yin Seeking Talisman."
The yellow talisman was lit and transformed into a blue dragonfly, circling in the air before flying towards the opposite bank of the river.
I followed the footsteps of the Yin Seeking Talisman, crossed the river, and entered the forest. After many twists and turns, I arrived at a small mountain hollow. In the hollow, there was a small mound with a stone standing on it. Under the stone was a piece of yellow paper.
I jumped into the hollow, kicked away the stone, and reached out to pick up the yellow paper. Before I could even grab it, a piercing shriek came from my side, and I felt a fierce wind blowing towards me.
I had no choice but to give up the idea of taking the yellow paper, as I might get injured.
A rat the size of a cat appeared where I had just been standing. Its eyes, as small as mung beans, emitted a dark green light, and it made a "you you" sound from its mouth.
Looking at the rat in front of me, my face was a little stunned. How many years would it take to cultivate to be this big? Although the strength of wild spirits is not judged by their size, a cat-sized rat suddenly appearing in front of you is something that anyone would find hard to accept.
"Did you detain the children's souls?"