Wang Mazi's story left me bewildered. Master once told me a saying, "a string of ghost stories," meaning one shouldn't believe everything ghosts say; only a part, or you'd be led astray and die without even knowing how.
From Wang Mazi's words, it was clear he was a "victim." The only wrong he did was harboring improper thoughts towards Xiao Nuan, but he didn't succeed, and he even offered compensation afterward. While Wang Mazi's wife acted wrongly, it didn't warrant the extermination of their entire family.
Regardless, it was Wang Mazi's wife who proposed taking in Xiao Nuan. This kindness should have prevented her from harming his entire family even in death. If someone had to be blamed, it should have been Wang Mazi and his wife. Involving their two daughters made no sense.
This left me unable to pinpoint the root of the matter. Just then, Bai Ling'er outside the window suddenly spoke, asking if I wanted to eat lamb, which jolted me.
Right! How could I forget this?
All ghosts have a "first seven return soul night." Although Xiao Nuan wasn't a ghost from Huaxia, she died on this land and was naturally bound by the laws of the underworld. Even if she wished to disobey, she couldn't defy the laws of the netherworld.
"Did she… did she return on her first seven? Did you burn offerings for her?"
Wang Mazi quickly replied, "How could I forget? I knew she died unjustly, so I naturally wouldn't forget. My wife even feared she'd be lonely and specifically burned a man for her…"
A man?
I felt an urge to spray him with mosquito repellent. His wife wasn't afraid of her being lonely; she was paying to send away a fox spirit! However, this could be understood. With a death in the family for no reason, and being murdered at that, it would be strange if they didn't have suspicions.
Because Master was in the village, almost every family that experienced a funeral handled it flawlessly. They'd rather spend more money to make it grand than risk malevolent spirits appearing afterward.
So, when Wang Mazi said he burned offerings for her first seven, I no longer doubted him. After all, he had been in the wrong earlier. But since he had done what was necessary, why was Xiao Nuan still holding a grudge and killing his entire family? This was hard to fathom.
Thinking this, I asked Wang Mazi if he knew Xiao Nuan's birth date and time.
Wang Mazi shook his head and said, "I don't know that, but the day she died was her birthday. Otherwise, why would they have been drinking together then…"
According to Wang Mazi, I calculated Xiao Nuan's birth date and time. Then, I took a "Yin Exchange Talisman" from the ancestral altar, preparing to summon Xiao Nuan to ask her. Once two ghosts confronted each other, the truth of who was right and who was wrong would be clear.
With everything prepared, I didn't rush to act. The Yin consultation had its rules; I wouldn't work for free. So, I turned my gaze to Wang Mazi, making him somewhat flustered.
Wang Mazi excitedly rubbed his hands and said, "Qingyun, don't you believe your Uncle Wang? I've told you nothing but the truth!"
I smiled and said, "Of course, I believe what Uncle Wang says. You're also an elder in the village and know the rules for my Master's consultations, so…"
I didn't explicitly state the rest. Although I didn't have my Master's power, I felt too embarrassed to ask for money in front of the ancestors. What if the ancestors thought I was greedy for profit and stopped protecting me? I wouldn't even have a place to cry.
Wang Mazi was taken aback at first, then showed a look of sudden realization. He understood. As long as he knew why Xiao Nuan killed his entire family, he was willing to pay for the consultation. After all, his family was dead, and the money was useless to them. He told me he'd inform me where his bank card was hidden after the matter was resolved, and I could retrieve it myself.
I chuckled and said, "Uncle Wang, you're too kind…"
After offering incense to the ancestors, I took out a yellow paper and, with swift strokes, wrote Xiao Nuan's birth date and time on it, then lit it… while chanting the incantation to summon Yin souls.
"Great Emperor of the Underworld, residing in the four directions, countless souls heed your command. Quickly summon Xiao Nuan to answer questions. By decree!"
The yellow paper with Xiao Nuan's birth date and time then burned to ashes in mid-air. This indicated that Xiao Nuan was still in our village. Once she arrived, we could clarify the matter, and the underworld would judge who was right and who was wrong.
I told Wang Mazi to wait inside the house while I ran to the courtyard. First, to open the door for Xiao Nuan so she could enter smoothly; otherwise, if she forced her way in, she might be scattered by the ancestors. Second, I was hungry.
I don't know how Bai Ling'er managed it, but the lamb roasted by some weasels smelled even better than the lamb Zhang Dabiao and I roasted in Molu Village. Heaven and earth are secondary; my stomach came first. While waiting for Xiao Nuan to arrive, eating something wasn't a waste of time.
Two bonfires were lit in the courtyard. Bai Ling'er, like a lord, had somehow moved Master's recliner into the courtyard and was lying on it, with two weasels pushing it to rock.
Several other weasels stood on stools, laboriously turning the lamb. Seeing their fur matted with sweat, I felt that being a weasel was harder than being a human.
Before I could get close, Bai Ling'er's voice came from the recliner, "Don't even think about the lamb. You bought this for me. If you want to eat, buy your own and roast it yourself…"
My mind raced. It had just called me out to eat meat, and now it changed its mind? Its attitude changed too quickly! Besides, I paid for the sheep, and I provided the place to roast it. As the owner of this courtyard, it was only natural for me to eat something. Why did it sound like it was the owner and I was the guest?
From the first time I roasted lamb for Bai Ling'er, I understood one thing: when it came to food, arguing with it would always leave me at a disadvantage. So, I could only swallow my frustration.
"You got me…"
Swallowing my saliva, I glared at the golden-brown roasted lamb, inwardly cursing Bai Ling'er for being heartless.
First, I opened the courtyard gate and reminded Bai Ling'er not to drive anyone away if they came. After receiving its agreement, I went to the kitchen and casually boiled some noodles for myself to appease my stomach.
It had been more than ten minutes after I finished eating. Looking at the empty courtyard, I couldn't help but frown. Why hadn't Xiao Nuan arrived yet?
Our village wasn't large. At this rate, I could run around the village once. Let alone Xiao Nuan, who was a ghost. Even if she were in the county town, she should have arrived by now.
Seeing Bai Ling'er devouring the lamb, I turned my gaze to it, suspecting, "No one came?"
With its mouth full of lamb, Bai Ling'er replied indistinctly, "No person came, and no ghost came. Don't disturb me while I'm eating…" After speaking, perhaps to annoy me or for some other reason, it swallowed an entire lamb hind leg in one gulp.
Hmph!
I responded to Bai Ling'er's smugness with a disdainful snort. Returning to the house, I found Wang Mazi sitting on a chair, looking restless and pacing back and forth.
Seeing me return, he quickly asked, "She didn't come, did she?"
My first instinct was to say no, but I stopped mid-sentence. How did Wang Mazi know she hadn't come?
After all, this ancestral hall was presided over by the ancestors. No ghost could perceive anything outside once they entered. Could Wang Mazi have some sort of foresight?
This also made me question whether he was hiding something from me. Otherwise, how would he know Xiao Nuan wouldn't come? Another point was that if Wang Mazi had truly died unjustly, he wouldn't appear so anxious.
"Uncle Wang, are you hiding something from me?"
Wang Mazi's face showed embarrassment. "No… how could I be hiding anything? I've told you everything. I just saw you come back alone and Xiao Nuan didn't arrive, so I asked subconsciously."
"Oh…"
I replied absentmindedly and prepared to light another Yin Exchange Talisman. If Xiao Nuan still didn't appear, there would be a problem.
One possibility was that Xiao Nuan's soul wasn't in the village and had gone elsewhere. Another was that she was being controlled. Either scenario would affect my earnings. I just hoped it wasn't the latter…