Aunt Zhao had Zhao Xiaowu carry the Zhao clan elder, while Zhao Xiaoqi went to Zhao Nanying's house to inform the others.
She instructed Aunt Zhao Er to take good care of Grandma Zhao, and then she ran towards the west side of the village.
When the Zhao clan elder woke up again and saw a large group of men guarding the room, his heart finally settled.
"Father, father, mother, my father is awake."
Grandma Zhao finally came back to her senses at her son's shout. She rushed to the bedside in two steps and started crying, patting the quilt incessantly.
"You scoundrel, you scared me to death. What on earth happened? You were fine last night, why did you go to that wilderness?"
"I... I encountered a ghost. Really, a female ghost in red. She must have taken me there. I was definitely possessed by her last night. I think she probably drowned in that lake and wanted to take me as a substitute."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the room froze.
Zhao Laoda laughed heartily, "Father, you sure can joke. How could such a small pond drown someone? I think you were just confused in your sleep last night, got that 'soul departure syndrome', and went there yourself."
"I'm this old, can't I tell the difference between a dream and reality? I've been honest my whole life. This thing, this thing, I don't know whose evil deeds caused it."
Seeing that his eldest son didn't believe him, the Zhao clan elder's temper flared up. He angrily slammed the bed.
"Father, don't talk nonsense. If your daughters-in-law hear you, you'll be happy. Why are you making a big deal out of this? You'll be fine after a few days of rest."
"Yes, old man. Don't scare yourself. Who would commit evil deeds in our family? You just rest well."
"Even you don't believe me. All of you, get out. Wait, just guard outside, don't go too far."
Seeing how agitated he was, everyone did as he said. They brought long benches and sat outside the house.
Grandma Zhao closed the door and sat beside the Zhao clan elder.
"Old man, tell me the truth, do you have any connection with that female ghost?"
"I really don't. She was wearing a wedding dress, and her face was swollen like a risen dough. I can guarantee I've never seen this person before."
"Then could it be some old object from that pond? We must have provoked it accidentally. Eldest daughter-in-law, go invite someone to exorcise our whole family."
"Do you think this will be useful? I don't want to experience what happened last night again. I feel sick just thinking about it."
"It will be alright. After we're done, we'll burn some paper and offer incense there. If it's really not working, we'll fill up that pond. Can the dead still fight against the living?"
The Zhao clan elder tightly grasped Grandma Zhao's hand. "What you said makes sense. We won't have any trouble if we're not afraid."
A moment later, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Aunt Zhao entered with a woman nearly fifty years old carrying a small bundle.
She was short and hunched, wearing a blue floral shirt and dusty gray pants.
Her right eye was covered with a black eye patch, rumored to have been blinded during a fight with evil spirits. Known in the jianghu as Aunt Xie, she was a skilled exorcist.
At this moment, Grandma Zhao had helped the Zhao clan elder out. He had felt the room was too cold and only felt more comfortable sitting in the sun.
As soon as Aunt Xie entered the courtyard, she walked directly towards him, circling him three times with her cane.
"This is not simple. The resentment is blue mixed with black. Old man Zhao, you should make arrangements for your final affairs."
"No, this cannot be. Sister Xie, please help us. Our family will do whatever you say."
Aunt Xie shook her head and stomped her cane on the ground a few times. She looked up at the sky and then sighed.
"It seems to be fate. Heaven insists that I subdue this thing. Alas, go prepare three copper coins and a large rooster, one that has crowed."
Zhao Laoda suddenly interjected, "Mother, where do we have a rooster? Father's condition is just an illness. Make sure to watch him when he sleeps next time."
Grandma Zhao, seeing Aunt Xie's darkened expression, ran over and hit Zhao Laoda.
"If you don't understand, don't butt in. My sleep is very light. I had no idea when your father went out yesterday. If we don't have a rooster, we can go buy one. Your father and I are not dead yet, and you don't get to call the shots in this family."
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more. You all just wait to be cheated. Believe whatever they say."
After saying that, he went to sit under the eaves.
Grandma Zhao stamped her foot in anger. "This child is ignorant. Sister Xie, please don't take it to heart. I apologize on his behalf."
"Hmph, if it weren't for the sake of you two, I would have left long ago."
"Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Sister Xie, for your trouble today. I thank you in advance. Juan'er, hurry and go buy a rooster for Grandma."
Grandma Zhao gave her some money and then had Sister Zhao go get a small rooster from the coop to exchange.
"Go and come back soon. Try to pick a colorful one."
"Okay, I will."
"Go move a table and place it outside. We also need to prepare some boy's urine."
"Xiao Ba, go get that thing quickly. Xiaowu and Liuliu, you two go move that big wooden table out."
"Okay."
With all preparations complete, the Zhao clan elder sat in a chair, leaning against the large wooden table.
Aunt Xie muttered strange incantations, constantly chopping the air on both sides of the Zhao clan elder with her wooden sword. The process was very long.
Then, she picked up a bell with one hand and began to shake it, circling the table and the Zhao clan elder. With the other hand, she held the boy's urine and sprinkled it on the Zhao clan elder bit by bit.
The yellow paper on the table suddenly caught fire without any ignition, startling all the Zhao family members. Aunt Xie handed the remaining boy's urine in the container to the Zhao clan elder, signaling him to drink it.
For the sake of his life, the Zhao clan elder drank it without hesitation. Then, Aunt Xie walked to the front of the table, put down her things, picked up the three pieces of yellow paper that had been pressed by the bell, and lit them with a fire starter.
She threw them into a bowl filled with water. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and signaled to everyone that the ritual was over.
"All of you drink a mouthful of this talisman water. After I get home, I will invite holy water for you. Then, sprinkle some in each room, and you will never be disturbed by evil spirits again."
"Alright, alright, thank you for your trouble, Sister Xie."
Having witnessed her abilities, everyone obediently drank the talisman water. The Zhao clan elder felt nauseous and vomited profusely.
Grandma Zhao rushed to pat his back, concerned. "Sister Xie, what's going on?"
"It's nothing, it's a good sign. It means the impurities are being expelled."
"Old man, did you hear that? You're better!"
Grandma Zhao wiped tears of excitement from her eyes. At this moment, the rooster tied to the leg of the table began to flap its wings.
Zhao Xiaoba stared at the chicken with shining eyes. "Grandma Xie, can this chicken be slaughtered and eaten after the ritual?"
"This is a token of my communication with the deities for their assistance. I need to take it back and raise it for a while before it can be offered to the gods."
Zhao Xiaoba's face fell instantly. "Is that so? Being a spirit medium is great. Grandma Xie, can you take me as your disciple?"
"You must have a connection with the divine."
This was clearly a refusal. Grandma Zhao, afraid that the children might offend Aunt Xie with their ignorance, quickly took out the copper coins wrapped in red paper from her pocket and handed them to Aunt Xie.
"Sister Xie, thank you so much today."
"It's nothing. I'll be going back now. Once I have the holy water, I will personally deliver it."
"Yes, yes, yes, please go slowly."
Aunt Xie's face finally showed a smile after she returned home with the chicken. She was nothing but a swindler.
Years ago, she had been exposed and beaten, losing her eye, which led her back to the village. She had grown tired of her mundane life there.
So, she returned to her old profession. She would investigate any incidents in the village beforehand.
With a few well-chosen words and some persuasion, she would get the money and goods. She was cautious and discreet, always maintaining a solemn expression to appear unfathomable, never revealing any flaws in front of outsiders.