Chapter 42 Ghost Cave Li Family

It wasn't yet midnight, but the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper was already preparing. Xiang Yatou lay on a soft couch in a room on the second floor, with several red threads tied to her body.

Some of these red threads were tied to her ankles, some to her wrists, and one end of another was placed in her mouth. It was unclear how, but she was made to bite down on it. All the red threads crisscrossed, forming a net around her, with small bells tied to it.

It looked eerie and mysterious.

The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper, on the other hand, had changed into a white robe, donned a tall hat, and tied a yellow talisman around his waist. He also took down the five small bottles he usually carried and placed them next to Xiang Yatou's head and limbs.

As he chanted silently, five small ghosts vaguely appeared amidst the swirling incense, kneeling around Xiang Yatou.

As midnight approached, he lit the incense and began to circle Xiang Yatou, chanting.

"Is this treating her illness?"

Hu Ma was also amazed, feeling it was more like a spell.

But Steward Xu had said that the Siming (Life Controller) Sect had the ability to determine life and death, to control fate, so they couldn't be underestimated.

He simply widened his eyes, adding to his experiences.

"One soul leaves the body, two souls remain, guarding the corpse's karma, protecting the body, the midnight bell rings, the person is quiet, the body is safe, the soul stable, awaiting the returning soul..."

As the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper's chanting grew louder and clearer, the five little ghosts suddenly raised their heads and pulled the red threads. Instantly, all the bells strung on the red threads began to ring, a continuous chorus of sound.

The sound was indescribably uncomfortable, as if the soul was about to be pulled from the body.

Hu Ma closed his eyes slightly, barely managing to suppress it. The surrounding shop assistants and Steward Zhou had already retreated a step, unable to withstand it.

And Xiang Yatou, in the middle of the ringing, was experiencing something unimaginable. Though her *sheng hun* (wandering soul) was detached from her body, and she was unconscious, she frowned as if in great pain.

At the peak of the ringing, the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper, who had been circling Xiang Yatou, suddenly stopped. Stepping in a strange pattern, he reached out and pulled a red thread gently.

*Whoosh!*

All the red threads were tied with slipknots. Seemingly complex, there was actually only one thread. With a pull, the red thread was suddenly drawn out, and all the bells strung on it rang one last time before falling around Xiang Yatou's body.

The sound gradually subsided, leaving the bells in a chaotic mess.

The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper squatted down, examining the bells. Hu Ma followed suit and was surprised to find that several of the bells were broken.

The others were unaware of the details, only watching the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper with concern. He observed for a long time, then beckoned for paper and pen, seemingly noting something down. Only then did he rise and invite Hu Ma and the old steward to sit down in the outer room.

"The girl you brought looks unwell. She is indeed in a state where her *sheng hun* has left her body and cannot return, but do you know what's more serious?"

He lowered his voice, "She has a nail hammered into her head."

"A nail?"

The old steward panicked upon hearing this.

Hu Ma suddenly remembered hearing Xiang Yatou mention this. He had examined her head and found no trace of a nail, but the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper had used the Siming Sect's methods to find it out.

The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper sighed and said, "A person has the *yuan jue hun* (Original Awareness Soul) and *sheng hun* (Wandering Soul), also known as the *wangsheng hun* (Rebirth Soul), *yinguo hun* (Karma Soul), and *shoushen hun* (Body-Guardian Soul)."

"Now, we see that she is only unconscious because her *sheng hun* has left her body, but the nail is the most serious problem. It has injured her *yuan hun*, preventing her from guarding her body."

"As a result, her remaining two souls are also crippled and injured. If the *sheng hun* returns too late, I fear her life cannot be saved."

"..."

Hu Ma didn't understand these things, so he listened carefully to broaden his knowledge.

But the old steward seemed to understand, and was both shocked and panicked. "Who would dare to be so ruthless to a young lady of the Ghost Cave Li family?"

"Grass Heart Hall helps people with their illnesses, but does not inquire into grudges."

The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper said, "But by not interfering, we have interfered. So, you don't need to worry too much. I will temporarily protect her with a longevity lock, so her life is not in immediate danger. But as for what to do specifically, my abilities are not sufficient. I will ask the young master for guidance before making a decision."

"However, the young master should be resting now, so I can only ask him tomorrow."

"Find a place to stay first, and come back early tomorrow morning!"

"..."

The old steward was worried about having to wait, and would have preferred to wake the young master immediately.

But Hu Ma realized this was an opportunity and agreed.

Grass Heart Hall kept patients, but not guests. Hu Ma had already refused Steward Xu's invitation, so it wasn't appropriate to go back now. He simply left to find an inn.

Seeing the old steward squatting by the Grass Heart Hall, looking pitiful, he felt a little helpless and called him over to stay at the inn together. It was late, so they didn't bother washing up and lay down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep.

Entering his Natal Spirit Temple, Miss White Wine was indeed already waiting.

Seeing Hu Ma enter the Spirit Temple, her voice rang out, "You're quite lucky, where did you pick up such a one?"

"This was truly a coincidence."

Hu Ma then explained how he had helped Yang Gong and how he had rescued the girl in passing.

However, he naturally didn't mention the Town-Age Book, only saying that his婆婆 (pópo - paternal grandmother) had left him a stick of incense that, when burned, could keep evil spirits away.

He told her everything that didn't involve his Hu family identity.

Including the fact that Xiang Yatou could lead souls in dreams.

"Since she is from the Ghost Cave Li family, it's not strange that she can lead souls."

Miss White Wine sighed, "You are truly lucky, to have picked up such a big opportunity."

Hu Ma had wanted to ask this for a long time and quickly said, "So, she really has quite the background?"

"She has a background, and it's not small."

Miss White Wine said, "The so-called Ghost Cave people refers to those in Lingshou Prefecture who are tasked by the Emperor to guard the Ghost Cave. It is said that there are natural Ghost Caves there, from which demons and evil spirits emerge to harm people."

"So, the Emperor who was in power at the time secretly sent several powerful figures with the ability to subdue demons and evil spirits to guard this evil place. Over time, those families took root and multiplied around it, becoming the Ghost Cave people of today."

"I personally examined the girl, and I can confirm that she is indeed from the family of cave guardians, and possesses some innate abilities."

"..."

Hu Ma thought, "You're talking about her innate ability to lead souls in dreams?"

"That's right."

Miss White Wine said, "Leading souls in dreams is no small ability. Many people in the various sects can't learn it even if they try. It's an ability that comes from her bloodline, and it's not fake."

Taking a deep breath, Hu Ma was certain that Xiang Yatou's background was unusual, and then said, "Are the people of her clan very powerful?"

"The Ghost Cave clan is different from ordinary Jianghu gangs."

Miss White Wine said, "They guard the Ghost Cave for generations, passing down their family traditions. They also have little contact with other Jianghu sects, but they all possess some extraordinary abilities that make people revere them. In An Prefecture, they are also a mysterious and renowned family."

"So she really does have a background, but it's different from what I thought."

Hu Ma understood, smiled and said, "I thought she was from the Wuchang Li family of the Ten Surnames..."

"Ten Surnames?"

Miss White Wine was stunned upon hearing this, and laughed, "Just because you met someone named Li, you assumed they were from the Wuchang Li family? Why don't you just pick up a stone and assume you've found gold?"

"If I meet someone named Zhao in the Jianghu, should I assume they are from the Divine Hand Zhao family?"

"If I meet a child named Hu in the village, should I assume he is from the Town-Demon Hu family?"

"..."

"?"

Hu Ma panicked upon hearing this, "Don't start making wild guesses..."

"But speaking of which..."

Miss White Wine said, "The Ten Surnames are mysterious and rarely seen. Unless they want to show themselves, it's difficult to even find people related to them, let alone find them. But on the surface, there are some major families in each county, prefecture, and province."

"In terms of reputation, the face and influence of these major families are even greater than the Ten Surnames. The Ghost Cave Li family is one of them. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them the local emperors of Lingshou Prefecture."

"If you have the opportunity to befriend them, it's not worth passing up."

"..."

"Eh?"

Hu Ma was surprised and smiled, "But when your shopkeeper heard the name of this clan, he spoke very confidently."

"That's because he has to be strict due to the rules."

Miss White Wine said, "Grass Heart Hall is a clinic that deals with many people. If you pull a face here, and he pulls a face there, would we still have any rules?"

"Of course, you are different. They have generations of heritage, control an entire prefecture, and when they speak, everyone in An Province has to give them face. In terms of background, you are definitely not comparable to the Red Lantern Matron Society."

"..."

Hearing her say this, Hu Ma was able to understand.

The Red Lantern Matron Society was a blood-food gang that occupied Ming Prefecture City and had a considerable reputation in the city and its surroundings.

But within a province, there were at least a dozen or even twenty prefecture cities.

The Red Lantern Matron's reputation might spread throughout a province, but the further away one went, the less face they would receive. But the Ghost Cave Li family sounded like they could truly influence at least one province?

The old steward wasn't bluffing. The Red Lantern Matron Society really wasn't enough to be seen by them.

It was just, alas, that the Red Lantern Matron wasn't working hard enough.

If you were a little stronger, a little more hardworking, the brothers under your command would have more face when they went out into the Jianghu, wouldn't they?

"In conclusion..."

Miss White Wine also sighed and said, "You really are lucky. Not only did you save the Ghost Cave family's young lady, but you also have the opportunity to make this favor even bigger."

"What are you planning to do now?"

"..."

"Make the favor bigger?"

Hu Ma was stunned and said, "It's not that bad. I'm just simply saving people, not looking for rewards..."

"...But their family can't not remember this favor, right?"

(End of Chapter)