"North Emperor Protection Spell," not only can it protect oneself, but also allows the practitioner to draw talismans, recording the spell to help teammates shield against Evil Qi.
"North Emperor Grass Spirit Skill," can use more powerful paper effigies, but one must first learn the thods of the Paper Mache Master, and can cooperate with Wang Daoxuan.
"North Emperor Divine Travel Technique," can write more powerful Armored Horse.
In short, as one’s Dao improves, so do their thods beco more diverse.
These spells, though not always used often, must be mastered to avoid ineffectiveness when needed...
...
After noon, the dense fog still hadn’t lifted.
The entire Chongqing Prefecture was shrouded in thick fog, a white expanse in all directions, making it impossible to distinguish individuals. The ancient stone paths seed to turn damp as well.
The architecture of Chongqing Prefecture is very distinctive; the governnt offices are imposing, temples and Taoist Temples inlaid with glazed tiles, and the people’s hos are mostly simple, dominated by gray, white, and black.
Amidst the dense fog, shadowy silhouettes, perhaps towering ancient trees, perhaps cluttered residences, but all hidden in the fog, occasionally revealing corners of eaves.
Covered with moss and tide marks, mottled and colorful, full of antiquity.
"Why haven’t they co yet?"
Sha Lifei paced back and forth impatiently. "Didn’t they say Hongya Cave wasn’t far? Could it be we’ve been tricked by that kid?"
After waiting a while longer, a trace of fierceness flashed in Sha Lifei’s eyes as he packed his things, "No, I’m going to find him!"
Knock, knock, knock!
At that mont, there was a knock on the door.
"Finally here?"
Sha Lifei hurriedly went to open the door.
Li Yan squinted his eyes, following closely behind.
With a creak, the door opened, leaving Sha Lifei stunned, "Who are you looking for?"
The visitors were an old man and a young girl.
Plop!
The two imdiately knelt on the ground, kowtowing, "Please, have rcy, and help save our people."
"Get up, get up."
Sha Lifei was a little annoyed, "Explain yourself clearly."
Supported by the girl, the old man stood up, cupped his hands and said, "I am a musician from the Wu Clan, and the people in our troupe have been possessed..."
Upon hearing this, Sha Lifei imdiately understood, sowhat speechless, "If you’re possessed, go find a Taoist, or even the City God Temple, but why co to us?"
The old man’s face turned bitter, "We went to the City God Temple, but they wouldn’t see us. We hired several Duan Gong and spirit diums, but they demanded a fortune, sothing we simply can’t afford."
"You all often wear Nuo Masks, you must be experts, please, for the sake of those in the pugilistic world, lend a hand."
Sha Lifei did not expect, despite their concealed actions, to still be approached.
Just as he was about to speak, Li Yan suddenly interjected, "I’ll go take a look, you stay here and keep waiting."
"Alright, sure."
Sha Lifei didn’t inquire further.
He knew that usually in such situations, the one who would actively intervene is Wang Daoxuan. Li Yan’s sudden involvent must have a reason.
"Thank you, thank you."
The old man and the young girl quickly bowed in gratitude.
"Let’s go."
Without wasting words, Li Yan gestured for the two to lead the way.
Leaving the house, the trio turned left, heading towards a large mansion.
Li Yan silently touched his chest.
Since entering Sichuan, the Dragon Pattern Jade Gui given by the Dragon Lady had reacted for the second ti.
The first ti, it hinted at Immortal Master Erlang’s presence.
Could it be this ti it has a clue about the River God?
"Wooo~"
Reaching outside the mansion, the sound of crying could be heard inside.
Li Yan made a hand sign, taking a deep breath, seemingly lost in thought.
"They’re here, they’ve invited an expert!"
The old man, with the young girl, hurriedly opened the door, ushering Li Yan in.
Instantly, nurous gazes focused on them.
The mansion was even more dilapidated, the main hall barely inhabitable, cleared out with grass mats laid out, three people lying on them.
In the adjacent courtyard, a bed board was propped up with wooden stools.
There were a few corpses lying above, all covered with white cloth, but the black water seeped through, leaving human prints on the cloth, and the rancid black water dripped down...
Not wasting words under the gaze of the crowd, Li Yan entered the main hall to inspect the three living n.
The paint on the faces of these three n hadn’t been removed. Their whole bodies were swollen, and their skin had a dark cyan hue, with black water seeping out.
The Dragon Pattern Jade in his arms trembled non-stop.
Li Yan asked in a deep voice, "First, tell what happened last night?"
The crowd looked at each other, and it was the old man who sighed and said, "Last night, in a rush to get to the Zhou Family, I saw that their opera stage was facing the northwest."
"Facing north is the ’Yin Platform’, and facing west is the ’White Tiger Platform’. Occupying both is a great ominous sign, and I imdiately regretted it."
"But that teacher the Zhou Family employed from who knows where refused stubbornly to move it, and the Zhou Family said they feared delaying the usual ti. We talked and convinced them to ’break the platform’ first before performing opera."
"At that point, we already sensed sothing was wrong, but the elder wife of the Zhou Family brought in a group of tough n with sticks to block the road, so we had to force ourselves to perform."
"The hosts specifically instructed us to perform ’Dragon-Slaying Platform’..."
Li Yan frowned, "What is ’Dragon-Slaying Platform’ about?"
The old man hurriedly replied, "’Dragon-Slaying Platform’ is a story about the Tang King having Wei Zheng slaying the Jing River Dragon King in a dream and then touring the Underworld..."
Hearing this, Li Yan already had a calculation in mind, and said coldly, "They are using you to ward off calamity, can’t you see?"
"This... so that’s it."
The old man turned pale and said trembling, "When performing, we felt gusts of chilly wind. After finishing, as we packed up to leave, everyone who took the stage fainted."
"On the road, people started to fall ill, so died. We ca back and called in doctors, but they couldn’t help, so out of desperation, we found a teacher."
"Are they...savable?"
Li Yan stood up and said, "It’s not enough with just , I need to go back to find soone to help."
Having said that, he hurried back to the house to recount the incident, called upon Wang Daoxuan, took so equipnt, and returned.
"Hmph! Indeed, they were using you to fend off calamity!"
After examining, Wang Daoxuan’s voice turned cold as well. "Using innocent people to ward off causes and effects, such thods are far too sinister!"
The spell to ward off calamity indeed has its numbers.
Generally speaking, items are used to ward off calamity, but so sinister ones use others, like tampering with people’s graves, killing to set a Life Stake, drawing talismans and throwing Yin money on the road..."
This kind of setup is indeed disgraceful.
People earnestly seeking help, yet being entrapped, clearly relying on their family’s great power to oppress these lower-class opera troupes.
The mbers of the opera troupe, upon hearing this, were all enraged yet helpless. Even if they reported this to the governnt, no one would stand up for them.
"Brother Yan, should we take action?"
Wang Daoxuan thought for a mont, then looked at Li Yan.
Such incidents, once they intervene, the other side would inevitably notice, completely betraying their plan to conceal their tracks.
Li Yan was also sowhat hesitant.
Making a living in this business, they naturally weren’t scared.
Besides, it concerned the Dragon Lady’s commission.
But having promised to escort the Bai Family away, if delayed because of their matters, what difference is it from breaking a promise?
Wang Daoxuan understood his dilemma, pondered for a mont, and with a smile said, "I have a plan that can resolve this unnoticed."
Speaking, he addressed the crowd, "Your calamity isn’t over yet. If I guessed correctly, the Zhou Family will co to invite you again tonight."
"This matter runs deep; finding soone won’t help. After three consecutive performances, only a few in the troupe will remain alive."
"Please, teacher, save our lives!"
The mbers of the opera troupe imdiately knelt all over the place.
Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and said, "Let ask you, during the performance, were Zhou Family’s people all masked, not watching the opera?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The old man quickly nodded, "They were all masked and turned their backs, blocking the door during the performance, not letting us leave the stage."
Wang Daoxuan continued, "I’ve heard that Sichuan Opera has a unique skill called face-changing, do you know how to perform it?"
The old man nodded and said, "Our old master never kept secrets. Though the children aren’t skilled, they can manage."
"That’s good then!"
Wang Daoxuan smiled, "Tonight you must continue to break the platform, pretending not to know, and hang a Eight Trigrams Mirror backstage."
"Rember, reverse the mirror surface."
"During the performance, when the Zhou Family turns their back, use the face-changing skill to switch everyone into shrimp soldiers and crab generals, keep singing what you need to sing."
"After tonight, pretend a few have died, disguise bodies to leave the city, and the rest continue to manage."
"By tomorrow night, they will surely have you perform until dawn. Find so chicken blood beforehand, and after the performance, apply it on your foreheads as you leave, quickly flee Chongqing Prefecture!"
"From now on, this matter will have nothing to do with you anymore..."
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