Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 211 Exorcism
A temporary altar was set up in the courtyard outside the resting hall, with statues of gods, ritual instruments and offerings all placed in place.

Xiao Wang was wearing a white Taoist robe with a black wide-sleeved long gown on the outside. His hair was combed meticulously. He had handsome eyebrows and eyes, a tall and slender body, and a cold and otherworldly temperament. He looked like an immortal who had descended to the mortal world, making people yearn for him.

He held a whisk in his hand, chanted a spell, and then sprinkled clean water.

It was Yan Ciwan’s first time to watch a ritual, so she couldn’t help but feel curious. She whispered to Chaolu beside her.

"What is Xiao Liu doing?"

Zhaolu used to go to Cixin Temple frequently and had witnessed rituals being performed in the temple, so she was quite familiar with the ritual process. She replied softly, "This is to purify the altar and make the final preparations for exorcising evil spirits."

Because of the corpse-predating incident, everyone in the mansion was in a panic, and at this moment everyone was staring at Xiao Wang intently.

After the altar was cleansed, Xiao Wang lit incense and candles.

He held incense in both hands and worshipped the statue, reciting the Purification Sutra.

"The mantra for purifying the heart, the mantra for purifying the mouth. The mantra for purifying the body, the mantra for calming the land. The mantra for purifying heaven and earth, the mantra for purifying the golden light."

Upon seeing this, Ah Feng quickly knelt down as well and bowed to the statue again and again, begging the gods to help resolve Governor Xie's resentment so that Governor Xie's soul could rest in peace.

Many people knelt down one after another. They all hoped that the gods would send away the wronged soul that was wandering in the mansion and stop it from hurting other people.

This time, Yan Ciwan didn't need to ask, Chaolu took the initiative to introduce it to her: "This is to invite the gods, and the next step is to exorcise the evil spirits."

For some unknown reason, Xie Chusong actually knelt down.

She knelt on the ground with her forehead touching the ground, in an extremely pious posture.

When she stood up, Yan Ciwan noticed tears flashing in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away.

Xiao Wang inserted the incense stick into the incense burner, then picked up a brush and dipped it in cinnabar, and began to draw the talisman paper to exorcise evil spirits. After finishing, he pinched the talisman paper with his index and middle fingers, formed seals with both hands, and began to chant softly.

"The thunder of the Nine Heavens responds to the universal transformation of the Heavenly Lord, driving away evil spirits and binding demons, protecting lives and bodies."

Then he picked up the peach wood sword placed on the incense table, held the talisman in one hand and the sword in the other, frowned slightly, his eyes gleamed fiercely, and he continued to chant.

"The wisdom is clear, the mind is at peace. The three souls are eternal, and the spirit is not lost."

At this moment everyone was watching very seriously, except Xie Li who had an indifferent expression on his face. He did not think that there was a ghost in the mansion. The so-called corpse must be nonsense. After all, A Feng was just an old servant with little knowledge. Normally, A Feng would be scared by the slightest noise. There was no need to take the old man's words too seriously.

When he saw Xiao Wang swinging his sword to slay the evil spirit, he secretly laughed in his heart. He didn't expect that the grandson of the dignified Lord Xiao would be able to deceive people like a charlatan. It seems that the Xiao family's upbringing is just like this.

In comparison, the Xie family's education of their younger generations is much better.

Back when General Xie Zhan was still around, their Xie family was the most prominent family in the entire Daye. The descendants trained in the family were spread throughout the court and the country. There was a saying circulating in Chang'an City: The Xie family is a ladder to the sky, and once you enter, you will be known throughout the world.

At that time, many people tried every possible means to establish connections with the Xie family. But now, the Xie family has dwindled in numbers and no one is interested in them anymore.

Thinking of this, Xie Li frowned slightly and began to feel a little impatient.

If the Xie family had not fallen on hard times, he would have been able to rise rapidly in the officialdom and fully display his talents, instead of being forced to stay here with a young boy playing tricks like he is now.

He glanced at the sky. How long would it take for this ritual to end? He didn't want to waste any more time here.

Suddenly a strong wind blew!
Xie Li had practiced martial arts for many years and had extremely quick reactions. He immediately stepped back to dodge and drew the sword from his waist to block.

With a dull bang, the peach wood sword hit the sword in his hand.

Xiao Wang held the sword in one hand, his brows were grim and his aura was dignified. The peach wood sword was made of something unknown, but it was extremely strong and did not suffer any damage when it collided with the horizontal sword.

Just as Xie Li was about to explode, he heard Xiao Wang shouting in a deep voice.

"Thank you, give it over!"

Xie Li's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. He tried to remain calm, frowned, and asked, "When have I ever lied?"

"I just asked the gods to save the wronged soul, but the gods told me that the wronged soul's obsession has not been resolved and cannot be saved. I asked why the obsession was. The gods said that the wronged soul once held a white jade Buddha amulet in his hand when he was alive, and that Buddha amulet was stolen by you. You must return it as soon as possible!"

Everyone present was looking at Xie Li. Si Buping asked, "What Buddha amulet? Why haven't I heard Xie Sifa mention this?"

Xie Li was very panicked.

No one saw him stealing the Buddha amulet, so why did Xiao Wang know about it?

Could it be that Xiao Wang can really communicate with ghosts and gods?
Xie Li's face turned pale little by little, and he pulled the corners of his mouth to laugh dryly: "I have never seen any Buddha amulets, Grand Master, don't listen to Xiao Liulang's nonsense."

"Then take a look, what is this?" Xiao Wang retracted the peach wood sword, flipped his right hand, and produced a small piece of paper like a magic trick.

He unfolded the note, revealing four words written on it:

The goal is here!

When Xie Li saw the note, his face turned even paler.

Si Buping ordered someone to come forward and bring the note over. He recognized it at a glance. It was Xie Li's handwriting. He looked up at Xie Li and asked.

"Who did you write this to?"

Xie Li shouted, "This is Xiao Wang's imitation of my handwriting. He is the one who did all this. I never wrote such a note!"

Si Buping had solved countless cases, so what kind of people had he not seen? He knew Xie Li must be hiding something, so he asked.

"Did you kill Governor Xie?"

Xie Li denied without hesitation: "No! The envoy is not only my cousin, but also the highest-ranking official in the Xie family. His death will do me no good. There is no way I can kill him!"

Among the crowd, Yan Ciwan suddenly stepped forward and walked out.

She said slowly, "You colluded with outsiders and plotted something bad. Governor Xie found out about this. You pleaded with him, but it was useless. He had already made up his mind to handle the matter impartially. That's why Xie Chusong saw you arguing with Governor Xie that day. You didn't want your crime to be exposed, so in order to protect yourself, you decided to kill Governor Xie."

Xie Li suddenly turned his head and glared at her fiercely, with a murderous light in his eyes.

"I have never done anything bad. If you don't have any evidence, don't talk nonsense here!"

Yan Ciwan pointed at the note in Si Buping's hand and said, "That's the evidence of your collusion with outsiders."

"I didn't write that! I was framed!"

Yan Ciwan smiled and said, "We are not three-year-old children. We will not be intimidated by your loud voice. If you want to prove that you were framed, please show us the evidence."

Of course, there is no evidence to prove the thank you gift.

He could only repeat once more: "I didn't quarrel with the envoy. The envoy was angry because someone from the Xie family borrowed money from others in his name. I didn't collude with outsiders to do anything wrong. I was wronged!"