For thirty years, he has roamed the Northeast, his divine might overwhelming all immortals under hea

My dad came home at noon.

A large, bulging bundle was strapped to the back of the bicycle.

"Everything is ready."

My father unloaded the bundle and took things out one by one.

The red and yellow cloths were brand new, shining brightly in the sunlight.

The incense burner is made of bronze, somewhat old, but polished to a shine. The sandalwood is wrapped in oiled paper, a bundle of ten. The copper coins are Kangxi Tongbao, the characters clearly legible.

The cinnabar was wrapped in a small paper packet, as red as blood.

The calligraphy brush is made of wolf hair, along with a ream of yellow paper, a set of carving knives, and an old piece of peach wood with clear grain and a faint woody fragrance.

"It cost twenty-eight yuan and fifty cents."

"It was worth it."

I picked up the peach wood and weighed it in my hand.

"This peach wood is quite good; it's been around for quite some time."

"Old Zhang from the supply and marketing cooperative said that this is a peach tree that his grandfather cut down and has been kept ever since."

"I heard you wanted a memorial tablet made, so I bought it for a low price."

"Alright, wash your hands and eat."

"Eat, Dad."

I pulled my dad inside to eat.

After lunch, I began preparing to establish the shrine.

The main hall should be located in the main room, facing east.

I asked my father to move the table in the center of the main room to make room.

My mother wiped the table again and again and laid a red cloth on it.

On top of the red cloth, lay another layer of yellow cloth.

The incense burner is placed in the center, filled with millet, and three incense sticks are inserted.

To the left of the incense burner, place the memorial tablet of Liu Tianlong, the White Snake Immortal; to the right, place the memorial tablet of Huang Dalang.

The memorial tablet must be engraved on the spot.

I took out a carving knife and peach wood, and started by carving the White Snake Fairy Liu Ruoyun.

According to the tradition, the ancestral tablets of spirit mediums must have titles and honorifics.

I respectfully call the White Snake Immortal "Liu Ruoyun".

The Liu family is a collective term for snake immortals, and Ruoyun is an honorific title.

I carefully carved the following on the peach wood:

worship

The position of Liu Ruoyun of the Liu Clan Immortal Family

Respectfully erected by disciple Li Shisan

July 9th, Gengshen Year

After carving, trace the outline with cinnabar.

The red lettering stood out prominently on the peach wood.

Next, they carved Huang Dalang's.

Huang Jiaxian, also known as "Huang Dalang".

I engraved:

worship

The position of Huang Dalang, a member of the Huangmen Immortal Family

Respectfully erected by disciple Li Shisan

July 9th, Gengshen Year

The two memorial tablets were carved and placed on either side of the incense burner.

Liu Ruoyun is on the left, and Huang Dalang is on the right.

Place three small bowls in front of the incense burner: one filled with water, one with grains, and one empty, to be filled with offerings later.

Red cloth curtains were hung on both sides of the hall entrance.

By the time everything was arranged, it was already afternoon.

As the sun began to set, golden sunlight streamed in through the windows, illuminating the entrance hall. The red and yellow cloths gleamed, the incense burner shone brightly, and the memorial tablets stood solemnly.

I stood in front of the hall and took a deep breath.

"Father, Mother, you two go out first."

"When setting up a shrine, one must invite the deities to take their seats; outsiders cannot be present."

My parents nodded, left the main room, and closed the door.

I was the only one left in the room.

I washed my hands, lit three incense sticks, and placed them in the incense burner.

The smoke from the cigarette rose gently and filled the main room.

I knelt before the altar, clasped my hands together, and closed my eyes.

"Disciple Li Shisan, today I establish this shrine to worship Liu Ruoyun of the Liu Clan and Huang Dalang of the Huang Clan. I humbly request that you two immortals take your seats, receive my incense offerings, protect my safety, and assist me in my spiritual practice."

After I finished reading, I kowtowed three times.

I got up and opened my eyes.

The incense in the incense burner was burning very brightly, and the smoke rose straight up, only dispersing when it reached the roof.

This is a good omen, indicating that the deities are willing to take their seats.

I waited quietly.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the temperature in the main room began to change.

On the left, a cool breeze wafted out, like a mountain stream, clear and gentle.

On the right, a warm, dry aroma rose up, carrying a faint fishy smell, but it wasn't unpleasant.

The two atmospheres intertwined in the main room, yet they did not clash; instead, they created a wonderful harmony.

It became.

Liu Ruoyun and Huang Dalang both took their seats.

I breathed a sigh of relief, lit three more incense sticks, and respectfully placed them into the incense burner.

"This disciple thanks the two immortals."

As soon as I finished speaking, two voices rang in my mind at the same time.

One is Liu Ruoyun, the White Snake Fairy, who is gentle and aloof.

"Thirteen, the altar has been established, and from now on our fates are intertwined. Cultivate diligently and do not waste this opportunity."

The other was Huang Dalang's, sharp-tongued yet hearty. "Little one, we're family now! If anything happens, your brother Lang will back you up!"

I laughed.

"Thank you, Immortal Liu. Thank you, Immortal Huang."

"What's with all this 'immortal' stuff? It's so distant!"

Huang Dalang said.

"From now on, just call me 'Sister 😵' and 'Brother Lang'!"

Liu Ruoyun also spoke softly.

"Thirteen, listening to your brother Dalang is the right thing to do."

I'm confused too. These two immortals seem to have known each other for a long time. They're talking back and forth so harmoniously.

The temple was established.

I felt much more at ease.

With two immortals by my side, I will have more confidence in doing things in the future.

I opened the door, and my parents were waiting outside, looking very nervous.

"How is it?"

"It's done."

"The immortals have all taken their seats."

My parents quickly went inside and bowed towards the ancestral hall.

"Thank you, deities, for protecting my son..."

My mother kept repeating it.

My father looked at the hall with eyes full of awe.

In the evening, we cooked a decent dinner.

White steamed buns, scrambled eggs, and a bowl of braised pork. My dad specially went to buy half a pound of pork.

Of course, the two immortals also got their share.

"Hehe, it's always good to have a safe place. This is just plain steamed buns and braised pork, it's making me so hungry."

Huang Dalang smelled the aroma of the food and looked extremely smug.

"Please enjoy your meal."

I placed the incense sticks in the incense burner and then left the main room.

After all, nobody wants someone watching them eat.

After dinner, I sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air.

The moon rose, round and full, like a bronze mirror.

The cool night breeze dispelled the daytime heat.

I closed my eyes and felt the changes in my body.

Since the altar was erected, the cool airflow has become smoother, and there is also a warm and dry feeling. The two energies flow through the meridians, not only without conflict, but complementing each other.

My senses have also become more acute.

You can hear sounds from farther away, see things more clearly, and even feel the flow of air around you.

This is the benefit of a shaman establishing a shrine.

The immortals took their seats and then gave back to their disciples.

Just as they were enjoying themselves, a chilling aura suddenly came from the west.

It wasn't the damp cold of a water ghost, but a different kind of cold, carrying the smell of earth and... the smell of blood.

I suddenly opened my eyes and looked westward.

At the west end of the village, in the direction of the dilapidated temple.

The aura was strong and chaotic, as if something had happened.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Dalang's urgent voice echoed in my mind.

"Thirteen! The dilapidated temple! Something's happened!"

My heart skipped a beat, and I stood up and ran out of the yard.

"Thirteen! Where are you going?"

My mother was calling from inside the house.

"Something's happened at the dilapidated temple! I'll go check it out!"

Without looking back, I rushed into the night.

The moonlight was very bright, illuminating the dirt road in a silvery white.

I ran very fast, the wind whistling past my ears.

The further west you go, the stronger the chilling aura becomes.

And mixed in with... screams?

The screams of a person!

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickened my pace.

After crossing the dirt road and going down the slope, the dilapidated temple came into view.

The dilapidated temple under the moonlight is different from yesterday.

Several figures stood swaying in front of the temple gate, holding weapons in their hands.

Are they from the village?

I slowed my pace and quietly approached.

Sure enough, there were several people standing at the temple entrance.

The leader was Gou Sheng's father, Wang Laonian.

He was holding a shovel, his face was pale, and he was trembling all over.

Next to him were Zhao Tiezhu from the village, and two other young men I didn't recognize, all holding hoes and pickaxes, their faces filled with terror.

Before them, inside the temple gate, black mist billowed.

It wasn't the kind of black aura associated with wandering spirits; it was a thicker, more malevolent black aura, like ink, gushing out of the temple.

Within the black mist, a figure could be vaguely seen lying motionless on the ground.

"Help...help me..."

Wang Laonian's voice was choked with sobs.

"Li...Li Ergou...he...he went in...and didn't come out..."

Li Ergou?

I remember now, he was a bachelor in the village, over forty years old, idle and fond of petty theft.

What was he doing in the dilapidated temple?

"What happened?"

When Wang Laonian and the others saw me, it was like seeing a savior.

"Thirteen! Thirteen, you've finally arrived!"

Old Wang rushed over and grabbed my arm.

"Li Ergou said... that there was treasure under the dilapidated temple... and insisted on digging it up... we couldn't stop him..."

"dig?"

"What are you digging for?"

"He said... he dreamed in his afternoon nap that there was gold buried under a dilapidated temple... and he insisted on digging it up..."

Zhao Tiezhu trembled.

"We tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen. He just grabbed a pickaxe and went inside... and then... and then..."

He pointed to the black mist coming from inside the temple gate.

The black mist was still churning, and the figure lay motionless on the ground.

I stared at the black mist, calmed my mind, and activated my senses.

Two streams of energy, one cool and the other warm and dry, surged out simultaneously and converged in the eyes.

The scene before me became clear.

The black mist was rising from the ground in the center of the temple.

There, a hole had been dug.

The cave entrance was small, but it was bottomless, and the black mist was gushing out from inside.

Li Ergou lay prone at the entrance of the cave, half of his body inside, motionless.

His body was covered in black mist.

The black mist, like snakes, coiled around his neck, arms, and legs, and was drilling into his body.

Deep within the cave, there was an extremely cold and malevolent aura.

"broken……"

My heart sank.

Huang Dalang once said that something was buried under the temple, and it was filled with yin energy, so it couldn't be disturbed.

That idiot Li Ergou actually dug it up!

"Thirteen... what should we do..."

Wang Laonian asked, his voice trembling with tears.

I ignored him, took out the unused piece of yellow paper from my pocket, bit my middle finger, and quickly drew a talisman on the paper with my blood.

A talisman for warding off evil.

After I finished drawing, I held the talisman and walked towards the temple gate.

"Thirteen! Don't go in!"

Zhao Tiezhu shouted.

I didn't stop and walked straight into the temple gate.

The black aura immediately surged towards me.

It was icy cold and had a fishy, ​​foul smell.

I raised the talisman and chanted, "Heaven and Earth, Mysterious Origin, Root of All Qi, Through Countless Kalpas of Cultivation, I Prove My Divine Power—Suppress!" (Just to clarify, shamans also use incantations. Although they are animals that cultivate into spirits, they still cultivate the Tao. But novels have to be modified.)

The blood talisman emitted a faint red light.

The surging black energy seemed to have encountered its nemesis and retreated.

I took the opportunity to walk up to Li Ergou.

He lay on the ground, his eyes wide open, pupils dilated, and foaming at the mouth.

The black energy had seeped into his seven orifices, and his face began to turn black.

I grabbed his arm and tried to drag him out.

His hands were ice cold, like ice cubes.

Moreover, it's very heavy.

It felt like something was pulling him down from below.

I pulled hard, and Li Ergou's body moved, but I couldn't pull him out.

Instead, a low roar came from inside the cave.

It was neither a human voice nor the voice of a wild beast; it was a roar I had never heard before, filled with resentment and anger.

The black mist at the cave entrance suddenly intensified, gushing out like a fountain.

The talisman in my hand suddenly burst into flames with a "hiss".

The red light went out.

The black mist rushed towards me.

My heart tightened, and I was about to back away when Huang Dalang's voice echoed in my mind.

"Kid! Throw some wood ash from your pocket over there."

I quickly pulled out the remaining wood ash from my pocket, tore it open, and sprinkled it into the black mist.

Ashes from the grass and trees fluttered down and settled on the black mist.

A sizzling sound rang out, like hot oil being poured onto snow.

The black mist was burned by the incense ash and quickly retreated.

I seized the opportunity to grab Li Ergou and pulled him backward with all my might.

With a "plop," I pulled Li Ergou out.

His lower body was wrapped in a dark, tangled mass, like vines or hair, tightly binding his legs.

The thing was sticking out of the hole.

I took out the last piece of yellow paper, bit my other finger, and drew an evil-slaying talisman.

After I finished drawing it, I slapped the talisman onto that black thing.

"cut!"

The black thing let out a sharp hiss and suddenly retreated into the hole.

The black gas gushing from the cave entrance suddenly stopped.

The temple returned to peace.

Only Li Ergou lay on the ground, unconscious and cold all over.

I was panting heavily and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

That was close.

If Huang Dalang hadn't reminded me, and if I hadn't forgotten to throw away the remaining ashes, I probably would be in trouble here today.

Wang Laonian and the others walked in, trembling.

"Ten...thirteen...Li Ergou, he..."

"Still alive."

I crouched down and felt Li Ergou's pulse.

It's weak, but it's still jumping.

"Carry him back, fumigate him with mugwort, and give him ginger soup. Whether he wakes up or not depends on fate."

Wang Laonian and the others quickly lifted Li Ergou up and left in a panic.

I was the only one left in the temple.

I walked to the edge of the cave and looked inside.

It was pitch black and bottomless.

That cold, resentful aura still lingered below, but it didn't emerge again.

"Brother Dalang, what exactly is down there?"

I asked myself.

Huang Dalang's voice rang out, tinged with solemnity.

"I don't know either. But it's definitely not a good thing. When I was cultivating here, I sensed something down there, so I kept it under control to prevent it from coming out. I never expected this idiot to dig it up."

"What do we do now? The cave entrance is open; something bad is bound to happen sooner or later."

"Seal it up."

Huang Dalang said.

"Use your blood, mix it with incense ash, draw a sealing talisman, and stick it at the cave entrance. I'll then cast a spell to suppress it; it should hold for a while."

I nodded.

I bit my finger and watched the blood seep out. I thought to myself, this finger is really unlucky.

In the end, they mixed incense ash and drew a complex sealing talisman on the yellow paper.

After I finished drawing it, I pasted the talisman on the entrance of the cave.

The talisman emitted a faint red light, as if it had come alive, and slowly seeped into the ground.

The land around the cave entrance began to undulate and slowly close in.

Finally, the entrance to the cave disappeared.

The ground returned to its original state, leaving only a shallow mark.

"alright."

"I've used magic to seal it off temporarily. But this isn't a long-term solution. We'll have to deal with what's below sooner or later."

"What should we do?"

"Once your branch is stable, let's go down and take a look together."

"Although Liu Ruoyun and I are here to help you, your own cultivation level is not high enough right now. Going down rashly would be suicide."

Indeed, that aura just now was terrifying.

As I stepped out of the dilapidated temple, the moon was already high in the sky.

The silvery moonlight shone down, and the dilapidated temple lay quietly in the moonlight, as if nothing had ever happened.