Dongting Immortal Clan

On the secluded path from Baiyukou to Zhoujiacun, an old temple stands alone.

This place was originally a long-abandoned shrine, but at some point it received offerings from the Zhou family, who funded its renovation. Now it has blue bricks and gray tiles, a vermilion temple gate, and two old cypress trees in front of the temple, their thick trunks bearing witness to decades of history.

Behind the temple are two low brick houses, which are the residences of the temple's "shaman".

The room was dimly lit and filled with the scent of incense and candles.

At this moment, the Zhou family shaman was holding a yellow talisman, lighting it in the candlelight, and then placing it in front of a crying child. She quickly shook it three times while chanting incantations.

After the talisman paper burned to ashes, she shook it all into a bowl of clear water next to her, and the murky talisman water instantly turned black.

Without a word, Zhou the sorceress grabbed the child by the back of the neck with one hand and picked up the earthenware bowl with the other, forcibly pouring the black talisman water down his throat.

The child coughed violently, and his face grew increasingly pale.

Seeing this, the parents who were waiting nearby were not angry at all; on the contrary, their faces lit up with joy, and they said repeatedly:

"Alright! Alright!"

"She's stopped crying and fussing, and her eyes are bright again!"

They hurriedly placed a string of copper coins and a small piece of silver that they had prepared beforehand on the broken wooden box at the feet of the sorceress, and with profuse thanks, they took the child and left.

After the person had gone far away, Zhou the witch slowly put the money into her pocket. The compassion on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a ferocious expression.

She turned her head to the empty corner behind her and roared through gritted teeth:

"What happened last night?"

"The adults in the Chen family are all vigorous and energetic; you can't do anything about them in a short time, so let it be."

"Where are those little brats? Where are the newborn babies? How come not a single one of them was killed?!"

"I've poured my heart and soul into raising you, just so you can eat and do nothing?!"

As she spoke, Granny Zhou suddenly grabbed the greasy, shiny ebony prayer beads on her wrist and began to rub them violently, almost crushing the beads.

"Ugh—!"

In an instant, a cold wind rose up inside the room, the temperature plummeted, and a shrill scream from a child appeared out of nowhere.

The pale-faced ghostly phantom writhed in agony in the air, its form sometimes coalescing and sometimes dispersing, as if being torn apart by a pair of invisible hands, its body shattered.

After a long while, Zhou the fortune teller finally stopped moving, panting heavily.

She looked at the dying little devil before her, a sickly flush rising to her face. She stretched out her withered fingers, as if stroking the little devil's skin, her voice trembling slightly, yet also carrying a hint of tenderness:

"Mu'er...you are my darling, how can you disobey your mother?"

"That Chen family is all bad; they're the ones who harmed your father."

"Didn't you want their yang energy? Help your mother kill them. I don't want any of the good stuff on them; it's all yours, okay?"

As Zhou the fortune teller spoke, she tilted her head as if she could really hear what was being said. Before long, a look of doubt appeared on her wrinkled old face, which then immediately turned into shock and anger!

"What?"

"You said that person yesterday was surrounded by flames, and you were afraid of those flames..."

"How is this possible?! How could the Chen family have a cultivator?"

"Could it be that old bastard surnamed Zhang who taught them?"

"No, that shouldn't be the case. He's just a common soldier; even if he went to the pass, where would he get the cultivation methods?"

Granny Zhou paced irritably in the cramped room, then stopped, her face returning to that chilling "kind" smile. She spoke softly to the corner behind her:

"Alright, alright, Mu'er, don't be afraid... Let's go to the incense table and inhale some incense smoke."

A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and her tone suddenly turned sharp:

"Tonight... I must kill someone from the Chen family for my mother!"

"Did you hear me?!"

Inside the room, a chilling wind blew in, as if in response to her.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Another night passed, and Chen Changhe did not enter into meditation. Instead, he held a measuring ruler in his hand and stayed at home with his elder brother.

As the night deepened and all was quiet, only the lonely hooting of owls added to the emptiness of the cold night.

Chen Changhe was meditating and regulating his breathing when he suddenly sensed that the temperature around him had dropped several degrees. He knew in his heart that the thing had indeed come again.

The spirit's consciousness, like mercury spilling onto the ground, enveloped the house.

As if sensing something, Chen Changhe stepped in front of the main house and the front yard.

A faint blue light appeared on the measuring ruler, like ripples of waves protecting the courtyard.

Chen Dajiang, who had not yet undergone the transformation and could not see ghosts, sensed a chilling aura and immediately stood up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Chen Changhe, cautiously and vigilantly observing their surroundings.

"Time and time again, do you really think I, Chen, have no means to keep you here?"

Chen Changhe's tone was low and filled with icy killing intent.

As he spoke, he took out more than ten Cold Iron Feathers from his sleeve.

This item was also given by Zhou Yan and can be used in conjunction with a water measuring ruler to set up a trapping formation for the enemy.

This was originally intended as a backup plan to deal with the evil spirit in the lake, but unexpectedly, it was used for the first time against this invisible ghost.

However, to Chen Changhe's surprise,

The little devil didn't react at all to his own actions.

Neither retreating nor advancing, it resembled a puppet without its strings.

At the same time, he did not sense any hostility, nor did he feel any violent spirit like the one in Zhoujia Village.

Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Old Zhang put on his coat and pushed open the door to go out.

Seeing Chen Changhe's impressive display, he knew that the thing had come again. He winked at Chen Changhe, as if asking where the thing was.

Chen Changhe immediately raised his chin slightly, indicating the direction.

Old Zhang understood, stepped forward, stood to the side of Chen Changhe, facing the empty courtyard, took a deep breath, and slowly spoke:

"I wonder what kind of ghost or immortal has descended into this house."

"As the saying goes, every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor. The Chen family has been mortals for generations, but has never had any connection with you. Now that you have ascended to the path of immortality, you are even protected by the laws and regulations of the Supreme Void Sect."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of warning:

"Your spirit is still lingering in the mortal realm, surely because you have unresolved grievances or unresolved grievances."

"Then why be driven by that evil sorceress to commit such harmful acts, needlessly damaging one's own virtue and ruining one's chance to be reincarnated?"

Old Zhang spoke in a deep voice, as if communicating with the ghost.

In Chen Changhe's gaze, the black aura on the ghost's body gradually subsided, its form became more solid, and even the outline of its face could be vaguely seen.

It was a child who looked to be about four or five years old. He was quite handsome, with his features still faintly visible. If it weren't for his pale face and dark eyes, he would have been a lovely and beautiful child in life.

The clothes he wore were not the coarse cloth clothes of an ordinary farm child, but a fine blue silk robe embroidered with cloud and dragon patterns. Judging from its style, it seemed to belong to a young master from a noble family.

Upon hearing Old Zhang's last few words, the child actually turned his head slowly, his dark eyes looking at Chen Changhe, as if he were thinking and weighing his options.

……

Old Zhang couldn't see, so he looked at Chen Changhe instead.

"After it heard me, it appeared and looked at me quietly."

Chen Changhe told the truth.

Upon hearing this, Old Zhang remained silent for a moment, but felt a slight sense of relief.

This little devil can hear and think. Although he is controlled by others, his intelligence has not been completely extinguished, and there is still a sliver of possibility for communication.

Since no action was taken right away, it means that everything is negotiable.

"you……"

Old Zhang carefully considered his words and slowly asked:

"Was he killed by that old woman from the Zhou family?"

"If so, then nod."

If not, shake your head.

After saying that, he turned to look at Chen Changhe.

"It's shaking its head."

Chen Changhe said.

Old Zhang nodded slightly and continued to ask:

"You came to the Chen family not of your own volition, but were controlled by that old woman Zhou's evil magic, and had no choice but to come?"

Chen Changhe looked at the little devil, only to see it nod slightly, its face still showing a trace of fear and pain.

Old Zhang's tone turned slightly serious as he asked the most crucial question:

"Then why... have you come to my Nianci's house time and time again?"

"Is there something about her that attracts you?"

Zhang Nianci was the apple of his eye, and he couldn't eat or sleep until he found out the truth.

Upon hearing this, the child gently shook his head, and his small figure suddenly floated to Chen Changhe's side, reaching out to gently touch the azure magical light emanating from his body.

Its magical power is like a flame, capable of scorching away yin energy; ordinary ghosts that touch it will feel as if they are being burned by fire.

But the child did not back down. The black energy at his fingertips made a sizzling sound when it came into contact with the magic power. His face seemed to have a kind of lingering look, as if he wanted to absorb the magic power into his body.

Unfortunately, this magical power belonged to Chen Changhe, and their minds were connected. With just a thought, the magical power returned to his body.

"Waaah..."

Upon seeing this, the child let out a whimper, like a small animal crying.

"You recognize my magical powers?"

Chen Changhe suddenly asked.

The child nodded gently, stretched out its small hand, and the yin energy seemed to transform into radiant light, changing into various shapes in its hand.

Upon seeing this, Chen Changhe's eyes narrowed.

This even resembled the way he performed magic.

Could this child... have been a cultivator in his previous life?!