nownovels Chapter 165 Departure! To find the Faceless God!
Chapter 165 Departure! To find the Faceless God!
Moonlight slanted in through the window.
The flame of the ever-burning lamp suddenly leaped up.
The air inside the hall was also changing.
The faint musty smell, the eerie atmosphere, and the indescribable stench of decay emanating from the coffin were gradually dissipating. In their place was a delicate, fresh scent of grass and wood.
That was the scent of a thousand-year-old willow root.
It's not just the willow roots.
And there's also the aura emanating from that bluish-black "form".
The scent was very faint, so faint that it was almost undetectable, but Lu Yuan knew it was the scent of "life".
When yin reaches its extreme, yang arises.
When death reaches its extreme, life begins.
The hall was very quiet.
It was so quiet that you could hear the occasional faint crackling of the ever-burning lamp.
It was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of the night wind blowing through the bamboo leaves outside the window.
Lu Yuan leaned against the edge of the coffin, panting heavily.
At the same time, a red and black mist surged out from the coffin.
Then, Gu Qingwan slowly rose from the coffin.
Gu Qingwan's face looks different than before.
Now this face has color.
It wasn't the deathly pallor, nor the sinister bluish-black, but a faint, healthy, vibrant rosy glow. That rosy hue emanated from deep within her cheeks, spreading gradually, like the first warmth of spring, slowly melting the winter snow. Lu Yuan, supporting the coffin, looked up at Gu Qingwan.
Gu Qingwan also looked down at Lu Yuan.
The two gazed at each other silently.
Finally, Lu Yuan spoke first:
"It should... be a success, right?!"
Why aren't you saying anything!
Gu Qingwan blinked her beautiful eyes and nodded earnestly.
"willing……"
Lu Yuan: "???"
Why are you still uttering one word at a time?
Lu Yuan was about to say something when he was suddenly taken aback.
Lu Yuan held onto the edge of the coffin, looked up at Gu Qingwan floating above it.
The moonlight shone from behind her, enveloping her in a hazy halo.
She was wearing a plain white dress, the hem of which hung down and swayed gently in the still air.
Exactly the same as before.
but……
But something seems different.
Lu Yuan looked into her eyes.
Those eyes were still so beautiful; their shape, size, and color were exactly the same as before.
But the "thing" in those eyes has changed.
Before, Gu Qingwan's eyes were empty when she looked at people.
It's not that it can't focus...
The previous sense of emptiness and lack of focus disappeared long after Lu Yuan successfully fitted Gu Qingwan with new eyes.
The "emptiness" that Lu Yuan spoke of...
Well...
If I had to find a precise description, it would be...
Those are the eyes of an evil spirit!
It's that kind of emptiness, tinged with indifference, scrutiny, or perhaps a lack of emotion.
Those eyes are different now.
The moonlight shone into her eyes, making them sparkle and shine.
It wasn't the light reflected from the moonlight, but the light emitted by the eye itself.
It is the light of living things.
Ok……
Well...
Just ...
Finally, it has a "human touch"!
It's no longer as straight and rigid as before.
"How are you feeling now?"
Once he came to his senses, Lu Yuan immediately asked.
At this moment, Gu Qingwan lowered her eyes slightly, seemingly feeling the tongue that had been newly attached to her tongue.
A few seconds later, Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan again, nodded slightly, and said seriously:
"very good."
Lu Yuan: .…….…”
Fine……
It seems that Qingwan is the kind of person who is rather taciturn and doesn't talk much.
However, the tongue repair was definitely successful.
At least, Qingwan no longer stutters like before.
Just as Lu Yuan was about to ask something else, he immediately turned his head to look at the palace gate.
The next second, Lu Yuan quickly arrived at the palace entrance and yanked the door open.
Two exclamations came from outside, and there were Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er, who were quite adorable.
Two beautiful aunties squatted at the door, looking up, all four of their eyes fixed on Lu Yuan.
The moonlight shone on their faces and into their expectant eyes.
Lu Yuan was taken aback by this display of force.
"What are you doing squatting here?"
Aunt Qin blinked, showing no embarrassment at being caught, and instead said confidently:
"Wait for news!"
"All done?!"
As they spoke, their gazes drifted past Lu Yuan and toward what was behind him.
Gu Qingwan was still floating above the coffin, the moonlight shining in through the window, enveloping her in a hazy halo.
She was wearing a plain white dress, the hem of which moved gently without any wind.
Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er looked at her, and their eyes lit up immediately.
It wasn't the kind of expectant light I'd seen before, but rather the kind of light that... made me see it, confirm it, and feel a weight lifted from my heart.
Aunt Qin's lips curved into a smile.
"Did it work?"
She asked Lu Yuan in a soft voice, but her joy was barely concealed.
Lu Yuan nodded.
"It's done."
Lu Yuan then immediately stepped aside to let the two of them in.
Lu Yuan assumed that his two beautiful aunts had already gone to bed.
After all, Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin will be returning to Fengtian City tomorrow.
Of course, I need to get a good rest tonight.
But then I thought, how could those two beautiful aunts possibly sleep?
After all, the two beautiful aunts already knew about Qingwan's tongue restoration today.
They must be waiting for a result, otherwise how can they sleep?
After the two beautiful aunts entered the room, they looked Gu Qingwan up and down, asking her all sorts of questions.
Lu Yuan, while packing his things, couldn't help but grin as he looked at the two beautiful aunts:
"You two should get some rest. You have to leave early tomorrow morning."
"Don't worry, Qingwan is fine."
Hearing Lu Yuan's words and seeing that Gu Qingwan was indeed alright, the two beautiful aunts nodded repeatedly.
After all, they'd been playing mahjong together for several days. Even without Lu Yuan's connection, they still needed to check on their two beautiful aunts. However, speaking of playing mahjong together, the four of them were missing one beauty.
Speaking of this goddess of beauty, Aunt Qiao'er couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly and say:
"That goddess is really something! Didn't she know Qingwan was having a good time today? Why didn't she come back to check on her?"
Aunt Qin, who was standing to the side, immediately nodded, her expression clearly showing her dissatisfaction with this mahjong player who used to drag them to play mahjong every day.
Lu Yuan knew what his two beautiful aunts were upset about.
It's like a family member is going to have major surgery.
Shouldn't the family members wait outside the operating room?
But this goddess of beauty disappears without a trace when she's not playing mahjong, and Qingwan didn't even come back to check on us today.
Lu Yuan didn't think much of it.
Perhaps the goddess believed in herself?
Knowing that taking action would ensure success is impossible.
This doesn't matter anymore.
After all, whether the goddess of beauty is present or not, it doesn't affect Lu Yuan's tongue-continuing technique.
After packing his things, Lu Yuan went to the coffin again to take a look at Gu Qingwan's body.
Next, all that's left is to set Gu Qingwan's legs and add amulets to clear the major acupoints around her body.
We can only wait and see.
In fact, as more and more people visit Zhenlong Temple, the remaining things can be completed in about six months at most.
This is much faster than the one or two years I had previously thought.
After all, so many things happened along the way, which no one expected.
After Lu Yuan finished tidying up, he noticed that Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er still showed no sign of leaving, asking Gu Qingwan all sorts of questions. Lu Yuan yawned and prepared to go back to his room for a good night's sleep.
tomorrow.
Not only Aunt Qiao'er, but also Aunt Qin set off to return to Fengtian City.
Lu Yuan was also about to set off for Heishuilingzi.
Of course, Lu Yuan didn't tell Aunt Qin or Aunt Qiao'er about this.
Otherwise, those two beautiful aunts would definitely not agree.
As for why Lu Yuan went to Heishui Ridge...
It certainly wasn't to exterminate any evil gods.
Although Lu Yuan has almost recovered, an evil god is still an evil god, and caution is still needed even if Lu Yuan is at his peak.
Now, let alone.
Lu Yuan simply wanted to get a closer look at the relationship between the Xu Deng Hu family and the evil god.
Although Lu Yuan is now using paper dolls to track Tiger Rabbit.
But the little paper doll following Tiger Rabbit is completely different from Lu Yuan himself.
The little paper figure can only see the images, but cannot perceive the details.
in particular……
These past few days, Lu Yuan has been observing tigers, rabbits, and hares through the little paper figures...
Something feels off...
After returning to his room, Lu Yuan did not go to sleep, but instead made preparations.
Tomorrow morning, after seeing Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao off, Lu Yuan will have to leave immediately.
In four days, Tiger Rabbit has already entered Blackwater Ridge. Lu Yuan has to hurry!
They set off in the morning without stopping, and it was almost 11 or 12 at night before Lu Yuan finally arrived at Heishui Ridge!
Once the door was closed, the moonlight was blocked out, and the room was pitch black.
Without lighting a lamp, he groped his way to the table and reached under it to pull out the wooden box.
The box was small, about a foot square, with a Tai Chi symbol engraved on its surface. The edges were covered with copper sheets, which were covered with green rust.
This is the family heirloom passed down from the old man; the things inside are rarely used.
Lu Yuan placed the box on the table without opening it immediately.
He first lit three incense sticks and placed them into the small incense burner on the table.
Wisps of smoke rose, invisible in the darkness, but the faint scent of sandalwood could be smelled.
Then he stepped back, formed a hand seal, and chanted:
"By the Three Pure Ones above, your disciple Lu Yuan will open the box tonight and retrieve the magical implements for our journey."
"Where we go, dangers are unpredictable; what we face, evil spirits must be exterminated."
"I earnestly pray to the Ancestral Master for protection, that the ritual implements may be efficacious, and that evil may not infringe upon righteousness."
After reciting the prayer, he bowed three times.
Only then did he reach out and open the box.
Although Lu Yuan wasn't going to exorcise evil spirits, there were still some things he needed to prepare in case of any unexpected events.
Moonlight shone through the cracks in the window, illuminating the box.
After rummaging around for a while, Lu Yuan found a few items.
A compass, about the size of a palm, made of bronze, with densely engraved characters on its surface.
It's not the ordinary Bagua directions, but the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and the Twelve Two-Hour Periods, all nested in one circle, making it dizzying to look at.
A small round mirror was embedded in the center of the plate. The mirror surface was black, as if it had been smoked.
Lu Yuan picked up the compass and weighed it in his hand.
This is the "Black Mirror Compass".
That black mirror was no ordinary mirror; it was a specially treated bronze mirror that could reflect things that are normally invisible.
The evil god has no face, no features, and can transform into anything.
But this compass doesn't reflect the face; it reflects the "qi" (energy).
No matter how it changes, its essence remains the same.
As long as it's still there, the compass can still reflect the light.
The second item was a small cloth bag, made of earthy yellow cloth that had been washed until it was almost white.
Opening the cloth bag, inside was a dagger, not long, about seven inches, completely black, even the blade was black.
This is no ordinary dagger.
This is a "poisonous dagger".
The dagger was made of lightning-struck wood, specifically lightning-struck jujube wood.
Jujube wood is believed to ward off evil spirits, and jujube wood struck by lightning is considered to be extremely yang.
The dagger was covered with runes, so densely packed that you could feel the uneven texture when you touched it.
Most importantly, this dagger has been blessed, and the blessing is "killing all".
The consecration of ordinary Buddhist ritual implements is to invite deities to reside within them and imbue them with spiritual power.
But this dagger was consecrated to summon "killing intent".
It's not used to ward off evil spirits; it's used to kill.
Ordinary exorcism tools are useless against evil spirits.
That thing was nurtured by incense offerings; ordinary talismans couldn't harm it in the slightest.
Only with this kind of special weapon to kill evil can there be a chance.
Lu Yuan rewrapped the dagger and placed it next to the compass.
The third item was a small porcelain bottle, white porcelain, about the size of a palm, with a red cloth plugged at the mouth, on which were drawn talismans.
He pulled back the red cloth and sniffed it.
A sweet, fishy smell rushed into my nostrils.
This is "black dog blood," but it's not ordinary black dog blood.
It must be a pure black male dog, and it must be a first litter, first birth, and first-time parent.
This black dog blood is extremely yang and strong, and is especially effective in dispelling evil spirits and yin energy.
The fourth item was a small cloth bag containing seven copper coins.
The coins were small, about the size of ordinary copper coins, but each one was polished to a shine.
These are "Five Emperors Coins," but not the kind that ordinary households hang on their doors.
These have undergone special treatment; each one has been soaked in cinnabar, sun-dried during the hottest days of summer, and then buried in incense ash for three years.
The seven copper coins represent the Big Dipper. Stringing them together with a red string forms the "Seven Star Soul-Locking Array".
If an evil god possesses a person or takes human form, these seven copper coins can lock its soul and force it to reveal its true form.
Lu Yuan tied the bag tightly and put it aside.
The fifth item was a wooden plaque, about the size of a palm, entirely black, with the character "令" (command) engraved on the front and densely packed runes on the back. This was the "Thunder Ancestor's Command".
Taoist ritual implements are divided into three grades. Lower-grade implements are for exorcising evil spirits, middle-grade implements are for suppressing malevolent forces, and higher-grade implements are for summoning deities.
This Thunder God's Decree is a superior magical artifact.
The one summoned by it was not an ordinary guardian deity, but the Thunder Ancestor of the Nine Heavens.
Of course, whether or not they can be summoned depends on their abilities.
However, this token itself has the effect of suppressing evil spirits, and when carried on one's person, evil gods dare not approach.
He turned the wooden plaque over and looked at the runes on the back.
The moonlight shone on it, and the runes seemed to come alive, faintly flowing.
The last item was a talisman.
It wasn't an ordinary yellow talisman; it was a purple one.
Purple talisman.
Taoist talismans are divided into four grades: yellow, red, purple, and gold.
Yellow talismans are the most common, followed by red talismans, purple talismans are considered high-level talismans, and gold talismans are legendary items.
Six items: a compass for navigating, a curse dagger for killing, black dog blood for breaking through barriers, seven-star coins for locking the soul, a thunder god's decree for suppressing the body, and a purple talisman for protection.
That should be enough.
Lu Yuan carefully put away the items, bagging what needed to be bagged and tucking what needed to be tucked into his pocket.
The next day, early in the morning.
As dawn broke, a layer of pale white appeared on the eastern horizon.
Lu Yuan pushed open the door and stretched in the doorway.
Although I went to bed late last night, I slept soundly and woke up feeling relaxed all over.
After washing up, he walked towards the dining hall.
Before I even entered the door, I could hear voices coming from inside.
As Lu Yuan stepped inside, he saw Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er already sitting at the table.
The two of them changed into neat clothes today, and their hair was combed neatly.
Several small dishes were laid out on the table: pickled vegetables, dried radish, and a dish of scrambled eggs.
Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er ate and chatted, talking about everyday family matters.
The business in Fengtian City, the things to do after returning, and when to come back next time.
After Lu Yuan sat down, the two beautiful aunts started talking about everyday family matters and then turned to Lu Yuan himself.
It's simply a matter of telling Lu Yuan to take care of himself and to go to Fengtian City when he's free.
Or they might say something like, "They'll come back when they have time."
After the three finished breakfast, they went to the side hall.
The palace doors were open, the moonlight had long since faded, and it was replaced by the soft light of dawn.
The eternal lamp was still burning, its flame steady, radiating warmth.
The two beautiful aunts said goodbye to Gu Qingwan before leaving.
The three of them walked to the mountain gate.
The morning light shone from the east, bathing the entire mountain gate in a soft golden hue.
Outside the door, stone steps descend one by one, disappearing into the morning mist.
The two beautiful aunts boarded the carriage that had been prepared beforehand, and finally lifted the curtain from the inside, revealing two stunningly beautiful faces. Both aunts' faces were filled with reluctance.
Lu Yuan acted as if nothing had happened, waving his hand, which prompted the two beautiful aunts to mutter that he was a heartless little brat.
Finally, the carriage headed down the mountain.
Lu Yuan stood at the mountain gate, watching them walk further and further away, becoming smaller and smaller, until they finally disappeared into the morning mist.
A breeze blew by, carrying the coolness of the early morning.
He stood at the door for a moment, then turned around and strode back.
set off!
Go find the Faceless God!
love story