"Soul Summons?"
Sha Lifei swallowed hard, his gaze toward Wu Laosi brimming with awe. "I've heard this thing belongs to the underworld's enforcers. Did you, sir, actually rob an underworld agent? Respect, truly respect!"
Wu Laosi froze at the words, quickly waving his hands. "Hey, don't talk nonsense! This old man's cultivation is barely two stories high. I haven't the skill, nor the guts, for that."
With that, he hurriedly snapped the box shut.
As if one more glance might invite calamity.
Li Yan furrowed his brow. "This thing… is it tied to your troubles, elder?"
"Not troubles…"
Wu Laosi sighed, his face turning pale.
"It's a debt—a debt owed to the underworld!"
Sha Lifei's curiosity deepened. "The underworld runs a loan-sharking business?"
Wu Laosi froze again, staring at Sha Lifei in disbelief, as if marveling at the bald, bearded man's bizarre train of thought.
"Stop interrupting!" Li Yan yanked Sha Lifei back, then nodded. "Please continue, elder."
Wu Laosi shook his head. "This Soul Summons is tied to our lineage's inheritance."
"Those of us who practice the arts of the underworld mostly revere the Innate Yin God. My lineage's ancestors obtained the Soul Summons, passed down through generations, and we worship the Great Emperor of Fengdu, the Northern Yin. Occasionally, some receive orders from the underworld to assist ghost enforcers in capturing fugitives."
Li Yan frowned. "What… is the underworld like?"
"No idea." Wu Laosi's face soured. "The affairs of the underworld—how could a mortal comprehend them? Every time I cross to the other side, aside from the task at hand, I can't remember a thing."
Sha Lifei couldn't help but interject, "Ghost enforcers need human help?"
Wu Laosi nodded. "According to my master, wherever people dwell across the divine land, gods are worshipped, and divine energy gathers."
"Not to mention those blessed lands and celestial abodes where innate energies converge—some places even ghost enforcers can't enter."
"Those who hold the Soul Summons gain certain benefits, like commanding underworld ghost soldiers without needing to raise an army. But with that comes obligations—capturing underworld fugitives."
"Some of these fugitives are dead, their souls lingering, unwilling to depart, turning into vengeful ghosts causing havoc. Others are cultivators who've defied the heavens to return to life or hide in blessed lands as living corpses."
"Our task is to find them. Issue the Soul Summons, and they're dragged into the underworld. Because of this, even the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect treats Soul Summons holders with respect."
Sha Lifei marveled, "With so many benefits, why are you hiding here, elder?"
Wu Laosi gave a bitter smile. "Because I botched a job."
"Once, the underworld sent a dream-order to capture someone who'd escaped and returned to life. Turns out, it was an old friend. I bent the rules, faked his death to let him go. But you can't fool ghosts and gods. The truth came out."
"Worse, I misjudged him. That friend's resentment lingered, turning him into a vengeful ghost that killed my entire family. Though he was sent to the underworld, I'd broken the taboo."
"To protect myself, I sealed my spiritual powers and hid here."
"If I cross to the underworld again, I'm as good as dead!"
"I see."
Li Yan's heart sank. "If that's the case, we won't trouble you, elder."
Helping would mean death, and Wu Laosi, hiding in the theater troupe for years, clearly wouldn't sacrifice himself for others. Li Yan couldn't force him.
"You've misunderstood, young brother."
Wu Laosi shook his head. "Since I've told you all this, I intend to act."
With that, he untied his robe, slowly revealing his back.
Li Yan and Sha Lifei gasped.
His back was covered in dense, bluish-purple marks, like tattoos etched deep into his skin, faintly forming a pattern:
At the center was the Soul Summons, encircled by chains!
Wu Laosi put his robe back on and sighed. "Men's hearts are easy to deceive, but ghosts and gods are not. Some things can't be escaped. This day was bound to come. My time is running short."
"I'll act this time, but I have two conditions."
Li Yan nodded gravely. "Speak, elder."
Wu Laosi pulled a jade pendant carved with fish and lotus from his chest, his eyes reddening as his voice trembled. "I hail from Fengyang County, where I had some wealth. When disaster struck, I fled in fear, burying my wife and daughter haphazardly without even a proper tombstone. All these years, guilt has haunted me, keeping me awake."
"When I die, I ask you to take my body back to my hometown, let me return to my roots, and give my wife and daughter a proper funeral."
He then pressed the lacquered box. "And this Soul Summons—my lineage's ancestral temple lies in the Qinling Mountains, its members dwindled, its incense weak. Please return the Soul Summons to the altar of the Great Emperor of Fengdu."
"If you agree, young brother, I can go in peace."
Li Yan paused, then solemnly clasped his hands. "I swear to fulfill your trust!"
Wu Laosi nodded. "The method to cross to the underworld can be performed tonight. But if the living soul is trapped in a spirit jar, I can't bring it back—only locate it."
"That's enough!" Sha Lifei beamed with joy.
Manager Wan had said that once the location was known, they could go to the City God Temple for reinforcements. No matter how strong Chen Fa's puppet arts were, the Law Enforcement Hall would be eager to seize him for merit.
Wu Laosi stood. "Then let's prepare."
"Xianyang City has many temples with thriving incense and underworld soldiers stationed at the City God Temple, which could interfere. We must perform this outside the city."
"I'll also need a coffin, a rooster, a bell, five-colored soil, yellow wine, and three jin of paper money and ingots…"
Li Yan and Sha Lifei noted each item. Fortunately, they were common objects, requiring no special artifacts.
With that, they left.
Before departing, Wu Laosi tidied the room, organizing everything neatly and even locking the door.
At the courtyard, a servant boy waited, smiling and clasping his hands. "Gentlemen, Master Luo has prepared food and wine."
Wu Laosi shook his head. "Zhuzi, take me to see the master."
"Yes, Uncle Wu, this way."
The servant didn't dare dawdle and led the way.
Through a corridor, they reached another courtyard.
This one was grander, with a small building at the back, a rock garden, and a pond. A small stage stood at the pond's center.
Clearly, this was a place for entertaining esteemed guests.
One could imagine a moonlit night, mist over the pond, the stage alive with tales of joy and sorrow, while guests below toasted and sang—what a delight.
"Hahaha…"
As they entered, Luo Shihai's laughter rang out.
He strode forward, smiling and clasping his fists. "I've been blind! Brother Wu, a hidden master in our troupe, and I never noticed. Forgive any past neglect."
In the martial world, some things weren't secrets.
Youngsters like Zhuzi might not know, but Luo knew that Manager Wan of the Artisans' Guild was a true mystic.
The Zhou family's misfortune was tied to him.
Li Yan came with Wan's letter of introduction, so it was no surprise that Wu Laosi, unremarkable in the troupe, was also a mystic.
Wu Laosi paused, then knelt and bowed deeply.
"Hey, Brother Wu, what's this?" Luo Shihai panicked, rushing to help him up.
But Wu Laosi remained kneeling, his voice heavy. "All these years, I've hidden in the troupe. My skills are modest, only good for odd jobs. Thanks to your kindness, Master Luo, I've had food to eat and haven't been driven out."
"I've no way to repay you but with this bow of gratitude."
He rose slowly, his face turning stern. "The Longchang Troupe's success owes much to that century-old statue of the ancestral master, suppressing fate and bringing forth talent."
"But over time, that statue has birthed a treasure, likely drawing the eyes of evildoers. Not long ago, someone sneaked in but was scared off by me."
"After I leave, Master, you must stay vigilant."
"What?!"
Luo Shihai was both thrilled and shocked. "Brother Wu, did you see who it was?"
Born to a wealthy family, he knew of heavenly treasures. He hadn't expected one in his own troupe.
Wu Laosi lowered his voice. "A sorcerer from Jiangzuo, hiding in the Iron Blade Gang, who's harmed others for Zheng Heibei. Be cautious, Master."
With that, he clasped his hands, bid farewell to Li Yan, and left.
Luo Shihai stood stunned, his appetite gone, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. Then he gritted his teeth. "Zhuzi, take me to Taixing Carriage House. Tonight, I'm taking action!"
"They've gone too far, coveting my treasure!"
…
Unnoticed, night fell.
Outside Xianyang City, in a grove by the Wei River's bank.
Under an old locust tree, Li Yan and Sha Lifei shoveled tirelessly, piling dirt on both sides, gradually digging a deep pit…
*(End of Chapter)*