Chapter 16: Second Uncle Persuades The Old Man

Second Uncle probably sensed that my body was trembling uncontrollably from fear, so he gave me a reassuring look and said nothing.

I didn’t want to be like this either, but for some reason, my body just wouldn’t obey. I was shaking, I didn’t even need to feel it, just by looking at my hands as I threw paper money into the basin, I could see my hands were shaking uncontrollably and disgracefully.

Second Uncle showed no signs of anger. Perhaps he knew this was my first time dealing with such a matter.

Just then, the Bagua Mirror, which was illuminated by the candle, turned by itself and pointed directly at the entrance of the mourning hall.

My Second Uncle and I both turned towards the entrance in unison. As we looked, the Bagua Mirror suddenly shot out a green light. Just as this green light was about to reach the entrance, a scream suddenly erupted, and an old man slowly materialized, crawling on the ground, panting in pain, his body flickering faintly.

All of this happened in an instant. By the time I reacted and got a clear look at the old man’s face, I realized he looked exactly like the old man lying in the coffin. I could clearly hear my breathing quicken considerably.

Second Uncle, likely accustomed to such events, said in a very ordinary tone:

【 You’ve already lived to a ripe old age. How can you not know that birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural occurrences? Why don’t you leave? 】

The old man seemed a little afraid of Second Uncle, his eyes darting away from Second Uncle’s gaze. However, he still smiled and said:

【 People of our generation never had the chance to study when we were young. We came to Dongguan on our own to strive, and by luck, I managed to build a career and settle down in Dongguan. In the years that followed, although I had some wealth, I realized that wealth is not omnipotent. I suddenly realized I would die. In a few years, ten or twenty years, I would die, and I began to fear it. I didn’t know why I was afraid, but more than anything, I felt resentment. Why? When I faced difficulties in life, I could always find a way. I could do the same in death! So I desperately searched for a way to continue living. By chance, I heard about an expert who could help me. I spent a fortune to find this expert, and indeed, the expert did not disappoint me. He gave me a method. In a few more days, I will be able to return to my body and live a little longer… 】

Before the old man could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Second Uncle’s merciless voice, and Second Uncle said:

【 What is the method given by that expert you mentioned? Can you tell me specifically? 】

【 The expert said I should find a carpenter to make a wooden puppet that looks exactly like me. Then, I should mix a secret medicine made from my vital blood with water, and pour this blood-water onto the wooden puppet. After pouring it for forty-nine days, the expert would cast a spell. Once I died, I would be able to deceive the Underworld Official coming to collect souls. As long as I could evade the Underworld Official, I could return to my body and live for some more time. 】

After hearing this, a look of anger appeared on Second Uncle’s face, and he said angrily:

【 You are too selfish. Doing this will cause immense trouble for that Underworld Official. If that Underworld Official gets furious, your entire family will suffer. Do you know that? 】

【 So what? I’m about to die anyway. Besides, it might not be impossible to gamble again. My life has always been built on my own efforts, though luck played a part. If I can gamble again, why not! 】

【 Since that’s your mindset, I won’t say much more. Did that expert tell you whether this technique is Suppressing Enchantment or Nightmare Binding? 】

Upon hearing Second Uncle’s question, the old man looked at him with shock in his eyes. Then, he weakly lowered his head and said:

【 Nightmare Binding. 】

Second Uncle sighed, took out a cigarette from his mouth, lit it, and muttered softly: 【 Nightmare Binding… 】

Then he said again:

【 Did that person tell you about the consequences you would have to bear for doing this? 】

The old man lowered his head dejectedly and remained silent, but his attitude already provided the answer.

【 It’s come to this. When your family finds me, it seems you’ve already lost the gamble. Are you going or not? 】

Second Uncle now understood the beginning and end of the matter and didn’t want to say more. He simply asked the old man this.

But the old man, feeling emboldened, said to Second Uncle:

【 Go? Where would I go? The Underworld Official who came to pick me up has already left. Even if I wanted to go, I can’t find the way anymore. What you’re saying isn’t right; it should be that I won, hahaha. 】

【 You underestimate us too much. I told you, you lost the moment you encountered me. Birth, aging, sickness, death, and Heavenly Dao reincarnation are the normal laws of this world. Just tell me, are you going or not? 】

Second Uncle made this statement very dominantly. I don’t know if the old man knew what Second Uncle was thinking, but I knew that if the old man dared to say no, he would likely be forcibly taken.

The old man, however, remained silent, looking at Second Uncle with a defiant expression.

Second Uncle narrowed his eyes and then walked to the coffin, saying:

【 Even if you can linger for a while longer, what’s the point? Look at your current state. Can you even be considered human anymore? 】

After the old man’s disturbance, the corpse had already passed its seventh day. By now, the body was slowly decaying and shrinking. If it hadn’t been for the cold storage in the first few days after death, it would have started to smell by now.

Now, because it was brought back from the crematorium, and the cold storage here was already occupied, there was no longer any cold storage to keep the corpse frozen. However, it was highly likely that the old man’s wife was causing trouble there, which is why things were delayed. Otherwise, the old man’s son would have cremated his father’s body long ago. It’s hard to say whether his son believed in these strange matters, but it’s certain that his son couldn’t withstand the pressure from the local authorities, otherwise, they wouldn’t have found Second Uncle.

Hearing Second Uncle’s words, the old man seemed to want to approach, but he was suppressed by the Bagua Mirror, and even standing up was difficult.

Seeing this, Second Uncle put away the Bagua Mirror and also collected all his Magical Artifacts.

After putting away the Bagua Mirror, the old man tremblingly walked up to his own body and stared at it blankly for a long time. He just kept looking without saying anything.

I sat there, not daring to move, honestly watching how Second Uncle would handle this.

Second Uncle returned to his original position and began to Meditate and Rest again.

At this moment, I felt a bit conflicted. Should I continue burning the paper money?

After hesitating, I didn’t dare to burn it. After all, the old man’s soul was still here. If I provoked him, I didn’t know if I would get into trouble. Witty, I chose to sit there honestly without moving.

I thought the old man would only watch for a while, but he stared at his corpse for a full two hours!

My legs were numb from sitting. In this Scene, I dared not move for fear of disturbing this old gentleman. Fortunately, I often sat like this when I read Daoist Books at the Taoist Temple. Although the posture was different and made me a little uncomfortable, I could endure it.

After staring at his own corpse for a full two hours, the old man finally spoke:

【 Let’s go, then. But how should I go? The path is already gone. 】

【 You don’t need to worry about that. Someone will guide you. There’s no time to delay, so let’s set off quickly. 】

Although the old man had doubts, this time he nodded cheerfully.

Second Uncle then turned his gaze to me. I knew what Second Uncle meant, but I didn’t know what I should do. So, I just stared at Second Uncle blankly like an idiot.