Chapter 35 Chapter Thirty-Five — Three Hundred Gold Buys Not Such Devotion

Li Daoxuan came to himself and for a long while said nothing.

Chen Ziyu released his hand and watched him quietly.

Li Daoxuan at last understood why Sister Yu had felt pity for this female ghost — for Sister Yu's and her fates were too alike.

Both lost their mother young, were imprisoned and abused; Sister Yu even poisoned mute…

Now Li Daoxuan had untangled the whole matter, and knew what the principal wife concealed.

The principal wife had long realized that female ghost was Hui'er!

As for why the principal wife concealed it — likely tied to that effigy. The principal wife was no ordinary person; she had learned the Art of Yansheng, and with it taken the life of Hui'er's mother, Xie Yulan, then ascended to her place.

This also explains why her family heirloom was a low-grade protective artifact.

But she had not expected that after Hui'er's death, by chance, she would become a most strange mirror ghost, and come to take revenge.

…

Li Daoxuan looked at the female ghost Hui'er, bound by Sister Yu's hair; her eyes blood-red, yet on closer look vacant and hollow.

Even as a vengeful ghost, she was still the foolish Hui'er.

Now before Li Daoxuan lay a hard choice.

To destroy her, or not?

Destroy her, and Li Daoxuan truly found it hard to strike — she was pitiful enough, and avenging her mother was rightful beyond question.

But not to kill her, and Li Daoxuan feared she would gradually lose control, at last become a Red Robe, and harm many.

That Sister Yu regained her wits was because the master spent much effort dissolving her grievance; else the present Sister Yu would have shed blood unnumbered.

After a hesitation Li Daoxuan seemed to reach a decision; he pinched a Five-Thunder Talisman, drew a deep breath, and intoned the art.

"Five thunders, five thunders, hasten to Huang Ning; mist and change, roar of lightning and thunder; at my call you come, swift send the yang sound — swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!"

Boom!

Startling thunder rent the sky and exploded in the Huang residence, lighting too Li Daoxuan's eyes.

…

Next morning, at dawn.

Squire Huang and the principal wife, escorted by a crowd of servants, walked in; when they saw the scorch marks all over the courtyard floor, they could not help but draw breath.

"My lord, I heard tell our house was struck by thunder last night; at first I thought it nonsense — yet now it seems true!"

"Surely the immortal master summoned the thunder and destroyed that dirty thing; now at last we are safe!"

A little source marker: NovelPhoenix has the author's chapter, while this copy was taken without consent.

"Look — the immortal master is atop the house!"

The crowd looked up; atop the roof sat a green-robed Daoist, long hair flying, an ancient sword in embrace, a black gourd in hand, watching the slowly rising morning sun while sipping fruit-wine.

Li Daoxuan, rare in not practicing the Purple-Qi Nourishing-Yuan Art, had deep eyes, as if pondering something.

"Immortal master!"

Squire Huang looked up and smiled. "Immortal master, come down and speak?"

Li Daoxuan glanced at him, and at the principal wife beside him, and said nothing, but took something from his breast and tossed it down; it landed exactly at the principal wife's feet.

It was an effigy studded with silver needles.

The principal wife's face changed utterly; she at once tucked it into her sleeve, staring hard at Li Daoxuan.

She sharply bade the servants, "All of you withdraw!"

When the servants had left.

She said to Li Daoxuan, "Immortal master, might we speak within?"

Pausing, she said with meaning, "I hear the immortal master's Zhenyang Temple is long dilapidated; I would pay to repair it, and add a hundred taels of gold besides!"

As if fearing Li Daoxuan would say it outright, she turned her tone, with a touch of threat.

"Even if the immortal master's arts are great, he walks the mortal realm and is still a subject under the court; my cousin is a vice-minister of the present reign."

Li Daoxuan's brow rose; he smiled. "In that case, within we shall talk."

With that he leapt down, and to the puzzled Squire Huang said, "Squire Huang, come in with us as well."

The two followed Li Daoxuan inside.

Squire Huang wondered, "What on earth is going on?"

Li Daoxuan smiled faintly, ignoring the warning in the principal wife's eyes, and said evenly, "Within that effigy were the birth-date and eight characters and the hair of Squire Huang's first wife, Xie Yulan. The reason Madam fell suddenly ill years ago was that the principal wife secretly laid the Art of Yansheng upon her."

Squire Huang stared at the principal wife in shock, pointing at her, hand trembling.

The principal wife lowered her head; a flicker of venom crossed her eyes.

Squire Huang raised a hand to slap her hard, but at last sighed and lowered it.

"Squire Huang, that female ghost is your own daughter Hui'er. Abused by the principal wife, then driven from the house, she drowned herself in the lake."

Looking at Squire Huang, suddenly aged much, Li Daoxuan sat and lightly tapped the chair with a finger.

"Squire Huang, this is the truth of your house's haunting."

Li Daoxuan quietly watched the struggling Squire Huang; he very much wished to know what choice the other would make, once he knew all.

After a long while Squire Huang sighed; he lowered his head, walked to Li Daoxuan, and took out a bulging purse.

"Immortal master, thank you for removing… that dirty thing for my Huang house. Take these gold; as for my family matter, pray… do not speak of it."

Li Daoxuan took the purse, opened it — within were gold cakes.

He hefted the purse, half-smiling. "Three hundred taels of gold — truly heavy."

Squire Huang thought him dissatisfied, wanting more, and smiled. "So long as the immortal master keeps silence, in a few days Huang shall send a further gift!"

Yet the next moment Li Daoxuan tossed the purse back to him.

"Three hundred taels of gold weigh heavier than the lives of wife and daughter. Squire, you have broadened your poor Daoist's view."

Xie Yulan and Squire Huang had known each other in humble beginnings, weathered wind and rain together, from empty-handed to daily gold; a dozen years of devoted constancy — turned out to be worth no more than three hundred gold.

Squire Huang's face grew awkward; he put away his smile. "Immortal master, what do you mean?"

Li Daoxuan waved a hand. "Nothing much. Only that I cannot take this coin — I am, after all, a Daoist of principle: take a man's coin, dispel his disaster; since the disaster is not dispelled, the coin naturally cannot be taken."

Pausing, he added, "Ah — that hundred taels of silver deposit, non-refundable, though."

Squire Huang seemed to think of something; a flicker of dread showed in his eyes.

The principal wife, realizing trouble, turned and ran for the door.

But it was too late; the door slammed with a bang and, no matter how she beat it, did not budge.

The wedding dress fluttering, Chen Ziyu, oil-paper umbrella in one hand and Hui'er's hand in the other, slowly walked from the inner room.

With each step a blood footprint was left upon the ground.

But she did not strike; she only coldly watched Squire Huang and the principal wife, then gently pushed Hui'er forward.

Hui'er looked at Li Daoxuan, still a little fearful of the Daoist who had thunder-frightened her last night.

Li Daoxuan coughed and smiled wryly. "Sister Yu, don't look at me so — I'll turn around, all right?"

He turned his back, having shown his stance: grievance for grievance, revenge for revenge — Li Daoxuan will not interfere!