Chapter Twenty-One: The Sublime Method of Reception and the White Tiger Visualization Technique

“Because of a certain ‘calamity’, my grandfather died, my father died, my entire family perished… If not for the officials arriving just as it was about to kill me, I would have died as well… They saved me.

Afterwards, an old friend of my grandfather arranged for me to be sent here.

I began training in martial arts, throwing myself into it desperately, refusing to stop until I was utterly exhausted each day.

Many people thought I was so driven because I wanted to achieve mastery in martial arts, to attain ‘spiritual vision’, and then learn the ways of those who walk between the worlds—to avenge my grandfather, my father, and my family…

But they were all wrong.

The truth is, I was afraid.

Truly afraid.

Ghosts, evil, disaster, doom… This time, what befell my family was merely ‘evil’, and we couldn’t withstand it—we were destroyed.

If things even worse than this were to come, how would I ever survive?

I trained in martial arts only because I wanted to protect myself.”

As Li Pei poured out his story, despair flashed clearly across his eyes.

Chen Yushu remained silent, wanting to offer comfort, but not knowing what to say.

Living elsewhere, when disaster strikes, he didn’t know what he himself would think or do.

Fear and avoidance—these were normal, weren’t they?

“But it marked my family.

None who bore my family’s blood was spared.

Including me.

I thought I would be safe hiding here.

I never expected it would come for me, find me even here.

And only then did I learn that the source of this ‘evil’ was connected to my grandfather—it was something he created through his forbidden arts.

Once such a thing turns upon its creator, the very first to suffer is the one who made it—my grandfather, and then anyone connected to him.

No one can escape such a fate…”

Li Pei’s voice grew low, as if marveling at the cruelty of it all, but the despair in his tone only deepened.

Chen Yushu suddenly understood.

During the day, he had heard what Xu Hao said when burning incense and joss paper, and from that, he’d learned that before dying, Li Pei had screamed hysterically, “Why hunt us to extinction? Why won’t you let him go?”

He’d been puzzled then.

Only now did he realize that this ‘evil’ had come to hunt him down.

And it had killed Li Pei right inside the Liu family’s pharmacy.

Yet, for some reason, hearing of Li Pei’s family’s tragedy gave him a strange sense of familiarity.

That’s right!

It was like what happened to Liu Qiao’er’s ‘ghostly grandmother’—the one who had dealings with the spirits and had taken a spiritual title. After her death away from home, the ‘yin’ could no longer be contained, and she slaughtered all the ancestral spirits in the Beijiao Village ancestral hall.

Could it be that both tragedies shared the same cause?

Must those who walk between the worlds always suppress and refine the ‘yin’?

“I come from a line of spirit-walkers. Though I never mastered the arts myself, I know this—when a person dies, resentment breeds, and that resentment turns to a ghost. In the end, such a spirit’s mind will become lost, murderous, and a danger to the living.

Such a being will eventually be destroyed—scattered, soul and spirit both.

And since I was killed by that ‘evil’, there’s a bond between us. I can sense it, vaguely. It’s still here; it hasn’t gone far.

It still lingers in Jianghuan Town.

If I ever cross paths with it again, I’ll surely die once more.

I don’t want to die. But I can’t escape…”

Li Pei spoke quickly, sometimes pausing as if something was affecting him, a momentary gloom crossing his face.

Fortunately, he seemed in control, showing no violent tendencies.

Otherwise, the ‘yang item’ in Chen Yushu’s hand would have been aimed at his face instantly.

“It’s fortunate that I met you.

Within the Liu family’s pharmacy, you’re the only one with ‘spiritual vision’ who can see me.

At this point, only you can help me.

While I still have my consciousness, before the resentment clouds my mind, I ask you—please, help me find release.”

After Li Pei finished, his expression grew sinister again, his eyes briefly fierce.

He had been feeding on ‘vital energy’ for days, and his maliciousness had grown. Had he harmed anyone, he would have become even more dangerous, eventually transforming into a vengeful spirit…

“But I have no idea how to help you move on,” Chen Yushu said with a frown.

“That’s my fault, I forgot to tell you.

Beneath your bed, I hid some things. On top is a spirit ruler… Beneath that is a book, ‘Li Chao’s Encounters with Ghosts’. Li Chao was my grandfather.

The book records all his years of encountering and exorcising spirits, the methods he used.

On the first page, there is a scripture—the text for release, ‘The Guide to Transcendence’.

Only someone with ‘spiritual vision’ can read it, and only then can it serve its purpose.

Within the book is also my family’s visualization technique: ‘The White Tiger Visualization’.

This is the most important knowledge of my family.

Now that my family is gone, keeping these things serves no purpose. I give them to you, as payment for helping me move on.

Also, my family’s greatest skills lie in talisman crafting and ritual incense.

The talisman methods are left in another manual, but the incense crafting is with Xu Hao. He’s from my village, knows all about my family, and has long coveted our legacy.

Under his pressure, I was forced to give him a talisman book and an incense manual…”

At this, Li Pei’s face turned thoroughly sinister, as if a malignant air was rising.

After a long moment, he composed himself and began to explain in detail how Chen Yushu could help him find release…

At last, he said, “That’s enough. I’ll send you back out now.

And then, I’ll carry out my final act of vengeance!”

…

Chen Yushu’s eyes snapped open.

He gasped for breath.

The stench in the air slowed his breathing, and he immediately realized he’d awakened from the dream.

While he felt relieved, a sense of absurdity lingered.

He hadn’t expected a ghost to ask him for help.

Yet the events in the dream had been so lifelike—it was no ordinary dream. Even now, he could recall every word spoken.

Chen Yushu closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

Then, as if remembering something, he glanced around.

It was still dark, but the bright moonlight outside illuminated Room Three enough for him to see the shared sleeping platform in vague detail.

Eight people lay in a row.

“Wait—eight?”

Chen Yushu counted. Including himself, there were exactly eight.

Then his gaze landed on Xu Hao. At his side, a shadowy figure crouched on top of him, arching its back and feeding on something.

Suddenly, as if sensing his gaze, the shadow lifted its head and looked straight at Chen Yushu, as if greeting him.

Then it bent down again and continued feeding on Xu Hao.