Chapter 83: Accepting a Disciple

A trace of fear appeared on Wang Erjun’s face. Like me, he gazed at Qianshui Town.

He said, “Why does it look like a pot, with two handles?”

Li Yue’s eyes were full of disdain. “You really are ignorant—that’s an official’s hat.”

Wang Erjun fell silent, his gaze uneasy as he glanced at Li Cangshui.

I felt little fear in my heart; instead, I was considering how best to speak with Li Cangshui.

Li Cangshui spoke calmly, “You insist on forging a karmic tie with me only because you want my help, but you may not survive the trouble you’ve brought upon yourself.”

I took a deep breath. “Even if this ghost is hard to deal with, he won’t kill me so easily. Besides, Daoist, aren’t you here too?”

Li Cangshui gave me a long, searching look—the same look he’d given me the first time we met, as if he saw straight through my secrets.

“You’re not quite human,” he suddenly said.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

He turned to look at Qianshui Town and continued in a level tone, “I watched from the side last night. The way you handled things was wrong.”

“No one in the village believes you. No matter what you say, they won’t trust you. The root of all this is that coffin that drifted in against the current.”

“I’ve already told that Daoist how to suppress the coffin. Once things start to go wrong, they’ll have to find a way to resolve them.”

“You’ve already involved yourself far too deeply. The trouble is beyond your imagination.”

My face showed my confusion.

Li Cangshui shook his head. “You don’t understand now, but one day you will.”

“The thing inside the coffin has its eyes on you.”

Wang Erjun turned pale, not knowing what to do.

Li Yue seemed anxious as well. She could no longer hold back and whispered, “Master, Xie Yuan is only trying to help…”

“If you hadn’t spoken up for him, would he have become so involved?” Li Cangshui gave Li Yue a sidelong glance.

“If you hadn’t taken something very important from him, and if you weren’t implicated if he died, why else would I let him come?”

Li Yue flushed, muttering under her breath.

I drew a deep breath and said quietly, “Daoist Li, as long as you’re willing to help me, I’ll give you that item. And whatever else you need me to do, if I’m able, I will.”

Li Cangshui fell silent.

A minute or two passed, each second dragging on like a year.

“I won’t go back to Wangjiaya with you, nor will I go to Baihu Village.”

“As for Qianshui Town, I’ll teach you some methods. You and Li Yue will handle it together. If you survive, I’ll let you meet someone.”

“You can beg him for help. If he agrees, the thing buried beneath Baihu Village and the person you wish to save—they can both be brought back to life.”

“White Liu is his disciple.”

Hearing that Li Cangshui didn’t intend to return with me, I felt a surge of disappointment and helplessness.

But after hearing the rest, my fists clenched involuntarily.

Li Yue was clearly startled. “Master… you…”

Li Cangshui’s tone was mild. “You will go with him. Treat it as your trial.”

Li Yue bit her lip and nodded.

I wasn’t foolish, nor was I about to pester him further.

And that person Li Cangshui mentioned—he was the one who taught White Liu?

All those sinister arts, the secret technique for stealing years of life—White Liu’s handwork—all learned from that man?

If someone like that was willing to help me—

Or even teach me—then surely I could separate my mother from that ghostly woman!

White Liu could turn his own son into a vengeful spirit and bring him back to life. Surely his master would be even more suited to help me than Li Cangshui himself?

My thoughts raced like lightning.

But in the next moment, Li Cangshui’s words jolted me from my reverie.

“This chubby fellow isn’t bad—honest and good-natured.”

I was stunned. Li Cangshui actually praised Wang Erjun.

Wang Erjun, for his part, looked confused and at a loss.

Li Yue’s cheeks flushed deep red. She bit her lip, her voice full of grievance. “Master, how can you say that about this fat oaf? All he does is eat and speak rudely—”

Li Cangshui frowned. “And you, sneaking away from me to Wangjiaya to find Xie Yuan, and even helping him scheme against your own master—did you really think I didn’t know just because I didn’t say anything?”

Li Yue stomped her foot, looking even more aggrieved.

Li Cangshui gazed at Wang Erjun, his expression softening. “After my disciple and Xie Yuan resolve the matter in Qianshui Town and leave together, I’ll be short a follower. Would you like to become my apprentice?”

Li Yue was on the verge of tears. She dropped to her knees before Li Cangshui, her voice trembling, almost sobbing. “Master, are you abandoning me?”

My heart pounded. A thought suddenly surfaced.

This must be fate.

I had received a promise from Li Cangshui, while Wang Erjun was being offered a direct chance to become his disciple.

For me, everything was still uncertain, but for Wang Erjun, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Seeing him standing there dumbfounded, I whispered, “Kneel, hurry.”

Li Cangshui looked on kindly.

But Wang Erjun gritted his teeth. “If you won’t help Xie Yuan, I won’t become your disciple. I swore with my father—my life belongs to Xie Yuan.”

A strange feeling rose in my heart, replaced by anxiety. I nudged him, voice low, “Don’t say something so foolish—kneel and become his disciple!”

But Wang Erjun still refused.

I couldn’t describe how I felt. That Wang Erjun would go so far for me—

Just then, Li Cangshui suddenly laughed. “I never said I wouldn’t help him—only that someone else is more suitable. I didn’t obtain the thing from White Liu at Wangjiaya. Had he given it to me then, I’d have sent him to that man, for only he can truly rid you of the Yin Monkey. And as for White Liu, that’s a matter between their families.”

“And if you become my disciple, you’ll learn many things you want. All those talismans you drew last night—they’re not for you; only Xie Yuan can use them. I’ll teach you other skills. They may not be the best, but no ghost will easily harm you in the future.”

“You are loyal and want to help Xie Yuan, but right now you’re just an ordinary person. Soon, you’ll become a burden to him.”

I thought Li Cangshui was only speaking on impulse and that Wang Erjun would lose his chance after refusing.

But unexpectedly, Li Cangshui explained it all to him.

Wang Erjun asked tentatively, “But what if I want to help Xie Yuan?”

Li Cangshui smiled again. “Didn’t I just say you’d soon become a burden to him? If you learn geomancy and Daoist arts, you’ll be able to help him.”

Wang Erjun shivered, clenched his fists, and suddenly dropped to his knees, kowtowing three times to Li Cangshui.

Li Cangshui nodded, satisfaction on his face.

I was happy for Wang Erjun, genuinely glad for him.

Li Yue was still crying, looking utterly heartbroken.

Li Cangshui’s brow furrowed, his voice turning cold. “I have spoiled you too much over the years. Now I want to take on a new disciple—do I need your permission?”

Li Yue trembled, looked up in panic, and shook her head, crying that she didn’t mean it that way.

“I have taken on several disciples, each of whom must go out into the world to learn. You’ve been at my side for too long.”

“If you keep crying, do you want your new junior brother to laugh at you?”

Li Yue stopped, hastily wiping her tears with trembling hands.

I felt a pang of guilt. If Li Yue hadn’t helped me, Li Cangshui likely wouldn’t have spoken to her so harshly.

Soon, she had wiped her face clean.

Li Cangshui nodded, glancing once at me. He said calmly, “Xiao Yue is skilled in geomancy and ghost-seeing, but not in talismans to subdue ghosts. The feng shui of Qianshui Town is that of the Judge’s Hat—this coffin is only the beginning.”

“The vengeful ghost was brought in by water in the coffin—he’s trying to return home, hiding under the Judge’s Hat to escape the underworld’s pursuers.”

“He’s targeting you as well. He’s a ghost of fortune; if you leave Qianshui Town and ignore this, your luck will dwindle and misfortune will follow.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“Stand up, Xiao Yue,” Li Cangshui said after a pause.

Li Yue kept her head down, her eyes still red.

“One more piece of advice—a ghost of fortune won’t easily take a life, but as your luck lessens, disasters will follow. And in this Judge’s Hat formation, there may be more than one ghost. Don’t bring shame to your master.”

With that, Li Cangshui headed toward the City God Temple.

“Wang Erjun, come with me.”

Wang Erjun looked back at me, uneasy.

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

He followed Li Cangshui inside.

Sighing, I turned to Li Yue and whispered, “Sorry.”

She pursed her lips, shook her head, her voice quieter, “It’s not your fault. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I’ve been with Master longer than most of my senior brothers and sisters.”

Li Yue’s quick recovery surprised me.

She turned back, biting her lip. “I won’t let Master be embarrassed.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

After a pause, Li Yue continued, “Let’s go somewhere first.”

My heart leapt. “Where?”

“The place that coffin came from.”

My expression changed. “Didn’t it come from the water?”

Li Yue shook her head softly. “It wasn’t buried in water to begin with. It was somewhere near Qianshui Town. He’s trying to escape the underworld and return home. The dead always want to return home. If we find his grave, we’ll know where he lived.”

“What will happen to those townsfolk who ate the livestock’s meat?”

“They won’t die—at most, they’ll suffer bad luck. The blood of a single ghost isn’t enough to kill so many people.”

As she finished speaking, Li Yue walked to a bonfire beside the temple.

She squatted down and used a stick to poke through the ashes, revealing a few fragrant roasted sweet potatoes.

“Eat something first, then we’ll look for his grave.”

My heart beat faster.

Li Yue was not as simple as she seemed. She could instantly recognize the Talisman of Shock and even read the Fusion Talisman. I’d nearly mistaken her for an ordinary girl just because of her straightforward manner.

I didn’t ask how she’d find the body—there must be a way within the art of geomancy.

My stomach empty, I squatted down to eat a sweet potato. Suddenly, Li Yue quietly asked, “Can you give me that bronze mirror?”

I was taken aback. “Didn’t you already take it?”

Li Yue paused, looking at me in puzzlement. “That mirror is special. Even if I take it, I can’t use it. Didn’t you know?”