Chapter Nine: The Taoist Captures the Ghost

Just then, my phone suddenly rang—it was Chen Qingshan calling. I answered and asked what was happening. He told me to come back and watch the excitement. I asked, "What excitement?" He said, "The expert has arrived; they're opening the ritual altar in front of the Fool's grave. The ceremony is about to begin."

I had the speaker on, so my brother could hear everything Chen Qingshan was saying. I pointed at the phone and asked, "Did you predict all this? The expert you mentioned—is it him?"

My brother leaned back, sinking deep into the sofa. He looked at me with a strange expression, shook his head, and said, "I can't say for sure if it's him. But someone is already handling the matter."

I wanted to ask more, like what was behind Old Lady Wang's last words—'I judged the case wrong'—before she died, but he didn’t want to say too much. Given his temperament, it’s impossible to pry out what he doesn’t want to share, and besides, I was curious to see this expert at work. After all, my brother had just said someone was taking care of it, and now Zhao Qingshan had found a ritual master for the job. If my brother predicted it and called him an expert, he must have some real skills.

When I rushed back to Fudi Gully, the village entrance was already crowded. The master had set up a ritual altar, the table draped with yellow silk inscribed with a Taiji diagram. At either side of the diagram, there were couplets written:

Upper line: Unfold the Taiji; nothing beyond the nine palaces and eight trigrams.
Lower line: Employ great magic; turn one breath into three purities.

Zhao Qingshan and the others were busy, while a Taoist in a black jujube robe was pointing at things around the Fool’s grave with a compass. I looked among the crowd—even now, Chen Shitou’s family was nowhere to be seen. I walked over, pulled Chen Qingshan aside and asked, "Village chief, you didn’t bring this Taoist here just to obliterate the Fool, did you?"

"Since it’s about catching ghosts and subduing monsters, probably," Chen Qingshan replied.

"The Fool is a pitiful soul, after all. It’d feel wrong to do that. Could you talk to the master and see if he can help her move on peacefully? As long as she doesn’t cause trouble, let her go. Can you do that?" I said, keeping my promise to Han Xue.

Chen Qingshan glanced at me in puzzlement, "When did you become so compassionate?"

"Did you forget I was a witness when the Fool died? I always felt she was pitiful. Even if there was wrongdoing, it was Chen Shitou’s family that did it. The Fool hasn’t really harmed anyone. Just give me this favor, all right?" I handed him a cigarette.

"You’re acting weird today," Chen Qingshan said, taking the cigarette. He didn’t say more, but went to talk to the master. After a while, he came back, "Alright, the master says he’ll send the Fool to reincarnation, not scatter her soul."

"Thank you, chief," I smiled.

Chen Qingshan said nothing, squinting at the master, "I hope the master can really settle this. The Fool showing up now isn’t a good omen. To be honest, I saw her rise from the grave every seven days back then—now that she’s involved in Chen Shitou’s affairs, I feel uneasy, but I can’t ignore it. That girl’s in deep trouble."

"Oh, weren’t you always turning a blind eye? Just because the girl trafficked in is pretty?" I teased.

"Get lost. The girl’s just a child. Every time I see her, I think of my own daughter. People shouldn’t be so selfish. If it was my daughter stolen, I’d go mad," Chen Qingshan sighed.

At that moment, the master lit the candles on the table, took up a peach wood sword and began the ritual. He swung the sword with vigor—his attire and movements were just like the ghost-catching masters on TV. I asked, "Where did you find this master?"

"From the city’s Taiji Temple. Supposedly very skilled. Damn expensive, though. Just for this, three thousand yuan. If I knew being a Taoist was so profitable, I’d have learned that instead of martial arts," Chen Qingshan laughed.

While we chatted, the Taoist kept swinging the peach wood sword. After a flourish, he set it down, took a bronze bell in his left hand and shook it, the clear sound ringing out. With his right hand, he tossed yellow talismans into the air. He raised two fingers toward the Fool's grave and chanted, "The living walk their path, the dead theirs. Having left this world, why not enter the cycle? Today, Daoist Xing Yang of Taiji Temple acts for Heaven. Seeing your pitiful life and that you caused no harm after death, if you appear now, I will recite scriptures and help you move on. If you remain obstinate, under the Three Pure Ones, your soul will be scattered, never to reincarnate!"

After finishing, he pointed at the Fool’s grave. The crowd fell silent, watching. Suddenly, everyone gasped and stepped back. Chen Qingshan stubbed out his cigarette, "Looks like this master really has skills. Come on, let’s see."

We walked over and saw what everyone was reacting to. In the direction the Taoist pointed, a rustling sound came from the Fool’s grave. Moments later, a large snake broke through the soil! It was a big green snake, over a meter long and as thick as a child’s arm. Emerging from the grave, it flicked its tongue, its dark green eyes cold and chilling.

After the snake appeared, the Taoist pointed at it, "Evil spirit, come forth!"

Amazingly, the snake slithered toward the Taoist. He crouched and extended his hand, and amid the crowd’s cries, the snake climbed up his arm without biting him. Soon, it coiled around his arm, and the Taoist gently stroked its head; the snake was docile, not biting at all.

"Immeasurable Heaven, seeing your repentance, I’ll bring you back to the temple, have the brothers recite scriptures for your salvation, and ensure you’re reborn into a good family," he said. Then he took out a yellow pouch, put the snake in, and bowed to the crowd, "Folks, this snake was formed by an evil spirit and is now captured. Once I return and perform the rites, you needn’t worry anymore."

Thunderous applause rose, and shouts of "immortal!" echoed. Chen Qingshan went to invite the master for dinner, but the master replied, "Temple affairs are pressing, I won’t stay. Please arrange the fee quickly so we can return."

Chen Qingshan laughed, "It’s all ready, just check it." He handed over an envelope, which the Taoist lightly squeezed, bowing, "Money is external—much or little, it matters not."

"It must be enough," Chen Qingshan replied.

The master and his two companions quickly packed up and left in a Jinbei van. The villagers were still amazed by the ritual, some even discussing visiting Taiji Temple to burn incense. With things settled, I felt much calmer—after all, the Fool had haunted my dreams for years.

Later, Chen Qingshan presided over a small meeting at the village committee, mainly about how to account for the three thousand yuan. It ended up being recorded as hospitality expenses, and everyone agreed. The money should have come from Chen Shitou’s family, but they hadn’t shown up, and even if they had, they couldn’t afford it. Once decided, I left the committee; night had fully fallen.

I hadn’t seen Han Xue in the crowd, so I thought to tell her everything was resolved to ease her mind. But then I figured she’d already be asleep, so I texted her: "The master has settled it." Unexpectedly, she replied quickly: "I’m at your house."

Startled, I hurried home. The reason for my shock was my mother—I’d tried to hide my feelings for Han Xue, but my mother saw through me long ago and treated Han Xue as her future daughter-in-law, which made things awkward.

When I got home, my mother and Han Xue were chatting. I scratched my head, embarrassed, "Why are you here?"

Han Xue turned to me with a triumphant smile, "Why shouldn’t I come? Afraid I’ll eat your food?"

My mother looked at me, "What are you saying? Go on, there’s food on the table—eat."

I ate, watching my mother hold Han Xue’s hand, fussing over her, telling stories of my childhood that made my skin crawl. I dreaded Han Xue noticing anything.

After I finished, I went over and said, "Aren’t you going home? Planning to stay overnight?"

My mother glared at me, "You brat, how can you talk to Xue like that!"

Han Xue stood up, "Auntie, I should head home. The food was delicious. I’ll come chat again sometime."

My mother’s eyes crinkled with delight, "Good, just let Yezi know when you’re coming—I’ll make something tasty for you."

Han Xue nodded, then gave me a teasing smile that made me uneasy, "What now?"

"Aren’t you going to walk me home?" she said, blinking innocently.

My mother kicked me, "What are you standing there for? Go walk Xue home!"

—It wasn’t that I was acting strangely today, I just didn’t want my mother’s enthusiasm to give Han Xue any ideas. Normally, I kept things subdued, and we got along well. If anything were revealed, we might not even remain friends.

Outside the yard, I told Han Xue, "The village chief brought a Taoist, a real master. He turned the Fool into a snake and took it away. You don’t need to be scared. The Fool hasn’t been destroyed, so you don’t need to worry."

"Stop, stop, don’t talk about this!" Han Xue said.

I nodded, smiling, "Look at you, so timid."

My mother’s enthusiasm had probably tipped Han Xue off; I noticed her expression turn awkward once we left the house. We walked in silence to the school gate. Though there weren’t many students, the campus was quite large and empty. Honestly, it’s unsettling for a girl to live there alone.

"If you want, you can stay at my place. Don’t misunderstand—just sleep with my mom," I said.

Han Xue shook her head, "No, you said everything’s settled. I’ll go back."

She waved gracefully and turned into the school.

I watched her disappear into the night, saw her turn on the light in her room, and headed home.

Just as I reached my door, Han Xue texted: I’m scared.