The Double-Chapter 402 - 135 Method_5

As these words were spoken, a chill went through everyone present.

"Then...how could there be Evil Spirits in the residence all of a sudden?" Ji Shuran asked, "As the Daoist Master said, it seems that this Evil Spirit has not been here for a full year. Could it have been brought in from outside?"

"It’s very possible," Chongxu Daoist Master said, raising his whisk, "Perhaps someone brought it from outside, or someone carried something impure, attracting the wicked creatures from above to follow the trace here."

The crowd exchanged glances.

Jiang Li just watched coldly, knowing that with so little evidence, it might fool the servants or cause panic at most, not enough to make everyone fully believe Chongxu Daoist Master. At least Jiang Yuanbai at this moment did not show any sign of belief on his face. Jiang Li knew that it was not only because Jiang Yuanbai originally did not believe in ghosts and gods, but also because he felt that Lady Chen Ji’s interference in the Jiang Family’s affairs was a slap in his face.

But there was no difference anyway.

Lady Lu asked, "Daoist Master, what should we do now?"

"No worries," Chongxu Daoist Master said, "Allow me to investigate first, to determine where this Evil Spirit comes from."

At this moment, the altar had been set up, and the Taoist Boy had placed the Peach Wood Sword, Copper Coins, red thread, Cinnabar, and yellow paper inscribed with bizarre talisman script, as well as Bells, each in their place. In the center was a square area, at each corner of which stood thin copper pillars, with lines dyed red with Cinnabar stretched tightly between them. It formed a perfect square, with tiny bells hanging from each line.

With no wind, Chongxu Daoist Master stood at the center of this square holding the Copper Coin Sword, seated on the Eight Trigrams Mat, eyes closed, muttering words that were indiscernible.

Jiang Li observed the scene with interest. Xue Huaiyuan was also a skeptic of ghosts and gods; back when Tongxiang was poor, there were only two barefoot doctors in the whole area. People who couldn’t afford medicine sometimes brought their sick children to so-called "witches" in desperation. These witches would charge based on the family’s finances, and the best they could do was perform rituals in someone’s home, babbling nonsense and forcing people to drink water mixed with burnt talismans. Xue Huaiyuan deeply despised these practices, knowing that so many children had their chances of treatment delayed and consequently died because of them.

After Xue Huaiyuan took office in Tongxiang, he banned the presence of these "witches." At first, they would still stealthily visit homes, unable to change their ways. When Xue Zhao found out, he subtly played pranks to expose their scams. After it happened a number of times, the villagers realized the deception behind the witches and stopped being duped.

Although Xue Huaiyuan always scolded Xue Zhao for his mischief, he turned a blind eye to Xue Zhao’s tricks on the witches. Now, watching Chongxu Daoist Master, Jiang Li couldn’t help but be reminded of the past. She wondered what kinds of pranks Xue Zhao would come up with if he were here to reveal the Daoist Master’s true colors.

But... her expression slowly turned cold; Xue Zhao was no longer here, and she would not disrupt Chongxu Daoist Master’s "ritual" with mischief.

She had to watch him deploy all his tricks.

Chongxu Daoist Master continued his incantations for a while, then suddenly, somehow, the bells hanging from the lines started to move.

There was no breeze, and everyone standing in the courtyard could clearly feel it. Yet they could only watch as the bells started with a slight tremble, growing more and more intense, loud enough for everyone to hear, and getting louder.

Jiang Youyao clutched Ji Shuran’s sleeve, slightly frightened. She didn’t know what would happen today, but she was there to revel in Jiang Li’s misfortune. When she first heard Chongxu Daoist Master mentioned the Evil Spirit, she was already a little scared. Now, seeing the bells ring without any reason, she felt even more frightened, sensing a cold chill in the courtyard.

The weather was already strange that day, with heavy dark clouds. The courtyard was lit up with incense lit by the Taoist Boy, smoke swirling around, which made the scene even more eerie. The servants instinctively drew closer together, even Tonger and Bai Xue felt goosebumps rising on their backs.

In the back of the crowd, Maternal Aunt Hu clenched her fists, feeling sticky sweat between her palms from the tension. However, her heart was uneasy, and she glanced toward Jiang Li. freewebnσvel.cøm

She saw Jiang Li standing beside Jiang Yuanbai, her expression still calm and gentle. Whether it was the flaming firelight illuminating her face or not, Maternal Aunt Hu felt as though there was a fire burning in the girl’s dark eyes. She was neither violent nor impulsive, just quietly burning.

Burning everything to the ground.

The sound of the bells did not stop, but continued to grow louder and louder. At the same time, a gust of wind rose from the ground. But the wind seemed to follow some order, blowing for a while before stopping again.

Chongxu Daoist Master had already let go of his hand, but the Copper Coin Sword did not fall. Instead, it trembled and stood upright.

The crowd gasped in surprise.

The Copper Coin Sword was considered a treasure for Exorcism, capable of slaying demons and banishing evil. Now, it stood erect on its own before everyone’s eyes. Did this mean that there indeed were Evil Spirits in the residence?

At this point, even Jiang Yuanbai’s brows furrowed.

But Jiang Li sighed inwardly.

Without real skill, Chongxu Daoist Master would not dare to deceive even the emperor today; his sleight of hand was truly remarkable.

The next moment, the Copper Coin Sword suddenly changed direction, with its tip pointing towards Jiang Li, and charged straight at her!