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"Ye Chenfeng said, 'I'm not just buying the willow tree; I also want to buy a rooster, and it must be a crowing rooster. And do you have any Black Dog Blood? Pure black fur, not a single mixed hair on a black dog?' As he was speaking, Dan Xiangsheng came out from Evil Village and immediately recognized Ye Chenfeng.
'Little Taoist, you haven't left yet?'
'He's a Taoist?' At first, there were only one or two people, but soon more and more gathered to watch. Upon hearing someone say Ye Chenfeng was a Taoist, they were all quite surprised.
In people's memories and from movies, Taoists were always old men with white hair and beards; this was the first time they had seen such a young Taoist, especially one with a girlfriend.
What was going on? A Taoist living an ordinary life!
'Sorry, I'm not a Taoist, but my senior brother is,' Ye Chenfeng smiled apologetically, secretly comparing Little Monk Shen Binghan to his senior brother. The events that happened that night at Four Hospitals were so bizarre that it was hard to discern the truth, but that Deep Mountain Old Monk could indeed be considered his master.
'You're not a Taoist? No wonder you have such a beautiful girlfriend.'
Dan Xiangsheng quickly asked Ye Chenfeng what he needed and then hurriedly pulled out a stack of money. 'Everyone, go prepare. He's quite capable. About my wife—it's a strange story... Please help out; money is not an issue.'
Seeing someone offering money stirred the crowd's interest.
Some went to find a crowing rooster, while others went to look for a black dog.
Dan Xiangsheng glanced at Ding Li, nodded with a smile, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes, so he didn't say anything more.
'I saw people going to your house this morning. How's your wife's situation?'
'She loved traveling and liked Evil Village. Just a few miles from here is a Mountain Lodge specifically for burying the deceased. I followed her wishes and buried her at the Mountain Lodge.'
Hearing 'Mountain Lodge,' Ding Li was taken aback. He had wanted to tell Ye Chenfeng about the dream he had that night involving the Mountain Lodge but saw how busy he was and held back his words.
Ye Chenfeng noticed an elderly man in the crowd with missing teeth. The old man wore a melon-shaped hat, his face like wind-dried bacon—waxy yellow and heavily wrinkled. He leaned on a cane and had been listening for quite some time."
"Brother Shan, do you know him?"
Ding Li heard Ye Chenfeng's question and followed his gaze. Indeed, there was an elderly man in the crowd, looking to be at least eighty or ninety years old. In rural areas, it's not uncommon to find people living to such an age.
However, in big cities, reaching eighty or ninety is considered quite impressive.
Intrigued by the old man, Ding Li approached him to inquire about Gui Liu.
"Excuse me, do you know when this willow tree appeared?" he asked.
The old man pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, which was devoid of any hair. "I don't remember exactly when, but I can tell you that this willow tree has been here since I was a child. This Lao Liu tree has witnessed many events, and quite a few people have met their end here."
"Ah..." Ding Li exclaimed, quickly moving closer to Ye Chenfeng and whispering, "I'm scared."
"Don't worry, I'm here," Ye Chenfeng reassured him. He noticed Dan Xiangsheng handing out cigarettes one by one. The honest farmers accepted the cigarettes with both hands but hesitated to smoke them. Instead, they stared longingly at the half pack remaining in Dan Xiangsheng's hand before carefully putting the cigarettes into a paper box.
Ding Li noticed that the farmers' cigarette boxes were filled with black leaf tobacco. The filtered cigarette Dan Xiangsheng offered stood out starkly among the dark leaves, and the farmers laughed heartily, revealing their yellowed teeth.
With Dan Xiangsheng's gesture of sharing cigarettes, the farmers opened up more and began to chat.
Someone called out to the old man as Ba Old Man.
Ye Chenfeng, Ding Li, and Dan Xiangsheng were puzzled by this term at first.
Later, they learned that the old man's surname was Ba and that he was the oldest person within several dozen miles, hence being referred to as "old father."
Ba Old Man was not just in his eighties or nineties; he was actually ninety-six years old. Accompanying him to watch the commotion was his great-grandson, who kept wiping his nose and persistently asking to go home with his great-grandfather.
Ding Li, though frightened by the story just told by Ba Old Man, still wanted to hear more.
Moreover, Ye Chenfeng needed to clarify the matter regarding Gui Liu, so he urged, "Who will go get a stool for Ba Old Man?"
Upon hearing this, someone hurried to the guard room of Evil Village and brought back a leather cushion stool, respectfully inviting Ba Old Man to sit down. Seeing that his great-grandfather was no longer leaving, the great-grandson sniffled and wandered off to play in the mud.
Ba Old Man continued his tale, though he could not recall exactly how long Gui Liu had existed.
What he did remember was that this Gui Liu was truly extraordinary; it had witnessed the heinous acts committed by the Island Nation during their invasion of China. The people of the Island Nation hung our Chinese people from this tree and used bayonets to vivisect pregnant women. There were even worse horrors—people had their heads chopped off and became Headless Ghosts.
At that time, Evil Village had not yet been established. Vast fields surrounded Gui Liu, and there wasn't a village in sight for miles. This place could be described as one of the most sinister corners. Later on, someone recognized that this expanse of farmland could be developed and built a vacation resort nestled against the mountains and rivers, leading to the eventual creation of Evil Village.
Evil Village was also a name given in secret by the local farmers.
It was only after Evil Village came into being that the road improved slightly; perhaps it was due to an increase in visitors. During the initial construction of the villas in Evil Village, many people passed through this road every day.
In earlier times, especially on rainy days or during the darkest hours when the atmosphere was thick with gloom, no one dared to come alone. Some had witnessed Headless Ghosts searching for their heads, asking everyone they encountered, "Where is my head?" Particularly late at night on rainy days, people heard wailing sounds that seemed to emanate from the trunk of Gui Liu.
Even more alarming was during the Ghost Festival when some claimed to have seen Island Nation soldiers practicing here.
Hearing Ba Old Man speak so mysteriously made Ding Li a bit anxious.
"Ye Chenfeng, can you handle this?"
"Don't worry," Ye Chenfeng replied confidently.
As he spoke, Ye Chenfeng took out vermilion powder, talisman paper, and a vermilion brush. He began to draw symbols on the branches of Gui Liu. Someone brought over a pure black dog. He instructed the dog's owner to cover its eyes with a black cloth and then approached the black dog while chanting incantations. A talisman was affixed to the dog's forehead before he took out a small knife and gently made a cut on its hind leg to let some blood flow.
"Will this dog die?" The dog's owner was a young woman, puzzled as she cut into the dog's hind leg with a knife, yet there was no sound of a yelp.
This was the Soul Requiem that Ye Chenfeng had learned from The Ghost-Quaking Scripture.
The spell essentially meant to promise the black dog that it would accumulate virtue in this life as a dog and be reincarnated as a human in the next.
Ye Chenfeng found it difficult to explain everything to these people in just a few words. If something couldn't be explained clearly, there was no need to try; it was better to just get the remaining tasks done.
Black Dog Blood, along with rooster blood, was a pure Yang substance that could dispel Yin energy. There was no sulfur here, which was also a pure Yang substance that could counteract Yin.
Ye Chenfeng used a peach wood branch to stake into the ground in a Bagua formation. As long as something from the Gui Liu emerged, it would have to run through the Bagua Stake. Unless it was an Evil Spirit like Ghost Granny that had become demonic, ordinary Evil Spirits would find it impossible to escape the power of the Bagua Stake.
With everything ready, Ye Chenfeng positioned the Five-Color Flag to mark the directions: east, west, south, north, and center. He then poured Black Dog Blood and rooster blood over the Gui Liu.
The bright red blood flowed down, and the Gui Liu swayed without wind. Someone heard an incredibly sharp and eerie scream that frightened them so much they turned and ran. Ye Chenfeng opened his Yin Eye and saw a stream of black energy bursting out from the top of the Gui Liu. In a flash, he chanted incantations while sprinkling more Black Dog Blood.
"Ah... ah..." After the ghostly cries, the Bagua Stake crackled loudly. No one saw anything except for Ye Chenfeng, who noticed a white shadow lunging toward the Bagua Stake, only to be firmly ensnared. The more it struggled, the more righteous energy erupted from the Bagua, absorbing the ghostly Yin energy. If the ghost continued to resist, it would soon be obliterated.
"You all dig up the tree roots."
Ye Chenfeng instructed them to dig up the roots while he took out the Ghost-Collecting Gourd and directed it at the Bagua Stake. He performed hand seals and recited spells until he exclaimed, "Collect..." With a whoosh—black energy could not withstand the immense suction of the Ghost-Collecting Gourd; a shriek echoed as it was drawn inside.
The Bagua Stake continued to explode with energy, startling those remaining who exchanged glances and dared not approach.
A few brave souls swung their hoes and dug a few times, seeing blood oozing from the roots, leaving them frozen in shock.
"Don't be afraid; dig deeper at the base."
Ye Chenfeng saw a Headless Ghost, its body radiating an overwhelming aura of resentment and malice, showing no fear of the Bagua Stake. The headless figure nimbly dodged the lethal intent of the Bagua Stake.
The formation of the Headless Ghost was noted in The Ghost-Quaking Scripture; the index for a headless or decapitated spirit was 70.
Although no one knew the details surrounding the incident in the river, Ye Chenfeng understood what was happening as soon as he laid eyes on the Headless Ghost.
Just as he took out the Ghost-Collecting Gourd to deal with the Headless Ghost, a loud cry rang out: "Brother Ye, save me!" The voice belonged to none other than Xiao Jiang. He saw the Headless Ghost swaying and lunging towards them.
Ye Chenfeng recited incantations, stepping onto the Bagua, dodging, retreating, jumping, and pushing forward. With swift hands, he slapped a talisman onto the Headless Ghost's chest and then struck its shoulder hard. A puffing sound echoed as smoke billowed from the ghost's neck.
Emerging from the smoke was none other than Xiao Jiang.
"What happened to you?" Ye Chenfeng asked Xiao Jiang. Looking at the subdued Headless Ghost, Xiao Jiang, pale-faced, replied, "The headless Evil Spirit bullied us weaker ghosts. I was with you at that time but refused to admit I was dead. After you left for Evil Village to see what kind of person you really were, this Headless Ghost captured me, and I was imprisoned within its neck."
"Do you remember what happened back then?"
"I do. I heard someone shout and turned around to see no one there. Then I heard someone ask, 'Where's my head?' Before I could react, a car came and knocked me away, ultimately crashing onto Gui Liu, where I bled out and died on the spot."
As Xiao Jiang recounted his experience, someone shouted, "Look! A skull!"
At the base of Gui Liu, a bare skull appeared before everyone.
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