From a paper-making apprentice to a celestial master

Chapter 7 Walking the Underworld

Back in her room, Qin Shuang sat down on the edge of the bed and put the string of black dog-blood peach wood beads on her wrist.

The beads are small and have a rough texture, but when worn, they feel slightly warm, as if they have just been held in someone's hand.

Qin Shuang guessed that this might be one of the reasons why the bracelet beads were used as a "talisman".

It naturally possesses the power to ward off evil spirits and protect the home.

Then, he took out the book "Folk Ghost Stories" again and carefully turned the pages one by one by the moonlight leaking through the roof.

"When you see a ghost, you should look at it sideways rather than straight ahead."

Looking directly at something is direct and follows the eye's gaze; therefore, it is easily perceived. One must glance sideways to avoid being detected.

Qin Shuang recalled the moment when the water ghost turned and stared at him, which was because he had looked directly at the other person.

It seems that this is a rule, or rather common sense, within the industry.

He simply didn't know this beforehand, which is why he broke the taboo.

Qin Shuang felt a chill run down her spine and secretly made a mental note of it.

Turning the page further, there is another record: "When ghosts harm people, they often first use yin energy."

When a person is affected by yin energy, they become lethargic and lose body temperature. If you feel a coldness in the back of your neck and heaviness in your shoulders, it is a sign that you are being afflicted by yin energy.

At this time, one must concentrate and guard one's mind, using yang energy to counteract it.

When yang energy is abundant, no evil can invade.

Qin Shuang read this passage with extra care, recalling her various symptoms over the past few days—drowsiness, chills, and general weakness—which were almost identical to the description in the book.

Below are some other ways to nourish "yang qi", such as breathing exercises facing east in the morning, sunbathing your back for 15 minutes at midday, soaking your feet in mugwort water before bed, and avoiding raw and cold foods... These are all seemingly ordinary but very practical ways to nourish your body.

In addition, it also mentions a method called "Gathering Yang Fire", which can strengthen the yang energy in the human body in a short period of time, and can play the role of yang excess forcing yin and yang fire burning yin energy.

However, the specific methods of implementation were not explained.

Moreover, this method has obvious drawbacks. It requires the body's Qi and blood as fuel to strengthen the three fires of heaven, earth, and man in the body. After using it once, a person will be weak for several days and needs a period of nourishment to recover. It cannot be sustained.

Later, it also talks about how to observe the qi: "In places with heavy yin qi, the ground is damp and the walls are cold, chickens and dogs are restless, and those who live there for a long time will have a bluish-gray complexion and a dark forehead."

There are explanations on how to identify ghosts: "They are divided into wandering spirits, malevolent spirits, vengeful spirits, and evil spirits... Among them, wandering spirits are formless, malevolent spirits have no face, vengeful spirits have no eyes, and evil spirits have no physical form. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that evil spirits are mostly old ghosts that have been around for many years, often with more than a hundred years of cultivation..."

Upon seeing this, Qin Shuang's heart stirred.

The water ghost tonight had completely white eyes with no pupils. According to this, wouldn't it indicate that it was a vengeful ghost?

If vengeful ghosts are this difficult to deal with, how terrifying must the evil spirits above them be?

……

Qin Shuang watched intently, and truly felt as if her eyes had been opened.

He had some understanding of many "principles" and "rules" before, but not as clear as he did now.

Qin Shuang turned the pages one by one, and the more she looked, the heavier the thin booklet seemed.

This is no casual notebook; it is clearly a summary of Liu Quan's experience, gained at the cost of his life.

Some of the records inside, though only a few words long, convey a sense of danger.

For example, one entry reads: "On the third day of the seventh month of the year Guihai, I encountered a water ghost in Xiahe Village who was demanding my life. I injured its soul with the Yanyang Sword. Unexpectedly, it disregarded the risk of its soul being scattered and forcibly pulled me into the water, nearly causing me to lose my life."

Remember, water ghosts become stronger when they encounter water and can often injure people of higher levels.

If you encounter it, it's best to stay at least three feet away from the water.

A rough diagram was also drawn next to it, indicating the location of the station and the direction of the water flow.

Qin Shuang's heart tightened at the sight.

Thinking of the water ghost he encountered tonight, Master seemed calm, but it was all based on the 'rules' he had accumulated and summarized.

Suddenly, Qin Shuang saw a description.

"Ghosts are formless and intangible, and ordinary people cannot see them. Only those with 'divine powers' can see ghosts at night. Once a person with 'divine powers' has mastered the magic, they can enter the underworld. After entering the underworld, their aura becomes similar to that of ghosts, and they can see each other and even talk to each other."

This is called "walking in the underworld."

"Walking in the underworld?"

Was it the state Master was in when he was talking to that water ghost?

Moreover, this kind of spirit-seeing is clearly different from the "qi" I cultivated after mastering the guiding technique, and then using that "qi" to enter my eyes and "see" ghosts.

I couldn't hear their voices when they were talking.

And travel to the underworld.

Then they can talk to each other, and naturally they can "listen" to each other's voices.

Upon seeing this, Qin Shuang suddenly understood.

Walking in the underworld is different from his guided spiritual practice.

Only those with "divine feet" can travel to the underworld.

His guiding technique is clearly not a method for cultivating "divinity".

……

The booklet wasn't thick, and it took him only half an hour to read it from beginning to end.

More often, however, they are deep in thought and memorizing.

At this moment, he also discovered that, whether it was because of his two lifetimes and the awakening of his memories, or because of the changes he had experienced, his memory was excellent.

After reading the booklet, he remembered most of its contents, and with a little thought, he could recall them.

During this time, he also vaguely heard that his parents next door were still awake, and he could hear them sighing from time to time. It was clear that what happened tonight was also making them uneasy.

early morning.

As dawn broke, Qin Shuang followed Qin Zheng to the riverbank.

Following Liu Quan's instructions, they brought a stack of yellow paper, three incense sticks, a small dish of roasted peanuts, and a freshly killed old hen. In accordance with the method of offering sacrifices to the dead, they placed them one by one by the river bridge at the spot where Qin Shuang fell into the water.

The mist along the river hadn't dissipated yet, and the water's surface was as calm as a hazy, gray mirror.

Qin Zheng found a flat spot, arranged the offerings, lit the yellow paper, burned incense, and stuck it into the ground.

Qin Shuang knelt to the side and obediently kowtowed three times.

The ashes from the burning yellow paper were blown up by the morning breeze, swirling and drifting towards the river, as if drawn by something invisible, and finally settled in the middle of the water.

Finally, he glanced at the three incense sticks on the ground. They were burning evenly without any unusual phenomena. He felt a strange sense of relief, as if a taut string had finally been released.

This indicates that the water ghost has accepted the previous conditions and no longer intends to use Qin Shuang as a substitute.

At least in the short term, that is the case.

"Let's go."

Qin Zheng patted him on the shoulder without saying anything more.

Qin Shuang nodded, then turned and left.

Shortly after they left, a small whirlpool suddenly appeared on the previously calm water, and then gradually grew larger.

Within that vortex, a dark shadow could be vaguely seen.

At the same time that dark figure appeared.

Of the three incense sticks on the shore, one went out silently.

……