Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Unity Yi rushed to his master early in the morning with his phone in hand, brimming with excitement. Tai Cang Sect was on the self-media news!

The incident of a child being kidnapped in the city hadn't cast a good light, so the local news only briefly mentioned it. Its influence was limited, merely sparking discussions among nearby neighbors. Self-media news, however, had a vast and scattered audience, making its reach incomparable.

Wei Xi took the phone and couldn't quite grasp the details, but he could tell that the news article cited a video taken by an eyewitness at the scene. The person who recorded the footage succinctly explained the sequence of events.

Unlike traditional media's conservative approach in praising heroic deeds, the comments section of this news article showcased the netizens' wild imaginations, focusing on other aspects:

"Damn, kidnapping in broad daylight? Too brazen, isn't it? Is this real?"

"It has to be real. I saw it on local news a few days ago, but the host didn't explain how those heroes knew the kidnappers' escape route. Mentioning fortune-telling seems too mystical, doesn't it? I think they just happened to witness it."

"I think the video is credible. You can check the map; the crime scene and the kidnappers' car accident were separated by several turns. East Ping Road is secluded, and the kidnappers changed their vehicle. Unless someone was tailing them, how could they have such clear details? They even knew the van didn't have a license plate."

"Emmm... hold on, guys. The name 'Tai Cang Sect' sounds familiar..."

"I think I remember too. Wasn't it the company that sold weight-loss spells before?"

"Exactly! You can check their business scope – it's hilariously absurd. Honestly, I stumbled upon their Taobao store on my feed before, and when I saw the comments addressing them as 'Master,' I thought they were just another influencer milking their followers' intelligence. But... could it be that unscientific?"

"Damn it! I need to clarify something! I don't know if they can predict the future, but their weight-loss charms are freakishly effective! I grabbed one out of curiosity last time, thinking it was a joke, but now I've been consistently going to the gym for almost a month!"

This comment sparked a flood of inquiries from truth-seeking netizens. Seeing the positive customer feedback, Unity Yi promptly reposted it on his official blog, where many fans had already caught wind of the news. Somewhere along the line, the tone in the comment section had subtly shifted. The fans who affectionately called them 'Master' realized this wasn't a mere prank – the Taicang Sect truly existed.

As soon as the new post went up, the comments section was inundated with messages.

Wei Xi, however, didn't bother reading them. Instead, he looked at his second disciple descending the stairs and noticed an unusual weariness on his face.

With a frown, Wei Xi asked, "Lu Que, has your Immortal Connection taken effect? Is the wound still painful?"

Shuo Zong caught the scent of incense wafting in through the open door and vaguely recalled Old Lady Wang, who had lost her mailbox key, hurriedly lighting a bundle of joss sticks. He didn't know how to explain the inexplicable attack he had endured.

He shook his head. "It's much better now."

Unity Yi, holding his phone, looked up at Wei Xi. "Master, some fans are asking about the story behind the enlightened Immortal our sect reveres. Can you tell me quickly?"

Shuo Zong was about to express his exasperation when Wei Xi replied, "Why would I know if you ask me?"

Shuo Zong: "..." So he knew it all along.

United Righteousness didn't expect such a response and was instantly puzzled, his eyes filled with question marks. Seeing that he couldn't get an answer from his master, he turned to his most knowledgeable junior brother in the sect for help.

Shuo Zong glanced at Wei Xi, who was nonchalantly leaning on the sofa playing with his phone. After a moment of silence, he managed to squeeze out, "The legends about different divine positions are generally similar. Just make up something."

United Righteousness: "....Is that so?"

He felt that there was something off about this answer, but after considering the mythical stories he knew, it did seem to hold some truth. Didn't immortals usually become one by doing good deeds and accumulating great karma before ascending?

"I won't think too much about it." With his junior brother's encouragement, he gained confidence. His fingers danced across the keyboard, typing out a series of captivating legends.

They were all complete fabrications.

But the online crowd fell for it. The comment section was soon filled with heartfelt praise for the mighty Immortal Venerated Daoist, who indeed seemed incredibly skilled. Some more superstitious local netizens, upon learning that they could burn incense at Taicang Sect, expressed their desire to pay homage in person.

New believers! This was a significant milestone for their sect!

Upon hearing this, Wei Xi was so delighted that he ate an extra watermelon.

As an esteemed translator of both Chinese and English novels, specializing in the realm of danmei fantasy, I undertake the task of translating a passage filled with the enchanting elements characteristic of this genre. Please find below the elegant and faithful rendering of the text you've entrusted me with:

In a good mood, he found himself more engaged in managing the business. Shen Shu took the initiative to approach him with a suggestion, hoping that the company could establish an incentive system for outstanding employees within the sect, such as the few grandmothers who had turned the tide with their bandages during the kidnapping incident. Although they were not yet officially part of the Taicang Sect, they should be given appropriate recognition and encouragement.

"It could be a certificate of recognition or a certain amount of bonus. The cost isn't substantial, but I believe it would significantly boost the morale of our company." Shen Shu now oversaw hundreds of new employees and was busy with the daily training of interns. He had finally shed the shabby demeanor of an unlicensed and shady recruiter, appearing more like a confident middle-level manager.

With his long hair flowing, he didn't forget to hand Wei Xi his newly prepared business proposal. "And, Sect Leader, there are so many native spirits in the Hong Kong Building. It's such a waste for them to idle away their time in the burial grounds, waiting for death. Although they're old, their enthusiasm for work is no less than ours. After seeing the facilities of our staff dormitories, many have expressed an interest in improving their lives. Although these senior spirits may not have the physical strength, they've drifted for decades or even centuries, accumulating more experience than our interns. I think the 'Gold Medal Mediation' idea that Team Leader proposed last time was excellent. I did some research and found out that Daoist Kuang and the others from Liandu Temple often receive exorcism requests due to encounters with ghosts. This indicates that conflicts between humans, ghosts, and spirits are quite prevalent in modern times."

Wei Xi nodded with a hint of understanding, "So what does that mean?"

"In this harmonious society we live in now, Headmaster!" Uncle Shen lamented with great concern. "Isn't that highly valued in the human world? We ghosts aren't unreasonable either. If there was a respected mediator to help resolve the conflict, perhaps it wouldn't escalate into a battle! Elderly folks are especially skilled at this. You might want to take a look at 'Qiantang Old Mother-in-Law' for the specifics."

Wei Xi: "????"

His two disciples: "..."

After watching a few recommended episodes of 'Qiantang Old Mother-in-Law', Wei Xi found himself convinced. Following Uncle Shen's logic, wasn't this also a form of performing rituals? Although his sect currently had a haunted house and a detective agency as sources of income, they couldn't neglect their core business of exorcism and ritual practices if they wanted to thrive. Taicang Sect wasn't like Liandu Pavilion, which had dozens of Taoist priests. Only he and his second disciple were truly proficient in this field. They needed more help.

Thus, he immediately made a decision, awarding certificates of excellence to the few elderly ghost ladies who had bravely untied their bound feet that day.

For this occasion, they even held an awards ceremony in an abandoned building.

The certificates were crafted by Unity and Righteousness, wrapped in red velvet with cardboard inserts, giving them an impressively formal appearance. None of the elderly ladies could have imagined that their kindness would be rewarded in such a way. Standing on the stage, holding their burned certificates and cash prizes, they displayed a rare bashfulness that hadn't been seen in decades.

One of them, deeply moved, made a heartfelt request during her acceptance speech: "Could the ashes of this certificate be buried in the southwestern corner of the construction site? My remains lie beneath that concrete foundation; I wish to be forever accompanied by this accolade."

The Taicang Sect apprentices applauded warmly for her unwavering sincerity that remained unchanged over a century.

******

Within just a few days, Kuang Zhiming contacted Wei Xi again, informing him that the resumption date for the Hong Kong Building had been set. Bai Hao's intention was to invite the two Taoist priests who had performed the rituals previously to participate in another ceremony. Of course, they would be compensated for their services.

After Wei Xi promptly agreed, he unusually showed concern and asked, "Has Fellow Daoist Kuang recently encountered any similar exorcism rituals for vengeful house spirits?"

Due to the incident of believers being poached, Kuang Zhiming's patron deity had been in a terrible mood lately, making Kuang Zhiming quite wary when he heard Wei Xi's question. That being said, he had indeed received several troublesome exorcism cases recently. After some hesitation, considering Wei Xi's combat prowess, he decided to ask for assistance: "There are a few cases... A believer recently built a villa in the suburbs for his wedding. The location he chose wasn't ideal; during the excavation for an underground garage, they unearthed three ancient coffins. It might have disturbed the spirits, as strange occurrences have been happening in his home ever since. My wife and I are about to embark on this mission, accompanied by two other fellow Taoist associates from the association. Would Fellow Daoist Wei like to join us?"

It wasn't uncommon to hear folktales about digging up coffins and encountering revenge, but as previously mentioned, such incidents were always tricky for those in the esoteric realm to handle. If a coffin was undisturbed underground and you dug it up, the spirits inside could choose to overlook it out of good grace, or they could take offense, and you'd have no grounds to argue. More importantly, the three spirits in these coffins hadn't harmed anyone; they merely haunted the homeowner day and night. As a Taoist priest, Kuang Zhiming's duty was to vanquish evil and uphold justice. He couldn't ignore humans being terrorized by supernatural entities. However, he felt an overwhelming sense of guilt that hindered him from embarking on a journey to dispel the culprits.

To his surprise, Wei Xi, upon hearing his plight, didn't show any sign of empathy; instead, he adopted a sales pitch tone. "Since it's not a vengeful spirit, there's no real need for me to go. However, Daoist Kuang, I do have a suggestion that might be beneficial to you."

Kuang Zhiming: "…How do you put it?"

******

Several hours later.

In the outskirts of the capital city, inside an unfinished villa, three ghostly old ladies sat across from the spirits of the three coffins that had been unearthed here. A heated debate was underway.

"Why should we!" One of the coffin spirits slammed the table, its grievances so intense they seemed to be taking physical form. "This is our Fang family's ancestral graveyard! Our generations have been buried here! He's the one who provoked us – why should we compromise?!"

This ghost had a fierce countenance and a towering figure, exuding an intimidating presence that made the many Taoist priests present extremely cautious. However, the three old ladies were not intimidated in the slightest; instead, they surrounded the spirit, chattering all at once.

"Sit down, sit down, what's the point in getting angry? You're such a big young man, why are you shouting at an old lady like me?"

"Why be so stubborn? It wasn't intentional on their part. Just let it go, why keep dwelling on it?"

"Young man, allow Aunty to offer you some advice. Don't you realize what era we're in? Who still follows the custom of ancestral graves? They've long been nationalized."

"The times are progressing, and we need to shoulder social responsibility. Wouldn't it be better to be more tolerant?"

"Come on, let's not be stubborn. Let's do something good and accumulate virtue for future generations. After all, a harmonious home brings prosperity, right?"

The malevolent ghost, surrounded by the group, displayed a hint of bewilderment on its fierce face. The elderly ladies had already taken it upon themselves to seat the spirit, proceeding to discuss other terms.

The deadlock between the two parties quickly evolved into a debate about which cemetery would offer the best feng shui. Despite one side's reluctance, the conversation flourished.

In a corner of the nearby villa, Kuang Zhiming's magical artifacts, as brought, remained untouched in his bag, which he had quietly placed at his feet.

His fellow association members, each with their own peculiar expressions, sat together in another corner of the house. If not for the unfinished, rough surroundings, they would have appeared to be on a leisurely coffee outing.

The humans fell into an extended and awkward silence. After what seemed like ages, the abbot from another renowned Taoist temple, Feng Nian Temple, could no longer bear it and removed the eye-opening talisman from his temple. He hesitantly looked at Kuang Zhiming, "Fellow Daoist Kuang, does this situation... no longer require our intervention?"

Kuang Zhiming's gaze was blank as he stared ahead, "I suppose so."

They exchanged glances for a moment, all remaining silent.

This was likely the easiest exorcism they had ever conducted in their careers.