Capture the Jade - Chapter 15-1

When Jue Sheng and Qizhi returned to Qingyun Temple, it was nearly noon. 

At the entrance, it was extremely quiet, not even a single bird was heard. When they stepped up the stairs, they saw that there were two cyan carriages parked by the wall near the east wall. 

Jue Sheng said curiously: “Didn’t senior brother say that the temple is closed today? Why are there still guests here?” 

Qizhi followed and glanced over. That carriage was simple and light, and was not decorated at all. However, at a closer look, the hub of the wheels and the harness both looked more firm than most ordinary carriages. 

There was a handyman sitting upright on the carriage, seeing the two of them, he leaped down and cupped his hands together: “Pleasure to meet the two Taoists.” 

This handyman was beardless and had white skin. His smiling face was like Buddha. Jue Sheng and Qizhi blankly greeted back. However, in their heart, they could not help, but speculate the origin of the owner of this carriage, even the bearing of the coachman under this person’s hands is out of the ordinary. 

When walking inside, Qizhi said: “Before we left in the morning, senior brother said that the soul of Mrs. An Guogong has left her body for too long, and it is not easy to find it back. Now there actually is a way, but it’s just that there needs to be another person with very advanced skills to help set up the formation. The person that senior brother mentioned is probably the owner of this carriage.” 

“I thought so too, otherwise how could senior brother let that person in?”

The two of them hurriedly returned back to the scripture hall. There was no one in the main hall as the second prince of Chun’an and Yu Fengyu had already left. 

In a room on the eastern side, there seemed to be people talking in a low voice. Senior brother’s voice can easily be recognized, and the voice of the other middle-aged man also seemed to be a bit familiar. The voice was mellow and deep, and his internal strength does not seem to be any less than senior brother’s. 

Just as they were about to knock on the door, with a creak, someone came out. 

They leaned back in fright: “Senior brother!” 

“What are you two sneakily looking at? How are the things I wanted you to do going?” Lin Chengyou intentionally lowered his voice. 

Jue Sheng and Qizhi both became increasingly bewildered. Looking at the appearance of senior brother right now, it was clear that he deeply respected the person inside. 

“Done, it’s done.” 

Qizhi nodded desperately: “That’s right. Lady Teng’s sword has already lost its spiritual powers.” 

Lin Chengyou smiled for a second, took the lead and walked out. While walking, he asked: “You two did as I said?” 

The two of them spoke about what happened. 

Lin Chengyou stopped his steps: “That is to say, if I did not arrange the “Terminating Spirit Loop” in advance, don’t talk about losing a bag of itchy itchy bugs in vain, even the jadeite sword did not end up in your hands?”

Qizhi mumbled: “We have already tried very hard, but who told Lady Teng to not be stupid at all.” 

Lin Chengyou burst into anger: “The two stupidest people in the entire world are right here, so of course it’s natural that the people outside can not be more stupid. The sword? Where is the sword?”

Jue Sheng said dispiritedly: “The sword is still in Lady Teng’s hands.” 

Qizhi straightened his chest and said anxiously: “She won’t give it to us, and we can’t just snatch it.” 

Lin Chengyou laughed angrily: “Such a headache, how could I have such stupid junior brothers.”  

Jue Sheng said weakly: “However Lady Teng will definitely come to find us with the sword. I can’t say for sure, but maybe she will go to the Caifeng building tomorrow night.” 

Lin Chengyou was just about to step down the steps when he heard this. He stumbled under his feet: “Caifeng building? You two told her about the Caifeng building?” 

Qizhi wore a sad expression: “Senior brother, we are not good at deceiving people. If we let Lady Teng come to Qingyun Temple, senior brother might hang her for ten days to half a month. If we remind her to go to the Caifeng building, she will immediately be able to find senior brother. Lady Teng only wanted to obtain some itchy itchy bugs, but on the other hand, we turned her treasure into a waste. Jue Sheng and I couldn’t bear it.” 

Lin Chengyou’s face turned dark: “All right, you all have the heart of bodhisattva. Bodhisattva is supposed to practice in a quiet and peaceful place, so why are you two still idling in front of me? Will you only insist on going when I die from excessive anger? Immediately get out of here and go to the confinement room. You two are not allowed to get out for a month.” 

The two of them were ashamed and anxious, so they couldn’t help, but start sobbing. The sound spread to the back, and in the originally quiet side room, someone coughed. The voice was not high or low, and there was a sense of kindness and generosity. Thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be exhorting Lin Chengyou.  

Jue Sheng and Qizhi felt strange. Lin Chengyou stroked his ear: “Forget it. Before leaving, I taught you two word by word, but in the end, you two were still deceived by her around in circles. You two say that it is being kind hearted, but why don’t you think about it? If we don’t teach Lady Teng a lesson, she will still try to take advantage of Qingyun Temple in the future. Only by completely letting her know the consequences of this matter, then can this be regarded as over. Didn’t you two say that you want to help the temple eliminate any future troubles? Yet you two are still so dim-witted to plead for her. Could it be that you two are still willing to be deceived by her a few more times?”    

Jue Sheng and Qizhi shook their heads at the same time, then immediately wiped their snot and said: “But…maybe Lady Teng just wanted to get a few itchy itchy bugs to play around with, and may not deceive us anymore in the future.” 

Lin Chengyou sneered: “She is not a child, and clearly knows the harm of this bug. What else could she do with them? It can only be used to harm people.” 

Jue Sheng and Qizhi thought with tears in their eyes. Senior brother seems to have a point as the itchy itchy bugs can make someone feel that living is no better than dying. Senior brother knows how powerful this bug is. Although he regularly plays with it, he would never rashly take it out to tease people. 

In their memory, senior brother only let go of the bugs twice. 

The first time was to deal with a lecherous Taoist priest from abroad. 

That deceitful Taoist is quite old, but his heart is surprisingly very evil. Not only does he practice corrupt methods to cheat money from people, but has also ruined a lot of women. After senior brother caught this old Taoist, he released dozens of itchy itchy bugs onto the old Taoist’s body. He specifically picked the largest bugs of all of them, and let them accompany the old Taoist in prison.

The other time was to deal with that Dong Erniang who was full of lies yesterday in the Ziyun building. 

In comparison, Lady Teng’s action of swindling the itchy itchy bugs does really cause one to feel puzzled. Using the itchy itchy bugs to harm people for no reason, it’s no wonder that senior brother suspects that she is not a good person. 

The two of them wiped their tears and nodded: “Senior brother, we have learned our lesson.” 

Lin Chengyou rubbed his eyebrows: “This matter can be considered a failure on your part, but senior brother is already used to this. Just based on the two little brains of the two of you, if there is one day where the results are not a failure, I would be very surprised. What about the other matter I asked you two to do? What did that Lady Du say after she woke up? Did she tell you two who invited her to go to the bamboo forest?” 

Qizhi pouted his lips to express his disbelief, and said sullenly: “Du Yuzhi said that his daughter did indeed reveal the truth after waking up, but because this matter is related to the privacy of the Du family, it can only be said to the prince.” 

Lin Chengyou said mockingly: “Don’t they know how many young women that old tree spirit killed? Since the Du family knows the inside story to this matter, it should be said right away. What qualifications do they have to tell me about their conditions.” 

Qizhi scratched his head: “Listening to the meaning of Du Yuzhi, that matter seems to be very tricky. Right now, the entire Du family is desperate for senior brother’s help, but at the same time, they seem to be afraid of something, insisting that it can only be told to senior brother.” 

Lin Chengyou vaguely guessed on what the Du family was worried about. It can be assumed that this matter is going to affect the reputation of Lady Du, he carefully pondered in his heart, and did not bother to say it. He only turned around and walked forward: “When is it? Where are they telling it?” 

“As long as senior brother is willing to agree to the Du family’s request, Du Yuzhi will immediately come over and tell.” 

Lin Chengyou put his hands behind, and looked up at the sky: “Today the temple is setting up a formation, and I am very busy at the moment. You two send someone to the Du Mansion to spread my words. I have no interest in spreading the privacy of others, but my patience is limited. The Du family is limited to sending a representative to Qingyun Temple tomorrow, and telling me the original story of what happened that night, not a single word is allowed to be changed.”

Jue Sheng thuddingly ran down the steps: “I will go send someone to pass on the message.”  

Qizhi asked: “Senior brother, if Lady Teng goes to the Caifeng building tomorrow night, will you go meet her?” 

Lin Chengyou smiled and asked: “For what reason are we going to the Caifeng building?” 

“To eliminate evil.” 

Lin Chengyou touched Qizhi’s head: “Since I am going to eliminate the evil there, how can I have time to deal with irrelevant people?” 

Qizhi was stunned. This is to hang Lady Teng? They originally had good intentions, but in the end, they are doing misdeeds again. 

However, Lady Teng seems to be different from the ordinary females of a wealthy family. Qizhi said timidly: “What if she insists on seeing senior brother?” 

Lin Chengyou smiled and nodded: “Come, let her come. She better obediently admit her mistake to me, and take the initiative to return the itchy itchy bugs. If she dares to play any tricks, it means nothing to destroy a magical weapon as I still have some fine things waiting for her.”

Qizhi anxiously tweaked his eyes and scratched his cheeks1idiom for an expression of anxiety, delight, frustration etc. Senior brother is currently in a fit of anger. If Lady Teng does go tomorrow night, one is afraid that she will suffer a big loss. Should one send a letter to Lady Teng? However, it would be bad if senior brother knew. As soon as he looked up after pondering, he saw that senior brother had started to worship the constellation and summon the deities2This is an action that is related to Taoist astrology, and began to draw talismans in front of the well.

At a closer look, “The Gate of Xuanpin3Eternal gate which gives birth to all things in heaven and earth” was drawn. 

This gate is the root of heaven and earth. Mrs. An Guogong’s soul is lingering after falling into the netherworld, and is refusing to return. Senior brother forged the Gate of Xuanpin, using this method to lure her soul back. 

Qizhi rushed forward to help. There was an object of offering on the long narrow table in front of the well, and it was covered with a black square cloth. The square cloth jumped up, revealing a young tree inside. The twigs were dark green and abundant, and there was a type of enchanting beauty that could attract a soul. 

Qizhi’s eyes widened slightly. It turned out to be the original fetus of that evil tree spirit. 

Jue Sheng returned to the courtyard, and was also surprised to see this situation: “Senior brother, since you want to lure the soul of Mrs. An Guogong back, why is the tree spirit being enshrined here?” 

Lin Chengyou said: “This tree spirit caused Mrs. An Guogong to lose her soul. Who is it that she hates the most right now?” 

Qizhi blinked his eyes: “The tree spirit!” 

Jue Sheng clapped his hands: “I know now, using the smell of the tree spirit as a bait can arouse the resentment of Mrs. An Guogong’s soul. The soul has an obsession, and the chances of it returning is also higher now.” 

“Moreover I drew a fake gate of Xuanpin which is equivalent to setting up a target in Qingyun Temple. Later, I will again eliminate the evil spirit outside of Qingyun Temple using a talisman for warding off evil spirits. All of the wandering souls in Chang’an will be lured over. Although this tree spirit has been beaten back into its original form, its evil energy still remains. To put it in the courtyard, the wandering ghosts without living descendants to pray for them4one who has no family or friends to rely on will not not dare to approach. When it comes time to actually lure the soul back, it will save me a lot of trouble.”

Lin Chengyou said as he was re-checking the mechanisms in the courtyard. After careful preparation, he took out the piece of paper that An Guogong had drawn in the morning. 

“Later if there are footprints shown on the ‘chasing power’, it means that a soul is coming. You two carefully compare it, and as long as it does not match, immediately drive it away. If it matches the footprint on the paper, find a way to lure the soul of Mrs. An Guogong to the front of the well .” 

“Yes.”

Hello! I feel like I have not posted in a while! I’ve been busy preparing for finals so might not have a lot of time to post for 1-2 weeks, but after that, I should be back to posting more often. Thanks for reading!