Folk ritual schools almost always have their own ritual altars at home, whether for taking on clients or conducting their own ceremonies—everything is done at the altar.
The Bai family's altar was somewhat different. Passed down from the founding ancestor's generation, it had over a thousand years of history, having been repaired and expanded many times over the centuries until it eventually became the Bai family's ancestral temple.
The main hall of the ancestral temple enshrined the Three Pure Ones. Crossing past the Hall of the Three Pure Ones led to the Hall of the Celestial Master. As a family that inherited the lineage of the Celestial Master tradition, the Bai family naturally enshrined Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Way of the Celestial Master, as their principal deity. The ritual altar was set up in the courtyard behind the Hall of the Celestial Master, and in the rear hall directly facing the courtyard gate were enshrined the six ancestral masters of the Bai family.
That's right—six.
This was precisely what made the Bai family formidable back in the day.
Think about it—other Daoist sects only had one ancestral master, but the Bai family had six in total. When exorcising demons and subduing ghosts, they would invoke the ancestral masters for divine possession, and all six would take turns descending one after another. Each ancestral master specialized in different spells, so even a formidable opponent with three heads and six arms would be overwhelmed.
The reason there were six was that back then, the six Bai brothers had all become disciples under the Ancestral Celestial Master Zhang Daoling together. Each of the six had their own unique abilities—apart, they were like six swords cutting through all directions; together, their Daoist arts were unmatched. They exorcised ghosts, subdued demons, and protected the people of the region.
It was said that the six ancestral masters had ascended to immortality on this very mountain, which was why the Bai family established their ancestral seat here. At the time, the grateful common folk built the Temple of Six Spirits at the foot of the mountain to honor them for generations.
According to unofficial historical records that cannot be fully trusted, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Temple of Six Spirits once enjoyed such flourishing incense offerings that it surpassed the official Daoist temples of the era, and even the prime minister of the court traveled a great distance to pay homage.
Unfortunately, to this day, not even a single tile of the former Temple of Six Spirits remains. The Bai family had transported the ancestral master statues back from the temple and maintained and preserved them through the generations—these were the very six statues now enshrined in the ancestral temple.
When Bai Xianxian was little, she once said, "These six statues are antiques and must be worth a lot of money," and got a thorough beating from the Third Elder for it.
In the old days, worship required bathing and burning incense beforehand. Now the rules weren't so strict—after washing her hands, Bai Xianxian took her incense and stepped into the ancestral temple. First she paid respects to the Three Pure Ones, then to the Ancestral Celestial Master, and finally to the six ancestral masters.
Bai Xianxian used to be afraid not only of ghosts but even of the ancestral masters.
Mainly because the six statues were sculpted with such imposing severity—eyes wide with fury, each holding a magical artifact, carrying an aura that could scare off ghosts by sheer presence alone.
The six statues were arranged in a semicircular arc, looking down from above, embodying the meaning that under the gaze of the Six Spirits, no ghost or demon could find a place to hide. As a child, Bai Xianxian had been scared to tears more than once.
But one day, little Xianxian suddenly stopped being afraid. When she entered the hall with the three elders to offer incense, she no longer cried—instead, she giggled at the six ancestral masters, and everyone marveled at the change.
However, after growing up, Bai Xianxian forgot all about it. When asked why, she couldn't remember herself. Even now, seeing the ancestral master statues only gave her a sense of reassurance, never fear.
After she finished offering incense, the Third Elder also lit three sticks of incense and bowed, saying as he did so: "Xianxian has been busy with her studies and didn't come back to offer incense to you all on purpose. I hope the ancestral masters won't blame the younger generation."
Bai Xianxian felt both touched and guilty, and silently added in her heart: Ancestral masters, please don't be angry. Xianxian was immature before—from now on, I'll come back every year to offer incense to you all!
The Third Elder inserted the incense into the burner and stared at it for a moment with a somewhat solemn expression. Only when he saw the incense burning normally without breaking did he let out a relieved breath and lead Bai Xianxian out.
The house was built on the mountain, so not only was the air fresh, but the view was excellent too. There was no need for air conditioning—even in the scorching summer heat, it felt cool and refreshing. Bai Xianxian carried her gifts to visit several uncles and aunties halfway up the mountain. When she returned, the First Elder's door was still locked, clearly showing he didn't want to see her.
The Third Elder was sitting in the courtyard packing cardboard boxes for use when going down the mountain the next day. He pursed his lips toward the door and said in a low voice, "Just coax him a bit longer and he'll be fine. Go on."
Bai Xianxian obediently went to knock on the door, carrying the medicine she'd brought back for the First Elder and the gifts she'd bought him. From inside, she could hear the loud puffing sounds of a tobacco pipe being smoked.
She could easily picture the stubborn old man sitting on his bed, smoking his pipe and stewing in silent anger.
Bai Xianxian felt a little like laughing but suppressed it, speaking in a hushed voice: "First Elder, I really know I was wrong. If you're really angry, you can come out and hit me—that's fine too. Just don't bottle it up and make yourself sick."
There was no response from inside, so she continued: "Actually, the reason I don't want to work at the hospital is also for the sake of our Bai family. Think about it—you told Uncle Yu that my abilities are extraordinary. If something actually happened, wouldn't I be exposed? That would damage the family's reputation."
A heavy snort came from inside.
She said in a pitiful voice: "Besides, if something really did happen, I wouldn't know what to do—I might just lose my life outright."
The door was yanked open in an instant. The furious First Elder rapped her on the head with his water pipe: "That's exactly why I told you to learn! Study hard! Once you've mastered it, what do you have to fear from any demon or ghost?!"
Bai Xianxian clutched her head, looking wronged and pitiful.
Seeing her like that, the First Elder didn't know whether to be angry or not, and the frustration burst out as a string of coughs. That scared Bai Xianxian half to death—she hurriedly poured him water and fetched his medicine. When he finally recovered, his face was full of sickly pallor, and her worry deepened.
At ninety years old, once illness strikes, it's almost certainly a death sentence.
After he finished his medicine, Bai Xianxian said, "First Elder, will you come with me to Yunchang City tomorrow for a check-up?"
First Elder snapped grumpily, "No! I'm not dying!"
Bai Xianxian knew his temper well, so she settled for the next best option: "Then let's go to the town hospital! The town hospital should be able to do a CT scan too. I'll go down the mountain with you tomorrow."
Third Elder chimed in from the side, "We went last year. They said it's emphysema."
Bai Xianxian snatched at the pipe in First Elder's hand. "Then why are you still smoking!"
First Elder waved his pipe to shoo her away. "You annoying me less would do more good than me smoking less!"
Bai Xianxian shot a pleading look at Third Elder, who returned it with an expression of helplessness. But after this little commotion, First Elder stopped throwing his tantrum. He picked up his pipe and sat down under the eaves, watching Bai Xianxian carry the gifts she'd bought inside one by one, occasionally letting out a hum to show he was still displeased.
Third Elder finished packing up the cardboard boxes and glanced at the sky. "It's getting late. I'll call Second Brother back—we still need to cook fish for Xianxian."
The three elders didn't like using electronic devices, and the household only had one phone. Seeing him get ready to holler on the spot, Bai Xianxian asked with some surprise, "Did Second Elder buy a phone?"
Third Elder said, "What would I buy that thing for?"
He drew in a deep breath toward the back mountain—
"Second Brother, are you done yet? Xianxian's back!"
A few seconds later, a distant reply echoed from the mountains: "Coming right down—"
Third Elder turned around. "Alright, he'll be back in a bit. I'll go wash the fish first."
Bai Xianxian: "…"
Fine then. Up in the mountains, communication relied entirely on shouting. At least it showed that the two of them were still in great shape.
Of the three elders, Second Elder had the gentlest temperament. When she was little, Bai Xianxian had been afraid of First Elder and Third Elder, and had only felt close to him—which made the other two terribly jealous.
After helping out in the kitchen, Bai Xianxian ran to the trailhead at the back mountain and waited eagerly.
Before long, Second Elder, dressed in a blue robe, walked down carrying a hoe on his shoulder. Behind him stretched green trees and the setting sun. The old Daoist looked refined and elegant, a withered twig tucked into his white hair bun, like a lofty immortal descending into the mortal world, making the scenery around him seem mysterious.
Seeing Bai Xianxian in the distance, hopping and waving at him, he smiled knowingly and quickened his pace down the mountain.
Bai Xianxian ran over excitedly, but as she got closer and saw the wrinkles on his face and the dust on his clothes, she felt a lump in her throat. Her eyes reddened as she called out, "Second Elder…"
Second Elder studied her with warm eyes for a long moment, then said with a smile, "You've grown taller. You're a big girl now." He patted her head affectionately. "Come on, let's go back and cook you some fish."
In the kitchen, Third Elder was bustling about in full swing, while First Elder had moved his chair to the kitchen doorway and sat there lighting his pipe, giving orders. Third Elder grumbled, "All you do is boss people around. Why don't you come do it yourself?"
Smoke curled up from the chimney, and the evening cooking smoke mingled with the mountain mist, filling the sky under the setting sun.
Bai Xianxian felt that she really had been too thoughtless before.
How could her young heart have only held room for their sternness, completely overlooking their kind and loving care?
But that was simply human nature—it was hard to remember someone's goodness, and once anger and grievance took hold, all that remained in the heart was the bad.
Night fell early in the mountains. By the time the dishes were on the table, the only light in the mountain was the glow from inside the house.
Third Elder had also washed some of the fruit bought during the day and set it all in front of Bai Xianxian. "Try the strawberries—see if they're sweet!"
Just as Bai Xianxian reached out to grab one, First Elder tapped the table with his pipe. "What's this about eating fruit before a meal? Take it away. Eat it after dinner."
Bai Xianxian pouted and withdrew her little hand.
Third Elder immediately spoke up. "The child barely gets to come home. Let her eat whatever she wants. What era is this, with so many rules!"
First Elder wore an expression of quiet authority. He cast a sidelong glance at the timid Bai Xianxian, then slowly set down his pipe. "…Go ahead and eat."
So Bai Xianxian happily ate her strawberries.
Third Elder picked up food and fish for her with his chopsticks, then took a bite himself and sighed. "It's been so long since I've had Second Brother's fish. If it weren't for Xianxian coming back, I wouldn't have this treat!"
Second Elder chuckled. "I'll make it again tomorrow."
The room filled with laughter and cheerful conversation—it had been a long time since it was this lively.
Third Elder suddenly asked, "Xianxian, how long are you planning to stay this time? Didn't you say you still needed to go back and look for a new job?"
First Elder started huffing again.
Bai Xianxian pressed her lips together but still mustered the courage to say, "About a week. I want to spend more time with you all. Once I start working, I won't have as many chances to come back."
First Elder's face twisted with displeasure. "Who needs you to keep us company? Go on, get out of here, leave right now—tomorrow! Just seeing you annoys me!"
In the past, Bai Xianxian would have gotten angry and upset. But now she just shamelessly sidled up and wrapped her arms around his elbow. "I'm not leaving! I'm staying right here!"
First Elder looked utterly disgusted.
Just as they were chatting and laughing, Second Elder's hand, which was reaching for food, suddenly paused. He said in a low voice, "It seems someone is coming."
Everyone fell silent at once and looked out toward the pitch-black window.
Indeed, hurried footsteps could be heard outside—quite a few people, judging by the series of steps, all rushing toward the only light in the mountain.
Second Elder rose to open the door, and Bai Xianxian curiously followed along. The moment the main door was pulled open, they saw five or six villagers hurrying over under the moonlight. As soon as they spotted them, they cried out in alarm, "Old Master Bai! Save us!"