Bai Xianxian had cried herself beyond consolation, clinging to the First Elder and unable to take in a single word. The doctor had no choice but to call the Third Elder in and ask him, "Do you want the remains sent to the funeral home, or will you take them back yourselves for burial?"
The Third Elder said in a low voice, "We'll take them back ourselves."
The doctor told him to go handle the paperwork.
Bai Xianxian, half-kneeling before the remains, suddenly gritted her teeth and recited: "Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth, root of all laws, calm the heart and gather the spirit, condense the soul and heed my call, source of all creation, open the Heavenly Eye, ancestors of the spirit path, commanders of all deities, by decree I command! Let the body transform into the Five Elements, let the spirit ascend to the Highest Clarity, swiftly as the law commands!"
The medical staff around her looked at her as if she were insane.
Only the Third Elder knew what she was trying to do, and he let out a long sigh.
Bai Xianxian struggled to open her swollen, reddened eyes and cried out, "First Elder, where are you? Where are you?"
Wasn't it said that opening the Heavenly Eye allowed one to see both yin and yang? Why couldn't she see the First Elder's soul?
The doctor said to the Third Elder with a look of helplessness, "The family member might be too traumatized. You should take her home as soon as possible."
The Third Elder nodded and turned to pull Bai Xianxian away. She grabbed his hand and sobbed, "Third Elder, why can't I see the First Elder? Has the incantation failed? Don't all people have souls when they die? Why can't I find him?"
"Xianxian, Xianxian, listen to me…" The Third Elder's eyes reddened, then he suddenly barked, "Bai Xianxian!"
Bai Xianxian immediately pressed her lips together and looked at him with a red nose. The Third Elder's fingers tightened as he squeezed her shoulder and said in a low voice, "Go call your father. Have him notify everyone."
Bai Xianxian let out a choked sob, finally closed her eyes, and stopped crying.
The Third Elder went to handle the paperwork, and Bai Xianxian sat on a bench in the corridor and dialed Bai Xiangwang's number.
In the dead of night, Bai Xiangwang was in the middle of a dream. He picked up the phone and mumbled groggily, "Xianxian, what's wrong?"
Bai Xianxian choked out, "Dad, the First Elder has passed away."
Bai Xiangwang bolted upright in bed with a start. After a few rapid breaths, he said with deep melancholy, "No wonder I've felt restless these past few days… Dad will go buy a high-speed rail ticket right away! Xianxian, you're a grown girl now. You need to stay strong and take care of the two elders."
Bai Xianxian said in a muffled voice, "Mm!"
By the time they finished the paperwork and headed back, the sky was already turning pale. The same ambulance that had brought the First Elder over took them back. The young nurse accompanying them was probably a new hire, terrified to be riding in the same vehicle as a corpse.
The Third Elder reached into his robes and pulled out an evil-warding talisman—the one the First Elder had stuck on the car that Zhang Chong had brought inside earlier—and handed it to the young nurse, saying, "Take this. No need to be afraid."
The young nurse thanked him repeatedly.
By the time they arrived at Bai Town, dawn was nearly breaking. The ambulance couldn't continue taking them into the mountains, so it dropped them off at the Zhang family's doorstep and left.
In the span of one night, the Second Elder had already handled most of the follow-up arrangements. Under the Second Elder's direction, Zhang Chong had re-placed Old Mrs. Zhang's remains into the coffin and carried it back.
The mourning hall was rearranged, and the three unfilial sons, having regained consciousness, knelt before the spirit tablet for a long time, not daring to rise.
The Second Elder set up an altar and performed rites, conducting a requiem before the spirit to release Old Mrs. Zhang's wronged soul.
The First Elder's sword strike had severed Old Mrs. Zhang's Malevolent Aura. After death, a person loses all reason and acts purely on resentment—but that single strike had restored a sliver of her sanity.
She had once been a member of the Daoist sect, and in life she had walked the underworld with merit to her name. Now that she had committed evil and harmed others, her merits and sins canceled each other out. Once she peacefully accepted the requiem, she would go to the underworld to receive her judgment—whether punishment or penalty, the underworld would decide.
As for her three unfilial sons, even though the Second Elder had already recited the Heaven and Earth Purifying Divine Incantation to expel the Malevolent Aura from their bodies, the aura had entered them too deeply, shortening their lifespans. Things would not go smoothly for them from now on.
The eldest had lost his only son, and the second, third, and fourth sons had lost years of their lives. The karma they had sown was now beginning to reap its harvest.
When Zhang Chong saw the ambulance bringing back the First Elder's remains, he was grief-stricken as well.
Others didn't know what had happened, but he knew full well. The First Elder had gone in full of vigor, and though Zhang Chong hadn't seen what occurred inside, he could well imagine that the First Elder had given his own life to resolve the matter.
Zhang Chong's reverence for the two elders and the "immortal lady" in his eyes grew even deeper. He voluntarily placed the First Elder's remains in his own car and drove them back to the mountain.
Bai Town was underdeveloped, and cremation had not yet been implemented—burial in the earth was still the practice. There was a local custom: families with elderly members would prepare coffins in advance. The three elders naturally had theirs, stored in the main hall.
When Bai Xianxian returned from following Zhang Chong to the town's coffin shop to buy funeral supplies, she saw a small sedan parked at the Zhang family's doorstep. An old Daoist priest in a ritual robe stepped out.
The moment he got out of the car and saw the scene before him, he let out an "Eh?"
The Second Elder walked out from the doorway, with the three unfilial sons weeping and wailing as they chased after him, clutching at him like he was their last lifeline: "Daoist! Daoist, you can't abandon us!"
Second Elder said calmly, "I've done what needed to be done. You just need to bury her properly according to the old lady's final wishes."
The three sons nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! We'll do exactly that! But we're still scared, Master. Could you give us something for protection against evil spirits? Name your price!"
Second Elder frowned slightly, then looked up and saw the old Daoist observing from the doorway. He pointed at him. "For the rest, consult this Daoist."
The old Daoist gave a salute. "I am Chu Zhengming of Zhenwu Temple in Yunchang City. May I ask, what is the situation here?"
Second Elder gave a brief account of what had happened.
He didn't mention the danger of the process, but the high-ranking Daoist these four wealthy sons of the Zhang family had summoned was no ordinary figure.
This Chu Zhengming was a Daoist from Zhenwu Temple in Yunchang City. The temple's main deity was Emperor Zhenwu, and the famous Wudang Mountain was Emperor Zhenwu's sacred site, belonging to the Quanzhen sect.
Chu Zhengming was a renowned high Daoist in Yunchang City. Yesterday, when he heard that the coffin lid had fallen and killed someone during the funeral procession, he immediately realized something was wrong, just like the three elders, and rushed over overnight with several disciples.
Yet what they had feared had not come to pass.
The danger of this matter could not be compared to Second Elder's casual few words.
He happened to see First Elder's body wrapped in white cloth inside the vehicle. Realizing something, his expression turned sorrowful, and he bowed deeply toward the vehicle.
Second Elder walked toward the car. "The vengeful spirit has been released. I'll leave the rest to you, Daoist."
Chu Zhengming agreed. Seeing Bai Xianxian walk past holding the Six-Spirit Sword, he recognized at a glance that the sword was no ordinary object.
After they left, he said to his disciples, "I never expected a reclusive master to be here. I wonder which sect they belong to. That young woman also appears very talented. If you were to exchange Daoist teachings with her, you would surely gain much. It's just a pity we may never have the chance to meet again."
Chu Zhengming's youngest disciple asked innocently, "Master, then why don't we add her on WeChat?"
Chu Zhengming: "…!"
Unfortunately, the vehicle had already disappeared from sight.
On the way back up the mountain, Bai Xianxian held the Six-Spirit Sword in silence the whole time.
She thought she might understand what it meant to grow up in an instant.
First Elder's final wish was for her to grow up well.
But growing up meant taking on responsibility.
Every adult had responsibilities they had to bear. Born into the Bai family, born with a Spirit Bone, taking over the family legacy was her responsibility.
Avoiding responsibility would only lead to things she would be even less able to bear.
Bai Xianxian looked at the two elders across from her, both advanced in years, and suddenly spoke. "Second Elder, Third Elder, I've decided to learn Daoist arts. Once First Elder's funeral is handled, please teach me."
Both elders looked over in surprise.
Second Elder paused, then said gently, "Xianxian, you don't have to force yourself out of guilt."
Bai Xianxian shook her head. "I'm not forcing myself. I want to learn."
Not just for the elders and the family.
The look on the villagers' faces when they ran up the mountain for help last night, and the young mother who held her son and thanked her repeatedly—both had deeply moved her.
Born as a mortal, if one has talent, why live an ordinary life?
First Elder was right. If you learn well, then no matter what demons or monsters come, what is there to fear?
The unknown is what's most terrifying.
Third Elder suddenly shouted, "Excellent! That's the true heir of the Bai family! Your First Elder will surely be pleased in the afterlife!"
Bai Xianxian looked at the body in the vehicle, a determined smile on her face.
By the time the vehicle drove back up the mountain, the sky was already bright. Several uncles and aunts who had received the news were waiting at the mountain pass. They carried the body up with grief, and then began the encoffining and setting up of the mourning hall.
One by one, younger members of the Bai family returned to their hometown.
Bai Xiangwang arrived at noon, still wearing his blue robe, carrying a bundle containing the ritual robes and items needed for the ceremony. Several Daoists from Shouyi Temple came back with him. They set up a Ritual Altar before the spirit and began chanting scriptures and incantations.
The melodious sound of Daoist music spread across the mountains, not only releasing the departed soul but also bringing peace to the living.
Besides the Bai family, villagers from the foot of the mountain and many households from the town came to pay their respects. The three elders had lived here for decades and had earned their reputations. The usually quiet mountain forest had grown considerably livelier.
Bai Xianxian refused to give up. She secretly opened her Heavenly Eye several times, trying to catch a glimpse of First Elder's soul in the mourning hall.
She didn't see First Elder, but she did spot a Spirit Monster in the mountain. She had no idea what it had transformed from, but it was ugly and fierce-looking, crouching on a large rock outside the courtyard and baring its teeth at her. It scared Bai Xianxian so much she ran crying to Second Elder. "How do I turn off this Heavenly Eye?!"
Second Elder: "…It will close on its own when the time comes."
Bai Xianxian covered her eyes with her hands and dared not look around anymore, terrified that the Spirit Monster would come after her. But when she went outside, she secretly glanced around—the Spirit Monster had already vanished.
On the rock where it had been crouching were two claw marks, as if left behind when it fled. Bai Xianxian took a quick look and immediately averted her gaze.
The Bai family ancestral graves were located halfway up the mountain, where countless generations of Bai ancestors had been laid to rest. The Second Elder observed the stars and determined the auspicious time for the First Elder's burial. After the coffin was lowered into the earth, the mourners who had come to pay their respects gradually departed.
Many of the younger generation in the Bai family had no idea what their ancestors had done in life—they simply felt they had returned to pay respects to a great-grandfather they had never known. Having had no connection with him since childhood, there wasn't much grief to speak of.
They were nothing like Bai Xianxian, who had been confirmed as a prodigy with an innate Spirit Bone at her one-month celebration, and had consequently spent most of her childhood at the side of the three elders.
Once the crowd had gone, the mountain returned to its tranquil state.
Bai Xiangwang was delighted to hear that his daughter had finally agreed to accept the family inheritance. He had wanted to stay and help teach Bai Xianxian the scriptures, but was shooed away by the Third Elder: "Shoo, shoo, shoo—we haven't even taught her yet, what makes you think you can? Wait until we're done before it's your turn!"
Bai Xiangwang: "…!"
Just who do you think gave birth to her!