Chapter 121: Soul Leaving the Body

It sounds simple enough, but doing it is another matter. Yueyue was unconscious, and while I could take her away for the time being, what would I do once we got her home?

Fortunately, my Aunt had a plan. She used a spiritual talisman to seal Yueyue’s vital gate temporarily, allowing us to bring her back. On the way, Aunt ordered her hands to be tied behind her back—it was the only way. If we didn't, she would peel the talisman off the moment she woke up, and once that seal was broken, she would resume consuming the souls of others.

While traveling back, Aunt discussed the situation with me. The other spirits—Aunt's companions—wanted to kill Yueyue and bring her soul to the Ghost King. I begged them repeatedly, insisting that Yueyue was not evil by nature and that her actions were entirely the result of being manipulated by others. I implored Aunt and the others to spare her.

Aunt pondered for a moment and said we would see once we got her home. The Ghost King’s orders were difficult to defy, and as spirits, none of them dared to go against his will. However, she noted that although the Ghost King resided in hell, he was also dedicated to kindness. She believed he would give Yueyue a chance, though she wasn't sure if the world could forgive her, given that she had killed many innocent people.

Back home, Yueyue was locked in an iron cage with spiritual talismans plastered on all four corners. Aunt said that even if she woke up, she wouldn't pose a major threat, as the talismans suppressed her malevolent aura, preventing her from using the Yin-Absorption Technique.

Early the next morning, I went to the cage to check on her. If she were awake, I wanted to talk to her and hopefully learn something about Wang Ying and Wei Qi.

Regrettably, Yueyue lay in the cage, motionless, like a wounded young beast. I didn't know why, but even though she was a murderous demon, I felt a deep sense of pity for her. "Yueyue? Yueyue?" I leaned in and reached out to gently touch the girl.

"Don't!" Before my hand could touch her, Aunt’s shout came from behind me.

"Are you tired of living? You dare to touch her?" Aunt looked at me with a very stern expression. I knew full well that if Yueyue were merely pretending or if she suddenly woke up and grabbed my hand, my soul would be lost.

"Aunt, is she dead?" Yueyue lay there, her hair covering her face, making it impossible to tell if she was alive or dead.

Aunt crouched down to examine her. "She’s not dead. She carries dozens of souls within her; it would be hard for her to die. She’s just injured, and I doubt she’ll wake up for a while."

Hearing this, I felt slightly relieved. As long as she wasn't dead, that was something. "Aunt, when will she wake up?"

"That... it's hard to say. Her pulse is chaotic. There's no telling when she'll wake up; we’ll just have to wait." Aunt turned to leave, but before she did, she told me and Fatty to eat quickly, as she would be taking us somewhere shortly.

After hearing this, I went to call Fatty. The guy was like a pig, groaning and refusing to get out of bed. It took a great deal of effort to drag him up.

After we ate the meal Wan'er had prepared, Aunt returned. She told Wan'er to watch the house, specifically to keep an eye on Yueyue, while the three of us headed to the streets of Luohe Town. Aunt brought us to a storefront called "Dayi Feng Shui Hall."

"Aunt, why are we here?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Why else? This Feng Shui hall belongs to our family. I need to earn a living!" Aunt began tidying up the shop, and Fatty and I moved the advertising lightbox outside. I was baffled. Aunt was a spirit; she didn't need earthly sustenance, so why did she need money? Remembering the drawer full of cash back home, I realized why she was so wealthy. It turned out she had her own ways of making money.

I found it strange that a spirit could open a shop in such a busy area without anyone noticing. But upon reflection, it was hard to tell. Aside from not eating, she was just like a human in every other way. Her body was cold, but no one would notice that unless they touched her.

To my surprise, business was exceptionally good. In one afternoon, she served five or six customers—not just for Feng Shui, but for fortune-telling and character analysis. Regardless of the request, Aunt provided excellent answers, and the customers were very satisfied.

Aunt told me and Fatty to sit to the side, intending for us to learn from her. Fatty, who was usually a slacker, actually paid close attention to these things.

My heart wasn't in it; my mind was a jumbled mess. Seeing Wang Ying last night meant that my Second Uncle’s guardian had not yet struck. I truly hoped he would capture Wang Ying soon and stop her from doing evil alongside Xing Yun. Wang Ying had Wei Qi’s Xing Yun Staff—where was Wei Qi? I didn't dare to think about it. I just hoped he was safe.

By the time we returned home in the late afternoon, Yueyue still hadn't woken up. She remained curled up in the iron cage. Seeing her motionless, my heart sank. What was going on?

Aunt looked at Yueyue, then back at me with a furrowed brow. "Dachuan, this girl is in bad shape."

"You can't be serious. If that’s the case, we’re in trouble. Aunt, you have to save her, no matter what!" She was the only one who knew the whereabouts of Wang Ying and Wei Qi, so I had to do whatever it took to save her.

"Dachuan, Yueyue is currently housing many souls. Yesterday, when Wang Ying broke our Heavenly Silkworm Array, it damaged Yueyue’s primary soul. Because her primary soul is injured, the souls she has consumed are fighting for dominance, suppressing her own. That is why she cannot wake up," Aunt explained. Her explanation was profound, but I understood the gist of it.

"Aunt, what should we do?" I asked anxiously.

"It’s difficult. The only way is for you to save her."

"Save her? How?" I couldn't even get close to her cage this morning; how could I possibly save her?

"Dachuan, saving her is a complex process. Your soul must enter her body, find her primary soul, and drive out the souls she has consumed. Doing this will not only wake her up but also weaken her powers," Aunt explained carefully, fearing I wouldn't understand.

"If I drive away all the souls she consumed, will her Yin-Absorption Technique disappear?"

Aunt shook her head. "No. She has already mastered the Yin-Absorption Technique; she will have it for life, unless she dies."

"Aunt, I am willing to enter her body. I have to help her drive out those souls." My mind was made up; I had to do this. Saving Yueyue was one reason, but I also needed to get the truth about Wang Ying and Wei Qi from her.

Aunt frowned, a trace of melancholy passing through her eyes. "Dachuan, the prerequisite for this is that you must perform an out-of-body experience. Do you understand what that means?"

I didn't know the specifics, but I understood the implication. A human has three souls and seven spirits; once the soul leaves the body, the person is essentially dead. "Aunt, I’m not afraid."

Aunt nodded. "Dachuan, I will tell you how it works. At 11 o’clock tonight, we will light incense to draw out your soul. Once it is detached from your body, you must enter Yueyue’s. You will have to search for them one by one, drive out all the excess souls, and finally, feed Yueyue’s soul with your blood. Your blood can heal her wounded soul. Only then will your task be complete."

Hearing Aunt’s description, it sounded simple enough, so I nodded firmly. "Aunt, no problem."

"Don't be so quick to agree. You need to think this through carefully. An out-of-body experience is extremely dangerous. If you don't return within half an hour, you will never return at all. Do you understand what I mean?"

No wonder Aunt was so cautious. Half an hour was far too short—it was incredibly dangerous. But I had no choice; I had to save Yueyue.

"Aunt, I’m not afraid."

Wan'er walked over, grabbed my arm, and looked at Aunt. "Aunt, I am willing to take my brother's place and enter Yueyue’s body."

Aunt smiled bitterly. "Wan'er, I understand your feelings, but you cannot replace him, and neither can I. We might have the ability to drive out the excess souls in Yueyue’s body, but we lack the Blood of Ultimate Yin needed to heal her. Therefore, to save Yueyue, we must rely on Dachuan himself."