C10 Exploring the Desolate Tower Again

At that time, it was highly probable that Lee Ximei had become pregnant and initially wanted to terminate the pregnancy. She had thought about it a lot and tried various methods. However, the fetus seemed to be firmly rooted inside her, and despite her efforts, she couldn't abort it. Eventually, the child was born, but due to being premature, survival was uncertain. It's possible the child didn't make it. Lee Ximei, though tough, would not harm her own offspring. She couldn't bear to let go of her child. Somehow, Lee Ximei learned of a way to try and extend the child's life.

The method involved burying the deceased child in a copper bowl and planting black datura on top of it.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but interject, "Third Uncle, isn't that a rather bold theory? Burying a dead fetus in a flowerpot—do you actually have any evidence for this?"

Third Uncle gave me a look of exasperation. "Isn't that obvious? Would I just make it up without any evidence?"

I scratched my head, puzzled. "But that doesn't add up. Didn't the white-haired old man say that the black datura wouldn't survive if it came to our side?"

Third Uncle explained, "Using conventional cultivation methods, it certainly wouldn't survive. That's why I deduced that burying the dead infant in the copper bowl was the only way to keep the black datura alive. The copper bowl serves to trap souls, so the soul of the dead infant would be confined within it. Over time, the soul would become intertwined with the growth of the black datura."

I pressed further, "But what if we don't go to the desolate tower and just let the black datura grow? What would happen then? Could the child actually be brought back to life?"

Third Uncle shook his head. "I haven't thought that far ahead. This is entirely different from the Tao Arts of our Central Plains—it's all a form of sorcery that doesn't play by our rules. So, in light of that, the setback I faced is somewhat forgivable. It's not shameful, hehe, not shameful at all."

I gestured dismissively, "There's still another issue. How did Lee Ximei come to know such dark arts? And if someone taught her, who was that person? The more we delve into this, the more questions arise, and the more complex it becomes."

Third Uncle nodded, pulled out his phone, and said, "We've got a problem. Hold on, I need to make a call."

The signal was terrible in the basement, so Third Uncle stepped out with his phone.

I didn't feel like moving, so I just lay back down and kept sleeping.

After a bit, Third Uncle came bounding back, all animated and red-faced with excitement. He burst through the door and grabbed me, "Nephew, no more sleeping, come with me."

I wriggled out of Third Uncle's grasp, "Where to now?"

"To that haunted house."

"What? Go back there? Have you lost your mind?" I shivered at the thought. We had just escaped from that place, and now he wanted to return? The mere thought of it still sent chills down my spine.

"This time, I assure you, you'll be safe. I've figured everything out. We're going in with a plan."

"How does your assurance help? Without it, I might have a sliver of hope. But your 'guarantee' just makes me feel even more doomed," I protested, edging away.

But Third Uncle was relentless, tugging at my clothes to pull me along.

"Listen, Third Uncle, this shirt is the most expensive thing I own. If you rip it, you're buying me a new one," I yelled.

To my surprise, that did the trick. Third Uncle let go, cursing, "Damn, like I have the money to buy you clothes."

Impatiently, I demanded, "What's going on? Who did you call?"

Third Uncle replied with a buzz of excitement, "I called Chen Dafa to dig into Lee Ximei's past. And guess what? She's indeed from a minority group, the Uighurs from Xinjiang."

I gave Third Uncle a skeptical look, "So what? Our country is home to 56 ethnic groups, each one a unique flower, united in diversity..."

Rolling his eyes, Third Uncle cut me off, "Enough, enough. What are they teaching you in college? Don't you know any geography? Xinjiang is the region we refer to as the ancient Western Regions."

It hadn't dawned on me until then. With a start, I realized, "Ah, so you're saying Lee Ximei is from Xinjiang. She might be privy to the dark arts of the Western Regions you mentioned. That would make sense of the soul-locking copper bowl and the cultivation of the black datura."

Third Uncle slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Exactly. It's also possible that Lee Ximei isn't versed in Evil Arts, but she might have an ancestral book from which she could quickly learn and apply the knowledge. Remember how Guo mentioned a foreigner who came looking for her, selling barbecued mutton skewers? But Guo had never seen that person before, so how could he be sure of his occupation? By deduction, that person must have been from Xinjiang. It's common for people from Xinjiang to sell mutton skewers around here, so Guo likely identified him based on his appearance. I suspect that the black datura seedling was brought to Lee Ximei by that foreigner. Later, when Old Lady Chen discovered Lee Ximei's pregnancy, she didn't understand the situation and only saw it as a disgrace, so she ended Lee Ximei's life with a shovel."

I wagged my finger and pressed, "But what was Lee Ximei's purpose in all this?"

Third Uncle replied, "I believe she had two goals. One was to use Evil Arts to extend her child's life, or at the very least, to nurture the child's spirit. The other was to cultivate the black datura seedling. Unfortunately, she didn't anticipate meeting her end at Old Lady Chen's hands."

Hearing this, I broke out in a cold sweat. "To use such a malevolent method for cultivating a plant is... it's a bit much."

Third Uncle gave my shoulder a reassuring pat and said, "Nephew, the world is full of wonders beyond our understanding. I bet that black datura seedling is of significant importance to them. We're laymen in these matters, and if we tried to delve into it, we'd likely end up more confused than ever. Right now, my focus is on resolving the issue with this cursed house and making a profit. I've figured out how to handle the ghost of the moon. So, are you coming with me or not?"

I hesitated before asking, "Third Uncle, this isn't a trivial issue. Be straight with me—are you truly capable, or are you just blowing smoke?"

Third Uncle glared at me and declared, "If I'm bragging, then I'm your grandson."

I waved my hand dismissively, "Not this again. Fine, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt one more time. Given the situation, do I really have a choice?"

"Exactly. This time, Third Uncle will show you what's what. If all goes well, we'll deal with that Ghost Infant tonight. The reason the Ghost Infant is so formidable is because of the presence of the little ghost. Once we eliminate it, the other scattered souls in the house won't pose any threat. That little ghost originated from the Ghost Plant, which is the black datura. The Ghost Plant serves as the little ghost's host. Destroy the black datura, and the little ghost's spirit will naturally dissipate."

Listening to Third Uncle, I was skeptical yet somewhat convinced. I knew tonight's venture might not be as straightforward as Third Uncle suggested, but I felt compelled to go. The idea of knowingly walking into danger had a certain appeal, but in reality, it felt more like a somber undertaking than an adventure.

Third Uncle had packed a large bag of items for me to carry. We hailed a taxi and returned to the desolate tower. The night had deepened, later than our previous visit, and the scant moonlight lent an eerie and mysterious aura to the tower in the distance.

We disembarked from the taxi some distance away and walked toward the desolate tower before coming to a halt.

Third Uncle produced a telescope and handed it to me, "I've figured out why you're able to see the ghost shadow. You're missing a Life Lamp and lack Yang energy, which allows you to perceive things heavy with Yin energy. Have a look. Can you still see the ghost shadow?"

I peered through the telescope, scanning the desolate tower.

This time, there were no signs of anything unusual at the tower's entrance or the window where the ghost shadow had previously appeared. I relayed the information to Third Uncle, who nodded, opened the bag he'd brought, and pulled out two flamboyantly colored garments.

"Here, put this on," he said, handing me one of the clothes.

"I'm not cold," I responded reflexively.

"Just put it on," Third Uncle insisted, sounding irritated.

Reluctantly, I took the clothes and unfolded them. As I was about to slip them on, the dim moonlight revealed that I was actually holding a shroud.

I was so startled that I tossed the shroud into Third Uncle's hands and blurted out, "Damn it. Third Uncle, have you lost your mind? I'm your own nephew, can't you wish me well? Instead of wishing me into a coffin, you're dressing me in a shroud. How incredibly ominous is that?"

Third Uncle was visibly upset, "Nephew, you sure make a fuss. It's not like I'm dressing you up in this alone; I'm wearing one too."

As he said this, Third Uncle had already slipped into his shroud. No matter how I looked at it, it gave me the creeps, sending a chill down my spine.

Seeing my reaction, Third Uncle felt compelled to explain patiently, "Our primary mission this time is to destroy that Ghost Infant. If we don't take precautions, the little devil will detect us as soon as we enter, and then we're both done for."

I gestured towards the shroud, "So wearing this thing will keep us hidden from the Ghost Infant?"

Third Uncle nodded, "When people die, their souls head to the underworld, and they must be dressed in a shroud. So this shroud can temporarily mask our Yang energy. Plus, if we cast a blinding spell on the spirits inside the desolate tower, we'll be able to enter without trouble."

Reluctantly, I pulled the shroud over my head, feeling incredibly awkward.

Dressed in our shrouds, we made our way step by step toward the desolate tower, resembling a pair of lost souls to any onlooker.

Thankfully, the streets were deserted at this hour; otherwise, anyone seeing us would have been frightened out of their wits.

Once again, we arrived at the entrance of the desolate tower, and Third Uncle gestured for me to crouch down.

Unsure of what Third Uncle was planning next, I watched him retrieve two bundles of Worship Incense from his bag.