C24 the Netherworld

"Wang Xu, don't touch him!" Bai Xiaoxiao cried out in alarm.

I was already aware of Bai Xiaoxiao's exceptional perception, so at her shout, I immediately halted my actions. I refrained from disturbing Old Man Wang's spirit and quickly turned to her, asking, "Xiao Xiao, what's the matter? Is there an issue?"

Old Man Wang continued to walk ahead with a vacant expression, seemingly oblivious to both Bai Xiaoxiao and myself. He showed no reaction whatsoever, and the ghostly aura emanating from him was as lifeless as still water.

Bai Xiaoxiao pointed at Old Man Wang's body, her brow furrowed in concern as she turned to me. "This ghost, it seems like his consciousness is being manipulated. I can see many black lines on his body, like those of a marionette. This... I've never encountered such a state before. I can't quite explain it."

Black lines like those of a puppet? Bai Xiaoxiao's description made me furrow my brow in concern. The old ghost was clearly no ordinary spirit, possessing such unusual abilities.

I rummaged through my bag and carefully extracted a small amount of Five-Colored Sand. I sprinkled it gently towards Old Man Wang's spirit. The Five-Colored Sand, a blend of five rare mystical ingredients, was not easy to come by, as they were sourced from different locations and were scarce. Using it was always a painful decision due to its rarity.

Yet, its effects were nothing short of miraculous, revealing the traces of most curses and spells, which was incredibly useful for a sorcerer like me, who lacked special sensory abilities. Even though I didn't possess Bai Xiaoxiao's extraordinary vision, after scattering the Five-Colored Sand, I too could see the black threads on Old Man Wang's body.

These threads were primarily attached to the old man's joints and were deeply embedded, suggesting a connection to his very essence. Thankfully, Bai Xiaoxiao had cautioned me not to interfere with him. Had I tampered with these threads carelessly, I might have caused irreparable damage to his soul.

"What do we do now? These threads are deeply embedded. If we can't untangle them, he'll remain under control..." Bai Xiaoxiao lamented, feeling at a loss.

Indeed, for ghosts, such sorcery is notoriously difficult to break free from, which explains why those fringe Taoist priests find it so easy to capture them. However, for someone like me, well-versed in the Taoist arts of various sects, liberating the old gentleman from the black threads is a simple matter.

"These threads must be your ghostly magic, something I've never encountered before. But removing them is straightforward; it just requires a little sleight of hand," I explained.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiaoxiao's expression brightened, and she watched me intently, eager to witness my technique.

I retrieved a small porcelain jar filled with incense ash from my bag and drew a circle around the old man's feet, effectively trapping him within. His soul, still tethered by the threads, continued to move forward but now wandered aimlessly, circling within the confines I had created.

Next, I pulled out two sheets of white paper and a writing brush from my bag. I tore the paper and swiftly folded it into a paper effigy. I took a quick look at the old man's features and, with a few strokes of the brush, managed to approximate his likeness on the paper figure. Though I'm no artist, the facial contours were close enough to what I envisioned.

After these preparations, I phoned the village chief to inquire about Old Man Wang's full name and birth details. I wrote this information on a slip of paper and inserted it into the body of the paper effigy. The eyes of the puppet seemed to flicker to life, signaling that the substitute was complete.

In the realm of Taoist arts, there has long been a practice of creating paper effigies to bear misfortunes. Whether it's a child plagued by illness, someone facing imminent disaster, or a person tormented by malevolent spirits, a paper effigy can be crafted to shoulder these burdens. This arcane craft hinges on the skill of the creator; the more adept the practitioner, the more potent the effigy, with legends suggesting that the ultimate creations can even endure torments in hell on behalf of their human counterparts.

But at the end of the day, the effigy is still just paper, unable to transcend the cycle of life and death. Hence, Zhou taught me to regard it as a minor trick.

I placed the effigy within the ash circle. As a chill wind swept through, the paper figure began to orbit Old Man Wang of its own accord. After several rotations, it nearly adhered to his back. Seizing the moment, I erased a small section of the ash circle just as the effigy fully attached to Old Man Wang's back, and with that, I successfully extracted his soul.

When he was pulled out, Old Man Wang's soul was intact, and the vacant expression that had clouded his face had eased. He recognized me and exclaimed,

"Ah! It's you. I remember you—you saved my Lele on the fifteenth of July!"

I nodded, then used the incense ash to complete the circle. The paper effigy, inscribed with Old Man Wang's birth details, continued its rounds within. The black silk threads that had been entwined around Old Man Wang were now all bound to the effigy.

With a sly grin, I pulled out my lighter and set the paper figure ablaze. The black threads caught fire too, releasing a faint scent of charring. Such spells to control spirits often backfire, and that old ghost was surely feeling the effects.

I inquired how Old Man Wang had ended up here. He explained that he had been in the Underworld awaiting reincarnation and had come up to the living world to enjoy his descendants' offerings during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Unexpectedly, before he could return, he was seized by some unfamiliar spirits. They hadn't mistreated him, but they had detained him, preventing his departure, and then he ended up here.

This had the old ghost's fingerprints all over it. With Old Man Wang now in our custody, Wang Lele's life was out of immediate danger. To prevent any further issues, the priority was to send Old Man Wang back to the Underworld. Even if the old ghost had extensive powers, it wouldn't be easy to extract someone from the Underworld. And if he tried... well, I'd deal with him before he could succeed.

There are two methods to send a spirit to the Underworld: summoning ghost messengers to escort them or sending them directly. Given my status as a Warlock and the fact that the old ghost had his own minions, I opted for the latter.

I constructed a small bridge out of paper and placed a large basin of water beneath it. The paper bridge symbolized the boundary between Yin and Yang, and the basin represented the waters of the Yellow Springs.

Next, I folded a paper boat, inscribed with a special Nether Opening Talisman to guide spirits to the Yin Court. I set Old Man Wang aboard the paper boat, let it sail into the water, and then ignited a stack of joss paper. This Underworld Money would soothe his soul and, serving as the currency of the afterlife, it would also pave the way to the Underworld.

"The Yellow River of the Underworld beckons, the path to the netherworld has opened.

The soul departs, never to return.

Mortal and specter tread separate paths, with good and evil facing their due recompense.

To pluck away suffering and achieve transcendence is to find peace on the far shore."

After I finished the incantation, a chill wind swept by, scattering the ashes of the burned yellow paper across the water's surface. Sparks within the ashes caught the paper boat, and with a sudden whoosh, it was consumed by flames.

"Wang Xu, did you truly guide that elderly gentleman back to the Underworld?" Bai Xiaoxiao inquired, her voice laced with anxiety.

I had previously promised Bai Xiaoxiao to aid in her father's transcendence. Though different from escorting a soul to the netherworld, the processes shared many commonalities, hence her deep concern.

I offered her a reassuring smile and replied,

"Yes, that cold breeze will ensure the old man's journey to the underworld is smooth."

Bai Xiaoxiao's previously furrowed brow softened, giving way to a smile of relief.

Just then, the booming voice of Wang Dali echoed from outside my home,

"Wang Xu! Wang Xu! Get out here, I've found everything you were looking for!"