Chapter 67: A Stinging Reversal (Part Two)

Ah!

The first to cry out was Li Lina, and in the very instant her scream broke the silence, she instinctively flung herself upon Zhang Hansheng, who was standing beside her.

The others, too, recoiled without hesitation, their eyes fixed on the figure that had just sat up inside the crystal coffin—its forehead marked with a yellow talisman, which I had only just affixed.

“He’s turned into a corpse!”

“The old man has turned into a corpse!”

...

It was a long moment before those present regained their wits, and then an uproar broke loose.

As I stood there, observing their frantic reactions, I could not help but laugh coldly at their disgrace.

“Master Yang, forgive us. Please, let my father rest once more.”

Imagine it—after lying in state at home for a full seven days, a dead man suddenly sits up in his coffin. Who could witness such a thing and not be terrified? Yet I could see that Mr. Zhou, for all his alarm, was a man who understood propriety.

Without another word, he turned and dealt Li Lina a sharp slap across the face. In a cold voice, he said, “What does a foolish girl know? Go and apologize to Master Yang at once!”

I smiled faintly, then removed the talisman. At once, the old man lay back down.

As the corpse settled once more, I could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from those around me.

Li Lina, however, remained rooted where she stood, her face blank with shock.

Seeing her frozen in place, staring at me as if seeing me for the first time, Mr. Zhou hurried to smooth things over. “Master Yang, please don’t take offense. It was my failure to manage my people. I hope you won’t be angry.”

I let out a quiet laugh. Looking at Li Lina, who stood there as if dazed, I suddenly found the situation rather dull, and laughed aloud. “Since childhood, I have cultivated on Dragon Mountain. I descended at twenty to see the world. Every experience along my path is part of my story—I neither cling to them nor forget them. To work together, that is fate.”

As I spoke, my gaze fell on the old man lying once more in his coffin.

I could not deny that there was something amiss with this corpse.

There was a breath caught in the old man’s throat, and another in his chest.

Such a corpse is most susceptible to transformation, and tonight is the night when spirits return. From my experiment just now, I judged there is a nine-tenths chance the old man will change tonight.

“I knew a cultivator as accomplished as Master Yang would not take such matters to heart. Master Yang, what should we do to prepare? Master Chen told us to follow your instructions in all things.”

I nodded.

“Let your direct relatives perform the kneeling rites, then leave. Just leave one woman here—she will assist me tonight.”

“One woman to assist?” Mr. Zhou’s face betrayed a trace of surprise.

I smiled wryly and turned to him. “You misunderstand. Women are innately yin. Tonight, as the old man’s soul returns, I need her yin energy to restrain his spirit.”

At my words, Mr. Zhou nodded immediately. Just then, a little girl stepped forward.

“Master Yang, let me stay. I wish to see my grandfather again.”

She was only seven or eight years old.

“Too young. Let her stay instead.” I pointed at Li Lina. Truth be told, I hadn’t intended to choose her, but all the other women present were mothers with children—only Li Lina was alone.

“Ah! I—”

Having witnessed my skills, Li Lina no longer dared to curse or belittle me.

At that moment, I noticed Zhang Hansheng’s face was ashen.

“Write your birth date and eight characters on this paper!” With a wave of my hand, a blank yellow talisman floated before Li Lina, suspended in the air by a mysterious force.

This display again left everyone present in awe, exclaiming at my supernatural power. Mr. Zhou, standing beside me, had no objections whatsoever.

“Write with your finger—I can read it.”

Li Lina dared not protest, and with trembling fingers, she inscribed her birth date onto the yellow paper.

When she finished, Yinyin—the spirit—carried the sheet to me. I immediately fashioned it into a small paper figurine.

“Yinyin, use this figure for now. If anything unusual happens tonight, you can assist me.”

“Yes!” Yinyin chirped, delighted, and slipped into the yellow paper figure.

As soon as I released it, the little paper man soared up and perched on the corner of the coffin.

“Master Yang, your cultivation is profound indeed. With you here tonight, I am at ease.”

After these demonstrations, everyone was thoroughly shaken. Mr. Zhou approached me, visibly moved.

“Well then, let the direct relatives pay their respects and depart. It is now eight o’clock—four hours remain. If any of you insist on staying, I have nothing more to say, but let me warn you: if the old man transforms into a corpse and bites you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

At this, everyone knelt to kowtow twice to the old man and then took their leave.

Soon, only Mr. Zhou, Li Lina, and I remained. Even Zhang Hansheng had fled in terror.

“Master Yang—”

“To be frank, Mr. Zhou, your father’s condition is plain to see. Just now, with a mere touch, he sat up. When a person dies, their spirit is extinguished—they should be incapable of movement. Yet, you saw what happened.”

“Master Yang, how much do you want? Name your price.”

“Two hundred thousand.”

At this, Mr. Zhou’s brow furrowed. Seeing this, I said at once, “Two hundred fifty thousand.”

“Master Yang—”

“Three hundred thousand.”

“This is no easy matter, Mr. Zhou. I only agreed to come because of Chen Chuyi’s request.”

Mr. Zhou nodded immediately, then smiled. “Very well, three hundred thousand. Master Yang, I leave it in your hands.”

I nodded and said softly, “You should leave, too. Go spend the night at a hotel. It’s not safe here.”

He nodded at once, handed me a check, and left.

I stowed the check for three hundred thousand in my bag, then glanced at Li Lina, who stood off to the side, her expression unreadable.

“Yang Dong, what are you trying to do?”

I rose and walked step by step toward Li Lina, who was still frozen in shock.

I sneered. Looking at her—Li Lina, who once made my heart ache with frustration and resentment—suddenly, all those feelings vanished.

“Yang Dong, if you’re planning to use this as a pretext to possess my body, then I admit you’ve won. Your tricks are clever enough. Go ahead, I’ll just pretend I was bitten by a dog.”

With that, she closed her eyes, resigned. To be honest, women like Li Lina—dressed as seductively as ever—held no interest for me. But hearing her words, I could only smile wryly.