“Brother Lu, meeting us is your good fortune. Otherwise, with night falling like this, if you ran into a hundred ghosts parading or monsters roaming, the two of you would probably have ended up dead here!”
Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly, glanced at the three oddly dressed celestial masters, cupped his hands and asked, “May I ask why the three honoured celestial masters have come here?”
The Supreme Heaven Celestial Master was very pleased with Lu Zheng’s respect and smiled as he replied, “We usually rid the various counties of Cuan Prefecture of demons and monsters. A few days ago a woman entered the city and found us, saying her household had been afflicted by evil and begging us to act. So we made preparations and came today.”
The Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master said proudly, “Who would have thought the mountain road would be so difficult? On the way we even encountered a weasel spirit that wasted several of our talismans and one Demon-Pinning Heavenly Rocket. That is why we have only just arrived.”
The Form-Manifesting Celestial Master looked at the nearby manor, struggled to read the characters, then nodded. “Yupan Manor. Yes, this is definitely the place!”
The Supreme Heaven Celestial Master said, “It is late. After we finish subduing the demon, we plan to spend the night here in the manor and leave the mountain early tomorrow morning. Travelling mountain roads at night is unsafe. You should stay with us.”
Lu Zheng glanced at the manor and focused his attention, yet he detected not the slightest trace of yin energy or demonic aura.
“There is something wrong with this manor?”
The Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master thought Lu Zheng was afraid and patted his chest. “Rest assured. With the three saint celestial masters here, no evil creature would dare act presumptuously!”
Shen Ying looked at the manor and asked doubtfully, “We have been talking here for ages. How come there has been no movement from inside the manor at all?”
The Form-Manifesting Celestial Master laughed heartily. “It is probably because the wealthy family’s house is too large. Let me knock!”
The moment the words left his mouth, everyone heard footsteps from within the manor. Then the main gate creaked open, revealing a haggard-looking old woman who appeared to be forty or fifty years old.
The old woman looked at the group, her eyes revealing a trace of panic and fear. Trembling, she asked, “Excuse me… are you the Golden Light Three Saint Celestial Masters?”
“It is us. The woman who came to town a few days ago saying the manor was haunted, was she from your household?” the Form-Manifesting Celestial Master asked.
“Yes…” The old woman’s eyes were panicked as she nodded repeatedly. “She is the third young miss of our house.”
Seeing how frightened the old woman was, the Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master stepped forward. “Do not fear, do not fear. Now that we are here, everything will be fine. By the way, why did you build the manor in such a remote place? If you encounter mountain spirits, you cannot call the heavens or the earth for help!”
“Yes, yes!” The old woman dared not argue and could only nod repeatedly. Then she turned and stepped aside from the gate, her eyes flickering as she looked at everyone.
“Please come in. Our eldest young miss is waiting inside.”
The Supreme Heaven Celestial Master nodded, then strode forward proudly at the head of the group.
The Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master and Form-Manifesting Celestial Master followed, warily scanning the surroundings while pointing and commenting on the manor’s buildings and decorations.
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying saw the nervous look the old woman gave them, exchanged a smile, and followed inside.
…
In the main hall, three beautiful young women sat in the centre, speaking with the three saint celestial masters.
The old woman who had opened the gate had already returned to the hall and was shakily serving tea and water.
“Honoured celestial masters, ever since we moved to this manor, every night we hear all kinds of strange noises. It is truly terrifying!”
“Ten days ago our mother suddenly seemed to go mad and started biting anyone she saw. We had no choice but to tie her up and seek help everywhere.”
“We heard that the three saint celestial masters possess profound magic power, so we specially invited you to exorcise the evil from our mother and investigate what is wrong with this manor.”
The three young women spoke one after another, explaining the situation clearly. Then they saw Lu Zheng and Shen Ying enter hand in hand, and their eyes lit up.
The young woman seated at the head gave a graceful curtsey. “This humble girl is Zhu Yiqin. Together with my two younger sisters, I greet the young master and young lady.”
Lu Zheng cupped his hands and said, “You are too polite. We simply took the wrong road and missed our lodging. We happened to meet the three saint celestial masters and have come to beg shelter for one night. I hope Miss Zhu will not mind.”
“Not at all, not at all!” Second Miss Zhu Yishan said with a beaming smile. “Honoured guests may stay as long as you wish. We welcome you warmly!”
Third Miss Zhu Yiping’s lips curved slightly as she swallowed. “Since honoured guests have arrived, I will go tidy up and prepare supper.”
After speaking, Zhu Yiping curtseyed and turned towards the rear courtyard.
“We who subdue demons and vanquish devils have a duty we cannot shirk!”
“Supper can wait. We all brought dry rations and ate our fill at noon.”
“First take us to see your esteemed mother. Once we remove the evil creature from this manor and cure your mother, it will not be too late to speak of supper.”
The celestial masters spoke boldly one after another, eager to get to work.
“Very well!” Zhu Yiqin turned to Lu Zheng with a smile. “You two have travelled far and must be tired. Would you prefer to rest first, or…”
Shen Ying answered, “Together. I have never witnessed the famous spectacle of demon subduing.”
Zhu Yishan’s eyes flickered as she giggled. “That works too. Then please everyone move to the rear hall. Mother is in the rear hall.”
She turned to the serving old woman and sighed softly. “Go to the kitchen and prepare a bowl of congee for Mother. I do not know if Mother can still eat it.”
The old woman’s face was pale. She nodded and shakily walked towards the kitchen.
The Form-Manifesting Celestial Master shook his head. “Look how terrified she has become!”
The Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master glanced around and asked doubtfully, “Such a large manor, and there are only the three of you plus one old servant?”
Zhu Yiqin said faintly, “Ever since the manor became haunted, all the servants scattered and fled. We poor sisters have nowhere else to go and can only stay here. We can only hope the honoured celestial masters will subdue the demons and let us live in peace.”
“Rest assured!” The Supreme Heaven Celestial Master focused his gaze around them. “We possess the Golden Light Thunder method and Demon-Pinning Heavenly Rockets. No evil creature can escape our dharma eyes!”
“That is good. Everyone, please follow me.”
Zhu Yiqin and Zhu Yishan rose gracefully and led the way. Lu Zheng followed behind, noticing that from top to bottom their figures formed an hourglass shape, their swaying waists seemingly boneless and full of allure.
Yet the three celestial masters paid no attention to the two women. Instead they kept looking around and discussing in low voices.
“There does seem to be a problem.”
“I sense no demonic aura or yin energy, but there is a very faint smell of corpses.”
“Extremely faint. I almost missed it.”
“It might be a ghost possessing a person, so we cannot sense it.”
“Be careful!”
The group reached the rear hall. The moment they entered they saw an old crone tied to a chair. She appeared even older than the previous old woman, over seventy, and her eyes were filled with ferocity as she glared at everyone, as if she wanted to devour their flesh raw and drink their blood alive.
“Wuu… wuu…”
She could no longer speak, only emitting savage growls like a wild beast.
Then the old woman who had just come from the kitchen arrived carrying a bowl of congee. Trembling, she approached the crone to feed her.
In the next instant the crone suddenly exploded with strength and struggled wildly. The old woman jumped in fright, spilled the bowl of congee, staggered back, and looked at the crone with eyes full of grief and pity.
Zhu Yiqin gave a soft cry, swayed forward as if to support the crone, but the crone’s eyes bulged with rage, turned bloodshot, and lunged to bite Zhu Yiqin’s face.
The Supreme Heaven Celestial Master stepped forward, pushed Zhu Yiqin safely aside, then swiftly retreated and shouted sternly, “A ghost has possessed her!”
In the next moment he swung the wooden frame from his back and placed it in front of him. At the centre of the frame was a bronze mirror, while the surrounding wood was engraved with Taoist runes.
The Form-Manifesting Celestial Master quickly pulled a wooden seated Buddha statue from his pouch and placed it behind the mirror, linking their auras.
The Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master drew two swords from his back, one golden and one wooden, and pointed them at the crone.
After positioning the Buddha statue, the Form-Manifesting Celestial Master took out a wooden fish, stuck a Heavenly Sound Thunder-Controlling Talisman on it, and prepared to strike at any moment.
Then the three faced the crone, their expressions grave, and shouted in unison, “Ten thousand Buddhas pay homage, command the thunder! Demons, ghosts, and monsters, reveal your true forms!”
Golden light burst from the bronze mirror, shining dazzlingly upon the crone.
