Chapter 106 - 106 One hundred and six

Words : 1540 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

106: One hundred and six. Formation 106: One hundred and six. Formation The small courtyard hosted two banquet tables, the Song family had drunk three rounds of wine and enjoyed five different dishes, gathered in noisy clusters chatting loudly, when suddenly an old Taoist burst in through the gate. About a dozen people stared blankly, frozen like chickens made of wood, and the noisy courtyard fell briefly silent. The old Taoist, having wandered the rivers and lakes for many years, had long since cultivated a thick skin, impervious to spiritual harm. He held a compass in his hand, his expression stern, ignoring the many stares as he spun around in the middle of the courtyard. “You are...” Song Hu’s father stood up, wanting to ask. “Silence!” Old Taoist Lu suddenly shouted coldly, stopping Song Hu’s father’s words in his throat. He stepped in the Big Dipper stance, wandering around the empty courtyard space. The compass in his palm spun rapidly. Suddenly, the needle on the compass stilled, firmly pointing towards the southeast corner of the courtyard. “Over there!” Old Taoist Lu’s pupils contracted as he drew the Peach Wood Sword from his waist and flung it. Whizz— Whoosh— Amidst a burst of exclamations, the Peach Wood Sword turned into an afterimage, spinning through the air in an unscientific manner and swiftly tracing the figure of the Eight Trigrams Diagram. “Break!” Old Taoist Lu bellowed and threw a handful of glutinous rice into the sky from his pocket. The rice shot out, suddenly seeming to hit something in mid-air, suddenly oozing blood, losing momentum and scattering to the ground, leaving bloodstains on the surface. Old Taoist Lu, relieved, sighed lightly and retrieved his Peach Wood Sword. The Peach Wood Sword, like a flying sword, returned to the old Taoist’s front and lightly floated down to rest in his palm. The scene, so magically executed, left the dining guests dumbfounded, and the sound of bowls and chopsticks hitting the ground followed. “Honored Taoist, what just... happened...?” Song Hu’s father stood up trembling, his voice shaking as his hands trembled uncontrollably. Old Taoist Lu held the Peach Wood Sword, grabbed the red tassel at the hilt and hung it at his waist, and after sheathing the sword, he said with a serious expression, “Everyone, someone has cast a Soul-Seizing Formation Technique here. Such a technique is sinister, most likely targeted at the one in the coffin.” As soon as these words were spoken, the dining guests turned pale with fright. They hadn’t recovered from the previous scene when they heard the words “Soul-Seizing Formation,” sending shivers down their spines. The gathering of relatives and friends were trembling with fear, no longer daring to stay there after hearing about the ghostly disturbances. “Big brother, it’s getting late, let’s head back...” A man with a crewcut suddenly stood up and hastily fled the courtyard. With someone taking the lead, the rest of the relatives felt inclined to leave, either making excuses or slipping away silently, and soon there was a constant sound of car engines starting outside. In less than half a minute, the previously noisy and lively scene vanished. Only two tables of leftover food remained, with only Song Hu’s parents standing there, stunned. Song Hu’s father, having just come to his senses, asked with a quivering face, “Daoist sir, are you serious...?” “Does old Taoist ever speak falsehoods?” Daoist Lu raised both hands and shook them, letting his sleeves fall to his elbows without any concern as he stepped over the chair and sat down at the table. “Have you recently offended anyone?” Exchanging a glance, Song Hu’s parents answered blankly, “No... we are just ordinary folk.” Daoist Lu picked up a pair of chopsticks someone else had used, turned them around to the clean end, and began stuffing pieces of meat into his mouth while he mumbled, “Considering your child’s ability to reincarnate and your family’s future fortunes, you had better think carefully before answering.” The parents of Song Hu thought hard and searched for any possible enemies who might want to harm them. The old Taoist appeared relaxed, unlike his previous upright and stern demeanor. He fiddled with the leftover food, picked out a peanut and popped it in his mouth, chewing as he said, “If there have been strangers around you recently, they could be considered as well.” Lu Li, standing outside the iron gate, shifted his eyes slightly. Was the old Taoist trying to make Song Hu’s parents suspect him and tarnish his reputation... As soon as Daoist Lu finished speaking, the parents of Song Hu almost simultaneously recalled the leader who had visited them that morning. They were about to utter Lu Li’s name when a voice from outside suddenly interrupted. “Such as villagers who volunteered themselves or outsiders pretending to be colleagues.” Lu Li suddenly stepped out from behind the door, startling Song Hu’s parents so much that they couldn’t speak. “This gentleman is Daoist Lu from Qianqing Temple at Tiger Head Mountain.” Lu Li introduced calmly to Song Hu’s parents, “I have an interest in the occult. I felt something was off about this place when I visited this morning, so I went to Tiger Head Mountain’s Qianqing Temple to invite Daoist Lu. You can rest assured, Daoist Lu is quite renowned in Lingling City; everyone who has used his services speaks highly of him.” The old Taoist hesitated in his actions, feeling displeased that the pit he had dug so easily resolved, and he sped up his eating to alleviate his frustration. The parents of Song Hu had initially become suspicious of Lu Li due to the old Taoist’s words, but the appearance of Lu Li and his acquaintance with the old Taoist dispelled their doubts. They shook their heads blankly and said, “We really can’t remember... Mr. Leader, do you know who it might be?” “For that, you have to ask Daoist Lu.” “Of course, there is a solution. Tonight at ‘The period of the day from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.’ marks the seventh night of your son’s passing. I will stay here in the mourning hall to observe. If nothing unusual happens, it means I have deciphered the Soul-Seizing Formation Technique. If something unusual happens, I will intervene and resolve the Formation,” said Daoist Lu casually, swinging his crossed leg non-stop, “During this time, whether you choose to stay upstairs or hide outside, just leave the mourning hall and the yard to me; I must be alone.” “I will stay too, perhaps I can help,” said Lu Li. Daoist Lu glanced at him and seemed to tacitly agree without saying a word. The parents of Song Hu had no suspicions; being elderly and not very worldly, they were easily convinced by tales of spirits and deities. They weren’t worried at all that the old Taoist and Lu Li might be swindlers. They left without locking up their finances or their doors and went off to take refuge elsewhere. After they left, Lu Li sat down next to the old Taoist. The person who occupied this spot previously seemed to love gnawing on bones—a small mountain of chicken, pork, and spinal bones had accumulated. Lu Li furrowed his brow, picked up some chopsticks to move aside the pile of bone remains, then turned his head and asked, “How did you know that ghosts would appear here soon?” The old Taoist grabbed a plate of pig’s head meat from the next table, picked and chose his pieces, and smacked his lips, saying, “I’ve been catching ghosts for over twenty years; how could I do it without some tricks of the trade.” “Will Song Hu appear at ‘The period of the day from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.’?” “Hard to say, cough cough...” The old Taoist choked on a chili, coughed a few times, and then said hoarsely, “Kid, I advise you not to investigate too deeply. This Soul-Seizing Formation Technique is definitely the work of someone from the Mysterious Gate. If you get targeted with that small frame of yours, you might end up dead without knowing how you died.” “Soul-Seizing Formation Technique?” Lu Li was slightly startled. The old Taoist chuckled ominously and mockingly sized up Lu Li, “Did you think I was just putting on a show earlier?” If the old Taoist hadn’t lied, then that meant... there really was a Soul-Seizing Formation Technique in this courtyard. Things suddenly became confusing and unclear. Since Song Hu was merely an ordinary office worker, why would anyone set up a Soul-Seizing Formation Technique for him? And since there was a Soul-Seizing Formation Technique at Song Hu’s family home, did it indicate... that his death was not an accident, but rather orchestrated by someone? Beep beep beep beep—beep beep beep beep—beep beep beep beep— The phone suddenly started buzzing at that moment. Lu Li turned off the automatic timer and looked up toward the dark coffin in the mourning hall. The clock hit zero, and midnight had arrived.

Chapter 106 - 106 One hundred and six

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