Otherworldly Merchant

Chapter 270: Baleful Aura Soaring Towards the Sky

After the ancient set of garments got what it wanted, it descended the mountain.

The venomous snakes finally returned to their senses. When they felt the scorching flame in front of them, they all fled for their lives.

I didnt want to stand and watch as my grandfather was abducted. I quickened my pace and tried to find them. However, it was too late.

I was still in a daze as Li Mazi dragged me down the mountain. I couldnt understand why the ancient clothing targeted my grandfather or why it wanted to control that uncles mother.

 Is there any relation between my grandpa and that uncles mother? 

Also, my grandpa told me to visit his grave after that girl gave birth to a child. How did he know that I was engaged? Since he knows about Yin Xinyue, he probably never left the house and secretly watched over me all this time 

My grandfather was dead but still worried about me. I, on the other hand, didnt burn a joss stick for him in ages. I felt that I had been very unfilial.

I didnt know how much time had passed when we reached the foot of the mountain. We didn't encounter danger because Li Mazi was well-prepared and poured realgar wine all over us. No snake dared to come close.

The uncle was waiting at the mountain foothills with some men. After seeing me on Li Mazis back, he knew I was bitten by a venomous snake. He came over to support me.

As we were out of danger, I finally relaxed. Everything in front of me turned black, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, it was bright outside. The uncle and Li Mazi stayed beside me for the whole night and watched over me.

Little Brother Zhang, youre finally awake! Li Mazi looked at me with warmth in his eyes. If you didnt wake up, I would have taken you to the general hospital in the province.

I smiled and struggled to get up. My body was so feeble that I had to use every bit of my strength just to sit up.

Li Mazi hurried to support me. Dont be impatient. We just got rid of the venom in your body. You should stay still in your bed.

No, I cant. This matter was related to my grandpas soul, and I didnt have the time to wait for my wounds to heal. I wanted to see the coffin in the cave.

Seeing how stubborn I was, Li Mazi could only comprise. We can go there, but you must listen to me. If there is danger, we have to run immediately. We cant fight the enemy head on.

I nodded.

The uncle found a stretcher and asked two young men to carry me to the mountain.

I asked them to take me to the cave where the coffin was hidden. I wanted to see how the clothes had changed after absorbing my grandpas soul.

According to my experience, this ancient set of clothes would find a comfortable hiding place during the day. There was no doubt that the coffin was the best place for it to hide. If it returned to the coffin, my grandpas soul would be there as well.

I had a general idea of how to extract souls, and I had to get my grandpas soul out of there at all costs.

However, when we entered the cave that had the coffin, everybody was shocked.

That coffin seemed to have vanished into thin air!

I asked the group to check around, but we saw neither the coffin nor any trail.

It was a material object and was pretty big. How could it disappear into thin air without leaving any trace behind?

Did it fly away?

The coffin was gone and my grandpas soul with it. I didnt want him to be tortured even after his death.

I asked the folks to expand their search; I had to find that coffin.

Our group scattered and searched around. However, we couldnt find anything. I went into the cave as well, but I found nothing useful.

I was desperate. Even if the ancient clothes were powerful, how could they make such a big coffin disappear? A several-hundred-kilogram coffin had vanished into thin air.

While I was baffled, the uncles phone rang. After he took the call, his face turned pale.

He grimaced and said, Mr. Zhang, something happened at my house. We should go back to check things out!

I nodded. It was meaningless to stay here since we couldnt find the coffin. I gave the villagers who had helped me some money as service fees.

While descending the mountain, I asked the uncle, What happened in your house?

The uncle sounded upset. We were careful but not enough. It seems my mothers soul was taken away.

Eh? I was bewildered and asked, How do you know?

The uncle said, In our village, we have an old custom. Before we bury our late family members, we have to burn three joss sticks. If the deceaseds soul is still in the coffin, wisps of smoke from the joss sticks will enter the coffin through the slit between the lid and the coffin body. We believe that the soul will take it as its meal. But just now, when my family burned joss sticks for my mother, all the smoke scattered outward. That means the wandering ghosts around were eating my mothers meal. In other words, her soul is no longer there

Then, the uncle burst out crying. Mother, Im so sorry! I wasnt filial enough!

I felt sad. My grandpas soul was taken away, and now the same thing happened to that granny

I knew that souls could be forcibly taken away, but I was still suspicious. I didnt sense anything strange last night, so when did the ancient clothes take the old womans soul? Did it happen this morning after we left?

The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became. Yang energy is the strongest in the morning. Is that set of ancient clothes not afraid of basking in Yang energy? Just how strong is it?

When we returned to his house, we saw his son nervously walk back and forth at the gate. He didnt dare to enter the house. After seeing us, he immediately rushed forward. Dad, whats going on? Did the grandmaster fail to deal with that foul thing?

I said, We need to verify if the grandmas soul was taken.

The uncles son said with a reluctant expression, Ive tried seven or eight times. Every time I offered her the joss sticks, the smoke flew outward. Her soul isnt there.

I immediately replied, Thats just a rudimentary method; its not always reliable. Have you thought about other possibilities? Perhaps her soul was too weak and maybe there happened to be a bunch of hungry ghosts outside your door. Your grandma couldnt compete against them, so she couldnt enjoy the smoke from the joss sticks.

But she could still manage to get at least a wisp, right? The uncles son was still doubtful.

I waved my hand and said, Let me check.

I stuck an evil-expelling talisman to their door and scattered soybeans at the entrance. Then, I burned nine joss sticks on the nearby street.

I used the evil-expelling talisman to prevent the wandering ghosts from coming in and burned the joss sticks by the road to calm them. If there were really some wandering ghosts, they would no longer compete for the joss stick smoke inside the courtyard.

After everything was settled, I nodded to the uncles son. Now, burn three joss sticks.

The uncles son immediately burned three joss sticks and set them on the coffin lid.

To my surprise, the wisps of smoke flew straight up into the air. They didnt meander or swirl but flew up towards the ceiling and disappeared.

Not only had the soul disappeared, but there was also a baleful aura that had caused the smoke to fly upwards in a straight line

The uncle looked at me and asked, Did you find anything?

I didnt tell them about the baleful aura as I didnt want to scare them. Im afraid her soul was really taken away. However, we still can find her soul and bring it back. Dont worry.

At the same time, I thought about the source of the baleful aura. Was the otherworldly item hiding in the uncles house? It must be a very item if it could release such a terrifying murderous aura.

The uncle suddenly sighed. Mr. Zhang, since my mothers soul has been taken away, you dont need to waste your time here anymore. You can leave.

I quickly answered, Uncle, I can still fix this.

The uncle forced a smile. Its fine. Yesterday, my mother appeared in my dream. She said that I shouldnt waste any more time on this as she couldnt endure the torment any longer. Maybe its better if she become the servant of a Ghost King. At least, she wont have to suffer anymore.

Eh? I looked at the uncle with skeptical eyes. Your mother talked to you in your dream? Did she really tell you that?

The uncle nodded. Yes, she did.

I nodded and looked pensive. All right. If you insist, I wont investigate this case any further. Lets go.

Then, I glanced at Li Mazi, who quickly followed me as he wanted to leave long ago.

The uncle gave me a large sum of money, more than twenty thousand renminbi.

When we got out of the village, all of the folks that had come to see us off went back. I stopped and pulled Li Mazi into a corner and said, Li Mazi, did that uncle sleep last night?

Li Mazi looked at me in puzzlement. Why do you ask? Even if there is something wrong, we dont need to care about this matter anymore. They asked us to leave.

Did that uncle sleep last night? I repeated my question.

Li Mazi shook his head. No. What about it?

If he didnt sleep, how could his mother talk to him in his dream? That uncle is fishy.

How so? Li Mazi was startled and said, Whats fishy about him?

Ive always had a feeling that he had bad intentions. I contemplated then said, All right, you should sneak back in the village and keep an eye on him. Pay attention to what he does with the coffin. Im going back to the antique shop. Yesterday, my grandpa told me that he hid some things under his bed. I dont think its only money, there should be something else as well. Perhaps there is something that can help us deal with that otherworldly item. Ill see you tonight at the village entrance!

Li Mazi was puzzled but did as Id asked. He secretly returned to the village.

In the meantime, I hurried to return to my antique shop, my heart filled with doubts.

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