In early autumn, the big clock in the imperial city rang three times, and the cold rain fell down.
As dusk approached, the gate on one side of the imperial city opened silently, and two rows of paper umbrellas and reddish lanterns slowly moved past the city gate.
The leader was a middle-aged man wearing an official uniform. After passing the door, he stopped slightly and looked at the misty and rainy road between the high walls of the deep courtyard with a solemn expression.
"Mr. Ning, please come inside."
The person who is called Mr. Ning is an old man named Ning Qinshui. The old man is over seventy years old and has gray hair. He still wears a monk's robe and combs his bun meticulously. Although his face is very thin, his pupils are bright and bright. An unquenched fire beneath the ashes.
Behind the old man, followed a pair of boys and girls also wearing Taoist uniforms.
The boy was about fifteen or sixteen, and the girl was younger. They were both thin and delicate. The two of them lowered their heads and raised their eyes slightly from time to time, secretly looking at the grand and far-reaching palaces in the imperial city.
In the drizzle, the imperial city seemed particularly quiet.
After crossing the long corridor, the majestic palace loomed in the field of vision. The young man in simple Taoist uniform felt depressed, his expression was vaguely uneasy, and his steps slowed down. The little girl next to him glanced at him, and the corner of his mouth curled up. He stood up with a look of contempt.
The middle-aged man led three people into a palace courtyard. The palace courtyard was quite large. The maid holding an umbrella and pruning flowers and trees saw the middle-aged man and bowed slightly.
After bypassing the screen wall and walking through the corridor, the man led them forward. The door of the wing at the end was open. The middle-aged man explained: "The owner of this room is not here for the time being. The old gentleman can take his two disciples to settle here first." , Regarding the matter of exorcising evil spirits and exorcising spirits, a mage will come to discuss with you later."
The fingers pinching in Ning Qinshui's sleeves suddenly paused. He turned sideways and glanced at him. He suddenly smiled and said: "It doesn't matter to me that I am an old man, but my two disciples are still young. Being infected by the evil spirit is not a trivial matter." , but I can’t live in this haunted house.”
The middle-aged man changed his face slightly and asked with a smile: "Why did the old gentleman say this?"
Ning Qinshui smiled slightly, knowing that the other party brought him here to test him. He did not take the initiative to cross the threshold, but took out a copper coin from his sleeve and tossed it gently. The copper coin happened to land on the threshold, but it It did not stop, but flipped and jumped like a living creature. Finally, the old man spread his palm and the copper coin jumped back.
Ning Qinshui closed his palms and held the copper coins tightly, his expression became more solemn. After a while, he slowly spoke.
"The owner of this room died three days ago. This resentment persisted for a long time. He should have hanged himself due to evil spirits. During this period, someone came to perform rituals, but the person who performed the rituals... also died. Everyone in the whole government He is also more or less sick. If we had not come today, this palace would have been closed, right?"
The middle-aged man looked at him deeply, with a lot of admiration and approval in his expression. He raised his hand, and the maids beside him retreated together with the women who were pruning the trees. After it was quiet, the man raised his hand and said :
"The rumors are indeed true. The old gentleman's Taoism is indeed completely different from the previous ones. I brought you here today because I wanted to test it, but now it seems that I can't hide it. Please don't blame me, sir."
Ning Qinshui smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. I know that several unskilled wandering Taoists have died before. You are testing my reality for my own sake."
"Of course we can't live in this courtyard. Please move to another courtyard, sir." The man nodded lightly: "I wonder when the old gentleman can perform rituals?"
Ning Qinshui glanced at the dim sky and saw that the situation was gradually diminishing.
"Zi Shi." The old man's voice was slightly astringent as he said, "I hope that lord will not forget his promise then."
"Of course not." The man smiled and said, "My official name is Song Zi. If there is anything unclear, just ask someone to find me."
The conversation gradually became quieter, and a small scarlet bird flew away in the corner of the eaves.
…
…
"My teacher often tells you that we cultivators uphold a righteous spirit, just like a candle flame at night. No matter how dark the night is, it cannot drown out this tiny candlelight, so you just need to stay close to my teacher. There’s no need to panic, even if things don’t work out, the worst case scenario is that you can just run away.”
Ning Qinshui sat in a Taishi chair, looked at the young girl standing beside him, and said seriously: "When you perform rituals later, you two must remember to be pure in mind, and don't give birth to any evil thoughts, so as to let the evil spirit If crooked ways take advantage of the opportunity, Master will not be able to save you by then. Long time, Xiaoling, do you remember?"
The boy's name is Ning Changjiu, and the girl's name is Ning Xiaoling.
Ning Jiujiu lowered his head and listened carefully. When the old man asked, he nodded respectfully: "Remember."
The girl's words were also respectful. She lowered her head and moved her eyes slightly, showing disdain and resentment.
Ning Qinshui nodded and said, "Then you can just sit down and meditate, and when the time comes, follow the master to succumb to the demons."
"Yes." They both replied together.
After giving instructions, Ning Qinshui stood up and walked out the door. After going out, he waved the dust in his hand and the door closed in response. The old man looked back, his eyes cold, as if looking at a dead person.
The boy and the girl did not actually enter the house to practice Taoism, so they naturally did not notice Ning Qinshui's cold gaze looking at each other across the door.
Ning Jiujiu listened to his master's advice, sat cross-legged and muttered something.
Ning Xiaoling glanced at him and said coldly: "Idiot, do you really believe that old man's lies?"
Ning ignored her for a long time and continued to meditate.
Ning Xiaoling sat on the Taishi chair, her petite body seemed to be curled up in it. She crossed her slender legs and folded her hands on her knees. She did not meditate, but tapped her knees lightly and said angrily: " You idiot may not be able to feel it, but the old guy has been looking at us more and more wrongly recently. One moment he seemed to be looking at his private collection of gold and silver jewelry, and the next moment he seemed to be looking at... "
She pursed her lips, did not continue, and sighed: "Anyway, I might be sold by him at some point."
Ning Jiujiu opened his eyes dissatisfied and retorted: "We were all bought by Master, and Master treats us well, so why do you need to say this?"
Ning Xiaoling sneered: "What has he taught us over the years?"
Ning Jiujiu said stubbornly: "Master has a profound meaning."
Ning Xiaoling sneered, and sighed: "You buy chickens and ducks, raise them, teach them martial arts and teach them the principles of life? It's just that one day, when they get fat, or sell them, Either kill it yourself and eat it.”
Ning Jiujiu was very uncomfortable with her comparison. He frowned and wanted to refute, but he was speechless and didn't know how to speak.
He just didn't understand why his junior sister, who looked very delicate and cute, often said such harsh words.
"Alas..." Ning Xiaoling sighed leisurely. She stopped pretending to meditate. She sat on the chair, her calves dangling slightly, her head resting on the back of the chair, staring at the roof in a daze.
She also didn't understand why her senior brother, who looked so smart, had such a clumsy mind.
"Actually..." Ning Changjiu hesitated for a while and then spoke uncertainly: "I always think of some weird things when I'm near the Imperial City recently."
"Something weird?" Ning Xiaoling became interested.
Ning Jiujiu nodded: "I often see a Taoist temple, it is very familiar, as if I have lived there since I was a child."
Ning Xiaoling puzzled and asked: "What kind of Taoist temple."
Ning Jiujiu shook his head: "It's very ordinary. The door of the Taoist temple is always closed, but there seem to be seven... no, eight people inside!"
Ning Xiaoling smiled and said: "Brother idiot, you have been possessed before the ritual has even begun?"
"I don't know either." Ning Jiujiu shook his head and smiled to himself, thinking that he was getting more and more confused.
He silently thought about his master's teachings and recited a few mantras to purify his heart. His mind slowly calmed down and he no longer thought about those illusory things.
The girl took some dry and cold pasta, put it in her mouth and chewed it slowly. She looked at the gradually falling night outside the window, carrying the secrets and confidence in her heart, but she felt increasingly uneasy.
As time passed slowly, Ning Xiaoling punched the back of the chair with her fist, feeling increasingly irritated.
When Ning Qianshui came back, it was almost midnight, "We're almost ready, just follow me."
Ning Jiujiu and Ning Xiaoling followed out. As they closed the door, Ning Jiujiu whispered, "Don't be afraid, junior sister, I will protect you."
It's you who should be afraid... Ning Xiaoling snorted coldly and pretended not to see the sweat on his forehead. She cursed the idiot in her heart, but nodded lightly.
Ning Qinshui took out two yellow talismans from his sleeves and handed them to them respectively. He said with a serious expression: "These are protective talismans. Stick them on your body. If something unexpected happens later, it can save your lives."
Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling took the paper talisman and thanked their master together.
Night fog gradually enveloped the imperial city.