Chapter 66: The eldest heroine, filial piety
Xiao Yunluo had initially thought that the salt in the yard was peculiar enough, but upon entering Pei Lianxue’s bedroom, she was surprised to find an even more chaotic scene.
All the windows in the room were adorned with talismans drawn on red paper, and red beans were scattered across the floor, leaving her with barely any space to stand.
As for Pei Lianxue?
She was currently huddled in bed, cradling a rooster of unknown origin, trembling. Several willow branches were even sticking out of her hair, giving her the appearance of having just performed some low-altitude sword manoeuvres in a willow grove.
Xiao Yunluo stood there in astonishment for a while before finally asking, “Lianxue?”
“Oops!”
Pei Lianxue recoiled, hastily holding the rooster in her arms a bit tighter.
Cackle—
The rooster, seemingly uncomfortable, let out a loud squawk.
Upon seeing Xiao Yunluo, Pei Lianxue relaxed her grip on the rooster’s life.
“Is it Yunluo?”
Xiao Yunluo tiptoed, carefully manoeuvring around the scattered red beans on the floor as she approached the bed.
“What are you up to?”
“Last night, I encountered something supernatural. In a bamboo grove not far from here, there’s a girl buried in pieces. I saw her ghost.”
“…Ghost?”
“Yeah, and I accidentally stepped on her…”
Listening to this, Xiao Yunluo’s eyes narrowed into slits, and her features squished together, giving her a disapproving look.
“Ghost” was a term typically used by ordinary people unfamiliar with the existence of immortals and cultivators.
In reality, most souls posed no threat after leaving the body. They were like egg yolks without shells—fragile and prone to breaking upon contact. After a few days of wandering, these souls would be absorbed by the spiritual energy of the land, a process known as “returning to dust.”
Moreover, the Xuanxing Sect was situated atop the Fairy Mountain. Even if a stray soul did find its way here, it would be purified before entering the sect.
After contemplating for a moment, Xiao Yunluo wondered if perhaps a disciple from Xuanxing Sect had passed away last night, and Pei Lianxue happened to witness it. But what about the dismemberment?
Could there have been any major murder cases in Xuanxing Sect before?
She remained silent for a moment, then glanced at the dishevelled rooster in Pei Lianxue’s arms.
“Why are you holding a rooster?”
“Senior brother once told me, ‘The six spirits have been killed, and their souls are scattered, and the gods and ghosts are frightened at the place where the golden rooster crows.’ Ghosts are most afraid of the crowing of a rooster. They flee in panic upon hearing it.”
“So?”
“So, all I need to do is this…”
Pei Lianxue tightened her arms, causing the rooster in her embrace to let out a distressed cry.
Giggle—
Xiao Yunluo sighed, “Red beans, salt, and the willow branches on your head too?”
“Yeah, I heard it from a senior sister of the Hundred Lotus Sect before.”
“…”
Xiao Yunluo had six points floating above her head, but upon seeing Pei Lianxue’s red eyes, she realised the girl had been scared all night. After some thought, she said, “Let’s go to the place where you saw the ghost yesterday. We’ll offer a ritual, and I’ll recite some scriptures I know.”
“Um.”
“You mentioned a girl being dismembered?”
“Yeah.” Pei Lianxue nodded vigorously.
Xiao Yunluo pondered for a moment and continued, “If that’s the case, it might have happened a long time ago. Let’s perform the ritual first. Afterwards, I’ll inform the elders, and disciples from the sect can come to investigate. If it’s indeed an unresolved murder case, that’s a serious matter!”
“Yeah… I’ll go prepare some things.”
“I’ll go back and get some things too.”
Agreeing on the plan, they quickly went their separate ways to prepare the necessary items. Soon, they found themselves in the bamboo forest where Pei Lianxue had encountered the ghost the previous night.
With items like a peach wood sword, red talismans, red candles, a copper coin sword, a quality purple gold incense burner, a small mahogany table, and a tufted cattail, they set up an altar. Pei Lianxue then sacrificed the rooster, sprinkling its blood throughout the bamboo forest. Xiao Yunluo sat in front of the altar, chanting the scriptures she had memorised before.
“After completing the Daoist temple, relief will come. The devout master offers incense and worships… The day will come when the wild geese return, and the souls of the dead will not linger.”
After reciting this five times, they bowed together, saying, “Please rest in peace!”
After a busy period, they realised it was time for the Xuanxing Sect’s morning classes. Many disciples were flying towards the academy while enjoying their breakfast.
Pei Lianxue excused herself to deliver breakfast to Ye Anping, and Xiao Yunluo, influenced by Pei Lianxue’s words from the previous night, decided to follow suit.
However, Xiao Yunluo hesitated for a moment and caught up with Pei Lianxue, asking, “Lianxue… about that…”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“Can I… go with you to see your senior brother? I’ve prepared some pastries… I want to apologise to him for the last time at the physiotherapy centre.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Lianxue became alert, and her eyebrows furrowed. Seeing her expression, Xiao Yunluo hurriedly explained, “No… no, you misunderstood. I have no romantic interest in your senior brother. I just want to get to know him.”
“Just want to get acquainted?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
After a moment of hesitation, Pei Lianxue finally nodded. “Okay, then.”
Later, they left the bamboo forest and returned to their rooms to change clothes.
As they stepped out of the bamboo forest, a barefooted girl walked barefoot towards the altar they had just set up.
“…”
The girl looked at the altar, and the red beans and chicken blood scattered around it. The six dots on her head flickered from left to right like LED light beads.
“Gah——”
After a while, a duck call echoed from the sky. A golden-crowned budgerigar circled above the girl’s head for a moment before descending and perching on her shoulder.
The budgerigar fixed its gaze on the altar in front of the girl, tilted its head, and once again displayed six dots on its head. Then, opening its beak, it exclaimed,
“Sacrifice to the spirit!! Sacrifice to the spirit!! Great filial piety!! Great filial piety!!”
The parrot’s voice resonated through the bamboo forest.
The girl took a light breath. “Really impolite.”
The budgerigar echoed, “Not polite!! Not polite!!”
“You too.”
With a wave of the girl’s hand, the budgerigar, like a projectile, arched into the bamboo leaves piled not far away. Only a few floating feathers remained on the girl’s shoulder.
Then, the girl whispered, “Go and have a look.”
“Just have a look and have a look!! Just have a look!!”
The budgerigar jumped out of the leaf pile, shook off the leaves, and then spread its wings, chasing after Pei Lianxue and Xiao Yunluo.
After it left, the girl stared at the altar for a while, squatted down, took a piece of rice cake from the altar, and tossed it into her mouth.
“(bahahahaha)”
She chewed twice, paused for a moment, and then swallowed.
Then, she reached out and took another piece.
…