Jiang Wen looked at the icy remains and walked closer to examine them. He used his sword to lift it, discovering that while the icy remains resembled a person, they were actually composed of branches and wood.
The branches intertwined to form limbs and extended into a head. Although it lacked facial features, every part of it resembled a human. This thing was ice-cold all over, and even in death, it exuded an aura of Yin energy. The stench was almost unbearable for Jiang Wen, so he used several exorcism talismans to seal it away.
Afterward, he took it into the house to show Yan Gongli, hoping her knowledge would allow her to identify what it was.
“I’m not quite sure about this thing,” Yan Gongli said, shaking her head.
“You don’t know what this is either?” Jiang Wen was a bit surprised. After all, Yan Gongli had been with him all this way and seemed to know everything. He had gotten used to consulting this walking encyclopedia whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand. He hadn’t expected that there would be something she didn’t know today.
“What kind of look is that? Do I have to know everything?” Yan Gongli said, displeased with Jiang Wen’s expression. “Besides, there are thousands of kinds of monstrous wooden creatures in the world. I can’t possibly remember them all.”
As she spoke, she picked up a piece to examine it closely. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and after a long while, she finally said, “This thing looks a bit like a locust tree branch. Locust trees gather Yin energy, and ghosts like to reside in them, so it’s quite fitting.”
“So, the thing causing trouble in this old house is this locust tree branch? If we hand this thing over to the wealthy Qian, wouldn’t that be considered fulfilling the request?” Jiang Wen stroked his chin, feeling that his idea made a lot of sense. He decided to return the locust tree remains to Master Qian the next day, considering the commission complete.
“It’s not that simple,” Yan Gongli said, twirling her small hands and pacing around the remains. “Locust trees are inherently objects that gather death energy, so it’s extremely difficult for them to develop intelligence. But this locust tree not only developed intelligence but also harbors malice towards anyone who enters the house. There must be a reason for this. If we don’t resolve this matter, anyone who enters this old house in the future will still be attacked.”
“Go to sleep,” Jiang Wen said irritably.
Jiang Wen listened attentively, the poem “The氓” (Máng) swirling in his mind. Although he was a bit puzzled as to why “The氓” was present here, compared to the fact that there was a woman in this haunted old house, the matter of the poem was put aside for the time being.
“But to refine such a magical artifact, the locust tree needed wouldn’t be simple. It would have to be at least a thousand years old, growing in an extremely Yin place. I think this locust tree is good, maybe it can be used to make a magical artifact,” Yan Gongli said with a smile on her face.
“Could it be that I heard wrong?” Jiang Wen was a bit surprised. He searched the pavilions in the courtyard for a long time, but in the end, he didn’t find any clues. After wandering around, he still walked down from the courtyard.
He stuck four talismans on each side of the bed. Only after settling everything did he walk out of the room.
The night passed, and the old house was still drizzling.
It was just less gloomy than yesterday, with a sense of misty rain in Yangzhou in June. If the courtyard hadn't been blown into a mess by his talismans, perhaps this scenery could have been even better.
Jiang Wen just shook his head. He didn’t find anything interesting about this matter. Even a locust tree branch was so difficult to deal with, how would he cope if he encountered the main body?
What a cultivator should do most is to assess the situation. It’s best not to do such troublesome things if possible, after all, there are no merit points to be earned.
“Indeed, I heard wrong,” Jiang Wen muttered to himself.
It was just that he didn’t notice that at the moment he turned to leave, a white figure appeared in the viewing area behind him.
“Is there danger?” Jiang Wen asked.
“I’m a bit sleepy, I want to sleep a little longer. You must protect me well.”
And Jiang Wen stood still, looking up at the viewing area. In the faintness, there seemed to be a woman playing the qin and singing, the song was low and melodious.
“At three, I became a wife, never idle in my room. Rising early and sleeping late, I never had a morning to myself. Now that my wishes are fulfilled, I am subjected to violence. My brothers do not know, they laugh at me. When I quietly think about it, I mourn for myself…”
He sat by the bed, closed his eyes, and meditated. After circulating his Qi for dozens of cycles, he finally woke up from his meditative state.
“This locust tree can remove the curse between us?” Jiang Wen became interested after hearing this and sat next to Yan Gongli to inquire.
Delicately carved railings, wind chimes hanging side by side. Standing on that pavilion, you can probably see the scenery of this courtyard.
There was no woman present, everything seemed to be his imagination.
Seeing that he was unmoved, Yan Gongli’s eyes rolled around, and another plan was born in her heart. She lay down on the bed, pretending to have sore back and waist, and then called out, “Oh, when will this curse be lifted? It only makes me feel sore back and waist. I heard that locust trees are the most Yin objects, this kind of locust tree with Taoism should be even more amazing. If you can get the locust tree trunk, you should be able to make a magical artifact that can restrain the curse.”
Secretly using his magical power to protect himself, Jiang Wen walked along the roadside to the pavilion. He looked at the empty viewing area, only a cluster of branches extending from the front platform.
Yan Gongli翘着脚丫子 (qiàozhe jiǎoyāzi -翘着: raise legs; 脚丫子: feet), and then placed them on Jiang Wen’s body. After being pushed away several times by Jiang Wen, she still didn’t give up. In the end, Jiang Wen had no choice but to press those jade feet in his arms, and Yan Gongli closed her eyes in satisfaction.
“Don’t you think it’s interesting that a locust tree has developed intelligence?” Yan Gongli said excitedly.
Taking advantage of the rare leisure time, Jiang Wen strolled along the lotus pond in the courtyard.
His thoughts were chaotic, and he gradually walked to a pavilion. He saw that there were rockeries and a delicate two-story courtyard was built on it.
“Of course. Locust trees are the most Yin trees in the world. It is rumored that the trees planted in the Nether Springs are all locust trees. As long as you temper this creation, making its Yin extreme to Yang, you can refine a rare Yang treasure in the world. It is even more unbreakable against curses and voodoo arts.”
“If it’s a ten-thousand-year-old demon locust, I might be a little afraid. But it’s just an old locust that has become a spirit for a thousand years, it’s not worth fearing. Locust trees are inherently strange things in the world, and it is against the will of the heavens to gain enlightenment and cultivate. It is difficult to develop intelligence, and it is even more difficult to become a spirit. But if you can cultivate into a demon and transform into a human, then you are one of the most terrifying demons in the world. So before it becomes a ten-thousand-year-old demon, we can bully it as much as we want,” Yan Gongli said happily, rubbing her feet against Jiang Wen’s arms, and then said.
Recalling his recent encounters, he felt like he was in another world. He clearly wanted to come out to find Li Yunshang and the others, but he didn’t expect to accidentally enter a great formation on the way. He saved a girl named the Second Ancestor of Boundless Pavilion, but he didn’t expect that she was powerless and still needed his protection.
Returning to the house, Tie Zhu was still in a daze. Jiang Wen tried to wake him up, but he also failed. In the end, he sat at the table drawing talismans, thinking about what to do next.
His eyes inadvertently glanced over the embroidered shoes, and out of curiosity, he picked them up.
Then Jiang Wen’s expression became solemn, and he reached out to stroke the embroidered shoes.
