Chapter Forty-Eight: Subjugation

Old Man Lu roared furiously, his large hands waving wildly in the air as he charged about recklessly. Li Jianguo failed to dodge in time and was struck at the waist, nearly hurled out of the courtyard. His peachwood sword fell to the ground, and one of his shoes flew far away.

Li Jianguo let out a miserable cry, staggered back several steps, his throat sweet with the surge of blood and qi. Seeing Old Man Lu’s ferocious outburst and Li Jianguo’s obvious injury, Cui Yue realized they were unlikely to hold out much longer. In a hurry, he grabbed every ritual item and jar within reach, regardless of their proper use, and threw them all toward Old Man Lu.

Li Jianguo leaned against the doorframe, clutching his chest and breathing heavily, his face twisted in pain. Watching Cui Yue’s frantic actions, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry, calling out between gasps.

“Hey, hey, that Star Net isn’t used like that—you need to gather it up and swing it, yes, like that.”

“No, no, that’s the Soul Summoning Bell, not meant for smashing.”

“Oh, that’s realgar water—you should splash it at him, throwing the bottle does nothing.”

“These are the Five Emperors Coins, you must recite the Heavenly Light Incantation with them, otherwise they’re useless, not meant to be thrown like darts.”

Cui Yue, heedless, hurled every item he could, creating chaos across the yard. Li Jianguo pressed his hand to his forehead in dismay at the mess.

As Li Jianguo nagged, Cui Yue grew increasingly annoyed—if you’re so capable, why not step up yourself? He was risking his life here, all to buy time for Li Jianguo. Though he claimed he’d run at the first sign of danger, when it came to the crunch, he could never leave Li Jianguo behind.

Old Man Lu, meanwhile, was equally vexed. Just as he prepared to strike, his head was hit by a bell; before he could raise an arm, a tattered net fell over him. As he pulled at the net, a cloud of yellow smoke wafted toward him, forcing him to wave it away. Then a handful of copper coins rained down.

Cui Yue’s methods, though crude, managed to leave Old Man Lu flailing, utterly disheveled. Just as Cui Yue was getting into the swing of things, he suddenly found himself out of supplies. He glanced around—nothing remained worth throwing.

He looked at Old Man Lu, embarrassed, stammering, “N-nothing left.”

Old Man Lu glared at Cui Yue with wide eyes and sneered, “Boy, now it’s my turn!” His enormous hands swung like fans.

Cui Yue was terrified, scrambling to his feet and fleeing, shouting as he ran, “Uncle, are you ready yet? I can’t hold out much longer!”

Meanwhile, Li Jianguo was sprawled on the ground, gripping a brush, dipping it in cinnabar powder as he swiftly drew strokes across a sheet of yellow paper.

“Respectfully welcoming the Supreme Lord above, Supreme Three Pure Ones, may divine powers shine forth. A thousand gods and myriad saints, protect my true spirit. Demons and ghosts, submit to my divine weapons. May souls scatter, bodies be forgotten and destroyed. By order of the law, act swiftly!”

“Old wretch, take this—now!”

With a decisive gesture, Li Jianguo sent the talisman flying like a bolt of lightning, striking Old Man Lu square on the chest.

Old Man Lu’s massive hand was poised to strike Cui Yue’s head when the talisman entered his body. He let out a strange cry and staggered back, rolling on the ground.

Cui Yue, drenched in cold sweat, gasped, “That was close, so close.”

Old Man Lu writhed in agony, black smoke billowing from his chest, the air thick with the stench of scorched flesh.

Cui Yue was startled—what kind of spell had Li Jianguo used, to be so powerful?

As he watched, Old Man Lu suddenly flipped over, his chest burned black, the talisman reduced to ashes. Seeing this, Cui Yue realized things were going badly, but before he could dodge, Old Man Lu kicked him hard in the chest, sending him crashing onto the kang.

Li Jianguo, alarmed, refused to admit defeat. He wielded his brush, sweeping out three new talismans with swift strokes, sending them flying at Old Man Lu.

Old Man Lu was having none of it; he grabbed a grand armchair and smashed it at the talismans. Li Jianguo muttered incantations, his hands weaving signs, and the three talismans seemed to sprout eyes, deftly evading the chair and affixing themselves to Old Man Lu’s chest and back.

As the talismans adhered, black smoke poured forth. Old Man Lu was like a man set ablaze, leaping and writhing amid the fire, his cries of pain echoing through the house.

The room filled with thick smoke and the stench of burning flesh. Cui Yue’s eyes streamed with tears as he coughed uncontrollably.

It was some time before the smoke cleared. Old Man Lu lay sprawled on the floor, his clothes tattered, his body charred, steam rising from him, his eyes rolled back in his head.

Li Jianguo limped inside and nudged Old Man Lu with his foot. He didn’t move—had he overdone it and cooked the man alive?

Li Jianguo turned to Cui Yue, his expression smug. “Cough, cough—Cui Yue, see? Now do you believe in your uncle’s abilities?”

Before Cui Yue could reply, Old Man Lu’s eyes flickered and he sprang up like a corpse revived, standing silently behind Li Jianguo, smoke curling from his head, his face blackened—a sight both terrifying and absurd.

Cui Yue’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest, terror etched across his face. Li Jianguo, oblivious, continued boasting, unaware that Old Man Lu stood right behind him.

Cui Yue quivered, trying to speak. “B-behind you…”

Li Jianguo abruptly stopped, seeing the look on Cui Yue’s face, instantly sensing trouble. He quietly gathered his strength, body tensed.

In a flash, Old Man Lu raised his fists and swung them at Li Jianguo. At the same moment, Li Jianguo kicked off with both feet, leaping several meters away. The enormous fists grazed the back of his head and struck the floor.

Wind whistled past Li Jianguo’s ears, his back drenched in sweat. Cui Yue was so frightened he squeezed his eyes shut.

Just then, Lu Ergou stirred at the edge of the kang, a bump swelling on his head. He lifted his eyelids and saw his father standing there—neither human nor ghost, charred and ferocious. Terror seized him; he wet his pants and began howling.

“Father! What have you become? Help, help…”

He flailed his legs and screamed desperately.

Old Man Lu raised his hand and, with a slap, knocked Lu Ergou out again before he could utter a few more cries.

Cui Yue watched with pity and shook his head—Ergou, next time don’t be so quick to wake up. Your father might just knock you out again!

Li Jianguo grabbed a handful of glutinous rice from somewhere, imbued it with a radiant incantation, and scattered it. The rice, now shimmering like fireflies, struck Old Man Lu, leaving countless tiny holes in his body, black liquid oozing from each.

Old Man Lu, suffering repeated blows, was faltering, his movements slowing. His huge hands tried to seize Li Jianguo’s head but missed.

As the stalemate continued, Old Man Lu suddenly opened his mouth wide. From within shot a bright red, slender tongue, over four feet long, whipping through the air.