Chapter 113: The Stake-Anchoring Technique Obtained, and the Coffin at the Door

Chen Yushu glanced over the payment and nodded, saying, "The silver is correct. Now, tell me more about that exchange meeting. Who will be there, and what preparations do I need to make?"

Chen Yushu was still quite looking forward to the exchange meeting. If nothing else, he hoped to acquire some talisman paper, brushes, and ink. After all, Old Fu’s incense shop primarily sold incense and common yellow paper; for talisman paper, they only stocked the lowest-grade pleated paper. As for higher-quality materials, Chen Yushu had already asked, and they simply didn't have any. If he wanted better, he would have to place an order in the county seat or even further away, and unless the order was large enough, the suppliers wouldn't bother making a special trip. Chen Yushu found this quite frustrating. Although he had expressed his willingness to buy, Old Fu had indicated it would take time—anywhere from three to five days, or perhaps as long as two weeks. Thus, he pinned his hopes on this exchange meeting. After all, if he wanted to craft more Golden Armor Talismans, Ice Arrow Talismans, or Soldier Armor Talismans, he had to rely on higher-quality talisman paper.

"This time, the meeting is being spearheaded by the Duobao Shop of Tianhe County and organized by Daoist Guangyi. As far as I know, many people from the 'Trade' will be attending. Besides Master Zhou, who has recently risen to fame, there is also the 'Iron-Gall Divine Calculator' Wang Yi; they are both top-tier experts in Tianhe County and even Linchuan County. Furthermore, the Lingxia Three Heroes, who have recently made a name for themselves, will be there. Oh, and I heard that some people from the Qingsong Temple near our Jianghuan Town will attend as well. The meeting is likely intended for everyone to trade and get what they need. Beyond that, I suspect it may be related to the schemes surrounding the Centennial Tomb. I don't know the specifics, though several people have approached me, wanting me to join them in investigating it. But I know my own limits; if I really went, I wouldn't even know how I died."

Shi Hao explained this first, then shook his head repeatedly. Although he had been initiated into a sect and was considered a disciple of the Immortal family, his skills were still very low. He could deal with ordinary ghosts, but he had no confidence at all in venturing into a place where a vengeful spirit had been lurking for a hundred years.

"That’s true." Chen Yushu nodded. Even he, had it not been for the words of Zhao Yufeng and his group, would not have thought to wade into these muddy waters. However, the mention of someone from Qingsong Temple attending inexplicably reminded him of the Daoist Ma he had met earlier. That Daoist Ma’s strength was not to be underestimated. With the cultivation of "three sticks of incense," he was a notable figure throughout Jianghuan Town. Given his friendship with his own master, if he were to encounter any danger on this trip, perhaps he could ask him for help?

...

Soon, Shi Hao departed. Chen Yushu pondered for a moment, then left his house as well. However, he did not head toward the medicine shop. Instead, he took a turn and arrived at the house next door, knocking on the door.

The door opened, revealing a slightly burly figure—his neighbor, Qin Chuan—with his son, Qinfen, standing behind him. The two were holding items, looking as if they were about to head out.

"Brother Chen, is something the matter?" Qin Chuan looked at him in surprise and asked hurriedly.

"Brother Qin, it’s like this. I have a matter I’d like to discuss with your troupe leader. Would it be convenient for you to introduce me?" Chen Yushu bowed and asked.

"See our troupe leader? For what purpose?" Qin Chuan asked, puzzled.

"It’s nothing major. I’m just curious about the techniques your leader displayed last time. I’d like to ask about them and, if possible, learn them myself." Chen Yushu did not hide his intentions, speaking directly.

"The troupe leader won't teach you. That’s his signature skill. Even we don't know the slightest bit about it; we aren't even allowed to ask. Why, once when he was performing abroad, someone offered him a hundred taels of silver, and he still wouldn't teach it," Qin Chuan said, shaking his head.

"I know it’s difficult, but you only need to take me there, and I will find a way. If your leader truly refuses to teach, I won't force it." Chen Yushu knew it was nearly impossible to get someone to teach a secret skill just by asking, but he still wanted to try.

"I will take you there, but I can't guarantee success." Qin Chuan nodded. "Tomorrow is the grand market, and we need to go there to discuss some performances, so let's go together."

"Many thanks, Brother Qin." Chen Yushu nodded quickly.

Soon, the group left. Their opera troupe was located on the West Street, in the same area as Old Fu’s incense shop. It was, however, in a more secluded old residential district—a large courtyard formed by connecting three houses. In the yard, many children were practicing basic skills: lion dancing, stacking bowls in mid-air, or climbing bamboo poles. Some were quite skilled, while others struggled. Nearby, a specialized master held a ruler, and those who performed poorly were beaten. Some had hands bruised red, yet they dared not cry, holding it in because crying meant further punishment and going hungry. For many children, the punishment of hunger was worse than anything else.

Chen Yushu only watched, without feelings of unbearable pity. The world was simply like this. These children were the lucky ones; by learning acrobatics, they could master a trade and have food to eat. Many others whose families couldn't afford them were left to fend for themselves, and the beggars on the streets changed faces every so often. Was it because they couldn't get food and left? Chen Yushu shook his head. He knew that many either died of illness, starved to death, or were abducted. Their fates were often tragic, and few had happy endings. He lacked the power to pity others. He had once been a mere apprentice in a medicine shop; though he had prospered slightly, he was no saint and could only focus on his own affairs.

"Troupe Leader, someone is here to see you." Qin Chuan led Chen Yushu to the back of the courtyard. Soon, Chen Yushu saw their leader, Zuo Yinzhi.

"And you are?" The troupe leader looked at Chen Yushu, asking curiously.

"Troupe Leader, this is my neighbor, Brother Chen Yushu. Because he saw your performance last time, he was very curious and wanted to come over and ask about it," Qin Chuan explained quickly.

"You want to learn?" Zuo Yinzhi frowned as he looked at Chen Yushu.

"Yes! Would you be willing to teach me?" Chen Yushu asked honestly.

"Go back. That skill is how I make my living; it’s impossible to teach it to others," the leader said, waving his hand as if he didn't want to talk further. He looked at Qin Chuan and added, "Don't bring people here to ask about my techniques anymore. It’s a good way to get someone’s rice bowl smashed."

Qin Chuan blushed, having only brought him out of neighborly kindness.

"The 'Staking Technique' (Jizhuang Fa) can be performed by ordinary people. But every art has a price. Those in the 'Trade' can use their cultivation to resist it. But ordinary people lack cultivation and must use their life and longevity as a medium. Every time it is performed, one year of longevity is lost. I wonder, Troupe Leader, how many years of life do you have left to spare?"

Chen Yushu spoke suddenly, then glanced to the left. "So that’s it. Raising a ghost to offset the toll only reduces it by half, but that’s just a drop in the bucket. Not to mention, ghosts are things that will bite back. Are you sure you can still suppress it? When the time comes, it won't just be you—your family and the entire troupe will become its blood meal."

Qin Chuan was stunned, not understanding what Chen Yushu meant. But Zuo Yinzhi’s expression shifted violently. He stared at Chen Yushu, eyes wide, and asked, "Who... who are you?"

"I just happen to know a little about your technique," Chen Yushu said after a moment of silence.

"Qin Chuan, go out for a moment. I need to speak with Brother Chen alone." The troupe leader’s face was uncertain, and he suddenly treated Chen Yushu with much more gravity. Qin Chuan was confused, but being an honest man, he just nodded and walked out.

"Brother Chen, you also know about the Staking Technique?" Zuo Yinzhi asked urgently.

"I don't know it, but I understand the theory. The Staking Technique requires anchoring an object to act as a substitute to absorb violent attacks. But this technique has a price. Attacks don't just disappear; they must be taken by something else. It appears you have chosen a ghost to cooperate with, letting it take the hits for you. But as a price, you must pay with your own life—your longevity. Half a year per use. From what I can tell, you’ve used this technique at least seventy or eighty times... is your life enough to pay for it?"

If he hadn't known much about it before, he had just happened to see a description of the Staking Technique in the Ningjing Academy. Although it didn't contain the specific method of execution, it explained the principles and the side effects. One of the accounts mentioned people using ghosts to perform the technique. While it could reduce the consumption, ghosts don't help for free; they demand something in return—vitality, essence, and longevity. Then, he had seen a ghost in the troupe leader’s room. It looked like a chubby little child, but surprisingly, it carried a red aura. In other words, it was a vengeful spirit. To raise it to that level, the troupe leader must have used the technique many times and paid a heavy toll in years of life. He was surprised the man was still alive.

"Please, sir, help me." Zuo Yinzhi’s face turned pale. "I had no choice. The troupe needs to eat; there are so many people to feed, and ordinary performances don't earn enough. When I was young, a master saw potential in me and taught me this skill. But the danger was so great that I dared not use it. Later, I was desperate, and when I finally did use it, the response was great, and I made money. I forgot the danger. Every festival, in every town, I had to perform. People only wanted to see this signature stunt. Slowly, I even forgot how many times I had used it. Until recently, when I saw it start to harass the people in the troupe, I panicked. I remembered my master saying that this thing should be used sparingly, or it would spiral out of control and destroy the whole troupe. Unfortunately, my realization came too late; it has already gained its own power. I spent a fortune hiring a 'Ghost Matriarch' to deal with it, but she was scared off. Since then, I’ve hired others, but none could handle it, and it has started to target the troupe members more viciously. Little Tian, who performed with me, was a strong lad, but in just a few days, he became thin as a reed. I am truly terrified..."

"Pass the technique to me, and I will resolve this trouble for you." Chen Yushu said directly. As for the man's story, he remained noncommittal. Perhaps he knew the danger from the start, but some things are impossible to stop once they begin. As to why the leader was still alive, Chen Yushu understood after seeing the way the little ghost looked at him. Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs. This child still held some affection for his father. Even as a ghost, it retained some memories of its life. It had already endured much for Zuo Yinzhi. But the more it endured, the heavier its resentment became. Eventually, it wasn't that it didn't want to endure anymore, but that it couldn't stop itself. Not wanting to harm the leader, it could only take out its hunger on others. When he passed by earlier, he noticed that besides Little Tian, many others in the courtyard looked much worse than average people. Even Qin Chuan and his son looked sickly. He had thought it was just fatigue, but now it was clear it was related to the ghost. It knew how to spread its burden evenly. Perhaps because it grew up in the troupe, it had feelings for them, which was why it hadn't killed anyone yet.

"This..." Zuo Yinzhi hesitated.

"Are you reluctant to part with the Staking Technique, or with this ghost child?" Chen Yushu asked.

"You... you can see?" The leader looked embarrassed. "He is my child, after all. Even if he has become a ghost, I don't want him to be beaten until his soul dissipates..."

"Either your entire troupe dies, or it dies—which do you choose? If you wait, the Yin Suppression Division will come to handle it, and then it won't be up to me." Chen Yushu shrugged.

"Then... please, Mr. Chen, take action..." Zuo Yinzhi gritted his teeth.

Chen Yushu nodded. "Rest assured, I will act. I also know a method of transcendence. If its soul doesn't dissipate, I will naturally perform a rite of transcendence for it."

"Good! This is the manual for the Staking Technique." Zuo Yinzhi hesitated, then took a book from the room. Chen Yushu flipped through it, and within a few moments, he had memorized the contents. The technique itself wasn't difficult; the hard part was finding a vessel. The manual also contained a method called "Blood-Essence Ghost Raising." After a ghost’s death on the seventh day, one uses blood to lure it, allowing it to linger, and then feeds it blood periodically to maintain the connection. This was the source of the leader's ability.

After confirming the details, Chen Yushu looked at the red-aura ghost. It stood quietly in the corner, watching them.

"Are you, too, sent by Father to deal with me?" The ghost spoke for the first time, a murderous glint in its eyes.

Chen Yushu raised an eyebrow. He could hear it. This was the first time he had heard a ghost's voice without entering a state of "Walking in the Yin." It must be the result of his "Constant Stillness" (Changding). In that state, he was in a "super-dimensional" condition, allowing him to perceive and communicate with ghosts freely.

"You heard me. Do you choose to surrender and be transcended, or do you want to fight?" Chen Yushu asked calmly.

Zuo Yinzhi was terrified, realizing Chen Yushu was speaking to the ghost, but he dared not move.

"You?" The little ghost shrieked, glowing red as it lunged at Chen Yushu with astonishing speed.

Chen Yushu didn't flinch, pressing his hands forward. *Boom!* The vengeful spirit was slammed to the ground. Chen Yushu stepped forward, swinging his Soul-Severing Ruler.

"Ah..." A scream rang out, but it came from Zuo Yinzhi, who collapsed in pain.

"Hmm? The Staking Technique?" Chen Yushu’s expression shifted. The ghost had used the technique to transfer its damage to Zuo Yinzhi.

Chen Yushu stepped in a seven-star pattern, causing the earth energy to surge and seal the space around the ghost, trapping it. This was a counter-measure to the Staking Technique—isolating the two parties broke the connection. He then performed the "Shatter-Aura Formula." *Sizzle...* The ghost’s aura began to dissipate. Zuo Yinzhi, familiar with the technique, realized what was happening and bit his finger to mark his brow, breaking the spiritual connection.

The ghost roared, struggling to break free of the Seven-Star seal, and lunged toward a wooden wall. *Ghost Technique: Wall-Passing!* But Chen Yushu had prepared for this, slapping several "House-Suppressing Talismans" onto the wall. The ghost collided with the wall as if it were solid.

Chen Yushu struck again with the "Subdue Yin Formula." *Boom!* The ghost was slammed down again. Under the pressure of the Soul-Severing Ruler and the Shatter-Aura Formula, the ghost’s resentment dissipated. It made one last attempt to possess Zuo Yinzhi, but Chen Yushu slapped a "Ghost-Slaying Talisman" onto the leader's chest, blasting the ghost away. With one final strike of a talisman, a thunderous force erupted in the void, grinding the ghost's aura to nothing and causing its soul-body to turn transparent before it vanished into the wind.

*Plop.* A small, rectangular object fell to the ground. Chen Yushu picked it up—an "Yin Bone," a rare material that could form when spirits dissipated. It was valuable for making talisman paper and ink, so he tucked it away.

"Is... is it dead?" Zuo Yinzhi asked, standing up in a daze.

"I have helped it transcend," Chen Yushu said after a moment. For a vengeful spirit, death was a release.

An hour later, Chen Yushu left the opera troupe’s courtyard. As he passed Old Fu’s incense shop, he froze. At the shop's entrance sat a coffin. It was small, but it exuded a heavy, oppressive Yin aura. It was clear that someone—or something—was "living" inside.