Chapter 28: Thunder-Fire Talisman

Ji Yun could never have imagined that things would take such a turn. His great-grandfather had desecrated graves, squandering the accumulated virtue of several generations. Consequently, his own generation suffered from a deficiency in this virtue, manifesting as a short lifespan. Ji Yun felt that his third uncle’s explanation held water. In the old society, a coffin shop would never go hungry. Moreover, those in this trade dealt with funerals and death, adhering to countless taboos; why would they ever resort to grave robbing?

Thinking about it, if his ancestors had indeed robbed graves, it must have been for a reason, just as his uncle suggested. Furthermore, considering the "Ghost Gate Coffin"—a top-tier malevolent artifact passed down through the Ji family—it was clear his ancestors were practitioners of the occult arts. They wouldn't have dug up graves for no reason. Wait... could it be that they suffered from the "Five Misfortunes and Three Shortcomings" precisely because they were masters of the occult?

His great-grandfather and his predecessors never figured it out, and Ji Yun, having only just touched upon this extraordinary knowledge, certainly couldn't either. His third uncle was busy performing the ritual, so there was no one to ask. On a whim, Ji Yun opened his phone and began browsing the "Gossip Forum," hoping to find some clues. Before he knew it, he was absorbed for another hour.

As he was engrossed in the forum, he heard a shout nearby. His third uncle, Ji Huaichuan, walked over. "Whew, it’s been a long time since I took on such a big job. This is exhausting." As he spoke, he gulped down water. Looking at the sweat on his uncle's forehead, Ji Yun realized that this money was not easily earned. He asked curiously, "Third Uncle, how long does this ritual take?"

Ji Huaichuan exhaled and said, "The employer ordered the premium package, so the ritual must last five full hours. Plus, we have to stay here overnight to collect the final payment." Seeing the young man might be impatient, he put on a look of solemn duty, his stubbled face displaying a lecture: "If you take the money, you have to do the job properly. Whatever the contract says, we stick to it."

Ji Yun nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of admiration for his uncle’s professionalism. Yet, before this admiration could take root, his elder looked at him with that familiar, unreliable glint in his eye. Ji Huaichuan tossed his peach-wood sword over and said, "Here, catch. Kid, go help your uncle dance for a while."

"Me?" Ji Yun pointed at his own nose, confirming he hadn't misheard. "Can I?" It wasn't that he was afraid of trouble; his instinctual reaction was that a layman shouldn't be doing this.

Ji Huaichuan didn't care. "What’s the problem? Sincerity is what matters when crossing over spirits. As long as the offerings are sufficient and the path to the underworld is properly marked, the job is mostly done. The rest is just for the employer to see. Just follow the steps and recite the scriptures. If you can't remember, read from the book. That’s how I learned from your grandfather..."

Hearing this, the mysterious filter surrounding the profession of an *Yin-Yang* master suddenly shattered for Ji Yun. With the peach-wood sword already in his hand and no room to refuse, he was dragged to the altar. Ji Huaichuan took a step forward and explained, "Watch closely, kid. This 'Treading the Dipper' is the foundation for communicating with heaven and earth and summoning spirits; it has the power to ward off evil and boost one's spiritual strength."

Though Ji Yun was still skeptical about his uncle’s reliability, he listened intently, watching the footwork. Ji Huaichuan circled the brazier while teaching the mantra: "Lead with the left foot, three steps and nine traces, crossing like the character 'ding'. One step, one imprint; one Yin, one Yang, secretly aligning with the phenomena of the Three Origins, Nine Stars, and Three Poles, Nine Palaces... When walking, concentrate and visualize. Your feet should tread upon the galaxy, your body following the rotation of the Big Dipper... Walking the stars is like building a bridge; if you falter, the bridge breaks, and the gods won't descend, nor will the ghosts flee..."

Ji Yun had seen many masters perform this in the countryside as a child. Each had their own style and variations. Yet, for some reason, he felt there was something naturally transcendent about the way his third uncle moved. It felt as if every step landed on an invisible array. With each step, an awe-inspiring uprightness surged from him, causing all evil to retreat.

After completing a circle, Ji Huaichuan stopped and asked, "Got it, kid?" The basic footwork wasn't difficult, though the variations were many. Ji Yun had watched his uncle for two hours, so he had already memorized most of it. "I’ve got it," he replied.

"Try it," his uncle said, happy to save his breath. Ji Yun stepped forward and began to circle the brazier. Being his first time, he was a bit stiff initially, but he became proficient after just a few steps. Ji Huaichuan noticed that his nephew’s footwork was almost identical to his own. Finishing the set without a single mistake, Ji Yun surprised even himself.

Ji Huaichuan, who had expected to teach him several times, was delighted by the efficiency. "Hey, you're starting to look like your uncle when I was young." He laughed heartily, feeling relieved. "Get used to it. I’m going to the car to get something."

"Okay." Since his uncle gave the green light, Ji Yun didn't think it was impossible. With the peach-wood sword in one hand and the *Supreme Scripture of Saving from Suffering and Erasing Sin* in the other, he began to chant. Within a few repetitions, he had it memorized.

When Ji Huaichuan returned with a bottle of liquor and some braised goose, Ji Yun was managing everything with ease. Folk funeral rites were different from orthodox Daoism; they weren't as rigid. As long as one had enough reverence for spirits, the rest was secondary. Ji Yun had been performing for two hours and felt refreshed rather than tired.

Ji Huaichuan enjoyed his leisure, snacking on goose and peanuts while sipping his drink. Finally, Ji Yun finished the last set and walked over. Seeing the empty liquor bottles on the ground, he advised, "Third Uncle, Sister Hualing told you to drink less." He had never understood the appeal of the alcohol that made his head ache and his stomach churn.

Ji Huaichuan smiled dismissively. "I’m nearing the end of the road anyway, might as well enjoy my drink."

"You..." Ji Yun started to argue, but stopped himself. After hearing about the "short-life curse" of the Ji family, many things made sense. His third uncle was nearly fifty; by the family's average lifespan, he was already an "elder." There was nothing left to persuade him of. A sense of inexplicable melancholy washed over him. It wasn't that he felt his own short life was a pity, but the thought of his loved ones leaving one by one was deeply unsettling.

He sat down next to his uncle and asked, "Third Uncle, are we staying here tonight?"

Ji Huaichuan, still only slightly tipsy despite the alcohol, replied, "Yes. After tonight's ritual, even if there are ghosts, they should be gone."

"Have you ever encountered a case where they 'wouldn't leave'?" Ji Yun asked.

"No," his uncle said firmly. He paused, as if speaking to someone unseen: "People should be reasonable, and so should ghosts. Our staying here tonight is a gesture of hospitality. If they still don't leave after being wined and dined, then tomorrow, we won't be so polite."

It made sense, but Ji Yun wondered if his uncle had ever encountered a "malevolent ghost"—the kind that kills without reason. Was it luck, or something else?

The two chatted until eight in the evening. Ji Huaichuan, having finished his drink, suddenly stood up with renewed interest. "Kid, you have good aptitude. I’ll teach you how to draw talismans." In this profession, there was no need for fasting or bathing; one learned as they went. "University graduates have a hard time finding jobs these days; you might as well learn this trade from your uncle."

Ji Yun was speechless. He was only a freshman; he hadn't even thought about employment. But he was interested. "Alright!" He had seen the cat-faced old woman use talismans to freeze a corpse, and the forum was full of people buying them. He was curious about how these magical items were made. According to the forum, many ancient occult arts were real. They had fallen out of use not just because of frauds, but because spiritual energy had withered or the practitioners lacked power. Since the Ji ancestors had passed down genuine knowledge, he thought it wouldn't hurt to learn.

Generally, a talisman was the solidification of a decree onto paper, like a letter requesting help from spirits. If one couldn't win a fight, they asked for the blessing of the spirits they worshipped. Ji Yun thought he was about to learn that, but his uncle broke his preconception.

"I won't teach you the stuff used for rituals. Just read the books and learn those yourself. I’m going to teach you the true skills of the Ji family!"

Hearing "true skills," Ji Yun straightened up in respect. Ji Huaichuan continued, "Our family deals with the dead, practices the Ghost Burial Scriptures, and serves the Ancestor of Yin Mountain. Our talismans are different... Your great-grandfather passed down 171 types, but many were burned during the chaotic times. By your grandfather's generation, only 53 remained. Among those that can commune with spirits... seventeen or eighteen. Mostly for soul-stealing, corpse-suppressing, ghost-driving, and Yin-locking..."

Ji Yun listened intently, but his uncle began to stutter as he spoke, like a primary schooler reciting a lesson he had mostly forgotten. Spurred by the alcohol, he had boasted too soon. After struggling for a while, he waved his hand. "Today, I’ll teach you the 'Thunder-Fire Talisman'!"

He picked up the brush, and the strokes flowed like clouds and water. For a moment, Ji Yun felt his uncle enter a different state. As he drew, he spoke rapidly: "A talisman has a head, a heart, and a foot. The head says 'Command,' communicating with heaven; the heart hides the secret star chart where the gods dwell; the foot stabilizes the five elements and captures evil... Remember, if the heart is wrong, the spirits won't stay; if the foot is scattered, the evil will backfire! At best, it's useless; at worst, it summons evil gods and demons..."

Ji Yun watched closely. In a blink, his uncle drew a talisman with great fluidity. Seeming satisfied, he held it up. "Did you understand?"

Ji Yun nodded. For some reason, he clearly remembered every stroke. Curious, he asked, "Third Uncle, can this thing explode?" He was thinking of the talisman that had blasted fire at Shang Xiaoyu. As he spoke, he picked up the brush to practice. The strokes weren't many, and he found he could replicate them quickly.

"Of course," Ji Huaichuan said, full of spirit. "A talisman has no fixed form; it is the energy that makes it spiritual. Talismans must seal spiritual energy to tap into the world's power; otherwise, they are just waste paper. To master this, you need hard practice..."

Ji Yun understood. The forum had explained that while the threshold was lower now due to the resurgence of spiritual energy, it still required immense skill. Ji Huaichuan, holding the talisman he had drawn, used his finger as a sword and launched into a classic boast: "Back in the day, when your grandfather passed this to me, I remember him throwing the talisman, and it exploded with fire and thunder... and I practiced for months..."

Before he could finish, a loud "bang" echoed beside him, and a ball of fire erupted. Ji Huaichuan turned to see Ji Yun, his face covered in soot, his finger still pointed like a sword, looking utterly shocked.

The uncle and nephew stared at each other. After the blast, an awkward and eerie silence filled the air. Finally, Ji Huaichuan couldn't hold back his shock: "You... you learned it already?"

Ji Yun, who had nearly scorched his eyebrows off, was just as bewildered. He hadn't expected the yellow paper to actually explode just because he copied his uncle’s gesture.