C7 Finding the Utensil

I realized that moving the pagoda was a pipe dream, so I never even mentioned it. "Miss, I suggest relocating your grandfather's grave to a different location."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling's expression grew more solemn.

"Are you pulling my leg, buddy?" she asked.

"Do I look like I'm in the mood for jokes?" I replied.

After pondering for a moment, Zhong Ling concluded she needed to consult with her parents. It seemed reasonable to me; relocating a grave is no trivial matter, and it's understandable that Zhong Ling couldn't decide on her own.

For the time being, the issue of the grave relocation was set aside.

My current task was to locate the vessel used for 'nurturing evil.' With such a dense evil presence, it would be futile to place the vessel directly within the Yin house.

The geomancy array known as the Azure Dragon's Evil Nurturing couldn't possibly withstand the concentrated evil energy.

Conventional wisdom might suggest that the heavier the evil aura, the better for the vessel. However, sometimes it's wise to take the opposite approach.

I recalled my grandfather's advice that the vessel's evil aura shouldn't be too intense nor too weak. An overly powerful aura could overwhelm ordinary vessels, potentially shattering them.

Standing atop a vantage point, I scanned the area with my flashlight. The mountain was barren, devoid of even a single intact tree.

The hill was nothing short of bleak and desolate.

Nevertheless, my search soon led me to a spot where the malevolent energy was less intense.

A patch of lush, verdant grass grew there, its modest height indicating the lighter presence of evil. I made my way towards it.

Zhong Ling called out from behind and quickly caught up with me.

Approaching the spot, I crouched down and began pulling up the grass.

The soil was surprisingly loose, and the grass came up easily, roots and dirt in tow.

Zhong Ling stood by, shining her flashlight to assist. With the grass removed, I picked up a sharp stone and started digging. After about thirty to fifty centimeters, my makeshift tool hit something solid. Digging further proved to be a challenge.

Seeing the situation, I knew we'd soon unearth the vessel harboring the malevolent spirit.

I quickly discarded the stone and cleared away the dirt with my hands, and, as expected, soon unearthed a vessel resembling a small vase.

The vessel was modest in size, cloaked in black, standing about ten centimeters tall with a diameter of roughly five to six centimeters.

The moment I grasped the vessel, I could feel the chilling Yin Qi emanating from within.

Yet, a smile quickly played at the corners of my mouth; finding this vessel meant the hard part was over.

Zhong Ling stood by my side, her gaze fixed on the vessel with curiosity. She promptly inquired, "What's this, security guard brother?"

"It's something that will take care of the malevolent presence in your home. Let's head back."

With the vessel in hand, the rest would be straightforward.

I beckoned Zhong Ling, and we quickly descended the hillside. The late hour brought a hush over the surroundings, with gusts of wind sweeping through the alleyways between the houses, sending shivers down the spine.

Our departure from the village went without incident.

We climbed into Zhong Ling's BMW Mili.

Zhong Ling buckled up, her seatbelt accentuating her flawless figure.

I found myself stealing glances at Zhong Ling once more.

Then, her voice broke the silence, "Security guard brother, are we heading to my place now?"

"Yes," I responded.

Half an hour later, we reached Zhong Ling's home. I asked her to wait outside, and she complied, though her complexion was pale and she was visibly shivering.

I could tell that the sinister aura hadn't left her; she was still weak.

"Be careful," she said.

"Don't worry, beautiful," I reassured her.

With the vessel secured, I felt a surge of confidence.

Taking the keys from Zhong Ling, I unlocked the villa's door. As I stepped inside, an eerie breeze greeted me, and the Yin Qi within seemed to thicken rather than dissipate.

Grandpa Zhong's geomancy had been poor, affecting not only his own dwelling but also the living spaces of the living.

If the issue with Grandpa Zhong's ancestral home's geomancy wasn't resolved soon, the Yin energy in Zhong Ling's residence would surely grow stronger. Eventually, it could even become a hub for negative energy. With this in mind, I hastened my pace and moved forward. I ascended to the second floor, navigated the hallway, and reached the last room—the very one where I had confined the malevolent entity.

The glutinous rice I had previously scattered was now ominously darkening, suggesting the entity inside had violently clashed against its confines. Taking a deep breath, I set down the vessel used to contain malevolent auras on the floor.

I steadied my emotions, focusing on the task at hand—to trap the malevolent entity within the containment vessel. Once trapped, both the entity and the vessel would be under my control. This would surely draw out the individual intent on harming Zhong Ling.

I stepped forward, my hand grasping the icy door handle. Resolute, I wasted no time and turned it, swinging the door open. A chilling wind rushed out, sending me staggering backward.

A ghastly voice hissed in my ear, "Die, just die..."

The spectral figure lunged at me. I gasped, bracing myself, and swiftly formed a hand spell. Striding into a defensive stance, I timed my move perfectly. As the figure neared, I thrust the hand spell forward.

The spell struck the figure squarely in the chest, sending it hurtling backward to crash to the floor.

I wasted no time, drawing a talisman and charging at the downed figure. Its visage was horrifying, yet immobilized by my strike, it dared not stir. It glared at me with venomous eyes as the Yin Qi swirled around it. I empowered the talisman with urgency, a flash of golden light emanating from it. Closing in on the figure, I was about to make my move when, in the next instant, something completely unforeseen occurred.