Chapter 48

Li Zhuiyuan sat on the ground, gently rubbing his temples with both hands.

Controlling the deceased for the first time had left him somewhat fatigued, and he needed to relax and recover quickly, as he still had many tasks ahead.

If all went as expected, he was about to experience his most significant physical exertion yet.

This kind of overexertion would likely cause considerable damage to his body.

He knew this clearly, but he still decided to proceed.

Because he was angry.

An emotion that was very precious to him.

Just then, the girl and the woman both knelt before him.

Seeing this, Li Zhuiyuan waved his hand, but it had no effect.

He had already released his control over them; they should have remained still, or one should have returned to the rice jar and the other to the bed.

Li Zhuiyuan reluctantly stood up, and the mother and daughter also rose.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the table and sat back down in his original spot.

The girl and the woman also got up, followed him, and then both sat down to Li Zhuiyuan's right.

Tan Wenbin was originally slumped unconscious there.

Now, he was effectively sandwiched tightly between them, one on his left and one on his right.

Li Zhuiyuan couldn't be bothered to adjust them; this way, at least, he could ensure that the sleeping Binbin wouldn't fall over.

However, once they sat down, their expressions and movements began to subtly distort, seemingly indicating a loss of control.

Although Li Zhuiyuan didn't understand the underlying principle, he had a general idea of how to respond:

"Don't worry, I will definitely fulfill my promise to you.

For now, please bear with it a little longer. Zhou Yong is just a tool, manipulated by someone else. You wouldn't want to let go of the true culprit who caused you such torment, would you?"

Upon hearing this, the girl and the woman both quieted down again.

"Brother Runsheng, please secure Zhou Yong and package him up. Call me when you're done; I'll close my eyes for a bit."

"Alright, don't worry, Xiaoyuan."

At this moment, Zhou Yong was pinned in a corner by Runsheng, with the Yellow River Spade fixed against his neck, physically immobilizing him.

He was very weak now; although he tried to push the spade away with his hands, his strength was too little to resist.

Runsheng walked to the sack, took out the Soul-Returning Basket and the Homecoming Net, and spread them on the ground.

He took out his inkpad, pressed all ten fingers into it, then performed specific gestures, gripping various parts of the Homecoming Net one by one. Finally, he intertwined his fingers with the net's ropes, clasped his hands together, and slapped them sharply. This evenly and symmetrically applied red marks to the net, ensuring its effectiveness.

The entire process was fluid, highly ritualistic, and visually impressive, though it lacked practicality.

After all, not every deceased being would stand still, giving him ample time to prepare his tools.

Of course, Runsheng also wished he could "consecrate" tools with a casual swipe of red mud from his fingertip, just like Xiaoyuan.

He had tried, but failed. Xiaoyuan's effortless approach was based on calculations; Xiaoyuan knew exactly where and how much to apply, and had even taught him, but Runsheng couldn't figure out the precise measurements.

After completing the preparations on the Soul-Returning Basket and Homecoming Net, Runsheng placed the basket over Zhou Yong's head and pulled it down, enclosing him entirely. Then, he wrapped the Homecoming Net around him, effectively bundling Zhou Yong like a zongzi (a traditional Chinese sticky rice dumpling).

Finally, Runsheng took out a talisman drawn personally by Xiaoyuan and pasted it onto Zhou Yong's head.

Each talisman changed color upon contact; he would peel it off, apply a new one, which would also change color. After applying and peeling seven consecutive talismans, Runsheng finally stopped, having completed the last step of the ritual.

Even Zhou Yong's clouded eyes seemed to show a hint of confusion and doubt at this action.

Li Zhuiyuan had told Runsheng that the talismans he drew were useless, but Runsheng didn't believe him, thinking Xiaoyuan was simply being modest.

Once Zhou Yong was packaged, Runsheng turned his back and carried him away in the manner of carrying a corpse.

At this moment, Tan Wenbin woke up.

He felt extremely tired, as if his body had been drained.

He groggily lifted his head, opened his eyes, and looked at the girl pressed against his left side, then turned his head to look at the woman pressed against his right.

Thinking he was still dreaming, not yet fully awake, he closed his eyes and lay back down.

Soon, he opened his eyes again, looking left, then right.

He swallowed hard.

He suddenly sat upright, and just as he was about to scream, Runsheng's hand covered his mouth.

"Mmph mph mph..."

"Shhh."

Tan Wenbin nodded.

Runsheng removed his hand.

Tan Wenbin turned his head just as Runsheng leaned sideways to gently nudge Li Zhuiyuan, and the Zhou Yong on Runsheng's back ended up face to face with Tan Wenbin.

Li Zhuiyuan woke up. Seeing that Runsheng was ready, he also stood, but still asked with concern:

"Brother Binbin, are you alright?"

"I... what happened to me? Oh, I'm fine, just a little tired."

"You should go back to Grandpa Shan's house and get some sleep."

"No, I'm okay, I can still help." Tan Wenbin shakily stood up, finally freeing himself, then bent over, gasping for air.

"Brother Binbin, eat well and recuperate these days."

"Yes, I will. I didn't realize my body was so weak before."

"Brother Runsheng, let's go."

The three left the house and walked down the small dike.

Immediately, the sound of a lock clicking came from inside the house, followed by the lights going out. Under the moonlight, a figure could be seen flashing past both the kitchen and the bedroom windows.

Since Zhou Yong had left the house's vicinity, the girl and the woman could only return to their previous positions, waiting for Zhou Yong to come home.

This was the life Zhou Yong wanted to maintain.

Li Zhuiyuan turned back, staring at the well on the dike.

"Brother Runsheng, stay here."

"Okay."

"Brother Binbin, do you still have strength?"

Tan Wenbin nodded vigorously: "Yes, I do."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Brother Xiaoyuan, it's nothing, trust me."

Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin walked back up the small dike. Because Runsheng, carrying Zhou Yong, remained outside and hadn't entered, the girl and the woman inside the house were not drawn to move again.

Li Zhuiyuan lifted the bamboo hat off the well cover, took the rope from the nearby bucket, tied it around himself, then tossed the other end of the rope to Tan Wenbin.

"Hold it tight."

"Okay." To be safe, Tan Wenbin wrapped the rope twice around himself as well, giving a "done" gesture.

Li Zhuiyuan descended into the well, holding a flashlight in his left hand and his smaller Yellow River Spade in his right, lowering himself little by little until he stopped about half a meter above the water's surface.

At the well's edge, Tan Wenbin lay propped there; his arms were too weak, so he had to use his body as a brace.

Under the flashlight's beam, Li Zhuiyuan saw the patterns carved into the well wall.

Movement came from the water below his feet. When he shone the flashlight downwards, he could see a thick water snake swimming beneath the surface.

Li Zhuiyuan wasn't worried about the snake, as it was trapped underwater and couldn't leave the surface.

Picking up the Yellow River Spade, Li Zhuiyuan began altering the patterns there.

It was very cold in the well, but he was sweating profusely from the heat.

Modifying existing patterns left by others was much harder than creating new arrangements, requiring far more calculation.

But there was no alternative: first, time was short, and second, Li Zhuiyuan would struggle to gather the necessary materials for a new setup on such short notice.

Most importantly, maintaining the original layout made it easier to ensnare the opponent.

An hour later, Li Zhuiyuan tugged on the rope.

Above him, Tan Wenbin, whose body was aching from being braced there but had at least rested for a while, began to exert himself, slowly pulling the rope out.

As Li Zhuiyuan slowly ascended, he looked down at the water surface below his feet.

The water snake was still there, but no longer as lively as before. Under the flashlight's beam, its body beneath the surface displayed vibrant, diverse colors.

A smile appeared on Li Zhuiyuan's face. This was more like it; illusions like mirror flowers and water moons were still too primitive.

Back outside the well, breathing fresh air, Li Zhuiyuan wiped sweat from his face. He felt a sticky sensation on the back of his hand. When he shone the flashlight on it, he saw it was red.

"Xiaoyuan, you're bleeding from your nose," Tan Wenbin said, starting to search for tissue paper on himself.

"Mm." Li Zhuiyuan looked up, took the wadded paper, and stuffed it into his nose, then untied the rope from his body.

"Xiaoyuan, are you too tired?"

"I'm alright, it's nothing." Li Zhuiyuan dismissed it; this was just the beginning.

After carefully checking the ground for any bloodstains, he replaced the bamboo hat on the wellhead, restoring the area.

Walking down the small dike, Li Zhuiyuan signaled to Runsheng that they could go.

Arriving at the small river, Li Zhuiyuan led the way, holding a compass in his hand. While silently reciting the "Liu Clan's Qi-Sensing Technique," he pointed out the spots where Runsheng needed to dig and raise the ground.

When they reached the bridge, Li Zhuiyuan collapsed onto the ground, tilting his head back to ask, "Brother Runsheng, did you remember everything I just told you?"

"Don't worry, Xiaoyuan, I remembered it all."

"Start working quickly."

"Understood!"

Runsheng set Zhou Yong down from his back, picked up the Yellow River Spade, and began digging and laying groundwork.

"Brother Xiaoyuan, should I go help?"

"No need, Brother Binbin. You stay here and help me with my nosebleed again; it's still bleeding a bit."

"Oh. Okay."

Runsheng was strong, and the Yellow River Spade was suitable for this environment. He could work more efficiently alone and was less likely to make mistakes.

Meanwhile, Tan Wenbin finally managed to stop Xiaoyuan's nosebleed again and asked with concern:

"Xiaoyuan, are you really okay?"

"I'm fine."

"So, what exactly are we doing?"

"Someone played a trick on us, almost getting us all killed. Now I'm setting up a counterattack."

"Okay, I understand."

Behind them, on the ground, Zhou Yong was still squirming.

Tan Wenbin looked at him, feeling somewhat shaken. Even though they had been at the same table earlier, he was still afraid of the deceased.

"Brother Binbin, when we go back this time, I'll teach you some methods to deal with the deceased."

"Really? That would be great!"

Then, both of them said in unison:

"Keep it a secret from your dad."

"Keep it a secret from my dad!"

After speaking, they both laughed.

Runsheng couldn't do the work of two people; indeed, they still needed another helper. The previous situation was very much like the game of crossing a river with a wolf and a sheep: either he or Runsheng had to stay to watch Zhou Yong to prevent any accidents.

Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and began to rest; he was very sleepy.

Just as he was in a deep sleep, he was shaken awake: "Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan."

Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes, which were completely bloodshot.

Runsheng felt a pang of heartache but didn't try to dissuade him. Instead, he asked, "I've done everything as you instructed. What should we do next?"

Li Zhuiyuan stood up and walked under the bridge with the compass.

Runsheng protected him as they descended together, fearing the boy might accidentally fall and be swept away by the river.

Li Zhuiyuan began explaining the modifications needed under the bridge. It wouldn't require a large project, just minor adjustments to the existing structure, which Runsheng could handle alone with his tools.

Furthermore, Li Zhuiyuan also realized that while Brother Runsheng wasn't good at calculations, his memory was excellent; he remembered everything Li Zhuiyuan said clearly and performed tasks flawlessly.

"Did you get all that, Brother Runsheng?"

"Yes, I did."

"Mm."

After a sound of acknowledgment, Li Zhuiyuan's body fell forward.

Runsheng, with quick reflexes, picked him up and carried him back to the bank. After instructing Tan Wenbin to take care of Xiaoyuan, he took his tools and climbed onto the bridge from the side.

Tan Wenbin had already prepared clean water and wadded paper, but this time, the semiconscious Li Zhuiyuan wasn't bleeding from his nose; instead, fresh blood was oozing from the corners of his eyes.

"This..."

He first tried to clean it with water, but found that even after wiping it clean, blood quickly started oozing from the corners of his eyes again. Since eyes weren't nostrils, he didn't know how to stop the bleeding.

He could only place Li Zhuiyuan's head on his lap and use both hands to massage the boy's temples, hoping to alleviate his fatigue.

"Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan..."

Li Zhuiyuan was called awake again. After opening his eyes, he asked:

"Brother Runsheng, why are you covered in blood...?"

"Xiaoyuan, I'm fine. It's your eyes that are bleeding."

"Oh." Only then did Li Zhuiyuan realize that his vision was a bloody red.

He struggled to stand, squatted by the river, cupped water, and began rinsing his eyes.

Although he could still see blood dripping, his vision had at least cleared up considerably.

Turning back to look at Runsheng, he saw Runsheng covered in mud and lime, with multiple scrapes on his hands and feet, oozing blood.

"Xiaoyuan, check it."

"Mm."

"Come, I'll carry you into the river."

Runsheng picked Li Zhuiyuan up on his back and walked into the river. Li Zhuiyuan lifted his head, not to inspect the "construction details," but to directly examine the geomantic pattern.

After wiping his eyes three times to clear the bloodstains, he confirmed that the geomantic arrangement here had been altered by him.

"Brother Runsheng, you did very well."

"What do you need me to do next?"

"Brother Runsheng, you can rest now."

"Then let's go back to my uncle's house and sleep. I don't think you can hold on much longer."

"No, I have one last and most