**Chapter 010: The Black Cat**

Old Wang wanted to invite Zha Wenbin to perform a ritual, but Zha Wenbin shook his head and said, "If it could be done, I would've done it already." His celestial eyes were open, but he saw nothing unusual. Instead, it was the two strange clouds above Xiaoyi's (my nickname) head that puzzled him. He had used the Tian Gang Exorcism Spell, but it seemed to have no effect. Everything had to wait until after the coffin was opened. Right now, there were no leads, but he was thinking of ways to solve the problem. Seeing that even the master had no solution, Old Wang had no choice but to bid farewell.

The next day, everyone except a few left behind to guard the scene returned to the provincial capital. The afflicted members of the archaeology team stayed in the county hospital, awaiting updates.

A week later, Old Wang rushed to my house, dragging my father along to Zha Wenbin's place without a word. Once there, Old Wang handed Zha Wenbin a letter from a text expert at the provincial museum, written personally by Elder He.

In the letter, Elder He explained that the inscription was a rare and ancient script, likely originating from the ancient Shu region. He could only decipher a small portion of it, but the inscription seemed to mention the location of a mysterious book. He needed more time to fully decipher it.

Old Wang asked Zha Wenbin what Elder He had said. Zha handed him the letter, and after reading it, Old Wang concluded that the research should be left to Elder He. While there weren't many clues, the afflicted members of the archaeological team couldn't wait much longer. Something had to be done. Given that the coffin had been removed but people were still being affected, it indicated that the issue wasn't solely with the coffin.

Zha Wenbin decided to try something late at night, outside of the public eye. After all, he couldn't sit idle while people suffered. He gave Old Wang a list of items to procure: glutinous rice, soybeans, a rooster, incense paper, and some other materials. He also asked my father to find some hunters and butchers from the village, and to bring hoes and crowbars. Once the preparations were complete, the group of eleven, including members of the archaeology team, gathered at my house.

Before heading out, Zha Wenbin secluded me again in a room, examining me carefully before leaving without a word. At that time, archaeology teams represented official authority, so resorting to superstitious practices was risky, but the people in the hospital couldn't just be left to die. Though Zha Wenbin had no guarantees of success, he was determined to give it a try—even if it meant descending into the underworld itself.

That night, twelve people, along with a large black dog, set out, including three members from the archaeology team, and eight others from the village—hunters, butchers, and my father. Zha Wenbin led the group.

Since the afflictions had occurred after the coffin was removed, Zha couldn't wait for the coffin to be opened. They decided to make their move first.

At the General's Temple, Zha Wenbin arranged seven people inside in the shape of the Big Dipper. Two hunters stood guard at the entrance, while the two butchers stood beside Zha Wenbin. He distributed Heavenly Master Talismans to everyone, warning them to burn the talisman immediately if they sensed danger. These talismans could only be used once in a lifetime, calling on celestial soldiers to protect them from evil forces.

After assigning positions, Zha had the butchers pour rooster blood into bowls in front of each seated person, then handed them incense sticks. He explained the purpose of the formation: the temple still retained a trace of Daoist power that was suppressing the evil force. The two powers were evenly matched, but during certain moments, one might overpower the other. He chose the fifteenth night of the lunar month, when the yin energy was strongest at midnight, to summon the evil spirit and trap it within the formation.

With everything in place, Zha Wenbin lit candles in the four corners of the temple, placed sacrificial rice in the center, and lit three incense sticks. Holding a bell to ward off evil, he began chanting the Tian Gang Exorcism Spell while walking around the temple. After every three circles, he threw a yellow paper talisman. At first, the tense atmosphere made everyone uneasy, but after half an hour with no significant events, the group began to relax.

On the forty-ninth circle, Zha Wenbin suddenly opened his eyes and flung a talisman toward the southeast corner. Instantly, the candle in that corner was extinguished. Zha Wenbin shouted, "Halt!" and drew his Seven-Star Sword, charging toward the corner. Before anyone could react, a black cat shot out from the corner, racing for the door. The black dog at Zha Wenbin's side lunged after it. The hunters at the entrance, quick to act, fired two shots, but the cat dodged both bullets and leaped to the northwest corner, disappearing onto the roof.

A sharp "meow" echoed from above, sending shivers down everyone's spines. The black dog barked furiously, baring its teeth, while Zha Wenbin squinted, determined to capture the creature and prevent further harm. He ordered the hunters to hold their fire, knowing bullets would be useless.

Now that the evil spirit had appeared, it couldn't be allowed to escape. Zha instructed the seven seated people to form a protective circle with the rooster blood. He then pulled out a seal and quickly drew a talisman on the ground, igniting it with a flick of his sword. Though it seemed as if he was striking empty air, the cat let out a painful cry and fled to the northwest corner. When the lights were shone in that direction, there was nothing visible.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew through the temple, and everyone shivered. A drowsy, heavy feeling overcame them, as if they had been drugged. The hunters and butchers resisted, but Old Wang seemed on the verge of collapsing.

Sensing the situation deteriorating, Zha Wenbin shouted, "Burn your talismans!" His booming voice jolted everyone awake, and in an instant, twelve talismans were ignited. As soon as they were lit, thunder rumbled across the sky, followed by lightning that seemed to strike the temple itself.

Zha Wenbin staggered, barely holding back a mouthful of blood. The combined force of the twelve talismans had taken a toll on him, but he pressed on, scattering soybeans and setting up flags according to the Bagua formation. As he worked, the northwest candle went out.

This spell, known as "Scattering Beans into Soldiers," was a commonly used technique in the Mao Shan sect. By now, everyone had entered a trance-like state. According to their recollections afterward, after burning the talismans, their bodies became uncontrollable, and their consciousness slowly faded until they awoke the next morning.

After setting up the formation, Zha Wenbin coughed up blood. Wiping his mouth, he lit another talisman with his sword and struck toward the northwest corner again. A horrific screech came from the shadows as a massive black cat emerged, baring its teeth at Zha Wenbin. The black dog, already on edge, was ready to pounce. The cat, now fully exposed, let out a guttural hiss before leaping toward Zha Wenbin.

"Wicked creature! Do you recognize this seal?" Zha Wenbin yelled, raising the Heavenly Master Seal high.

Instead of retreating, the cat lunged forward, its rage intensifying as if it bore a personal grudge against the seal. It sprang at Zha Wenbin, but the black dog, unable to hold back any longer, launched itself at the cat. The two animals clashed fiercely, but the agile cat quickly ascended a pillar and vanished into the darkness, leaving the black dog circling the pillar in frustration.