Moonlight dimmed under a shroud of black fog, weakening the Heavenly Official Nine Stars Formation's peach pit array. Countless yin spirits knelt before shattered tablets, cowering from the thunderclap. Then Zhou Jianguo's voice echoed: "Heaven bear witness! Zhoujiazhuang killed my father, dishonored my mother, murdered my foster father, and oppressed the people. If heaven won't judge, I, Liu Changsheng, will execute justice!"
"Your mother's fart!" Old Wang roared, surprising me with his fury. "Who the hell are you to 'execute justice'?"
Liu Changsheng snorted. "Karma demands revenge. What's wrong with that?"
As they argued, I noticed the child ghost lunging at cowering spirits, devouring them one by one. Its glowing green eyes sent shivers through the pleading ghosts.
"Whether you're Liu Changsheng or Zhou Jianguo," I pleaded, "vengeance has its target. Don't massacre the entire village."
Old Wang cut me off. "No more talk—let me end him!" Leaping from the formation, he faced a tide of spirits who'd rather be eaten than let him harm Liu.
"See?" Liu sneered. "They know they owe me."
"Child's play." Old Wang stood 庄重 (solemnly), hands spread. "The Supreme Elder changes without cease,
Dispelling evil, binding fiends, protecting life.
Wisdom clear, mind serene,
Three cinnabar fields enduring, soul intact.
Taoist qi 永存 (eternal), command demons—Hui Tianzun!"
At "Tianzun," a brilliant white aura radiated from him, reviving my extinguished yang fires. "By the order of the Three Mao Lords, I execute heaven's will. Who do you think you are?"
"A Cleansing Incantation?" Liu's surprise faded. "Your yang fires are gone—what good is that?"
He stepped back, producing a white soul banner. Biting his finger, he drew runes, intoning: "Heaven has generals, earth has spirits—
Just and wise, impartial.
Slay evil, end suffering.
Disobey, and be destroyed.
Wang Yi, Zhang Dabao—die now!" Waving the banner:
First wave: ghosts wailed, kneeling before us.
Second wave: life energy drained from our altars.
Yin wind howled, slamming the gate. Spirits trembled as two nine - foot shadows entered—one bull - headed, iron trident in hand; the other horse - faced, chains rattling.
"Ox - Head and Horse - Face," I gasped. "Yama's messengers come for our souls."