Chapter 50: Burning the Corpse (2/2)

As the word "divorce" left his mouth, Ma Li shuddered and stared at me in shock: "Master, what did I just say?"

His eyes told me the soul summoning had worked. His gaze wandered, then he gaped as if seeing a miracle. Ma Hong asked, "Brother, what's wrong?" He didn't answer, pointing excitedly around the yard, unable to speak.

"Brother!" Ma Hong tried to approach, but I stopped her. "It's okay—your sister-in-law is here. He's guiding her. Get fire ready to burn the corpse."

The chief nodded, sending men to prepare. As everyone wondered at Ma Li's behavior, he trotted to the rotting body, hoisted it to its feet, then squatted to carry it on his back. The stench made onlookers retch.

"This is madness!" The chief paled. Even Ma San, who'd fled, and Dadan, who'd been convulsing, crept closer.

Carrying the corpse, Ma Li smiled and circled the jar: "Wife, look at this beautiful house and all these white geese." His face contorted, "I'm sorry—they're cranes, okay?"

"Chief, what's he doing? Has he gone mad?" Dadan asked. The chief could only gape.

Ma Li rambled: "I'm sorry, wife. I said those things to save you. Look at all the jewels—your favorite diamonds, enough to build a wall." I wondered when this would end. Summoning her human soul aimed to send her to the netherworld before she became a vengeful spirit.

Suddenly, Ma Li stopped: "Wife, you've hit me all the way. I can't cross this bridge—go ahead. Believe me, you're the love of my life... What? You want me to kowtow?"

I grabbed a pinch of soil and held it under my tongue—this let me speak "ghost language." "Han Xiaocui! I know you hear me. These are your friends and family. You know the flying corpse—tell me its weak point."

Ma Li turned and shouted: "Xiaocui says it's under the doghouse!"

"Thanks!"

Ma Li panted: "Wife, I can't carry you anymore. Go on—buy whatever you want, sleep on gold. I'll burn servant girls for you. Stop choking me—it hurts!"

Knowing prolonged contact would drain Ma Li's yang energy, I recalled the Maoshan Sorcery Annals' Reincarnation Incantation. Standing straight, I chanted:

"By Supreme Lord's edict, release this lost soul.

All ghosts and spirits, receive this grace.

Those with heads ascend, those without rise.

Killed by blade or rope, drowned or wronged,

Debtors, enemies, those seeking vengeance—

Kneel before me, bathed in Eight Trigrams' light.

Exit through the Kan trigram, reincarnate elsewhere.

Choose your form, bear your own fate—

Wealth or poverty, your own doing.

Hasten to reincarnate, all spirits—hasten!"

After the first chant, Ma Li walked again; the second sped him up; the third cleared the stench. He collapsed, and I pasted a "Yang - Rising Talisman" to restore his energy.

"Quick—burn the corpse!" I yelled to the dazed chief.

"Right away!" Though hesitant, the crowd doused the body in gasoline and set it alight. As flames crackled, I approached the well—no more frost. Lifting the doghouse, I found a ventilation hole leading underground.

Ma Hong explained it had been a root cellar, but nothing stored there lasted, so they'd sealed it—except for this hole.