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墨書 Inktalez
The White Python swayed its body and nudged against Third, then blinked its eyes.
Third glanced at the White Python and asked, "Where's the exit?" The White Python wriggled uneasily, showing no reaction to Third's question.
Second hurriedly said, "Hey, snake, at least blink your eyes!" The White Python remained still.
It seemed that Third sensed the White Python's hesitation.
Seven and Wang Er Gou gathered nearby, waiting for an answer. The White Python lay flat on the ground, pretending to be dead.
Second exclaimed, "You’re not trying to trick me, are you?" The White Python still did not respond.
Third asked, "Is there something you can't say?" The White Python quickly stood up and nodded with its large head before lying back down.
"What is it that you can't say?" Seven inquired. At that moment, the White Python rubbed against Third again. Third seemed to understand.
Sighing inwardly, he realized that some things were meant to be revealed. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Lead us there!"
The White Python lifted its head to look at Third, seemingly waiting for him to confirm again. Third uttered two words: "It's fine."
Only then did the White Python slowly begin to move.
Second chuckled, "Third, you really have a talent! You managed to tame this beast." Third gave a reluctant reply to Second and followed the White Python.
The three of them closely trailed behind. The White Python moved more slowly than before when it had led Third; perhaps it was deep in thought or cautious about something.
The hall was quite spacious, and at this walking pace, it took several minutes to traverse. The purpose of the hall was to discuss important matters and hold grand ceremonies; it was absolutely impossible for it to be used for burial.
There are great taboos surrounding the living and the dead. The highest authority among the deceased is the King of Hell. As the saying goes, "If the King of Hell wants you to die at midnight, you will certainly not survive until dawn." Many people refrain from committing wrongdoings in life out of fear of suffering in the Eighteen Layers of Hell after death, enduring the torment of being flayed and having their bones refined.
However, the Ming Hall is clearly a place for the living, filled with yang energy. It would be difficult for the dead to find rebirth here, yet there are still those who are buried in this location.
If Wang Er Gou were to explain it, he would likely be at a loss for words. According to Feng Shui's thousands of years of history, a small tomb is generally situated in a good location.
Even in legends, Daoism teaches: "Reside in a good place, have a kind heart, associate with benevolent people, speak with integrity, govern wisely, act skillfully, and move at the right time. Only by not contending can one avoid blame. If things clash, they cannot coexist."
The position of this Ming Hall is inherently illogical; according to Feng Shui principles that dictate sitting south and facing north, it violates basic natural laws.
This Ming Hall is nestled within a mountain's embrace, shrouded from sunlight and moonlight. Its nature leans towards yin, and with a corpse buried within, one cannot definitively say it is a true Ming Hall.
Thus, it might just be a Yin Hall. As its name suggests, a Yin Hall is certainly the opposite of a Ming Hall; it could be seen as a gathering place for the dead—a place where malevolent energy converges.
Legend has it that long ago, before the King of Hell existed, there was sorcery in the world. Practitioners of this sorcery were called witches if female and shamans if male; their roles were fundamentally similar.
Those who could learn sorcery were said to possess great talent and innate abilities that could be cultivated. Among them was one who practiced Soul Snatching. This was particularly sinister; with just a glance, one could capture another's essence. It is said that when the King of Hell did not yet exist, Soul Snatchers roamed freely, collecting wandering souls from across the land. No one knew their purpose or where they stored these souls; they simply reveled in their collection.
At that time, when people died, their souls had no resting place and wandered throughout heaven and earth, disturbing the natural order and disrupting cosmic harmony.
The actions of the Soul Snatchers alleviated many troubles in the human realm. However, during festivals like Ghost Festival and Qingming when offerings were made to ancestors, a holy figure discovered that a soul was no longer in its grave—it was empty. Feeling suspicious, he looked up at the sky and saw an ominous star hanging there, seemingly breaking free from its celestial position and drifting away from heaven.
Upon realizing this matter, the Heavenly Observer grew anxious but was unsure how to proceed; this was a grave sin of stealing souls from beneath heaven. After hastily making his offerings, he withdrew into seclusion. Days later, dressed in white robes and gazing at the heavens once more, he noticed signs of disturbance among the stars—any moment now they might detach from their celestial system.
Sighing deeply, the Heavenly Observer spent his days in seclusion contemplating strategies but found himself at an impasse: he could neither trace who was collecting souls nor comprehend how such celestial movements could occur without extraordinary power—indicating that this individual was no ordinary person.
Though he was called a sage, he understood himself to be merely an ordinary man in the eyes of others. Despite possessing some supernatural abilities, he felt powerless against this unknown figure.
Soul Snatching could not be faced directly; otherwise, Three Souls and Seven Spirits would all depart from the body, just as the saying goes, it captivates the soul and seizes the spirit!
Although unable to take action, the Star Observer still focused on the movement and changes of that star.
On that day, the weather was clear, and at night, the sky was filled with stars. The moon hung high in the center, while the Heavenly Observer continued to monitor the situation of the Extreme Yin Star.
The more he looked, the more uneasy he felt. The Extreme Yin Star glowed brightly, its brilliance gradually surpassing that of the moonlight, occupying a prominent position in the sky. The Star Observer felt anxious and helpless, only able to watch as the Extreme Yin Star changed on its own. He could only hope that it would not bring great calamity to the world. That would be enough for him.
The light of the star grew even stronger, dazzling like it was no longer a night star but rather competing with the sun. In just a fleeting moment, it actually made the earth return to daylight, but it existed only for that brief instant.
The Heavenly Observer hurriedly used his White Robe sleeve to shield himself from potential harm. When he moved aside his White Robe, the earth returned to darkness once more, everything appearing tranquil and serene; yet to him, it felt eerily quiet. Looking up at the starry sky, he discovered that the Extreme Yin Star had vanished. Thinking he had misseen, he wiped his eyes and looked again at the heavens, but still did not see the Extreme Yin Star. Believing it had merely changed position, after several days of observation without spotting it again, the Heavenly Observer finally confirmed that the Extreme Yin Star had indeed departed from celestial existence.
But how strange it was; it left no trace behind.
Meanwhile, atop a distant high mountain, amidst flickering lights, a figure with an ethereal presence stood on a cliff's edge and said leisurely, "This number has become a heavenly calamity. The domain converges into Eighteen Layers. All Yin Souls and Ghosts must gather and await Reincarnation."
Someone responded, "If in the future you and I return to our roots, will we not also have to oversee this person?" The ethereal figure replied, "The great vessel has been formed; what is there to say? It is too late. We must simply follow the way of heaven; whether our fates are thin or thick, there will be an explanation." With that, he floated away.
The remaining person sighed and said, "Very well then; since it has become a foregone conclusion, let it be so—The Way of Nature."
After the disappearance of the Extreme Yin Star, it concealed itself underground, dividing into Eighteen Layers. ‘Soul Snatching’ thus became known as hell, where it self-proclaimed as King Yan.
In the realm of mortals, life and death must pass through his hands; however, he dared not disrupt too much and could only collect souls after their death to return them to hell. Some might say that witchcraft had reached its pinnacle at this point; yet what puzzled many was that witchcraft seemed to be on a path toward extinction. Indeed, very few could learn witchcraft anymore.
All of this is merely legend; not many in the world know about it. This legend is shared among only a select few who are aware.
As soon as that Bronze Coffin was lowered by the White Python, several heavy chains caught the attention of those present as they pulled down the Bronze Coffin.
Wang Er Gou stared at the Bronze Coffin, first in astonishment and then in fear. Normally, those who practiced Feng Shui were accustomed to seeing graves, so why was he so startled?
Second remarked, "Er Gou, why are you so scared? It's not like you've never seen a coffin before."
Wang Er Gou was still in shock when Seven nudged him and said, "Ergou Master, haven't you seen enough dead people's coffins?"
Suddenly jolted back to reality, Wang Er Gou responded with a trembling voice, "This isn't a 'Mingtang'; it's a real 'Yin Hall.'"
Typically hidden within mountain valleys, this one was even concealed deep within the mountain itself. Perhaps even the most skilled Feng Shui Master could not decipher it.
After Wang Er Gou spoke, Third glanced at him and Second said, "Er Gou, are you confused? What nonsense are you talking about?" Wang Er Gou shook his head and replied, "Brother Cao, I'm not talking nonsense. I have my reasons."
Seven interjected, "What reasons? Tell us."
Wang Er Gou's voice grew urgent, his breathing heavy. "I've seen Mingtangs before; they are usually bright places with excellent lighting. The abundance of Yang energy is obvious! Moreover, Mingtangs have a characteristic: the 'Heavenly Eye' hangs high."
"Heavenly Eye?" Second murmured.
"The Heavenly Eye refers to gathering the essence of the sun and moon and measuring the changes of time and month," Wang Er Gou explained.
Third focused intently on Wang Er Gou; every word he spoke resonated in Third's ears. Third exchanged a questioning glance with White Python, who surprisingly winked back at him. Third felt a sudden emptiness in his heart but managed to regain his composure.
Seven then asked, "Ergou Master, what exactly is this Yin Hall?" When discussing Feng Shui matters with Wang Er Gou, Seven typically referred to him as Master.
Upon hearing that title, Wang Er Gou felt his heart race. Gasping for breath, he said, "It's best not to mention 'Yin Hall' in front of the living." As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over them, especially given the coffin lying nearby. Everyone felt a chill creeping in.
Wang Er Gou wisely chose to stop there. The atmosphere grew quiet; no one made a sound, perhaps sensing that this state was inappropriate.
" Second " opened his mouth and said, "Er Gou, you must be talking nonsense again. How could it be as sinister as you say?"
Wang Er Gou replied weakly, "I hope so." However, "Seven" was not willing to let this topic go and continued to ask, "What exactly is the Yin Hall?"
Wang Er Gou glanced at a few people; it didn't matter to " Second " whether he spoke or not. When his gaze met "Third," the latter said, "Brother Wang, please continue."
Wang Er Gou no longer hesitated; he had nothing to lose. If he was going to die, he would have died long ago.
As he uttered the words "Yin Hall," Wang Er Gou felt a shiver run through him. He bit his lip and continued, "The Yin Hall is a place where the dead gather. It is the opposite of a true Ming Hall, yet it serves a similar purpose within its realm."
"This is a place where Myriad Ghosts converge. Every year during the Ghost Festival Qingming, the Myriad Ghosts gather here before dispersing to hell."
"Is there really such a thing as ghosts in this world?" Second suddenly interjected.
Wang Er Gou was caught off guard by the interruption and momentarily didn't know how to respond. He followed Second's lead and said, "The way of ghosts pertains to the Three Souls and Seven Spirits of a person after death. Whether they exist or not, I can't say for sure, but my master has encountered evil spirits. Back when we were at Qiping Mountain, my master was hired by a wealthy family who had their eyes set on a piece of land with good feng shui. One day, while digging a pit, they unearthed a coffin that had been buried there long ago. It turned out that this land had already been claimed."
"However, the client insisted on proceeding with their choice and refused to change it. So one night, they invited a Taoist priest for an exorcism and dug up the coffin. To their surprise, the corpse inside actually came back to life," Wang Er Gou said, feeling dry in his throat as he swallowed hard. At that moment of pause,
the Bronze Coffin suddenly shook slightly.
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