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墨書 Inktalez
Yu Ji
Upon hearing this, it wasn't just me and Zhou Zhen; everyone present was slightly shaken by Gu Chen's words, their faces filled with disbelief.
Zhou Zhen and I exchanged a glance and soon realized that when Gu Chen mentioned "old friend," he was referring to someone who had passed away.
After a moment of thought, Zhou Zhen nodded and said, "Senior Gu, could it be that the owner of the tomb is truly the Western Chu Hegemon, Xiang Yu?"
Gu Chen nodded indifferently, his tone slightly grave as he replied, "It's getting dark. You should hurry and do as I instructed."
Hearing this, Zhou Zhen noticed Gu Chen's serious expression and chose not to say more. He simply nodded lightly. Although Gu Chen hadn't answered directly, Zhou Zhen understood in his heart that the owner of the tomb was indeed the Western Chu Hegemon, Xiang Yu.
Following Gu Chen's instructions, Zhou Zhen used Vermilion to paint eyes, eyebrows, and facial features on the Paper Figure's Withered Face, then added bright red lips.
Once he finished these details, Gu Chen stood beside him and suddenly said in a calm voice, "Vermilion mixed with blood from a black dog, seven inches from the chest."
Zhou Zhen frowned slightly upon hearing this but quickly understood. He then asked me to fetch some Black Dog Blood, mixed it with the Vermilion, and dipped his brush into it. He paused at the seven-inch mark on the Paper Figure's chest and looked over at Gu Chen.
Gu Chen nodded slightly but seemed to show a hint of hesitation before softly uttering two words: "Yu Ji."
"Yu Ji."
Zhou Zhen frowned again but did not write immediately. Instead, he looked at Gu Chen with a puzzled expression and asked, "Senior Gu, are we only writing 'Yu Ji'?"
I didn't understand, but Zhou Zhen did. Typically, during a soul summoning ritual, one would need to write down the person's birth date along with their name on the paper—sometimes even detailing their birthplace—to increase the chances of success.
However, Gu Chen only mentioned writing 'Yu Ji,' which seemed overly simplistic and left Zhou Zhen confused.
Seeing Zhou Zhen's puzzled expression, Gu Chen shook his head and sighed. "This is a last resort. There is no record of Yu Ji's birth date or her ancestral home; not even her real name is mentioned in historical texts or in the annals of Xiang Yu. Thus, we can only write down 'Yu Ji.'"
"But this..." Zhou Zhen frowned, still somewhat hesitant.
"It can only be this way," Gu Chen said, his expression shifting with a hint of helplessness.
"Alright then."
Zhou Zhen nodded, and with a swift motion, he wrote two bold red characters, Yu Ji, on the chest of the Paper Figure at the seven-inch mark.
That spot coincidentally aligned with the location of a human heart; it was both a name and a fate.
The Paper Figure stood at the height of an average person, exuding an eerie presence that made it seem almost like a living being in front of everyone.
Once everything was completed, Gu Chen instructed me to carry the Paper Figure on my back. He then asked Captain Xie to arrange for several people to bring up the already divided seven portions of Black Dog Blood, creating a makeshift table as a platform for the ritual. He mentioned that it would be used for the ceremony later. Additionally, he asked Anfu to bring along some usual talismans and ritual tools, along with some incense candles and paper money.
However, the only difference was that this paper money was not the Hell Money typically burned during the Ghost Festival in July; instead, it was crafted from talisman paper by Gu Chen's orders, resembling ancient copper coins. We then made our way to the entrance of the ancient tomb.
I set down the Paper Figure on my back and helped support Gu Chen as he pointed to those carrying the Black Dog Blood. He calmly instructed, "You all follow me."
Upon hearing this, they nodded silently. I supported Gu Chen in front while they followed behind us as we circled around the ancient tomb, pausing at seven different spots for a moment each.
At each of these locations, without exception, Gu Chen directed them to pour one portion of Black Dog Blood at the spots he indicated.
Initially curious, my expression changed drastically upon seeing the Black Dog Blood spill onto those designated spots. Shock washed over me as I witnessed something extraordinary.
As the Black Dog Blood fell, bubbles began to rise from the soil beneath it. The blood seemed to boil upon contact, releasing wisps of black gas into the air.
I managed to remain relatively calm, but the police officers pouring out the Black Dog Blood were instantly struck with terror at such an eerie sight. They looked at Gu Chen with wide eyes filled with fear, trembling all over as if they wanted nothing more than to flee.
Seeing their fear, Gu Chen calmly said, "It's okay, don't be afraid."
Upon hearing this, the terror on their faces stabilized a bit.
However, seeing the scene before us, I couldn't help but frown slightly and ask, "Master, why does the Black Dog Blood poured here cause this?"
Gu Chen glanced at me and replied, "You need to remember this well."
"Understood." I nodded quickly, while the police officers also turned their attention to Gu Chen, listening intently.
Noticing this, Gu Chen nodded slightly and continued, "All things in heaven and earth are interconnected; the black dog happens to restrain ghosts. Ghosts are entities with souls but no corporeal form. The soul is born of water and is black in color, which is why ghosts cannot see black objects. In front of a black dog, they appear as a luminous entity. Furthermore, the blood of a black dog is the most pungent; its foul odor belongs to the lungs, which are associated with metal. Ghosts belong to wood, and metal restrains wood. Thus, black dogs can subdue ghosts and are also natural enemies of all evil entities."
At this point, Gu Chen paused slightly and pointed to the ground that had been drenched in Black Dog Blood. "There are Soul Nails beneath this ground—seven in total—placed by our predecessors to suppress the master of the tomb and the evil spirits within. However, these Seven Soul-Settling Nails have already loosened; it is now impossible to maintain that suppression."
"So you had them sprinkle Black Dog Blood here," I said quickly, beginning to grasp the concept.
Gu Chen nodded lightly. "Correct. Black Dog Blood not only can exorcise ghosts but also ward off evil. Moreover, these Seven Soul-Settling Nails were originally set up in a dragon-binding formation. Therefore, pouring Black Dog Blood over them will temporarily enhance their power."
"Does that mean the evil spirits in the tomb won't be able to come out?" I asked with confusion.
Gu Chen shook his head lightly. "They will come out. Once Black Dog Blood is poured down, it will inevitably affect the evil spirits in the tomb. They will likely emerge after dark but will be temporarily confined within the area covered by these Seven Soul-Settling Nails."
As Gu Chen's words trailed off without completion, our expressions changed slightly. However, once he finished speaking, we felt a bit relieved.
Yet our expressions remained grim because according to his implication, it meant that those evil spirits within the ancient tomb would likely emerge after dark.
What was even more concerning was that previously we had entered; this time it would be the entities from within the tomb that would come out.
What terrifying things could be hidden in that tomb? Besides General Li, what about the owner of this ancient tomb, Xiang Yu, and that thing Fatty mentioned, which seemed to have many hands dancing around? What on earth could that be?
Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine. Looking at the sky, it was dusk; the sunset cast a golden hue, yet the atmosphere felt inexplicably gloomy. Nightfall was fast approaching.
I couldn't help but ask with concern, "Master, what should we do?"
Gu Chen sighed deeply and said, "That Paper Figure is meant to dispel his resentment and Killing Intent, but I don't know if it will work."
Upon hearing this, my heart sank. I asked somewhat helplessly, "What if it doesn't work?"
"If it doesn't work..."
Gu Chen glanced at me calmly before turning away and walking forward. He continued speaking as he walked, "Then we act like humans and put on a show for the ghosts."
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