Chapter Twenty-Six: Haunted Walls

"Please don’t worry, both of you. I will do everything I can!" Fang You looked at the couple before him, their faces honest and rustic, and so he asked, "May I ask, where is your child?"

"In the back room, sir, please come in!" the man hurriedly replied.

Fang You followed the man into the inner room, where a child sat stiffly on the bed, staring blankly ahead, his gaze utterly vacant.

Upon seeing this, the woman burst again into tears. "My dear Xi’er! How did you end up like this? What is your mother supposed to do?"

"Feng, didn’t I already bring the master here? Why are you weeping and wailing in front of him?" Dazhuang, glancing at Fang You by his side, felt a pang of embarrassment as he scolded his wife.

"You heartless man! Our child is like this, and you’re still worrying about manners?" The woman sobbed even harder, shaking Dazhuang by the shoulders.

Fang You examined the child, lifting his eyelids; the child’s eyes rolled upwards, his expression vacant and foolish.

"Dazhuang mentioned that you’ve already called back the soul?" Fang You inquired.

In truth, this so-called ‘calling back the soul’ was a simple practice. A close relative, or someone dear to the lost-soul, would stand on the roof or some high place, calling out the person’s name. If the wandering soul heard their name, it could find its way back, no longer lost and aimless—following the sound to return to its body. This was a common method in rural areas.

Judging by what he saw, Fang You surmised that the child’s soul had likely been detained by a ghost for quite some time. If this continued, the chances of recovery would grow ever slimmer.

"Master, what should we do?" the woman asked anxiously.

"Please, don’t be alarmed," Fang You replied. "You mentioned the stage—where was it originally set up? Could you take me there to have a look?"

"Husband, hurry and take the master to see!" the woman urged.

"Yes, yes, I’ll take the master right away!" The man, disregarding the lateness of the hour, strode to the door, but suddenly paused and turned back. "Master, have you eaten yet? We feel bad troubling you like this…"

But Fang You waved his hand, "Saving a life is urgent—take me at once!"

"You truly have the bearing of an immortal, master. Please, this way!"

Fang You followed Dazhuang into the mountains. Night had fallen—by the time Dazhuang had come for Fang You, dusk was already upon them; now, after climbing for two hours, the sun had all but disappeared. Yet, with the child’s soul lost for so long, Fang You could not afford to wait for daylight, so he pressed on with Dazhuang toward the site of the performance.

Strangely, after nearly two hours, Dazhuang suddenly halted, bewildered. "How odd. Normally, this part of the trail takes only half an hour. Why does it feel like we’ve walked two hours and still have so far to go?"

Hearing this, Fang You surveyed their surroundings—nothing seemed amiss, yet they had been walking straight ahead all along.

"Could it be we’ve fallen into a ghost’s maze?" Fang You said calmly.

"A ghost’s maze?" Dazhuang queried.

"It’s when mischievous spirits block the way—creating illusions to alter the scenery, trapping travelers in circles so they never advance. Judging by this, it seems something is deliberately holding back your child’s soul." Fang You spoke as he observed their surroundings.

"What should we do?" Dazhuang asked.

"I’ll make a mark to see if we are indeed going in circles." As he spoke, Fang You snapped off a branch and planted it in the ground behind them. "Let’s keep moving."

However, as he placed the branch, Fang You quietly pricked his fingertip and smeared a drop of blood onto it. The blood from one’s fingertip carries strong yang energy—though not as potent as blood from the tongue, it is enough to intimidate lesser spirits.

Feigning nonchalance, Fang You continued forward with Dazhuang, as if he’d merely left a branch behind. He knew, however, that if a spirit was at work, it would likely remove the branch or alter the surroundings to keep them lost. If the branch disappeared, it would prove intentional interference. Sometimes, a spirit’s tricks are harmless, meant only to tease, but if it goes so far as to change the very landscape, then a deeper motive is at play.

After about ten minutes, a sudden scream rang out behind them. Fang You spun around at once and cast a talisman.

Although they’d walked for ten minutes, the branch Fang You had planted now lay right at their heels, as if they’d never moved at all.

In that instant, a small, shadowy ghost appeared, clutching a smoking hand, its face twisted in terror.

The talisman struck the little ghost, which sizzled and popped as if firecrackers had been set off. With a terrified leap, it vanished into the weeds nearby.

Now Fang You understood: something had indeed sent this spirit to block their way. He decided to address the unseen presence first, so with hands clasped in a respectful salute, he called out to the darkness, "I am Fang You, third disciple of Mount Mao. I have come to retrieve this suffering child’s soul, which has been detained by a ghost. If you know what’s good for you, take these spirit coins and be on your way. But if you stand in my way, do not blame me for being merciless!"

He pulled a stack of spirit money from his bag and set them alight with a talisman, scattering the ashes into the air. Yet not a single little ghost dared approach and take them.

Seeing their fear, Fang You realized that something far more formidable must lie ahead—something the little ghosts themselves dared not defy or flee.

Without further courtesy, Fang You drew from his back a vermilion peachwood sword. "Peachwood slays ghosts, coins banish demons. Should you hinder me again, I will show no mercy!"

With that, he drew a cross in the air with his sword.

In truth, a ghost’s maze is not a profound obstacle; it only works in deserted places where little ghosts dare to cause mischief. The simplest way to break it is either to relieve oneself on the spot or to draw a cross.

As soon as Fang You finished the cross, several little ghosts suddenly appeared behind them.

Fang You was unfazed, but Dazhuang was terrified. "Master, what are those…?"

"Pay them no heed. Let us continue on our way."