Chapter Seventy-Four: Transformation of Fragrance

“In truth, you were acting under orders, but you exceeded your bounds, so it is only right for the Heavenly Emperor to blame you!”
Within Fang You’s illusion, Erlang God Yang Jian continued to speak calmly to him.
Fang You gazed at the scene around him, a world resembling the apocalypse: burning stumps littered the ground, shattered village huts collapsed in ruin, cries of anguish and pain echoed across the land, sending chills through his heart.
From time to time, people fell lifeless on the road, bodies strewn everywhere. In the distance, a mother cradled her child, begging desperately, as the child uttered one last “Mother,” before forever sleeping in her arms.
The woman, overcome with grief, let out a piercing wail: “Oh God, why must you do this to us? Why, my son?”
“Why did I do this?” Fang You retreated, fear in his eyes.
“That is something only your heart can answer,” said Yang Jian, his three-pointed double-edged blade dragging along the ground as he stood behind Fang You.
Suddenly, a voice called out, “Brother Daoist, wake up! Fang You, little brother, only you can save us now!”
“Li Xinyi!” Fang You suddenly remembered he had smelled incense and fainted, and surmised that his fellow traveler, Li Xinyi, must be embroiled in a fierce battle.
“Since you are needed in the mortal world, though I have only a shred of divine spirit left, if you wish for my aid, use the Summoning Talisman and silently recite my true name to call upon me. Now go!”
The illusion around him shifted at once.
“Brother Daoist!” Li Xinyi looked at Fang You, still unconscious on the train, and at You Da, who was about to escape, sighing deeply: “To think we haven’t even reached Shandong for revenge, and it ends here. How frustrating!”
“Order of pardon, Fire Incantation!” Suddenly, a tongue of flame shot out. You Da, about to climb through the train window, felt searing heat and saw a blaze coming from below, unable to dodge, he crashed heavily onto the train.
“I am Fang You, the third disciple of Maoshan, closing the gates!” Fang You declared, drawing his copper coin sword and peachwood sword.
“You’re awake!” Li Xinyi exclaimed with delight, seeing Fang You had regained consciousness.
“Brother, let me take over now!” Fang You slapped Li Xinyi’s back, forcing out the silver needles embedded in him.

In an instant, Li Xinyi recovered his mobility.
“You damn Maoshan priest, how did you wake up so quickly? That corpse illusion incense I used is strong enough to put an elephant to sleep!” You Da stared at Fang You in disbelief.
“Your incense is indeed potent, but today you’ve run into a Maoshan disciple. If you know what’s good for you, lift your spell at once, or Maoshan will not let you walk away alive!” Fang You held his swords, his gaze sharp as fire.
“Such arrogance from a mere priest—take this!” You Da fired several silver needles, then pulled two long needles from his coat and charged at Fang You.
Fang You smiled slightly; after all, he was trained to slay demons and ghosts, his skills far beyond those of ordinary men.
The two exchanged blows, each darting past the other.
Fang You calmly sheathed his swords, while You Da collapsed, saying, “If only I had corpses at hand, I could use my Shandong corpse control techniques. I wouldn’t have lost to you otherwise!”
“The Thai sorcerer Xi Long, one of the twelve of Yin-Yang Hall, met his end by my hand not long ago. I don’t know your sect, but as foreigners coming here and daring to attack the locals, the Yin-Yang Hall is bold indeed!” Fang You rebuked him sternly.
“Haha, Yin-Yang Hall may only have twelve, but many are powerful. Xi Long wasn’t a mere novice—though he hadn’t mastered the Sixteen Ghost Infants, he could control a dozen spirits at once, which is trouble enough for you lot!”
“I simply lacked corpses, so I couldn’t wield the powers of the corpse herding sect. Don’t think you’ll have peace now that you’ve offended Yin-Yang Hall!” You Da, though defeated, spoke defiantly.
“Remove your corpse illusion incense now, or you’ll never return to Yin-Yang Hall!” Fang You threatened, conjuring a talisman: “Fire Incantation!”
“Fine, you win today!” You Da pulled out a green vial and smashed it to the ground.
A bitter scent filled the air as the potion spread, and the passengers gradually regained their senses.
At the front of the train, the conductor, even in his haze, managed to control the vehicle by sheer willpower.
“I’m so tired. I’ve pressed the emergency alarm, but no one has come to help. I must stay alert—so many lives depend on me!” The conductor grabbed scissors and cut his palm, whispering, “I must keep calm. The pain will keep me awake.”

At the center of the train, the passengers slowly awakened. The other conductors, seeing the emergency signal, rushed to the front.
You Da stood up, while Li Xinyi, still bitter from his ordeal, wanted to attack the Shandong corpse herder again, but Fang You stopped him.
“Let today’s matter rest. Don’t cause too much commotion, or someone might get hurt by mistake!” Fang You cautioned.
Li Xinyi, though indignant, knew without corpses he couldn’t match You Da’s skills, so he returned to his seat, still fuming.
“You’re a sharp one—I’ll remember you!” You Da declared, then, under the gaze of all, leapt out the window, using his long needle to slide down and escape from the train.
The crowd gasped in awe at the sight.
Outside, You Da cast a vengeful glance at Fang You. “With a master present today, I failed. Ampere Qingye of Yin-Yang Hall will surely punish me. Fang You, you little Maoshan priest, you have no idea what you’ve brought upon yourself. Offending Yin-Yang Hall—next time we meet, you’ll find North City too small to hide!”
On the train, Fang You calmly returned to his seat, his thoughts on his uncle.
He looked at himself, recalling how the True Lord Erlang had told him in the illusion that, after being struck by the Northern God and his soul dispersed, only a shred of divine spirit remained within him, which could be summoned for aid with the Summoning Talisman.
Fang You pondered: the Maoshan Summoning Talisman was a charm to call upon the gods for help, but generally it seldom worked; after all, celestial soldiers and generals are proud, why would they help a mortal?
Yet with the divine spirit of Erlang God within him, if ever he faced a truly difficult situation, he could call for help—a convenience indeed.