Volume One: The Soul-Attracting Gourd, the Soul-Igniting Lamp Chapter 69: The Youth in White (Part One)

The night was as cool and clear as water—there was no need for words.

A strange fragrance drifted from the little courtyard, while the yellowed ceiling lamp cast its hazy glow…

Groggy and battered, Gu Mo slowly opened his eyes from unconsciousness, only to be overwhelmed at once by a tingling numbness and sharp pain throughout his body.

Once fully awake, he grimaced and struggled to sit up, only to discover that his naked body was covered in talismans painted with cinnabar and chicken blood—even his forehead was plastered with a large yellow charm.

Thankfully, the biggest of the yellow talismans was stuck over his private parts, shielding him from further indignity.

Staring at the sudden and bizarre scene before him, Gu Mo was utterly bewildered.

Off to the side, the wooden long table had been transformed into Xiao Yulou’s ritual altar.

Upon closer inspection, the altar was draped entirely in yellow Daoist cloth, the patterns of yin-yang and the five elements standing out vividly.

Arrayed atop the altar were all sorts of ritual implements: burning candles on either side, an old incense burner with three sticks of half-burned sandalwood, peachwood sword, yellow talismans, chicken blood, glutinous rice, red cords—it was enough to make one’s head spin.

Even a portrait of the Three Pure Ones was now hanging on the wall.

By the bedside, Xiao Yulou, dressed in Daoist robes, held a writing brush in his right hand and a yellowed Daoist scripture in his left, quietly discussing something in hushed tones with Gu Mo’s wife, the Lady of the Underworld.

The tip of the brush, too, was stained a bloody red from a mixture of chicken blood and cinnabar.

Gu Mo, looking down at the state he was in, burst out with a string of expletives.

“What the hell are you two up to?!”

But the pair, deep in their study, paid him no mind and remained absorbed in their conversation.

“Daoist Xiao, are you sure these talismans will work?”

At this, Xiao Yulou furrowed his brows and sighed deeply. “Alas, I’ve tried nearly every talisman I know, but I just can’t draw out the red sigil on Brother Gu’s chest. That strange thing must be the work of a master, likely a secret technique passed down within a family!”

Hearing this, the Lady of the Underworld looked even more troubled, her voice soft and gentle. “Daoist Xiao, should I try ghost fire again?”

With no other choice, the ethereal Xiao Yulou nodded helplessly. “Since the red sigil on Brother Gu’s chest is drawn out by ghostly energy, I’ll try blending in the Fire of Zhu Rong, blessing it in the name of the Three Pure Ones! But only in a three-to-seven ratio—otherwise Brother Gu will freeze solid!”

Even before his words had faded, the two of them simultaneously raised their hands, channeling their powers.

With a bang!

In the Lady of the Underworld’s palm, a fierce ball of green ghostly flame sprang forth, while in Xiao Yulou’s hand blazed a great orb of Zhu Rong’s fire.

These two opposite forces burned furiously, drawing closer to Gu Mo’s face. Seeing this, Gu Mo’s features twisted in terror as he shouted hysterically.

“Hey! What exactly are you two doing?!”

At his outburst, Xiao Yulou and the Lady of the Underworld finally snapped out of their trance, realizing that Gu Mo had regained consciousness.

“My husband, how do you feel?” she asked with concern.

Gu Mo pulled a face, voice edged with annoyance. “I should be asking you two what you’re doing! How did I become your lab rat? If you burn me with those fireballs, I won’t just die—I’ll lose a layer of skin!”

With that, Xiao Yulou and the Lady of the Underworld dismissed their powers, and the two deadly fireballs vanished without a trace.

Gu Mo exhaled in relief, his heart finally settling back into his chest.

Xiao Yulou set aside his writing brush, flicked his robe, and sat by the bed, his tone grave. “Brother Gu, you’ve been unconscious for over ten days.”

At this, Gu Mo’s face drained of color, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “What? Over ten days?! Wasn’t I slaying a dragon? What happened after that?!”

Xiao Yulou let out a deep sigh and began to relate the events in detail.

...

Several minutes later, having learned the full story, Gu Mo frowned in disbelief. “I… I lost my mind again?”

Judging from the expressions on Xiao Yulou and his wife’s faces, Gu Mo knew this was no simple matter. It seemed the red talisman on his chest was the true culprit behind his madness.

Xiao Yulou and the Lady of the Underworld had gone to such lengths precisely to unravel the mystery of that strange sigil.

Xiao Yulou fixed his gaze on Gu Mo and said earnestly, “Brother Gu, you should lie down. Once the Lady of the Underworld and I perform our rituals, perhaps we’ll finally learn the secret of the red talisman.”

Gu Mo rolled his eyes at Xiao Yulou. “You two take a break, will you? As long as that blasted talisman doesn’t mess with my life, who cares if it glows or not!”

Before Xiao Yulou or the Lady of the Underworld could protest, Gu Mo threw on his new clothes, scooped up the sleeping Gluttonous Ghost, and said, “I’m going to the incense shop for a while. Your experiments are enough to scare a man to death!”

Snatching the keys from the nightstand, he headed for the door.

Seeing that Gu Mo’s mind was made up, neither Xiao Yulou nor the Lady of the Underworld tried to stop him. As Gu Mo stepped out, Xiao Yulou’s sigh drifted from the room.

“Sigh… Brother Gu certainly is stubborn.”

...

The night was cool as water, and the moonlight poured down soft and bright.

Gu Mo walked alone through the empty streets, the fresh scent of grass and trees from the greenbelt filling his lungs. The furry warmth of the Gluttonous Ghost in his arms helped soothe his tangled thoughts.

“What a load of nonsense—‘Extraordinary Ones’, ‘Utterly Yin Life Destiny’—who cares! All that matters is running the incense shop and making money!”

Yet even as he muttered defiance, Gu Mo’s heart was full of tangled thoughts.

“Sigh! Ever since I came back to Beihuang Town, I haven’t had a peaceful day…”

He couldn’t help but recall the nine gold bars left by the White-Furred Yellow Fox. Ever since he’d taken over the incense shop, income had been scant, while immortals spent lavishly. Who knew how many gold ingots’ worth of candles it would take to break even!

Lost in thought, Gu Mo finally reached his incense shop. He patted his pockets, only to remember that all his worldly possessions were in the Gluttonous Ghost’s mouth.

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he carefully pried open the ghost’s mouth. By the light, he saw that the heap of trash had vanished, replaced by four tiers of steel shelving. His three Underworld artifacts, his phone, and other belongings sat neatly on the top shelf.

“This must be Xiao Yulou’s handiwork,” he muttered, taking out his phone and heading into the convenience store.

Soon, cigarette dangling from his lips, Gu Mo unlocked the door to the incense shop.

With a click, the lights snapped on.

At the counter stood a tea table made of cypress root, four matching stools tucked beneath it, a water dispenser and a pristine tea set atop the table.

No doubt these were provided by Xiao Yulou—who, for some reason, was obsessed with tea.

Though running away wasn’t the noblest tactic, Gu Mo couldn’t tolerate any more of their bizarre experiments.

Sighing, he set water to boil, brewed some tea, and began examining the Underworld artifacts and three ancient books…

After a long while, a youth dressed in pure white sportswear appeared at the shop door, clearing his throat.

Gu Mo quickly slid the artifacts and books under the counter and looked up.

The newcomer wore stylish, silvery-gray hair down to his shoulders. His skin was flawless, his features sharp and handsome, and his face bore a sunny smile.

One couldn’t help but think that this boy would one day be discovered by a talent scout and enter the world of acting.

He was about five foot ten, his all-white tracksuit spotless, exuding an air of otherworldliness. A hint of unique fragrance clung to him, though Gu Mo couldn’t quite place it.

Seeing a customer arrive, Gu Mo stood up and greeted him with a smile. “How can I help you?”

The youth said nothing, merely licked his chapped lips, stepped inside, and pointed at the incense on the shelf.

Puzzled, Gu Mo took the sandalwood down with a smile, thinking to himself: Hmm… could he be deaf or mute?

Coming to the incense shop so late just for a stick of incense?

He placed the sandalwood on the counter and said, “That’ll be twenty yuan. Do you need anything else?”

Again, the youth licked his lips.

Gu Mo’s mind whirred. He invited the youth to sit at the tea table, rinsed a cup, and poured him fragrant hot tea.

After all, in business, a cup of tea might persuade a customer to linger.

After a few cups, the handsome youth finally met Gu Mo’s eyes and spoke in a magnetic voice.

“Boss, may I ask your name?”

Gu Mo replied with a broad, welcoming smile. “It’s nothing grand—I’m Gu Mo.”

A strange smile flickered across the boy’s lips. He took out an expensive pack of cigarettes, offering one to Gu Mo.

“Boss Gu, may I chat with you?”

Gu Mo glanced at the time on his phone—only nine o’clock. If he went home now, Xiao Yulou would surely rope him into more experiments. With nothing better to do, chatting with a stranger seemed fine.

“Sure. What would you like to talk about?”

The youth smiled faintly, then asked unhurriedly, “Boss Gu, how do you see life?”

Lighting his cigarette, Gu Mo poured his guest another cup of tea. “Life is a kind of purgatory. We’re all born naked, and from the first wail, we have to clench our fists and fight.”

The youth drew deeply on his cigarette, then smiled. “Boss Gu, that’s an original perspective!”

Gu Mo flicked his ash and shook his head. “Nothing original about it, just my own twisted view. We’re just shooting the breeze, aren’t we?”

“Haha!” The youth laughed, polite and unrestrained, then continued, “And how do you view existence itself?”

Gu Mo gave a small smile but inwardly muttered: What’s this kid after?

A stick of incense for twenty yuan, and just because he offered a cigarette, he’s asking all these questions? This is an incense shop, not a fortune-telling stall.

He was already thinking of trying to send the boy on his way.

Who could have guessed that this handsome youth would one day become both foe and friend to Gu Mo…