Chapter 19: The First Invocation of the Immortal

"Auntie, we just came to visit you and Uncle," the two men explained hurriedly.

"Don't give me that bull, just get to the point, then get the hell out," Grandmother retorted without a hint of politeness, her face full of annoyance.

The two men blushed, standing there in embarrassment.

After entering the house, Yang Guangcai immediately knelt down and said, "Uncle Seven, we have a matter we'd like to ask for your and Auntie's help with."

"You little punk, didn't you just come to visit us two old folks? Why is there suddenly a 'matter'?" Grandmother raised her head, displeased.

Yang Guangcai’s words were interrupted, and his face turned even redder.

"Alright, Cuihua, they are our own people, don't make it hard for the younger generation." Grandfather turned to look at Yang Guangcai and said, "Speak. Let's see if it's something I can handle."

Li Changfeng stepped forward, bowing his head and lowering his voice, "Uncle Seven, Young Brother Yang and I invested in a project in the provincial capital. On the first day of construction, the excavator dug up a massive snake."

Grandmother looked up, her expression changing instantly. She stared at Li Changfeng and asked, "What happened? Get to the point."

Li Changfeng blushed and stammered, "The snake blocked the excavator and wouldn't let us dig. The site manager had been drinking, so he drove the machine and crushed the snake to death."

I noticed that Grandmother’s complexion had turned very poor.

She glared at the pair and said, "Get lost, both of you. Just because you have a little money, you come here acting tough? You’ll bring ruin upon yourselves." Grandmother had turned hostile.

"No, no, no, Auntie, you have to help your nephew. I gave my word to the old man before I left; if this investment fails, I’ll lose everything." Li Changfeng slumped, his stature seeming to shrink, and he began to plead with a mournful face.

"Sigh, what’s happening now?" Grandfather sighed and asked.

"One dead, two gone insane. One of the ones who went insane is from the Wu family," Li Changfeng replied immediately.

"The Wu family from Qinglian County?" Grandfather asked suspiciously.

"Yes, that’s the one. My second brother secretly helped me hire them, but the very night they performed the ritual, they went mad." Li Changfeng’s face was filled with terror and regret.

"Serves you right. The Red Decree vengeful spirits are coming to collect their debt in such a hurry—just one death so far? There’s much more to come!" Grandmother’s tone was icy.

Li Changfeng looked at Grandmother with a desolate face, his eyes full of entreaty, "Auntie, you can’t just stand by. My project..."

Grandfather interrupted him, his tone tinged with reproach, "Listen, Li boy, you’re not stupid or wicked, so why did you do such a foolish thing?"

He continued, "If this matter isn't settled, forget about your project—whether you’ll even make it back to Yunhan alive is a question. You must know that here in the Northeast, if you aren't filial to your parents and don't respect the Old Immortals, you’ll die without even knowing how."

Li Changfeng squatted at the edge of the kang, clutching my grandfather’s leg, and started to cry, "Uncle Seven, save me! I don’t want to die. I have elderly parents and young children; my whole family relies on me."

"Crying, crying... you know how to be afraid now, but what were you doing before? Coming to the Northeast, drinking a little swill, and daring to act big in front of the Immortals. Did you think you were still in Yunhan, where your Li family is the biggest?" Grandmother remarked sarcastically from the side.

Grandfather interrupted her, "That's enough. I’ll go with you and see what can be done. But remember, if the Old Immortal won't back down, even if your father came, I couldn't help you."

"Thank you, Uncle Seven! Thank you, Uncle Seven!" Li Changfeng immediately beamed, then looked at Grandmother with expectation in his eyes.

Grandfather added, "Cuihua, you come with me too. The Chang family isn't easy to deal with. With you there, things might go more smoothly."

"A leopard doesn't change its spots, you trouble-makers!" Grandmother was still fuming, clearly having no love for these two. Yet, she agreed to Grandfather’s request.

"Yes, yes, Auntie is right to scold us. We younger ones are just causing you trouble." Li Changfeng kept his words sweet, trying to ease the tension.

"Little Fangyuan, come with us to gain some experience," Grandfather said before heading out.

My heart surged with joy. Having just embarked on this path, gaining experience was beneficial, and with Grandmother by my side, this was a trial protected by an Immortal.

I immediately brought Grandmother’s shoes to help her put them on. She said, "Go get my gear."

I went to the cabinet and took out the leather drum. As I held it, a sense of familiarity washed over me; the drumhead and the coins attached to it were warm to the touch.

In the car, Grandmother was silent. I sat beside Li Changfeng, observing him. He was a smooth talker with a ruddy complexion.

Grandmother’s small handbook contained physiognomy formulas—the secret arts of my great-grandfather—but I couldn't see anything wrong with him.

Grandmother seemed to sense my confusion and said, "Little Fangyuan, remember: physiognomy isn't about looking at the surface. Look at him." She pointed at Li Changfeng’s face, "A short neck and sunken cheeks; if he doesn't die, he’s a plague."

Li Changfeng looked at us in shock. Grandmother continued, "A face as red as a raging fire, a short life and an early demise."

I looked at Li Changfeng’s face and realized instantly: his face wasn't glowing with health, it was a deep, ominous crimson. Distinguishing the two was difficult and relied entirely on experience.

Li Changfeng’s face turned deathly pale, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he stammered, "Auntie, my father said that a single word of guidance from you could save ten years of wasted effort. Please, help me this time."

"Shut up. I’m teaching my grandson; I can’t afford to shoulder your karmic debts," Grandmother snapped.

Li Changfeng turned away, embarrassed, and remained quiet for the rest of the journey.

We finally arrived that night.

"Little Si, get the electricity running!" Li Changfeng shouted.

Grandfather waved his hand and told Li Changfeng, "No need. Have everyone withdraw from here. Leave the rest to us."

Relieved of his command, Li Changfeng complied, and the vehicles drove off one by one.

"Old man, this little punk from the Li family didn't tell us the truth," Grandmother said, annoyed.

"Sigh, if he had told the truth, would you have come?" Grandfather sighed. He gripped his cloth bag with one hand and walked to the edge of the pit, staring down. "Let's test the waters first."

Grandfather patted my head and said, "Little Fangyuan, remember: everything has its source. As long as we haven't done anything wrong, we have nothing to fear from them."

I nodded and looked quietly into the bottom of the pit.

"Don't worry about who they are. As long as your conscience is clear, keep your back straight. If they don't submit, fight!" Grandfather added.

"I understand, Grandfather."

Grandmother arranged the offerings on the ground and lit three sticks of incense. Then she said to me, "You do it. I’ll hold the line for you."

I immediately opened the cloth bundle, walked to the offerings, and started to tap the drum gently.

Mimicking Grandmother’s rhythm and style, I began to chant:

"Crowned by the Seven Stars on tiles of glaze, standing on eight-sided bricks of gold. Feet on the earth, head to the heavens. Step forward in sequence, stand firm in the camp. Set out the altar and invite the Immortals. First the Fox, then the Yellow, invite the Chang, the Python, and the Spirit Mink with the Sorrow King..."

Grandfather’s eyes remained fixed on the pit.

There was a circular hole more than a meter wide, and a cold draft was continuously wafting out from within.

As I continued to chant, a small head suddenly emerged from the hole.