Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 60
>Chapter Title: Jumping the Great God
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Chapter 60: Jumping the Great God
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> The sun slowly shifted westward, and a village by the roadside gradually came into view, with houses of varying heights scattered about.
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> "See? This is the village I was talking about." Li Zhi, a grin on his face, pointed at the expanse of black-tiled roofs ahead before striding right in.
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> "Come with me. There's an old friend of mine here—we can stay at his place for free."
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> Watching his receding figure, Li Huowang gave a light wave of his hand, and the two donkey carts followed into the village.
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> As they walked along the dirt path between the houses, Li Huowang and the others glanced around at the quiet surroundings.
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> Strangely, there was no sign of anyone in the fields or courtyards.
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> "What's going on? Where are all the villagers?" Li Huowang wondered to himself.
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> Just as the thought crossed his mind, Li Zhi poked his head around a corner ahead, his weathered face brimming with excitement.
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> "Hey!! Come quick! There's a show over here! Looks like the father-in-law's sneaking with his daughter-in-law!! Her face is all scratched up—it's intense!"
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> "Sneaking with his daughter-in-law? What's that mean?" No one answered Li Huowang's question. He turned and saw the others looking awkward, Bai Lingmiao blushing and lowering her head.
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> "Senior Brother Li, let's not butt in. That's their family business."
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> Li Huowang shot her a puzzled glance before striding toward Li Zhi.
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> Rounding the corner, the scene opened up: men, women, and children dressed like farmers crowded three deep around a house's entrance. Li Zhi stood at the edge, on tiptoes and leaning on someone's shoulder to peer in.
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> So that's where everyone in the village had gone—they'd all rushed over to gawk.
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> "What's sneaking with his daughter-in-law?" Li Huowang asked, coming up beside Li Zhi.
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> "The father-in-law banging his daughter-in-law—don't tell me they call it something else where you're from? Who are you, anyway?" Li Zhi eyed him up and down in disbelief.
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> After the explanation, Li Huowang was speechless. No wonder Bai Lingmiao had reacted like that.
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> "Ah~!!" A piercing shriek erupted from the crowd's center, and the onlookers buzzed, stumbling back in a wide circle.
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> Through the gap, Li Huowang glimpsed something odd inside.
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> A naked woman, her limbs twisted like a snake's, coiled atop a square eight-immortal table, shrieking and shuddering.
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> "Oh no, that's not it—looks like she's possessed instead." Li Zhi slapped his thighs in annoyance and shoved his way in.
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> "Excuse me, make way! I'm the shaman here—make way! Hiss, who stepped on my foot?!"
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> Seeing this, Li Huowang, who had started to turn away, paused. "He's going to handle the exorcism his way?"
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> After squeezing through the crowd, Li Zhi glanced around and waved at Li Huowang. "Daoist! Hurry over—what're you standing there for?"
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> Li Huowang thought for a moment before pushing into the crowd himself.
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> This guy seemed a bit unreliable—perfect chance to gauge his skills.
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> If he was just a small-timer, no point dragging him into his troubles; better not risk Danyangzi devouring him like the Buddha.
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> Up close in the center, the woman on the table looked even more off.
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> Her pretty phoenix eyes had no pupils at all, and she seemed to have five layers of eyelids.
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> Beside her stood an old man and a young one, faces clawed to shreds—they had to be the victims.
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> "Daoist, what do you think? You handle it, or me?" Li Zhi whispered in his ear.
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> "Or we team up—you ask for more money after, we split it even. Keeps the shaman code intact."
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> "No need. I'm not good at exorcisms—you do it." Li Huowang refused outright; he wasn't anyway.
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> Li Zhi looked stunned. "You're messing with me, right? You can't even drive off evil spirits? You some fake Daoist?"
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> "Get to it—she's about to twist her bones apart." Li Huowang pointed at the woman on the table.
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> The woman, once coiled, had bitten through her lip, blood dripping down her chin, her joints cracking audibly.
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> "Regular folk aren't as distant from this stuff as I thought—they just lump it all under 'possession,'" Li Huowang mused.
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> "What if Li Zhi hadn't been around today? What then?" He watched Li Zhi negotiating with the victims.
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> Surveying the shabby farm tools, the mud-caked bare feet, the careworn faces of old and young—the answer was simple, brutal.
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> These things were like illness for the poor: nurse the small ones, tough out the big ones, die if you can't.
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> "Cough cough~!" A cough hushed the crowd's murmurs.
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> "Thump~!" Li Zhi tapped the old drum at his waist with a small stick, sending a shiver through everyone present.
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> "Thump! Thump! Thump!" "Calling~ the~ spirits~~!"
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> The shout, deep and piercingly high, drowned out all other sounds.
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> Li Huowang glanced outside—the red sky was fading, silent night closing in.
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> "Sun sets in the west~ night falls, alas~~! Dragon returns to the sea, tiger to the hills~ Dragon to sea brings the rain~ Tiger to hills needs its rest~~ hey hey~~"
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> As Li Zhi chanted in rhythm with the drum, the unremarkable second spirit beside him began to tremble—her red veil and colorful cloth strips quivering along.
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> "Crown of seven stars, glazed tiles above; feet on eight ridges, purple gold bricks below. Feet draw from earth, head touches the sky. Stride in linked steps, stance firm on the camp. Incense and drum call the old immortal~~"
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> Li Zhi drummed on, lit several sticks of incense, and circled the woman on the table, planting them.
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> The disheveled woman bared her teeth like a beast, lunging—only to yelp and recoil at the white smoke.
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> The smoke didn't dissipate; it swirled slowly through the room, soon hazing everything.
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> Li Huowang's eye twitched; inexplicable irritation rose. Scanning the normal surroundings, he frowned, pinched his neck, and stepped back.
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> "Gulp~!" The woman under the red veil stirred for the first time—with a burp, and rustling from beneath.
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> The crowd flinched, scattering farther; some faint-hearts bolted home before full dark.
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> Hearing the burp, Li Zhi glanced back and kept drumming and chanting.
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> "Old immortals~ I know you're coming, no fuss no fight, full of might and killer vibe, or just a bit~~"
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> "House is small, tight squeeze, bumps and scrapes aplenty—gentlefolk are fine, but small minds bring strife~~ hey~~"
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>(End of chapter)