Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Burning the Heavenly Ladder, Ascending the Heavenly Road!
Translator: 549690339
“Master Xu, is there any way you can keep my father in the mortal world?”
Hearing this, Wan Baolu was the first to jump up, extremely excited, wanting Xu Yang to perform a ritual to keep the old man’s spirit.
On the other hand, his older brother appeared calm. With gray hair and wearing glasses, he thoughtfully asked, “Master Xu, what does it mean to harm heaven and dissipate Yin virtues?”
“Ms. Wan, you are educated, so you should understand it better than me.”
Xu Yang said: “Humans and ghosts walk different paths, divided by Yin and Yang. My suggestion is to send the old gentleman to the Underworld Palace. Whether to continue as a ghost or be reborn is up to the Underworld Palace.”
Wan Qian became anxious, her eyes red: “Master Xu, can you help my grandpa stay here? 1 know that you are a remarkable person with great divine powers, and don’t you have two female ghosts living in your house?”
“Can you compare yourself to me?”
“I am a Daoist with cultivation, but what do you have?”
Xu Yang bluntly said: “The old man’s spirit is too weak. If he stays in your house like this, he will not last more than seven days before his soul disperses. To keep him here, you have to make his Yin Body stronger!”
“At that time, though he could stay, the release of Yin energy would affect your bodies… Over time, it will bring various diseases and disasters, and 1 believe the old man wouldn’t want to see that.”
These words were not false.
Ordinary people encountering ghosts once or twice might fall seriously ill.
If you live with a ghost day and night, it’s no different from committing slow suicide.
“I understand that you want to show filial piety to the elderly.”
“But 1 don’t think this way of showing respect is wise… When the old man was alive, it would have been better to spend more time and show more care for him. After his death, visit and clean his grave frequently, and burn more money for him, rather than trapping his ghost at home.”
After a brief discussion, the four members of the Wan family made up their minds.
Wan Qian’s father asked: “Master Xu, so… How do we send my father away? Do we need to conduct a ritual?”
“He’s not an evil ghost, and he doesn’t have much negative energy. It’s not that troublesome.”
Xu Yang retrieved a yellow paper from his storage space.
It was the paper he used for talisman practice.
He asked Wan Qian to bring scissors and cut the yellow paper into a paper ladder.
As he cut the paper, he explained: “This is a Daoist technique handed down in my lineage. It’s based on some folklore… This technique is called ‘Ascending Ladder,’ which can send lost souls to the Underworld.”
The saying “Ascending Ladder” has a long history in Chinese folklore.
According to customs, the 49 days after a person dies is the intermediate stage for the deceased. Their consciousness in the mortal world has not been completely severed, meaning they are not yet aware that they’re dead or have fully become a ghost.
According to customs, on the night of the first seven days, the family will prepare a bowl of clean water and a bowl of grains for the deceased at the door. They will go to sleep early and not investigate any noise heard during the night. After the first seven days, they will burn a ladder-shaped object so the soul can ascend to heaven via the ladder.
The purpose of placing clean water is to let the deceased wash off the dust, eliminate disasters, and set off with peace of mind.
Placing the five grains is meant to ward off evil spirits and avoid bad luck.
It has been eight years since the old man passed away.
The method of handling a returning lost soul is slightly different.
After cutting the paper ladder, Xu Yang asked Wan Qian to bring an iron basin.
He took the incense burner from the paper man and placed it in front of the iron basin. He lit three more sticks of incense, bowed, and chanted:
“Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, Yin and Yang are separated by time and space, so living together is a luxury… Humans and ghosts walk different paths, divided by Yin and Yang. Old gentleman, your wish has been fulfilled; it’s time to move on.”
He took out the paper ladder and Wan Baolu quickly handed him a lighter.
However, Xu Yang didn’t use the lighter and simply flicked his finger.
With a whoosh, a flame arose from his fingertips, setting the paper ladder ablaze.
The next moment, the smoke from the burning incense rose and gathered in mid-air without dispersing, turning into a ladder with a faint halo. One end of the ladder was in front of Xu Yang, and the other end extended outwards.
It seemed both real and unreal. Even though it was right in front of them, it gave people a sense of space-time dislocation, as if the other end had entered a different space and time altogether.
Xu Yang unfolded the drawing, followed the ritual, lit it, and threw it into the iron pan.
As the drawing burned, a wisp of Yin energy rose with the smoke and transformed into the figure of the old man. He waved to the four members of the Wan family, took a step onto the ladder, walked further and further away, until he disappeared.
The four from the Wan family wailed loudly. When the “heavenly ladder” dissipated, they gradually quieted down.
Xu Yang picked up the incense burner on the ground and instructed, “This paper model has been contaminated with the old man’s Yin energy, it’s not auspicious to keep it in your home. Remember to burn it as soon as possible… Also, I charge for my services when 1 go out.”
In this line of work, some money was inevitable.
This was a custom, a rule, and it also had its taboos.
Xu Yang calculated the cost— one paper model, six sticks of incense… Of course, the most expensive part was his labor.
“I also know Dr. Wan… So, I’ll give you an auspicious price, 8888 dollars.”
Wan Qian immediately transferred 8888 dollars, and her father took out another 50,000 dollars in cash.
“I can’t accept payment without merit; Mr. Wan, your daughter has already paid.”
Xu Yang waved his hand, indicating refusal.
Wan Baolu took the money and forcefully stuffed it into Xu Yang’s hand, saying, “Master Xu, please accept it… This was my grandpa’s intention. He came back this time because he hid a bankbook and didn’t have time to tell us.”
“The bankbook has more than 200,000 dollars, which my grandpa saved over the years… He instructed us to take out 50,000 dollars as a token of gratitude for you.”
“Since it’s the old man’s last wish, 1’11 accept it.”
Xu Yang took the money.
Wan Baolu called for a ride to take Xu Yang back.
He drove a Land Rover, looking very wealthy. In the car, Wan Baolu mentioned his media company.
“Master Xu, over the past few years, short videos and live streaming have become popular. 1 happened to start this company, signed some hosts… I’ve made some money, but 1 always feel like there’s no major breakthrough in my career.”
“Master Xu, do you think it’s a problem with the geomancy?”
He wanted to invite Xu Yang to his company to help check the geomancy, and he was willing to pay a high price.
“In my Daoist school, we specialize in catching ghosts and warding off evil. As for the art of geomancy, I only know a little bit.”
Xu Yang laughed: “However, 1 do know that the end goal of live streaming is to sell products… Maybe, Mr. Wan, you can try that.”
“Selling products?”
Wan Baolu thought about it and said, “Does your store have any consecrated bracelets or statues… Could I please get one?”
“That’s a Buddhist method.”
Xu Yang couldn’t help but laugh: “i practice Daoism, and we are good at drawing talismans. I will draw you a Safety Talisman and a Wealth Attraction Talisman later.”
Soon after.
They arrived at the funeral store.
As soon as Xu Yang got out of the car, he saw a black SUV parked at the entrance of the store.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly.
He was familiar with this SUV; he had seen it before on the banks of the Yellow River. It belonged to the Spirits Management Bureau.
Entering the funeral store.
As expected, Wang Lin and Bai Wei were standing nervously in a corner.
Liu Shishi sat in a chair, speaking indifferently, “You people from the Spirits Management Bureau have some nerve trying to covet me time and time again… Don’t you think I’m an easy target, to manipulate as you please?”