Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Grand Mentor

“By the command of Yin and Yang, I drive away evil, avoid taboos, exorcise spirits—be gone!”

Suddenly, a talisman shot straight onto the little ghost’s body. The little ghost let out a piercing, mournful cry.

A Taoist priest in ceremonial robes slowly entered from outside the door.

“Fortunately, my mind was uneasy, so I turned back for another look. At first, I feared that you, a dying man, might harm a new and innocent life. I didn’t expect someone even more powerful would seek to harm you all.”

The Taoist who entered was none other than Fang You. Li Susu, standing before him, was stunned to see him.

“This must be our lucky day, running into a Taoist priest just in time. Please help us deal with this ghost—someone must be after our Susu!” Li Susu’s second uncle struggled to his feet.

“Little ghost, hear my command. Tell me, who sent you here to take lives?” Fang You’s voice was clear and forceful.

“It was Daddy!” The little ghost, upon seeing the Taoist, shrank back in fear.

“Judging by its reaction, this little ghost is not very powerful—likely newly formed,” Fang You thought, watching the terrified spirit.

In fact, the most notorious practitioners of raising little ghosts are the Thai Yin-Yang sorcerers. Raising little ghosts can take many forms: some are benevolent, aiding their masters in forging good connections; some ward off disaster; others attract wealth and fortune.

However, ordinary people or minor sorcerers usually summon spirits with little malice: children who died early, in accidents, or with unfinished lifespans and no place to go. If someone is willing to offer them sustenance, they repay with blessings.

Yet, some powerful Thai masters deliberately cultivate evil child spirits for their own purposes, refining the corpses of babies who died in the womb or shortly after birth—especially those who died with great resentment—using corpse oil and feeding them daily with fresh animal blood to enhance their power.

The one before them was likely from a stillborn fetus, requiring the feeder’s blood as a vow, which would make its power formidable. Having never known its mother, the spirit relies entirely on its feeder as a parent. It can bring ruin, divorce, or even death to those disliked by its master—therefore, one must never provoke those who keep such spirits.

Fortunately, the evil child before them had not yet grown strong, so subduing it would be easy.

Fang You drew the peach-wood sword from his back, pressed a fire talisman to its blade, and chanted, “By the command of fire—be gone!”

A tongue of flame burst from the talisman, catching the little ghost off guard. It was struck and fell to the floor.

“It hurts! It hurts so much!” the little ghost wailed in agony.

“Evil spirits must not be left alive!” Fang You strode toward the ghost, raising his sword.

Suddenly, the little ghost lifted its head and spoke in a deep, resonant voice: “Though you may not know who I am, you appear to be a powerful practitioner of Yin and Yang. I am Master Xilong of the Yin-Yang House, and I beg you to spare this spirit I’ve worked so hard to cultivate.”

Fang You realized that the master was communicating through the little ghost, pleading for mercy.

But Fang You shook his head. “This spirit is still weak, but if allowed to grow stronger, how many more will it harm? It cannot be spared.”

As he spoke, Fang You raised his sword again.

The deep voice from the spirit grew anxious: “If you dare kill my ghost, you make an enemy of the Yin-Yang House. We have dozens of masters—don’t bring trouble upon yourself!”

Fang You only laughed. “Those who walk the path of Yin and Yang have already cast aside thoughts of life and death. If I let this spirit go, my sect, Mount Mao, would be shamed before our peers.”

“You Taoist from Mount Mao! If you kill my ghost, I will unleash ten thousand spirits upon you, and you will—”

Before the threat was finished, Fang You’s sword fell. With a miserable cry, the little ghost vanished into smoke.

“Daddy…!” And then it was gone.

“That bastard truck driver! All we asked for was twenty thousand, and he sends a spirit after us?” the second uncle grumbled.

“Didn’t you say it was ten thousand when you came in? How much did you actually demand? Whatever’s happened, has happened—don’t blame others,” Li Susu said helplessly.

The second uncle, realizing his mistake, retreated to the side, saying nothing more.

Just then, another knock sounded at the door.

Everyone tensed up.

“Is this never going to end?” the second uncle muttered, but dared not approach the door.

Fang You, however, walked calmly to the entrance and gently opened it.

A man and a woman, both with honest faces, stood outside.

“Why is there a Taoist here?” the man muttered.

“That’s odd. I’m sure Li Susu gave me this address,” the woman said, puzzled.

Hearing this, Li Susu hurried to the door. “Hello, you’re here to see my little brother, aren’t you?”

Li Susu quickly welcomed the couple inside. “Hello, Aunt Wang!”

“Call them, little brother!” Li Susu said to her brother while pouring tea.

The second uncle busied himself arranging chairs with a smile. “Sorry for the mess—we’ve been too busy to tidy up.”

“No problem at all. This must be your brother?” The couple walked up to Li Mengbao, beaming. “He’s as adorable as you said!”

“Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie!” Li Mengbao greeted them innocently.

“Good, good, what a sweet child!”

“Would you like to come live with us?” they asked.

Li Mengbao glanced at his busy sister, understanding that staying would only bring her more trouble. He hesitated, then nodded. “I’d like that.”

“Wonderful—just wonderful!” The couple smiled happily.

Standing by the door, Fang You noticed a dark shadow inside the house: a woman’s figure holding an account book.

The woman nodded to Fang You in acknowledgment.

Fang You realized that the shadow was a soul-reaper from the underworld—the very emissary of whom Li Susu had spoken, charged with collecting souls and overseeing life and death.

Seeing that an emissary from the underworld had already arrived, Fang You knew there was nothing more for him to do.

Just then, Fang You’s phone buzzed with a text: “Sir, this is Fang Min. Why aren’t you at Li’an Street yet? We’re all waiting for you.”

“I’ll be there soon,” Fang You replied quickly.

Looking at the happy scene before him, Fang You couldn’t help but think of his own second uncle. Sadly, fate had marked him for solitude—such joys of family life were beyond his reach.

He sighed. Once one chooses the path of Yin and Yang, one must bear a life of hardship and isolation. This is a destiny impossible to escape.

With that thought, Fang You quietly left, gently closing the door behind him, and set off toward Nanshi Gate.