Chapter Sixty-Two: The Cripple’s Mischief

“Yes, that’s right. Oh, yes, my name is Lin Tianjian. Yes, that’s correct…” As he spoke these words, the soul visible to the naked eye grew much more stable, its outline sharper and clearer. He scrutinized me, then glanced at Li Nanhua, but said nothing further.

“Lin Yi, there is an edict written on the yellow paper. Recite it as I taught you, just as it is written, and everything will be fine!” Daoist Li spoke while using talismans to control the offering table before me, protecting my grandfather’s soul.

The ghostly wind did not cease, growing ever stronger.

Above us, black clouds churned in the sky, as if heralding a change in weather.

I nodded and began to recite.

“All beings of the ghostly path, taught without distinction, I, in the name of the Ancestor of the Ghostly Way, under the command of Heaven and Earth, hereby confer upon Lin Tianjian the power to command the beasts of the mountains, bestow wisdom upon the rocky crevices for the benefit of all living things, to be the righteous god who shakes the mountains of the Old Boundary Ridge…”

The edict was lengthy. When I finished, the wind and clouds changed; the black clouds pressed lower and lower, obscuring the once luminous moon.

Immediately, I prepared to burn the edict as an offering to heaven.

Yet before the paper could be set aflame, a gust of ghostly wind swept it away. Li Nanhua, sensing danger, slapped the offering table, spun around, drew a yellow talisman, and shouted angrily.

“Gold, wood, water, earth—let the five elements summon fire! By order!”

With a swift sound, the yellow talisman shot out.

It collided with the edict, igniting with a whoosh, and in an instant, both talisman and edict turned to ashes, swept skyward by the raging wind.

Li Nanhua and I focused our gaze on my grandfather.

The ritual was complete, but whether the god-sealing had succeeded was uncertain. Such matters are mysterious, intangible, and only time would reveal their effect.

My grandfather stood unmoving, murmuring to himself that he was Lin Tianjian…

The clouds shrouded the moon; lightning darted through the sky, and distant thunder rumbled overhead. Seeing this, Li Nanhua remarked, “This is bad. We invoked the names of Heaven and Earth for the god-sealing, but could not conceal it from the Heavenly Way. Such omens mean a calamity is descending upon you, Lin Yi!”

“Go back to the Mountain God Temple. Now that the ritual is complete, I’ll stay here and guard your grandfather’s soul,” Li Nanhua continued.

“But my grandfather, and Grandpa Niu…”

“Lin Yi, leave everything here to me. Don’t worry! With the sky in turmoil, if you linger here without hiding, danger awaits. Go quickly—the Mountain God Temple is protected by your grandfather’s wards, which may obscure your fate and offer a sliver of hope. Otherwise, you may face eternal doom!”

As he spoke, Li Nanhua pulled out a dozen yellow talismans from his pocket. “These talismans, inscribed with your birth date, are lightning-avoidance charms I prepared for you. Smear some blood from your fingertip on them—if thunder strikes, throw a talisman, and it may divert the lightning!”

Meanwhile, in the clouds above, the thunder and lightning grew ever more fierce. After several crashes of thunder, the lightning turned blood-red, winding like a crimson dragon, fierce and terrifying.

Just then, Weiyang and the Flower Maiden returned.

They had not found the one who acted in secret. Now, Weiyang saw the strange omen and said, “Lin Yi, this is a killing calamity—it will bring eternal damnation. Hurry, go!”

“Yes, there’s no time to waste. Weiyang, get Lin Yi back to the Mountain God Temple!” Li Nanhua urged.

“Flower Maiden, stay and help Daoist Li. Lin Yi, let’s go!” Weiyang transformed into a scarlet shadow, appeared before me, and grabbed my wrist.

I looked to Li Nanhua, who nodded firmly. I took the talismans and quickly left Duanhun Cliff with Weiyang.

Weiyang saw the talismans in my hand and said, “These are lightning-avoidance charms. Lin Yi, give me a few—we’ll split up, it’ll be safer.”

There was no time to hesitate.

I handed her five talismans. She said, “Meet me at the temple gate!”

“Alright!”

With that, Weiyang vanished into the woods on one side, and I, clutching the remaining talismans, dashed toward the Mountain God Temple.

The mountain path was rugged. The temple was not far, but not immediately accessible.

I quickened my pace, feeling something following behind me. I glanced back but saw no one.

Thinking carefully, perhaps the one who stirred the ghostly wind during the ritual was now tailing me?

I grew alert, running toward the temple while keeping watch on the forest.

The sense of being followed was unmistakable.

Suddenly, a scarlet light spread across the sky, turning the valley blood-red. I looked up to see a column of crimson lightning slicing through the clouds and plummeting downward. Its force could easily flatten a hill, let alone kill me.

I immediately grabbed a talisman, planning to stick it to a nearby pine, then flee as far as possible. But as I reached out, a gust of ghostly wind swept the talisman from my hand, and a spectral flame appeared from nowhere, reducing it to ash.

When I turned, about ten meters away stood a man dressed as a Daoist. The scarlet lightning illuminated the earth as bright as daylight. I did not recognize him, nor did I know why he blocked my path and destroyed my charm.

The lightning was about to strike, and I had nowhere to hide. I drew another talisman, tried to stick it to a stone, but again, as soon as it touched, it burned to ash.

“Lin Yi, you are nothing but a wild bastard, never meant to exist. Now you dare to attempt god-sealing? How arrogant! Did you think a few talismans would let you escape Heaven’s wrath? Ha… How naïve. Prepare to be turned to dust!” the Daoist sneered, and I knew instantly who he was.

That voice was unmistakable—it was the limping Ma. I never imagined he’d still be alive. Judging by his body, he must have possessed a Daoist’s corpse, borrowing it for another round of soul transference.

With the scarlet lightning about to strike, I ignored him and, seeing he was not far off, gritted my teeth and charged toward him.

I thought, since I can't escape the lightning, I'll let him taste it with me.

Ma saw me coming, smirked coldly, spun swiftly, and escaped into the woods.

Just then, the lightning descended. But as the scarlet bolt plunged down, it suddenly changed direction, crashing into the forest not far away.

A deafening explosion echoed across the hills.

The earth shook, heat waves rolled out, and grass and trees quivered.

My heart sank, for that direction was where Weiyang had gone. At the critical moment, she had drawn the lightning away for me. I wondered how she fared now.

Worried, I shouted into the distant woods, “Weiyang!”

But the distance was too great; there was no response. I could only sprint toward the Mountain God Temple. If I could reach it, Weiyang could discard her talismans and join me safely. If I sought her now, it would only attract more lightning and put her in greater danger.

After the first strike, a second lightning column followed.

This one looked even more terrifying than before, descending like a massive electric net, threatening to swallow the entire mountain.

Before it struck, I buried a talisman in the ground, digging a hole and covering it with earth. I doubted Ma could burn it now.

After burying it, I quickly retreated. About half a minute later, the crimson lightning converged and struck where the talisman lay. The surrounding forest was scorched; fires broke out in some places.

These lightning strikes were truly formidable—any one would mean certain death.

Yet the first two seemed only probing. Afterward, the clouds churned even fiercer, forming a vast, snarling web, with thunderbolts crashing down one after another.

Several bolts were drawn elsewhere in the woods. I knew Weiyang was still there, though her safety was uncertain, and my mind was uneasy.

I darted through the woods, nearing the temple, when I noticed red strings stretched between the trees.

I didn’t know what these were, but tried to pass through. Yet, despite just a few strings and trees, I couldn’t get through.

“Lin Yi, you escaped by luck before, but now with my Heart-Piercing Array, let’s see how you get out…” Ma’s voice echoed around me, though I could not see him.

“Is that so? Your Heart-Piercing Array?” I retorted.

Glancing at the sky, inspiration struck. Seeing the lightning about to descend, I quickly took a yellow talisman and stuck it onto the red string.

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