CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 56: PREPARATION

"You understand the principles, and the choice is in your hands, so I won’t say more. You don’t need to worry about me either. The two red candles you got from Yan Daozi are Exorcism Red Candles, leave one with me. I have readers, and maybe I already have a strong Heart Lamp, so I’m not afraid of those evil ghosts."

"Plus, with Yan Daozi’s Eight Diagrams Mirror, Copper Coin Sword, and other items, and if I buy some high-purity vermillion products, arranging a ghost-expelling Feng Shui Formation as described in Yan Daozi’s book should be no problem. I also have Little General. Once it grows into a Great General, not just ghosts, even people won’t dare to approach me."

Sang Wan’s words were all meant to help Sang Que solve her worries, allowing her to bravely pursue what she wanted to do.

However, Sang Que still couldn’t be at ease. Regardless of the Exorcism Red Candle or Exorcism Talismans, they are consumables, and the Eight Diagrams Mirror and Copper Coin Sword also need regular empowerment.

But those talismans borrow the power of the ’Daoist Lord,’ requiring a properly ordained Daoist from that world, or certain Divine followers, to make them.

This is also why she wants Xu Shufen to move over; Grandma Xu should be able to make these things.

"It’s late today, you should rest well. I’ll explain these things in detail to you tomorrow, and in the future, you can tell me your experiences so I can write a good story."

Sang Que got up, hugged Sang Wan, and whispered in her ear, "Mom, I love you."

After speaking, she immediately ran away, leaving Sang Wan alone in the study with a sour nose and hot eyes.

*

That night, Sang Que indeed dreamt of the Nine Netherworld Hell again, plummeting down 109 steps before her not-yet-strong Heart Lamp stabilized her at the 228th step of the Nine Netherworld Third Layer.

One night in Xujiawan Village, her Heart Lamp’s wishing power only increased by 3 points.

The Yin Child also reached the 99th step of the Second Layer, needing just one more step to break through to the Third Layer.

However, breaking through for evil spirits requires certain rituals. Each evil spirit is different, which could relate to unfulfilled wishes from their past life, or a strong desire, which needs to be actively communicated to a Yin Walker.

Sang Que considered her current relationship with the Yin Child and its previous lazy behavior, fearing this unruly kid might remain silent, refusing to tell her.

She can control the soul of the Yin Child but not its mind.

Early the next morning.

As soon as Sang Que woke up, she saw Little Black fighting Little Black.

The family’s black cat and black dog were fighting in the yard, but within two rounds, the black dog, scared by the black cat, tucked its tail and whimpered towards its mom.

Mom said the black cat is female, about a year old, and told Sang Que to take it for a bath, deworming, and vaccination.

After a busy morning, she returned home by noon, where her mom shared some ancient knowledge about cats in the yard, saying that such pure black cats were called ’Black Cloud Howling Iron’ in ancient times.

Fully black, while the belly and paws are white, was called ’Black Cloud Covers Snow’; only the paws are white, called ’Treading Snow to Seek Plum.’

There’s also an entirely black one with a white-tipped tail called ’Black Jade Hanging Pearl.’

When ’Black Jade Hanging Pearl’ was mentioned, the black cat meowed as if it liked the name.

Sang Wan held it up to look, "It seems you like an ancient-style name. Let me think..."

"’Xuan Yu Chucheng dare to use lightly, Wan Li Bao Nang once presented as tribute,’ are two lines comparing ink in the Four Treasures of the Study to Black Jade, illustrating the preciousness of ink. How about calling you Xuan Yu?"

Meow meow~

Xuan Yu meowed happily twice, its bright green eyes glimmering, clearly fond of the name.

"It has great intelligence, it really seems to understand us and can even respond." Sang Wan affectionately rubbed Xuan Yu’s head.

After lunch, Sang Que listened to her mom continue to explain those things on the A4 paper in the study, and the intelligence she needed to collect when going over next time was let her mom enrich her ’story’ world.

Sang Wan couldn’t temporarily analyze which dynasty in Huaxia the other side resembled, asking Sang Que to observe agricultural types, daily tool materials, measurements, official systems, and the best if she could get a map of the Xuan Dynasty next time she went over.

The malfunction and recovery of Sang Que’s Qi Circulation Bracelet during her first crossing and return showed that electronic devices are useless in the Mysterious World, so she couldn’t bring a stun baton or flashlight.

The possibility of bringing items, carrying limits, and bringing living things need further verification.

Also, whether there is a time limit between going and returning needs Sang Que’s careful verification and record.

Sang Wan also prepared a lot of basic ancient knowledge for Sang Que, including time charts, measurement units of various dynasties, letting Sang Que learn a lot of ancient common sense, there might always be something useful.

"When are you planning to go over again next time?" Sang Wan asked during a pause.

Sang Que remained silent for a moment, then said, "Tomorrow night."

Sang Wan was noticeably taken aback, not expecting it so soon, but she understood the reason.

"Okay, I’ll prepare some essential materials for you as soon as possible. Modern gold and silver purity are different from ancient times, you can’t bring it directly. You can exchange brown rice or glutinous rice for money after you go over."

"Regarding weapons, don’t you and Zaozi know how to make hidden weapons? You’ll have to figure it out yourself, if you need money just use my card."

Sang Que nodded, knowing she must be fully armed and well-prepared for the next trip.

"Moreover," Sang Wan paused for a moment, seriously said, "There’s another question you need to think about in advance."

"What?"

Sang Wan seriously said, "The Mysterious World is not modern; it’s a feudal society, with imperial power and class divisions, slavery, oppression, without fairness or justice, even more without legal order. There are evil spirits killing everywhere, people live in fear, indifferent and selfish, people with no bottom line will be everywhere just to survive."

"Ming Zhang’s master could use the village’s summer harvest to threaten villagers into sacrificing an innocent life. For his own survival, Ming Zhang could also ruthlessly kick Old Liu out. In such a broken world, can you hold onto your principles?"

This question, Sang Que really hadn’t thought about it when she was in Black Mountain Village, she didn’t have the mind to consider these, acting only by her own heart.

The word principles didn’t have a concrete concept in Sang Que’s mind. She was just a high school student, bewildered by the future, not knowing what kind of person she should become.

She only knew that for people like Ming Zhang and Yan Daozi, she would have no psychological burden in eliminating them.

But her mom was also right; human nature is complex, and some things aren’t simply judged by right and wrong. She must think carefully in advance about where her bottom line lies to prevent her rationality from being eroded by evil spirits, losing her true self.

"By the way, mom, am I going to school next month?"

Considering she might frequently go in and out of the Mysterious World and both worlds synchronizing, disappearing in the modern world would mean not attending school, right? Wouldn’t it mean she wouldn’t have to write her summer assignments?

Sang Que was secretly delighted!

Sang Wan glanced at Sang Que, "There’s no fried chicken, cola, or spicy hot pot in ancient times, no mobile games or short videos, they ate mixed grain rice and wild vegetable pancakes, might not even have meat all year."

"Going to the bathroom meant using a dry toilet in the wild, wiping with leaves, no sanitary pads during your period, not bathing for years, lice growing on your head, and over there, you’d be a pauper without a penny, are you sure you can live there long-term?"

Sang Que suddenly deflated, thinking about those three days in Black Mountain Village, she didn’t wash her face or brush her teeth, her stomach was always hungry, and other embarrassments... it’s indeed not suitable for a long stay.

Sang Wan said, "You’re not going to settle there, you’re going to survive better, to gain knowledge and power, to explore your origins, and you have to live in the modern world in the future."

"As your guardian, I can apply for a sick leave for you, but it would be best if you can stick to school, at least get your high school diploma, right? If you can manage to go only on weekends and holidays, and attend school at other times, that’d be best."

Sang Que dropped her head, it seemed she still had to write that summer homework!

But, it’s not urgent. The Mid-Autumn Festival is on August 18, and after solving the Black Mountain Village issue and asking Kou Yushan about her biological mother and Witch Lady, she could return.

By then, there’d be at least 10 days to do her assignments. Hmm, that should be enough!

"Okay, Little Que, time is tight and tasks are heavy, let’s each prepare now!"