Chapter 23

Chanting the Prophetic Diagram was neither a huge matter nor a trivial one. But auspiciousness and calamity hinged entirely on that moment. If the omens were inauspicious and not accurate enough, who would ultimately be blamed? Naturally, the one who chanted the diagram.

Not to mention, Lu Dongqing only brought this up right before the ritual began. At this critical juncture, who would dare to rashly agree?

Wu Yinyu certainly wouldn’t. Yet, seeing Lu Dongqing’s current state, he truly wasn’t fit to be the chanter.

Lu Dongqing followed Wu Yinyu’s gaze and saw Yu Zezhi, who had just greeted him. Understanding Wu Yinyu’s hint, he waved his hand dismissively. “Zezhi doesn’t understand these things. She grew up away from here. If it weren’t for what… happened to the Yu family, she wouldn’t have rushed back to Wise City in such a hurry. She probably hasn’t even ‘gone down to the ground’ before.”

“I actually think she knows quite a bit,” Wu Yinyu said, a meaningful smile in her voice.

As she spoke, she actually walked over, leaning against a pillar under the eaves with folded arms, fiddling with her Smoking Pipe. “Elder Lu wants to find someone to help him chant the diagram.”

“Did he ask you?” Yu Zezhi hit the nail on the head.

Wu Yinyu tilted her head, glancing sideways at Lu Dongqing, and lowered her voice. “I can’t possibly agree, can I? This matter shouldn’t fall to me. I can’t shoulder this responsibility.”

“So you come to me?” Yu Zezhi let out a very faint laugh.

Dealing with intelligent people certainly saved mental energy. Wu Yinyu shifted her gaze, her eyes curving as if full of affection. “So, will Boss Yu agree?”

“It doesn’t fall to you, so naturally it doesn’t fall to me. Besides, I don’t know these things,” Yu Zezhi refused rather bluntly.

“I thought you were exceptionally gifted and knew everything,” Wu Yinyu said meaningfully.

Yu Zezhi looked down at Yu Suhan beside her and said calmly, “I must look after Suhan. She’s young and easily frightened. Wouldn’t you agree, Ms. Wu?”

Wasn’t this exactly what Wu Yinyu had questioned in the car earlier? She hadn’t expected this girl to become Yu Zezhi’s shield.

“Fine. I’ll tell Old Man Lu that none of us outsiders can help him,” Wu Yinyu said, her voice slow and soft.

Lu Dongqing seemed to feel that his hope of entrusting this was lost. He lowered his eyes, a heavy gloom in them. Only when another member of the Lu family approached did he suppress the despondency within.

“Grandfather,” the newcomer’s eyes were wide with unconcealed shock. He swallowed nervously and said urgently, “The Second Young Master is back.”

Everyone around turned in astonishment, looking towards the gate, their mouths agape as if they’d swallowed an egg.

Wu Yinyu naturally heard it too. Her steps halted, and she folded her arms, looking towards the gate.

Speaking of Lu Second, he was a man with his own ideas. Years ago, he’d blazed his own trail, learning many forbidden dark arts. He was nearly expelled from the family by Lu Dongqing and later left home voluntarily, claiming he would establish his own path.

Wu Yinyu hadn’t seen this person in four years. After leaving, Second Young Master Lu had never returned to Wise City, acting as if he had completely severed ties with the Lu family.

After a moment, a figure indeed walked in through the gate. It was that prodigal second son, Lu Beicheng.

No one knew if Lu Beicheng had heard the news and returned on his own, or if the Lu family had summoned him. He looked like a changed man, much thinner than the last time she’d seen him.

Everyone was scrutinizing him. He walked forward without a sideways glance and, in front of everyone, knelt down on one knee before Lu Dongqing.

This kneeling caused a collective gasp. Even Wu Yinyu was stunned.

Lu Beicheng didn’t just kneel. He bent forward and kowtowed towards the man in the main seat, his head hitting the floor quite forcefully with a heavy thud.

Lu Dongqing had never anticipated Lu Second returning at this time, nor could he have imagined such a decisive kowtow. He snapped back to his senses, his reddened eyes staring intensely as he quickly stood up.

Lu Beicheng, without a word, performed his third kowtow.

“Beicheng,” Lu Dongqing said.

Lu Beicheng remained kneeling. When he’d left years ago, he’d been clean and neat. Now, his face was covered in stubble, his clothes hardly clean, as if he’d rushed back from sleeping under some bridge.

Those speaking in the distance had all fallen silent, watching the scene under the eaves like spectators at a play.

Lu Beicheng kept his eyes low, silent.

“You’re back?” Lu Dongqing’s expression was complex, a mixture of anger at his failure and pity.

Wu Yinyu figured Yu Zezhi wouldn’t recognize the man kneeling before Lu Dongqing. She leaned over and said slowly, “You probably don’t know this person. That’s Lu Second. He was almost expelled for secretly studying Forbidden Arts, nearly angering Lu Dongqing to death. Lu Dongqing was bedridden and threatened to cast him out.”

“Lu Second?” Yu Zezhi said flatly.

“Mm.” Wu Yinyu’s gaze drifted upwards as she recalled. “Actually, Elder Lu didn’t really want to drive him away. It was just a threat. But Lu Second’s personality is both reckless and stubborn, and very proud. He left without even taking luggage, saying he’d find his own path. Rumor has it he’s been messing with some remarkable things out there, with many people seeking him out for Ghost Raising methods. Ghost Raising… that’s a matter of harming others and oneself, damaging one’s karmic virtue.”

“Then why did he come back?” Yu Zezhi asked, seemingly unconcerned, just making conversation.

“Who knows?” Wu Yinyu watched with keen interest. “Perhaps he heard about the Lu family’s troubles and felt he should return to help.”

Lu Dongqing hadn’t seen his second grandson in a long time. If it weren’t for his harsh words about driving Lu Second away back then, perhaps Lu Second wouldn’t have gone astray. He had blamed himself for a long time before finally finding some peace over the years.

Four years. In these four years, Lu Beicheng hadn’t made a single phone call, nor shown his face to any Lu family member, as if he had truly severed all ties.

In truth, Lu Dongqing had never intended to strike his name from the family register.

Lu Dongqing’s eyes were bloodshot, waves of emotion surging within, clearly on the verge of tears.

“Grandfather,” Lu Beicheng finally spoke. “Your unfilial grandson, Lu Beicheng, has returned.”

Lu Dongqing’s emaciated body swayed backward, nearly collapsing. His hand shot back for support, gripping the pixiu carving on the armrest of his chair, his arm trembling violently.

Lu Beicheng scrambled to his feet to support him, but seemed unable to meet Lu Dongqing’s eyes directly, his gaze slightly averted.

“Good that you’re back.” A line of bitter tears escaped Lu Dongqing’s eyes. He forced a smile, the deep, gully-like wrinkles on his face smoothing slightly as he wiped the tears away. “Good that you’re back.”

Lu Beicheng said hoarsely, “I… I heard about the family matters and rushed back. Thank goodness I made it in time.”

Those nearby heard him clearly and couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves.

Wu Yinyu scoffed quietly, “Lu Beicheng has done so many things that damage his karmic virtue. His karmic obstacles are numerous. What can he help with by coming back? Just not dragging any karmic repercussions over would be good enough.”

Yu Zezhi offered no comment, only saying, “Now we have someone to chant the Prophetic Diagram.”

“That’s true.” Wu Yinyu smirked.

The ritual had to begin at the appointed time. Before Lu Beicheng could even finish exchanging pleasantries with others, someone from the family brought the Prophetic Diagram to him.

The scroll was stored in a Brocade Box half an arm’s length long. The box was wound with a hundred coils of Red Thread, upon which numerous ancient coins were strung, meant to prevent the family heirloom from being defiled by Ghostly Evils.

Someone nearby handed over a Peachwood Dagger. Lu Dongqing took the short blade, made a few gestures over the box, and personally cut the Red String binding it.

He then took that Red String and wound it around Lu Beicheng’s neck, saying, “I leave this matter to you.”

The moment the brocade box was opened, firecrackers exploded outside the gate. The people standing around the altar began scattering Yellow Paper into the air.

A wind came from nowhere, swirling the paper money across the sky.

Lu Dongqing personally took the scroll from the box and handed it to Lu Beicheng.

The scroll was as thick as two of Wu Yinyu’s forearms, clearly containing a great deal of content.

Lu Beicheng carried the scroll to the outside eaves. Kneeling, he placed it on the red carpet. He forcefully pushed one end of the roller open, and the thick Prophetic Diagram unfurled.

The scroll was full of pictures and dense text; chanting it would surely require immense mental and physical effort.

Firecrackers still crackled. Yu Zezhi covered Yu Suhan’s ears.

The thirty-six lamps flickered, their flames swaying in the wind.

Someone carried a wooden ladder over from afar. This ladder was significantly different from ordinary ones. It was made of peachwood, and embedded in each rung were blades gleaming with cold light. If someone were to walk up this, wouldn’t the soles of their feet be pierced through?

Wu Yinyu was quite curious what kind of prophecy the Lu family’s Prophetic Diagram would yield. Leaning against the corridor pillar with keen interest, she said, “Boss Yu, watch carefully. The Soul Summoning begins now.”