Chapter 214: Chapter 212: White Water Daoist Master
“Is there no heavy object dragging at the bottom of the water?” Shen Luo pondered for a moment before asking.
“There is neither heavy object dragging nor aquatic plants hindering, nothing at all. Precisely because it is a bit unusual, combined with the recent unrest in the city, various rumors have emerged. Now the Shui Nuan Pavilion is almost regarded as a haunted house, and the business has plummeted.” Bai Xiaotian shook his head as he spoke.
From the beginning, the Bai family didn’t pay much attention to this. After all, the banks of Qinhuai River are prone to troubles. Every year, there are about ten to twenty people who fall into the water due to drunkenness, despair, or in an act of love revenge.
Even if it happens to their own family, usually some silver is used to appease the government officials, then a guest official Taoist priest is sent to perform a ceremony. Regardless of the existence of evil spirits or not, as long as they make a show of it for guests and the common people to see, the incident can be easily suppressed.
However, the drowning incidents are happening one after another, like dumplings dropping in a pot, which is really hard to suppress. Rumors in the neighborhood are now spreading, claiming that Shui Nuan Pavilion houses ghostly specters. The three people died unjustly, their corpses were bound by resentment, hence they float instead of drifting away.
“I also plan to go out and take a look, let’s go together.” Shen Luo said.
...
“That’s good.” Bai Xiaotian’s eyes sparkled slightly, a hint of a smile appeared on his face.
The two had just stepped out of the room when they heard a flurry of hurried footsteps outside. Soon, the maid, Green Sleeve, rushed in with a panic-stricken face, repeatedly crying out:
“Bad… bad news, Young Master, it’s really bad… ”
At these words, Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian glanced at each other, a hint of gloom crossing their faces.
“What happened? Speak slowly.” Bai Xiaotian asked in a deep voice.
“The head cashier of the west city’s Fashan Silk Shop visited his beloved Miss Shuiyuan at the Shui Nuan Pavilion last night, but this morning, his body was found floating in the same place as the previous three in the river.” Green Sleeve’s face paled slightly as she gasped for breath.
Bai Xiaotian sighed inwardly and silently walked towards the front door of the courtyard. Shen Luo touched his nose and followed him.
“Young Master, the carriage is ready and waiting outside the gate…” Green Sleeve quickly caught up with them a few steps and shouted on her tiptoes.
…
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The speed of the carriage within the city was limited, so it took almost half a moment to arrive at the Shui Nuan Pavilion.
Shen Luo stepped down from the carriage and looked up. Before him, there was a thirty or forty bosses, standing tall at the red gate tower. Above were delicately carved and painted beams, depicting scenes of birds orienting towards the phoenix and flowers contending in the spring.
Stepping through the entrance and after a few steps, there is a grand three-story tower. There are colored glaze tiles making up the flying eaves between each floor of the tower, and underneath there are bright red lanterns hanging, presenting a vivid color.
Inside the tower, there is a golden hall. In the central position, there is a large twelve-fold screen, with a stage made by white jade, fenced by the railings. On the left and right, there are stairs leading to the second floor.
The Shui Nuan Pavilion, which is usually bustling with customers, is relatively quiet today, with very few people to be seen. Only a middle-aged woman dressed in purple satin is quietly reprimanding a few servants, ordering them not to talk to outsiders about the Shui Nuan Pavilion.
Seeing Bai Xiaotian and Shen Luo entering, the woman immediately put away her worried expression, went up to greet them and gave a bow.
Shen Luo observed her for a moment and saw her good looks and exquisite figure. The fine lines that could not be concealed by the powder at the corners of her eyes hinted at her age. Judging by her manners and demeanor, it was apparent that she was the senior maid here.
“Young Master, I’m glad you’ve arrived.” The middle-aged woman, apparently reassured by their presence, pulled out her handkerchief from around her waist and wiped the corners of her eyes as she spoke.
“Aunt Feng, where is the body?” Bai Xiaotian asked directly.
“His body was left by the waterside in the backyard and not brought into the house. The government officials conducted their investigation and already left. The White Water Daoist is currently there,” Aunt Feng briefly explained, not daring to say more.
Bai Xiaotian said nothing and headed towards the screen.
Shen Luo followed him past the screen and out through the gate at the back.
The Shui Nuan Pavilion was built facing the Qinhuai River, and in the backyard was a small dock. In the past, flower boats would be moored there for honored guests to enjoy the river views with their female companions.
But now, beside the river lay the corpse of a portly man dressed as a wealthy merchant, quietly lying in the shadow of the tower. Standing next to him was a thin, old man with high cheekbones, sunken cheeks, wearing a gray-white Taoist robe.
Not far from there, over the river, hanged a three-hole stone arch bridge. It was strikingly engraved with the three characters “Zhenhuai Bridge” beneath the middle of its railing.
At one end of the bridge stood a mythical beast that resembled a unicorn rhinoceros which protects the river. It stood on a stone pedestal, only about the height of a person. After enduring years of weathering, it was covered in green moss and left with patches and traces of wear everywhere.
Around this beast, and on the entire bridge, stood many townspeople. Their faces expressed a mix of curiosity, fear, repulsion and inexplicable excitement as they pointed and murmured amongst themselves in hushed tones.
Shen Luo scrutinized the man’s corpse. The body was already swollen from immersion, its visible skin reflecting a cyan hue. Even though the corpse’s expression seemed fairly peaceful, Shen Luo could sense an ominous aura emanating from it.
“Greetings, master,” Bai Xiaotian moved forward and gave a respectful bow to the thin old Daoist.
Shen Luo reciprocated with a fist-and-palm salute in respect.
“Young Master, you’re here,” the Old Daoist also gave them a bow with a frown on his face.
“What is the situation now?” Bai Xiaotian asked.
“Same as the people before. The forensic examiners said they all drowned, Poor Daoist found no anomalies,” The White Water Daoist sighed and said.
“Do you have an idea when he might have died?” Bai Xiaotian asked.
“Perhaps between midnight and the early morning… It’s rather shameful, I was present in the pavilion the whole time, yet I didn’t perceive anything. His corpse was first discovered by the servants this morning,” The White Water Daoist admitted.
“Does Miss Shuiyuan know when he left?” Bai Xiaotian then turned to Aunt Feng and asked.
“Alas, she was so terrified that she couldn’t tell. She said she had fallen into a deep sleep last night and had no knowledge of when he left. Now, she even dares not stay in the Shui Nuan Pavilion and has gone elsewhere to recuperate,” Aunt Feng sighed in sorrow.
Bai Xiaotian said nothing for a moment before pulling out a yellow paper charm from his sleeve. He then leaned down and stuck it right between the dead man’s eyebrows.
A soft ‘poof’ sound was heard as a spark ignited on the charm, causing it to suddenly flare up and slowly start to burn.
“Yin Sha Qi summoning charm!” The White Water Daoist exclaimed with a light in his eyes.
At these words, Shen Luo focused his attention on the burning charm.
He had also heard of such charms. While the charm was burning, it could use the flame to draw out the hidden Yin Sha Qi.
If this Mr. Gao really was harmed by a Yin Sha ghost, his body would probably retain the Yin Sha Qi. With the charm now lit on his forehead, it was expected that Yin Qi would start seeping out of his seven orifices.