"My friends, when I encountered that old man Ren today, I had an ominous feeling stirring in my heart. I can't shake the sensation that this Old Master Ren might cause some serious trouble."
After returning to the cemetery, Lin Jiu expressed his deepest concerns to Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei, his weathered face creased with worry.
"It's perfectly fine. Zhang Zhiwei and I will help keep a watchful eye on Old Master Ren. Even if he transforms into a jiangshi, we will ensure that he won't harm any innocent people."
Hearing Gustave's reassuring words, Lin Jiu breathed a considerable sigh of relief. With Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei around, Lin Jiu's burden would be significantly lighter.
However, Lin Jiu did not fully understand the hidden meaning behind Gustave's carefully chosen words. Gustave had only promised that Old Master Ren would not harm innocent people, but he had not promised that the zombie wouldn't give Ren Fa a proper scare.
When the coffin was opened earlier today, Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei had already reached a mutual agreement. As for Ren Fa, it would be beneficial to teach him a harsh lesson. The man would not shed tears until he saw his own coffin. If Ren Fa was not allowed to witness his father's corpse coming to his house to demand a familial kiss, this stubborn fellow would never agree to cremation.
"Master, Master, the results of the Plum Blossom Incense Formation are ready!"
Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai came running in, shouting and calling out with urgent voices.
Lin Jiu took the three incense sticks handed over by his two disciples and examined them carefully, his brows furrowing once again with deep concern.
"People are most afraid of three long and two short, and incense is most afraid of two short and one long, but it just happened to burn exactly like this."
"If this type of incense formation appears from a household, someone within must have died!"
Lin Jiu provided this ominous explanation as he walked, sharing his Taoist knowledge with educational purpose.
However, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai were not paying proper attention to Lin Jiu's important words. They were instead arguing with each other because Qiu Sheng found Wen Cai's embarrassingly ridiculous dress today completely shameful and declared that he would definitely win Ren Tingting's affections.
Wen Cai was not convinced by this boastful claim and started quarreling loudly with Qiu Sheng. Their heated argument continued as they approached Old Master Ren's ornate coffin.
The two arguing disciples suddenly changed their expressions dramatically because they heard distinctly unsettling noises emanating from within the coffin. They hastily opened the coffin lid and discovered that Old Master Ren had already begun his supernatural transformation into a jiangshi.
"Wow, Master, Old Master Ren has gained significant weight!"
Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai shouted in perfect unison, their voices filled with shock and alarm.
Hearing Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai's panicked shouts, Lin Jiu hurried over to Old Master Ren's coffin to conduct his own examination. Old Master Ren lying in the coffin now displayed plump, swollen cheeks and considerably longer fingernails, indicating he was already halfway through his corpse transformation.
"Qiu Sheng, Wen Cai, quickly bring the paper, brush, ink, and sword!"
Paper, brush, ink, and sword referred specifically to yellow paper, red brush, ink fountain, kitchen knife, and peach wood sword. These were all traditional items used to suppress evil spirits and were perfectly suited for preventing Old Master Ren from completing his transformation into a jiangshi.
"It appears that Old Master Ren's corpse transformation cannot be stopped at this point! He should definitely be cremated on the spot during daylight hours!"
When Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai departed to gather the necessary tools, Lin Jiu sighed heavily and spoke to Gustave and his friend with resignation.
"Ren Fa will not give up his stubborn position until he witnesses his father fully transformed into a zombie. Let's simply allow Old Master Ren's transformation into a jiangshi to take its natural course!"
Gustave patted Lin Jiu's shoulder with reassuring confidence.
"But..."
After hearing Gustave's unexpected words, Lin Jiu always felt that something was fundamentally wrong with this approach. Wasn't this course of action somewhat lacking in righteousness?
"Don't worry yourself, with me here, there's absolutely nothing to fear!"
Gustave patted Lin Jiu's shoulder once more with gentle authority, then turned and departed. There would likely be quite an entertaining show one night in the coming few days, and only if he obtained sufficient rest would he have the proper energy to observe the spectacle.
"Don't worry, Friend. We two are here to support you. Haha!"
Zhang Zhiwei also patted Lin Jiu on the shoulder with good-natured camaraderie and turned away with obvious amusement.
Seeing how supremely confident the two powerful visitors were, Lin Jiu had no choice but to comply with their mysterious plan.
Soon afterward, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai returned carrying all the required tools. Lin Jiu ritually slaughtered a chicken, took up the peach wood sword and yellow paper, and began to perform the traditional protective ceremony.
After the complex process was completed, Lin Jiu dipped the ink line thoroughly in chicken blood, then instructed Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai to use the blood-soaked ink line to carefully flick protective marks across Old Master Ren's entire coffin, ensuring that not a single spot was missed.
After explaining these crucial protective measures, Lin Jiu turned around and departed to return to his room for much-needed rest, but Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai's characteristic unreliability caused one vital spot at the bottom of Old Master Ren's coffin to be completely forgotten.
After finishing all the protective work at the charity cemetery, Qiu Sheng lit a single stick of incense, mounted his bicycle, and prepared to return to Renjia Town. He had made a sincere promise to his aunt that he would help look after her store the following day.
When Qiu Sheng departed the cemetery grounds, his movement was immediately sensed by Gustave's advanced Observation Haki, so Gustave hurriedly rose from his rest and prepared to witness the famous scene.
"Master Gustave, what are you planning to do so late at night?"
When Gustave opened his door and was about to venture outside, he encountered Zhang Zhiwei in the corridor.
"Let's go watch some entertainment. Do you want to come along with me?"
After spending these past few days together in companionship, Gustave had discovered that this elderly Zhang Zhiwei was quite an interesting character. Unlike Lin Jiu who maintained old-fashioned seriousness, Zhang actually enjoyed humor and lighthearted mischief.
"If you want to watch a performance, then of course I must accompany you."
Although he didn't know exactly what kind of show Gustave was referring to, Zhang Zhiwei was definitely interested in witnessing whatever entertainment was planned.
"Can Fellow Taoist Tiantong fly through the air? We can observe the entire scene much better from high above."
Gustave could easily carry Zhang Zhiwei to fly by controlling electromagnetic fields, but Gustave believed that this old master who was stronger than himself must also possess his own means of achieving flight.
"Haha, I know a little something about flying techniques."
Zhang Zhiwei smiled mysteriously, then effortlessly rose into the night air.
"Then let's depart!"
After Gustave finished speaking, he also launched himself upward and caught up with Zhang Zhiwei's position. The two of them quietly departed from the cemetery under cover of darkness.
As mentioned previously, the cemetery was located on the outskirts of Renjia Town, but it was not directly connected to the main settlement, as there was a dense small forest situated between the two locations.
Qiu Sheng was an exceptionally bold young man. He dared to ride his bicycle through the gloomy, shadowy woods after lighting only a few protective incense sticks. If he were an ordinary person, he would have been frightened completely out of his wits.
"Her eyes, her eyes, Make the stars look like they're not shining..."
Looking down at Qiu Sheng riding his bicycle below, Gustave hummed softly to himself, providing what could be considered manual background music for the unfolding scene.
"Well, there's a little ghost down there!"
Zhang Zhiwei discovered that there was a small female spirit being carried in an ornate sedan chair by several animated paper figures, and her target seemed to be the unsuspecting Qiu Sheng.
"Fellow Taoist Tiantong, this is exactly the performance I was referring to. No need to interfere, just continue watching."
Gustave smiled knowingly and pointed downward at Dong Xiaoyu below.
"Since Mr. Gustave has said so, let's continue observing."
Zhang Zhiwei nodded in understanding and abandoned his idea of taking immediate action. Dong Xiaoyu, who was searching for love far below, had no idea that because of Gustave's intervention, she had avoided a potentially fatal disaster.
Under the watchful gaze of Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei floating in the night sky, Dong Xiaoyu, wearing a brilliant red wedding dress, gracefully flew out of her sedan chair and quietly settled herself on the back seat of Qiu Sheng's moving bicycle.
"That little spirit has taken a romantic interest in Qiu Sheng."
Seeing the satisfied, dreamy smile spreading across Dong Xiaoyu's ethereal face, Zhang Zhiwei chuckled with amusement.
"Indeed, Qiu Sheng is remarkably fortunate in this encounter."
Gustave smiled with knowing appreciation.
Dong Xiaoyu, who was sitting comfortably behind the oblivious Qiu Sheng, was so thoroughly delighted that she failed to notice the low-hanging tree branch directly ahead and was suddenly knocked from the bicycle.
Looking at Qiu Sheng's rapidly departing figure, Dong Xiaoyu couldn't understand why she had been forcibly knocked away. Was he somehow aware that she was a ghost?
But when Dong Xiaoyu noticed the nearby land temple, she understood everything immediately and quickly scrambled up from the ground to flee the sacred area.
"Haha, this amusing little spirit."
When Zhang Zhiwei witnessed this comical scene, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"Let's go, Fellow Taoist Tiantong, let's check on Qiu Sheng's condition."
"Indeed."
Just as Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei were about to catch up with Qiu Sheng's position, a short, elderly man suddenly materialized directly in front of them.
"The Land God of Renjia Town respectfully greets you two distinguished visitors!"
Dong Xiaoyu's limited spiritual cultivation was too low for her to detect Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei floating in the sky above. But the Land God was entirely different. After warning Dong Xiaoyu away from the sacred grounds, he had discovered the two powerful figures in the night sky.
Although the Land God could sense the tremendously powerful aura emanating from both men, as a divine official with a legitimate celestial position, he was not strictly required to show deference to the two visitors. However, the perceptive Land God had detected that Gustave possessed a particularly special aura, something that felt exactly like the fundamental power of heaven and earth itself. Therefore, the cautious Land God had hurried over to personally meet these two mysterious individuals.
Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei were both genuinely surprised by the sudden appearance of the Land God.
"We respectfully meet the honorable God of the Land!"
After realizing the true nature of their encounter, the two returned the formal greeting in proper time.
"I wonder what brings you two distinguished visitors to these humble territories?"
The Land God inquired with polite curiosity.
"We are here because of the young man who just rode past on his bicycle. He is our friend's apprentice, and can be considered our nephew in terms of relationship."
Zhang Zhiwei explained their presence with diplomatic courtesy.
"So that's the true situation. Just moments ago, that little spirit was plotting something potentially harmful against your nephew, so I attempted to drive her away from him. I didn't expect that you two would already be here to provide protection."
"But I suspect that little spirit will not give up her pursuit so easily. Your nephew might still encounter some trouble."
The Land God shared his concerns.
"That little ghost harbored no genuine ill will toward our nephew. Although there might be some disaster involved, it could also represent a significant opportunity. But I still must express our gratitude to the God of the Land."
Gustave thanked the Land God with sincere appreciation.
"It doesn't matter at all, truly it doesn't matter."
"In that case, I won't continue to bother you two any longer. If you have available time in the future, please come to my humble temple and have a comfortable seat."
The Land God extended a gracious invitation to both visitors.
"Thank you for the generous invitation, God of the Land. I will definitely come to visit you someday when I have sufficient time."
Zhang Zhiwei responded with diplomatic politeness.
"Then I won't continue to bother you two distinguished guests any further."
After saying these parting words, the God of the Land returned to his own land temple sanctuary.
Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei were somewhat confused by the sudden appearance of the Land God, but without dwelling on the matter too extensively, they continued following Qiu Sheng's path.
In actual fact, this Land God had come specifically because of the mysterious aura surrounding Gustave. He had successfully obtained the information he wanted and was now certain that the aura emanating from Gustave should have been left by some tremendously powerful figure, but the Land God could not identify which specific great being it might have been.