The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 189 - 139: Purifying the House, Burning the Fetus

Chapter 189: Chapter 139: Purifying the House, Burning the Fetus

In the main hall, the altar and incense table were already set up.

Throughout the interior and exterior, all doors and windows of the rooms were wide open.

In front of the altar, Wang Daoxuan, clad in a Daoist robe, bore a solemn expression. With a cinnabar red brush darting in his hand, he occasionally paused to seal away evil spirits and inscribe Yellow Talismans.

Li Yan stood behind him, holding a willow branch.

According to Li Kongqing, this residence was but one of the many properties of the Prince Mansion and not even a particularly noteworthy one.

To them it was a mansion, but the Prince Mansion paid it little mind. Not only was the area small, but it was also situated in Pingkang Square, a neighborhood known for its entertainment venues. The Princely Heir would never choose to live here; it was more likely to be used as a gift or a reward for his followers.

Before gifting the residence away, they could reside there under the guise of house-sitting.

And Prince Mansion was no stranger to this practice.

It was some sort of invisible benefit. Li Kongqing was a study companion who once put on airs of aloofness, but now joined in the mire; the others naturally enjoyed seeing this.

Although it was just a temporary dwelling, the courtyard had been empty for several years, potentially accumulating filthy energy, so performing the necessary house purification ritual was essential.

On the altar, a wooden box contained rice, millet, sorghum, mung beans, and black beans, five colors representing the Five Elements.

This was the most traditional Five Grains House Purification Technique.

In addition, there were three cups of clean water, three cups of white liquor, three feet of red cloth, one large bowl, a piece of red paper, eight steamed buns, and an unspecified amount of sandalwood incense.

Ding ding ding!

Once everything was ready, Wang Daoxuan lit the sandalwood incense and began shaking his bell.

Li Yan immediately turned and, dipping the willow branch into the water, began sprinkling from the inside of the house to the outside, including the yard and every corner.

The courtyard had already been cleaned by hired help.

As Li Yan sprinkled water to expel impurities, Wang Daoxuan followed by scattering the five grains and loudly declared, "This house has an owner, we inform in all directions, those who should leave must go, those who should come may arrive, the grains are for generations of sustenance, the house deity takes its place, and all wanderers must clear out——!"

At each doorway, well, and other key spots, Wang Daoxuan would pause to affix talismans and enshrine deity plaques, and then plant three sticks of incense in a cup of liquor for offerings.

This was the essence of the Five Grains House Purification Technique.

Expelling external ghosts and settling the six deities of the household.

At last, they arrived at the kitchen, where Wang Daoxuan spread a sheet of red paper over the stove, placed the remaining grains in a bowl, and neatly arranged the liquor, water, and steamed buns.

With three sticks of incense in hand raised high above, he proclaimed, "The house deity has arrived, the God of Stove is in its place!"

After completing these tasks, Wang Daoxuan folded the red cloth into a ribbon and hung it horizontally across the main gate’s frame.

With that, the house purification ritual came to an end.

Although the original courtyard was refined, its long vacancy had left an air of the wrongness. After purification, with the faint scent of sandalwood incense, it felt instantly refreshing and more appealing.

"We’ve finally settled in."

With a sigh, Wang Daoxuan reflected, "Back in Xianyang, we were beset with difficulty, but this journey, despite its hardships, has seen us rise step by step. Now, we have managed to find our footing in this bustling city of Chang’an."

"It still seems unbelievable to me even now..."

Li Yan smiled and said, "The old saying goes, ’A tree dies when moved, but a person thrives.’ The Mystical Sect often speaks of the resonance between heaven and humans. It seems the same holds true here amidst the dust of the world."

"The more one sees, the more one experiences, the more opportunities present themselves."

"That is true."

Wang Daoxuan smiled and nodded, then glanced at the sky and said, "Brother Sha has been out all night; I hope nothing untoward has happened."

"Don’t worry."

Li Yan shook his head, "After the duel, to walk the streets of Chang’an, one needs a temper as bad as mine, and dealing with those people inevitably leads to irritation. Uncle Sha is exactly the right person for such tasks."

"The Fire Bear Gang has been set back and won’t make a move anytime soon."

Speaking of which, a smile appeared on his lips, "Uncle Sha has been shouting about wanting to visit the Huawei Building but was too busy to do so. He’s supposed to treat Senior Shen Sanyou to a banquet tonight, but it’s unlikely he’ll make it in time. He’s going to be complaining again when he gets back."

"I’ll pass on going as well."

Wang Daoxuan chuckled, shaking his head, "Today, I must conduct several more rituals, set up the Ancestor Altar, enshrine the Rampaging Soldier and the Magic Artifacts, and arrange a few Fengshui formations."

"When living in someone else’s house, one must ensure it’s well guarded."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "How about asking Sister Hong to help out?"

"No need," Wang Daoxuan laughed, winking, "I can still handle a few petty thieves who play at being spirits and deities."

"Fair enough."

Li Yan nodded and said no more.

He knew that although Wang Daoxuan and Sha Lifei followed him, they didn’t intend to be burdens. Sha Lifei dealt with affairs of the pugilistic world, while Wang Daoxuan focused on enhancing his combat prowess and even started practicing some boxing.

Once the Ancestor Altar was established with the Rampaging Soldier to guard, standard pugilistic world characters or Mystical Sect magicians wouldn’t stand a chance against Wang Daoxuan if they entered the courtyard.

With no immediate tasks, the two busied themselves with their respective work.

Wang Daoxuan concentrated on arranging the altar.

Li Yan set up the Cloud Thunder Divine Drum in the courtyard, practicing boxing for a while, then he beat the drum as part of his cultivation of the Great Cloud Thunder Sound.

He had already inspected this part of the courtyard.

Similar to the other properties owned by the Prince Mansion, most were vacant, with only a few aged servants standing guard. The sound of the drum would not disturb too many people.

Moreover, his current method of cultivation had changed.

Back in Wu Family Gully, he had understood the cultivation rhythm through drumming, each beat echoing the sounds of the Qin and Han, and with the Thunder Drum’s power to subdue evil, it was invigorating to hear, clearing stray thoughts, and even helping him sleep more soundly at night.

For a while, the sound of the drums thundered through the alleyways.

The old servants guarding the other courtyards cursed or stopped their work to listen in awe.

People from Shan State loved drumming, with drum music prevalent in almost every area. Those who cherished this art could almost instantly recognize the beat of the Qin and Han war drums.

Residing in Chang’an, they were quite shrewd, aware that none of the owners of these courtyards were to be trifled with, and they were just there to keep watch, with no need to stir up trouble unnecessarily.

Of course, not everyone could tolerate the noise.

In a nearby small courtyard, hundreds of meters away where the scent of medicinal herbs was strong and an atmosphere of gloom lingered, a woman sobbed quietly, and a man with a square face stood in the yard, his brows furrowed in concern.