The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 45 Finding a Way to Get a Taotie

Jiang Feng donned a cassock and led Cui Ying, Zhang Guo, and Ao Ying to the palace.

At this time, Wang Yuanzhi and Qi Hui were already waiting outside the Jiaofang Palace.

Wang Yuanzhi of the Shangqing School was white-haired but had a youthful face, was vigorous and had the air of an immortal.

Born into the Langya Wang clan, he began practicing Taoism at the age of fifteen. He possessed both the noble air he had cultivated in his youth and the otherworldly detachment of a Taoist practitioner, perfectly fitting the image of an old immortal in the eyes of the world.

Qi Hui of Louguandao was dressed in hemp clothing, and he exuded an ethereal aura, as if he were one with heaven and earth.

Louguan Dao is famous for its thatched huts and its practice of observing stars and qi, hence the name Louguan (meaning "tower and pavilion"). Its cultivation methods advocate the unity of essence, qi, and spirit, merging with the Great Dao to reach a state where all things in heaven and earth are one's essence, spirit, soul, and spirit.

While Jiang Feng was observing him, Qi Hui was also sizing up Jiang Feng.

His eyes twitched involuntarily when he saw the "brocade robe" that only covered his chest.

He thought he was being simple enough by wearing hemp clothes, but he never expected there would be a master among them.

The world is indeed vast, and there are indeed many hidden talents!

Seeing him staring blankly at him, Jiang Feng smiled and stepped forward to greet him: "Daoist Qi Hui, I've long admired your name. Recently, when you observed the stars at night, have you noticed any unusual phenomena such as the Emperor Star shifting or the Heavenly Dao about to change?"

Qi Hui trembled and forced a smile: "Master is too kind. I am not skilled enough to observe the stars."

And even if I did figure it out, could I say that in the palace?

You set a trap for me the moment we met, you little monk, you're really wicked!

"Is that so..."

Jiang Feng sighed with regret, then looked at Wang Yuanzhi with anticipation.

Wang Yuanzhi's pupils contracted, and he replied perfunctorily, "This humble Taoist is not skilled in astrology! Now that everyone is here, let's go into the hall first to examine the Empress Dowager's illness!"

As he spoke, he looked at Cui Ying with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, his eyes seeming to ask, "Is he like this all the time?"

Cui Ying gave him a meaningful look, as if to say that he had already restrained himself.

Wang Yuanzhi: "..."

Before long, the palace maids led the group to Empress Dugu.

She looked much better than yesterday, and her face was adorned with a warm and inviting smile.

"Master Wang, it has been more than ten years since we last met. You are still as charming as ever, even more so than before."

Master Qi Hui has also come. A few days ago, Prince Jin sent me a message saying he would build a Taoist temple for you in Zhongnan Mountain.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wang Yuanzhi's expression turned serious. He instructed Jiang Feng to remove the seal on Empress Dugu's forehead, made a hand gesture, and a divine light shone in his eyes.

After staring at Empress Dugu for a moment, Wang Zhiyuan withdrew his magic and nodded to Qi Hui.

Qi Hui stepped forward, his eyes becoming vacant as if his soul had left his body. After an unknown amount of time, his expression returned to normal, though his face now appeared somewhat grave.

Seeing that the two remained silent, Jiang Feng said to Zhang Guo, "It's your turn."

Zhang Guo stepped forward and bowed to Empress Dugu: "Your Majesty, I apologize for my offense!"

After saying this, a golden elixir appeared in his dantian, releasing countless rays of light that enveloped Empress Dugu.

Under the golden light, a black aura appeared, wandering across Empress Dugu's face, causing her a splitting headache. She involuntarily covered her forehead and cried out in pain.

"Stop! It hurts!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Guo couldn't help but exchange a glance with Jiang Feng.

Seeing him nod, Zhang Guo used magic to retrieve the golden elixir.

At the same time, Jiang Feng drew a seal in the air with his right hand, sealing the black energy onto Empress Dugu's right cheek.

Empress Dugu then stopped shouting, and after a moment, asked, "What have you all figured out?"

The group exchanged glances, and Wang Yuanzhi spoke first: "Your Majesty, evil spirits have already invaded your soul. Forcibly performing exorcisms will damage your soul."

We went back and discussed it all night, hoping to find a solution that would satisfy both sides.

Empress Dugu did not blame them, and nodded slightly, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoists."

Jiang Feng glanced at Empress Dugu and frowned, saying, "Empress, don't move. I'll add another seal to your seal."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dugu immediately sat up straight. Jiang Feng then used his magic seal again to imprint a swastika on her left cheek.

After Jiang Feng finished casting the spell, a look of worry appeared on her face: "Has this evil spirit become more powerful than before? Will it take two seals to contain it?"

Jiang Feng looked at Empress Dugu's face with satisfaction and said, "No, it's not that. The Buddhist marks on your face were asymmetrical before, but now that there's one on each side, it looks much better!"

Empress Dugu: "@#￥%￥#@……"

Amidst Empress Dugu's displeased expression, Jiang Feng and his companions bid farewell and left Jiaofang Palace.

Seeing Wang Yuanzhi's composed demeanor, Jiang Feng asked, "Master Wang, have you discerned the origin of this evil spirit?"

Wang Yuanzhi sighed slightly and said, "It looks like the Guo family's cat demon. I thought it had lost its lineage. Fellow Daoist Qi Hui should know more about this than I do."

Qi Hui said, "The Guo family of Taiyuan has a kind of unorthodox magic called 'Cat Ghost Spell,' which can be used to attract wealth and good fortune, or to drive cat ghosts to harm people in secret."

After the death of the matriarch of the Guo family, her son forcibly practiced this technique, using cat ghosts to harm people, but ended up being devoured and killed by the cat ghosts.

Since then, no one from the Guo family has been heard of learning this skill again, and the Guo family's fortune has declined accordingly.

"A cat ghost?"

Jiang Feng thought of the Taoist Yu Zhen who practiced the art of seduction. It seemed that she had also suffered a backlash from the death of the cat ghost, which sounded very similar to the Guo family's "cat ghost" technique.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Feng asked, "Have you figured out how to drive away the cat ghost?"

Qi Hui said, "I have heard that this cat ghost's technique of harming people involves the caster using magic to call the victim's name 'rat' and drive the cat ghost to eat the 'rat's' soul."

To break this spell, besides finding the caster and having them break the spell themselves, you could also try to scare away the cat ghost.

Jiang Feng frowned and pondered, "What are cats afraid of again? Dogs? No, big cats don't seem to be afraid of small dogs, let alone cat ghosts... How about we try to get a Taotie?"

Zhang Guo's eyes widened: "So you're going to bring us all here to eat us? How could you even think of that!"

At this moment, a eunuch trotted up to Jiang Feng and presented him with a box with both hands.

"Master Jiang Feng, His Majesty, mindful of your tireless efforts in caring for the Empress's health, has specially bestowed upon you a magnificent brocade robe!"

"Please thank His Majesty for me."

Jiang Feng smiled kindly at the eunuch, took the box, and opened it.

Inside was a bright red kasaya, made of fine brocade with beautiful gold thread, a genuine brocade kasaya.

Jiang Feng's eyes lit up. He flung open the kasaya with both hands, took a clear look at its full appearance, and said to the eunuch with satisfaction, "This humble monk likes this kasaya very much!"

Please convey my message to His Majesty: when His Majesty passes away in a few years, I will certainly wear this robe and hold a grand memorial service for him!

Eunuch: "??!?!"

You go and say it yourself!

How could I possibly dare to relay this message to you? By the time I finish speaking, the emperor might not even spare my head!