The Unremarkable Little Taoist Master

During the conversation, I learned that the middle-aged man’s surname was Huang.

During the relocation of the ancestral coffin, there was an accident when a black cat collided with the coffin, causing it to fall to the ground.

That night, I lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

I slowly opened the door and walked outside.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a distance, and the villagers immediately became restless.

I followed the crowd as we moved forward.

Before long, we arrived at a household’s door, where I saw a middle-aged woman collapsed on the ground, crying loudly.

As I looked through the crowd, I saw Huang-Ge kneeling before a coffin, tears streaming down his face.

He looked extremely distressed and in pain, and the middle-aged woman said to him, “This is all your fault. You owe me my husband back.”

Huang-Ge did not resist; instead, he replied with some pain in his voice, “Sister-in-law, it’s my fault. I’m the one who let you down. Don’t worry, I will take good care of you.”

I walked up from behind and gently patted Huang-Ge on the shoulder.

When Huang-Ge turned around and saw me, he forced a smile on his otherwise expressionless face.

Then, as if talking to himself but also to me, he said, “Wu Laoer was my childhood friend; when we were kids, he often called me ‘big brother.’ As we grew up, he didn’t change but instead showed me even more respect. Now that something has happened to him, I feel completely powerless. I really am useless.” After saying that, this man who seemed like steel in my eyes shed tears.

I quickly comforted him, “Huang-Ge, don’t be sad. Sometimes we can only watch things happen and cannot change them.”

I then thought of my own circumstances, thinking about how Xinger had ended up like this.

Huang-Ge noticed my sadness and pulled out a cigarette, offering it to me.

After I lit it and took a deep drag, the strong nicotine fogged my brain a little.

Huang-Ge continued, “What brings you to me?”

“There will definitely be another victim, there definitely will be.”

Huang-Ge’s expression suddenly changed, twisting into a fierce look as he said, “Are you sure?”

I thought for a moment and nodded, indicating my certainty.

Upon hearing my words, Huang-Ge immediately smiled and spoke to the stars above, “Laoer, do you see this? Big brother is going to avenge you soon.”

After saying that, he forcefully extinguished the cigarette in his hand and murmured, “I will avenge you, I definitely will.”

I glanced at him but said nothing, keeping my head down as I took deep puffs from my cigarette.

Huang-Ge gently patted my shoulder and said, “Young master, thank you. The wind is strong outside; let’s head back soon.”

I threw the cigarette down hard and followed Huang-Ge as we walked toward the village.

We entered the village one after the other, and soon we heard a woman’s heart-wrenching cries.

Upon hearing it, Huang-Ge’s expression shifted wildly, and he ran frantically toward the end of the alley.

I rushed after him, quietly thinking, “Oh no, something’s happened again.”

Huang-Ge pushed open the courtyard gate and looked inside.

I saw a woman holding a man tightly, crying out loud, while the wall of their home displayed several blood-red characters.

Looking at the gruesome message, I cursed under my breath, “How reckless! How dare they harm others?”

Huang-Ge trembled and then crouched down, gently brushing his hand over the man’s face.

The man’s eyes finally closed, and Huang-Ge addressed the woman, “Sister-in-law, when did Niu-Ge leave?”

The woman broke down in tears, “He just said he was going out to the bathroom. I never thought it would end up like this. How am I supposed to live now?”

Huang-Ge looked helplessly at me and said, “So what should we do next?”

At that moment, the voice of the old daoist priest came coldly from behind us, “I’m afraid we’ll see repercussions today. Let’s talk about opening the coffin later.”

While we were talking, a sudden scream pierced through the crowd, and instantly all the villagers scattered in every direction.

The old daoist priest hurriedly strode into the center of the commotion, where the massive red coffin was shaking violently.

It emitted creaking sounds in the pitch-black night, causing a chill to run down my spine.

I noticed Sister-in-law Niu was sitting on the ground, her face filled with fear.

The old daoist priest quickly shouted to Huang-Ge, “You need to get her out of here, now!”

Huang-Ge rushed over to help Sister-in-law Niu to her feet, and they both sped away. Meanwhile, the old daoist priest reached into his robes and pulled out five emperor coins, making his way swiftly to the coffin.

The coffin shook even more intensely as he pressed the coins onto it, which began to rock violently, as if trying to throw off the coins.

I coldly scolded, “Hmph, just behave!”

As I spoke, the old daoist priest quickly placed the remaining four coins on the coffin, finally managing to subdue it. Gradually, the shaking stopped.

He turned to Huang-Ge, who was hiding inside the house, and said, “It’s safe now. You can come out.”

After a moment, Huang-Ge stepped out of the house, his face pale.

I hurriedly reassured him, “Huang-Ge, don’t be afraid. It’s been suppressed for now, but we must open the coffin tomorrow in the daylight when the yang energy is strong.”

At my words, Sister-in-law Niu stormed out of the house, shouting, “No one is to touch my husband’s coffin! If anyone dares to move it, I’ll fight to the death!”

Her bloodshot eyes locked onto me, and she coldly said, “You’re a demon! You’re the one who harmed my husband, and now you want to defile his body.”

I felt a shiver under her intense gaze and quickly explained, “Sister-in-law Niu, I would never harm the corpse.”

Sister-in-law Niu remained silent, standing resolutely beside the coffin as if to say I would have to go through her to touch it.

Seeing this, Huang-Ge could no longer hold back. He stepped forward and pleaded with Sister-in-law Niu, “Sister-in-law, please let the young master take a look. Otherwise, the entire village will suffer!”

After hearing Huang-Ge’s words, Sister-in-law Niu fell into deep thought. Finally, she looked at both me and Huang-Ge and said, “I hope your assumptions are true. Otherwise, I will not let you go.”