"Master Lin, can this grave still be used?"
Mr. Ren rose and hurriedly asked.
"The Dragonfly Touching Water formation, dot after dot, is never placed in the same spot twice. This grave is no longer usable," Master Lin said.
"What do we do then?" Mr. Ren asked anxiously.
Master Lin's expression grew serious.
"I suggest cremation on site."
Ethan maintained a solemn face, but inside he thought, Here it comes, the iconic scene.
"Cremation? Absolutely not. Father feared fire above all. I cannot do this," Mr. Ren protested.
Everyone knew that for a local gentleman like Mr. Ren, maintaining face was paramount. If people found out he had dug up his father under the pretense of exhumation only to burn him, his reputation would be shattered. Ethan knew this, so he had no intention of arguing. In such situations, there was only one solution.
In the end, with Mr. Ren unwilling to be persuaded, Master Lin suggested having the coffin returned to the ancestral hall. Everyone set to work.
Ren Tingting supported Mr. Ren's arm as they left. Before departing, she cast a worried look at Ethan. Ethan understood immediately. She had overheard the previous conversations. Though she did not know exactly what was about to happen, she could sense trouble. He gave her a reassuring glance and nodded, which eased the tension in her expression.
"You three, arrange a Plum Blossom Incense Formation at the grave. Whatever the outcome, make sure to report back to me," Master Lin instructed.
The three disciples responded in unison, "Yes."
Master Lin looked around at the surrounding graves. "Offer incense at every tomb."
With that, he descended the hill with the others.
Daniel began placing incense at Ren Weiyong's grave. Three sticks marked one point, several points formed a plum blossom pattern, creating the Plum Blossom Incense Formation. Ethan saw that Daniel had completed the arrangement, then went with Evan to offer incense at the other graves. This was to prevent the spirits of those tombs from harboring ill intentions.
While offering incense, Ethan observed Evan closely.
"Where is Dong Xiaoyu's grave? Oh, right. After Evan finishes there, Daniel's formation will show results. We'll have to wait a bit," Ethan thought.
After a short while, Evan arrived at a grave marked Dong Xiaoyu.
"So young… what a pity. Light some incense," he said.
At that moment, Ethan sensed a faint wave of yin energy. Even at midday, when yang energy was at its peak, some spirits could still move slightly. Ethan waited quietly for the next words.
"Thank you."
Evan turned, puzzled.
"Thank you," the voice repeated.
Evan's eyes widened in shock. He quickly turned back, seeing Ethan nearby.
"Senior Brother, something's wrong. There's a very strong spirit it's active in broad daylight!"
Ethan patted Evan's chest, both amused and exasperated.
"Relax. That spirit isn't as powerful as you think. It's only at the Foundation stage," he said.
Ethan noticed the unique aspect of Dong Xiaoyu's grave: it could absorb yin energy from a large surrounding area. Thanks to Ren Weiyong's choice of prime feng shui, this hill contained a rich concentration of yin energy. This allowed Dong Xiaoyu's spirit to attain such strength. Other spirits, less fortunate, were weaker.
Evan breathed a sigh of relief. "Just Foundation stage… okay then."
But then he realized something. "Wait… I'm only Level Six in body cultivation. I can't handle even a Foundation stage spirit!"
Ethan shook his head, placing a hand on Evan's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm here. When that spirit shows up, I'll handle it."
Evan smiled genuinely, finally feeling reassured.
At that moment, Daniel arrived, panicked. "Senior Brother, Evan, look at this! How did it burn like this?"
Daniel held three incense sticks: two short, one long. Ethan and Evan's expressions stiffened.
"Take it back to Master Lin," Ethan said.
That night, in the ancestral hall, Master Lin held the three sticks of incense brought by Daniel.
"In life, people fear the combination of three long or two short. Incense must avoid the pattern of two short and one long. Yet here it is, burned this way."
Ethan and Evan sat at a table drinking water, while Daniel picked at pastries from the altar. As he reached for another, Master Lin gave him a stern glance, stopping him.
Master Lin's face was serious as he stood before the altar. "With incense burned like this, someone in the household is destined to die."
"Is it the Ren family?" Daniel asked, poorly timed.
Master Lin shot him a look.
"Could it be them?" He moved aside. Daniel shrugged, muttering, "Not my problem," and reached for another pastry.
Evan asked, "What about Ren Tingting? Will she be in danger?"
Daniel, chewing, replied, "Ah, anyone with the surname Ren will face trouble."
Realizing his slip, Daniel added, "Ah? I mean… Tingting?"
Evan teased him. "You said, 'Not my problem.'"
Daniel hurriedly corrected himself. "I mean, saving your loved one's life is different. That marriage won't be a problem."
Both boys held affection for Ren Tingting, unlike some unsavory depictions in the original story. They knew their Senior Brother, Ethan, was focused only on cultivation.
Master Lin relaxed slightly, thinking ahead to Ethan's future in Maoshan, possibly as a high-ranking figure or even sect leader positions incompatible with marriage.
Evan and Daniel glanced at Ethan, then back at Master Lin. Ethan, understanding the plan, remained calm, unshaken.
As Evan and Daniel approached Master Lin, asking what to do, he replied evenly, "I've already prepared a solution. That's why we brought the coffin back."
Both boys relaxed.
Evan looked at the coffin, murmuring, "It's a proper coffin… how has it stayed uncorrupted for twenty years?"
He and Daniel exchanged glances and opened it.
Inside lay Ren Weiyong, now covered in fine white hair. His fingernails glinted coldly.
"Wow! You've gotten plump!" they joked.
Master Lin quickly intervened. "Close it immediately!"
They swiftly replaced the lid.
"Prepare paper, ink, a knife, and a sword," Master Lin instructed.
Ethan and Evan hadn't heard clearly the first time. Just as they were about to ask, Ethan, who had already gone to the backyard to prepare, said, "Master, everything's ready."
Master Lin nodded in approval.
Ethan and Evan efficiently began the ritual of sacrificing a chicken and collecting its blood. Master Lin ignited a grain of glutinous rice, dropping it into the bowl of chicken blood, linking spiritual power with the yang energy of the rooster.
He poured in the prepared ink, placed the Bagua mirror over the bowl, and transferred it into the ink tray. Everything completed, he handed it to Evan to mark the coffin's surface with the ink lines.
Ethan observed carefully. Under his guidance, Daniel and Evan had already learned these fundamental techniques thoroughly, so the ritual proceeded flawlessly.
After three incense sticks were offered, Master Lin instructed them to mark the entire coffin. Then he called Ethan to join him in the main hall. Ethan stayed to ensure the task was done properly. Seeing Ethan's watchful gaze, Master Lin smiled and left.