"It's impossible for you to resolve the problem of Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng being cursed in just one day."
Many folk sorcerers could not find the cause of Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng's madness.
She naturally did not believe that two unknown individuals could resolve the problem of three generations of the Zeng family being cursed within a day.
"Esteemed elders and fellow villagers, I believe these two are clearly charlatans who dare to say anything."
"Whether we are charlatans or not, you will soon know."
Shi Jian and his disciple, from the Seven Sisters Hall, walked up to the villagers, asked for the location of the Zeng family mansion, and then hurried off.
The remaining villagers exchanged glances. Wanting to see what would happen, they decided to follow.
Zhong Jun, seeing that their good deed was being disrupted by the two, was furious. She also followed with her three female disciples, wanting to see what these master and disciple were up to.
"Xiao Fang, have you figured anything out?"
Upon arriving at the Zeng family mansion, Shi Jian and his disciple walked around the exterior, observing the feng shui layout of the Zeng residence.
"Master, there's no tampering with the feng shui of the Zeng family mansion. Perhaps they've fallen victim to dark arts, or there's an issue with the ancestral grave's feng shui."
The master and disciple entered the mansion and saw a middle-aged woman attending to two men.
These two men were mentally deranged, acting like lunatics and scribbling all over the floor.
Fortunately, they were being cared for, and their clothes were clean and tidy, unlike beggars.
"Sirs, who are you?"
Seeing Shi Jian and Mao Xiaofang enter, the woman tightened her grip on the wooden stick in her hand, looking vigilant.
"Sister Zeng, these two are Taoist priests who have come to solve the problem of Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng's madness."
Upon hearing the villagers' explanation, the woman finally lowered the wooden stick.
"If it's not dark arts, then the problem must be with the ancestral grave's feng shui."
Seeing that Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng were not afflicted by dark arts, Mao Xiaofang asked the woman for the location of the Zeng family's ancestral graves.
"Taoist priests, please follow me. I'll take you there."
The woman helped Zeng Mo up, while Mao Xiaofang, carrying Zeng Cheng, followed behind her.
Mao Xiaofang arrived at the Zeng family's ancestral graves. Seeing no issues with the feng shui, he showed a puzzled expression.
"There are no problems with the Zeng family's ancestral graves. It's strange, as neither the yang residence nor the yin residence have any issues. Could it be..."
After pondering for a while, Mao Xiaofang, unable to find the reason, went to Shi Jian for advice.
"It seems I overestimated you. Stand aside and watch."
Shi Jian feigned a walk towards the woman, asking if any of the Zeng ancestors had any grudges with others.
Then, step by step, he guided the woman to think about the matter concerning Du Shichang.
The purpose was to cover their tracks!
If they went directly to Du Shichang's grave, it would inevitably raise suspicions that the Zeng family's curse was cast by him. At that point, it would be impossible to clear their names.
"I suspect this Du Shichang had a grudge against your Zeng family. He is most likely the one who cast the curse."
Under Shi Jian's guidance, the woman finally remembered the matter of the Zeng family forcefully acquiring Du Shichang's land deeds.
Afterward, he learned the location of Du Shichang's grave from the crowd and rushed there without delay.
"Master, there are no issues with Du Shichang's grave feng shui either."
"How foolish. To have stayed by my side for so long and still not see it."
Zhong Jun, hiding in the crowd, seeing that the two could not find the reason, seized the opportunity to challenge the master and disciple.
"Are you capable or not? Stop pretending and wasting everyone's time."
"If you ask me, you should just give me one hundred silver dollars quickly, to avoid further embarrassment."
Shi Jian, seeing that Mao Xiaofang couldn't find the cause, quickly stepped forward to resolve the situation, saying, "The reason for the curse affecting three generations of the Zeng family is inside the coffin. If you don't believe me, you can open it."
"You want to open the coffin just like that? Who do you think you are? If you disturb the rest of the deceased, can you afford the consequences?"
Zhong Jun, who harbored strong resentment, did not miss the chance to create trouble for the master and disciple.
Zhong Jun could have made a fortune, but the arrival of Shi Jian and Mao Xiaofang disrupted her original plan, leaving her with only a small amount of silver.
Therefore, she wanted revenge on the master and disciple, to make them lose face in public.
"If there is nothing wrong with the coffin, this humble Taoist is willing to pay two hundred silver dollars as compensation."
Upon hearing this, the villagers picked up tools and opened Du Shichang's coffin.
Inside the coffin, they saw a straw effigy on the skeleton.
The effigy also had a yellow talisman attached to it, inscribed with the words: "Revenge for three generations, blood debt must be paid with blood."
Most importantly, there were three silver needles on the effigy, pinning the yellow talisman firmly.
"Found it, there's a straw effigy inside the coffin."
The villagers took out the straw effigy, re-covered Du Shichang's coffin, and filled it with earth.
Seeing the straw effigy, Zhong Jun's face darkened, and she scurried away from the scene.
"Taoist Zhong, where are you going?"
"I have a stomachache and need to use the privy. I'll be back soon."
Zhong Jun, realizing she had been discovered, made an excuse and fled with her three female disciples to Gantian Town.
"Master, shall I go and intercept them?"
"No need. Let's break the curse first. Even if they escape, their Taoist hall cannot."
Shi Jian took the straw effigy in his hand and walked to Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng's side. He bit his finger and dabbed their foreheads with his blood.
"He who ties the bell must untie it. To break the curse, Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng must simultaneously pull out the three silver needles."
Approaching Zeng Cheng, Shi Jian instructed Mao Xiaofang on the matters of breaking the curse.
The two manipulated Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng's hands, touched the blood on their foreheads.
Then, they simultaneously pulled out the three silver needles from the straw effigy.
As the silver needles were pulled out one by one, the curse on the father and son was broken, and their minds gradually regained clarity.
Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng looked at their surroundings and the people present, asking with confusion, "Where am I?"
"It's really broken! May I ask the esteemed names of these two Taoist priests?"
The villagers of Gantian Town, seeing Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng regain their senses, applauded and praised them, then proceeded to explain to the father and son about being cursed.
"This humble Taoist's name is not worth mentioning."
Zeng Mo and Zeng Cheng, having just broken the curse, sat on the ground for a while to recover.
"Thank you, Taoist priests, for your great kindness in helping us father and son break the curse. Our Zeng family is deeply grateful."
"It is merely a small matter, no thanks are necessary. Your bodies have just recovered, so you should rest more at your residence."
With that, Shi Jian and his disciple, along with the villagers, paid their respects at Du Shichang's grave and re-covered the mound.
Regardless of the reason, disturbing the coffin of the deceased was considered highly disrespectful.
Therefore, after restoring the grave to its original state, they paid their respects to the deceased and ordered the three members of the Zeng family to burn some paper money for Du Shichang. The matter was thus concluded.
"Master, you are truly amazing!"
"Go away. You can't even break a simple curse. Don't claim to be my disciple outside. I still have my reputation to consider."