Li Da Niu was stunned into silence by what I said:
"Ghosts, ghosts, they're all, all ghosts?"
Hearing Li Da Niu's voice, Lao Mo and I both chuckled.
Lao Mo chimed in, saying:
"Heh heh! You're not much different from them now! What are you afraid of?"
Li Da Niu was rebuffed by Lao Mo. He looked at himself with an embarrassed expression and said nothing further.
"Let's go! We're almost at your place!"
I continued to speak.
We led Li Da Niu's soul forward.
As soon as we entered the village, two white-robed ghosts floated towards us.
One big, one small.
The larger one, appearing about thirteen or fourteen, was leading a smaller ghost child of about four or five.
A glance showed they were just ordinary wandering spirits.
Li Da Niu, however, could not handle it. He grabbed Lao Mo's arm, his throat bobbing nervously.
Even though he was a soul now and couldn't swallow.
He still perfectly mimicked the actions of a terrified living person.
"What are you doing?"
Lao Mo shook Li Da Niu's hand off.
"I, I, I'm still a bit scared!"
Lao Mo was speechless and ignored him.
I led the way, continuing forward.
When we were about five or six meters away from the two white-robed ghosts, they stopped.
Standing by the wall, on tiptoe.
Then, with their hollow, grayish-white eyes, they watched us quietly.
Lao Mo and I, with Li Da Niu, walked closer step by step. When we reached the two ghosts, they instinctively retreated a step further.
Clearly, they were wary of Lao Mo and me.
Li Da Niu feared them.
Little did he know, these wandering spirits also feared us.
I scanned the two ghosts. They looked at me with blank expressions and vacant eyes.
I saw that the two ghosts were young. They died holding hands, walking together.
Perhaps they were brothers in life, with a close bond.
After death, without guidance or offerings, they became wandering spirits.
But the brotherly bond remained. Even as soulless, wandering spirits, the older one still held the younger one as they drifted with the wind.
Seeing this, I said to the two ghosts:
"You two, follow me. I'll give you something to eat later."
After speaking, I paid no mind to the two ghosts.
I continued to walk forward.
The two ghosts remained in place, making no sound or other movement.
But after we had moved four or five meters away, they turned around and silently followed behind us.
They remained rather listless, maintaining a distance of five or six meters from us.
"Dao, Daoist Master, they, they are real ghosts.
You, you still want to let them eat?"
Li Da Niu asked hesitantly.
I replied calmly:
"They are all wandering spirits without offerings.
They cannot reincarnate, nor do they receive offerings.
Giving them food and guiding them is a form of accumulated virtue.
With more accumulated virtue, they will not suffer when they die and descend later."
I was telling the truth.
I usually did this.
I didn't consider myself a good person, but certainly not an evil one.
I couldn't help all the innocent, unfortunate ghosts.
Nor would I idly go to mass graves or burial grounds to guide departed souls.
But within my capabilities, and without affecting myself,
I would occasionally lend a hand, and help some lonely spirits, guiding them along.
Lao Mo did not object.
After listening, Li Da Niu merely glanced back at the two ghosts and then fell silent.
We walked a few dozen meters forward, rounded an alley, and saw Li Da Niu's home.
However, when we saw Li Da Niu's house.
The three of us were stunned once again.
Not far from the entrance of Li Da Niu's house, it was densely packed with white-robed ghosts.
They were of all sizes, young and old.
They were all gathered outside Li Da Niu's house.
They didn't speak to each other.
But each ghost appeared anxious and eager, constantly peering towards Li Da Niu's house.
It was as if something inside was attracting them.
Some ghosts were even attempting to ram Li Da Niu's front door.
But each time they rammed the door, a charm's light would flash, emitting a "clang" sound.
Then, the ghost ramming the door would be directly repelled.
Immediately after, a second ghost would begin ramming the door, repeating the process endlessly.
"Holy crap, why are there so many wandering spirits surrounding it? And they're still ramming the door?"
Lao Mo exclaimed in surprise.
I also found it rather strange.
These ghosts were all wandering spirits, their eyes gray, without any malevolent aura.
Why were they not afraid of the charm's deterrent effect and kept trying to ram the door?
"Dao, Daoist Master, now, what do we do?"
Li Da Niu asked fearfully.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I looked at Li Da Niu again and instantly understood what was happening:
"I get it. These ghosts want to possess your body.
Quick, let's hurry back!"
I urged him.
Li Da Niu looked horrified.
"Ah? Possess, possess my body?"
Lao Mo was also somewhat surprised, clearly not fully understanding the situation.
I continued to explain:
"Your soul has left your body, but your physical body is not dead.
These wandering spirits, none of them can reincarnate.
Now, you have left a living shell inside the house that can be possessed.
How could these unreincarnated wandering spirits not be tempted?
They would surely flock to it.
If we don't hurry back, more ghosts might be attracted..."
Li Da Niu listened, his face full of terror.
He looked at the ghosts, no longer as afraid of them, but rather worried about his own physical body.
Lao Mo and I also quickened our pace.
At the same time, I heard myself shout at the group of ghosts:
"Abode of the living, spirits keep away.
Those who dare to harass shall be swiftly executed without mercy."