I looked very serious.
Handing over the bottle containing the female ghost, I said:
"Uncle-master, this female ghost is in here."
My uncle-master looked at the bottle in my hand, and his expression instantly turned serious.
He took it with his hand:
"Such heavy malevolent energy, is it truly a red-clothed ghost?"
My uncle-master looked at me again.
I nodded:
"Yes, Uncle-master. Chu Yue took me to her family's construction site to catch it just now. This thing has already killed several people at the construction site."
I spoke truthfully.
My uncle-master frowned:
"Since it has already killed several people, why didn't you just kill it? Why bring it back?"
I quickly explained:
"Uncle-master, I came here specifically to tell you about this.
The incident unfolded like this.
This ghost is somewhat different from ordinary fierce ghosts.
She is sometimes lucid, and sometimes confused.
And I obtained this from her."
As I spoke, I took out the black plaque inscribed with "Taishan God."
My uncle-master also looked over with curiosity.
However, the moment he saw the plaque in my hand, and the three characters "Taishan God" on it, he was utterly shocked.
"This, this is..."
My uncle-master, with surprise, snatched the plaque from my hand.
Then he took it in his hand for a closer look.
Seeing the shocked look in his eyes and his solemn expression,
I vaguely guessed that my uncle-master might know something about the origin of this plaque.
After all, our ancestor was "Taishan God."
"Uncle-master, do you recognize this plaque?"
My uncle-master didn't answer, still observing it carefully.
He wiped it again and again, examining it very minutely.
"Venerable Ancestor, could this really be true!"
My uncle-master muttered to himself, his breathing becoming erratic with excitement.
Seeing how excited and nervous my uncle-master was,
I deeply understood that this item likely had an extraordinary origin, perhaps a great treasure.
I didn't disturb my uncle-master further, merely standing by and watching him quietly.
After several minutes of observation, my uncle-master finally said to me:
"Come, follow me!"
With that, he turned and walked into the inner room.
He didn't even bother to put the lid back on the medicinal wine he cherished.
Without hesitation, I quickly followed.
We entered the Wanshou Hall, my uncle-master's room.
I had only been in my uncle-master's room once or twice before; normally, neither Lao Mo nor I were allowed in.
My uncle-master's room was very simple: a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.
On the desk, there was a photo frame.
Inside was a somewhat old black and white photograph.
In the photo, my uncle-master and my master were standing on an old street in their youth.
My master was smiling brilliantly, while my uncle-master, head held high, seemed almost arrogant.
Although the photograph was black and white and old, it was evident that
my uncle-master cherished this photograph deeply...
My uncle-master went directly to his bed and, without hesitation, lifted the bedding and the bed board.
Beneath it, a hidden compartment was revealed.
My uncle-master opened the hidden compartment and took out a black wooden box from inside.
Seeing that my uncle-master kept the box in such a concealed place, I presumed that the item within was no ordinary thing.
Then, my uncle-master placed the box on the desk and quickly opened it.
I took a glance.
Inside were three yellowed books.
One of them was titled "Invocation and Embodiment Technique."
No wonder it was kept so hidden; it turned out to be my uncle-master's secret Taoist techniques.
However, my uncle-master didn't take out this book. Instead, he took out another one.
A small notebook.
The notebook was tattered and worn, as if it had been kept for many years.
My uncle-master held this small notebook and quickly flipped through its pages.
He kept muttering:
"It should be, it should be..."
As he spoke, his hands were trembling.
Finally, he stopped on a page where a drawing was sketched hastily.
Although it was a rough sketch, I could tell with a single glance.
It was a depiction of the black plaque I had obtained.
Moreover, on this hastily drawn diagram, there was a very special position.
Specifically, at the very top, there were three diamond-shaped markings.
My uncle-master carefully examined this diagram, comparing it to the black plaque in his hand.
Finally, he suddenly laughed heartily:
"Hahaha, found it, found it, finally found it..."
"Uncle-master, is this plaque related to our lineage?"
Although I already had a guess in my heart,
I still wanted to hear my uncle-master's explanation.
My uncle-master held the plaque, immensely excited.
He pointed to the small notebook in his hand and said:
"This notebook belonged to your grand-master.
It records things your grand-master considered very important.
Look at this drawing, this plaque.
It is an heirloom of our lineage, lost a hundred years ago.
Finding this item was one of your grand-master's lifelong wishes.
I never imagined, I never imagined it!
Young Qin, you actually found this item and fulfilled the wish of my master, and of your grand-master."
With that, my uncle-master even knelt towards the west, shouting excitedly:
"Master, the Taishan God Token has returned, it has returned..."
As he spoke, he raised his hands.
Hearing these words, I also felt a surge of excitement.
Although, after seeing the plaque, I had already vaguely guessed.
That this item might be related to our lineage.
It turned out to be indeed an item of our lineage...
"Uncle-master, is this item our lineage's token? Does it have any other functions, because this token emits a peculiar aura?"
I inquired.
My uncle-master slowly stood up, still looking at the token in his hand with immense affection.
Hearing my question, he immediately replied:
"That's right, this is the Taishan God Token of our lineage.
With this token, we can openly declare ourselves as the Yin Division Taishan Sect.
Our ancestor was the Lord of Life and Death, the Great Emperor of Mount Tai, Taishan God.
This token is the decree of inheritance for our lineage.
It can petition the heavens above and reach the netherworld below.
With the return of the token, it is destined that our lineage will no longer remain dormant..."
My uncle-master was very excited, telling me everything he knew.
After listening to my uncle-master's words, I also felt a sense of pleasant surprise.
I never imagined that Chu Yue and I going out to catch a ghost would lead to finding the token left by our ancestor.
Taishan God, the Great Emperor of Mount Tai.
In mythology, these are epic deities.
And I finally understood why my master didn't mention the sect's name when I first became his disciple, only referring to "our lineage."
It was because our sect had lost its decree.
Without the decree, there was no recognition from the ancestor.
Therefore, the incense stick I lit when I paid respects at the altar didn't light up.
It wasn't that I was special, but rather that from the generation of my grand-master onwards, all disciples, upon their initiation, found that the first incense stick they offered to the ancestor would not light.
At best, they could only be considered "outsiders."
Now that the decree has returned, we disciples are truly entering the orthodox lineage, becoming direct descendants of the ancestor.
As the saying goes, having connections in court makes things easier.
My master, an "outsider" disciple, was able to become a recognized member after his passing.
Now that we have entered the orthodox lineage, we will surely receive more preferential treatment when we descend.
This is a tremendously great event for our sect.
After his excitement subsided, my uncle-master then said to me:
"By the way, you said you obtained it while catching a female ghost. How did this decree end up with that female ghost?
Is there any prior cause or consequence involved?
Tell me about it..."