Outside of Tonghua Hospital, several practitioners which include Li Yun surprised with the sudden shift of the ghosts congregating outside the Tonghua Hospital building, from slowly wandering aimlessly to a sudden manic like they are on stimulant and then once again eased up and continue wandering around the hospital building aimlessly. Everything happen just in the span several minutes and it makes all the cultivators present confused with the event that occur right in front their eyes.
"Amitabha, greeting benefactor Li," a young monk wearing a white robes held his palm together in front of his head and bow slightly, greet Li Yun that still questioning of what actually happened. Seen the monks, he directly return the greet respectfully.
"Master Zhishan, greeting."
"Benefactor Li, do you know what actually happened here ? These ghosts acting weirdly, is there anything that occur inside the Tonghua Hospital ?" the monk which only known among the cultivators with his Dharma name asked Li Yun about the possible reason these ghosts acted peculiarly.
Usually, these lost and earth-bound soul that wandering purposelessly in the world of living would not just appear in masses without any proper reason. Moreover, today is not the 15th day of seventh month(1) where ghost and spirit roamed freely from the underworld. Those, its truly a bizarre to see these wandering ghosts that usually in hiding would make a great show by flaunting themselves in bizarre manner.
They are clearly attracted to something in that hospital building, a few minutes ago. That something has also stimulate these ghosts to act in odd manic behaviour.
"I sense a strong yin energy peak from inside the hospital for a brief moment before it suddenly disappeared. I guess a person with Yin body might born. That is why these ghosts acted like they are on drug. Yin body is nourishing panacea for them," someone suddenly remarks before Li Yun have the opportunity to answer Zhishan questions.
"Amitabha. Greeting Daoist Zhang" "Ah Zhang Yichen, you are also here ?"
If Zhishan greet Zhang Yichen with respectful way, Li Yun on the other hand do not mind hiding his annoyance toward the man that despite of Li Yun clear unfriendly attitude, still has a benign smile on his fair face. He reply to Monk Zhishan with return bow respectively and just give a glance toward Li Yun, dismissing Li Yun as inconsequential.
"Do you expect someone give birth to a baby that born with yin physique, Daoist Zhang?" the monk asked Zhang Yichen, does not bother with the silent 'altercation' between the two cultivators. Everyone in the field know about the famous dispute of this two which all started when they just children. Li Yun, known with his playful and easy-going nature, teased Zhang Yichen feminine built and fair countenance when they first meet each other in cultivator convention. Mind you, they are just 12 at that time. As a result, Zhang Yichen put laxative medication in Li Yun foods, causing him having diarrhoea for two straight days and have to forfeit his place in annual youth assembly. Since that time, the two has never been in good terms and have silent 'competition' with one another.
"I cannot say that for sure Master Zhishan, but it is definitely a very strong and pure yin energy. Nothing would make these wandering earth-bound soul act crazily aside something that would help in their cultivation."
Despite the silent 'feud' they have, Li Yun have to admit, Zhang Yichen is a competent and talented Daoist from the highly respected Baiyun Monastery. There would be nothing that could drive this ghost act cuckoo and deranged aside of something they crave and desire. Yin physique, Yin soul and any that contain traces of Yin energy would attract these ghosts like nothing else.
"But I cannot detect the sources. It just disappear like that. Even after I try to divine it with my luopan(2)," Zhang Yichen continue his explanation. Hearing it, both Zhishan and Lu Yin fell in silent. Lu Yin wander shall he mention about Yang Guang action before. He does act like he know something that related with whatever that enticing these wondering ghosts.
While this relatively young cultivators wonder what action shall be taken toward the assembling ghosts, a burst of exclamation come from several cultivators in the surrounding area of Tonghua Hospital. Everyone can see the arrival of Imminent Master Hui Cheng, the abbot of Jiu En Temple. He is not alone, alongside him is few others relatively well-known monks. Two of them is Zhishan senior brothers. Zhishan hurriedly reach the monks and respectfully greet his master Meanwhile not long after the arrival of the abbot, they also seen an old man with long white beard reaching his stomach, wearing a green daopao(3).
"Ohh it's the old Celestial Master You. What a surprise to see the head of Baiyun monastery living his self-cultivation," a booming voice could be heard insides the present cultivators head, but they cannot see the speaker. However, the old man seems already predict the position of the speaker. He just give a small harrumph, and an old man in white qipao appears. He looks frail and weak but every cultivators in that area becoming alert and some show a frightened mien. The old man is the famous ghost cultivator, Tantai Ying, and he known to have numerous ghost corpses under his control.
"Tantai Ying, is this your doing ?" the old man in green daopao asked with a frown. Tantai Ying give an unnerving smile that cause his pallid face look unpleasant. "As much as I want to boast about my skill, I don't have the ability to control such massive number of ghost."
The cultivators that start gathering near the great masters, start talking with one another. Li Yun look around and start walking toward his clan member when he spot them. He wonder if elder uncle will also come.
"Li daozhang," Li Yun halt his steps, turn around and watched the fair Zhang Yichen. What a waste of such a lovely face on such a poisonous person. "I think I sense Yang daozhang present beforehand, where is he now?" he asked with a smile, that not really reached his eyes. Li Yun always have the urge to smack that infuriating 'pretty' face, however Zhang Yichen is far more adept in talisman and charm than him. He never has any advantage on toward this person who really know how to hold a grudge. Sue him, he just think the young Zhang Yichen look like a girl. Not more or less but he literally caused him sleeping on the toilet bowl. That was the most embarrassing and mortifying experience for Li Yun. Even until today, people still talks about the incident, even his own clan kin still teased him about it.
"I don't know where he went, he just go 'puff' like that," Li Yun does not have the interest to share the detail he have seen before with anyone, even his own clan except his elder uncle, the current patriarch of Li Clan. Yang Guang hailed from the prestigious background, and he has the backing of old Yang Patriarch. None of the cultivators present today will dare to defy or openly challenge that old patriarch. The Yang Clan has long line of great cultivators in their family legacy. Yang Guang is not just a Yang clan cultivator, he is the grandson of old Yang Patriarch. Li Yun does not want to involve himself in matter that he does know the gist of it.
Zhang Yichen know there is not an ounce of honesty in Li Yun word. That Yang family has always been the 'tyrant' in their cultivator world. Not that they are cruel or act unjustly, its just no one really dare to questioning that family superiority. "Okay, I just wonder about it, bye bye Li Daozhang," and just like that, he turn around and walk toward the head of Baiyun monastery, which is his maternal grandfather. Li Yun gritted his teeth with annoyance and then mimicked the word by Zhang Yichen with comical expression. "Bye bye Zhang daozhang."
Li clan member have smirk and teasing smile on their face seeing Li Yun interaction with Zhang Yichen. Most people will think the two has long begrudge, but for them, Li Yun acted so childish on toward Daoist Zhang and its truly funny to watched. Before they can start playful remarks on toward Li Yun, the livelier chat among the cultivators' tone down when they see the arriving of a robust old man in black Tang suits and accompany by a middle-aged man that look closely resemble to the old man.
"Talk about Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be here(4)," Li Yun thought absentmindedly.
"It's the Yang Patriarch."
"Yang Yulin also come."
"Where is Yang Guang ? I don't see him."
"Patriarch Yang seldomly left the custom, but it seems today occurrence must truly unusual that he come by his own."
The cultivators whisper among themselves and their eyes although eagerly follow the Yang Patriarch, they do it in cautious manner. Everyone know how belligerent that old Yang Patriarch can be. Some just quieted down altogether.
"Old Yang, yo long time no see. You look as upsetting as always," Tantai Ying is true with his undaunted nature. For someone come from the ghost cultivation lineage, Tantai Ying sure are a daredevil that does not concern himself with manner and niceties. Even with someone that exude such a strong yang energy which is a ban for ghost cultivator.
"Tantai Ying you look as hellish as ever. Your ghost corpses look much better than you," the old Yang Patriarch does not disappointed with his response. He just steadily standing on the place where he is landing after stepping down from his flying sword and radiating with the aura full of authority.
"So, lets us go in," he remarks while seeing those that held supreme and higher positions in cultivator world today. As the world goes toward modernity, the traditional belief and custom has slowly dwindled. But not for the cultivation world that keep hidden from common people. They even maintained a harmonic relationship with the government that would obtain their service in supernatural related issue. That is why, even after millennia, their teaching, tradition and cultivation maintained with integrity.
The group that consists of old Yang patriarch, Master Hui Cheng, celestial master You Qianzhi, Tantai Ying and several others important cultivator start moving toward the hospital. They brave the heavy Yin exude by the gathering ghost. But Tantai Ying sure enjoyed the heavy Yin environment and even start cracking jokes with those around him.
Most of the cultivators' present using talismans and charms that help hiding themselves from the eyes of common people. Some have family heirloom and others have spell that tailored for it. Jiu En abbot has once given a blessing relic to this hospital and its now protecting it from ghost breaching into the hospital.
"Yo, old monk, your dharma blessing is as nasty as always."
"Amitabha. Benefactor Tantai I can also help to bless your ghost corpses and spirit, send them to reincarnation" Master Hui Cheng reply good naturedly. Hearing it Tantai Ying face change. Celestial master You loud with a guffaw. Even others give small chuckle.
"Anyway, whatever with Yin energy in that hospital, it shall be given to me. If it's a baby born with yin physique, he or she will be suitable for ghost cultivation."
"Tantai Ying, its not up to you alone. The Yin energy peak before is so enormous that it cover the entire city. It would not attract such a massive number of ghost. I afraid there are demon lurking around and evil practitioners also set their eyes on this source of Yin," celestial master You rebuke Tantai Ying.
"Humph !" Tantai Ying know he will not win among this so-called right way cultivators.
"It is not a relic, or a baby recently born. There are some matter that I would like to ask all fellow cultivators to not disclose it. The source of the Yin is actually come from a boy, a schoolmate of Guang Er. He involved in an incidents because saving my littlest grandson, Hui Er."
All eyes now set toward the old Yang Patriarch that walk steadily and calmly. He talk with serene and peaceful conduct, but each and every single one of them can detect the warning hint within his voice. This person is Yang's family person, and they will protect him from anyone that has untoward intentions.