Chapter 7: Soul Snatching

"The world of the living has its rules, and the underworld has its own. Dahu has lost his Earth Soul, which will inevitably draw the underworld envoys to harvest his Sky Soul; if that is lost, there will be no saving him."

"Just tell me what to do, Auntie San."

"Find two large black male dogs—ones that have never mated. Place them on either side of the spirit hall entrance. Tie a piece of meat to the spirit tablet to lure the dogs into snatching it, and have them chew the tablet to pieces. Underworld envoys dare not approach black dogs, so they won't be able to claim his soul. As long as the dogs destroy the tablet in front of the envoys, they will assume Dahu’s registration in the underworld has been voided, and they won't be able to take him."

"Whose black dogs fit the bill? Bring them here, quick!" the village head shouted. Several men immediately ran off to fetch their dogs.

Grandma continued, "Once the envoys appear, the wandering ghosts will flee. That is when the Earth Soul can be called back. Dahu’s grandmother will likely release the child's Life Soul as well; after all, to register in the underworld, one needs a complete soul."

"What if the dogs don't chew the tablet?" the village head asked.

"Then there is nothing to be done. Dahu is only a child, his soul is weak, and I am powerless."

The village head hesitated, sighed, and said, "It has come to this, it’s our only chance. Do it."

The group began setting up the spirit hall. Grandma placed several paper effigies around the perimeter, and soon the villagers returned with the black dogs. Grandma tied the meat tightly to the tablet. Once finished, they placed the dogs at the entrance and retreated inside, hiding away.

Five minutes later, a fierce barking erupted in the courtyard, followed by a gust of spectral wind that blew open the securely latched gate. At that moment, Grandma tossed the spirit tablet between the two dogs. Seeing the meat, the dogs lunged, and within moments, they had chewed the thin wooden tablet into splinters. Grandma let out a long breath.

Looking outside, the spectral winds had vanished, and the gate stood still. Grandma immediately ordered the dogs to be led away and looked toward the mountain behind the village.

"Auntie San, how did it go?" the village head asked, looking around in confusion.

"I didn't expect these wild ghosts to be so bold. They emerged as soon as the envoys left. It seems I must go and snatch the soul back." Grandma sighed again, looked at me, and whispered, "Fangyuan, go to the mountain behind the village again. Are you afraid?"

"Grandma, I’m not afraid." I truly wasn't; the God-Striking Whip was so powerful that I felt no fear.

"Cuihua!" Grandpa intervened. "Little Fangyuan is still young; it's too dangerous."

"It's fine, I'll keep an eye on him. He is destined to walk this path sooner or later."

Grandma picked up the Wenwang drum, had me lie down beside Dahu, and began to tap it gently.

"Left hand takes the Wenwang drum, right hand takes the God-Striking Whip. Today, Cuihua calls upon the Immortals: first the Fox, second the Yellow Weasel, third the Python, fourth the Long-Snake, fifth the Judge, and sixth the King of Hell, for the house is troubled by urgent matters..."

I stood up again; the sensation was marvelous. Having grown familiar with the path, I headed straight for the mountain. I had expected to encounter the giant man at the foot of the mountain again, but I was disappointed; he did not appear. I hoped to find three glowing stones to keep, but they were nowhere to be seen.

When I reached my godfather, I saw Dahu with the little girl. His body emitted a translucent glow. He held the girl's rag doll, while she held the black thread, and they were playing hide-and-seek. She would hide behind my godfather, and Dahu would search for her in his dazed state. The little girl was having fun, and Dahu found her every time.

Seeing me, Dahu’s eyes were dull, his mouth slightly agape, as if struggling to find words. He spoke slowly, pausing between each syllable, sounding lost: "Fang... Yuan... come... play... with... us."

"Big brother, I’m so lonely. Play with me, and I’ll give you Little An," the girl looked at me with a pitiful expression.

I immediately drew the God-Striking Whip and said, "Let Dahu go. I’m taking him home."

"No! He is mine!" The girl’s face turned fierce, her eyes slowly turning red.

As I moved toward them, I felt a cold breeze from my left. Startled, I looked over to see the giant man lunging at me. I ducked to the right.

"Let’s see where you can run now," the voice of the woman in red echoed. A rope woven from hair descended from above. My heart hammered, and I instinctively raised my right hand to block it.

*Pop!* A burst of red light erupted from the whip, sending the hair-rope flying. Just then, the giant man closed in and grabbed me. I felt an immense force pinning me, but when his body brushed against the whip, another flash of red light threw him back.

He gasped, releasing his grip and scrambling backward.

"Little An, strike now! He has the God-Striking Whip!" the woman in red screamed.

I looked at the girl. I had been entangled by her last time; she was more powerful than the other two. The giant and the woman in red, fearing the whip, hung back, urging the girl to attack.

The girl hesitated, struggling, before pulling the rag doll back and saying, "You two keep an eye on him, don't let him get away."

The woman's rope suddenly looped around Dahu’s neck, and she retreated with a laugh. The girl glanced at the woman, then walked toward me with the doll. "Big brother, Little An is so lonely. Play with me, and I’ll give you Little An."

As she spoke, her clothes changed color. A little girl in a red robe appeared before me. Her skin withered rapidly, and the flesh on her body began to shrink. I was terrified; her face was grotesque. The doll in her hand was no longer a toy but had transformed into a black-red rope, glistening with an ominous, dark light.

I retreated in horror. As she moved, I realized her feet were not touching the ground. The rope flew toward me, with the girl holding the other end. It seemed to have a life of its own, chasing me wherever I moved.

"Don't be afraid, use the God-Striking Whip!" I heard Grandma’s voice beside me.

The girl was startled by the sound. She looked around frantically, and I seized the chance to lash out at the rope with my whip. After a few collisions, the rope retracted. She dared not approach, her head whipping back and forth, searching for Grandma.

"Yellow Auntie San, where are you? Come out!" the girl shrieked in terror, edging closer to the woman in red.