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Song Diweng glanced at Fei Ziyun, who nodded and reported, "'That corpse, your corpse, without corpse, without breath, what is there to seek in the corpse? Ghost pot, incantation.' These four lines of verse are carved inside a moonlit stone coffin in a thousand-year-old tomb in the back mountain valley. The script is Qin Small Seal Script..."

"Hmm." The commander listened attentively.

Master Fei, indulging in his habit of showing off his knowledge, retorted: "As everyone knows, the Qin Small Seal script was created by Li Si, the Prime Minister of Qin. Before that, the seven states during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods used the Large Seal script. Therefore, Ziyun concluded that this verse was engraved after 208 BC. Now, let's look at the coffin lid again. Besides the 18th hexagram of the I Ching, 'Gu,' it also has two ancient oracle bone characters, 'Feng Hou,' indicating that the owner of this stone coffin was Feng Hou. If it were made by later generations, the script would have been the same as the Qin Small Seal script inside the coffin, so there was no need for that..."

“Sir, you don’t look well,” Song Diweng interrupted Fei Ziyun.

At this moment, the commander's face was ashen, his eyes were fixed straight ahead, and his pupils were dilating and shrinking, as if he were very afraid of light...

Song Dion looked back and saw a sliver of dawn shining through the window; it was daylight. A chill ran through him. He quickly grabbed the commander's wrist, pressing his fingers against three acupoints. His face paled instantly, and he exclaimed, "Commander, you're possessed!"

Chapter 57 of the main text

The commander nodded, his words muffled, "You're right, old man, quickly find a way to get her out."

“Sir, this filthy thing has a very strong sinister aura, like an old woman…” Song Diweng said with a very serious expression.

The leader gave a wry smile and replied, "Perhaps." The image of Ke'er, with tears streaming down her face, her beauty and charm flashed through his mind during her climax, but then the image of Secretary Tang, with his glasses and a dull expression, appeared. Sigh... He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Old Man Song frowned and instructed Daoist Fei to hang up the curtains to block the morning sun streaming in from the east. Then he slowly said, “Chief, I’ve been doing archaeological work for sixty or seventy years, excavating countless ancient tombs. Some of the people around me have also experienced being ‘possessed by a ghost.’ This is because after a person dies and is buried, if the soil in the tomb has poor conductivity and good shielding conditions, the deceased’s biomagnetic field will be sealed inside and can remain there permanently. Several years later, once someone comes into contact with it, the biomagnetic field in that tomb will forcibly occupy that person’s brain. Their original brain magnetic field will be temporarily covered, and the person will temporarily lose their original consciousness. Their behavior will be controlled by the forcibly occupied brainwaves. This is ‘ghost possession,’ or in folk terms, ‘spirit possession.’”

The leader neither confirmed nor denied the matter.

"Besides the possession by the spirits of the dead, some animals can also possess human bodies after death. This is why normally docile animals suddenly become angry and attack their owners. When a person possesses another, the biomagnetic field, or spirit, expresses its will through the host's mouth and its behavior through the host's limbs. Once possessed, this biomagnetic field will cause strange behavior and extreme irrationality, which is what Western medicine calls 'schizophrenia.' Generally speaking, the magnetic field frequencies of human spirits are the closest, so it is easiest for humans to possess human bodies. It is also possible for other animals' magnetic fields to possess human bodies, but these are ultimately rare." Song Diweng explained to the leader as simply as possible, because his cooperation was needed during the exorcism.

The leader understood what Song Diweng meant, so he said, "Diweng, just tell me how to get rid of it."

Old Man Song nodded and said, "Chief, generally speaking, the yin energy is strongest at midnight on the night of a full moon. I deduce that you must have gone to a place with unclean spirits, such as a cemetery or an old house, at that time..."

“The old house,” the leader replied.

"Hmm, judging from its ancient and yin energy, this ghost should be an elderly female ghost, probably from a very long time ago..." Song Diweng asked tentatively.

"More than two hundred years," the leader said.

Song Diweng nodded and then asked, "So, she is a female ghost from the Ming Dynasty. Do you know if she has any grievances or unresolved issues that have haunted her for hundreds of years? It would be best if her resentment could be released so that she could leave on her own."

The leader thought to himself that the fact that he had sex with Guo Ke'er was too embarrassing to talk about. If the news of this adultery between a human and a ghost got out, wouldn't it become a laughing stock among the party's veteran cadres? Therefore, this matter must not be revealed.

"I don't know," the commander said decisively.

Observing the leader's expression, Song Diweng knew that the leader must have something difficult to say, but he did not want to ask him. So he said, "Sir, the yang energy is too strong during the day, so the ghost does not dare to come out. Only when the yin energy rises at night can I find a way to capture her."

The leader nodded and said, "It needs to be done as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir. You rest first and don't go out. Diweng, go and make some preparations. We'll start at midnight tonight," Song Diweng replied.

Date: 2009-09-27 11:40:00

Song Diweng and Fei Ziyun went out and gently closed the door.

“Mr. Lou, please guard the door. No one is allowed to enter except for me, understand?” Song Diweng said with an unusually serious expression.

"This..." Lou Yi glanced at the side room, hesitating.

"Lou Yi, follow Chairman Song's instructions." The leader's voice came from inside the room.

"Yes," Lou Yi nodded in response.

At this moment, Mayor Guo happily ran out of the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of brown sugar, egg, peanut, and ginger water, intending to deliver it to the leader to ward off his cold.

"Here," Song Diweng took the bowl of water and handed it to Lou Yi, saying, "The commander cannot drink such spicy things at the moment. Mr. Lou, please drink it."

Lou Yi took the large bowl, not afraid of the heat, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, instantly feeling warm all over.

Mayor Guo turned and left awkwardly. He returned to the room and shook Qin Ruhua, who was fast asleep, and whispered, "Ruhua, a high-ranking official from the capital has come to our house. You should call your father right away."

"Really?" Qin Ruhua asked sleepily.

"Of course it's true! Chairman Song treats him with utmost respect," Mayor Guo assured him confidently.

Qin Ruhua scrambled out of bed, her snow-white bottom exposed, and grabbed the telephone.

"Put on your underwear," Mayor Guo said, frowning.

More than an hour later, Secretary Qin rushed over from the county town.

“The leader has encountered some issues and is temporarily unable to meet with anyone. Tonight, Diweng will personally introduce you to him.” Diweng Song resolutely refused Secretary Qin’s request to meet with the leader to report on his work.

"You've got some money! Then let's hurry up and get some wild delicacies tonight to welcome our leader who's come from afar," Secretary Qin instructed Mayor Guo.

The sun finally set, and night slowly fell. The leader walked out of the west wing.

Secretary Qin greeted him with a beaming smile, and Song Diweng introduced him to the new secretary.

"Secretary Qin, I heard that you have provided great support for Chairman Song's work. Thank you for your hard work." The leader extended his hand.

Secretary Qin quickly clasped his hands in greeting and said modestly, "It's no trouble at all, it's what I should do." However, he couldn't help but wonder why the leader's temperature was so low and his face was pale and ashen. He was probably sick.

"Sir, your health..." Secretary Qin asked with concern.

Song Diweng gave him a wink, stopping him from continuing. Then he pulled him aside and whispered, "The chief's body has been invaded and possessed by evil spirits. Tonight, I will exorcise the ghost for him."

"Exorcising ghosts?" Secretary Qin asked in astonishment.

"Shh... Let's eat first," Song Diweng instructed.

During dinner, the leader was taciturn, ate little, and didn't drink any alcohol, finishing his meal hastily.

At the end of Hai hour (9-11 PM), although it was not a full moon, the night sky was still clear and bright, and the earth was shrouded in a faint moonlight. The exorcism began.

“Master, let me handle this. Dealing with female ghosts using the Taoist magic of the Great Luo Palace is a piece of cake,” Master Fei said confidently with a smile on his face.

Song Diweng glanced up at him, then nodded and said, "Ziyun, remember, you must never hurt the commander."

"Disciple understands, Master. Don't worry. Back then, I subdued several female ghosts from the Northern and Southern Dynasties." Master Fei opened his one good eye wide and said confidently.

At the beginning of midnight, when the night was deep and quiet, the people in the small town were all fast asleep.

The leader sat with his eyes closed under the old locust tree, the moonlight gently bathing him. Secretary Qin and his wife Youcai stood outside the circle, while Youfu and Louyi stood guard around them. All was quiet.

Master Fei lit three sticks of incense, then with a backhand motion, drew a dark brown peach wood acupoint peg from behind his neck. He drew a talisman in the air and began chanting the "Golden Light Divine Mantra": "Heaven and Earth, the profound origin of all Qi, through countless eons of cultivation, I have attained divine power. Within and beyond the Three Realms, only the Dao is supreme. My body is enveloped in golden light, invisible to the eye and inaudible to the ear, encompassing Heaven and Earth, nurturing all living beings. Recite it ten thousand times, and your body will be filled with light. The Three Realms will guard you, the Five Emperors will welcome you, all gods will pay homage, you will command thunder and lightning, ghosts and demons will tremble in fear, spirits and monsters will vanish. Within you lies thunder and lightning, the Thunder God conceals his name, penetrating wisdom and insight, the Five Qi surge forth..."

Under the moonlight, the leader's body suddenly stiffened, and he opened his eyes with a focused expression, his gaze hazy, as if he were listening intently.

Seeing that the divine incantation had taken effect, Master Fei was secretly delighted. He thought that if he could save the leader from danger, he would surely have a bright future.

"Humans are separated by layers of paper, ghosts by mountains; a thousand evils cannot be lured out, ten thousand evils cannot be lured away. Heaven has three wonders: the sun, the moon, and the stars; they penetrate heaven and earth, startling ghosts and gods. If fierce gods and evil spirits come, they will roam the earth without ceasing. Heaven is clear, earth is spiritual; this disciple, by the name of the Three Mao Ancestors, will not let any god go unpunished, nor will any ghost be terrified. I urgently obey the decree of the Ancestor Maoshan, to sweep away all ghosts and demons; I urgently obey the decree of the Supreme Lord Laozi, to drive away demons and slay monsters without mercy; I obey the decree of the Three Mao Ancestors, may it be done swiftly as the law commands..." Master Fei recited the Great Luo Palace Ghost-Proof Incantation.

At that moment, the leader suddenly chuckled, then sneered and spat on the ground.

Youfu chuckled, then quickly shut his mouth.

Fei Daozhang shouted, lit several yellow Maoshan talismans, and the ashes scattered in the air. Then, his face hardened, and he chanted, "I beseech the Five Emperors and the Ten Thousand Great Generals of the Five Directions to descend and join forces with Ziyun to subdue the ghosts of travelers and demons in villages, alleys, homes, and residences; the ghosts of corpses and executions; the ghosts of doors, wells, and stoves; the ghosts of the Five Voids and Six Depletions, the ghosts of evil and rebellion; the ghosts of calamities and ruin; the ghosts of those who sing, dance, and laugh alone; the ghosts of poisonous creatures on wild paths; the ghosts of mountain spirits, cliff demons, and all kinds of evil spirits; the ghosts of the Eightfold Diseases." "The ghosts of human souls, each with its own name, the nameless ghosts who have left their registers, the ghosts that roam the night and commit heinous acts, the ghosts of evil and licentious shrines in the mountains and forests, the ghosts of those who died by sword or weapon, the ghosts of those who suffered from diarrhea and bloating, the ghosts of those who died by hanging or drowning, the ghosts of the six barbarian tribes, the ghosts of those who died of illness and childlessness, the ghosts of those who died with white hair and baldness, the ghosts of those who died from sores and filth, the ghosts of those who died in the marketplace by beheading or hanging, the ghosts of those who lied and uttered falsehoods, the ghosts of those who hid their forms and became invisible..." Master Fei really didn't know which ghost possessed the leader, so he could only cast a wide net and search the whole world, reciting the ghosts while panting heavily and sweating profusely.

Song Diweng watched from the side, frowning deeply.

Master Fei caught his breath and continued chanting without stopping: "In the course of a lifetime, there are billions of ghosts, farther from gods and closer to ghosts. The world is full of calamities, and it is impossible to know this. Now I record their true names so that people may know them. Once people know the name of a ghost, evil will not dare to approach; once people call out the name of a ghost, all ghosts and monsters will be killed, both heavenly and earthly ghosts; once people call out the name of a ghost, all ghosts will obey my command. Tell me, what is your name?"

"This humble servant is Guo Ke'er..." the leader chuckled, his voice high-pitched and ancient.

Chapter 58

Master Fei was overjoyed, finally forcing out the female ghost. "Hey! Guo Ke'er, who are you? In broad daylight, how dare you act so recklessly here?"

"I have been away from home for many years and miss my hometown. I had no choice but to live under someone else's roof to ease my homesickness. Please, Daoist Master, understand my situation." The leader suddenly spoke, sobbing.

At this moment, Youfu, Louyi, and the others were stunned. Qin Ruhua was so nervous that she gripped Youcai's arm tightly, her nails digging into his flesh, but he was completely unaware.

"Hey! Guo Ke'er, where is your hometown?" Master Fei demanded.

"My home is in Fenglingdu, Hedong, Shanxi," the leader replied.

"Nonsense! What a cunning female ghost! You dare to trick this Taoist priest! It seems that if I don't eliminate you, you will only be a scourge in the mortal world." Taoist priest Fei thought that Guo Ke'er was not telling the truth, so his face turned red, and he prepared to kill her as soon as possible to save the leader from prison.

"You stinking Taoist priest? Bah..." The leader spit out a mouthful of phlegm, which landed on Master Fei's shoe.

Master Fei flew into a rage, unleashing his most ruthless "Demon-Slaying Incantation": "The Supreme Lord Laozi taught me to slay demons, bestowed upon me divine methods, summons the Jade Maiden above, to subdue all misfortune. Mountains crack and rocks split, I wear the seal, a canopy on my head, my feet tread the Divine Steed, the Six Jia on my left, the Six Ding on my right. Before me is the Yellow God, behind me is the Yue Zhang. The divine master slays, showing no fear of the powerful, first slaying the evil demon Guo Ke'er, then beheading the Night-Shining. What god does not submit, what demon dares to stand against me? Hasten, hasten, as the law commands!" In his rage, he actually thrust a dagger towards the leader's chest...

Song Diweng was shocked. He hurriedly reached out his chubby little hand and grabbed the acupoint peg in mid-air, shouting, "Ziyun, you mustn't!"

Master Fei suddenly awoke with a start, hurriedly withdrawing the acupoint striking stick. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he exclaimed to himself, "That was close!"

Song Diweng glared at him angrily, then slowly turned around to face the leader, smiling gently as he said, "Guo Ke'er, you said your hometown is Fenglingdu in Hedong. Fenglingdu is several dozen miles in circumference. Which side is your home on?"

The leader chuckled, and said with a deep sense of melancholy, "East of Fengling Ferry, in front of the gate, stands an old locust tree..."

"The old house!" Mayor Guo and the others were startled.

"Not bad, I've arrived home." The commander's expression suddenly changed, and he chuckled coldly.

Song Diweng was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Guo Ke'er, you, you are a direct descendant of Guo Pu?"

The leader raised his eyes, his gaze bright and piercing, and let out a mournful sigh: "'Ghost Embracing Fragrance,' Guo Ke'er is back..." After saying this, he stood up, rushed towards the old locust tree, and tightly hugged the rough trunk with both hands, tears streaming down his face.

Master Fei gripped the acupressure point, eager to try it out, while nervously asking, "Master, what should we do now?"

Song Diweng smiled faintly and said, "Ziyun, how can we force such a sentimental female ghost who has left her hometown? Negotiation is the first choice."

Song Diweng asked Qin Ruhua for a handkerchief, walked up to the leader, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. He said with great sorrow, "I left home when I was young, and now I am over ninety years old, but I have never returned to my hometown. Every time the moon is bright, I am overwhelmed with grief, and I weep uncontrollably, feeling as if I am dying..."

The leader stopped crying and looked at Song Diweng with teary eyes, saying, "Why haven't you come home for so many years, sir? Unlike me, who entered a wealthy family and found myself trapped in a deep sea, unable to return home, where wealth and glory are ultimately just a mirage. It's a pity that my husband was forced to commit suicide, and only then did I realize that it was all just a dream..."

Seeing an opportunity, Song Diweng asked sympathetically, "Who is Miss Ke'er's husband's family?"

"Fifty years of dreams have passed, but today I bid farewell to this mortal world. When the waters rise and the dragon appears, recognize the incense smoke as my reincarnation..." The leader recited slowly, his voice lingering and poignant, filled with a deep sorrow.

Upon hearing this, Song Diweng was greatly shocked and asked in astonishment, "Are you from Heshen's family?"

“I am Lord He’s concubine,” the chief replied.

Song Diweng knew that the seven-character quatrain Guo Ke'er had just recited was the last poem Heshen had written when he was ordered to commit suicide by Emperor Jiaqing. Therefore, he guessed that she was from Heshen's household, but he never expected that she was actually Heshen's concubine! Guo Pu's descendant married Emperor Qianlong's favorite minister, and he seemed to sense that there was some hidden story behind this... This water is quite deep.

"Miss Ke'er is from a prominent Han Chinese family in Hedong, while Heshen is a Grand Councilor of the Imperial Household Department during the Qianlong Emperor's reign, from the Manchu Plain Red Banner Niohuru clan. I wonder how they came to be related by marriage?" Song Diweng was determined to find out.

"This young woman was forcibly taken into the He family mansion," the leader said indignantly.

“Miss Ke’er must be a beauty of unparalleled grace and charm,” said Song Diweng.

"I am so ashamed of myself for saying this. I was considered a pretty girl in Fenglingdu, and my feet were not big either. But when I came to the capital, I realized that I was just a frog in a well. Alas, my appearance is not even as good as a maid in the He family..." the leader said shyly.

If she was so unattractive, yet Heshen forcibly married her into his household, then what was the incredibly wealthy Lord Heshen after? Song Diweng grew increasingly suspicious. He concluded that Heshen must have had another purpose in marrying Guo Ke'er, and he vaguely sensed that this matter was also related to the "Feng Hou Mausoleum".

Song Diweng looked up at the moon. It was already past midnight. He had to hurry and question her, otherwise once it entered the 1-3 AM, the yang energy would gradually rise, and the female ghost Guo Ke'er would disappear again.

"Miss Ke'er, did Heshen marry you for the 'Ghost Pot'? You've kept the Guo family's secret all along and haven't told him, have you?" Song Diweng asked bluntly.

"'Ghost Pot'? How do you know that?" the commander asked warily.