Maiyi Onmyoji

The Soup of the Dead Infant

"What are you doing? I'm practicing ghost energy too!"The ghost wife spoke with an air of self-assurance.I hastily stopped her from undressing, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate? This body belongs to Huang Rong, we shouldn't be doing this, right?"I felt that Huang Rong was pure and sacred, beyond desecration.But this ghost wife, so brash and unrefined, acting like a man, was doing a great injustice to Huang Rong.The ghost wife paused for a moment, "What? Her father agreed to let me possess her. Although she doesn't know I'm in her body, I'm helping her cultivate ghost energy, giving her more abilities for self-defense. Isn't that a good thing?""Wife, I still think it's not right. Her father can't speak for her. So, please stop this nonsense, okay?"I couldn't help but want the ghost wife to leave Huang Rong's body."Haha, I didn't expect you to be so proper. Since you don't want to see her body, I'll reluctantly comply.""Alright, alright, you practice, I'll keep watch."The ghost wife waved her hand and sat down nearby.Her words made me feel as if I were some kind of lecherous wolf.The ghost wife died when she was very young, her spirit following me ever since.She attended school and lived with me, often receiving guidance from my grandfather. She had long been considered my wife.But in my heart, I preferred quiet, gentle, and cultured women.I felt a certain aversion to the ghost wife.Yet, she had protected me for over a decade, her kindness like that of a parent. No matter how repulsed I felt, I couldn't reject her. It was a matter of principle.Once I calmed down, I began cultivating energy.I have to admit, this was a grueling and torturous process!I truly admired how those monks and Taoists endured their lives.Sitting still, unable to move, with aching legs, a sore butt, and a stiff back, I had to concentrate on meditating and inhale the cold breath into my stomach..."Yawn!"Before long, I started yawning.In the middle of the night, sitting naked and freezing, it was no wonder I'd catch a cold."Achoo..."One sneeze after another...Damn, I was really catching a cold.I stopped, "Wife, are you sure you're not harming me?""Fool, cultivating ghost energy requires a period of adjustment for the body. Don't be afraid, keep going!" The ghost wife encouraged me with a tiny fist.Alright then!I trusted my ghost wife.I gritted my teeth and persisted.But it didn't take long before I felt lightheaded, as if a heavy stone were pressing on my head.Then my nose started running uncontrollably.I couldn't take it anymore. I collapsed onto the bed, curling up and shivering, too weak even to dress.I wanted to sleep, but sleep eluded me.My whole body felt cold, my throat like it held a rod of ice—utterly miserable.I began to doubt that the spirit in Huang Rong's body was my ghost wife.She had always protected me; how could she be so heartless as to harm me?"Dalei, hold on, just a little longer.""Now that the Yin energy has entered your body, it will soon pass through your seven orifices and enter your Dantian, where it will automatically accumulate.""Endure! Just a bit more!"I heard Huang Rong's words clearly.But somehow, they sounded like a plan to harm me.I was a living person!Damn it, if the Yin energy flowed through my seven orifices, wouldn't that drain my vital energy?If that happened, I'd surely fall gravely ill.I've already spent a lot recently. If I get sick again, I'll have to spend even more—truly adding insult to injury!I struggled to sit up; I couldn't endure it anymore.I fumbled to dress, my nose running the whole time."Dalei, listen to me, don't give up!""Enough, you're not my wife; you're here to harm me...""Dalei, what are you talking about? If you can't handle this bit of Yin energy, how will you ever cultivate ghost energy?""Enough, leave Huang Rong's body, go practice on your own. The living are the living, the dead are the dead—they're different..."I grabbed the electric kettle, boiled water, and made tea to ward off the cold."How absurd!""You're still thinking about her, you're so fickle!"The ghost wife's temper flared unexpectedly.She grabbed my hand and yanked me onto the bed.Before I could react, she pressed down on me, kissing my lips forcefully.Her strength was overwhelming, leaving me powerless to resist, completely at her mercy.Yet, before I could savor the sensation, a cold rush of Yin energy poured into my mouth, drilling into my throat.Was the ghost wife trying to possess me?In a panic, two beams of light suddenly shot in from outside, causing the ghost wife to halt. I heard her roar, "Who's there? Are you seeking death?""What the hell is going on?""Liu Shao, this chick is wild! Haha, a woman assaulting a man, now that's news.""Guys, retreat! This woman's not right..."Three men's voices followed, one of whom was Liu Zhao.The ghost wife snarled, "Everyone, help me deal with them. I'll treat you to drinks and food afterward; there'll be plenty of benefits for you.""Whoosh, whoosh..."I heard the sound of wind and then Liu Zhao shouting, "Run!" before everything fell silent.I struggled to sit up, but my body felt as heavy as iron, completely drained of strength, unable to move.I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly, I smelled a strong scent of traditional medicine and smoke.The smoke made me cough, struggling to breathe."Cough...cough..."I covered my nose and managed to sit up.I saw Huang Rong at the door, brewing medicine for me, white smoke billowing everywhere, suffocating.I got up and walked over to her, "This smoke is killing me. What are you doing in the middle of the night?""What else? I'm making medicine for you!"Huang Rong wiped the soot from her face and poured a bowl of the pungent red liquid."Come, drink it while it's hot..."Huang Rong brought the bowl over to me.I took the bowl and sniffed it, but the stench of blood was nauseating."I won't drink this, what kind of medicine is this?"I pushed the bowl away.Huang Rong smiled, "Come on, you're not a child; do I need to coax you to drink medicine?""Sister Huang, this isn't medicine; this is blood, isn't it?"I placed the bowl on the counter and opened the pot, only to be shocked.To my horror, there was a fetus inside the pot!"What the hell!""What is this?""Sister Huang, you can't be serious, where did you get a child?""How can you expect me to eat this? What are you thinking?"I felt like I was losing my mind."Dalei, look at me..."Huang Rong suddenly came up to me, grabbed my head, and blew a puff of black smoke into my face!The black smoke made me dizzy.I don't know how long passed, but in a daze, I saw three people by the bed.Huang Rong, a nurse, and Mr. Liu.Mr. Liu was checking my pulse.The nurse stood beside Huang Rong, looking at me blankly.Huang Rong smiled and handed me a bowl, "Dalei, you're finally awake. Mr. Liu prescribed some herbal medicine for you. Come, drink it before it cools.""Yes, yes, drink it quickly, or the medicine's effect will wear off," Mr. Liu urged.The nurse also chimed in, "Drink it, drink it, and you'll be fine."Vaguely, I remembered the fetus in the pot.At that moment, Huang Rong pinched my nose, while Mr. Liu held the bowl, ready to force the liquid down my throat.Remembering the bloody taste, I slapped the bowl away, causing Mr. Liu and Liu Zhao to flee in terror.In an instant, they transformed into two white-clad female ghosts.Huang Rong stood with her hands on her hips, furious, "What are you doing? This is the Yin fetus I painstakingly procured for you. Without consuming it, how can you cultivate ghost energy?"How could a living person become a ghost?I pinched my thigh hard, feeling the pain—it wasn't a dream."I can't believe this!"Huang Rong grabbed another bowl and poured more of the potion from the pot.Suddenly, I remembered that Huang Rong had gone after Liu Zhao and the others. Perhaps this Huang Rong was a fake, a malevolent spirit tricking me!Thinking this, I quickly stood up and started throwing things.The two female ghosts fled in fright.I struck Huang Rong with a peachwood sword, and with a scream, she turned into a ghost and disappeared.Looking at the ground, the pot had become a broken jar, and the fetus inside had started to rot.Damn it!You evil spirits, I won't let you go!I roared in anger.These wicked spirits had tried to deceive me into drinking the soup of the dead!"Dalei! Dalei, what's wrong?"Huang Rong returned at that moment.I pointed the peachwood sword at her, "Are you human or ghost?"Huang Rong glanced at the ground and suddenly stomped her foot in frustration. "It's all my fault. I acted impulsively and chased after Liu Zhao and the others, leaving you to be tormented by these mischievous wandering spirits. Don't be afraid; it's all an illusion. I am Huang Rong, your ghost bride."Huang Rong took the peachwood sword and struck herself a few times to prove she was indeed the real Huang Rong.I exhaled deeply, quickly packed the broken jar and the infant spirit into a convenient bag, and threw them into the river.Upon returning, Huang Rong had me lie down and began to massage my acupoints, channeling energy through my meridians.I felt a cold energy flowing through my body, bringing a soothing sensation that quickly alleviated much of my discomfort.After about ten minutes, Huang Rong sighed and said, "That's enough for now. From now on, practice cultivating energy daily and accumulate it gradually."I sat up, feeling much better, though there was still a lingering coldness in my lower abdomen.Huang Rong paused and then spoke to me again, "Da Lei, that Liu Zhao is not a good person. I'm worried he might trouble you again tomorrow. We need to come up with a plan to deal with him.""My love...""I'm not in the mood to worry about others right now. Tell me, what exactly is going on with me?"I drank some tea, but the coldness in my lower abdomen remained.Huang Rong shook her head, "There's nothing to worry about. It's just yin energy, which helps you accumulate ghostly energy. Don't overthink it. During the day, if you don't activate this yin energy, it will quietly stay in your dantian. At night, when you meditate, it will circulate on its own, helping you gather ghostly energy.""Enough, let's not talk about this anymore.""Da Lei, I'm really concerned about Liu Zhao. He does have some abilities. If I hadn't dodged quickly earlier, I would have been injured by the artifact on his neck."Before I could respond, Huang Rong continued, "It looks like I really need to lay low for a few days.""Da Lei, be careful, and try not to stay here at night.""I'll go back to rest; otherwise, Huang Rong will become suspicious tomorrow. That's all for now, I'm leaving..."Huang Rong left in a whirlwind, departing in great haste.