After Ren Daoyuan finished speaking, some young disciples below the hall looked puzzled.
"What is 'tying a doll'?"
Mr. Yan beside them timely stepped forward to explain,
"The 'tying a doll' is a folk custom of praying to the Goddess of Children for offspring. Those seeking children need to go to the temple of the goddess, prepare incense and tributes, and pray sincerely. Then, they tie a red string around the neck or wrist of the clay doll enshrined in the temple, symbolizing 'tying' the doll back home. Soon they may conceive as desired. This custom is especially prevalent in the north with many rules. For example, after bringing the clay doll home, one needs to offer incense to it devoutly. After one's own child is born, the clay doll should be properly placed, either returned to the temple or offered incense continuously to show gratitude and ensure the child's safety."
The disciples suddenly understood after hearing this, but soon more doubts arose.
Although there are many rules in the temple, and the rules for 'tying a doll' are even more strict, the Goddess of Children is known for her mercy. As a true deity, she is usually magnanimous. Even if the believers are negligent, she would mostly give a small punishment as a warning rather than imposing such a severe and almost life - threatening penalty, especially on an innocent child!
This task seemed extremely strange and could not be simply explained by 'offending the deity'.
In the Wenshi Hall, discussions were in full swing. Everyone was speculating about this strange case.
Ren Daoyuan's eyes swept over the eager disciples below the hall. He stroked his beard and smiled, looking somewhat mysterious,
"Speculation is of no use. The truth can only be revealed through personal experience. Everyone, please pack up a bit and set off for the south of the city this afternoon. May your journey be smooth and free from all taboos!"
...
There were many applicants. The academy divided the disciples into several groups. Besides the matter of the Cui family, other Class - A tasks of similar difficulty were also arranged for the assessment. As expected, Liu Ruyan and Shen Cuiyu were grouped together.
Coincidentally, just as the team was about to set off, Pei Yu, who had been missing for several days, rushed back to the academy in a hurry. The four - person team was reunited.
When Dongfang Xiao saw him, his face immediately beamed with joy. "Brother Pei, you're finally back! Without you, something always feels missing. It's so boring on the road without someone to argue with."
Pei Yu slightly raised the corner of his lips, showing a lazy but genuine smile. His eyes shifted and landed on Shen Cuiyu. His gaze gently swept over the new black jade plaque on her waist, which was half - hidden under her clothes. He slightly raised his eyebrows and said with undisguised admiration,
"I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've already reached the Xuan rank. Congratulations."
Shen Cuiyu raised her eyes to meet his gaze.
Pei Yu in front of her still had a peerlessly handsome face. Wearing the same disciple's uniform as hers, neatly tied at the sleeves and waist, he was eye - catching at a glance.
However, under those peach - blossom eyes that usually carried a careless smile, there was now a faint trace of tiredness, as if stained with the lingering dust from the depths of the palace.
Shen Cuiyu's heart skipped a beat. The question that had been hovering in her mind almost blurted out - Why do you always look so exhausted and even carry a bit of barely perceptible gloom every time you come back from that palace with red walls and green tiles?
However, when the words reached her lips, after a moment's hesitation, Shen Cuiyu just smiled. Finally, what came out was only a plain but sincere greeting,
"It's good that you're back."
The carriage rumbled and arrived at the south of the city the next day.
The matter of the Cui family had already caused quite a stir in the city. The head of the Cui family, Cui Weiqi, even offered a generous reward, saying that if someone could save his beloved daughter's life, he would offer ten thousand taels of gold and several acres of fertile land as a reward!
Therefore, as soon as the disciples stepped into the city gate, a passer - by took the initiative to talk to them,
"You gentlemen look extraordinary. You must be celestial masters, right? Are you here because of the strange illness of the little girl in the Cui family?"
Dongfang Xiao was very surprised. Scratching his head, he asked, "Uncle, how did you know?"
"Your terrifying ghost mask says it all, doesn't it?"
Dongfang Xiao:...
The old man sighed, "Alas, the Cui family has invited so many Buddhist monks, Taoist priests, and quacks these days, but nothing works. They've tried all the methods they could, but the little girl just doesn't get better. It's a pity. She was such a cute and lively child before, but now... It's really heart - wrenching for parents..."
Hearing this, everyone felt sad. With heavy hearts, they came to the Cui Mansion and finally saw Jiaojiao lying sick in bed.
The little girl still vaguely showed her once cute and snow - white appearance, but now her face was ashen, her eyes were empty and lifeless, and she just lay there quietly, like a lifeless doll.
Shen Cuiyu stepped forward to check carefully. A trace of barely perceptible spiritual power gathered at her fingertips and explored Jiaojiao's body. Her expression gradually became solemn.
She withdrew her hand and said gravely, "Jiaojiao has lost two of her souls."
"What?!" Hearing this, Cui Weiqi and his wife's faces changed drastically.
Shen Cuiyu explained to everyone, "A person has three souls. The soul of heaven governs wisdom and clarity, the soul of earth governs cause and effect, and the soul of man governs the vitality of the physical body. The soul of man will only disperse when the physical body dies. Now, Jiaojiao's souls of heaven and earth have left her body and disappeared. She is barely hanging on to life with only the soul of man. But judging from her current situation, the soul of man is also on the verge of collapse. If we can't find the souls of heaven and earth, I'm afraid..."
Although she didn't finish her sentence, the meaning was clear. Jiaojiao's life was in great danger!
Mrs. Cui, that is, Mrs. Xu, felt dizzy and almost fainted when she heard this!
Cui Weiqi was also in tears. He bowed repeatedly to Shen Cuiyu and the others, his voice choking, "Please, celestial masters, save my daughter at all costs! No matter how much money it costs, I'm willing to go bankrupt! She's our only daughter now..."
This scene was really heart - rending.
Looking at the almost - collapsed Cui couple and the dying Jiaojiao on the couch, Shen Cuiyu couldn't help but think of herself.
On the day of her rebirth, she also lay lifeless on the embroidered bed in her boudoir, barely holding on with a wisp of weak vitality. At that time, her father and Mrs. Zou were probably just like the Cui couple in front of her, heart - broken but still not giving up any hope...
However, her situation was very different from Jiaojiao's. She was born missing one soul due to her fate, while Jiaojiao's lost souls of heaven and earth seemed to have been forcibly stripped and taken away by some external force! The method was so clean and decisive that it was definitely not the work of ordinary wandering ghosts or the underworld messengers.
The underworld has its own rules and regulations when taking souls. It won't leave a dying soul of man to suffer.
So what kind of evil spirit could have such means to silently take away the soul of a living person, especially a young child?
Shen Cuiyu suppressed the doubts and chills in her heart and together with the others first comforted the almost - fainting Cui couple.
After the loving parents' emotions calmed down a little and they could barely sit down, Shen Cuiyu and the others gathered around and began to discuss the strategy for finding the souls.