539 Appearance (1/2)
”You are saying that... the 'Door' is protecting us?”
Tantai Guihu looked at Tantai Guijing incredulously.
”Back then...the whole Tantai residence had been afflicted by the curse and was pulled down to the netherworld. It fell directly to somewhere near the Green Bronze Door and was met with the curse over there!”
Tantai Guijing went on composedly.
”Although many in the Tantai family have died, everything will go back to normal when the day comes...anyway, with the existence of the Green Bronze Door, no ghost swarm or powerful spirit would dare to come anywhere close to this valley. It protects us. Of course, no Tantai would dare to approach the Door either. Those who have tried are now dead!”
”In my opinion, the 'Door' did not save us. We are but the sacrificial animals it has chosen, or the prey that it has rounded in. Hence, it will not allow any other 'predators' to come close…”
”The whole Tantai family, are....sacrificial animals?”
Tantai Guihu's voice was quivering with resentment.
”All this...it is all because of the Curse of the Door! And the rash actions of our ancestor…”
Tantai Guijing shook his head. He still had no idea of the truth about Tantai Moye!
”No matter what...we must face this curse! That Green Bronze Door… can it be destroyed?”
Tantai Guihu gritted his teeth.
”Of course we've tried it before. Unfortunately, all the elders who have approached the Door triggered the curse and combusted spontaneously… the area deep within the valley is now restricted to all of us.”
Tantai Juexin shook his head.
”If only that person was still alive…”
He thought about the last 20-year cycle and about how it was Tantai Mieming who managed to damage the Green Bronze Door, giving them valuable time to recharge their strength. If he was still around, they would no doubt have a chance at succeeding.
”Immeasurable heavens!”
The Daoist Sanmi and Master Kuhai had heard of Fang Yuan too. As they looked around at the bewildered faces of the Tantai elders, they did not know what to feel.
This Tantai Mieming was more remarkable than they had expected!
At the moment, however, they were stuck in a difficult situation.
They did not know whether they should gather all of their forces and mount an assault on the Green Bronze Door, or defend passively and await reinforcements.
Unfortunately, even with the protection of the Curse of the Door, they could not guarantee that Tantai Mieming would return in time or at all.
”We are 3 days away from the activation of the curse! We can only wait till then!”
Finally, it was Tantai Guijing who spoke up definitively.
”If Tantai Mieming still cares about us, he will return!”
Looking at him now, one would have thought that he was an elder who cared about the welfare of the younger generation. No one would have guessed that he had callously employed his own grandchild as a tool back then.
”Knock knock!”
At this moment, dull knocks suddenly rang out. The sound struck deep into everyone's chest cavities and everyone could feel their hearts pounding with every blow.
”It's...it's that 'Door'!”
A Tantai elder announced in a quavering voice.
”It...has come!”
”How is that possible? It isn't time yet…”
Tantai Guijing and the rest walked out into the yard and saw the image of a huge door flickering over the horizon. They were all at a loss for words.
When the curse had activated back then, it had left a deep impression on them.
At that point, the netherworld was the home ground of the opposing forces. Without Tantai Mieming to restrain them, they were more powerful than ever!
”Juexin, open the temple!'
Tantai Guijing gritted his teeth.
”We'll fight!”
”Yes, sir!”
Tantai Juexin sped towards the temple purposefully.
There were two important buildings in the rear premises of the Tantai residence. One was the sacrificial hall and the other one was the temple.
The sacrificial hall was where the Tantais sealed up objects and worshipped supernatural beings while the temple was a resting place for the Tantai ancestors, many of whom were elite exorcists!
The temple had defence mechanisms guarding it and Tantai Juexin took out a piece of jade which ensured his safe entry.
When he pushed open the door, rows upon rows of memorial tablets greeted him.
Behind the memorial tablets laid a hidden chamber.
Tantai Juexin took a deep breath and entered the place just as he had many times before.
It was a gloomy space peppered with the dim glows of spirit lamps. They illuminated the place like millions of fireflies.
Rows of figures sat upon armchairs and stared down sternly from their positions on the altar.
”My forefathers!”
Tantai Juexin fell to the ground and kowtowed unhesitantly.
”Your descendant Tantai Juexin prays for your help!”
These seated figures were the ancestors of the Tantai family, some of them from the time of the migration. The founders of the Tantai residence were all skilled exorcists and were highly cultivated. Even in death, their bodies did not decompose nor reek.
After doing his bow, Tantai Juexin got to feet and looked at the magical equipment lying on the altar.