Those mountain bandits were utterly ruthless. After violating Roos, they looted everything and slaughtered everyone.
Kittel barely survived - though stabbed twice by the bandits, he was saved by a passing ghost cultivator. He later apprenticed under this cultivator to learn the Ghost-raising Arts. Meanwhile, Mr. Lee died of grief over his daughter's fate, and the Lee family fell into ruin.
Goodness went unrewarded while evil prospered. That beast David not only passed the imperial examinations but went on to establish the entire Dai family lineage.
Kittel couldn't accept this injustice. His hatred for David - that swine worse than dogs - burned fiercely.
Yet by the time Kittel mastered the Ghost-raising Arts, David had already died of illness, forcing Kittel to direct his vengeance toward David's descendants.
Strangely, since David's time, the Dai family seemed blessed - their wealth and power grew steadily through generations, even surviving turbulent times unscathed. Though Kittel constantly schemed against them, he could never destroy the family completely.
Refusing to abandon his revenge, Kittel performed the ultimate sacrifice - using the Ghost-raising Arts on himself. He became a ghost cultivator, forsaking reincarnation. For centuries, he's possessed different bodies while secretly undermining the Dai family.
About ten years ago, Kittel finally discovered how to ruin the Dai family - by targeting their dragon vein. He set up the unbreakable Seven Fiends Formation, severing the dragon vein to destroy the ancestral tomb's feng shui. Just as the Dai family's fortune should have collapsed, my unexpected intervention foiled his plans - hence his attempt to kill me tonight.
After hearing Kittel's story, we finally understood the truth. His desire for revenge was justified - the Dai family ancestors' crimes should be answered by their descendants.
Even Master Raul couldn't interfere - David's sins were too grave. This blood debt demanded repayment.
Then Mr. Dai stepped forward. "For my ancestor's crimes," he pleaded to Kittel, "I'll pay with my life. Let this settle the matter and spare my family."
"Heh, you've got quite the sense of humor," Kittel sneered. "You think one old man's life can repay centuries of hatred? If I only wanted your life, do you think it would be difficult? No - I want to see your entire Dai family fall! Your lineage severed! Every one of you dying wretched deaths! Only then will my hatred be satisfied! Only then will my lady be avenged!" Kittel's scream tore through the night as a chilling wind erupted around him, thick with the resentment of countless ghosts.
The depth of his hatred for David and the Dai family was unimaginable. No wonder his ghostly aura could challenge daylight itself - such overwhelming resentment, combined with his Ghost-raising Arts, made it possible.
His outburst terrified the Dai family. Without Master Raul's presence, they might have all collapsed in fear. This kind of vengeful spirit truly chilled one to the bone.
"Kittel," Master Raul counseled, "when will this vengeance end? Release your obsession, let go of your grudge, and move on to reincarnation! Your lady wouldn't want to see you like this."
Kittel laughed bitterly. "Reincarnation? A ghost bound by Ghost-raising Arts can never reincarnate. Save your breath. This vengeance must be fulfilled - the Dai family must perish."
Then Kittel turned his venomous gaze on me. What now? Did he still intend to kill me right in front of Master Raul?
Damn it! I'm completely innocent in this feud between him and the Dai family. Who knew I'd get dragged into this? Truly, men die for wealth as birds die for food.
Grandpa, every penny I've earned for you has come with treacherous consequences!
Just then, Webster suddenly appeared. "Wait!" he called out to Kittel.
Kittel glanced at him dismissively. "Even Master Raul can't kill me. What can a blind man do?"
Webster chuckled. "I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to ferry you."
"Ferry me? Hah! Ferry the Dai family first! They'll soon be reuniting in the Yellow Springs!"
Master Raul seemed puzzled by Webster's approach, but surely if Kittel attacked, he wouldn't just stand by - at least he'd save me, right? If I die here today, it'll be more unjust than snow in June!
Then Webster asked suddenly: "Don't you want to see your lady?"
Kittel froze. Pointing at Webster's nose, he snarled, "Damn blind man! Don't play tricks, or I'll make you regret it!"
"Haha, what tricks could a blind man like me manage? But your lady is here today. So I ask again - do you want to see her or not?"
Kittel scoffed. After hundreds of years, his lady should have reincarnated many times over! Still trying to deceive him? "Go ahead then," he mocked. "Call her out if you can."
Webster pinched his fingers as if calculating something, then pointed at the unconscious Daphne on the ground. "That's right. Your young lady has reincarnated several times. In this life, fate has been cruel - she became a descendant of the very Dai family. That's her."
We were all astonished, our eyes turning to Daphne lying unconscious on the floor. Roos had actually reincarnated into the Dai family? Daphne was Roos' descendant? Was Webster bluffing, or telling the truth?
We were only half-convinced, let alone Kittel, who would never believe it.
"Haha! Damn blind man!" Kittel laughed scornfully. "You'll say anything to save the Dai family! You think I'd believe that? Next you'll tell me I've reincarnated as the Buddha!"
Without wasting words, Webster gave Master Raul a signal - some unspoken understanding passing between them that we couldn't decipher. Master Raul nodded, clearly comprehending.
Master Raul moved slowly to Daphne's side and motioned for me to help sit her up. As I propped Daphne upright, Master Raul slapped a yellow Taoist talisman on her forehead. Then he bit his fingertip and used the blood to draw swastika symbols on her forehead, glabella, both cheeks, and dantian area.
"Spirits of the underworld, heed my command! From past lives to this present one, come forth and appear without delay. Manifest!"
After the incantation, Master Raul's lips began moving rapidly, chanting Roos's name like a summoning call.
Finally, he struck Daphne's crown with his palm. Daphne's body began trembling violently, convulsing wildly. Suddenly, a human-shaped black mist emerged from her crown.
The black mist coalesced into the form of a beautiful woman in ancient attire, floating above Daphne's head. Her features bore some resemblance to Daphne's, though the differences in ancient versus modern clothing and makeup created a noticeable gap between their appearances.
Could this truly be Kittel's young mistress, Roos?