Summoning Souls

[The entire novel has been carefully revised. The revised version differs greatly from pirated copies. I’m not responsible for any pirated version.] -The fallen young lady of a noble family x the dead young general- From a carefree young noble to a traitorous court villain, Xu Hexue’s crimes were too numerous to recount. Even fifteen years after he had been sentenced and put to death, people in the streets and markets of Great Qi still spoke of his past and spat on his wicked deeds. Ni Su never imagined that, in the fifteenth year after Xu Hexue’s death, she would meet him in a vast snowy wilderness. He was nothing like the ferocious monster of the rumors, nor was he several yards tall, with a green face and fangs. He wore the black cloak she had just burned to ashes. Holding a solitary lantern, he stood untouched by wind or snow, then walked barefoot up to her. “Who are you?” Ni Su regretted countless times that she had set that fire. If she had known the garment was meant for Xu Hexue, she never would have burned it. But later, when her brother went missing, her home and fields were seized, and Ni Su fell into misery at her lowest and most helpless, the only one by her side was Xu Hexue, a solitary ghost. He stayed with her as she gritted her teeth and rose from the mire, straightened her back, searched for her brother, and sought justice. He stayed with her through rain and snow, through winter and spring. The day Ni Su’s wish came true and she parted ways with Xu Hexue, she wore her wedding robes, ready to marry a worthy suitor of good family, bearing, and character. That night, Xu Hexue sat beneath a frost-covered tree and saw the girl in red hurrying toward him through the wind and snow, arms full of incense and candles. “Have you changed your mind about getting married?” “No.” Xu Hexue set his jaw and turned away, unwilling to speak with her any longer. But the girl beneath the tree looked up at him, snowmelt soaking her hair. “Xu Hexue, I have plenty of incense and candles. I can keep you for a long time, and I’m not afraid of the divide between the living and the dead. Let’s spend our lives this way, all right?” With winter clothes to summon a soul, I’ll share my whole life with you. A story of healing, with a happy ending. Reader’s guide: 1. Some parts of the novel’s system of ghosts and gods draw on legends from before Buddhism entered the Central Plains. The inspiration comes from Qu Yuan’s *Summoning the Soul*. 2. A fictional setting. The official system is modeled on the Song dynasty, but not every other aspect of the setting is. 3. Everyone has different tastes. If it’s not for you, just move on. No need to tell me. 4. Don’t come to the official comments section if you’ve read a pirated copy. Theme: Live with compassion and bring compassion to the world