My mother raised me with traditional and conservative values. I was young and innocent then, holding love and marriage in high esteem. I wanted to save my first time for my future partner. Despite spending a few years in a teachers' college, surrounded by women, I remained untouched. But now, being forced by this demon, I was filled with urgency and rage, feeling deeply humiliated and indignant. Somehow, I found the strength to break free from the nightmare, sat up, and pushed with all my might.
"Ahh!" The woman, taken by surprise, screamed and fell off the bed. Immediately, the window shattered with a loud bang, and a dark shadow dashed out through the broken window. It was too fast and the room too dark for me to see what it was.
I was gasping for breath, my body trembling uncontrollably—a mix of fear and fury. Although it was a beautiful woman's body that tempted me, it was still a demon. Even the most beautiful body is just an illusion. Underneath that skin, it might be utterly grotesque. I felt violated, like I had been assaulted, but fortunately, it wasn't successful, or I might have carried that regret for life.
I can't understand why that demon fixated on me. If it was just about taking yang to supplement yin, there were plenty of stronger men in the village. There was no reason for it to latch onto me as soon as I arrived. Sure, I'm good-looking, with a bit of charm and refinement, but I'm not so stunning that everyone loves me or that I make flowers bloom and cars burst their tires at the sight of me. I'm not so astonishing that even demons fall in love at first sight, right?
I felt the urge to rush and knock on Old Chen's door, but after some hesitation, I reconsidered. Being toyed with by a demon was hardly something to be proud of, and I didn't want it to become public knowledge. Moreover, summoning Old Chen wouldn't be of much help. I might as well wait for him to invite the expert again the next day to deal with it.
I got out of bed, turned on the light, and securely closed the window, too scared to sleep anymore. The room still held a faint, enchanting scent, the demon's aroma. This suggested that what had happened earlier was not a hallucination. Typically, beasts have a fishy, foul smell, but this demon could transform that stench into a pleasant fragrance and even assume human form. Its level of cultivation must be profound; it could have been practicing for thousands of years. Such an ancient demon, if it wanted to end my life, it would be as effortless as flipping a coin. Considering its methods so far, they've been relatively "gentle." But if I were to reject it again, I feared…
A shiver ran down my spine, and I felt restless, worried, scared, and frustrated. After being intensely tempted and stimulated for two nights in a row without any relief, any normal man would be brimming with uncontrollable desires. If it tempted me again, I was afraid that even if I knew it was a spirit transformed from an old sow, I might not be able to resist giving in.
It wasn't until the first light of dawn that I finally felt at ease and fell asleep. By the time I woke up, it was already past ten in the morning.
Old Chen had gone to the village office to handle a situation, so I rushed over there. The office was packed with people because two families were battling over water for irrigation, and the village officials were trying to mediate the conflict.
After nearly half an hour, the issue was finally resolved. I went up to Old Chen and asked, "Did you take care of the issue you mentioned yesterday?"
Old Chen appeared anxious, giving me a series of meaningful glances, then pulled me into an empty office next door. He seemed frustrated as he said, "You can't discuss such matters here. You need to be aware of the consequences! I'm a party member, an atheist. If the higher-ups find out… You have to understand my position. This will take some time and the right opportunity. Just stay at my place for a few days and try to stay calm."
It was then that I realized he hadn't sought any expert help and wasn't planning to. He was just trying to stall. Fury rose within me, and I spoke loudly, "Did you hear a woman's scream last night? The sound of a window being smashed open? I might as well leave. It's better to work in a coastal city than to be stuck here. But it's already in your house. I can leave, but what about your family?"
Old Chen's expression changed dramatically. He had indeed heard some noises the previous night but hadn't paid much attention to them until now, realizing the severity of the situation. If that malevolent entity could enter his home, it might also pose a threat to his family. My words were not a threat but a warning bell for him.
"What exactly happened?" Old Chen asked in a hushed tone.
"Last night, a woman was all over me, touching me," I explained, feeling embarrassed to go into the specifics. I gave him a general idea, but as a man, Old Chen got the picture.
Old Chen clenched his teeth and finally decided: "I'll have someone from Hua Yan Temple come over right away. But we need to keep this quiet and try to avoid any controversy. You understand?"
I nodded. About five or six years ago, there was a local campaign that resulted in the destruction of many temples and the smashing of religious statues. Ever since, no one has dared to reconstruct the golden bodies. Although religious freedom has been restored now, it's still a touchy subject. As a party member and village official, Old Chen is naturally cautious about it.
Old Chen didn't go himself but sent Xiao Liu, the village messenger, to fetch the monks. In the afternoon, Xiao Liu returned with six monks, who chanted scriptures in the classroom to perform a ritual. These monks were elderly, dressed in tattered robes, with pale and gaunt faces, but their expressions were solemn and dignified, clearly indicating that they were true monks who adhered to the monastic rules, unlike the city monks who ride motorcycles, wear sunglasses, and use cell phones.
here were two reasons for the exorcism to take place at the school. First, it wasn't convenient to hold it at Old Chen's house. Second, the source of the evil was close to the school.
Curious villagers were kept far away and weren't allowed to get a close look. I only peeked through the classroom door a few times but didn't go inside. On the blackboard, there was a yellow cloth with an image of the Buddha and lotus flowers. On the teacher's desk, three small Buddha statues were placed, surrounded by lit incense and candles, and offerings like fruit, dried bamboo shoots, and black fungus. All the desks and chairs had been moved to the back, and the monks sat in the students' seats, tapping wooden fish and chanting scriptures.
I couldn't make out what they were chanting; it was a mix of singing and recitation, with a peaceful, compassionate, and mysterious sound. The school surroundings seemed to brighten up, and the subtle, chilling aura had faded significantly.
Old Chen requested the monks to keep chanting at the school at night. He also took a stack of yellow paper, about ten centimeters long and three centimeters wide, and respectfully pasted it on the door of his house. I was puzzled and couldn't help asking, "What's that?"
"Paper talismans!" Old Chen replied without looking back, continuing to paste the yellow paper.
Although I'm not well-versed in these matters, I do have some basic understanding. I remarked, "Talismans are typically used by Taoist priests. Do monks also draw talismans?"
Old Chen hesitated for a moment and scolded, "You're just a kid, don't speak out of turn."
I then noticed another oddity: "But there aren't any talisman symbols on it?"
"I also asked a high monk about this, and the high monk said it's an amulet without characters. The amulet without characters is the real divine talisman."
I didn't say anything else but nodded silently. "Divine" is typically associated with Taoism. How can a monk talk about a "divine talisman"? Buddhism and Taoism have been intertwined in China for thousands of years, with mutual influences and learning, but monks drawing talismans seems quite out of place. These monks are real, but they're definitely not the genuine article, and they might be a bit questionable. (Later I found out that in fact, monks in the esoteric tradition also draw talismans, especially those in the Heavenly Speech School of Han Esoteric Buddhism, which emphasizes mantras and talismans greatly.)
At that moment, someone rushed in, shouting, "Dad, Mom, I'm back!"
I looked over and saw that it was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, with short hair cut at the ears, delicate features, wearing a printed T-shirt and blue jeans, and carrying a brown small leather bag. Her skin was slightly darker, indicative of a healthy tan. She wasn't very tall but was well-proportioned, radiating youthful energy. Her large eyes were distinctly black and white, making them particularly striking.
Old Chen responded, "You're back."
From upstairs, Old Chen's son, Chen Jiquiang, called out excitedly, "Sister, did you bring any yummy treats?"
The girl didn't respond to her younger brother but curiously sized me up a few times. While my looks couldn't compare to those of Hong Kong or Taiwanese celebrities, I still had a presentable appearance and a touch of scholarly grace, which stood out in this rural area.
"Who is this?" the girl asked in the local dialect.
Old Chen had already pasted a talisman on the main hall and smiled, "This is the new teacher, Xiao Zhang. Zhang, this is my eldest daughter, Chen Xing, who just came back from visiting a friend's house."
I didn't know he had such an older daughter and smiled and nodded in greeting, "Hello."
"Teacher Zhang, you're not old at all, you're quite handsome," Chen Xing tried to sound serious, then ran up the stairs, turning back at the halfway point and smiling cheekily.
I was taken aback. Was this a compliment from a student to a teacher? Old Chen feigned anger, "This girl, she's too disrespectful, she doesn't know any manners!"
Chen Xing laughed like a silver bell, running up to play with her younger brother. Aunt Hua was cooking in the kitchen, calling out, "Xingxing, come help, where have you been running off to? You're so big now, you don't even help me do some chores!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Chen Xing quickly came downstairs, stuck out her tongue at me, and ran into the kitchen to help, moving efficiently.
Before long, the meal was prepared. Old Chen naturally invited me to stay for dinner, which was quite lavish with fish and meat, complemented by two bowls of vegetables and a bowl of soup. Chen Xing was a lively and cheerful girl who chattered away during dinner, discussing how certain Hong Kong and Taiwanese movies were excellent or how a classmate's branded clothes were fantastic.
I didn't engage much in conversation with her. Although she was only a couple of years younger than me, she came from a more affluent family, enjoying a carefree and happy life, whereas I had lost my father at a young age and grew up in poverty. We seemed like people from different eras.
The whole family of Old Chen was quite hospitable to me, which was typical in impoverished mountainous areas, where people generally respected teachers. Besides Old Chen, no one else knew about the strange occurrence from the previous night.
After dinner, when I visited the school to see the monks, I felt a strong sense of unease, as if something in the darkness was watching me, making me feel unsettled. Moreover, the fact that the monks were drawing talismans made me feel a bit skeptical, so I eventually decided to spend the night at Old Chen's house.
Old Chen was very confident in the monks and the "divine talismans without characters," repeatedly assuring me that there wouldn't be any problems tonight and I could sleep peacefully. I hadn't slept well for the past two days, so I went to bed before nine o'clock, in the room next to the bedroom of Old Chen and his wife. Chen Xing might have been staying on the third floor, which I didn't pay much attention to. When I went to bed, Chen Xing and Chen Jiquiang were still watching TV in the first-floor hall.
In my slumber, I abruptly felt the weight of someone upon me. My mind was still somewhat lucid, but my body was paralyzed, unable to open my eyes or mouth. It was precisely the same as the two nights prior. After a brief interval, I noticed a difference. Tonight, there was no fragrance like that of a orchid or musk, but a very faint scent of a young woman's body, one that seemed familiar. The person in my arms moved differently from the previous encounters, tightly enveloping me like an octopus, her body squirming, her lips kissing my face and neck, her breaths rapid and her breath hot.
I sensed something was amiss. This time, it seemed like a real person, but who could it be? I wasn't fully conscious at the time; my senses of taste, smell, and touch were heightened, but my thinking was in a state of partial paralysis, so I strained to think who the woman could be who was on top of me.