The revered monk from Huayan Temple had been reciting scriptures until the middle of the night without any issues. Feeling sleepy, he decided to sit on the meditation cushion for a brief rest. It was common for them to sleep in a sitting position when tired, some even managed to doze off while reciting, which was perfectly normal. However, at daybreak, they discovered that all the lights had been extinguished, and one of the elderly monks had used his rosary to hang himself, no longer breathing.
The sight of the old monk's body with protruding eyes and tongue lolling out immediately reminded me of a female hanging ghost, sending shivers down my spine. It was difficult to comprehend how someone could strangle themselves with a rosary and not release it when struggling for breath. It was evident that it was not his own strength that had caused his death, or perhaps he had completely lost his mind at that moment.
Although these monks may not have possessed the ability to conquer demons like Vajra, they were undoubtedly true monks with cultivation and virtue. The fact that they had no means of self-defense highlighted the terrifying power of the hanging ghost.
This hanging ghost is far more brutal than any demon I've encountered. If it hadn't been for the demon protecting me, I might have been taken by the hanging ghost on the first night. So, in a way, I should be grateful to that demon. Now, that demon has also acted as a great matchmaker for him.
With a death, the monks naturally wouldn't let it go easily. There was a lot of noise and commotion, and soon the entire village knew about it. Rumors spread like wildfire, and people were frightened. Old Chen's relatives and village officials came out to maintain order. Old Chen was so anxious he almost spat blood. His daughter was humiliated, and a fierce ghost was claiming a life. Two major incidents had occurred overnight, both extremely difficult to handle. With a life at stake, he couldn't worry about the impact. He reported the case to the town police station and made many phone calls asking for assistance, including the old principal.
My main concern was still Chen Xing. It seemed that not marrying her was not an option, but marrying her felt somewhat reluctantly. It's not that Chen Xing isn't pretty enough; in fact, Chen Xing is very beautiful and cute, and her family background is also good, a perfect match for me. It's just that I can't accept such a sudden, forced marriage. Marriage doesn't represent love, but how can marriage be without love? As a modern intellectual, should I also get married first and then fall in love?
Around 10 am, Old Chen received a phone call and his mood suddenly improved. He mysteriously told me, "The savior is here, now it's all good!"
"What savior?"
"This is top secret!" Old Chen declared solemnly. After a moment of consideration, he deemed me trustworthy enough to confide in and placed his hand on my shoulder. "It's alright to let you in on this, but you mustn't breathe a word to anyone else! A master from Beijing has learned about our predicament from the old principal at the Education Bureau and has agreed to step in. The old principal was insistent that we shouldn't reveal his Beijing connection to others."
I couldn't help but find the situation a bit comical. To these people in the remote mountainous area, Beijing was a sacrosanct and glittering place. Someone from Beijing was akin to an imperial envoy from ancient times, arriving in a grand sedan chair, armed with an imperial edict, vanquishing evildoers and striking fear into gods and ghosts alike. No wonder Old Chen was thrilled. However, I remained level-headed. Beijing isn't Mount Longhu; not everyone there can subdued demons and ghosts, right? If something goes wrong, what horrors might unfold tonight? How can I break free from the demon's grasp?
Old Chen promptly set about preparing for the esteemed guest's arrival, readying the hall, slaughtering pigs and sheep, assigning the band, and gathering the children to dress neatly and line up with their Children's Day paper flowers to welcome.
Despite having called the police, the expected patrol car from the town police station never showed up. The group waited and waited, and it wasn't until close to four in the afternoon that a sedan car finally arrived, kicking up a trail of yellow dust. The waiting drum and gong team immediately launched into a spirited performance, the suona music was deafening, and the children, their cheeks painted red, shook their paper flowers in a ragged chorus, shouting, "Welcome, welcome, warm welcome."
Old Chen eagerly scurried over to greet them, but the occupants of the car didn't step out. After lowering the window slightly and exchanging a few words, Old Chen returned with a look of mortification, dispersing the crowd and insisting that no one loiter around. Evidently, his attempts at flattery had backfired.
As the villagers dispersed, the driver's door of the sedan opened, and a robust man in his thirties emerged, his face set in determination and his eyes sharp, exuding a sense of explosive power. A slender, white-haired elderly man stepped out of the passenger seat, appearing humble and unassuming. I recognized him from a photo in the school office; he was the principal, also named Chen.
They quickly opened the rear door after getting out, slightly bending over to offer a gesture of respectful invitation. The person who emerged on the left appeared to be in his fifties, of medium build, wearing a silk robe, with short hair and a long beard, a mild smile gracing his face, and an extraordinary presence. However, his thick, sword-like eyebrows lent a hint of dominance and a fierce aura to his otherwise ethereal demeanor.
On the right side, a girl of fifteen or sixteen years stepped out, tall and graceful, dressed in a light yellow dress with polka dots and ruffles, as delicate and fleeting as a floating butterfly. Her hair was neatly combed back, her forehead smooth and full, her eyebrows sharp, her phoenix-like eyes commanding, her face bright and radiant. Although she still retained a touch of youthful innocence, she already exuded the dazzling aura of a star and the regal elegance of a princess, making it difficult to look at her directly.
I didn't gaze at her for long, not because I was afraid to look directly at her, but because I disliked her proud demeanor. Did someone from Beijing really need to hold their head so high?
Principal Chen spoke with a tone of humility: "Master Lu, would you like to take a break and have some tea at the village office?"
"No need, let's focus on the urgent matters first." The bearded elder, addressed as Master Lu, shook his head. He cast a glance around before his eyes settled on me, a flicker of surprise evident. He then approached me swiftly, his gaze still fixed on me from top to bottom.
I felt a bit nervous. Why was the "imperial envoy" staring at me? Did I have some sort of demonic aura?
Everyone noticed the unusual attention, but no one dared to speak up. Master Lu walked up to me, examined me again, then circled around to look at my back, muttering to himself, "What a pity, what a pity."
Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked, "What's a pity?"
"You have the innate spiritual root, but it's a pity that you've squandered your youth. Your bones and muscles are rigid, and your meridians are obstructed. There's no future for you in the path of cultivation."
I almost chuckled, never having considered becoming a Taoist priest, so what's there to regret? Isn't being a teacher better than being a quack? However, I was still curious and asked him, "What is a spiritual root?"
Master Lu seemed to be pondering something and replied offhandedly, "The so-called spiritual root is the ability to communicate with the spirit world, which is the ability to communicate with spiritual energy in the universe. It can be simply understood as the qualification for learning occult arts. Your qualifications are quite good, but it's a pity you're too old. If I had met you earlier, it would have been better."
I just smiled politely, not showing any disdain for the old man's presumption. Now I finally understand why I often encounter supernatural events. It's because I have a "spiritual root," which makes it easier to sense the presence of other spirits, such as ghosts. They might be more interested in me, like absorbing my essence and blood to gain my spiritual root.
The girl asked, "Grandpa, is his aptitude really high?"
Master Lu didn't answer her directly but said, "You two step aside, I have something to say to this young man."
Principal Chen, Secretary Chen, the driver, and others quickly moved away, but the girl remained where she was. Master Lu said, "Although I'm not in Taoist attire, I am a legitimate descendant of a Taoist priest. Currently, I am affiliated with a special department of the government, dealing with matters of the supernatural and the unexplained. Although you are a bit older, there is still potential for training. Would you be willing to come with me?"
I shook my head, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Lu, but I think being a teacher is quite good."
The girl frowned and said, "Really ungrateful, my grandfather is the pillar of the cultivation world today, and his willingness to take you in is a blessing you've accumulated over ten lifetimes."
Master Lu raised his hand to stop his granddaughter and laughed, "Everyone has their own aspirations, and it cannot be forced. However, I still hope you consider it. Although following me may not bring fame and glory to your family or rise to prominence, it's still better than being a teacher by tens of times, even if you only learn a trick or two."
Master Lu's disdain for teachers made me somewhat resentful, akin to the saying of pointing fingers at monks and calling them bald. Perhaps he really has some skills and authority, and it wouldn't be difficult to get a minor official position by following him, which is a shortcut to leave this poor place. However, I feel a great distance from Master Lu in terms of life outlook and habits, and I might not be happy with them. Besides, Master Lu also said that I am too old to cultivate, and if I don't learn well, I will be scorned by others for the rest of my life, it's better to be a chicken head than a cow tail, why strive for the unattainable?
Ten years of studying in seclusion without anyone asking, suddenly there's a job, an unmarried wife appears out of nowhere, an important person from the capital shows favor, it seems like luck is on my side. But the job location is not ideal, the fiancée is someone I don't understand, the favor of the nobleman is too unexpected, is all this really good luck? I feel these things are not reliable.
"This is too sudden for me, I need to think about it." I mumbled vaguely.
Master Lu is a sharp-eyed person, immediately saw that I wasn't sincere, just not wanting to refuse face-to-face. He was a bit displeased, but didn't say anything more, probably thinking that seeing his true skills would change my mind.
The girl, because her grandfather highly valued me, was curious and somewhat dissatisfied: "Hey, what's your name?"
I deliberately ignored him, pretending not to have heard. Master Lu gave his granddaughter a stern look: "If you keep behaving this way, I won't take you out anymore!"
Master Lu had the demeanor of an ancient person, so I returned the gesture with a traditional bow: "My name is Zhang Xuanming."
Master Lu nodded: "A good name, like someone from our generation. I am called Lu Chengshan, and she is my granddaughter, Lu Qingwen."
The girl pouted: "There's no need to tell others my name!"
Lu Chengshan ignored her and asked me: "It was you who encountered the evil spirits, right? Tell me the whole story from beginning to end."
Sweat, how could I talk about the details in front of Lu Qingwen? Fortunately, my speaking skills aren't too bad, and my thinking is quite quick. I gave a detailed account of the incident, knowing when to elaborate and when to omit.
After listening, Master Lu nodded slightly and called everyone over, leading the way to the school. Lu Chengshan asked: "There was a woman who committed suicide in the school before, what happened?"
Principal Chen and Secretary Chen exchanged a look, and Principal Chen said, "I'm not very clear about the specific situation. That was over twenty years ago. It seems there was a female educated youth named Xie Yongfang who fell in love with a male educated youth. Later, the male youth returned to the city, and she didn't get a quota to go back. Her belly was getting big, and she was too ashamed to see people, so she took her own life."
Lu Qingwen was furious: "Disgusting, this stinking man is so irresponsible, just take the ghost of Xie Yongfang to his house."
Lu Chengshan glared at his granddaughter and asked, "Do you know where she was buried?"
"I think it should be possible to find out."
"Find a few people to dig her up, but don't touch her remains. Dig her up and call me." Lu Chengshan turned and saw Secretary Chen still standing there, looking hesitant. He couldn't help but laugh, "It won't dare to appear during the day, and besides, I'm here. What are you afraid of?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Secretary Chen agreed hastily and hurried away.
Led by Principal Chen, everyone arrived near the school, but Lu Chengshan didn't enter the school. Instead, he looked around, then walked around the school to a desolate graveyard behind it.