Chapter 001: Tire Replacement

In the past three months, countless efforts have been made to save the infant, and the doctors have been exhausted in their attempts, having already informed the Wang family to prepare for the final arrangements

Upon seeing that Old Lady Wang was a worldly person, the master relaxed: "Since the old lady understands a bit, I will speak frankly. You should first find a newspaper from July 13, preferably the People's Daily."

The master squinted his eyes and said: "There is no need for probing; just speak plainly. If time is wasted, I shall not bear the responsibility."

Perhaps regarded as the last straw of hope, the Wang couple treated the master with utmost respect. Upon reaching the children's ward on the third floor, Mrs. Wang pointed through the large glass window at a crib by the side and began to weep, saying: "Heavenly Master, you must save my son!"

Although the master has never explicitly told me what the dish is, just by observing the way he savors it, one can tell that these dishes are most likely served by a five-star hotel.

The master brought Madam Wang to the flowerbed downstairs of the hospital, dug out some wet mud from the flowerbed, and then took out a mixture of the baby's hair and nails to mold a small figure. He handed the mud figure to Madam Wang, saying: "Hold it well"

By the time she returned, it was already an hour later. At this moment, outside the hospital room, Mr. Wang was joyfully holding the crying infant, while several doctors surrounded the baby, exclaiming in wonder: "Three months old, is this child crying for the first time?"

After a bumpy journey, the master, looking disheveled and in tattered clothes, certainly does not resemble a celestial master who captures ghosts and demons; rather, he appears more like a rural farmer.

"May I ask if this is Comrade Xiao Wang?" the master inquired in a distinctly local dialect of Mandarin.

Every time at this moment, I am filled with joy, not for the delight of studying, but in anticipation of the stories that my master will bring back after his errands—my master is a Taoist priest, the kind that can exorcise ghosts.

At this moment, Old Lady Wang suddenly remembered the master, but the master would not stay there indefinitely. After seeing that the baby was fine, he had long since sneaked away.

Although the baby still looks sickly, discerning observers can clearly see that there is a noticeable increase in vitality, as if the soul has suddenly returned.

On the crib lay a small infant, whose eyes were closed and whose nose was fitted with an oxygen tube, appearing frail and on the verge of death

After listening to the story, I couldn't be bothered to respond to him: "You want me, an eight-year-old child, to serve you? How embarrassing!"

Before the words were finished, the master waved his hand to stop him and turned to leave: "If it is the lady who is ill, then I shall take my leave."

"My wife is very ill..." Mr. Wang said anxiously, supporting his wife's shoulder

The Wang family complied, and before long, the baby's hair and nails were delivered to the master.

The elderly lady, well-versed and reasonable, said: "Heavenly Master, please take a rest for a while; there is no rush regarding our family's matters"

A young couple anxiously waited at the hospital entrance. It was evident that they were not from an ordinary family; the man wore a gold watch from https://mhetushucom.com and appeared fatigued, while the woman, dressed in a hospital gown, had a jade bracelet on her wrist that could not conceal her pallid complexion.

Who to look for? Of course, it is to seek the master

Madam Wang, upon seeing her son's appearance, was reduced to tears and could hardly speak. Mr. Wang supported his weeping wife, fearing that he might miss any detail, and recounted the events in full.

The Wang couple was in a state of urgency, trying every possible means to feed their baby even a single mouthful of milk, whether breast milk or formula, but the infant simply refused to drink. This situation soon attracted the attention of the hospital's doctors. The Wang family, being wealthy and influential, was not someone they dared to offend. Dozens of doctors held consultations for three days, yet they still could not determine the cause of the problem

The Wang couple had never heard of this, leaving them dumbfounded and at a loss for words

The master always pretended to be angry and scolded: "Heavenly Master of the Hammer! I am merely carrying out the will of heaven!"

After the master learned all of this, he did not enter but walked around the outside of the ward for two laps, taking a stroll through the entire third floor

The master exhaled a puff of smoke with satisfaction before continuing, "There is a way for humans, and there is a way for ghosts..."

The old lady of the Wang family was also delighted, quickly handing the doctor two large red envelopes. The envelopes were bulging, referred to as "lucky money." After giving birth to a son, regardless of whether one is wealthy or not, it is customary to give the doctor a little something for good fortune.

Madam Wang, filled with maternal affection, nodded repeatedly

Having eaten and drunk to satisfaction, the master wiped his mouth and casually said, "It's nothing, just a false alarm. On what date was the child born?"

The tense atmosphere in the hospital has eased somewhat. Although it was not openly stated, everyone is well aware that this outcome is what the doctors most wish to see—otherwise, where would the hospital's reputation be placed

After shouting at the top of my lungs for half an hour, I nearly fainted; however, in the end, I gritted my teeth and persevered.

Madam Wang hurriedly embraced the child, and tears streamed down her face

The old lady is an experienced person; although superstitious, she has studied for two years and understands the pros and cons involved

By that time, ten years had passed since the reform and opening up, yet going abroad was still a rare occurrence. Although the Wang couple did not travel overseas, sending their baby's hair and blood to a major hospital in the United States for testing was even more sensational than traveling abroad in person

Just as the Wang couple was about to ask why, they were interrupted by the old lady who shouted, "Do as instructed!"

The master said again: "You all prepare some firewood and place it in the flower bed downstairs. Madam Wang, come with me for a while; it should take about an hour. The others can stay here and not go anywhere."

Mr. Wang, upon hearing this, gave himself a hard slap and exclaimed, "Heavenly Master, Heavenly Master, please don't..."

The master shouted, "What are you crying about? The two cleanest places in the world are the delivery room and the funeral home. As the saying goes, you bring nothing into this world and take nothing out of it. A person is at their cleanest during these two moments. If you are crying tears of joy, that’s fine; it might even bring some good fortune to your son. But if you and - Tu - Shu are crying sorrowfully now, who knows what kind of misfortune you might attract.

The hospital lacks prestige, yet there is nothing that can be done about it

When the newspaper was delivered, the master remained unhurried, propping his leg up and reading the newspaper at the door. While reading, he instructed, "Cut a handful of hair, and also take a small piece of nail down."

The Wang family was anxious, and the doctor was also in a hurry, quickly sending the infant for examination

The old lady finally lost her composure and scolded the Wang couple harshly before searching for others.

The Wang couple looked utterly perplexed

The hospital was quite large, and even in the 1980s, it was not a place where ordinary people could casually seek medical attention. It was said to be a military district affiliated hospital. Therefore, when the Wang couple led a dusty old man inside, all the surrounding doctors were curious about the man's background.

The newspaper from three months ago was easy to find, but it took the Wang family an hour of effort. During this time, the master kept chatting with the elderly lady and also inquired about the birth dates of the Wang couple.

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang immediately held back her tears and, dressed in a hospital gown, followed her master outside

At this point, the master fell silent, holding a cigarette and striking a pose.

One phrase he often says to me is: "Guawazi, I, your teacher, need to go out to handle some matters. You should stay at home and diligently recite the Tao Te Ching."

The master laughed heartily: "You children usually do not learn anything, do you not know? The child of the Wang couple has lost its soul and has been wandering. The newly born soul is very fragile, having been in another's body for three months, it is already extremely weak. I took a round on the third floor of the hospital and found the soul still here, but the third floor is the maternity ward, so I could not directly call the soul. Therefore, I first had Madam Wang go downstairs to call, then used a clay doll to fix the soul, and finally burned it. I took a round on the third floor of the hospital and found the soul still here, but the third floor is the maternity ward, so I could not directly call the soul. Therefore, I first had Madam Wang go downstairs to call, then used a clay doll to fix the soul, and finally burned it. The newly born soul has been away from its body for too long, entangled with wandering spirits, making it impossible to return the soul directly. By burning the clay doll, these wandering spirits will be eliminated, and then Madam Wang can smash the clay doll at the crossroads, allowing the soul to return on its own."

The elderly lady, over sixty years old, has experienced both the War of Resistance and the Liberation War, and has seen countless events throughout her life. Is it possible for her to fully believe in science? That is unlikely. She had heard the master's name somewhere and followed the clues to find the master's address. It wasn't until three months later that she finally made contact with the master.

That day, the master received a letter, which came from Beijing. The content was very simple: someone was ill and, through an acquaintance's introduction, requested the master to help "diagnose the illness." However, it was entirely unknown who was sick, what the illness was, or any details at all. Judging from the hurried nature of the letter, the "condition" seemed to be quite urgent.

The Wang family eagerly awaited the first cry of the chubby boy after his birth, but after waiting for a long time, they still did not hear a sound

The Wang family was just so overjoyed that they suddenly remembered the child had not cried, thinking it was because the doctor had not spanked him

The Wang family was taken aback upon hearing this and repeatedly asked what was wrong

Madam Wang nodded repeatedly, her face pale as she took the report and the mud doll wrapped in paper. Without looking back, she left the hospital and headed towards the intersection.

Then won't he be lost at the crossroads for a lifetime

The master took a stroll, and his stomach unceremoniously growled. After a long journey, he had not even had a proper meal since arriving late at night

While in the womb, the baby breathes through the umbilical cord. At the moment of birth, a large volume of air rushes into the baby's lungs, resulting in the first cry. Therefore, the louder the baby's first cry, the better it is considered.

The doctor came to check again, but still did not find any issues

I lived with my master in a small county town in the south since I was young

At the entrance of the hospital, the flower bed was loudly shouted at, naturally attracting a crowd of onlookers. However, security personnel from the hospital quickly arrived to maintain order and dispersed the crowd.

The Wang couple is educated; although they are concerned about their child, they tend to be more open-minded and have a greater trust in science: "Doctors all say the child is very healthy; perhaps not crying is a good thing?"

Not only is there no issue, but due to the good diet provided by Lady Wang, the infant is even healthier than usual infants

The master shook his head: "No, you have forgotten Lady Wang? Lady Wang is his mother. When he sees Lady Wang by his side, he will naturally follow her. After all, they are mother and son; regardless of whether they are separated by life and death, there will always be a connection. I instructed Lady Wang not to look back because I was afraid that her physical vitality was already weak, and if she turned around and saw a ghost, it might frighten her into illness"

The Wang family is wealthy; they quickly procured imported milk powder from the United States overnight. However, the baby still vomits regardless of how much is consumed.

The master opened the hands of the two individuals and said softly, "Your wife's illness can be treated at the hospital; if it is only your wife who is ill, why must you seek me out?"

The master waved his hand, touching his belly as he arrived in front of the ward

I quickly rummaged through the drawers and cabinets to find a match to light it for him

The elderly lady is quite astute. She called for someone to bring food, and the person delivering it was dressed in a sharp suit, carrying two food containers. A clean cart was prepared, upon which four dishes and a soup were placed. The chef was invited to sit down and began to eat right outside the hospital room.

It was just past noon; although it was October, the lingering heat of the autumn tiger was still present, and Madam Wang, feeling unwell, could hardly withstand such intense sunlight

But then the problem arose, two days later, when the baby refused to nurse—no matter how much was fed, that much was thrown up

The old lady suddenly interjected to explain: "Zou tai refers to the soul entering the body of another person's child."

I interrupted him: "I've already said it, I've already said it, what are you borrowing?"

The master smiled with satisfaction: "So, do you even know what you're talking about? The soul of the Wang family's child has been disturbed, lost and unable to find its way back. As a result, it has wandered into another person's body. However, there are paths for humans and paths for spirits. The hospital's delivery room belongs to the realm of the newborn, which is a path for humans. Any ghost or evil spirit would have to avoid it. The soul of the Wang family's child has been entangled with lonely and wild spirits for a while, and after spending some time in another's body, it is no longer a newborn soul. Therefore, it cannot simply pass through the delivery room."

The master often goes out to catch ghosts and exorcise evil spirits, so he brings back many stories, but the one that left the deepest impression on me was on a morning in autumn.

During the two weeks when the hair and blood samples were sent to the United States for testing, the doctors in the entire hospital did everything they could to barely sustain the baby's life

The Wang couple, in a fit of anger, sent their child's hair and blood under pressure to the United States for testing

The doctor carefully held the baby upside down and gave two pats on the bottom

The thirteenth day of the seventh lunar month, at three seventeen in the afternoon, Lady Wang answered eagerly

Old Lady Wang finally gave up

But the doctor insisted, "Please do not panic, madam."

The master then made Madam Wang stop, took the clay doll from her hands, ignited the firewood that had been prepared in advance, and threw the doll into the flames

The master did not explain further, but instructed the other party to hold the clay figure and stand properly in the center of the flower bed

But the result is that there is nothing wrong

Mr. Wang supported Mrs. Wang as they stood beside the baby, while the elderly lady patiently and quietly followed behind the master

The master sat with one leg crossed over the other, asking me to massage his back

The child had already been born for three months; when born, he was fair and chubby, which delighted the Wang couple immensely

The master said again, shout, shout the name, I said stop and you stop again

The old lady waved her hand and said, "What do children understand!" Then she turned to Lady Wang and asked, "Xiao Lu, would you like to go with the Celestial Master for a trip?"

The master nodded calmly and said, "Indeed, Mr. Wang, please speak your mind."

The delivering doctor is a down-to-earth person, and after holding the baby, he smiled and said: "Look, your grandson hasn't cried yet!"

"Does the child have a name?" the master asked

Lady Wang was taken aback, what is this about

If the baby is not crying, it is a serious issue; there is an 80 to 90 percent chance that there is a problem with the lungs

The master calculated the Eight Characters and then said calmly: "I just calculated, your child's Eight Characters are unfavorable, the fortune is thin, and coincidentally, the Ghost Festival is approaching. A sudden fright could lead to a miscarriage."

Do not panic for now, could you please elaborate on what the matter is?

Their family also followed the joy. Mr. Wang's father had a heart condition, and upon seeing a big, chubby boy, he fainted on the spot, nearly losing his breath. Fortunately, he was rescued in time at the hospital

Half an hour later, the clay doll was completely dried. The master extinguished the fire, wrapped the dried clay doll tightly in newspaper, and said to Madam Wang earnestly: "You take this and casually find a crossroads. During this time, absolutely do not look back, no matter what happens, do not look back. When you reach the crossroads, throw the doll with all your strength; if it shatters, that will be fine! You must use all your strength. If the doll does not break, the consequences..." The master did not elaborate further.

Mr. Wang could not bear to see his wife toil, and he said: "My wife is in poor health... Master Tian, what is this..."

This greatly distressed Madam Wang, as Mrs. Wang had gone to care for the elderly Mr. Wang, who was suffering from a recurrence of his heart condition. The Wang couple did not dare to disturb the elderly couple and secretly called a doctor for an examination. The results were still fine; perhaps it was due to an inability to drink breast milk, as there had been similar cases before.

The hospital is quite large, and the master walks very slowly, so it took half an hour for him to finish his tour.

The Wang couple was momentarily taken aback and quickly grabbed the master, saying, "Heavenly Master, what is this..."

However, the child did not cry at all, which left Old Lady Wang feeling uneasy. She urged the doctor to examine the child again and again, yet the result remained that the child was very healthy

Every time he returns from handling affairs, he tells me an exceptionally captivating story. It is only at this moment that I will sit properly on a small stool and respectfully utter, "Master Zhang!"

The master spoke to me about these matters, and I listened with great interest, asking, "What is the principle behind this?"

The master was satisfied with the meal, while the old lady remained by his side in silence. The Wang couple wanted to ask, but they were stopped by the old lady.

Madam Wang's eyes reddened, and she was about to cry

The Wang couple glanced at the master and asked in confusion, "May I ask if you are Master Zhang?"

The master did not change his clothes, hurriedly wearing his usual old garments, and rushed to a major hospital in Beijing.

The doctor furrowed his brow and patted twice, yet the sound of crying remained absent

I nodded repeatedly, thinking to myself, so this is how it is

Madam Wang called for nearly an hour. The master calculated with his fingers and then, not knowing where he pulled out an incense stick, lit it. With no wind around, the blue smoke from the incense automatically drifted towards the main entrance of the hospital.

Madam Wang nodded

The master pondered for a moment and explained: "Your child is fated to have a thin fortune, and the Eight Characters clash with yours. Some matters are destined to be endured. If you wish for him to safely navigate through the current difficulties, as his mother, you must help him bear some of the burden."

"Master Tian, I will take you there right away," Mr. Wang said as he supported Mrs. Wang and led the way, arriving on the third floor amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd in the hospital

I was taken aback and asked, "Why at the crossroads?"

Madam Wang had just given birth and was already in a weakened state. She was constantly worried about the child, which further deteriorated her health. The doctors all said that she had developed a chronic illness.

The master said nothing, gently stroking my head, murmuring: "When you were young..."

Two weeks later, the test results flew in from the United States, and the Wang family was once again taken aback— the test results from the United States still indicated that everything was fine

I didn't hear, made a face and ran away

The Wang couple had been planning to test the master since the beginning of their correspondence, fearing that he might just be a charlatan. But who is the master? He could see at a glance that Mrs. Wang was in poor health, yet this was certainly not the result of any malevolent spirit.

The master glared at me: "Both humans and ghosts have their own paths, and in the human realm, there are few ghostly ways. However, the crossroads are different; they are both ghostly and human paths. Wandering souls and wild ghosts are lost in this confusion, while people here look around in bewilderment, all seeking a way out at the crossroads. The soul of Wang's child was originally trapped in a clay doll. When Madam Wang smashed the doll to release him, he found himself lost at the crossroads, caught between human energy and ghostly essence."