Joke
The four seas return to the origin, the central deity is positioned, the three yang spirits are inseparable and unwavering—command!
Yet the man suddenly burst into a mournful laugh, as if he were oblivious to everything around him
Dozens of torches blazed as they trudged through the rain and frost, ascending halfway up the mountain, surrounding a newly dug grave. With a unified shout, they each took out pickaxes and shovels, exerting force to dig chaotically at the grave mound. Instantly, the loose soil was overturned, revealing a pitch-black coffin beneath. The coffin was filthy and covered in mud; the local villagers used carrying poles to pry it from the ground. After splashing it with dew to clean the coffin lid, they could see that it was still pristine and had only recently been buried. It was unclear how such a calamity had befallen them, leaving the deceased within the coffin unable to rest in peace.
You were sent to the mountains at the age of three by your father, and it has been several decades since then. You have always been by my side. Although we are not related by blood, my feelings for you surpass those of a father. The old man’s hand fell gently on the young man's head from mid-air, rubbing it lightly as if he were a child again. Your son has been in the coffin for a month in the mortal realm since August, and he was born in September, which is not the right time. This is indeed a ghostly aberration—it belongs to one of the seven yin entities of heaven and earth. He was born into this world because of you and has lived on because of you. If he remains in this world, it will hinder your karmic path, and you understand this... I truly do not wish for you to suffer karmic consequences because of him; it will be difficult to cultivate in the next life.
The scar-faced old man Yi Tiankui exclaimed with a few cries, "I sent so many people to search for the ghostly spawn, yet I didn't expect you, Senior Brother, to be one step ahead of me. Truly worthy of being the Sect Master, Senior Brother." He turned around, his eyes wide open, and said, "Why aren't you all quickly carrying the person down the mountain? What, do you want me to ask you to take action?"
After a moment, the old man once again set off, this time with no hesitation in his steps. He merely tapped the grass a few times before dashing to the man's rear, pointing his finger in the air
The man in the straw raincoat approached the coffin and listened for a moment, seeming somewhat hesitant. Yet, in the end, he leaned against the coffin, slowly bending down to press his ear against it—inside the coffin, there was a faint rustling sound, growing increasingly distinct and clear, reminiscent of the hungry ghosts in the underworld, as well as the spirits in the chaos.
Since ancient times, parting has always been painful for the sentimental, how can one endure the desolation of the chilly autumn season
The heart is already dead
For a moment, a deep rumble of thunder faintly appeared in the sky, and lightning twisted and flickered between the dark clouds. Then, with a crackling sound, it struck down from the cloud layers, as if the heavens were intent on destroying the myriad resentful souls that had emerged from the underworld. In that fleeting flash of light, a figure appeared standing beside the coffin, crying as they desperately pried open the coffin lid
The man in the raincoat hurriedly gathered people and rushed over, breaking off several thick tree branches to make a stretcher, on which they placed the man and carried him away
The man's expression changed suddenly, and with a flick of his wrist, a dagger about a foot long appeared. He swung it fiercely, severing the umbilical cord, then wrapped the child in his clothing without saying a word and dashed up the mountain!
The man trembled all over, his legs shaking as he waved his hands and retreated in panic. Someone nearby reached out to help him, but he ignored it completely. After retreating two steps, he slipped and fell backward, landing face up in the mud
Stop! A piercing scream echoed through the night sky, emanating from the man on the ground—he was kneeling on one knee, his nails deeply embedded in his palm, and his body was covered in countless small wounds, spraying blood mist. His eye sockets were cracked, and torrents of blood surged forth in layers from his pale skin.
Upon hearing this, the man became anxious, "Then how... how can he..." In his words, he surprisingly showed no awareness or resentment regarding his own seclusion, only concern for that child: "... how can it be resolved?"
Go, find a place a thousand miles away to lay him down, and let him drift away with the currents of this life
The man gasped as he ran, saying: "Master, even if he is not of this world, he is still my child. What of the ghostly offspring? What of the reincarnation of the Buddha's curse? I have my own fortune in this life to transform into a vessel of blood, ensuring that he remains unharmed and untroubled..."
Immediately, streams of grayish-white smoke surged from the infant's mud palace, coalescing and transforming in mid-air according to the elder's gestures. Gradually, a head, arms, and torso began to take shape...! ... It was faintly discernible that it was a human figure!
Suddenly leaving the solitary coffin in this desolate mountain.
The fox peeked out and saw a white figure slowly sitting up in the open coffin
The shadow of the fetus appears, the ghostly mother transforms; the causes and effects from the past are accounted for today
Master, Master... just pretend that you have never had a disciple like me, and let me fend for myself!
The night is as dark as ink, with the earth serving as a canvas, and all living beings as wild calligraphy
The man stared blankly for a while, tears falling like disconnected beads onto the woman, murmuring: "You, you, you are my son... You did it, you did it... In the end, you still gave birth to our child..."
An hour later, a noisy group of people came along the mountain path, with the man in the straw raincoat leading the way—at this moment, he was in a state of utter disarray, walking at the front. He accompanied his anxious and obsequious demeanor with a smile directed at the scar-faced old man beside him, saying: "Yes, yes, yes! What you say is true! It is my incompetence, it is my cowardice, it is I who have ruined your important matter..."
Before the child even touched the ground, the elder had already leaped high and cradled the child in his arms. The man was greatly alarmed, crawling on the ground and crying out in despair: "Master, I beg you! I implore you..." His hands, unable to move, hung down to the ground, desperately scratching at the earth, and he surprisingly managed to dig out countless traces of mud.
This statement is truly poignant, and the man is moved by it. "Master, all that happens in this life is the result of causes from previous lives. Whether it be the offspring of a ghost or the karmic retribution of a Buddha, all of this is caused by my past actions, and there is no escaping it..." He choked back tears and pleaded, "But this child, this child is the only bond between her and me in this world, the only hope she has left for me... I must have this child live, live on... No matter what happens in this life or the next, he must live well!" He choked back tears and pleaded, "But this child, this child is the only bond between her and me in this world, the only hope she has left for me... I must have this child live, live on... No matter what happens in this life or the next, he must live well!"
It has been over a month since the burial, yes, this is the place!
The man felt a surge of warmth in his heart, "Master, why must you go through this..." It was already a tremendous grace from the Master to spare the child's life, yet the Master was willing to bear the consequences of the ghostly karma for him, risking a loss of virtue in the next life. In that moment, he found himself at a loss for words.
Since you already have this inner demon, it is of no use for me to say more. Today, I will make an exception and send this child to the ends of the earth to fend for themselves, which can be considered as fulfilling your wish... He paused for a moment and then continued: "As for the karmic retribution of this wicked spirit, Master will bear it with you!"
The old man pointed like a swift wind, drawing several lines in the air on the infant's forehead, the residual image surprisingly taking the shape of a Bagua Dan feather. The man's hot tears rolled down onto the grass, and in his choked voice, he found himself unable to speak for a moment
Strangely enough, after a single strike, the blood on the man's face actually faded away, and the wound began to close naturally—he collapsed to the ground, coughing violently, with drops of fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth
Boom
The child appeared rosy, plump, and adorable; however, a single umbilical cord was still attached to the abdomen, extending straight into the woman's clothing. Upon seeing the man, the child did not cry but surprisingly reached out, seemingly inviting him to hold him.
His eyes were misty with tears as he reached out unsteadily towards the beautiful face of the person in the coffin. Little did he know that as soon as his hand extended, a pale child unexpectedly crawled out from beneath the person's clothing in the coffin
A thousand miles of cold frost, merging yin and yang into a harmonious essence, melting all things into a pure form
The elderly man pondered for a moment and slowly asked
The elderly man cradles the infant in one hand, while his other hand rests gently on the child's face, softly reciting a chant.
The resolute desire for death reflected in the old man's eyes caused a jolt in his heart, and his hand, suspended in mid-air, began to tremble slightly... After standing in a daze for a while, he suddenly let out a long sigh
The old man said little more, taking another paper crane from his bosom and throwing it out. The paper crane spun several times in mid-air before flying straight down the mountain. He no longer spoke or paid any attention to the man, but sat cross-legged in the grass, allowing the dew and mist to dampen his clothes and hair, and simply closed his eyes to cultivate his spirit.
A lightning bolt struck a nearby tree branch, instantly causing broken branches to fall to the ground, igniting a large wildfire.
With a long sigh and short gasps, tears shimmered in the old eyes, constantly flickering amidst the sighs of nostalgia
It had just groomed its fur with its mouth when it heard a series of grating sounds from outside that made one cringe
However, the old man, regaining his composure, said: "This inner demon must be eliminated as soon as it arises; there can be no delay! After you return, you must enter seclusion to preserve your essence. Even if the Four Aspects give rise to teeth and the Two Instruments open their eyes, they cannot break through unless the demon is dispelled and the obstacles removed. Can you endure this?"
The scar-faced old man ignored him, merely snorting through his nose and gruffly saying, "Shut up! Stop wasting my time!" He raised his eyes and pointed ahead, saying, "This is ... ... "
The greatest sorrow is the death of the heart, and the death of a person is secondary to that. The death of a person is not frightening; it is the death of the heart that is most terrifying
This person is around thirty years old, with bright eyes, a straight and upright nose, and a face full of clear yet weathered experiences. However, the two eyebrows are slightly dark, thick, and heavy. All these features combined give the face an indescribable softness and beauty—though the face is filled with sorrow and resentment, it paradoxically adds an inexplicable allure to him
The rain has started to fall again, drizzling softly!
The old man in the grass slightly opened his eyes and said, "Tian Kui, I am here—everything has come to an end. You all can carry the person down the mountain now"
Upon hearing these words, the person behind him was unexpectedly taken aback and stopped. Under the moonlight, this individual appeared with long eyebrows, a drooping jaw, and hair as white as snow. Dressed in a long robe that fluttered in the wind, his face bore a kind and benevolent expression, resembling that of an immortal. However, now this seemingly immortal figure displayed a hint of sorrow, his expression more dazed than that of an ordinary laborer, devoid of any ethereal grace, clearly indicating a deep inner turmoil and conflict.
Without thinking, I raised my eyes and saw the man lying on the grass. I joyfully exclaimed, "This is the place—Senior Brother Zhangmen, Senior Brother Zhangmen... where are you?"
His expression was resolute and solemn, clearly indicating that he had made a significant decision with this gesture
Follow the mother and child!
The child was placed on the back of that paper crane
The man's gaze was fiery, and he spoke each word with deliberate intensity:
The world has lost all interest in life
Upon finishing the speech, he struck his palm on the chest where the money seal was located
One harbored ulterior motives, while the other prepared their words in response, both carrying their thoughts as they made their way down the mountain
The elderly man possessed by a spirit lifted the child, while with his other hand, he took out a paper crane from his bosom. He bit his fingertip and sprinkled a drop of blood onto the crane's eyes. Remarkably, the paper crane grew in the air, expanding to several feet in size, transforming into an extremely lively creature!
What sorrow is there in life, and what suffering in death? The heart of a man is already empty
Suddenly
By the light of the wild fire, the man clearly saw the woman buried in the coffin a fortnight ago, her brows like ink and her face pale, as if she were merely asleep, not resembling a corpse that had been dead for a long time. A pang of sorrow welled up in his heart, and a stream of clear tears fell from his stubbled chin onto the ground.
The man stared blankly in the direction the paper crane flew, his eyes filled with confusion. Suddenly, it felt as if all his strength had been drained away by someone. Countless golden stars swirled before his eyes, and as he tilted his head, he fainted.
Although he was sprinting at full speed, the man effortlessly followed a few meters behind the man, speaking slowly and deliberately: "What is the point of this? Knowing that the realms of yin and yang are separated and that all things have their constants, you still protect this monster..."
The old man was greatly alarmed upon seeing this. He placed the child he was holding on the ground and rushed forward. With swift movements, he used his two fingers to strike heavily at the four acupoints: Tiantu, Zigong, Jiutai, and Qihai on the Ren meridian. Then, he turned over to strike the Shenting, Dazhui, Zhiyang, and Mingmen on the Du meridian, going through them all in succession. Immediately afterward, he took out an ancient coin and pressed it heavily against the person's chest
The old man's hand trembled continuously in mid-air but never fell... He slowly lowered his head, locking eyes with the man in his arms. He saw the man’s eyes wide open, the pupils as lifeless as ashes, staring intently at him, yet there was no vitality or spirit in those eyes—like that of a corpse
His shadow had not yet dissipated when a person, like a maggot clinging to a bone, followed closely behind
The five fingerprints on the face are still vividly clear, indicating that the scarred old man has just taught him a lesson
The towering moral authority, the merits have been fully realized; descending to guide, the master treasures himself; eternally crossing the shores of the Three Purities, often departing from the mud of the Five Turbidities... As the chanting and singing resonate, the child suddenly begins to kick wildly with hands and feet, followed by a slight convulsion.
On the forgotten mountainside, outside the pried-open coffin, a snow-white and -illustrated- fox, startled by the rain, suddenly leaped over the coffin and took refuge in the nearby woods
The old man nodded slightly and placed the man back on the ground. Standing in the open space with his long sleeves flowing, he resolutely said
Faintly swaying flames appeared amidst the blood light on the top of the head and both shoulders, as if the tassel halo were about to ignite
The Demon King emerges, a thousand demons in chaos, joy abounds by the banks of the River Styx
The two old men followed the crowd down the mountain. Along the way, the scar-faced man kept inquiring about the details, claiming to be concerned, but in reality, he was trying to find out the whereabouts of the child. The first old man answered without leaving any gaps, and each time he concluded with the phrase, 'It has already been settled'.
Nonsense! The old man was furious, raising his hand to strike down fiercely—The young man lifted his head, defiantly shouting: "Go ahead! Hit me! You can kill me! Master, just kill me! As if I were never your disciple!"
At all costs
With a single gesture, the man seemed to be struck violently from behind, suddenly collapsing forward, and the child flew out of his hands
Do not hesitate to burn out the three primordial flames
Suddenly, a mournful long sigh came from behind the man, "Oh, unfortunate soul!" The voice arrived swiftly, covering a distance of over ten zhang in just a few dozen words, "Let it go!"
A man in a famous raincoat stepped out of the crowd, waving his hand to signal everyone to be silent—clearly, this man held a very high position among the people. Under his gesture, the villagers fell silent as if frozen, not daring to move even a bit. Only the sound of the gentle wind rustled the leaves, swirling around the branches, and even the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects were silenced.
Follow and go
Having spoken, the paper crane cawed repeatedly, soaring directly towards the bright moon of midnight, and instantly vanished into the vast expanse of the sky
The crowd gasped as they rushed to help him, but he had already lost his sanity, shouting incomprehensible words in a frenzy, rolling and crawling on the ground for several rounds. When he staggered to his feet, he ignored everyone, merely shaking his head and charging chaotically down the mountain. The villagers in the countryside were initially taken aback, but they quickly reacted, erupting into a cacophony of screams and howls, throwing down their belongings and fleeing in panic.
The rain has ceased, the wind has not settled, and the ink-like mist thickens the night with an extraordinary density. A fiery dragon winds its way up the ridge, tearing through the pervasive chill, yet it cannot rend the desolate sorrow that pervades the world.
Her complexion turned a deathly pale, resembling that of a corpse
The one I loved most has passed away, the one I hold dearest is about to leave, what attachment is there to life?
Master, you can guard my essence once, twice, or thrice, but you cannot guard my essence a hundred or a thousand times! Even though you possess extraordinary powers, if I am determined to seek death, there is nothing you can do...