Chapter 3, Paper Frog

Recalling the experiences of last night, Chen Yuan felt as if she had been dreaming, yet everything was undeniably real

The mountain wind gently swayed the forest bathed in moonlight, and Chen Yuan stared blankly at the mad old man in front of him, instinctively taking a step back. Suddenly, the old man covered his head and buried it down, but when he raised his face again, his serious expression crumbled. In an instant, as his figure became blurred, he appeared before Chen Yuan in the blink of an eye and grasped his arms tightly.

In the blink of an eye, an entire night has passed

A faint blue light unexpectedly blossomed at the fingertips

Qingshan County... Will Master run to the county town?" Chen Yuan pondered

The old man's head suddenly throbbed with pain, and his chest felt tight. No matter how hard he tried, he could not recall the name. With a low growl of "Ahhh—", he waved his sleeve to sweep away the obstruction. Behind him, that large tree exploded, its branches trembling and shaking, and the entire tree snapped in half and fell down.

In an instant, the sounds of the insects chirping in the grass around me vanished without a trace, yet I could keenly sense the things surrounding me

The old man extended a hand, his gaze signaling Chen Yuan to follow suit. His lips trembled as he muttered incantations, and his palm transformed, curling into a claw shape. Beside him, Chen Yuan also extended her hand into a claw, slowly unfolding in accordance with the old man's movements. It felt as if a faint chill within her was being drawn out, spreading through her limbs and bones, with a soft azure glow emanating from her palm and fingers.

If the wrong words are exchanged and the other party becomes aware, will they kill him

"At the edge of the abyss, with nothing to do, my cultivation is lost, and I shall start anew. Come, come, I will teach you again..." The old man grasped Chen Yuan's wrist, his white brows furrowing tightly, as his fingertips pressed against Chen Yuan's forehead, philtrum, and dantian. "Good disciple... have you also broken your method?"

Having spoken, the old man leaped forward and dashed into the forest

As he fell, the old man suddenly jabbed his finger into Chen Yuan's back, a streak of blue light extending through the fabric and reaching down to the tailbone

A group of women, having learned the truth, spat in the direction of Old Wang's house

Chen Yuan found it difficult to suppress his emotions, which erupted within him. He tightly clenched his hands, as if he had acquired magical powers, and it felt as though another door in this world had opened for him. After a moment, he eagerly tried a few more times.

Returning to the back hall to his own table and chair, he lit the oil lamp, spread out the paper, and wrote a few characters, but he could not write anything further. His mind was filled with matters of the Dao, and in his state of agitation, he simply picked up the nearby "Huangchuan Miscellaneous Questions" to browse through.

Regarding last night's incident, he still feels pained by the loss and urged Chen Yuan to quickly come up with another captivating performance to make up for it. He did not mention a word about where Chen Yuan was hiding last night or whether she was injured.

In the following days, apart from purchasing live poultry for cultivation according to the method, Chen Yuan would run up the mountain whenever he had free time, but unfortunately, he did not encounter the old man.

The old man suddenly frowned, took a deep breath, and turned over to sit cross-legged.

Disciple, do you wish to play tricks on your master? I will not fall for your schemes.

Remember to first begin with the inhalation and exhalation of breath, and then supplement it with the nourishment of flesh and blood in order to refine the essence and consolidate the magical power

However, before Chen Yuan could finish speaking, the old man, who was circling around, stopped, grabbed his arm, and with his fingertips pressing against Chen Yuan's wrist, pushed and pulled him forward, lifting Chen Yuan entirely off the ground and spinning him in a large circle in mid-air

Chen Yuan merely smiled, observing that Master Zhao was in a bad mood. She decided to set aside matters concerning her master for the time being and planned to buy some meat in the afternoon to make a trip, directly bringing her master back. After all, she still had some spare money to rent a room, give her master a change of clothes, and take the opportunity to inquire about matters related to cultivation.

Chen Yuan stood up straight, and before he could steady himself, the old man's finger waved repeatedly in the air, suddenly striking his brow. A wave of energy surged from top to bottom, causing the weeds around their feet to flatten and spread out in a circular manner.

Why has the name changed? Chen Yuan, a good name. My disciple has a handsome appearance, very much like me, hehe... hiss!

After completing the tasks assigned by Old Zhao, I quickly went to the street to buy pastries and cooked meat, then hurriedly left Funiu Town and headed up the mountain

Chen Yuan, following the incantation of the spell and the hand gestures taught by her master, felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as she gently tapped the frog's head

As she turned a page, the paper swayed under the light, and Chen Yuan vaguely noticed that the characters on it changed in the folded light, with more than ten characters becoming significantly bolder, as if intentionally highlighted

"What about the chickens and ducks at that person's home?" Chen Yuan felt a surge of fear as she looked at the bird carcass, suddenly realizing that the haunting in that house before might have been orchestrated by this old man. Unable to contain herself, she asked, "So it was Master who caused the haunting at that household in the town just now?"

If it were made of wood or metal, wouldn't it then be impervious to water and fire? After use, it can be stored away. Why only make it into a horse? Can't I carve a beautiful woman out of wood? Or carve a Gatling gun...

The radiance gradually spread along the paper-made frog's head, revealing a bluish-green skin. A pair of round eyes rolled beneath their eyelids. However, as the green light spread halfway, Chen Yuan felt a dizziness and a surge of pressure in her head, as the slight amount of magical power accumulated within her was completely drained.

What else is there to discuss? Let us get to work

It is the master

I... I cannot.

Alright... However, I do not like this sun. When it gets dark, come find me again

At the foot of the mountain, Chen Yuan walked briskly onto the official road, faintly hearing the sound of thunder rolling over the mountainside. He turned back to take a look, but did not pay much attention to it. Reflecting on the experiences of the previous night, he felt as if it were a dream, unreal, and he had also gained a master and learned some magical arts

The old man's face was contorted, cradling his head and murmuring.

Old man... I... " Chen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I am not your disciple..."

This bird is not as good as the chickens and ducks in that household

Otherwise, if one truly encounters a monster, would one rely on a paper frog to jump over and deliver food to the other party

That means you have entered my school, very good, very good. Once you have mastered it, my disciple should hurry to start a family and have a bunch of children. I will also teach them, and when the time comes, a large group of children will be making noise, it will surely be very lively

Oh no, a serious matter, the Wang father and son have been taken away by the officials and are now in shackles

"No worries, follow me!"

Upon contemplating this idea, Chen Yuan's gaze fell upon the wooden carvings piled in the background. Could this also be applied to them? With so many people around and distractions aplenty, such thoughts were temporarily set aside.

At that time, it was too chaotic, and I was pushed to hide elsewhere. It was haunted, and I simply did not dare to return alone. Chen Yuan casually replied, and upon hearing the word "ghost," the faces of the crowd showed some fear. Speaking of Old Wang's ghost returning for revenge, there was another round of sighs.

Following the footprints he had left behind, I arrived at the grassy slope, where the blades of grass swayed in the wind, creating ripples. On the expansive hillside, there was no sign of the elderly man.

Chen Yuan stopped in his tracks, standing aside to listen. The man who had returned took a breath, pushed away the child he was holding, and continued speaking to the women: "I heard from the village head that the Taoist priest said there was something suspicious about that ghost, which is why he couldn't subdue it. Later, the constables took Old Wang's family to the village head's house for questioning, and that is how the truth came to light. It turns out that Old Wang had been bedridden for many years, and it was his wife who had been taking care of him. After his wife passed away, the responsibility fell to him and his son. Over the years, the two of them had been hoping for Old Wang to die soon, so they... Later, the constables took Old Wang's family to the village head's house for questioning, and that is how the truth came to light. It turns out that Old Wang had been bedridden for many years, and it was his wife who had been taking care of him. After his wife passed away, the responsibility fell to him and his son. Over the years, the two of them had been hoping for Old Wang to die soon, so they... they fed Old Wang some medicine and staged a hanging."

At this moment, he was still astonished by the direct flight from the town to this place, his legs felt somewhat weak, and he could hardly make a sound. When the elderly man across from him spoke with a heavier tone, shaking his disheveled white hair and persistently questioning him, Chen Yuan finally came to his senses from the shock he had just experienced

It is not me, it is not me. I was just having something to eat at his house, and then I continued to look for you. The haunting is their own family matter; I just thought it was amusing to help that ghost a little... At this point, the old man relaxed his brow and stroked his chin: "Oh, so that is a ghost. No wonder it doesn't eat the food given to it... It scatters at a touch, flying everywhere... Never mind it, never mind it. Disciple, come, you first get rid of this bird. After the blood sacrifice, only then will my method be considered successful."

All the apprentices have names, but what about me? What is my name... hmmm... how can I not remember? What is my surname and given name...

Dew hangs precariously at the tips of the leaves, while the mountain breeze gently stirs the forest and fields in the distance. In the fields afar, the thatched cottage of a farmer is sending up wisps of smoke.

The old man lifted it for a moment.

In the hazy night, thin clouds drift away, revealing a crescent moon. The pale blue-white moonlight shines down, covering the ground, which is filled with weeds and scattered stones, as if a layer of silver frost has been laid upon it

Is it that I can only see it because I have gained magical powers

After half a cup of tea, Chen Yuan was drenched in sweat, his limbs weak and unable to stand firm, and he sat down heavily on the ground

As he looked at the table, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he saw a glossy green frog on the surface. The lower half was still paper, and it puffed up its cheeks, calling out to Chen Yuan with a "quack—" It used its front limbs to scrape across the table, dragging its paper body to the edge, but accidentally fell to the ground, creating a small puff of smoke, and transformed back into a paper frog.

The items of the opera troupe were numerous and complicated, but they were quickly organized. After loading three donkey carts, a group of more than ten people set out from Funiu Town towards Qingshan County. After traveling several dozen miles, they arrived when it was already dark.

They were all rough men who did not care much for details, making do with a night spent on the ground around the donkey cart. As soon as the sky began to brighten and the city gate opened, they entered the city in search of the Liu residence

Who am I ... ... What is my surname and given name ? ! ''

Thinking that she had traveled to an unfamiliar time and space, Chen Yuan did not expect that there were still places filled with deities and ghosts. Looking at the elderly man who was sound asleep, she pondered many things; although the old man was mad, he ultimately passed on his teachings to her.

The white clouds resemble cotton, as birds chirp and fly over the mountain peaks. An elderly man reclines under the shade of a tree, savoring the moment with a contented smacking of his lips, his smile radiating simplicity and warmth

Rustling...

It is not far from Funing Town, and it won't take long to return to the town. Once entering the long street, there were still crowds of people coming and going, with vendors shouting along the street. However, Chen Yuan still sensed something unusual; it turned out that the events concerning the Wang family had spread throughout the town early in the morning. Mysterious matters have always attracted attention, and for a time, in teahouses and alleys, groups of three to five were embellishing and discussing what had happened last night.

Ah? Chen Yuan found it difficult to keep up with the old man's thoughts. However, with the sky brightening, he still wanted to return to check on the theater troupe. "Master, why not come down the mountain with me? I can take care of you, but I still need to inform the theater troupe."

You are unaware of what happened last night; I was present at the scene. That ghost was Old Wang, who, even in death, cannot find peace, frightening his son's entire family quite severely

All around, apart from the sound drifting away with the wind, there was no response from the elderly. After waiting for half an hour, Chen Yuan had no choice but to return to the town at the foot of the mountain with a sense of regret

Chen Yuan subconsciously nodded, while the crazy old man chuckled incessantly

... ...

As the struggling sparrow was taken from the old man's hand, its feathers visibly fell away, and its flesh gradually withered. A stream of crimson energy wound its way into Chen Yuan's palm, extending throughout his body and settling into the warm dantian.

The old man pointed at the sun climbing into the clouds, walked to the shade of a tree, yawned, and lay down on his side, casually waving his robe sleeve: "Hurry back, bring something to eat in the evening!"

Twenty miles northeast of Huangchuan lies Heigu, which is thirty zhang wide, deep with a bottom, and contains a pool where black fish swim. In years of famine, villagers, driven by hunger, mistakenly consumed it and transformed into tigers, fleeing into the mountains, killing roe deer and other game to feed their families and children. This continued for three years. One evening, a transformed individual knocked on a door, and the neighbor, hearing the sound, came out. Upon seeing the person, whose body was human but whose head was still that of a tiger, they were so frightened that they died. This attracted the villagers, who came with clubs to drive it away. The tiger-headed figure, shedding tears, fled into the mountains. That night, the tiger's roar echoed continuously until dawn.

On the evening of the fifth day, after performing a woodcarving play titled "Drinking at the Dongyang Bridge," Chen Yuan and three of his senior brothers were gathered together, thinking that they were to be assigned another performance. However, they saw Old Zhao instructing the stagehands to dismantle the stage and tidy up everything in the back hall

The old man spoke in a voice that only Chen Yuan could hear, with just a few dozen words that were obscure and difficult to understand. It was nearly impossible to remember, so he could only recite it once with the old man, and then painstakingly asked about it word by word, which allowed him to barely commit it to memory

In the afternoon, we received a significant job; Mr. Liu from the city wanted to host a grand performance. Having heard of our reputation in Funiu Town, he invited the opera troupe to come and perform a few shows. We should pack up and head over tonight, as it is not far anyway

Strange... how did I not notice this in the past

The elderly person came over and squatted down, gesturing with their hands towards themselves: "Isn't it very comfortable?"

"Have you changed your name?" The old man opened his eyes, filled with confusion, but still nodded to let Chen Yuan leave

The old man hurriedly waved his hand and shook his head, resembling a child making a defense.

The eccentric old man lay on his side, propping his head up with his hand, mumbling incoherently as if in a dream, occasionally revealing a silly smile in his slumber, scratching his neck.

In less than a moment, he returned, holding two sparrows in his hand. With a grasp of his other hand through the air, one of the birds came into Chen Yuan's view, its feathers having completely faded, its flesh rapidly decomposing in its struggle, leaving only some bones and traces of blood.

In a moment, the darkness and bloodlust receded like a tide in his mind. Chen Yuan opened his eyes to the bright sunlight embracing this world.

As if savoring a delicious meal, the old man licked his lips, tossed the bird's skeleton onto the ground, smacked his lips, and shook his head with a hint of regret

However, there was only one instance where he successfully conjured a complete little frog, which hopped back and forth between his palm and the table, performing somersaults at his command

Come closer, I shall impart to you the secret incantation; be sure to remember it well

Old Zhao came over to disperse them, then looked at Chen Yuan and said, "It's good that you are back. Think about which play we will perform tonight; it must be a good one. We need to make up for the losses from last night."

Isn't it haunted? What is going on?

Hmm

Chen Yuan suddenly picked up a nearby brush and began to copy down the emphasized characters from the story "Paper Horse" in the order they appeared. Upon careful reading, they surprisingly formed a coherent sequence, resembling a kind of incantation.

No filial son is found by the sickbed for a long time ... Chen Yuan sighed, thinking that this matter should be considered over for now. When he returned to the theater troupe, everyone was discussing this issue. Upon seeing Chen Yuan come back, one by one they rushed over to ask where he had been last night, making it quite a task for them to find him.

With her gaze sweeping around, Chen Yuan shouted loudly, "Master—"

The recently deceased relatives wish nothing more than to bless their family with safety and peace, no wonder Old Wang's commotion on the seventh day after the death is so intense. They deserve it, those two father and son!

I truly am not ... ...

The old man squinted his eyes, suddenly pointed at Chen Yuan, and with both hands tucked into his sleeves, began to circle around, chuckling "heh heh".

He read the mnemonic several times and, noticing that no one was paying attention, found a discarded piece of paper to fold back and forth. In a moment, a delicate paper frog suddenly appeared in his palm, which he then gently placed on the table

Chen Yuan pressed her lips together, unable to utter a single word, or perhaps unsure of how to respond. This eccentric old man must have mistaken him for someone else.

No, you are. You all call me master, how could you not be my disciple

Beside the well in the alley, a robust woman was holding her struggling young son with one hand, while the other hand clutched a wooden basin as she animatedly whispered with a familiar neighbor. As Chen Yuan passed by them, there were also people returning from outside, hurriedly sharing the latest news they had heard.

Originally, I intended to embark on the path of cultivation and take my master to explore the outside world, to travel and experience. However, with my master currently missing, I have no choice but to temporarily set aside such thoughts. I will wait until I have improved my cultivation before venturing out to search again

Chen Yuan smiled; this old man was mad, yet his reasoning remained clear. He then took his leave and walked down the mountain, but after a few steps, he turned back: "Master, I... I am called Chen Yuan."

He turned to the first page of the book, and indeed, among the originally fine and intricate characters, under the light, there were also a dozen or so characters that had been emphasized.

Softly calling out, "Master... Father?" The figure sleeping over there suddenly opened its eyes wide and sat up straight, looking around with a fierce expression. When its gaze landed on Chen Yuan, the tense look immediately relaxed, revealing a broad grin with a row of big yellow teeth: "Good disciple... How was last night?"

The spell was retracted, and once again it transformed into a paper frog in hand

The sound of blood flowing through the veins, the night insects slowly crawling through the grass and spreading their wings to fly into the darkness, an old man squatting nearby, tilting his head and blinking his eyes, curiously watching him