Chapter Nine, the cleansing of hands and the discussion of reincarnation through bone reading

My hands flailed like windmills, yet they were utterly useless. I could not reach that messy little child at all. The harder I waved, the more he laughed, his mouth stretching wide, surprisingly larger than my head, dark inside, a chill creeping up my spine. I felt completely immobilized, my body numb, struggling to catch my breath, rolling on the ground as the world spun around me. His mouth was indeed wider than my head, dark inside, a chill creeping up my spine. I felt completely immobilized, my body numb, struggling to catch my breath, rolling on the ground as the world spun around me.

Just as the last breath within my chest was about to extinguish, a sudden roar echoed in the cave. I trembled all over, feeling a wave of warmth surge to my heart, alleviating the cold slightly. I raised my head to look at the bronze mirror, only to see the malevolent and vengeful expression on the damp little ghost's face that was riding on me had vanished. It appeared extremely frightened, retreating into the bloody and mangled scales on my neck. My teeth chattered uncontrollably as I lifted my head and saw the old Taoist in green robes leisurely walking towards me. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes: "Master, save me!"

I shook my head. Although this old gentleman appears cold, he is reluctant to harm even a few ferocious wolves, which surely indicates he is a kind-hearted person. However, if he can save the wolves, why can't he save me? I was puzzled, and he explained, "You bear the 'Mountain Ghost Old Demon Gathering Evil Pattern.' Generally, those who possess such a thing are either evil spirits reincarnated or yin spirits escaping the world. Initially, I thought you were the reincarnation of an old friend of mine, so I wanted to lend you a hand along with *Tu* *Shu*. However, upon closer observation, I realized that you are not; instead, I discovered that you harbor a terrifying demon filled with hatred for everything in this world. If it were to be reincarnated and reformed, it would bring about another calamity. Therefore, I would rather let you die than allow you to live."

As soon as I finished speaking, I cried and said excitedly: "How is that possible? Although I, Er Dan, have been mischievous since childhood, I have never done anything evil!"

I originally felt a heavy weight on my shoulders, as if someone were sitting there, a chilling sensation. Later, when the plump girl sat down, I felt a bit better. At that moment, I didn't think much of it, but when I looked into the bronze mirror, I saw a wet, little child sitting on my shoulder, about one or two years old, with chubby hands and feet, but not fair-skinned, rather a bluish hue. The child was covered in water plants and crawling insects, with half of its head decayed, and a pair of sharp, knife-like resentful eyes fixed on me, as if it wanted to swallow me whole. Who would have thought that when I looked into the bronze mirror, I would see a wet, little child sitting on my shoulder, about one or two years old, with chubby hands and feet, but not fair-skinned, rather a bluish hue. The child was covered in water plants and crawling insects, with half of its head decayed, and a pair of sharp, knife-like resentful eyes fixed on me, as if it wanted to swallow me whole.

In order to avoid angering him, I dared not disobey any of his commands. I quickly got up, wiping my tears, and said, "Master, what is this? What should I do?" The old Taoist in green, seeing my pitiful state, couldn't help but laugh. He pulled me over to the fire, and as we sat down, he said with a smile, "You spineless coward, when you were born, you didn't even let out a cry or open a book. How is it that after eight years, you've turned into a whimpering little girl?"

Before us is the Yellow Deity, behind us is the Yue Chapter; the Divine Master engages in slaughter, unafraid of the powerful. First, we slay the evil spirits, then we cut down the Night Light; which deity does not submit, which ghost dares to stand against us

That meal is the most beautiful scene in my memory. After finishing the meal, I took the initiative to wash the dishes and tidy up the stove. Once I was done, I washed my hands thoroughly and cautiously approached the old Taoist in the green robe, respectfully asking if he had any instructions. He glanced at me and calmly said, "Sit down, I will tell you about your matters."

Suddenly, I glanced at the bronze mirror again and saw my entire face stretched tight like that of a corpse, pale and ghastly, with my eyes nearly bulging out, my tongue hanging out of my mouth, and above my neck, ... two damp hands were gripping tightly ...

Having received the goodwill of the old Taoist in green, I joyfully sat cross-legged, excitedly watching him. He did not speak, but after cleansing his hands with pure water, he reached over and began to feel my bones.

I hit my head hard and cried: "As long as I can live, I am willing to do anything!"

The rabbit meat is stewed until tender, then sprinkled with a handful of wild onions. I feel as if I have arrived in paradise. However, when the Taoist priest placed a set of chopsticks and a bowl in front of me, I couldn't help but voice my inner doubt: "Master, aren't you a monk? How can you eat meat?"

I was in tears, but the old Taoist in the green robe paid me no mind, instead kicking me with his black cloth shoes, saying: "Get up, with me here, it won't come out."

Coo, coo, my stomach has begun to rumble, like a cuckoo singing. The old Taoist in green glanced at me and then asked if I was hungry. I nodded honestly, and he understood, inviting me to skin the two dead rabbits my father had brought and clean them up. I received the task, so I took the two dead rabbits out of the bamboo basket, walked to the large water vat, where there was a small ditch for washing things. Next to it lay a sharp little sword, resting on a stone, and I looked into the vat, where half a gourd ladle was floating.

I felt a bit embarrassed, vigorously wiping my tears, sniffling, and curiously asking: "Dao Ye, did you see me when I was born?"

The Qingyi Daoist had been craving for a long time, so he prepared a little wine, took a sip, and hurriedly stuffed a piece of freshly cooked meat into his mouth. The meat was hot and he enjoyed it immensely. Upon hearing my question, he suddenly couldn't help but burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face. After he finished laughing, he explained to me: "Little one, I am from the Shangqing Sect's talisman school, skilled in drawing talismans, chanting spells, exorcising ghosts, subduing demons, and invoking blessings while warding off disasters. I do not abstain from meat and fish." I nodded and said, "Yes, meat is so delicious; it would be so sad if one couldn't eat it..." After he finished laughing, he explained to me: "Little one, I am from the Shangqing Sect's talisman school, skilled in drawing talismans, chanting spells, exorcising ghosts, subduing demons, and invoking blessings while warding off disasters. I do not abstain from meat and fish." I nodded and said, "Yes, meat is so delicious; it would be so sad if one couldn't eat it..."

I had never witnessed such a terrifying scene before, and I immediately screamed loudly, sitting down on the ground. I felt a warmth in my pants, and in a frenzy, I began to hit my head with all my might.

The old Taoist in green sighed: "You are innocent, yet you were born into the wrong circumstances. Had I not intervened to suppress you back then, you would likely have already embarked on a path of evil."

It was only at this moment that I realized what he had said to my parents was true; being entangled with such a vile demon, I couldn't even be sure I would live to see my eighteenth birthday, let alone survive this age of eight.

I was terrified, my mind was completely blank, and all I could do was keep bowing. The old Taoist in blue looked at me with pity, sighed, and said: "The Great Way has fifty branches, and the one that has escaped is the essence. If you truly wish to live, I have a method for you, but it is not simpler than the eighty-one trials of Tang Seng. Are you willing?"

My father is kind-hearted and does not dare to kill chickens. Because I am greedy, I have also helped with live animals at home, so I know how to do it and I busily get to work in an orderly manner

In front of this steaming, aromatic rabbit meat, after having a bit of wine, the mood of the old Taoist in green seemed to improve significantly. I noticed the corners of his mouth curling up, and he was no longer restrained, digging in heartily. The little monkey, a chubby girl, was sniffing and jumping up and down beside him. I cautiously glanced at the old Taoist and picked up a piece of the breastbone without meat to give to her. The chubby girl reached out to take it, blowing on it while eating, tears streaming down her face. Seeing that the old Taoist was indifferent, I scooped several large pieces of meat for the chubby girl.

The chubby girl, whose body is as thin as a skeleton, has never seen such a scene; squatting on the ground, she is munching away, enjoying her meal heartily.

Skinning and cutting the meat is a technical task that I am not particularly skilled at, but fortunately, that small sword made of an unknown metal is quite sharp. Before long, I had finished; two plump rabbits filled an entire large earthenware jar. The old Taoist in green took it over, brought out an iron pot, and while the fire was hot, he added some oil, ginger, garlic, and small chili peppers, tossing them in to release their fragrance. Then he added a large basin of rabbit meat to stir-fry until the blood color was gone, followed by a splash of wine to braise it. After a while, he added water, and the bubbling sound filled the entire cave with a delightful aroma. I watched the rolling oil soup, swallowing my saliva repeatedly. The old Taoist in green took it over, brought out an iron pot, and while the fire was hot, he added some oil, ginger, garlic, and small chili peppers, tossing them in to release their fragrance. Then he added a large basin of rabbit meat to stir-fry until the blood color was gone, followed by a splash of wine to braise it. After a while, he added water, and the bubbling sound filled the entire cave with a delightful aroma. I watched the rolling oil soup, swallowing my saliva repeatedly.

Ah ... ...

This bone reading and fate seeking took quite a while, and only after some time did he retract his hand. He washed his hands again and gently sighed, "Er Dan, do you know why I didn't want to save you earlier?"

The old Taoist in a green robe smiled noncommittally, then began to tend to the injured little fox. First, he exchanged some clean water with boiling water to carefully clean the wound. Then, he took out two pieces of yellow paper, which ignited spontaneously without fire. Next, he gently sprinkled the ash on the wound, wrapped it with a clean white cloth, and finally pried open its mouth to feed it a fragrant red pill. I looked at the pill; it smelled so good that I couldn't help but swallow, and my stomach began to rumble.

How can there be such terrifying things in the world

I had two bites of sweet potato at noon, and then I felt exhausted all day without a drop of water. The children could hardly bear the hunger; whenever they saw anything edible, their eyes would light up.