Chapter 1, Fo Ya Temple

There was a moment of hesitation, and he remained silent

A kind heart gently stirred, and he recalled Nizi

The relatives looked at each other, appearing dejected and downcast

"He is a mute," said the plump monk who was cooking, but then he expressed his confusion, "Oh, isn't the benefactor blind?"

A skilled person pointed down the mountain

"Damn it, this hurts so much!" The young girl immediately began to curse.

This is not Er Ya's voice!" Old Man Li exclaimed in shock

Is Liao Shenpo there

On the cliff of Meili Snow Mountain, Nizi not only inflicted harm upon herself with "broken arms standing in the snow," but even released blood-sucking fleas to bite him, causing him deep emotional pain. Therefore, when that pack of mad dogs pounced on him to bite, he, with a heart as cold as ashes, no longer resisted, preferring to have his tendons severed and his body covered in wounds, and he even rejected Hansheng's treatment. The disabilities of his body are all attributed to that cursed infant, Shen Caihua.

The old man lives in a dilapidated shack by the Black Dragon Pool; make sure to go there to find me. After saying this, the old blind man staggered off directly to the east, where the Black Dragon Pool is located two miles away in the pine forest outside the mountain gate

"That may not be the case." At this moment, someone spoke up. Everyone turned their gaze towards the voice and saw a disheveled old beggar, blind in both eyes, ravenously devouring a steamed bun in the corner.

The spring rain falls gently, and the Qingming Festival has arrived, with the temple filled with bustling worshippers, a throng of people.

You have a strong sense of indignation.

At this moment, a group of villagers has gathered in the side hall, watching the abbot, an elderly monk, treat a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old. She is a lovesick patient who has traveled a long way from Hanzhong, which is a major production area for rapeseed in the north. During the blooming season of rapeseed flowers, the number of patients particularly increases.

The stout monk furrowed his brow and instructed, "Go, take this benefactor to the side hall for a meal."

"Benefactor, the formless soul is indeed in great pain. The vengeful spirit, having no place to rest, seeks to possess a body. Involving the karmic ties of past and present, let her be spared this time," the old monk advised with compassion.

"Let me take a look," the old blind man suddenly grasped Youliang's wrist. After cutting through the three barriers, he was greatly astonished, "Not only are your tendons broken, but all six meridians of the three Yin and three Yang are severed. How did this happen?"

"If you do not speak, do not blame me for being impolite." The old blind man, with his filthy hands, took out a small cloth pouch from his bosom and gently unfolded it, revealing a row of silver needles inside

"However, it is not a problem; it can be cured," the old blind man said after a moment of contemplation

He quietly watched him without saying a word

On that rainy night years ago, in a dilapidated shrine by the Yellow River, it was this blind old beggar who foretold that he would encounter a benefactor by heading east. However, he not only lost Nizi later on, but also became disabled, spending the rest of his life curled up in this Buddhist cliff temple.

The old monk smiled faintly and said, "If you have a good remedy, could you perhaps treat this young lady?"

A discerning glance was cast towards the abbot, who nodded slightly, indicating for him to proceed accordingly

"Master, is it really impossible to cure Er Ya?" Old Li asked him anxiously

The season when rapeseed flowers bloom is also the time when infatuation is most prevalent in the countryside, hence the saying "When the rapeseed flowers are yellow, the lovesick are busy"

The old monk sat cross-legged on the mat, his hands pressed firmly against the girl's back as he channeled his energy. Beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead, indicating that he appeared to be exerting considerable effort

I beg your pardon, but there is nothing I can do," the old monk sighed.

Gazing at the gradually receding figure, Wang Mo silently contemplated for a long time before turning back to the temple

"What exactly are you? Why not confess honestly?" the old blind man asked her fiercely

The mute young monk is named Youliang. A few years ago, he collapsed from exhaustion while begging in front of the gate of Foyai Temple and was taken in and ordained by the abbot, Master Weidu. Due to his disabilities in both hands, he became a firewood monk in the temple and was given the Dharma name Liaoqu.

Liang stood up and pulled the old blind man, leading him out of the kitchen

The old blind man slowly turned his face to face the mute little monk who was tending the fire under the stove. His sunken eye sockets trembled twice as he opened his mouth to ask: "Little monk, do you still remember the old blind man?"

The old blind man once again took out a silver needle and inserted it into the ghost pillow acupoint on the back right side of her neck.

Amitabha. The old monk began to chant the Buddha's name.

"Not bad, what the old monk cannot cure, others may not be able to either," the old blind man hummed.

Every year around the Qingming Festival, the Foyasi Temple in Tongguan becomes quite busy, as patients suffering from what is colloquially known as "flower madness" are brought in from ten miles and eight villages, seeking treatment from the abbot, an elderly monk. The term "flower madness" has existed since ancient times, primarily referring to young women who become infatuated with either men or women, leading to a state of obsession; in severe cases, this can result in mental illness. The diagnosis in hospitals is often termed "hysteria," and the cause is difficult to determine. The only remedy is to prescribe some sedative and sleeping pills to help them rest. Once the rapeseed flowers have fallen, their condition naturally alleviates, but it tends to recur in the following spring.

"Liao Shenpo, what kind of lightning?" The old blind man became alert upon hearing this.

The young girl slowly turned her head, her vacant gaze landing on the old blind man's face, her expression completely devoid of emotion

"Is that you, beggar, speaking?" someone rudely asked

The young girl tilted her head and fainted, causing Old Man Li and his relatives to become immediately tense

Everyone present at that moment was astonished

The mute little monk approached the old blind man from behind and suddenly spoke: "Where is the noble person?" Having not spoken a word in the temple for several years, his voice had become dry and harsh, like the sound of metal.

"My hands are already crippled, you have mistaken the person." He said slowly while staring at him.

However, there is one condition: you must come under my tutelage at https://www.hetushu.com. As master and disciple, I will naturally treat you.

The old blind man seemed oblivious, his tattered clothes holding a few steamed buns, as he reached out with his filthy hands and stuffed them into his mouth

The young girl shot him a glare and fell silent.

Bitten by a dog

The old monk has already done his utmost; it is strange that the malevolent energy within her cannot be expelled. The monk, out of breath, has treated two or three patients today, and his vital energy has been excessively depleted

You have finally arrived, he said without turning his head

"Master, take a break," said the girl's grandfather, Old Man Li, with sympathy.

Who are you, a divine being? Or perhaps a wronged spirit? Whatever your demands may be, feel free to speak them to me, an old man

You have no reason to trust this old blind man

The girl has a dazed expression in her eyes, appearing bewildered. According to her family, this condition has persisted for several days. The county hospital has offered no other solution apart from some sleeping pills.

An elderly blind beggar, leaning on a cane, trembled as he entered the temple. Despite his unkempt appearance and tattered clothing, the monks still led him to the kitchen at the back and offered him some porridge and rice.

The treatment provided by the old monk relies on his profound internal energy to expel the impurities from the patients' bodies, resulting in the women naturally recovering, and they generally do not suffer from the same ailments the following year. Consequently, the reputation of Foyai Temple spread widely, attracting even infatuated patients from as far away as Hanzhong seeking consultation.

It was as if a seven-colored rainbow had directly struck the crown of my head

"Who are you?" the old blind man inquired with a pleasant demeanor

Of course, he readily agreed, saying, "Little mute monk, please help me over there."

"Shen Caihua, just wait, I will come back to find you sooner or later..." At this moment, the vow of anger and resentment from years ago echoed in my ears

Little Master, it is you who brought someone from hetushu.com to cure my illness, right? Thank you, Er Ya. The young girl smiled sweetly at You Liang.

Ah, so you are Liao Shenpo! What does this have to do with the Li family? That night was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the moon was round and bright, where did the lightning come from? You suddenly collapsed and died, the county police have already examined the body, causing the Li family to waste money on a cypress coffin.

"What are you?" the old blind man suddenly shouted sharply, startling everyone.

What business do you have meddling in others' affairs, you old thing? The young girl finally spoke, her voice hoarse and coarse, resembling that of an old woman

The old blind man chewed his food, leaning his face closer to the young girl, as if he were carefully examining her. The crowd wondered how a blind person could see anything at all.

The girl remained unresponsive, still in a daze.

The old monk is truly stubborn and unreasonable. If we let her go today, she will harm others in the future. The only way is to ensure her complete destruction. The old blind man sneered as he pried open Er Ya's mouth and pierced the ghost-sealing point beneath her tongue with a three-edged needle.

"What about that blind benefactor?" asked the old monk at the side door.

Master, we have come a long way from Hanzhong, let us think of another way.

"Acupuncture treats both humans and animals, while the Thirteen Needles are specifically designed to combat demons and spirits," the old blind man explained

"Old blind man, get away..." Er Ya pleaded in terror to the old monk who had not yet crossed over, "Kind-hearted old monk, have pity on this old woman of mine."

Indeed, there are truly remarkable individuals in this world, and I, as a humble monk, feel deeply ashamed. The old monk expressed his profound emotions.

Everyone's suspicious gaze turned towards the old blind man, thinking to themselves that if this beggar could cure illnesses, how could he have fallen into such a state

Hehe. The old blind man let out a couple of cold laughs, his face darkened further as he remained silent. A fine needle in his hand was silently inserted into the girl's ghost hall acupoint at the top of her head, and he brought his middle finger together, tapping it twice against the book.

Relatives surrounded the second girl, inquiring about her well-being, while no one noticed the old blind man trembling as he left the side hall and descended the mountain. He stopped his steps outside the mountain gate and quietly waited for something. Before long, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

The old blind man turned around, nodded, and said: "Not bad, who would have thought that this little vagabond would become the heir to my 'Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate.'"

At night, he lay in bed, memories unfolding one after another in his mind

The young girl began to cry, tears streaming down her face, and pleaded, "Please show mercy, good sir. I am merely a shaman from the countryside of Liuba in Hanzhong. A few days ago, while I was summoning spirits for the Li family at the foot of Ziba Mountain, I was struck by lightning and died unjustly. I am filled with resentment, which is why I have attached myself to the second daughter of the Li family in order to uncover the truth behind my death."

The old monk was greatly astonished; this old blind man, with his sunken eye sockets and completely blind eyes, was nonetheless remarkably accurate in identifying the holes, achieving precision down to the slightest detail

People in the mortal realm should refrain from meddling in the affairs of the underworld; are you not afraid of shortening your life and leaving no descendants

He took out a fine needle and gestured with it for a moment, then suddenly, like a flash of lightning, he thrust it into the ghostly point on the outer side of the girl's right thumb nail.

"The noble person is far away in the sky, yet close at hand." The old blind man chuckled.

Just as everyone was puzzled, Er Ya suddenly jolted awake, opened her eyes, looked around in surprise, and said: "Grandfather, how did we end up in the temple?"

She is merely a small demon, not worth mentioning. Are you willing to take me as your master?

Old Man Li grabbed his granddaughter tightly, tears of joy streaming down his face: "Er Ya, you nearly scared your grandfather to death"

The old blind man pondered for a moment, then slowly picked up the thick triangular needle and said: "Stop the nonsense; lightning strikes a person in an instant, and one cannot see it at all. Since Liao Shenpo is already dead, there is no need to linger in the mortal realm. I shall send you on your way now."