Chapter 10, The Old Beggar

"Not bad, this is indeed the bottom of Poyang Lake," Elder Anxi replied

"Lake bottom? Grandpa, are you saying that we are currently at the bottom of Poyang Lake?" Shen Caihua asked

On a day in late autumn six years ago, with the cold wind howling and the withered leaves falling, a sorrowful atmosphere enveloped the entire land of China, and the capital lost its former bustle; the great leader Mao Zedong had passed away

"Child, sit down, and I will slowly tell you a story." Elder Anxi and Shen Caihua sat on the stone bench and began recounting the events that took place in the capital six years ago...

This is quite strange; how does he have the body of a young person but the head of an old man? Shen Caihua asked in confusion, "Does he have a name?"

After finishing their meal, Elder Anxi and his companions descended the stairs. Flakes of snow drifted down from the dim sky, while the old beggar on the street remained hunched over, extending his hand to solicit alms from passersby

In the stone hall, the faint flicker of candlelight illuminated the space. The elder, after recounting this, turned to Shen Caihua with a bitter smile and sighed, saying: "I have a modest understanding of medicine, and I have used both the traditional Chinese herbs from the mainland and the precious Tibetan medicines sourced from the snowy plateau, yet the beggar's condition shows no signs of improvement. Now, I am in the twilight of my years, and if this mystery remains unsolved, I will truly die with my eyes wide open"

"Do you see anything unusual about that old beggar?" Elder Anxi asked Elder Peng.

Oh," Elder Anxi nodded and then said, "How did you come to the bottom of this lake?"

Sigh, if traditional Chinese medicine could cure, why would I, an old monk, have to endure six years at the bottom of Poyang Lake?" Elder Anxi sighed and continued, "Considering your young age and kind heart, I, being a person nearing the end of my days, will share with you the origins of this individual. Our encounter at the bottom of Poyang Lake is indeed a form of fate. However, you must promise me that you will never speak of this matter to anyone, do you understand?

The elder's eyes became moist; he knew that it was the "Demon-Repelling Spell" of the Second Dalai Lama, Karma Pakshi, from seven hundred years ago

The elder smiled faintly and said: "This person has an extraordinary bone structure and a strong physique, undoubtedly a young man. However, his face is aged and unattractive, and his eyes are vacant, not a result of deliberate disguise. Therefore, I conclude that there must be something unusual about this person"

At the moment when Shen Caihua was lost in thought, a gaunt figure silently descended before him. This was an elderly monk, with white eyebrows and a white beard, clad in a yellow robe, his deep-set eyes gazing at him with a smile.

I do not know," the elder replied. "I encountered him six years ago in the capital and brought him here. Until now, I have not been able to extract even a single word from him.

Dudu leaned close to Xiaocaihua's ear and whispered: "The world of Jiang... Jianghu is fraught with danger"

Master, the disciple's hometown is located by Poyang Lake in Jiangxi, where there is a small island named 'Xieshan' that is uninhabited, tranquil, and remote, with very few visitors. On the island, there is a dilapidated Zen temple and a pagoda. The island is composed of limestone, featuring numerous caves, making it quite secluded. Elder Peng understood the master's concerns and thus suggested.

The old beggar gazed blankly at passersby with his gray, dim eyes. Whenever a particularly beautiful young woman walked by, he would involuntarily reach down to touch himself, as if murmuring something in his throat

The old monk looked at Dudu with considerable surprise and said, "This large bird not only understands human language but also knows about the Ben religion. How remarkable! Elder Anxi, who are you? How did you come to the bottom of this lake?"

In Shen Caihua's eyes, Beijing is a very distant place

Upon arriving in the capital, the leader (Red Boy) warmly received them and that evening held a private discussion with Elder Anxi until late at night. The leader provided a detailed analysis of the current situation in China and the competition among various political factions, requesting Elder Anxi's assistance. Elder Anxi ultimately declined and advised Red Boy that one must not go against the will of heaven; if one is overly attached to the struggles of the officialdom, the outcome will inevitably be tragic. Throughout history, how many heroes and exceptionally wise individuals, despite their prominence at one time, have ultimately met with the destruction of their families? Mao Zedong, hailed as a great emperor of the ages, is not also a case where his bones are yet cold while his wife and nephews languish in prison? In the grand scheme of things, karma will be repaid, whether sooner or later, as dictated by the way of heaven; one must not force matters.

At noon, Elder Anxi and his companions visited Wangfujing Street in Dongdan, ascended to the second floor of Donglaishun Restaurant, found a window seat facing the street, and prepared to enjoy the famous hot pot lamb from the renowned old brand Donglaishun in the capital.

The gaze of the monk Anxidao fell upon the neck of the old beggar, whose neck was encircled by a twisted, protruding mass, covered with a ring of dirty red plaster, resembling a tattered Japanese national flag. His hands were withered like chicken claws, and at his feet lay a broken porcelain bowl, inside which were scattered coins.

In order to conceal their whereabouts, the protector stealthily stole a small passenger car, stuffed the old beggar inside, and then everyone drove out of the capital, heading straight for Jiangxi without stopping along the way

Elder Peng listened to his master and, upon taking a closer look, realized that the old beggar was indeed somewhat different: "Yes, it's strange, there is truly an indescribable feeling about him"

"I do not know... but I am certain, this is a mysterious and evil force from the Central Plains," Elder Anxi said with great concern. "If it can be subdued by the exorcism mantra beads of the Second Dalai Lama, Karma Pakshi, then the evil power within this beggar must be astonishingly formidable."

"Who are you?" the elder asked in a calm tone.

"What power?" Shen Caihua said, perplexed

The elder of rest stood still on the opposite side of the road, quietly gazing.

"Why is there another old monk from the Benziao sect?" Dudu noticed that the old monk also had a bone bottle hanging from his neck, and thus asked curiously.

"Take him away," Elder Anxi commanded in a low voice to the two guardians.

"Old man, could you explain what happened? My father is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and might be able to help him," Shen Caihua asked the old monk, feeling a sense of compassion.

"Elder Peng? Hmm, why did he bring you to Xieshan?" Elder Anxi inquired, sounding as if he knew Elder Peng.

The message reached Yangon, Myanmar, where someone sent a letter to Elder Anxi of the Great Golden Pagoda, inviting him to make a trip to Beijing. The letter was signed by Hong Haier. A few days later, Elder Anxi packed his belongings and set off north with his disciple Elder Peng and two protectors.

Dudu glanced at the ugly old man's neck and murmured softly, "That purplish lump is really... really disgusting"

"Very well, we shall immediately head south in secret, and we must not let any word slip out." Elder Anxi decided to leave without saying goodbye, to avoid any further complications.

***

This mountain is composed of limestone, with numerous cavities. Children should not wander around carelessly, as it is very easy to get lost.

The elder Anxi nodded and pointed to a ring of purple flesh lumps around the old beggar's neck, saying: "Look, this is not an ordinary boil; inside it is trapped a string of Buddha beads belonging to the Second Great Treasure Dharma King. Initially, someone used these beads, which contain the 'Demon-Repelling Mantra,' to suppress a certain force within this person's body"

The old beggar's body was unexpectedly possessed by the "Demon-Repelling Spell" of the Esoteric Buddhism, which left Elder Anxi astonished. This matter was exceedingly strange and required clarification. However, the capital was thousands of miles away from Myanmar; how could he quietly bring the beggar back to the Great Golden Pagoda of Fushou Palace? It seemed that he could only first find a safe hiding place within the country, Elder Anxi pondered thoughtfully.

The elder raised his hand to signal, stopping the guardian, his sharp gaze fixed on the circle of red plaster around the beggar's neck. A vague sense of heat stirred within him, a strange sensation rising like ocean waves, one after another crashing upon his heart. Finally, amidst the vibrating eardrums, he gradually discerned the tones of the mantra of the Esoteric Buddhism: "Buzz... Ah... ... Huh... ..."

The steaming dumplings, fragrant and enticing, caught the attention of the old beggar, who sniffed eagerly. He hurriedly extended his withered, dirty hand to grab a dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth, saliva dripping and making audible sounds of delight

"We were originally playing on the mountain, but later we crawled into a cave and somehow got lost. Eventually, we made our way here in the dark," Shen Caihua said, pondering the dangers of the martial world, thinking it best not to mention the matter of the 'Heartbreaking Poisonous Mother'.

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Shen Caihua nodded understandingly

Shen Caihua felt that the old monk had a kind and benevolent expression, and he already had a favorable impression of the *Tushu*. Therefore, he spoke honestly: "It was Elder Peng from Shizhong Mountain who brought us here..."

"Is that old man over there ill? It seems he has a carbuncle." Shen Caihua touched his own neck, having seen many patients with carbuncles and boils since his childhood at the village hospital in Nanshan.

After listening to the elder's account, Shen Caihua sympathetically asked, "If we knew where the 'Demon-Repelling Spell' of the Esoteric Buddhism originated, could we then apply the appropriate remedy?"

I want to wait for the 'spiritual fetus' to be born and ask it one thing

The snow gradually intensified, and the cold wind swept across the ground. The old beggar, dressed in thin clothing, could not help but tremble uncontrollably.

The elder is asking you a question!" The guardian scolded in a low but stern voice

The next day, Elder Anxi declined the kind offer of Red Boy to accompany him, and, accompanied by Elder Peng and his attendants, set out to explore the famous landmarks of the capital city on their own. Decades later, upon returning to the old capital, the ancient city walls had been destroyed, and the streets and alleys were unrecognizable, evoking deep sighs and reflections.

The guardian respectfully fulfilled the elder's order by purchasing a plate of lamb steamed dumplings from Donglaishun and placed it in front of the old beggar

Looking out the window, I see a disheveled old beggar on the street across, begging with a wooden stick in hand. His hair is white, his face is lined with wrinkles, and he shivers in the cold wind

"No, the disciple is dull-witted and did not notice anything unusual," Elder Peng replied, glancing at the old beggar across the street.

The old beggar's mouth kept swallowing, as if he were oblivious to everything around him

"Old man? He is still a young man," Elder Anxi laughed and continued, "You little child have some understanding, but what he suffers from is not an ordinary boil. I have exhausted all methods, and after six years, I still cannot cure it."