Chapter 6, Eliminate the Harmful Soft-Shelled Turtle Nest
Just when everyone thought the water monster had been eliminated and relaxed with laughter, Master Zhang's expression turned extremely grim, dark enough to almost drip with water. Then, fear appeared on his face as he shouted, "Run quickly!" Without regard for the dignity of himself or others, he stumbled and turned to flee.
The wandering Taoist spoke, causing the villagers to feel even more frightened and uncertain about what to do. They hurriedly sought advice on how to subdue the water monster and bring peace to the local populace
The water surface gradually shrank, becoming smaller and smaller. Once it reduced to about an acre in size, the surface slowly calmed down and gradually became clearer, the frightening dark blue color receding. People stood on the shore looking down, as if standing on a mountain looking at the flat ground, the bottom of the pit where there was no water appearing indistinct and unclear.
The next morning, Master Zhang brought his magical tools to the old turtle's den to conduct an on-site investigation to determine what malevolent entity was causing the disturbance
Strangely enough, as soon as the beads and the talisman entered the water, the water in the pit began to bubble as if it were boiling, with splashes rising from the center. The splashes grew larger and higher, accompanied by a startling gurgling sound
One could see a long-haired, youthful figure with flowing white hair and a long beard. He wore a purple Taoist crown on his head and a crimson Taoist robe on his body; a yellow sash was tied around his waist, and he donned red shoes on his feet. Holding a whisk in his hand, he exuded an extraordinary demeanor
The entire village, young and old, was in a state of utter chaos due to the sinister happenings surrounding the old turtle's nest. They found themselves in a desperate situation and had no choice but to call upon Master Zhang to intervene
The local gentry and elders persistently urged Master Zhang not to stand by and watch as others suffer, requesting him to come out of retirement once more, and offered a substantial reward.
After speaking, he took out his own Tai Chi talisman and that bead, and together they were offered into the pit
Due to the request of local sentiments and the promise of a substantial reward, Master Zhang agreed to undertake the task one more time before retiring from his profession
After Master Zhang returned home, he lay in bed and soon passed away
Before long, a mist of water rose again from the pit, accompanied by bursts of chilling, maniacal laughter. The villagers accompanying Master Zhang felt a chill run down their spines; had it not been for the presence of the master and the scriptures, they would likely have turned and fled in terror.
The Taoist priest, accompanied by local gentry and elders, observed the old turtle's nest, then glanced at the white-haired poplar by the pit. After a moment of contemplation, he calculated with his fingers and informed the villagers that the creature in the pit was a leprosy-headed turtle, which had attained spiritual enlightenment, was of enormous size, and possessed a thousand years of Taoist cultivation. Xu Shen of the Eastern Han Dynasty pointed out in "Shuowen Jiezi" that "the turtle is the largest among beetles, hence the character is derived from 'yuan', which means large." For many years, the old turtle refrained from causing harm to the area solely because it was suppressed by the immortal residing in the white-haired poplar. Now that the immortal has departed from the tree, it is about to emerge and wreak havoc on the region!
Before the mage passed away, he told others that throughout his life he had hunted ghosts and subdued monsters, accumulating too much karma, which ultimately led to his own demise. As for the spirit in the old turtle's nest, the mage stated that he could not discern what it truly was, but it possessed at least a thousand years of cultivation, making it difficult to subdue. He warned the villagers to never be complacent.
Just as everyone thought that this long and Master Zhang's attempt to subdue had failed and were preparing to flee, suddenly there was a loud crash from the pit, and the water level dropped several zhang in an instant, as if a hole had appeared at the bottom of the pit... Moreover, it continued to descend slowly, and the mud and moss around the pit gradually became more exposed...
It was once believed that this old turtle's nest would remain permanently peaceful, but the unpredictability of the world led to unforeseen circumstances decades later, when human factors caused it to stir up another wave of turmoil. This occurred during a special period in history, which I will elaborate on in the subsequent chapters
Upon hearing that someone had voluntarily requested to subdue the monster in the old turtle's den, many came to see what kind of divine being this person was
The wandering old Taoist smiled and said, "Why not? I can deduce that when the great immortal leaves the tree, he will surely not tolerate the old turtle harming the villagers. There should be something left to subdue it..." After speaking, he looked at the crowd.
The Taoist priest observed that the mist over the water had dissipated and informed everyone that the vengeful spirits in the water pit had been transcended and reincarnated. Now, he would begin to deal with the ancient giant tortoise at the bottom of the pit
The mage has already passed the age of knowing destiny. He originally intended to refuse, stating that he has dealt with various evil entities and spirits for decades, having offended numerous yin beings and spirits, which has also shortened his lifespan. Recently, he dreamt of an immortal who advised him that although he is beneficial to the people, his methods are too harsh and his killing intent is too strong. If he does not restrain himself, he may face great calamity
The villagers lived in a state of constant fear for several more days. Just as they were discussing relocation, a wandering Taoist priest passed through the village, seeking the local gentry and elders, claiming he could eliminate the threat from the pit.
The villagers looked into the pit and exclaimed, "Heavens! It's just a few dozen acres of an old turtle nest!" The water in the pit was boiling, and from the center, a surge of murky water erupted, growing larger and rising higher, creating a truly breathtaking scene! An inexplicable terror surged from their hearts to their minds, and everyone raced alongside Master Zhang, wishing they had two more legs.
With a few resounding thunderclaps, the laughter in the mist also vanished in response
Master Zhang furrowed his brows, walked around the pit, and shook his head repeatedly. He remarked that there were too many vengeful spirits in the old turtle's den, and the malevolent energy was extremely heavy. However, this was not the main concern; what was more important and dangerous was that deep within the pit, there might be a great threat, and he was unable to discern what it was or the nature of its power.
After much contemplation, Master Zhang decided to test the waters. He took out a piece of yellow talisman paper he had brought with him, opened it, and found five eggs inside. Each egg was adorned with various strange symbols and patterns. Master Zhang murmured a few incantations and then shouted "Rise!" The five eggs, as if they had gained sight, flew towards the center of the mist surrounding the old turtle's nest.
It was only then that I suddenly realized that the two beads we obtained in our dreams, which were said to be the treasures of the village, were actually used for this purpose. Since Dog Dan was away visiting relatives and I did not dare to say much, I quickly handed my bead to the Taoist priest.
The Taoist priest smiled and said, "Now there is no problem." He instructed everyone to set up incense, candles, paper offerings, and the three sacrificial animals to perform a ritual to guide the wronged souls and vengeful spirits from the pit of unjust deaths. Before long, the mist in the pit gradually began to rise again, but instead of gathering in one place, it slowly dispersed in all directions and then gradually disappeared.