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墨書 Inktalez
Vast World, full of wonders.
In the world we inhabit, there are always places that remain untouched by humanity, becoming havens for various creatures. What you may not know is that some of these places have also become active grounds for Wandering Souls.
Of course, such locations must possess unique geographical advantages, the most fundamental of which is the gathering of yin energy.
In the western part of Hubei Province, there is a well-known place called Shennongjia. This area, also known as the Roof of Central China, spans over three thousand square kilometers but has a population of less than one hundred thousand. Here, vast stretches of primitive forests exist, many of which are rarely visited by humans, with numerous areas untouched by any human footprints.
The name Shennongjia may be unfamiliar to many; it derives from one of the ancestors of Huaxia, Shennong, who is said to have built a wooden ladder here to taste various herbs, saving people from ailments and teaching them agriculture.
This was an unforgettable experience, albeit a dangerous one. The dangers stemmed not only from Spirit Gods but also from various unknown environments and fierce beasts we could not contend with. Overall, this was an adventure—a jungle expedition accompanied by numerous supernatural events. However, the motivation for this expedition was not merely for exploration; it was an Experience passed down by our seniors. Why do I refer to them as seniors? Please read on.
In the first half of 2012, at that time Master Xiao had not yet gone to Shanghai to become a fortune teller. He was homeless then and stayed with me for more than half a month. In his words, he was wandering like a monk. He even pretended to say "Amitabha" to me. I asked him if he knew why high monks liked to say "Amitabha." To my surprise, he seriously replied that if high monks kept saying "he he," it would seem unstable, so they changed it to "Amitabha."
During one lunch, we both received calls from our respective masters at the same time. After hanging up, he grinned widely and said to me, "Amitabha, my master instructed me to go to a perilous place for an Experience. I wonder if this Dao Brother would honor me with his company."
"Get lost, speak properly," I thought about what my master had instructed me and had no interest in his nonsense.
Master Xiao laughed heartily and said, "I bet those two Old Men are together now. So what do you think, Brother Liu, when shall we set off?"
"We'll prepare and leave tomorrow afternoon," I replied while starting to contemplate this matter.
I had long heard from my master that after completing one's training, there would be a test—this had been the case for generations. This test served as an assessment of what we had learned over the years and provided an opportunity for young disciples from various sects to interact with each other. In the generation of Grandmaster and his peers, there were many participants; such an Experience involved dozens of people together. In my generation, however, only a few remained. I wasn't sure how many exactly; I would find out at the gathering point.
My master spoke to me over the phone, mentioning that several other disciples from Hunan who had already graduated would also participate in this Experience. However, I didn't recognize any of those masters he mentioned, let alone their disciples. Yet, I knew in my heart that they were all individuals with genuine skills; otherwise, they wouldn't qualify for such a unique Experience.
After discussions among the senior disciples, they ultimately chose Shennongjia as the location. In many remote mountainous areas, there are numerous souls lost due to various past killings and religious beliefs. Many of these souls could not find peace due to various restrictions or folk customs and became vengeful spirits, wandering deeper into the mountains and gathering in areas of negative energy, ultimately remaining there forever without any chance of transcendence or Reincarnation. They have drifted for as long as the world has existed.
These places filled with Wandering Souls have become the best sites for Taoist disciples' Experience. Some of these Wandering Souls can be guided to peace, but others may transform into Vengeful Spirits, which are not as easily dealt with as ordinary Spirit Gods. Overall, no one can guarantee complete safety during this Experience. The only assurance is that one or two senior masters will scout the area beforehand to ensure there are no significant dangers before allowing the disciples to proceed. However, this assurance is not foolproof. My master mentioned that it is not uncommon for young Taoist disciples to perish during such Experiences. Fortunately, society has become increasingly peaceful, and many Taoist Disciples no longer regard these Experiences with the same seriousness as before; it has even become somewhat formalized, with chosen locations not being particularly perilous.
However, even if it is formalized, the essence must not be lost. I heard that this location was chosen by Master Pan and unanimously approved by all the masters. Therefore, I had some expectations for this once-in-a-lifetime Experience. After all, it is a significant event in my career; experiencing such things is what makes one a complete Taoist. I don't know about other places, but in my hometown city, there is indeed such a saying.
On the afternoon of the second day, I and Master Xiao each carried a large travel backpack filled with not only tents but also various outdoor survival gear and essential items for our work.
As we prepared to depart, a person claiming to be Mao Ruiliang called me. He said he was a disciple of the Qingwei Sect and also the leader of this Experience, essentially meaning he was the captain. He mentioned that he might arrive half a day late and instructed us to wait for him at an inn once we arrived. We would discuss specific arrangements together once he got there. His tone seemed somewhat commanding.
Every profession has its hierarchy, and Taoism is no exception. The Qingwei Sect belongs to the Zhengyi Sect, just like Master Xiao, and represents orthodox Taoist disciples. These orthodox Taoist disciples carry a certain pride; for someone like me from a less formal background to join them in this Experience feels like an honor.
I shared this situation with Master Xiao, who indignantly asked why I wasn't made captain. I replied that I would be grateful if these orthodox Taoist Disciples would even allow me to join them; how could someone like me be considered for such a title? Besides, I had no desire to compete for such empty honors.
We first took the High-Speed Rail to Wuhan, then transferred to a bus heading to Songbai Town. The journey from Wuhan to Songbai Town was not straightforward; we had to change vehicles multiple times. We departed from Wuhan at eight in the evening and would arrive at Xingshan County around six in the morning. Afterward, we still needed to take a minibus. By the time we reached Songbai Town, it was already the following morning. Our agreed meeting time was noon at the station in Songbai Town, which fit perfectly.
When we arrived at Songbai Town, both Master Xiao and I felt confused because Mao Ruiliang had said he wouldn't arrive until evening, and we didn't know anyone else who had arrived on time—not even how to contact them. We could only check into the inn that Mao Ruiliang mentioned and settle down first. Then, out of habit, Master Xiao went out for a foot massage while I caught up on sleep at the inn.
Around six in the evening, I received a call from Mao Ruiliang. He informed me that he had reserved a private room at a restaurant for dinner tonight so we could get acquainted with each other. I wholeheartedly agreed with this suggestion. I've always believed that there's no meal where you can't make friends or see through someone's character; having this meal would make our subsequent journey much smoother.
When I arrived at the restaurant's private room, three people were already seated inside. To my surprise, one of them was a girl. Could she also be someone with Taoist heritage?
A person who wasn't very tall but appeared to be a few years older than me stood up when he saw me enter and said, "Hello! Are you Liu X., disciple of Master X., from Qiaoling?"
I smiled and nodded at each of them before turning to him and saying, "Hello everyone, you must be Brother Mao."
He chuckled and replied, "Yes, yes, come in, have a seat. I am Mao Ruiliang from Qingwei. It's a pleasure to meet you. I heard that Master Pan's disciple came with you; where is he?"
I pulled out my phone from my pocket and said, "Brother Mao, didn't you call him? If not, I can give him a call. He probably went straight to find a place for a massage."
"Haha, he really knows how to enjoy himself. Go ahead and call him; the others will be arriving soon as well. We can introduce ourselves one by one later," Brother Mao said cheerfully.
Merry Christmas and good night.
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