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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Three White Paper Man
Of course, many paper crafting shops nowadays do not understand these rules. Paper Figurines are often given eyes, as not many people today know the traditions; they merely see paper crafting as a means to earn a living, selling what they create for the living to use in worship. However, a true Paper Effigy Maker is different; their creations have significant meaning. Paper bridges can guide souls across, avoiding Yin Chai that detain spirits, while Paper Horses and Yin Yang can lead the way in the afterlife, protecting against wandering souls and ghosts. In short, a skilled Paper Effigy Maker is certainly not just someone who makes simple paper crafts!
In the three or four years following my Grandfather's passing, I delved into the “Yin-Yang Secret Techniques” he left behind. Using my skills in paper crafting along with the Yin Yang techniques I learned from Grandfather's book, I created paper bridges for ghosts, guided souls, and ferried spirits. I also helped the living with Yin Yang, exorcising evil and curing ailments, accumulating much merit in the process. Because of this, I gained considerable experience and knowledge, and my skills and reputation gradually grew.
One day, as usual, I was sitting in the shop, busy working on a nearly finished Paper Figurine. At that moment, a man rushed in, panting heavily and pulling me outside. He was so out of breath that he could hardly speak clearly.
I recognized him as Wang Mazi from Village. Seeing his frantic demeanor, I knew something must have happened. I told him to calm down and explain what was going on.
After catching his breath a few times, he finally spoke, but his voice was already tinged with tears. He told me that his father was on the brink of death and asked me to come to his house to help.
Upon hearing that Wang Mazi's father was dying, I realized time was of the essence and did not dare delay. I quickly grabbed a Paper Figurine and a paper bridge from the shop and followed Wang Mazi to his home.
Of course, if you think I took the Paper Figurine and paper bridge to Wang Mazi's house to burn them for his father after he passed away, you are gravely mistaken. Because they were meant to save him...
Wang Mazi's home was not too far from my shop. We hurriedly arrived at his house, and before we even entered the door, we saw Aunt Wang standing at the entrance in tears. As soon as she saw me arrive, she rushed over and immediately knelt down to plead for my help.
These were people from Village who had watched me grow up; how could I allow them to kneel? I quickly supported her and told her it wasn't necessary; instead, she should take me inside to see Uncle Wang.
Upon entering the house, I saw Uncle Wang lying on an old embroidered bed with his eyes tightly closed and his face pale. He was now breathing more in than out.
Aunt Wang, with a sobbing voice, said, "Your Uncle Wang was fine this morning, but just after lunch, he suddenly collapsed. When we helped him up, he couldn't even walk. We called Li Langzhong to take a look; he brewed some medicine and gave him an injection, but his condition keeps worsening. What should we do? Little Panzi, you have to save your Uncle Wang!"
At that time, the countryside only had a small pharmacy with a physician who understood some Western medicine, but the medical conditions were extremely limited. Moreover, the mountains separated us from the county town; we had to carry the patient to the town first before we could reach the hospital. So in such emergencies, most people would panic.
I quickly told Aunt Wang not to say anything and to calculate Uncle Wang's birth date for me. Using the method from the "Yin-Yang Secret Techniques" book left by Grandfather, I calculated based on his birth date. The result indicated that it wasn't an illness because there were no signs of disease in his fate. Therefore, it was destined that he would face this calamity today; if he survived, he would live on; if not, he would meet his end.
Understanding this, I told Aunt Wang not to worry. As long as Uncle Wang had good fortune, there was still a chance he could escape this calamity today.
Next, I instructed Aunt Wang to find some flour and sprinkle it at the main entrance. After hearing my instructions, Aunt Wang immediately went to do as I said while I picked up the paper figurine I had brought and asked Wang Mazi to find some ink and brushes from home. Time was tight; I had to save Uncle Wang before Black and White Impermanence came to collect his soul.
The reason for having Aunt Wang sprinkle flour at the door was that if Black and White Impermanence arrived, they would be able to see footprints in the flour.
Soon, Wang Mazi brought back the ink and brushes. I pricked Uncle Wang's finger with a needle and let a few drops of blood fall into the black ink. Then I dipped the brush in the ink mixed with Uncle Wang's blood and painted eyes on the paper figurine. As mentioned before, my shop's paper figurines wouldn't have their eyes opened until needed because they were considered lifeless objects. Painting eyes on them would give them spiritual energy; this is what people often refer to as "bringing a dragon to life."
Once the eyes of the paper figurine were painted, I instructed Wang Mazi to take off his father's clothes and shoes and put them on the paper figurine. Meanwhile, I placed a paper bridge at his family's doorstep and stood the paper figurine in front of the dying man's bed, then waited for the incantation to guide the paper figurine across the bridge.
In this profession, there is a saying that the paper bridge made by a Paper Effigy Maker is like the Bridge of Helplessness on Yin Si Road; the paper figurine serves as a substitute for a person or a death proxy. As long as the paper figurine successfully crosses the bridge and exits through the home's threshold, the dying person can survive and evade being taken by Black and White Impermanence or other ghost messengers like Ox-Head and Horse-Face.
Just as everything was prepared, Aunt Wang suddenly screamed from the living room as if something terrifying had happened. Hearing her scream startled both me and Wang Mazi, and we rushed out. We saw Aunt Wang looking terrified, pointing at the door and saying, "Look! How come there are so many footprints in the flour?"
We looked over and indeed saw that the flour sprinkled by Aunt Wang at the entrance was covered with large footprints.
Wang Mazi immediately asked his mother anxiously if someone had come by just now.
Aunt Wang shook her head vigorously and said, "No one is coming. I've been in the Living Room this whole time, and just turning around for a moment, so many footprints have appeared. Could it be that someone really is coming to take your father away?"
Whether it was out of fear or sadness, by the end Aunt Wang had tears in her eyes.
I also sensed that something was wrong and understood that someone must have come to visit. In a hurry, I recited the Incantation and opened my Heavenly Eye, then looked towards the door. I gasped in shock as I saw three or four people at the entrance, dressed in long black robes. I recognized this type of clothing; it was indeed the shroud worn by the dead.
Over the years, I had encountered many ghosts, so I wasn't particularly scared. What worried me was that these spirits had come to invite someone along; Uncle Wang was truly in trouble this time. However, it wasn't yet to the point of despair, especially since Ox-Head and Horse-Face hadn't arrived yet.
It is said that when a person is about to breathe their last, spirits come to invite them along. These could be deceased Relatives coming to escort them down; or nearby spirits who had just died seeking companionship; or even vengeful spirits looking for someone to take with them. In any case, whether they are Relatives, friends, or wandering souls, they are all extremely lonely. When a person is about to die, these spirits are the first to arrive.
I recognized the visitors; I had seen them when I was young. They were none other than Wang Mazi, my long-deceased Grandfather, grandmother, and other Relatives.
Although these people had passed away many years ago, they looked almost unchanged from how I remembered them in my childhood. The only difference was that they were now dressed in shrouds, making them appear quite eerie.
I knew they had come because they were aware that Uncle Wang was dying and had specifically come to escort him. Seeing them trying to enter the house, I shouted at them, "What are you doing back here? Leave quickly! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"
There was no way I would let them inside. Although these people were Uncle Wang's closest relatives, they were there to take him away. Once they entered the house, even if Uncle Wang could have survived, they would still take him with them.
This is why it is often said that dying individuals will mention a deceased Relative calling for them or asking them to go with them. Regardless of whether you believe it or not, Yin Yang Separation signifies that the living and the dead are on different paths. For the living to see ghosts is always an ill omen, especially if they are deceased Relatives.
Upon hearing my words, those few Uncle Wang's relatives outside stopped in their tracks. Although my shout made them halt their advance, they stood outside the door and still refused to leave.
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