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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter One Hundred and Four Ming Ship
“Ming Ship?” Cao Qilong was taken aback.
Clearly, he understood this kind of thing, and I couldn't help but feel excited, quickly saying, “Yes, yes, yes! It's the Ming Ship. Have you heard of it, Senior Brother?”
Cao Qilong nodded and said, “Of course I've heard of the Ming Ship, but it's said to be quite extraordinary; it's not something we can actually see.”
Upon hearing this, my heart sank, and I hurriedly asked, “What do you mean by that, Senior Brother? Can't you also create this kind of Ming Ship?”
“Come on, that's a Ming Ship. While you and I can make a boat, we are just ordinary Paper Craftsmen. Even if you make a good boat, no one will carry it for you,” Cao Qilong shrugged and rolled his eyes.
His words left me somewhat confused. I thought to myself, is the boat not made by crafting but rather carried by others? So I asked him, “Senior Brother, what exactly is this Ming Ship? Can we really create it?”
Cao Qilong nodded: “Yes, the boat is just the paper boats we usually make; it's just that this thing is like the ghost sedan chair used by Yin-Yang masters. Whether it’s useful or not depends on whether someone helps you carry it.”
The ghost sedan chair—I knew it wasn't the kind of chair we made in the paper shop for the dead but rather the one used by Yin-Yang masters. It’s called a ghost sedan chair because it is carried by ghosts instead of people.
It is said that in the profession of Yin-Yang masters, there were many highly skilled individuals in the past who could traverse between realms—what is referred to as “going down to the Underworld.” Such people often went to the Underworld to handle troublesome matters. Over time, they became familiar with it and developed some connections and friendships. The Underworld and the living world are quite similar; in the living world, if you have connections and skills, there will naturally be many people seeking your help. Similarly, in the Underworld, if you have connections and skills, there will also be many seeking your assistance—only they are not humans but mostly ghosts. As a result, ghosts would agree to help carry the sedan chair for Yin-Yang masters in hopes that they would assist them; this type of sedan chair is called a ghost sedan chair.
It is said that capable Yin-Yang masters do not go out during the day; they only go out at night because they can ride in ghost sedan chairs at night and travel swiftly. It is said that traveling a thousand miles at night is not unusual.
Of course, there are not many Yin-Yang masters who can ride in ghost sedan chairs when going out; especially nowadays, whether such individuals exist is uncertain. Even if they do exist, no one knows about them.
Hearing Cao Qilong say that the Ming Ship is actually similar to a ghost sedan chair startled me. I immediately asked him, “Are you saying that the Ming Ship also needs ghosts to carry it?”
To be honest, having ghosts help me carry the Ming Ship wouldn't be too difficult because during my time wandering around, I have helped ghosts before—like Ghost Granny and those villagers from Liu Family Village. As long as I can find them and ask for their help to push the boat a bit, it shouldn't be too hard to manage.
However, what Cao Qilong said next poured a bucket of cold water on me. He said, "The Ghost Ship is carried by four ghosts, while the Ming Ship is carried by immortals. If you can find immortals to help you carry it, then your Ming Ship can cross the River of Forgetfulness. There’s a saying that goes, 'The Ming Ship is carried by a hundred immortals, and ten thousand ghosts ferry across the underworld!'"
Hearing this, I was instantly dumbfounded. I thought I could manage to find some ghosts to help me carry the paper boat, but finding immortals to help me out, and even doing hard labor for me? That’s like looking for a lantern in a toilet—looking for shit? Let’s not even mention that I don’t know a single immortal right now; even if I did know one and had dealings with them, would I dare to ask them something like, "Hey, Great Master, could you do some labor for me and help carry this boat?"
If I really went to ask an immortal like that, with good luck they might just give me a disdainful look; with bad luck, the immortal might get angry and take my life.
I hesitantly questioned, "Senior Brother, you’re not joking with me, are you? Asking immortals for help, and even a hundred of them? Are you treating me like the Jade Emperor? You can't be this cruel."
Cao Qilong didn’t seem like someone who would joke around. He looked silly and serious as he said, "What kind of relationship do we have? How could I possibly joke with you? I heard this from Master Ma; the Ming Ship relies on immortals to cross the river. However, although it says 'a hundred immortals carry the Ming Ship,' it doesn’t mean you need a hundred; just four immortals will do." As he spoke, he held up four fingers to illustrate.
I rolled my eyes and said, "Four immortals? Even one would be hard to find! Besides, right now I don’t know any at all. It seems there’s no hope."
"Junior Brother, why are you suddenly so interested in the Ming Ship? Don’t tell me you want to build one?" Cao Qilong asked curiously when he saw my dejected expression.
I nodded helplessly. "Yes, I do want to build a Ming Ship; it just seems too difficult right now."
Cao Qilong was taken aback and looked at me in disbelief. He glanced left and right at me until I felt uneasy under his gaze. Then he said, "Junior Brother, why would you want to mess around with something like that when you're doing well as a Paper Craftsman?"
I replied, "Because I have a friend trapped in the River of Forgetfulness in the underworld. Only the Ming Ship can bring her back."
Seeing him still staring at me with curiosity, I went on to explain Lin Xiaoqi's situation.
After I finished explaining, Cao Qilong also looked gloomy. His eyes turned red, making it somewhat awkward for me since I felt guilty for sharing such sad news with him—wasn’t that just making him feel bad for me?
Just as I was feeling uneasy inside, he sighed and said, "Shenbao, after hearing your story, my heart aches. Just look at you; you have so much less than me yet there’s such a wonderful woman who loves you and is waiting for you in the River of Forgetfulness. And then look at me—I'm almost thirty years old! Not only do I not have someone to miss; there isn’t even a woman who likes me! This is truly pathetic!"
Upon hearing this, I was instantly struck dumb by his words and felt as if a huge flock of crows flew over my head...
I originally thought that he was so sad because he felt sorry for me, but who would have thought that he was actually sad for himself?
At that moment, I rolled my eyes and ignored him.
Cao Qilong chuckled and said, "Shenbao, you must not give up on this. If it were me, and I had such a devoted woman waiting for me by the River of Forgetfulness, I wouldn't just ask for help from the immortals; even if I had to seek the Jade Emperor's assistance, I would pursue that goal. So, you need to keep going!"
His words indeed gave me some confidence. Yes, Lin Xiaoqi could endure the bone-chilling cold of the River of Forgetfulness and the pain of snake and insect bites for me. How could I give up just because of a little difficulty? For her, I couldn't possibly give up. If I didn't make an effort to try, then in the future when I die and see her in the river while crossing the Bridge of Helplessness, how would I face her?
Thinking of this, I patted Cao Qilong's hand resting on my shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I won't give up. No matter how difficult it is, I'll do my best."
Cao Qilong nodded and said, "That's the spirit. But don't worry too much; I'm here to help you."
I thanked him. Indeed, having someone to help you does boost your confidence a bit. I said, "It's just that I don't know where to start in seeking help from the immortals; after all, we don't know a single immortal."
Cao Qilong sighed but then said, "Immortals don't necessarily have to be true immortals; Earth Immortals are fine too."
"Earth Immortals are fine?" I was immediately delighted. If that's the case, then there might actually be some hope.
I naturally knew what an Earth Immortal was. According to Taoist texts like the "Zhonglu Chuan Dao Ji," an Earth Immortal is someone who exists between heaven and earth and possesses the talents of an immortal. They do not comprehend the Great Way and only achieve minor accomplishments. Their powers are not visible; they merely live long lives without dying in the human realm. In other words, while Earth Immortals have the abilities of immortals, they do not understand the Great Way and linger in the world for small gains without truly cultivating to become an immortal.
There are many Earth Immortals in folklore, such as Tree Spirits, Stone Spirits, Mountain Spirits, etc., all of which can be called Earth Immortals. However, Earth Immortals tend to have narrow minds; if offended even slightly, they will retaliate against people. There are rumors in folklore that there are eight types of Earth Immortals that absolutely cannot be provoked: these include snakes, wolves, badgers, Lynxes, Yellow-Bellied Hedgehogs, Weasels, and foxes. Especially snakes and Hedgehogs along with Weasels—these three common animals should never be touched.
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