Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Wang Tuozi rummaged through a broken cabinet and pulled out a Red Umbrella, identical to the one Wei Qiuxi used years ago. He set off with Wei Ning, choosing to walk along less populated paths, which meant they rarely encountered any farmers. The scenery in the Xiangxi mountains was breathtaking, with steep slopes and overlapping peaks. Occasionally, a deer or wild boar would leap away at the sight of them, too frightened to attack.
Wei Ning pondered the rumors of South China Tigers in the area, unsure of their truth.
Wang Tuozi stopped by a mountain stream where the water flowed from a dark hole, its depth unknown. The walls of the cave were covered in moss and slimy creatures that glistened uncomfortably in the light. "Yang represents fire, while water represents yin," Wang Tuozi explained. "Streams like this one that emerge from caves are generally called Yin Rivers by locals, believed to lead to the underworld. That's why few dare to enter. The Ghost Market is a place for people like us to trade; if an ordinary person were to recklessly intrude, it would disrupt the order inside. This is the largest Ghost Market in northern Xiangxi, frequented by people from Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, and even Guangzhou seeking necessary items."
"But you must know two rules when entering the Ghost Market: first, you cannot speak at any time; speaking disturbs the yang energy and frightens away many of the yin items for sale. Second, you cannot bring a live rooster inside."
"Why not?" Wei Ning asked.
"A rooster crows at dawn; do you not understand this principle?"
Wang Tuozi handed Wei Ning a copper coin. "Put this in your mouth but don’t swallow it. It will remind you not to speak."
They ventured deeper into the cave. The water was shallow, but something seemed to cling to Wei Ning's feet, making him uncomfortable.
After a short while, the river became shallower and dim light appeared ahead. Soon they reached a dry riverbed where a few people squatted silently on the ground with bags in front of them. Wang Tuozi approached one bag and opened it to find a pouch of Cinnabar. He rubbed it between his fingers and sniffed it before shaking his head and moving on. As they walked further in, the atmosphere grew lively; some people displayed Cinnabar while others had Peach Wood Swords or stacks of unmarked talismans. There were also various jars and bottles whose purposes were unclear. One individual even had a God of Joy figure made from yellow paper and dressed in Qing Dynasty clothing, its skin resembling that of a freshly unearthed corpse—an eerie sight under the dim light.
Wang Tuozi stopped at a stall selling Cinnabar, inspecting it closely before nodding in approval. He approached the seller and extended his right hand; both their hands disappeared into their sleeves as they exchanged something unknown. Finally, Wang Tuozi smiled as the seller wrapped some Cinnabar in lotus leaves and handed it over after payment. He then purchased some yellow-green talismans along with other items unfamiliar to Wei Ning. Afterward, Wang Tuozi found a spot to sit down and took out a stack of talismans to sell himself. It seemed he was quite popular here; soon enough, his talismans sold rapidly, filling his waist pouch with what Wei Ning estimated to be thousands in earnings.
It puzzled Wei Ning why Wang Tuozi would still bother with fortune-telling for extra income if his talismans were so profitable.
After an exhausting morning, Wei Ning felt bored and decided to return along the Yin River path. Upon entering town, Wang Tuozi stopped by a bank to deposit money from his recent sales into an unknown account before heading home with Wei Ning.
By the time they arrived home, night had fallen. They quickly ate something before Wang Tuozi called Wei Ning over. "You've been here for half a month now; aside from teaching you the Righteousness Song, I haven't taught you anything else because your foundation is still weak. If I were to teach you recklessly now, it might confuse your mind and lead you astray. However, if we are to save that girl, I need your help. I don't want you fainting at the sight of those filthy things next time we meet them. So today I'll teach you some simple Dao Techniques; go take a bath first."
Wei Ning jumped for joy at this news and hurried off to prepare his bath.
When he returned, Wang Tuozi was dressed in a long blue robe secured with a black belt and wearing a blue cap on his head. A painting of a Bull-Headed Monster hung on the wall beside him. "Since you've become my disciple," Wang Tuozi said, "you must bow three times."
Wei Ning quickly complied.
Wang Tuozi pointed at the Bull-Headed Monster painting. "Now that you've entered my Zhu You sect, bow three times to our Ancestor."
Wei Ning followed his instructions without hesitation.
"Wang Tuozi" said, "If you wish to learn the spells of 'Zhu You' and the 'Corpse Driver,' then you must bow to the 'God of Joy' in the northwest."
"Wei Ning" complied without hesitation.
"Wang Tuozi" paused for a moment and spoke sternly, "Today, as you enter my sect to learn the way, you must first learn to be a good person. If your heart is not right, then your magic will also be impure. If you rely on your powers to bully the weak and oppress women and children, I will be the first to not let you off the hook. Even if I were to leave this world one day, the principles of karma dictate that no one can escape their fate."
"Wei Ning" quickly knelt down and said, "Disciple vows in this life to help those who cannot be reborn and would never dare to use magic to harm others."
"Wang Tuozi" nodded, "That is best."
"I once passed through the 'Zhu You School,' which revolves around four words: 'Talisman,' 'Incantation,' 'Seal,' and 'Artifact.' The talisman represents the official documents and regulations of the spirit world, known only to the spirits of the underworld. When we cast a talisman, we summon gods and send away ghosts—it's always effective. The incantation serves as a password and command for communicating with spirits, playing a role in intimidating 'Demon Gods.' The seal represents formations; each of our five fingers corresponds to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Thus, we can create countless formations to subdue demons. The artifact refers to our magical tools used for exorcising demons."
"Each of these four terms—talisman, incantation, seal, artifact—serves distinct purposes: summoning, intimidating, subduing, and destroying. Their power varies greatly, with increasing difficulty in cultivation. However, when used together, their effectiveness multiplies."
"Our 'Zhu You' sect is unlike those thieves from 'Maoshan' who practice in seclusion for years without showing themselves—how boring that must be! We believe in engaging with the world; as they say, great hermits hide in plain sight. One path we cultivate is through the 'Corpse Driver.' In our 'Zhu You' sect, there’s a saying: ‘One year lifting corpses, three years turning them; ten years fighting ghosts, a hundred years striking them.’ This means that after entering the sect for a year, one is only qualified to follow their master and lift corpses or set up a dojo. After three years, the master will teach some methods for driving away the 'God of Joy.' At this point, one can walk alone but only for minor tasks like welcoming the 'God of Joy.'"
At this point, "Wang Tuozi" declared proudly, "Our 'Zhu You' sect is profound and extensive; how could it merely involve chasing after such childish spells as those of the 'God of Joy'? Without ten or eight years of dedication, how could one glimpse into our sect's mysteries?"
"Wang Tuozi" continued, "All disciples in our 'Zhu You' sect start by learning talismans. We have eleven types of talismans used to command 'Demon Gods,' each with endless variations and remarkable intricacies. However, no matter what else you learn, remember these six words: ‘Leave a door for people; cut off paths for ghosts.’"
"Leave a door for people; cut off paths for ghosts?"
"Yes."
"Wei Ning" asked, "But isn't it true that as long as one knows 'Yinwen,' any drawn talisman is effective?"
"If it's for establishing a home or setting up a residence, then any empowered talisman will work. However, when it comes to real combat situations, such talismans may not suffice. In fact, there are many similarities between Dao Techniques and martial arts; both emphasize internal cultivation of energy and external training of muscles and skin. On one hand, we need to learn how to use talismans and artifacts; on the other hand, we must practice ‘Qi.’"
“Qi?”
“‘Qi’ refers to postnatal energy. Generally speaking, practitioners in the martial world focus on cultivating energy sufficient for strengthening their bodies. However, to catch ghosts or summon spirits requires practicing ‘Qi,’ which is prenatal energy. In truth, every person is an immense treasure trove; within each body are eight gates: Rest Gate, Birth Gate, Injury Gate, Stopping Gate, Scene Gate, Death Gate, Fright Gate, Opening Gate. The more gates one can open within themselves, the more abundant their Qi becomes and thus their spiritual power increases.”
"Wei Ning" interjected curiously, "Then Master, how many gates have you opened?"
Wang Tuozi cleared his throat and said, "We'll talk about that later. Let's discuss the talismans first."
"I was talking about talismans, right? Yes, talismans," Wang Tuozi continued. "These talismans are divided into five types: yellow, red, purple, gold, and black. The yellow talisman is the most common; we usually see it used for settling homes. As for the black talisman, I've never seen one. I've heard it's very powerful. When we draw talismans, we typically use 'Yama Paper,' which is this."
Wang Tuozi rummaged through a box and pulled out a stack of Yama Paper. "I bought this at the Ghost Market today; you must use this to draw talismans."
Wei Ning asked, "Master, can't you make it yourself?"
Wang Tuozi rolled his eyes and replied, "Have you ever seen a dumpling seller also growing wheat? This kind of Yama Paper can only be produced by specific families. We usually can only buy it at the Ghost Market. Of course, if it's purple or above in quality, you won't find it there either. Those are rare treasures. I once had a piece of purple Yama Paper, but unfortunately..."
Wei Ning said, "Master, why don't you draw a talisman for me? I'd like to see how it's done."
"Sure! Which type do you want to see?" Wang Tuozi asked.
Wei Ning blinked and said, "Draw the kind you would use when you first see a ghost."
"Oh," Wang Tuozi said as he took out a piece of yellowed paper from his pocket. "This is usually the first talisman I draw when I see a ghost."
Wei Ning excitedly took the talisman from Wang Tuozi's hands and saw that it was neatly inscribed with the word "hell" written in cinnabar ink.
Comment 0 Comment Count