Master

Chapter 47

Yunbi County—legend had it that the Cloud Lord once descended here upon the clouds. To this day, an ancient wall remained, painted with that very scene, and the county had been named for it.

The Taoist came riding a donkey, travel-worn and dusty. The farther north he went, the more desolate it became. The grass beside the road was withered and yellow, dust and sand swept up in gusts; only near Yunbi County did things improve somewhat.

Outside the city, one could see quite a bit of lush greenery. Though the streams and rivers ran thin, they still babbled softly.

The first thing he saw upon reaching Yunbi County was an old tree beyond the city gate. Its roots intertwined, its trunk broad and branches thick. Together with the mottled city wall and the ancient Yunbi seal-script characters, it brimmed with the marks of time.

Beneath the tree, quite a few old men, young men, and children were resting. Someone had even set up a chessboard. It lacked the bustle of River Prefecture and the great southern cities; few merchants or travelers passed by, yet it possessed a leisurely charm.

The lazy donkey stopped beneath the tree and stretched its donkey head toward the chessboard. If Great Immortal Kongchen had allowed it to speak, it would likely have been pointing at mountains and rivers by now, talking until its opponent flipped the table in rage.

The Taoist bent down and asked an elderly man beneath the tree, "May I ask, sir, how much farther is Spirit Prefecture from here?"

The old man pointed northwest. "Past the place ahead is Spirit Prefecture. Little Taoist priest, are you headed there?"

The Taoist nodded. "I'm passing through Spirit Prefecture."

The old man immediately grew serious and cautioned him, "Little Taoist priest, you must have only recently come down from the mountain. I advise you not to go."

The Taoist asked, "Why do you say so, sir?"

The old man sighed. "Spirit Prefecture had a poor harvest last year, then suffered another disaster this year. It's a complete mess there now. Look—even traveling merchants and peddlers no longer go that way. In the past, there were escort caravans and merchant wagons, but now even those are scarce."

"If you go to Spirit Prefecture at a time like this and something goes wrong on the road, it simply won't be worth it."

Having explained the reason, the old man pointed the Taoist toward a clear path. "Rest in the city today, then turn back!"

The Taoist did not explain or say much more. "Thank you, sir."

He then rode his donkey toward the city. Still, he cared greatly about what the old man had said regarding the situation in Spirit Prefecture.

Within Yunbi County, men, women, old folks, and children crowded along the street to watch the excitement, pointing and whispering at what lay ahead.

Many had set down their shoulder poles, bundles of firewood, and wheelbarrows, clearly captivated by the spectacle before them.

A richly dressed young man had just stepped out of a vermilion gate. He had taken only a few steps when a tall, powerfully built gray-robed monk called out to stop him.

The monk had a head of stout short hair like a hedgehog's spines. Though tall and burly, he had a kindly face and a clean, neat appearance that inspired goodwill at first sight.

"Benefactor, please wait."

The richly dressed youth had clearly been well brought up. Though stopped, he did not grow angry, merely clasped his hands and asked, "What business does this master have with me?"

The master studied the young man's features, then nodded as though he had finally confirmed something.

"Do you often feel dizzy and weak?"

"That's right!" The richly dressed youth was astonished.

"And in the dead of night, do you hear an endless roaring beside your ears, as though someone were shrieking right against them?" the master continued.

The richly dressed youth was even more shocked and hurried several steps forward. "That's right! How did Master know?"

"I had been hearing a buzzing in my ears before. When I asked others, they all said they heard nothing. I began to worry that there was something wrong with my ears."

"Now that Master mentions it, could it be that an Evil Ghost has latched onto me?"

The more the richly dressed youth thought so, the more terrified he became. The more he felt that the buzzing was abnormal, the more it seemed to ring beside his ears again.

It was like ordinary people: with no illness at all, they merely needed to read a few medical texts or hear some rumors, and they would begin suspecting ghosts and shadows, scaring themselves sick.

The master repeatedly shook his head. "No, no. This humble monk is not one of those charlatans who swindle their way through the world. How could I blame every matter on ghosts and gods?"

"Benefactor, you were married not long ago, were you?" The master smiled.

"Master's Divine Calculation is truly miraculous." The richly dressed youth nodded repeatedly, looking every bit like someone untouched by the ways of the world.

"Young man, when newlyweds are still as affectionate as glue and lacquer, such things are inevitable. Exercise some restraint from now on, and these symptoms will disappear."

Though the master had spoken vaguely, who on the street failed to understand his meaning? At once, the crowd burst into laughter, their faces wearing knowing looks. Some married women and young girls blushed crimson with embarrassment.

The richly dressed youth's face turned scarlet. Seeing this, the master struck while the iron was hot and revealed his true purpose.

"Do not worry. This humble monk has a bottle of Great Strength Pills here. Take them, and you will recover. I guarantee this will never happen again. They will also strengthen your body and keep all illnesses at bay."

Though somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, the richly dressed youth could not help asking, "Do they really work?"

"Of course. This is Tianlong Temple's secret formula, passed down for a thousand years."

After some whispered discussion, silver passed from one hand, while Great Strength Pills slipped into a sleeve from the other.

Among the surrounding onlookers, more and more people stepped up to buy a bottle. In only a short while, the master had earned a handsome sum.

After putting away the silver, however, the matter was not over. The master looked again at the richly dressed youth.

"But that is only a minor matter. The true danger is the Head-severing Ghost Curse around Benefactor's neck." A genuinely grave expression appeared on the master's face. Having just separated himself from wandering charlatans, he merged right back into their ranks the moment he had collected the silver.

"What Head-severing Ghost Curse?"

The richly dressed youth had barely spoken when he saw the master pull out a mirror and hold it before him.

The richly dressed youth immediately saw himself in the mirror. Around his neck was a circle of blood-red marks, as though someone had chopped off his head.

The richly dressed youth was instantly frightened out of his wits and reached up to touch it.

The master immediately bellowed, "Don't touch it! Absolutely do not touch it!"

"The Head-severing Ghost Curse will erupt faster if touched. If you do not wish to die, withdraw your hand at once."

What had happened moments ago had already made the richly dressed youth place complete faith in this master. Now panic-stricken, he fell to his knees.

"Master, save me! What exactly is this Head-severing Ghost Curse?"

The master did not rush to answer. Instead, he had the surrounding townsfolk look at it, intending to use this to spread his reputation through the city more quickly.

"Everyone, please look here. You can all see it, can't you?"

The crowd clicked their tongues as they stared at the bloody mark on the richly dressed youth's neck. None dared approach; instead, they hurried several steps away. That only made the youth panic more.

"I see it! We all see it!"

"I saw it earlier and was wondering about it!"

"This is the legendary head-severing mark!"

"How could such a thing appear for no reason? This young master of the Lin Family must have provoked something unclean!"

The monk let out a long sigh. "This humble monk has traveled the world and seen this thing in the Southern Dynasty. It is called the Head-severing Ghost Curse."

"It is a notorious form of Witchcraft and Sorcery from the Southern Dynasty. Those struck by it will surely die. Benefactor, have you offended someone recently?"

"I think I've heard of it too." Someone in the crowd immediately chimed in.

"They say everyone afflicted by it dies." Another spoke with great conviction.

"I think I've heard of it too." If one did not add a comment at such a time, would that not make one seem shallow and inexperienced?

In only a short time, this Head-severing Ghost Curse, which no one knew where it had come from, seemed known to all under heaven. It could even rank among the ten most vicious curses.

The surrounding people all urged, "You should invite Master back to take a look and resolve it for you. Better safe than sorry!"

The richly dressed youth wailed loudly, rushed forward, and hugged the master's leg. "Master, please save me! I'll pay however much silver you want! I still have parents, a wife, and children at home. I cannot die yet!"

With a compassionate expression, the master took out Buddhist Beads from his sleeve and looked up at the heavens. "If I do not enter hell, who..."

His eyes secretly gleamed with delight. It seemed he was going to make another fortune this time!

Before he could finish, however, the master seemed to sense something and suddenly looked beyond the crowd.

At that moment, a Taoist rode a donkey down the street, and the crowd seemed to unconsciously make way for him.

The Taoist did not even glance at this farce. He passed directly by the eminent master and the richly dressed youth, then rode away.

A leisurely voice drifted over from afar.

"Once you get home, wash your neck properly. The cord's color has faded."

Only then did the richly dressed youth react. He grabbed the jade pendant hanging against his chest beneath his clothes and pulled it out. Sure enough, it was suspended from a brand-new red cord.

When he wiped at it again, the so-called "Head-severing Ghost Curse" came right off, turning into red dye that stained both his hand and neck crimson.

"Pfft!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Hahahaha!"

Roaring laughter instantly erupted through the street, nearly overturning the entire road.

Whether vegetable-selling aunties, firewood-selling men, hunters visiting the market, or every man, woman, old person, and child along the street, all laughed until they pitched forward and back, utterly delighted.

The richly dressed youth flew into a towering rage. He sprang up from the ground, tore the jade pendant from his neck, and pointed at where the monk had just been standing.

"You...!"

He got to his feet and tried to seize that swindler, only to discover that the man was already nowhere among the crowd.

He had fled without a trace.