Does a Ghost or God Exist in This World?

The bluestone slabs, the mottled walls, a gurgling stream, and houses with pink walls and black tiles lining its banks. An old stone arch bridge crossed the stream, and on the bridge stood an eight-pillared wooden pavilion, its pillars faded.

An old man leaning on a staff sat in the pavilion, surrounded by seven or eight children.

He was telling stories.

A young man in old clothes, about fifteen or sixteen, carrying a bag of rice, stood alone by the wall, looking silently ahead.

The old man's voice and the children's exclamations could be heard.

The old man was a village elder, advanced in age and with free time, so he often told stories under the village tree. It was both to let the younger generation know about the world, its rise and fall, and to pass on his life experiences and lessons learned to the village's descendants. In these times, in rural villages, many things were passed down from generation to generation this way.

However, when there were too many children, the storytelling changed its flavor.

It shifted from discussing important current and historical events to tales of Immortals and Ghosts and Monsters.

Such stories had always been popular throughout history.

The listeners loved to hear them, and the tellers loved to tell them.

Lin Jue had also often come to listen in the past year.

Speaking of which, he had arrived in this world just a year ago. Suddenly finding himself in a strange and backward place, few people would welcome it, but since he was already here, there was no other way. He could only try his best not to be trapped in this small village for the rest of his life.

He imagined that every world must have its own wonders, and different eras would have their own unique joys. One had to go out and see them.

To leave was not particularly difficult, nor particularly easy.

It depended on how one went about it.

Lin Jue's initial plan was to study, pass the imperial examinations, and leave this place, at least to greet this world.

Coincidentally, trade had been flourishing in recent years. Most of the families of the Shu Clan in the village formed business groups, selling local ink, paper, brushes, inkstones, tea, and timber to the capital, and had gradually become prosperous. Furthermore, influenced by the strong Confucian values of clan and hometown, as more wealthy families emerged, they hoped to have more scholars among their clan members and villagers. In the future, they could support each other after obtaining official titles. Thus, they pooled funds to establish a clan school. Even outsiders like Lin Jue in the same village benefited a little.

So, he studied for a year and listened to stories for a year.

Life was simple, but after getting used to it, it was quite leisurely.

However, now he had worries—

Last month, his Uncle went out fishing and fell gravely ill upon his return. His body was covered in sores, and he was on the verge of death.

The original body of Lin Jue was poor in his childhood. His mother was abducted by a peddler, and his father raised him alone. Later, he followed the Shu Clan families in the village to do business outside, earning some hard-earned money. However, in the past two years, bandits and robbers had been rampant. The year before last, after one trip, a group of merchants never returned. After that, his Uncle took over his father's responsibilities, providing for his food, clothing, and education.

He even fell into the water when he first arrived, and it was this Uncle who risked his life to save him from the river.

After his Uncle fell ill, his Cousin invited a renowned divine doctor from the surrounding area. The doctor wrote a prescription and dispensed medicine. The medicine was effective, but the price was exorbitant.

Ordinary families, with their local conveniences, were fortunate if they had enough to eat and wear. Supporting a scholar was already their limit. The monthly cost of medicine had already depleted their savings.

The money left by the original body's father was also gone.

The main family of the Shu Clan, being kind-hearted, allowed him to collect a small bag of rice from their residence every ten days, so that no villager would starve to death at home.

Lin Jue had just returned from the main residence of the Shu Clan.

And according to the divine doctor, for slow-acting chronic illnesses, to be cured, such medicine would need to be taken for at least three months, costing at least ten to twenty taels of silver.

He didn't know where to find such a sum.

Lin Jue was truly worried.

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a voice from the pavilion ahead:

"...That person wasn't some Taoist priest or official with Cultivation protecting him. He was just a brave and strong man. He had drunk some wine and gotten carried away, and he struggled and fought with that Ghost and Monster for half the night. By the time dawn broke, he was exhausted. When he got up to look, guess what happened?

"There was no Ghost and Monster around him. Only a tattered sack-like skin on the ground. When the sun came out and shone on it, it smoked and emitted a foul stench."

The children listened, startled and mesmerized.

But one child's eyes held a trace of doubt:

"Second Granduncle, do Ghosts and Monsters really exist in this world?"

Over the past year, while listening to stories, Lin Jue had often pondered this question.

Do Immortals and Ghosts and Monsters truly exist in this world?

Having never seen them, he dared not speak of them lightly.

But if they didn't exist, why were the rumors so widespread and seemingly real?

"Of course, they do! How could they not?" The old man raised his eyebrows. "I've told you so many stories about demons and monsters, many with names and identities. Are they all made up?"

"Have you seen them?"

"Of course, I have! Haven't I told you before?"

"But the teacher said that there are no demons or monsters in this world, and he has never seen any in his life."

"The teacher..."

The old man gripped his leaning staff, smiled thoughtfully, and after carefully considering, said:

"There are thousands of kinds of people in this world. Some fear Ghosts and Monsters, while others do not. It is the same with Ghosts and Monsters; some fear people, while others do not. Therefore, some people avoid Ghosts and Monsters, and some Ghosts and Monsters avoid people. The teacher has read extensively the books of sages and is highly learned, with a righteous spirit. He disdains Ghosts and Monsters, so how would any Ghost or Monster dare to appear before him?"

The children listened, confused, understanding little.

The old man smiled again, stroking his beard, and said:

"The previous story was about the next county. If you don't believe me, the Wang Family's branch in Heng Village has also been having trouble with Ghosts and Monsters recently. The Wang Family is offering a reward: anyone who dares to stay overnight in their ancestral hall will receive ten thousand. Since you young lads are full of fire, do you dare to spend a night in the ancestral hall together?"

"Really?"

"If you don't believe me, go home and ask your parents!"

The children exchanged glances, all looking frightened.

"Has anyone gone before?"

"Yes. A few gamblers and drunkards from our village went. Except for one person last month who was brave enough to get the money, everyone else was scared away in the middle of the night. Some even fell ill for days after returning."

After the elder finished speaking, he added:

"If you don't believe me, you can go and ask!"

The children immediately fell silent.

Only Lin Jue, standing by the side, showed a different expression.

He had been waiting here, intending to ask the well-traveled village elder for a way to make money after hearing a ghost story. Whether it was a niche method he could use himself, or if the elder could leverage his status within the Shu Clan's merchant caravans to get him a job, anything that could earn money was good.

He hadn't expected to overhear this...

He had heard of drinking buddies betting on sleeping in graveyards while drunk before, and he had heard many ghost stories from the elders in this very bridge pavilion. All these memories surged in his mind now.

He recalled carefully, thought deeply.

Finally, the young man, carrying his rice bag, took a step forward.

He walked along the stream to the bridge pavilion and approached the kind, elderly man. Towards the venerable elder, he naturally showed extra respect and called out first:

"Grandpa Shu."

"Ah, it's a child from the Lin family. What is it?"

"You just said that the Wang Family elder in Heng Village is offering a reward of ten thousand for sleeping in the ancestral hall for one night. Is that true or false?"

"Hmm? You mean you want to try it?"

Although the Lin family was not a native clan, they were still fellow villagers. How could the elder not know their situation? He usually offered some help. Hearing his question now, the elder immediately guessed his intentions.

"Are there really Ghosts and Monsters in the Wang Family Ancestral Hall?" Lin Jue asked first.

"How would I know? I was just telling those young lads to try it to scare them. You can't just go thinking about it because of what I said."

"..." Lin Jue was silent for a moment, then asked, "Did someone really get that ten thousand?"

"Of course. I heard it was a drunkard from the county, strong and brave. I don't know if he practiced martial arts, but he went in and stayed the whole night. He came out the next morning, took the money, and left."

"Did anyone die?"

"I haven't heard of that," the elder said. "A death is a serious matter. It's not like we're in the deep mountains and old forests. Wherever people live, there are laws. Even if there are real Ghosts and Monsters, they wouldn't dare to cause a death casually."

Lin Jue stood still, thought for a while longer, and then said:

"Thank you, Grandpa Shu."

"Are you really going? Aren't you afraid?"

The elder could already see his intention.

"..."

Lin Jue was not a true youth. He had thoughts and calculations in his mind, but he didn't voice them now. Instead, he continued to bow:

"Please give me more guidance, Grandpa Shu."

"Sigh..."

The elder sighed. "I'm not a Taoist priest or a judge, nor a witch or a sorcerer. How would I know any methods to ward off demons and expel evil? Even if I did, it wouldn't be useful. If it were useful, would it be left for you?"

He paused and thought for a moment:

"I've often heard people say that ghosts are only formed after death. Ghosts are inherently weaker than humans. Even foxes and rats in the mountains that become spirits are only slightly stronger than before. Few have high Cultivation.

"There's an old saying: 'Monsters arise from humans.'

"You haven't done anything bad, your conscience is clear, you're young and healthy, and your Qi and Blood are strong. Ordinary Ghosts and Monsters won't bother you. If you truly encounter them, you must not be afraid. Fear leads to a chaotic mind, a chaotic mind leads to scattered spirit, and a scattered spirit allows ghosts to take advantage. Not being afraid leads to a steady mind, a steady mind leads to a complete spirit, and a complete spirit makes it impossible for demons, monsters, and Ghosts and Monsters to invade.

"That's why when a place has strange occurrences, they always ask brave and spirited people to guard it. Bravery is paramount, and spirit is secondary!

"This applies not only to Ghosts and Monsters but also to confronting people.

"Your courage must never waver..."

Lin Jue listened intently, his expression relatively calm.

Over the past year, the strange tales he had heard from the village elders were largely similar.

Ghosts and Monsters were not necessarily stronger than humans.

Humans were not necessarily weaker than Ghosts and Monsters.

There were Ghosts and Monsters who bullied humans, and there were humans who bullied Ghosts and Monsters.

There were also often those who befriended each other.

There were frequent chance encounters and brief connections.

Strange and peculiar, romantic and eerie.

Captivating.

If there were truly Ghosts and Monsters in this world, they should align somewhat with popular legends.

It was still early morning. The village below the mountain was very quiet, its houses shrouded in a light mist. The only sounds were the chirping of birds in the trees and the flowing water. The young man thanked the elder, picked up his rice sack, and headed home.

He thought as he walked.

He wondered if the strange occurrences at the Wang Family Ancestral Hall in Heng Village were truly due to Ghosts and Monsters, or if someone with ulterior motives was causing trouble.

He also wondered about the true nature of this world.

Ten Thousand for payment...

He would go and see for himself today.