Wonderful Days

"You're joking, friend. What status does the Buddha hold? How could ordinary folks like us ever catch a glimpse? But I believe the Buddha is right here in my heart, right above our heads, watching every single move we make with great mercy and compassion!" The storyteller's expression was incomparably pious. "Still, demons and monsters are everywhere in this world. I saw one myself just last year..."

"It was a tiger spirit, looking much like a human, yet with two long tusks and the character for 'king' on its forehead. It wore a tiger skin and had sharp claws on its hands..."

"Back then, Jin Zhou City didn't have an official yamen, so everyone had to scrape together some incense money and send it to Cloud Valley Temple outside the city to invite a high monk. After several days of effort, the high monk finally managed to capture and beat that tiger spirit to death!" The storyteller's expression grew a bit excited. "You have no idea, once that tiger spirit transformed back into its true form, it was a good thirty percent larger than a water buffalo!"

Having said this, he froze, scratching his head with some awkwardness. "Of course, we're not like that with all strange beings. Some spirits are actually quite good..."

An Yang waved his hand. "Spirits are just like people. If they haven't done anything wrong, it's fine. If they break the law, naturally they must be dealt with according to it."

"You certainly are reasonable." The storyteller offered a flattering remark, then smiled ingratiatingly. "Is there anything else you'd like to know? I'll answer it all for you in one go!"

"Well..." An Yang paused in thought. "Aside from White Horse Village and that tiger spirit from a year ago, are there any other formidable