The Human Realm

Foreword:

There's always someone stronger, and the wicked will eventually be worn down by the wicked.

--Anonymous, <Peach Blossom Girl>

[Part 1: The Clever Kid]

As night deepened, phosphorescent will-o'-the-wisps appeared in the mountains and forests.

Unable to understand these strange and inexplicable natural phenomena, Wu Xiuwen retreated into the hollow of the rocky platform.

He squeezed next to Jianxiong immediately looked disgusted and moved to an empty space, not wanting to pay attention to this nominal "senior brother"—he just wanted to continue his night watch.

"Don't cause me any trouble. My older brother will take over after I finish the first half of the night."

Wu Xiuwen heard the strange birds' cries in the forest and saw the eerie will-o'-the-wisps; his soul felt like it was about to leap out of his body. He wouldn't feel at ease until he got to the bottom of it.

"How come there are so many wandering ghosts in Black Wind Ridge?"

Zhao Jianxiong remained calm and said, "They should all be human flesh stuffing swallowed by wild beasts and demons. These animals defecate everywhere, eventually turning into dung. Their bones contain phosphorus—when the poisonous miasma blows out Hot Wind, they naturally begin to glow."

"That's not a ghost? How do you know?" Wu Xiuwen pressed for an answer.

Zhao Jianxiong picked up the Knight's Combat Technique. In the dark blue night sky, with the last trace of orange sunset glow, he pointed to one of the Six Arts of the Gentleman, namely the section on "Collection and Use of Explosive Materials" from the "Archery Chapter of the Martial Classic".

"The magic my master taught me says this isn't a ghost. It doesn't harm people; in fact, it can nourish them."

It was getting late, and Zhao Jianxiong put away the precious book without saying a word.

He would continue his spiritual practice, beginning with the basic techniques of abdominal breathing from the section on mimicry and emotional control in the "Li" chapter of the "Wen Jing" (Book of Documents), gradually allowing his body to control his emotions. He would close his mouth and feel his energy—no longer wasting energy on speaking.

Wu Xiuwen asked a few more questions, but Zhao Jianxiong refused to answer. Feeling awkward, he also started flipping through the book. As soon as he opened the first page, the world went completely dark, and he could no longer see a single word.

In the pitch-black mountains, there were occasional rustling sounds of snakes, insects, rats, ants, and wild beasts. Xiuwen wanted to sleep, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what he did—his fear was still no match for his weak body, and he couldn't conquer his fragile mind.

He sat up and heard Zhao Jianying snoring, realizing that his elder brother Zhao was already fast asleep.

Xiangxiang's robes were white with a hint of green, reflecting a certain brilliance. She lay motionless on the lotus leaf, not a speck of dirt on her. Mugwort was scattered around them to repel insects. It seemed that she had been tormented by spiritual pressure during the day and was sleeping soundly.

Looking at Zhao Jianxiong again, he was still sitting cross-legged beside the rock, like an old monk in deep meditation. Only his long, drawn-out breathing could be heard.

Wu Xiuwen had never witnessed such a simple yet profound breathing method.

Previously, wandering Daoist priests and martial arts masters from security escort agencies had come to Zhuzhou City. They all had specific methods for inhaling and exhaling, which were taught in a way that people only half understood, using terms like "circulating qi," "circulating the body's energy," "sensing the body's response," and "dantian."

Wu Xiuwen didn't understand; he just found it troublesome. Since this skill was selective, a fool without aptitude wasn't qualified to learn it.

But how could Zhao Jianxiong actually learn it? How could a simple villager like him learn Zhang Guiren's magical arts?

Thinking of this, Wu Xiuwen became even more resentful.

--If Zhao Jianxiong can learn it, so can I!

Wu Xiuwen needs to lie down again and get up early tomorrow to catch up on his missed lessons.

This clever boy has sharp eyes; when he was taking out the book, he also pulled out the silk handkerchief his master had hidden in the glass tree. He immediately grabbed the handkerchief, but didn't put it away right away.

--Because this handkerchief feels a little off to the touch.

Wu Xiuwen opened the silk scarf, bit one corner with his teeth, straightened and tightened the silk, and then used his other hand to carefully caress it.

My fingers touched the intertwined threads, as if they were needlework made with embroidery.

Wu Xiuwen was curious--

Why did Master need to learn needlework? Was he, an Imperial Physician, required to learn needlework?

But the clever kid quickly figured out what he was wondering.

He was quick-witted and immediately deciphered the words.

It's a letter!

He immediately spread out the silk scarf, placed the secret letter on his lap, and silently read its contents aloud.

"Xiuwen, I'm sorry, I lied to you."

"Actually, I can blow glass, and the glass I blow is both beautiful and practical. I remember the first time was when a blacksmith made me hiking poles. He used his amazing skill of assembling steel to make a pair of sticks (my the Unworthy Work). I always wanted to learn, and later I did."

"I know you're clever; there are some things only you can understand, and some words only you can see, so I secretly use this method to send you messages."

"You can't bear to part with this silk scarf, and you might even be thinking of using it to apologize when we meet again—you probably think that this silk scarf is a crucial prop representing the bond between us as teacher and student, and that it absolutely cannot be thrown away casually, nor can it be given to Jianying Jianxiong."

"If you're really that smart, things would be much easier for me."

Wu Xiuwen laughed out loud for no reason. He didn't know what to say, but a strange sense of intimacy slowly emanated from the bottom of his heart.

"I've never considered you my student, Xiuwen. To be honest, the fact that you were willing to guide me and join me in storming Black Wind Village is a testament to our life-or-death bond. I'm not qualified to be your teacher; you should be my teacher."

"In Zhuzhou City, you showed me the customs and culture of Xiabang, and made me see the corrupt official's adopted son. From that, I've seen most of the unruly people in Zhuzhou. Since you want to call me master and use that title to save your life—I will do my best to help you."

"When you were fully prepared to harm the Zhao Brothers, I wanted to kill you. Unfortunately, Yu Zhen cut in line, so I had to spare your life. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to enter Black Wind Town or reach Black Wind Ridge."

"All along the way, I've been thinking, how many more people have you harmed? How many more ordinary people like the Zhao Brothers have suffered injustice and been tortured in your Wu family's dark prison?"

"You might feel lost, or even find what I'm saying absurd and bizarre. You'll definitely ask me, why should I care about these lowly people?"

"Who are you? You are Wu Cheng Zhang's son, the prefect's darling. On the Zhuzhou Peninsula, Wu Cheng Zhang represents the law, and you and your godfather are the moral high ground—except for the admiral, probably no one dares to hit you, and even your father wouldn't dare to touch you."

"Now you see clearly, once you arrive in Black Wind Town, you are a lowly commoner."

"Once we leave Black Wind Ridge, Wu Cheng Zhang will no longer want you as his adopted son; you'll be nothing but a lowly commoner."

"Perhaps being a lowly commoner offers some hope, at least allowing you to eke out a living. But once you enter the den of demons, you'll become a meat dog."

"I don't like to preach grand principles. If monsters harm people, I'll kill them. If someone wants to eat people, I'll kill them—just like I told you at the beginning, I'm a lawless person, not some kind of god."

"I'm getting tired of hearing you call me 'noble person' and 'immortal' all this way. It's driving me crazy."

"Zhao Jianying is cowardly and reckless, a short-sighted fool. He can't see tomorrow, and he probably can't even see today clearly."

"Zhao Jianxiong is brave but reckless. If we really fight the demons, he'll be the first to die. As his senior brother, you must take good care of him."

"Xiangxiang is a touchstone I kept by your side. She has a hard life. Knowing that she was to be sold to Cai Family Village, she didn't cry—her heart was dead, she had become a walking corpse. When Wu Cheng Zhang wanted to kill her, she didn't hate or resent him, she accepted her fate."

"Only you, Wu Xiuwen, refuse to accept your fate, and you are both courageous and resourceful. In our Nine Realms, there is a benevolent deity who can help those who refuse to accept their fate to change their destiny."

"I want you to think this through carefully before sincerely calling me 'Master.' Because what's fake is fake, and what's real is real."

"I don't want you to say 'Master will stand up for me,' I want you to stand up for yourself."

"You're capable and clever enough to read this letter—then head down the mountain alone. This is the first test I've prepared for you."

"Once we reach the foot of the mountain and meet the Buddha Sculptor, he will surely investigate the strange happenings in Mu Family Village and head up the mountain."

"The Hundred Eyes Demon is going to come down the mountain and fight each other, but that's a matter for the day after tomorrow. You need to find a way to survive today and tomorrow. The Buddha Sculptor has a staff that can summon the Earth God, so it's actually very easy for him to find you."

"You won't survive, Jianying and Jianxiong won't survive, and Xiangxiang won't survive either."

"You don't owe me anything, but you owe them three lives, which you must repay in person."

"As for how to do it, I have nine methods, which I will write down for you on the silk scarf--"

"--It's a pity this silk scarf can't hold all the writing."

After reading the letter, Wu Xiuwen wore a bitter expression, unsure of what to say.

He thought his master would say something practical, but he didn't expect him to be so blunt. He was seething with anger, wanting to both cry and laugh.

Finally, he cursed in Xiangxiang's direction.

"You shameless woman! If you want to snag a rich husband, why don't you bring a few more handkerchiefs? Take one from one neighbor, one from another, you'll always find a satisfactory one! My master wanted to leave me some brilliant plans, but he's already full!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianxiong awoke from his meditative state and asked, bewildered, "What did you say?"

Wu Xiuwen gave up in frustration and headed towards the stone steps of the Four Directions Earth Temple.

"I'm going to poop and pee!"

Zhao Jianxiong wanted to follow. "Are you trying to run away?"

Wu Xiuwen had just entertained a wicked thought and decided that perhaps seeking refuge with the Buddha Sculptor was a way out.

But Zhao Jianxiong's angry rebuke actually cleared his head considerably.

Jin Xu died in Mu Family Village, Yu Zhen died in Zhuzhou City, how could the Buddha Sculptor possibly let Wu Xiuwen go?

Thank goodness my junior brother shouted that, otherwise, if I had become too weak-willed, I would have ended up on my deathbed!

"You even follow me when I'm taking a dump?! You want something hot?! Where am I supposed to go? This world is so big, where can I go? I can't escape!" Wu Xiuwen turned around and yelled, "Get out! Go back!"

Zhao Jianxiong didn't think much of it and sat back down with a frown.

[Part ② - One Breath]

Wu Xiuwen sneaked back to the local temple in the dark and cleaned up all the human skins that the men had shed. He deliberately kept the rat spirit's beard and grease, and also left the dog-skin plaster.

He continued down the mountain, stumbling along the way. In the pitch-black night, the strange trees and vines, carrying the heat of the poisonous miasma, appeared to Xiuwen as dark shadows. He was afraid, but he couldn't be afraid anymore.

Walk over it, step over it, tread over it.

He walked for an unknown amount of time, remembering that it took him more than half a day to climb up the mountain, and that it should be faster to come down.

Upon reaching a swampy mudflat, Xiuwen was startled and terrified—he realized he had taken the wrong path. In the pitch black and without any markers, it was easy to stray into a dead end.

Then they heard bubbles bursting from the scalding mud, and an Earth Dragon emerged from the mud pit.

The armored crocodile crawled a few steps towards Xiuwen.

Xiuwen did not run away immediately. He stared intently and saw that the beast was at least six feet long and had strong legs. He was no match for it when it ran. Looking at the eerie phosphorescent lights around the mud pit, he saw a scene of carnage with corpses piled up like mountains.

He felt his hands go numb, so he took out Jin Xu's beard and ointment from his pocket and quickly applied them to his face.

Thankfully, the Bodhi Peeling Tree worked its magic; even a tiny bit of pheromone was enough to scare away the beast.

The crocodile lazily rolled over and went back into the mud. Only then did Wu Xiuwen slowly retreat and return to the correct path.

His heart was at ease, and his mind became increasingly clear, seemingly no longer affected by the poisonous miasma—he was on the right path. The closer he got to Black Wind Town, the more the miasma would gradually dissipate.

Upon seeing the campfires, he quickened his pace, his body radiating steam, and emerged from a thicket of bushes, startling away swarms of poisonous flies.

The Buddha Sculptor happened to be at the foot of the mountain, preparing to gather the townspeople to go up the mountain. Without Jin Xu to report the news, and with the eight farmers nowhere to be found in Mu Family Village, something must have happened.

Wu Xiuwen had just descended the mountain when he bumped into the Buddha Sculptor. Before he could even utter a word, the tall, monstrous monk reached out and grabbed him—

--A gust of evil wind blew up, and he immediately fell obediently into the Buddha Sculptor's hands, unable to move.

"Wu Xiuwen?! You're alive?! You're still alive?!"

The clever kid, quick-witted as ever, immediately replied, "It's me! It's me!"

The Buddha Sculptor sniffed it carefully, a look of doubt on his face.

"Jin Xu?"

Wu Xiuwen immediately replied, "Yes!"

The Buddha Sculptor, his face contorted with rage, ripped the plaster off the Fake Doctor's face.

"Playing tricks! You've come at the perfect time! Examine this Daughter's Red wine for me!"

The Buddha Sculptor had two purposes for going up the mountain this time.

Firstly, they needed to find out where these eight laborers had gone. Perhaps Jin Xu had embezzled their money, and not content with eating the Zhao Brothers, he had come up with a wicked plan to eat these eight men as well.

Secondly, he was still worried. Yu Zhen hadn't replied, but Wu Xiuwen was already in Jin Xu's belly. The matter of spreading the word in Zhuzhou was difficult to handle. Moreover, after Zhang Congfeng used his miraculous skill of transplanting a kidney into a living person, the Buddha Sculptor would also be secretly worried after sending the sword out. He would have to go to the mountain in person to confirm the important matter of Zhuzhu's birth.

But before he set off, he had one more small matter to attend to—

--When visiting the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, one should naturally bring gifts. If one visits empty-handed, the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord will surely fight with him.

The task of preparing the gifts was originally assigned to Jin Xu, but the Buddha Sculptor had to work overtime at the last minute, so naturally he wasn't in a good mood.

More than twenty strong men came out of the town, carrying more than ten large urns, ready to deliver them to the mountain.

The gift the Buddha Sculptor would give was "Daughter's Red" wine in an earthenware jar.

In Black Wind Town, what is "Daughter's Red" wine?

Wu Xiuwen stared intently, nearly scared out of his wits—

He dared not utter a sound; the fear in his heart was turning into anger.

These urns contained men and women with scars on their seven orifices, mostly girls around fifteen or sixteen years old.

There were twelve large urns in total. Judging from their shape and size, these men and women had their hands and feet chopped off and turned into human sticks, their eyes gouged out and their eardrums pierced, and their tongues cut off and poisoned into muteness. They could only stand stiffly with their bodies slightly hunched over because the elixir was planted in their spines. When the Dan Ding Pain flared up, they would make strange hissing sounds.

Wu Xiuwen had also heard Jin Xu mention this matter.

In Black Wind Town, this rat spirit is in charge of all marriage arrangements.

Obedient and virtuous men and women are betrothed to families of equal social standing. Elders and priests bless the newlyweds, bestow upon them the dowry and betrothal gifts from the Danzuo family, and grant them a "happy life."

As for the disobedient men and women who secretly wish to marry and refuse the elders' arrangements, Jin Xu then said—

--These people need to learn a lesson. In a year of good harvest, they need to make wine and send it to the winery to make "Daughter's Red" wine.

Xiuwen was going crazy inside. His eyes were almost bleeding with tears, and his eyeballs were already bloodshot, but he couldn't cry a little, couldn't be afraid, and couldn't show any surprise or fear.

He saw the men carrying the large earthenware jars, their faces filled with joy and laughter, still whispering among themselves.

"After the porters finish their work up the mountain, they'll receive a reward from the elders."

"Great news! Great news!"

"The autumn harvest is just around the corner. After the busy farming season, the grand sacrifice will be held. Have you prepared the elixir at home?"

"It's already prepared. My wife can still squeeze out two, but they're reddish and can't compare to the white ones. If the local earth god is unhappy, I'll just dig two from my mother—she has the white ones."

"You want to send four? No way! I'll take six! Everyone in the village knows I'm Filial and Incorrupt and incorruptible official, so I'll empty my good-for-nothing father's pockets! If I serve the local earth god well, the elders will be happy, and they'll give me a house and a good marriage. With a wife and children, I can have three or four kids to bring glory to my ancestors!"

Wu Xiuwen felt dizzy from listening, first looking at the human pig, then at the Buddha Sculptor.

He looked up at the dark sky, then down at the cluster of torches, and finally saw the desolate earth.

The Buddha Sculptor shouted, "You are a disciple of Bai Mu, so you naturally know what your master likes! What are you standing there for? Come and inspect the goods!"

Wu Xiuwen took a deep breath and smelled the stench of excrement and urine from the earthenware jar, mixed with a sweet scent of Immortal Honey.

"Good!"