Feast of Ghosts and Gods

"Jiang Jun."

Only when Jiang She set down his brush did Li Bai speak.

Placing the writing brush on the cat-shaped ornament, Jiang She looked over.

"Three days from now marks the day a nearby Earth Deity enters the Dao. He has widely invited spirits and gods. Would Jiang Jun care to attend the feast?" Li Bai said. "I hear there will be a hundred exquisite dishes, all extraordinary things."

"Those who come and go are none but ghosts and gods."

On the desk, brush and ink lay scattered, alongside an awl and hemp rope. A booklet had been bound, with only a few lines written. This was a personal journal Jiang She had made for himself.

Jiang She tucked the journal into his sleeve.

"The Lumen Mountain Deity told you this?"

"Yes."

"I would like to see a thing or two. What time is it?"

Li Bai recalled the Old Deer Mountain God's words, uncertain, and thought for a moment before saying, "When the moon hangs at the zenith of the sky."

Near Lumen Mountain, at a certain vein of the earth.

Mountain gods and Earth Deities, ghosts of the mountain ranges, spirits and demons—all came to attend the feast.

Yet no chilling wind was felt, only a clear, ethereal aura. The Earth Deity, enshrined by the human world with a temple, was a true inheritor of orthodox Dharma. Naturally, the guests he invited were all cultivators of the righteous path.

The guests took their places, some in human form, others in beastly shapes.

In the mountain forest, a place hidden among a grove of bamboo.

Where mortal eyes could not see, green-feathered birds carried vermilion fruits on their branches, apes clutched wine jars, a fierce tiger cleared the path ahead, snakes and eels slithered along in their wake, and jackals guarded from behind.

This was the Earth Deity's banquet.

The Old Deer Mountain God, of noble status and profound Daoist skill, arrived very late.

He glanced at the guests around him. That person was not there.

He took his seat on the designated mat, toasted the Earth Deity with a cup of wine, and wished him well on entering the Dao. Only after the Lumen Mountain Deity sat down did the feast truly begin. The fierce beasts gorged themselves, the snake-woman devoured spirit flesh, and the apes clutched vermilion fruits.

The Earth Deity Mountain Demon paid particular attention to the Old Deer Mountain God.

"What was the Mountain God looking at just now?"

The Old Deer Mountain God held his wine cup, glanced once more at the feast, and lowered his eyes. "I regret that the Immortal has not yet arrived..."

The Earth Deity's expression darkened, and he exclaimed in alarm, "Did you invite that Immortal for my sake?"

"Indeed."

The black fur on the Earth Deity's cheeks bristled with fear and dread, his beastly face full of terror. Seeing this, the Old Deer Mountain God soothed him, saying, "Do not panic. Do you think that because he did not show himself that day, the Immortal is unaware of your existence?"

He added.

"These past days, I have had some karmic connection with that one. He is not an unreasonable man. Since you became an Earth Deity, emerging from chaotic ignorance, you have never again fed on humans."

"Besides, the Immortal has not come. What reason have you to fear?"

The Earth Deity's voice was low. "What you say is reasonable."

The Old Deer Mountain God drank his wine and smiled.

"Today marks the day of your attainment of the Dao, cultivating the orthodox Dharma. The ghosts of the mountain ranges fear you, the spirits of the hills revere you, the birds and beasts take you as their teacher, and mountain gods like myself befriend you."

"A few days ago, I used the mantis and the flying bird to expound the Dao for you. Today, it should be your turn to discourse on it."

The Earth Deity relaxed somewhat.

He hurriedly asked, "Did the Immortal give you any guidance?"

The Old Deer Mountain God stroked the Deer God Statue in his sleeve. "He severed the karmic ties between me and the Lu Family. From now on, each cultivates their own path."

The Earth Deity nodded. "It should have been severed long ago!"

He listened with a hint of longing in his heart.

He sighed. "What a pity that today, the Immortal has not come. A man of such high standing—how could I have no fate to meet him..."

"Enough."

The Earth Deity raised his wine bowl and drained it in one gulp.

He stepped into the moonlight and began to expound the Dao for all beings.

A mountain god or Earth Deity is a local deity, noble in status, profound in Daoist skill, and surpassing in lifespan—none of the guests present could compare. Thus, this conversation was heard by no one among the mountain ghosts and spirits in attendance, save for the two gods themselves.

From beginning to end, no trace of the Immortal appeared.

"The Dharma I expound today is the method of opening ignorance and awakening spirit—the method of liberation from chaos—"

"For those in human form, there are two methods of cultivation: the inner and outer elixirs. Those who cultivate the inner elixir refine the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit, condensing them into a golden elixir. The yang spirit leaves the body and unites with the Dao."

"Those who cultivate the outer elixir refine the body with golden liquid, achieving imperishability like metal and stone, immortality without death. Ingesting it allows one to ascend to heaven."

"But these are all methods for humans to learn immortality."

"We are beasts, spirits, ghosts, mountain apparitions. Born with short lifespans, muddled and ignorant, we pass away just as muddled. Most of us, in our entire lives, cannot transcend the fate of life and death."

"Even less can we defy mortality to cultivate the Dao and set foot on the path."

The beasts fell silent.

A red fox felt a stirring in its heart and could not help but shed tears.

Half of them had originated as ordinary beasts or yin ghosts. Before their spiritual wisdom had even awakened, they had already witnessed the deaths of their parents, siblings, and kin.

Some died at the hands of mountain hunters; some were killed by fierce beasts; others had their bright, beautiful pelts stripped to make fur coats.

The Earth Deity sighed and continued:

"However, born as spiritual beings, we have the mountains, rivers, and marshes to protect us."

"Some dwell in a blessed land, refining the sun and moon into essence. A single spark of true spirit remains undying in their chest. When the true spirit flourishes, the body lives; when it wanes, the body dies. This is one way to seek the Dao..."

"Others walk the Incense Path of the gods. They listen to sutras and dharma, accept offerings from the human world, or receive guidance from a lofty master..."

"All of these can lead one onto the Dao."

After speaking, the Earth Deity poured himself some wine to moisten his throat, preparing the ground for what he would say next.

The bamboo leaves rustled. Wind passed through the treetops, and only the occasional chirp of cicadas could be heard. Even the birds had flown away. Tonight, this place was a gathering ground for ghosts and gods to feast and play, to impart wondrous teachings, to lecture on the Dao.

Naturally, no mortal would know of it.

If any mortal happened to linger in the mountains, they would pass by the bamboo grove three times without entering, utterly unaware that a deity was transmitting the dharma a mere dozen zhang away.

Just as the Old Deer Mountain God had maintained the barrier those days, preventing the courtyard from being discovered or disturbed.

Only the half-moon hung high in the sky.

Moonlight pierced through the bamboo grove, illuminating the spirits and apparitions gathered around. Fragmented shadows swayed in the wind—some with tiger heads, some with fox bodies, some with serpent forms, some with bird feathers—all strangely divine and beautiful.

A faint sound came from outside. The Earth Deity paid it no mind, assuming it was just another passing mortal. He cleared his throat and was about to continue speaking.

Then he saw the Old Deer Mountain God suddenly rise, wine cup in hand, and step forward.

The Earth Deity was startled. After a few breaths, he suddenly understood what had happened to draw such solemn attention from the White Deer Mountain God—

The immortal had arrived.

Under the moonlight, a figure slowly walked over.

Dressed in plain blue robes, very low-key, but with brows and eyes that made one forget the mundane at a single glance. Bamboo leaves bent low, brushing past him. Wherever he passed, filth naturally avoided him, untouched by worldly defilement.

The Earth Deity suddenly recalled a line from a Daoist scripture he had once heard.

"When a True Man walks, the places he passes see foul qi disperse, and the grasses and trees bow low."

Was this what the legendary immortals and gods were like?

Stunned for a few breaths, the Earth Deity finally came to his senses and hurried forward. "Greetings, Immortal."

The Earth Deity stepped forward to welcome him, head lowered, not daring to scrutinize the immortal. Instead, he looked behind the immortal, where a white-robed attendant followed, carrying a sword on his back, also bearing an extraordinary bearing.

Jiang She looked around. Everywhere he cast his gaze, there were spirits and apparitions.

There were wild beasts born of the mountain's natural spirituality; strange blue birds the size of a human's arms perched in the trees; a snake-woman, half-human, half-serpent; a fire fox lying lazily on the ground with its tail spread out; a monkey clutching a wine jar; and a fierce tiger with black and yellow stripes, hooked claws, and jagged teeth...

On the other side stood several figures with cyan faces and ghostly bodies, dressed in precious garments like nobles. Only the shadows flickering behind them revealed them to be mountain ghosts, the nobility among ghosts.

The mountain god offered Jiang She a seat.

"I have arrived late."

"Were you all just lecturing on the Dao?"

It is not recommended to take external elixirs—they really do make you ascend to heaven.

Thank you to "Milk Fox" for the 3000-point tip. Touched =v=