First Death, Then Life

The Earth Deity thought for a long time.

He said, "When this humble god first became Mountain Lord, established by the mortal world, I had just emerged from ignorance, freed from a dazed and muddled state. At that time, humans helped this humble god greatly—I revered them and stood in awe of them."

"And yet this humble god offered nothing in return... merely enjoying the offerings of blood and flesh."

Jiang She nodded.

This Earth Deity had likely received guidance from the Old Deer Mountain God before, and his words came entirely from his own heart, quite honest as well.

The Earth Deity continued:

"Afterward, this humble god cultivated for several decades, gradually coming to understand worldly affairs. I saw mountain floods surge, humans like ants, homes utterly destroyed, countless people dead—only barren fields remained, truly lamentable."

"Thus compassion arose in my heart. I learned from the master god of Lumen Mountain the method to regulate the earth veins, and the surrounding lands became blessed with favorable weather. In recent years, aside from the summer heat, there have been no other troubles."

The Earth Deity paused.

He thought to himself for a moment, then added:

"Regulating the earth veins is the duty of an Earth Deity. For thirty years prior, this humble god paid no heed—though I accepted no offerings of gold, silver, fruits, or melons, it was still a dereliction of duty. Protecting the village counts as middling conduct, but my earlier neglect places me among the lower ranks..."

"Truly, I do not know."

"Into which grade this humble god falls."

Jiang She nodded.

He did not judge whether the Earth Deity Mountain Demon's actions were right or wrong, nor did he assign a rank to what the Earth Deity had done before.

Instead, he raised a matter.

"Before I came here, while walking through the mountains, I faintly heard the Mountain Lord expounding the Way, speaking of the cultivation methods for demons, spirits, and ghosts."

"The Mountain Lord is also born of spirits and essences, understanding the hardships of sprites and mountain ghosts in cultivation."

The Old Deer Mountain God set down his wine cup and listened alongside Li Bai.

The Earth Deity hadn't expected that despite setting up a barrier and being so far away, he could still be overheard. But on second thought, this was an immortal—so he understood. He humbly nodded and listened.

This immortal... seemed not to look down on spirits, essences, and demons.

He even sat at the same table with them, which was exceedingly rare.

Jiang She picked up his wine cup, took a couple of sips to moisten his throat.

Then he continued: "But as I see it, the Mountain Lord need not belittle himself. Once a spirit or essence awakens to wisdom, breaks free from chaos, and vows to cultivate diligently, transcending life and death to pursue the Great Way—"

"As for ordinary mortals, in their lifetimes, they each encounter opportunities for karmic connection, more or less."

At some point, Jiang She had dispelled the barrier.

Below, all manner of strange beasts, demon spirits, ghosts, and essences suddenly heard the voice expounding the Way and unconsciously lifted their heads.

A few who had been whispering in conversation fell silent. The tiger lay back down on its seat, its head focused; the half-human, half-serpent python raised its head to listen intently; the ape scratched its ears and cheeks, its gaze fixed tightly on the host. The fox looked up and watched, while the mountain ghosts listened with folded sleeves, their expressions concentrated.

All present held their breath and focused their minds.

Listening to the immortal preach the Dharma.

Jiang She seemed unaware, leaning back among the forest.

The Heavenly Moon was clear and bright, casting light on the bamboo grove, sparse like lingering snow.

The entire mountain of gods, ghosts, mountain spirits, and demonic essences gathered here to hear the Way.

And the immortal's voice, calm and unhurried, flowed like a babbling brook. In his words, there was no contempt for spirits and monsters, nor any disdain for mortals who failed to hear the true Dharma.

He merely encountered those with affinity and casually offered a few pointers.

The immortal said: "In a mortal's life, they may offer incense in temples, pray for their wishes, and glimpse the revered images of deities; or before marriage, a man and woman may exchange birth charts, catching a first glimpse of the yin and yang of heaven and earth; or they may read Daoist scriptures and learn the methods of purity and stillness. But those who can cultivate with bitter effort are few."

"Calculated, it is one in ten thousand."

"Why should you all belittle yourselves?"

The Earth Deity Mountain Demon's expression was solemn; he listened in respectful silence, sighing in his heart.

The beings below wore varied expressions, their minds all stirred by Jiang She's words, unforgettable for a time.

Jiang She paused.

He used trees as a metaphor for the many mountain ghosts and essences.

"When trees grow, the land they occupy varies in fertility and barrenness—this is an innate difference. Some are perpetually twisted, unfit for the carpenter's plumb line; some have sparse branches and leaves, unable to compete with peach and plum blossoms; some are hollow inside yet straight outside, appearing dull."

"The carpenter and woodcutter sigh—all are useless timber in the forest."

"Yet, when heaven and earth produce talent—"

"Is it merely for humans to use as beams and bedposts?"

After saying these words, Jiang She spoke no more. He only lowered his head to drink, eating the wine and dishes—all rare delicacies from the mountains. The Earth Deity Mountain Demon had likely brought out every good thing he had. The spiritual fruits tasted far better than ordinary ones, carrying a special, clear fragrance and spiritual energy.

If an ordinary person ate them, they could dispel calamities and cure illnesses.

Jiang She merely savored the taste.

Occasionally, he exchanged a few idle words with the Old Deer Mountain God, asking if any strange or peculiar tales had occurred nearby over the past few centuries.

The Old Deer Mountain God thought for a moment, then picked a few stories to tell.

"During the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin, the realm was torn by endless war and chaos. When Huan Wen campaigned north, he saw by night over the ruins of Fan City 'shadowy armored figures and weapons clanging of their own accord'—the lingering souls of soldiers who died defending the city, refusing to disperse."

"There was also word of an old woman, on rainy nights, lighting white lanterns as she patrolled the battlements. It was Lady Han's spirit guarding the imperiled city, still protecting that land even in death."

Recalling the past, the Old Deer Mountain God shook his head.

He sighed deeply. "Actually, these aren't such strange tales. It's just that mortals thought them divine and recorded them in books. After war, cities lie empty, ghosts outnumber men, yin flourishes while yang wanes—hence, one can see spirits."

Tonight, in the mountain forest, mountain spirits gathered, gods and ghosts convened.

Up the mountain and down, separated by over ten li.

Only mortals remained unaware.

After finishing his account of the Sixteen Kingdoms' wars, the Old Deer Mountain God spoke of a wealthy man who once bought a painted screen. Within the screen was a young woman, and afterward, strange occurrences often plagued his home. Uneasy, the rich man sought a eminent monk to subdue it.

Back then, the Old Deer Mountain God found the commotion intriguing and secretly investigated, learning the truth.

"She was the concubine of a certain Regional Inspector from the Southern Dynasties."

"Because she bore a child as white as snow, with features unlike any human, the infant was drowned in a pond. Her resentment never faded, and she became the woman in the screen."

As they chatted, the Earth Deity, having cultivated for less than a century and still a newcomer, merely listened, chiming in with an occasional nod.

Above, the immortals and gods laughed and conversed; below, the demon and ghost guests also relaxed. Such a feast was rare—such delicacies, such spiritual wine—and one by one, they drank themselves into a stupor.

Li Bai was drunk too.

He descended to sit among the demons and ghosts. The Monkey Spirit, tipsy, saw the man in white and asked in surprise.

"Aren't you here with that immortal?"

Li Bai laughed heartily. "I am. Could you spare me a cup of fine wine?"

The spirits had never seen such a bold mortal. Curious, and eager to learn more about that immortal, they all offered their wine. The Snake Woman, half-human and half-serpent, coiled up, her scales gleaming in the moonlight, and handed him a cup.

The Fierce Tiger even let out a low growl, shoving an entire jar forward, laughing. "Drink this, and you'll likely be dead drunk for three days."

Li Bai was intrigued. "Three days of unconsciousness from drinking it?"

"Marvelous! All the sages of old are dead and gone—only drinkers leave their names behind."

He downed three cups.

At some point, Jiang She, the mountain god, and the Earth Deity stopped talking and instead listened to the spirits below drinking and chattering.

Moonlight shone through the forest.

Deep in his cups, Li Bai sat down casually, shoulder to shoulder with demons and gods, and asked, "I've never witnessed how demons and ghosts cultivate the Dao. May I ask, honored ones, how did you each embark on this path?"

The Monkey Spirit spoke, slurring.

"When I began my cultivation, I received grace from the Lumen Mountain Deity and the Black Stone Ridge Mountain Lord. I heard the Dao and obtained the Dharma. However..." His voice turned low. "My talent is base. For thirty-six years now, I've made no progress."

Li Bai asked, "Thirty-six years—is that long for spirits, too?"

The Monkey Spirit wept bitterly.

"For an ape like me, how many years do I have?"

"In a few more, I'll be dead!"

The ape wailed, his expression so human, so familiar, like an infant's cry.

The Fierce Tiger also drank strong liquor, gulping it down in great mouthfuls, the wine streaming through his striped fur as he laughed. "Since we began cultivating, we first learned of death, and only then knew life!"

"Where there is life, there is death—so what of it?"

"Fellow cultivators."

"Why weep?"

The Earth Deity's night banquet, spirits running wild, immortals preaching the Dao—some sighed, some laughed.

The ancient moon shone on people of today. Through ten thousand ages, the vast sky is but a single morning's breeze and moonlight.

Thanks to "And Let the Clear Wind Accompany the Wine" and "Special Reply Account" for the 100-point tip.