Don't Bring Trouble Upon Yourself

Lian Yue looked at Jiang She.

It was a long moment before he spoke, his mind clearly turning over many thoughts, and his tone grew notably more cautious: "Greetings, Mr. Jiang."

"Greetings, Daoist."

"Is Mr. Jiang here at Pure Void Temple for the ritual assembly?"

"Just tagging along to see the excitement."

Lian Yue wanted to ask more, to seek this man's guidance on his own cultivation. But thinking it was their first meeting, too many questions might be intrusive, so he held back.

Lian Yue had good rapport with people. As they walked, incense-burners and temple lads alike greeted him from time to time.

"Daoist, that astragalus water you had me boil last time really worked. My mother has the strength to get out of bed now, but the astragalus at the pharmacy is way too expensive."

"I'll draw you a picture another day. There's plenty of astragalus in the mountains. Search carefully and you'll find some. The processing method is simple too; I'll write you a prescription later."

"Thank you, Daoist."

"You're welcome," Lian Yue said. "As for your legs always aching, it's because you've been doing too much labor. You should rest. You know mugwort, right? Pick a few bundles, dry them at home, boil them into a medicinal broth, and soak your feet. It's the best for warming the meridians and unblocking the collaterals."

"The Daoist has great learning."

Lian Yue smiled, not taking the credit.

"I picked up a little from Old Healer Luo at the pharmacy. Just some trivial skills."

Jiang She walked from the gate to the main hall, thinking that the people Yuan Danqiu associated with were of decent character. The temple was crowded, and as he followed along, Lian Yue intended to lead them to the front.

Jiang She said, "I won't go up to bow. There's some fun in squeezing in with the crowd."

"The Daoist should go ahead."

With that, he found a spot in the back, standing among the people, listening to their chatter and occasionally joining in. From the back, he had a perfect view of the ritual up front.

He'd noticed earlier while walking the mountain path that this mountain felt familiar—it was the same one where the Earth Deity had hosted the banquet a few days ago.

He wondered how these nearly a hundred Daoists lived and slept here.

Had they ever discovered the mountain's spirits and goblins, feasting and singing through the night?

Pure Void Temple's incense was thriving. Jiang She sat off to the side, rare solitude granting him ease and leisure.

Not far away were three or four scholars, around twenty years old, wearing drooping-foot headwraps, white or plain linen round-collared robes, and cloth shoes. They were chattering noisily.

These scholars noticed Jiang She nearby, and seeing his refined bearing, struck up a conversation.

One of them, wearing a white-lan robe with a long face, asked:

"Are you here to offer incense?"

"I came with a friend to watch the ritual. No need for incense."

"Haha, same here. But the vegetarian meals at Pure Void Temple are excellent and generous—eight coppers a bowl. You should try them at noon!"

"Thanks for the tip. I haven't had breakfast yet."

The long-faced scholar added, "I am Dai Xiu, courtesy name Ziwen. Your bearing is distinguished—may I ask your name?"

"I am Jiang She."

"Brother Jiang."

Dai Xiu then introduced the other three to Jiang She. They watched from afar as several Daoists used "ritual water" infused with mugwort and calamus to sprinkle the altar, purifying the space of ill fortune.

Dai Xiu said, "Brother Jiang, have you heard of the strange affair in Chen Family Village?"

"What affair?"

The scholars began speaking all at once: "Two hunters from Chen Family Village found an immortal on this mountain."

"Right here on Black Stone Mountain."

"Brother Wang is correct. I looked into it—my brother-in-law is from Chen Family Village. The man who met the immortal is named Chen Erniu, an ordinary village fellow who only went into the mountains to hunt for game."

"He took his nephew into the mountains, chasing a wild boar, and ended up staying the night. That's when he witnessed something marvelous. Half-asleep, he heard the sounds of a banquet and drinking, caught drifting fragrances, and occasionally picked up fragments of conversation."

"He listened carefully for a while—it seemed to be goblins and spirits discussing their cultivation in the dead of night."

Jiang She recalled the notes in his own journal. Those two villagers should have been asleep the whole night. By the time they woke, the feast was nearly over.

How could they have listened to a discussion in the deep of night?

The scholars vividly recounted the tale to Jiang She.

"At the banquet, a fierce tiger said, 'I must eat one person a month, and I've done so for three full years.'"

"A fox beside it said, 'I once seduced the head of a wealthy family in the village, tricked him out of his gold and silver, and when the money was gone, I ripped out the hearts and livers of his children to nourish myself. I've eaten five sets, and thus my fur is glossy and bright.'"

"These tigers and foxes spoke without realizing anyone was listening. None at the banquet knew an immortal was present. After all these mountain spirits, goblins, and monsters had finished boasting of their deeds and their profound cultivation..."

"The immortal spoke: 'What do you all think of my cultivation?'"

Dai Xiu narrated with great relish.

Several scholars also looked toward Jiang She, hope in their eyes.

Jiang She understood.

He smiled and asked, "What happened next? What did the immortal say?"

Dai Xiu, satisfied, squinted his eyes, hands tucked into his sleeves, and continued, "The fierce tiger said, 'You seem extraordinary, sir—have you eaten even more people?'"

"The fox spirit asked the same."

"All the demons present looked over, wanting to know what this man had done."

"But then the immortal drew a sword from his sleeve and chopped off the tiger's head in one stroke. As the head hit the ground, the tiger's eyes were still rolling—the blade fell so fast."

"The immortal said, 'I have only one skill: I can slay any evil being here.'"

A tall, thin scholar surnamed Wang added, "I heard that tiger only let out one last roar, shaking the forest, before it died."

Jiang She thought for a moment.

"Is this what the two hunters actually heard?"

"Absolutely certain."

Jiang She asked again, "If a beast eats one person a month, and a fox spirit swindles wealth, why hasn't Xiangyang County seen fewer people? Why haven't I heard of any families ruined by this?"

Dai Xiu said, "Young Master Jiang, you truly don't know. I can't speak for others, but right in Xiangyang County, the Lu Family was ruined because of this!"

"I heard it was man-made disaster."

"What man would be that foolish? It must have been demons causing trouble."

Jiang She glanced at the speaker—hemp-cloth robe, somewhat stout, large mouth, remembered his surname was Wang—smiled, shook his head, and offered a word of advice.

"This is Black Stone Mountain. If the fierce tiger, the fox spirit, and the demons from that night's feast are really on this mountain and hear such talk, they will surely be displeased."

"Don't bring trouble upon yourself."

The scholar surnamed Wang said, "We're just saying a few words. This is a temple—can demons come in and grab me? Aren't they afraid the Daoists will subdue them?"

Jiang She said, "Better to be cautious with your words."

"I'm not the only one saying it."

Seeing they took no heed, Jiang She did not press further.

He raised his head and looked toward the ritual gathering in the distance.

As they spoke, on the altar platform within the temple, the green memorial prayer written by the high priest had already burned to ash and been presented. The holding of the tablet in reverence and the chanting of hymns had also concluded.

Several young Daoist acolytes carried small bamboo baskets, walking one by one before the assembled faithful, handing out New Moon Talismans to each person, their voices hoarse from urging everyone to wear them close to the body.

Yuan Danqiu was a regular, with considerable face, and picked one out for Mr. Jiang first.