Volume One, Chapter 27: On-Site Instruction

Hu Xiaozui continued, "The Thirteen Ghost Needles were created by the divine physician Bian Que. By inserting silver needles into thirteen specific acupuncture points, one can treat conditions of epilepsy, mania, and convulsions. They can also anchor a person's three souls and seven spirits, helping to restore their primordial spirit. These thirteen points are... you little brat, if you keep thinking about sleeping with me, I will twist your head right off."

I swallowed hard, and Hu Xiaozui went on, "Ghost Seal, Ghost Palace, Ghost Cave, Ghost Rampart, Ghost Path, Ghost Market, Ghost Hall, Ghost Pillow, Ghost Heart, Ghost Leg, Ghost Faith, Ghost Camp, and Ghost Treasury. These are known as the Thirteen Ghost Points. Your master will teach you the others, but I will only teach you the Ghost Treasury point."

"Where is it?"

"At the Jade Gate."

My heart tightened. Although I didn't know exactly where the Jade Gate was, with those two words, I could guess with reasonable certainty.

"You guessed right, that's exactly where it is. Insert the silver needle straight in from bottom to top until it draws blood, sinking the needle one-third of an inch into the point."

I said, "It's pitch black in here, I can't see clearly. Should I bring in an oil lamp?"

"You little rascal, you still want to see clearly?"

"How else will I know where it is? Didn't you say you wanted to teach me? I can just feel for it."

When I said this, I felt no shame at all; after all, it was for the sake of learning—my primary goal was to be a diligent and eager student.

To my surprise, Hu Xiaozui started putting her clothes back on. I hurriedly said, "I still don't know where it is, why are you getting dressed?"

"You're quite perceptive, catching on at the slightest hint. It’s exactly the spot you were thinking of. No need for me to teach you anymore."

I truly wanted to slap myself—the kind of slap that would make my own father fail to recognize me. It was such a great opportunity, and I had turned it into this. I was hopeless.

Hu Xiaozui's voice turned playful. "Having a sharp mind is good, indeed; you barely need any teaching."

At that moment, I only hated my own brain.

"In a few days, when you go down the mountain, you will need to use the Thirteen Ghost Needles to seal the soul of that young woman before she consumes the ghost ginseng. Your master will have you perform the acupuncture. Remember, you cannot make even the slightest mistake."

"Oh," I replied sullenly.

This lesson ended abruptly. Aside from catching a glimpse of Hu Xiaozui’s gold-trimmed red bodice, I hadn't seen a thing. Sigh, I was filled with regret.

Hu Xiaozui said, "Actually, I just wanted to tell you where the Ghost Treasury point is. You don't need to regret anything. Even if I had let you see, you don't have the silver needles; I just wanted you to be clear about your own position."

I thought to myself, "Even if I don't have silver needles, I have that other thing..."

Before I could finish the thought, Hu Xiaozui’s slap landed. She said, "There are plenty of fox spirits in these deep woods, and even more devout believers. This is the first time I've ever met someone like you, just thinking about sleeping with a fox spirit. I'd be too embarrassed to tell anyone."

Having said that, Hu Xiaozui whispered, "What you're thinking isn't entirely out of the question, but you'll have to wait until you've attained a certain level of Taoist cultivation."

My heart soared with joy. I vowed that from now on, I would rise at the first crow of the rooster to practice swordplay and study by lamplight late into the night, not wasting a single second, hoping to achieve enlightenment as soon as possible.

Once I left the room, I immediately asked the Taoist about the Thirteen Ghost Needles. The Taoist was surprised for a few seconds, then proceeded to explain everything from start to finish as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube. After he finished, he didn't forget to compliment Hu Xiaozui, saying, "This child has never been so eager to learn before. It’s the fox spirit’s excellent guidance that has sparked his interest."

I thought to myself, is that interest? It’s "sexual interest." If I learn this well, the fox spirit might "consecrate" me—how much sexual interest must that be? Surely I, Xu, am destined to follow in the footsteps of our ancestor Xu Xian and bring glory to my family.

Hu Xiaozui giggled on the side, leaving the Taoist a bit bewildered.

It was now three or four in the morning, the time when the Yang energy is weakest, the Yin energy is strongest, and the vicious hounds bare their teeth. At this hour, only the old hunter, the Taoist, and I remained awake in the tavern.

The sound of hooves began to ring out outside, crisp and jarring. Each step seemed to land directly on my heart.

However, I wasn't afraid; rather, I felt a bit excited. What was meant to come would come eventually—the sooner, the better.

The Taoist's plan was to hold out through the night, find the headless ghost's remains tomorrow, and perform a ritual to send it into reincarnation. Our task tonight was merely to stop the ghost from entering the tavern and harming anyone.

Peering through a crack in the wooden wall, I saw a sight that left me dumbstruck. Outside the tavern stood a tall black horse. The horse was shiny black, but its eyes emitted not a green or red glow, but a chilling, eerie light. White mist puffed from its nostrils, much like a person’s breath in winter—presumably, the air it exhaled was freezing cold.

Then I looked at the thing riding the horse. It wore iron armor that shimmered with a cold light. The breastplate seemed to hide a gray, swirling fog, making it hard to see clearly. It held a long spear with a crescent-shaped hook on the shaft, radiating a murderous aura. One could only wonder how many heads that crescent hook had claimed.

The strangest thing was its head. It was massive, at least a foot square, and looked like it was made of porcelain—white ceramic with red spots, bearing a wickedly alluring expression.

The headless ghost sat on the horse, pacing back and forth seven or eight meters from the tavern entrance.

Whether the black horse turned or walked sideways, the head remained perfectly still, not rotating with the body, staring fixedly at the tavern door.

I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver run down my spine. My previous ambition vanished instantly. I wanted to sleep with Hu Xiaozui, but I had to keep my life first to achieve any future goals.

As long as I stayed alive, if not Hu Xiaozui, there would be Zhang Xiaozui or Wang Xiaozui.

The Taoist and the hunter watched with eyes like torches. The hunter, in particular, had eyes not only glowing but filled with murderous intent.

The old hunter said, "Master Ma, shall I open the door and fire a shot?"

"No need. Those are intangible things; bullets won't work. As long as we are here, it won't dare to come in. Even the most powerful ghost fears humans. It’s pacing at the door just to terrify us into losing our three souls and seven spirits so it can take advantage of our weakness."

The old hunter snorted, "I'm over eighty already, what do I have to fear? If it wants a fight, let it come. Let’s see if these old bones of mine are tough enough."

"Xu, open the door and urinate outside."

I looked at the Taoist in shock. Wasn't he sending me to my death?

The Taoist urged me again.

I was terrified. I knew that a virgin's urine could ward off evil, so I said, "Master, can I pee into a pot and sprinkle it outside instead?"

"No, go pee outside, now!"

"I don't have to go right now."

The Taoist glared at me. "Don't be afraid, don't be a coward."

"I can't, Master. You're an old bachelor—your urine also wards off evil. Why don't you go?"

The Taoist breathed heavily, grabbed me by the back of the neck, and hauled me to the door like a chick. "When you open the door, show some spirit. Don't lose your nerve. If human energy is weak, evil spirits will invade."

I cursed the Taoist's ancestors eighteen generations back in my mind. Damn it, I had to bite the bullet.

I opened the door, and the black horse stopped. The porcelain head's smile became even more sinister and eerie.

I tremblingly took out...

To my utter disbelief, this thing wasn't working either. I had been keeping it "in training" for a thousand days for a moment of use, but now it was a complete coward. I felt like dying.

The more nervous I was, the less I could perform. The hunter stepped to the door and slammed the butt of his rifle against the floor, as if to intimidate the ghost.

I struggled to prepare, but it wouldn't cooperate. No exaggeration—ordinarily, I could aim it two or three meters away even against the wind, but now it was like a leaking faucet, dripping and dropping, soaking my shoe.