Volume 1, Chapter 33: Dropping the Ball

I felt the Taoist had a slight lisp, but there was nothing to be done about it; whatever he said a character sounded like, I had to repeat it exactly, and if I failed, I would be punished with a beating.

The old Taoist’s accent was more chaotic than my own life story.

After just one night, the Taoist seemed like a different person. He was exceptionally strict with me, setting a rigid schedule: rise at four in the morning to hike the mountain, start studies at six, sleep at twelve noon, resume studies at two in the afternoon, and be tucked into bed promptly at eight in the evening.

Of course, whether I actually got to stay in bed depended on my academic progress.

I thought to myself that even those preparing for the imperial examinations in ancient times hadn't worked as hard as I was.

Dazed and weary, I finally made it to the evening, when the Taoist changed his clothes to take me to treat the young girl. I don't know if he had notified the hosts in advance, but the couple was already waiting at the door.

After a few brief pleasantries, the Taoist got straight to the point: "Have you prepared the items I asked for?"

"Yes, we have. Mother of the child, bring them quickly."

The hostess brought out a red plastic bag filled with small white packets containing roots and leaves; it looked like traditional Chinese medicine. The Taoist sniffed the bag and said, "Realgar, pearl, arsenolite, moutan bark, croton, aconite, hellebore, and centipede—they are all here."

"Yes, we bought everything, and we bought the best quality available."

The Taoist nodded. "Xu Duo, come with me to decoct the medicine."

The hosts had set up a clay stove in the courtyard with a medicinal pot resting on top. The Taoist was very particular about the fire, using nothing but peach wood. In his words, peach wood wards off evil, and the fire produced by it possesses the greatest amount of *yang* energy—it was a rare and precious "yang fire."

I asked skeptically, "It’s all fire, so why distinguish between *yin* and *yang*? Isn't every fire a *yang* fire?"

"Except for ghost fire," the Taoist replied without hesitation.

I opened my mouth in embarrassment, but nothing came out.

Perhaps it was from this conversation that I stopped being so resistant to the Taoist’s teachings. The world was not as I had perceived it; a simple life of farming two acres and enjoying the comfort of a warm hearth with a wife and children was no longer my ultimate goal.

The Taoist heated the medicine pot until it glowed red, then suddenly poured a ladle of cold water over it. As the white steam rose, he slammed the lid on and said, "Grind one *tael* each of realgar and pearl into powder. Wrap one *tael* of arsenolite in clay and burn it for half a day. Add one *tael* each of moutan bark, croton, aconite, and hellebore, along with one whole centipede with its legs removed. Boiling these eight ingredients together creates the Eight-Poison Red Pill, also known as the 'Ghost-Killing Staff.'"

I nodded, silently memorizing the prescription the Taoist recited.

The Taoist continued, "Each of these eight ingredients is slightly toxic on its own, but when combined, their toxicities restrain one another. It can destroy ghostly *qi* and extract ghostly poisons. By adding a piece of ghost ginseng to the Ghost-Killing Staff, I can directly poison and kill an evil spirit."

"Master, will the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate still be necessary?"

"Of course. You must use the Thirteen Needles to pin down the person's three souls and seven spirits, or else they would surely perish when the ghost ginseng is administered. The first time the dark clouds shroud the moon, we boil the medicine; the second time, we apply the needles; and the third time, we administer the dose."

"Do I really have to be the one to perform the acupuncture?"

The Taoist looked at me earnestly. "You must adjust your mindset. Your master also likes women; your master also has his desires. But just as a gentleman acquires wealth through proper means, one must have a degree of restraint even with desire. When treating others, touching a hand or pinching a cheek to take advantage is one thing, but in matters of great importance, your mindset must be upright."

I only half-understood his words. I looked up at the sky, which was filled with brilliant stars. "Master, it’s a perfectly clear sky—will there really be dark clouds?"

"There will be."

No sooner had he spoken than a dark cloud appeared near the full moon. It seemed to appear out of thin air—or rather, it wasn't a cloud at all, but a mass of black *qi*.

The Taoist took two puffs of his pipe, threw the medicinal herbs into the pot, and began fanning the stove vigorously with a tattered palm-leaf fan. The peach wood charcoal burned intensely, glowing red like blood.

The pot seemed to come alive; the lid rattled and shook, not from the pressure of steam, but as if a live rat were scurrying inside, sometimes violently, sometimes pausing to catch its breath.

"Master, I’m a bit scared."

"You’ve seen so many bizarre things in the old forests; why be afraid now?"

"I can't explain it. I just feel like it’s very cold around here."

The Taoist turned and stared at me for a long time. "As long as your internal fire is strong, no matter how cold the ghostly *yin* is, it won't dare to get close to you."

"But it feels so cold; I have goosebumps."

"The 'Ginseng Lifter' knows we are here to kill him and is ready to make a desperate final stand. When the clouds shroud the moon the second time, you must rush into the room and use the Thirteen Needles to seal the girl’s soul. Do you understand?"

I nodded. "I understand."

After waiting about an hour, a dark cloud drifted from somewhere across the otherwise clear sky. The Taoist stared tensely at the moon. The moment his hand dropped, I rushed toward the house.

I knew the scriptures were good, but I, Xu Duo, couldn't actually read them. I understood the grand principles the Taoist had taught me and kept them in my heart, but the moment I saw the naked girl, all morality fled the house.

My mind went blank.

Especially when I saw the girl’s lascivious expression; it was as if she were saying, "Why bother with silver needles? It would be much better to deal with me."

I closed my eyes, struggling to remain calm. To stop my wild thoughts, I recited the prescription in my heart: "One *tael* of centipede, two *taels* of crab, three...? Three...? The Three Disciplines..."

"Xu Duo, how is it going?" the Taoist shouted from the courtyard.

In my panic, I didn't know how to answer.

The Taoist shouted again, "Which needle are you on?"

"I haven't started yet."

"Get out here!"

I scrambled out of the girl’s room as if fleeing for my life. To my surprise, the Taoist was right at the door. He kicked me over, snatched the silver needles, and rushed inside.

"Master, Master, what can I do?" I cried out, my voice trembling.

The Taoist didn't answer. After hesitating for two seconds, I rushed to the stove and began fanning the fire with all my might.

Regret—my heart was filled with nothing but regret.

*Xu Duo, oh Xu Duo, you really are like mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall.*

*You cannot even conquer your own base desires; how can you ever accomplish anything great?*

*Heaven is trying to feed you, and you refuse to eat—what more could you possibly want?*

I cursed myself over and over.

In less time than it takes to smoke half a cigarette, the Taoist rushed out. He bowed once toward the moon and then recited at a rapid-fire pace: "I invoke the Five-Fierce spirits of the Gong lineage, who have been heroes since the age of eighteen... bestow your divine power and protection upon us."

I was terrified, but the Taoist paid me no mind. The moment he finished the incantation, demonic winds whipped up from all directions, sending plastic bags flying. One black plastic bag seemed to come alive; it flew through the doorway with a *whoosh*, heading straight into the girl's room.