Heaven-Subduing Scripture

The stone lions bled!

Li Daoxuan’s expression turned grave; after these days of his master’s teaching he was no longer a Daoist novice, and knew much of demons and ghosts.

His master had said the stone lion, majestic and uncommon, wards ghosts and evil — but if its eyes should bleed, one must be on highest guard; this is a great inauspicious omen!

It means the dirty thing within has gained power, beyond what the stone lions can suppress.

Li Daoxuan knew the Daoist inside had failed.

The Dao rises a foot, the demon rises a yard!

Thinking so, Li Daoxuan would go on knocking, to try himself.

Perhaps he could not — but was there not Sister Yu?

Looking at the red-robed, waist-length-haired Sister Yu, Li Daoxuan actually felt… a surge of safety?

Yet before he could knock, the door was opened.

Squire Huang, with a crowd of servants, ushered out an old Daoist in a yellow robe.

The old Daoist had flowing long beard, hale and bright-eyed — a fine portent of immortal wind and Daoist bone.

At his side trailed a little Daoist boy, carrying his peachwood sword, Three-Pure Bell, and such implements.

Li Daoxuan was puzzled; this colleague should have failed — why was he still feted like a star?

Squire Huang said respectfully, ”Immortal master, is the dirty thing taken by you?”

The scene a moment ago had frightened him sore — many things had leapt up and smashed themselves to bits.

The old Daoist showed a flicker of embarrassment, well concealed. ”Of course. Your poor Daoist’s hand — how could the ghost escape?”

He paused, then said, ”Only the ghost was fierce, and smashed many of my implements. This… Squire Huang…”

Squire Huang at once bade a servant bring a hundred taels of silver, smiling. ”A small token, unworthy of respect; pray, immortal master, accept it.”

A gleam of pleasure lit the old Daoist’s eyes; he nodded, about to take the silver, when a voice rang out.

”This Daoist friend — cheating for coin is one thing, but to fail at exorcism and still not admit it: if they believe you and suffer the ghost’s revenge, losing their lives, that becomes your karma.”

A flicker of chagrin crossed the old Daoist’s eyes, but when he saw the speaker was but a young umbrella-bearing Daoist, his confidence returned, and he raged, ”You little Daoist, truly loose-tongued, all wind and nonsense!”

Li Daoxuan was certain the other had some cultivation but not high, for he had not perceived Sister Yu beside him.

This is a copy of the author’s chapter taken without consent; NovelPhoenix is where the author publishes it.

Li Daoxuan sneered and pointed at the two stone lions. ”If your exorcism succeeded, why do these two stone lions weep blood from their eyes?”

The crowd heard and looked to the lions, then started in alarm.

”It truly bleeds!”

”Master, I’ve heard — stone lions bleeding… means the house turns haunted!”

The household men panicked, talking at once.

Squire Huang, too, lost his composure; looking at the bleeding lions, fear showed in his eyes.

He said to the old Daoist, ”Immortal master, you see…”

The old Daoist gave a cold snort. ”The dirty thing is already taken by me; as for these stone lions…”

His gaze flashed; he pointed at Li Daoxuan and cried, ”It must be this little Daoist’s own trick! Think, friends — was he not the only one here a moment ago?”

The crowd started, considering, and turned suspicious eyes on Li Daoxuan.

”This little Daoist, so young — what skill could he have? He only seeks to cheat coin by the chance; friends, be not taken in!”

The old Daoist spoke with assurance, and with his immortal portent the crowd inclined the more to believe him.

Then some household men recognized Li Daoxuan.

”Master, he seems of the Zhenyang Temple — that weird Daoist who sleeps in coffins is his master!”

”The Zhenyang Temple… heard it’s gone so poor it can scarce dwell there; no wonder they’d use such base means to cheat coin!”

The household men bristled with righteous anger, and Squire Huang’s gaze toward Li Daoxuan cooled.

Li Daoxuan frowned. ”Squire Huang, life is your own. If that ghost truly remains, tonight it will surely revenge itself — how then will you protect yourself?”

Squire Huang paused, worried.

The old Daoist sneered, ”Then your poor Daoist shall not leave today; I’ll lodge in your honored house this night, and we shall see whether a second ghost appears!”

Squire Huang heard this and rejoiced. ”Ha-ha — then I trouble the immortal master!”

As for Li Daoxuan, he was utterly ignored.

With the great gate shut, outside remained only Li Daoxuan — and a ghost.

He looked at the statue-still Chen Ziyu and smiled. ”Sister Yu, thank you. But the Buddha receives the fated; it seems they welcome us not — let us go.”

Chen Ziyu’s long hair danced in the wind; her wedding dress dripped blood, forming two small characters.

Kill… them all…

Li Daoxuan started and hurriedly smiled. ”Absolutely not — slaughter the innocent, and if my master learned it, I’d be done for!”

”Evil has its own tormentor; no rush, no rush!”

Chen Ziyu stood quietly; her dancing hair slowly calmed, and her gaze grew hollow again.

”Forget it — let’s go back; on the way I’ll buy you another string of haws?”

Chen Ziyu gave no answer, but turned slightly, no longer looking at the Huang residence.

Li Daoxuan smiled; the man and the ghost, beneath the oil-paper umbrella, slowly withdrew in the sunlight…

Back at the Zhenyang Daoist Temple.

Zhang Qianyang gnawed a chicken leg in one hand and sipped fine wine in the other; his little life was most content.

”So, disciple, you wandered a whole day and not only earned nothing, but spent a few coins?”

He scorned without mercy. ”What use am I, your master?”

Li Daoxuan’s face went black; he pointed at the chicken leg. ”Master, was there not no money?”

Zhang Qianyang finished the leg in three bites, patted his belly, and smiled. ”Gone, gone — the last silver eaten up too.”

He paused, still savoring. ”Fragrant, truly fragrant!”

Li Daoxuan swallowed hard; how he too craved meat…

”Thus: your master goes into the mountains tomorrow to gather herbs, see if he can dig ginseng, lingzhi, something to sell. You practice mornings, and afternoons go out to drum up trade.”

Li Daoxuan smiled wryly, most unwilling; he cared not for repeated cold doors.

”Truth is, that Longhu Golden Elixir refined from the bat demon’s core — if sold, would fetch at least three hundred gold; and if you’d sell the serpent demon’s core too…”

”Hold!”

Li Daoxuan said with stern rectitude, ”Master, I’ll go to the street tomorrow — I’ll surely earn coin!”

In a few days the turbid qi in him would be near cleared; then taking that Longhu Golden Elixir would add ten years of cultivation!

As for the serpent core with true-dragon blood — a priceless treasure; he’d not sell it were he beaten to death!

Seeing Li Daoxuan full of fight, Zhang Qianyang smiled in satisfaction.

Mm — your Daoist master is this good at motivating disciples…

”Enough; sleep early tonight. Tomorrow the two of us both go earn!”

”Oh — very well.”

Li Daoxuan made to return to his room.

”Wait!”

Zhang Qianyang rapped the coffin; he had already lain within.

”Quick, close your master’s coffin lid!”