verlassene Dorfwohnung

Kapitel 6

profit!

Mo!

blame!

build!

profit!

build!

build!

profit!

shuttle!

ha!

Professor Lin recited the Purification Mantra word by word.

A burst of red light erupted from the statues of the four divine beasts—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—spreading outwards. Wherever it reached, the dark energy was forced back. The red furnace in Ziwei's hand and the inkstone in Kuixing's hand rippled with red and black energy, drifting towards the two eyes of the Tai Chi Yin-Yang symbol. Everyone present saw the Yin-Yang symbol begin to spin, its speed increasing until everyone was dizzy. As the two fish seemed to come alive, swimming within the Tai Chi circle, the statues of Taiyi Zhenxian, Taibai Jinxing, and Taishang Laojun also began to radiate golden light. Red light, red energy, black energy, and golden light intertwined and surged towards the surrounding blue and green energy.

The azure and blue energies swirled rapidly around the cylinder, creating a chilling, howling wind. When the five colors intersected, the faint sounds of clashing weapons could be heard, piercing the eardrums. Yet, amidst this chaotic cacophony, Professor Lin's chanting grew louder and louder, from barely audible to crystal clear, finally booming through the heavens!

Om! Xiu! Li! Xiu! Li! Mo! He! Xiu! Li! Xiu! Xiu! Li! So! Ha!

Countless Tai Sui surged from the ground, screaming as they leaped into the azure-blue energy. The azure and blue energies surged explosively, and something was slowly brewing within the undercurrents. Heaven and earth lost their color! The sun and moon lost their light!

A solid, azure-blue form appeared in the sky above the city, constantly shifting its shape—sometimes a pair of legs, sometimes a head, sometimes a pair of arms. In this constant transformation, it gradually took shape, wearing a purple-gold crown, chainmail, and covered in azure or blue scales, before hurtling towards the crowd.

"Quickly recite the mantra for purifying the mouth!" Professor Lin shouted.

Nam! Mo! San! Man! Duo! Om! Mu! Tuo! Nam! Om! Du! Lu! Du! Lu! Di! Wei! Om! So! Ha!

Upon hearing this, the panicked crowd began chanting aloud the incantations they held, initially in a chaotic manner, but gradually transforming into a unified chant. Instantly, a powerful aura filled the entire space.

The monster charged around the crowd, but howled and retreated at the mere mention of the purification mantra. It repeatedly lunged at the people, only to fail each time. Many could even see the evil glint in its beast-like eyes. Its voice was shrill, its body twisted strangely, and every scale on its body seemed to have a dead fish eye.

Professor Lin suddenly stood up, holding a copper willow whisk in his left hand and biting down hard on his right index and middle fingers. He then used the bleeding fingers to draw a "peace and protection talisman" in the air. The flowing blood didn't drip to the ground but solidified in mid-air, making the talisman come alive. At the same time, Professor Lin shouted:

"Hmph, Lao Tzu, this is an urgent decree!"

A beam of white light, mixed with white vapor, suddenly shot out from the eyes of the Tai Chi fish-like figure, and everyone closed their eyes. The emitted white vapor swiftly lifted the "Anfeng Talisman" and rushed towards the monster.

The monster flashed, pursued relentlessly by white smoke that roared across the sky.

Suddenly the monster charged toward Professor Lin. Professor Lin watched it approach from afar, opened his mouth and recited the mantra of purification. In the white light, his expression was solemn and unapproachable.

---janeadam

Reply [28]: However, the monster did not touch his body. After it brushed past Professor Lin, Professor Lin suddenly felt the whisk in his left hand being pulled away. By the time he realized what was happening, the whisk had already flown towards the monster like an open umbrella.

"Damn it, if that monster gets the artifact, my Anfeng Talisman will never be able to subdue him!" Professor Lin thought with a chill.

He put his right hand in his mouth and bit down hard again, then quickly drew a "Summon Six Ding Soldiers Talisman" in the air with his finger while shouting: "Where is the Great General? Where are the Golden Boy and Jade Girl? Linghua, appear!"

The whisk abruptly stopped, hovering in mid-air before slowly flying back towards Professor Lin. The monster followed, its speed increasing as the whisk accelerated. In a flash, white smoke also arrived in pursuit. All three objects simultaneously struck Professor Lin's body.

A brilliant light shone forth, and the strange sounds ceased abruptly. No one knew what had happened within the eye of light. Only dying breaths and Professor Lin's shout could be heard. When someone tentatively opened their eyes, a thick white mist still shrouded the center of the altar.

Everyone looked at each other, forgetting to continue reciting the purification mantra. They just stared blankly at the cloud of mist.

A dark figure slowly emerged from the mist. His feather cloak was tattered, and his wounds were bleeding profusely. He was exhausted and carried a copper willow whisk in his left hand. His right hand tightly gripped a dark red piece of flesh with three fingers. The flesh still bore the "Anfeng Symbol" drawn in his blood.

It's Professor Lin!

---janeadam

Reply [29]: Following~Continue~

---Water pipe

Reply [30]: Postscript: China News Service report: "Tai Sui" descends upon Zhaoqing, Guangdong

(2003-02-25)

Currently, on Sun Island in Seven Star Crags, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, tourists flock every day to catch a glimpse of the "Tai Sui".

At the exhibition area below the Bafang Tianshu Pavilion on the island's Golden Summit, a piece of flesh weighing about 150 kilograms, which is still slowly growing, is immersed in an octagonal glass vessel that is 80 centimeters high and 1 meter in diameter and contains brown nutrient solution. It is slightly floating, with the part in the water being white, like a piece of "fatty meat" that is about to drip with juice. From time to time, tiny bubbles rise from the nutrient solution, and the resulting water vapor adheres to the glass wall.

Staff explained that the fleshy mass is the legendary "Tai Sui" or "meat Ganoderma," scientifically known as "extra-large rare slime mold complex." It is said that this is the first time "Tai Sui" has been displayed in Guangdong.

According to information from the island, Du Zhanmeng, a farmer from Zhouzhi County, Shaanxi Province, first discovered the "meat-like fungus" in 1992. At the time, it was called an "unidentified organism" or "strange meat," attracting attention from various media outlets in mainland China. After years of historical research and scientific investigation by biological scientists, it has been confirmed that the "strange meat" is the same as the "Shi Rou," "Ju Rou," "Feng," "Tai Sui," and "meat-like fungus" recorded in the mythological historical book "Classic of Mountains and Seas" and in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" by Li Shizhen, a physician of the Ming Dynasty. Modern medicine has named it a large slime mold complex.

Reishi mushroom, resembling a fleshy body, comes in various colors. Its shapes include coral-like, fleshy, fatty, and liver-like. Its surface is smooth and porous, like solid ice, with distinct layers. The texture is delicate and elastic; eating it raw feels like eating jellyfish. It retains its vitality even after being frozen at -18 degrees Celsius. After being removed from the nutrient solution, it does not spoil even after being placed under high temperature and direct sunlight for many days. Li Shizhen, in his *Compendium of Materia Medica*, classified Reishi mushroom under the "Vegetables" category, calling it a "superior medicine" with special effects on some intractable diseases. Long-term consumption can lead to a light body, longevity, and even immortality.

The Tai Sui, as a living organism, truly exists. Ancient people hypothesized that the Tai Sui was a celestial body that moved at the same speed as Jupiter, but in the opposite direction. Legend has it that wherever the Tai Sui went, a fleshy object would appear underground in that corresponding location; this object was the embodiment of the Tai Sui. Disturbing the earth in that location would disturb the Tai Sui, a practice known as "disturbing the Tai Sui."

The Classic of Mountains and Seas from the pre-Qin period records, "There is a piece of flesh in the sea, black in color, five inches long, as big as a child's arm, with a belly, no mouth or eyes, and thirty feet. It can be roasted and eaten." Tian Rucheng of the Ming Dynasty wrote in the Records of West Lake that Dong Biaoyi dug up a piece of flesh while dismantling a house, and the sorcerer said it was "the Grand Duke Jupiter".

Historical records indicate that after unifying the six kingdoms, Qin Shi Huang heard of a miraculous elixir in the east that could grant immortality and ascension to immortality. In the 28th year of his reign, he personally led an army eastward to search for this elixir. He also ordered Xu Fu, a renowned physician from Shandong, to lead three thousand young boys and girls from Langya Town in Shandong to Penglai, then eastward across to Japan, reaching the Fangzhang area of Yingzhou in search of the elixir. Research suggests that the miraculous elixir of immortality that Qin Shi Huang ordered Xu Fu to find was the "flesh-like spirit mushroom" (肉灵芝).

When Dr. Tsung-Dao Lee visited the Ganoderma lucidum plant, he praised it as having great development value. Some biologists believe that the Ganoderma lucidum is an ancient organism or fossil left by nature, dating back to the Cretaceous period. It is the oldest living specimen of an ancient organism discovered on Earth to date. Some American biologists, after studying it, believe that it is the ancestor of humans and all animals and plants, calling it the "biological He Shi Bi".

Mainland experts believe that *Ganoderma lucidum* is a living organism that feeds on bacteria, yeast, mold spores, and other microorganisms, and uses cellulose, chitin, and chitin as nutrients. Its body contains 50% protein and nucleic acid, as well as yeast and mold. Professor Li Guangmin, a biologist, believes that *Ganoderma lucidum* is an ancient protozoan capable of peristalsis, exhibiting characteristics of both protozoa and fungi. Microscopic observation reveals its motile cells with two flagella, and the flagella at one end of each cell can be seen non-selectively ingesting food particles.

(over)

#######################################################

Taxue Dongguan

In Dongguan Town, Qixian County, Jinzhong, the adjacent Mianshan Mountain range is rugged and inaccessible. On its southern slopes, facing the sun, ancient trees stand densely, each over a hundred years old. Wild animals roam freely, causing countless deaths. When Li Yuan led his army in rebellion against the Sui Dynasty in Taiyuan, his general Zhao Bao fought Yang Guang from behind the mountain. Outnumbered, tens of thousands of soldiers perished here, their blood flowing like rivers, staining the yellow earth red. On rainy days, torrents rush down the mountain like a crimson torrent. Bricks fired from this soil are bright red, incredibly hard, and last for centuries; porcelain fired from it produces a resounding clang when struck, and on stormy days, one can hear the sound of thunder. The villagers call it "burnt soil." From that time onward, woodcutters often unearth skulls from tree roots, their skulls entangled with roots, their teeth still gnawing at the wood; kiln workers digging at the foot of the mountain find countless bones. As night falls, countless phosphorescent lights swirl and fly over the mountain, accompanied by the hooting of owls, an endless cycle that continues year after year.

The villagers, grateful for the bravery of the Tang warriors, did not discard the unearthed bones carelessly. Instead, they chose a spot on the hills at the foot of the mountain to bury them. Over time, the hills became flat land, densely covered with graves. Then, those who were destitute or poor, unable to afford proper burial, were wrapped in straw mats by the town's headman and hastily buried here by two men. Exhausted refugees from famine collapsed by the roadside, and kind-hearted people buried them here as well. Over time, the area became a chaotic mass of graves, countless in number. Later, as chaos reigned, bandits roamed the land, and villains committed numerous crimes. Fearing grave robbing after their deaths, the villagers dared not bury their dead far away, choosing instead to bury them here. Originally out of necessity, they later discovered that families buried here saw their descendants prosper and their fortunes flourish. The villagers suspected it was the help of the spirits of the fallen heroes, and the area became famous far and wide. By the early years of the Republic of China, everyone in Dongguan town was buried here after death.

Then there are those who devote themselves to the study of geomancy, specializing in choosing the burial site for the deceased, making a living from this; this is called "treading the burial site." Because these people only associate with the dead and do not interact with the living, the villagers hold them in awe and reverence. When they are invited to perform this ritual, they are given three kinds of livestock and a white envelope as a gift. At other times, the villagers avoid them like the plague, calling them "ghost guests."

Ren Bao paced back and forth on the desolate graveyard, sometimes looking up at the sky, sometimes using his fingers as a ruler to measure distances, and sometimes turning the compass in his hand to choose a direction.

He was a renowned "ghostly traveler" for miles around. His father, in his lifetime, had performed countless divinations without fail. Later, he lived with a woman who had fled famine, but they remained childless for several years. The old ghostly traveler felt he had revealed too many heavenly secrets and accumulated no good karma, so he gave up his profession. Years later, he finally had a son, Ren Bao, whom he raised with the utmost care. The old ghostly traveler's plan was to never let his son return to divination; he only wanted to send him to school so he could one day obtain an official position and bring honor to the family. On Ren Bao's one-month birthday, after eating longevity noodles and drinking longevity wine, and burning longevity incense, his mother poured a full basket of miscellaneous items onto the kang (heated brick bed), letting Ren Bao choose one item to hold in his hand. This is what people commonly call "moon spirit writing." It is said that whatever the one-month-old child grasps before the longevity incense goes out will determine his future profession.

The parents gently lifted Renbao from the cradle and placed him in front of the pile of odds and ends, watching him frantically rummage through the things. The slightly tipsy old man smiled smugly. No wonder; to ensure his son would have a good omen, he had specially bought writing brushes, ink, paper, an inkstone, and a small gold seal from town. The worst item in the pile was a small bag of soil, but even being a simple farmer was better than his previous profession.

Ren Bao, unaware of the old man's many thoughts, rubbed his hand on the seal a few times. The old man's eyes widened: "Son, grab it!" But the seal slid away and landed directly on a weight. "Sigh, even a small business would be fine!" Then he started fiddling with a pen. "Good boy, even if you become a scholar, you'll be the first in the Ren family. Go ahead and grab it!" The son's hand didn't stop, completely disregarding the old man's feelings, rummaging through the pile of things, but never picking anything up. The longevity incense was almost burned out, and the old man's hopes were dashed time and again. Finally, he became a little impatient, slamming his wine cup heavily on the table, cursing, "This little bastard, is he going to be a good-for-nothing in the future?"

Startled, Ren Bao burst into tears. His mother, heartbroken for her child, rushed forward and scooped him up in her arms. The cigarette he was smoking rose briefly before finally going out. The old man's face darkened as the smoke dissipated. He downed a glass of wine, glaring menacingly at Ren Bao in the woman's arms, breathing heavily through his nostrils. Ren Bao struggled in his mother's arms, wailing and crying. His mother, unable to meet the old man's reddened eyes, lowered her head to soothe Ren Bao, then suddenly shouted, "His father, look!"

Ren Bao had somehow managed to tightly grasp a small black spoon in his hand.

---janeadam

Reply [5]: The old ghost customer's anger turned to joy. Grabbing the spoon meant he would become a chef in the future, right? Although it was still a job of serving others, it wasn't shameful. If he did well, he could become famous. He gently tried to take the spoon from Ren Bao's hand, but he felt Ren Bao holding it tightly with all his strength. The old ghost customer pulled the spoon out with a little force, blinked his drunken eyes, and examined it carefully. His expression changed. He suddenly slapped the woman across the face.

"Who told you to put this in there?"

That spoon wasn't the small spoon we use for eating at all; it was the compass that the old ghost used when he was exploring the burial site!

The mother, though hit, dared not utter a sound. She held Ren Bao tightly, muttering timidly, "I was just trying to put in a spoon, but somehow I accidentally dropped both spoons in the house. I happened to see that thing you put in the stove cabinet. I didn't know what it was, but it looked just like the spoon, so I put it in. Who knew he would grab this one?"

The old man flew into a rage and slapped her again, cursing incessantly. The mother could only turn her back and endure her husband's beatings and abuse. The old man stopped hitting her, his angry curses gradually subsiding into sobs, until finally he collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down his face. The mother felt terrible too, turning to him and saying, "Dad, if you're angry, hit me a few more times. It's all my fault for messing things up!"

"It's not your fault, it's not your fault! It's all fate!" The old ghost guest sighed deeply, his eyes lifeless.

The old ghost traveler later returned to his old ways. Knowing that fate was unavoidable, he taught Ren Bao to read and write himself when Ren Bao grew a little older. By the time Ren Bao was ten years old, he understood the Eight Trigrams, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Six Harmonies. He often accompanied the old ghost traveler to perform feng shui divination for others, learning the art of pulse diagnosis and qi sensing in the vast mountains and wilderness.

As Ren Bao grew older, his innate talent for geomancy became increasingly apparent. He possessed an uncanny sense of direction; when playing hide-and-seek with other children in the tall grass, he never took the long way around, and sometimes he even arrived at his hiding place before the others. When adults discussed supernatural tales, he listened with rapt attention, and most of the time he could predict the outcome. Even more astonishingly, when the village had been digging for two months without finding a single well, young Ren Bao accurately pointed out the location of a spring, making him famous far and wide. People from all around came to him, asking him to point out the location of their village's spring. He was always shrouded in mystery. Sometimes, people's fear of him even surpassed their fear of the old ghost.

Things always happen unexpectedly, and even if you know it's going to happen, you can't avoid it.

On a crisp winter morning, just past the fourth of the nine coldest days, the outside temperature was already nearing minus twenty degrees Celsius. Old Ghost Guest rose early and woke Ren Bao. The father and son stood in the courtyard, gazing at the sky—a ritual they performed daily. Every morning, they would observe the celestial phenomena to predict their fortunes for the day. Ren Bao, being young, was still half-asleep when Old Ghost Guest pulled him from bed. He stood there unsteadily, rubbing his eyes. Old Ghost Guest, with his hands behind his back, intently watched the stars. Indeed, the Purple Star was clear, the Red Phoenix Star auspicious, and the Kui Star encircled the Big Dipper—all indicating a smooth day, free of trouble.

Ren Bao had become much more lucid by this time. Like the old ghost, he observed the stars in the sky. The distant horizon was beginning to lighten with the first rays of dawn, gradually obscuring the starlight, leaving only one enormous star hanging high in the southwestern sky. Just as the father and son were about to turn back to their house, the sky suddenly darkened, gradually plunging into a deep, inky blackness. They couldn't even see each other's faces clearly. In the distance, a rooster began to crow, and a dog, startled by the crowing, barked incessantly. Then, all the dogs in the village began to bark. The pig in their own pigsty was awakened, grunting impatiently. The old ghost shouted a few times from afar, and the pig began to squeal loudly. The old ghost gestured with his chin, indicating that Ren Bao should go and discipline it. Ren Bao turned and walked towards the pigsty, wondering whether to hit it with clods of dirt or a stick used to mix pig feed.

Suddenly, a dark figure rose from the pigsty, taller than Ren Bao. It let out a series of shouts and leaped out of the pen, approaching Ren Bao in a bizarre manner, as if it were jumping rather than walking. Ren Bao and the old ghost guest simultaneously felt the ground tremble slightly.

---janeadam

Reply [6]: Ren Bao was stunned for a moment. The thing was emitting a kind of pungent smell that made people feel lustful. He was at a loss and retreated repeatedly. The old ghost guest caught up from behind him and pulled him behind him. When they finally saw the black shadow getting closer and closer, they were both stunned when they could finally see what it was!

It was actually our own pig, weighing over 300 pounds! Its two short, fat hind legs supported its entire body, its front legs stretched forward, and it staggered around the yard, its long nose emitting sounds like human whimpers, which sent chills down your spine.

Old Ghost's heart sank: The *Guanzi* records that the people of Qi killed Peng Sheng to appease Duke Xiang of Lu. Later, Duke Xiang was walking on the road when a pig stood upright and cried. His followers said, "This is Peng Sheng." Duke Xiang was frightened and fell from his horse, injuring his foot and losing his shoe. Even a ruler of a state would suffer injuries from such strange occurrences, and now he and his son were witnessing this. What would happen today? Old Ghost thought to himself, picked up a piece of dry firewood, poked the pig to the ground, drove it back to its pen, then pulled Ren Bao back into the house. He said to the woman, "Go, close the gate. Today, whoever comes, say I'm sick!"

However, no one came all day. The old ghost urged Ren Bao to stay home and study his few tattered books, while the woman busied herself cooking, washing clothes, and managing the household for the father and son. Aside from not going out, the day was no different from any other. As the sun set and night fell, the family of three ate a simple dinner under the oil lamp, listened to Ren Bao recite the "Dust-Sweeping Technique" once, and then went to bed. As he crawled into bed, the old ghost, who had been anxious all day, finally felt relieved: no one in the entire Dongguan Town dared to visit after a ghost had turned off the lamp, as it would shorten their lifespan and could very well bring bad luck upon themselves.

Old Ghost was very grateful that his wise decision had saved his family from a possible disaster. So after he went to bed, he spent some time being intimate with the woman before falling into a deep sleep in a state of complete relaxation.

The night watchman, having slept soundly all afternoon, wandered around the town, a lantern in his hand illuminating the way ahead. 戌时 (Xu Shi, the hour of the Dog) had passed; beware of fire! 亥时 (Hai Shi, the hour of the Pig) had passed; close the doors and windows! At 子时 (Zi Shi, the hour of the Rat), he reached the gate of the old ghost's house. A loud "bang" sounded; it was a quarter past midnight. Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the darkness, the clatter of horseshoes on the flagstones growing louder and louder, tearing through the silent night towards the old ghost's house. The watchman quickly blew out his lantern and hurriedly ran behind a haystack to hide. Although he couldn't see clearly, he still tried his best to look in the direction the sound was coming from.

Four horses shot out of the darkness like lightning, but one of them was empty, coming to a screeching halt in front of the old ghost's door. Someone shouted, "This is it! Kick the door open!" Both men dismounted and stepped forward. With a "crack," the door was kicked open. The man who hadn't dismounted spurred his horse into the courtyard, and the other two followed, leading their horses inside. Soon, the sound of the door being kicked open and a woman's scream could be heard.

The old ghost sat up on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring in fear at the three uninvited guests who had broken in. The woman huddled in the corner, clutching the quilt tightly. One of the three struck a flint and lit the two tallow candles he had brought. He squatted on the table, pulled over a stool, and sat down. The light gradually brightened, illuminating his face. The other two opened their coats, revealing four Mauser pistols tucked into their waistbands, their surfaces gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

"You must be Old Ghost Guest?" the man sitting on the bench asked, staring intently at Old Ghost Guest.

Old Ghost didn't dare answer immediately. By the candlelight, he saw the man's bald head gleaming, his two fierce eyes, one large and one small, a red scar on the bridge of his nose, and his teeth stained yellow and black from cigarette tar. What was especially chilling was his missing left ear, as if something had bitten off a large part of it. Old Ghost gasped. He recognized this man. Although it was the first time he had seen him, the missing left ear clearly told him that this man was "One-Eared Wolf," the notorious bandit leader from the nearby towns.

One-Eared Wolf's mother was originally a maidservant in the household of Tian Shushan, a wealthy man in town. One night, Tian Shushan, under the influence of alcohol, forcibly took her, then threw her a few strings of copper coins and called it a day. Unexpectedly, she became pregnant after this act, and four months later, her pregnancy became apparent. Unable to withstand torture from Tian Shushan's wife, she confessed what had happened. The first wife, upon learning this, flew into a rage and locked her in the backyard, intending to abort the child in front of Tian Shushan when he returned from his trip, as a warning to others. Her fellow maidservants secretly informed her mother. At midnight, her mother cut the rope on a plowshare in the corner of the wall and escaped from the Tian family mansion. She fled to nearby Taigu County and lived in hiding under an assumed name. When Tian Shushan returned and learned of this, he lamented his loss, for his wife had suffered a postpartum illness after giving birth to their first daughter, rendering her infertile. He was intimidated by her lewdness, fearing that if he took a concubine, she would abuse him, and even if she became pregnant, he feared she would take the opportunity to abort the child. Now, hearing that the girl he had violated had escaped while pregnant, he secretly sent people to inquire everywhere to see if the child was a boy or a girl.

A few months later, the one-eared wolf was born. Tian Shusheng was overjoyed and prepared to personally go to Taigu to bring the mother and child home to raise them. Little did he know that his first wife also had spies outside, and they acted even faster. By the time Tian Shusheng finally arrived in Taigu, the shack where the mother and child had lived had already been burned down. The neighbors told him that someone had set fire to the shack the night before, but fortunately, several families in Taigu were holding weddings that night, and the mother had been asked to go wash up, leaving her son in the care of a neighbor. Tian Shusheng dared not delay, and disregarding his mother who was far away in the county town, he only took the one-eared wolf back to Dongguan. Later, the mother found Tian Shusheng and wanted to take her son back, but she was beaten and thrown out. The poor mother went insane afterward, wandering the town every day, barely clothed, surviving by the charity and scavenging of others during the day, and being repeatedly bullied by those with wicked intentions at night.

As the one-eared wolf grew up, although Tian Shusheng forbade others to discuss his background, he still learned the whole story through the eyes and snippets of conversation of others. From a very young age, hatred took root in his heart. Tian Shusheng spoiled him rotten because he was his only son, but all this did not change the boy's hostility towards him. He was always causing trouble for him, and seeing Tian Shusheng's angry expression seemed to give him a sense of revenge. Because he was young, he could not use other methods, so he set fire to the house, burning down the family's belongings; as he grew older, he began to squander the family's money and made friends with a group of bad influences, spending his days wandering around. Tian Shusheng was, after all, a landlord, and seeing his son's unbridled waste, he was heartbroken. So he limited the amount of money the wolf could spend.

---janeadam

Reply [7]: What used to be a life of carefree extravagance is now shackled. One-Eared Wolf began to steal things from the house to pawn, and used the money to gamble, seduce, and smoke opium, completely disregarding the old landlord's warnings. Later, Tian Shusheng realized that he had truly raised a treacherous wolf, and if he continued to let him run wild, he would probably end up as a vagrant. So he beat One-Eared Wolf up and kicked him out of the house, declaring that he would never acknowledge him as his son again. Without the support of the Tian family, his cronies no longer fawned over him as before, and their attitude towards him was no longer respectful. In the end, they simply abandoned him. Because his reputation was so bad, no one showed him any pity, and even when he begged, he only received people's scorn. During the day, he was chased around the village like a stray dog, with nowhere to escape. At night, he could only hide in the cave where his mother lived to sleep. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, groups of villains would come, and he could only watch helplessly as his mother was bullied. But the one-eared wolf did not repent; instead, he vented all his resentment on the old landlord.

One night, he scaled the wall and entered the old landlord's house, only to be grabbed by the ear by the newly released wolfhound. Despite the excruciating pain, he didn't cry out, but instead ruthlessly tore his own ear off and stabbed the dog to death. Using a knife, he pried open the door latch, expertly opened the chests and cabinets, and stuffed all the silver dollars inside into a bag. The old landlord, hearing the commotion, came to investigate, only to be knocked unconscious with a blow. He then stabbed his sleeping first wife to death several times, and then, in a horrific act, murdered his half-sister. Finally, he set the courtyard ablaze. When the villagers rushed to put out the fire, they saw him standing before the raging flames, a blood-dripping knife in his hand, his face contorted with murderous intent, his left ear a bloody mess, his severed ear dangling from his mouth—a figure reborn as a vengeful ghost.

After that night, he joined the bandits in the mountains. Because of his ruthlessness, treachery, and cruelty, he killed the original leader a few years later and became the new chief. He was just over twenty years old at the time. From that night on, people stopped calling him by his real name and instead called him "One-Eared Wolf." Since he took control of the bandits, his cruelty intensified. He raided every three days and invaded every five, committing all sorts of atrocities. The surrounding villagers suffered greatly, living in constant fear.

"What's this jinx doing at my house tonight?" the old ghost traveler wondered. "There's nothing of value in the house, no food, and my wife isn't young anymore. Could he be asking me to burial?" He shakily put on his clothes and asked, "I am the old ghost traveler. What business do you gentlemen have?"

A series of clinking sounds rang out as a thug pulled a small bag from his waistband and tossed it onto the table, the crisp sound of silver coins clashing echoing in the room. Old Ghost Guest and his woman stared at the bag, their eyes widening in disbelief. One-Eared Wolf glanced mockingly at Old Ghost Guest, then at the bag of silver coins on the table, and reached for his riding whip, twirling the bag as he said, "I've heard you're the best burial expert around here. My mother died today, and I'd like to trouble you to find a good burial site for her. This money is a deposit; if you really find a good spot, I'll reward you handsomely."

The old man reached out and grabbed the bag of silver dollars, weighing it in his hand. Judging by the weight alone, he knew there were at least thirty dollars inside. He tossed the bag in front of his wife, who was huddled in the corner, his mood gradually calming down, and he regained his composure: "No problem, this is what I do. Can I turn away when work comes my way? Leave the old lady's birth date and time here. Everyone, go back now. Tomorrow I will do my best to find a peaceful resting place for her!"

"No, you have to go tonight, and you must find someone before dawn!" A fierce glint flashed in the One-Eared Wolf's eyes.

---janeadam

Reply [8]: "What?" Old Ghost Guest was taken aback. It seemed that the one-eared wolf did not understand the taboos of this profession: "Hero, it is already a big taboo for us to take on jobs in the middle of the night. I only agreed because of your filial piety. If you ask me to go and scout the burial site in the middle of the night, that is absolutely not allowed. The night is the time when yin and yang are in transition. Not to mention that the earth veins are unpredictable, the earth energy is also constantly changing. If I accidentally step on a deadly burial site, not only will the old lady's soul not be at peace, but it may also bring disaster to the descendants!"

"That's why I came to you. There are seven or eight ghost hunters in the whole town of Dongguan, and I only chose you because of your skill and good eye. I only feel at ease when you choose a burial site." One-Eared Wolf glanced sideways at the old ghost hunter. "Besides, if you choose a good burial site for me during the day, won't everyone in town know where it is? After my mother is buried, if you dig up her grave, won't my later life be ruined? Don't think I don't know you hate me! Filial piety? I don't know what filial piety is. I only know that if I bury my ancestors well, I can live a good life in the future. Enough nonsense, hurry up and get dressed. You have to go today, whether you like it or not! What wouldn't I do?" One-Eared Wolf suddenly stood up.

While the old ghost was still hesitating, one of his henchmen had already drawn a gun and pointed it at him and his wife. It seemed that if he didn't go, he might not survive the night; these bandits were ruthless when they attacked. Looking at his wife's pale face and thinking of his sleeping child in the next room, the old ghost nodded helplessly.