Lanpu

Kapitel 20

Sitting on the bed, I felt much better. But then, by sheer bad luck, I looked up... and immediately looked down again.

Damn this misfortune. Good things don't come true, but bad things do. Everything is fine, but the main beam of this side room is from the old house. You know, the beam is the foundation of a house; all good and bad things follow the beam. It is said that in ancient times, there was a ritual to move the beam and change the bad luck.

"Who turned on the air conditioning? It's freezing!" The female classmate shouted as she entered the room, frantically rubbing her arms and searching everywhere for the air conditioning switch.

It would have been better if they hadn't shouted. Their shouting caused the seven young ladies hanging on the main beam to laugh and whisper among themselves.

Huang E looked up and glared at them, and they looked back without fear. Her imposing manner immediately withered, and she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

…This bully is a coward.

"What do you mean by bullying the weak and fearing the strong?" Huang E's face flushed red. "Respect, this is respect! Those seven are the ones who received offerings from the family. Being moved here and forced to leave their homes is bad enough. How could I possibly kick them when they're down?"

The point isn't about "kicking someone when they're down," but rather that you can't afford to offend someone who's receiving offerings, right?

Who exactly is this useless monster...? I was deeply puzzled.

Although I also can't figure out why the seven young ladies who jumped into the well would come to hang salted fish on the beam, it's such an ancient story, who really knows the truth?

However, having received offerings for so long, they inevitably became somewhat arrogant and reserved, quite unlike those miscellaneous ghosts. Although hanging there was a bit frightening, knowing I could see them, these ladies only gave me a cold glance and then ignored me, leaving me both pleased and worried.

The good thing is that they didn't all surround me crying and begging to go home, otherwise I would have had a headache; the bad thing is that if they didn't cause any trouble, fine, but if they really did, the old man is far away from me, and they don't show me any leniency. They're even afraid of the desolate places, and my naive classmates aren't enough to feed seven young ladies in one meal.

I didn't dare take out the salt I had in my bag and sprinkle it. She's a respectable person with a long line of followers. We're just guests under her roof, not some random intrusion.

Despite my great difficulty, I took out the hand warmer that I always carried with me.

This hand warmer is, in fact, an antique, a cherished possession of some old lady. As for its origin, that's another story. Back then, I was still in junior high school, when Huang E and I weren't on good terms yet. When it came into my possession, it was quite menacing.

But now it's "empty." In olden times, people would put some incense cakes inside and use it to burn incense and keep warm. The original cover is long gone, so I put it in a woolen phone pouch.

The old man reminded me, "Politeness takes you everywhere, rudeness makes it hard to move an inch." (Of course, I was clever enough not to point out his typo.) Lighting incense and praying is a matter of courtesy. But it doesn't have to be stick incense.

Isn't it a bit scary to go around praying with incense? Lighting sandalwood incense in a hand warmer and praying silently in your heart usually shows sincerity. People from other places feel respected, and things can usually go peacefully.

So I lit the sandalwood incense in the hand warmer and sincerely recited prayers for a while. I don't know if they appreciated it or not, but it was definitely not as cold anymore.

You think these seven ladies are the main characters? You've underestimated my classmates.

I should have known that her somewhat ditzy personality was definitely hereditary, long after I met Xiaolian, but unfortunately I was too slow to realize it.

To put it nicely, it's quaint and charming; to be frank, it's a guesthouse owner who runs a haunted house, using "folk customs" as a way to attract customers. But I never dreamed that someone would use spirit writing as part of a "folk custom" program.

(Still the main event)

It really is a terrifying family trait!

Upon hearing that the ritual would involve divination, I immediately waved my hand and said I wouldn't go, while giving Tang Chen a sharp look. He, quick-witted, immediately said, "Me too..."

But these unscrupulous classmates swarmed around us, pulling and tugging, insisting that the two of us go and hold them back.

"That's nothing to see!" I rarely get angry. "My God, have you forgotten about the Ouija board...?" If the people who come are just putting on a show, that's one thing. The problem is, we're living under Miss Seven's roof. If we mess things up and anger them, who's going to take the blame?!

"That's why we need you 'The Condor Heroes' to back us up!" they said in unison. "We heard it's very effective, a rare sight indeed! Don't be like that, Mo Niang... Tang Chen, you want to see it too, right? Say something..."

"Who is Mo Niang?" I really lost my temper. "There is no such thing as the Condor Heroes. Please stop spreading rumors."

"I really don't think this is a good idea," Tang Chen said hesitantly. "When we're out having fun, safety should be our top priority."

I was so touched by how sensible he was... It's a pity he's the only one.

In the end, they decided to have a democratic process, and everyone except the two of us who objected passed the resolution.

I was dragged along, feeling like crying but unable to. I really wanted to throw a tantrum, but considering my unfortunate and miserable interpersonal relationships, I had no choice but to go.

Tang Chen comforted me, "It'll be alright. There aren't that many people with supernatural powers."

I gave him a resentful look and said nothing. With him around, even if it was just a charade, it would seem real.

"The Condor Heroes, huh?" Only at times like this would Huang'e, still half-asleep, groggily awoke. "Hey, Hengzhi, stop struggling, just throw yourselves into a pile..."

I said viciously in my heart, "You hairy beast, shut up!"

She angrily slapped me with her wing, and I grabbed Tang Chen's backpack and sent her flying. Why would I protect her?! To risk my life? What a joke…

Fuji, also known as Fuji, Chiluan, or Jiangbi, is a form of divination where two people hold a frame and write words or images on a sand tray, which are then interpreted by a spirit medium (or Luansheng).

Of course, there are also cases of one person practicing spirit writing alone, but these are relatively rare. Spirit writing and spirit possession are different; the former is "written communication," while the latter is "possession."

The practice of spirit writing (扶乩) has a very early origin, with written records dating back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It was originally a folk shamanistic activity, but was later incorporated into Taoist rituals.

What makes me uneasy is that the origin of spirit writing is summoning ghosts, not invoking gods. Invoking gods is a much later development.

The reason I know so much is actually thanks to Huang'e. When I was so young that I didn't even know how to write the words "fuji" (a form of divination), she would constantly nag and complain that I was neither talented nor capable, and that there was no point in being with me.

(Seriously, what's the point of asking a kindergarten kid like you? That's really asking too much...)

"...Ah Su is so interesting, skilled in poetry and prose, elegant and witty. His younger sister is also quite nice; look at her, not particularly beautiful, but after a few words with her, you realize she's incredibly beautiful! That monk we often see is also very amusing... How come all these interesting people don't live past a hundred, leaving only the boring ones behind..."

I've heard about this since I was a child. I asked those people if they could see her, and they said that those people didn't have the wisdom to communicate, but they could communicate through spirit writing.

When I grew up and started reading for leisure, I accidentally stumbled upon a collection of Su Shi's works in the library. It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head. Only then did I realize who the "A Su" Huang E was talking about was.

"...You are the goddess Zigu?" I gasped.

“Of course not,” Huang E replied casually, “but since they like to call it that, let them call it that.”

…Is what is summoned through spirit writing truly a deity? In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the "invitation of Zigu" was actually to summon the vengeful ghosts of those who died unjustly!

Such religious activities should be conducted discreetly by professionals. What are we laymen doing watching this spectacle? I'm truly at my wit's end.

When we arrived at the altar, our hearts sank. There stood a Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly grace and a white beard, chanting scriptures.

The saying goes, "True masters don't reveal their abilities." If the person standing before the altar were an ordinary-looking Taoist priest, I might have been somewhat convinced. This "Taoist priest," who looks like he stepped out of a movie, is some kind of extra hired from somewhere. Even his clothes exude a more Taoist aura than he does... Is this really acceptable?

The sleepy Huang E opened one eye, then closed it again in annoyance. "Everything is wrong. The altar's layout, its orientation, the ritual... what are they trying to invite? Even ghosts wouldn't want to come. Who's so disrespectful? This is a serious insult..." She yawned and started to doze off again.

Her words reassured me, and I sat down.

But I really shouldn't have felt at ease so early.

The closer it gets to midnight, the more I want to sleep. It's just a minor cold, after all, and my health isn't great to begin with, so I haven't recovered very well. It's already 11 or 12, and I'm still forced to watch some extra jumping around and chanting some scriptures he probably doesn't even understand. My eyelids are getting heavier and heavier…

Suddenly, a chilling sensation rushed into my brain, jolting me awake. Instinctively, I pulled Tang Chen, who was sitting next to me, away.

It was precisely this tug that prevented the divination table from hitting him as it suddenly rammed into him. The person holding both ends of the divination table was being dragged along like a bull, rushing into the crowd, his target seemingly Tang Chen.

The students screamed and ran away, and the extras on stage were probably terrified as well. Even more frightening was that the sand in the sand table surged and gushed forth like a high tide.

Huang E was busy trying to stop the chaotic spirit medium, but he couldn't stop the overwhelming sandstorm. With a heavy heart, I pulled Tang Chen behind me and took the brunt of the sandstorm head-on.

It was clearly sand, but it felt like I'd been punched, and I fell backward into Tang Chen's arms, knocking him to the ground as well. Huang E abandoned the planchette, flew back to extinguish the sand waves, but then launched several more attacks from the sky, heading straight for Tang Chen, whom I was pinning down.

"...Seventh Miss, help me!" I couldn't help but scream, turning around to hug Tang Chen, taking another heavy blow to my back. I don't know if I bit my tongue or suffered an internal injury, but I felt a metallic taste in my throat and tasted blood.

I can't take it again. What if I cause internal injuries to a teenager, leaving them with a permanent disability? I pulled out my slingshot, but it was shot down before I could even fire…

This is the first time I've ever encountered someone so cunning!

For some unknown reason, Tang Chen suddenly flipped over and shoved me behind him, yelling, "Get away!"

The sandstorm actually stopped for a few seconds because of this. I crawled to get my slingshot back, but found that I couldn't move.

It's strange, really strange. I drank the old man's incense ash water, and ordinary ghosts don't even dare to get close. Why...?

The still sand waves split into several more and surged forth.

A white shadow flashed by, cutting off the sandstorm. The wildly churning planchette finally stopped. The two planchette handlers were terrified, too afraid to throw it away, and tremblingly returned it to the sand table. The Taoist priest, as expected of someone who had seen many grand occasions, could even spout nonsense, saying that the one who had descended was the Crown Prince, who, seeing so many students enjoying it, decided to play along with them.

I glared at him resentfully, my chest and back aching terribly. Tang Chen helped me up twice before I could finally stand. I coughed, then dabbed the blood under the light to examine it closely; it was indeed blood.

The boy coughed up blood; he didn't have long to live. Even if he did, he would be a cripple in the future.

I thought of what Xiren said in Dream of the Red Chamber, and my heart sank.

My classmates swarmed around me, chattering away, and helped me brush the dust and sand off my clothes, asking me what I had seen.

"...I didn't see anything." I replied in a bad mood and then ignored everyone.

Finding it boring, they started chatting excitedly as they walked. Tang Chen supported me, and we walked slowly behind.

Even if the lioness wanted to torture me to death at this point, I couldn't avoid the situation. I felt so heavy even under the weight of the desolate land; if Tang Chen hadn't been supporting me, I wouldn't have been able to stand, let alone walk.

“...It’s me again,” Tang Chen said, his voice filled with sorrow.

"It's not you." I can't cry now, no matter how much it hurts. "It's these idiotic classmates who're just looking for trouble. Stop saying things like that."

He didn't say anything, he just gripped my arm tighter.

A few steps ahead of us, the students were laughing and shouting, discussing with great interest whether spirit writing was real or not. Some said it was real, while others said it was just like magic and a hoax, and then they started arguing.

Ignorance is bliss. If I could, I'd want to be this ignorant. But alas, such a good thing doesn't exist. I can only cling to Tang Chen's arm, using him as a crutch, struggling to move forward.

But above this wave of youthful and vibrant voices, a few cold and ethereal words drifted by.

"Sister! You're too soft-hearted! Everyone's fortune and misfortune are predetermined. They brought this trouble upon themselves, why should we interfere? They're just passing through; we don't even know how long we'll be here! Those things may be worthless, but they're far superior to us... If we ruin their plans, what will we use to take the blame? What good will the living do for us? Humans and ghosts are different... We don't need their offerings, and they shouldn't expect us to take the fall..."

These words drifted into my ears, and I hesitated, stopping and turning my head. The voice became soft and indistinct, and I couldn't hear it clearly anymore.

I paused for just a few seconds, then turned the corner and all my classmates were gone. Before me lay a dark, dense forest, its damp, stifling air pungent and acrid.

Just as I was about to turn around, I realized I couldn't even find the way I came.

These are not the worst of all.

What's truly tragic is that the desolation that had been dozing off on my left shoulder has also disappeared.

Trying to calm my racing heart, I yelled, "Come back, Huang'e!" But all I heard was a cry of pain from her, followed by a string of profanities.

She was "blocked" outside.

This is the second time Huang'e has been blocked. The first time was in the haunted house, where she was blocked by a talisman given to her by the City God. But this time... what will it be?

My back was soaked with cold sweat. "Oh no!" I cried out.

"Stop yelling!" she replied in a very bad temper. "It hurts a lot to bump into something like that! Go find the talisman!"

“…If possible, I’d like to find someone too.” I gripped Tang Chen tightly. His face was pale, but he patted me reassuringly.

Old man, not only have you never read *Lonely Star*, but your math is also terrible. One plus one equals two. Adding Tang Chen to my list only doubles the disaster. Who can protect whom then?

Completely on instinct, I pulled him back a step. Just a step back, so the vajra struck the ground, not our heads.

I shakily raised my head, silently crying out in my heart. Even though we were separated by the barrier, Huang'e could see what I was seeing, and she gasped.

I saw a "assembled King Kong".

No one would understand if I said it like that. Let me describe it for a bit. I saw a huge "god statue" (maybe), the problem is that it had many heads and arms. Facing me was a blue-faced, angry-looking Vajra (maybe), but at the same time there were several different kinds of god heads, and countless arms holding all kinds of weapons. I swear one of the arms was a tiger's claw.