Ghost Pot - Chapter 6
The two men nodded slightly, then their gazes settled on Master Jia.
Master Jia, wearing sunglasses, dressed in a black robe, carrying a bamboo cane, and holding a small basket in his hand, stood expressionless in front of the Putuo Temple courtyard.
Chapter 7, Part 3
"Elder Peng, where are they?" one of the guardians asked in a muffled voice, his words harsh.
“It’s inside Master Jia’s stomach,” Elder Peng replied.
"How long has it been?" Another protector asked in a high-pitched voice, which was rather unpleasant to hear.
"Not long," Elder Peng said.
"When will you give birth?" the Dharma Protector asked again.
"It might take several days," Elder Peng thought for a moment.
The two protectors nodded and said, "Come in, 'Flesh Mother' needs nourishment." After saying that, the two protectors turned and walked into the temple.
"Wait," Master Jia began, "I had an agreement with Elder Peng that if we captured the Maple and Willow Demons, we would exchange them for..."
“There’s no need to spell it out,” the Dharma Protector gestured to stop Master Jia from speaking. “As long as the two ghosts, Maple and Willow, in your womb successfully give birth to the spiritual fetus, the promise will be fulfilled.”
"What is a 'flesh mother'?" Shen Caihua asked curiously.
"Hmph..." Master Jia remained noncommittal.
Upon entering the temple, the two guardians lit a pile of pine branches and firewood, on which a large earthenware pot was burning. Inside the pot, a blood-red broth bubbled and boiled, and the air was filled with a strong, earthy aroma of plant roots and stems.
Master Jia sat on the wooden stool, sniffed the air, and said to Elder Peng, "What kind of herb has such a strong smell?"
"It contains saffron and cordyceps, but I don't know about the others," Chen Caihua said softly, leaning closer to the earthenware pot.
"Chagosuba, Yazhagenbu, Zagulgum, and Suromabo, the child has already mentioned two of the ingredients, which is quite good," the gruff-voiced protector exclaimed in admiration.
"Master Jia, the Dharma protector spoke in Tibetan, which translates to jellyfish, snow lotus, cordyceps, saffron, and rhodiola rosea. These are the 'Four Treasures of Tibetan Banner' unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and they are perfect for protecting the fetus," Elder Peng explained.
During the years that Shen Caihua lived in Nanshan Village, although he was usually taciturn, he had an excellent memory. He had also learned a lot of strange and unusual medical prescriptions from Han Sheng, so he could easily identify the medicinal materials in them.
Master Jia, a leading figure in the Quanzhen School of Taoism, understood the many connections between traditional medicine and divination. He was immediately reassured by Elder Peng's explanation. He knew that saffron originated in Persia, was introduced to Tibet via India, and was mistakenly called "Tibetan saffron" in mainland China. It was renowned for its blood-activating and nourishing properties. Rhodiola rosea, known as "highland ginseng" in Tibet, was a highly effective tonic. Cordyceps sinensis was even more famous, especially the high-altitude cordyceps from the Yinshan Valleys of the Tibetan Plateau. These cordyceps were dark brown in color, with plump and firm bodies, far superior to the yellowish-brown, large, and soft-textured grassland cordyceps. In fact, cordyceps is a combination of an insect and a fungus; the insect is the larva of the cordyceps moth, and the fungus is the cordyceps fungus. Every summer, on the meadows above 3800 meters in altitude, as the snow melts, the small, colorful moths leave countless eggs on the leaves and flowers. Then the moth eggs hatch into larvae, which burrow into moist, loose soil, absorbing nutrients from plant roots and gradually growing plump and white. At this point, spherical ascospores encounter the larvae of the Cordyceps bat moth, burrowing into their bodies, absorbing their nutrients, and germinating hyphae. The larvae, infected by the fungus, gradually crawl to a depth of two to three centimeters below the surface, dying head down – this is the "winter worm." Although the larvae die, the fungus inside them continues to grow, until it fills the entire body. In late spring and early summer of the following year, a small, purplish-red plant, about two to five centimeters tall, grows from the larva's head, topped with a pineapple-shaped capsule – this is the "summer grass," said to be incredibly effective in treating male kidney deficiency, impotence, and other ailments. As for the snow lotus, called "Utpala flower" in Sanskrit, it comes in male and female varieties; the female is sweet, the male bitter. It is said to be remarkably effective in treating irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and preventing miscarriage in women.
It seems the Bon religion really is treating me like a pregnant woman... Master Jia thought resentfully.
Chapter 8, Part 1
“Grandpa Daoist,” Shen Caihua asked, his gaze fixed on Daoist Jia’s stomach, “Are you trying to expel the spirit fetus?” He was completely baffled. This blind old man was a man, how could he give birth to a child?
"Hmph, if this humble Taoist wants to live, he will naturally find a way," Master Jia chuckled coldly.
"The medicine is ready. Please drink it while it's hot, Daoist Master," Elder Peng said, holding a large, steaming bowl. The medicine was bright red, like fresh blood.
Without saying a word, Master Jia took the bowl of medicine and, not caring about the heat, gulped it down.
"How do you feel about the effects of the medicine?" Elder Peng asked from the side.
"Hmm, it would be even better if we added some thousand-year-old ginseng and human-shaped he shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum)." Master Jia replied, wiping his mouth.
Elder Peng removed the bowl, and Master Jia sat cross-legged, pressing his hands together in a mudra on his abdomen, and began to circulate his qi.
Dudu, perched on Caihua's shoulder, whispered, "Let's go for a walk... just walk around."
Shen Caihua and Dudu left the temple and strolled around.
Shoe Mountain, also known as Lonely Stone in Han Dynasty and Great Lonely Mountain in Tang Dynasty, is entirely composed of limestone. It slopes from south to north and east to west, resembling a Buddha's canopy in the north, a giant ship in the south, an embroidered shoe in the east, and a reclining lion in the west. It is early spring, March, when orioles sing and grasses grow, and the mountain is covered with beautiful yellow and purple wildflowers.
Standing atop the cliff, the spring breeze was chilly, ruffling a stray strand of hair across Chen Caihua's forehead. Gazing at the vast, misty lake, a faint melancholy crept into his heart. He was only seven or eight years old then, too young to understand the harsh realities of the world. But in the boy's heart, the image of carrying a wrinkled baby girl, their backs intertwined, remained vivid. This feeling was deeply rooted in his mind, haunting his dreams almost every night… He knew the baby girl's name was Momo, his dearest relative. Though he didn't know where she was, he firmly believed that Momo was not dead, that she was still somewhere, waiting for him…
"Heartbreak Grass!" Dudu opened its beak, pecked off a vine stem with a few small yellow flowers, and handed it to Chen Caihua.
When they were in Nanshan Village, Hansheng had shown him this plant called "Heartbreak Grass," which has fine leaves, a foul odor from its roots, and small yellow flowers. He warned, "It is beneficial for four-legged animals to eat Heartbreak Grass to clear heat and detoxify, but it will kill two-legged animals if they ingest it. Children, please be careful."
“It’s Gelsemium elegans,” Shen Caihua said after examining it carefully.
“According to the Song Dynasty’s ‘Cai Lan Magazine,’ there was a woman in Gujin who missed her beloved but could never see him. She often cried under a wall, and her tears dripped into the soil. From the spot where she shed her tears, a plant grew. Its flowers were charming and beautiful, and the color of the flowers resembled the woman’s face. The leaves were green on the front and red on the back. It was called ‘Heartbreak Grass,’” Dudu explained.
“But how come there are so many heartbreak grasses on this isolated mountain? Could it be…” Shen Caihua said in surprise.
"What...what did you say?"
“A poisonous mother who breaks one’s heart!” Shen Caihua replied.
Chapter 8, Part 2
Looking at the green stems, yellow flowers, and small leaves in his hand, Chen Caihua said, "Hansheng's father told me that ancient books record that Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and encountered a vine with opposite leaves and pale yellow flowers. He picked a few tender leaves and put them in his mouth to taste. As soon as he chewed and swallowed them, the poison took effect. Before he could take the antidote, Shennong's intestines were broken into small pieces. This vine that caused Shennong to die from intestinal rupture is called 'intestinal rupture grass.' In fact, ordinary intestinal rupture grass was not enough to kill Shennong; the one he ate was 'intestinal rupture poison mother.'"
“‘Heartbreaking Poisonous Mother,’ that sounds…it’s kind of scary.” Dudu’s expression changed slightly.
Shen Caihua then explained, "The Compendium of Materia Medica records that people die from accidentally eating the leaves of the poisonous plant, while sheep become very fat after eating its seedlings. Han Sheng's father said that if sheep eat the poisonous plant, they will also die."
"Quick, quick, throw away the 'Heart-Severing Poison Mother'!" Dudu shouted.
“This is just an ordinary Gelsemium elegans,” Shen Caihua muttered to himself. “I need to find the ‘Gelsemium elegans’ and give it to Hansheng’s father.”
A gentle mountain breeze carried a faint, sweet fragrance. Chen Cai squinted, gazing towards the mountainsides. Yellow flowers bloomed across the hillsides. Where could the "Heartbreak Poison Mother" grow? He'd heard from Han Sheng's father that the Heartbreak Grass was an annual vine, its herbal name "Gouwen," with stems only as thick as a pencil lead and about 20 centimeters tall. Its leaves were small, green, about the size of a fingernail, and the roots initially smelled fragrant, then foul; a few inhalations would cause dizziness. The "Heartbreak Poison Mother," however, was a thousand-year-old mother plant, with thick vines and leaves, and was extremely poisonous throughout. Its roots, in particular, had become wart-like, hairless, odorless, and tasteless, yet incredibly toxic. A mere immersion in well water could kill an entire village, thus earning it the title of the most potent poison in ancient China. Despite its potent toxicity, *Gelsemium elegans* is remarkably effective when used externally for ailments such as scabies, eczema, carbuncles, and boils. This is likely due to the principle of using poison to fight poison, which is why it has been considered one of the most dangerous Chinese medicinal herbs since ancient times. While *Gelsemium elegans* grows occasionally in the mountains and fields of Jiangxi, *Gelsemium elegans* is extremely rare; even Han Sheng's father had only heard of it and had never seen it in person.
Shen Caihua described the physical characteristics of the "Heartbreak Poison Mother" to Dudu. Dudu nodded, then flapped its wings and flew up to search all over the mountains and fields.
After a long while, Dudu flew back, covered in sweat.
"No...no, I've searched everywhere," Dudu said dejectedly.
"Strange, there must be a mother plant growing here with so many Heartbreak Grasses," Shen Caihua pondered.
"There... there's a cave at the bottom of that cliff over there, surrounded by clouds and mist. It's the only place I haven't... haven't gone to see it," Dudu told her little master after thinking for a moment.
“Take me to see it,” Shen Caihua said.
Chapter 8, Part 3
On the cliff of Xieshan Mountain, the two characters "Mianyun" written in running script by Mi Fu, the great calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty, are clearly visible. The strokes are unique and elegant, like a fleet of ships sailing against the wind, calm and unrestrained, truly befitting the title "Madman Mi".
Shen Cai had a vine wrapped around his waist, one end of which was tied to a tree. He then slowly climbed down, gripping the vine. However, he didn't notice that he hadn't secured the vine properly, and the soft, slippery vine was gradually loosening...
"Be...be careful!" Dudu flapped its wings and hovered in the air, issuing an urgent warning.
At that moment, Shen Caihua was already close to the cave entrance, when suddenly the vines loosened, and he plummeted downwards... Before he could even cry out, he landed on a protruding rock in front of the cave, then tilted back and fell further down the cliff. Just then, Dudu roared and rammed into Shen Caihua's back... Seven or eight-year-old Shen Caihua was relatively light, while Dudu was a large bird with considerable weight. Combined with the force of the impact, it instantly shoved Shen Caihua's body into the cave. After swaying a few times, he finally regained his footing.
"That was close..." Shen Caicai broke out in a cold sweat. After calming himself down, he untied the vines wrapped around his waist and threw them on the ground. Dudu, on the other hand, was leaning against the cave wall, her heart pounding and her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Shoe Mountain is entirely composed of limestone, said to have originated from the Ice Age. Over millions of years, the mountain's interior has been eroded into numerous cavities, jagged and interconnected, like a maze, and no one has ever explored its depths.
The cave wasn't large, only about a meter high. Looking just a few meters inside, the light became very dim, shrouded in mist, its direction unknown. Shen Caihua reached out and touched the rock wall; it was rough and porous, covered in moss, and the mist seemed to emanate from those tiny pores. He didn't know that the cave's rock formation was composed of a rare type of absorbent stone called "Shoe Mountain Water-Absorbing Stone." Whenever the weather changed, the stone would release white mist, a tactic the monks on the mountain used to use to signal impending weather changes.
In the middle of the cave grew a yellowish-brown plant about the thickness of a wrist, with several vines extending outwards. The vines were smooth and purplish, with opposite, dark green, thick leaves. The leaves were smooth on the surface and dark red on the back. Some small, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers bloomed among them. Shen Cai realized that this was what he was looking for—"Heartbreak Poison Mother".
"Is this the 'Heart-Severing Poison Mother'?" Dudu asked nervously, her back pressed against the stone wall.
"Yes, that's it. I'm going to dig out the root nodule of the 'Heartbreak Poison Mother'," Shen Caihua said excitedly. After all, he was still a child and completely forgot that the vine on the cliff had fallen off and that he was already trapped in the cave.
Dudu tilted her head and observed carefully for a while, then said dejectedly, "It, its roots are stuck in the cracks of the rocks, we...we can't pull it out."
Yes, how can we pull him out of the crack in the rock? Shen Caihua couldn't help but feel discouraged.
“Cai, Cai, look, the cracks in this stone ground are... big, there might be caves underneath.” The observant Dudu suddenly said.
Shen Caihua bent down and crawled to the ground, squinting as he peered into the dark crack. He felt gusts of cold wind rising up. Dudu was right; there must be another cave below.
"Let's look around," Shen Caihua said, and then groped his way into the depths of the dark cave.
"I...I'll scout ahead and explore." Dudu flapped its wings and bravely jumped ahead to lead the way for its little master.
Chapter 9, Part 1
The stone passageway was dim and hazy, but not completely black. Some very faint light refracted through the cracks and holes eroded in the limestone, and once the eyes gradually adjusted, one could vaguely make out the scenery inside the cave.
After walking more than ten meters along the passageway, Shen Caihua and Dudu discovered that many side paths had branched off ahead, varying in height, width, and shape, and a faint, fishy smell of moss filled the air.
"Which way...how do we get there?" Dudu asked, turning around.
“This way,” Shen Caihua said, pointing to a narrow, downward-sloping crevice in the rock beside him, “it seems like we can get under the ‘Heartbreak Poison Mother’.”
The fissure stretched downwards at an angle. Chen Cai, supporting himself on the stone wall, slowly made his way forward. The surface felt soft and damp to the touch—moss covering the absorbent stone. As he descended, the space gradually widened, and the light became much brighter.
"This is it...this is it!" Dudu skipped along, then suddenly stopped and shouted.
This was a very spacious cave. A narrow crack in the rock wall allowed a sliver of sunlight to filter through, making the interior clearly visible. A thick vine hung from the cave ceiling, winding its way to the porous, absorbent stone floor. A deep depression, about the size of a foot basin, filled with clear water, was on the moss-covered stone floor. The thick vine had grown from this water, and a light mist hung over the ground, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a misty mountain.
"Oh my god, there's a... snake!" Dudu suddenly screamed and threw herself into Chen Caihua's arms.
Shen Cai was startled and quickly looked closely. Sure enough, lying on the moss was a large, dark green python, as thick as an arm and several meters long. Its head was slightly raised, and its brownish-red tongue was limply protruding from its mouth. Its whole body was trembling slightly, and its two white eyes were staring blankly into the air.
It was blind. Shen Cai thought that this giant python was probably here to guard the "Heartbreak Poison Mother". There is usually something guarding the side of rare spiritual plants and poisonous herbs.
"Dudu, don't be afraid," Chen Caihua comforted it, gently pushing Dudu behind him.
What should they do? They knew they and Dudu were no match for this giant python. Even though it was blind, its coils were incredibly powerful; they could both be strangled to death. But having gone through so much trouble to find the "Heartbreak Poison Mother," they couldn't give up halfway. Besides, if they gave this deadly elixir to Han Sheng's father, he would surely forgive them for their escape, and might even praise them. Thinking this, Chen Caihua tentatively took a small step forward.
The python didn't move...
The python took another small step, but still didn't move...
Chen Cai mustered his courage and took a big step forward, standing on the edge of the stone hollow.
This time, the python finally moved. It raised its head with all its might, opened its mouth wide with difficulty, twisted its body and leaped forward... but it fell to the ground. After wriggling a few times, the snake stiffened and never moved again.
Shen Caihua stared at it intently, not daring to breathe. After a long while, he stepped forward and gently touched the python with his toe, but there was no reaction.
The giant python, which had guarded the "heart-breaking poisonous mother" for who knows how many years, died of old age.
Chapter 9, Part 2
"It, it's dead?" Dudu boldly stepped forward and kicked the python's corpse with its paw.
"How could it die so suddenly?" Shen Caihua touched it in confusion and found that the python's face was covered with age spots. He guessed, "This big python died of old age. It may have been over a hundred years old."
"Let me see, are there... any other snakes?" Dudu bravely jumped in front of Xiao Caihua, looked around, and turned back to say, "No, there aren't any more."