The fault of yin and yang

Chapter 2

Nearly three months were spent counting money and accompanying my grandmother to temples. I didn't mention my feelings for the prince, but I think she knew, otherwise she wouldn't have kept asking me to accompany her to temples or nunneries every few days after the prince left. The elderly always tend to magnify the harm suffered by their descendants. If I lost weight, she would see me as skin and bones, frail and swaying in the wind. If I coughed even once, she might think I had pneumonia… However, I didn't object. I'm happy to accept "love," no matter what form it takes. Besides, the vegetarian food at the temple was delicious, especially the vegetarian food prepared by the abbot of Guang Le Temple, which was exceptional. It was precisely because I frequently visited the temple recently that I had the opportunity to encounter what happened next…

Chapter One: Master Benqing

It was the second Thursday of August, just after dinner. I was washing dishes in the kitchen when Grandma received a phone call and came in to ask me what I wanted to wear that evening. "Huh?" Grandma took the bowl from my hand and said, "Master Benqing called and said there's a Buddhist ceremony tonight. He asked if we wanted to go." "What time is it? What kind of Buddhist ceremony is this? You're crazy..." Grandma interrupted me with a laugh. "Not only that, today is the first day of the seventh lunar month." I suddenly realized, "My goodness, why didn't you say so sooner?" I complained as I rushed into the bathroom. "You brat, don't dress up in the middle of the night. Nobody's watching you. Hurry up..."

The ritual is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, just as midnight begins, and we must arrive three hours beforehand, otherwise the "qi" (vital energy) might be disrupted. Most rituals in temples are for sending the deceased to the afterlife or for the living to fulfill vows; in simpler terms, they are rituals for the living. Even when sending the dead to the afterlife, it's only to fulfill the wishes of the living. These rituals are usually performed on even-numbered days in the morning and completed before 3:00 PM. A ritual like today's, chosen in the seventh lunar month, on an odd-numbered day, and at midnight, is extremely rare. We call this a "yin altar," and opening a "yin altar," as the name suggests, is to fulfill the wishes of the deceased. I've only heard of opening a "yin altar" before, but I've never had the chance to witness it. Firstly, ordinary people lack the ability to control the power of these spirits. Secondly, this ritual is extremely dangerous. Not only are very few people willing to open a "yin altar" privately, but even highly accomplished monks would never dare to do so without protection. A major reason is that "yin altars" are usually only set up for wronged ghosts who have been vengeful for over a thousand years. This kind of resentment is different from grudges. Grudges can at most linger for three lifetimes and do not hinder reincarnation; at most, the ghosts die unjustly in every life. However, grudges can not only hinder reincarnation but may also harm those who seek justice for the ghosts in the future. In short, it's a life for a life. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, no one would be willing to open a "yin altar." I always thought this old monk only knew how to chant scriptures and swindle money; it turns out he had this skill too…

Master Benqing's beard and eyebrows were completely white, and his plump, white face made it impossible to guess his age. If you said he was eighty, his large, beady eyes on his plump face were anything but dull; if you said he was sixty, he would sometimes doze off as soon as he sat down, and occasionally utter some inexplicable, incoherent words. It is said that Master Benqing has been at Guangle Temple for decades. I only know that since I can remember, my grandmother most often took me to Guangle Temple, and the abbot at that time was Master Benqing. My grandmother said that before Master Benqing came to this city, he was a wandering monk, which greatly surprised me. In this day and age, it's not easy for a wandering monk not to starve to death. However, after getting to know Master Benqing better, this question was naturally dispelled. Master Benqing had the appearance of a kind and benevolent enlightened monk. He was not only the authoritative spokesperson for Buddhism in the province, but had also been received by national leaders...

Actually, that's not the case. Although Abbot Benqing is a vegetarian, he doesn't abstain from smoking and drinking, and he has very high standards. He only drinks Moutai liquor, two ounces a day, not a drop less or a sip more. He only smokes cigarettes with a tar content of less than 7mg, three a day, feeling restless if he smokes less than one, not a sip more. Fortunately, he is the abbot, and he eats separately from the other monks, so few people besides my grandmother and me know about him. I don't know how long my grandmother has known him, only that whenever my grandmother and I go to Guangle Temple, after his sermon, he invites us to eat in the abbot's room. Sometimes, this old monk will drive around in his beat-up Red Flag for over an hour, bringing us some vegetables from the temple's own garden, and then stay for a meal. This old monk can not only "pretend" to be a highly virtuous monk... He also has a keen business sense. Under his "management," Guang Le Temple has become the largest and most popular temple in the province. Besides publicly performing rituals to inspire awe and reverence for the monks, Guang Le Temple actually owns 80% of the vegetarian restaurants and incense shops surrounding the temple. The temple's donation boxes are overflowing with donations every day, making it incredibly difficult for ordinary people to become monks—almost like passing the civil service exam. Therefore, it's not surprising that this old monk is wealthy and enjoys a comfortable life. Personally, I quite like this old monk and have even learned a lot about making money from him. However, I have reservations about his Buddhist practice; after all, he doesn't seem like a monk at all…

I drove my BMW X5 happily towards Guangle Temple in the South District. This "BMW X5" was a gift from a client three years ago. I would never have bought it myself, but the regional distributor was really generous; this was the most expensive reward I'd ever received. I was excited about what was about to happen, but Grandma didn't seem so optimistic. "A thousand years... how could Master Benqing..." The old lady kept muttering to herself the whole way. "Grandma, have you ever seen a 'yin altar' opened before?" "I've seen it four or five times." "Is it really a life for a life every time?" I was really curious if the legend was true. Grandma had always kept her "yin altar" experiences a secret, but today she spoke up quite frankly: "More than that. Sometimes, even exchanging multiple lives for one life doesn't necessarily quell the injustice." She paused and continued, "Think about it, a thousand years is enough for countless reincarnations. How many people would it take to exchange one life for one life? If the altar wasn't set up by someone with such power, your grandma wouldn't be able to..." "They might not even be alive now." "Then there wasn't a single time when no one died?" I asked. "There was one time, and it was really dangerous..." After waiting for a long time without any response, I turned my head and saw that the old lady was obviously lost in her own memories. It was really frustrating. I was just about to wake her up and continue the story when seven cats suddenly ran past in front of the car. I slammed on the brakes. This time, Grandma really woke me up, but she didn't get angry. She obviously saw the seven cats in front of her too. Three were white, three were black, and one was yellow. She stared at them as they ran past the car and into the flower bushes on both sides of the road. I looked at Grandma. Her face was very pale, and I guessed I was too. If there was only one cat, I would just slow down and let it pass. But there were seven! Seven cats! Of all living things, apart from golden-haired monkeys, cats are the closest creatures to the underworld. People often say that black cats are spiritual, but actually, the most spiritual and spiritual cats are yellow cats. Not the yellow-bellied cats raised by farmers, but yellow cats with a bright yellow coat and not a single stray hair.

"Seven corresponds to Gen (艮), the hour of Xu (戌) corresponds to Li (离), the moving line belongs to Li, Gen is wood, Li is fire, the mutual hexagram..."

"Grandma, what an auspicious divination!" Grandma nodded slowly. It seemed tonight would be very exciting, but also very dangerous. "Weiyang, after all these years, you've learned everything Grandma knows. You know what it means when seven cats suddenly cross in front of the car at this hour, we..." "Grandma, I started learning 'Plum Blossom Divination' before I was ten, and I've been using it for almost twenty years now. How could I not know what it means? But you know my personality." I knew what the old lady wanted to say, but how could I let such an opportunity slip by? Grandma looked at me and sighed helplessly, then smiled and said, "So arrogant after only twenty years? Look at the road signs, little girl." I probed... Turning left, the words on this road sign instantly lifted my spirits: "Jinquan Road." I stuck my tongue out at Grandma, feeling truly ashamed of my earlier boast. It was a fire sign, and while I'd included the time and the object, I'd completely overlooked the location. This place was called "Jinquan Road." In the Five Elements, water overcomes fire, fire overcomes metal, and metal generates water. So, tonight would at most be a close call, but no real danger. I'd been so serious about saying those things; Grandma would probably laugh for a long time. I started the car and continued towards Guangle Temple. Guangle Temple was great in every way, except it was a bit too remote. It took at least an hour to get there from the city center, and we had to get there before eight o'clock, so we had to drive as fast as we could…

(II) The Dark Night Ritual: Chapter Two - The Wronged Souls of the Royal Family

Chapter Two: The Wronged Souls of the Royal Family

"The abbot instructed you two to proceed to the meditation room upon arrival. Please follow me," said the monk Miao Fang, a member of the "Miao" generation, who greeted us at the mountain gate. He was the beloved disciple of Master Qingming, who was in charge of the disciplinary hall. I suspect this guy will take over the disciplinary hall someday. Monk Miao Fang was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, tall and strong, very masculine, and quite the monk he always appeared to be. His sword-like eyebrows were always furrowed; he was quite handsome, but I never dared to joke with him, and he never bothered to acknowledge me…

"Thank you for your trouble, Master Miaofang," Grandma replied with her hands clasped together in greeting. "Master Miaofang, may I ask who this 'Yin Altar' is for?" I asked in the gentlest tone, trying to be as polite as possible. "Miaofang is only responsible for sealing the mountain gate; I know nothing else. When you arrive at the meditation room, the abbot will answer for you, Benefactor Zuo," Miaofang replied without looking up. Well, this guy has shut me down with just one sentence. It seems there's no way to ask. I glared at him from behind, and Grandma quickly tugged at my sleeve, signaling me to shut up.

"A perfectly normal man becoming a monk, he might be sick," I muttered as I entered the meditation room. "Ms. Zuo, you're not talking about me, are you?" A young monk in his early twenties emerged from behind the screen, carrying a large handful of yellow paper ingots. "Oh, how could I dare to call myself the most handsome, invincible, and unique Master Miao Ba, loved by everyone, worshipped by ghosts, admired by flowers, and adored by cars?" "Not at all, not at all, you're too kind, benefactor—" Miao Ba said, drawing out his words with his hands clasped together. "Wei Yang, don't banter with Master Miao Ba," Grandma said, standing... I asked Miao Ba, "Master Miao Ba, where is Abbot Benqing?" Miao Ba winked at me smugly and replied, "Grandmaster is preparing the ritual in the Dharma Hall. He asked me to wait here for you two and tell you about today's ritual." This "Miao Ba" is the youngest disciple of the Miao generation, the youngest disciple of "Master Qingyun," who is in charge of the "Scripture Pavilion." Although he is only twenty years old this year, he is Abbot Benqing's favorite grand-disciple. Master Benqing has six disciples: Qingming, Qingkong, Qingyu, Qingfeng, Qing... Yun and Qingsong are in charge of the six main halls and various departments of Guangle Temple, respectively. Each of the "Qing" generation has eight disciples, who are the "Miao" generation below them, totaling forty-eight. Currently, seven of the "Miao" generation are qualified to take on disciples, meaning that besides "Miao Ba," each has eight junior disciples, forming the "Yuan" generation. In addition, there are about a hundred other monks. This is why Guangle Temple can be considered the largest temple in the city and even the province. A major reason why "Miao Ba" is favored by "Master Benqing" is that this guy is just as cunning and clever as the old monk, and equally knows how to enjoy life. Moreover, this young "Miao Ba" has been with "Master Qingyun" in the Sutra Repository since childhood, making him the only monk to have read all the scriptures in the "lower three pavilions" of the Sutra Repository before the age of twenty. This explains why even someone as high-ranking as "Miao Fang" only has the position of guarding the mountain gate, while "Miao Ba" is here explaining to us the reason and specific procedures for opening the "Yin Altar" tonight…

"This 'Yin Altar' is set up for the wronged soul of a woman from the Han Dynasty. My master said that this wronged soul was one of the beauties in Emperor Wu of Han's harem, known as 'Lady Li.' This..."

"Wait, Miao Ba, isn't this Lady Li the concubine who died of illness mentioned in historical anecdotes, and the mother of the Prince of Changyi, whom Emperor Wu summoned to comfort his longing after her death?"

"Weiyang, don't interrupt Master Miaoba," Grandma said, somewhat displeased with my interruption.

“It is that Madam Li. Even if Sister Weiyang hadn’t mentioned it, I would have brought it up anyway.” As Miao Ba said this, I made a face at my grandmother, and the old lady could only shake her head helplessly.

"However, Lady Li did not die of illness, but was poisoned with a slow-acting poison. Her death was unjust, and then a problem arose during the summoning of her soul. Just as the shaman was about to ascend the Terrace of Forgetfulness, a gust of wind blocked her path. When she passed through the wind, she found herself back in the Yanglu Palace, where she had lived in life. Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was sitting outside the bed curtains. After a long reminiscing, the shaman offered to send Lady Li back, but Liu Che was reluctant and insisted on keeping her. Lady Li, of course, was willing. The shaman had no choice but to obey, killing a maidservant to take Lady Li's place and sending her back to the underworld. Lady Li was then cared for in the Yanglu Palace. However, with three thousand beauties in the emperor's harem, Liu Che quickly found new favorites, and Lady Li was no exception." Ultimately, she was a ghost, incompatible with the mortal realm. Thus, Liu Che soon stopped visiting often. Lady Li could only wander the Yanglu Palace, having witnessed the joys and sorrows of the harem in life, yet still enduring the bitterness of vying for favor in death. About two years later, a beauty named Xiushu, one of Liu Che's consorts, gave birth to a son. However, the very next day, both mother and child were murdered by the Empress. Seeing that Liu Che had forgotten Lady Li, the sorcerer conspired with the Empress to frame her. Liu Che was furious and ordered her sealed in a porcelain bottle and thrown into the sea. Poor Lady Li, she became a truly lost and wandering soul. Her place in the underworld had been taken by the maid, and the mortal realm had no place for her. Lady Li didn't know where she should go. She missed her husband and son, but was powerless to help them. Only… Every day she wept at sea, and soon her cries disturbed the surrounding fishermen so much that they dared not go out to sea. They even hired a Taoist priest to expel her. This priest was a wandering Taoist who had been expelled from his sect for practicing unorthodox methods. Upon seeing that it was Madam Li, he harbored evil intentions and fed her in a porcelain bottle, hoping to use her power to establish his own empire in the future. "Old Master Zuo, you should know that Madam Li died unjustly, and her current state is already filled with resentment. However, she has not yet been disturbed, so she is just an ordinary wronged spirit. But if someone feeds her with 'yin energy,' she will eventually become a truly vengeful ghost." Grandma nodded repeatedly as she listened. Miao Ba continued, "That Taoist priest fed Madam Li with 'yin spirits' every day, gathering her resentment, hoping to use her power to establish his own empire in the future." But this Taoist priest was unlucky; he was killed by demons before Lady Li matured. Lady Li, on the other hand, was addicted and could not go a day without "yin spirits" entering her body. At this point, Lady Li had truly become a wronged ghost. For thousands of years, Lady Li had absorbed countless yin spirits and was now close to becoming a demon. If her grievances were not avenged, I'm afraid..." Miao Ba stopped here, clearly not intending to say the rest. "Then how did Master Benqing know this 'Lady Li'? And why did he do this?" Grandma asked. This was exactly what I wanted to know, and obviously what Miao Ba wanted to know as well, because Miao Ba just shook his head blankly and said, "I also asked, but my master only said one sentence—'I have no memory of the cause and effect, I will not seek Buddha in hell.'"

...

(II) Night Ritual Chapter 3: The Lion of Reincarnation

Chapter Three: The Lion of Reincarnation

"Master Benqing!" I called out to the old monk Benqing, who was gazing up at the sky, across the altar. "Come, come, girl, put this on," Master Benqing said, squinting his small, round, black eyes like beans and beckoning me over. "Weiyang..." Grandma clearly thought it was improper for me to shout the abbot's name so loudly in the monastery, but before she could scold me, I had already jumped over the altar and run over. "Wear it on your left hand," Master Benqing said, handing me a string of obsidian prayer beads with a Pixiu (a mythical creature) attached.

"Master, you gave me one when I first entered this profession."

"Put it on, put it on," the old monk grabbed my left glove and put it inside, then whispered, "This is way better than that one." This old monk is truly, truly, truly beyond words.

"Benqing, this Madam Li, you are..." Grandma also came over around the altar.

"Jin Fen, you know I've never liked trouble, but this time I can't avoid it. Madam Li came here of her own accord."

"You came here yourself? Do you owe her money?" I joked.

“It’s not about owing money, it’s about owing lives,” the old monk said, shaking his head. He wasn’t angry or argumentative as usual. “For over two thousand years, she’s been seeking revenge life after life.” He gazed at the sky as he spoke. “First that Taoist priest, then that sorcerer, then the Empress and the Crown Prince’s faction. If she wasn’t reborn as a human in this life, she would wait for the next, and she waited for over ten lifetimes. Finally, she got her comeuppance.” The monk paused here. This time, I didn’t ask any questions. Although I didn’t fully understand, the old and weak tone of Abbot Benqing surprised me somewhat. This was a side of Master Benqing I had never seen before. But Grandma clearly understood. “One general’s success is built on the bones of countless others. What about emperors throughout history? Who doesn’t have blood on their hands? How many concubines in the harem weren’t riddled with wounds?” Grandma sighed, shaking her head…

“Yes, everyone says that emperors are divinely ordained sons of heaven, but little do they know that after death, these emperors are reborn as gods, demons, and hell beings for three lifetimes, and only in their tenth life can they regain their human connections.” Grandma’s sigh and Benqing’s answer suddenly made a thought flash through my mind—Emperor Wu of Han…

Seeing my questioning look, the two elderly people nodded at the same time.

"My God!" I jumped more than a meter away when I received their confirmation; although I had known about the cycle of life and death of all things since I was a child, I was still a little incredulous when I met people who knew about my past and present lives.

"Zuo Weiyang—" Grandma was utterly exasperated by my behavior.

"It's okay, it's okay, keep going, really?" I tried my best to stay calm, but I was clearly failing.

“Girl, you’re not that useless, are you? I’m giving you such a rare opportunity to see something, you won’t be scared away, will you?” Monk Benqing chuckled, stroking his plump white chin. Before I could reply, a voice suddenly popped out from behind the ancient tree: “So this is what Emperor Wu of Han looked like!” Miao Ba emerged from behind the ancient tree with a look of sudden realization. This tree was over three hundred years old and so wide that it would take three strong men to encircle it. I wondered when Miao Ba had hidden there. “Foolish!” Monk Benqing tapped the little monk’s bald head on the ordination scar, but clearly, the old monk wasn’t as startled as my grandmother and I were by Miao Ba. “Maybe he knows everything,” I suddenly thought…

"Pass down the message: tonight, all monks must perform their duties. Those without duties are not allowed to leave their meditation rooms. Anyone who discovers any unusual activity should recite the Diamond Sutra to calm their mind. Absolutely no one is allowed to leave their post. Also, notify your master and all your uncles to come to the courtyard of the third hall," the old monk said solemnly to Miao Ba. "Yes," Miao Ba replied with a question before running off to relay the order. "Jin Fen, if anything happens to me tonight, who will inherit my mantle will be a matter of great concern to all the monks. I have also written down how to explain my death to the outside world, as well as other instructions, and placed them behind the Buddha shrine in the first hall. You..." "I know, I know," Grandma said, her hands trembling as she grasped Master Benqing's hand, stopping him from continuing. Even the wrinkles on her face were trembling, which suddenly gave me a sense of impending farewell. Master Benqing was not as agitated as Grandma, but the way his wide robe fluttered in the wind reminded me of a lion, an old lion in its twilight years...

Master Benqing's six disciples had all arrived in the courtyard, each draped in a golden robe. After exchanging greetings, Master Qingyun, who was usually quiet, suddenly approached Grandma, clasped his hands together, and said, "Elder Benefactor Zuo, this humble monk is presumptuous. May I ask what the odds are for victory tonight?" Although it was only he who asked the question, everyone present undoubtedly eagerly awaited Grandma's answer. "The Buddha said: It cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken, so why do you ask?" Before Grandma could answer, Master Benqing, draped in his abbot's golden robe and carrying the Guangyue Zen staff, walked over. Miaoba, dressed in a blue monk's robe, followed behind Master Benqing, carrying the abbot's golden alms bowl. I had seen Master Benqing dressed like this on television when the national leader received him last time. The golden light made Master Benqing, with his white hair and beard, truly resemble a highly enlightened monk. "Perhaps he was indeed a highly enlightened monk," the thought flashed through my mind again...

At midnight, the sky was filled with stars, but the dazzling moonlight was missing. On the first day of the seventh lunar month, my heart was filled with unease, for there was no moonlight to illuminate the hall. The altar was already set up: a large golden alms bowl, peach wood prayer beads, sandalwood wooden fish, incense burner, double white candles, paper talismans, and—a memorial tablet. To the left of the altar was a small bucket of cinnabar, and to the right, a large quantity of yellow paper ingots. A circle of forty-nine white candles was lit in front of the altar. Master Benqing sat within the circle of candles, his hands clasped together, his eyes vacant. Besides Master Benqing's six disciples, there were also his youngest disciple, Sun Miaoba, my grandmother, and me in the courtyard. The six masters of the "Qing" generation also held prayer beads, their hands clasped together, facing the altar in a semi-circle, surrounding Master Benqing. Surrounded by them and the altar, Xiao Miaoba stood outside the circle beside the yellow paper ingots on the right side of the altar. Grandma stood behind the altar, holding a soul-summoning banner. Grandma and I originally didn't need to participate; we could have just observed from the outer hall. However, after learning about Abbot Benqing's situation, I suddenly felt a strong urge to help. Grandma, as an old friend and the second most skilled person in the area after Master Benqing, naturally couldn't stand idly by. In fact, perhaps it was because we all knew this might be Master Benqing's last night that we were both trying our best to save him. Although the methods I learned from Grandma since childhood were mostly Maoshan Taoist arts, at this moment, it didn't matter whether it was Taoist or Buddhist...

(II) Night Ritual Chapter 4: Nirvana and Soul's Return

"Beautiful and graceful, her life was short and fleeting. She adorned a new palace to prolong her life, but she never returned to her homeland. Her beauty faded and desolate, she lived a secluded and untroubled life. She released her carriage and horses on the mountain peak, where the night was dark and gloomy. The autumn wind was harsh and desolate, the cassia branches fell and perished. Her spirit wandered alone, her essence drifting beyond the borders. She entrusted herself to the morning sun for a long time, lamenting the unfinished beauty of her youth. Her boundless life remained unsaid, only the young and inexplicable wandering remained. The fragrant coriander and lotus awaited the wind, their aroma spreading far and wide. Her graceful figure was radiant and delicate, her beauty ethereal and captivating." Zhuang. Swallows swarmed and caressed the pillars, their graceful forms gazing at the flowing water. Aroused and moved, the heart followed, embracing the beauty without understanding. Joyful intimacy turned to parting, night and night filled with dreams and uncertainties. Suddenly transformed, never to return, the soul soared free. How scattered are the souls, lingering in sorrow and hesitation, the path growing ever longer, then suddenly departing in a daze. Crossing westward, vanishing without a trace. A pervasive, hazy stillness, silence and stillness, thoughts like flowing waves, lingering in the heart. "I held the elegy Sima Xiangru wrote for Lady Li, and aloud recited it before the altar…"

As the wind died down and the night grew still, Master Benqing's chanting pierced the eardrums and lingered in everyone's minds. The six masters nodded and stood still, continuously turning their prayer beads in time with Master Benqing's chanting. Miao Ba simply stared down at the pile of yellow paper ingots a meter or so away, a light sheen of sweat beading on his forehead. As I recited the eulogy for the third time, the soul-summoning banner in Grandma's hand suddenly and inexplicably fluttered in the still night. A beam of light shot out from the golden bowl on the altar—a light of indescribable color, seemingly multicolored yet dim and indistinct, like a dazzling black light yet constantly shifting its hue. This light was short, but its force was immense, like a volcano suppressed for millennia suddenly erupting. Though brief, the light was enough to make those in the courtyard afraid to look directly at it. It seemed to vanish in an instant. At this moment, I forgot to recite the eulogy, and Miao Ba forgot to sweat. Master Benqing continued chanting, and the six masters paused briefly before resuming their prayer beads. However, Master Benqing's chanting grew faster and faster, and the prayer beads in the six masters' hands twirled faster and faster. The chanting and bead-twirling were so rapid it was irritating. Just as I was... Just as we were about to recite the eulogy for the fourth time, the wooden fish on the altar suddenly began to ring, one ring after another. I thought it was Miao Ba, but Miao Ba had already started burning the yellow paper on the ground as instructed by his master. The wooden fish continued to ring steadily, one ring after another. My grandmother was closest to the altar, followed by Miao Ba. Miao Ba's forehead was constantly covered in sweat. I didn't know if it was because the fire burning the paper was too hot or because Miao Ba was very scared. Fortunately, Miao Ba's master was Master Qingyun, the most taciturn and composed of the six masters, and he had followed Abbot Benqing for so long. Even though he was sweating profusely, Miao Ba still kept adding paper money to the fire. At this moment, I also felt gusts of cold wind mixed with the damned sound of the wooden fish. For the first time in my life, I found the sound of the wooden fish unpleasant and terrifying. It didn't seem to be the sound of a wooden mallet striking the wooden fish, but rather fingernails striking the wooden fish. The sound was thin and weak, and occasionally made a sharp, grating sound as fingernails scratched the wooden fish. It was inexplicably desolate...

The wind grew stronger and stronger, so strong that it was hard to stand. The Buddhist prayer beads on Master Benqing's chest were almost blown off, and the Qingxin rings around the gilded dragon head on Guangle's Zen staff jingled in the wind...

Grandma pounded grains onto the soul-summoning banner, chanting, "Return, return, soul, return! Sorrowful mountains and marshes, wandering spirits, red ants like elephants, hanging from people like ghosts, all are filled with sorrow and obedience. My Buddha is merciful, grant you rebirth." This was the first time I had seen Grandma use this "Nirvana Technique." My Zuo family's Yin-Yang technique integrates Zen and Taoism, and this "Nirvana Technique" is one of them. All the grains of rice pounded onto the soul-summoning banner fell into the golden bowl, and the bowl immediately emitted a mysterious light that illuminated the sky. The sound of the wooden fish abruptly stopped.

It was quiet, very quiet, except for the sound of dripping water and the chanting of Monk Benqing. The dripping water caused sweat to drip onto Miaoba's forehead, because the fire in front of him, which contained a few yellow paper ingots, suddenly went out the moment the mysterious light shot out from the golden cymbals. It went out without a sound, without even leaving a trace of smoke, except for paper ash. Miaoba's sweat kept dripping, but he was still kneeling there with his hands clasped together, responding to Monk Benqing's chanting and constantly turning his prayer beads. He was truly a stubborn little monk.

Grandma waved to me and pointed at Miao Ba. At this moment, the mysterious light in the golden bowl almost engulfed the entire sky and the entire world. There was nothing else here except us. Even the trees in the yard had lost their vitality, although they still stood in the surrounding soil. Following Grandma's instructions, I quickly pulled Miao Ba to the side.

The instant Miao Ba and I stepped back, Monk Benqing suddenly chanted a Buddhist mantra loudly: "Amitabha Buddha," rose from his seat, and slammed his Guang Le Zen staff down on the golden bowl. The world remained deathly silent. The moment the golden bowl touched the dragon head of the staff, it shattered, crumbled, and began to crack from the rim, spreading little by little across the entire bowl. The cracks grew finer and finer until they were as fine as a hair. As the sight of the shattered golden bowl was breathtaking, the last wisp of mysterious light burst forth from within, and the shattered gold dust dissipated and scattered like dust.

The moment the gold dust covered the altar, a woman suddenly appeared on it, bathed in a mystical light. She hovered above the altar, her form gradually revealing itself, until her entire body was fully revealed. Apart from the monk Benqing, the other six masters remained standing with their heads bowed, their hands twirling prayer beads. Miaoba and I, however, were completely stunned. This woman was breathtakingly beautiful, elegant and poised, radiant like a piece of Kunlun jade. She wore a light yellow short jacket and an apricot-colored skirt, paired with a bright red belt embroidered with gold phoenixes. Over this, she wore a flowing black robe with multicolored gold trim, and a red gauze draped with gold silk threads, the ends of which were adorned with countless jade pearls. Her entire being was exceptionally luxurious, the dazzling gold and red hues making her seem nothing like a ghost…

Traditionally, the deceased are dressed in plain white prison clothes before being escorted to the Ten Courts of Hell. Only those who ascend to the Heavenly Realm and become celestial beings or immortals are allowed to wear colorful robes. However, this female ghost is as vibrant and dazzling as someone who is still alive. In addition, her flowing cloud-like hair makes her even more beautiful. The soft hair hanging down from her right ear falls to her chest, adding a touch of allure and reducing the hint of demonic charm. The ornaments on her head constantly proclaim her identity from over a thousand years ago: she wears an exquisite eight-treasure gold-carved headdress, a glass and five-colored jade phoenix hairpin on her right, and is adorned with white pearl hairpins. As the wind blows, her clothes flutter, truly deserving the title of unparalleled enchantress...

"Amitabha Buddha!" Monk Qingben's chant broke the incredible silence, but it did not diminish Madam Li's beauty. Madam Li slowly landed, and the soul-summoning banner in Grandma's hand spontaneously combusted as Madam Li landed.

Madam Li bowed gracefully before Abbot Benqing, but her demeanor only made me more terrified. Generally, ghosts and spirits would find it difficult to even approach within ten meters of a highly virtuous monk, let alone kneel before him. Humans possess vital energy, and ghosts possess their own spirits. Vital energy is unique to the mortal realm; all living beings, regardless of age or strength, possess yang energy to protect themselves from evil. Yin spirits, on the other hand, are unique to the lower realms of spirits, beyond the animal realm. Whether new or old, ghosts possess yin spirits to gather spiritual energy. Yin spirits naturally belong to the evil path, and thus, they avoid people with strong vital energy out of fear of their disturbed souls. Those who practice divination and Zen have particularly strong yang energy, which even a hundred-year-old yin spirit cannot contend with, let alone before so many high-ranking monks. Her beautiful attire already gave me a sense of death, and now her behavior made me even more uneasy…

"I'm afraid the path of this wronged Lady Li from the Han Dynasty is far more complicated than Miao Ba had described beforehand!" I suppose Grandma thought the same thing as me...

(II) Night Ritual Chapter 5 Soul Transformation

"Namo Amitabha Buddha—" Abbot Benqing chanted the Buddha's name again, while Madam Li remained kneeling before the altar, not rising. "Bodhi has no tree, the bright mirror is not a stand; originally there is nothing, where can dust alight?"

Madam Li still did not get up.

"Enough, enough, Empress Xiaowu, please rise," Monk Benqing called out the posthumous title bestowed upon Lady Li by Emperor Wu of Han after her death. Only then did Lady Li rise, her dark eyes staring directly at Monk Benqing...

Suddenly, my clothes were tugged. Miao Ba whispered, "She can't talk." Miao Ba was quite far from the altar and Madam Li at this time, and his sweat had been dried by the wind. However, since the start of the ceremony, no one had spoken except for Abbot Benqing and Grandma. Miao Ba's sudden words startled me. When he saw that I didn't react, he tugged at me again. "Shh—" At this moment, there was no time to chat with him.

"Empress Xiaowu, with your royal lineage, you could have been reincarnated into the three realms. Why do you still hold onto the events of over a thousand years ago, causing countless injuries and ultimately becoming a demon?" Monk Benqing stepped forward, twirling his prayer beads.

Lady Li gazed at the monk Benqing for a long time, refusing to answer. Only the sounds of chanting poetry echoed around her: "In the north there is a beautiful woman. Peerless and independent. One glance could topple a city. A second glance could topple a nation. How could one not know the power of such beauty? Such a woman is hard to find again." Historical records state that this was the song sung by Lady Li's brother when he presented her to Emperor Wu of Han. After Lady Li gained favor, Emperor Wu often sang this song. Presumably, for centuries, these lyrics have lingered in Lady Li's heart. Even though she didn't speak, she continued to chant endlessly…

After a long silence, Grandma suddenly said, "Benqing, she—can't speak." Monk Benqing slowly nodded. Then I noticed that Grandma, Abbot Benqing, and the six masters in the courtyard were all staring at me. My heart sank—the vengeful ghost from over a thousand years ago, having long consumed yin spirits, was still filled with resentment, grievances, and yin energy. How could she possibly speak? The only way to communicate was—to borrow a body to continue the soul. Among those present, I was the only young woman. In other words, only by lending my body to Madam Li could this ritual continue, allowing Madam Li to express her grievances. But the problem was, if I lent her my body, my soul would leave my body. The pain of leaving my body was negligible; if she refused to return my body in the end, then a thousand years later, I would be the one to become a demon—but…

Miao Ba was stunned for a moment, then seemed to understand. Seeing that I didn't speak, he suddenly said, "Sister Zuo, I'll guard your soul..."

"Okay!" I interrupted him, the first half of which was enough to get me out of there.

As a widow, if I were to pass through to the underworld, my soul would have to attach itself to a living person. Otherwise, I fear I would be taken to the City of the Wrongfully Dead by the Black and White Impermanence within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The person I attach myself to would also be in danger. To put it bluntly, "attachment" means absorbing yang energy to conceal my soul, so that the ghost messengers wouldn't realize I'm a wandering, unclaimed spirit. To put it even more bluntly, it means that Miao Ba would share half of his yang energy with me, which is to say, he would share half of his life with me. To put it even more bluntly, it means we would both die together...

I walked up to Madam Li, removed the obsidian prayer beads that Abbot Benqing had given me, and placed them on the altar. Madam Li suddenly bowed to me. "She understands, and perhaps she also wants to settle this grievance," I thought.

Master Benqing also clasped his hands together, raised them above his head, and bowed deeply to me. Then, he began to chant the "Kāvatāra Sūtra" while his grandmother waved a banner and sang: "Sattva. Sugataye. Arhate. Samyak Sambuddha Sattva Buddha Koti Svāsvara. Buddhabhādi. Sadhābhābhān Sattva. Samyak Sambuddha. Koti Nam Sārabhāka. Sānghānamū Arodhānādhi Mǐti Sīmāsāna Ni. Vasini Maṇi Gāna..."—I had tried to memorize this passage of the "Māvatāra Sūtra" for a long time but could never remember it. However, listening to his grandmother's slightly tearful chanting this time, I think that even if I wanted to forget it, I probably wouldn't be able to...

I could hear the murmuring of chanting, the whistling of the spirit-summoning banners, even the sound of fingers turning prayer beads. These sounds grew clearer, sharper, and more irresistible. My world began to feel empty and hazy, dark and oppressive. My body felt rooted to the ground, while my soul was being forcibly shattered, with no escape. It felt as if every hair on my body had been plucked out—pain, soreness, itching, or something more. This feeling persisted until I heard the chanting, the spirit-summoning banners, and the sound of prayer beads again. Then I saw it—I saw a woman gradually... As she receded into the distance, the woman's skirt emanated an aura from me—the aura of death. In the past decade, Zuo Weiyang had witnessed countless souls, but this was the first time she had ever felt her own soul drifting outside her body. This feeling filled the entire world, my entire world, like air. The woman's skirt swayed gracefully, and my three souls and seven spirits dissipated little by little. "Ah—" I heard such a mournful and distant cry for the first time. "Was that me?" This was the last thought remaining in my body. The excruciating pain made me numb to all other sensations…

...

“…I can’t forget, it’s impossible to forget…” A woman’s voice pulled me back to this world. When I woke up, I was a semi-transparent soul resting on Miao Ba’s shoulder. I didn’t even know what shape I was in. I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t speak. The intense pain just now had robbed my soul of its abilities. Miao Ba could sense me, and he just nodded. Yes, I was just an invisible soul now. After I absorbed him, he was almost done too. What else could I say?

The woman standing before the altar not far away is me, yet not me. Zuo Weiyang has never possessed such an inviolable, dignified, and noble aura. There is also a red cinnabar mark on her forehead, which Master Benqing must have painted there to protect my original body. After all, there is still a soul left in my body to sustain my life; otherwise, I would probably have become a dried-up corpse when the thousand-year-old female soul departed…

"Now, I have set up an altar to clear your name of a thousand-year-old grievance. As long as you let go of the past and resolve your inner turmoil, you can be reborn in the cycle of reincarnation..." I don't know what they said before, but now Master Benqing's expression has begun to become serious.

"The autumn wind rises, white clouds fly, grasses and trees turn yellow and fall, geese fly south. Orchids are beautiful, chrysanthemums are fragrant, I cherish my beloved, I cannot forget her. We sail in a large boat across the Fen River, traversing the middle stream, stirring up white waves. Flutes and drums sound, oarsmen sing, joy is extreme, yet sorrow is abundant. Youth is fleeting, what will become of us in old age! When you wrote this poem, you surely never imagined we would meet like this. I, the Empress, would never wish to become a demon. Today, I only wish to fulfill this thousand-year-old wish." Lady Li's voice was gentle and melodious, but when she recited the poem, it was exceptionally poignant…

"A thousand-year-old wish, a thousand-year-old wish, what is your wish? I am willing to unravel it for you, only hoping that in your next reincarnation you will not harm any living beings..." Master Benqing waved his hands to signal the others to step back, then stood before me, or rather, before Madam Li, with his hands clasped together, ready to hear what Madam Li's wish was that had haunted her for a thousand years, preventing her from being reborn...

After the six masters and Grandma had all retreated outside the Dharma circle, I—no, Madam Li—suddenly knelt down on the ground again and began to sob… The sobs were mournful and sorrowful, as if the grievances of thousands of years were hidden in these tears. Even I, who was already an invisible soul, couldn’t help but feel sad, while Miao Ba, whose cultivation was still shallow, already had tears in his eyes…

"Please rise, Madam. Today, I wish to hear your grievances of the past thousand years. Even if it means exchanging my life for yours, I will have no complaints..." It is unclear whether the Venerable Master Benqing was also moved by the crying, but his attitude softened considerably, and he even felt a little guilty, after all, he was once a party involved.

Although I really wanted to know the injustices suffered by Madam Li over the past thousand years, Madam Li remained kneeling on the ground, and after listening to Monk Benqing's words, she cried even harder...

(II) Night Ritual Chapter Six: The Ghostly Cry of the Dead

Yes, how can the injustices of thousands of years be erased with just a few tears? Lady Li cried for a long time before straightening her clothes and getting up. I was truly glad that she stopped crying, because if Empress Xiaowu had continued to cry, not only would my soul have been reduced to ashes, but even Miaoba would have gone to see Buddha immediately...

Weeping because of injustice is understandable, but the weeping of this Lady Li before us must be questioned, for this beauty's weeping is—the weeping of a ghost. When encountering a shrill, piercing, and unbearable sound, people often describe it as "the howling of ghosts and wolves," and this "ghostly weeping" is one such example. In fact, neither "ghostly weeping" nor "wolf howling" is unpleasant to hear. "Wolf howling," as the name suggests, refers to the sound of a wolf howling. The frequency of a wolf's sound waves is actually within the range that humans can tolerate; it's not as sharp and unbearable as a fingernail scratching glass. However, whenever we hear a wolf howling, what we feel is fear, dread, and even trembling. The biggest reason for this is—acceptance. Wolves howl at the moon on the night of a full moon, not because they feel lonely or are practicing some kind of spiritual cultivation, as people imagine. The wolf howls at the moon simply to release its pent-up emotions. When an enemy drives someone out of their territory, the cry carries a threat and a form of coercion. It is precisely because we accept this threat and coercion that we feel fear and trembling, just as we feel joy upon hearing a hen cluck. Similarly, the wailing of ghosts is different. Among all ghosts, whether evil or hungry, only the wailing of wronged ghosts truly weep. The cries of other spirits and monsters are merely like the panting of a cat, while the cries of wailing ghosts are truly filled with the emotions of injustice and grievance. This is the most terrifying aspect of the wailing of ghosts. This sound can transport you into the memory of the wailing ghost, allowing you to experience her past injustices and suffering. If the wailing lasts too long, a person may die within the memory of the wailing ghost, thus adding another wronged ghost, and a thousand-year-old one at that…

Although Lady Li had stopped crying, everyone present remained in a somber atmosphere. Only now did I realize the sorrow that Empress Xiaowu had endured for over two thousand years…

First generation

Beneath the Terrace of Forgetfulness, by the Bridge of Helplessness, a long line of souls, about to be reborn, waited to receive Meng Po's soup before entering the cycle of reincarnation. Lady Li, dressed in white, was among them. In the Han Dynasty, imperial consorts were ranked in eight ranks: Empress, Lady, Beauty, Good Lady, Eighth Prince, Seventh Prince, Senior Attendant, and Junior Attendant. Although Lady Li was a Lady, Emperor Wu of Han buried her with the rites of an Empress, allowing her to be reborn within days of death. At this moment, Lady Li was no different from the other ghosts, her eyes vacant, her movements wooden, blindly following the line towards the Bridge of Helplessness. But just as Lady Li was about to step onto the bridge before Meng Po, a whirlwind suddenly blew across the River of Helplessness. This wind was peculiar, having no origin and no destination, appearing suddenly on the river and wandering about, scattering the line of ghosts, and even sweeping some into the river itself…

In an instant, the strange wind vanished on the Naihe Bridge, and of course, Lady Li disappeared along with it...

Inside the octagonal Luohan bed draped with gauze, behind the colorful screen embroidered with gold and thin gauze, Lady Li slowly awoke and regained consciousness under the incantation of the shaman. Seated outside the two layers of gauze was a dignified and imposing man. At this moment, I was merely Lady Li's memory; I could not see the face of the man outside the gauze curtain, but I thought that must be the primordial spirit of Monk Benqing—Emperor Wu of Han.

Since ancient times, everyone has praised Emperor Wu of Han as a wise ruler. But after this battle, I realized that this wise ruler, like many emperors throughout history, was a womanizer who couldn't resist the allure of women. But it's not surprising, given Liu Che's imposing stature, handsome face, and status as the ruler of this vast empire. It would be strange if he weren't a womanizer. It was just a pity for Lady Li, who spent her life vying for favor among the beauties of the harem, and even in death, she remained locked away in the deep palace...

As a memory, I not only saw it clearly, but also felt it deeply—after Lady Li's soul was summoned back by the shaman, she should have been sent back to the underworld within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. However, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, insisted on acting like an emperor and refused to send Lady Li away. The shaman had no choice but to kill one of Lady Li's maids and tamper with her body to impersonate her...

Since ancient times, the only way to "eliminate" a ghost's place in the afterlife from hell is through "substitution." In other words, completely eliminating a ghost's place is utterly impossible. This "substitution" involves a highly skilled sorcerer casting a spell on a paper effigy inscribed with the ghost's birth date and time, sending it into the six realms of reincarnation to replace the soul to be removed. However, the effigy's reincarnation in this realm will die within three days, but this does not affect the original soul's existence. But this Lady Li will later be posthumously honored as "Empress Xiaowu," a title that cannot be replaced by a mere paper effigy. Therefore, the only way is to exchange a person for another, and then fill in the maid's name on the paper effigy—only then can it be considered a true deception.

From then on, Lady Li guarded Liu Che day and night in the "Yanglu Palace," where she had lived in the past. But how could there be a secret in the harem, which was full of women? After about a year and a half, the news was leaked. By this time, Liu Che had grown tired of the romance between the living and the dead. How could talking with ghosts all night compare to the realness of being surrounded by the soft and fragrant beauty in his arms? Unfortunately, the Empress and the Crown Prince conspired to kill a maid in Yanglu Palace every other day. They even murdered Liu Che's new favorite, a beauty named Xiushu. They also consulted a shaman who said that the palace was filled with too much yin energy. So, a few days later, Liu Che ordered the "Yanglu Palace" to be sealed off and ordered the shaman to expel Lady Li as soon as possible. What was most heartbreaking was that from the time Lady Li's Yanglu Palace was destroyed until the shaman forcibly expelled her, Liu Che never appeared in Lady Li's palace again, let alone sought justice for her. He must be afraid. No matter how beautiful or charming Lady Li was, she was already a lost soul who had returned to the underworld. The emperor was also a human being, so how could he be so careless?

But Liu Che didn't know that Lady Li, as a newly deceased soul, was now forced to remain in the mortal world, facing the mighty emperor every day. The oppressive yang energy of this situation almost caused Lady Li excruciating pain, her skin cracking open. As a memory, I truly felt this pain...

However, just as Madam Li decided to return to the underworld, the sorcerer did not grant her wish. Fearing that her crimes of deceiving heaven and earth would be exposed, the sorcerer sealed Madam Li inside an ancient porcelain bottle. Inside this bottle, I don't know how much time passed, nor could I distinguish between day and night; there was only darkness, boundless darkness...

Until one day, a series of drops of blood broke the seal in the bottle, and Madam Li was able to see the light of day again. Standing in front of her was a Taoist priest. The priest was tall and slender with a handsome face and a somewhat otherworldly air. He used his own blood to awaken Madam Li and stayed by her side day and night, taking meticulous care of her and saying touching words from time to time. Although I did not hear these words with my own ears, I could feel the sweetness of those memories.

Years later, Madam Li embarked on another romance between a human and a ghost. The Taoist priest, fearing that Madam Li's three souls and seven spirits would dissipate if she stayed in the mortal world for too long, fed them with spirits every day...

This life lasted for about half a year. Then, the Taoist priest persuaded Lady Li to enter Emperor Wu of Han's jade seal, intending to assassinate him and help him achieve his imperial ambitions. Lady Li, lamenting Emperor Wu's ruthlessness and the Taoist priest's fickle nature, complied with his wishes. However, when Lady Li returned to the palace, she learned that more than twenty years had passed, and Liu Che was now old and gray. Lady Li, inside the jade seal, accompanied Emperor Wu in court day after day. Gradually, her hatred for Emperor Wu was worn away by time. But when she decided to withdraw from the plan, the Taoist priest flew into a rage and sealed her back into a porcelain bottle. Only then did Lady Li realize the Taoist priest's evil intentions. This pain was even greater than Emperor Wu's abandonment...

Women, whether millions of years ago or today, cherish love as much as their lives!

(II) Dark Night Ritual Chapter Seven: The Karmic Obstacles of Ghostly Cries

Second generation

This time, it had been sealed within this dark porcelain bottle for who knows how many years. The Taoist priest was finally punished for defying the will of Heaven, and the seal on the porcelain bottle was naturally broken. Madam Li was now truly in a situation where there was no way to go to Heaven or Earth. The name of Madam Li, Empress Xiaowu, had long been replaced by that maid in the Book of Reincarnation in the Underworld. If she wanted to remain in the human world, she had to absorb Yin spirits every day to replenish the Yin energy in her body in order to maintain balance.

This "yin spirit" is actually a soul, but this kind of soul refers to a wandering soul, and it is a "wandering soul". What kind of person's soul can be considered a wandering soul after death?

According to this "fate" theory, those born in the first or second month of the year of the Ox, the seventh or eighth month of the year of the Sheep, the fourth or fifth month of the year of the Dragon, and the tenth or eleventh month of the year of the Dog are all considered to have died unjustly and thus can be considered wandering souls. According to the "Ziwei" astrology, girls born during the following periods—when the Seven Killings Star enters its short orbit in the Earth month, the Broken Army Star enters its short orbit in the Wood month, and the Honest Star enters its short orbit in the Metal month—are also considered wandering souls if they die before reaching adulthood.

But such coincidences are rare in this world, and besides, Madam Li wasn't the only soul trapped in this state. Even though she wandered day and night among the desolate graveyards, she couldn't find a "spirit" to feed on every day. The memory of that time remained vivid—similar to the feeling of hunger, except that ghosts don't have stomachs and therefore don't feel stomach pain. However, without a "spirit" to consume her body for a long time, she felt completely empty, trembling, and gradually melted away from her feet to her head. As she melted, her body became translucent and then completely transparent—disappearing entirely. For several months, Madam Li didn't find a spirit. At this point, the area below her calves had become translucent. Ghosts, in the eyes of humans, have no physical form, only a tangible shape. Now, even that shape had changed; this translucent lower leg resembled a candle that had melted after being heated for half an hour…

Whether human or ghost, watching yourself slowly disappear and melt away, starting from your toes, day by day is undoubtedly terrifying; especially since Lady Li was once the most beautiful woman in the harem, and her current form was something she could never accept. It was from that moment that Lady Li began to learn how to "create spirits," which meant intentionally causing people to die unjustly at specific times, thus turning them into spirits...

It was at that time that Madam Li truly embarked on a path of no return...