Chapter Four: Life and Death

The moon hung high in the sky as the ritual was about to commence. Luchen stood silently behind Master Mingwei, his eyes burning with resentment as he gazed upon the grand mansion. Yet beneath that resentment lay an endless, helpless sorrow.

As the appointed hour drew near, Master Mingwei grasped his disciple’s hand and said, "Don’t be like this. This calamity is mine to face; I cannot escape it, no matter how I try. There’s no need to bring further misfortune upon ourselves by resisting fate. Besides, perhaps this ordeal is a form of merit. When I was young and first learned the Way, I too dreamed of ascending to immortality in broad daylight, or of becoming a wandering sage like Master Zhang, an immortal on earth. Alas, the fates never granted me such a destiny. You are my only disciple. I have always regarded you as my own child. This merit I am about to undertake is not mine to enjoy, but you can. I remember the day I returned to the mountain, walking along the path, and I heard your cries. I knew then my disciple had arrived. From that moment, I felt a sense of destiny: that you would be the hope of Xuanguang Temple, and that under your hand it would, like Dragon-Tiger Mountain or Wudang, become the foremost among our sects. Perhaps one day you may even encounter true immortality. If that day comes, do not forget to tell your old master." As Master Mingwei spoke, his voice grew quieter, until it was nearly inaudible, but tears glistened at the corners of his eyes. Who among mortals can truly face the terror of life and death?

"Master..." Luchen, despite having lived two lives, now felt his heart truly torn to pieces. He burst into tears and threw himself into Mingwei’s embrace.

"I haven’t seen you shed tears since you were a child," Mingwei said, a faint, comforting smile on his lips. He leaned in and whispered, "I may not have the destiny for immortality, but Patriarch Lü once declared before all the disciples that our sect’s scriptures hold the key to such fate. Before leaving for his travels, he left behind a sword, a book, and a copper coin. The coin is with you, the sword is in my hand, and the book lies somewhere among the three thousand volumes in our temple. I have searched for it many times and never found it. After me, you will be the abbot; you will have time to look more closely. Perhaps our patriarch intended that only by reading the scriptures in their entirety can we glimpse the ultimate Way."

"Yes, Master," Luchen choked out.

"Enough, don’t cry. As those who walk beyond the mundane, we must treat life and death lightly; only the heart of the Dao endures. Haven’t you always said you’ve never seen true Daoist magic? Tonight, you shall witness the genuine rites of our sect."

With that, Master Mingwei drew Luchen close and began to draw talismans, explaining each stroke as he went. Normally Luchen paid these lessons little heed, but tonight for the first time he studied with utmost seriousness.

When all the talismans were complete, midnight had arrived. Master Mingwei placed Luchen behind him, lit incense and candles, and prepared to face the vengeful spirit in a battle to the death.

A night wind swept in, chilling Luchen to the bone. He stood quickly, but Master Mingwei had already set up the ritual altar. He picked up a handful of ordinary white rice with his peach-wood sword and scattered it forward. Instantly, the candlelight atop the altar flared brightly, startling Luchen. Was it possible that such ordinary rice could burn?

"By my command, I summon the gods! Left and right, clear your sight. Hasten as the law decrees!" Mingwei chanted, opening his spiritual eyes to perceive the yin and yang of the world. He stepped in the pattern of the Big Dipper, his peach-wood sword weaving arcs of light as he searched for the old madam’s wandering soul.

"Righteous energies of heaven and earth, let all filth be dispelled. By the true law of the Five Thunders, destroy all evil! I humbly invoke the Celestial Lord of Thunder—hasten as the law decrees!" Mingwei pointed with his sword. Suddenly, lightning split the sky, a thunderbolt striking a tree before the house. Luchen jumped in fright—his master truly wielded magic!

"You deserve to die!" With thunder crashing down, the great tree toppled, smoke curling upward as the apparition of the old madam emerged in midair. Her face was ashen, her eyes weeping blood. Who else could it be?

"Why persist, madam? You have entered the path of wicked spirits. Hell is endless suffering; only by turning back can you find the shore. If you seek vengeance, I am willing to sacrifice my own life and ask the underworld for justice—why drag the innocent into this?"

"Innocent? Ha! That wretched son and his vile wife despised me, locked me away, and let me starve to death. Day and night I wept—who pitied me? I bore him for ten months, raised him for twenty hard years. I once did good for the village, yet this is my fate. Where is justice? I was proud all my life. Do you think I’ll rest without taking a few lives in return?" The old madam laughed with a chilling malice. Blood gushed from her eyes, staining her whole body a dreadful red. Her fingernails suddenly grew long and sharp as claws.

"Give me your life!" With a furious howl, she floated toward Master Mingwei, her talon-like hands slashing at him.

"Heaven and earth boundless, divine weapons enforce the law!" Mingwei swiftly activated a talisman. Fire flared in his hands, and the peach-wood sword glowed red-hot, as if forged in flame. Sword and claws clashed in midair, ringing with the sound of metal upon metal, leaving Luchen both anxious and amazed.

Before long, the spiritual power on Mingwei’s sword was spent, and he was forced to retreat toward the altar as he fought. Just as he was about to ignite another talisman, the old madam let out a wild, vengeful laugh. Suddenly, fierce winds howled from all sides, scattering the talismans into the air. In desperation, Mingwei bit his finger and smeared fresh blood upon his sword.

"Heaven and earth boundless, divine weapon exorcise evil!" Mingwei recited, hurling the sword forward. The blade shone with a red glow, shooting straight at the old madam. She could not dodge in time—the sword grazed her shoulder, and blue smoke rose from the wound. With a shriek, she grew even more frenzied and charged at Mingwei recklessly.

Unfazed, Mingwei drew a golden talisman and struck out, but the old madam twisted aside, and the talisman missed. She seized the opportunity to slash Mingwei’s face, leaving a blackening, poisonous wound. Mingwei staggered, nearly collapsing. Luchen rushed to catch him and held him tightly.

"No time to bother with you, little priest. Since you’re both here, die together!" the old madam cackled, her body dissolving into black mist as she lunged at them. Terrified, Luchen tried to drag his master away, but escape was impossible.

Triumphant, the old madam reached out with her clawed hands—but suddenly, a golden light burst from Luchen's body, stopping her short. In that instant of confusion, Mingwei mustered his remaining strength and slapped a talisman onto her forehead. The old madam froze in terror, instantly paralyzed.

"Wretched priest, what are you doing?" she shrieked.

"Madam, the balance of yin and yang is fixed. Why cling so obstinately? This is the Rebirth Talisman, crafted by Patriarch Lü himself, to guide lost souls to peace. Allow me to recite the Rebirth Sutra and deliver you to the blessed realm, so you may enter the cycle of rebirth. With the boundless power and compassion of Lady Pingxin, you shall find a new life, free from the sufferings of your descendants."

"You’re already as good as dead from my wound. Why make such a sacrifice to save me?"

"The Way of Heaven is impartial; retribution falls where it may. You committed no great wrong in life—how could I ignore what is just and right?" Mingwei replied, then had Luchen help him to the mat before the altar, where he began to chant softly:

"The Supreme One commands: I transcend you, lonely soul, all ghosts and spirits, all beings receive grace. Those with heads transcend, the headless ascend. Victims of spear and blade, of drowning or noose, of secret or open death, all wrongful deaths. Creditors, enemies, those who demand life, kneel before my altar, the Eight Trigrams shine forth. Emerge from the depths, be reborn elsewhere. Be you man or woman, your fate is your own. Rich or poor, you reap what you sow. I command your salvation—depart swiftly for rebirth."

Mingwei’s voice grew ever fainter, while the talisman on the old madam’s brow blazed with golden light. Her face lost all trace of resentment. Suddenly, a shaft of golden light fell from the heavens. The old madam gazed deeply at Master Mingwei, then bowed in profound gratitude.

As the golden light faded, she was gone. The wheel of reincarnation turned, and her soul vanished at last.

Only Luchen remained, clutching his master’s lifeless body, weeping in utter despair.