Chapter 85: Carrying the Dead (2 / 2)

The beggar's strange behavior frightened my friend's mother. She thought, "How could someone drink such hot water without burning themselves?" But the beggar simply smiled and said, "Thank you, kind host. Could I trouble you for one more bowl?"

In a state of disbelief, my friend's mother poured him another bowl, urging, "Be careful, it's very hot." But the beggar didn't listen, drinking it all down in one gulp, and then another, until he had consumed several bowls. By the time he was done, my friend's mother was utterly shocked, having gone through three whole kettles of hot water.

The beggar then said, "I'm a land spirit who has cultivated myself into a human form. I've been wandering for months without anyone offering me food or water. Today, you have shown me kindness, and I thank you for that."

My friend's mother was too stunned to speak, but she nodded quietly. Then the beggar turned to my friend, grasped his hand, and with a sudden pinch, he declared, "I've no way to repay you, but I've healed your illness. Your son will be gifted with dexterous hands and will make a living through craftsmanship. I can't stay here any longer—goodbye."

And with that, he took the leftover food and left. The next day, my friend's frostbitten hands were completely healed—and they never returned again.

Now, you might wonder how I know all of this. My friend was the one doing renovations on my house at the time, and we were talking one day when he casually mentioned that he used to be a carpenter. It turned out he made his fortune by using his skilled hands, starting from humble beginnings.

I tell you this story to give you a little insight into land spirits—sometimes, a beggar might not be what they seem.

At this moment, the old Daoist led Jiang Shiyu and me into the temple. His face was wrinkled and resembled a rat's, but he greeted us warmly, "The magpies outside have been calling all morning, and it seems they have invited you here. Come in, come in! I've prepared food for you."

"Thank you for your hospitality." I smiled.

"Of course, of course." The old Daoist warmly ushered us into the side hall, which was in the Gen position of the Bagua array. Inside, there was a table full of vegetarian dishes. For someone like him, who couldn't earn money through regular labor, this food was a rare treat.

Jiang Shiyu and I sat down to eat. As we dined, I spoke up, "I've come for a favor."

The old Daoist put down his chopsticks. "Of course, please, anything you need."

I opened my green satchel and took out two small red cloth-wrapped items. They were the two souls I had captured when I saved Cui Hai, trapped in grasshoppers and spiders. Both were wandering ghosts—one that missed the chance to reincarnate and another that had failed to follow the proper time. To stop them from causing harm, I had captured them but never figured out what to do with them.

The old Daoist squinted and chuckled, "You're truly kind-hearted, Master. You came all this way for these two little ghosts."

"Sealing these ghosts requires mud and yellow earth, and they must be properly transcended over 49 days," I explained. "I don't have the time for that, and keeping them with me is impractical. Since I'm passing by, I thought I might leave them in your care. Also, there's another matter I would like your help with. I believe only you can help me."

The old Daoist, who owed me a significant favor for helping him ascend, agreed without hesitation. He then took two jars that resembled the old-fashioned cricket cages used in Beijing. He carefully placed the grasshopper and spider inside, then sat across from me, looking me square in the eye. "This life, I owe you only one person's debt. Speak—what do you need?"

Mice are born diggers. They live underground and have an instinctive connection with the earth veins. They can sense changes in the earth's energy before disasters strike. Since the old Daoist had practiced in the Hidden Dragon Cave, I knew he had some understanding of feng shui, so I specifically came to him.

"I'm looking for a feng shui treasure site, one that can connect with the heavens and the earth, drawing in incense and blessings."

The old Daoist pondered for a while before saying, "Are you seeking to establish an ancestral hall?"

I nodded, then dipped my chopsticks into the clear water and wrote the character "神" (god) on the table. The old Daoist's pupils expanded, and he nodded in understanding. "I see. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Should you ever need help, I'll repay your kindness."

I smiled. "I wonder if such a place exists nearby?"

He thought for a moment and then said, "There is indeed one place, but as you know, the earth energy in a hundred miles around here has been absorbed by the Hidden Dragon Cave. It's very difficult to find something nearby. However, there is one exception—just five miles from here, there is a place that should be an excellent 'Four Symbols Ground'. Our temple is located on the Qinglong position of that site. The 'Four Symbols Ground' is perfect, with Qinglong stretching long, Zhuque soaring, and Xuanwu looming—except for one thing: the Baihu refuses to submit. Baihu crouches on the ground, holding a corpse in its mouth. I thought this would be difficult, so I came here for guidance. If you can tame the Baihu, that place will certainly become an excellent feng shui site. Once that's done, you can establish your ancestral hall and reach the Heavenly Heart."