Chapter 013: Cultivation Without Cultivating the Heart

Fortunately, I reacted quickly; otherwise, even ten baths would not have rid Grandpa Gu of the stench clinging to him. Once Gu Yu had expelled all the remaining filth from his body, I burned mugwort in every corner of the room to dispel the odor.

Grandpa Gu had wanted to help, but the smell was too much for him. He could only wait outside until I finished, so we could have dinner together.

After I was done and came out of the house, I drew half a barrel of well water to wash my face and hair.

"Child, why are you using cold water? Don’t catch a chill!" Grandpa Gu grumbled at me. "Come, come, hurry and eat. Later, your sister-in-law will heat some water for you to bathe."

When I sat down, I saw the table was laden with dishes, the bowl of chicken meat most enticing of all.

Before I ate, I checked the time. It was five minutes past five. There wasn’t much time left before the last bus to town, and there was still a distance from home to the stop.

I set down my chopsticks and looked at Grandpa Gu. “Grandpa Gu, sister-in-law, do we have any lunch boxes at home? Pack three portions to take with you. Leave immediately or you’ll be too late.”

“Jiang Huai? Why the rush?” Grandpa Gu frowned.

Liu Cui chimed in, “Little Jiang, do we really have to go?”

“Yes.”

Seeing my unwavering expression, Grandpa Gu chose to trust me unconditionally.

Before the two of them left, supporting the still-dazed Gu Yu, they each gave me a lock of their hair and wrote their birthdates and times on a piece of paper.

Now, in the wide farmhouse courtyard, only I remained, alongside seven large geese and a few old hens.

After putting away their hair, I sat back at the table and ate heartily. If I didn’t fill up now, I’d have to wait until tomorrow for another meal.

I must mention, Liu Cui’s cooking was exceptional, especially her braised chicken, which left my lips glistening with oil.

After a satisfying meal, I cleared the dishes from the table, then carried it inside.

From my backpack, I took out an incense burner, a bundle of ritual incense, two white candles, and three straw dolls, arranging them on the table.

The incense burner was placed at the center, with three sticks of incense yet unlit. The white candles were fixed on either side of the burner, and the three straw dolls were lined up in a row.

I went to the kitchen and fetched three bowls, filling each with a handful of rice, and placed them before the straw dolls.

Once everything was in order, I took out the hair of Grandpa Gu’s family and three talisman papers. Biting my finger, I let fresh blood drip onto each lock of hair. Then, with the blood, I wrote their birthdates and times on the talismans.

Muttering softly, I recited, “The living soul does not depart, the dead soul does not enter. The substitute confuses the truth by Maoshan law. By the urgent order of the heavens.”

Flexing my fingers, I threaded the blood-soaked hair through the corresponding birthdates, tying them onto each straw doll.

Finally, I took out a talisman inscribed with the names of the Three Maoshan Masters and slapped it onto the edge of the table. A small ritual altar was thus complete.

I walked to the door and glanced at the darkening sky.

Spitting once, I returned to the altar and lit the candles and incense.

With both hands forming a sword gesture, I pointed at the altar and shouted, “Let the Three Maoshan Masters guard this altar; may all demons and monsters retreat! By the natural law of Dao, transcend and deliver, asking not of past lives but of sins alone! Rise, altar! I command you!”

“By the urgent order of the heavens!”

Under my direction, the three straw dolls slowly rose, floating in midair.

“Return to your place!”

At my command, the three straw dolls stood upright, spinning continuously in their bowls.

Meanwhile, I drew out my peachwood ruler, eyes fixed unblinking on the courtyard outside.

Creak... Cluck, cluck... Cluck, cluck...

Soon, the geese and hens in the courtyard began to clamor frantically, uneasy and agitated.

In no time, a suffocating stench drifted in from all directions.

Covering my nose with one hand and gripping the peachwood ruler with the other, I stood at the doorway.

Gazing out at the empty courtyard, I roared, “Since you’ve come, show yourself!”

I waited a while, but nothing responded.

Suddenly, I heard a creaking sound behind me.

Turning, I saw a weasel, as large as my entire leg, gnawing fiercely at the table leg!

The creature was trying to destroy my altar!

Clever beast—it knew that with this substitute altar in place, it couldn’t find the true location of Grandpa Gu’s family.

But unable to break the altar directly, its best bet was to make the table collapse on its own.

“Beast! Cease that at once!” I shouted, hurling the peachwood ruler in my hand.

It struck the weasel’s back, making it shiver all over. Baring its teeth, it howled at me, then darted between my legs and out into the courtyard.

I picked up the peachwood ruler and stood tall, like a guardian deity, watching it. “You wretched beast, practicing the arts yet not the heart, daring to covet human flesh—did you cultivate only to fill a dog’s belly?”

The weasel snarled back, unconvinced, and I stared right at it.

Maybe it grew tired of cursing, or perhaps it realized I couldn’t understand its words. When it stopped, it stood up on its hind legs.

Its mouth opened, emitting a cry more piercing than Li Xuan’s ghostly wails, shrill as a ninety-year-old crone singing opera.

“Youngster... I bear you no grudge... Why ruin my plans... Die... Die... I want you dead...”

Now I understood its intent.

But I didn’t bother to curse back. Instead, gripping the peachwood ruler, I advanced step by step toward it.

When only five steps remained between us, I spat in its face and said harshly,

“I won’t waste words cursing you. I’ll give you one chance: pluck a tuft of your own fur, burn it, and destroy your contract with Gu Yu.”

I paused, pointing at it with the ruler. “If you remain stubborn, I swear I’ll ruin your cultivation today!”