Chapter 122: Thunder Method to Capture Demons
Chen Ping'an and his group entered the mountains from north to south. Around the same time, another group happened to be traveling from south to north—an old Taoist with a peachwood sword on his back and a string of silver bells at his waist. His robe was worn, his feet shod in straw sandals, with hardly any immortal aura but plenty of shabby air. Behind him followed a lame boy with a wooden expression, carrying a large bundle and a banner slanted over his shoulder that read “Subdue Demons, Capture Ghosts, Exorcise Evil, Protect the Way.” From the looks of it, the banner had been washed so many times the fabric had faded, and the ink of those eight characters had grown pale. There was also a round-faced little girl of seven or eight, thin and small, supporting the old Taoist, who kept his eyes closed for some reason.
The old Taoist suddenly lifted his head, “looking” toward the undulating dark green mountains. In surprise, he exclaimed, “Eh? This mountain isn’t far from the River God Shrine on Embroidery River, yet there’s such obvious demonic aura rising straight into the sky? There must be hidden circumstances here. Although mountains and rivers have their boundaries and don’t interfere with each other, this place is strange, very strange.”
Hearing this, the rosy-cheeked little girl asked worriedly, “Master, what do we do? Last time you failed to capture the demon on Three Branches Mountain, the person who hired us got so angry they didn’t even give us travel money. Now we don’t have many copper coins left. How about we take a detour?”
The old Taoist snorted, “Detour? If I hadn’t encountered it, fine, let that vile creature count itself lucky. But since I have come across it, how could I let it go? The words ‘Exorcise Evil, Protect the Way’ on the banner—are they just for show to outsiders?”
The little girl sighed and reminded him, “Master, there are no outsiders here.”
The old Taoist gave an embarrassed laugh. “Force of habit, force of habit. I still haven’t recovered from the Three Branches Mountain affair. It’s truly infuriating. Even if I had no merit, I had hard work, yet they wouldn’t give a single copper coin. In this world, there are such shameless, wealthy misers! It serves them right that their ancestral graves were occupied by mountain ghosts and their descendants keep running into disasters…”
The little girl reminded him again, “Master, don’t you always say we cultivators should have a calm mind?”
The old Taoist, who had seemed kind and benevolent just a moment ago, flew into a rage. He reached out with two fingers, pinched the little girl’s arm hard, and twisted viciously, his face full of cruelty. “Who gave you the guts to lecture your master? And you won’t stop?!”
The little girl cried out in pain, sobbing loudly, and quickly begged, “It hurts, it hurts! Master, I won’t do it again, I won’t do it again…”
Without turning around, the old Taoist reached back and heavily struck the bells at his waist, making them jingle. He sneered, “Little wretch, do you dare harbor murderous intent toward your master?”
The lame boy remained silent, but soon blood began to seep from his ears and nose. Yet the wooden-faced boy never spoke a word and stood motionless.
The little girl cried even more sorrowfully. “Master, please let my senior brother off. He definitely didn’t mean it. I promise, Master, within the next three days, I’ll strive to gather an extra pound of spring water for you!”
The old Taoist beamed with delight and vigorously rubbed the little girl’s head, his force not light, causing her slender body to sway. “Not ‘strive’—it’s ‘must.’”
The old Taoist finally withdrew his withered, branch-like hand and laughed loudly. “Into the mountains! A horse won’t get fat without wild grass. Who knows, this might be a windfall. And I have to say, ever since you two little bastards came around, though you eat and drink at my expense, my cultivation has become much more at ease. Thinking of it that way, I figure I ought to treat you better from now on, haha.”
The little girl helped the blind old Taoist start climbing the mountain. The lame boy silently wiped away the blood, accustomed to it. The little girl secretly turned and smiled at him; the boy grinned back, signaling he was fine.
After the master and two disciples entered the mountains, more than half a month passed with them wandering around, unable to pinpoint the source of the demonic aura. The old Taoist could always sense a faint demonic qi permeating the nearby wilderness and trees, but he could never find the entrance. He knew in his heart that the great demon’s cultivation was certainly not weak, or else it wouldn’t have the skill to set up a sky-covering illusion array. Still, the old Taoist refused to give up. Every day, he sent the lame boy carrying the banner to scout ahead while he rested with the round-faced girl near the mountain path. From time to time, he took out a wooden compass, commonly called an Inverting Compass, a standard model used by Daoist cultivators and yin-yang occultists—nothing special, except that occasionally golden light flowed from the vermilion needle in the celestial pool and seabed, revealing the hidden mystery of this instrument.
The sky was overcast, misty, with rain threatening at any moment. The old Taoist crouched by the roadside, “staring” intently at the compass and muttering mysteriously: “Upside down, upside down, the twenty-four mountains hold mountains of gold and silver. Downside up, downside up, the twenty-four mountains hold dragon pools and tiger dens.”
He put away the compass, turned his head toward the distant mountain path, and chuckled softly, “The path to wealth has arrived. Heaven never seals off all roads. Seems like when we get to Wanping County, I’ll be able to have a few drinks.”
The round-faced girl followed the old Taoist’s line of sight and saw a group slowly approaching. She squinted hard to look. As they drew nearer, she saw that the leader was a straw-sandaled youth with a large basket on his back, holding a woodcutter’s axe, occasionally hacking away twigs and branches from the narrow mountain path to prevent them from snagging clothes. Behind him were three others, all young: a little sister in a red cotton-padded jacket, a boy with a mischievous face, and a cold-faced young brother. The three at the back each carried an adorable little green book box. Finally, a white donkey followed, loaded with luggage.
The girl lowered her voice. “Master, they don’t look like a wealthy family. Maybe we should let it go?”
The blind Taoist raised an eyebrow. “A mosquito’s leg is still meat. You’re half the head of the household—do you have no idea how many copper coins are left? And that gluttonous belly of your senior brother, how much silver has he eaten up? If not for me taking pity on you two, do you think this world would let you live even a few days…”
The sensible little girl quickly began massaging the old Taoist’s shoulders, smiling sincerely, grateful. “That’s why my brother and I work like oxen and horses for you, Master, without any complaint. But Master, if you get angry in the future, could you punish me when my brother isn’t around? That way, he won’t get angry either, and you won’t have to use the sect’s rules on him.”
The old Taoist slowly stood up, and the little girl immediately put her hands at her sides and stood respectfully.
The approaching group was none other than Chen Ping’an and his companions journeying south to the Great Li border at Yefu Pass.
Chen Ping’an had long noticed the smiling old Taoist and the timid little girl.
When Chen Ping’an and the others drew near, the old Taoist stroked his beard and smiled, speaking in slightly awkward Great Li official language. In a tone that aimed to shock, he said, “If I am not mistaken, all of you on this journey have already encountered bloodshed. But don’t think that surviving a great disaster means you are guaranteed good fortune. It’s not always true. In my view, you still have a real calamity ahead. Only after crossing that hurdle will genuine good fortune come.”
Chen Ping’an’s heart sank, but he remained expressionless.
Li Baoping looked at the pale-faced little girl, who smiled shyly in return. Li Baoping also smiled. The girl in the red cotton jacket and the younger girl immediately took a liking to each other.
Li Huai had the words “Old Taoist, aren’t you blind? How can you see this and that?” right on the tip of his tongue. But the incident on the Embroidery River boat was etched into Li Huai’s memory, so he quickly covered his mouth, determined not to cause trouble.
The blind Taoist seemed to sense Li Huai’s thoughts and laughed heartily. “You may not know this, but our Daoist sect has ten great divine powers. Among them is the saying: ‘Open the mind’s eye, heaven and earth become clear, evil spirits retreat.’ I happen to have mastered this ability. I wouldn’t dare boast that it’s fully perfected, but I’ve achieved some level of accomplishment. I don’t see people with my eyes through their outer appearance—I simply observe each person’s aura with my mind.”
Lin Shouyi said calmly, “Our Confucian sage has taught: ‘When meeting by chance, speak not of strange forces and disordered spirits.’”
The old Taoist was slightly surprised but soon sighed. “Forget it, forget it. The Buddha does not ferry those without destiny, and the Daoist sect does not save the deluded. Go on. Just be careful on your journey. If you truly encounter trouble, feel free to shout loudly. If I happen to hear it, I will surely turn back to help. But if the distance is too great, even if I have the intention, I will lack the power.”
After saying this, the blind old Taoist stepped aside to make way.
Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “We will be careful. Thank you for the warning, Daoist.”
As they passed each other, Li Baiping waved generously at the thin, round-faced little girl. The little girl timidly raised her small hand to her chest and waved softly, a silent farewell.
After Chen Ping’an and his group disappeared from view on the mountain path, the old Taoist muttered to himself, “Coming all this way, the people of Great Li are either coarse martial artists or ignorant commoners. My usual spiel always worked, so why did it fail today? Damn it. Nothing’s going right. Looks like I can’t afford to fail in this demon capture. A great demon in the wilds must have substantial wealth. This time…”
The blind Taoist’s eyelids twitched slightly, cutting off his own words. He patted the head of the little girl, who was still gazing reluctantly down the mountain path, and said amiably, “Jiu’er, if this succeeds, my Thunder Method cultivation will be secure. I won’t have to worry about money anymore, and from then on, I’ll treat you and your brother much better.”
The little girl looked up and smiled. “As long as Master doesn’t keep ringing the bells often, that would be wonderful!”
The old Taoist gave no answer but abruptly lifted his head, formed a hand seal, and showed delight rather than alarm. “The weather is changing! Such heavy demonic qi, enough to affect the climate of this entire region! Excellent, excellent! Finally drawing the snake out of its hole! Little Jiu’er, prepare to follow your master in exorcising evil and protecting the Way!”
The little girl nodded vigorously, showing no fear at all toward the demons and ghosts that made the common folk below the mountain tremble. She pulled out a small silver knife no more than an inch long, rolled up her sleeve, and prepared to cut her arm. “Master, do you need talisman spring now?”
The old Taoist nodded. “Though I still have some left, to be safe, let’s have a bit first, so I’m not caught off guard by the demon. That would end up harming you two.”
The little girl took a deep breath, slit her arm with the knife, and blood gushed out. She quickly raised her arm. “Master, it’s ready.”
The blind old Taoist, familiar with the routine, extended the index finger of his right hand, spread his left palm, and quickly drew a talisman on his palm with his finger. Then he swapped hands and drew another talisman on his right palm.
The little girl, her face growing paler, still asked seriously, “Master, is it enough?”
The old Taoist laughed heartily. “Enough for now. I’ll let that great demon lurking in this mountain taste the full force of the Five Thunders crashing down!”
About a mile away from the master and disciples, Chen Ping’an suddenly stopped and raised his woodcutter’s axe to signal the three behind him.
In the distance, a youth holding a strange banner, agile as a mountain monkey, leaped out from the dense forest. Facing away from Chen Ping’an, he landed on the mountain path, shook the banner vigorously several times, and then intended to run along the passable road to rejoin the old Taoist. But when he turned around and saw Chen Ping’an’s group on the path, the sweating youth became anxious. After a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth, changed his mind, and fled further downhill, choosing a detour to retreat. At the same time, he didn’t forget to make a “hurry up” gesture to Chen Ping’an.
Li Huai stared in shock. “What’s he doing?”
Lin Shouyi frowned. “There should be an evil spirit chasing him. I can feel a yin-foul aura.”
Sure enough, a blurry figure wrapped in rolling black smoke paused when it saw Chen Ping’an’s group, exuding a chilling, sinister aura. But in the end, it continued chasing the lame boy with the banner and swiftly departed.
Chen Ping’an said to Lin Shouyi, “Ask the yin spirit senior, what does he say?”
After a moment, Lin Shouyi replied, “The yin spirit senior tells us to keep moving forward and not linger. He will observe appropriately, but he also said that he is only escorting us to the Great Li border. He reminds us that our purpose on this trip is to travel and study, not to play the role of demon-exorcising benefactors. He does not want us to actively stir up trouble.”
Chen Ping’an nodded. “Tell the senior to act as the situation warrants. If he can help, help; if not, don’t force it. Also, Lin Shouyi, prepare those three talismans. Then you take the lead, and I’ll bring up the rear. Baoping, Li Huai, remember: if you encounter real ghosts, goblins, or demons, don’t be afraid, and definitely don’t panic. Don’t ever act like… never mind, let’s move!”
Chen Ping’an had almost said, “Don’t act like Zhu Lu on Chess Pier Mountain stone platform, who, despite having second-tier martial arts cultivation, didn’t even dare to strike when faced with the white python demon.” But then he recalled A Liang’s casual remark: “Those who gossip behind others’ backs are themselves gossips,” so he swallowed the words.
Lin Shouyi’s expression remained calm.
Among the stack of treasured talismans from the Li family treasury, three low-grade yellow paper talismans were now barely within Lin Shouyi’s ability to handle. One was “Pearl in the Plate,” a water talisman. Another was “Fire Rain,” a fire talisman. And finally, the “Five Peaks Barrier-Breaking Talisman,” which fell under the category of mountain qi talismans.
But Lin Shouyi’s real reliance was not on these three talismans of unknown power, but on himself. It was the secret Thunder Method recorded in the book *The Book of Clouds and Tinkling Sounds*.
However, Lin Shouyi certainly wasn’t about to seek trouble just to test the power of this Thunder Method and put everyone in danger.
The group hurried along. As they walked, Li Huai raised his hand and said in confusion, “It’s raining? Couldn’t it at least give us a heads-up?”
A fine, drizzling rain fell—not heavy, but it made the cold in the forest much stronger.
Chen Ping’an took out four bamboo hats from his backpack, all purchased at Red Candle Town for exactly this kind of hasty travel in wind and rain. Everyone put on a bamboo hat and continued without stopping. Chen Ping’an kept glancing back.
In the distance, the blind old Taoist faced the lame boy running toward him. He laughed loudly: “Well done! Little evil spirit, you walk right into your death! Die for this poor priest!”
The old Taoist stepped in the seven-star pace of the Thunder Walk and thrust out his palm, on which he had drawn a talisman, before shouting to the lame boy, “Get down!”
The boy threw himself forward and rolled in the muddy path.
The old Taoist’s palm shone with dazzling golden light, each stroke of the talisman glowing brightly, and faint thunder rumbled from his palm. This brilliant golden light stood out starkly against the stormy, gloomy wilderness.
The cloud of black smoke behind the boy halted abruptly. Before it could flee, the golden light slammed into it, like a golden net enveloping its entire form. Hissing sounds arose, the shadow wailed in agony, and soon the smoke dissipated entirely.
The boy stooped and ran behind the old Taoist, panting heavily. He thrust the soul-summoning banner into the ground. Seeing the little girl’s worried expression, he grinned and shook his head, indicating he was fine.
Having killed the yin filth with a single palm strike, the old Taoist laughed joyfully: “A lowly yin creature born from dry bones dares to show its face before me?!”
A wisp of gray was drawn into the banner as if by force.
The old Taoist spun in midair and swung another palm. “Come on, come on! All of you, become my boundless merit!”
Another yin creature behind the boy and girl was blasted apart by the Thunder Method rising from the old Taoist’s palm, and shortly another wisp of gray flew into the banner.
On the mountain path, the old Taoist dodged and weaved, rapidly swapping hands, striking out palm after palm, each time golden light flared and thunder rumbled with impressive force. The old Taoist laughed heartily. In the rainy, gloomy weather, the thunderlight illuminated his aged, blind face, lending him an imposing aura—he indeed had some real skill at slaying demons. “How vast and mighty is my Thunder Method! How can you yin creatures stand against it? That great demon hiding in the shadows—does it still plan to send these underlings to die? Surrender immediately! Hand over half your wealth, and maybe this poor priest, in his compassion, will spare you!”
The Thunder Method had stood atop the myriad methods of Daoism for a thousand years. Once unleashed, it was universally acknowledged to be enormously powerful and unstoppable. But the so-called True Thunder Method of Five Thunders—aside from a handful of Daoist sects in Bottle Gourd Continent that truly grasped its essence—was mostly handed down in incomplete systems or outside branches that had only the form without the spirit. Invariably, it caused backlash on the caster. Accumulated over years, it depleted one’s life force and became a source of shortened lifespan. So this old Taoist’s blindness might not have been congenital.
The streaks of rolling black smoke that had been lurking in the woods around the path gradually diminished. The disgusting chorus of sobbing, wailing, and low growling fell into complete silence.
The little girl said softly, “Master, behind us… many lanterns have been lit.”
The blind old Taoist turned his head to “look,” perceiving row upon row of white paper lanterns appearing out of thin air from the northern mountain path, spontaneously igniting, like a fire dragon a thousand feet long slowly slithering through the wild mountains and marshes.
The old Taoist’s expression turned grave. He rubbed his palms—the talismans drawn with his female disciple’s blood as cinnabar had been almost entirely consumed. He reached behind his back, drew his peachwood sword, and braced for battle.
A woman in a bright red wedding dress approached leisurely, holding an oil-paper fan. Her lips clearly did not move, but a sinister voice rang in the ears of the master and his two disciples: “Esteemed Daoist, feel free to continue drawing talismans. Even if you cover your whole body, it doesn’t matter. I can wait. After that, I will invite all three of you to my residence for a visit. Personally, I’ll wash your faces, pull your sinews, and pierce your hearts.”
The red-clad female ghost holding the paper fan seemed most interested in the round-faced little girl. Her hoarse voice continued as she reached out and covered that small, pale face. “‘Washing the face’ is like this.”
The next moment, the round-faced little girl was so frightened she quickly closed her eyes.
It turned out that after the red-clad female ghost covered her own face with her hand, she gently wiped downward, as if peeling off her entire face, revealing a bloody, hideous visage.
(End of this chapter)