CHAPTER 25

By his uncanny arts, the vicious Daoist strives to harm Ji Gong; the Spirit Master and the Chan master duel with magic spells

AS the exchange between Ji Gong and the evil Daoist became more heated, the Daoist said, “Monk, I will now direct three particular words at you and I dare you to reply with three of your own.”

Ji Gong said, “Say your words slowly and I will not be afraid to say six in return. Say them!”

The Daoist began to speak his three words, muttering them under his breath. Suddenly, the Daoist’s wine cup on the table gave a jump as if it had been commanded to do so. Just at that time the monk was drinking from his cup of wine, but abruptly he turned and fell to the floor.

Liang Yuanwai was shocked at the sight, saying, “Teacher of the laws, what is this?”

The Daoist said, “Since you wish to know, I simply used one of my minor arts to cause him to fall to the floor. If I leave this wine cup sitting here for a day, the monk will lie there for a day. If I pick up the wine cup or give him a certain medicine, he will be able to revive.” But when he’d finished speaking these words, the monk stood up. Looking at the monk, the surprised Daoist said, “I have not picked up the wine cup and you simply stood up!”

The monk said, “Come, you still have not given me the medicine. I will lie down again and let you continue.”

The Daoist said, “Monk, do you dare to tell me the eight characters that represent the exact date and time of your birth?”

The monk said, “I have no objection to that. I will just tell you.” After explaining that he had born in such and such a year, in such and such a month, on such and such a day and so forth, he ended by saying, “I have told you all. What about it?”

The Daoist began at once reciting a spell under his breath. Then, while repeating the name of a particular spirit he was calling upon, he struck Ji Gong upon the crown of his head. Hurriedly the Daoist finished saying the spell and stood up. “Yuanwai, after I go, you must quickly find a way to release the monk. Otherwise, when the cock cries once, the monk will die. You will then be involved with the courts.”

Liang Yuanwai looked at Ji Gong. It seemed as if the monk’s soul had fled, as if he were beyond awakening and knew nothing of human affairs.

The old Daoist had gone out of the library and was leaving the mansion. The yuanwai quickly ran after him, pleading, “Spirit Master, go slowly. Let me take upon myself any misdeed committed by the monk.”

The Daoist, however, would not answer the yuanwai, but instead returned to the Fortunate Cloud Temple on the Five Spirits Hill.

Going in, he called out to his acolyte, Liu Miaotong, “Quickly tie up a straw man for me.”

“And whom are you going to harm this time?” asked Liu Miaotong.

Chang Miaoyu answered, “This time I am not trying to harm someone for no reason at all. I am doing harm because when I tried to obtain money from Liang Yuanwai, the monk Ji Dian dared to play tricks on me. I desire to harm Ji Gong secretly, to take vengeance and give vent to my anger.”

Liu Miaotong did not dare to oppose him, but quickly bound up a straw man using dry straw and brought it in to Chang Miaoyu. The evil Daoist then sent Liu Miaotong to make other objects from dry straw.

Meanwhile, the Daoist ate dinner. Afterward he himself took an “eight immortals” table and placed it in the courtyard before the principal hall. He brought out an incense burner, the five kinds of grain, and the other necessary things. When they were all properly arranged, he took the two straw men and placed one of them on each side of the other objects on the table. The wicked Daoist went back inside and waited there until the stars came out.

Then he again went outside and first took off his Daoist hat. Next he took the cord from around his head that held the strip of cloth binding his hair. After doing these things, he let down his hair. He drew his precious sword from its scabbard, lit the incense burner, and addressed the three pure ones of the Daoist trinity, the rulers of the heavens of the upper air.

The ruler of the highest heaven was sometimes called Yu Huang Shangdi, the Pearly Emperor, who ruled heaven and earth and was supposed to keep in his records the names of eight hundred lesser divinities and almost countless immortals. He was also called Tian Bao, the Treasure of Heaven, and was said to be the source of all truth.

The ruler of the second heaven was said by some to be Ling Bao, the custodian of the sacred books, the timekeeper of eternity and inspirer of emperors and philosophers. Others said that the second ruler was Pangu, who was supposed to have come out of chaos and created the universe. Finally, Pangu grew so large that his head became the mountains, his arms and legs turned into the four quarters of the earth, and the lice upon his body became the human beings on earth.

The ruler of the third or lowest heaven of the Daoists was Lao Tzu, the transcendental philosopher who had lived in the sixth century B.C. It was he, it is believed, who first taught the mystical system of Daoism and incorporated in it the ancient myths of the Chinese people.

The Daoist prayed, “Oh pure ones, protect your disciple. I want to injure Ji Dian. If I am able to obtain the silver from Liang Yuanwai, I will burn incense and provide new clothing for your images. I promise to keep this vow.”

When he had finished speaking, he first used the tip of his sword to uncover a bowl of water on the “eight immortals” table. He took some of the five grains—hemp, millet, rice, wheat, and pulse—which had been prepared with sugar and he scattered them. He ground the cinnabar into fine grains and mixed them with other things to make ink, tore the yellow paper into strips, and wrote three spells upon them. He again took the sword and, with its tip, picked up the strips with the charms written on them. He fed the strips into the fire, and the flames burned higher and higher.

Then he began speaking his Daoist formula: “With the first charm a great wind will arise. With the second charm the soul of Ji Gong will be captured and brought here. With the third charm I will cut off Ji Gong’s existence. When a man dies, he becomes a disembodied spirit. When a disembodied spirit dies, it becomes a hungry ghost.” Just as he was growing confident that he would get his wish, he became aware of a draft of cold air against his back. The Daoist took his sword and prepared to slash out. He dodged to the side and, lifting his head, saw that the one who had just come was apparently a hero of the Greenwood.

Taking a more careful look by the light of the lantern, the Daoist could see that the person was wearing an open-mesh cap made of horsehair. His hair, in which a flower had been carefully arranged, was pulled to one side and tied with a short, thin silken cord. He was wearing a set of close-fitting garments fastened by many buttons, closely set at regular intervals. The tops of his thick-soled boots were of blue material embroidered with flowers. His face was as clear as white jade and his eyes were like bright starts. His features all had a look of refinement. In his hand he had a sharp knife, with which he seemed to be intending to chop the Daoist.

Chang Miaoyu stepped aside and pointed with his hand while reciting a spell followed by a command. The man at once turned himself around and fell to the ground. The Daoist went to him and was about to kill him with his treasured sword.

Then from inside the room he heard his acolyte’s voice. “Teacher, you must not kill him! He is my friend.” Running out into the courtyard, the acolyte helped the young man up.

Now this young man who had just arrived was originally from the Tanyang prefecture of Zhejiang. His surname was Chen and his personal name was Liang. His home was in what was called the Chen family village, which was also a small military post. His parents had both died when he was very young and until he grew into manhood he had lived with his father’s younger brother and his wife. Chen Liang also had a sister named Jade Plum. His father’s brother, Chen Guangqin, kept a shop that sold white cloth.

Chen Liang loved to practice fighting with his fists, with his feet, and with the quarterstaff. He constantly practiced with other men about the military post, learning new strategies in the art of fighting. Later he became acquainted with a local man named Lei Ming, nicknamed “The Dark Wind-Driven Cloud.” The two became as close as flesh and bone.

It was Lei Ming who led Chen Liang into the company of the men of the Greenwood. In Yushan prefecture in Jiangsu province, there was a guarantor named Yang Ming, nicknamed the Fierce Commander of the Marauding Spirits. These spirits were a band of chivalrous men who loved to remedy the inequities that they encountered. They would kill avaricious men and tyrants and gladly made friends with every heroic fellow who shared their sentiments. After Chen Liang had entered the company of the men of the Greenwood, he went to stay with these brave men, who were called the thirty-six bold fellows of Yushan prefecture. Among them were all sorts of men.

One day, everyone came with gifts to congratulate the mother of their leader, Yang Ming, on her birthday. But when Chen Liang arrived, he brought nothing. Lei Ming said to him: “Dear brother, you should have brought something as a gift to show your respect for filial piety. Furthermore, in the eyes of the others, it will look well if you honor the mother of our senior member.”

Chen Liang said, “I have a present different from any of the others, and I will bring it in a short time.”

It was then the beginning of the fourth month. At the third watch that night, Chen Liang stole a dish of large fresh peaches and brought the fruit as his gift. Everyone said that, since fresh peaches were usually not yet ripe, it was very strange for him to be able to find ten such peaches. Truly it could not have been easy. After this incident, he was nicknamed “The White Monkey with the Supernatural Hands.”

That same year, Chen Liang went home to inquire about his uncle’s health. When he arrived, his sister, Jade Plum, joined with his uncle in saying, “Chen Liang, you cannot belong to the Greenwood and still come to the Chen household. Although it is said that there were no officials among our ancestors, there were those who knew poetry and propriety. In joining this barbarous Greenwood association and becoming an outlaw, you not only bring dishonor upon your ancestors and relatives, but upon your neighbors as well. As long as there are officials, you cannot evade the law! One day as a robber could bring your life to an end. Parents who are robbers bring forth children who also are robbers. We urge you to look back and begin your life anew. Besides, the family business needs your help.”

Chen Liang said not a word, but enough had been said already. The next day he did not take his leave from the family, although he still wished to go away from home. He realized that there was something else he could do. He thought to himself, “This time when I leave, it will be to go to the capital. There, I will seek out some famous Buddhist or Daoist with the intention of leaving the world and learning to be a monk. Thus I will put an end to all my past sins. There are no parents to hold me back and no wife to hinder me.”

By evening he had reached the Yunlan market town. After dark, he changed into his black thief’s suit of darkness. He entered a home with a large gate and took a quantity of silver in order to have something to spend during the rest of his journey. It was then getting late and he decided to visit his friend, the acolyte, Liu Miaotong, at the Fortunate Cloud Shrine.

When he came to the front of the shrine, he did not knock at the gate. Instead he climbed up and crossed over the roofs to look around. In front of the main hall was a table. Before it stood the Daoist priest with his hair let down in disorder. His blackened face gave him an especially baleful air. He held the precious sword in his hand and was in the act of performing a ceremonial rite.

Chen Liang did not recognize him, and thought to himself, “This is definitely being done to harm my brother, Liu Miaotong. The Daoist is calling up a demon to do evil to him. Truly the Daoist is detestable. He will not escape death once my anger is unleashed.” With these thoughts in mind, Chen Liang leapt down with his knife poised. But before he could chop at the Daoist, the priest pointed and shook the sleeve of his robe at Chen Liang and caused him to fall to the ground.

Chen Liang was about to close his eyes and wait for death. Then he saw Liu Miaotong come out of the main hall and heard him say, “Teacher, this is my friend—blame me but do not kill him.”

The Daoist priest replied, “Well! So you are bringing in someone from outside and planning to kill me so that you will have this shrine to yourself.”

Chen Liang contradicted him saying, “No! I was very clumsy and stupid on this occasion. I did not know that you two were teacher and acolyte. I thought that you were going to kill Liu Miaotong so that you could get the shrine.” Chen Liang explained his mistake as Liu Miaotong introduced him to the priest.

After the two friends had gone inside the main hall, Chen Liang asked, “What is the master Daoist doing with his arts?”

Liu Maiotong said, “Dear brother, each day I waited for you early and late, thinking that you would come, but you did not come. Now you have come here today! The priest is going to kill senior monk Ji Gong of the Monastery of the Soul’s Retreat. Furthermore, the priest has taken three parts of another person’s soul and seven parts of his senses. I have heard it said that Ji Gong is a virtuous person, but I fear that he will not be able to prevent the Daoist from taking his soul.”

When Chen Liang heard what Liu Miaotong had to say, he thought to himself, “I was just trying to meet some famous Daoists or Buddhists with the idea of leaving the world myself. I did not expect to encounter anything like that which I have seen and heard about tonight. Now I will watch and see whose powers are stronger.”

Just as these thoughts were going through Chen Liang’s mind, the two friends heard the Daoist outside beginning to cast another spell as he said, “The soul of the mad monk Ji has not yet arrived. What is it waiting for?” He then began once more to take the papers with the spells and burn them. The flames flared higher as he threw in the strips of papers.

Then the two friends saw a furious wind arise from the northwest. It was a wind that killed trees in the forest. The river and the trees resounded and mountainous waves arose on the sea. It seemed as though the heavens were filled with ten thousand angry demons throwing rocks that went flying into the air, endangering the lives of men.

When the wind had passed, there was the sound of straw sandals slowly padding along, “Left, right, left, right.” The sound did not last long, and then they saw standing before the table a poor, ragged monk.