On the Path to the Great Dao

Chen Shi's eyes could see clearly even at night, but it was too far away. He strained his gaze and saw that the black shadow was a black bear wearing clothes like those of humans—a scholar's Daoist robe. Its head was combed into a bun, with a hairpin inserted.

Its Daoist robe was quite loose, covering its fat body.

The custom of scholars wearing Daoist robes originated from Emperor Jiajing, who was a Daoist himself, calling himself the Longevity Emperor and Purple Pole Immortal. He even bestowed Daoist robes upon civil and military officials.

After that, scholars took pride in wearing Daoist robes.

If one encountered this beast at night, they would definitely mistake it for a plump scholar.

Only upon getting close could one tell it was a bear.

By the time one saw it clearly from afar, it was often too late—the black bear would pounce directly and devour you!

This black bear munched on the scholar's leg while vigilantly looking around. It made very little noise while eating, probably worried about waking the other humans.

Suddenly,

it seemed to sense something and turned its head toward Chen Shi. Chen Shi's eyes flickered. Just as he was about to cast a spell to slay the black bear, divine light suddenly flared in the room. A Divine Shrine and Divine Mystery appeared behind Zhao Kaiyun's head. With a buzz, a strand of sword qi shot out!

The black bear was incredibly agile. Even at such close range, it dodged Zhao Kaiyun's Noon-Midnight Black-Slaying Sword. It reached out, grabbed the half-eaten scholar, and with a boom, smashed through the wall, fleeing the room!

"Black Pot, you still want to escape!"

Zhao Kaiyun hadn't expected it to dodge his sword qi. He immediately flipped over and leaped after it. Suddenly, a whistling gust blew past him, nearly carrying his body forward.

Zhao Kaiyun was startled and quickly stabilized himself. He saw the figure charging out through the hole in the wall—it was too tall, none other than Chen Shi, heading straight for the black bear!

"You're too close!"

Zhao Kaiyun cried out in alarm. But he saw the figure brush lightly against the leaping black bear. A massive black shadow was struck as if by lightning and sent flying to one side. With a rumble, it smashed through several walls before finally stopping.

The other scholars were immediately awakened and rose one after another, peering outside.

They were all scholars who had received the Divine Mystery bestowal. At that moment, lanterns with Divine Shrines activated, emitting their Divine Mystery glow and illuminating the post station as bright as day.

"What happened?"

The surroundings were filled with noise, inquiries coming from everywhere.

Zhao Kaiyun hurriedly rushed over, only to see the black bear spirit's bones shattered all over, collapsed like a pile of mud against the wall, devoid of breath.

Zhao Kaiyun was shocked and uncertain. He quickly hurried to Chen Shi's side and saw Chen Shi's vital blood steaming, forming a cloud of blood outside his body that held the scholar—whose calf had been gnawed off—in midair.

"He was hit by a迷魂 talisman. His soul was confused, wandering between the yin and yang realms, so he's been in a coma until now."

Chen Shi used his vital blood to support the scholar while pinching a sword formula with his right hand. He spoke rapidly,

"I'm using a soul-summoning talisman to call back his soul and return it to his body!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he used his right hand's sword finger as a brush, drawing a soul-summoning talisman in the air. His vital blood coalesced into the talisman, which then buzzed and brightened. The twisted, mysterious characters glowed brilliantly. With a gentle push from Chen Shi, it entered the scholar's body.

"It hurts so much!"

The scholar awoke and let out a shrill scream, clutching his calf.

Chen Shi ignored the scholar and went to the dead black bear spirit, as if searching for something.

Seeing this, Zhao Kaiyun hurried over, full of admiration.

"Brother Chen, your talisman skills are so profound. If you joined Red God Hall, you'd probably draw a monthly salary of thirty taels—at least an instructor position! For this Black Pot to cultivate enough to sneak into the post station and eat people, it's got some real guts!"

Chen Shi shook his head.

"It's not a Black Pot."

"Not a Black Pot?"

Zhao Kaiyun was stunned.

Chen Shi felt around the back of the black bear's head and suddenly grabbed a stiff hair, yanking it out hard. The black bear spirit's body twisted and changed, soon transforming from a bear into a woman!

This was beast-transformation art, a kind of spell.

This woman must have cultivated beast-transformation art, which could turn other humans into livestock or transform oneself into a ferocious beast.

Chen Shi guessed,

"She turned into a black bear but couldn't control her beastly nature, so she came out to eat people."

Zhao Kaiyun spotted the wooden token hanging from the woman's waist and was startled, exclaiming,

"It's a disciple of Tianlao Society! We've stirred up trouble! Brother Chen, let's go!"

He yanked off the wooden token and turned to leave.

Chen Shi hurriedly followed, asking,

"What's Tianlao Society? Brother Zhao, this time their beast-transformation got out of control and came to the post station to eat people. We're in the right. Why leave?"

Zhao Kaiyun signaled him to not speak yet and hurried out of the post station before saying,

"Even if we're right, who listens to reason? Gongzhou's officials handle cases—where's the logic? I'm a talisman master from Red God Hall. Let's go to Red God Hall, put this token behind the incense burner there, and borrow the incense fire qi to suppress it. Tianlao Society won't dare provoke Red God Lady!"

Chen Shi felt uneasy. During the day, he had seen the Black Pots enshrined by Gongzhou's Canal Society, Salt Society, and Red God Hall—one after another, immensely powerful, like dark mountains.

If such existences took notice of him, it truly wouldn't be a good thing.

"Brother Zhao, let me hold the Tianlao Token so it doesn't implicate you."

So said Chen Shi.

Zhao Kaiyun hesitated, then handed him the Tianlao Token.

"This thing can't be damaged. If it's broken, Tianlao will sense it. If she finds out you killed her Tianlao Society disciple, she'll capture you for sure—life worse than death!"

Chen Shi thanked him.

Zhao Kaiyun had only just met him and exchanged a few words, yet treated him with great enthusiasm. This was clearly Chen Shi's issue, but he took it on himself, offering plans and advice.

He was someone worth befriending.

Chen Shi thought to himself.

Though the world was treacherous, he still met the occasional hopeful soul—like Zhuge Jian, Jin Tiandan, Ding Ding, and now Zhao Kaiyun beside him.

Red God Hall's headquarters wasn't too far from the post station, just two li away. Zhao Kaiyun arrived at the front, where several Red God Hall strongmen guarded the door, flanked by two stone lions over a zhang tall.

Seeing them approach, the two stone lions suddenly stirred. One jumped down from its pedestal and raised a massive front paw, blocking their path.

"Halt!"

One of the Red God Hall strongmen said.

Zhao Kaiyun produced Red God Hall's token, and only then did the stone lion let them pass.

The strongmen didn't stop them either.

Zhao Kaiyun quickly said,

"Brothers, is the Hall Master in?"

One strongman shook his head.

"The Hall Master's not here.

A pot appeared in Peng Fort, killing several brothers. Incense Master Xiao couldn't take it down and got badly wounded, so the Hall Master went personally.

Any Incense Master at headquarters?"

"Incense Master Lu is in the Incense Hall."

Zhao Kaiyun hurriedly led Chen Shi into the headquarters. Chen Shi looked around and saw the grand estate with carved beams and painted rafters. Every two or three steps was an incense burner with incense burning inside; every ten steps hung a lantern—red lanterns.

The paths inside the headquarters wound about. They passed under tall buildings through long corridors, skirted walls through several doors, and finally reached the Incense Hall.

The Incense Hall held ninety-nine oil lamps. Though numerous, their light wasn't very bright.

Several people sat on cushions before the oil lamps. One had sent out his nascent soul to wander among the lamp flames, entering and exiting the fire.

That person was probably a talisman master. Around his cushion, vital blood formed the structure of a golden light talisman. He must have been injured—the golden light talisman, also called the golden light body-protection talisman, guarded the Dao heart against external evils.

His nascent soul wasn't large, only the size of a finger. It walked through the flames, absorbing the pure yang qi from the oil lamp flames to mend his damage.

Wherever his nascent soul passed, the flames dimmed rapidly, recovering only after a while.

Since Chen Shi wasn't from Red God Hall, he stayed outside. Zhao Kaiyun went in, first paying respects to each person on the cushions, then bending to whisper a few words to one.

Chen Shi stood outside the Incense Hall and looked toward the back. Moonlight shone like flowers, suddenly drifting down from the sky toward the rear of the hall—brilliant and scattered, like pear blossoms filling a tree and fluttering down.

Behind the Incense Hall was a Divine Shrine, with no unusual scents detectable.

That Divine Shrine was the Blood Tai Sui.

The Blood Tai Sui was absorbing moonlight, creating the scene of moonlight like pear blossoms!

"Blood Tai Sui is so powerful!"

Chen Shi was quite shocked inwardly, yet somewhat puzzled.

"The Blood Tai Sui actively absorbs moonlight—does it not fear turning fiendish from it?"

Absorbing moonlight turns one into black primeval evil—that was common knowledge.

Chen Shi's grandfather Chen Yindu had exhausted his lifespan, held his own funeral to fool the yin messengers and escape death. Yet he couldn't escape the moonlight, becoming sometimes clear-headed, sometimes muddled and ravenous for his grandson.

Later, in battle with the Black Bodhisattva, Chen Yindu suppressed his fiendish nature and entered the underworld voluntarily. But that fiendish turn had come from moonlight exposure.

For the Blood Tai Sui to actively absorb moonlight without much reaction struck Chen Shi as strange.

At that moment, Incense Master Lu in the Incense Hall turned to look at Chen Shi and said softly,

"Since it's a righteous act, Red God Hall cannot refuse to help."

Incense Master Lu remained seated.

"Brother Chen, come in."

Chen Shi was about to enter when Zhao Kaiyun hurriedly said,

"Go slow, don't stir up wind."

"Incense Master Xiao's nascent soul is damaged and healing—he can't take the wind."

Chen Shi slowed his steps and entered the Incense Hall.

Incense Master Lu instructed,

"Brother Chen, hang the Tianlao Token behind that incense burner and offer three incense sticks to Crane Boy.

If Crane Boy accepts the incense and reports to the Lady, you're safe.

If not, the three sticks will topple, and Red God Hall can't help you."

Chen Shi thanked him and walked in the direction he pointed. Sure enough, there was a three-legged incense burner like a large toad crouching on the altar.

Fragrant fire qi wafted from the burner, with curling red smoke drifting toward the immortal crane behind.

The crane had a red crown and white body, black-tipped wings—it was porcelain, standing on one foot.

Chen Shi hung the Tianlao Token on the porcelain crane's claw and lit three incense sticks.

He waited before the burner for a moment, but the incense never fell.

As he waited, a crisp child's voice rang in his mind, laughing,

"The Lady says the Tianlao Society disciple did evil, and Young Master acted for heaven—you're no villain.

The Lady takes responsibility for this. Tianlao Society won't trouble you."

Chen Shi breathed a sigh of relief and bowed in thanks.

The Crane Boy's voice continued,

"No need.

The Lady says Young Master bears great fortune; she's merely adding flowers to brocade."

Chen Shi was astonished.

"The Lady says Tianlao Society already knows of their disciple's death and has reported it to Tianlao.

Tianlao Society will come for you. Stay in the Incense Hall tonight."

The Crane Boy went on,

"After tonight, all will be safe. You can leave tomorrow."

Chen Shi expressed thanks and stepped back from the burner.

Incense Master Lu said,

"Since Crane Boy accepted your incense, stay in the Incense Hall.

Incense Master Xiao's nascent soul is damaged and remains here too.

Sit beside Incense Master Xiao and don't go out.

If you do, the Lady may not be able to protect you."

Chen Shi thanked him and sat beside Incense Master Xiao.

Incense Master Xiao's face was pallid, lips bloodless. He nodded lightly to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi nodded back.

Incense Master Lu said,

"Brother Zhao says your talisman arts are exquisite—you can draw them bare-handed. Might Brother Chen demonstrate?"

Chen Shi immediately drew a peace talisman with sword fingers.

Incense Master Lu's eyes lit up. He laughed,

"Brother Chen is young, yet your talisman mastery is extraordinary. In Red God Hall, fewer than ten surpass you—and they're all Incense or Hall Masters.

Interested in joining Red God Hall, Brother Chen? We can give you an instructor position, thirty taels of silver monthly salary."

Chen Shi said,

"I need a lot of money. Thirty taels a month lasts me three days."

Incense Master Lu was taken aback.

"Ten taels a day! Do you grow by eating silver?"

He thought for a moment.

"Our Incense Masters get only fifty taels monthly. If that's not enough, we hunt Black Pots and trade to the yamen for cash.

Exorcising Black Pots was originally the yamen's duty, but they found it troublesome and lost many bailiffs, so they handed it to us Red God Hall talisman masters.

If you're strong enough, you can hunt Black Pots for extra pay.

Kill enough black primevals, and you can become an Incense Master—fifty taels a month."

He added,

"Don't think of Red God Hall as some dark mountain worshippers. We were all wretches originally.

You've seen Gongzhou—no power, no survival. Us talisman masters banded together into Red God Hall.

Its full name is Red God Hall Talisman Masters Mutual Aid Society. We do charity saving the world—not beheading business."

Chen Shi had originally found Red God Hall somewhat sinister but relaxed a bit upon hearing this. He asked,

"I came to Gongzhou just for the exam. After the big exam, I'll return to Xinduo. Any issue?"

Incense Master Lu laughed.

"Red God Hall is very loose. Leave whenever.

Just no salary after leaving Gongzhou."

Chen Shi agreed at once.

As everyone spoke, wind suddenly rose outside. Howling gales wailed like ghostly cries, drawing nearer.

In the Incense Hall, the oil lamp flames flickered wildly. Suddenly, they roared upward in emerald-green fire, shooting five or six chi high!

Incense Master Xiao's nascent soul was healing in the flames. Blown by the阴风, pain like knife cuts wracked him. He involuntarily screamed and rolled on the ground.

"Hurry and activate a wind-stilling talisman!"

He cried.

Incense Master Lu hurriedly circulated vital blood to still the阴风. Unexpectedly, as his blood stirred, the area brightened—Chen Shi had already circulated his vital blood into a wind-stilling talisman, suppressing the阴风.

The surging emerald flames then returned to normal color, the fire receding.

"His talisman arts surpass mine!"

Incense Master Lu looked at Chen Shi in shock.

"Most Red God Hall talisman masters can't match him. Probably only the Hall Master could best him!"

"Red God, what sort of person killed my disciple? You dare shelter him?"

An old crone's voice came from outside the Incense Hall.

"Hand him over, or today I bloodwash your Red God Hall!"

As soon as she spoke, a massive roar erupted. The Incense Hall's windows and doors shattered open from the sound. Howling gales poured in, extinguishing all ninety-nine oil lamps!

Chen Shi peered into the courtyard by moonlight. The yard was filled by a gigantic old crone's head, her face blocking their view. Her massive maw gaped wide in a roar!

"Tianlao, you've gone too far."

A pleasant female voice sounded. From the voice, it seemed the speaker was the Divine Shrine behind the Incense Hall—a young maiden!