Chapter Thirty: The Art of Illusion

(1/3)

“However, as I walked out of the wealthy family's residence, I noticed a number of people still seeing me off at a distance. I thought to myself, ‘These rich folks are really polite, making such a fuss just for helping deliver an animal. Isn’t this a bit too much?’

Taking advantage of a moment when they weren’t paying attention, I slipped into a corner and quietly opened the sack. I pulled out a gold bar from inside, but to my shock, it had become nothing more than a gold bar-shaped stone in my eyes! Fury welled up within me—so that’s why they told me not to open it before reaching home. They had secretly swapped the gold for a stone!

Enraged, I hurled the sack onto the ground and wanted to spit on it. But when I looked back, where was the grand mansion I had just left? There was only a yellow-skinned fox’s grave, with countless yellow foxes darting about, their eyes glinting in the moonlight, making my hair stand on end.

Terrified by this scene, I ran home as fast as I could. Yet as I fled, a voice trailed behind me: ‘Had you not opened the sack, it would still be gold when you returned. But since you broke my spell, your whole family must pay with their lives!’

I realized then I had crossed paths with some mountain spirit or demon. That night, I decided to take my wife and child away. But as my wife was packing, she suddenly looked up at me with a sinister smile and said in a strange tone, ‘You broke my spell and now wish to escape? I’m afraid your entire family will meet their end here.’

Suddenly, my wife walked into the kitchen and threw herself headlong into the stove fire. I tried to pull her back, but couldn’t budge her. She flung herself into the flames with all her might until her face was utterly unrecognizable.

I broke down and wept helplessly. The neighbors called the police, but on their way, my father, for reasons unknown, kept saying he was unbearably thirsty. He rushed to the pond and submerged himself, drowning before anyone could save him.

I knew then I had provoked something terrible. Looking at my remaining child and elderly mother, I took a rope and hung myself from the eaves. Before I died, I cried out, ‘Let the blame fall where it should! I was greedy and at fault. Now I offer my life in payment. Please spare my mother and child!’

Yet even after my death, when the police finally arrived, that thing made my old mother strangle herself. Now, only this one child of mine remains. If you, sir, can rid us of this demon, I, Wang Ge’er, will repay you in my next life, even if it means becoming a beast of burden!”

After listening to Wang Ge’er’s account, Fang You had a rough idea of the situation. He watched as the incense nearly burned out, and placed a comforting hand on Wang Ge’er’s shoulder: “Go in peace. Your child will survive.”

Wang Ge’er, his head drooping to his chest, tried to express his gratitude and bow, but the incense had already burned to ash. In a flash, he collapsed to the ground and breathed no more.

“Could it be that something from the mountain is behind all this?” Zhang Shengnan, who had listened to the story, grasped Fang You’s sleeve and spoke up.

(2/3)

“It seems I must confront this thing from the mountain,” Fang You said, gazing into the darkness of night. On his back he carried the sword of copper coins for slaying demons and the peachwood sword for banishing ghosts. Having studied the way for many years, it was his duty to exorcise evil and protect the afflicted from harm.

But the malevolence in these mountains was far greater than what he had faced before, not at all like Tang Wan’er, the kindly spirit he had once encountered. Tang Wan’er was a benevolent soul and never meant anyone harm. Even if he’d refused her request, she might not have harmed Xi’er.

But this thing in the mountain killed without hesitation. Fang You reckoned that if he did not act tonight, Wang Ge’er’s daughter would not live to see the morning.

“Young priest, what do you plan to do next?” Zhou Shen asked from the side.

“It’s just a minor mountain spirit. I’ll deal with it shortly,” Fang You replied, deliberately sounding lighthearted to put everyone at ease.

“I want to come along and see how you handle this demon, Priest Fang,” Zhang Shengnan said curiously.

But Fang You, uncharacteristically stern, barked, “This is my business—no place for a meddlesome girl. Step aside!”

Zhang Shengnan, taken aback by the rebuke, muttered resentfully, “What’s wrong with you, Fang You?”

“I’ll go alone. You stay here and keep watch,” Fang You replied, then addressed the villagers: “Please, if you could each contribute, give these four a proper burial. Consider it a good deed, a blessing for your descendants.”

In the eyes of the villagers, Fang You was like a living immortal. No one dared refuse; they all agreed at once.

Zhou Shen, seeing through Fang You’s intentions, put down the little girl he was holding and approached. “Don’t push yourself too hard. Though this child’s life is precious, it’s not worth sacrificing your own.”

Fang You turned to look at Zhou Shen. Meanwhile, Zhang Shengnan, still upset from being scolded, sulked in a corner and said nothing.

(3/3)

“By dawn, if you see me return, it means I’ve defeated the spirit and this household will have a daughter left. If I’m not back by then, seek someone else more capable,” Fang You said, making his resolve clear.

It was obvious he was ready to risk his life. Fang You was not one to throw his life away lightly, but he could not stand by and watch the little girl die at the hands of a mountain demon. With everyone’s hopes pinned on him, he could not simply walk away; otherwise, how could he ever show his face again among those who dealt with the supernatural?

The reason the girl survived the previous night was likely because the spirit, after killing the fourth member of the family, was deterred by the coming dawn and the arrival of the police and the gathering of people. The spirit dared not act rashly.

But once night fell, with the abundance of yin energy and the absence of sunlight, the demon would have free rein. The girl would surely be possessed, which Fang You could not allow to happen.

“I’ll wait here for you. I hope to see you return by dawn,” Zhou Shen said, refraining from further persuasion. As a police officer, he could not bear to see the child die before his eyes. Four out of five family members had perished since the report, and Zhou Shen was weighed down with guilt.

Even the elderly mother had strangled herself before Zhou Shen and Zhang Shengnan, a helplessness no ordinary person could endure. If Zhou Shen had the ability, he would have ventured into the mountains himself and put an end to these spirits’ rampage.

Fang You smiled and glanced at Zhang Shengnan, who had wanted to follow him. She glared at him fiercely, then lowered her head, pouting in dissatisfaction.

“Look after your little assistant! I’m off!”

“Take care, young priest!”