Chapter 32

Beside the bed.

Dingzi's candlelight flickers by the window, casting chaotic shadows; the eyes are filled with the aimless drift of duckweed, and the lonely figure laments in the chaotic world;

Laughter and scolding echo through the body, the heart is worn out, seeking only a moment of peace; it is hard to find a simple meal in the marsh, and the heavens do not grant peace in the chaotic world.

Of the twelve people in the city god temple, three have fallen ill, the Eighth Master being the worst. Since the last spell, he has not recovered, and now he has fainted from anger. Even though Old Cui treated him with acupuncture on the Ren and Du meridians and the Qihai point, he has not woken up. Old Liu is slightly better, but his face alternates between a flushed and pale complexion, and he has not come out, focusing on his breathing in the inner room. The lightest case is Feng San, who had his fever reduced by a talisman from Fox Lady.

In the middle of the night, the three of them gradually woke up. Zhibao was naturally very happy to see them all together, but soon after, the people from the ghost market also arrived, not speaking, but gathering in a circle, sighing and lamenting. Only then did he feel truly anxious and uneasy.

Could it be that the home no longer exists, and they have truly left?

But Fox Lady has not appeared, and it is unknown where she has gone or what she is doing!

Old Liu sat for a moment, then suddenly got up and walked to the bed, full of regret, saying, "Old August, I'm sorry! You are still sick, and it's not appropriate to talk about these things, but..."

"No problem!" The Eighth Master waved his hand, his face relaxing with wrinkles: "I understand the importance, and I know we can't delay—after all, we are old friends for over a decade. If we don't discuss this matter now, it will be too late!"

As he said this, he used his elbow to struggle to sit up. Zhibao quickly put a pillow behind him to make him more comfortable. Before Old Liu could speak, Cheng San first walked over, his face dark with thunder and lightning, and shouted:

"There's nothing to discuss! Old Liu, Old Wang, and everyone else, if it were up to me, we wouldn't be polite to that guy tomorrow. We should just rush him all at once—Old Liu, if you're up to it, you can take on the leading monk, and I, Old Gou, Wu Magan, and Lu Fat will deal with the others. The two Luo girls can protect the sick and Zhibao, and Fox Lady and Old Cui can use some tricks from behind..."

The more he spoke, the more confident he became, his face showing a hint of anticipation: "...Hey! I don't believe a few small fry can turn the tide! Just slam them against the wall, and they won't even come off!"

Luo Guifu immediately countered: "Oh, you're just trying to get Liu Brother into trouble! Can he fight that monk in his condition—aren't you the one who will end up dead, Old Liu?"

Cheng San retorted: "But you're all here, right? It's not that easy to lose! If it comes to it, I'll take on the big monk, and you can use underhanded tactics from the side, okay?"

Cui Deyuan coughed: "We saw today that the monk is protected by the light of the Many Treasures Buddha, making it difficult for ghosts and spirits to approach. Most of our ghost-banishing techniques won't work, unless we use ancient beast spirits, but even that might not be effective."

Wu Magan interjected: "I can use some soul-capturing techniques, but..."

Thinking of the monk's faint radiance, he changed his mind: "...I doubt it will work."

Lu Fat shouted: "What about trying some Three Wealth Pagodas?"

Old Gou: "I think we should just use flying knives..."

Cheng San shook his head: "That might not be easy."

Luo Guifu angrily: "I'll use the Three Yin Absolute Family Willow Blade to sneak attack, and Cheng San can take the front..."

Cui Deyuan was speechless: "Aren't you afraid of accidentally killing Cheng San? You haven't used that move in years..."

Everyone was arguing and making noise, and Old Liu coughed a few times to get their attention: "Everyone, listen to me..."

It was useless!

Everyone continued to talk to themselves, ignoring him!

Old Liu slapped the table a few times and raised his voice: "Everyone, everyone! Listen to me!"

After several calls, he finally got everyone's attention.

Seeing that everyone had stopped the noise, Old Liu slowly stepped forward: "Everyone, this matter is not as simple as you think—just a Tibetan monk causing trouble would be simple. Can't we just fight him? With the help of our fellow Daoists from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks... humph, even a hundred elephants would be overturned!"

His words stirred everyone up, and he raised his hands to calm them down, then continued: "But the problem now is not that he is trying to drive us away, but that we must leave..."

"Why...?" "Aren't we fine here...?" "I don't understand..."

The room erupted in chaos again, and Old Liu had to calm everyone down again.

After several attempts, he finally revealed the hidden side of the Que'er Mountain City God Temple: the situation described in the verse is quite simple. Four unusual phenomena indicate that the temple's time in this world is up. If we don't leave in time, the feng shui will change, leading to its collapse. Everyone here is hiding from karmic debts, and none of us can leave safely...

He has confirmed with his own eyes that the Que'er Eye has collapsed due to the will of heaven, truly closing!

"Moreover," Old Liu added, "from the news brought back by Zhibao and Feng San, we know that the son of the Lo family from the袍哥会 (Pao Ge Hui) and a warlord's troops are already on their way. If we stay, we will only face a direct confrontation. Whether they or we suffer casualties, it will be against the will of heaven, and once that happens, it will be hard to avoid—everyone is here to protect their families and loved ones, but once the karmic debt is triggered, it will be impossible to achieve your goals!"

This was the medicine that struck at the heart of everyone's fears, hitting their vital points!

Everyone fell silent, their faces darkening as they pondered their options or the alternatives Old Liu had mentioned.

Old Liu took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Where there is a mountain, there can be a forest; where there is a forest, there can be a spring. Leaving Que'er Mountain doesn't mean we have nowhere to go. We are all experts at stirring up the sea and moving the earth. Can't we find another ghost market to hide in?" He chuckled a few times and said, "There's no need to discuss this further. Let's just go..."

Just as he said this, the door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang, and a strong wind blew in. A voice, filled with sorrow, called out: "Old Liu, everyone, the warlord's soldiers are already at the foot of the mountain. Hurry up! I can't hold them off much longer..." The voice was distant and hard to pinpoint, but it sounded like Fox Lady's!

Halfway through, there was a loud "vomit" sound, as if she had spat out a mouthful of blood!

Everyone shouted in alarm and rushed to the door, but a voice from outside suddenly said:

"Stay there! Don't come out!" The voice was filled with fear and hesitation, as if afraid of them!

Old Liu understood the situation and quickly closed the door, leaving a small gap to shout out: "We won't come out! We won't come out! Don't worry—Fox Lady, are you okay?"

Fox Lady vomited a few times before regaining her composure and gasped: "I'm fine, just injured. The soldiers' cannons and guns are soaked in chicken and dog blood, mixed with cinnabar and incense ash, making it very difficult for ghosts and spirits to approach. It's best to avoid them early..."

"Fox Lady, don't worry! Everyone has decided to leave!" Lao Liu added: "Is everything okay on your side?"

"I'm fine, really..." Fox Lady laughed weakly, "Since you've decided, leave quickly. Remember, they are on the main road, and their lanterns and torches are easy to recognize. If you encounter them, avoid them early—"

"Okay, we understand!" Old Liu nodded, "Is there anything else?"

"There is, there is..." Fox Lady suddenly sighed, "We've been together for a long time, but I didn't expect to part without saying goodbye. It's a regret! Everyone, I have my reasons and won't see you off. Farewell, and may we meet again!"

As she spoke, her voice grew fainter and fainter, and she was gone!

Everyone was stunned, and Old Liu sighed: "Fox Lady went alone to hold off the soldiers, and she must be seriously injured, so she couldn't say goodbye—everyone, don't waste her efforts. Let's pack up and leave quickly."

With no other choice, everyone reluctantly followed his advice, returning to their rooms to pack valuables and bid farewell to each other. In a short while, they all dispersed.

Feng San naturally followed Old Cui on a boat; Old Liu stayed behind to tidy up the temple; the Eighth Master took Zhibao along a small path toward Huangliang Ridge—leaving the ghost market, the soldiers might not come after them, so there was no need to fear.

Following the old path up the mountain, halfway up, they saw a fiery dragon-like procession heading toward the city god temple. The vanguard had already reached the small bridge, and the temple was not far away, perhaps less than a teacup of time!

At that moment, a fire suddenly erupted behind the city god temple. Like a whirlwind, the flames turned into a towering pillar, engulfing the entire temple and shops!

Black smoke and flames rose to the sky, illuminating the Que'er Mountain as if it were daylight!

In the fire, they heard the old temple keeper, Liu Piyun, clapping and laughing:

"South to north, east to west,

Earnings of ten thousand strings are all in vain;

Wealth and fame are both empty,

After death, nothing remains in hand;

Wife and children are also empty,

On the path to the underworld, they do not meet;

Day and night are both empty,

When will the emptiness of all things be understood;

Heaven and earth are both empty,

Life is fleeting in the midst of it all;

Only karma follows one,

If not repaid in this life, it will be in the next!"

Then, the flames, like a raging sea, engulfed and swallowed him!

The fiery dragon-like procession suddenly sped up, rushing chaotically toward the city god temple.

In the flames, they heard the old temple keeper, Liu Piyun, clapping and laughing:

"South to north, east to west,

Earnings of ten thousand strings are all in vain;

Wealth and fame are both empty,

After death, nothing remains in hand;

Wife and children are also empty,

On the path to the underworld, they do not meet;

Day and night are both empty,

When will the emptiness of all things be understood;

Heaven and earth are both empty,

Life is fleeting in the midst of it all;

Only karma follows one,

If not repaid in this life, it will be in the next!"

Then, the flames, like a raging sea, engulfed and swallowed him!