Chapter Thirty-One: Man and the Great Demon Discuss Philosophy
Courtyard by the well.
At the very moment when Qingyuan opened the Ninefold Treasure Chest and a surge of celestial energy spilled forth, the courtyard trembled violently. From deep within the well came a faint, intermittent howl, accompanied by the sound of iron chains being dragged.
“This is bad,” said Qiyuan, who leapt up in his room.
Just then, the door swung open and Qiming burst inside, pointing in terror toward the courtyard by the well. “The one in the well… it’s stirring again…”
Qiming swallowed hard. “It’s making noise again.”
Qiyuan’s expression shifted. “Quick, find our uncle.”
Qiming replied anxiously, “Uncle said the Abbot is already on his way back, he went out to greet him this morning, but they won’t return for several days.”
“Damn…” Qiyuan’s face changed. Suddenly, he said, “Quick, go find Master Yun Jing…”
…
In the courtyard.
Shanxiao was practicing his blade technique when a fresh, pure fragrance wafted by, invigorating his spirit for an instant before quickly fading. As he pondered its source, he caught a faint, elusive sound that sent a chill through his heart.
The howl carried immense authority, an aura that terrified all spirits and demons. Shanxiao plunged his blade into the earth, pressed one hand to the ground, and crouched low, baring his teeth in a fierce, menacing posture.
Xiao Yu sat in the courtyard, chin in hand, gazing at the flowers blooming in the pond. Suddenly, she heard a commotion and glanced over, startled by Shanxiao’s appearance. Mistaking his intent for malice, she cried out in alarm and fled into the house.
Elder Ge and Master Yun Jing were inside, sipping tea and conversing. Master Yun Jing paused abruptly and gazed off toward another part of the compound.
Elder Ge, being an ordinary man, sensed nothing, but hearing Xiao Yu’s shriek, hurried outside to meet her.
Though Master Yun Jing was not a practitioner of Daoist arts, he was well-versed in the writings of sages, possessed a righteous spirit, understood the ways of the world, and comprehended the meaning of the Dao. He was no ordinary man. Sensing something amiss, he rose, hands clasped behind his back, and looked toward Qingyuan’s location, murmuring in surprise, “Celestial energy?”
His gaze shifted again toward the well courtyard. “This Mingyuan Daoist Temple is truly a blessed place. Over the years, it has birthed such a thing, and for so long it’s caused trouble, yet they still hesitate to destroy it?”
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.
“Master Yun Jing…”
It was the voices of Qiyuan and Qiming. They rushed into the courtyard, anxious.
“I know,” Master Yun Jing said. “Just now, a strand of celestial energy filled the air, causing this disturbance.”
---
Qiming didn’t understand, but Qiyuan, being older and more knowledgeable, was startled. “Celestial energy?”
Master Yun Jing nodded lightly.
Qiyuan said, “The Abbot told us that now the world is sealed and the gods are hidden. We live in seclusion, and unless absolutely necessary, must not descend the mountain, lest we become entangled in worldly affairs and karmic consequences. Nowadays, even immortals must avoid the world; none may enter the mortal realm without permission, lest they disrupt the balance. How can there be celestial energy?”
“It was but a single thread, hardly enough to disturb the balance,” replied Master Yun Jing. “Besides, Mingyuan Daoist Temple is itself a place of powerful Feng Shui. The celestial energy didn’t leak out, but was absorbed by the temple’s protective formations, which is actually beneficial. Because of this, the creature in the well sensed a whiff of energy and became agitated.”
Qiyuan was troubled. “Is this…”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Master Yun Jing said. “That strand of celestial energy is insignificant; now it’s dispersed throughout the temple, and the creature receives only a fraction—nothing that could overturn the heavens.”
Qiming, face drawn, said, “But it’s already becoming difficult to contain. The Abbot travels far and wide seeking solutions to suppress it. If it gets out this time, won’t it destroy the temple?”
“If only it had been dealt with years ago, there would be no trouble now. But Master Shuisheng couldn’t bear to destroy it…” Master Yun Jing shook his head. “I know no talismans nor magical arts, but at least I’ve read a few books… Here, fetch me some paper. I’ll write a passage explaining certain principles—perhaps I can persuade it to retreat.”
Paper and brush were available, but Master Yun Jing evidently required something more special.
Qiyuan’s thoughts raced—Master Yun Jing had long coveted the sheets of paper left from the Tang Dynasty in the Abbot’s chambers. But there was no time to hesitate. He nodded quickly. “Alright.”
He paused, thinking, “Besides paper, I’ll need ink… And the ink should be mixed with cinnabar, which is of yang nature and effective in suppressing spirits.”
…
In the room.
Qingyuan was unaware that opening the treasure chest had caused such commotion.
He stared at the folded sheet before him. Matters of life and death weighed heavily on his mind, disrupting even his usual composure. The distance from the well courtyard made the faint sounds easy to overlook.
“The clue to the treasure?”
He took a deep breath and picked up the paper. It was like silk, slightly heavy. Unfolded, it revealed a map of terrain.
Upon examination, Qingyuan found that the map bore no names or landmarks; he did not recognize the landscape.
“Looks like I’ll need to ask someone,” Qingyuan thought carefully.
This map concerned a precious artifact. He could not show it lightly, nor reveal the whole thing.
After some thought, he took paper and brush, copied the map, and put the original away.
The copied map was divided into four parts.
Originally, there should have been five, but the part marking the treasure was deliberately left out—a precaution.
He finished his preparations and looked again at the original map belonging to Guangyuan Ancient Lord of Industry.
This was an item left by an immortal; not to mention its origin, merely being kept in the treasure chest and suffused with celestial energy for years made it extraordinary.
After considering, Qingyuan placed it inside his shirt, close to his left breast.
He packed up, stowed the four map fragments, tucked the iron staff at his waist, and opened the door.
Standing outside was Shanxiao Gu Cang.
---
“That…” Gu Cang pointed toward the well courtyard, mouth moving.
“What is it?” Qingyuan watched, listened intently for a moment, and finally heard faint, distant sounds. He walked closer toward the well courtyard, rounded a wall, and the sounds became clearer.
The sound was a long, soaring howl—not human, but blocked by something unseen.
Hearing this, Qingyuan felt his spirit stir; within his blood, a faint dragon’s roar resonated.
It was an instinct after the earth dragon entered his body.
Sensing a similar aura, he reacted instinctively.
“So Mingyuan Daoist Temple harbors a monster?” Qingyuan was surprised.
He wished to investigate, but recalled Qiyuan’s reaction earlier, and that the well courtyard had since been locked—proof that outsiders were not welcome. He did not push further.
Just then, a strange scent wafted from the well courtyard.
It was an aura—a trajectory outlining the pattern of heaven and earth.
Not a talisman, but words!
Yet, like talismans, they possessed mysterious power.
“Righteous energy?” Qingyuan was astonished.
The well courtyard was suffused with righteous energy, outlining the patterns of heaven and earth.
But this was not suppression—it was reason.
Stone falls to earth, water flows to the lowest point.
Fire is hot, ice is cold.
Such is the way of the world.
The principles of heaven and earth.
“Master Yun Jing?” Qingyuan drew a deep breath, his gaze full of respect.
Master Yun Jing was a scholar, unfamiliar with magical arts or Daoist techniques, yet he understood the order of the world, the cycle of destiny, and the myriad principles of the Dao.
He comprehended reason and the meaning of the Dao.
Thus, he possessed a righteous spirit, neither fearful nor agitated.
Thus, his written words outlined the cosmos and expounded truth.
He was not suppressing with words, but using them to reason with the monster in the well courtyard.