Chapter 6: Exorcising Ghosts and Worshiping Masters

  "Master Dao, Master Dao is long. Open the door, open it quickly!" Not to mention Old Mother and Huo Jingying were at home watching me sing opera. On the other hand, Father rode his Forever 28 bicycle with a load of clanging bells across two streets. He entered the Red Flag Hotel, found the service staff, asked for Master Dao's residence, ran to the door and shouted loudly.

  "Hey, hey, hey~ Comrade, please keep your voice down at this late hour." The waiter looked at my father with a mixture of caution and warning. At that time, "comrade" was still a very sacred title. Sometimes when I look back, I think about how many words have been ruined by our own hands? But let's not digress, the scene cuts back to in front of room 202 at the Red Flag Guest House.

  "Is that kid in trouble?" Just as the waiter was about to shoo him away with a feather duster, Lao Dao opened the door with sleepy eyes and asked his father in a thick tone. Who knows what he ate for dinner, but the smell from his mouth made his father take two steps back before nodding in response to his question.

  "Just wait a few minutes for me!" The old Taoist seemed not to care about my safety, said this sentence to Lao Da, turned around and closed the door again. And that middle-aged female servant holding a feather duster staring at Lao Da, took a long breath, turned around and went downstairs to continue her shift.

  "Old Dao, why are you going out so late?" A man's voice came from inside the house, asking Old Dao. At that time, there were no holiday hotels or various inns. When people went out and needed to stay overnight, they all stayed at reception centers. Moreover, to check-in, a letter of introduction from one's work unit was required. It had to be clearly written where you came from, where you were going, and what you planned to do. Without a letter of introduction, even if you had money, the host would not let you stay. Of course, there are no absolutes in life, and in hidden corners, there were also private small hotels. It's just that people with a clean background wouldn't choose to stay in those kinds of places. People back then were simple!

  The person asking the question was Lao Dao's roommate, a Fujian native who made a living by selling cloth. He just used the title of procurement officer from some unit as a cover, and with an introduction letter from some unknown unit, he lived in the same room as Lao Dao. A hotel is different from a guesthouse, no matter how big the hotel room is, once you check in, the room belongs to you alone until you check out. Of course, it's also allowed for you to bring someone else's wife to stay with you. A guesthouse is different, as long as there's an empty bed and the same gender, they can put a complete stranger next to you. This kind of thing could only be done back then, nowadays, if two people check in, it's likely that only one will come out the next day!

  "Sorry to disturb your sleep in the middle of the night. I have an old friend who's had a bit of trouble, so I'll go take a look. I won't be back today, you can rest assured and go back to sleep!" The old man picked up his rattan box from under the bed, apologetically telling his roommate. It seemed that he had gotten along quite well with this fellow in the past few days.

  "Oh, just call out if you need any help." The Fujian man reminded the Taoist in front of him with great enthusiasm, turned around and continued to sleep. The old Taoist, on the other hand, carried his box and extinguished the 20-watt small light bulb in the house, walked out the door.

  "Let's go, I'll tell you about it on the way!" The old man walked up to his father and gestured to him.

  The little rabbit went to the alley mouth to take a picture at night...... As he walked down the stairs of the reception building, his father whispered the ins and outs of the matter in Old Tao's ear. The lingering aftereffects of sweeping away all sorts of evil spirits still existed, so he didn't dare to loudly shout out everything clearly there. If that really happened, it was possible that before he and Old Tao arrived home, they would be taken away by the police station uncles wearing white uniforms for interrogation.

  "Haha, the little stinker has been possessed by a ghost? Now he's performing at home? Well, I'd like to take a good look. Nowadays, cultured ghosts are hard to come by!" The old Daoist listened to his father's account and not only didn't rush, but instead laughed and said that in his opinion, the one possessing me wasn't an evil entity. If it were truly an evil spirit, I would have been out of my mind by now. How could I still be calmly performing at home like Dad said?

  But Lao Dao's words didn't sit well with Old Man Li. Thinking about it, anyone would be unhappy if someone made jokes when their family was going through a tough time. And what about Old Man Li's notorious temper?

  "Old cow nose, I've made it clear to you. If you delay any further, believe me, I'll beat you up so badly that even San Mao won't recognize you!" Old Dad turned around and grabbed the collar of Lao Dao's robe, his eyes wide with anger. Old Dad was a rough man, he didn't care if it was San Mao or San Mao. In short, he thought that sometimes using fists to get things done was more efficient than talking reason! Not only did he feel relieved, but the person being dealt with would also feel relieved. Sure enough, Lao Dao saw the situation and stopped speaking, meekly sitting down in the back seat of his Permanent 28.

  "Early in the morning, I got up and looked at myself in the mirror, combed my hair into a fragrant osmanthus bun. The powder on my face was peach blossom pink, and the lip gloss was apricot blossom red!" As I approached the door of our house in the dark, I faintly heard my own singing voice coming from inside, and Dad's expression became even more unpleasant.

  "You're finally back! Mingming hasn't stopped crying since you left." The old mother said with a hint of sadness as she turned her head to look at the old father who was walking into the house with his head down, followed by Old Dao.

  "Who said it's been a moment, didn't I let your son take a break for a cup of tea?" The female ghost seemed dissatisfied with the old mother's words and stopped using my mouth to defend herself.

  "Hah! To see an old Daoist dare to be so impudent in front of me, you are indeed the first of your kind in this divine land!" The old Daoist Mao Liu Fang stood on the spot, twirling his mustache and sneering coldly.

  "Doll, I'll have my disciple repay your kindness for me. There will be repayment in the future!" The old Daoist said no more and ignored the one inside me, turning to recite a poem to Huo Jingying instead.

  "The words are heavy. I and Mengmeng are classmates, seeing him in trouble, should lend a hand!" Huo Jingying said this, making me have two unexpected thoughts. One was that as a third-grade elementary school student, how could she say such elegant words? The second was that when the runny-nosed girl said this, I suddenly saw her as if she were a Bodhisattva in a temple? It wasn't until many years later that I found the words to describe Little Yaotou's demeanor at the time... "Treasured appearance, dignified and solemn!"

  "I am the disciple of Mao Liu Fang, to receive kindness from others is to receive kindness. No matter what the reason, I will eventually return it to you. Take this jade pendant, if there's anything important that needs help in the future, you can bring it to Mao Mountain. I won't ask for reasons, I won't ask for right or wrong, old Daoist will definitely return a favor." Although the old Daoist usually looks sloppy, he showed some weakness in front of my father. But when he said this, what did we feel? Ah, yes, " authority without anger"! Not only was my mother subdued by the old Daoist, but even my father took a step back, rubbing his hands together. And as for the one inside me...

  "Thank you, Master!" Huo Jingying bowed her knees and made a gesture of gratitude, then took the jade pendant from Lao Dao's hand and carefully put it into the embroidered small purse she carried with her.

  "The play is over, it's time to leave! Come out now and I won't make things difficult for you. If you don't come out now, then disappear into thin air!" The old Daoist helped me resolve the karma between me and Huo Jingyun, turned around with his hands behind his back and said coldly to me. Although I knew he was talking to the person inside my body, looking at the old Daoist's eyes, my body also involuntarily shivered. It seemed like his words were directed at me! I never knew that this cheap master of mine had such a domineering side!

  "Hmph! You, a Taoist priest, don't try to scare me with your words. If you really have the ability, why haven't you driven me out of Meng's body yet? At this moment, control over the body was back in that ghost girl's hands. I saw myself half-turning my body, lifting my hand and curling up my fingers in a coquettish gesture to cover my face while speaking. This naturally made Father exclaim "Our family is doomed!" Of course, this phrase was a bit too profound for him. In simpler terms that he could understand, it meant "What a shame!"

  "Hmph! Since you're obstinately refusing to listen, don't blame me for being ruthless!" The old Daoist's face turned even colder as he swept his dao robe aside, revealing a killing intent that was as sharp as a blade.

  "Heavenly origin, Taiyi, essence governing the army, guarding the earthly realm, preserving the harmony of life. Embroidered clothes and skirt, green hat and crown, blue dragon on the left, white tiger on the right. Wearing a dragon sword, symbol of five blessings, commanding divine officials, three to five generals. Any evil will be beheaded, any monster will be destroyed, spreading auspiciousness and good fortune, opening up a bright future. Evil monsters disappear, the Five Emperors descend with authority, protecting the world for ten thousand years, imperial virtue shines daily. Yellow dragon descends from heaven, emperor's longevity is expected, clear night and bright dawn, dispelling evil and falsehood. Hurry, hurry, as if by imperial decree!"

  The old Taoist used his foot to push open the rattan box that was placed under his foot, then used his toes to pick up a peach wood sword inside the box, stretched out his hand to steady it, and stepped on the Seven Star Step with his feet. As he finished reciting the incantation, the old Taoist's eyes flashed coldly, and the sword was swiftly drawn across my chest.

  "Ah~ spare my life!" As I was struck by this sword and nearly died, several clusters of pale blue mist seeped out from my mouth, nose, ears, and other orifices. The scene was as eerie as it could get. Even Dad and Mom, holding hands with each other, shrank to the corner of the wall. The five wisps of blue mist gathered before my eyes, gradually coalescing into a hazy female figure, who cowered on the ground, trembling and begging for mercy.

  "Earlier, I advised you kindly, but why are you so stubborn and unrepentant? Now it seems you've learned to beg for mercy?" The old Daoist swung his blood-brown peach wood sword, advancing with the sword. Judging from this, I reckon he's going to use his powerful hand to destroy the female ghost.

  "Meng brother, spare my life! In the past, I have never harmed you or thought of harming your life. I hope Meng brother will be merciful and let Linglong go this time!" The female ghost saw that the old Taoist was determined to kill her with his sword, so she turned around and grabbed my leg, begging for mercy.

  I've always been the type to yield to gentleness but not to force, especially when it comes to women's softness. Even though Linglong is just a female ghost, seeing her with tears in her eyes like a pear blossom in the rain, my heart can't help but soften. As my master would say later, I've always been a sentimental fool since I was young. Of course, another way to put it is that I've always been a lecherous rascal!

  "Master, please don't! Just spare Linglong this one time?!" No sooner had I spoken than the female ghost and I both knelt down in front of the old Daoist, begging for mercy together!

  "I had wanted to take you as my disciple earlier, but I hadn't seen you show respect for even half a sentence towards your master. Today's good, all because of a female ghost, and now our master-disciple relationship is finally established! Hmph, get up!" The old Daoist, no, from now on I should call him Master! Master struck the sword against my head with a loud clang, then sheathed it and said coldly.