Record of Old-time Taoist Anecdotes

Chapter One: The Evil Zombie Attacks the Village, A Novice's First Encounter The wind howled like a roaring beast, sweeping across the land with unrestrained fury. Dark clouds, like spilled ink, piled up layer upon layer, pressing heavily against the sky as if to devour the entire world, heralding the arrival of a terrible disaster. Ah Xiu stumbled along the winding mountain path, her steps faltering. Her hair was disheveled, strands of it damp with sweat and clinging to her dusty cheeks. Her clothes were tattered, the edges fluttering wildly in the wind like a torn flag. After a long and arduous journey, she finally reached the Maoshan Taoist Temple. Entering the temple, Ah Xiu looked at the temple master with eyes full of fear and anxiety. She fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down her face, her voice filled with despair and pleading: "Temple Master, please save our village! That zombie appears every night and has already killed many people. The villagers can't go on like this!" Her voice trembled, each word laden with deep concern and pain for her homeland. The temple master's expression was grave, his brows furrowed like a heavy mountain. Coincidentally, he was occupied with other urgent matters and unable to attend to this himself. He turned his gaze slowly to Lin Yu and Ah Fu, his tone firm and resolute: "Lin Yu, Ah Fu, you must accompany this young lady to the village immediately and ensure that the zombie is eradicated, bringing peace to the area." Upon hearing this, Lin Yu felt both nervous and excited. This was his first time descending the mountain for such a significant mission. His heart pounded like a restless deer in his chest. He instinctively tightened his grip on the peachwood sword at his waist, which had been soaked in black dog's blood. The scabbard trembled slightly in his hand. He stole a glance at the beautiful and anxious Ah Xiu beside him. Her tear-streaked yet determined face filled him with an inexplicable courage. He exchanged a look with Ah Fu, their eyes reflecting a firm resolve, and nodded heavily. Ah Fu stepped forward, gently patting Lin Yu's shoulder with his broad, warm hand, and said in a low voice, "Junior brother, don't panic. We'll face this together." His steady tone, like a calming anchor, slightly eased Lin Yu's flustered heart. The three of them hurried along, the dust rising with their rapid steps. By the time they reached the village, night had fallen like a vast black curtain. The village was enveloped in a nauseating stench of decay, a palpable miasma that permeated every inch of the air. It was eerily silent, with only the occasional bark of a dog echoing through the empty village, adding to the sinister atmosphere. The villagers had shut their doors and windows tightly, the faint flicker of candlelight from within swaying in the wind, as if it could be extinguished by the darkness at any moment, much like the precarious hope of the villagers. Village Chief Li, his face full of worry, hurried to greet them. His eyes betrayed his doubt as he scrutinized Lin Yu and Ah Fu, his tone tinged with uncertainty: "Are you two young Taoists really up to this? That zombie is incredibly fierce!" Lin Yu straightened his back, his chest puffed out slightly, and said confidently, "Village Chief, rest assured. We will do our utmost." Ah Xiu, standing beside Lin Yu, looked at him with a glimmer of trust in her eyes. She bit her lower lip slightly, her hands unconsciously clenched, silently praying that these two Taoists could truly save the village. At midnight, the village was enveloped in a thick silence, so quiet it was almost oppressive. Suddenly, a sharp, prolonged howl pierced the night, like a sharp blade stabbing straight into everyone's hearts. Lin Yu felt his scalp tingle, his hair standing on end, a chill running up his spine to the top of his head. He instinctively tightened his grip on the peachwood sword, his palms already sweaty, the hilt becoming slippery. "It's here!" Ah Fu whispered, his voice low and tense, his expression serious, his eyes like a hawk's, fixed intently on the direction of the sound. Outside the village, a figure slowly emerged. Under the moonlight, the zombie was dressed in tattered, filthy Qing dynasty official robes, the edges of which flapped wildly in the wind, as if recounting past sins. Its face was ashen, devoid of blood, like a skeleton forgotten by time. Its eyes glowed with an eerie red light, like two burning ghost flames, sinister and terrifying, seemingly able to see into the depths of one's fear. Its nails were long and sharp, glinting with a cold light, as if they could easily tear through anything in their path. With each step, a low "thud" accompanied it, the ground seeming to tremble, as if the earth itself feared its presence. Lin Yu swallowed hard, his throat dry and uncomfortable, a wave of uncontrollable fear rising within him, his legs trembling slightly like a candle in the wind. But he forced himself to remain calm, trying to steady his voice: "Senior brother, this zombie doesn't look ordinary." His voice trembled slightly, yet carried a hint of stubbornness. Ah Fu frowned deeply, his brow furrowed into a deep "*" shape, and nodded gravely: "Junior brother, we must not be careless. Be careful." Beside them, Ah Xiu covered her mouth in fear, her fingers trembling slightly, her body shaking gently, her eyes filled with terror and anger, the anger like a burning flame trying to dispel the fear in her heart. Lin Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, his mind racing as he recalled the knowledge about zombies he had learned from ancient texts. He muttered softly: "This zombie seems to have been refined by some evil method. Ordinary zombies wouldn't have such a powerful aura." His voice was quiet, but carried a note of certainty. Ah Fu's eyes sharpened, a flash of alertness in them as he looked at Lin Yu: "Are you saying someone is controlling it?" Before Lin Yu could answer, the zombie had drawn closer. It opened its mouth and let out a roar, a foul stench rushing towards them, making them gag. The smell was like that of a rotting corpse left in the sun, making one dizzy. Lin Yu gripped the peachwood sword tightly, silently encouraging himself: "No matter where you come from, today I won't let you harm the villagers anymore!" His eyes were firm, as if declaring his determination to the zombie. At that moment, Village Chief Li, who had somehow arrived behind them, said in a trembling voice: "This zombie was originally an unnamed corpse from the mass grave outside the village. A few days ago, a mysterious man in a black robe came to the village and spent several days at the mass grave. After that, this zombie started coming out every night to harm people." His voice trembled slightly, as if recalling that terrifying experience. Hearing this, Lin Yu was startled. He exchanged a glance with Ah Fu, both their eyes reflecting surprise and wariness. It seemed there was indeed a hidden conspiracy behind this. Lin Yu hesitated no longer, quickly reciting the "Heart-Cleansing Incantation," his voice low and steady, trying to calm his increasingly tense emotions. At the same time, he silently recited the "Evil-Dispelling Spell" in his mind, each word repeated and savored for its power. Ah Fu swiftly pulled out a "Spirit Fire Talisman" from his robe, his fingers lightly twisting it, the talisman instantly igniting with a ghostly blue flame, flickering mysteriously in the dark. He flung the talisman towards the zombie, the talisman flying through the dark night sky like a shooting star. Lin Yu seized the moment, holding the peachwood sword, its blade shimmering with a faint golden light, a result of him channeling his own spiritual energy into it. With a loud shout, he thrust the sword towards the zombie's neck, combining it with the "Evil-Dispelling Spell." The yang energy from the black dog's blood and the sword's evil-repelling power worked in tandem, forcing the zombie to retreat several steps, letting out roars of anger. The roars seemed to pierce the sky, filled with rage and resentment. However, this zombie was no ordinary reanimated corpse. It quickly regained its footing, the red light in its eyes growing more intense, like a sea of burning blood. It suddenly swung its arms, creating a gust of wind as sharp as blades, cutting into their faces. It charged at Lin Yu with incredible speed, too fast for him to react. Lin Yu dodged nimbly, the peachwood sword leaving a shallow mark on the zombie's tough arm, but it wasn't enough to cause significant damage. The zombie swung back, its immense force like a tidal wave, and Lin Yu, unable to dodge in time, was sent flying several meters, landing heavily on the ground. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if thousands of needles were stabbing him, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth, glistening under the moonlight. Seeing this, Ah Fu was frantic, his heart seemingly about to leap out of his throat. He rushed forward, his hands quickly forming seals, chanting incantations, casting the "Body-Binding Spell" from Maoshan's repertoire. An invisible force shot towards the zombie, its movements momentarily halting, but only for a brief second before it broke free from the spell's restraint. Ah Fu took advantage of this short window, pulling out a "Immortal-Binding Rope" from his waist, made of special materials imbued with Taoist magic. He hurled the rope towards the zombie, attempting to entangle its limbs and restrict its movements. Sensing the danger, the zombie struggled fiercely, its sharp nails tearing through the rope with a "rip," as if shredding their hopes. Ah Fu had no choice but to quickly retract the rope, his heart filled with anxiety and frustration. At this point, Lin Yu struggled to his feet, his body swaying as if he might collapse at any moment. He knew that with their current methods, defeating this zombie would be difficult. Enduring the pain from his wounds, each one screaming in agony, he pulled out a "Five Thunder Talisman" from his robe, a powerful talisman from Maoshan's arsenal but one that consumed a great deal of spiritual energy to use. He held the talisman between two fingers, his hand trembling slightly, and chanted the incantation, the talisman's runes flickering with lightning. Lin Yu aimed at the zombie and, with all his strength, hurled the talisman. It exploded in mid-air, a thunderbolt striking the zombie. The zombie, hit by the thunder, let out a roar of pain, the sound almost shattering their eardrums, some of the black aura around it dissipating, but it still didn't fall. Instead, it became even more frenzied, charging at Lin Yu and Ah Fu with increased ferocity. Though their coordination was somewhat clumsy, their indomitable will kept them fighting on. Lin Yu swung the peachwood sword again, with Ah Fu on the other side, trying to find the zombie's weak spot. However, the zombie was immensely strong and agile, their attacks either easily dodged or blocked by its sheer power. The battle reached a stalemate, Lin Yu and Ah Fu gradually exhausting their strength, their wounds increasing, their Taoist robes stained with blood, glaringly vivid under the moonlight. Watching the zombie disappear into the darkness, Lin Yu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Ah Xiu hurried over, pulling out a small handkerchief embroidered with flowers from her bosom, the handkerchief emitting a faint fragrance. She handed it to Lin Yu with nervous concern: "Here, wipe it off." Lin Yu took the handkerchief, his fingers brushing against Ah Xiu's warm ones, a surge of warmth filling his heart, like a ray of winter sun dispelling some of the chill. He silently vowed: "Next time, I will definitely destroy you completely, and never let everyone fall into danger again!" Ah Fu approached, checking Lin Yu's injuries, his brow furrowed: "Junior brother, are you okay?" Lin Yu shook his head: "I'm fine, senior brother. Thanks for your timely help." But both knew in their hearts that this zombie was too powerful. To completely eradicate it, they would need to find a more effective method.