"But I can't see ghosts, I haven't talked to rabbits or chickens and ducks, uh, and I've never been to a temple, so I don't know what a deity statue looks like."
Bai Ming still hadn't figured out what a Spirit Child truly was.
"Ah! You're so stupid, so stupid! I said you are, so you definitely are!"
Huang Que'Er suddenly got anxious, putting her hands on her hips and stamping her feet angrily.
"Oh."
Bai Ming rembered his brother saying that when a woman gets angry, it's best not to reason with her, just keep saying "yes, yes, yes."
"A Spirit Child who touches the incense ash filled with Mountain Spirit aura might have their soul automatically leave their body and go out for a night tour, but it's generally like dreaming, with hardly any mory. Next ti, rember to lie back; running around at night can easily get you into trouble!"
Huang Que'Er warned him seriously.
"Especially don't go into the mountains or enter temples, it's very dangerous!
The deep woods harbor ghosts, high mountains have monsters, don't you get it, you fool!
Especially these days, a great demon has co to Longkang Mountain, you must be extra careful!
If it weren't for Lady Willow God protecting us, we would all be in trouble!"
Bai Ming nodded, then asked:
"What's your na?"
Huang Que'Er walked ahead, grumbling:
"Those annoying ghosts call
'Yellow Feathery Bird', so unpleasant! I have the birds in the woods call
'Sparrow Immortal'! I'm going to cultivate and beco a deity!"
"Sparrow Immortal."
Bai Ming quickly called out.
"Ah, you're not that dumb after all! Good, good, it wasn't in vain for
to risk rescuing you!"
Huang Que'Er hopped about energetically.
"It's too bad you people all have nas, I really want a na too... Hey, fool, are you good at naming?"
Bai Ming shook his head:
"I haven't read as much as my brother, I'm afraid I won't do a good job, but I can ask my brother to give you a satisfactory na, Sparrow Immortal!"
Huang Que'Er was overjoyed, clapping her hands:
"Great, great, then next ti you co into the mountains, you must bring my na along."
Bai Ming nodded earnestly:
"Mhm, mhm, Sparrow Immortal. My na is Bai Ming, white as in daylight, and ming as in clear.
My brother's na is Bai Qi, qi as in enlightennt."
Huang Que'Er repeated it three or four tis, finally rembering:
"Qi and Ming... it's like a star? Lady Willow God ntioned it before, uh, why can't I recall it! Alright, from now on, I'll call you Ah Ming!"
Bai Ming was full of questions, so he treated Huang Que'Er like an instructor at a school, earnestly asking:
"Sparrow Immortal, did I beco a ghost that goes wandering in dreams? Why was it that when I called for my brother just now, he seed not to hear?"
Huang Que'Er, seizing the rare opportunity to be a teacher, imdiately perked up:
"Lady Willow God said that anything gestated from true essence has three souls and seven spirits, like a cluster of energy, invisible and untouchable.
Only through postnatal cultivation can the soul grow strong, and the spirit cohere, breaking free from the confines of the flesh.
But there are other cases, for instance, when a child gets frightened, they're prone to 'soul loss', feeling confused and disoriented every day, and only after soone is invited to 'call the soul back' can they recover.
In those stories you write, isn't there often a scholar who, upon eting a beauty, suddenly falls into unrequited love, losing appetite for tea and food? That's called 'spirit damage'.
The soul is very fragile, without training, it can't withstand the slightest setback."
Bai Ming thought about the page of sorcery his brother found, and he continued to ask:
"How do you cultivate the soul?"
Huang Que'Er paused, struggling to pick up the thread, then slowly said:
"For us Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters, we all achieve enlightennt by listening to Lady Willow God's teachings occasionally, we don't have any special thods, just look for rare herbs every day and make them into food. So receive tributes, gathering incense energy.
Lady Willow God said that outside, the spiritual essence has all been taken, leaving only mixed energy, making cultivation difficult… I used to know a kind auntie, she snuck into the city, I wonder how she's doing now…"
Bai Ming rembered these useful bits of 'knowledge,' and he asked again:
"Then why don't you go into the city, Sparrow Immortal?"
Huang Que'Er pouted, moodily replied:
"How can it be that easy, although touching filthy energy is what makes one a 'demon', the rest are considered Mountain Spirits and Spiritual Creatures, but you humans don't make sense, for our skins and flesh, you're ruthless.
Unless it's spirit birds or pets dosticated by the Dragon Court, otherwise, how could one leisurely stroll into the city, stepping out of the mountain would get them killed."
Bai Ming lowered his head, realizing that not only was it difficult for humans to cultivate, but Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters also faced many obstacles.
"Luckily, the 500-mile mountain road is under Lady Willow God's protection, you don't know, there's a fierce man with the surna Ning living nearby who drills into the woods every so often."
Huang Que'Er ntioned the na with a jittery heart:
"He's tall, always dressed in green, with smiling eyes, if you see him, you must stay away.
Those demonized by consuming flesh and contaminated with filthy energy almost all fell victim to his hands.
The newcor great demon residing in the shady side of the mountain doesn't seem weak either, it's best if the two of them fight..."
Bai Ming beca more silent, this man sounded like his brother's master instructor.
"Ah Ming, if you want to cultivate, you can only go into the city to a Daoist Temple, otherwise there's no way to practice ditation and channel the energy, Mountain Spirits consuming mixed energy isn't a big deal, but if a human body gets polluted, it greatly hinders future progress."
Huang Que'Er reminded:
"Lady Willow God said that in all directions of the world, spiritual essence is limited, yet now it's all been taken by the Dragon Court.
The poor heterodox loose cultivators can only fight for the scraps slipping through the cracks."
"Got it, thanks, Sparrow Immortal."
When Bai Ming reached the foot of the mountain, he saw that bald old man again, who was puffing on a dried pipe smokily:
"The warmth in the incense ash is fading, hurry back, with your little body, the wind would scatter you, and then you wouldn't even qualify to be a wandering ghost."
Bai Ming made a formal bow:
"Thank you, Master Zhuang, too."
The bald old man stepped aside, seemingly unwilling to accept the salute:
"Once you wake up, ask your brother if he has any thoughts of becoming a Mountain Herder.
These days, with you gathering herbs and clearing paths and such, it's clear you understand the rules well, I see your brother as a good prospect,"
Seeing the bald old man praising his brother, Bai Ming puffed out his chest:
"Alright! I'll definitely pass on this ssage!"
Huang Que'Er gave him a push, urging:
"Go, go, don't forget your promise!"
Bai Ming drifted toward the Ginseng Collection Manor, having an excellent sense of direction, without losing his way.
Only the warmth akin to leaning by the stove gradually weakened, probably because the incense ash's residual warmth was dissipating.
According to Sparrow Immortal's instructions, he cautiously avoided the fierce watchdogs, as a human's naked eye can't see wandering souls, but so 'ford spirits' among animals can catch a glimpse of shadows.
The high gates of the County City also kept spirit-sensitive exotic mastiffs to prevent heterodox loose cultivators from controlling little ghosts to secretly transport grain and wealth.
"My brother's yang energy is so exuberant..."
Bai Ming curled up his body, seeing Bai Qi still not asleep, sitting at the door on a small stool, his tall, upright figure exuding a red glow, almost forming a fire furnace.
He hovered bit by bit along the wall, like swimming in the Black Water River, paddling with his hands, finally diving through the wooden door back to the bed.
"Huff huff..."
Bai Ming suddenly sat up, as if waking from a shock, looking down at his small hands.
"Back, it's really like dreaming. Can't tell at all, just can't tell..."
He took out the red paper pouch he carried, finding that the incense ash inside had already cooled.
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