Chapter 297: The Tiger Sniffs the Rose

After returning home, I made a simple nether jade using talismans and a jade pendant, planning to use a soul-summoning banner to bring Red Granny inside, then drip blood to strike the mysterious taboo into it.

The container for raising ghosts is either a special bottle or a coffin made of gloomy wood; I have neither, and a coffin would need to be custom-made. So I can only make a nether jade from talismans and a jade pendant.

Jade is full of spiritual energy and can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nourish people; after treating it with talismans, it can also become a medium for yin energy flow. In ancient times, some Daoists did not want to collect one or two little ghosts to ruin their inherited magical tools, so they would temporarily seal the little ghosts with a magical tool, then make a nether conduit with a jade pendant to transfer them elsewhere.

Likewise, a jade pendant can serve as a nether conduit to transfer spirits; with a slight modification, it can naturally become a temporary nether jade for containing spirits.

However, this nether jade has limited capacity and cannot permanently seal spirits. But I only need a period of buffer time to allow me to make a coffin.

When the contract was established, Red Granny repeatedly asked me several times, asking whether I promised her that once she found a disciple, I would let her go.

I nodded and solemnly told her: "Once you find a disciple, I will immediately release you." To be honest, I actually wanted her to leave deep down, so I could save some incense and oil money for offerings.

Only after I had sworn an oath did Red Granny let me drip blood to strike the taboo command onto her body. This taboo command is used by my Yin Mountain Sect to control yin spirits; once the taboo command is struck, it means I and the troops are connected by blood. Unless I release her or I die, the troops will forever be under my control. This is also why Red Granny repeatedly asked me, fearing that one day she might want to leave but I would not agree, leaving her unable to speak.

Not long after, QingSongShu also returned from afar. I and Pangzi told QingSongShu about what happened at Mei Gu's house, especially when mentioning slaying the evil god, QingSongShu merely nodded and said: "Killing a ghost can save a living person; this is not a sin but merit. When the time comes to act, do not be pedantic; when to cut, then cut."

His words amounted to agreeing with my approach, only Pangzi's stubborn mind fails to understand, and he still believes that when encountering evil ghosts in the future, it is better to send them away through rites of passage.

In response, I glanced at him: performing rites, performing rites—if I encounter a vicious ghost with heavy resentment, I might not even save my life, let alone perform rites.

I thought that in the future, Pangzi and I should work separately; our methods differ, making cooperation truly difficult.

Feeling bored, I played a round of poker, then went back inside to continue swallowing talismans for cultivation.

The next day, Pangzi and I returned to school.

Originally, the university was lax about attendance—you could go or not as you pleased, as long as you passed the exams. But Pangzi said she was preparing to give flowers to Silijing, asking me to go with him to bolster his courage.

Unable to resist Pangzi, I had to go with him, though I had already prepared myself to embarrass myself alongside him.

Arriving at the flower shop, I once again looked down on Pangzi. Because Pangzi actually bought roses……

Although roses resemble roses, they are not of the same class, and the price differs by almost tenfold. Everyone knows that in mythology, the rose embodies passion and love, and its flower language also represents passion and love. One should give roses to a lover.

Yet Pangzi actually bought roses that are several grades lower than roses, which truly makes me despise his stinginess.

Facing my contempt, Pangzi glared at me and retorted contemptuously: "Illiterate, you know nothing. Do you know I have a tiger in my heart, gently sniffing the rose?"

I said I certainly knew; this is from a poem by the British poet Siegfried Sassoon, the full poem reads: discussing, each taking turns, chaotic and myriad desires, plundering my present, reason being slaughtered upon its throne, my love repeatedly leaping over the future's fence, dreams liberated, feet dancing.

To me, cave-dwellers seized the flower-wreath-wearing prophet Apollo, who sang to Abraham's deaf ear: I have a tiger in my heart, gently sniffing the rose, examine my soul, dear friend, you should tremble, for that is your true self.

After Pangzi heard me recite this poem, he again questioned me: "Then do you know what it means that I have a tiger in my heart, gently sniffing the rose?"

I rolled my eyes: "Anyway, it can't be eaten; I don't care what it means."

Next, Pangzi told me the following story.

"In a distant past, a tiger lived in the forest, his name was Dull Brother. He grew up in this forest wilderness from childhood, learning how to kill other animals to fill his belly for survival.

But one day, he grew tired of it, always feeling this was not the life he wanted; his heart told him that something in the distance was calling him, that was what he awaited, his destiny.

Thus, Dull Brother set off, following the call in his heart, crossing mountains and ridges to seek answers. He had countless times his feet torn by thorns, chased by lion prides, bitten by wolf packs, wounds covering his body, yet he never abandoned his obsession.

Until……, on a night of pouring rain, Dull Brother dragged his wounded body to a ruined wall washed by wind and rain, nearly rotted. He licked his wounds, those inflicted when he fought the wolf pack for prey, being clawed by the wolves.

On his leg was a bowl-sized notch; a hunting dog had bitten off a piece of meat from his foreleg. Once, the king of beasts stood alone against many, shifting from hunter to wounded prey.

Eroded by rain, Dull Brother's body ached and grew cold. He sought a place to shelter from the rain, but moving his injured body, he searched everywhere nearby and found no refuge. Eventually, he gave up, drooping his head, honestly squatting in the corner, battered by the gale and drenched by the rain.

Dawn came, the rain stopped. When the first slant of sunlight shone on Dull Brother's face, he slowly opened his heavy eyelids. Before his eyes appeared a white little flower, its petals glistening with dew. It was a rose, right beneath his tiger's body.

Dull Brother became curious; he lowered his head and gently touched the rose with his nose. Instantly, an unprecedented fragrance intoxicated his spirit. He felt his heart growing ever more peaceful and tranquil. At the same time, the call in his heart grew ever more intense.

He forgot fatigue, forgot all past killings; he felt that being with this rose, he would never feel tired again.

At that moment, Dull Brother knew he had finally found what he sought, finally found the calling that had arisen in his heart at that time.

After Pangzi finished the story, he continued to sigh: "The claws of the king of beasts can tear everything apart, intimidate all directions, facing enemies without mercy—only strength and weakness, no righteousness or virtue, constant conquest, tireless domination. Yet such lofty ambition will also be drawn to, subdued by, and forget fatigue before that weak rose in the corner, bowing his head, quietly, tenderly sniffing the fragrance the rose emits.

Everyone has a tiger in their heart, or is itself a tiger; when you climb over towering mountains, cross barren deserts, walk through boundless forests, though your body is covered in scars, if you encounter the rose in your heart, everything is worth it. Drop the pretense, reveal your true self, reveal the tenderness in your heart, quietly cherish that rose; without the rose, the tiger remains merely a brute. I have a tiger in my heart, gently sniffing the rose; if the tiger represents strength, then the rose represents softness; if the tiger represents man, then the rose represents the woman he loves most in his heart.

Having said that, Pangzi picked up a rose, held it to his nose, and gently sniffed, wearing an expression of intoxication.

The tiger named Dull Brother that Pangzi spoke of is actually himself; after Silijing once called Pangzi a fool, Pangzi gave himself the name Dull Brother.

After hearing Pangzi's story, my heart suddenly felt a mix of emotions, hard to bear. "Having a tiger in the heart, sniffing the rose"—what a noble saying; now Pangzi has already found the rose in his life, but what about mine? Where is my rose? I am one destined to be alone, a disciple of the Absolute Teaching, this life destined to be lonely and helpless. When I love someone, it also means I will harm them. Moreover, I have lost an eye—who would look at me?

Pangzi pushed me and asked what was wrong.

I came out of my daze and said, covering up: "Nothing, just wanted to laugh, but I feared hurting your tender heart, so I held it in."

Pangzi asked again: "Why do you want to laugh?"

I said: "Don't you think it's funny that a 150‑catty Pangzi gently sniffs a rose? This isn't a tiger sniffing a rose—it's a fat tiger bullying a rose, right?"

"Damn, you're insulting my sincere feelings for Jingjing Jie!" Pangzi bared his teeth and claws, lunging at me.

"Ah, your dream lover has appeared!" At the critical moment, I saw Silijing walk out of the school gate.

Upon hearing that Silijing had come out, Pangzi immediately threw me down, grabbed the flowers, and stumbled over to her.

I stood far to the side, not disturbing them. It's strange—at first they chatted happily, seeming to have a chance, but in less than half an hour, Silijing left angrily, her face flushed, clearly upset by Pangzi.

Not long after Silijing left, Pangzi also returned, listless and dejected.

I stepped forward and asked him: "Pangzi, could it be that Teacher Zhao came out of the toilet again, and you asked someone if they had eaten?"

Pangzi swore: "Absolutely not."

I asked: "Then why does she look so angry?"

Pangzi drooped his head, looking bewildered: "I also find it strange. I originally thought she was fine and wanted to take advantage of the heat to invite her to a meal, but she said she felt unwell. I asked where she felt unwell, and she strangely said her relatives had come. I said, 'If your relatives are here, I can invite them to eat together.' She said her relatives also felt unwell. I then said, 'I learned acupressure massage from my father; I can help you and your 'relatives' with massage, promoting circulation...' Then she got angry, threw the flowers, and left."

After saying that, Pangzi still pouted pitifully and asked me: "Hai Sheng, tell me, where exactly did I go wrong?"

I did not answer Pangzi, but couldn't help holding my stomach and laughing loudly. This dead fatty—people feel unwell, their relatives come, and you say you'll massage them, even massaging the 'relatives' together; ask how to massage, still complaining there isn't enough blood? People often say those in love are blind, but I see…… Pangzi is not blind; he is lacking in common sense.

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