Chapter 12: San Shu

Chen Wuji brushed the dust off his hands and crept away from Yuan Laoer's house.

Although what he had just done was somewhat childish and not the way an adult should act.

But it doesn't matter.

As long as there is a ten to twenty percent chance that the Yuan Clan will think they have attracted an evil spirit, he profits.

The villagers of Xishan Village are terrifyingly reverent of heaven, earth, and nature; if they harbor even the slightest doubt, panic is the first reaction, followed inevitably by a grand ritual at home to properly appease themselves.

When night had fully fallen, Chen Wuji, carrying a deer's hind leg and rib strip, finally arrived at Chen Bushi's house.

A modest walled yard with two thatched houses built of rammed‑earth walls was Chen Bushi's home.

"San Shu!"

Chen Bushi called out from the gate of the walled yard.

A figure stepped out of the main house, "Climb in, my courtyard wall is low."

Chen Wuji leapt and actually climbed inside.

"Did you just roll in the mud? How did you end up like this?" Chen Bushi glanced at Chen Wuji's mud‑covered body and said disdainfully.

His clothes were old, yet he was a clean person; even though he works in the fields daily, his shoes have never been completely caked in mud.

Chen Wuji smiled, brushed the dust off in the yard, and said, "I just passed by Yuan Laoer's house; those two brothers were plotting how to kill me, so I got angry and smashed some clods of earth at their place."

"Truly a foolish act," Chen Bushi scoffed even more.

"I wanted to pretend there was an evil spirit; I didn't use much yellow mud, just added up some clods of earth," Chen Wuji said casually, "I wasn't expecting any effect, just venting my anger."

Chen Bushi was silent for a while, then said, "If you had come to my house first, you wouldn't have thought of such a crude, simple method; your pretended evil‑spirit trick is downright foolish and reckless."

"If you have free time tomorrow, go to the mountain and find some rotting animal carcasses, or even blood—anything will do; find a chance to bury them around Yuan Laoer's house, the more the better."

"San Shu, what is this method supposed to summon?" Chen Wuji asked.

He guessed a bit, but didn't know the exact effect.

"Snakes, insects, and poisonous scorpions love rotting flesh; this season's poisonous bugs are rampant, perfect for you to disgust people," Chen Bushi said with a faint smile, "If you have enough money in your pocket, there's an even more poisonous trick."

"Have someone draw a picture of a disheveled female ghost—absolutely must be disheveled—hide it in a main‑house pillar or bury it along the house's central line; within ten days, that person will die violently!"

Chen Wuji was stunned, "San Shu really is… well‑versed and knowledgeable."

"It's just the technique of repelling evil, a minor art," Chen Bushi waved his hand indifferently, his gaze falling on the deer meat Chen Wuji brought, "I can only afford to pay for one leg; take this rib strip."

"I still want to learn more from San Shu; consider this rib strip as my respectful offering to you," Chen Wuji said with a smile. He realized this other village fool was far from simple; he must get closer in the future, as his casual hints far surpass his own blind fumbling.

"You little brat, quick‑witted, even know the term 'respectful offering.' Fine, you nephew, I'll take you on as a half‑disciple for now and see how you fare."

"A village simpleton wanting to become San Shu's great fool as a master—now that's a fine story."

Chen Wuji smiled and said offhand, "I only heard about it occasionally."

Xishan Village is remote and desolate; for dozens of li around there isn't even a school, so the village children have no idea what a tutorial hall is, no Confucian scholars, and naturally few know what a respectful offering is.

"Considering these respectful offerings, I'll teach you another move," Chen Bushi weighed the rib strips, "Let's try the Bat‑Summoning Technique; it doesn't harm people, but it's terrifying."

"First, smear eel blood on a door panel or wall. This method is most effective; as long as you apply enough blood, bats will build a bat‑tower for you at night."

"The second method is a bamboo torch; simply light a torch made of bamboo at night."

Chen Wuji's expression was a bit blank; his San Shu seemed to know some rather occult things.

No wonder the Mountain God, revered by everyone in the village, he dares to use it as a wine‑chaser.

"These three moves, use them as you see fit. You can employ the Bat‑Summoning Technique, the Snake‑Summoning Technique, and the female‑ghost picture in that order—first frighten him into panic and sleeplessness, then the ghost picture will kill him."

All the methods are fine, but Chen Wuji doubts the effect of the female‑ghost picture.

Is it really that sinister?

Chen Bushi seemed to read Chen Wuji's thoughts, chuckling, "Whether it works or not, you'll know once you try. The female‑ghost picture even the Emperor once feared; the move looks simple, but not everyone can perform it."

Chen Wuji nodded.

First keep the doubt, then try it.

Chen Bushi pulled a money pouch from his chest, emptied all the copper coins, and handed them to Chen Wuji, "Deer meat is scarce in the city; I don't know the exact price, so I'll price it as lamb meat."

"Lamb costs fifteen wen per jin; this leg is about twelve or thirteen jin. The pouch only has one hundred sixty‑three wen, no more, so I'll take the cheap price by force."

Chen Wuji smiled, "I could go and drain San Shu's household completely; that would be improper, right? I'll give you one hundred and four, and you can use the rest to sell wine for drinking."

"I have no taxes!" Chen Bushi said lightly.

Chen Wuji snatched the money pouch, slipped it into his own pocket, and said, "San Shu, rest, I'm heading back."

Chen Bushi laughed heartily, "When you go out, don't climb over the Laborers' courtyard wall."

Unfortunately, Chen Wuji had already climbed out.

When he returned home, Huo Sanniang was guarding a large basin of Mugwort Water in Chen Wuji's room, waiting.

"San Shu really wants to eat the Mountain God?" Upon seeing Chen Wuji enter, Huo Sanniang immediately rose and asked.

Chen Wuji nodded, "San Shu said that elsewhere the deer is food, not a deity."

He intended to use this excuse to persuade Huo Sanniang to eat as well.

"That's certainly so; the Mountain God varies in every place," Huo Sanniang said.

Chen Wuji: …

"Even the Emperor eats it."

Huo Sanniang, with an air of matter‑of‑factness, said, "I've heard the mountain and river deities are all imperial edicts; it's fine for them to eat, but where can we ordinary folk obtain it?"

Chen Wuji gave up.

Huo Sanniang had her reasons, especially since it involved faith; persuading her was even harder.

Fine, as long as she doesn't stop him from offering the Mountain God the corpse and exchanging it for money.

When the time comes, he'll exchange it for silver, buy some lamb or the like for Huo Sanniang, that'll be fine.

"Quickly take it off, wash it, and get rid of the bad luck," Huo Sanniang urged.