Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen — Once Thrice a Thousand Calamities

Three days later, at Sanhe Village, in a certain household.

A slender woman stepped out and met the villagers she had not seen in days.

She gathered her courage to greet them — but those once-familiar faces now looked at her with strange, sidelong eyes.

Their gazes were like thorns, stabbing into her heart.

"The Niu family's wife, that's the fourth time now…"

"Lately he finds no one else, only fancies this fox-spirit."

"Alas, a pity for Niu's son — tending an old mother, and bearing such humiliation besides…"

"Hmph, what pity? Perhaps he revels in it. The other day Niu's son sold a piece of jade the master gave him — ten taels of silver, no less!"

"Humph. I said it long ago — that woman looks like a vixen; whoever weds her comes to no good. I hear she cries out most happily at night…"

The whispers rose and fell, each sentence a knife driven deep, till the woman's face burned crimson and her body trembled.

But she said nothing to defend herself. She only walked silently past the village gate, up the mountain.

After a long while she climbed alone to the rear peak, stood at the summit, and gazed at the little village below with its curling cooking smoke, her thoughts adrift.

She and her husband had been of one heart, childhood sweethearts. When grown she had firmly refused many a well-off family, and chosen the one she loved.

She had thought it the start of happiness — never imagining it the coming of a nightmare.

She had been defiled and tormented at will by the demon of the Five-Tong Temple, while the husband she had chosen with her own hands dared not resist at all.

The woman spread her arms, meaning to hurl herself from the cliff and end this painful life.

Yet just then a clear, bright voice rang out.

"Once I weathered three thousand heavenly calamities; again five hundred years among men. At my waist a sword-blade of violet lightning lies athwart; within the furnace, alchemical flames rise in murky smoke."

The woman started, looked closely — a tall, fine-featured young Daoist in a green robe, drifting toward her from afar; though he walked slowly, he drew near with speed.

"But now I ride the white deer across the sea; again I mount the black ox into the Grotto-Heaven. A petty trick, lightly done, to sport with you — none knows I am a true immortal."

As the words fell, the young Daoist was already at her side — a short sword at his waist, eyes like morning stars, long hair floating, with a natural air of transcendence.

This text came from where the story is published by its author, but its reproduction here was not permitted.

He gave the Daoist salute.

"Poor Daoist Li Daoxuan, greetings, lay devotee."

Li Daoxuan…

The woman found the name faintly familiar, as if heard somewhere, yet could not recall where.

"Greetings, Daoist. Do you seek the way?"

Kind of heart, though resolved to die, she still meant to help him first.

Li Daoxuan shook his head, and said abruptly, "Devotee, you carry a demonic aura about you!"

The woman started, and stepped back without thinking — forgetting she stood right at the cliff's edge. Her foot slipped, and her body began to fall.

In the next breath, Li Daoxuan was at her side, gripped her wrist, and pulled her back.

Suddenly his gaze sharpened, fixed upon her wrist.

There, on what had been fair skin, were patches of blue-black serpent scales!

His look pierced her; she hurried to cover her arm and explained, "Dao… Daoist, I… I am no demon…"

"I know."

Li Daoxuan's voice gave her pause.

"You have simply been too long in contact with a yaoguai; your body, eroded by demonic aura, has changed somewhat. If I guess right, these scales are serpent's?"

The woman shuddered, lowered her head, as if recalling some excruciating memory.

Li Daoxuan sighed softly. He produced a Six Ding Six Jia Protective Talisman — freshly drawn in the past few days.

"Sound-woman Six Ding, protect your body; Sun-bright Six Jia, guard your soul — swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!"

The talisman turned to a streak of golden light and sank into the woman; at once she felt a warmth arise within, and the cold, yin sensation swiftly dissipated.

She rolled up her sleeve and, delighted, saw those ugly serpent scales fade ever lighter, until they vanished entirely.

For because of these scales, even her husband and mother-in-law — even her own kin — had not dared speak with her, treating her wholly as an outcast.

She dropped to her knees with a plop, eyes glistening with tears, and said to Li Daoxuan, "Thank you, Daoist!"

How could she not know, at this moment, that she had met a Daoist of true power — unlike those charlatans, a true master!

She recalled how he had been far off just now, yet reached her in a few steps, and the poem he had intoned… though she understood little, it felt mightily impressive.

Li Daoxuan hurried to raise her, and smiled. "Since you fear not even death, why fear some demon?"

The woman nodded repeatedly. Such is human nature — given but a thread of hope, one will live on, steadfast.

She then told him her whole story.

Li Daoxuan sighed. "Before, this poor Daoist at Xiaosha Village destroyed that evil bat demon — never expecting another serpent demon still at work. So be it; today I shall rid evil root and branch!"

At these words her eyes lit — at last she knew where she had heard the name Li Daoxuan.

"So you are that immortal who slew the bat demon! I had heard of your deeds, and even went specially to Xiaosha Village to seek you — but there was no one there at all…"

With the feat of slaying the bat demon to his name, in her heart his standing soared — near to a living immortal.

Seeing the moment ripe, Li Daoxuan coughed and said, "Immortal, hardly. This poor Daoist has but slight attainments. This serpent demon, hateful though he is, is deeply cultivated; to destroy him may require some means — and perhaps a small wrong to you."

The woman's gaze was firm. "So long as the serpent demon is killed, I would do anything!"

Her hatred of the serpent demon ran to the very marrow; she could scarce bear not to eat his flesh raw and drink his blood!

Li Daoxuan nodded, looked around to be sure none were near, and said softly, "I need you to do this… and then this…"

The woman nodded again and again; at his words, a glint of pleasure flashed in her eyes.

"Rest assured, Immortal — I have it all. The serpent demon said he will come to me tonight; I shall go back and prepare at once!"

Li Daoxuan handed her a Six Ding Six Jia Talisman. "When it is done, tear this talisman; I shall sense it and come to aid you in subduing the demon."

This talisman was drawn by Li Daoxuan's own hand, bearing his mana — should it be torn, within a certain range Li Daoxuan would perceive it.

The woman clutched the talisman, bowed to Li Daoxuan once more, and said in gratitude, "I shall not fail the Immortal's charge!"

Watching her retreating back, Li Daoxuan sighed softly, a gleam of resolve in his eyes.

All was in readiness. Tonight, he would make an end of the serpent demon!