Driven to the Brink

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In an instant, all the hair on my body stood on end, cold and stiff, as if I had transformed into a hedgehog faced with a mortal threat. An eerie chill surged up my spine, making my hair stand on end."Grandpa, Grandpa..."I tried to call out loudly, but my voice barely escaped, almost inaudible even to myself.I had seen horror movies before, where the ghosts vanish with just a blink. But no matter how many times I blinked, the ghostly woman did not disappear; instead, she drew closer.What should I do?What should I do? What should I do?I felt like a lamb before a ravenous wolf, utterly powerless.I was too weak...Am I to stand idly by and await my fate, helpless against whatever comes?A primal instinct for survival kicked in. I slowly clenched my fists, a defiant anger rising within me. "If you want to harm me, it won't be so easy! Come on! I dare you!"Finally, I let out a fierce roar."Swish!""Smack..."Grandpa swiftly flung the ink line at the ghostly figure, but she vanished in an instant, leaving the ink splattering against the wall and spilling onto the floor."Grandpa, just now..."I hastily tried to speak, but Grandpa, with a furrowed brow, interrupted me, "I wasn't asleep; I saw what you saw. If she'd come a bit closer, I might have hit her."So, Grandpa was pretending to sleep!I suddenly realized that in my panicked shouting, I had disrupted Grandpa's plan.Picking up the ink line, Grandpa spoke softly, "In situations like this, the most important thing is to stay calm. The breath we carry is our vitality, our Yang energy. That's why I warned you not to talk to strangers. When you shouted, you bolstered your courage but also released this vital energy, giving malevolent spirits an opportunity."Ah, so that's how it is.After a brief pause, I asked, "Grandpa, do you know who that ghostly woman was? Why was she trying to harm me?""I don't know her.""But judging by her appearance, she seemed like a hanged ghost."Grandpa picked up an electric kettle, plugged it in, and heated the remaining water. Turning back, he sat beside me and spoke quietly, "You must not only learn to read faces but also delve into many esoteric subjects. However, before studying these, you must understand the concept of Jing, Qi, and Shen.""Jing, Qi, and Shen? Isn't that just vitality and strength?" I was puzzled.Grandpa shook his head, "It's not that simple. There's much to learn here. But for now, let me teach you how to elevate your Jing, Qi, and Shen to their peak.""Elevating Jing, Qi, and Shen mainly involves three things: eating, sleeping, and exercising.""This sounds simple, but few truly understand these principles. Take eating, for instance. Everyone's body is different, requiring different nutrients. What to eat, how much, and when—all these affect how food transforms into Jing, then Qi, and finally into Shen.""Of course, the 'Shen' here isn't some deity but an intangible essence residing in your blood and soul. When this essence grows, your body becomes healthier, your mind sharper, and even practicing Qi becomes effortless, yielding twice the results with half the effort."I was astonished. Though I had asked about the ghost, Grandpa had shifted the conversation to this topic. But it made perfect sense.Better to listen to Grandpa and understand these truths first.The water boiled. Grandpa poured two cups and placed one before me, pointing to the steam. "In the five arts of metaphysics, knowledge is interconnected. To grasp these teachings, you must first understand your body's structure and functions.""The human body is like the water in this cup; it must be heated to produce steam. Similarly, you must exercise to generate energy, which in turn stimulates Jing, transforming into Qi and finally Shen, merging into your blood.""Besides exercise, there's sleep. Why do we need sleep? Simply put, it's to replenish Jing, Qi, and Shen, making us stronger for the day ahead. This is why Chen Tuan, the founder of physiognomy, created the art of sleep cultivation.""Now, drink this tea to replenish your Jing, Qi, and Shen, and then rest. Tomorrow morning, Grandpa will help you find the one who tried to harm you."Saying this, Grandpa added a bit of sugar to my tea.I looked at him and then at the dissolving sugar, suddenly enlightened. Many seemingly mystical things, once understood, are simple and clear.No wonder sages often say that life itself is a form of cultivation!After drinking the hot water, I felt reinvigorated. Then I went to sleep and slept soundly through the night.When I opened my eyes, it was already past eight in the morning. I looked around the room; Grandpa was gone. On the table were porridge, pickles, and a few eggs.Had Grandpa gone out alone?I quickly washed up, ate the porridge and eggs, and went searching for Grandpa.He must have gone to Old Fang's house!I ran towards Old Fang's house. From a distance, I saw the small, shabby dwelling. Old Fang, short and stout, lived in a house as small as himself—two tiny tile-roofed rooms. On the east side, there was a pile of cornstalks and reeds, while the northwest corner housed the outhouse.I knew a little about Feng Shui and understood that the northwest position, representing the patriarch, directly affects the head of the family's fortune and personality. The outhouse in this position explained Old Fang's foul and repugnant character.The front door was open. I called out for Grandpa and rushed inside. A musty smell of mildew hit me, making me cover my nose as I quickly looked around. The house was empty.Just as I was about to leave, Old Fang rushed in, fastening his pants. A nauseating stench filled the room—he must have just come from the outhouse.I bolted outside, but Old Fang grabbed my wrist, his sinister voice hissing, "Where do you think you're going? What are you stealing from my house?"Under the sunlight, Old Fang's face was repulsive. His face was round and blunt, lacking any sharp features. Such a face, round with bulging cheeks, indicated an open financial fate, capable of accumulating wealth, like the richest man in China, Jack Ma. But unlike Ma, whose facial flaws hinted at a short life, Old Fang's face was overly round, incapable of holding wealth, destined for a life of poverty.Most unsettling were his eyes—small, with a perpetual squint, revealing only a sliver of the pupil. His eyes betrayed a shrewd and malicious nature, coupled with his dark complexion and prominent right cheek, indicating an imbalance of Yin and Yang. This man was a Yin Metal fate, aggressive and deeply scheming.His grip was ironclad, causing a sharp pain in my wrist. To free myself, I swiftly pulled out a multifunctional pocket knife, with various tools like an ear pick, scissors, bottle opener, and a small blade.Seeing the knife, Old Fang reached for my right hand. I dodged, pulled out the blade, and swung wildly at him. Frightened, he released me and ran inside, returning with a sickle used for cutting wheat, cursing, "You little bastard, I'll gut you!"Damn! True to his Yin Metal nature, he was relentless and vicious!I wasn't afraid of Old Fang, but if he managed to cut me, I'd be in serious trouble. I turned and sprinted away, shouting, "You old scoundrel, with your vicious mind, you killed your wife, went to jail, and even raised weasels to harm others. How have you lived this long? Why haven't you drowned in that filthy outhouse?"I wasn't one to back down. Knowing Old Fang couldn't outrun me, I taunted him while throwing clumps of dirt at him.Old Fang was enraged, glaring with his beady eyes, chasing after me, cursing all the while.I didn't dare head home, knowing Old Fang would likely wreck the place in his fury, forcing me to apologize. So, I ran towards the nearby graveyard.As a Yin Fire fate, I figured fire overcomes metal, and I could take him on.I ran, flinging dirt, leaving Old Fang covered in dust, growing angrier by the second. He swore he'd kill me today.Feeling his wrath, I quickened my pace, heading straight into the graveyard.This graveyard was vast, a final resting place for the dead from several villages, a notorious cemetery.I ran deeper into the graveyard...Old Fang, his eyes bloodshot, clenched the sickle tightly, looking like a demon from hell.As I ran, I suddenly noticed a large, white figure flickering between the old graves!What the hell, is there a ghost in broad daylight?I found myself trapped, a ghost ahead and a demonic figure behind, with no escape in sight. What should I do?

Maiyi OnmyojiWhere stories live. Discover now