Meeting at a Shrine
The pigeon flies off, leaving the letter behind in your hand. You think you should learn how to train one of those from Master Zhang when you have the chance. Unfurling the letter, you take care not to touch the suspicious-looking stains. It looks like the pigeon has relieved itself repeatedly in a rather awkward fashion during its flight here. The letter is simple and to the point:
“My apprentice, the plight of these people that you have sent me is rather interesting, as are their skills. I will have set sail for Nippon by the time you read this letter, bringing along some of the Minamoto as my guides. I will check on your progress after I have completed my tour of their country.”
Crumpling up the paper, you toss it into the meagre fire you have going. As expected of your master; hopefully he won’t become a diplomatic incident. The sky has turned dark some time ago. There is a rumble of thunder. Looking up, you glimpse a brief flash of lightning through the holes in the ramshackle roof. With a sigh, Xiahou Yu finishes his records and begins packs up his writing utensils.
“I still do not see why you feel the need to write down every happening that has occurred each day,” you say. “It is not like we are doing anything important that needs to be immortalized in literature. We aren’t exactly Xuanzang on his journey to the west.”
“Habit,” replies Yu. “Besides, you never know when it might come in handy.”
You snort. “I am not so old that I need to write down everything I have experienced.”
“Well, there will come a day when we are old men. I will gladly share my journals with you then.”
You laugh, but a thunderous bang drowns out your intended reply. The rain begins to fall hard, spattering noisily against the rooftop. The roof of the old shrine keeps out most of the rain, just barely, but enough water begins to leak in to make the place uncomfortably wet. Xiahou Yu hurriedly puts away his tools before they get wet. You are about two days away from Xiangyang – there you should be able to find better shelter. For now, you have to make do with what you find on the road.
“Wasn’t there supposed to be a village near here?” wonders Yu aloud, looking at his map.
“Beats me,” you shrug. “At any rate, we couldn’t have progressed any further for today... wait.” You gesture at the scholar to stay still. “There’s someone coming,” you say. He looks puzzled. “Is there?” You can faintly hear footsteps splashing through the mud and rain – there seems to be only one person. Even in your weakened state you should still be able to take a single bandit, but if luck did not go your way it could be some martial arts master after your head. You did not leave Yangzhou on good terms with the orthodox schools there after all – it would be no surprise if they sent someone after you. Your hand drifts to the wodao at your side, ready to draw it if necessary.
The doors to the shrine are thrown open. You see a stocky man standing in the pouring rain. A flash of lightning throws his features under an ominous silhouette – his beard is wild and unruly, and his eyes bulge out like that of a fish. His thick lips part and widen into a sneer. “Ah, fellow travellers,” says the newcomer in a polite fashion unbefitting his looks. His voice is deep and gravelly. “I wonder if you would let me stay a while until the storm has passed.” You nod cautiously – though there is a sword by his side, he is dressed in the robes and accessories of an itinerant Taoist priest. He does not seem like a pugilist of the jianghu.
The man’s ugly grin grows bigger as he steps over the threshold, closing the doors behind him. His strange, large eyes roll over the view in front of him, finally resting upon your sword-hand. “I suppose these are dangerous times, but I assure you that you have nothing to fear from me.” You nod again, releasing your grip on your sword. Then, you put on a smile. “That is very reassuring indeed. Come, make yourself comfortable by the fire. It is not much, but every little bit helps when we are far from home.”
The Taoist does so, grinning all the way. He opens up his backpack and pulls out a large gourd of wine, taking a long swig from it. With a grunt, the man holds out the gourd and shakes it, offering it to the two of you. Xiahou Yu shakes his head quickly and retreats with a nervous smile, nibbling his thumb. “You must pardon my friend,” you explain, “he has had some bad encounters with alcohol. I will gladly drink with you.” You sip the wine politely, not wanting to imbibe too much. As you return the gourd to the Taoist, he nods approvingly.
“So, Master priest, what brings you all the way out here?” You had chosen a rather remote route to Xiangyang; you were certainly off the beaten track. It was a quick route, all things considered, but the terrain was more difficult to traverse.
“Matters of the Tao, of course,” smiles your guest. “My name is Zhong Hai, exorcist of spirits and demons, hailing from a long line of esteemed ghost-catchers. I have been called to investigate some incidents of meddlesome ghosts in a nearby village. Who might you two young gentlemen be?”
“Ah, pardon our manners,” you reply, bowing. “I am Xu Jing and this is Xiahou Yu. We are two travelling scholars on our way to Xiangyang-“
“Ghosts?” interrupts Xiahou Yu. “Did you say ghosts?” He is trembling, but not out of fear – out of excitement. “I didn’t know that you liked supernatural occurrences,” you quip, “with all your focus on arts and books.”
“Oh, I have always wanted to meet one! The first stories I learnt to read were a collection of ghostly tales. Sadly the real thing seems to be far rarer than people claim they are; I have never seen one. Master Zhong, you must have a lot of experiences subduing these spirits, right?” says Yu excitedly.
“That I have. I have wandered the land for over thirty years in my line of work,”replies the exorcist. “Why, lad, do you wish to see one?”
“It is one of my life’s goals,” replies the scholar proudly. Zhong Hai smiles thinly. “I would advise against it – the living and the dead are best kept apart… but I will not lie; it can also be one of the most strange and enchanting sights for mortal eyes. If you are that eager I would not mind some company on my next job.”
“How about it, Jing?” grins Xiahou Yu as he turns to you. “Why don’t we check this out? Don’t tell me you aren’t interested in supernatural incidents?”
***
A. You go along with Xiahou Yu and Zhong Hai to investigate this allegedly haunted village. You believe in the existence of spirits and deities, like every other person in the world, but you have never seen one yourself. It should be an enlightening and educational experience, no matter what happens.
B. You prefer to forge ahead to Xiangyang. You allow Xiahou Yu to go off with Zhong Hai if that is what he wants – you have no interest in bossing him around – you can always meet up with him back at the city after he has had his little adventure. On your part, you have no interest in hunting for ghosts and demons.
C. You remind Xiahou Yu that he has a debt to you, forbidding him from going off with the priest. None of you are going to go gallivanting about after ethereal entities – you have real things to investigate in Xiangyang, and this will likely only become a waste of time.