**Chapter 2: Seeking Immortals**
"Yet, Taoists do seek Immortals," Master Chixiao said abruptly, catching Qingyun off guard. The old Taoist merely smiled, offering no further explanation, and turned to lead Qingyun down the mountain path.
As evening fell, they reached a dense forest at the mountain's base. A single, weed-choked trail led into the woods, looking treacherous to navigate.
"Remember my words: do not step off the path. No matter how Immortals tempt you, stay put," Chixiao warned again. Qingyun nodded quickly.
Chixiao remained vigilant. He drew several yellow *fuzhi*—Taoist talismans imbued with spiritual power[5]—from his sleeve, placing them on Qingyun's chest, back, left hand, and right thigh. Then, he produced red candles, each wrist-sized, and had Qingyun fetch a large stone. They arranged the candles in a circle on the ground, forming the Eight Gates Formation[6].
"Stand inside," Chixiao pointed to the circle.
Qingyun stepped in promptly. Chixiao took his *fuchen*, blew on it, and hung it on Qingyun's back.
"Do not leave the circle or the path," he stressed repeatedly.
Seeing Chixiao's gravity, Qingyun tensed, his body rigid.
Noticing this, Chixiao patted his arm gently. "Balance your mind—neither too tense nor too lax. This Immortal can't pierce the Eight Gates Formation but will try to scare you. Over-tension makes you vulnerable."
Qingyun couldn't relax. Chixiao smiled, said no more, and strode into the forest, singing loudly: "Young lad, young lad, a wolf learning to hunt, to soar. With father near, in danger, he'll aid."
The song, like ghostly wails, moved Qingyun despite its discord. He wanted to cover his ears, yet his tension faded unknowingly.
Soon after Chixiao left, darkness crept in.
Tree shadows turned eerie in Qingyun's anxious eyes. Chixiao had explained Immortals, noting a Tiger Immortal in this forest—a Middle Immortal ascended from a living creature.
Folklore often spoke of tigers controlling ghosts. Tiger Immortals cultivated *chang gui*—ghostly minions[7]—to lure living souls for their feasts.
Chixiao had shown no fear, as if the Tiger Immortal was trivial. But Qingyun worried; it was an Immortal, born from a tiger.
Night fell fully, with only seven candle flames flickering. Qingyun's concern shifted from his master to himself.
Forest sounds, once familiar to rural Qingyun, now terrified him, each rustle sparking panic due to the man-eating Tiger Immortal.
Suddenly, a white figure appeared nearby, sitting under a tree, face hidden by hands and hair. Soft weeping revealed a woman.
Qingyun swallowed hard, a chill gripping his spine. He hugged himself, rubbing his arms, resisting the urge to flee.
He huddled in the circle, motionless, fearing notice. But ignoring her was futile. The figure raised its head, revealing a jade-white face with two black holes instead of features.
Qingyun covered his mouth, trembling.
The eerie figure rose, moving slowly yet swiftly towards him.
---
Chixiao, no longer relaxed, gripped a peach wood sword adorned with *fuzhi* in his right hand, his left forming a *jianzhi*—a Taoist sword gesture[8]. He stepped cautiously along the path.
The enemy knew ordinary *chang gui* couldn't harm him, sparing him the weeping woman scene. The forest was silent, but Chixiao knew the Tiger Immortal was waiting.
A white shadow flashed behind him.
Without turning, he slid his *jianzhi* across the sword's talisman. It ignited, lighting the dark forest.
Spinning, Chixiao swung the sword, its flames tracing bright arcs. Hidden white shadows appeared, screaming as smoke poured from them, collapsing in agony.
"Mere tricks," Chixiao sneered.
He leaped, thrusting the sword forward, *jianzhi* behind him, aiming unerringly at a locust tree.
As the sword neared, the tree twisted into an orange tiger, dodging the strike.
"Chixiao, we have no enmity. Why this?" the tiger spoke, maw gaping.
"The Buddhist master tolerates Immortals; Taoists do not," Chixiao replied coldly.
Roaring, the tiger bellowed, "Old fool, don't overstep! Think you can defeat me?"
Chixiao stayed silent, twirling his sword in a flourish. With swift, leaping steps, he closed in.
The tiger, battle-hardened, knew the sword's range. Instead of retreating, it charged, aiming to claw Chixiao.
Unfazed, Chixiao didn't retract his sword. His hidden *jianzhi* flashed before the tiger's head, its small form dominating the Immortal's vision.
*Pfft.*
Blood sprayed, a deafening roar echoing. Chixiao pressed on, slicing the writhing tiger's belly. Flicking the tiger's eye from his *jianzhi*, he saw it roll to a tree. White shadows swarmed, blocking his pursuit.
Chixiao rose into the air, drawing a short bow from his robe. In one motion, he fired three red-fletched arrows at the Tiger Immortal.
Unable to dodge, the tiger summoned shadows to block. The arrows hit three *chang gui*, which smoked and vanished.
Still airborne, Chixiao exhaled a white *qi* arrow[9]. It sped towards the tiger, poised to pierce its skull in its terrified gaze.
"Amitabha."
A Buddhist chant sounded. A gaunt monk, Kongxiang, appeared, blocking the arrow. He swayed, groaning faintly.
"Kongxiang, what's this?" Chixiao roared, lowering his *jianzhi* as he landed.
"Brother Daoist, this tiger is fated with me. Can it have a chance to reform and attain Buddhahood?" Kongxiang pleaded.
"Then we fight," Chixiao stood firm.
Kongxiang sighed, stepped aside, and faded away, unwilling to clash.
Chixiao snorted and turned to the tiger's spot.
"Damn it," he cursed, finding the Tiger Immortal gone. Recalling Qingyun, he exclaimed in alarm.
---
Qingyun clamped his mouth to stifle a scream. The white shadows vanished instantly. Puzzled, he saw a staggering figure emerge.
"Run! It's too strong—help me!" a familiar voice called.
Qingyun saw his master, bloodied, propped by his peach wood sword.
"Master!" Panicked, Qingyun forgot the Eight Gates Formation and stepped out of the candle circle.
As he moved, he noticed the figure sat off the path. Recalling "Never leave the path," he hesitated.
"Hurry!" the figure shouted.
Qingyun froze, sweat dripping, and backed towards the circle.
"Too late," the Tiger Immortal sneered, revealing its true form and pouncing.
Despair filled Qingyun's eyes as claws neared. A dark blue figure knocked him aside.
It was Chixiao, hands in *jianzhi*—one to the sky, one to the ground, joined at his chest. "Evil beast, die!" he roared.
A white flash engulfed everything.
Before Qingyun's vision cleared, a voice gasped, "Old fool, who's he to make you harm yourself… pfft!"
When sight returned, Chixiao stood bloodied before the tiger's corpse. He looked at Qingyun with care, smiling upon seeing him safe. "You stayed on the path till the end—well done."
Tears blurred Qingyun's eyes. The ghastly wound on Chixiao's chest showed his sacrifice.
Chixiao swayed, truly wounded, struggling to stand with his sword, eyelids drooping.
"Master!"
**Footnotes**:
[1] **Feng shui**: A Taoist practice of aligning human activities with environmental energies to promote harmony and fortune.
[2] **Dao**: The fundamental principle of Taoism, often translated as "the Way," representing the natural order of the universe and the path to spiritual enlightenment.
[3] **Kasaya**: The traditional robe worn by Buddhist monks, often saffron or red, symbolizing simplicity and detachment.
[4] **Yinhun**: The spiritual essence or soul in Taoist belief, often targeted by supernatural beings for its potent energy.
[5] **Fuzhi**: Paper talismans inscribed with Taoist incantations, used to channel spiritual energy or ward off evil.
[6] **Eight Gates Formation**: A Taoist protective array based on the Eight Trigrams, used to shield against supernatural threats.
[7] **Chang gui**: Ghostly minions controlled by powerful beings like Tiger Immortals to lure living souls.
[8] **Jianzhi**: A Taoist hand gesture, with index and middle fingers extended, used to focus spiritual energy in rituals or combat.
[9] **Qi arrow**: An arrow formed from *qi* (spiritual energy), a powerful Taoist technique.
原始中文文本
「不過,道士確實也尋仙.」師父話鋒一轉,讓青雲微微一愣.但老道士只是笑了笑,沒有多做解釋.他回過身,領著青雲沿山路小徑向下走去.
傍晚時分,老道士帶著徒弟來到山腳下一處密林.通向樹林內僅有一條小徑,陌上雜草叢生,看上去並不易走.
「記住貧道說過的話,別踏出道.不管那些仙怎麼誘惑,都別離開.」道士又提醒了一次,青雲連忙頷首應是.
道士沒有因此放鬆,而是從袖中取出幾張黃紙,依序貼在青雲的前胸與後背.並在左手與右大腿上也貼了一張.接著,道士從袖中掏出幾個腕口大的紅燭,又命青雲取來一塊大石,和紅燭一起在地上擺成一個圈.
他指著圈內,朝青雲說:「站進去.」
青雲連忙站進圈內,道士又取下拂塵,朝上吹了一口氣,掛到青雲背上.
「記住,別踏出圈.更別離開道路.」他再三叮嚀.
青雲見師父鄭重其事,也不由得提起心緒,渾身繃緊.
道士見狀,輕拍青雲手臂,溫聲道:「心緒需張弛有度,不宜過度緊弛.這仙雖然不能看透八門陣,卻也會嘗試威嚇,如此反倒容易受其趁虛而入.」
青雲依舊緊張得無法放鬆,道士笑了笑,不再多說.他轉過身,大步朝林內走去,一邊朗聲唱道:「少年郎,少年郎.郎是狼,學捕獵,學飛翔.父在畔,若遇險,可幫忙.」
聽見師父如鬼哭狼嚎的歌聲,青雲雖為歌詞所感動,卻忍不住想摀住雙耳,緊張感在這歌聲裡不知不覺退去.
道士離開後不久,天色漸暗.
樹木婆娑的身影,在心有所想的青雲眼中,逐漸顯得詭譎.道士在路上向他說明了關於仙的知識,更提到了在這樹林裡頭的仙,那是一頭虎仙,也是前面提到的活物成仙.
虎在坊間怪談裡屢次被提到,傳說有拘鬼的本領.更別說是虎仙,祂們通常會培養許多倀鬼,讓倀鬼帶回更多生魂大餐,以供享用.
一路上,師父雖然從未表現過膽怯,似乎這頭虎仙對他來說不過爾爾.但青雲心裡還是忍不住擔心,畢竟那可是仙,還是一頭虎修成的仙.
黑夜完全降臨後,僅剩七盞燭光在風中搖曳.此時的青雲也不再有心思去擔心師父,反倒更擔心自己.
本來樹林裡的響聲,對於生長於農村的青雲並不恐怖,甚至感到親切.但得知裡頭有一隻食人虎仙後,任何的風吹草動都會讓他驚慌半天.
就在此時,不遠處突兀地出現了一抹白影.白色身影坐在樹下,用雙手蒙著臉,在頭髮與雙手的掩蓋下,看不清楚其面容,但隱約傳來的哭泣聲,能知曉是個正在低泣的女子.
看見這個情景,青雲努力嚥下唾沫,霎時感到背脊發麻,一股涼意覆在後背,讓他忍不住雙手環抱,反覆摩娑雙臂.
忍住想要轉身就跑的想法,他盡力縮在圈子內,不敢有絲毫反應,生怕對方注意到他.
然而,並不是青雲不予理會,對方就會做罷,如此鴕鳥行徑絲毫沒有成效.只見樹下身影緩緩地抬起頭,向青雲展露出那張潔白如玉,卻沒有常人五官,而有兩個漆黑大洞的臉龐.
青雲連忙伸手摀住自己的嘴,渾身不住地顫抖.
詭譎白影起身,看似行動緩慢,卻一步一挪地朝他飛速靠近.
＊＊＊＊＊＊
道士與離開時的輕鬆姿態截然不同,右手提起一把貼著符紙的桃木劍,左手掐著劍指,腳上踏著奇特步伐,在小徑上謹慎前行.
對方似乎知道一般的倀鬼奈何不了道士,並沒有出現青雲那邊女子悲泣的場景.林裡反倒是一片安靜,沒有絲毫聲響.不過道士心底清楚,這不過是虎仙在等待時機而已.
忽然,一道白影由道士身後晃過.
他沒有轉身察看,而是用劍指在桃木劍的符咒上劃過.符咒倏地自燃,為漆黑林中帶來一抹光明.
接著,桃木劍隨道士旋身舞動,燃起的火光在空中劃出熾亮細線.隱藏在空中的白影頓時被燒出了身形,祂們發出淒厲慘嚎,渾身冒起一陣陣白煙,跌落在地不停翻滾.
「哼,雕蟲小技.」道士冷笑.
下一刻,他一躍而起.桃木劍被他刺向前方,劍指攏在身後,劍尖一往無前,破空而至,瞬間刺向路旁一棵槐樹.
眼看桃木劍即將刺中槐樹,槐樹一陣扭曲,化為一道橙色虎影朝旁撲去,避開了道士這記突如其來的刺擊.
「赤霄,我與你無冤無仇,何故如此?」老虎張開血盆大口,吐出人言.
「佛爺忍得仙,道士卻忍不得.」赤霄老道冷聲回道.
聞言,老虎發出一聲咆嘯,怒吼道:「老雜毛,別太過份.你真以為你奈何得了我嗎?」
赤霄默然不語,並不打算與虎仙進行無謂的言論之爭,右手手指輕扣木劍,挽了一個劍花,踩著似奔似躍的步伐,瞬間來到橙虎身旁.
然而,老虎的打鬥經驗也非常豐富.牠清楚知道劍的攻擊範圍,沒有向後退開,反而是欺身而上,想貼近道士用銳利的虎爪來個透心涼.
道士不慌不忙,並沒有試圖收劍或後撤.一直藏在腰後的劍指,不知何時出現在老虎顱前,與虎身相比渺小的劍指,卻在瞬間充滿了虎仙的視野.
噗.
空中濺起一串鮮血,伴隨一聲驚天動地的虎嘯.道士沒有放過痛苦得在地上翻滾的老虎,手上的桃木劍破空劃過,又切開了對方的肚皮.甩去劍指上的老虎眼眸,此時虎仙已經翻滾到不遠處的樹下.而一大群白影也急忙圍向道士,不讓他繼續追擊.
道士踏空而行,將手伸入懷中,從中掏出了一把短弓.他搭弓上弦,一氣呵成,瞬間朝虎仙射出三枚有著紅色尾羽的小短箭.
虎仙來不及閃躲,連忙喚來白影用身軀阻擋.三枝短箭頓時射在三具倀鬼身上,被射中的倀鬼冒出大量白煙,化為烏有.
道士身在空中,並沒有就此放棄,而是張嘴吐氣,又射出一道白色氣箭.氣箭瞬間便來到虎仙身前,在虎仙驚駭欲絕的目光中,就要穿透虎腦,使其命絕當場.
「阿彌陀佛.」
一聲佛號響起,氣箭被突然出現的枯瘦僧侶擋下.擋下氣箭的僧侶,身型忍不住微微搖晃,緊閉的雙唇內發出細微的悶哼.
「空相,這是什麼意思?」赤霄怒喝,再次將劍指負在身後,緩緩降落地面.
「道兄,此虎與我有緣,可否給牠一次機會,放下屠刀,立地成佛.」和尚臉上帶著一絲懇求,明顯是不希望赤霄在此殺死虎仙.
「那我們是得做過一場了.」赤霄毫不退讓.
空相嘆了口氣,收起胸前手掌,側過身體選擇退讓,似乎是不想與赤霄相鬥.
「哼.」赤霄冷哼,空相的身形逐漸淡化,直至消失不見.
道士這才回過身,看向虎仙的位置.
「糟了.」這一看,赤霄卻發現虎仙已經不翼而飛,想起林外的弟子,他不由得驚呼出聲.
＊＊＊＊＊＊
青雲緊緊摀著嘴,免得自己尖叫出聲.卻發現那些白影在一轉眼間都消失不見.正當他納悶時,一道搖搖晃晃的身影從林內竄出.
「快走,對手不可力敵,助我.」熟悉的聲音從來者身上傳出.
青雲定睛一看,發現是師傅摀著染血道袍跌坐在地,右手死死握著一把桃木劍,全賴桃木劍拄著才沒有完全倒下.
「師父!」一陣驚慌,青雲已經忘記師父交代過他別離開八門陣的事情,一腳就踏出了蠟燭圈.
就在他想要邁開步伐奔向師父時,卻發現對方竟然跌坐在道路外.此時,青雲終於想起師父的叮囑,那句「千萬別離開道」.
他有些猶豫,卻聽見師父又朝他發出一聲怒喝:「還不趕快過來!」
青雲卻停下了動作,喉頭滾動,額上滑落一滴冷汗,身形開始慢慢後退,試圖退回蠟燭圈內.
「哼,晚了.」察覺到青雲已經看穿了自己的身分,虎仙冷笑一聲,化為原形,撲向這名小道士.
青雲瞳孔裡倒映著虎仙的血盆大口,眼裡的驚慌逐漸被絕望取代,就在虎爪即將撕裂他時,一道藏青色身影從側邊將他撞開.
原來是倉促趕到的老道士.他雙手掐著劍指,一手劍指對天,一手劍指對地,雙手合在胸前,對著虎仙大喝:「孽障,受死!」
白芒乍現,充斥了青雲所有視野,也在一瞬間就吞沒了道士與虎仙的身影.
過了片刻,青雲的視力還沒有完全恢復過來,只聽見陌生的聲音掙扎著說了一句:「老雜毛,他是你什麼人,竟然讓你不惜自殘也要⋯⋯噗!」
視野恢復後,青雲只看見渾身染血的道士,他站在倒地的虎屍前.老道士側過身,用關懷的目光注視著青雲,直到看見青雲安然無恙後,才對他笑了笑,然後說:「到最後一刻都沒離開道,這很好.」
淚水模糊了青雲雙眼,老道士胸前破爛道袍底下那怵目驚心的傷口,完整呈現在他面前,讓年輕的小道士知道,自己的師父是如何拚了老命的拯救他.
挺直的身軀搖晃了幾下,這回真正的赤霄也真的受到重創了.他努力用劍想要拄起自己的身體,卻發現眼皮越來越重.
「師父!」