Zha Wenbin had chosen a small ridge for Madam Wang - exactly what people called an "ancestral mountain." A small stream encircled the foot of the mountain, and though the terrain was gently undulating, it couldn't be called a small dragon vein, but it was certainly a hundred times better than other locations.
Now, let's return to the main story - when people from the underworld visit the living world, one necessary passage is through the deceased's residence in the yin realm, what we call graves. If you asked whether Zha Wenbin had ever seen a jiangshi, he would likely say no. In his words, so-called jiangshi were simply evil spirits unwilling to leave their bodies, creating a kind of false living state. Modern society mostly practices cremation now - once burned to ashes, one naturally cannot become a jiangshi. But the deceased's house remains, and this is where they belong. Spirit money and offerings burned by relatives are all sent to loved ones in the underworld through this small window.
Burning spirit money also depends on sincerity. Money burned with true sincerity reaches relatives below, while insincere offerings are mostly picked up by wandering ghosts. So when paying respects to ancestors, one should always be sincere.
Zha Wenbin's midnight journey to this mountain was clearly to wait for Madam Wang to emerge from inside. A grave is really a door to the underworld for the deceased. Those who die in remote wilderness naturally become wandering souls because they lack this entrance.
Truly a feng shui treasure spot. Zha Wenbin sat on the ground, observing the stars above. He kept feeling something wasn't right but couldn't pinpoint the issue. Tonight, he planned to intercept the Underworld Messengers to ask why they were taking someone from this small village who shouldn't have been taken.
Near midnight, Zha Wenbin sprinkled a thin layer of white lime around the grave and placed seven mirrors around himself. The positioning of these mirrors was extremely precise - each mirror needed to perfectly reflect one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper at exactly midnight. Everyone knows the Earth is in motion, so calculating these minute time differences required true skill. He came up the mountain alone tonight, and without setting up this formation, if the messengers didn't recognize him as a Mao Mountain Sect disciple, they might take him away too - and that would be disastrous.
After arranging the mirrors, Zha Wenbin scattered spirit money around the tomb. This money would serve as tonight's passage fee. To intercept Underworld Messengers, one needed both soft and hard approaches - the soft being money, the hard being formations and ritual implements. Being prepared both ways made things easier; he never fought battles he wasn't confident of winning.
Having finished these preparations, Zha Wenbin lit incense at Madam Wang's grave and sat within the circle of mirrors, waiting silently. Suddenly, the incense flared brightly for a moment before quickly returning to normal. This subtle change didn't escape Zha Wenbin's notice. Just as he closed his eyes, the seven stars of the Big Dipper aligned one by one with their corresponding mirrors, illuminating Zha Wenbin in the middle with a whitish glow.
In his trance state, Zha Wenbin saw two white-robed Underworld Messengers leading Madam Wang. They were typically unfazed by strange sights on their journey, but seeing a Daoist respectfully bowing and waiting for them, they stopped.
"Who blocks our path?" they asked.
"This humble Daoist is Zha Wenbin, disciple of Ling Zhengyang and master of Tianzheng Dao. I've been respectfully waiting for you esteemed messengers." He bowed again after speaking.
The two messengers clearly had no interest in this minor Daoist. They glanced at him and prepared to leave.
Zha Wenbin didn't move but raised his hand to stop them: "Please wait, honored messengers. This humble Daoist has a request, and I dare not delay your official business, so..." He pointed to the pile of spirit money, indicating it was payment for passage.
The two messengers were indeed greedy ghosts. They exchanged glances, reached out with their large hands, and rudely took the money, glaring fiercely at Zha Wenbin: "Little Daoist, don't block your grandfathers' path, or we'll take you away too!"
Zha Wenbin remained silent and made a welcoming gesture. The two messengers walked forward arrogantly. Just as they reached Zha Wenbin's side, they pulled Madam Wang back a step, but it was too late. The Big Dipper formation suddenly blazed brilliantly around a bronze object in the center. Clearly, with that step, these two had entered the formation.
Fearing he might not be able to hold these two, Zha Wenbin had used the Mao Mountain Founder's seal as the formation's eye. Before this incense burned out, not just these two messengers but even Ox-Head and Horse-Face would have to obediently wait until the appointed time to leave.
Though the messengers didn't know who Zha Wenbin was, they recognized the bronze object as the authentic seal of the Mao Mountain master - unique in the world with no second. Mao Mountain was famous for exorcising evil spirits and demons, which they certainly understood. They lowered their pride and both bowed to Zha Wenbin, showing respect.
Zha Wenbin was very diplomatic and returned the bow, smiling: "I feared I couldn't detain you both otherwise. Please forgive me. Afterward, this humble Daoist will certainly offer a small gift to compensate for this discourtesy!"
This gave them a way to save face. In communication between humans and ghosts, money still ruled.
"What does the honorable Daoist wish to ask?" they inquired.
Zha Wenbin looked at the hollow-eyed Madam Wang, then turned back: "Officials, I'm puzzled because Madam Wang clearly had years of life remaining. Why was she taken?"
Hearing this question, the two messengers looked troubled and reluctant to answer. Zha Wenbin was no pushover - his daughter had already suffered a calamity, leaving bitterness in his heart. Today he came fully prepared, unconsciously touching the Seven Stars Sword in his hand, which instantly strengthened the formation.
Ghosts are actually more perceptive than humans. Now caught in Zha Wenbin's trap, they had no choice. One of them spoke: "Please don't blame us, honorable Daoist. This is truly heaven's will. Madam Wang indeed had years left, but this village must have seven deaths this month! Madam Wang happened to clash with negative energies that day, and it was our shift, so her fate was sealed!"
"Heaven's will? What is heaven's will? You clearly snatched her soul, and who knows what schemes you're plotting! Using heaven's will as a pretext to act recklessly - do you really think I dare not take action?" Zha Wenbin drew the Seven Stars Sword and pointed it forward.
Zha Wenbin dared to be so bold for good reason. Life and death may be predetermined, but they must follow rules. Madam Wang was destined for great wealth and fortune - she shouldn't have encountered such calamity. With no wandering ghosts to snatch her soul, he firmly blamed these two messengers.
Was Zha Wenbin planning to defy heaven ("fighting against heaven")? Actually, he lacked such courage. Though he possessed tools, his master had died too early, leaving him with only rudimentary knowledge supplemented by self-study from books over the years. He could handle a few wandering ghosts, but facing Underworld Messengers was different. In human terms, it was like someone with a few years of martial arts training fighting professional soldiers - not just one, but two. He felt somewhat uncertain, though with this formation, he currently held the psychological advantage. Losing momentum meant losing half the battle, especially against these truly cunning ghosts!
Zha Wenbin's move indeed intimidated the two messengers. They exchanged glances, as if making a decision, and bit their lips: "The honorable Daoist may not know that the three realms' cycle should follow natural laws, but some calamities exist outside these three realms. The seven deaths in Wang Village weren't our intention. Beyond those naturally fated to die, the rest is truly heaven's will. These seven people from Wang Village all serve as substitute corpses for the neighboring village. We can only say this much - heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. Please show mercy!"
This conversation startled Zha Wenbin. What kind of existence was a heaven's will that transcended the three realms?
This explains why fortune tellers are often right about some things but wrong about others. They usually predict the first half correctly but miss the mark on the second half. The "heaven's will" beyond the three realms is something Daoist practitioners spend their entire lives trying to understand—what level of enlightenment must that be? Even Zha Wenbin, who has studied numerous ancient texts, is hearing about this for the first time, and it sends him into deep contemplation.
However, reality quickly pulls him back. Noticing the incense nearly burnt out, Zha Wenbin apologizes to the Underworld Messengers, promising to properly compensate them later. The messengers nod: "Never reveal tonight's conversation to anyone, or you'll die." Zha Wenbin nods in agreement, puts away his seal, and dissolves the formation. As he sends the messengers off, a gust of wind blows away the last bit of ash from the incense, and he feels himself slipping deeper into the abyss of the Dao.
After coming down from the mountain, he burns some spirit money at the village entrance as payment for the messengers. Looking up at the star-filled sky, Zha Wenbin gains a new understanding of the Dao's depth—only what transcends the three realms can truly be considered heaven's will. Tianzheng Dao—how difficult it is to achieve that "heaven" character! Throughout history, countless practitioners have pursued this heavenly way, dedicating their entire lives to it. Lost in thought, Zha Wenbin unexpectedly falls asleep.
That night, he dreams of his daughter greeting him. This is the second time he has dreamt of her since she drowned. His daughter tells him she is cold, that being underwater is uncomfortable, and begs him to save her. Not far from her stands a beast, the Taotie, seemingly suffering greatly. Zha Wenbin tries to reach for his daughter, but the Taotie's loud roar wakes him up.
Rubbing his eyes, he realizes daylight has broken, and there are still tears at the corners of his eyes. He wipes them away, sighs, and heads toward Old Wang's house.
When he arrives and pushes open the gate, Mr. He is washing his face in the courtyard. Seeing Zha Wenbin return, Mr. He, in his rush, doesn't wipe the toothpaste from his mouth before trying to kneel before Zha Wenbin.
Zha Wenbin quickly stops him: "What are you doing, Mr. He?"
Tears stream down Mr. He's face as Zha Wenbin helps him sit on a small stool.
"Wenbin, I saw my wife last night. Just as you said, she came to me in a dream, telling me to take care of myself and to let you know that everything is predetermined fate."
"Fate? I don't believe in fate. I want to see if heaven can truly play with people's lives so carelessly!" Gritting his teeth, Zha Wenbin slams his fist onto a stone table, blood trickles down. Whether it was from overexertion the night before or the grief, Zha Wenbin suddenly faints. Mr. He quickly wakes Wang Xin, and they carry Zha Wenbin into a side room. Since his daughter's death, he hasn't slept properly. This time, he remains unconscious with a high fever for a day and night. On the evening he fell ill, another person dies in Wang Village.
A death isn't particularly strange—for villagers, an elderly person's passing is considered a "happy funeral." Who died? It was an old woman in her eighties who lived diagonally across from Old Wang's house. She had been bathing in her family's bathhouse and didn't come out for a long time. When her daughter-in-law went to check, she found the old woman lying in the wooden tub, half her head submerged in water.
The daughter-in-law, known for her loud voice, screamed "Ah!" so loudly that half the village came running. The old woman had seemed quite healthy despite her age and primed for work in the fields. Her sudden death devastated her family. Assuming she had just passed, they called for the village doctor. He declared her dead, likely the result of high blood pressure from bathing too long in hot water, and subsequently drowning.
Her son, Zhang Laohan, though over sixty, was filial and deeply mourned his mother's death, announcing plans for a grand burial. Knowing a Daoist was across the street, he rushed over with gifts to request his services. However, Wang Xin stopped him, explaining that Zha Wenbin had been unconscious for a day and needed rest.
Left with no choice, Zhang Laohan found the village funeral director to perform a minor encoffinment, then dismantled part of his front door to create a makeshift structure with two stools where they laid his mother's body.
As the first day of mourning, many came to pay their respects. Staying awake all night was exhausting—the first half was manageable, but the second half became increasingly difficult. Cremation had just begun to be promoted in the area, but the old woman had explicitly forbidden it while alive, insisting she'd rather be buried and find her husband in the underworld.
Zhang Laohan faced a tough choice—he couldn't defy his mother's wishes, but as a farmer, he worried about the law enforcers who periodically warned against private burials, making him vulnerable to prosecution.
The funeral director suggested creating a "clothing and hat grave." This technique, essential for proper burials, was misused by some practitioners to summon souls for malicious purposes, resulting in its near obsolescence. Zha Wenbin had learned about it from his master's books, and this would be his first practical application of the technique, but uncertainty loomed over him.
Unfortunately, Zha Wenbin did not wake until the evening of the second day. Groggy, he made his way to the kitchen to wash his face when he heard three firecrackers—"Bang! Bang! Bang!"—from outside. What did these signify? Another person had died. Villagers helping often set off firecrackers before meals as part of local custom.
Before even putting down his washcloth, Zha Wenbin rushed out. Looking across, he saw mourning couplets hung up, wreaths displayed, and people bustling about serving food and wine. The cries from old and young, men and women mingled with the sound of clinking bowls. Frowning, he hurried over. Before entering, he spotted Mr. He sitting at a table, recording something. Upon closer inspection, he realized Mr. He was serving as the accountant, tasked with managing contributions for condolences.
The moment Zha Wenbin entered, the lively crowd fell silent. They were counting on him for the soul summoning ritual tonight, but he arrived with a serious expression of concern.
Mr. He was the first to stand, quickly pulling Zha Wenbin outside while someone inside called "Drink!" and the festive atmosphere resumed.
Outside, Mr. He queried Zha Wenbin about his well-being. Zha Wenbin shook his head, signaling he was fine. Mr. He briefly explained the situation and called Zhang Laohan out to meet him.
Zhang Laohan, seeing Zha Wenbin, quickly wiped his tears and forced a smile, asking him to perform the soul summoning ritual. After a moment's thought, Zha Wenbin nodded in agreement. Zhang Laohan was thrilled, urging Zha Wenbin indoors, offering him wine and cigarettes, which Zha Wenbin declined. All he requested was a bowl of plain porridge.
After dinner, the women and children cleared the tables, most being sent home by their husbands. Soul summoning wasn't for ordinary onlookers; if anything went wrong and the soul attached to someone instead of the straw effigy, it could be disastrous.
As usual, Zha Wenbin declared that souls with conflicting zodiac signs should leave the area, and the remaining folks should step outside the room. The front door needed to be cleared to allow a path. Necessary items—rooster blood, lime, incense paper, candles, and glutinous rice—were placed on the ritual table.
This time, there were two ritual tables, one with "upside-down rice" and offerings, lit candles, and burning incense. One stood in front of the door plank for the corpse, while the other was set before the coffin containing the straw effigy.
The memorial tablets on the two tables differed too—one was varnished and in front of the door plank, the other unvarnished and before the coffin. The "long sleep lamp" was lit under the door plank but not under the coffin.
Zha Wenbin signaled for everyone to take position outside. As he prepared to begin, his vision darkened. He shook his head, unsure if he was exhausted or unwell. After standing for a moment, Zha Wenbin gathered his strength, arranged the white copper inkstone, dipped it in cinnabar, and began drawing a soul summoning formation on the ground. This formation required the brush tip to stay on the ground from start to finish, and if the cinnabar ran out, it had to be poured down the brush shaft from top to bottom. Observers watched in admiration while Zhang Laohan felt a sense of pride at having a true master at work.
The soul summoning formation started beneath the door plank for the corpse and ended with the last stroke under the coffin, completed in one fluid motion. Even Mr. He, a calligraphy lover, admired Zha Wenbin's impressive skill. While drawing, Zha Wenbin chanted words no one understood. By the final stroke, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, indicating the effort required.
This soul summoning technique originated from Miao regions. Initially essential for clothing and hat graves, it was later misused by some practitioners to summon souls for their evil cultivation, leading to its near obsolescence. Zha Wenbin learned it through his master's texts; tonight marked its first real use, leaving him uncertain of its effectiveness.
Having completed the formation, Zha Wenbin lit incense. Now the formation needed a catalyst—the person the deceased trusted most in life. Naturally, this would be Zhang Laohan.
Zha Wenbin gestured for Zhang Laohan to approach. Unsure of what lay ahead, Zhang Laohan hesitated as he looked at his mother's body on the door plank. In that moment, the alarming sight of the bright red talismans brought him to a stagger, drawing laughter from the onlookers.
Realizing the weight of his duty despite his trepidation, Zhang Laohan entered the formation. Zha Wenbin firmly grasped his hand and, with a quick motion, cut a mark in Zhang Laohan's palm. Before he could react, Zha Wenbin pushed his hand firmly onto the formation, leaving a clear imprint. With his hand raised, Zhang Laohan noticed the blood on the ground.
Zha Wenbin quickly applied a medicinal paste to the wound, gestured for Zhang Laohan to leave, and signaled him that it was alright.
Zhang Laohan covered his palm, suppressing a desire to curse. The Daoist had given no warning before inflicting pain, leaving him with a searing reminder of their earlier encounter.
Strangely enough, in only a short time, the sharp pain in his hand faded into an itch, and soon after, the discomfort completely vanished. Zhang Laohan couldn't help but marvel at Zha Wenbin's miraculous healing, his earlier grievances turning into respect.
Once preparations were complete, Zha Wenbin scattered a thin layer of lime around the coffin, which reflected a small pathway leading from the coffin to the door plank.
Everyone understood the purpose of lime is to keep pests away, yet the purpose here puzzled onlookers. After finishing, Zha Wenbin had the electric lights turned off, illuminating only the four candles flickering in the hall. The atmosphere grew heavy and unbearable for those with a faint heart, especially the symbol for "longevity" on the coffin, which stood out shocking amid the candle's flickering light. Some timid observers began to huddle together, while the brave ones leaned closer, eager for a better view, likely unaware that after tonight, they would regret their curiosity, astonished by what they witnessed.
If you've ever wondered what "ghostly atmosphere" really means, this hall perfectly exemplified it—a corpse on a door plank, glaring bright red talismans on the ground, a coffin painted in bright colors, and a Daoist sweating profusely and breathing heavily. The only sound was the hushed breaths of those watching closely.
After a short rest, Zha Wenbin took an evil-repelling bell and started ringing it over the old woman's body. His steps alternated around the door plank, left hand forming a lotus finger gesture, right hand raising the bell above his head, while he chanted: "By the Celestial Master's command, in my name, three hun and seven po, leave the body and follow, Celestial Lord Lao Tzu, urgent as the law commands..." He circled left three times, then right three times, and shouted: "Come out!" Suddenly a gust of wind blew out all the candles, leaving only the long sleep lamp beneath the door plank flickering a weak greenish light.
In that moment, Zhang Laohan felt a chill run down his spine, prompting him to hold his breath, feeling as if he had fallen into an endless abyss. Outside, everyone could only wait patiently, unable to see inside.
Moments later, a faint light suddenly burst forth, and those with sharp eyes noticed it originated from the long sleep lamp that had not been lit before. The light changed from green to blue, then to a yellow flame before extinguishing.
Zha Wenbin also let out a long breath, allowing the people outside to turn the lights back on. Zhang Laohan couldn't wait to rush in. Upon entering, he was stunned by the sight: the lime on the ground clearly showed a series of human footprints leading from the door plank to the coffin. He glanced at Zha Wenbin, then at his mother, and suddenly dropped to his knees. Why? Because the old woman had bound feet—a three-inch golden lotus, perfectly matching the footprints—yet there were no traces of lime on her shoes, indicating something amiss.
Zha Wenbin, exhausted, stood to face the crowd. Seeing their admiration sparked by his actions, Mr. He brought in a cup of tea, signaling Zhang Laohan to serve it. Zha Wenbin took the tea, sipped, and stood once more.
Zha Wenbin lit the two candles in front of the coffin; the flames flickered to life. He gestured for someone to bring forward the painted memorial tablet from in front of the coffin and instructed Zhang Laohan to burn incense and spirit money for the straw figure. He also directed that the body be cremated the following day before stepping outside.
The next morning, just before cremation, Zhang Laohan hesitated and lit incense in front of the door plank. Oddly, no matter how he lit it, the incense immediately extinguished. Frustrated, he tried again, still to no avail. In contrast, the candles in front of the coffin lit up effortlessly.
In the morning, the hearse arrived to collect the body. The driver treated the old woman like a dead pig, roughly loading her on. Zhang Laohan thought he was being disrespectful and started arguing.
The hearse was a converted junk bus, unlicensed, and traffic police generally didn't stop it—who would want to deal with that bad luck? The drivers tended to be quite arrogant, accustomed to dealing with corpses, leading them to have short tempers and foul mouths.
Zhang Laohan's family was already feeling gloomy due to the death, and being scolded made it worse. Just as tensions rose, a group of relatives gathered around, and it seemed as if a fight was about to break out. Mr. He, being a scholar, stepped in to mediate, urging the driver to tone it down since the family was grieving.
The driver, already hot-tempered, replied, "You people are all difficult. Last time I went to Gaojia Village, I arrived ten minutes late because of your unclear road signs. Today, I come to Wang Village, and you all also want to fight. After this, I'm never coming here again." With that, he jumped into the driver's seat and started the engine.
Mr. He comforted Zhang Laohan, telling him to let it go for the sake of the deceased.
Zha Wenbin had been observing the hearse intently. He felt something was off but couldn't put his finger on it. The driver's comments seemed to remind him of something. As the vehicle was about to leave, Zha Wenbin shouted, "Wait!"
The driver poked his head out the window, spotted a Daoist in front of him, and gruffly asked, "What do you want?"
Zha Wenbin smiled and asked, "You mentioned being ten minutes late to Gaojia Village because of a wrong turn. May I ask where you went wrong?"
The driver took a puff of his cigarette and waved dismissively: "Where else? You villagers don't put up any signs. I ended up in your Wang Village and drove straight to the village committee, only to realize I was lost. You villagers are lazy and don't even bother with road signs!" With that, he stepped on the gas, driving away.
Watching the departing hearse, Zha Wenbin felt a realization wash over him. He grabbed Mr. He and rushed home, quickly gathering his things. He had Wang Xin drive them to the station where they bought tickets to the provincial capital.
By midday, they arrived in the provincial capital. The two found a noodle shop and ordered some plain noodles while sitting down.
Mr. He asked why they returned so suddenly. Zha Wenbin replied, "Mr. He, do you have any acquaintances in the transportation authority?"
Mr. He nodded, "Actually, I do. Director Zhao from the vehicle management department is a friend of my son. What do you need?"
Zha Wenbin said, "I need a vehicle record. I plan to visit Director Zhao this afternoon. Can you arrange it?"
Mr. He understood Zha Wenbin's careful nature and nodded. After they finished eating, they flagged a taxi straight to the vehicle management department.
Upon arriving, Mr. He found Director Zhao without issue. After some polite greetings, he introduced Zha Wenbin, who was warmly received by Director Zhao.
Zha Wenbin stated, "I'm looking for a bus with a provincial license plate listed as Zhe AX(XXXX)."
Director Zhao typed the plate into the system, but then frowned: "What do you need this bus for? It was involved in a serious accident three years ago, resulting in seven deaths. It has since been decommissioned!"
"Decommissioned?" Zha Wenbin asked.
"Yes, it's been scrapped!" Director Zhao confirmed.
Zha Wenbin nodded, following up, "Then, Director Zhao, what's the procedure for handling decommissioned vehicles?"
Director Zhao sipped his tea, glancing at Mr. He, then focused back on Zha Wenbin: "Typically, decommissioned vehicles are taken to the dismantling factory. However, some people might repair and sell them cheaply. How come you've seen this vehicle?"
Zha Wenbin replied, "I saw it at a funeral home in An County. It's currently being used there."
Director Zhao asked, "Are you planning to report it? If it's at a funeral home, to be honest, it won't be easy to handle. You know they are managed by the civil affairs department, and they likely have connections."
Chinese Words/Phrases in Chapter 7 Destiny
Daoist Practitioners and Sects
1. Daoist (道士) - Religious practitioner of Daoism who performs rituals and cultivates spiritual practices.
2. Mao Mountain Sect (茅山派) - Famous Daoist sect specializing in exorcism and spiritual practices.
3. Tianzheng Dao (天正道) - Sect or lineage of Daoism practiced by Zha Wenbin, literally "Heavenly Righteous Way."
4. Ling Zhengyang (凌正阳) - Zha Wenbin's master.
Divination Tools and Objects
1. Seven Mirrors (镜子) - Ritual tools arranged to reflect the Big Dipper stars during ceremonies.
2. Big Dipper (北斗七星) - Constellation used in Daoist rituals, believed to have spiritual power.
3. Ritual Implements (法器) - Tools used by Daoists in ceremonies to channel spiritual energy.
4. Mao Mountain Founder's Seal (道经师宝) - A significant artifact used to control supernatural beings.
5. Seven Stars Sword (七星剑) - Ritual sword used by Daoists for protection and spiritual combat.
6. Evil-repelling Bell (避邪铃) - Ritual tool used to drive away malevolent spirits.
7. Cinnabar (朱砂) - Red mineral used in Daoist ceremonies for drawing mystic formations.
8. Long Sleep Lamp (长眠灯) - Special lamp used in funeral rituals to guide spirits.
9. Soul Summoning Formation (招魂阵) - Ritual pattern drawn on the ground to summon and guide souls.
Ritual Practices and Techniques
1. Trance State (入定) - Meditative state achieved by practitioners to communicate with spirits.
2. Spirit Money (纸钱/冥钱) - Money burned for the deceased to use in the afterlife.
3. Incense Burning (香) - Ritual offering burned during ceremonies to communicate with spirits.
4. Lotus Finger Gesture (掐诀) - Hand position used in rituals to channel spiritual energy.
5. Minor Encoffinment (小殓) - Part of traditional funeral procedures for preparing the body.
6. Clothing and Hat Grave (衣冠冢) - Special burial technique where personal items replace the body.
7. Straw Effigy (草人) - Substitute body used in funeral rituals.
Cultural and Historical References
1. Yin Realm (阴间) - The underworld or afterlife in Chinese beliefs.
2. Jiangshi (僵尸) - Chinese hopping vampire or reanimated corpse.
3. Evil Spirits (恶鬼) - Malevolent spiritual entities that can harm the living.
4. Wandering Ghosts (野鬼) - Spirits without proper burial or offerings.
5. Wandering Souls (孤魂野鬼) - Souls of those who died without proper burial.
6. Feng Shui (风水) - Chinese geomancy practice for harmonizing people with their environment.
7. Heaven's Will (天意) - Concept of predetermined fate or divine intervention.
8. Negative Energies (反冲) - Harmful spiritual forces that can affect one's fate.
9. Fighting Against Heaven (与天斗) - Challenging predetermined fate or divine will.
10. Substitute Corpses (替死鬼) - Those who die in place of others due to supernatural arrangement.
11. The Dao (道) - Central concept of Daoism, the Way or natural order of the universe.
12. Three Hun and Seven Po (三魂七魄) - Components of the soul in Chinese belief system.
13. Celestial Lord Lao Tzu (太上老君) - Deified form of the founder of Daoism.
14. Happy Funeral (喜丧) - Traditional concept for an elderly person's passing, considered auspicious.
15. Longevity Symbol (寿) - Character representing long life, often used in decorations.
16. Taotie (饕餮) - Mythical beast in Chinese mythology, often depicted as a gluttonous creature.
17. Underworld Messengers (阴差) - Spirits who collect souls for the underworld.
18. Ox-Head and Horse-Face (牛头马面) - Fearsome underworld messengers in Chinese mythology.
Ritual Objects and Funeral Items
1. Grave (坟墓) - Burial site for the deceased, considered a doorway to the underworld.
2. Ritual Table (案台) - Table used for ceremonial purposes during rituals.
3. Upside-down Rice (倒头饭) - Traditional funeral offering to feed the deceased.
4. Memorial Tablets (灵位) - Tablets representing the deceased used in ancestral worship.
Locations
1. Wang Village (王庄) - Main village in the story where events unfold.
2. Gaojia Village (高家村) - Neighboring village mentioned in the story.
3. An County (安县) - Location of the funeral home in the story.
Character Names and Titles
1. Zha Wenbin (查文斌) - The main character, referred to as the last Daoist.
2. Madam Wang (王夫人) - A significant character in the story who passed away.
3. Wenbin's Daughter (查文斌的女儿) - Zha Wenbin's deceased daughter.
4. Old Wang (王老爷) - A character in the story, respected elder.
5. Mr. He (何老) - A character, ancient script specialist.
6. Wang Xin (王鑫) - A character in the story who assists Zha Wenbin.
7. Zhang Laohan (张老汉) - Character, son of the deceased old woman.
8. Director Zhao (赵所长) - Official at the vehicle management department.
9. Funeral Director (仵作) - Person who prepares bodies for burial.