Chapter Forty-Nine: The Grand Ascension Sect

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As night fell, the main streets of Husu County were deserted, yet strange commotions arose from the City God Temple in the north of town.

"Lord City God, that Cui Shen bullies us ghosts far too much. Why not let us take his life for you and vent this grievance?" The ethereal tone, filled with malice, mingled with the wailing of spirits, shrouding the once-quiet temple in an eerie gloom.

"It must be your mischief outside that brought such a fierce person down upon me! Take his life? You think that easily done? Let me tell you, though Cui Shen is but a mere county magistrate, his young son is extraordinary—destined to be a future prime minister, born under an auspicious star. You insignificant ghosts cannot even step into the Cui residence, let alone face the demon-banishing mirror they possess!"

"Lord City God, then must we swallow this insult?"

"Whether or not vengeance is possible depends on the person! Though Cui Shen destroyed your effigies today, he spared me a measure of respect. I suspect he has other motives. Tonight, I shall go and meet him myself!"

Within the inner chambers of the Cui residence, Cui Shen was reviewing documents in his study. Wearied by several days’ toil, he soon succumbed to drowsiness and fell asleep over his desk.

"Master Cui, Master Cui!" In his dreams, Cui Shen heard someone calling his name. He awakened to find, by the flickering candlelight, a shadowy figure standing before his desk.

"Who are you?" Cui Shen started in fright and leapt to his feet, cold sweat on his brow.

"Master Cui, do not fear. I am the City God of Husu County, come to speak with you about today’s events!"

At these words, Cui Shen’s eyes widened. Indeed, though the figure’s features were indistinct, the ancient official robes—unlike those of the current dynasty—were unmistakably clear.

"Are you here to seek revenge?" Cui Shen’s voice was tinged with both anxiety and a subtle hint of satisfaction.

"Heh, not at all! You smashed my temple today, but it was my underlings who erred first. As we are both stewards of this county, I am not so petty. As the saying goes, enemies are best reconciled. I come with sincerity!"

"And what sincerity does the Lord City God bring?"

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"What you seek is truly the whereabouts of the Rakshasa Ghost."

Cui Shen smiled. "Worthy indeed is the City God!"

"Master Cui, the Rakshasa Ghost runs rampant in Husu County, undermining both your authority among the living and my virtue among the dead. I, too, wish to eradicate it!"

"Oh?" Cui Shen asked in puzzlement, "Lord City God, if so, why have you let the Rakshasa Ghost go unchecked? I, as a mortal, wish to rid us of this menace but am helpless—yet you, as a deity, why do you not act?"

The City God sighed softly, and to Cui Shen’s ears, it sounded almost sorrowful. Could even gods know grief?

"Lord City God, might you tell me of the Rakshasa Ghost’s origins?"

"Of course. Are you familiar with the Rebellion of Faqing?"

"The Rebellion of Faqing?" Cui Shen was somewhat bewildered.

"That was during the Northern Wei. Faqing was a monk from Jizhou, highly skilled in the occult, who claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya and incited chaos and murder. He taught that killing one person made you a Bodhisattva of the First Stage, and killing ten would make you a Bodhisattva of the Tenth Stage. Faqing founded the Great Vehicle Sect. In the fourth year of Yan Chang, he anointed Li Guibo from Bohai as a Tenth-Stage Bodhisattva and led a rebellion under the banner of a ‘new Buddha vanquishing all demons.’ They slaughtered monks and nuns, burned scriptures and images, committing all manner of atrocities—a great scourge upon the land. Yet by September of that same year, the sect was suppressed by the court, Faqing and his followers executed, and thus the rebellion ended."

Cui Shen narrowed his eyes in confusion, but knowing the City God had more to say, he held his tongue.

The City God continued, "Though Faqing and his followers died, Li Guibo had a daughter, her original name lost to history. She became Faqing’s disciple and was renamed Li Funü. She mastered Faqing’s occult arts, and after the deaths of her master and father, fled to what is now Husu County. Hiding in the wilderness, she gathered followers in secret, hoping to revive the sect. But her plot was uncovered, and she was ultimately executed by burning. Her followers, however, secretly buried her charred remains, using the sect’s Rakshasa ritual to inter her. That burial place is now the poplar grove ten miles outside town. After a century of wind and rain, Li Funü slumbered beneath the earth and indeed became a Rakshasa. Recently, a young man from the He family stumbled upon her grave and relieved himself there, his living energy inadvertently awakening her."

"I see!" Cui Shen finally understood the chain of events and asked, "If she is a Rakshasa, surely she is a ghost. How is it, Lord City God, that even you cannot subdue her?"

"The Rakshasa is an evil spirit of the Buddhist tradition, but the Great Vehicle Sect had already descended into demonic practices. Thus, Li Funü is not a ghost but a demon! I was but a mortal in life, and Li Funü had cultivated the occult long before her death—her powers far surpass mine. I am willing, but powerless! At this point, only the precious mirror in your possession can deal with her!"

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"Then may I ask, where is the Rakshasa Ghost now?"

"She still hides in Yanshuang House of the Misty Green Quarter. She has already consumed much flesh and blood, her own body is nearly restored, and with so many beauties in that house, she seeks a new skin!"

Cui Shen shuddered at this.

"Master Cui, I take my leave! I hold you blameless for today’s events, but I hope you will let bygones be bygones and help me rebuild the City God Temple. Do not forget this!"

Just as Cui Shen wished to say more, he was jolted awake, lifting his head from the desk. Glancing at the nearly spent candle, he saw its flame flickering red beneath tightly shut windows and doors—there was no trace of the City God. So, it had all been a dream.

Yet Cui Shen did not believe it was merely a dream. He remembered every word the City God had spoken. Without hesitation, he rose, donned his robe, concealed the precious mirror within it, and left the study.

"Husband, it’s so late—where are you going?" His wife, Lady Lu, happened to approach with a tray of late-night food.

"I must return to the yamen for some business. But this late-night meal is just in time!" Cui Shen ate quickly and left the residence.

As he was about to depart, he ran into Xie Qiao, now fully recovered. Cui Shen briefly explained his purpose, and Xie Qiao offered to accompany him.

Thus, the two of them proceeded to the yamen at the front of the residence.

Cui Shen counted a dozen constables on duty, then, with spirited resolve, declared, "The Rakshasa Ghost is now hiding in Yanshuang House of the Misty Green Quarter. You men, follow me—we shall subdue the demon and banish evil!"