32. Drawing Talismans and Making Paper Kites

The next day.

Morning.

In the courtyard, the old plum tree shed its blossoms in the spring breeze.

Bare-chested, tall Gao Qingzhi stood in a horse stance, gazing at the ferocious tiger. “Let me teach you a set of boxing techniques,” he said.

“This style is called the Tiger’s Reverence Fist.”

“To begin…”

With a leopard-like head, the burly man demonstrated the Tiger Fist, his movements swift and fierce, as if a real tiger were passing on its knowledge to a young cub. The great tiger sitting at the side watched the forms and stances intently.

Gao Qingzhi added, “Tiger Fist emphasizes intention over form. It’s a branch of Xingyi Boxing. You’re a real tiger—when you use it, you’ll be even more adept.”

“Wait, strike, pounce, probe, cut…”

“Use your strength cleverly, move your muscles and bones as one. Let your waist and hips drive your limbs. Don’t force it with brute strength; if you’re too tense, you’ll only tire yourself out and exhaust your energy.”

“The most important thing when you strike is to stay relaxed and calm.”

The tiger, Lu Xun, earnestly studied the art.

How strange it was—a man learned a tiger’s martial arts only to teach them back to a tiger.

But Lu Xun was a true tiger. He quickly grasped the core of the Tiger Fist, as if animals were born knowing such things.

“Excellent!”

Gao Qingzhi clapped his hands in praise, then wandered off to the side, rinsing his mouth with green tea and even chewing down the tea leaves.

After finishing a set of Tiger Fist moves, Lu Xun felt his muscles and bones completely loosened. He lay relaxed by the steps.

Beside him was little Yue, her eyes red from crying. When the morning training began and she heard that Three-Legged had returned, she came running in excitement. But when she saw the tiger and heard the master say it was Three-Legged transformed, she burst into tears, fearing the tiger had eaten the black cat. It took a long time and seeing the tiger become a black cat again for her to recover.

“Time to eat!”

“Madam calls for breakfast.”

…

After eating his fill, Lu Xun changed back into his cat form.

A striped tiger could not roam freely in the county; being a cat was more comfortable.

Zhao Jia hurried out, busy with official business at the county office. He had to visit every household worshipping the Five-Pass Gods and collect both the clay idols and the silver taxes.

Gao Qingzhi did not go to the office. He left the house early for the market, picked out a white rooster with a black comb, bought a jar of black dog’s blood from the butcher, and on his way back, checked over his supplies: “Cinnabar, wolf hair, silkworm feet, locust branches, tree resin, oiled paper, …”

The black cat Lu Xun purred softly, half-closing his eyes as he watched Gao Qingzhi.

The bailiff washed his hands and face, tidied his appearance, opened a box that looked like a small storehouse, unwrapped a blue cloth to reveal a painting, and hung it on the frame. He turned to the black cat in the study. “Stop watching. In a moment, I’ll be petitioning the Three Sovereign Emperors to empower my talisman. You won’t be able to withstand the power of the gods.”

The old cat did not insist on staying.

Lu Xun knew his limits. At present, he wasn’t even a minor spirit. The Demon-Subduing Bailiff was clearly someone with a history; there was no need to try to bluff him.

Discerning enough to leave, Lu Xun went outside, reverted to his tiger-headed form, and practiced the Tiger’s Reverence Fist again.

As the saying goes, sharpening your weapons before battle may not make them sharper, but it’s still worth the effort. As a tiger, even sharpening his claws could make them keener.

…

Wang Ruo held up an ancient book, standing before the image of the sage. In the classroom sat little Yue, sitting properly, and a nearly four-foot-long big black cat. In front of each, a sand tray was set out for writing practice.

“Today we’re learning the character for ‘righteousness’,” she said.

Though Wang Ruo had seen her share of oddities, she still hesitated as she passed the black cat. Ordinary little spirits were one thing, but this black cat could even turn into a tiger.

No matter how much she tried to steel herself, she still felt nervous.

Teaching a monster to read—this was something she would never have imagined before, but now she found herself doing it.

The black cat Lu Xun was a diligent pupil. With a good memory, he had already learned a few characters, but now was truly beginning systematic training. To navigate this world freely, he needed to master the written word; he couldn’t remain an illiterate mute forever.

With the black cat as company, little Yue also studied earnestly.

Wang Ruo guided Yue’s hand, teaching her to write stroke by stroke. Beside them, the black cat extended its paw, practicing messy characters in the sand tray. After writing a character, he would swipe the divider from left to right, smoothing the sand for more practice.

“They’re studying.”

Gao Qingzhi, stepping into the courtyard, saw the group and the cat.

“Master,” Wang Ruo greeted with a bow.

Gao Qingzhi nodded in return.

“What’s the master carrying?” Little Yue asked curiously, peering at what Gao Qingzhi held behind his back. Catching a glimpse, she exclaimed, “Oh! It’s a paper kite! Is the master going to fly the kite?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Let me try!”

Gao Qingzhi smiled, raising the finished kite into the air.

He let the string out, then drew it in.

Wings flapped, soaring high.

“Not flying it anymore?”

“Not right now.”

“When then?”

“Tonight.”

“At night?”

“Yes.”

He pulled the kite back down.

“Don’t disturb the master’s important work,” Wang Ruo reminded.

Little Yue obediently ran to the cat’s side.

Wang Ruo wanted to say more, but swallowed the words.

Children at this age are lively and playful.

Back in her own sheltered youth, she was grateful for the company of maids to relieve her boredom; otherwise, life would have been dull. Why take away Yue’s joy? Still, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about a monster who could become a tiger. No matter how human it acted, a beast was still a beast.

The black cat Lu Xun tilted his head.

Looking after children was a skill, especially with those in between childhood and adolescence.

Staying motionless, the black cat felt his limbs go numb.

“The master’s back!”

Lu Xun felt as if he’d been pardoned.

Zhao Jia entered, gulped down two cups of tea, and said, “It’s all clear now. Four clay idols and twelve hundred taels of silver have been confiscated. Many households have worshipped the Five-Pass Gods too, but the deity left no idol behind—seems it only gives clay statues to those it favors.”

“I’ve decided to set up a ritual altar in the courtyard and summon the creature.”

“Third Master will lead fifty armored guards. Those in heavy armor will form the front line, bowmen and crossbowmen behind. The moment it appears, shoot it full of holes.”

These fifty soldiers had to be the bravest; otherwise, the spirit might escape.

It wasn’t for lack of manpower.

For one, the alleys were narrow and short—too many people would just get in the way. Besides, last time the soldiers who fought river bandits were injured and scared by monsters; now, the mere mention of hunting the Five-Pass God made them shrink in fear.

Wang Ruo was both surprised and worried. “Will it really come?”

From what Jia had said, Wang Ruo realized the spirit must be quite intelligent.

If even a sprite like Three-Legged was so cunning, how could that powerful monster be any less? It could probably see through any trap with ease.

Zhao Jia replied, “Don’t worry, my dear. It will come.”

“It’s proud, but not careless.”

“From our investigation, the Five-Pass God arrived in Meilan County before the New Year, but only revealed itself now because it realized no one could subdue it.”

“The last time it brazenly took the tax silver was right after our campaign, which means it had sized up the strength of the county office.”

“But it doesn’t know I’ve invited Master Gao to subdue it.”

“And last time, by luck, we didn’t strike.”

“This time, we’re fully prepared—there will be no escape!”

Wang Ruo was still anxious for Zhao Jia’s safety. What if the monster wasn’t slain and instead retaliated in rage? She brought up Three-Legged as an example. “You mustn’t underestimate these mountain spirits. Even Three-Legged is cleverer than a monkey and craftier than a ghost. How can that great monster be easy to deal with?”

“Three-Legged is different,” Gao Qingzhi reassured her. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep him safe.”

Zhao Jia stepped forward and took his wife’s hand. Wang Ruo said no more.

“Tonight,”

“We cast the altar, and summon the spirit!”