Ghost Story of Liaozhai

Ning Caichen, a native of Zhejiang, has a bold personality, is polite and self-reliant, and often tells people, "This life is devoted to love, and I will never care about it."

This day Ning Caichen came to a temple in the northern suburbs of Jinhua, and saw the magnificent nave and pagoda in the temple, with basil and weeds growing in front of the gate and in the courtyard, it seemed that no one had lived in it for a long time.The doors of the east and west monk's houses are ajar, and there is only one house in the south, and the door lock seems to be new.At the corner of the east hall, surrounded by green bamboos, there is a pool under the stone steps, in which lotus flowers are blooming, which is too beautiful to behold.At that time, it was just in time for the rural examination, and housing prices in the city were expensive. Seeing the quiet environment of the temple, Ning Caichen intended to live here, so he walked around and waited for the monks to return.

At dusk, a man with the appearance of a scholar returned to the temple and stretched out his hand to push open the door to the south. Ning Caichen stepped forward to salute and explain his purpose. Desolate, you can stay as long as you want, and you can also take the opportunity to ask for advice, if you wish."

Ning Caichen was overjoyed, so he spread grass to make a bed, cut wood to make a table, and planned to live there for a long time.It was night, the moon was bright and pure, and the light was as clear as water. The two of them huddled together in the hallway, had a drink and chatted happily, and each reported their names. The scholar claimed that his surname was Yan, and his name was Chixia. It doesn't look like much.Asked: "Where is your native place, brother?"

Yan Chixia said: "I'm from Shaanxi." The words were very sincere.

The two talked for a while, and then went back to their rooms to rest.

Ning Caichen was still not used to the new environment, and although he went to bed, he couldn't fall asleep. Suddenly he heard soft voices from the north house, got up in shock, went to the north wall, opened the window and peeped out, and saw In a small courtyard outside the short wall, there stood a woman in her forties, besides an old woman in red, with a silver hairpin in her head, stooped and bent over, old-fashioned, the two women chatted in the moonlight , the woman said: "Why doesn't Xiaoqian come?"

The old woman said, "It should be here soon."

The woman asked, "Could it be that you complained to grandma?"

The old woman said: "I haven't heard of it, but looking at her expression in recent days, she is indeed a little unhappy."

The woman nodded and said, "This girl is not easy to get along with."

Before the words were finished, a beautiful woman of seventeen or eighteen years old came slowly, and the old woman smiled and said: "You shouldn't talk nonsense behind your back. The two of us were talking, and the little goblin arrived without making a sound. Fortunately, I didn't say anything." You talk badly." Then he said: "The little lady is as beautiful as the person in the painting, if I were a man, I would have lost my soul by you."

The woman said with a smile: "Grandma always picks good things to say to make people happy, I don't appreciate it." Then the three of them chattered, and they didn't know what they said. Ning Caichen thought they were neighbors and family members, so he stopped eavesdropping. Turn around and go back.After a long time, there was silence outside.

Ning Caichen was about to enter the dreamland, when he suddenly felt someone approaching the bedroom, hurriedly got up to check, only to see that there was an extra visitor in the room at some time, it was the girl from the courtyard earlier.He hurriedly asked, "What does the girl want to do?"

The girl said: "Moon night is lonely and can't sleep, I would like to be a dewy husband and wife with the young master."

Ning Caichen said solemnly: "People's words are terrible, girls should keep themselves clean, and I can't take advantage of others' dangers. If I do things that are just mediocre, I will inevitably lose my morality."

The girl said: "In the middle of the night and no one knows."

Ning Caichen frowned and said, "That's enough, please go out."

The girl hesitated to leave, muttering something, Ning Caichen reprimanded: "Go now, if you don't leave, I will call someone. My friend Yan Chixia is not easy to provoke."

The girl was afraid when she heard the words, so she backed away.Walking outside the house, he turned back again, took out an ingot of gold and put it on the table, Ning Caichen grabbed the gold, threw it outside, and said angrily, "The ill-gotten gains dirty my pocket."

The girl was very ashamed, picked up the gold, and said to herself: "Young master is really hard-hearted."

In the morning of the next day, a scholar from Lanxi came to stay with his servants and stayed in the East Wing. In the evening, he fell ill and died. There was a small hole in the sole of his foot, as if he had been stabbed by an awl, and blood flowed out. No one could figure out the cause of death. .After one night, the servant also died, in exactly the same manner as the scholar.

Ning Caichen discussed with Yan Chixia, "Two strong men died in succession. What's going on?"

Yan Chixia murmured, "It must be ghosts. This temple is not clean, and it is in a dangerous place. You must be more careful, my lord."

Ning Caichen is upright, not afraid of ghosts, and doesn't take it seriously when he hears it.That night, the woman came to visit again and said: "There are countless people in my family, but this is the first time I have seen a man as hard-hearted as the young master. The young master is honest and upright like a sage, and the slave family will never dare to bully you again. Bitch My concubine, surnamed Nie and surnamed Xiaoqian, died early that year, and her body was buried near the temple. The ghost threatened by monsters, seduced men, and did a lot of bad things. It was not her wish. Now all the men in the temple have been killed, and there is no prey. Started on the son."

"Who is your grandma?"

"Grandma is not a human being, but a yaksha evil spirit."

"so what should I do?"

"Yan Chixia has an extraordinary background. If you try to sleep with him, my son, you will surely turn danger into good luck."

"Why don't you seduce Brother Yan?"

"Mr. Yan is a strange man, I dare not approach him."

"So how did you hurt people before?"

"The concubine lures the men to have sex. They secretly stab their feet with sharp awls. When they pass out and don't know anything about them, they take the opportunity to ingest blood and give it to grandma to drink. If this trick doesn't work, they will use gold to confuse the men. Gold is a Rakshasa ghost." Bone changes, good at poaching people's hearts, as long as there is greed in the heart, there is no doubt about death. These two methods, no matter seduction or profiteering, are all for men's favor."

"When is grandma going to kill me?"

"Tomorrow night."

After some exhortations, Nie Xiaoqian bid farewell and left. When she parted, she begged: "I am deeply in a sea of ​​suffering, and I can't go ashore if I want to. The young master is so proud that he will be able to save the suffering. If the young master is willing to keep the bones of the concubine, I will find a quiet cemetery." Re-buried, re-created with kindness, I am grateful."

Ning Caichen promised, "Leave it on me, but where is the girl's grave?"

Nie Xiaoqian said: "Under the poplar tree, there is a bird's nest on the tree, which is easy to identify." After speaking, she walked out the door and disappeared.

In the early morning of the next day, Ning Caichen was worried that Yan Chixia would not return, so he invited him to be a guest at the house early, fixed the banquet, drank until dusk, and said, "Brother Yan, don't leave tonight, sleep with my little brother."

Yan Chixia hesitated and said, "This... I have a withdrawn personality, and I don't really like sleeping with others."

Ning Caichen said displeasedly: "Brother Yan, what do you mean by this? Could it be that you look down on me? No matter what, you are not allowed to leave tonight." Without any explanation, he brought all the quilts over for Yan Chixia's salute. Chixia didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so she had to stay and rest, and said: "I know that brother Ning is a man, and I have admired him for a long time. But I have some secrets, so I don't want to say it clearly. Anyway, brother Ning, remember to wrap it in a bamboo box, and don't flip it, otherwise it will hurt you. Both of us are at a disadvantage."

Ning Caichen agreed, the two lay down and fell asleep, Yan Chixia put the box on the window sill, then put her head on the quilt, and snored loudly after a while.Ning Caichen couldn't sleep, nearly one more day, a figure loomed outside the window, after a while, the figure approached the window and peeked into the room, his eyes flickering, showing a fierce look.

Ning Caichen was afraid in his heart, and wanted to wake Yan Chixia up, when suddenly there was a whistling sound, and streaks of white light shot out from the bamboo box at a speed like lightning, piercing through the window lattice, only to hear a scream from outside, Bai Guang forced the strong enemy back, returned with victory, and got into the bamboo box again.Immediately, the light went out, the room was silent, and the surroundings were dark.

Ning Caichen was still in shock, his eyes were wide open, without blinking, he seemed to see Yan Chixia jumping up in a blur, lit a candle, moved the box to open it, checked it carefully, then grabbed something, By the candlelight and the moonlight, he couldn't stop looking at it, and occasionally he sniffed and smelled it with his nose.

That thing is white and crystal clear, about two inches long and as wide as a leek leaf, I don't know what kind of treasure it is.Yan Chixia studied it for a while, wrapped the treasure tightly in several layers, put it back into the box, and said to herself: "What kind of old monster is so bold, how dare you break the box."

Ning Caichen was puzzled, coughed, and asked, "Brother Yan, what happened to the flash of white light just now?"

Yan Chixia said: "Brother Ning, you and I have a very close friendship, we can't hide it any longer. I am a swordsman, just now the demon invaded and was injured by my flying sword. If the window hadn't blocked her for her, the old demon would have died on the spot , even though she escaped with her life right now, she was also seriously injured."

Ning Caichen said, "What treasure did you hide just now?"

Yan Chixia said: "It's a flying sword. I've smelled it, and there's a demonic aura left on it."

"Can you show me?"

"Of course." As he said that, he generously took out the flying sword and handed it to Ning Caichen to play with. The blade was glowing brightly. It was indeed a rare magic weapon.

After dawn, Ning Caichen went to check outside the house, and saw that the blood on the window was still wet. When he went out of the temple to the north, there were lonely graves everywhere. There was indeed a poplar tree among the graves, and a crow's nest on the tree. It is the place where Xiaoqian is buried.

Ning Caichen dug up Xiaoqian's bones, wrapped them in his clothes, bid farewell to Yan Chixia, and prepared to return to his hometown.Yan Chixia gave him a farewell party, untied a broken skin bag as a gift, and said: "This is a sword bag, keep it well, it can drive away evil spirits and avoid ghosts."

Ning Caichen wanted to learn swordsmanship from him, Yan Chixia said: "My son is loyal and upright, although you are suitable for learning swordsmanship, but you are destined to be rich and famous, and you are not in the same path as me."

Ning Caichen also talked casually, exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then left by boat.

Back home, I buried Nie Xiaoqian's bones near the study, and prayed, "The girl is wandering and lonely, so I specially buried you next to the study. From now on, you and I will be neighbors forever, sharing sorrow and happiness. I hope you will no longer suffer from evil spirits." Bullying. I invite you to drink a glass of water and wine. Although the wine is not fragrant enough, it is also a kind heart, so don't be disgusted."

After praying, he was about to go back, when he suddenly heard someone behind him say, "Wait a minute, son, I'll go with you."

Ning Caichen turned his head and saw that it was Nie Xiaoqian.Xiaoqian looked very happy, and thanked: "Young master keeps his word, Xiaoqian's ten deaths are not enough to repay. Please take me home with me, and see my mother-in-law. From now on, Xiaoqian is willing to be your master's slave and handmaid , to serve for a lifetime.”

Ning Caichen looked at her carefully, and saw her smooth skin, slender feet, and gorgeous appearance, and he felt a little happy in his heart.When the two came to the study, Ning Caichen asked Xiaoqian to sit for a while, and then went into the room to report to her mother, who was very surprised when she heard the words.At that time, Ning Caichen's wife was ill in bed for a long time, and his mother warned him not to leak the news, so as not to frighten his wife.As soon as the words were finished, Xiaoqian had already walked in and bowed down on the ground.

Ning Caichen introduced: "This is Xiaoqian." The mother was terrified and unable to speak.

Xiaoqian said: "My daughter is all alone, far away from her parents and brothers. She is often taken care of by the young master, and she is deeply favored. If she does not dislike her, Xiaoqian is willing to marry the young master as a concubine in order to repay her kindness."

Seeing that she was cute and charming, the mother became more courageous and said: "The little lady is willing to marry my son, and the old woman can't help but be overjoyed. But I only have such a son, and I will continue the incense in the future. I really dare not marry a ghost." .”

Xiaoqian said, "Daughter really has no two hearts. I am from Jiuquan. Since I can't gain the trust of my mother, please let me worship the son as a brother and the old lady as a mother. How about serving day and night?"

Seeing her sincerity, her mother nodded her head, which was her agreement.Xiaoqian wanted to see her sister-in-law, but her mother refused because she was sick.Xiaoqian didn't force her, she went to the kitchen to prepare meals, walked through the corridors and rooms, was busy inside and out, and was as proficient in housework as the old residents.

It was getting dark, and my mother was afraid of Xiaoqian, so she told her to go back to sleep instead of preparing a mattress for her.Xiaoqian knew her mother's intention and left immediately.Passing by Ning Caichen's study room, she wanted to go in but didn't dare, and stayed outside the door, Ning Caichen hurriedly beckoned her to enter the room, Xiaoqian shook her head and said: "There is sword energy in the room, I dare not go in."

Ning Caichen understood, knowing that it was the skin bag, hurriedly took it off and hung it elsewhere, Xiaoqian dared to enter the room, sat down near the candlelight, said nothing, and asked after a long time, "Brother, do you study at night? I read the "Shurangama Sutra" when I was young, but now I have forgotten most of it. Please give me a volume, the long night is long, and I just ask my brother about Buddhism."

Ning Caichen agreed, and Xiaoqian sat and slowly flipped through the scriptures, until she saw the second watch, and did not say to leave.Ning Caichen urged her to leave, Xiaoqian said sadly: "I'm a weak girl, sleeping in the graveyard in the middle of the night, and I'm scared."

Ning Caichen knew what she meant, and said: "I also really want to keep you, but there is no bed in the study, and we are brother and sister, we should avoid suspicion and cannot sleep in the same room."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Xiaoqian sighed, and then reluctantly said goodbye.Ning Caichen secretly felt sorry for her, and wanted to prepare a room for her to stay overnight, but he was afraid that his mother would be unhappy.

In the days that followed, Xiaoqian would come every morning to say hello to her mother, take care of the housework during the day, and go to study with Ning Caichen in the evening, and sat until Ning Caichen turned off the lights to sleep before leaving sadly.

At the beginning, because Ning Caichen's wife was sick, the old mother took care of all the housework, which was very hard. Since Xiaoqian came, she took the initiative to busy herself, and her mother's life became very comfortable. Naturally, she was grateful to Xiaoqian and treated her better every day. After making out for one day, I gradually forgot that she was a ghost.He didn't drive her away at night, and let her sleep with him.

When Xiaoqian first came here, she didn't eat or drink water. After half a year, she became popular and drank some porridge. ghost.

Not long after, Ning's wife died, and the mother privately wanted to remarry Xiaoqian, but she was worried that living with ghosts and ghosts would be bad for her son's health.Xiaoqian has admired Ning Caichen for a long time, and took the opportunity to say: "My daughter has lived here for more than a year, and my mother should know who I am. My daughter has no other intentions. My eldest brother is an upright person. I just want to stay with him forever and hope that my mother will be happy." .”

The mother knew that Xiaoqian had no malicious intentions, but she was just afraid that she would not be able to have children, Xiaoqian said: "Children are bestowed by God, elder brother is destined to be blessed, there will be three glorious sons, and I will not have no offspring because I am a ghost wife. "

The mother believed her words and discussed the matter with her son. Ning Caichen was also very happy, so he held a banquet and invited many relatives and friends.

On the day of the wedding, someone proposed to meet the bride, Xiaoqian came out calmly in a phoenix coronet and Xiapei.All the guests were dumbfounded. Not only did they not suspect that Xiaoqian was a ghost, but they all praised her as a fairy who descended to earth. They all offered congratulatory gifts and competed to make friends with the bride.

Xiaoqian is good at painting orchids and plum blossoms, and she painted many scrolls for guests. Many people were flattered to get the scrolls, and they cherished them like family heirlooms after returning home.

On this day, Xiaoqian lay at the window in a daze, feeling lost, and suddenly asked, "Where is the skin?"

Ning Caichen said: "Because you are afraid, so you put it in another room."

"I have accepted the breath of living people for a long time, and I am no longer afraid. I should take it back and hang it on the bedside."

"what happened?"

"For the past three days, I've felt fear and anxiety in my heart, thinking that the Jinhua monster hated me for rebellion, and would come to seek revenge sooner or later."

Ning Caichen was worried about his wife's safety, so he quickly took back the skin bag. Xiaoqian examined it repeatedly and said, "This is used by a sword fairy to pretend to be a human head. It is so worn out that it has killed many lives. I still feel it when I see it today. I shudder." Said and hung the skin bag on the head of the bed.

The next day, Xiaoqian ordered her husband to hang the leather bag on the door. At night, the husband and wife were sitting in front of the candles. Suddenly there was a strange noise, and something landed in the courtyard like a bird. Xiaoqian panicked and hid behind the curtain later.Ning Caichen forced himself to calm down and watched intently, only to see an evil yaksha outside the house, with electric eyes and a bloody tongue, a ferocious face, two sharp claws stretching and retracting, trying to break in, but hesitating in fear, wandering around for a long time, suddenly With a loud cry, he grabbed the skin bag and tore it on both sides with all his might. At this moment, the skin bag made a crackling sound, expanded rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it was as big as a bamboo basket. He grabbed Yaksha tightly and stuffed it into the skin bag, and then there was silence all around, and the skin bag changed from big to small and returned to its original shape.

Xiaoqian walked out from behind the curtain, and said with a smile, "I'm safe and sound." Opening the skin bag to observe, Yasha was dead, and his body turned into buckets of clear water.

A few years later, Ning Caichen passed the Jinshi examination, and Xiaoqian bore him two sons, and later took a concubine, who also gave birth to a son, and the three children grew up to be officials, with great reputations. good.