Beyond the Divine States

In early autumn, the big clock in the Imperial City struck three times, and the rain fell down with a chill.

At dusk, the gate on one side of the Imperial City opened silently, and two rows of paper umbrellas and reddish lanterns swam slowly through the gate.

The middle-aged man, who was the leader of the group, wore official clothes and hats. After passing by, he stopped slightly and looked at the misty and dreary road between the high walls of the deep courtyard with a solemn look.

"Mr. Ning, please come inside."

Mr. Ning is an old man named Ning Qishui. The old man is over the age, with gray hair. He still wears a Taoist robe and combs a bun meticulously. Although his face is very thin, the bright look in the depth of his pupils is like a dark fire under the ashes.

Behind the old man, followed by a pair of young girls in the same Taoist costume.

The boy is about fifteen or sixteen, while the girl is smaller. Both of them are thin and delicate. They hold their heads down and look up slightly from time to time. They secretly look at the grand and far-reaching palace in the imperial city.

In the drizzle, the imperial city is very quiet.

Over the long corridor, the towering palace comes in the field of vision. The young man in plain Taoist clothes only feels depressed, looks uneasy and slows down. The little girl next to him glances at him and looks contemptuous.

The middle-aged man with three people into a palace, palace pattern is not small, umbrella pruning maid saw the middle-aged man, slightly saluted.

Around the screen wall and through the corridor, the man leads them forward. The door of the wing room at the end is open. The middle-aged man explains: "the master is not here for the time being. The old man can take two disciples to settle here first. Later, a mage will come to discuss with him about the matter of expelling the filth and removing the spirit."

Ning Ji's fingers in his sleeve suddenly stopped. He turned to look at him and said with a smile, "it doesn't matter if I'm an old bone, but my two apprentices are just young. It's no small matter that they are infected by the evil spirit. They can't live in this evil house."

The middle-aged man changed his color slightly and asked with a smile, "why did the old man say that?"

Ning Qinshui smiles a little, knowing that the other party leads him here to test himself. Instead of taking the initiative to cross the threshold, he takes out a copper coin from his sleeve and tosses it gently. The copper coin just falls on the threshold, but it doesn't stop. Instead, it flips and jumps like a living creature. Finally, the old man spreads his hand, and the copper coin jumps back.

Ning Zhuoshui closed his palms and held the coin tightly. He looked a little solemn. After a while, he spoke slowly.

"The owner of this room died three days ago. The resentment lasted for a long time. It should be that Zhongxie hanged himself. During that time, someone came to do the ritual, but the person who did the ritual... Also died. All the people in your family are more or less ill. If we hadn't come here today, this palace would have been closed, right

The middle-aged man took a deep look at him, adding a lot of admiration and praise. He raised his hand, and the maid around him retreated with the women who pruned the trees. When it was quiet, the man arched his hand and said:

"It's true that the old man's way of thinking is quite different from the others. Today, I brought my husband here to try. Now it seems that I can't hide it. Please don't blame me. "

Ning Qinshui said with a smile: "no matter, I know that several Taoist tourists who are not good at learning skills have died before. You try to test me for the sake of me."

"It's hard to live in this courtyard. Please move to another one." The man nodded gently: "I don't know when the old man can do the ritual?"

Ning Ji water glanced at the dim sky, and the situation was getting smaller.

"Zishi." The old man's voice was slightly astringent and said, "I hope that the adult will not forget his promise."

"Of course not." The man laughed: "the lower official's name is song side. If there is anything unclear, someone will come to find me."

The voice of the conversation gradually decreased, and a little scarlet sparrow at the corner of the eaves vibrated away in the rain.

……

……

"As a teacher, I often tell you that we monks uphold integrity, such as a candle in the night. If you let him splash the sky at night, you can't submerge this little candle. So as long as you stay close to me, you don't have to panic. If you don't succeed, you can get away."

Ning Qishui sat in a chair and looked at the young girl standing beside him. He said with a sincere heart, "when you do the Dharma later, you two should remember to be pure in mind, and don't give birth to any evil thoughts. Let the evil spirit take advantage of it, and then the master won't be able to save you. Long term, young, do you remember? "

The name of the boy is Ning Changjiu, and the name of the girl is Ning Xiaoling.

Ning long lowered his head and listened attentively. When the old man asked, he nodded respectfully: "remember."

The girl was also respectful. She lowered her head and moved her eyes, with disdain and resentment.

Ning Zhuoshui nodded and said, "then you can meditate and meditate. When the time comes, you will subdue the devil with your master."

"Yes." The two replied together.

After the instruction, Ning Qishui got up and walked to the door. After going out, he waved the dust in his hand, and the door closed. The old man looked back, his eyes were cold, like looking at a dead man.

The youth and the young girl didn't really come to the door to practice Taoism. Naturally, they didn't notice the cold eyes of Ning Ji water across the door.

Rather long listen to the advice of the master, sit cross knee, mouth chanting. Ning Xiaoling glanced at him and said coldly, "nerd, do you really believe that old man's nonsense?" Ning long ignored her and continued to meditate. Ning Xiaoling sat on the chair, her petite body seemed to be directly curled up in it. She folded her slender legs and put her hands on her knees, but she did not meditate. Instead, she gently knocked her knees and said angrily, "you idiot may not feel that the old man's eyes are getting more and more wrong recently. For a while, she seems to be looking at her own hidden gold and silver jewelry, After a while, it was like watching... "She pursed her lips, did not continue to say, sighed:" in a word, I don't know when it will be sold by him. " Ning Changchang opened his eyes discontentedly and retorted: "we are all bought by Shifu, and Shifu is not bad for us. Why say that?" Ning Xiaoling sneered: "what has he taught us these years?" Ning long obstinately said: "master has deep meaning." Ning Xiaoling sneered. She sighed, "if you buy chicks and ducklings and raise them, will you teach them martial arts and the truth of life? But one day, when they are fat, they either sell them, or they kill and eat them. " Ning Changchang was very uncomfortable with her analogy. He frowned and wanted to retort, but he was clumsy and didn't know how to speak. He just didn't understand why his younger martial sister, who looked very pretty and lovely, often said such mean words“ "Ah..." Ning Xiaoling sighed leisurely, and she did not pretend to meditate. She sat on the chair, her legs swaying gently, her head resting on the back of the chair, staring at the roof in a daze. She didn't understand why her elder martial brother was so clumsy“ In fact... "Ning hesitated for a long time and said uncertainly:" I always think of some strange things near the imperial city recently. "“ Strange thing? " Ning Xiaoling has some interest. Ning Changjiu nodded: "I often see a Taoist temple, which is very familiar, just like I have lived there since I was a child." Ning Xiaoling puzzled: "what kind of Taoist philosophy." Ning Chang Chang shook his head: "it's very common. The Taoist temple is always closed, but there seem to be seven... No, eight people in it!" Ning Xiaoling said with a smile: "brother nerd, before the ritual has started, you will be infected with evil?"“ I don't know Ning long shook his head and laughed at himself, thinking that he was really more and more confused. He thought of master's instruction silently, read a few pithy words of pure heart, his heart slowly settled down, and no longer thought about those illusory things. The girl took some dry and cold pasta and chewed it slowly in her mouth. She looked at the night gradually falling out of the window. With her secret and confidence in her heart, she felt more and more uneasy. As time goes by, Ning Xiaoling waves her fist against the back of the chair and becomes more and more agitated. When Ning Pai Shui came back, he was close to Zishi. "You're almost ready. Come with me." Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling follow each other out. When they are hiding, Ning Changjiu whispers, "don't be afraid, younger martial sister. I will protect you." It's you that should be afraid of... Ning Xiaoling snorted coldly, pretended not to see the sweat on his forehead, scolded a fool in his heart, but still nodded gently. Ning Qishui took out two yellow amulets from his sleeve and gave them to them respectively. He said solemnly, "these are body protection amulets. Stick them on your body. If something happens later, they can save your lives." Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling took the paper amulet and gave thanks to their master. The night fog gradually enveloped the imperial city.