Chapter 119: The God of Gamblers (2)

There stood before him an old woman dressed in ragged, tattered clothes. Her eyes were filled with resentment, glaring at him with a pair of eerie green glimmers. Liu Dashao hurriedly scrambled to his feet, bit his tongue, and spat a mist of blood toward the old woman. As if frightened, she stepped backward. Seizing the chance, Liu Dashao rolled and crawled all the way back home in panic.

As he neared his home, he looked back and saw the old woman standing far away beneath a locust tree on the main road, still staring at him with the same grievous gaze.

He rushed through the door, shouting for Zhang Enpu. Seeing Liu Dashao so flustered, Zhang Enpu asked what had happened.

“There… there was a ghost chasing me!” Liu Dashao gasped for breath, exhausted, and then recounted everything from his encounter with Dog Egg outside the village, to seeing the two ghosts and the old woman chasing him all the way home.

After listening, Zhang Enpu said, “Take me to see that young man. Don’t be afraid!”

Liu Dashao and Zhang Enpu went out again. When they reached the locust tree, Liu Dashao used his “yin-yang eyes” but could no longer see the old woman. Zhang Enpu simply walked under the tree, said, “No mischief!” and then pulled Liu Dashao away. On the way, he told Liu Dashao that the old woman ghost had no ill intentions—she was merely filled with resentment.

When Liu Dashao and Zhang Enpu reached the crowd, they saw villagers covering Yan Xiao Liu with a white cloth. Had Yan Xiao Liu really died? Village Chief Tian was also there, rushing forward to drive the crowd away, but the burly black men shoved him aside. It turned out Yan Xiao Liu had indeed collapsed and died earlier. Several villagers had tried gambling against the thin, dark-complexioned middle-aged man, but no matter what they bet, they all lost—something suspicious indeed.

Zhang Enpu glanced at the thin, dark man and frowned. At that moment, the man announced to the crowd, “Fellow villagers, don’t be offended. We’ll stay in each village for only three days. If no one can beat me in three days, we’ll move on to the next village. I’ll be here tomorrow waiting for you all!”

He then stuffed the grain coupons into a sack, and the group walked toward the village inn.

After watching them leave, Zhang Enpu turned to Village Chief Tian and said, “First, carry Yan Xiao Liu back to his home. I’ve observed that although this young man had the red glow of a prosperous fate above his head, there were also thin threads of black mist within that red glow. I suspect something evil is at work. Let me devise a solution before we properly bury him.”

Village Chief Tian nodded and summoned several strong young villagers to carry Yan Xiao Liu away.

Back at Liu’s home, Liu Dashao followed Zhang Enpu to his study. Zhang took out paper and brush and wrote for a long time, then folded the letter and handed it to Liu Dashao’s father. “Brother Liu, take this letter to the village committee and give it to Village Chief Tian. He’ll understand everything.”

Liu Laoshi asked with concern, “Master Zhang, what’s going on?”

“You’re worrying too much. Leave immediately, don’t delay the timing, and be careful on the road.” After giving these instructions, Liu Laoshi put on another coat and left with the letter.

Liu Dashao’s grandmother also asked with concern, “Earlier, I heard from Dog Egg’s mother that Dog Egg had a fall at home and his parents took him to the clinic. Oh dear, how did all this happen!”

Zhang Enpu comforted her, “Madam, don’t worry. It’s just a minor accident due to the clumsiness of youth.”

Liu Dashao couldn’t sit still anymore. He rushed to the door and peeked outside, feeling a chill. Remembering the ghostly old woman he had seen earlier, he shivered and shut the door, returning to the courtyard.

Zhang Enpu sat in the courtyard, deep in thought. Liu Dashao approached and asked, “Old Taoist, what exactly did that old woman want? She was so scary!”

“She was standing right at the door just now!” Zhang Enpu replied.

Liu Dashao was startled. No wonder he had felt so cold earlier. Zhang Enpu led Liu Dashao into the inner room and said, “I suspect that old ghostly woman has some injustice to settle. I’ll summon her shortly and ask her. Don’t be afraid—you just ask her what she wants and what wrong she suffered, and we’ll know her purpose. I suspect it’s related to that thin, dark young man!”

Zhang Enpu then lit an incense stick, placed it in the burner, and covered his head with a black cloth. He warned Liu Dashao not to be afraid, then began shaking his legs. After a while, his arms began to tremble as well. Strange breathing sounds came from beneath the black cloth. Soon, his entire body was shaking violently. Liu Dashao wanted to approach when suddenly Zhang Enpu stopped shaking completely, motionless.

Liu Dashao didn’t know what to do when he suddenly heard a sharp, chilling cackle from inside the room—“Hehehehe…”—a sound that raised goosebumps. It was the cackle of an old woman.

As Liu Dashao tried to locate the source of the sound, he realized it was coming from beneath Zhang Enpu’s black-covered head. The sound was unmistakably that of an old woman’s laughter. Liu Dashao was so frightened he couldn’t move. Then the sinister laughter sounded again.

“Hehehehe… Little boy, come closer! Let me have a good look at you! Hehehe…”

Liu Dashao was frozen in fear, unable to act, and had completely forgotten everything Zhang Enpu had told him.

Then the ghostly old woman began sobbing softly. Liu Dashao could see only Zhang Enpu’s shoulders trembling—something eerie and unsettling.

Bracing himself, Liu Dashao stammered, “You…”

“I’m from Mang Mountain in Hebei,” the ghostly old woman interrupted before Liu could ask anything.

“I was the matriarch of a wealthy family in Mang Mountain. My husband passed away early, so I, a mere woman, had to manage all the family affairs. I had a son—today’s thin, dark gambler. His name is Ke Jiang. He’s been addicted to gambling since childhood. He gambles on anything—he doesn’t just bet money. He gambles on whether it will rain today, or if a neighbor will argue. He squandered all our family’s wealth. When he ran out of money, he started stealing the gold and jewelry my husband left behind to sell, and then gambled away the proceeds. Fortunately, Heaven had mercy—his fate was cursed with bad luck, so he lost every time.”

Liu Dashao sighed inwardly and listened as she continued.

“Eventually, the Ke family fell into ruin. We dismissed all the servants, and our life became bleak. But that beast still gambled, even without money. He gambled on whether it would rain at night, or if a family would quarrel. One night, he took a shovel and went up the mountain. Coincidentally, I wasn’t asleep and noticed his suspicious behavior, so I secretly followed him.”

“I never imagined that beast would actually be going to dig up his father’s grave. I confronted him, calling him a wicked son, so angry I trembled all over, and threatened to turn him in to the authorities. But that beast, fearing I would report him, actually strangled me to death with his bare hands—his own mother!”

Liu Dashao was deeply shocked. Who could be so heartless? He clenched his teeth in anger.

“That beast saw I was dead and, frightened, threw my body into my husband’s coffin and fled back home. My soul couldn’t rest, so I’ve followed him ever since. But he couldn’t see me. Later, I don’t know where he learned it, but he started worshipping ghosts!”

“Worshipping ghosts? What… what does that mean?” Liu Dashao’s eyes widened with curiosity.

After hearing the ghostly old woman’s story, Liu Dashao felt deep sympathy and was no longer so afraid. But suddenly, Zhang Enpu began shaking violently.

The ghost’s voice grew fainter and fainter: “Master, help this poor old woman! When I saw my son practicing sorcery, I knew you were the one who could avenge me! Great Immortal! His gambling luck lies in the big gold ring on his left hand! Remember!”

With that, the black cloth covering Zhang Enpu’s head fell off.

He slowly opened his eyes, looking somewhat exhausted. Liu Dashao hurriedly poured him a cup of tea.

Zhang Enpu took a sip and calmly asked, “Did you understand?”

“Yes, the old woman explained everything clearly!” Liu Dashao then recounted everything the ghost had said to Zhang Enpu, who nodded repeatedly.

“Master, what does it mean to worship ghosts?”

Zhang Enpu sighed and said, “Worshipping ghosts is a method for those with extremely bad luck to change their fortune.

I once read in a book that at night, a person with a cursed fate should take offerings, incense, and candles to a grave without a tombstone in a cemetery. They place the offerings before the grave, light the incense, and bow several times.

Then they pull the incense from the ground and carry it all the way home. On this journey, countless ghosts and spirits will try to scare them. As long as they don’t lose their nerve and the incense doesn’t go out, and they bring it home before the rooster crows and place it in the incense burner, their luck changes—they’ll win every gamble.

But from that moment on, they must sacrifice their lifespan to feed the ghost they’ve summoned. Once someone invites a ghost, not only will their descendants suffer the consequences, but if the ghost ever leaves, the gambler’s soul will vanish entirely.

Usually, the summoned ghost won’t leave, because these ghosts are usually lonely spirits with strong grudges who naturally don’t want to leave once they have someone to worship them.”

After Zhang Enpu finished, Liu Dashao thought—could the long-haired demon with its tongue sticking out that he saw on Yan Xiao Liu’s shoulder before his death be the ghost summoned by Ke Jiang? That thing was just too disgusting.

Zhang Enpu looked up at the sky, calculated the time with his fingers, and said, “Let’s rest well today. Tomorrow, we’ll break Ke Jiang’s luck!” Hearing this, Liu Dashao knew Zhang Enpu had a plan.

Early the next morning, Liu Dashao’s grandmother was tidying the courtyard. Zhang Enpu sat in the courtyard reading *The Celestial Master’s Records*. Liu Laoshi had not yet returned from working in the fields. After breakfast, Zhang Enpu spoke briefly with Liu Dashao’s grandmother and then took Liu Dashao into the study.

Zhang Enpu sat at the desk.

In front of him stood an elderly woman dressed in tattered, hunched clothing, her face filled with resentment as she glared at him, her eyes glowing with an eerie green light. Liu Dashao hurriedly scrambled to his feet, bit his tongue, and spat a mist of blood towards the old woman. She seemed to recoil in fear, stepping back. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Dashao scrambled and crawled his way back home.

As he neared his doorstep, Liu Dashao glanced back and saw the old woman standing far away under a locust tree on the main road, still staring at him with a haunting gaze.

He rushed inside and called out for Zhang Enpu, who, seeing Liu Dashao in such a panic, quickly asked what was wrong.

“There… there’s a ghost chasing me!” Liu Dashao gasped, struggling to catch his breath. He then recounted everything that had happened, from encountering the group of people outside the village with Gou Dan, to being pursued by the two ghosts and the old woman all the way back home.

After listening, Zhang Enpu said, “Take me to see that young man. Don’t be afraid!”

Liu Dashao and Zhang Enpu left the house and headed to the locust tree. When they arrived, Liu Dashao opened his “yin-yang eyes” but could no longer see the old woman. Zhang Enpu simply walked to the base of the tree and said, “Don’t cause trouble,” before leading Liu Dashao away. On the way, Zhang Enpu explained that the ghostly old woman likely meant no harm and was merely filled with resentment.

When Liu Dashao and Zhang Enpu reached the crowd, they saw that the villagers had covered Yan Xiao Liu with a white cloth. Could it be that Yan Xiao Liu had really died? Village Chief Tian was also there, trying to drive the group away, but he was pushed aside by the burly men. It turned out that Yan Xiao Liu had indeed collapsed and died moments earlier. A few others had tried to gamble with the thin, dark-skinned man, but no matter what they bet on, they lost. It was eerily strange.

Zhang Enpu glanced at the thin, dark-skinned man and frowned. The man then spoke up, “Fellow villagers, don’t be alarmed. We’ll only stay in each village for three days. If no one can beat me in three days, we’ll move on to the next village. Tomorrow, I’ll be here waiting for you all!”

With that, he stuffed the pile of grain tickets into a sack, and the group headed into the village to find lodging.

After watching them leave, Zhang Enpu turned to Village Chief Tian and said, “First, let’s take Yan Xiao Liu back to his home. I see a red aura of wealth around his head, but within that bright red, there are streaks of black energy. I fear there’s some evil at work. Once I figure out a solution, we can lay Yan Xiao Liu to rest properly.”

Village Chief Tian nodded and called for some strong young villagers to carry Yan Xiao Liu away.

Liu Dashao and Zhang Enpu returned home, and Liu Dashao followed Zhang Enpu into the study. Zhang Enpu took out paper and a brush, wrote for a while, then folded the paper and handed it to Liu Dashao’s father. “Brother Liu, take this letter to the village committee and give it to Village Chief Tian. He’ll understand everything.”

Liu Laoshi, slightly worried, asked, “Master Zhang, is something wrong?”

“Don’t worry. Set off now, and don’t delay. Be careful on the way,” Zhang Enpu instructed. Liu Laoshi put on an extra layer of clothing, tucked the letter into his pocket, and left.

Liu’s grandmother also expressed concern, “I just heard from Gou Dan’s mother that he fell at home, and his parents took him to the clinic. Oh dear, what a mess!”

Zhang Enpu comforted her, “Madam, don’t worry. It’s just a young person being a bit clumsy and having an accident.”

Liu Dashao, however, couldn’t sit still. He ran to the door and looked outside, feeling a chill in the air. Remembering the ghostly old woman he had seen earlier, he shivered, closed the door, and returned to the courtyard.

Zhang Enpu sat in the courtyard, deep in thought. Liu Dashao asked, “Old Taoist, what does that old woman want? She’s so scary!”

Zhang Enpu replied, “She was just standing at the door!”

Liu Dashao was startled. No wonder he had felt so cold earlier. Zhang Enpu led Liu Dashao into the inner room and said, “I think that ghostly old woman must have some grievance. I’ll summon her later and ask her. When the time comes, don’t be afraid. Just ask her why she’s here and what her grievance is. We’ll find out her purpose. I suspect it has something to do with that thin, dark-skinned man.”

After saying this, Zhang Enpu lit an incense stick and placed it in the incense burner. He covered his head with a black cloth and told Liu Dashao not to be afraid. Then, he began to shake his legs. After a while, his arms started shaking too, and strange breathing sounds came from under the black cloth. Soon, Zhang Enpu’s entire body was shaking. Liu Dashao wanted to go over and check on him, but suddenly, Zhang Enpu stopped shaking and became completely still.

Liu Dashao didn’t know what to do, but then he heard a sharp, eerie laughter coming from inside the room, sending chills down his spine. The laughter sounded like that of an old woman.

When Liu Dashao carefully listened, he realized the sound was coming from under the black cloth covering Zhang Enpu’s head. But it was clearly the laughter of an old woman. Liu Dashao was so frightened he didn’t know what to do, and then the eerie laughter started again.

“Giggle giggle… Little boy, come here! Let me take a good look at you! Giggle giggle…”

Liu Dashao was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. He had completely forgotten Zhang Enpu’s earlier instructions.

Then, the ghostly old woman began to sob softly, but all Liu Dashao could see was Zhang Enpu’s shoulders shaking, which was both strange and unsettling.

Summoning his courage, Liu Dashao said, “You…”

“I am an old woman from Mangshan in Hebei.”

Before Liu Dashao could ask, the ghostly old woman began to speak on her own.

“I was the matriarch of a wealthy family in Mangshan. My husband passed away early, and I was left to manage the household affairs. I had a son, the thin, dark-skinned gambler who came here today. His name is Ke Jiang. He’s been addicted to gambling since he was a child. He not only gambled money, but he would bet on anything he could. He lost all the family’s money and started stealing the gold and jewelry my husband left behind to sell for gambling. Fortunately, fate had it that he was destined to be a loser, and he lost every time he gambled.”

Liu Dashao sighed quietly and listened as she continued.

“Later, our Ke family fell into decline. We had to let go of all our servants, and our household became destitute. But that beast would still gamble even without money—betting on whether it would rain, whether a neighbor’s family would argue. Then one night, he took a shovel and went up the mountain. I happened to be awake and, seeing him act strangely, I followed him secretly.”

“I never expected that beast was planning to dig up his father’s grave. I scolded him, calling him a disgrace, and I was so angry I was trembling. I said I would report him to the authorities. But that beast, fearing I would turn him in, strangled me—his own mother—to death.”

Liu Dashao was shocked. How could there be such a beast? That was his own mother! Liu Dashao clenched his teeth in anger.

“After he saw I was dead, he got scared and threw my body into my husband’s coffin, then ran away. I died with my eyes wide open, and I’ve been following that beast ever since. But he couldn’t see me. Then one day, I don’t know where he learned it from, but he started worshipping a ghost!”

“Worshipping a ghost? What… what is that?” Liu Dashao’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

After hearing the ghostly old woman’s story, Liu Dashao felt immense sympathy for her and was no longer as afraid. But then, Zhang Enpu suddenly started shaking violently.

The ghostly old woman’s voice became increasingly unclear: “Master Taoist, please help this poor old woman! When I saw that my son knew some Taoist magic, I knew you were the one who could help me get revenge! Great Immortal! That beast’s gambling luck is in the large gold ring on his left hand! Remember that!”

With that, the black cloth covering Zhang Enpu’s head fell off.

He slowly opened his eyes, looking somewhat exhausted. Liu Dashao quickly poured him a cup of tea.

Zhang Enpu took a sip and said calmly, “Did you understand everything?”

“Yes, the old woman explained it all to me!” Liu Dashao then recounted everything the ghostly old woman had said to Zhang Enpu. Zhang Enpu nodded repeatedly.

“Master, what is worshipping a ghost?”

Zhang Enpu sighed and said, “Worshipping a ghost is a method for people born with terrible luck—those who are extremely unlucky—to change their fate.

I once read in a book that the unlucky person must take offerings, incense, and candles to a graveyard at night and find an unmarked grave. They must place the offerings in front of the grave, light the incense, and bow several times.

Then, they must take the incense from the ground and carry it all the way home. Along the way, countless evil spirits will try to interfere. As long as they don’t lose their courage and the incense doesn’t go out, they must bring it home before the rooster crows and place it in the incense burner. This will change their fate, and they will win every time they gamble.

However, from then on, they must sacrifice their lifespan to serve the ghost they worshipped. If someone worships a ghost, not only will their descendants suffer karmic retribution, but if the ghost ever leaves, the worshipper’s soul will be destroyed.

Usually, the worshipped ghost won’t leave because most of these ghosts are lonely spirits with no one to worship them. Their resentment is strong, and their power is great. Once someone worships them, they naturally won’t leave.”

After hearing this, Liu Dashao thought to himself, “Could the long-haired, tongue-wagging monster I saw on Yan Xiao Liu’s shoulder before he died be the ghost Ke Jiang worshipped? But that thing was just too disgusting.”

Zhang Enpu looked up at the sky, extended his left hand, and calculated the time. “Let’s rest well today. Tomorrow, we’ll break Ke Jiang’s luck!” Hearing this, Liu Dashao knew Zhang Enpu must have a plan.

The next morning, Liu’s grandmother was tidying up the courtyard while Zhang Enpu sat reading “The Records of the Heavenly Master.” Liu Laoshi hadn’t returned from tending to the crops yet. After breakfast, Zhang Enpu spoke with Liu’s grandmother for a while, then called Liu Dashao into the study.

Zhang Enpu sat at the desk, took out a piece of red cloth used for drawing talismans, and with a brush, drew a talisman. At the top of the talisman was the character “敕” (command), with a few strokes below it and the character “雷” (thunder) written several times. Liu Dashao recognized it as the Five Thunder Talisman for protecting the home, which he had seen in Zhang Enpu’s talisman book. Zhang Enpu drew several of these and set them aside, then said to Liu Dashao, “The old woman said Ke Jiang’s gambling luck is in the large gold ring on his left hand, meaning the ghost he worships is in that ring. Later, we’ll do this…”

Zhang Enpu explained what they would do next, lit incense for the household deity, and returned to the courtyard.

Just as they sat down, there was a knock at the door. Liu Dashao went to open it. “Father’s back, and Village Chief Tian is here too!” Liu Dashao said with a smile, turning back to Zhang Enpu.

Zhang Enpu explained the plan to Liu Dashao, then lit incense for the household guardian spirit and returned to the courtyard.

Just as they sat down in the courtyard, someone knocked on the door. Liu Dashao went to open it and turned back with a smile, saying, “Father’s back, and Village Chief Tian has come too!”