Chapter 57: Misfortune

"I have come seeking someone," Yunhua asked. "May I ask if this is the home of Li Qingcheng?"

"It is indeed," the eldest sister-in-law of the Li family replied, looking a bit puzzled. "Is there something you need from our second brother, little Daoist nun? He has already gone to the fields to till the earth." She thought it strange; her brother-in-law rarely ventured out, so how could he possibly know a young nun like this?

"Oh! In that case, could you please ask his wife to come out? I have something to discuss with her, and then I must be on my way." Yunhua stroked the restless fox tucked inside her robes.

"Second sister-in-law, come here for a moment. This young nun wants to speak with you," the eldest sister-in-law called out toward the kitchen, not bothering to stand up from where she sat.

"Oh, coming, coming!" The second daughter-in-law of the Li family wiped her hands and hurried out from the kitchen. She glanced at her sister-in-law first before turning her eyes to Yunhua. "Is there something you need of me, little nun?"

"Um," Yunhua hesitated, wondering if she should speak. After a long silence, she sighed. "I wonder, does the second sister-in-law still remember the siblings, Zhiqiu and Zhiye?" As soon as the words left her lips, Yunhua regretted them.

"What did you say?" The second sister-in-law’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, and even the eldest sister-in-law’s expression became quite unnatural.

"Taiyi Savior of Suffering, hear my prayer," Yunhua whispered softly, then said solemnly, "I once encountered the siblings Zhiqiu and Zhiye. At their request, I have come to help them see their parents. They are lonely and destitute, and they long for their mother and father. I hope you can visit them often." Before she could finish, her own eyes reddened. There was so much more she dared not, and could not, say.

"My poor, unfortunate children!" The second sister-in-law finally collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. The heart-wrenching agony that had been buried in a corner of her heart suddenly erupted, and in that moment, all the sorrow flooded her soul. Her tears flowed like a breached dam, washing over an endless sea of grief. The eldest sister-in-law’s expression shifted, and she hurried to help the woman up, but the second sister-in-law was so consumed by the memory of her long-lost children that no amount of effort could move her an inch.

"Second sister-in-law, please don't cry. Zhiqiu and Zhiye are living well in the other world, and they will be born into a good family in their next life. Please, try to find some peace." Being clumsy with words, Yunhua only made things worse. The woman's wailing grew louder, drawing a crowd of curious villagers to the courtyard gate.

Yunhua and the eldest sister-in-law were sweating with anxiety, not knowing what to do, when the gate opened again. The men of the Li family had returned from the fields. Seeing the scene, the father of the family looked at his eldest daughter-in-law with a dark, livid expression, clearly assuming she had been bullying the younger one again. Before he could speak, the second brother rushed over, lifted his wife, and asked, "What is this? What is going on? Why are you crying like this?"

Yunhua dared not speak. It was the eldest sister-in-law who, eager to clear her name, pointed at Yunhua and said, "This little nun claims she has seen your Zhiqiu and Zhiye!" At the mention of their names, the second brother’s eyes reddened. He glared at his sister-in-law with hatred, then held his wife tenderly. It seemed that ever since the children had passed away, he had never seen his wife in such a state. But the past was gone; what good did crying do now?

The second brother said nothing, but the eldest brother jumped up and pointed a finger at Yunhua’s nose. "Where did this little swindler come from? Coming to my house to lie! Everyone knows those two children died years ago. Their bones have rotted away, and yet you dare use them to cheat people? Get out!"

Yunhua was bewildered and retorted with some anger, "What I said is the truth. Why do you accuse me of lying?"

The eldest brother sneered, "Everyone knows that child didn't make it. You’re just here to scam us. If you don't leave, I’ll sell you to a brothel!"

Enraged, Yunhua walked over and kicked the eldest brother, sending him tumbling. The crowd inside and outside the courtyard jumped in shock, then burst into laughter.

The eldest brother, having lost so much face, turned beet red. He scrambled to his feet, ready to rush forward and teach the insolent girl a lesson. But Yunhua simply lifted her foot slightly and narrowed her eyes. The man stopped dead in his tracks. Everyone knew the nun had held back; if she could kick him to the ground, she could surely kick him half to death. He stood caught between advancing and retreating, only inviting more ridicule from the onlookers.

"You ill-bred, motherless wench, you don't know your place!" Seeing her husband humiliated, the eldest sister-in-law was startled, but she dared not fight; instead, she began to shriek insults. Yunhua’s eyes turned red instantly. To her, anyone could be insulted, but never her mother or her master. The woman’s words struck at Yunhua’s deepest taboo. Her face turned icy, and she gritted her teeth as she turned toward the woman who was still hurling abuse.

"Enough! Is the humiliation not enough already?" The father’s roar silenced the eldest sister-in-law, and even the second sister-in-law’s sobs diminished. "Little nun, whatever your purpose, please leave at once. Our home does not welcome you." The father gave his order to leave with a cold, stern face.

"If there is no fate, then there is no bond," Yunhua sighed. She bowed to the second brother and his wife, recited, "Fu Sheng Wu Liang Tian Zun," and then, clutching the two small wooden puppets in her arms, she walked quickly away from the Li house.

The moonlight hung in the sky like water as the twilight deepened. Yunhua reached a small grove outside the village, carefully took out the puppets, and with a tap of her finger, released the spirits of Zhiqiu and Zhiye.

"I have been to your home. Your father and mother are doing well, and they have not forgotten you. Do you still wish to see them?" Yunhua asked solemnly.

"Yes, I want to see Mom and Dad," the little sister, Zhiye, said urgently, looking at Yunhua with wide, pleading eyes, as if afraid she might change her mind. Yunhua looked at the brother, Zhiqiu, who nodded.

"Yin and Yang are separated; the living and the dead walk different paths. Once you have seen them, you must obediently follow me to the Underworld, understand?" Yunhua asked. The siblings thought for a moment before slowly nodding.

"It’s a promise, then," Yunhua said. She took out several formation flags and waved them. The flags flew off in all directions, and with a series of rustling sounds, they circled Yunhua to form a Taiji pattern. She began to weave hand seals and chant scriptures.

"Rise!" With her final command, the flags flickered with light. A cloud of mist suddenly appeared, enveloping Yunhua. Within a few breaths, the mist began to thin, and beneath the watery moonlight, there was no longer any sign of Yunhua where she had stood.