Strange Tales of Liaozhai: The Taoist with Heavenly Eyes

Great Jin Dynasty, Laozhou, Xinyang County.

Today was the funeral of the wife of Master Li’s son in Qingshui Town. At this moment, everyone in the Li residence was clad in white mourning robes, and not even the towering blue walls could stifle the sound of grief and weeping.

A young Taoist, his features somewhat refined and his figure tall and slender, glanced at the half-closed gates of the Li residence. Straightening his disheveled Taoist robe, he reached out and knocked at the door.

His name was Chen Jiu, a Taoist from a temple on the mysterious Mount Xuanmiao.

A few days prior, his master had been invited to perform a ritual, but urgent matters had called him away, so today, Chen Jiu had come in his stead.

Clang, clang!

With the crisp sound of knocking, a voice called out from within the residence.

“Who’s there?”

With a creak, the door opened to reveal a young maid in mourning white.

“And you are?” The maid eyed Chen Jiu’s Taoist attire and the wooden sword strapped to his back with suspicion.

Chen Jiu bowed and said, “I am Chen Jiu, disciple of Xuanmiao Temple, come to perform the ritual on my master’s behalf.”

Upon hearing he was merely a disciple, the maid’s brows knitted, and a fleeting hint of disdain crossed her eyes.

“Please wait, Taoist priest. I’ll go inform the master…” With that, she hurried back inside.

Chen Jiu wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking, Here I am, braving the scorching sun to come and perform the rites, and yet she looks down on me.

Before long, the gates s