Chapter Twelve: Stopping the Sedan Chair

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Liu Sanjun pondered silently: Why did Qiu Decai bring this matter up to me today? Was it not because I hadn’t shared the wild pheasant I hunted last time with him? He even suspected that Qiu Decai was fabricating the whole story just to provoke him.

Liu Sanjun was particularly sensitive to Qiu Decai’s accusation that he was committing a sin. Feeling resentful, he cursed under his breath as he walked: “Damn it, you say I am sinful, but last time I buried that rabbit, and you dug it up behind my back to skin and cook it. Isn’t that even more sinful?”

In truth, Qiu Decai was not mistaken. The wild pheasant that Liu Sanjun had hunted was the mother of that brood of pheasant chicks. After her death, her spirit entered the pheasant’s den.

The wild pheasant, also known as a hazel grouse, had a mother who had cultivated inside the den for a thousand years, transforming into a pheasant spirit. She could take the form of a young woman with enchanting grace and an alluring presence. The mountain, tree, and grass deities outside the den all called her “Flower Aunt.”

At that moment, Flower Aunt saw that only her daughter’s soul had entered the den, her physical body lost, and she was prostrating before her in lamentation. She immediately knew her daughter had met with misfortune.

Upon hearing the details, Flower Aunt was furious. She stepped out of the den and told the Mountain God, “That man named Liu Sanjun was outrageously rude; he actually shot my daughter with a hunting rifle. He took my daughter’s life, so I will take his life in return.”

The Mountain God stroked his white beard and sighed, “It’s not so simple. Your daughter is a bird, and Liu Sanjun is a human. How can the life of a bird compare to that of a human? It’s not reasonable. Besides, Liu Sanjun is not even 30 years old—a grown youth whose lifespan is not yet complete. Why should you claim his life for your daughter’s?”

At this time, the spirit of the shot pheasant mother also appeared, weeping before the Mountain God. “That Liu Sanjun fellow is truly immoral. It’s spring now, and spring is not the season to shoot birds.”

This struck a chord in the Mountain God’s heart. He said, “Not only should no birds be hunted in spring, but all animals on the mountain should not be killed. Killing one in other seasons is a minor sin, but in spring, it is tenfold.”

Flower Aunt, standing before him, spoke angrily, “If that is so, I will take my daughter’s revenge myself.”

The Mountain God waved his hand, “No, even if his lifespan is to end, it’s not for you to settle. The King of the Underworld should handle it unless he authorizes you.”

Flower Aunt said, “I cannot bear this grievance.”

The Mountain God tapped his Seven Star Staff on the ground before him and said, “You may punish him, but do not take his life. If you kill him, the King of the Underworld will investigate the responsibility. You will not be free from blame, and I will be implicated as the Mountain God here.”

“So, you mean I can only teach Liu Sanjun a lesson?”

The spring breeze blew gently against her, yet despite wearing a brilliantly colored cloak, Flower Aunt felt no warmth, but a chill deep within. She said angrily, “I must peck out his eyes to relieve my anger.”

The Mountain God said, “That I cannot control.”

Suddenly, the spirit of the pheasant mother wailed loudly, tears streaming as she lamented, “After my death, my brood of chicks will be left motherless, and they will certainly starve. Even if they do not, the cold spring nights will freeze them. Moreover, this season often brings thunderstorms and rain; if they are not frozen, they will be soaked and perish. It is so tragic!”

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At this sorrowful moment, her wings flapped incessantly, and her talons stomped the ground.

Flower Aunt, hearing this, also wept. Her voice choked, “My poor grandchildren.”

The Mountain God leaned on his Seven Star Staff in silence.

Flower Aunt approached him and asked, “Grandfather Mountain God, is there any way to save my brood?”

The Mountain God shook his head. “There is no way. You must understand, I am a consciousness spirit, and your brood are oviparous creatures. Their lives are fragile, especially as younglings. Without a mother’s care, death is inevitable. I have no means to help.”

Flower Aunt grew more indignant. Wiping her tears, she said, “Grandfather Mountain God, then I am sorry, but that damned Liu Sanjun not only killed my daughter but also caused the death of my nine grandchildren. Peaking out his eyes is lenient enough—I must have his life for revenge.”

The Mountain God raised his staff, drawing a line in the air. “Liu Sanjun’s sins are indeed grave. You need not take revenge privately. You can file a formal complaint to the Underworld. Moreover, it is springtime; the laws of the living world forbid hunting in forests and fishing in waters during this season. The Underworld has even stricter decrees. Killing recklessly now will result in severe punishments—at best, loss of rank and disaster; at worst, soul capture and death.”

“Grandfather Mountain God, I will follow your advice.” Saying this, she bowed to the Mountain God and returned to the den to prepare the complaint.

The spirit of the pheasant mother—her daughter—also followed inside.

Flower Aunt instructed her not to hide in the den but to go out and see those nine motherless chicks on the mountain. “They must have died terribly.”

The pheasant mother tearfully left the den and soon brought the souls of the nine deceased chicks back inside, wailing and mourning before their grandmother, Flower Aunt.

By then, Flower Aunt had finished writing the complaint. She turned to her lined-up grandchildren and said, “I know what happened to you all. I will avenge you and clear this grievance.”

She arranged for her daughter and grandchildren to peck at rice in the den’s food chamber as a sign of comfort.

Then she led them out of the den, heading straight to the Underworld Mountains, crossing the Yellow Springs Road, to the hall of King Qin Guang.

At the gate stood two armed guards, who immediately crossed their bayoneted muskets in an X shape and shouted at the approaching Flower Aunt, “What demon dares to barge in without permission?”

Flower Aunt stepped back, and her daughter and grandchildren also stopped.

“I have come to file a complaint. Why won’t you let me in? My daughter was brutally hunted by Liu Sanjun in the living world, causing the death of my nine young grandchildren who were left motherless. It is an injustice! I demand justice.”

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One guard with leopard-like eyes glared at her, “Wait a moment. The court is overwhelmed with homicide cases. What business does a lowly beast like you have stirring trouble here?”

Flower Aunt, incensed, retorted, “As a palace guard, you should understand the Underworld’s laws. How can you say such things? The laws are clear—one human life for one human life; ten human lives for one beast’s life. Now my daughter and nine grandchildren were all harmed by Liu Sanjun. Why can I not file a complaint to punish the murderer?”

The other guard, with large ears and a broad nose, lowered his spear and smiled, trying to mediate, “Calm down, Flower Aunt. The cases inside have not yet been resolved. You must wait your turn.”

Flower Aunt had no choice but to wait by the gate.

After a short while, a sound arose from within the hall—a summons.

A procession of Underworld officers emerged, followed by four men carrying a sedan chair. Seated atop was a dignified official dressed in ancient court robes, his bearing regal, as if on a tour of inspection.

Flower Aunt guessed this official was the one she sought and was about to block the sedan chair, throwing caution to the wind.

She had just taken a step when the two armed guards flanking the gate noticed and almost simultaneously stepped forward to push her aside.

One said to Flower Aunt, “The Lord is on official business today. Come back in a few days.”

Flower Aunt resisted, feeling that she had traveled far with her daughter and grandchildren to submit this complaint. Why delay the hearing?

Angered, she climbed atop the drum platform, pounding the drum vigorously and crying out for justice.

One Underworld officer hurried forward to stop her, but the drumming and wailing were deafening and relentless. The Lord in the sedan chair not only heard but also saw the woman drumming and the row of small pheasant chicks kneeling below, crying softly.

He ordered his attendants to stand down and called Flower Aunt forward. After hearing her story and reviewing the complaint, he waved his hand and said, “Flower Aunt, take your daughter and grandchildren back to the pheasant den. Trust that the Underworld judges fairly and will punish the murderer who hunted and destroyed your family according to the laws of the Underworld. There will be no leniency.”

“Thank you, Great King, for standing up for our pheasant family,” Flower Aunt bowed deeply in gratitude.

The way was cleared, and the grand procession of King Qin Guang’s inspection party passed by in majestic fashion.