Chapter 27: The Mask of Divinity, Zhong Kui Gives Away His Sister

“Having finished discussing the Wang family, let us now turn to the Lü family. The Lü family, one of the four great clans, is renowned for their ancestral secret technique, the Ruyi Qi. They have lived for generations in Lü Village, where discipline is strict, and status within the clan is determined by strength and innate talent.”

“Among the younger generation in Lü Village, the duo known as the Lü family’s twin pillars are immensely famous. The elder of the two is hailed by many extraordinary figures as a likely candidate to become the foremost martial artist of the younger generation,” Zhang Jingqing explained.

“Master, you mentioned that the Lü family’s inherited technique is the Ruyi Qi. Is that all? Could it be that the Lü family also passes down some innate supernatural ability?” Zhang Zhiwei pondered before cautiously asking.

He recalled that in later times, the Lü family’s bloodline was said to carry the innate art known as the Soul Manifestation Technique, which bore intricate connections to the Twin Complete Hands, one of the Eight Marvelous Techniques.

“Innate supernatural ability?” Zhang Jingqing asked, “Where did you hear that? How come I’ve never known of it?”

“Is there none?” Zhang Zhiwei suddenly understood. The Soul Manifestation Technique was likely a benefit the Lü family gained during the Jia Shen Rebellion, but naturally, it no longer existed.

“Ah, that must have been a rumor I overheard in the martial world,” Zhang Zhiwei quickly offered a casual excuse.

Zhang Jingqing didn’t think much of it and nodded. “Gossip is unreliable. Nowadays, the martial world exaggerates the talents of some extraordinary individuals far too much.”

“By the way, Zhiwei, aren’t you at least a little curious about the Lü family’s twin pillars? Remember, in literature there is no first, and in martial arts no second; they are your potential rivals!”

“Huh? The Lü family’s twin pillars? My rivals?” Zhang Zhiwei was momentarily stunned. Honestly, he replied, “In my eyes, my only rival has always been myself.”

“Such arrogance! You must know that beyond the heavens there are greater heavens, and beyond men there are greater men. Never underestimate the extraordinary beings of this world!”

“Master speaks wisely. I shall remember this well!” Zhang Zhiwei smiled, though inwardly he thought, I admit the Lü family’s twin pillars are strong, and their Ruyi Qi formidable, but if I roll up my sleeves, invoke the Golden Light Curse, and brandish my mighty palm, how would the Lü family’s twin pillars respond?

Zhang Jingqing narrowed her eyes. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, Master. Please continue. You’ve only introduced three of the four great clans; what about the last one?”

“The last of the four is the Gao family. As for them...” Zhang Jingqing was about to elaborate when a commotion arose. They had arrived at the street where the Lu family was hosting a grand floating banquet.

Not far ahead, at a bustling intersection filled with carriages and crowds, drums and music filled the air. Flutes and songs accompanied dancers, and the festive atmosphere was thick with celebration.

On the long streets on either side, dragon and lion dances took place; fireballs were spewed, jars hurled; face-changing performers entertained; floating lanterns drifted upon water; dragons danced on the ground; visitors thronged the scene.

Musicians, courtesans, actors, and performers sharpened their skills, each showcasing their talents, eliciting loud cheers from the onlookers.

This spectacle interrupted Zhang Jingqing’s narration. With the main event before them, she fell silent and watched the revelry.

“So magnificent! The Lu family has really gone all out. The expenses must be astronomical!” Zhang Zhiwei marveled at the scene. In these turbulent times of constant warfare, such prosperity was something he had only seen in his previous life.

Zhang Jingqing said, “After all, it’s Madam Lu’s eightieth birthday and the occasion to pass on the family leadership. An event of such magnitude demands grandeur befitting the reputation of the four great clans.”

“However, this is also because the year’s fortunes are favorable, with no major wars. Zhiwei, enjoy this; who knows when we’ll see such a grand occasion again!”

Her words struck a chord within Zhang Zhiwei. Indeed, this year was the most difficult, yet also the best in decades to come.

“Master, shall we go visit the Lu family now?” Zhang Zhiwei asked.

“No rush. Let’s watch this performance first,” Zhang Jingqing gestured ahead. “Look, that part is quite interesting.”

Following her gaze, Zhang Zhiwei saw a stage not far off, fully set with tables and chairs, crowded with spectators.

On stage, a Beijing Opera piece titled “Zhong Kui Marries His Sister” was being performed. At this moment, Zhong Kui was making his entrance.

Zhong Kui strode forward with ghostly steps, floating eerily, followed by a throng of ghostly attendants. Strangely, these phantoms were but brightly colored costumes with no one inside, standing upright as if alive, whispering and hiding in place.

Zhang Zhiwei also noticed no live musicians were playing the accompaniment, yet the sounds of flutes and pipes continued. The drums, gongs, cymbals, and clappers floated rhythmically in the air, playing autonomously.

The entire play was perfectly coordinated and exquisitely performed, yet it was controlled by only one person—Zhong Kui himself.

“Such a technique...” Zhang Zhiwei thought.

Just then, Master Zhang Jingqing spoke, “Impressed? This is the art of the performers, also known as Wu Nuo, a branch of shamanism.”

“Practitioners of this art communicate directly with the gods through song and dance, using their very lives to embody the divine. When they believe in their own performance and transform themselves into gods, they can borrow the gods’ power.”

“Moreover, these performers employ a secret method to ‘steal’ the worshippers’ veneration, generating a power derived from faith itself. The consciousness formed based on legendary figures or deities is called the divine persona, commonly known as the god-mask. This performer is embodying Zhong Kui!”

Listening carefully, Zhang Zhiwei murmured to himself, “Borrowing divine power like this is somewhat similar to our ritual of inviting the gods to aid our fists!”

Zhang Jingqing shook her head. “There is a fundamental difference. Our Zhengyi Dao lineage teaches a principle: ‘True gods do not possess the body; possession is not from true gods.’ This means we command and utilize ghost and godly power but never allow spirits to possess us, so as not to contaminate our own spirit.”

“Admittedly, calling upon spirits to possess the body can be a blunt and effective means to quickly boost one’s cultivation in the short term, but once your life essence is tainted, how can you progress further?”

Hearing this, Zhang Zhiwei suddenly understood. “I see. So the god-mask technique is similar to the divine possession arts practiced by those wild Mount Mao sects, isn’t it?”

Zhang Jingqing replied, “There is still a distinction. The divine possession arts are for petty gains, reckless of self-harm, temporarily amplifying combat power. Those who use it are fully aware that this power is divine and only temporarily theirs, to be returned once used.”

“But the god-mask is different. They seek not fleeting advantage but long-term success. By embodying the deity, making themselves and others believe they are the god, they counterfeit and usurp, replacing the true deity and ascending to godhood.”

“If the divine possession arts are about brief power boosts, where the spirits’ essence pollutes one’s own essence, rendering it impure...”

“Then the god-mask is an active embrace, acting out one’s essence as the deity’s until one’s own essence fully matches the divine. At that moment, they can steal the divine persona and become a god themselves!”