Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Chapter Six

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Anhe Temple

Anhe Temple was among the most renowned temples in Changqing County, its incense ever flourishing.

On this day, the rare clear sky and fresh air drew many devotees to its halls.

Lin Lai accompanied Lady Xu for incense offering and worship. After making their offerings in the main hall, Lady Xu wished to draw a divination lot and insisted Lin Lai not follow her.

Lin Lai immediately understood: Lady Xu intended to draw a marriage lot on her behalf.

Lin Lai excused herself, saying she wished to listen to the monks’ lecture in the inner meditation hall—a session that would take no less than half an hour, giving her the perfect opportunity to slip away. Before leaving, she used a “Shifting Flowers, Grafting Trees” talisman to make Taoyue, who shadowed her, believe she was quietly listening to the lecture all along.

This alone showed that even in broad daylight, Lin Lai’s movements were often restricted.

A short while later, Lin Lai arrived outside the quarters of Master Dinghui. Ma Jiepu was already waiting for her.

Lin Lai approached with a smile. “I’m here.”

She wore a pale yellow dress trimmed with peach-pink gauze, and a golden hairpin shaped like a dragonfly perched among her locks—a lively and charming sight.

Ma Jiepu was momentarily speechless.

Lin Lai teased, “What is it? Seeing me in daylight, you can’t recognize me?”

She realized as soon as she finished speaking that her words sounded odd.

Ma Jiepu collected himself. “Perhaps I have gone too long without basking in the sun’s essence, and am dazzled by its light.”

It was a playful retort, alluding to Lin Lai’s earlier mention of the “radiance of the Taiyin.”

Lin Lai said, “… Where is Master Dinghui?”

Ma Jiepu, knowing not to push his banter further, led Lin Lai inside while recounting Master Dinghui’s background: sixty years ordained, renowned for his virtue and spiritual attainments, well-versed in both Buddhist and Daoist teachings. Since Lin Lai had found enlightenment in the Diamond Sutra, perhaps Master Dinghui could guide her further.

Lin Lai was grateful.

Upon entering the chamber, they were greeted by a monk who appeared only in his early thirties. On seeing them, the monk greeted them with an “Amitabha”—“So it is Layman Jiepu.”

Ma Jiepu was taken aback. “What on earth—?”

Lin Lai: “?”

Just then, a young novice entered, clearly recognizing Ma Jiepu. He explained, “Layman Ma, this is indeed our grand-uncle, Master Dinghui.”

Lin Lai grew more confused.

From the novice’s account, they learned that Master Dinghui had passed away three months prior. Yet, for reasons unknown, his soul had come to inhabit the body of a prodigal son from Henan who had died in a riding accident.

That young wastrel was fabulously wealthy, with many wives and concubines, but Master Dinghui was unmoved. Once his injuries healed, he returned to Anhe Temple in Changqing to confirm his past and even visited his own grave.

Initially, Master Dinghui stayed with the family of his new body, but after a few months he resolutely returned to Anhe Temple, explaining the truth of his soul’s return to the monks. Seeing that his speech and manner were just like the late Master Dinghui, and that he remembered the master’s past in detail, the monks believed him and welcomed him back.

The prodigal’s family tried repeatedly to persuade him to return but were unsuccessful and eventually gave up.

In short, Master Dinghui had returned to life by borrowing another’s body.

Ma Jiepu accepted this with little surprise, his tone quite ordinary.

Yet Lin Lai’s heart was stirred with tumult. She stared intently at Master Dinghui, trying to see through him. But at the final moment, she hesitated.

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Lost in her dilemma, she simply turned and walked away.

“Brother Lin?” Ma Jiepu only had time to apologize to Master Dinghui before hurrying after her.

Lin Lai had not gone far; she made her way to a small hexagonal pavilion called Suxin Pavilion, half-shrouded by lush trees beside a jade-green lotus pond. From her seat, she could see Master Dinghui’s quarters.

Lin Lai felt that after so many years, she needed a definite answer. Yet just as the saying goes, “The closer to home, the more hesitant the heart,” when the chance to resolve her doubts truly came, she wavered.

So Lin Lai sat, gazing again and again, but could not bring herself to approach.

“Ah, ah!”

In the end, her frustration made her want to bang her head against a pillar, much to Ma Jiepu’s confusion when he caught up with her.

He sat down beside her, silent at first, then suddenly asked, “Did that wealthy youth from Henan perhaps seduce and abandon one of your family’s women?”

Lin Lai: “? I don’t even know him.”

Ma Jiepu guessed again, “Then—were you enemies in a previous life, now fated to resolve it in this one?”

What was he on about? Lin Lai turned away. “I’m troubled enough. Stop guessing.”

Ma Jiepu sighed, “I merely wish to ease your worries.”

“I know.” Lin Lai opened her mouth but couldn’t voice her inner turmoil, and finally gave up.

At that moment, someone else approached.

Miss Yang San had spotted Lin Lai from afar, seemingly talking to a man. Imagining she had stumbled upon some secret scene, she slipped away from her maid and crept closer. But when she reached Suxin Pavilion, there was no man—only Lin Lai and a fox.

Miss Yang San looked away and twisted her handkerchief, then, as if nothing had happened, curtseyed to Lin Lai. “Sister Baolu.”

Lin Lai replied listlessly, “Oh, it’s you.”

Miss Yang San rose gracefully. “Yes. My mother and I are here to fulfill a vow. They say the marriage lots at Anhe Temple are very accurate.”

Lin Lai realized, “You’re engaged?”

Miss Yang San grew annoyed. “Sister Baolu, must you pretend not to know?”

Lin Lai genuinely didn’t know, so she answered honestly. “Is there any need?”

That only irked Miss Yang San further—she nearly twisted her handkerchief in two before responding, “Anyway, I’m engaged to Young Master Cao. Once he passes the Prefectural Examinations and becomes a Scholar, our wedding will be set.”

“Oh.” Lin Lai had little to say—after all, “another’s nectar is my poison,” though Young Master Cao was not quite poison, merely not a suitable match for her. Then—“Why haven’t you left? Waiting for my congratulations?”

Miss Yang San, now truly exasperated, snapped, “You!”

She refused to stay and be insulted, so she flounced off. But in her haste, she stumbled and nearly fell. Her first instinct was to protect her face, but Lin Lai was quick and pulled her upright, sparing her from a humiliating fall.

Yet, realizing she had been saved by her rival, Miss Yang San was so mortified that she burst into tears, shook off Lin Lai’s hand, and ran away in anger.

Lin Lai thought, “She’s rather endearing like this.”

The fox beside her transformed back and cast an illusion, for he had not missed the curious gaze the girl cast their way.

Ma Jiepu asked with interest, “Why does she act as if you’re blind to gold inlaid with jade?”

Lin Lai briefly recounted her minor feud with Miss Yang San and explained why her family had no interest in marrying into the Cao household.

Though a fox, Ma Jiepu was no recluse; he moved freely between worlds and was well-versed in human affairs. Hearing this, he sighed, “For her, it’s simply moving from one cage to another—not only unaware, but proud of the cage’s splendor.”

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“Alas, it’s not her fault—the times are thus,” Lin Lai replied. “But my family isn’t a cage to me.”

Lin Lai cherished her family deeply. The love she received from her parents and siblings was precious—especially since she had lacked it in her previous life, making her treasure it all the more now.

Ma Jiepu asked softly, “Do your family know of your special nature?”

Lin Lai looked at him sharply.

He pointed to his own eyes. “I suppose not? Otherwise, you could have openly sought a tutor, or at least wouldn’t have to sneak about merely to make friends and seek the Way.”

“Not at all. When have you ever seen men and women studying together? This isn’t the tale of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.” Lin Lai waved her hand in resignation. “But that’s not the root of my trouble.”

Ma Jiepu asked, “Then what is?”

In the end, Lin Lai did not answer.

·

That night, Anhe Temple lay in utter silence.

But one person and one fox entered as if the place were deserted, making their way noiselessly to Master Dinghui’s quarters.

Unexpectedly, the lights were still on. Master Dinghui was chanting sutras, not the least surprised by their intrusion.

He remained composed as a mountain. “If you seek answers, then seek them yourself.”

Lin Lai quickly replied, “Forgive my intrusion.”

It was indeed Lin Lai, unable to sleep for turning things over in her mind. Composing herself, she took out her usual tools for making talismans, and with cinnabar wrote “Taking Man as a Mirror” on the paper. The Diamond Sutra, her spiritual power, and her state of mind resonated, and the talisman was completed in one sweep, immediately taking effect.

Long ago, Emperor Taizong had said, “By taking another as a mirror, one can discern right from wrong.” Now Lin Lai took another as her mirror, but to verify whether she herself had also returned to life by borrowing another’s body. For when Lin Lai first became aware of her own reincarnation, she was already an infant and could not be sure if she had unconsciously taken over the body meant for the Lin family’s daughter—just as later, vengeful ghosts tried to drive out her soul and occupy her body.

This had always weighed on Lin Lai’s heart.

Moreover, her yin-yang eyes were a thing of the uncanny and supernatural—so she dared not tell her parents or brother.

Holding her breath, Lin Lai watched as the “Taking Man as a Mirror” talisman glowed with golden light, filling Master Dinghui’s chamber.

Lin Lai “saw” that Master Dinghui’s soul and body did not align, as if a man wore ill-fitting clothes. In contrast, her own soul and body fit perfectly, seamless!

She checked again—still seamless.

Delighted, Lin Lai cheered aloud, heedless of Master Dinghui’s presence.

Suddenly, her joy was cut short. She stared, dead-eyed, at Ma Jiepu, who had somehow appeared in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”

Ma Jiepu answered logically, “I wished to converse with Master Dinghui by candlelight, so I stayed the night at Anhe Temple.”

Lin Lai was skeptical, but refrained from arguing with him in Master Dinghui’s quarters. She turned and bowed in apology, “Master, I was greatly discourteous just now. I beg your pardon.”

Master Dinghui recited a Buddhist blessing, “Amitabha, all is well.”

Lin Lai took this as a sign of his approval and withdrew, her heart light.

Ma Jiepu followed her out.

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