Chapter 8: Neither Human, Ghost, Nor Demon

The capital, the National Preceptor's mansion.

Grand Yin True Person had just finished his day's cultivation when he heard a servant report that the emperor summoned him.

He nodded slightly, changed into a splendid Daoist robe, and mounted a huge sedan chair. Lifted by dozens of paper effigy bearers, he made his way ostentatiously toward the imperial palace.

Wherever he passed, commoners parted the road and made way.

Soon, the palace was reached.

After alighting from the sedan, Grand Yin True Person floated three feet above the ground, skimming forward. The imperial guards, seeing him, remained expressionless, turning a blind eye to his behavior.

This current National Preceptor possessed unfathomable power, and even the emperor treated him with deference. These guards were merely earning a living and naturally would not provoke him.

Grand Yin True Person entered the emperor's private palace unimpeded.

A eunuch, seeing him, hurried forward to greet him.

Only then did Grand Yin True Person land on the ground, spotless.

The eunuch said, "National Preceptor, His Majesty has been waiting for some time. Please follow me."

Grand Yin True Person nodded impassively. Given his status, he naturally need not be courteous to a eunuch, even if the eunuch was a favorite of the emperor.

Grand Yin True Person paid it no mind.

Fortunately, the eunuch had self-awareness, knowing that though he enjoyed the emperor's trust, he was far inferior to the National Preceptor before him, and thus dared not put on airs.

On the contrary, he was very respectful.

The two entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation one after the other. The eunuch announced the National Preceptor's arrival. The emperor, hearing this, promptly ordered a seat to be offered.

Grand Yin True Person said softly, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty."

Then he sat down without ceremony. His current overwhelming power, enabling him to find snakes for cultivation without scouring the land, was all due to the favor of the emperor before him.

Though he could easily kill the emperor, he would not do so, for killing the emperor brought him no benefit but immense harm.

Thus, on many occasions, Grand Yin True Person was very courteous to the emperor, keeping to his role as a subject and never overstepping.

Seeing Grand Yin True Person seated, the emperor asked eagerly, "National Preceptor, do you know why I summoned you today?"

Grand Yin True Person said, "Your servant is all ears."

The emperor said, "National Preceptor, are you aware of the million-strong army that suddenly appeared these past days?"

"Your servant has heard a little," Grand Yin True Person nodded. This was the hottest news under heaven; as National Preceptor, he naturally learned of it at once.

Sure enough, the emperor had summoned him today for this news.

The emperor continued, "I have made inquiries. This army is terrifying—invincible in attack, victorious in battle, sweeping all before it with irresistible force, truly astonishing."

"Even more terrifying, this army neither eats nor drinks, knows no fatigue, is impervious to blades and arrows, can march day and night, undeterred by wind or rain, as if they are not human at all."

Grand Yin True Person nodded and said, "Your Majesty, as long as one is human, one gets hungry, thirsty, and tired. This army neither hungers nor thirsts nor tires; clearly, they are not human."

These words struck a chord with the emperor. He asked, "Then does the National Preceptor know, if these soldiers are not human, what are they?"

Grand Yin True Person said, "Your servant has only heard of this matter and has not seen this army with his own eyes, so I am not entirely sure what this army is."

The emperor thought this reasonable, but still asked, "The National Preceptor is vastly powerful; have you ever heard of such an army?"

Grand Yin True Person thought for a moment and said slowly, "Your servant has heard that the armies of the underworld indeed need neither food nor drink, for they are not human but ghost soldiers."

The emperor was greatly startled and said, "Does this mean that terrifying army is actually ghost soldiers!"

Grand Yin True Person shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, all things in the world follow the order of yin and yang. The armies of the underworld can only operate in the underworld; they cannot cross over to the mortal realm. Moreover..."

"Moreover what?" the emperor could not help asking.

Grand Yin True Person said, "Moreover, to reach the mortal realm from the underworld, one must pass through the Gate of Ghosts. This gate is not something anyone can pass; neither heaven nor earth would permit a million ghost soldiers to cross into the human world."

"Therefore, Your servant can be certain that this mysterious army is definitely not ghost soldiers."

The emperor, hearing this, could not help but feel relieved. Then he asked suspiciously, "If not ghost soldiers, could it be demons!"

Grand Yin True Person could not help but laugh. "On this point, Your Majesty may rest assured."

"Why?"

"Between heaven and earth, humans are the spirits of all things, favored by heaven and earth. Other races becoming demons go against the way of heaven; it is not so easy."

Grand Yin True Person said confidently, "Though there are many demons under heaven, there are absolutely not a million of them. If there were, the demonic aura would shake heaven and earth. Even from the capital, I would see the demonic qi soaring into the sky. But now, the cosmos is clear, without a trace of demonic qi. Therefore, that army is definitely not demons."

The emperor was utterly astonished and asked, "Neither demons, nor ghost soldiers, nor humans—then what in the world is this million-strong army?"

Grand Yin True Person was also puzzled. "On this point, Your servant finds it somewhat baffling."

Neither human, ghost, nor demon, nor possessing soaring demonic qi, so not a demon lord; nor having sky-covering corpse qi, so not zombies—then what exactly is this army?

Grand Yin True Person was utterly perplexed.

At this moment, the emperor could not help asking, "National Preceptor, I have a request. Please do not refuse."

Grand Yin True Person immediately understood the emperor's thoughts but did not point them out. Instead, he nodded slowly and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

"I hope the National Preceptor can make a trip and help me investigate what this army really is," the emperor said softly.

Grand Yin True Person did not decline. He nodded and said, "Just so, Your servant also wishes to see this mysterious and unfathomable army."

The emperor was overjoyed and said, "Then I trouble the National Preceptor."

Grand Yin True Person smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. As the National Preceptor of the Great Tang, it is only right that I contribute to the Great Tang."

The emperor could not help but laugh, feeling much lighter. He said, "By the way, National Preceptor, I have felt slightly unwell these past few days. Do you have any miraculous elixir?"

Grand Yin True Person readily complied, taking a bottle of pills from his bosom and placing it before the emperor.

"Your Majesty, these are Bone-Strengthening Pills I refined from precious medicinal herbs. Taking them strengthens the bones and fortifies the body. One pill a day, please remember, Your Majesty."

"National Preceptor, rest assured, I have noted it."

After some exchange, both sovereign and subject were pleased. Grand Yin True Person rose to take his leave, and the emperor rose to see him off—a scene of harmony.