Xiao Chun's mother stared down at us, but she didn’t appear angry. The smile disappeared and calmed the wrinkles her face has worn for many years. A deep sadness beyond my wildest imaginations appeared in her eyes. Her expression was poor and helpless.

​

Master Liu made no move to stop her. He must’ve known the old woman wouldn’t hurt us again.

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He pointed slowly at the clean water that was surrounded by candles. His voice was calm, but firm, "I will open the door to reincarnation. If you have no other wishes, go through it. If you are trouble, I will begin the religious rites once more."

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Xiao Chun’s mother didn't struggle. She turned around to face the master, and then she was flying. Her body became a thin streak of darkness that rose into the sky. The shadow light rose into the air like a knife and then was delving into the clean water. Master Liu moved his hands in a rapid Taoist rite, calling to Zhao Laohei as he did so. "Burn the paper and send them away!"

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Zhao Laohei plunged the paper into the flaming candle in his opposite hand. An audible whoosh pushed past us. I saw Zhao Yuan’s long black hair billow in the burst of energy. My eyes galloped around the yard, seeking anything that didn’t belong, but found none.

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Master Liu’s hands and mouth were still working furiously. I saw sweat drip down his forehead into his old man eyebrows. “Whatever religious incantation he’s performing must take a lot of energy.” I remember thinking. I suddenly remembered the whole reason we were here. My eyes shot down to Zhao Jie, whose lids were still closed.

​

The master’s murmurings slowed and finally ceased. His hand came into my vision as I looked down at Zhao Jie. The old man placed his index and second finger in the center of Zhao Jie’s forehead. All at once, my friend was there again. Zhao Jie’s eyes flew open as if someone had turned on a switch and he grinned up at us. "Is it time to eat?"

​

His father rushed over while Zhao Yuan chirped a laugh and pinched her brother’s arm. All of the fear, the worry, and the anger seemed to have gone with the burning paper. Zhao Yuan took charge of our party and spoke up first, "Master Liu, Father, we’re fine. Have you sent away Xiao Chun’s mother?"

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Master Liu nodded and said, "Yes!" He placed his hands on our heads in a gesture of comfort. We were standing there smiling when the front door opened. A hundred eyes peered in through the front door and the house where many of our neighbors crowded together. I saw plant ashes blackening their shoes and bare feet. They probably traipsed it around the whole property.

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The master smiled again, this time it touched his eyes, and raised his voice to be heard. "You are dismissed! It is done, breathe your relief and rejoice! The trouble with Xiao Chun and his mother is over."

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I could almost feel the uniform sigh as the village gossips breathed in relief. They immediately began to chatter and disperse from our doorway. We stood in the yard exalted by the dampening noise.

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My mother and Zhao Jie’s took each other’s arms, marched over and kissed everyone embarrassingly on the face and forehead. They then resumed their day as if nothing had happened. “We will have dinner!” My mother told me with a smile.

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“A grand dinner!” Zhao Jie’s mother added. The two clomped off, arm in arm, towards the house.

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Zhao Laohei hugged his son, shook Master Liu’s hands and told us, “We must celebrate. I will go to the market to get the best meats and wine.” Then he rushed off. My father nodded at us and followed suit.

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All of the adults had jumped to work so fast that we didn’t know what to do. Master Liu stood like a statue over us. Zhao Yuan and I knelt around Zhao Jie who’d propped himself up on his elbows, but was lying in the yard. “What a weird day,” Zhao Jie piped, and we all began to laugh.

​

While everyone was cooking, shopping, or picking vegetables, we’d managed to trap Master Liu in the comfy chair and were prying stories from him. “Tell me about killing ghosts!” Zhao Jie asked, clearly unfazed by our afternoon.

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“Tell me about the places you’ve traveled!” Zhao Yuan called.

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“Tell me about priests!” I chimed in. I wanted to become a priest, even at that age.

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Master Liu smiled at me and shook his head, "Xiao Yong, I told you already. You have no talent to be a Taoist. You'd better work hard to be a scientist or something. Perhaps you can follow your father’s career and educate!"

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My brow furrowed with an unexpected anger. It softened to disappointment when I saw no malice in his old eyes. Regardless, my lower lip seemed to grow larger and tremble.

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Another thought struck me and the feelings disappeared. “Can I keep the thunder amulet that you gave me?” I smiled at him hopefully. Again, Master Liu shook his head. "Do you know how precious those are? They are disposable you know, did you see what happened to Zhao Yuan’s? “I’m grateful that yours was not used up as well. I’d hate to part with it."

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My face found its way back to anger and disappointment, but this time when my lip stuck out a word preceded it. "Stingy."

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Master Liu’s eyes lit up when he heard and he barked an old man’s laugh, "I am indeed stingy!” His yellowed, but not rotten teeth shone in a grand smile. “I have been called an ‘Iron Cock'. I will not give my things to you and you’ll have no idea why."

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I hadn’t imagined that Master Liu would make fun of me and I was even angrier. I stomped my foot and saw that my hands were tight fists at my sides. My mom shouted from the other room, "Xiao Yong, Master Liu saved you. You should be thanking him and the ground he walks on! If your father comes back and sees you acting this way, he’ll punish you!"

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I cringed at the thought of my father’s discipline. Face hot and fists still tight, I thanked Master Liu. The old man laughed the whole time. Zhao Yuan and Zhao Jie were standing beside him making faces at me. I pointed to them menacingly, "You betrayed me. I won’t play with you!" And I ran to my room.

​

We had dinner later than usual that night because of the pure size of it. Our mothers had prepared so many dishes and our fathers brought back fine meats, vegetables, and wine from the store. Our two families sat together happily over the bounty of food.

​

The adults were chatting with each other while the children dug into the mountains of deliciousness. My mother slapped my hand from across the table, mouthing at me to slow down every so often. She saw me try to reply through cheeks puffed with food and shook her head, a slight smile showing on her lips.

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When we had eaten as much as we could, Master Liu toasted his wine glass high in the air. "I will leave tomorrow. Zhao Laohei and Granny Hong Rong will accompany me.” His eyes found mine. “Xiao Yong, you will come too, but only for a week or so."

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My mom responded for me, " I see, Master Liu. Afterwards, will you come back?"

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He shook his head. "No. I will let Zhao Laohei and Granny Hong Rong bring Xiao Yong back to you after our business is concluded."

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I frowned at him across a table of mostly eaten delicacies. I was used to playing with him at my house. It’d be strange if he were to leave.

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I swallowed a helping of orange slices and spoke for myself, "Master Liu, are you going to leave?"

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He looked at me, a hint of a grin on his mouth. "Yes. You were not satisfied with my efforts this afternoon. I imagined you’d be thrilled that I was going.”

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My eyes responded before I could and I was crying over my dinner plate. Master Liu reached out and touched my head. "What's wrong, dear boy? Don't you want to let me go?"

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Although I didn't want to admit it, I turned my head to him, and spouted loudly, "Um…"

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Master Liu laughed, saying, " Don't cry, my boy. I will visit you later. We will know each other for a long time." He winked at me.

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Tears were streaming down my face. My mother hid a smile behind her hand and added, "Master Liu, since Xiao Yong likes you so much, won’t you be his godfather? "

​

Maybe she was teasing us. Maybe she was worried he wouldn’t come back to treat my eyes. She might’ve even been joking, but Master Liu agreed in an instant, crying out, “What a wonderful idea!”

I still don’t know what she was thinking over that grand meal shared with family and friends. When we finished dinner that night, I had a godfather. I bent low and kowtowed to Master Liu several times, all the while apologizing for my earlier rudeness.

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Later, I carried my pillow to sleep with Master Liu instead of my parents. Knowing he would leave soon, I wanted to get as much time with him as I could.

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He saw me enter the room and immediately warned, "I snore at night. You can stay if you won’t be scared of an old man’s nose."

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I nodded and promised him, "I won’t be scared...”

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Nothing could be more horrible than Xiao Chun’s mother, especially not measly snores.

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“Where are we going tomorrow?” I asked before we fell asleep.

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"You don't know of it, but it’s not far away from the twin. You are very important for the work we do tomorrow because the ghost we seek went through your body.” He poked a pale finger at my heart when he said body. “If you can help me send him away, it will aid in treating your supernatural eyes."

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My mind had begun to drowse and I lost some of his words. My eyes flashed open when I heard him mention ghosts. A foggy brain spoke for me before I could stop it, "Master Liu, can I refuse to go with you?"

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My lids fell shut and I listened intently for his response. "No,” He sounded gentle and sad. “I am your godfather now. I will teach you of Taoism.” I started to drift, losing his words to my dreams. “You haven’t the talent, but it may be your destiny.”

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I smiled to my pillow. The word destiny bounced in my thoughts, following lights that danced behind my eyelids.

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“Destiny is exciting.”

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I couldn't have imagined that I would be chasing that destiny for twenty years. I couldn’t have imagined the danger as I drifted off to sleep, watching the lights that somehow shone into closed eyes.

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