Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My name is Lu An’an, and I’m my father’s only daughter.

My father has thirteen concubines, but no legal wife.

My mother died young, before my father rose to power.

I was destined for an early death myself.

I wasn’t just frail and sickly-my luck was terrible too.

Several times I nearly passed on.

By the time I was six, I was so cursed that even drinking water could have choked me to death.

My father had notices posted, inviting anyone with abilities to come and try their hand.

That year, many swindlers were shot by firing squad. Finally, a Daoist priest with real spiritual power arrived.

The priest didn’t ask for money, only gave a method.

“Go deep into the old-growth forests and pay homage to a Household Guardian Immortal. That should get you past the calamity of turning ten.”

After saying that, the old priest finished his vegetarian meal and left.

My father was left to figure it out on his own.

In his early years, my father had been a butcher in the marketplace. He had no book learning, but he could do accounts.

He summoned his adjutant and talked through the simple logic of one times one equals one, one times two equals two. Then he made up his mind. “Take some men to the villages for a few miles around. Buy every pig, cow, and goat at market price, and later we’ll drive them all out as offerings.”

The adjutant looked troubled. “Marshal, why bother with money? I’ll take men with guns and just confiscate them all for you.”

My father glared at him. “If that karmic debt lands on my daughter, will you take responsibility?!”

Chastened, the adjutant smiled sheepishly. He took men and money and set out. When he returned, he had brought along some villagers to help drive the animals-herds of cattle and goats, a lively spectacle.

Seeing that the goods had arrived, my father had a fortune-teller pick an auspicious hour. He didn’t ride a horse or drive a car. He got me onto a pig and rode it with me into the old mountain forest.

He opened with a declaration: “Today I, Lu Dayou, bring my daughter Lu An’an to pay homage to a Household Guardian Immortal. We’ve brought enough livestock-let all those with power come!”

He waved a hand, and his men lit rows of incense and candles. The thick smell stung our noses.

Even the temple Bodhisattva didn’t see that much incense in a month.

Then they drove the pigs, cattle, goats-all together.

Soon the forest stirred. The animals seemed to sense danger and called out uneasily.

If my father hadn’t brought so many men, we might not have kept them under control.

My father and I stood at the very front.

We had the clearest view. The first to arrive was a yellow weasel.

Its beady eyes darted around, making me a little scared.

Next came a willow-leaf snake, hanging far off in the treetops and never coming close.

After that, a hedgehog, a red fox, a gray rat… they arrived one after another.

Finally, even a tiger appeared.

The tiger came forward first. I shrank behind my father.

My father pushed me forward. “An’an, go. Pay your respects and offer a stick of incense to Lord Tiger.”