Di Renjie and the Strange Case of the Ghost Temple

Under the Wu Zhou dynasty, the capital Luoyang was as magnificent as a painting. Even in this prosperous age, undercurrents never ceased to flow. The martial world was treacherous, and strange cases abounded. Di Renjie, the serving minister of the Court of Judicial Review, upheld the law with iron resolve but could rarely enjoy a moment’s peace. Fifteen li outside Luoyang, at the foot of Green Mountain, stood a temple called Ghost Lantern Temple. Legend had it that the temple drew many worshippers because the “Ghost Lantern Bodhisattva” could free people from the torment of ghosts and ward off disaster. But a strange incident had occurred there just over a month ago: a worshipper who had gone to offer incense late at night was found dead inside the temple, his body horribly mutilated and his head missing. Stranger still, though there was no moon that night, an eerie ghostly flame drifted around the temple, frightening away the monks keeping watch. The story spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred, leaving the people terrified. Rumors claimed that the Ghost Lantern Bodhisattva had manifested to claim a life. A Report from the Prefecture of Jingzhao Three days after the crime, the prefect of Jingzhao reported it to the court and requested a thorough investigation. When Wu Zetian heard the news, she said angrily, “The Tang dynasty is prosperous. How can we allow evil spirits to sow chaos among the people?” She ordered Di Renjie to investigate in person and solve the case within ten days, or lose his official post. After receiving the decree, Di Renjie stroked his beard and smiled. “The case may be bizarre, but talk of ghosts and gods is usually nonsense. Someone must be faking these strange happenings to confuse us.” He immediately prepared to leave, taking his assistant Yuanfang and a group of constables with him on the long journey to Ghost Lantern Temple. Initial Examination of the Scene When they arrived, Di Renjie found the temple gates shut. The place was dilapidated and deserted, with only a few brave villagers watching from a distance. Outside, weeds grew wild, as though the grounds had not been tended in years. Inside, the incense burner lay toppled over, and dust covered the Buddha statues, lending the place a sinister air. Yuanfang frowned. “My lord, although this place looks run-down, there’s something not quite right about it.”