The Yin Maiden Has Left the Village: The Living Should Keep Their Distance

Song Lingchao was born in a yin year, yin month, and yin hour. A fortune-teller said she would bring misfortune to her husband and children, and die young, in the bloom of her youth. She refused to believe it and insisted on getting married. On their wedding night, her husband awakened his spiritual roots and left to cultivate at Yutai Mountain, promising to return and consummate their marriage three years later. She waited three years, only to receive news of his death. Bearing her grief, Song Lingchao went to retrieve his body, but found only a shriveled corpse. Years later, the corpse insisted on marrying her. Song Lingchao tried to scare him off: “I bring misfortune to my husbands and children. I’ve already been widowed once. Be careful, or you’ll die all over again if you marry me!” The corpse laughed boldly and lowered the bridal veil over her head. “We never consummated the marriage, so it doesn’t count. If you can bring misfortune to your husband, that just proves how impressive you are, my dear!” To everyone else, Song Lingchao was a harbinger of doom. To Liguang Chihua, she was a precious treasure.