阴兵·弓手 Revenant Archer
来说是非者，必是是非人。
莫信直中直，须防仁不仁。
He who brings tales of fault and blame,
Is often caught in the very same game.
Trust not the one who seems most fair,
And in their 'goodness', be aware.
月陀国南大营的军队中有个伙头兵，负责每日给士兵们送饭。
他时常能看到有个人影远远跟随他，他胆子很大，便跑去拦住对方，发现那原是个人俑。
人俑的手里拿着弓，却没有箭，非常奇怪。
伙头兵自认没做亏心事，便大声质问道:“你为何总跟着我?”
那人俑虽没有五官，却从肚子里发出声音，道:“你前世与我是同乡，我们曾在一处当兵。后来我在敌国被射伤，你却丢下我独自逃生了。我流落在野地，最终疮伤溃烂而死。我心有不甘，不肯投胎，阎王便让我当了个阴兵。我是来找你偿命的。”
伙头兵奇道:“那你为何不杀我?”
陶俑举起弓，道:“这弓只射阴箭你此生还算正直，我找不到箭来射你。所以只能徘徊于此。”
伙头兵听完，问能否帮他，陶俑生气道:“本来就是你的错，该由你来偿还，怎么说是帮我?只要你能为我磕一万个头，每次磕头都念一遍佛号，我便能超生了。”
伙头兵见他如此态度，愤怒道:“你在敌国中箭，不是我射的;你没躲过箭，不是我推的。若论救你，那叫重义，若论不救你，也是合情合理你怎么反来怪我?”
言罢，伙头兵举起饭桶的盖板，就将陶俑砸了个稀巴烂。
那陶俑碎裂开来后，化成风沙飘散了。
咦，连鬼也怕恶人哩。
做人做事当然要反省自身，以善良为本，以巧便为门。
但也需提防，别让人利用了好心，说不定他还要反过来怪你哩。
In the southern camp of the Kingdom of Yuetuo, near the western side of the Flaming Mountains, a cook in the army was tasked with delivering food to the soldiers each and every day. During his routine, he often noticed a shadowy figure trailing him. When his courage led him to confront it, he discovered it was a pottery figurine, armed with an arrowless bow-a truly peculiar sight.
It is known that only the guilty are haunted. The cook, assured of his clear conscience, demanded, "Why do you always follow me?" The figurine, faceless yet speaking from within, replied, "In a past life, we were from the same town and served together in the army. I was wounded by an enemy arrow and you abandoned me. I was left to succumb to infection and die. My resentment prevented me from reincarnation, and Yama, the King of the Underworld, made me a revenant. I have come now for your life."
Puzzled, the cook asked, "Then why not kill me?" The figurine raised its bow, replying, "This bow shoots only arrows of punishment. You've been reasonably upright in this life, so I find no arrow to strike you. My only choice now is to linger aimlessly." The cook asked if there was anything he could do to stop its wandering, but the figurine spat back, "It was your fault. You should atone, not 'help' me. Your debt will clear once you've recited Buddha's name for me ten thousand times and kneeled to each. Then, I may find peace."
Enraged by such entitlement, the cook argued, "Your fall in enemy hands wasn't my arrow; your failure to evade wasn't my push. Leaving you was a choice, not a crime. Why blame me?" With that, he smashed the pottery figurine with his meal lid. The figurine shattered and turned to dust in the wind.
Alas, even ghosts dread violence. Reflecting on one's actions is essential, and kindness is a virtue. But beware of being exploited for your good heart, lest the accused becomes the accuser.
