Possessed

I frowned and warily felt the Soul Urn. My heart churned like boiling water, and I was genuinely afraid he would stab me with that knife. But what grudge did I have against you? Was there any need to come at me with a knife?

Zhao Yi didn't know why, but apparently he had no intention of coming at me. He turned around and left the kitchen.

I couldn't make heads or tails of it. I thought, That brat. If you want to carry a knife, then carry one. What was the point of scaring me?

After watching him leave, I paid it no mind. I carried the dishes over to Zhao Qian. Because we were afraid of attracting Zhao Yi and the others' attention and causing trouble for Zhao Qian, we had been sitting in a slightly out-of-the-way spot.

"Here, eat some. You haven't eaten much today. Eat more tonight, be good." I picked up some dried fish in sauce and put it in Zhao Qian's bowl.

"Mm." Zhao Qian nodded, still somewhat embarrassed, but she happily began eating.

When I saw her start eating, I turned around to see what Zhao Yi had taken the knife to do. I found that he was heading toward the main hall, so I wondered whether one of the masters had called him over to perform a ritual with the knife.

After all, quite a few rural ritual masters had a precedent of taking knives from the kitchen to perform rituals. I paid it no mind and lowered my head to eat.

"Tian, I've put you through a lot. You even came back to the village with me." Zhao Qian spoke softly to me, placing a mouthful of rice into her mouth. Her movements were very elegant.

"It's nothing. I promised to keep you company today anyway, and I'm also somewhat curious about your grandfather's situation." I answered casually and put another piece of rib in her bowl.

Watching a beautiful woman eat was actually a pleasure in itself. Zhao Qian blushed slightly; after all, this was her first time eating alone with a man. But no one could blame her. I learned later that when she was in school, she had been a bespectacled girl with a fairly high prescription. She spent all day clutching strange books about esoteric and yin-yang matters, so she had practically no luck with men.

Only after graduating and going abroad for laser eye surgery had she blossomed into the great beauty Zhao Qian was now.

I glanced at the other tables and saw that all the masters hired by the Zhao Family had finished eating and gone to rest. I took another set of bowls and chopsticks and placed them beside me.

Zhao Qian looked at me curiously, wondering what I was doing. But before long, she no longer dared to look, because I released the little vengeful ghost. When the little vengeful ghost saw the delicious food on the table, she immediately reached out, grabbed a piece of dried fish in sauce, and began eating.

Apparently noticing Zhao Qian's occasional glances, the little vengeful ghost glared at her with eyes that had no white in them at all.

Her red dress fluttered despite the lack of wind, and her expressionless gaze nearly frightened Zhao Qian to tears.

"All right, eat your food. Why do you keep scaring her all day?" I scolded her.

Unless they had cultivated Yin-Yang Eyes or possessed heavy yin energy, ordinary people generally couldn't see her. At the village now, apart from the ritual masters, Zhao Qian and I were probably the only ones who could.

There was no one around anyway, so letting her out to eat was necessary. My grandmother's books explicitly recorded this. Besides, I couldn't feed her my vital blood all day long. Later on, I would even have to buy live chickens for her to eat.

Seeing Zhao Qian's teeth chatter as she ate, I sighed. But then I thought that she was only a feng shui master, not an exorcist. It was perfectly normal for her to fear a vengeful ghost.

"How about sitting beside me instead? Let the little ghost sit in your place. I can block her from view so no one sees her." I suggested it.

"No need... really, no need." Zhao Qian felt embarrassed at the thought of sitting beside me, but her heart still felt warm.

Unfortunately, her refusal was useless. After hearing me, the little vengeful ghost hugged her bowl and slowly walked toward Zhao Qian. Her head remained half lowered as she walked, while those terrifying eyes rolled upward to look at Zhao Qian.

Zhao Qian was so frightened her soul nearly flew out. She carried her bowl and fled toward me, almost tripping.

I was just about to say a few words to comfort Zhao Qian when something happened in the main hall!

"Murder!"

A woman's terrified shriek rang out. It sounded like Zhao Qian's Third Aunt, Zhao Yuan. I whipped around and saw screams erupting from that direction. Something major had clearly happened!

I hurriedly stood up to see what was going on.

The Zhao Family relatives resting in the guest rooms and lounge all came out and ran toward the main hall. The scene instantly descended into chaos. The few masters, however, seemed very calm. Not one of them came out; apparently, they wouldn't lift a finger unless they were invited.

I felt that with so many Zhao Family relatives there, nothing should happen. Besides, Zhao Qian was clearly worried about her family, so I followed the crowd into the main hall.

Inside, two monks were sprawled on the floor. Blood poured from one of their backs as he groaned in pain, while the other had been stabbed in the stomach and was shrieking miserably.

Zhao Yi had been pinned to the floor by a group of people and monks. He bared his teeth and muttered strange things. I couldn't understand his chattering, but it no longer sounded human.

Zhao Yi continued struggling. Several senior monks held him down together, and his bones began cracking loudly. It was horrifying.

Zhao Zhou watched his son convulse like a madman, sweat pouring down his face. Worried sick, he still tried to run over and help him up.

But Zhao Xi's face darkened. "Zhou, your son has been possessed by a ghost. It's still inside him!"

Zhao Xi was the inheritor of a feng shui tradition. Although he didn't have much skill at exorcism, he had seen plenty. Everyone inhaled sharply at his words.

Zhao Zhou also knew feng shui. Though he wasn't as capable as his elder brother Zhao Xi, he wasn't far behind. He seemed to remember that he had brought a master with him and immediately ran outside.

Zhao Yi had previously entangled himself with Zhao Qian and me through cause and effect, so I had no intention of helping him. I watched the spectacle with Zhao Qian from the doorway.

When Zhao Yuan saw the monks standing there dumbfounded, she immediately started cursing like a fishwife. Pointing at the group of monks, she swore, "I'll bite your bald heads off! Can you people do anything or not? You've been at it all day without fixing a thing, and now you've let my nephew Yi get possessed!"

Monk Jishi's face twitched, but he didn't dare talk back. He said to his disciples, "Purify the mouth, purify the body, purify the mind, purify the three karmas, rectify body and mind. Repeat after me: The Sutra of Universal Radiance, Pure and Blazing, Wish-Fulfilling Treasure Seal, Heart of Invincibility, Great Bright King, Great Following-Request Dharani."

With that, Monk Jishi immediately put both hands into the basin, pressed them together to scoop up water, and began rinsing his mouth and washing his face without caring whether it was dirty. He then lit incense and sprinkled water.

"Sa-la-wa, de-la, sa-la-wa, ba-ya, wu-ba, de-la-wei, bi-ya..." Several monks sat cross-legged beside Zhao Yi and began chanting scriptures in unison.

Immediately, Sanskrit burst from the senior monks' mouths like singing, while Monk Jishi began splashing purifying water over Zhao Yi.

The scripture really did seem to have some effect. I could see Zhao Yi slowly stop struggling, as though he were about to recover.

Seeing the situation stabilize, Zhao Xi was about to comfort his mother, the Zhao Family matriarch. But after he had taken only two steps, the red sandalwood bowl in Monk Jishi's hands split apart with a crack. Monk Jishi broke into a cold sweat. How vicious must this ghost be?

"Completely useless!" Zhao Xi glared at Zhao Yuan and spat out the words before looking around. When he saw Zhao Qian and me watching from the doorway, his expression immediately turned ugly. "Where's Zhao He? Tell him to invite the lay Buddhist from Three Immortals Temple!"

"Exactly! Hurry and get the lay Buddhist here. The lay Buddhist will definitely manage it." The Zhao Family matriarch finally realized it too and urged them anxiously.

"Brother went back to the county seat." Zhao Qian jumped when her father asked her.

"Then what are you standing there for? Go invite him!" Zhao Xi glared sternly at Zhao Qian, and his gaze toward me was also somewhat hostile.

He probably thought I had gotten involved with his daughter and that we were dating. Seeing that I was dressed like a poor man, he looked down on me.

The Zhao Family was a prominent household in the county, after all. Which of the partners they found didn't come from a respectable family? Just look at the young masters who had come here—all of them were dressed in immaculate formalwear. And this kid had dressed like that without feeling ashamed.

"Oh." Zhao Qian turned around with tears in her eyes, feeling wronged, and went to invite the lay Buddhist.

I helplessly shook my head and followed Zhao Qian out, because I was somewhat worried about her.

When I accompanied Zhao Qian to the lounge, I saw Lay Buddhist Canyun of Three Immortals Temple and his disciples calmly drinking tea.

Zhao Qian hurried over and explained the general situation. Lay Buddhist Canyun didn't slight her; he set down his cup and headed for the main hall.

Halfway there, a group of monks, drenched in sweat, carried their injured companion on their backs. They also dragged along a monk who kept trying to bite people as they ran toward the parking lot.

Monk Jishi sighed repeatedly. His head was covered in liquor, and his beard was a tangled mess. It seemed that either the ghost was far too fierce or Zhao Yuan was simply too formidable. Climbing Heaven Temple had truly run out of options.

"Haha, I thought the senior monks of Climbing Heaven Temple were so impressive. Turns out they're just freeloaders, right, Master?" The Taoists from Three Immortals Temple laughed loudly, looking immensely pleased with themselves.

"Exactly. They were acting high and mighty today. If you have no ability yet insist on courting death, you must be tired of living." Another Taoist carrying his ritual implements chimed in.

"Hmph. This is what happens when you fail to learn true skills and then run into trouble. All of you, remember this well." Lay Buddhist Canyun took the opportunity to lecture his disciples.

The remaining disciples all nodded in agreement and lowered their heads as they followed Lay Buddhist Canyun into the main hall.

When we reached the entrance to the main hall, I looked inside but didn't see Zhao Zhou. Hadn't that old man gone to invite his master? How had we ended up getting here first?

I turned around and saw Zhao Zhou and that old master hurrying over from the parking lot outside the village. They walked while speaking in low voices. In the dead of night, what were those two old men doing running out to the parking lot?

Zhao Yi was being watched by Zhao Qian's eldest and second uncles. He hadn't been tied up and was crouching to the side, trembling as he watched everything before him.

There were several pools of blood on the floor. I frowned at the sight. Could Zhao Yi really have been possessed by a ghost just now?

But when I looked around, where was the filthy thing that had possessed him?

Zhao Xi hurried over and clasped Lay Buddhist Canyun's hand. He said anxiously, "Master, you've finally arrived. Please take a look and see what's going on. After Yi was possessed by a ghost just now, the monks from Climbing Heaven Temple chanted scriptures and seemed to drive the evil away. But as soon as they did, the monk who had snatched Yi's knife was possessed. He stabbed two of his fellow disciples and nearly stabbed Monk Jishi in the butt while he was worshiping the gods."

"Oh? Such a thing actually happened?" Lay Buddhist Canyun looked utterly unruffled as he walked over to examine Old Master Zhao, who was sleeping in the inner room. Old Master Zhao lay on the bed, his face pale, but he looked little different from when I had seen him earlier that day.

"Old Master Zhao isn't in serious danger, but his body can't withstand much more strain. I'll first cast a Spirit-Calming Talisman to protect his three souls, then use an Evil-Expelling Talisman to protect his seven mortal souls. After that, I'll set up the altar and drive out the ghost." Lay Buddhist Canyun spoke calmly and casually stuffed several warding paper talismans beneath Old Master Zhao.

At his words, several disciples rudely threw outside all the ritual implements Monk Jishi had been unable to take away.

The Zhao Family matriarch had no objections. Instead, she was deeply grateful that Lay Buddhist Canyun had protected the old man first instead of immediately performing a ritual. Zhao Xi was delighted as well. This showed that the master he had invited understood human relationships and was highly capable—unlike Monk Jishi, who had made his father suffer all day without accomplishing a damn thing.

"Mom, Lay Buddhist Canyun was personally invited by your son. I didn't spend a single cent. I did have to invite him several times, though. The lay Buddhist had been wandering outside, and the round trip was several thousand kilometers. Mom, we really aren't short of money, but without the favor from back then, he might not have come at all." Zhao Xi shamelessly boasted beside the Zhao Family matriarch.

"That's right. This is how it should be. Of all the sons, only you, the eldest, are somewhat reliable and have standing outside." The Zhao Family matriarch was fooled into beaming happily, so moved she nearly shed tears of age.

Zhao Xi felt that the position of family head was already half in his hands.

After coming back out, Lay Buddhist Canyun took out a piece of paper covered in a spell diagram, wrapped the bloodstained knife in it, and held it before his eyes. After studying it carefully, he disdainfully tossed it aside.

He then went over to look at Zhao Yi and declared, "There's nothing wrong with the knife. The person was indeed possessed by a ghost. As you can see, the ghostly aura between his brows hasn't dispersed, and yin energy remains on his body. Oh, right—I forgot to mention this. Nephew Zhao Yi, you don't need to stay here either. Go to the hospital."

After saying that, he urged Zhao Yi to go to the hospital. Zhao Yi was so frightened that he stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly calling the driver and fleeing with support.

I nearly burst out laughing. If they could see what Lay Buddhist Canyun saw, that would truly be seeing a ghost. I hadn't seen anything. Wasn't the ghost that had possessed someone still inside Monk Jishi's disciple just now?

But just as I was mocking them inwardly, Old Master Zhao, lying on the bed, suddenly began convulsing violently as though possessed!

After only a few tremors, he shot upright like a zombie! His eyes rolled back, and his tongue slipped out of his mouth, stretching impossibly long.

At one glance, I knew something was terribly wrong. Old Master Zhao was dead this time.