Demons and Devils Appear

Chapter 20 - Demons and Devils Appear

A light morning rain washed away the dust of the world, leaving the slightly damp air exceptionally fresh and pleasant. A few bulbuls hopped back and forth on the branches of lilac bushes, chirping noisily, making one want to capture the lively figures of these little sprites with a phone or camera.

At this moment, Cao Lei, the chairman of the five-star Yuantian Hotel, had no mood to appreciate the beautiful early spring scenery outside his window. He sighed as he looked at his daughter, whose face was pale and sallow, occasionally letting out faint screams without warning, lying on the bed.

He didn't know what was going on. For over a month, his youngest daughter, Cao Qiuqing, had been plagued by nightmares, unable to eat or sleep well, and her condition was deteriorating. Chairman Cao Lei had taken his daughter to many hospitals and consulted numerous doctors, even inviting renowned experts for consultations. However, the diagnosed causes of her illness varied, and while some treatment plans initially showed some effect, they quickly lost their efficacy.

A lot of money had been spent, and many famous doctors and experts had been consulted, but in the end, it was all to no avail. Watching a lively and adorable girl now confined to her bed, emaciated and tormented, her youthful prime of twenty years withered like a dying flower.

The half-open door was quietly pushed open. Chairman Cao noticed it immediately and turned his head.

He saw his wife poking half her body in from the doorway, lowering her voice and saying, "Old Cao, Master He from Qingliang Temple has arrived."

"Oh, I'll be right there!"

Chairman Cao had just stood up, about to pick up his phone from the table.

The phone screen suddenly lit up and vibrated slightly.

The caller ID showed an unknown number. He had intended to decline the call, but after a moment's thought, he answered it. At the same time, he quickly walked to the door and signaled the family's nanny to take over watching his daughter.

"Hello, who is this? I'm Cao Lei. Is this arranged by Dean Zhou? Okay, I'll send someone to pick you up right away. Oh, alright, I'll wait for you here. Do you need me to send you the address again? Okay, okay."

After hanging up, Chairman Cao let out a soft sigh.

Although these were elite personnel arranged by the dean of the Seventh People's Hospital at the request of a friend, the caller's voice sounded very young, and he couldn't help but underestimate them by a tenth. Now that his daughter's condition was unresponsive to medicine, he could only try anything. He had even invited a Taoist priest, let alone a mere psychiatrist.

With his hair tied up in a bun, a simple and elegant vine passing through the topknot, and wearing a dark blue Bagua Taoist robe, the middle-aged Taoist priest bowed to Chairman Cao with two young apprentice Taoist priests.

"Infinite Blessings Heavenly Venerable!"

This salutation indicated that he was a disciple of the Three Pure Ones, though most people couldn't distinguish the difference.

Chairman Cao, mimicking the etiquette from movies and TV shows, cupped his fist and said, "Daoist He, please forgive my lack of welcome!"

His distinguished appearance, radiating an air of Taoist immortality, gave him a glimmer of hope that this person might be able to resolve the strange illness plaguing his daughter.

"It's alright. Chairman Cao, please rest assured. Our Qingliang Temple specializes in dispelling nightmares and suppressing evil. We will certainly be able to help your esteemed daughter escape the torment of the Evil Spirits."

Daoist He's expression was calm, as if he were fully confident.

His composed demeanor brought some relief to Chairman Cao, who had been unable to eat or sleep since his daughter fell ill.

Qingliang Temple, located in the suburbs of Huxi City, was quite famous. Through word of mouth, many people sought out the temple, making its services such as fortune-telling, Feng Shui readings, issuing lucky talismans, and performing rituals very prosperous. The three Taoist priests in the temple naturally made a fortune daily.

With his extensive connections in the hotel business, someone had helped Chairman Cao find the dean of the Seventh People's Hospital, and naturally, someone could also make connections to Qingliang Temple to invite people. Rumor had it that they were very effective.

Only wealthy individuals like Chairman Cao could afford to invite the three Taoist priests from the temple. The youngest disciple, He Xunxian, charged at least a hundred thousand for his appearance fee. To invite the second disciple, Daoist Li, and the eldest disciple, Daoist Zhao, would cost even more.

"Thank you for your help, Daoist He. Please rest for a moment, and I will call my daughter out."

Chairman Cao, concerned about his daughter's condition, prepared to return to her bedroom to wake her up.

Daoist He stroked his meticulously trimmed short beard and shook his head, saying, "No need. It's just a few steps. Please lead the way, Chairman Cao!"

"Please!"

The other party's eagerness to help mirrored his own urgency, and Chairman Cao felt grateful. He immediately led the way.

On the soft Simmons bed, the frail young girl frowned repeatedly, like Xi Shi clutching her chest. Her brows would furrow together, then relax, and sometimes she would let out helpless moans, evoking pity.

Daoist He carefully examined Cao Qiuqing from head to toe, then touched her forehead, muttering incantations.

As if the spell were very effective, after a few seconds, the distressed sleeping expression of the Cao family's daughter quickly relaxed, and she seemed to fall into a deep sleep.

After the incantation stopped, Daoist He took Cao Qiuqing's wrist again, as if checking her pulse.

The miraculous methods he displayed with his every move yielded immediate results, involuntarily instilling some confidence in Chairman Cao. He and his wife stood in a corner of the room, watching him "perform the ritual," not daring to breathe too loudly.

After a full fifteen minutes, Daoist He finally released the Cao family's daughter's hand and said to Chairman Cao and his wife, "Chairman Cao, your esteemed daughter is afflicted by an evil energy that has penetrated deep into her three souls and seven spirits. I need to set up the Heavenly Dou Gang Array to see what kind of Demon or Devil it is."

"Yes, yes, please do your best, Daoist."

Chairman Cao nodded excitedly.

"Tingsong, fetch the array disk. Wentao, prepare the Magic Tools."

Daoist He was fully immersed, one hand forming mudras and chanting, calculating the celestial cycles, while the other held a polished Feng Shui compass. He walked in a seven-star pattern, circling the Cao family's villa.

"...Heavenly Gate opens wide, Sirius enters; Earthly Gate rises, White Tiger star; Heavenly Ox bellows, White Dew frost; Earthly Gui reverses, Yang is born..."

The incantations of a Taoist practitioner were always profound and obscure, difficult to understand. The more mysterious they were, the more they made people feel the depth of Taoist magic, leaving them in awe.

Following Daoist He's steps and hand gestures, exquisite golden ornaments depicting dragons, tigers, phoenixes, turtles, qilin, bells, and pagodas were brought out and placed in various corners of the villa.

If the distribution points were drawn on a floor plan, a Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams pattern would be clearly visible.

Qingliang Temple had been famous for a long time and indeed had some skills.

"Hmph! Great Luo Heavenly Lord, hasten as the law commands! Demon and Devil, reveal yourselves!"

After completing the seven-star steps, Daoist He's forehead was slightly sweaty. He formed a Taoist seal and shouted.

"Excuse me, is this Chairman Cao Lei's home?"

A young man's voice came from the doorway.

In response, there was only a series of terrified screams.

Daoist He was also startled, then his face filled with anger as he shouted, "Who are you?"

Not only him, but even the two young Daoist disciples, Tingsong and Wentao, were somewhat dumbfounded.

Chairman Cao's expression had also changed drastically at first, but after Daoist He's shout, he quickly calmed down.

It was simply too much of a coincidence. The Daoist had just shouted for the Demons and Devils to reveal themselves, and then someone came through the door. Mrs. Cao, who had been mysteriously manipulated and agitated, and several nannies, mistook it for the appearance of actual Demons and Devils in their surprise and involuntarily screamed.

"Ugh!"

The scene inside the room made Li Bai pause slightly. He immediately understood what was happening and quickly apologized, "Sorry, sorry. I'm Doctor Li Bai from the Seventh People's Hospital. I'm here to see Chairman Cao's daughter. Please continue, please continue."

"Hmph! Insolent!"

Daoist He, whose plan was almost ruined, flicked his sleeves unhappily, putting on a magnanimous act of not dwelling on it.

It was the first time he had nearly scared himself half to death.

"I am Cao Lei. Doctor Li, please have a seat for a moment. This is Daoist He from Qingliang Temple."

Chairman Cao, unwilling to let the atmosphere remain awkward, quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Doctor Li, Infinite Blessings Heavenly Venerable!"

With his benefactor present, Daoist He's expression softened slightly. He cupped his hands towards Li Bai, bowing only slightly.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist!"

Li Bai clasped his fists.

Tingsong, one of Daoist He's two disciples who had been following him, spoke with ill intent, "Young man, you should address my master as Daoist or Senior. What right do you have to call him Fellow Daoist?"

Wentao, Daoist He's other disciple, wore a mocking expression.