The Second Temple

Zhou You caught it without thinking.

Then a system notification sounded faintly in his mind.

You have obtained a green consumable: Ghost-Shaped Figurine.

When used, this item temporarily creates a "flesh doll" that closely resembles you. Some monsters will mistake the doll for you. It lasts up to five minutes, and only one can exist at a time.

You witnessed the creation of a Ghost-Shaped Figurine, but cannot learn to make one because you lack the relevant knowledge.

Zhou You carefully pinched the figurine between two fingers. Its face looked exactly like his. He turned and asked,

"Monk... no, is this what your Buddhist spells are like? Something about it feels off."

The Old Monk looked utterly baffled. He even asked in return,

"Benefactor, what are you talking about? What else would Buddhist spells be like?"

"Well, normally I'd expect Buddhist spells to be bright and righteous. You know, just..." Zhou You searched his memory of the fantasy dramas he had watched, but finally sighed and gave up explaining. "Forget it. Monk, how do I use this thing?"

"Just cut your finger and drip some blood onto it. The Sinister Object will be drawn to it, and you can use that chance to put the face on her. Don't waste time. It won't last long, and it breaks at a touch."

Zhou You was about to cut his finger, but after a moment's thought, he peeled back the ointment instead. He squeezed a little blood from his earlier wound and smeared it on the figurine.

He was used to getting hurt, but pain was still pain. If he could avoid another cut, he would.

The dark red liquid slowly seeped in. As the last drop vanished, the figurine's eyes flew wide open, and it gave Zhou You a chilling smile.

Before he could react, it leaped from his hand and staggered toward the female ghost.

"Take care, benefactor. The Ghost-Shaped Figurine will draw the Sinister Object's attention. At first, she'll only be suspicious, but she'll soon realize the truth. You need to use that opening—"

The Old Monk had not finished whispering when a piercing shriek rang out ahead!

Both men looked up in shock. The female ghost had spotted the flesh doll and reacted as though she had seen something she hated beyond all reason. She flung the mangled remains in her hands aside and charged straight at it!

The Old Monk was still bewildered. Zhou You was the first to understand.

Holy shit. I kicked you once and used you as a blade. Do you really have to hold a grudge?

There was no time to say anything. He slashed his arm with the dagger, opening a fresh wound, and his body abruptly surged forward!

The pain sharpened Zhou You's mind. He calculated the distance between himself and the female ghost as her flayed, blood-drenched face drew closer. At last, she seized the doll and squeezed with all her might!

Zhou You let out a scream—

But Zhou You himself had made no sound.

The Ghost-Shaped Figurine screamed and struggled like a living person. It seemed to be trying to escape her grip, but she crushed it into a lump. Only then did the female ghost realize she had grabbed the wrong target. She whipped her head around, only to feel a sudden chill against her face.

The sheet of skin was already pressed firmly onto it.

In an instant, she stopped moving.

"My face... I finally have my face back..."

The female ghost stroked the wrinkled skin, which plainly did not belong to her. She no longer looked at Zhou You, though he stood right beside her. Instead, she shuffled back to the street corner, crouched down, and hugged her knees as she had when he first saw her.

"She's a pitiful soul too." The Old Monk trudged over. "Sadly, I lack the ability to release her. I can only leave her trapped in this nightmare, repeating the same day over and over. Benefactor, we have little time. Let's go."

"...Yes. Let's go."

Zhou You nodded and followed behind the Old Monk.

But before leaving, he glanced thoughtfully back at the spot where the Ghost-Shaped Figurine had been crushed.

The temple along the left-hand path looked much like the one they had seen before.

It was just as desolate and dilapidated, with the same broken tiles and crumbling walls.

Frowning, the Old Monk pushed aside the grass at the entrance, now more than ten feet tall. He spoke between breaths.

"Those monks in the city make a fortune every year, yet they won't repair these three temples, the very foundation of this place. They won't let us at Qingjing Temple touch them either. Say it would break the rules, they do. And after all these years of wind and rain, look at the state of it! It's about to collapse!"

He was practically grinding his teeth.

Zhou You wisely said nothing. As he stepped into the temple, another system notification appeared.

Player has reached a hidden location: Weituo Zuntian Dharma Protector Temple of Sanhuamiao Temple.

Scenario completion has increased significantly.

Player has obtained 50 Soul Stones. Current Soul Stones: 160.

Inside, the Old Monk's eyes grew sadder at the sight of the bloodstained Divine Statue. He found a reasonably clean prayer cushion, knelt on it, and bowed to the statue. Then he rose and dragged his frail body toward it.

Zhou You thought he meant to cast some purifying spell. Instead, the Old Monk leaned forward and slammed himself straight into the Bodhisattva Statue!

"Watch out!"

Before Zhou You could get the words out, he saw something impossible.

The bloodstains stopped shifting across the Divine Statue. Then, like fish scenting bait, they poured madly into the Old Monk's body. His withered frame swelled like a balloon, rapidly expanding to the limits of what a human body could bear!

Only after four or five minutes did the Old Monk's body barely return to normal. He slowly climbed down from the statue, a layer of red seemingly spread across his skin. Raising his now even more fearsome head, he gave Zhou You a wry smile.

"Forgive me for letting you see me like this, benefactor. I cultivate the Hungry Ghost Path, one of the three evil paths, and often use Food Bestowal. That is why I can take the filth from the statue into myself. But I cannot hold it for long. Please help me finish the remaining three paths as quickly as possible."

How much of what he says is true, and how much is a lie?

Zhou You thought of the Ghost-Shaped Figurine, which had seemed like nothing short of sorcery, then looked into the Old Monk's eyes. They still held that same calm, upright look. After a few seconds of thought, he nodded.

"Then let's pick up the pace."