"It is called the Red Guanyin. Unlike other manifestations of Guanyin, its body is red, and it wears red Dharma robes. Its appearance changes constantly, taking all sorts of different forms."
"You also command God-and-Demon Power. You can deal with it."
"The Red Guanyin? Wearing red Dharma robes?"
Thinking of the Vengeful Ghost's name and its red Dharma robes, Qu Zan felt that it somehow sounded like something dressed in red bridal clothes.
It was profoundly eerie and sinister.
"Is there any other information? Just a red Dharma body and red Dharma robes? Not even any indication of its abilities?"
The old Bhikṣuṇī's deeply wrinkled face remained expressionless.
"Beyond that, I know nothing either. That thing is extremely elusive. If you imprison the Red Guanyin, you will benefit the people of that village and rid them of their scourge. I would not mind teaching you Sanskrit in return."
From the sound of it, was this old Bhikṣuṇī truly thinking only of the villagers' welfare?
It seemed there was no more information to be had. Qu Zan hesitated no longer and left the temple.
After he went out, the door closed again.
The sutra hall sank back into darkness. Pairs of deathly pale arms, radiating a corpse's chill, emerged from the darkness and enclosed the old Bhikṣuṇī.
In the darkness behind her, the eerie outline of a divine Buddha took shape.
"It is all to avoid being tracked by those Maitreya cultists. Otherwise, why would I ever have a child take action?"
The old Bhikṣuṇī let out a long sigh.
"It seems the God-and-Demon Power that child commands has something to do with his eyes. He nearly saw through my true form."
Like a corpse, the old Bhikṣuṇī walked stiffly toward the meditation bed and lit sticks of esoteric incense to