Chapter 142
Chapter 142
To Hua Jiunan and the others, the mighty sound of scripture recitation brought peace to the heart.
It was like a clear stream gently cleansing the soul.
To the evil ghosts, however, it felt as though thousands of red-hot steel needles had pierced their bodies.
Agony filled every inch of them. They collapsed, rolling and wailing.
Before long, black smoke began pouring from some of the evil ghosts, their bodies growing almost transparent.
Master Kongchan had no desire to take life, so he stopped reciting and slowly rose.
Chen Daji stared, dumbfounded, and whispered to Hua Jiunan.
“Big Brother, the old monk usually looks so kind and gentle, but when he starts cursing, he’s vicious!”
“Look at that! One savage tirade, and he roasted so many fierce ghosts until they started smoking!”
“If I’d known the old monk was this brutal, I wouldn’t have extorted his ‘collectible’ this afternoon.”
“Is it too late to give it back…?”
Hua Jiunan smiled.
“Master Kongchan is broad-minded. He won’t hold it against you.”
“Besides, what he just did wasn’t cursing. He recited scripture to suppress evil beings.”
“The Buddha may be compassionate, but the wrath of a Vajra has its place.”
“How could he allow these demons and monsters to run rampant?”
While the two spoke, Master Kongchan approached Deaf Granny with shame written across his face.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“This humble monk was clinging to appearances and spoke foolishly just now. I ask the Bodhisattva Lady’s forgiveness.”
“Clinging to appearances” was a Buddhist term.
It meant becoming attached to external forms, illusory appearances, or individual consciousness and thereby straying from the true essence.
An “appearance” referred to the understanding-or concept-that an object formed in the mind. It could be tangible or intangible.
By using this phrase, Master Kongchan was reproaching himself for acting rigidly: he had tried to do good and deliver “people” without considering their actual circumstances.
Deaf Granny smiled and nodded.
“You’re a good man, old monk. You know how to correct your mistakes. Very good.”
“Watch from the side.”
“This old woman’s Spirit Seizure ritual must continue.”
The evil ghosts first gazed enviously at the four souls beside the paper warriors and horses, then resumed their savage fighting.
After the lesson they had just received, they merely defeated their opponents and no longer dared damage their foundations.
As time passed, the evil ghosts who could no longer endure withdrew from the battle one after another.
After bowing to Deaf Granny, they wailed as they returned to their places of torment.
Only when the four most vicious evil ghosts remained did Deaf Granny order them to stop.
“My precious grandson is going to destroy the Eight Valiant Generals tonight and needs several helpers.”
“I’ll give you the ugly truth first: this may be extremely dangerous.”
“If you’re willing to help, remain here and possess the paper horses.”
“Once the task is complete, this old woman promises not to take the paper horses back. I will give them to you as false yang bodies.”
At that point, Deaf Granny drew four balls of dough wrapped in red thread from inside her clothes.
“If you are unwilling to help, this old woman will not force you.”
“Divide these four incense-offering seeds among yourselves, one each. They should lessen your karmic burden by a few years, at least.”
The four evil ghosts had naturally heard of the Eight Valiant Generals’ fearsome reputation, and terror showed in their eyes.
Yet they could not bear to surrender the magnificent opportunity before them.
If they obtained false yang bodies, not only could they cultivate to a limited extent, but the agony they suffered every moment would be reduced by more than half.
After a brief pause, the four evil ghosts exchanged looks and made their decision.
They knelt before Deaf Granny together.
“Old Immortal, we are willing to join the little immortals and fight the Eight Valiant Generals!”
With no further hesitation, they transformed into streams of black smoke and merged into the paper horses.
The paper horses instantly seemed to come alive, pawing the ground with their front hooves and neighing softly.
Deaf Granny turned toward the four ghosts comprising a man, woman, elder, and child.
Before she could speak, the ghosts addressed her first.
“Old Immortal, we are willing to help the little immortals rid the people of this scourge and reduce our own karmic burden.”
“Even if the Eight Valiant Generals kill us, it will be better than living every moment in regret.”
After another surge of black energy, the four ghosts possessed the saber-wielding paper warriors.
The paper figures abruptly opened their eyes, black energy coiling around their bodies.
Deaf Granny sighed at the sight.
“Since all of you have said so, how could this old woman bear to let you throw away your lives?”
Supported by Hua Jiunan and Hu Fei’er, the old woman slowly walked to the Little Pine Tree.
She gathered several fallen pine needles from the ground and handed them to Hua Jiunan.
“Precious grandson, chew these up and spray them over the figures.”
Hua Jiunan did as she instructed.
After a soft burst from his mouth, green light blazed across the paper warriors and horses.
In the blink of an eye, full suits of heavy armor formed around them, covering even the warhorses from head to hoof.
The paper warriors and horses were deeply moved and spoke together.
“The Old Immortal is merciful! The little immortal is merciful!”
“Even if it costs our lives tonight, we will protect the little immortal and bring him home safely!”
Eighth Master Chang gazed enviously at the heavy armor covering the paper warriors and horses.
No matter how he looked at it, that equipment seemed much more dependable than the black pot on his head.
So Eighth Master Chang curled his thick tail around a great clod of frozen earth mixed with pine needles and presented it to Hua Jiunan with a fawning smile.
“Young master physician, could you chew this up and spray some on old Eighth too…?”