Chapter 159
Chapter 159
Within the time it took an incense stick to burn after leaving the house, Hu Qingshan had reached Huimu Mountain.
Following Hu Fei’er’s description, he went straight to the mountainside.
There was no path at all. Tourists traveled up and down exclusively by cable car.
The Hu Family Patriarch therefore had no fear of alarming ordinary people.
Starlike brilliance flashed in his eyes as he carefully examined every blade of grass and every tree around him.
As he walked, he suddenly stopped and murmured, “A ghost-blinding spell?!”
“How could such a paltry evil art conceal anything from the orthodox Immortal Spirits?”
“With the Great Lord presiding, a hundred ghosts lose their way. Break!”
At Hu Qingshan’s command, a sound like shattering glass rang through the surroundings.
Once it faded, the scene Xu Fangcao and Li Yun had witnessed appeared before the Hu Family Patriarch once more.
But the ox skull was even more sinister than it had been several days earlier.
Its color had deepened to a vivid crimson, as though blood might drip from it, while black smoke streamed from its eye sockets.
Faint roars echoed through the surrounding air.
Most conspicuous of all was the distinct palm print on the skull’s forehead.
An eerie black hue surrounded it, and hairline cracks spread in every direction like a spiderweb.
Hu Qingshan knitted his brows.
After a moment’s thought, he swept his sleeve, hiding the sinister scene once more.
“I may as well see this through to the end.”
“Very well. This old man will make another trip to Jinguang Temple and meet that Ghost Buddha.”
Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Hu Qingshan appeared inside Jinguang Temple’s main hall.
Master Kongchan, who had been chanting sutras before the Buddha, stared briefly at the Hu Family Patriarch, then rose and bowed.
“Namo Amitabha. This humble monk greets the Senior Immortal.”
Hu Qingshan nodded in return.
“No need for ceremony, Master.”
“This old man has come today solely on a private matter.”
He walked before the Buddha statue and tapped his cane against the floor three times, completing the necessary courtesies.
Then he vanished from the hall.
Knowing Hu Qingshan had entered the space beneath the statue, Master Kongchan hurriedly ordered the young monks to close the temple to all visitors.
No one was to take so much as a single step into Jinguang Temple, lest an accident occur.
The three eminent monks from Mount Wutai had passed away only days before when the Ghost Buddha suddenly attacked. How could he not be cautious?
Master Kongchan took the bloodstained letter of recommendation from within his kasaya and placed it on the altar before the Buddha.
Then he sat cross-legged on the floor and began chanting the Ksitigarbha True Scripture for Subduing Demons.
After entering the space beneath the statue, Hu Qingshan saw exactly what the three old monks from Mount Wutai had seen.
Temples stood one after another, and the sound of scripture chanting never ceased.
The occasional passing ghost wore a peaceful expression and voluntarily greeted Hu Qingshan with a bow.
As Hu Qingshan slowly entered the main hall, the young monk preaching to hundreds of ghosts suddenly stopped.
With a compassionate expression, he addressed them.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“An honored guest has arrived. Today’s sermon will end here. Benefactors, please return home.”
The ghosts rose to leave, not forgetting to kneel and bow to the young monk.
Everything before him left Hu Qingshan bewildered.
Wasn’t the Ghost Buddha supposed to be imprisoned here? How could the place be so peaceful and harmonious?
Before the Hu Family Patriarch could ponder further, the young monk rose and bowed.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“This humble monk Wuxin greets the Senior Immortal.”
Hu Qingshan did not stand on ceremony. He merely nodded in acknowledgment.
“Since your Dharma name is Wuxin, young monk, do you happen to know Master Faceless?”
Young Monk Wuxin gently shook his head.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“Several eminent monks visited this humble temple a few days ago, also seeking Master Faceless.”
“Unfortunately, this humble monk does not know him.”
As they spoke, the young monk took out two meditation cushions.
Hu Qingshan sat facing him.
“Young Monk Wuxin, this old man came today to ask you about one matter.”
“Namo Amitabha. Please ask, Senior Immortal. This humble monk will tell you everything he knows.”
Hu Qingshan did not conceal anything and asked directly about Xu Fangcao.
“That girl was tormented by an Ox Ghost that day. After she came to this temple to offer incense, were you the one who delivered her from it?”
The young monk looked compassionate and repeatedly chanted the Buddha’s name.
“All living beings suffer.”
“The other day, this humble monk saw that the Ox Ghost had seized one ethereal soul and one corporeal soul from that female benefactor and could not bear to leave her so.”
“Therefore, that very night, this humble monk visited Huimu Mountain.”
“After some gentle persuasion, the Ox Ghost benefactor finally showed compassion and entrusted the missing souls to this humble monk.”
“This humble monk returned them to the female benefactor’s body before dawn.”
Hu Qingshan nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the young monk as seven-colored radiance flickered within them.
“Young monk, this old man has one final question.”
“What is a monk with no heart? And what is a monk with no face?”
Confusion first appeared on the young monk’s face. Then his compassionate expression returned.
“Namo Amitabha!”
“A monk with no heart is empty and clear, able to comprehend the boundlessness of the Dharma.”
“But a monk with no face…”
“A faceless monk… A faceless monk must harbor a demonic obstacle in his heart and be too ashamed to show himself before the Buddha…”