Chapter 178
Chapter 178
Meanwhile, when Old Sixth Hui and the many little spirits reached the Li family villa, they found it completely deserted.
Furious, Old Sixth Hui swept his sleeve. Chanting in rhythm as they worked, the little spirits began tearing the place apart.
Before long, the entire three-story villa collapsed with a thunderous crash and was leveled to the ground.
Old Sixth Hui was about to leave when he noticed the miserable Chaotic Graveyard surrounding it.
He sighed and formed a hand seal.
“By today’s decree, I deliver your lonely souls. Let every ghost and all four forms of birth receive this grace. Those with heads, transcend.”
“Those without heads, be reborn. Slain by spear or blade, drowned or hanged, dead in light or darkness, wronged or unjustly killed, creditors and enemies, children whose lives were stolen-kneel before my altar.”
“The Eight Trigrams cast their light and cleanse you on your way. Be reborn in another place, as man or woman. Wealth or poverty shall arise from what you yourselves have called forth. By decree, all assembled souls.”
“Be swiftly reborn. By decree, all assembled souls, be swiftly reborn.”
“As though the young master physician were here in person, as swiftly as the law commands!”
The instant the incantation took effect, cracking and shattering sounds rang all around.
Out of compassion, Old Sixth Hui had broken the bindings Li Jiao placed on the dead souls.
Ghosts surged out in a great tide. After bowing to Old Sixth Hui, they slowly sank into the earth.
“We thank the Old Immortal for freeing us!”
“Old Immortal, bear witness: the evil cultivator who tormented us fled north!”
Delight appeared on Old Sixth Hui’s face. He hurriedly calculated on his fingers.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, shaking his head and murmuring.
“Strange, strange. How could this be…?”
When there is more to say, speak at length; when there is nothing, pass over it quickly.
Several days went by in the blink of an eye, and the eagerly awaited Going Home Week arrived again.
This time, Zhao Fei’s father, Zhao Aiguo, came to collect Hua Jiunan and the other two.
Once they were in the car, Zhao Fei asked, “Dad, how did you find time to pick us up?”
“Aren’t you busy lately?”
Zhao Aiguo smiled as he drove.
“I haven’t gone home to see Old Auntie for a week either, so I picked you up on the way.”
“Sigh. We still don’t have a single lead on the murders at Jinguang Temple…”
Hua Jiunan knew Zhao Aiguo meant the three old monks killed by Ghost Buddha Faceless.
Grievances within the cultivation world had to be settled by the cultivation world.
It would be stranger if ordinary people could solve the case.
“Uncle Zhao, you should leave the matter at Jinguang Temple alone.”
“In a few days, someone will give you an accounting.”
Hua Jiunan hesitated briefly, then continued.
“Also, something may happen at the Huimu Mountain Ski Resort over the next few days, but the impact shouldn’t be too serious.”
“Eldest Brother Huaiyuan and the others already have people watching the place.”
Zhao Aiguo understood the general situation from Hua Jiunan’s words.
Beyond feeling powerless, he was deeply furious.
He struck the steering wheel and muttered angrily, “These demons and monsters never end!”
The mention of Huimu Mountain reminded Zhao Aiguo of something.
“Jiunan, a few days ago, our staff reorganized and typeset the County Gazetteer. It specifically mentioned Huimu Mountain.”
“Several thousand years ago, this mountain was originally called Ghost Mother Mountain.”
“Legend says a terrifying evil deity known as the Great Ghost Mother lived inside.”
“She was so vicious that she slaughtered nearly every household in the surrounding region.”
“So many died and the disaster grew so severe that resentment reached the heavens.”
“In the end, King Biancheng was alerted and subdued the evil deity.”
“People said ‘Ghost Mother Mountain’ so often that the name gradually became today’s Huimu Mountain.”
Zhao Aiguo was an excellent storyteller. Although the legend itself was simple, Chen Daji and Zhao Fei listened in fascination.
For some reason, however, a faint sense of foreboding rose in Hua Jiunan’s heart.
Elsewhere, a middle-aged monk with dark, lean features and eyes as clear as a mountain spring had reached the gates below Jinguang Temple.
With palms pressed together and the Buddha’s name on his lips, he advanced toward the temple halfway up the mountain, kneeling and bowing with every few steps.
The faithful who had come to offer incense saw the solemn dignity of the monk and moved aside, not daring block his path.
Word passed from mouth to mouth. Before long, it reached Master Kongchan, who was chanting scripture before the Buddha.
The old monk did not dare delay. He led his disciples down to the foot of the mountain to welcome the visitor.
At the sight of the middle-aged monk, Master Kongchan’s face filled with respect.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“This humble monk did not know the Chief of Mount Wutai’s Arhat Hall had graced us with his presence and failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me!”
After kneeling and bowing once more toward the temple, the middle-aged monk rose and returned Master Kongchan’s salute.
“Namo Amitabha. Abbot Kongchan, you are too courteous.”
“We are both disciples of the Buddha. There is truly no need for such ceremony.”
Although the visitor spoke courteously, Master Kongchan remained deeply respectful.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“Please ascend the mountain with me, Great Monk. This humble monk can explain the entire matter to you face to face.”
The middle-aged monk slowly but firmly shook his head.
“I dare not hurry before the Buddhist rites are complete.”
“Abbot Kongchan may return to the temple and wait for me.”
With that, the middle-aged monk continued toward Jinguang Temple, bowing once every three steps.
Deeply moved by Great Monk Numu, the Chief of the Arhat Hall, Master Kongchan dismissed the other monks back to the temple.
He followed behind Numu and devotedly bowed to the Buddha every three steps as well.