Chapter 214
Chapter 214
Hua Jiunan still cared deeply for Chen Daji. He carefully pulled the wooden splinters from his forehead one by one.
“Why does this keep happening…? No, I have to try one more time!”
Chen Daji shuddered in fright, then turned and bolted.
“Wait a minute, Big Brother! I need to prepare first.”
He raced over to Eighth Master Chang and, under the latter’s astonished gaze, dumped all the instant noodles into a basin. Then he put the black wok over his head and hurried back to the altar.
Behind him came Eighth Master Chang’s shaken muttering.
“Fuck, he scared the hell out of me! I thought the little bastard was going to steal my noodles…”
“Big Brother, I’m ready. Let’s do it!”
Chen Daji’s voice sounded muffled beneath the black wok.
Hua Jiunan stared at his ridiculous appearance.
“Take it off. I’ll recite it aloud this time. Nothing will explode…”
Chen Daji gaped.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier, Big Brother? What a waste of effort! Now my whole head is covered in grease!”
Hua Jiunan first tried to teach Chen Daji a simplified version of the Summoning Art, the General Invocation of the Gods.
“Heavy fragrance answers Heaven and Earth; kindled incense pierces Heaven’s gate. The golden bird races like an arrow through clouds; the jade hare shines like a turning wheel.
“Southern Dipper and Northern Dipper illuminate the heavens; five-colored auspicious clouds surge and roil. The sacred hall opens in Ziwei Palace; Jade Maidens of Peach Spring invite the immortals…”
Hua Jiunan recited one line, and Chen Daji repeated it after him.
Unexpectedly, before they were even halfway through, muffled thunder rolled across the sky. Then a bolt of lightning descended toward Chen Daji’s head.
There was no time to think. Hua Jiunan kicked Chen Daji out of the way.
The lightning struck the altar, sending up coils of azure smoke.
Ignoring the pain of his fall, Chen Daji sat on the ground and stared blankly at the sky.
“Fuck. Who am I? Where am I? What did I do? Why did lightning try to strike me?!”
It was not only Chen Daji who was questioning his life. Hua Jiunan was puzzled too.
Daji possessed a Pure Yang Body and a kind heart. Uncle Chen Fu had brought prosperity to the entire region and accumulated abundant hidden virtue. By all reason, this should not have happened!
“Daji, throw away that black wok. Could that thing have attracted the lightning?”
“Really? Big Brother, I haven’t read many books. Don’t lie to me…”
Hua Jiunan gave Chen Daji a look that said, *Trust me, I’m right.* Then he declared with absolute certainty,
“Iron is a good conductor of electricity. Our physics teacher taught us that in class!”
Chen Daji remained doubtful, but he still tossed the great black wok back to the dumbstruck Eighth Master Chang.
He did not forget to warn him, “Eighth Master, be careful when you use this thing to cook noodles. It attracts lightning!”
The two sat facing each other again.
This time, Hua Jiunan did not dare be too ambitious and teach Chen Daji the General Invocation of the Gods. Instead, he chose an immensely powerful summoning art: the Third Prince Incantation.
“I respectfully invite Third Prince Nezha, who gained divine powers at seven years old. Nezha commands, Nezha commands; Prince Nezha leads a million troops.
“A million soldiers marshal their ranks; mounted troops form ranks before the altar.
“At one, without a father, he was raised in Heaven. At two, without a mother, he grew on his own. At three, with neither brother nor kin, he became a lotus born upon the water…”
Just as before, Chen Daji had only learned half when a bolt of lightning abruptly descended toward him.
This time, Chen Daji was prepared. Before Hua Jiunan could kick him, he threw himself aside in an ungainly roll.
Unfortunately, he was a fraction too slow. Half his body was shocked, his hair standing up like tangled weeds as black smoke curled from it.
His soot-blackened face was filled with grievance. He looked pitifully at Hua Jiunan.
“Big Brother, I hope you can give me a perfect explanation…”
Although Hua Jiunan’s heart was still pounding, his expression remained as steady as a mountain.
To keep Chen Daji confident in him, his mind raced.
Ah, he had it!
“Daji, I think this time was still an accident. I think it’s because… because…”
Before Hua Jiunan could finish, Chen Daji could not help interrupting.
“Big Brother, whatever you do, don’t say, ‘I think it’s because I’m not gentle enough.’ I know that song too…”