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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 404: Evil Jade Entwined (Part Five)
I glanced at the time; it was late autumn, and outside, a thick fog had settled in early, resembling the onset of night. I asked Gousi to prepare an Altar, as it was necessary for the ritual dedicated to the Nine Profound Goddess.
Nine candles transformed into nine lotus lamps, inviting the spirits of the past to assist us. All idle onlookers were instructed to stay away; no matter what sounds they heard or sights they saw, they were not to interfere. I had my own measures in place, and anyone who disobeyed would bear the consequences.
Ma Ge and Zhu Jie were skeptical of my words but had no choice but to retreat under Gousi's imposing presence.
Dinner was lavish, but I barely ate.
Gousi, lost in thought and seemingly indifferent to food or drink, stayed close by my side, holding my hand and showering me with kisses and tender caresses.
I was curious about the story between Gousi and me; several times I almost asked Zhu Jie, but just as the words were on the tip of my tongue, Ma Ge would appear and silence me.
In truth, staying at Gousi's home was a wise choice; living in this affluent area was remarkably peaceful.
After dinner, we began setting up the Altar. Gousi worked meticulously; aside from his trusted aides Ma Ge and Zhu Jie, he informed no one else. The house felt particularly desolate with just the four of us present, especially considering there was also a half-dead person inside.
The arrangement for the spirit hall that Gousi prepared was chilling to behold.
As the fog thickened, it suddenly began to rain lightly. After the rain, the lights grew murky, and the roads became wet. The plants in the villa area seemed to don a fresh new outfit, appearing vibrant and greener than before.
"Master Ma, I entrust everything to you," I said, avoiding Gousi's bloodshot eyes from sleepless nights. I nodded hurriedly and began walking around the Altar while performing the Bagua Formation steps.
Gousi silently observed my actions while Ma Ge and Zhu Jie stood behind him with indifferent expressions. Their main concern seemed to be whether I, Ma Qi, was merely a con artist from the underworld. Perhaps without Xie Ke's introduction, they wouldn't even consider engaging with what they deemed nonsensical.
I could have managed this alone; had they been more agreeable, I wouldn't have made things difficult for them. I even suggested they take a rest. But seeing their sour faces only fueled my irritation. I couldn't help but smirk inwardly: "If you approach this with sincerity and hope for an early awakening, recite the Diamond Sutra fifty times without making a sound or error; otherwise, all efforts will be in vain."
"Hey, aren't you the kind of person that should be avoided?" Brother Ma said, a bit irritated.
I glanced at Gousi. Of course, if someone doesn't want to wake up, then there's no need for you to recite the Diamond Sutra.
"Please, Old Ma, do you want to fight?" Gousi retorted angrily.
Brother Ma quickly lowered his head. "Boss, that's not what I meant. I was just—"
"I asked if you want to fight?"
Gousi glared with fierce eyes, causing Brother Ma to shudder in fear. He hurriedly said, "Boss, I'll recite it right away... I'm going to do it now..." He reached out to grab the Diamond Sutra.
I shouted, "Wait!"
"What now?"
I expressionlessly pointed at Sister Zhu. Brother Ma replied, "You all have quite a bit of impure energy on you, so you must bathe and cleanse yourselves before you can touch the scriptures."
"You..."
Gousi's face darkened. "Master Ma, how should we proceed?"
"Oh."
Brother Ma along with Sister Zhu and Gousi went to bathe and change into clean clothes. I set up the formation, hand gestures and incantations ready to establish the barrier. By the time they returned, everything on my end was prepared.
Then the three of them returned to the ground in order, each holding a copy of the Diamond Sutra. When they opened it, they were stunned.
Gousi's face turned red, and he stammered, "Master Ma, there are so many dense characters here. They know me, but we don't know them. What should we do?"
Who would believe this? A figure from the underworld living in a luxurious villa in a wealthy neighborhood was actually illiterate. This wasn't just a story; it was happening right before my eyes with real people.
Sigh! It seems that punishing these people is going to be quite challenging for me.
I said, "While you recite the Six-Character Mantra—Om, Mani, Padme, Hum—you must have a sincere and kind heart. I'll show you how to shape my mouth and remind you to follow along without going off-key."
Gousi worked hard to recite it, while Ma Ge and Sister Zhu quickly mastered the imitation. However, their leader struggled for a long time without learning it. He was anxious and paced back and forth until he finally stood in front of me. "Master Ma, isn't it enough to have a good heart? What if I use my recitation of these scriptures as a way to donate? Does that count as doing good deeds?"
"Yes," I replied. "As long as you have a kind heart, there are opportunities to create good karma at any time and place. Your donation is also a significant act of kindness."
Gousi thought for a moment. "Then I'll donate to disaster areas that need relief, the Red Cross, and children's welfare institutions. Is it okay if I donate five hundred thousand to each organization?"
"That's fine." I gave Gousi a thumbs up and told him to take a break while Ma Ge and Sister Zhu continued reciting the Six-Character Mantra.
"I... I regret this," Ma Ge seemed to have second thoughts when he saw that Gousi didn't have to continue and wanted to back out too.
Gousi glared at him and said, "Hammer, my donation is my donation; you must recite it too. Reciting on my behalf will bring you more good karma."
"Oh."
With no other choice, Ma Ge knelt down on the tiles alongside Sister Zhu.
I quietly knelt on the bare tiles, enduring this position for several hours. So, hey, tonight would be enough for them to suffer, and it was also a way to atone for their past wrongdoings.
As the ritual began, I sat upright on the Meditation Cushion, my hands pressed together in prayer, silently reciting the incantation. Though I appeared calm and focused, my auditory senses were already on high alert, ready to catch even the slightest rustle or whisper.
The door to the room opened, allowing me to observe her movements at any moment.
Time ticked by slowly; the silent recitation left Brother Ma and Sister Zhu utterly exhausted, yet they dared not voice a single complaint.
The candles on the Altar flickered brightly, nine golden lotus flowers radiating light. The Nine Profound Goddess talismans on either side fluttered in the draft. The surroundings were eerily silent; I believed that even a needle dropping to the floor would be heard clearly.
As midnight approached, Brother Ma and Sister Zhu grew increasingly tense. I did not look at them but remained still and composed.
Before long, faint rustling sounds came from outside, resembling a restless mouse searching for food. Wrong! In such a high-end villa, not even a mouse—or even a cockroach—could survive.
Thanks to professional caretakers and various protective measures, the source of the rustling was neither a mouse nor a cockroach; it was an ominous wind.
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