Taboo Mage - Chapter 107 - Watching the Show
At this point, I felt a jolt in my heart. This Lama clearly knows he’s not skilled enough, yet he insists on summoning such a powerful female ghost. I can’t figure out what he aims to do.
Whatever it is, it’s probably not something good.
I’m not too worried about this fake Lama right now. What concerns me is Jue Chi.
Although this monk hasn’t explicitly told me, I know very well that if the fake Lama fails to control the female ghost tomorrow, Jue Chi will definitely step in.
What if Jue Chi gets hurt by the female ghost…
Thinking of this, I quickly got up and urged Chi Rui to go back and inform our great-grandfather, then I ran off to Jue Chi’s room.
When I found Jue Chi, he was sitting in the courtyard, holding a string of prayer beads in his hands, looking up blankly, seemingly lost in thought.
Probably hearing my footsteps, Jue Chi turned his head, “You’re back?”
I nodded, opening my mouth, but all the words I had prepared along the way now seemed stuck, “Well, just… be careful tomorrow night.”
Jue Chi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and asked, “You’re not going to stop me anymore?”
“Why would I stop you? If you insist on courting death, why should I hold you back?”
With that, I turned and went back to my room.
Sitting on the bed alone, the more I thought, the more suffocated I felt. I had dragged this monk out from Chan Guang Monastery, and if something happens to him, how will I explain to others…
The more I thought, the more restless I became. I grabbed my backpack and headed outside.
Just as I reached the courtyard gate, I ran into Chi Rui coming back, and a thought crossed my mind. I pulled him along.
“What are you doing? Done talking with Jue Chi?”
Chi Rui got into the car, stepped on the gas pedal, and asked curiously.
I snorted, “Where can I buy yellow talisman paper and incense candles around here? I need them.”
I can’t leave Jue Chi, but I’m running low on tools, so I must go out and stock up on supplies.
However, the more I thought about it, the more I felt the expense was unnecessary. With Chi Rui around, whatever I did was ultimately to heal his great-grandfather’s eyes.
So, it’s most economical for Chi Rui to foot the bill!
With this thought, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Chi Rui understood clearly and pressed the gas pedal to the floor. In less than an hour, we arrived at Shenyang’s largest incense candle market.
Since I had Chi Rui, who acts like a big spender, backing me up, I was noticeably more generous with my purchases this time. After strolling down just one street, I had already bought a lot of items.
But what pleased me the most was finding an authentic peachwood sword here, even more genuine than the one I had used before, without any impurities.
Holding this, the thing that delighted me most so far, I followed Jue Chi happily back to the Siheyuan.
To prevent any accidents from happening tomorrow, I spent the entire night making two protective life amulets and several useful yellow talismans.
Early the next morning, Jue Chi and I prepared to watch the big show for the day.
When we reached the courtyard where the great-grandfather was staying, no one else had arrived yet, except for Chi Rui, who was sitting on a stone chair.
Soon, Chi Zhong appeared first. He nodded at us and then went inside to invite the great-grandfather.
Chi Hong and Lama Duoren seemed to have timed it perfectly. Just as Chi Zhong stepped into the room, the two of them strolled in.
Seeing Lama Duoren, I couldn’t help but glance at Jue Chi. Jue Chi’s face was expressionless, yet I clearly noticed that the hand holding his prayer beads was rotating faster and faster.
It seems this monk has also heightened his vigilance. Knowing that he’s more alert now, I felt half-relieved.
Chi Rui and his uncle didn’t appear out of the ordinary; they casually exchanged a few pleasantries, though their eyes looked as if they could pierce each other with daggers.
About ten minutes later, Chi Zhong was the first to come out. He lifted the curtain with one hand and bowed, saying, “Great-grandfather, take your time.”
I shifted my gaze from Lama Duoren to the doorway.
The great-grandfather had dressed specially today in a Chinese tunic suit, leaning on a cane with Bai Jie, who had changed into a skirt, by his side. He looked as vigorous as ever, but I could vaguely see a trace of anticipation on his otherwise calm face.
I stood up along with everyone else as the great-grandfather took a seat in the armchair at the center of the courtyard, draping a blanket over his legs. He looked at Chi Hong and asked, “How is Master Duoren’s preparation coming along?”
Chi Hong immediately stood up, “Grandfather, Master Duoren is all set. I assure you, you will be satisfied this time.”
The great-grandfather nodded with a smile and gestured for them to begin.
I glanced at Lama Duoren, who was directing a few people to bring in an altar table draped in yellow cloth, on which incense candles and various items were placed.
I quietly moved over to Jue Chi and asked, “What is he trying to do?”
Jue Chi shook his head, “I’m not sure. I’ve never encountered anything like this before.”
It seems this Lama Duoren isn’t a complete fraud; at least he can fool Jue Chi, who is a genuine eminent monk.
Once everything was set, Lama Duoren nodded at the great-grandfather, holding a prayer wheel in his hand, and sat down in front of the altar table.
“Lord Taishang Laojun1, act at once as decreed by this command!”
Lama Duoren’s first words made me almost spit out my tea. This so-called eminent monk from Tibet-if he’s going to be a fraud, he should at least do a decent job of pretending.
These kinds of street magician slogans could really be skipped.
Those standing around covered their mouths, trying hard to suppress laughter, while Chi Hong shot them a glare. I struggled to keep from laughing, eager to see what other tricks this fake Lama might pull off.
Lama Duoren walked around in circles on the ground, then took a yellow talisman and stuck it onto a paper effigy. My heart jumped instantly.
If I remember correctly, inside this paper effigy is the female ghost in red from that night. Is he planning to release her now?
But against expectations, after the yellow talisman was placed on the paper effigy, nothing happened. I saw people around whispering to each other, likely discussing what on earth the Lama was trying to do.
Lama Duoren then sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, chanting as if he were performing a ritual, yet not making any physical moves.
An hour… two hours passed, and people were starting to grow impatient.
Footnote:
- Taishang Laojun(太上老君):A revered deity in Taoism, often identified as the deified form of Laozi, the legendary sage and author of the Tao Te Ching.
