Taboo Mage - Chapter 114 - The Appearance of Jue Chi

I was feeling a bit irritated. I had already told them that it’s temporarily safe, and I’ve been inside for such a long time, yet here I am still standing alive.

How could they really disregard someone’s life like that? Can people really be that selfish?

“If you guys don’t open the door right now, I’m going to let the ghost out. Do you really think a door can block a ghost?” I kicked the gate hard and shouted angrily.

There was some commotion outside, and then the gate was opened by a younger member of the Chi Family, dressed in a suit, who peeked in. I scanned the area, but there was still no sign of Jue Chi.

“Have you seen that monk?” I frowned and asked in a low voice.

“Are you talking about Master Duoren?” one of them asked quizzically.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, responding impatiently, “Why bring up that fraud? I’m talking about my assistant, the handsome bald guy!”

“Oh… haven’t seen him…”

Not wanting to hear their muttering, I pushed past them and took a stroll around the courtyard and the village, but there was no sign of Jue Chi. I had never encountered a situation like this before.

Worry crept into my heart, and I pulled out my phone to call Jue Chi. Every call ended with a busy signal. Only I knew this phone number, which I had set up for him.

There are only two possibilities now: either he has blocked me, or Jue Chi is deliberately hanging up. Given the current situation, the second reason seems more likely. But what could have happened that Jue Chi can’t even answer the phone?

Countless assumptions flashed through my mind, but I ended up dismissing them all.

“Mr. Gu, Chi Rui is looking for you…”

Just as I was in a daze and on the brink of collapse, I heard a gentle voice behind me. Turning around, I saw Bai Jie had appeared at some point, with a soft smile on her face.

I nodded and quickly headed towards the great-grandfather’s room.

As I walked into the great-grandfather’s courtyard, I heard a clamor coming from inside. The Chi Family juniors, who had been loitering at the entrance, were all now gathered inside the great-grandfather’s room, making such a racket that I couldn’t quite discern what they were discussing.

I stood at the door for a while, still unable to make out their conversation, so I turned to Bai Jie for clarification. Bai Jie explained that after I went out to look for Jue Chi, those from the Chi Family rushed in to see the great-grandfather.

When Chi Rui presented the two solutions I had suggested and tried to discuss them, everyone unexpectedly agreed to use the copper coin sword to forcibly remove the female ghost from the great-grandfather’s body. This was to prevent the ghost from potentially controlling him in the future and doing something that might harm the Chi Family’s legacy.

I almost laughed out loud-it wasn’t about fearing for the family legacy at all. Each of them had ulterior motives, and there were two main reasons they wanted the great-grandfather gone.

First, they knew that as long as the great-grandfather favored Chi Rui, his eldest grandson, they wouldn’t have a chance at the Chi Family’s assets. Now that there was an opportunity to legitimately eliminate the old man, why wouldn’t they take it? Moreover, they could even earn the reputation of sacrificing the small family for the greater good.

Second, they were all likely afraid of dying, worried that if the female ghost sealed within the great-grandfather ever got out of control, their own safety would be at risk.

The coldness of human relationships only truly reveals itself at times like these.

I asked Bai Jie, “What about Chi Rui’s decision?”

Bai Jie shook her head. When she came out to find me, Chi Rui was being blocked by those people in the room, so she couldn’t learn anything.

I nodded, just about to go in, when I caught sight of someone in the corner of my eye.

It was Lama Duoren. I couldn’t believe he still dared to be in the Chi Family courtyard.

I walked over slowly, grabbed Lama Duoren by the collar, and yanked him out from the corner, dragging him directly into the great-grandfather’s room.

Chi Rui was sitting in the chair, overwhelmed with worry. When he saw me enter, bringing along the person responsible for all this trouble, his face lit up with delight. He sternly said, “You fraud, how dare you stay here! Tell me, who instructed you to harm the great-grandfather like this?”

Lama Duoren collapsed on the floor, shaking his head vigorously. “It really wasn’t me. I’m just a wandering taoist priest. I truly know nothing about this!”

“Then why did you summon the female ghost? Do you have any way to expel her from the great-grandfather’s body?” Chi Rui kicked Lama Duoren in the chest with a ruthless blow.

Lama Duoren trembled, replying in a low voice, “The method…I saw it in a temple before, and someone guided me through it. I didn’t know it could actually summon a ghost!”

Looking at Lama Duoren, he didn’t seem to be lying. With no other options appearing, was the only choice to let the great-grandfather vanish along with the female ghost?

I glanced over at Chi Rui, who was still hesitating, but the Chi Family juniors around us had started clamoring for a quick resolution to the female ghost situation.

After much internal conflict, Chi Rui finally looked at me, clenched his teeth, and said, “Brother Gu, please take care of the female ghost.”

I was taken aback but understood Chi Rui’s final decision. I nodded, raised the copper coin sword in my hand, and approached the prone figure on the bed.

Great-grandfather, at this point, I can only apologize!

The sword was raised high, and just as it was about to descend, a familiar voice came from the doorway, “Qingshu! Wait!”

I halted the sword mid-air and immediately turned to look. Jue Chi, who had been missing all night, was standing at the door, unharmed, now dressed in a Kasaya instead of his casual clothes.

His complexion was healthy, not at all like he had been hurt.

A wave of relief washed over me, followed by a somber feeling, as I asked, “Where did you run off to? Do you know how dangerous this place is?”

Jue Chi nodded calmly and said, “I know, and I also know that with your current abilities, handling a female ghost should be no problem.”

“And that means you could just leave me alone here?” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. What kind of logic was this?

“Master Jue Chi, when you said to wait, did you mean there’s another way to both save my great-grandfather and expel the female ghost?”