Taboo Mage - Chapter 161 - Trapped in the Illusion

“Boss… Boss Gu, I’m fine.”

“Alright, alright, you’re fine.” I sighed helplessly. It seemed like forget about playing cards, if he could even recognize the card faces now, I could write “Gu” backwards.

On the other side, Zhou Qifang remained unresponsive, like a meditating monk. I glanced at the time on the wall; it was already 11 PM. According to Chinese beliefs, the Ghost Gate¹ was about to open.

I just didn’t know if the evil spirit’s curfew in Thailand was the same as in China, but this was something I couldn’t worry about now.

I was always the one doing the exorcisms in the past, spending entire nights on edge. Now that I finally became the one being protected, I should enjoy it while I can.

As the time crept closer to midnight, I thought that perhaps these Thai evil spirits had a bit of trouble acclimating to China.

Suddenly, everything went black, and my temples throbbed intensely. I rubbed my eyes, and although there was nothing visibly wrong, I could still feel an unusual atmosphere lingering around the living room.

It was a feeling, much like when learning English as a kid, the pretty female teacher would always emphasize the sense of language. It needed no reason, it was just a feeling.

Perhaps this was similar to a life amulet master’s sixth sense?

Thinking of this, I quietly reached out and retrieved my copper coin sword from the sofa cushion.

With a weapon in hand, my courage surged. I turned to look at Chi Rui; he was sitting with his eyes closed, deep in thought. Then I looked at Du Jun, still the same, trembling like he was scared out of his wits, sitting there shivering.

And tonight’s main character, Zhou Qifang, was sitting cross-legged in the center of the living room, seemingly motionless. But as I turned, a sliver of my peripheral vision instinctively caught sight of Zhou Qifang.

I saw him suddenly open his eyes, with black smoke emanating from them. I leaped up from the sofa, instinctively swinging my copper coin sword towards Zhou Qifang.

Anything emitting black smoke was surely a monster! Could it be that Zhou Qifang was already possessed by an evil spirit?

Before I could fully process what was happening, the copper coin sword in my hand had already swung down.

Just as the blade was about to strike Zhou Qifang, I felt a sudden, dull pain in my neck. Instinctively, I rubbed my neck and everything went black again.

When I opened my eyes, I was still in the living room, but the environment was eerily silent, unlike before.

Chi Rui was twitching violently on the ground, Du Jun was clutching a Buddha amulet in the corner, his eyes vacant, and Zhou Qifang, who had been sitting in the center of the room, was now up on his feet.

He was wielding a vajra whip through the air, and seeing me awake, yelled, “Gu Qingshu! Get Chi Rui up!”

I was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized I had been caught in an Illusion set by the evil spirit, and it seemed Chi Rui had also been attacked while in the Illusion.

Gripping my copper coin sword tightly, I hurried over. Seeing the dark energy over Chi Rui’s forehead, I cursed inwardly. What kind of creature could seize control of someone’s consciousness so swiftly?

“Do something!” Zhou Qifang roared behind me.

I swung the copper coin sword down onto Chi Rui. The sword was meant for exorcism, and as it touched him, he jolted like he’d been shocked.

After a few strikes, the dark energy surrounding Chi Rui had almost dissipated, but he still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Feeling at a loss, I suddenly noticed the life amulet around his neck. With a glimmer of hope, I bit my finger, letting blood drip onto the amulet.

The blood quickly seeped into the amulet, and Chi Rui abruptly opened his eyes, confused, and asked, “Where’s the ghost?”

“There is no damn ghost! You were trapped in an Illusion!”

I gave him a kick and turned to see Zhou Qifang, who was jumping around, likely battling the evil spirit.

Although due to different cultural elements, I couldn’t clearly see the evil spirit’s form, it seemed there wasn’t much help I could offer.

However, it was clear that Zhou Qifang, who initially had the upper hand, was gradually losing control, his swings with the vajra whip becoming increasingly inaccurate.

“He’s not going to lose, is he?” Chi Rui’s pessimistic remark came just at the wrong time.

I gritted my teeth. This wasn’t sustainable; we couldn’t gamble everyone’s lives on Zhou Qifang alone.

But then again, I couldn’t even see the ghost, so how could I help…

Just when I felt at a loss, Chi Rui suddenly started rummaging through my pockets. I slapped his hand away, “What are you doing?”

“Your compass! The compass can see it, right?” Chi Rui shouted.

I realized he was right! Luckily, I always kept the compass and the copper coin sword with me. I quickly went to the sofa, lifted the cushion, and sure enough, found the compass hidden underneath.

A compass detecting ghosts is a unique ability of the Gu Family’s Yin-Yang Life Amulet Technique. I held the compass, let the blood from my still-bleeding finger drip onto it, closed my eyes, and chanted an Incantation.

The needle on the compass spun rapidly, and I followed its direction, finally fixing my gaze on a corner of the room.

There… was where Du Jun was!

Cursing silently, I pulled out some yellow talisman paper, hastily scribbled a talismanic incantation on it, set it on fire, and threw it toward Du Jun’s direction.

“Damn! It’s really there!”

Less than a meter in front of Du Jun, there was something with two horns on its head moving swiftly! Without hesitating, I raised my copper coin sword and charged forward.

Sensing my approach, the Bull-Horn Monster turned its massive eyes on me, glaring intensely. I let out a shout and swung my copper coin sword at it.

The Bull-Horn Monster extended its claws, swiping towards me. I dodged to the side, but its claw grazed my shoulder!

A sharp, bone-chilling pain shot through my shoulder, making me stagger and fall towards Du Jun, landing right in front of him.

“Boss Gu!” Du Jun seemed to snap out of his daze, hurriedly helping me back to my feet.

Footnote:

1. Ghost Gate(鬼门关):In Chinese mythology, “Ghost Gate” (鬼门关) is believed to be the entrance to the underworld, where spirits of the deceased pass through to reach the afterlife.