Taboo Mage - Chapter 229 - The Dead Dog's Terms

I had a hunch that the little fox had already negotiated terms with that dead dog!

Sure enough, the little fox grinned at me and tapped out a line on the keyboard.

“It wants the Xu family mother and son to worship it for generations.”

Worship for generations?

I rubbed my chin, trying to grasp the meaning behind those words. The request seemed too vague, so I asked the little fox to clarify.

The little fox lay on the coffee table, refusing to budge, clearly feeling lazy. After all, typing out each word was quite a task, especially with one injured paw.

I pondered for a moment and then turned to the others. “From what I gather, the dead dog might mean two things: one, it wants the Xu family to set up an ancestral tablet for it and offer incense during festivals. The second possibility is that the dog wants to forgo reincarnation and stay with the Xu family.”

“The second option seems more likely. That dog was never a benevolent creature,” Zhou Qifang said with a raised eyebrow and a cold smile.

I glanced at Jue Chi, who remained silent but nodded in agreement.

Feeling a sense of relief, I looked back at the little fox. As expected, the little fox tapped out a single word on the keyboard: “Correct!”

“No way!”

Suddenly, Xu Benzhang, who had been silent in the corner, shouted. I turned just in time to see him rushing into the red string array.

“Not good!”

I shouted, but before I could stand up, Jue Chi, who had been sitting beside me, shot forward like an arrow.

Xu Benzhang’s fingers had already touched the edge of the alms bowl, a sinister smile on his face. But before he could retract it, Jue Chi’s iron grip seized his wrist, twisting it upwards, and Xu Benzhang cried out in pain, his face turning pale.

“You scoundrel!”

I cursed, getting up and striding over to kick Xu Benzhang in the shoulder.

Xu Benzhang gasped, collapsing to the ground, unable to rise. I regretted not letting the dog take his life earlier.

Human nature is inherently evil, and this saying seemed to perfectly fit the Xu family mother and son.

Xu Benzhang winced in pain but still glared up defiantly, saying, “It’s just an animal, dead and gone. Even if our Xu family wronged it, burning some extra paper offerings should suffice! How dare it expect us to worship it like an ancestor for generations! That’s outrageous!”

I rubbed my temples. Asking someone to worship a dog was indeed a bit much, but Xu Benzhang’s attempt to destroy the dog’s spirit was equally shameless.

I suddenly felt a headache coming on, wondering why this matter had become so complicated.

Zhou Qifang glanced at me, then walked over to Xu Benzhang, looking down at him. After a moment, Zhou Qifang crouched down and whispered something in Xu Benzhang’s ear.

I didn’t know what he said, but when Zhou Qifang stood up, Xu Benzhang’s expression changed instantly. He glared at the alms bowl in the center of the red string array and growled, “Fine! I’ll agree to it! I’ll take care of it!”

Hearing Xu Benzhang’s words, my eyes widened, and I kept signaling to Zhou Qifang, eager to know what he had said.

Zhou Qifang noticed my gaze but ignored it, turning instead to Jue Chi. “Xu Benzhang has agreed. Let’s release the dog and let Gu Qingshu put it into the life amulet. Then this matter will be settled.”

Jue Chi nodded, walked to the center of the red string array, and looked down at the alms bowl. With a sigh, he clasped his hands together and began to chant.

I watched as the dark energy transformed into wisps of black smoke, which then entered the life amulet.

The life amulet was shrouded in black mist, and a vortex seemed to form at its center, absorbing all the surrounding dark energy.

“Gu Qingshu, what are you standing there for? Are you dazed?”

Zhou Qifang’s sudden shout snapped me out of my trance. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I hurried over, lighting the prepared yellow talisman paper and tossing it into the wooden basin before cutting my finger.

I pressed my bloodied finger onto the life amulet, imprisoning the dead dog’s spirit.

Once the dark energy around the life amulet dissipated, I released my hold. “The Seal is complete. As long as there’s no interference, the spirit inside won’t come out.”

I said this while glancing at Xu Benzhang.

The warning was mainly for him. Any tampering with the life amulet could provoke the spirit’s wrath, and then we truly wouldn’t be able to save him.

Xu Benzhang gritted his teeth, glaring at the life amulet.

Lin Huan helped Xu Benzhang to his feet, and I handed him the life amulet, explaining some precautions. Then I called Lin Huan to hail a cab so Xu Benzhang could take the life amulet and Old Lady Xu away.

I wanted nothing more to do with that troublesome family.

Hearing my words, Lin Huan moved faster than a rabbit, returning in no time. I helped carry the still-unconscious Old Lady Xu into the back seat of the taxi.

As the car sped away, disappearing around the corner, I let out a deep sigh.

Back in the room, Zhou Qifang and Jue Chi had already gone to rest. The Xu family matter had drained everyone’s energy. Now that they were gone, we all wanted a good night’s sleep.

I told Lin Huan to lock up the shop and headed upstairs to get some rest.

I slept deeply, my mind blissfully blank, unaware of how long I slept. I had many dreams, but they all faded upon waking.

When I finally awoke, it was evening. I sat up, rubbing my head, which felt like it had been hit with a stick.

The room was pitch black. I sat on the bed for a moment to gather my thoughts, then got up to turn on the light. The sudden brightness was hard on my eyes.

Bang!

A loud knock startled me, and I turned to see Lin Huan standing at my door, hand on the doorknob, looking bewildered.

“What are you doing?”

I squinted at him, sensing something was off.