Taboo Mage - Chapter 23 - The Strange Monk

The monk’s voice was clear and penetrating. For some reason, a shiver ran down my spine, and my head buzzed as if it were nailed to the spot. My body felt glued to the ground, unable to move an inch.

I slowly turned my head. Emerging from the nearby forest, a monk draped in a Kasaya walked towards me. He was rotating Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, his head adorned with six Buddhist marks, and his face expressionless. Yet, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible smile at the corners of his lips.

“What do you want with me?”

I frowned but still greeted the monk with my hands clasped together. Although he looked young, his aura was undoubtedly extraordinary. The faint golden glow on his Buddhist prayer beads was enough to intimidate all malevolent spirits.

The monk slowly approached me and placed his hand on my head.

“You have a deep spiritual root. Would you be willing to follow me, devote yourself to Buddhism, and resolve the obsessions in your heart?”

Ridiculous! I couldn’t help but chuckle at the monk’s words. I, Old Gu, am the last heir of my family. I bear the responsibility of continuing the family lineage.

Besides, the world is so beautiful, and I haven’t even begun to enjoy it to the fullest. And now I’m expected to join the monastic life and become a monk?

Give up on countless beauties and delicious food? I’m not insane!

My disdain must have been too obvious because the monk smiled and shook his head, gently pressed my head, muttered something I couldn’t understand, and turned to leave.

“Hey!” I called out suddenly, not quite sure why, as I watched his retreating figure.

The monk paused his steps, seemingly waiting for me to change my mind.

Scratching my head, I laughed and said, “Take care!”

“I am Jue Chi, residing at Chan Guang Monastery behind the mountain. If you ever need anything, you can find me there.”

Leaving Hanging Temple, I headed straight home, planning to take a few days off and think about how to advance my profession as a life amulet master.

Most of my previous clients were introduced by Fatty Ling, but now that I’ve got him in trouble, he probably despises me.

Xu-Jie… Every time I think of Xu-Jie, her feminine figure comes to mind. I’ve heard she’s been getting along well with her husband lately. Perhaps she could become a valuable intermediary for my business.

As for Li Mi, forget it. Ever since she started university, she’s been so busy that I hardly ever see her anymore.

I was deep in thought when suddenly I heard a noise at the door.

Who would be knocking in the middle of the night? I turned over and sat up, sliding my feet into slippers as I walked towards the door.

The shop door was tightly shut, and the red string formation I had set up in the living room before going to bed was still intact. Peering through the window on the door, I could barely make out a shadowy figure.

“Who’s there?” I called out from the staircase, scanning the surroundings for something to use as a weapon.

“It’s me, Qin Hao. Brother Gu, open the door.”

Hearing Uncle Qin’s voice, I sighed. I didn’t know why he was knocking at my door in the middle of the night, but I walked over to open it.

Uncle Qin stood at the entrance, smiling and nodding at me. He then stepped back, revealing the person behind him.

I was stunned.

Outside the door stood a woman in a black, tight-fitting long dress with matching high heels. Her face was exquisitely cold and beautiful, highlighted by bright red lipstick and a small black mole on her cheek. The mole added a touch of playfulness to her overall sensual and icy demeanor.

“Who is this?”

I welcomed them in, poured some water, and placed it on the coffee table, looking curiously at Uncle Qin.

The woman sat on the sofa while Uncle Qin stood respectfully behind her. Upon hearing my question, he introduced her to me, “This is my boss, Wu Qian.”

“Hello, my name is Wu Qian. I’m here late at night because I need your assistance with something,” Wu Qian said directly.

Her straightforwardness left me momentarily speechless. I couldn’t just say it wasn’t a problem. According to Xu-Jie, I am currently in a seller’s market. I needed to maintain an air of authority, or I would come off as desperate.

So, I crossed my legs and sat on the sofa. “Couldn’t this matter wait till morning? The middle of the night isn’t exactly the best time for business.”

“Then what does Mr. Gu think the middle of the night is good for?” Wu Qian scoffed, her eyes sweeping over me with an icy glance.

I was taken aback by her response, and Uncle Qin, sensing the tension, chuckled lightly.

It turned out that the woman in front of me was the true boss behind Regal Grandeur, while Uncle Qin was just a front. Uncle Qin had mentioned before that Liu Yineng had sent someone to run over one of his good friends, leaving him in a vegetative state.

The truth was, that person was Uncle Qin’s previous boss and also Wu Qian’s husband. After her husband ended up in the hospital, Wu Qian took over Regal Grandeur and all its subsidiary businesses. With the support of the old staff, she was determined to protect her husband’s empire until he woke up.

I admired Wu Qian’s determination and strength. Originally a delicate woman, she took on such enormous responsibility for the man she loved. Such courage and capability are rare.

I put aside my joking demeanor and earnestly asked Wu Qian what she needed my help with.

Wu Qian told me she had been waiting for her husband for three years. Just when hope seemed to be dwindling, his fingers started to move.

She brought in the best doctor available, but the doctor told her it could be a sign of momentary lucidity before death, advising her to prepare for the worst.

Wu Qian couldn’t accept this outcome. Just then, Uncle Qin had approached me to help deal with Liu Yineng. Wu Qian saw hope in me, and after discussing it with Uncle Qin, she decided to come to me, even in the middle of the night.

By the end of her explanation, Wu Qian’s once-cold face was streaked with tears.

A beautiful woman in tears is always an arresting sight, especially when it’s someone as striking as Wu Qian.

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. I slammed my hand on the table and promised that I would definitely wake her husband.

Uncle Qin thanked me profusely, leaving a deposit before taking Wu Qian with him.

After sending them off, I put the deposit in the safe and opened my ancient books, looking for a method to help.

Cause and Effect dictates that the consequences are proportionate to the cause. Since the life amulet I’m crafting this time is to save a life, the result for me should naturally be a blessing.

Given the stakes, I took this endeavor very seriously, hoping to use this opportunity to offset any possible backlash from previous life amulet creations.

Wu Qian’s husband was in a vegetative state, and she needed me to wake him. Therefore, I needed to create a life amulet, using the energy from a spirit to sustain life.

But what kind of spirit is required to make a life amulet?

I delved into the ancient books and finally found the answer on one of the pages.

Manjusaka.