Taboo Mage - Chapter 65 - Rampage of the Departed Spirit

After hearing Du Qiang’s story, I looked at Li Meng, who was almost fainting. Her eyes were wide open, fixated on Jue Chi and the bundle in his arms, as if she had realized something.

I shook my head, and as my gaze swept over the auntie, I suddenly noticed something amiss.

Logically, considering how much a grandmother loves her grandson, seeing such a tragic scene should at least provoke some regret and sadness, even if not as overwhelming as Li Meng’s grief.

However, the expression on auntie’s face, aside from a slight sadness, showed no sign of remorse. I couldn’t help but suspect that there was more to the story than what Du Qiang had told.

“Auntie, to be honest, I’d rather not get involved in your family’s affairs. You know what we deal with, the kind of responsibilities we carry. Sometimes, it’s only out of compassion that we agree to help, considering a Resentful Spirit can lead to disastrous consequences.”

I pursed my lips, feeling a bit dry after speaking so much, but I hoped my words might provoke some remorse in her and encourage her to reveal the truth.

After I finished, auntie frowned and looked down, lost in thought. Suddenly, Li Meng stood up from her chair and lunged at the auntie, grabbing her by the throat.

“Was it you! You knew all along, didn’t you!”

Li Meng cried out furiously. Du Qiang grabbed her arms and pulled her away. Li Meng flailed wildly, her eyes bloodshot.

“Mom, did you know about this all along?”

Du Qiang held his wife, his eyes full of suspicion as he stared at the auntie sitting on the sofa.

After a long moment, the auntie lifted her head and sobbed, “I was desperate. If I hadn’t given the child to that wealthy woman, where would I have gotten the money to help you marry your wife…”

I shook my head; the auntie indeed had issues. I couldn’t help but furrow my brow. Money is a direct reflection of desire, and few can remain indifferent to it.

Thinking back to the absurd things I had done in the past, each driven by the desire for money, I knew that in the face of such conscienceless acts as auntie’s, anyone would feel profound revulsion.

Auntie, tears streaming down her face, relayed the situation to Du Qiang. She explained that because the child was a girl, the obstetrician had told her that girls rarely wanted to start families. People usually adopt children to carry on their legacies, and girls, seen as less financially beneficial, were hard to place.

At that time, Li Meng’s parents were blocking the doorway of their home, threatening to take Du Qiang to court for rape unless they were paid off-a serious accusation.

Coincidentally, the obstetrician informed Auntie that a wealthy woman had consulted a Master who calculated that the child should not have been born and was thus destined to be reclaimed by the heavens.

Moreover, her life would be exchanged for a new child, which was considered a meritorious deed on her part. During the cycle of reincarnation, she might even be reborn in the wealthy woman’s womb.

Swayed by the doctor’s eloquent talk and the wealthy woman’s check, Auntie began to waver.

The sin had already been committed. I sat on the sofa, looking at the family of three before me, unsure how to judge the situation.

Indeed, it was the Cycle of Cause and Effect; it was impossible to clearly state who was at fault here, but undoubtedly, the most pitiable was the child.

“Amitabha.”

Master Jue Chi stood up, reciting a Buddhist chant. His cool gaze swept over everyone present. Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and unfurled his Kasaya.

The departed spirit, which had been in a deep slumber like a sleeping baby, seemed even more subdued; its cyan-purple hue had faded significantly.

“My… child?”

Li Meng, trembling, gently touched the departed spirit cradled in Jue Chi’s arms.

The spirit suddenly opened its eyes, slowly rotating its eyeballs before fixing its gaze on Li Meng, baring its sharp teeth in a grin.

I stealthily reached into my pocket and pulled out a yellow talisman paper smeared with black dog blood, ready to act in case the spirit, upon seeing the three, became violent.

Unexpectedly, however, the spirit reached out towards Li Meng, its soft palm gently caressing her face.

“My child, my poor child…”

Li Meng sobbed, pulling the departed spirit from Jue Chi’s embrace. Witnessing such a scene, I was deeply moved and couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Suddenly, the departed spirit struggled out of the Kasaya. Deprived of the deterrent power of the Buddha’s light on the Kasaya, dark energy began to emerge from the spirit’s once-clear eyes.

“Get out of the way!”

My eyes widened as I pulled a piece of yellow talisman paper from my pocket and, with the fastest effort I could muster, managed to stick it on the departed spirit’s forehead just as its sharp teeth were about to sink into Li Meng’s neck.

Jue Chi stepped forward, wrapping the Kasaya back around the departed spirit. Li Meng, who had been stunned, suddenly jumped up, tearing at Jue Chi’s clothes.

“Give me back my child! That’s my child! My child!”

Jue Chi, who finds it difficult to be close to women, strictly adheres to the Buddhist precept of avoiding sensual pleasures. As soon as Li Meng touched his robe, Jue Chi turned and quickly retreated.

But a provoked woman is not so easily deterred. Li Meng chased after Jue Chi, her hands reaching out like clamps. Unable to retaliate, Jue Chi was quickly cornered.

I took out all the talisman paper I was carrying and then went to the kitchen to fetch the glutinous rice water I had prepared earlier. Coming back to see Jue Chi in such a disheveled state and Du Qiang just standing there coldly made me curse under my breath.

“Come on, help out! What are you standing there for!”

I kicked towards Du Qiang, who then snapped back to reality and rushed over to grab Li Meng.

Li Meng flailed her arms in resistance, her neatly trimmed nails scratching the back of Jue Chi’s hand. Jue Chi frowned, his grip loosening for a moment.

In just an instant, Li Meng snatched the Kasaya. The departed spirit slipped out of a gap in the Kasaya, its hands and feet sprouting long nails rapidly, its body color shifting from cyan-purple to black.

“Damn!”

I cursed under my breath, carrying a basin filled with glutinous rice water and quickly stepping forward to pour it all over the departed spirit.

A sharp, miserable howl echoed through the living room as the spirit writhed on the ground, its spirit burned by the glutinous rice water, twisting like a worm.

Li Meng pushed Du Qiang away, who was holding her, and ran to the spirit’s side to cradle it in her arms, gently patting it.

Foolish woman! I almost wanted to slap her unconscious.