Chapter 52: The Ghost Presses Down on the Bed

  After I got up, I used the hot water boiled by Zhang's wife to take a bath again, and this Buddhist ritual was considered complete. For the next six days, my master, the old Taoist priest Zhushan, also had me follow him to burn incense and recite scriptures.

  The seven days passed quickly, and I didn't have any problems, nor did my family. At this time, my master, the old Daoist of Bamboo Mountain, told me that those unclean things on my body had been driven out by him, and I could go home now, no need to stay in Bamboo Mountain Temple anymore.

  Actually, I know that my master, Zhangshan Old Dao, is not willing to let me go. If I leave, there will be no one left for him to bother with. Granny Zhang also doesn't want me to go; if I do, there will be no one left for her to chat and laugh with.

  But after all, I have parents. I had been staying at Zhushan Temple for half a month, and my mother was worried to death about me. My master, the old Taoist priest of Zhushan Mountain, although he didn't have children himself, could understand how parents feel when their child is not by their side. So, after making sure I was no longer in any danger, he sent me back to Shimache Village, back home.

  To be honest, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time. Although my master, Zhangshan Lao Dao and Mrs. Zhang have been very good to me, they still can't stop me from thinking about my mother.

  Also, in Shima Village, I had many, many little friends. When I arrived at Zhushan Temple, except for my master and Zhang PoPo, there was only me, no children to play with. Therefore, if I were forced to stay at Zhushan Temple all the time, I would eventually go crazy.

  It was only later that I found out why my master had sent me back so readily. Firstly, it was because I had been away from home for too long. Secondly, it was because my master, the old Daoist of Bamboo Mountain, was going on a distant journey and would have to leave Bamboo Mountain Temple for some time, and therefore could not take care of me.

  The second day after I went home, it was at night, when I fell asleep in the evening, I dreamed that someone used pliers to pull out my front teeth.

  After having this dream, the next day when I woke up, I felt dizzy and a bit painful in my head. I thought it was because I didn't sleep well and had fallen asleep with my neck in an awkward position, so I didn't pay attention to it. Usually, headaches caused by not sleeping well can be alleviated by taking a nap or sleeping for a while, and the pain will go away after waking up.

  But after half a day had passed, it was afternoon, and I woke up from my nap to find that it was already evening. My head still hurt. I felt something was wrong, so I told Mom about my headache and the dream I had last night.

  My mom didn't think much of it after I told her, assuming that I had kicked off the covers at night and caught a chill. So, after dinner, my mom gave me some medicine to take.

  After taking the medicine, my mom told me to go to bed early. Maybe it was the medicine that had a sedative effect, or maybe I really didn't sleep well and was tired. Anyway, after going to bed, I fell asleep in no time.

  It must have been midnight when I felt someone walking to my bedside and pressing down on my body with their hands. I tried to open my eyes to see who the person was, but I couldn't open them no matter what. I tried to push away the person pressing down on me with my hands, but they were too heavy to lift.

  Just as I was powerless to resist, I felt someone else's hand pry open my mouth. I didn't know what they were going to do, but I was certain that they were definitely out to harm me.

  Moving but unable to move, eyes open but unable to open. At this time, I have no other way out, and can only shout for help. However, just as I was about to open my mouth to shout, I found that my voice had become hoarse. No matter how hard I shouted, no matter how much effort I put in, I couldn't make a single sound, not even a faint whisper like a mute person's murmurs.

  I was not only powerless to resist, but also unable to call for help. At this point, I was thoroughly and utterly hopeless, and could only let the person pressing down on me do as they pleased.

  I could feel that after prying open my mouth, the damned thing seemed to have clamped something like a pair of pliers on my lower front teeth.

  After my front teeth were clamped, a pair of big hands tightly pinched my neck, and another pair of hands firmly fixed my head in place. My body was also pressed down by several pairs of hands. In short, none of my parts could move anymore.

  At this moment, I felt that the piece of jade hanging from my neck seemed to be getting cooler, as if a hand was grasping and tugging at it, trying to pull it off my neck.

  That thing is pulling the Qian Kun Jade on my neck, could it be that the Qian Kun Jade on my neck has affected his actions. At this time, what can save me should only be the Qian Kun Jade. So, I immediately started reciting the "Qian Kun Scripture" in my heart.

  As I recited and recited, I felt that the hands grasping mine were not as tight as before. Although I still couldn't move, I could feel that I was able to make some very small sounds. At least with that "Qian Kun Jing", I was able to recite it softly.

  After I recited the "Qian Kun Jing" several times, that thing slowly loosened its grip. Seeing the effect of the "Qian Kun Jing", I became louder and louder in my recitation. Not only did my voice grow louder, but I also learned to imitate the tone and style of my master, Zhangshan Lao Dao, when he recited scriptures.

  Just as I was getting into the swing of things, I suddenly felt someone waving at me with their hand. The person's waving motion seemed very gentle, giving me a feeling that it wasn't malicious, but rather like they were calling out to me, trying to wake me up.

  However, at this time I couldn't open my eyes. I knew that those dirty things were still around me and controlling me. I wanted to drive them away, but there was only one way to do it - loudly reciting the "Qian Kun Jing".

  So, I didn't go to reason with the person who was shaking me, but instead continued to loudly recite my "Qian Kun Jing". I finished one round and then started a second round, after finishing the second round, I started a third round. In short, as long as that thing hadn't left, as long as I still couldn't open my eyes, as long as I was still unable to move, I would continue reciting it.

  Hard work pays off for those who are diligent. After I recited the "Qian Kun Jing" countless times, even I myself don't know how many, I felt that thing leave. At this time, not only did the Qian Kun jade on my neck stop feeling icy cold, but also some bright lights appeared in front of my eyes.

  At that time I hadn't even had a chance to open my eyes yet, but the light in front of me was something I could feel.

  "Xiao Fei, Xiao Fei, what's wrong?" My mother's voice, full of worry, echoed in my ears.

  After hearing the sound, I slowly opened my eyes. After opening my eyes, I found that my mother was sitting beside my bed, and a kerosene lamp was lit on the cabinet at the head of the bed.

  "You finally woke up, what were you muttering about just now?" My mom seemed to have guessed something, so she kept glancing around the room while asking.

  I didn't know how to tell mom either. At that time, I was so scared that my mind went blank. After seeing mom, I rushed into her arms.

  "Mom, I'm scared!"

  My mother saw me like this and knew I was frightened, so she didn't ask me anything else.

  "Go to sleep, Mom is here, don't be afraid!" As she said that, my mom put my head on the pillow and sat beside me, gently patting my back.

  I really like this feeling, it makes me feel very grounded and at ease. So, before long, I fell asleep.

  The next morning, when I woke up, I found that my mother was still sitting beside me, and the kerosene lamp on the bedside table was still lit.

  "Mom, you haven't slept?" I saw my mom's dark circles under her eyes, and I knew that thing only appears when she hasn't had a good sleep.

  "Mom is not sleepy, get up quickly, I'll go make breakfast for you." My mom said to me. After finishing speaking, my mom went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

  After finishing breakfast, my mom asked me about last night's situation. After a good sleep, my thoughts were clear and with my mom by my side, I wasn't afraid anymore. So, I recounted the events of last night to her in detail.

  After finishing speaking, my mother told me that I might have encountered a ghost pressing on my bed last night. As for what the ghost pressing on the bed is all about, my mother couldn't explain it clearly either. However, when it comes to solving this kind of problem, my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao must be very skilled at it. If we can invite my master here, this matter would not be a big deal at all.

  But my mother told me that my master, Zhu Shan Lao Dao, has gone out for a stroll in the clouds and will not return until a month later. Therefore, even if I invite my master, it will have to wait until after a month.