Chapter Fifteen: A Small Test of One's Skills

  As the sky grew darker, it seemed to foretell the arrival of a massive storm. Those who have watched horror movies know that this kind of strange weather often precedes more paranormal events. In fact, it's not that rainy days are bad, but rather that ghosts and spirits become restless in thunderstorm weather, and restlessness can lead to unease and reckless behavior, just like someone with a troubled mind would be like a chicken on steroids, which is not good news for us.

  The gloomy weather made the atmosphere between us somewhat oppressive, even Zeng Huan, who was usually eloquent, only brought up a few topics before falling silent, frowning and looking outside. I thought this atmosphere was really too much, so I decided to set up a spell array instead. Since I wasn't confident about tonight's events yet, I would just set up the array first without activating it. After discussing with Old Zhao, he agreed, and I saw that he had also brought many things, apparently preparing for something as well.

  My formation was set up quickly, after all, it's not a ritual, and the requirements for heaven, earth, and human luck are relatively low, as long as they don't clash, there's no need to deliberately follow, Old Zhao is different, Old Zhao has something similar to opening a ritual platform, and also made me open my eyes.

  Lao Zhao instructed: "Can you give me a clean place?"

  After Zeng Huan finished listening, he immediately instructed Wu Ma to take action. Wu Ma cleared a platform for displaying handicrafts, and Old Zhao walked over, took out a Buddha statue from his bag, and placed it on the platform. It was a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha wrapped in yellow cloth, made of copper with gold plating. He then took out two more statues: Guanyin Bodhisattva and Dizang Wang Bodhisattva. Seeing our curiosity, he explained: "Our original teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha, is the master of this world. Although we are in the era of decline, when reciting scriptures, we must always thank our original teacher for his teachings. Guanyin Bodhisattva saves people from suffering and difficulties, often revealing great compassion and divine powers in times of disaster and hardship. Dizang Wang Bodhisattva has made a great vow: 'I will not attain Buddhahood until the hells are empty.' He can lift ghosts and spirits directly to the underworld. Therefore, I invite the two Bodhisattvas and the Buddha to join us, to ensure our safety and smoothness tonight."

  After finishing, he took out several brush-written scriptures from his own bag and handed them to each person, saying: "This scripture is the Heart Sutra of Mahaprajnaparamita. Put it on your bookshelf tonight, I don't know what will happen, if something strange happens and you can't sleep, recite the scripture according to the text, pray for Buddha's power to bless and avoid accidents."

  They each respectfully accepted it, including Zeng Huang, the big boss, who also instructed Wu Ma to send two portions upstairs. Wu Ma took one herself and muttered a few prayers under her breath. The people present were all eyewitnesses to ghostly affairs, so they naturally had a reverent heart. Only Qin Tao did not accept it, pushing it to Old Zhao: "No need, I'll be helping the two masters downstairs tonight, no rest needed."

  Old Zhao nodded in agreement, put away the scriptures, and then pulled out three incense sticks. In front of the Buddha Bodhisattva statue, he recited: "The incense burner is hot, the Dharma realm is filled with fragrance, all Buddhas in the ocean gather to hear from afar, auspicious clouds form everywhere, sincere intentions are profound, all Buddhas manifest their full bodies. Homage to Fragrance Cloud Cover Bodhisattva Mahasattva. Homage to our original teacher Shakyamuni Buddha." He chanted three times, and the incense sticks, which had not been lit, suddenly ignited in Old Zhao's hand. Old Zhao seemed very natural and calm, inserting the incense into the ash we had brought back from various temples.

  This move shocked a few people, of course no one shouted, and it suddenly became quiet here. Old Zhao took a look, nodded, turned around and said: "Alright, I hope everything goes smoothly tonight, Zeng and others are reciting Buddhist scriptures upstairs, don't come down, don't mind any noise."

  Zeng Huan and his wife both responded in unison, I saw Old Zhao making preparations, I thought to myself if I shouldn't also make some preparations? At least in terms of momentum, I should put on a show, but soon I discovered that I really couldn't think of anything to do, and could only helplessly watch Old Zhao giving orders.

  Just as we were chatting, it started to drizzle outside, accompanied by thunderclaps. Suddenly, I felt a chill in the air circulating around me. Since I've been practicing the art of talismans, I've developed a sensitivity to the flow of energy that ordinary people don't have. I can clearly distinguish between the natural cold wind and the feeling brought about by yin energy. Not just me, Old Zhao also looked out the door.

  Lao Zhao stopped talking and looked at me with a glance, saying "He's here."

  These two words scared Zeng and his wife, of course Qin Tao still didn't change much, but followed our gaze to the door. Old Zhao said to Zeng Huang: "Director Zeng, you, your wife, and Wu Ma should go upstairs to recite scriptures and worship Buddha, don't come down casually, the yin energy inside has already started to seep out."

  Zeng Huan and Yu Ke responded in unison, then supported each other as they went upstairs. Qin Tao indeed stayed behind. Old Zhao looked around and said to me: "Old Jiang, the yin energy here is seeping in from outside. I just set up a Buddhist dharma realm under the Buddha statue, so those things can't come in for now. But it's getting dark soon, I don't know what we'll face after nightfall. You'd better prepare early, or else it will be too late."

  I thought so too, if I had known earlier, it would have been better to set up earlier and pretend a bit. Looking around at the crowded space, I finally decided to set up in the dining room. This formation of mine requires lighting, but the rain outside is pouring down recklessly, which will extinguish my lights. I asked Qin Tao to help move the dinner table away. Qin Tao didn't say a word and directly took action. He and I moved the dinner table to one side, then I took out seven lanterns from my bag and arranged them in front of the Buddha statue, poured lamp oil into them, and arranged them according to the pattern of the Big Dipper. Then, under each lantern, I placed five coins of different emperors, with five different copper coins under each lamp base. This is to conform to the clear and pure heavenly yang energy above and the turbid human yang energy below, combining the two in harmony with the creative transformation of heaven and earth.

  Then, take out the red thread from the bag and use it to tie the lamp holders together, making them connected as one. Now, all that's needed is to ignite the lamp array and it will be open. However, Old Zhao said that at this time, although there is a invasion of yin energy, because the sky has not yet fully darkened, the power of the yin spirits is weak. Moreover, with the support of Buddhist law, a boundary is formed, naturally those things cannot enter. In this case, I only need to ignite the lamp for a while.

  I had already taken out the things I needed from my bag and prepared them, including the gossip mirror, peach wood sword, and glutinous rice. Glutinous rice is said to be able to deal with zombies and can also dispel turbid air, having the effect of warding off evil spirits. I evenly scattered the glutinous rice on the ground, in front of the window, and in front of the door. As for inside the courtyard, I was powerless.

  I pulled out a few talismans from my body and said to the two of them: "This talisman can maintain its effectiveness for three hours, it can make people's minds clear and not be confused by ghosts. If the ghost here comes later, it will be difficult to avoid being charmed, which would be troublesome. Now I want to help you use it, just in case."

  They all agreed, and I picked up the talisman, pinched my fingers to decide, and recited: "Xuan Tian's righteous energy, Huang Lao's essence. Spitting water thousands of feet high, washing away evil spirits. Three souls guarding, seven souls at peace. Body and spirit both wonderful, merging with the Tao." I slapped it on Qin Tao's forehead, but he didn't flinch, although his eyes looked a bit surprised. Just as the energy of the talisman was circulating, I felt a surge of energy coming from Qin Tao's body, a kind of neutral yet overbearing energy, which is the energy of a general, but also seemed very righteous. I guess Old Zhao saw it too, no wonder he dared to let him stay.

  I picked up another talisman and slapped it on Old Zhao's head, this was his first time experiencing it, he had never felt it before. I also gave myself a positive spirit talisman to keep my mind clear and awake, since I hadn't slept all day, now using it as coffee wasn't bad either, otherwise I might get confused and end up drowsy instead.

  The rain is getting heavier, the sky is getting darker, Old Zhao is watching the incense in front of the Buddha, every time it's about to go out, he goes to light another one. I think that incense is the key to the seal, it can't be extinguished, once it's extinguished, those evil spirits will take advantage of the opportunity to enter. To be honest, thinking carefully, this is also our first time catching ghosts, feeling nervous is inevitable, now I'm starting to worry if I was too reckless from the beginning, whether we can get out unscathed tonight.

  The sky gradually darkened, the wind and rain outside grew stronger, with lightning flashing and thunder booming. Inside, it was quiet, except for the incense in front of the Buddha slowly drifting out. Apart from the slowly spreading gloom that had been approaching earlier, there was no reaction at all. However, my heart was not calm at all, and was racing wildly. The sacred talisman could clear my mind, but in this environment, it would only amplify my fear. I could only silently recite the calming mantra, hoping to alleviate my terror.

  A loud clap of thunder boomed outside, and in an instant, the entire room was plunged into darkness. All the light bulbs had burst, just as previously described by Zeng Huang. In a split second, all the lamps and tubes short-circuited, some even making a noise as they exploded, causing the interior to become even darker. The only light came from the occasional flashes of lightning outside that illuminated the room.

  As soon as it got dark, our eyes couldn't adapt. I took out the Nan Gong Li Huo Fu, pinched and decided to tread on it. With the tip of the peach wood sword, I pointed at the yellow charm and recited the incantation: "The momentum of Zhu Rong, open the spiritual mang, Li Huo Shang Dao, Yang Ming sweeps away, evil spirits and monsters, soul flying and gallbladder losing, Zhengyang Li Gong, Nan Ming gets prosperity. I obey the order of Tai Shang, urgent like a law." The yellow charm instantly emitted flames, and I used the light to walk to the door and draw a line of fire.

  I used the talisman to ignite the fire for two reasons: one, I couldn't find a lighter at that moment; and two, I was afraid that in my panic, those evil spirits would take advantage of the situation and invade. The talisman has the power of the positive yang fire god, which can naturally dispel ordinary evil energy, at least it won't make us too panicked, but nothing happened after all.

  Before the fire went out here, Qin Tao lit a flashlight and shone it outside, then he was about to go out. I quickly pulled him back and asked: "Where are you going?"

  "I'm going out to take a look, and turn off the circuit breaker or it will easily catch fire." Qin Tao took an umbrella and was about to go out.

  Old Zhao suddenly shouted from behind: "Don't rush, don't go out at all costs. Something is coming and it's extremely fierce."

  Said:

  Sincere recommendation of two big brothers' works, Shang Cheng's midnight big brother's urban work, I personally can't write it sincerely, admire one.

  Three or two silver coins are a big suspenseful work, written very meticulously, I am far inferior, can be read.

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