Judge of Souls - Chapter 82

When Zhu Yan returned home, there were still several taoists’ formations set up around her. She sat on the ground and instantly felt somewhat better.

But being haunted by a ghost wasn’t something that would make anyone feel completely at ease. Looking at Mr. Zhu’s fluctuating gaze, she hugged her legs and didn’t dare to speak.

Mr. Zhu called the people he had invited earlier, asking them to come quickly to take a look. Soon, several Taoist priests, monks, and shamans gathered again.

“What exactly is going on?” Mr. Zhu exploded. “Deal with him immediately! Tell that ghost not to haunt my daughter anymore. If he wants money, I’ll give it to him. I’ll repair his grave, offer incense to him. I don’t care who sent this thing, whether it was Teacher Wei or some student Zhang. I’ll provide financial compensation to them. Isn’t that enough?”

Mr. Zhu said, “It’s all about money!”

A Taoist priest said, “Mr. Zhu, ghosts don’t care about money.”

What would a ghost do with money? Burn it for fun?

Mr. Zhu wiped his face, “Then what else does he want! My life? Huh? Then tell him to come out!”

The monk said, “Benefactor. Everything now is your karmic retribution, and being anxious won’t help. When dealing with malevolent spirits that haunt you, reasoning with them naturally won’t work. What they want is revenge, and before their goal is achieved, they won’t stop.”

Mr. Zhu turned around and asked the empty space, “Where’s the ghost? Tell him to come out! Come out if you dare!”

Mr. Zhu was covered in sweat, his hair damp and clumped together. As he spoke, the ends of his hair trembled with his movements. “Then let’s eliminate the root of the problem. I don’t want such a ghost haunting my daughter for her entire life. She can’t just stay at home and never go out. Understand? Get rid of it for me! I don’t want to see it again!”

He said, “More money! Whoever can subdue it, I’ll double your payment!”

The group exchanged glances and decided to act together.

They walked out of the villa and into the courtyard. Mr. Zhu and Zhu Yan followed them out.

Around the villa was a circle of vegetation used for landscaping. The group had previously set up formations along the small path. And that old ghost was currently outside the formation, observing.

Previously, this old ghost didn’t even dare to make eye contact with them, but now, as if having found allies, he actually stood there without leaving.

The monk faced him directly, clutching his prayer beads that emitted a dark light, and said, “Originally, I thought you’d leave and not return since you knew better. But since you’re seeking your own destruction, don’t blame us for being ruthless. I’ll warn you one last time: if you sign a spirit contract, promising not to return, I’ll let you leave safely. Otherwise, I’ll scatter your soul today!”

The old ghost slowly opened his mouth and said, “I have come by King Yama’s command to seek revenge. Why are you obstructing me? Aren’t you afraid of retribution in the future?”

“King Yama ordered you to seek revenge, but he didn’t tell you to harm the innocent. If you continue to follow Zhu Yan, she may not live much longer. By saving a life, how could I be punished by King Yama?” the monk replied with composure. “Besides, in Buddhism, we practice compassion and have already prepared ourselves for consequences. We don’t need your concern.”

These people had already committed to this profession and had no way back. Why would they care about settling accounts after death?

What happens after death can be dealt with later. What meaning would there be in living a poor life full of fear in this lifetime? Didn’t the ancients often say that one should enjoy life’s pleasures to the fullest?

“Surrender!”

The monk hung the beads on his arm, joined his hands in prayer, and began chanting Buddhist scriptures.

Sanskrit text appeared beneath the formation, forming chains of golden light that shot toward the old ghost.

Before they could get close, a beam of golden light slashed from the side of the old ghost, its sword light cutting the chains to pieces and continuing to the ground, creating a crack in the tight formation.

Everyone was startled. “Which fellow practitioner is this? Why are you disrupting our ritual? Don’t you respect professional courtesy?”

Chu Xuanliang and Jiang Feng walked out one after another, snorting at the group.

Chu Xuanliang said, “Who’s your fellow practitioner? My Qianyuan Temple doesn’t have such associates.”

The monk smiled coldly, “Oh, so it’s those youngsters from Qianyuan Temple?”

Since ancient times, righteousness and evil could not coexist. Although they weren’t exactly heterodox practitioners, they definitely weren’t disciples of the mainstream branches. After being passed down, their internal practices had changed significantly, merely hanging onto the name of Buddhism or Taoism. Naturally, they couldn’t stand orthodox practitioners like Chu Xuanliang from major sects.

Mr. Zhu, seeing the unexpected development, became somewhat anxious.

In his heart, he actually trusted orthodox Taoist priests like Chu Xuanliang more, but he sought these unorthodox ones simply because they were easier to deal with for quick exorcisms.

Mr. Zhu said, “Master, what should we do now? Taoist priests, let’s talk this through. This ghost has been haunting my daughter, and if you are true Taoists, you shouldn’t interfere with the Master’s ghost removal!”

The shaman said, “How can you reason with them?”

He pulled a mask from his waist and put it on his face. The metal mask had an expression between a smile and a frown, between anger and calmness, inherently carrying a murderous aura.

With copper bells and nine copper mirrors tied at his waist, holding a single drum in his hand, he began to move with eerie steps, dancing with large movements.

An eagle’s cry sounded in the sky.

The old ghost hid behind Chu Xuanliang. “Taoist Master, save me.”

Chu Xuanliang frowned deeply, placing his ritual tool across his chest.

He wasn’t a professional ghost-exorcising Taoist and this wasn’t his specialty. He didn’t know why he was being forced into these situations lately; he felt like he could change professions.

The other two Taoist priests, seeing the situation, knew they couldn’t avoid it. One wielded a whisk, while the other threw out talismans, entering the battle to assist.

Chu Xuanliang had to face four opponents, which put him under considerable pressure.

“Where’s Meng Po?” Chu Xuanliang asked quietly. “Why hasn’t she come yet?”

Jiang Feng replied, “I told her not to come, otherwise Zong Ce would follow. She’s nearby, and there’s no guarantee she won’t pull some tricks.”

Chu Xuanliang: “……”

Jiang Feng lowered his face and said to the others, “Borrowing your words, if you persist in your delusion, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

The Taoist priest retorted, “Stop wasting time! If you want to fight, be quick!”

Jiang Feng slightly raised his chin, looking at Mr. Zhu. “I was talking to you.”

Mr. Zhu responded in shock, “Where have I gone wrong?”

“Where have you gone wrong? Let me count for you.” Jiang Feng said solemnly, “You’re wrong in your indulgence. You do good not because your heart is inherently good, but to seek peace of mind. You turn to Buddha not because you have the Tao in your heart, but because your heart is empty. You’re wealthy, but you lack sympathy and empathy; you treat good deeds as transactions. You’re infatuated with Qin Ru’s beauty, not distinguishing right from wrong, abandoning your faithful wife. Knowing she’s fake and spoiled, you deceive yourself and others with self-consolation. You know your daughter is spoiled and does evil, yet you don’t stop her. You neglect her education. After she makes mistakes, you indulge her even more, which has led to disaster. Even now, knowing your own faults, instead of making amends, you’re still preparing to eliminate the problem completely. Having lived together day and night with your closest family, yet you claim ignorance? Then let me tell you——“

Jiang Feng continued, “Ignorance isn’t a fault. But deliberately blinding yourself, pretending not to know, attempting to shirk responsibility—there’s no such convenience. That’s not how it works.”

Mr. Zhu grew angry with embarrassment. “You’re talking nonsense! Shut up! What do you know? You want to reckon with me? Do you know how much money I’ve donated, how many children I’ve saved? Do you know how much effort I’ve put into my business all these years?!”

Jiang Feng said, “Since you want to calculate clearly, I’ll tell you clearly. The good deeds you’ve done and the charitable donations you’ve made can be counted as your merits. If you don’t do evil or aid tyrants, then in your next life, you can indeed continue to live without worrying about food and clothing. But now, you’ve been involved in numerous scandals, and your hypocritical kindness is far from enough to offset your wrongdoings. It’s not too late to repent now, but without recognizing your mistakes and repenting, your sins will increase. Tell them to back down.”

“Dad.” Zhu Yan fearfully grabbed the hem of Mr. Zhu’s clothes, saying tearfully, “What is he saying? Does he want me to die?”

Mr. Zhu grabbed her hand, holding it in his palm. However, the cold sweat in his palm betrayed his emotions.

Seeing that he wasn’t backing down, Jiang Feng sighed and reached out to Chu Xuanliang. “Let me borrow your sword.”

Chu Xuanliang was on guard, and when he heard this, he clicked his tongue and said, “What joke are you playing? Get out of here.”

Jiang Feng directly snatched the sword from his hand, ran his hand along the blade, felt it was quite good, and pointed it at the people opposite.

It was finally time to fight.

The shaman gripped the lower end of his peace drum, beating and shaking it while mumbling incantations.

Captivating sound waves emanated from the cowhide drum surface; ordinary people couldn’t withstand it. Zhu Yan and Mr. Zhu immediately crouched down, covering their ears.

Jiang Feng remained unmoved, still examining the sword in his hand.

The Taoist priest threw two porcelain bottles. Five ghosts under their command began to emerge from five directions.

When the monk’s string of beads formed a circular rope several meters wide descending from above, Jiang Feng swept out his sword horizontally.

A fierce wind arose, and Chu Xuanliang was greatly shocked.

His sword was originally an exorcism sword, meant to deliver earthly justice with the golden light blessing of the ancestral master. But in Jiang Feng’s hands, it transformed into a gloomy force, like knives and swords, sweeping across all beings.

Leaves fell, and grasses withered.

The sword energy turned the originally emerald grass tips to a grayish-yellow color. Tree bark rapidly hardened, as if the desolate season had arrived early, their lifespan shortened.

More importantly… how could he use an exorcism sword? Was he a Taoist priest? Had he been chanting incantations?

The others were even more affected.

The shaman’s mask split in two, and the qi and blood in his body seemed to congeal, almost stopping their flow.

It was bone-eroding yin energy.

These practitioners who cultivated magic arts inevitably carried some yin energy. The so-called balance of yin and yang, as long as it coordinated with one’s cultivation method, was a matter of achieving twice the result with half the effort. Too much yang or too much yin was not a good thing.

Jiang Feng’s sword had directly injected countless yin energy into their internal organs. The few people’s bloodstreams were filled with a chilling murderous energy. What’s worse, this yin energy was quite aggressive, completely different from what they had cultivated, almost breaking through their veins to vent outward.

They hurriedly sat down to regulate their breathing.

The monk raised his eyes and asked, “Who are you?”

Jiang Feng returned the sword to Chu Xuanliang, who took it back with both hands, looking confused.

Jiang Feng asked, “Still want to fight?”

Fight…my ass?!

The few people’s expressions were uncertain, feeling their cultivation continuously leaking out, urgently needing remedy. They could only glare at him angrily without daring to speak.

“Is that it? You’re not going to help me?” Zhu Yan opened her eyes wide, her chest heaving violently. “How can it be like this? What will I do in the future?”

She turned her head and, in a trance, actually saw the old ghost floating in the corner. His face was like a relief carved into the outer wall of the villa. This thing had been following her constantly, scratching at her, giving her no peace. She would have to live with it for the rest of her life.

“Ah——I don’t want this!” Zhu Yan screamed loudly, protecting her head.

In the moment when her rationality emptied, Zhu Yan heard a seductive female voice in her ear.

The voice let out a sinister laugh.

“Do you see that white porcelain bottle hanging at the Taoist priest’s waist? There’s something powerful inside. While everyone’s not paying attention now. Break it, let it destroy the ghost that’s haunting you, and everything will be fine, won’t it?”

“Break it, and you’ll be saved.”

“Break it, and everything will end.”

“None of this is your fault, after all.”

Zhu Yan blinked, her pupils trembling. The voice grew louder, echoing clearly, bewitching her mind.

The successive incidents had already tortured her to the point of losing all reason.

She wanted to escape all of this, yet didn’t know where it should all begin.

Where had she gone wrong? No one had ever told her.

Chu Xuanliang, seeing the situation calming down and currently safe, turned and waved his hand backward. Wei Zheng slowly emerged from the shadows.

He wore a loose sweater and was much thinner than before, but after tidying up, his mental state had improved considerably.

Looking at Zhu Yan’s current state, he sighed deeply and said, “Zhu Yan, I want to talk to you…”

Zhu Yan showed no reaction, self-destructively patting her ears.

The Taoist priest’s expression changed, and he hurriedly shouted, “No! Don’t move!”

But it was already too late.

Zhu Yan grabbed the bottle and forcefully threw it to the ground.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed, clearly watching the scene unfold.

The white porcelain bottle shattered upon impact, and high-frequency sounds filled the air, creating a momentary gap in everyone’s ears.

Zhu Yan looked down at the escaped evil ghost, who bared its white and sharp teeth at her.

The softest persimmon gets picked first. This truth applies not only in the human realm.

Among those present, some were cultivators, others were adult males full of yang energy. Only Zhu Yan was a minor who had been haunted by ghosts for a long time and was mentally unstable.

The ghost pounced on her the next second, starting to bite from her legs, tearing off a piece of her soul through her physical body.

Zhu Yan couldn’t make a sound, only watching helplessly as her two legs disappeared.

In the end, the first to come to her rescue was actually Teacher Wei, whom she had falsely accused at the beginning.

When did he come? How did he get here?

Ah——why would he save me?

The evil ghost, seeing a living person appear, was about to shift its target, crawling up Wei Zheng’s arm. But Jiang Feng and Chu Xuanliang had also arrived.

Chu Xuanliang, wary of how dangerous this thing was, didn’t dare to touch it directly and was still forming hand seals and chanting. But Jiang Feng pulled Wei Zheng back forcefully, then formed his fingers into claws and grabbed the ghost by the throat.

Chu Xuanliang’s hand trembled, forgetting where he was in his chant. “I… I can’t believe it…”