It was rumored that Monk Zhu Jiu loved to drink, but his skills were extraordinarily effective, excelling at debating scriptures and elucidating doctrines with keen perception, and he also possessed the ability to foresee the unforeseeable. Many dignitaries were willing to incense for him.
Now, although time had moved on, his famous reputation lingered. Although Qiye Temple was no longer the most renowned temple in Mingjiang Prefecture, it was still well-known far and wide.
Si Ming sat in the meditation room of Qiye Temple, holding a tea bowl, staring into the clear eyes of Abbot Master Dehai, and asked, "Master, how goes the matter of the monk’s ghost I requested?"
"I’m afraid it’s a bit difficult."
Master Dehai clasped his hands together and said, "Recently, no monks have passed away in the temple, so naturally, there aren’t any ghosts to be obtained."
"That was the same answer you gave me yesterday."
"And today it is the same!"
"Damn you," Si Ming angrily smashed the tea bowl and grabbed Dehai by the kasaya, "I know that Master Deyan, the abbot of Qiye Temple, has long been terminally ill, breathing in but not exhaling..."
"If he’s not dead yet, give him a push!" Si Ming sneered, "Others may not know the true nature of your temple, but I’m all too clear. The words Monk Zhu Jiu shouted at you all at Qiye Temple on his deathbed have all come true now."
"Master Si, certain words should not be spoken recklessly."
"Hmph. If you want me to shut up, then get the ghost for me quickly. By dawn today, that’s your last deadline. You miss that, and my lips won’t be tight anymore!"
After throwing down this harsh remark, Si Ming brushed his sleeves and left.
"Qiye’s Zhu Jiu, not good, not good."
Master Dehai sighed a long breath. He pondered for a long time before finally walking slowly outside the side room.
Zhou Xuan had an early dinner and returned to his bedroom to rest. After dozing off until 7:40 P.M., he began preparing for the meeting.
When the pocket watch hand pointed to 7:58, he used the voice-changing method to alter his voice to a coarse tone, then struck the gavel to set up a deceptive dreamscape.
"When will the economy take off, when will the economy take off..."
As he chanted the secret phrase, Zhou Xuan once again entered that blood-colored mist under the guise of "Li Facai."
Today, Jing Deng seemed to be in a bad mood, listless. Usually, she was the most enthusiastic greeter at the meetings. Every time Zhou Xuan entered, she would say, "Facai, long time no see."
But today, she didn’t even call his name, showing her despondent mood.
Jing Deng’s spirits were low, but everyone else’s spirits were high.
Yu Zhaixing was particularly excited.
At the last meeting, this young lady encouraged the Blood Well Society to deal with the kidnappers, only to be rebuffed by everyone, which angered her so much that she severed the meeting connection and directly "logged off."
Yu Zhaixing said, "Do you know that recently the kidnappers in Mingjiang Prefecture have suffered setbacks? Many of their hideouts have been wiped out by the Liao Ghost. Do you know the Liao Ghost? It’s a small tangkou from Ping Shui Prefecture. Though small, its members are very united."
Zhimajiang chimed in, "It’s not just the Liao Ghost. I heard that the kidnapper’s Chun Meng also died. Chun Meng committed suicide in the hospital, and just before dying, he revealed the kidnapper’s affairs, infuriating the Bone Elder Association behind Shande Hospital. The kidnappers had to send many disciples to take the fall to calm things down."
"I heard Chun Meng’s death was very bizarre, killed by some expert. Zhimajiang, was it you?"
"Yes, it was me!" Zhimajiang laughed loudly, saying, "I’ll tell you clearly, I, Six Incense, could easily kill a mere Chun Meng."
"Bragging again, weren’t you the one who said you were chased down several streets by the kidnapper’s three incense last time?"
Suddenly, the meeting friends began discussing him.
The kidnappers’ heavy loss had all ten or so members of the meeting buzzing with excitement.
Yu Zhaixing added, "You know, the kidnappers’ setback is just a small piece of good news for us. Let me tell you about a big piece of good news—we Spiritualists of the Blood Well are saved!"
"What kind of salvation?"
"Recently, a tattoo master from an Ancient Clan appeared in Mingjiang Prefecture. I heard from my mother that he is very young, and his tattoos can suppress my madness!"
The news sent waves of excitement across the group. The last time, people had a rather negative impression of Yu Zhaixing, but now she was bringing life-saving news, causing everyone to be animated and eager to speak.
"He used human skin to create a Buddha’s head tattoo, and guess what? It worked! I haven’t gone mad even once in the last two or three days. I almost miss going mad."
The meeting members went silent: "..."
Yu Zhaixing continued, "Oh right, I heard the Buddha’s head tattoo isn’t even the best. He plans to make me a Flower-picking Handprint tattoo in the next couple of days, and that is said to be even more effective. I’ve been a Blood Well Spirit Communicator for four years, nearly driven insane, but he saved me..."
"Where’s the tattoo master’s shop located?"
"I can’t tell you that," Yu Zhaixing said. "While I’m very willing to help everyone, if the Flower-picking Handprint tattoo works well, I’ll ask the tattoo master to make more! Whoever wants one, you can come to my home and buy it."
Upon hearing this, everyone showered Yu Zhaixing with praise.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xuan furrowed his brows tightly. *It turned out, after all that, this Yu Zhaixing was Si Ming and Duan Qinglan’s daughter, Si Yuer!*
*No wonder she didn’t take kidnappers seriously, nor was she overly concerned about revealing her identity. Indeed, the young lady of the Si Mansion had nothing to hide.*
*Any kidnapper foolish enough to trouble her would be truly doomed.*
*The Kidnapper Hall in Mingjiang Prefecture even depended on the Bone Elder Association as their patrons.*
*However, although Yu Zhaixing seemed frank and straightforward, calling her innocent wouldn’t be entirely accurate! At least she had once lied that she had moved from Ping Shui Prefecture to Mingjiang Prefecture.*
*At least she knew not to reveal the true identity of the tattoo master.*
"Tattoos have no effect on the Blood Well! I used to think they did, but now I know they are useless."
Finally, meeting leader Jing Deng couldn’t hold back any longer and voiced opposition to the suppressive effects of tattoos on the Blood Well...