Si Jiangchen kicked a lama flying, and the lama even smashed a hole in the back wall of the Main Buddha Hall.
Since ancient times, there has been a rumor that Buddhist temples are places that harbor evil. This made Master Zheb frown. Despite his weak body, he didn't hesitate to bend down and crawl into the dark hole.
Afraid that the old monk would be too impulsive and cause trouble, I quickly followed him in.
A pungent musty smell hit my face. Since the main hall was lofty, the partition wall was quite spacious. There was actually a flight of blue - brick stone steps going down, leading deep into the space right below the three Buddha statues. Looking towards the other end of the partition wall, the narrow passage seemed to lead to the monks' quarters.
It was not hard to guess why Danba, who was clearly leading Boss Lin and his wife to the monks' quarters to rest, had the three of them disappear out of thin air.
They should have entered the underground secret chamber through a secret passage in one of the monks' quarters...
Thinking of the strange red threads entangled all over the three of them, I couldn't help getting goosebumps all over. I quickened my steps and tried to squeeze past Master Zheb. "Master, you'd better follow behind me."
Master Zheb didn't know where the brick steps deep underground led. He was worried that there might be scenes like those in the old anecdotes where licentious things were done to women. So he stepped sideways to block in front of me. "We don't know what dangers are inside. I'm afraid the female lay - Buddhist might get hurt!"
"Master Zheb, can you exorcise ghosts?"
I frowned slightly and asked the old monk in front of me.
"Alas, I can only chant scriptures and offer prayers. I don't know any magic."
Although Master Zheb said so, he still looked down on me, a so - called "swindler" from the streets and alleys of the Jianghu in his heart.
"Then what are you doing walking in front?"
I followed him closely, dissatisfied. "The space is only this big. Do you want to be a live target for evil ghosts?"
Although Master Zheb was a "saint" that ordinary ghosts would avoid, the one we were going to face was the One - Eyed Buddha Mother. She was from the same sect as the Tibetan religious sects and even dared to come boldly to the temple. She must be fearless. For her, Master Zheb was definitely a "delicious food" that could greatly replenish her spiritual consciousness. I couldn't let the One - Eyed Buddha Mother eat his heavenly soul and become even more powerful!
"Master, please step back."
Behind me was Si Jiangchen. He had already walked past me sideways and stood in front of Master Zheb. Although his face still had that mask - like smile, his voice was full of an unshakable meaning. "Xiao He is a powerful master. If it weren't for her, you would have been eaten by the evil demons in the black mist long ago. We're not doing this for you. We just don't want you to hold us back."
"..."
Master Zheb had been the abbot for decades and was always greeted with respectful words. He had forgotten what it felt like to be disliked.
Si Jiangchen was not the kind of person who was willing to wait. He gently pushed Master Zheb aside with his shoulder, then took my hand and walked down the increasingly dim blue - brick steps.
"Mr. Si, you're just an ordinary mortal. How can you walk in the front?"
Master Zheb thought that he, at least, was a monk with some spiritual practice. He couldn't let a rich and idle man like Si Jiangchen take the lead. If Si Jiangchen lost his life because of the black mist, the entire Hongluo Temple might not be able to make up for it!
He didn't even know that it was Si Jiangchen who had saved his life...
Hearing Master Zheb's words, Si Jiangchen's smile widened. He tightened his grip on my hand and didn't look back. "I'm not afraid. I have Xiao He to protect me. No evil demons can hurt me."
He was much more powerful than me, but now he said that he needed me to protect him, making him seem like a delicate and helpless little wife. I couldn't help but find it funny, and the pressure that had been building up like a storm about to break was instantly dissipated.
I couldn't help but let out a little laugh secretly. Then I remembered the danger of this trip. So I took out four Peace - of - Mind Talismans and Soul - Comforting Talismans from my bag and handed them to Master Zheb. "Master, these are talismans to prevent evil possession. Please ask the other monks to carry them."
Unexpectedly, Master Zheb didn't take my yellow talismans at all. He just shook the prayer wheel in his hand and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but Buddhism and Taoism are two different beliefs. If we use these talismans, the Buddha and Bodhisattvas may no longer protect us!"
"Alas!!!"
I silently criticized their stubbornness in my heart.
These monks didn't have the ability to fight against evil demons. If they would be abandoned by the gods they believed in just because they used Taoist magic, then... their gods were too stingy!!!
Since they were not willing, I had to think of another way.
I took four yellow talismans and handed them to Si Jiangchen...
The brick steps went down all the way and turned a big right - angle. After the turn, it became even darker. I could only see a blurry silhouette of Si Jiangchen, who was holding my hand.
Master Zheb and the others who had been following closely behind were swallowed up by the darkness behind us. I couldn't even hear their footsteps.
"Are they all gone?"
I turned my head and saw that there was no one behind us.
"Don't worry. They've been blocked by you. They're probably back in the main hall by now." Si Jiangchen didn't look back, but his tone was full of certainty.
The yellow talismans I gave to Si Jiangchen just now were not only for peace of mind and soul - comforting, but also blessed with the incantation to avoid disasters.
Si Jiangchen casually folded them into four little yellow - paper frogs and dropped them on the ground.
These little things seemed to come to life after Si Jiangchen's touch. Taking advantage of the dim light in the passage, they all jumped into the folds of Master Zheb and the others' clothes and hid.
Since it was a spell to avoid disasters, the trace of spiritual consciousness of the heavenly gods patrolling the world, who were attached to the talismans, would naturally send those great monks as far away from the evil god like the One - Eyed Buddha Mother as possible!
This was similar to the so - called "ghost hitting the wall" that ordinary people encountered. The only difference was that the resentful ghosts were replaced by the golden - armored heavenly gods guarding the four directions.
We had walked for so long. Maybe, as Si Jiangchen said, Master Zheb and the others had already walked out of the Main Buddha Hall...
Sending them out was not only to protect their safety, but also to prevent them from being eaten or used by the One - Eyed Buddha Mother. Although they had no special skills, they were all great masters with profound blessings and generations of Buddhist practice. If the One - Eyed Buddha Mother was really desperate and ate them, she might become so powerful that we couldn't control her!!!
There was a faint light ahead. A door appeared in front of us! An out - of - place all - metal security door?!
The silver - white metal, so out of place with the surrounding darkness, shone a strange and dazzling light under the small lamp on the lintel!!!