Gu Zhaoyan followed the old man back to his home and learned that he was the village chief of this settlement. “Benefactor, please tell this poor monk the entire cause and effect of this matter.”
Knowing that the villagers here were terrified and fearful of it, Bailang lay down at Gu Zhaoyan’s feet upon entering, listening quietly.
The village chief glanced at the villagers who had followed them inside and sighed helplessly. Why were they all so fond of joining in the excitement right in front of an eminent master? But since the master minded none of it, the chief said nothing and slowly recounted the origin of the matter: “If we trace the beginning of this affair, it all started half a month ago.”
He sighed deeply, took out a dry-tobacco pipe, and took a puff. Only when he exhaled a cloud of smoke did he catch himself, hastily tapping the pipe against the ground to empty it. He offered an embarrassed smile to Gu Zhaoyan, and upon seeing that the monk’s expression remained as warm and gentle as ever, he felt reassured and continued: “One day half a month ago, it was a very ordinary day, and I got up intending to stroll around the village entrance. Just as I stepped outside, I heard a miserable scream. I was frightened out of my wits at the time, wondering whose household was in trouble. As the village chief, I went over to check. Who would have thought that when I arrived at Daqing’s place, I would see Daqing hanging from his own front door.”
At this point, the village chief’s face turned pale. The hand holding the tobacco pipe trembled slightly, and his cloudy eyes were filled with sheer terror. He looked up at Gu Zhaoyan and swallowed hard with difficulty. “Master, you have no idea. The state Daqing was in when he died was simply too horrifying.”
“How horrifying?” At that exact moment, the bustling noises outside in the courtyard vanished abruptly, plunging everything into a deep silence. Gu Zhaoyan felt a chill crawl straight up his spine. In the past, he had only ever encountered monsters and never felt particularly scared. But now, listening to the village chief’s account, a genuinely eerie sensation crept over him. Heaven knew that while he wasn’t afraid of monsters, he found ghosts and wandering spirits the most terrifying thing of all! He took a silent, deep breath to steady himself. He wasn’t an ordinary mortal from his past life anymore; he was a cultivator destined to become an immortal. How could he possibly be afraid of a ghost? If word got out, how much face would he lose!
The villagers gathered in the yard recalled that scene and felt a wave of terror, shivering as they unconsciously crowded closer to one another. The village chief steadied his nerves and continued, “Daqing’s neck was strangled with a strip of red cloth, leaving him hanging from the lintel like that. His mouth was wide open, his eyes were bulging, and his eyeballs protruded horribly. All the flesh and blood on his body were completely gone, leaving just a layer of skin draped over his skeleton, looking just like a walking skeleton. He died, and he died in such a bizarre fashion. To avoid causing widespread panic, I had someone report it to the yamen.”
Gu Zhaoyan asked, “What did the authorities say?”
The village chief let out a mournful sigh. “What could they say? The officials sent people to take a look, and then they hauled Daqing’s body away. But after a few days, they sent it back, claiming that Daqing’s life had been claimed by someone using evil sorcery, and promising that they would hunt down the culprit as soon as possible. Yet half a month has passed now, and aside from a few more people dying in our village, those officials have never shown their faces again.”
With a method of death like Daqing’s, anyone could tell something was deeply suspicious, so the yamen’s fear was understandable. Now that several people had already died in their village, the villagers were thrown into a state of panic, and a few households had even wanted to move away. But moving house was hardly an easy task.
Hearing this, Gu Zhaoyan was slightly stunned. Closing the case by claiming someone used evil sorcery to harm others? Did the yamen handle cases with such sloppy haste? Did they not suspect malevolent spirits or demons at all? Or were they simply desperate to wash their hands of a matter that looked thoroughly terrifying?
He looked at the village chief and asked, “Were the subsequent victims all killed in the exact same manner?” Why did this sound so suspiciously like their vital essence and flesh had been devoured by malevolent spirits and demons?
The village chief nodded. “Indeed. Ever since Daqing’s death, three more people in our village have died, all in the exact same way. As for the missing ones, there are three of them, and to this day they are neither seen alive nor found dead.” Though he phrased it that way, everyone knew that those individuals likely met a grim end.
He gazed at Gu Zhaoyan, his eyes burning with intense hope, as if Gu Zhaoyan were the savior of their village. “Master, could it truly be the work of evil spirits and demons?”
Hearing the village chief phrase it like that, the rest of the villagers turned their attention to Gu Zhaoyan as well. They, too, were looking for confirmation of a suspicion they had harbored all along, simply longing to hear Gu Zhaoyan give a definitive confirmation or denial so they could finally set their minds at ease.
“Amitabha.” Gu Zhaoyan pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist greeting, instantly making the villagers feel a refreshing clarity wash over their minds, a gentle warmth chasing away the chill in their bodies. “This poor monk does not yet possess sufficient evidence to determine the truth with certainty. However, everyone can rest assured that this poor monk will thoroughly investigate the matter. If it is indeed the work of malevolent demons, this poor monk will certainly slay them without mercy!”
At that moment, his expression was solemn, and his resolute, powerful words gave everyone present the distinct impression of an imposing, wrathful Vajra guardian. In their hearts, they could not stop praising: It is truly a blessing to have an eminent monk present here.
Just then, the young man who had carried Zhou Dashu home returned with a smile on his face. “Village Chief, Master, Dashu has woken up!”
Hearing this, Gu Zhaoyan stood up and smiled warmly. “Since he has awakened, Village Chief, please accompany this poor monk to Benefactor Zhou’s home. I have a few questions I wish to ask him.” Bailang rose and followed closely beside him, perfectly assuming the posture of a loyal protector.
The village chief hurried to his feet as well. “Alright, let’s head over right now.” He waved a hand at the villagers in the courtyard. “All of you, go on back. Do not disturb the master. Whatever else needs to be said can wait until later.”
Knowing what they were worried about, Gu Zhaoyan said, “Esteemed benefactors, please return home first. Once this poor monk returns, I will draw some protective talismans and gift them to you to ensure your peace and safety.”
Upon hearing this, joy lit up their faces, and they repeatedly bowed and cupped their fists in deep gratitude to Gu Zhaoyan. After stepping out of the village chief’s yard, the group dispersed in various directions. Given the current state of the village, none of them dared to wander around casually; whether day or night, they stayed strictly indoors unless necessary. This made Gu Zhaoyan find it all the more baffling: under such circumstances, where on earth had Zhou Dashu gone to become contaminated with demonic aura, yet still manage to drag himself back to the village alive?
Zhou Dashu’s household consisted only of himself and his mother, a typical widowed mother and single son. Consequently, their dwelling was merely a trio of thatched cottages enclosed by a wattle fence, and the courtyard gate looked extremely weathered and dilapidated against the wind and rain.
Gu Zhaoyan and Bailang followed the village chief into the house. The thatched roof was low, forcing Gu Zhaoyan to bend slightly as he stepped inside. The room was somewhat dim and rather cramped.
The moment Aunt Zhou caught sight of Gu Zhaoyan, she eagerly moved to pour tea, only to be stopped by him. “Benefactor need not trouble yourself. This poor monk has only come to check on Benefactor Zhou.” He walked over to the bedside and sat down without a trace of hesitation, looking at Zhou Dashu, who remained pale-faced, and asked in a gentle tone, “Are you feeling somewhat better?”
Zhou Dashu had never laid eyes on anyone as ethereal and immortal-looking as Gu Zhaoyan. Gazing at Gu Zhaoyan’s snow-white, spotless monastic robes and his fair, handsome face, and then looking back at his own shabby, run-down room, a sense of inferiority welled up in his heart. Yet as he listened to Gu Zhaoyan’s gentle, soothing voice, all his awkwardness and discomfort melted entirely away.
“Thank you, Master, for saving my life. May I ask in which temple Master cultivates? Once I recover from my illness, I will go to the temple to fulfill my vows and thank you for saving my life.”
“This poor monk has no fixed abode. If you truly wish to express your gratitude, simply perform more good deeds from now on and commit no evil—that in itself is thanks enough,” Gu Zhaoyan said with a smile. “Could you tell this poor monk where you went prior to this?”
The expression on Zhou Dashu’s face turned instantly terrified. His pupils contracted sharply in that exact fraction of a second, and his entire body began to tremble like a sieve in the wind!