Chapter 54: Dissolving the Curse, Biting Back

Xu Bao’er would likely sleep for an entire day before waking. I drew a calming talisman for her and affixed it, then placed exorcism charms on her windows and doors.

When one’s spirit is unsettled, it is most prone to attracting evil.

After finishing these precautions, I went to a familiar small clinic to tend to my wounds. The gash across my back was more than forty centimeters long and required over a hundred stitches.

Fortunately, they were only superficial injuries. Given my constitution and recovery abilities, they posed no significant threat.

What troubled me most now was the murderous aura permeating my body, which could not be concealed without a suppression charm.

Bare-chested and wrapped in bandages, I gazed at myself in the mirror.

My reflection showed disheveled hair, dark brows slanting sharply toward the temples like blades, the lines of my face cold and hard, and a ferocity in my eyes threatening to spill forth.

If one compared me to a photo from before, no one would believe it was the same person.

I used to carry a roguish smile, my features gentle and my gaze electric, always ready to flirt.

Now, I doubted any ordinary girl would dare approach me.

Just then, I heard the television switch on in the living room, followed by the sound of cartoons.

I slipped on a shirt and stepped out of the bathroom, finding Li Ling’er absorbed in the screen.

Hearing me, she turned, startled, and floated backward.

I meant to approach, but paused at her reaction.

Yet Li Ling’er timidly edged closer, reached out, and began to absorb the murderous aura from my body.

I quickly shook off her hand, saying, “Silly girl, you’re a pure spirit. Absorbing my aura will harm your essence. Don’t worry about it—I have my own ways.”

…

At the foot of Jingxin Temple, dressed casually, I stepped out of my car.

It was the weekend, and the stone steps leading up the mountain were crowded with female devotees. Bells and chants echoed from above, and a tranquil atmosphere enveloped the area.

“Hey, brother, it’s you again,” a portly figure appeared in front of me—it was the same lecherous fat man I’d met last time.

I glanced at him. “You’re persistent. Aren’t you afraid the little nun will thrash you again?”

“Heh heh, my skin’s thick, so it doesn’t matter. I mean no disrespect to Master Jingyue—I simply admire her.” He jiggled his bulk, squinting his eyes. That look hardly convinced anyone of his pure intentions; I suspected he fantasized about Jingyue every night.

Seeing my skeptical expression, he raised a hand, “You don’t believe me? I swear!”

“Swearing to me is useless. Swear to the little nun.” I pointed ahead.

Just then, the young nun Yunhui came charging over with a broom, swinging it at the fat man.

He yelped and fled, clutching his head.

Yunhui watched him run, snorted, and held her broom with the air of a heroine.

She then looked at me, scowling, “You’re birds of a feather. If Master hadn’t told me to bring you in, I’d have beaten you too.”

“If Jingyue asked you to guide me, what are you waiting for?” I said.

Yunhui shot me an irate glare, then turned and led the way.

She didn’t take me up the main path, but instead along a small trail to the back of the mountain.

There, a few simple thatched huts stood, exuding a calm, steadfast aura.

Master Jingyue emerged from the central hut, her gaze falling on me. She intoned a Buddhist chant, “Your murderous aura reaches the heavens, it seems you’ve taken many more lives.”

“Those who deserve death, however many, are no different from slaughtering pigs and dogs,” I replied coolly.

“The Buddha’s compassion saves the world, yet also subdues demons. If your body bears murderous aura, your heart must remain untainted,” Jingyue said.

I understood her meaning: it’s easy to kill, hard to keep one’s heart pure. With blood on your hands, inner demons take root.

Once someone kills for the first time, they lose respect for life.

I followed Master Jingyue into the hut, where three Buddha statues stood in the main hall, incense burning before them.

My mind eased, and at her direction, I sat cross-legged on a cushion.

“Close your eyes. Guard your heart. Relax your soul. I will use Buddhist mantras to dispel your murderous aura, cleanse your mind, and subdue evil. I will gather Buddha’s light in your soul, so you shall no longer be corroded by murderous energy,” her voice resonated like a great bell, instantly clearing my mind.

In a daze, golden light appeared before me.

Three Buddhas surrounded me, chanting.

The mantras penetrated my soul; I felt my heart gradually clearing.

The dark red aura faded, not vanishing, but seemingly merging.

I didn’t know how much time passed. The golden world faded, sensation returned to my body.

Lightness! Unprecedented relief! As if a thousand-pound burden was lifted.

That was my first feeling, followed by clarity of spirit, as though all stains on my soul had been washed away.

I opened my eyes to find Master Jingyue before me, her aura turbulent, face pale, beads of sweat on her brow.

“Amitabha, your wisdom is extraordinary, and you are deeply connected to the Buddha,” she said.

Connected to the Buddha?

“Thank you, Master. Though, I have no intention of becoming a monk,” I laughed.

“Don’t worry. Connection to the Buddha doesn’t mean ordination. You are deeply entwined in worldly affairs—a lifetime may not sever these bonds,” Jingyue replied.

I smiled. As one rooted in the mortal world, I’d rather remain a commoner than spend my life with incense and solitude. Besides, how unbearable would days without women be?

“Master, why do I feel the murderous aura hasn’t disappeared, only that I can no longer sense it?” I voiced my doubt.

“Amitabha, your wisdom is profound and your soul transparent. Whether spiritual or evil energy, as long as you guard your heart, there’s no distinction between good and evil. You conceal the aura within, which can refine your blood and flesh, and gather force externally,” Jingyue explained.

I paused, closed my eyes, and after a moment, suddenly opened them. Instantly, murderous aura coiled around me, layers of killing intent stacking up.

Yet unlike before, my heart and soul remained untouched, perfectly clear.

With a thought, the aura dissipated completely, leaving no trace. I stood smiling, with no sign of ferocity.

I was elated. During my fierce battle with Elder Lin of Mani Society, I’d sensed that my advantage wasn’t raw strength, but the influence of force.

Simply put, it was a hundredfold intensified aura.

Murderous energy and killing intent are an extreme form of force—sharp as swords, able to crush an opponent’s will. When overwhelming force strikes, the weaker side is suppressed, resulting in mental and physical mistakes, slower reactions.

“Yunhui, escort the guest out,” Master Jingyue called.

I bade farewell and left the hut.

I glanced at the starry night sky and said to Yunhui, “I didn’t expect it to be so late—I thought only a few dozen minutes had passed.”

“You’re wrong. You came yesterday morning. Guess how long you stayed?” Yunhui still showed me no kindness, making me feel my charm had lost its effect.

I was stunned—had I really been here that long? No wonder Master Jingyue looked so drained.

Yunhui escorted me to the mountain’s base, then turned and left without a word.

The Third Division’s headquarters weren’t far, so I headed straight there.

Chen Ying’en, Niu Dali, and Ghost had already returned and were holding a meeting.

Seeing me, Ghost stood up excitedly, “Brother Qin, I heard you took out a Mani Society hall leader and an elder, rescued hundreds, and thwarted their plot to disrupt Linjiang. You’re incredible!”

“Indeed. I wanted to brag in front of you, but I can’t anymore—you’ve earned more merit points than our entire action team,” Niu Dali laughed.

“Not at all, just luck,” I chuckled, keeping up the required humility, though my pride was evident, sure to earn accusations of false modesty.

Chen Ying’en showed no expression, simply stood and walked out. As she passed, she tossed a remark, “Qin Feng, come out for a moment.”

I raised an eyebrow and followed, wondering what she wanted.

“Captain, calling me out alone isn’t good—what if they misunderstand?” I joked.

“Misunderstand what?” Chen Ying’en seemed oblivious.

“Misunderstand that you like me—of course, you might not care, but I do. If Ye Luo finds out her captain likes me, how could she confess? Don’t you think—” I teased, but before I finished, she pressed her jade flute to my throat.

“I don’t care for your nonsense. Since you’re affiliated with the Third Division, even as an unofficial advisor, I feel obliged to warn you: you seriously injured Huo Xingyu in this case. It could bring you trouble. I suggest you speak with Director Zhou,” she said coldly.

“I castrated Huo Xingyu—so what? I don’t care how powerful he is. He joined a cult; if he isn’t punished, they’re going after me, the hero?” I pointed at myself, laughing in anger.

Chen Ying’en shook her head, “Huo Xingyu claims he was abducted by Mani Society, tortured, but never broke. He says he survived their hands, only to be injured by you.”

I laughed, “He says that, and the higher-ups believe it? Since when did they become so gullible?”

“The problem is, there’s no evidence he joined Mani Society,” Chen Ying’en said.

“How is there no evidence? With so many captured, can’t we get them to talk?” I retorted.

“They all died last night—poisoned,” Chen Ying’en replied gravely.

“Who did it?” I demanded.

“No one knows. They were watched closely, no one entered to poison them. The preliminary guess is they’d ingested a toxin beforehand, triggered upon capture,” Chen Ying’en explained.

Suddenly, a dozen powerful presences approached rapidly.

In a flash, more than ten men and women appeared, surrounding us.

Among them was Nightingale.

“We’re the Ninth Bureau’s Inspection Team. Qin Feng, come with us,” said the leader, an effeminate man whose gaze felt like a venomous snake fixed on me.