Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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The little fox had grown into a big fox. Xie Lingya stroked the back of its neck a few times as he spoke, and the fox’s squinting eyes looked like it was smiling.
The fox jumped from Xie Lingya’s arms back to the windowsill, went out and fiddled around for a bit, then came back with some things and placed them in front of Xie Lingya.
Xie Lingya looked at them and saw several dead earthworms and a few pine nuts. “…Ah?”
The fox touched the earthworms with its paw and squeaked a few times.
Xie Lingya stared at it for a while. “You’re not asking me to eat, are you?”
The fox nodded.
It was winter now, and finding food in the wild was difficult, unlike other seasons when it was easy to find large and plump prey. A few earthworms and pine nuts were the best the little fox could find in its haste.
Xie Lingya: “…”
He was grateful, but speechless…
Xie Lingya said awkwardly, “Thank you for treating me so well, but I’m already full. I’ll keep the pine nuts, you can have the earthworms yourself.”
The fox hesitated. Would that be impolite?
Xie Lingya: “It’s okay, really, you can eat it.”
Being young, he couldn’t resist the temptation. So the fox grabbed the earthworm and ate it in a few bites, then continued to stare at Xie Lingya.
Xie Lingya held a few pine nuts in his hand, hesitating. He didn’t know when the fox had picked them up. So he turned around and saw Shi Changxuan staring at him intently. He reached out and asked, “…Do you want some?”
Shi Changxuan: “…”
Shi Changxuan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of sorrow appearing in his cool eyes. After a long while, he slowly took the pine nuts.
He rinsed the pine nuts slightly; they were pointed and unopened. He peeled one open and ate it, then frowned.
Xie Lingya looked at it and thought, “Wow, the pine nut kernel might be spoiled!”
Just as he was thinking this, Shi Changxuan shoved another one into his mouth.
The action was too fast; Xie Lingya didn’t even have time to react. He was about to spit it out when he realized the taste was off.
The pine nuts were fragrant, thin-shelled, oily, and slightly salty. Most importantly, they were ripe…
Xie Lingya sweated and said, “You probably picked them up from someone’s house, right?”
He had thought they were hidden in a fox den. He should have realized that; why would foxes hide pine nuts for no reason? There were plenty of fruit platters at the hot spring resort, though. After Tang Qi saw the fox family stealing the skull, and after the several later events, Tang Qi’s attitude towards them changed. He usually didn’t call them, but now that it was winter, if the foxes couldn’t find food, they would come near this area. The construction workers and the staff who were preparing before the opening had all been instructed not to frighten or harm the foxes.
Xie Lingya ate all the pine nuts, poured water for the fox to drink, and then gave it a bath. While bathing it, he asked, “Where are your parents?”
The fox’s ears twitched, and it tried to bend its two hind legs inward and stack them together, sitting with its tail behind it in an awkward, sitting posture.
Xie Lingya pondered for a moment, then hesitated, “…Could they be cultivating?”
No amount of explanation could fully convey the meaning, so Xie Lingya figured it was most likely so. And if a real fox had gained enlightenment after hearing the scriptures and understood the Dao, that would be a good thing, but…
Xie Lingya sighed, “You have to be careful when letting them learn from humans. If their legs are too short to meditate, they shouldn’t sit cross-legged.”
If someone in the mountains saw a fox sitting cross-legged with its upper body straight, they’d probably be terrified.
Xie Lingya sat on the steps by the hot spring pool, bending over to bathe the little fox, while Shi Changxuan sat on a wooden stool nearby, lost in thought, probably still not understanding why the world had changed just because he arrived half a minute late.
After bathing and drying the fox, its fur was fluffy, and Xie Lingya stroked it many times. Just then, the doorbell rang, and he stood up to open the door.
Bending over for too long really hurts your back. Xie Lingya opened the door, supporting his lower back. It was Hai Guanchao standing at the door. “…Um, Ning Wanlai and Cheng Xin said they won’t be coming tonight. They have something to do and they’ll come tomorrow.”
Xie Lingya: “Okay.”
Tang Qi gave them a lot of coupons, more than they could use. So he even gave some to other people.
Hai Guanchao didn’t leave after speaking, but instead glanced at Xie Lingya’s waist a few times, saying with some regret, “You didn’t know how to take care of your health when you are young, and then you’re going to ask me for medicine when you’re old.”
Xie Lingya: “…………”
Xie Lingya: “Nonsense, I was just tired from bathing the fox inside.”
Hai Guanchao glanced behind him, not seeing Shi Changxuan’s figure, and asked again, “Was Daoist Shi bathing the fox with you?”
Xie Lingya: “No, he was sitting next to me watching.”
Hai Guanchao thought for a moment and said, “You mean, President Tang booked a hot spring suite for you, with a private hot spring pool, and you two just filled the pool, one bathing the fox, and the other watching? Is this a fox or a fox spirit, with such great charm?”
Xie Lingya: “……”
Hai Guanchao gave a helpless smile, feeling that he had seen through the truth.
Xie Lingya sighed and slammed the door shut, saying, “It would be a shame not to go back and indulge in some debauchery now.”
The door slammed shut in front of Hai Guanchao.
“…………”
The next day, Ning Wanlai and Cheng Xin joined the hot spring party. Xie Lingya introduced Ning Wanlai to Lian Tan, saying that if the temple held any religious ceremonies later, he should be included.
It took Ning Wanlai a while to realize that Xie Lingya was introducing business to Lian Tan.
Seeing Ning Wanlai’s expression, Xie Lingya laughed, “Why are you looking at me like that? Master Lian Tan’s cultivation is profound; it’ll be more efficient if you hold more ceremonies.”
If it was about accumulating merit, regardless of whether it was Buddhist or Taoist, Baoyang Temple could only offer him a limited number of ceremonies.
Ning Wanlai had no faith, so he didn’t care, he was only surprised. But if Xie Lingya didn’t mind, he was even less bothered.
When Xie Lingya saw the young monk Tan Qing again today, they chatted for a few more minutes, with Xie Lingya asking how the drama was going. The young monk showed some joy, saying the drama was really interesting, and he had even seen videos of other Buddhist sects in the related list, which broadened his horizons considerably; the internet was truly amazing.
“The drama is good, but don’t get addicted,” Xie Lingya concluded with a warning, with Lian Tan present, advising the young monk to relax in moderation and not to damage his eyes, as he would have to wear glasses again later.
Ning Wanlai then invited Xie Lingya to perform a ritual for one of the victims, those who had been harmed by Bao Yuesheng and Ma Xiaochuan.
After such a long process, the case was finally closed.
Bao Yuesheng committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the others, after being arrested, also confessed, revealing the location of the victims’ remains except for the skull. Because so much time had passed, it took a considerable amount of time to collect all the remains, which were then verified to be those of the victims.
Due to the special nature of this case, Cheng Xin also reported to his superiors, requesting that a ritual be performed.
Xie Lingya naturally agreed.
Two days later, Xie Lingya was invited to perform a ritual for the victims of the Skull Curse; otherwise, even if these tragically deceased souls avenged themselves, they would not be able to reincarnate. Xie Lingya specifically brought Xiao Dian and Guo Xing along; Xiao Dian was there to train him as the successor, while Guo Xing was there to observe.
Cheng Xin took out the bags containing the remains, saying, “They were all found in the desolate mountains; we searched for a long time along the way.”
This was because of Cheng Xin’s insistence; because of Ning Wanlai, he knew how tragic those wronged souls were, so he was determined to collect all their remains.
Besides these, there were also skulls from the original garden, pieced together.
Guo Xing was the least informed, only feeling that the skeletons looked eerie. It was the first time he had seen real human bones, and he asked somewhat nervously, “Brother Xie, how did they die?”
Cheng Xin knew more about this. He and Ning Wanlai had directly confronted the owners of the skeletons and even read the autopsy report. He said, “When they were alive, they were abducted and imprisoned using various methods because of their birth dates and times. They were only fed sesame oil until they were starved. Then, their joints were nailed shut with large nails, and vinegar was poured into their heads and limbs. After they died and turned into skeletons, their skulls were collected to control their souls. Then, flowers were planted on them, and the pain of the roots sprouting in their brains made the deceased work for them.”
He only knew that these wronged souls suffered terribly after death because of the plant roots growing in their brains. Although Xie Lingya had mentioned that they died from torture, he truly hadn’t expected such cruel methods.
Xiao Dian and Guo Xing also turned pale upon hearing this, unaware that such vicious magic existed.
“So these perpetrators are also suffering now. Their vengeful spirits are tasked with seeking revenge, and they will surely haunt them relentlessly.” Xie Lingya deliberately warned them, “Some evil sorcerers use their abilities to commit evil deeds, but the gods observe the human world. Heaven cuts off the karmic cycle, and ghosts seek revenge; there’s no escaping it.”
Xie Lingya set up an altar, planted a soul-summoning banner, laid out three meat dishes and four vegetarian dishes, and recited the *Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Jiuku Bazu Miaojing* (Supreme Mysterious Treasure Sutra for Saving from Suffering and Removing Sins). Because there were female victims, according to custom, he also added the *Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun Shuo Bazui Fengdu Xuehu Miaojing* (The Sutra of the Great Savior from Suffering, the Sutra of Removing Sins from the Blood Lake of Fengdu). Xie Lingya drew a spirit official’s eye on his forehead, closed his eyes, and seemed to see those vengeful spirits before him. Their clothes were tattered, their joints were oozing pus, their bodies were covered in blood and filth, and they were still chained— this was because they were being escorted by underworld officials to seek revenge.
The suffering they endured in life still tormented them, so their revenge was even more intense. Even though the remaining enemies were in prison, they couldn’t let them go every night.
So involuntarily, their faces carried a sinister look.
Xiao Dian and Guo Xing gasped softly. Since they were observing, Xie Lingya had naturally opened their Yin-Yang eyes as well, making the situation somewhat uncomfortable for them.
Fortunately, Xie Lingya then chanted scriptures, alleviating the torment of the wronged souls, and their expressions gradually calmed.
“May these souls of the long night be delivered to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.”
After reciting the last line, Xie Lingya burned food for them, folded some new clothes and paper money, and burned them.
The bloodstains on the deceased souls were then washed away, their wounds stopped festering, their broken skin healed, and the resentment in their expressions lessened considerably. Once their karmic debts in this life were settled, they could be reincarnated and live new lives.
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