“The temperature difference is huge. A temple shouldn’t be like this.” He Yi looked around.
There were no Buddha statues placed in the entire temple!
Continuing further inside would lead to the main hall.
But on the way, they ran into someone.
“Three benefactors, have you come to make a wish?”
A young man walked out. There was a scar on his left cheek, and when he smiled, the scar looked fierce, adding a touch of aggression to his appearance.
“Who are you?” Xiao Qingbei sized him up.
“I’m the temple’s caretaker, Wang Song.”
Li Qiao said, “Can we go to the main hall?”
“Of course you can.”
Guided by Wang Song, the three followed him into the main hall. There were quite a few Buddha statues placed there, but Li Qiao found it very strange.
The two others began to pray, but Li Qiao stood completely still.
Wang Song, standing nearby, said, “Benefactor…”
“Sorry, they’re the ones praying to the Buddha. I’m just accompanying them,” Li Qiao said, then stepped aside.
She clearly saw the fierce look in Wang Song’s eyes, which vanished in an instant.
After the prayers were over, the three left.
Wang Song never reappeared.
Once they were outside, the two others felt a wave of warmth, as if they had returned to the warmth of spring from the depths of a cold winter.
“He Jingnian is inside.”
“What? Really? Miss Li, let’s go rescue Ninth Master.”
“No, you two are mere mortals. You can’t withstand the dark, sinister energy inside. If you stay too long, your lives will be in danger.”
Their faces changed dramatically.
Following Li Qiao’s guidance, they booked a hotel room.
He Yi knocked on Li Qiao’s door and walked in, only to see her weaving an umbrella. Curious, He Yi said, “Miss Li, where did you get this?”
“I asked the front desk, and he bought it for me.”
Li Qiao continued weaving as she spoke.
It was a red umbrella, with little bells hanging from its four corners. When opened, it made a pleasant jingling sound.
“Is this for protection?”
“It can protect you, and it can also capture ghosts. This is a unique ritual tool from our Taoist temple. I haven’t made one in a long time, so I’m a bit out of practice, but it should still work.”
He Yi had a strange look on his face. “Miss Li, if it’s a unique ritual tool, shouldn’t it have been passed down? Why isn’t there an original?”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. The patriarch was too lazy. He only handed down the design drawings.”
The truth was, the patriarch’s craftsmanship was terrible. He tried to make it many times but never got it right. So, in the end… he could only draw up the blueprints and pass those down through generations.
“…” He Yi said with some difficulty, “The patriarch… quite the character.”
Finally, it was finished.
Li Qiao handed the red umbrella to He Yi.
“Take good care of it.”
“It’s really beautiful…” He Yi stared at the red umbrella, full of admiration. Miss Li’s craftsmanship was truly impressive.
“Miss Li, when should we go back?”
“When the sun sets!”
She looked at the sun hanging high outside. The temperature inside the room suddenly dropped, and she exchanged a glance with He Yi.
The hanging bells began to jingle.
He nervously gripped the umbrella handle.
A dull, muffled knock came from outside the door.
He Yi’s breathing slowed. He asked, “Who is it?”
“Open the door. It’s me. What’s going on with you guys?” It was Xiao Qingbei’s voice from outside.
Recognizing the familiar voice, He Yi relaxed.
But the moment he opened the door…
A pale, bluish face was right in front of him. He Yi’s expression changed drastically, and he immediately opened the red umbrella.
The vengeful ghost was sucked into the red umbrella in the next second.
From inside came its ferocious, howling screams.
“Let me out!”
He Yi hugged the red umbrella tightly and handed it to Li Qiao with both hands. Li Qiao simply tapped the umbrella with her finger, and even more agonizing screams came from inside.
“It’s so hot… let me out… let me out… I’m going to die… I’m burning to death… Master, let me out… I won’t dare anymore…”
