A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 118 Temple Ghost

The shrill sound shook Feng Fujing's heart. He took a step forward and was about to rush into the room, but the Taoist priest grabbed him, saying, "At this critical moment, Boss Feng, you must not go in!"

"Father, save me! It hurts so much!"

Inside was his beloved daughter's plea for help. Feng Fujing was heartbroken and stamped his feet in distress.

"What...what happened to Jiaojiao! Daoist Master, please tell me!"

The Taoist priest released his hand and continued what he was doing, pouring fresh blood into the bowl of rice, dipping his finger in the blood and writing words on the peach wood sword while chanting incantations.

Shouts continued from inside the room. Zhu Nan was astonished. "Miss, is this the real one?"

“It’s really true…” Xiang He sighed softly, “He’s not skilled enough.”

He'd seen this trick many times before, and the incantation he was chanting was genuine, but its power was weak. Coupled with his limited cultivation, it couldn't produce any good results.

Zhu Nan stopped talking and watched the Taoist priest below continue his actions.

Feng Fujing didn't dare to interrupt, and could only pray for safety while enduring her anxiety.

The Taoist priest acted swiftly, brandishing his sword a few times before pinning the red paper on the table to the ground. "You fiend, how dare you harm the people! I, the humble Taoist priest, will take you down!"

After saying that, he hooked up the nailed red paper and tore it open with his hand.

Another deafening roar erupted from inside.

"Father, Father, save...me..."

A shout faded, followed only by a faint cry for help. The Taoist priest's face lit up with joy. He grabbed his sword, pushed aside the objects on the table, picked up a cinnabar brush, and quickly wrote a talisman. He dipped his peach wood sword in blood and prepared to stab the talisman—

"stop!"

A white figure leaped down from the side, kicking over the incense table. Things scattered all over the ground, and the talismans on the yellow cloth were soaked in blood and could no longer be used.

The Taoist priest was shocked. "Who...who are you?!"

Before Xiang He could explain, she turned and walked into the room.

While Feng Fujing was still in a daze, he saw the girl who had suddenly appeared walk in and immediately followed her.

The Taoist priest was left standing there, bewildered. But he wanted to see what was going on inside, so he didn't bother to clean up the mess and hurriedly followed.

The room was in disarray, with everything overturned and broken. Even the heavy screen was lying on the floor, the dressing mirror was smashed, and the bedside basin stand was in a terrible state.

A woman was standing on the bed. She was thin and her hands hung down at her sides. Upon closer inspection, her feet were already dangling in the air!

Xiang He knew something was wrong, so he rushed forward, raised his right umbrella, and chopped at the long tassels on the roof. He then reached out and hugged Feng Jiaojiao.

After placing her on the bed, he turned to look at the Taoist priest and said, "Close the door!"

The Taoist priest had just stepped across the threshold when he was startled by a shout and immediately obeyed.

Feng Fujing had already rushed to the bedside, his eyes filled with heartache as he helped Feng Jiaojiao up, "Miss, what happened to Jiaojiao!"

This is a crucial moment. Xiang He, holding a large umbrella, forms a hand seal towards a corner of the room, chanting, "Guided by the mysterious light, regardless of distance, countless images appear, revealing their true forms!"

Feng Fujing didn't understand. He just followed the gaze and saw the Taoist priest holding a peach wood sword with trembling hands. "There...there's something there!"

The painting hanging on that wall crashed to the ground, and bulges appeared on the gray wall, like boiling water with scalding bubbles flowing down.

The water was still bubbling as it flowed to the ground. Xiang He made a hand seal in front of him with his right hand, "Show yourself quickly!"

A soft shout seemed to startle the muddy puddle. The cricket, still covered in water bubbles, stood up and gradually transformed into a strange humanoid shape. It hunched over, gripped its claws, and had a head of messy, disheveled hair, revealing an ugly appearance.

Xiang He frowned. "A temple ghost?"

The temple ghost shifted slightly, its狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) features displaying a mocking smile. "A formidable one has arrived..." Its neck snapped. "A heartless wretch, let's... die together..."

The object before him became clear, and Feng Fujing was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, "What...what is that thing?!"

Even the Taoist priest took several steps back, his hand trembling as he held the peach wood sword, unsure whether to advance or retreat. "It...it looks like a ghost..."

"You are a Taoist priest, how come you don't know what that is..."

Feng Fujing immediately saw the fear in the Taoist's eyes and realized that he was just a half-baked Taoist. His hopeful gaze fell on Xiang He, "Miss, can you take him in?"

“Of course,” Xiang He slid his hand into the cloth bag, slowly took out a wooden box, and hooked the clasp with his finger to open it. “I don’t want to die.”

When the temple ghost saw what was in her hand, its eyes, which seemed to be smiling but weren't, immediately became wary, and it hunched over and moved closer to the wall behind it.

He wanted to run away, and Xiang He picked up the end of the ink line in his hand, "Do you think you can escape?"

The temple ghost let out a piercing laugh, "How will you know if you don't try?"

As soon as he moved, Xiang He stepped out as well, tugged at the ink line in his hand, and swung his hand to strike the wall where he was standing.

"Ouch! That hurts so much!"

The ink lines struck the wall, burning with fire and emitting blue smoke. The temple ghost moved again, flicking the thread in He's hand, and the lines fell onto the wall.

Feng Fujing and the half-baked Taoist priest stood in the middle, not daring to move at all.

The temple ghost fled in all directions, waving the ink line in its hand at He, leaving several ink lines on the walls, doors, ground, and roof beams.

"Aunt, Taoist priest, what are you doing? Why don't you catch him?"

Xiang He hooked his finger, leaving the last ink line, and the temple ghost was completely trapped. No matter where he ran, he would be burned by the ink line.

"He's not very strong, but he's good at escaping."

The temple ghost, hunched over, cowered beside the bronze mirror, his body still emitting wisps of smoke. "Please, please spare me..."

Where did your smugness go?

Xiang He rolled up the ink line and placed it down, then approached step by step, holding a large umbrella. "Confess honestly how many people you have harmed before."

"I...I haven't harmed anyone..."

The tip of the umbrella suddenly pointed at his forehead. "Things shouldn't happen more than three times, but I prefer things to happen more than twice."

Seeing the sharp eyes of the person before him, the temple ghost shrank back even more, "Just... just one..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tip of the umbrella pierced his forehead. With a twist of his wrist, the head burst into flames and gradually turned to ashes, accompanied by his shrill screams.

Sunlight streamed into the dark room, and the slight chill dissipated.

Xiang He pulled back the large umbrella, turned around and walked to the bedside to check on Feng Jiaojiao's condition. Her tightly closed eyes trembled slightly, and her hands were clenched as if she had a nightmare.

She took out a piece of yellow paper, folded it, and put it in her palm. The trembling stopped immediately, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Feng Fujing hurried over, and hearing his beloved daughter's soft breathing, he felt a little relieved.

"Master, is this...is it resolved?"

"Solve it. Open the doors and windows for ventilation, and wipe off the ink lines with grapefruit water."

After listening to her explanation, Feng Fujing nodded repeatedly, while the Taoist priest beside him looked puzzled. "Fellow Taoist, how do you know he's lying?"

Xiang He went to open the window, then turned back and asked, "Haven't you ever heard of a temple ghost?"

"...I'm ashamed..."

“Temple ghosts are ghosts formed from clay figures in temples. They do not bring blessings to people, but only bring harm to them.” She then opened the door again. “They are born with an ordinary appearance, but they become increasingly ugly as they harm too many people.”

That temple ghost must have harmed countless people.

The two suddenly realized what was happening. Feng Fujing covered Feng Jiaojiao with the blanket and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Daoist Master, how did you get down from the wall?"

"..."