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墨書 Inktalez
I couldn't dare to tell the Zheng Couple about this. After hanging up the phone, I looked at their hopeful expressions and gritted my teeth, calling Fat Daoist Ma Rulong again. As soon as Ma Rulong heard my voice, he patted his chest and said, "Don't worry about such trivial matters; leave it to me. However, the preparations for the Extradition Ceremony are quite intense right now, so I can't spare any time. Just bring the person over directly; they can also participate in the Ritual and gain some Yinfu."
I asked what Yinfu was and what it was used for. Ma Rulong explained, "It's a benefit from the underworld. When you die, it helps you get a better reincarnation."
I replied that such benefits were better kept for himself, as I wanted to live a long life and never die! Ma Rulong laughed heartily and said, "Then you're just a monster; I’ll have to use a compass to capture you."
After hanging up, I told Zheng's Father that a Daoist from Longhu Mountain said he could help take a look but couldn't guarantee anything. Moreover, he was busy with a large Ritual and couldn't come here. If they were willing, I could take her there in a few days. Zheng's Father quickly responded, "No problem, no problem! How much will it cost? Just name your price."
Although I felt awkward discussing money, given Ma Rulong's character, I had to be cautious. Knowing that fat guy, he would probably ask for ten or twenty thousand. After some thought, I quoted seven thousand while informing them that if it turned out to be complicated, I might need to add a few thousand more. Zheng's Father didn't hesitate at all and immediately agreed, handing me eight thousand after dinner. The extra thousand was for travel expenses.
I must say that people like Zheng's Father are quite reliable; Second Uncle probably likes clients like this. But for me, this wasn't just a transaction; it was a friendly favor. When Qin Senior Sister heard there was hope, she expressed her desire to go along as well. I thought that having one more person or one less made no difference; if she wanted to go, then let her.
The key issue was that while we were all ready, Zheng Xuejie refused to go. She insisted on staying home and didn't want to go out or be with me. I didn't understand why she was so wary of me. It puzzled me because even before her jump, although she was somewhat unhappy about the Amulet situation, she didn't treat me like an enemy. Besides, when she was manipulated by Punk Senior using Mind Control Powder, I had sought Second Uncle's help to resolve it. By all accounts, I was her savior.
Qin Senior Sister and Zheng's Father along with Zheng Mama tried persuading her for quite some time until Zheng Xuejie exploded in anger, driving everyone out and slamming the door shut while shouting, "I would rather die than go with him! You all leave; I want to be alone!"
We exchanged glances outside, all looking dejected and unsure of what to do next. After a while, an idea struck me. I suggested to Qin Senior Sister, "How about waiting a couple of days? You could try inviting her out personally? We can split up and then meet there."
Qin Senior Sister's eyes lit up upon hearing this; it seemed feasible. Although Zheng Xuejie was wary of me, she had a slightly better attitude towards her. Whenever they went shopping together—despite her indifferent demeanor—she never outright rejected her invitations. So this plan was settled.
I called Banrada in Thailand for an address to send back the Amulet and informed him that he needed to give me part of the benefits from it. Banrada initially disagreed, saying that getting Ajan to re-empower it would cost a lot and he would have to cover the expenses himself. I wasn't falling for that; I told him if he wasn't willing, then I wouldn't send it back. Instead, I'd give it to my family so they could find Ajan for re-empowerment themselves.
Banrada quickly said, "Brother, don't joke around. This kind of thing is dangerous. If your family finds Ajan and he’s not reliable, it could cause big trouble. How about this, five hundred dollars, and I'll transfer it to you later."
I scoffed and replied, "Five hundred dollars? That's just a pittance. Two thousand dollars, and I won't discuss anything below that."
When he sold me the Potted Amulet, he made quite a profit. According to Second Uncle, this pot contains half a corpse, which is much cheaper than a complete one; the cost price is at most two to three thousand dollars. In other words, Banrada’s profit margin is fifty-fifty. Now that I'm giving him the Amulet, getting Ajan to bless it won’t cost much, and when he sells it later, his profit will be even higher. Therefore, two thousand dollars is definitely not too much.
Banrada haggled with me for quite a while before finally agreeing to one thousand five hundred, still looking like he was taking a huge loss. I said, "You're a monk; why do you need so much money? You're such a merchant." Banrada replied, "What's wrong with being a monk? Don’t I need to eat? Building temples doesn’t come free. You clearly lack the heart for merit; you’ll never become a Buddha."
I said I had no desire to become a Buddha in this lifetime; the mundane world is wonderful, and I haven't enjoyed enough of this vibrant life yet.
After chatting for a while, we hung up. After sending the Amulet to Thailand, I boarded the train. Although Ma Rulong claimed to be the Closed Door Disciple of the previous generation's leader from Longhu Mountain, he wasn’t in Jiangxi but at a small temple in Henan Pingdingshan. According to him, this place has beautiful mountains and clear waters with simple folk—an excellent place for cultivation. Given time, he would achieve enlightenment and ascend as an immortal; this temple would become a holy site! He was willing to sell me five percent of the shares for one hundred thousand dollars.
Listening to him talk on the phone nearly made me spit out my soda. Damn it, shares in a temple? I've never heard of that!
However, it is said that Pingdingshan was where Erlang Shen fought against Sun Wukong and his weapon was forged there. Of course, "Journey to the West" is a novel, and whether Sun Wukong truly existed remains to be seen. So this is merely mythology.
It is also said that when Pangu opened up the heavens and earth with his axe, he casually tossed it aside after use, flattening Pingdingshan, which then transformed into a large mountain in the west called Luo Fu Mountain. Ma Rulong’s temple is located on this small mountain; from afar, it does resemble an axe head. However, the mountain path is difficult; although there’s a winding road built, climbing up would still exhaust anyone half to death. Plus, since Qin Senior Sister hadn’t arrived yet, I found a hotel at the foot of the mountain to rest and fill my stomach.
After two days, Qin Senior Sister texted me saying she was already on the train with Zheng Xuejie, expected to arrive in a few hours. I replied that I had been waiting so long that flowers were wilting; they should hurry up.
While waiting, I called Second Uncle again but still got no answer. With him in Cambodia for nearly twenty days now, my worry grew deeper; I feared something might have happened to him. After some time passed, Qin Senior Sister texted me again saying they had arrived and were heading up the mountain. I sent her detailed directions via QQ and then headed toward the temple myself.
After climbing for several hours, I finally spotted a small temple in the distance. It took over another hour before I reached it.
The temple was surprisingly dilapidated, resembling a half-demolished construction site. Wild grass grew all around, and the crooked entrance had a similarly tilted sign hanging from it. The painted characters on the sign had faded from exposure to the elements, making them difficult to read. I stood at the entrance, squinting for a long time before I could barely make out the character "Cheng." At that moment, Ma Rulong walked out of the temple. Upon seeing me, he was very pleased. He approached with a big smile, shaking my hand and giving me a warm hug, overflowing with enthusiasm.
Then he glanced behind me, paused for a moment, and asked, "Why are you alone?"
I explained the situation regarding Zheng Xuejie and told him that there might be unexpected developments soon. Given Zheng Xuejie's personality, if she saw me here in this rundown temple, she would likely turn around and leave immediately. Ma Rulong's eyes lit up as he said, "No problem! I'm an expert in the Shaolin secret grappling techniques; I can handle her in just a moment!"
I was taken aback and said, "How can a Taoist like you know monk's skills? But please don't hurt her; we're here to help her."
Ma Rulong reassured me, "You can rest easy; my methods are quite clever; I won't harm her."
Just then, I heard voices coming from behind. Turning around, I vaguely saw two people climbing up the mountain path. Zheng Xuejie was complaining loudly, "Where exactly are you taking me? This place is terrible; it's exhausting to climb! Are you trying to harm me too?"
Qin Senior Sister comforted her gently, saying, "How could I harm you? We're good sisters! Don't worry; we'll be there soon."
Not daring to stand at the entrance of the temple any longer, I quickly hid behind the broken wooden door while Ma Rulong stood casually in his leisurewear, gazing at the distant mountains as if enjoying the scenery.
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