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墨書 Inktalez
However, the Real Estate Tycoon, who was well-informed, frowned when he saw the flowers and said, "Why do these flowers look like Poppy?"
I felt a tightness in my chest. Poppy? Isn't that a drug? Instinctively, I turned to look at Banrada, who remained expressionless and said, "It is indeed Poppy. To ordinary people, it is a harmful poison. But here, it represents love and rebirth. Both of you are from high society and should be familiar with European culture. In Greek mythology, there is a deity of death named Hypnos, whose son Morpheus holds the fruit of the Poppy to guard his sleeping father, preventing him from being awakened and bringing disaster to the world. Therefore, Poppy also carries a meaning of remembrance and is the most suitable flower for funerals."
Everyone listening was taken aback by this explanation. Mr. Qian and the Real Estate Tycoon exchanged glances but did not speak. From their expressions, it seemed they believed him. I wasn't sure if Fatty Banrada was making this up or if there was truth to it; I decided to take it at face value.
The coffin was quite ordinary, made of wood and painted with some designs in Gold Paint, though it was unclear whether for decoration or another purpose. Inside and outside were lined with pink cushions. Mr. Qian walked over to take a look and frowned, saying the quality of the cushions was too poor and needed to be replaced.
Standing beside the coffin was a monk who appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old. He seemed to understand Mr. Qian's words and muttered something in response. Banrada, clearly impatient, walked over and told Mr. Qian: "Long Po Ta believes your hearts are not sincere and does not wish to continue the ceremony; you should leave."
With that, he turned with the monk and walked deeper into the temple. I was taken aback; after coming all this way, it would be for nothing? In contrast, Mr. Qian was more anxious; he quickly grabbed Banrada, explaining that it wasn't insincerity but rather that his father was elderly and used to very comfortable living conditions, fearing he might not adapt.
Banrada rolled his eyes and said if he couldn't adapt, he should just go home; what was he doing here? This temple isn't a hotel, and we aren't waitstaff.
His words were quite rude, but the more he spoke like that, the less Mr. Qian wanted him to leave. After some discussion, he even offered more money before Banrada reluctantly agreed to persuade Long Po Ta. While he spoke quietly with the monk, the Real Estate Tycoon approached Mr. Qian and said: "These people have strange tempers; sometimes they won't take money even when it's right in front of them. Just like Mr. Shen, I had trouble with him before as well; it's better not to stir up trouble again. As long as your father can get better, what does it matter if we endure some hardship now?"
Mr. Qian sighed and nodded, saying he wouldn't speak anymore.
After a while, Banrada came back and said he had communicated with Long Po Ta. The ceremony could proceed normally, but outsiders must leave to wait outside. Otherwise, too many people would disturb the spirits. Just moments ago, Mr. Qian had said he wouldn't speak anymore; now he was unwilling to leave, stating he needed to stay here. Although he claimed it was to keep his father company, we all knew he feared someone might deceive them. If no one witnessed what we were doing inside, no one would know if we were truly performing rituals.
Banrada had anticipated this situation and didn't push too hard; he said since that was the case, then Mr. Qian could stay but under one condition: he must agree to it. Mr. Qian asked what kind of condition it was.
Banrada said, "Before the ceremony ends, you can only stand at the entrance of the temple, not moving an inch or saying a word. After the ceremony is over, when we help the person out of the coffin, you may move. If you violate this requirement and anger the deity, we will not be responsible if something happens to your father."
Mr. Qian asked, "How long will the ceremony take?"
Banrada replied, "At the quickest, it will take about ten minutes; at most, one or two hours. It depends on the deity's will."
Mr. Qian nodded in agreement. Soon after, Mr. Qian was helped into the coffin and lay down; his consciousness was already hazy, and he had no idea where he was or what he was doing. Once the medical staff and others, including Real Estate Tycoon, exited the temple, Banrada and Long Po Ta closed the coffin.
I was also standing nearby, ostensibly to help but actually there to supervise. Banrada naturally wouldn’t kick me out; that would be too inhumane.
After the coffin was closed, Long Po Ta took out a pink silk cloth to cover it and placed Poppy on top. Then he began to walk around the coffin while continuously chanting prayers.
As soon as he uttered the first line, I vaguely heard a sound coming from inside the coffin that resembled someone passing gas. Before long, a faint foul smell wafted out from the coffin. I was puzzled but didn’t dare to ask Banrada. Instead, he muttered softly, "Why does it smell so bad?"
About ten minutes later, Long Po Ta stopped walking around and called Banrada over to help open the coffin. Banrada whispered to me that this meant it was over and we should quickly open it and take the person away. I hurriedly followed him, and when we opened the coffin, a wave of stench hit us.
Banrada's expression changed as he bent down suddenly to check Old Tycoon's nose. Then I saw his back instantly drenched in sweat. This situation made my heart skip a beat; upon closer inspection, I noticed that Old Tycoon's chest was no longer rising and falling. A wave of panic surged through me—could it really be...?
I involuntarily tugged at Banrada, trembling as I asked him how the person was.
Banrada also trembled as he withdrew his hand and said softly, "The foul smell earlier might have been from him relieving himself before he died; now he's gone..."
I was terrified; my legs felt weak—he really died! How could this happen? What a coincidence that he died in the coffin!
Banrada had not yet realized the seriousness of the situation and said to notify Victim, even if it was just for show. I trembled as I told him that this wasn't about money; they had made it very clear before coming that if anything went wrong, it wasn't about money, but about lives! They wanted lives!
Banrada was taken aback, staring at me for a moment with a grim expression, saying, "Why didn't you tell me earlier!"
I almost cried out. It was you who said luck wouldn't be that bad; who would have thought we would hit a streak of bad luck! Now that things had come to this point, I asked what we should do. Banrada rolled his eyes and said, "You stay here and hold the fort; I'll go call for help."
I dared not let him leave and quickly grabbed his arm, saying, "Don't go! What if they ask questions? I won't even know how to respond." Banrada replied, "If I don't go, how can I call for help?" I suggested he could call my Second Uncle, who knew many practitioners in black and white robes and would surely have a way to resolve this.
Banrada was skeptical. He always thought our family was just an inconspicuous little Dealer. If we really had such connections, how could we have raised someone like me? But no matter what, I wouldn't let him leave. With no other option, Banrada said, "Let's close the coffin as if nothing happened. Don't say anything or look like someone from a grieving family. I'll make a quick call to see if I can find someone."
I asked if Long Po Ta couldn't help. Banrada shook his head and said, "Long Po Ta is a proper monk; he wouldn't deal with these messy situations. Just leave it to me to handle this!"
At this point, I could only temporarily trust him. So we closed the coffin again. When I looked up at Mr. Qian, he had a puzzled expression on his face, seemingly not understanding why we were opening and closing the coffin. I dared not look at him any longer for fear he might read something from my face.
Banrada approached Long Po Ta, whispering something that might have been asking the monk to continue chanting. So Long Po Ta began to walk around the coffin again, chanting continuously. At that moment, I felt somewhat confused; since Long Po Ta had opened the coffin with us, he must have seen that the Old Tycoon was already dead. As a well-known monk, why would he be willing to collude with us in deceiving others?
Although I couldn't understand this situation, at that time, I hoped he would choose to deceive rather than reveal the truth to Mr. Qian.
Banrada, bending slightly as if adjusting the coffin, waited until Mr. Qian couldn't see him before pulling out his phone to make a call. Since he was speaking in Thai, I couldn't understand what he was saying and could only anxiously await the outcome.
After a while, Banrada hung up the phone, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and quietly tugged at me, saying, "Go tell that person that the ritual might take a long time and ask if he wants to wait here or step outside for a break."
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