PFC Chapter 9: Buddhist Chants Deliver Ghosts, Undercurrents Surge
Chapter 9: Buddhist Chants Deliver Ghosts, Undercurrents Surge
The notice was posted around the city, where crowds gathered, and the people cursed the troublesome sickly man.
Xiaocao was an innocent girl. After listening to Li Qingchen recount the life of that short-lived young master, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him.
Dog Egg didn't really feel anything.
Pitiful? He had seen refugees who exchanged children to eat, and young girls who sold themselves to bury their fathers.
There are plenty of pitiful people in this world, it's not surprising.
Li Qingchen thought to himself, "Last time I killed a demon and gained resurrection chances, what about exorcising ghosts?"
"This sickly fellow has been coming out in the dead of night for seven consecutive nights, and tonight will certainly be no exception."
"You can give it a try."
After making up his mind, Li Qingchen found an inn and settled down with Gou Dan and Xiao Cao.
It was past midnight.
The bright moon outside the window is as clear and cold as jade.
The coughing sounds, indeed, rose and fell like a tide in the darkness.
Dog Egg, who was already fast asleep, was woken up by the noise.
"Cough cough cough, cough cough cough..."
I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, feeling restless and uneasy.
Even with my ears covered, I could still hear the incessant coughing.
The voice seemed to come directly from my mind!
"Damn it, we didn't do anything to you. If you have a grudge, settle it. Don't go around harassing ordinary people, okay?" Gou Dan complained.
"Dog Egg, you stay inside. I'm going out for a bit."
After saying that, Li Qingchen pushed open the window and went to the roof beam.
A man with a sword stands under the moonlight, exuding extraordinary presence.
"Cough cough cough..."
Li Qingchen listened attentively.
The coughing sounds came from all directions, and the source could not be determined.
Many of the local residents who were also disturbed started coughing, creating quite a spectacle.
Li Qingchen narrowed his eyes and used the newly learned technique of observing qi.
Sure enough, a faint wisp of black demonic energy could be seen in the distance.
"I've found you."
Li Qingchen activated the Hunyuan Heavenly Secret Technique, moving swiftly like a rabbit, and quickly walked along the roof beams, soon arriving at the location of the black energy.
In a dark, damp corner, a pale-faced little devil was curled up, coughing.
Li Qingchen leaped down from the roof beam.
When the little devil saw Li Qingchen, he trembled like a mouse before a cat or a dog before a tiger.
"This is the child who was born with a disease."
Li Qingchen's mind stirred slightly, and he swung his sword at the sickly ghost.
As expected, the sword pierced through the illusory body, and the sickly ghost dispersed and reassembled like smoke.
The methods of exorcising ghosts used by Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and military strategy are not entirely the same.
Unlike the techniques practiced by the previous three families, this one naturally has a suppressive effect on ghosts.
A martial artist must at least reach the initial stage before they can perform a physical exorcism.
This is why the Liaocheng Demon-Slaying Office was helpless against it.
Although Li Qingchen had not yet reached the initial stage, he had the Great Sage's Brahma Sound by his side, so he was well-informed and calm.
Then look at that sickly fellow.
Although they were not physically harmed, they were still quite frightened.
He knelt on the ground, coughing and kowtowing, begging for his life.
Li Qingchen said, "Don't be afraid, this will free you."
Having said that, he flicked his middle finger at the silver sword.
A clear sword cry rang out, like ripples on water under the moonlight.
The sound of Buddhist chants entered my ears.
The sickly ghost's body was enveloped in a faint golden light, and the black aura gradually dissipated.
Li Qingchen said softly:
May you be healthy and live a long life in your next life, and have a happy and fulfilling family.
Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect.
Although Li Qingchen himself wasn't particularly interested in reincarnation, it didn't stop him from making some Buddhist vows that warmed the hearts of ghosts.
Anyway, it's free.
The sickly ghost shed two lines of black tears and bowed deeply to the swordsman in plain clothes.
The ghostly aura dissipated like smoke, returning to the cycle of reincarnation in the mortal world.
There was no more coughing here.
"This ghost is quite polite." Li Qingchen smiled, opened the panel, and his smile froze.
There is no bonus to the number of resurrections.
"What's going on? Is it possible that I can only obtain it by slaying demons?"
"No, the sample size is too small to draw any conclusions. It's also possible that this sickly person didn't actually kill anyone."
Regardless of the circumstances, it was ultimately a good deed, adding to one's merit.
Now that he possesses the Buddha Sword, he is somewhat entangled in karma.
Perhaps accumulating more merit can increase the probability of that compassionate Buddha's light descending.
Li Qingchen left satisfied.
That night, the harassed people finally got a good night's sleep.
…………
The following morning, the sun shone brightly.
A bailiff rushed into the Demon-Slaying Office and shouted:
"Boss, I have something important to report!"
Niu San didn't even look up: "Spit it out if you have something to say, otherwise leave the game. Don't waste my time."
The constable hurriedly said, "Boss, that troublesome sickly brat was dealt with last night."
Niu San simply said "Oh".
But a mere demon or monster is not even worth his attention. What's the point of reporting it if it gets rid of him?
Although he hadn't reached the first level, he couldn't do anything about that sickly fellow.
However, those who practice martial arts have strong yang energy, especially constables and police officers who have killed people and slain demons. They exude a fierce and malevolent aura that ordinary little devils dare not provoke.
The younger brother continued:
"Boss, you told me to keep an eye out for anything related to swordsmen, so I came here to report as soon as I found out."
"I asked many people, and they all said they heard a loud sword clang last night, followed by the silence of the coughing."
"Oh?"
Niu San was genuinely surprised this time:
"To exorcise ghosts with just the sound of a sword? Is that even possible? Has this person reached the first stage?"
The younger brother said, "I heard that last night, many people seemed to hear monks chanting scriptures amidst the sound of the sword, and afterwards they slept soundly for once. Many people overslept today, were late for work, and were scolded..."
Niu San was stunned. This person could actually cultivate both Buddhist and sword techniques? He immediately said:
"Big Tiger, go and post a few more bounty notices for demons."
"Boss, which demons should we put up?" the underling asked.
The Demon Extermination Bureau, in its extermination efforts, emphasizes tailoring its approach to each demon's nature.
They were obsequious to the four demons who formed cliques and had many blood relatives.
They launched a heavy attack on the "rogue cultivators" who were mentally challenged or had no one to rely on.
A few days ago, the Demon Subduing Bureau heard that the Azure Dragon Dynasty had achieved a victory at the front lines.
The Demon Slayer Division will finally be able to conduct a comprehensive inspection and will arrive in Liaocheng soon.
Now is the time to boost performance and demonstrate loyalty.
However, he could neither offend the Four Demons of Liaocheng nor lose his official position.
It should be known that the Demon Slayer Division will not stay in Liaocheng for long, but the four demons of Liaocheng who have achieved minor mastery of demonic arts have a lifespan of several hundred years.
If you want to do well in the future, you can't do without being cunning and worldly-wise.
Then please ask the Demon Slayer Division to take action and eliminate the four demons directly?
Absolutely not!
The four demons are no match for the Demon Slayer Bureau, but if they are exposed by the demons for colluding with them, they will be sentenced to death!
Their fate will be just like that of demons—utterly crushed to dust, leaving no trace of their bodies!
Therefore, pleasing both sides is the best strategy.
The rules were set by the chief constable, and none of his subordinates dared or wanted to break them.
However, Niu San casually said, "Let's just post some pictures of fox demons from Liu Family Village."
The constable named Da Hu's expression changed drastically:
"Boss, these are descendants of a fox demon, one of the four great demons. If we offend them, how are you going to explain this to the chief constable?"
…………