Chapter 56 - 56 53 Entry

Words : 1607 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

56: Chapter 53 Entry 56: Chapter 53 Entry Zhou Xuan unfolded the newspaper, and the bold headline caught his eye, “Several Human Trafficking Rings Destroyed, Peace Returns to Ping Shui Prefecture.” The accompanying news photo showed the Corridor River’s group of Maitreya Temples being smashed. Yu Jia, noticing Zhou Xuan’s lack of reaction, explained, “A few days ago, you asked me to buy the newspaper headline, promoting the story about the Blood Sacrifice and the smashing of the Great Buddha at the Corridor River Earth Temple. The news went viral, and the papers sold like crazy. Some newspapers didn’t secure the headline and felt dissatisfied, so they sent reporters to the Earth Temple site to see if they could glean some tidbits to stir up the news again and sell more papers. As a result, one reporter captured an image of a kidnapper shoving a child they abducted into the Corridor River Maitreya Temple. Then he reported it, causing another wave of public outrage. Many locals went overnight and smashed a row of Maitreya Temples. They then discovered that there was a mystery in the temple, with a secret passage behind the Great Buddha blocking the entrance, hiding a cellar below where abducted people were kept.” “Did they rescue the kidnapped children?” Zhou Xuan asked. “The kidnappers were sharp-eared, and most of them had relocated by then, only a few women and children couldn’t be moved in time and have been sent to the police station to give statements. Their business is very wild; they not only traffic living people but also have deals involving murder to harvest bones and souls. They store the bones in iron cans and trap the souls in talismans… Some of the sinister factions among the Ghosts use souls and bones to refine Magic Artifacts, and they source their materials from the kidnappers.” Zhou Xuan, after hearing Yu Jia’s account of the kidnappers’ business, understood why Feng Xigui’s daughter’s soul returned home today. It was likely because the kidnappers, in their haste, damaged the talisman cage confining her, allowing her to escape home… “So, am I being blamed for leading the charge against the Earth Temple, sparking the initial wave of public outrage, and thus getting the blame for those vendor temples getting smashed?” “Anyway, they’re saying you ruined their business, and the word has spread among Mr. Bai Yun’s group that the kidnappers want to make an example out of you. They’re all madmen, willing to do anything…” Yu Jia exclaimed breathlessly. Zhou Xuan got out of the car and locked the door, “If they really dared to do anything, would I be here today? They’re like sewer rats, afraid of the light—I’m not scared of them doing anything.” He had gone to Feng Xigui’s home today and hadn’t encountered any trouble from the kidnappers along the way. He speculated that the kidnappers’ revenge was either “all bark and no bite” or that they didn’t dare come openly, always trying to stab you in the back… Being more vigilant and cautious wouldn’t lead to too many mistakes. … As night fell, the Zhou Family’s Troupe yard activities continued as usual, with chatting and playing chess unaffected by the kidnapper turmoil. According to them, they wished the kidnappers would come knocking, ready to beat them up one by one! Zhou Lingyi, meanwhile, was tending the plants indoors. A shadow silently slipped onto the wall inside the house. “Which places did Fifth Brother visit today?” Zhou Lingyi took out a notebook and pen, ready to record. The shadow replied, “The little dog said he didn’t go out, same as yesterday.” “What about Fourth Brother?” “He went to the newspaper office in the morning, didn’t go out at noon, and in the evening went to Meiyuan Road to have drinks with Jing Yutang of Mr. Bai Yun’s association. Third Brother sang opera all day in the dormitory, Second Brother and Second Master’s Wife… um…” The shadow paused awkwardly, while Zhou Lingyi drew a line on the notebook and continued to ask, “What about Eldest Brother?” “He took Zhou Xuan to see Feng Xigui in the morning. Zhou Xuan formed a Zen Meditation Handprint, helping Feng Xigui’s daughter find her obsession.” “Hmm.” Zhou Lingyi noted it all down, closed the notebook, and said, “Keep having the little dog keep an eye on the brothers tomorrow.” “Zhou Lingyi, do you still suspect there’s a mole in the family?” “I hope not…” Zhou Lingyi waved a hand, saying, “Go take care of things; I’m going to see Elder Yuan.” After Zhou Lingyi left, the shadow flitted towards the Ancestor Tree, where beneath its broad, umbrella-like canopy, many more shadows were hidden. They were the Zhou Family’s Troupe’s little dogs, the eyes Zhou Lingyi had placed within the Zhou Family’s troupe. … “The Ancient Buddha’s head was stolen by a creature with a goat’s head and human body, and an Alien Ghost buried an eye in the Buddhist Temple. Since then, the fires of the world were extinguished, and darkness enveloped the continent. A sleeping storyteller, in his dreams, listened to the divine oracle. Upon waking, he inscribed the oracle into a book, spreading it to every corner of the world.” These were stories Zhou Lingyi had heard as a child. A story is just a story; it can’t all be true but isn’t entirely false either. At least, there was certainly some connection between the Alien Ghosts and the Buddha. Since entering the Old Hall, Zhou Lingyi had researched ancient texts about the Alien Ghosts from the hall’s library. She observed that the vast majority of Alien Ghosts were innately endowed with Buddha nature. Some Alien Ghosts had deep Buddha nature, while others were lesser but not entirely absent. Alien Ghosts bore the Buddha’s name to attract believers; aside from the practicality of the Buddha’s name, their Buddha nature gave them confidence in impersonating the Buddha. The Ten Fingers’ innate Buddha nature was decent, but considering their advent was recent, they were too young, and overall, the Buddha Power in their blood was quite limited. Yet, it greatly benefited Zhou Xuan. Firstly, Buddha nature could temporarily suppress the side effects of his spiritual abilities. Secondly, possessing Buddha nature helped with incense rituals at Tangkou. Lastly, Buddha was the natural nemesis of all spirits and demons; whether exorcising ghosts or offering salvation, it was highly effective. “With Buddha nature acquired and spirits called upon, my brother has even seen the Blood Well; all of this is destined for the Nuodai.” “Such a twisted and insane deity as Nuodai is the most fitting Tangkou for the Blood Well Spirit Communicator, but alas, those old fogeys…” As Zhou Lingyi was sighing, the door of Luoying Hall was pushed open. Yuan Buyu entered, clutching two paintings under his arm. Having tidied up his usual unkempt appearance, Yuan Buyu wore a plain long robe and brand-new cloth shoes, seating himself across from Zhou Lingyi. “Master Zhou,” he said. “Elder Yuan, I want to discuss Zhou Xuan’s Tangkou induction with you.” Zhou Lingyi reached with her right hand toward the inside of her left cuff. “Take a look at this first…” Yuan Buyu handed over the two paintings. Both were by Zhou Xuan. One depicted Zhou Xuan piercing Zhou Lingyi’s heart with a sharp blade. The other showed Zhou Xuan boiling Yuan Buyu’s head. Zhou Lingyi paused, holding the paintings for a while, then smiled and said, “Did my brother paint these? Sёarᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He did very well.” “Xuanzi is a Blood Well Spirit Communicator, a person of high talent but tragic life. Those who joined Tangkou didn’t last more than five years before madness set in, initially killing those close to them. The more intense their madness, the more brutal their methods. I guided Zhou Xuan into a spiritual state to draw these, to see how mad he could get. After the test, I realized he was the craziest among all the Blood Well Spirit Communicators I’ve encountered in the records…” “So?” “So, whoever becomes his master will meet a grim fate.” “Um…” Zhou Lingyi, hearing this point, knew she had no grounds to persuade Yuan Buyu further. She sighed, intending to exchange a few formalities before departing, thinking of alternative solutions for the Tangkou induction. However, Yuan Buyu suddenly shifted the conversation, saying, “But I am willing to take him as my disciple. In my lifetime, I have taken in four disciples. The eldest stole my woman, the second stole my reputation, the third stole my money. Only the youngest was my best disciple, who also was a Blood Well Spirit Communicator. He was content with nothing, helped me exact revenge, killed his three brothers, and finally, in the throes of madness, insisted I kill him before his mind completely shattered. I couldn’t bring myself to do it; he sealed himself within a Blood Well dream, as good as dead. From then on, I was dispirited, and the incense extinguished. In these years, whenever free, I delved into the mysteries of the Blood Well, hoping to unravel its secrets, reopen it, and see my young disciple once more. Yet, I could never accomplish it… Xuanzi reminds me a lot of my youngest disciple: not greedy, not impatient, always cheerful whenever you see him. Of course, all these are secondary. What’s important is… fate, fortune, they have arrived for us grandfathers and grandsons.”

Chapter 56 - 56 53 Entry

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