Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Actually, all things in this world mainly depend on how you interpret them.

Originally, in Boss Hann’s eyes, that mysteriously appearing Immortal was a presence that would save him and his mother from misery, ensuring his mother’s lifelong safety as long as he followed what it said.

But according to Fang Zheng’s perspective, it’s a different story.

In modern terms, it’s... Boss Hann got played!

”Possessed... me?”

”That’s right, I’m starting to suspect, was your mother’s previous accident really an accident? Think about it, isn’t it coincidental? Just after your mother broke her leg, you met that strange creature in the mountains. If that’s the case, why didn’t it appear before to warn you? Instead of waiting for your mother to break her leg? Don’t you find this peculiar?”

”This...”

Boss Hann hadn’t noticed it before, but now listening to Fang Zheng, he indeed found many suspicious points.

Looking at Boss Hann’s expression, Fang Zheng also chuckled inwardly.

This is a difference between Taoism and Buddhism; Taoism also has similar guidance. It’s just that they say the ugly truth upfront, like ”if you are to enter my sect, you must overcome numerous challenges, at certain times and places, you may succeed or fail.”

But Buddhism says, ”Don’t resent, don’t grieve, everything you’ve experienced before is your karma, destined to have such tribulation, if you see through it, you have Buddha nature...”

At first glance, there seems to be no difference between the two, but there is a fundamental distinction. Taoism’s attitude prepares you mentally for whatever may happen; after all, they have warned you, so you already have expectations for anything you encounter on the way.

But Buddhism is different; like Boss Hann, they seek liberation only after enduring hardships. In the end, telling them what they encounter is predestined—fine, suppose it is predestined, but why not tell them earlier?

Just as Fang Zheng said, that Immortal had long known Boss Hann’s mother would break her leg, yet did not appear to warn beforehand, only showing up after the leg was really broken, claiming it was retribution. Doesn’t it give a sense of malicious intent?

”But, but if it’s as you say, sir, then what’s the gain?”

Boss Hann realized Fang Zheng’s words, suspecting the whole thing might be a drama orchestrated by the Buddha himself, meaning it was the Buddha who made his mother’s leg break and unable to recover, then approached him and babbled nonsense about killing, secretly healed his mother’s leg to fool him into becoming more devoted?

But, what’s the gain in this?

Boss Hann couldn’t understand, if someone was really setting him up, they must be eyeing some possession of his. But he was just a hunter, although he had some fame, he lived a poor life. He had little money and no valuable antiques or artifacts at home. Why would someone put effort into tricking him?

”It’s hard to say, creatures are different from mortals, they don’t crave Gold and Silver Treasure or external possessions. Maybe they fancy something Brother Hann owns, like a soul or something...”

”Ah!?”

Upon hearing this, the old man hurriedly grabbed his son, seemingly trusting Fang Zheng’s words more than the still unsure Boss Hann. Otherwise, you’d see the formerly meat-loving son come back not eating meat, only vegetables and rice, never going out, constantly despondent. Isn’t this just destroying his son!

”What should we do, it’s better to invite someone to perform a ritual!”

”Elder, don’t be so anxious yet.”

Fang Zheng gestured with his hand, indicating for the elder to calm down.

”After all, these are just conjectures for now, and Brother Hann should pay more attention. I remember Brother Hann said before that the deer once told him, as long as he persists in doing so, his mother wouldn’t face disasters again?”

”Yes, that’s what it said.”

Boss Hann nodded.

”Is there a problem with this?”

”That’s correct, hearing this at first seems fine, but if we reverse it, doesn’t it mean that if Brother Hann doesn’t follow its instructions, your mother will encounter disaster again?”

”...?!”

Upon hearing this, Boss Hann paused, then suddenly slammed the table.

”Damn it, was I being threatened by that bastard?!”

Boss Hann was a rough person, but not dumb, and being someone who hunts in the mountains daily, he couldn’t always stay calm. His previous behavior was like being brainwashed by a cult, surely because he truly was brainwashed. Now he realized he was played like a monkey by some Creature!

This made him very upset! Very upset!

”I’ll go to the city tomorrow to find a master to perform an exorcism!”

Boss Hann, now seething with anger, also felt increasingly sober. The Buddhist scriptures he had been reciting told him not to be happy with things, not to be sad with himself, and all other sorts of deep thoughts that almost turned him into an idiot. His brain was empty, and looking back now, he seemed like a puppet being manipulated!

So Boss Hann immediately concluded that this was definitely an evil demon monster, no doubt about it!!

”Brother Hann, don’t be so hasty.”

Watching Boss Hann jump up and down, Fang Zheng hurriedly grabbed him.

”After all, it’s just speculation; we don’t have any evidence. Moreover, the enemy is hidden while we are exposed, so even if you invite someone to perform an exorcism, who would the target be?”

”This......”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Boss Hann, who had been jumping in anger, was dumbfounded. He recalled that the deer had only told him, ”If you are destined with Buddha, you will meet again,” without mentioning anything specific. Now, Boss Hann wanted to find that yokai for revenge but didn’t know where to look.

”I do have an idea.”

After hesitating for a while, Fang Zheng solemnly took out a talisman from his pocket.

”What is this......?”

”This was given to me by my master before I left. My master is very adept at subduing yokai and expelling demons, so he gave me this talisman to protect me from the threats of demon monsters on the road. Now, I’ll give this talisman to the old lady to protect her.”

”Oh no, young master, I can’t accept this, really.”

Upon hearing this, the old lady hurriedly stood up.

”I can’t bear such responsibility. I’m already so old, it’s not surprising when I die, but you are still young......”

The countryside people are simple and honest. Despite Fang Zheng’s repeated persuasion, Boss Hann and his mother were still unwilling to accept. Left with no choice, Fang Zheng proposed another idea.

”I also learned some knowledge in this area from my master and have a little understanding of Taoism. How about I temporarily stay here to accompany your mother as a precaution?”

The two still felt it was inappropriate, but Fang Zheng quickly gave another reason, saying his journey was to explore per his master’s instruction without any particular mission, so staying here temporarily was fine. With Fang Zheng’s persuasion, the mother and son agreed to his request.

Yes, this was Fang Zheng’s true intention.

He needed to find bait that could connect to the other side, but it wasn’t easy. The monks weren’t a significant deal themselves, and acting against them could easily alert the enemy. However, starting with Boss Hann was different. It’s like the police dismantling a pyramid scheme; investigating the leaders would surely alert them. Starting with a newly recruited member would go unnoticed.

In the following days, Boss Hann stopped reciting scriptures behind closed doors, instead starting to plow and plant in his family’s fields. The hunting season was over, and he had abandoned his hunting tools under the yokai’s influence, making it too late to start again. Consequently, Boss Hann busied himself with farming. After the conflict, he realized he had not taken good care of his mother and was considering giving up hunting.

After all, being a hunter meant going to the mountains yearly. What if something went wrong? He still had to care for his mother in her old age, ensuring he wouldn’t have her bury him someday.

Days passed, and then another day. By the afternoon of the third day...

”Dabao, stop for a bit and have some watermelon.”

The old lady stood by the field, smiling as she waved to Boss Hann, who was busy working. She was genuinely happy now. Though she used to smile with pride when her son was known as the village’s most famous hunter, she couldn’t sleep at night every time he went hunting, fearing he might never return. If his body were devoured, that would be tragic.

But now, her son was maturing and becoming more stable, even shyly expressing his wish to ask her to find a matchmaker to get him a wife, which comforted the old lady.

She felt that her son had finally grown up.

”Coming, Mom. I’m not that young anymore, stop using my nickname.”

Hearing his mother’s call, Boss Hann awkwardly set down his hoe, muttering a complaint as he walked towards the field’s edge.

Just at this moment......

”Whoosh———!”

Suddenly, a strange yokai wind appeared out of nowhere, blowing through. Though it seemed mild, both of them felt as if they were swept by a hurricane. The old lady, who stood by the field, lost her balance and fell forward!!