Trafford's Trading Club

631: Chapter 44: Obsession 631: Chapter 44: Obsession Luo Zheng’s drinking capacity wasn’t as impressive as he claimed.

Of course, it might also be related to the fact that he drank most of the beer.

By almost midnight, Luo Zheng was already so drunk that he was practically unconscious.

Luo Qiu didn’t intend to disturb him.

After casually covering him with a blanket, he began tidying up the living room. “Brother-in-law… what exactly happened to you…”

Luo Qiu paused his hands to glance at Luo Zheng.

Luo Zheng was merely drunk, muttering in his sleep, then shifted his body and fell into a deep sleep.

Outside, a moderate rumbling sound was heard, a distant thunder.

Luo Qiu opened the front door, his gaze falling upon the pitch-black night sky.

With the thunder, it was likely to rain soon, and the wind had suddenly turned cold… and on the other side of the distant mountain, a column of blue-black energy was striking the night sky.

This was an energy invisible to ordinary eyes… an immensely intense aura of resentment originating from the reservoir built decades ago on the hillside.

Boss Luo could even clearly see inside this blue-black aura of resentment, tens, hundreds, even hundreds of white, rigid, painful, and even twisted faces, ultimately converging into an even larger face.

Round pupils, a round mouth… behind it seemed like everything had been emptied, leaving only an empty shell of a face.

It surged forward, trailing a long streak of blue-black energy, suddenly sweeping over the mountain and descending upon the skies of Luo Jia Village, then spiraled like a tornado, wrapping around the entire perimeter of Luo Qiu’s old home. “You keep an eye on Da Zhe, I haven’t done anything to you.

Naturally, because you haven’t done anything, I allowed you to wander around my home.

But now… what do you intend to do?” Luo Qiu asked calmly.

At this moment, those blue-black energies began to spin even more rapidly. “Do you wish to buy something from me?

Guests…?” Luo Qiu asked a second time.

Yet suddenly, a strong wind arose all around, wailing and shrieking, resembling cries or howls, and the swirling dust and stones pressed towards Luo Qiu. “It seems like only a single aura of resentment is driving you…” Luo Qiu shook his head. “If you don’t wish to trade, then please leave.

Come back when you need something.”

However, those blue-black energies instead contracted, transforming into countless faintly visible arms, reaching out towards Luo Qiu. “I’ve said, if there’s no business, then please leave.

As for the matter of how you died in the reservoir, whether by drowning or some grievance, it doesn’t interest me.

So, please don’t disturb the people here, and please don’t damage my family’s osmanthus tree nearby… quite a few osmanthus flowers have already fallen.”

Luo Qiu shifted his gaze, looking at those arms about to touch him, and said indifferently, “Kindly refrain from touching me.”

The arms reaching out of the air began trembling violently and retracting layer by layer back into the ‘giant face’ as if drained of life under Luo Qiu’s gaze.

It emitted a shrill scream, as if severely injured, swiftly curling upwards into the night sky and fleeing into the distance.

Luo Qiu let out a sigh, waved his hand, and everything here restored to its original form… the fallen branches reattached to their original places.

Luo Qiu closed the door, at which moment a light drizzle started outside.

Luo Zheng suddenly sat up from the bench, dazedly, “Luo Qiu!

Let’s drink more… hehe.”

Then he went back to sleep in a muddled state.

Luo Qiu smiled, waved his hand, letting the fallen blanket cover Luo Zheng once again before he sat down, settled in with the glow of a lamp, holding a cup of clear tea.

He once again flipped through the old photo album of the family home. … …

As muffled thunder rumbled faintly, Master Jin entered the prayer room with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing footsteps, Da Zhe stood up, his face not looking very good. “Master Jin, I feel a sense of unease for some reason.” “That’s expected,” Master Jin sighed. “I also feel troubled; with this kind of weather, I fear that whoever is coming won’t be friendly.” “Has… has it arrived already?” Da Zhe asked nervously, glancing around.

Master Jin spoke gravely, “Da Zhe, listen to me.

I’ve carefully questioned Da Tou earlier.

Back then, besides you, several others including Dragon died in succession, and their deaths weren’t normal.

I’ve thought about it all day and got some clues.

That reservoir where the child drowned back then has always had people accidentally falling into the water.

Of course, some brought it on themselves, but others didn’t…

Over the years, this reservoir has amassed an enormous amount of resentment, and it might already have formed into a mixed water ghost… or even a highly resentful ghost.

A ghost of this kind will only rest after taking lives, and it easily grows spiteful towards anyone obstructing it.

I dispelled the resentment on you last night, so I guess it won’t let me off easily today either.” “Master Jin, I’ve caused you trouble.” But Master Jin shook his head, “Don’t say useless things, Da Zhe.

At this point, let’s face it head-on.” “Alright, what do you want me to do?”

At this moment, Master Jin suddenly took out a simple plastic bag from inside his clothing, something easily found in ordinary convenience stores, “Wear this.” “This… wear it?” “Yes!

Put it on, then tie it tightly,” Master Jin nodded. “I want you to experience suffocation, taste the feeling of death.

Normal people can’t see the border between Yin and Yang, but in one situation they can, which is in the face of death.

But rest assured, suffocation doesn’t result in instant death; when your consciousness fades from lack of air, that’s when your soul and spirit temporarily separate from the body.

That moment might feel very long to you, but in the external world, it will be just a brief instant, maybe not even ten seconds.”

Da Zhe clutched the plastic bag tightly, biting down, “Alright, I’ll follow your plan, Master Jin.

But… is that all I have to do?” “Of course not,” Master Jin said. “I still need your soul and spirit to be able to move so that you can confront this ghost directly.

Moreover, when you see it, you have to do this…”

As he spoke, Master Jin approached the Guanyin Statue, moved it aside, and retrieved a clay pot about the size of a palm from beneath the altar, “I’ll place it on the roof.

I’ve already set up the altar below; your task is to provoke this ghost, lure it to the pot.

Its form is utterly recalcitrant so capturing it might still barely be possible.”

After giving Da Zhe further instructions on details, Master Jin had Da Zhe put the plastic bag over his head, but without tying it.

Master Jin then removed Da Zhe’s shirt, dipped his fingers in cinnabar, and quickly scribbled numerous Taoist writings on his back while chanting swiftly: “May He Huifen, the wife of Lin Si Cheng, born on the 19th of the 8th month of the year Jiwei, mother a startled baby with a 100-day cough, hangings with civil and military emperors, funeral feasts and soul summoning ceremonies, birth characters of eight characters of Zihui, and Three Lives Book…”

Then, Master Jin placed both hands on Da Zhe’s shoulders, chanting loudly: “…Jade Tower, green casements with fragrant mists, purple orchids tied with red rose sachets.

The fairy carriage is indescribable, Fang Qing bestows thanks truly bizarre.

Cane juice unholy-tear cold tears, unwittingly Qi folk young man hoax.

How to get Penglai Palace in heaven, yet become a human Mawei ghost!”

Outside, a fierce and chilly gust of wind suddenly arose, and Master Jin shouted powerfully, “Debts have a master, grievances a head, today is the time for Lin Congping, the son of Lin Si Cheng, to claim your life, reveal yourself quickly!!”

In an instant, accompanied by a rumble of thunder, a swirl of blue-black appeared like a blast of sandstorm at the villa gate of the nursing home. “Da Zhe!

Tie the knot!

Remember!

It must be quick, don’t hesitate!

Ghosts have no humanity, no heart, only hatred!

Don’t pity them!”

Da Zhe silently exhaled, tightened the bag around his neck…

Along with his breathing, the oxygen in this confined space was rapidly being consumed.

Da Zhe painfully resisted the instinct to tear the plastic bag apart, gritting his teeth as the bag tightened and loosened over his head.

Amid the intense pain and discomfort, a peculiar sensation was gradually spreading throughout his body.

His pupils widened, but he saw nothing…

Once he finally sensed vision, he was standing on the ground again—probably in the soul form that Master Jin talked about.

He still reached out in this villa—however, it was different from the villa he knew.

Now, the place had become ruined, desolate, overgrown with bluish-green moss, resembling a site bombed then eroded over decades.

Instinctively looking up, he saw a faint golden light above—the position of the jug set up by Master Jin.

The golden light flickered and disappeared, but Da Zhe now knew its precise location.

The ground was rolling with a blue-black mist…

Before Da Zhe, a tiny silhouette gradually appeared.

Da Zhe instinctively stepped back but quickly steadied himself, taking a deep breath—just an unconscious act, “I know I’m the last one left…

You’re not planning to spare me, right?” “Wei Dazhe…” A voice issued from its mouth, sounding like a child, innocent yet bringing waves of eerie ghost air, repeatedly calling this name, “Wei Dazhe…

Wei Dazhe…

Wei Dazhe…” “Stop calling!

Come if you want!” Da Zhe shouted fiercely!

It suddenly opened its mouth wide, lunging forward with both hands gripping Da Zhe’s neck, calling out incessantly: “Wei Dazhe…

Wei Dazhe…” “Right…

You should hate me like this…

It’s right…” Da Zhe showed extreme pain, gripping its hands tightly, “I don’t blame you…

I’ll never blame you…

But…” …

In the room with the altar, Da Tou looked anxiously out the window frequently, “Old Zhong, what on earth is happening, is that ghost thing coming or not?

It’s nerve-wracking!”

Sitting cross-legged, Master Jin suddenly opened his eyes wide: “It’s here!” “Really!” Da Tou’s heart leaped instantly, yet he worried, “Can your jug really work… or should we redo it another day?

Change to a sturdier one, not steel at least iron!” “You understand nothing!” Master Jin snapped, “It’s an ancient item produced from a Song dynasty tomb in Daxinganling before the reform; I went to great lengths to buy them from Mrs.

Zhang Li Lanfang.

Placed under the Guanyin statue, reciting sutras daily to enhance their spirituality!

I’ve spent over thirty years grinding them, how could they not work!”

But I really don’t get it, who’s Zhang Li Lanfang…

I’m just worried about my Brother Zhe!

However, Da Tou dared not speak, for Master Jin’s expression suddenly became extremely solemn, his heavy sigh echoed: “Da Zhe, you stubborn fool!

I told you to draw it over, not to perish with it!!”

Da Tou couldn’t see, but Master Jin felt—Da Zhe’s soul intertwining with this ghost’s soul…

Not that Da Zhe couldn’t break away; Master Jin wrote so many cinnabar words on Da Zhe’s back, at least ensuring his survival!

Master Jin’s eyes flashed with anger, he gritted his teeth fiercely, directly removed the beads on his hands, sliding them between his fingers—Da Tou finally saw an incredible scene, rubbing his eyes repeatedly!

These seemingly ordinary rosewood beads now emitted streams of golden light!

Master Jin shouted, throwing the bead chain.

The chain instantly transformed into a majestic Arhat, turning into a beam of golden light rushing forth!

In the realm of the resentful soul, Brother Zhe’s majestic Arhat broke into the space, like shattering the ghostly air, immediately grasping Da Zhe and the ghost!

The Arhat shouted fiercely, like morning bells, shaking the ghost with instability!

The Arhat’s palm suddenly lowered, immediately slapping the ghost down!

A massive amount of blue-black air frantically surged into the set jug, which absorbed it like a rainbow siphoning water.

Soon after, every bit of blue-black air was completely contained within.

Now a yellow sigil transformed into golden light, directly attaching to the jug.

The jug shook violently for a long time before calming down!

Finally, everything seemed to settle down, the vanished beads reappeared on the ground, shattered into pieces, leaving Master Jin looking extremely distressed.

It was a treasure given by a high monk when Master Jin traveled Tibet in his youth, extremely precious, now shattered, no longer usable, naturally making him feel heartache.

Master Jin suddenly spat a mouthful of viscous blood, instantly seeming to age a decade, leaning on the altar, gasping continuously like a dying man. “Old Zhong!

What happened to you!” “Don’t mind me for now… go, quickly check on Da Zhe, let him breathe!!

Punch his chest with fists!” …

After a long night’s ordeal, Da Zhe slowly came back to his senses in the shrine here—he glanced at Master Jin, who was sitting cross-legged on the mat in front of the Guanyin statue, and on the platform, a jug with a yellow sigil was placed. “Old Zhong, how are you?” “Not dead yet, but soon.” Master Jin slowly opened his eyes, glaring fiercely at Da Zhe, “Lucky you didn’t take me as your master, or I’d be angered to death eventually!

Did I tell you to perish with that ghost!”

Da Zhe silently stared at the jug before him, “Is it…

Is it inside?”

Master Jin sighed, nodding, “It’s inside, from now on it must be worshipped daily, using time to cleanse its hatred gradually.” “Must… must it be here?” Da Zhe asked instinctively.

Master Jin frowned, “What are you planning?”

Da Zhe bitterly said, “Old Zhong, I want…

I want to take it, take Sister Lin’s child, home…

I really want to.”

Da Zhe knelt before Master Jin, lowering his head.

Master Jin’s heartache over the shattered precious beads was somewhat eased, heaved a long sigh, “You foolish child.” “Old Zhong, I beg you, Da Zhe is kowtowing to you.”

Da Zhe kowtowed repeatedly, over and over.