Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Si Mingjing: Digging a Hole for You to Fall Into
Song’s mother and Fang Jing were both terrified, their faces drained of all color. A vivid and malevolent ghost—the deceased Liang Shimu—was already clawing and baring its teeth in their minds.
Song’s mother shrank back. "No, no, absolutely not! How could our family ever commit such an unconscionable act?"
Master Huixian looked at Song’s mother coldly.
"If the benefactor isn’t sincerely seeking the gods or worshipping Buddha, then this old monk is unable to help. Please do as you please."
After saying this, Master Huixian walked away.
Song’s mother then realized that Master Huixian was not only highly skilled in his spiritual practices but also could not tolerate any cunning in his presence.
Song’s mother quickly followed, but someone stopped her. "The master is returning to the back courtyard to rest. Please do not go any further."
Song’s mother pleaded, "I just want to ask the master one more question, just one! Master, Master..."
Unfortunately, Master Huixian didn’t even glance back.
Song’s mother was so frightened her legs went weak. She clung to Fang Jing’s arm for support, utterly distraught. "What can we do? What can we do?"
Fang Jing was equally terrified, almost scared out of her wits. Master Huixian couldn’t have known about Liang Shimu’s death beforehand. Could he truly open the heavenly eye?
The minds of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were in turmoil.
They feared not only the malevolent spirit Master Huixian spoke of returning for vengeance but also that Master Huixian might reveal Liang Shimu’s death.
This high monk is too frightening. How did he figure it out?
"Daughter-in-law, do you think Master Huixian is bluffing us?" Song’s mother wiped the cold sweat from her brow. "Where would ghosts come from in this world? These temple monks are just used to faking divinity to trick people out of incense money!"
Fang Jing didn’t dare to make a rash statement.
Especially in a temple, one should harbor some reverence and fear.
Song’s mother kept trying to reassure herself. "He’s definitely tricking me! It’s 2050; where would any ghosts come from? These are all the poisonous remnants of feudal superstition!"
Fang Jing knew her mother-in-law actually believed it; otherwise, her forehead wouldn’t be beaded with so much cold sweat. However, she didn’t contradict her, merely echoing, "Mom, let’s not scare ourselves. We can find another fortune-teller and see what they say."
"Right, right, you’re right."
When Song’s mother looked up, she saw the giant Buddha statue. It seemed to see right through her, frightening her so much that she grabbed Fang Jing and they fled in panic.
"Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll find another fortune-teller elsewhere!"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law hurriedly left Daying Temple. They sat silently in the car, both scared to death.
Fang Jing drove, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Her composure was a bit steadier than Song’s mother’s because she knew how Song Pianlan had died.
Therefore, her fear didn’t reach the same level as her mother-in-law’s.
「Upon returning to the city, the two of them began asking around for a fortune-teller.」
By a strange coincidence, they spotted a blind woman telling fortunes at the entrance of a kindergarten.
The blind woman seemed to practice bone-reading. She was currently telling a young man’s fortune, with several idlers gathered around.
After the blind woman said something, the young man exclaimed in astonishment, "That’s amazing! How did you know? Seven years ago, I did have surgery for appendicitis. After I was discharged, I bought a lottery ticket and won three thousand yuan. Nobody knows about this except my wife. How could you possibly have figured it out?"
The blind woman spoke again, and the young man exclaimed once more, "Yes, yes! You’re too incredible! I do have two children, and one of them, my daughter, has a red birthmark on her buttocks."
Apparently, her readings were very accurate. As the young man left, he even said to the onlookers, "Incredible, simply incredible! This blind woman really knows her stuff."
Fang Jing and Song’s mother exchanged glances, their interest piqued.
Just then, another curious person approached the blind woman to have their fortune read through bone-reading.
When that person left, they too wore a look of disbelief, filled with respect and awe for the blind woman. This made Song’s mother eager to try.
"Girl, please read my fortune too."
Song’s mother rushed ahead of another person, extending her hand toward the blind woman.
The blind woman was, in fact, Si Mingjing.
She had disguised herself thoroughly, wearing a wig, sunglasses, and makeup. Her clothes also had the distinctive style of a fortune-teller. Consequently, neither Fang Jing nor Song’s mother recognized her.
Through her sunglasses, Mingjing watched Song’s mother, a cold sneer forming in her heart. The fish has finally taken the bait.
Actually, the first two were shills.
Si Mingjing feigned reading Song’s mother’s bones, her voice full of sympathy. "Auntie, you’ve just experienced the pain of losing your daughter. Please accept my condolences."
Song’s mother’s eyes instantly widened. She’s truly amazing!
"Girl, can you divine how my poor daughter died?"
Si Mingjing pretended to ponder for a moment before exclaiming with alarm, "Oh no, oh no! There’s an evil spirit in your house that has fixated on your daughter. It wants to drag your daughter to hell with it! Your daughter is pitiable, truly pitiable."
"What? Drag my daughter to hell? Girl, what do you mean by that?"
Si Mingjing didn’t answer, merely sighing. "The workings of fate must not be revealed. If the evil spirit isn’t exorcised, your family will know no peace. This is a gravely ominous sign."
Song’s mother felt a chill run through her body. As if grasping at the last straw, she was desperate to find a solution.
She pulled out a thick wad of cash and stuffed it into the blind woman’s hands. "Girl, you can name any price, as long as you can help our family get rid of this evil spirit and turn our misfortune into a blessing."
But Si Mingjing shook her head, looking troubled. "This... I’m afraid my spiritual abilities aren’t sufficient. You should seek someone more capable."
"Girl, I beg you, please do a good deed."
Si Mingjing, however, kept shaking her head, refusing to read Song’s mother’s fortune any further, as if fearful of incurring the evil spirit’s wrath.
She leaned on her bamboo cane, preparing to leave.
Song’s mother, however, grabbed her, preventing her from leaving. "Girl, please, just think of something! Give me a hint, just one hint! I’ll make it worth your while."
Si Mingjing shook her head. "You reap what you sow. What solution could there be? Unless the one who committed the transgression sincerely repents before the evil spirit, openly confesses their crimes, and dispels the resentment in the spirit’s heart... otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" Song’s mother pressed.
Si Mingjing said, "I fear a massacre of your entire family."
What?! Song’s mother’s legs went weak, and she almost collapsed.
Si Mingjing continued, "Auntie, you have children at home, don’t you? If there are children in the house, you must exorcise the evil spirit as soon as possible. Children are frail and most susceptible to being tormented by evil spirits... That’s all I can say. That’s all I can say."
Standing nearby, Fang Jing immediately recalled the recent incident where Song Pianlan had nearly caused her daughter to suffer a dreadful fate.
Could it be that this isn’t just Song Pianlan being malicious, but also involved an evil spirit’s torment?
Fang Jing’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
After finishing her words, Si Mingjing tapped her bamboo cane and walked away along the tactile paving, leaving Fang Jing and Song’s mother shivering in the cold wind.
As the saying goes: "Do no evil, fear no ghost knocking at midnight."
Unfortunately, this saying didn’t apply to Fang Jing and Song’s mother.
The two were so frightened they nearly fell ill.
Si Mingjing sneered coldly.
Now, Song’s mother and Fang Jing would likely toss and turn all night.
Of course, they might not believe her one hundred percent yet.
Making them believe without a shadow of a doubt was not something that could be achieved in a single day.
Si Mingjing wasn’t in a hurry. She had plenty of time. Fishing, above all, required patience.