Chapter Twenty: Delivering Rest to the Wandering Souls

Nianxue was overjoyed. "Master Kongming is the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, and Master Jingxin is a highly respected monk in Buddhism. Ye Dong, you are truly fortunate!"

Ye Dong looked embarrassed, thinking to himself, "So these two have such exalted status? What a pity, what a pity." He could only cup his hands and say, "I am flattered by your praise, esteemed masters! To be honest, I have already promised to become Master Chen’s disciple."

Kongming and Jingxin both showed a hint of disappointment at the corners of their mouths. However, being men of great wisdom, they quickly recognized that this was simply the fate that bound Ye Dong and Chen Yao together. Kongming let it go and offered his congratulations with a clasped hand. "It seems that the Ri Hui School will have another gifted disciple besides Zilong!"

Hearing such praise, Zilong, standing nearby, smiled modestly. "You flatter me, Master Kongming." He glanced at Ye Dong, who looked like a naive youth, and felt a tinge of emotion.

Liang Lingzhi and his companions were all delighted to hear such high regard for Ye Dong from Kongming and Jingxin. Liang Lingzhi whispered, "Ye Dong, you’re amazing! We really should seize this chance to become disciples, too!"

Jingxin also praised, "Ye Dong, you have remarkable bones, sword-like brows, and bright eyes—quite similar to Zilong. With your internal organs as your cauldron and your heart as your furnace, if you practice diligently, you will surely make something of yourself. Ye Dong, do not squander heaven’s gift!"

Though still young, Ye Dong felt a surge of joy at these words, but managed to maintain his composure. He replied respectfully, "I shall certainly heed your teachings, and will cultivate diligently alongside my fellow disciples."

Chen Yao sipped his tea with a smile. "You certainly have a way with words. I suppose you want me to take the other three in as disciples as well?"

The others all beamed with delight, knowing that Chen Yao had agreed to accept the four of them.

Chen Yao set down his teacup and explained, "As for aptitude, Lingzhi is not lacking, but your heart is too full of emotion—you must learn to sort it out. Xiaobao and Dachun have average foundations, but they are adaptable, and so fortune smiles on them."

Liang Lingzhi looked affectionately at Nianxue beside him and murmured, "Master Chen, I truly cannot help myself."

Nianxue interrupted, "Still calling him 'Master Chen'? Should you not, in the presence of such venerable elders, serve tea to your master?"

Overjoyed, Liang Lingzhi, together with Ye Dong, the older and the younger, respectfully offered tea to Chen Yao, saying, "Master, please accept this tea!"

Chen Yao drank the tea from each, saying, "Normally, before joining the disciples of the Supreme Lord of Taiyi, you would take vows and observe the precepts. However, you have risked your lives for others, helped the authorities solve major cases, saved many lives, and fought side by side with Nianxue through life and death. Your sincerity is plain to see. We can dispense with the formal vows."

The four shared a look and, full of gratitude, knelt together, bowing their heads. "Master, please accept our bows!"

Nianxue poured tea for the four of them once more. "These three are your senior brothers. Pay your respects!" After she spoke, she sat next to Zilong. "Although we are all well acquainted, you must still serve me, your fourth senior sister, a cup of tea—that is tradition!"

"Senior Brother Zilong, Senior Brother Wenxing, Senior Brother Hengxing, Senior Sister Nianxue, please accept this tea."

Zilong and the others each accepted their cups and quickly helped the new disciples to their feet. "Brothers, please rise. From now on, we are family!"

The room was filled with warmth and happiness.

Kongming and Jingxin nodded continuously, smiling. "Congratulations, old friend Rihui, on gaining such fine disciples. Congratulations indeed!"

Rihui also clasped his hands with a smile. "Now that the disciples are accepted, I ask Master Jingxin to first grant peace to those poor, wandering souls. What do you think?"

Jingxin nodded. "Very well, very well. I too wish to help them find release from the sea of suffering as soon as possible."

He slowly took a wooden fish from his bundle and walked to the inner hall, where more than twenty ancestral tablets were placed. He began to strike the wooden fish with measured rhythm, chanting Sanskrit that Ye Dong and the others could not understand.

Nianxue gently opened the small oil-paper umbrella, and Xiaoting’s soul slowly drifted out. She bowed deeply to everyone present, then knelt before Master Jingxin, ready to receive salvation.

Although Ye Dong did not understand Buddhist teachings, he could sense the profound depth of Master Jingxin’s practice. The long, resonant Sanskrit chants seemed to calm even the most restless, as both the older and younger grew quiet on their chairs, listening with their eyes closed.

The wondrous sound of Buddhist law was like a great bell pealing from a mountain, sending waves of resonance rippling through the paper offerings shop and out into the world beyond.

Rihui and Kongming exchanged a satisfied glance, pressed their palms together, and recited, "Amitabha."

Gradually, the souls of those who had perished at the hands of the evil priest appeared one by one, kneeling before Jingxin and listening intently to the Buddhist teachings. Ye Dong counted and noticed the number of ghosts far exceeded twenty-two.

He asked Chen Yao, "Master, there were only twenty-two victims. Why are there so many spirits here now?"

Chen Yao sighed. "Many souls in this world are bound by all sorts of obsessions. Without being purified, they remain on earth as wandering ghosts. Master Jingxin, in his compassion, has widened the scope of his mantra to grant salvation to more lost souls."

Ye Dong felt a warmth in his heart. "So that’s how it is! Master Jingxin’s spiritual level is truly admirable."

At that moment, Officer Li arrived with Xiao Wang and Xiao Yang to bid farewell to Xiaoting.

Master Jingxin stood there, chanting throughout the night, purifying each of the restless souls before him.

Seeing Xiaoting kneeling, her face streaked with tears, he asked gently, "Why do you still linger here, child?"

Xiaoting wiped her tears and replied, "I have not yet bowed in gratitude to my benefactors. Once I do so, I will leave in peace."

Jingxin did not try to dissuade her, but merely nodded. "Sow good karma and reap good fruit. Go and say your farewells."

Xiaoting bowed three times to Jingxin. "Master, I will never forget your kindness in granting me salvation today."

Seeing Nianxue and the others with tears in their eyes, her heart ached. She knelt and said, "Master Rihui, Nianxue, Officer Li, Ye Dong, Lingzhi, Xiaobao, Dachun, Xiao Wang, Xiao Yang—Xiaoting kneels before you all to offer my thanks!"

Moved by Xiaoting’s sincerity, Nianxue could not help but weep, nodding again and again. "Yes, yes, your feelings are received. Go in peace!"

Tears still in her eyes, Xiaoting said, "Your great kindness can only be repaid in another life."

Chen Yao nodded. "Xiaoting, they too have gained much from this experience. If fate allows, may you meet again in the next life."

Xiaoting smiled gently at Liang Lingzhi, whose eyes were red with tears. "Don’t be foolish—you must cherish those before you."

Liang Lingzhi glanced at the tearful Nianxue beside him and nodded solemnly at Xiaoting. "I will!"

Wiping her tears, Xiaoting bowed deeply to everyone once more, and, aided by Master Jingxin’s mystical chants, drifted away.

Seeing that Xiaoting departed without regrets, Jingxin slowly ceased his chanting and intoned, "Amitabha."

The others joined in, "Amitabha."

Nianxue spoke softly, "At last, this matter has come to an end."

Ye Dong nodded, looking at his spirited companions. "But our story is only just beginning."