Wu Xian was anxious, but Shi Ji remained calm—he still had a clever trick up his sleeve.
Shi Ji used a lighter to briefly singe the large intestine, which immediately released a peculiar, enticing aroma. The scent struck at the gluttonous ghost's palate like a sharp jab. Unable to resist, the hungry spirit lunged forward again, only to be caught once more.
Just as Shi Ji was about to swing the mop handle, Wu Xian dashed forward, pulling out a copper coin sword. With swift strokes, he slashed twice at the hungry ghost.
The hungry ghost stared in disbelief at the two wounds on its chest.
"I... I'm hungry! At least let me eat until I'm full..." it pleaded.
Amidst twisted light, the ghost's form dissolved into a puddle of pus. The dark atmosphere inside the community cafeteria suddenly felt much brighter.
The matter was resolved, but Shi Ji was unhappy. He felt like a fool for sympathizing with Wu Xian and looked at him with a complicated expression.
"Wu Ge, so you were just playing the fool to hide your strength."
Wu Xian quickly waved his hand. "I wasn't trying to trick you. This copper coin sword—I got it yesterday when Qi Zhiyong forced me to investigate room 405."
"Alright, I believe you."
Wu Xian shrugged with a hint of grievance. "I'm telling the truth."
As they spoke, the ghost's corpse completely vanished, leaving only a sacrificial incense stick on the ground.
"This is your trophy. Just give me one of the god statues."
Wu Xian picked up the incense stick and handed it to Shi Ji, explaining its function. Shi Ji had found the place and devised the plan; he had also cleaned the intestines. It was only fair that Wu Xian got a bit more credit.
Suddenly, Shi Ji thought Wu Xian was a man of principle after all.
...
The two entered the cafeteria. It was clean now, but all the edible food had been devoured by the hungry ghost. On the table sat two identical statues.
Both statues wore bright red robes, their gazes deep and mysterious, smiles eerie. The inscriptions on their bases read:
Heavenly Official – Master of Blessed Karma
Shi Ji picked up an incense stick to offer a prayer, carefully placing the sacrificial incense into the censer. Then he asked Wu Xian, "I have the incense—what are you using to worship the gods?"
Wu Xian pulled out three aged cypress incense sticks from his pocket. "I found these under my pillow—just perfect for this…"
"You really are playing the fool to hide your strength!"
"Ahem."
This time, Wu Xian didn't argue; further explanation would just sound insincere.
Shi Ji rolled his eyes, respectfully bowed with the incense, then placed it in the censer.
The moment the incense was set, a mist appeared around Shi Ji. Wu Xian could only make out vague movements but couldn't see clearly what was happening.
This relieved Wu Xian.
With the god statues guarding them, no one else could see the three options that appeared after Shi Ji's prayer.
The aged cypress incense burned slowly, releasing a faint white smoke that enveloped Wu Xian. The aroma was subtle, with a hint of fruity sweetness.
Wrapped in the fragrance, Wu Xian felt completely relaxed.
All the stress he had built up since entering this blessed land vanished in an instant. The fatigue from lack of sleep eased, his body felt lighter, and the lingering injuries from his detective work showed signs of healing.
He recalled the description of the aged cypress incense:
Calms the spirit, refreshes the mind, reduces swelling, and relieves bruising...
The incense's effects were a pleasant surprise, but what truly mattered was the blessing he might receive.
On the table lay three talismans, each ending with the character '符' (talisman).
Sharp Talisman: Enhances an item's sharpness.
Length Talisman: Extends the length of an item; if under one meter, it doubles; if over one meter, it adds one meter.
Filth Talisman: Adds dirt and filth to an item (Wu Xian had seen this before but had no intention of choosing it).
The Sharp Talisman seemed powerful, but Wu Xian didn't have any usable weapons. Even if the copper coin sword became sharper, it wouldn't help much. As for the Length Talisman…
That one seemed interesting. Wu Xian reached into the misty smoke.
Wu Xian finished his prayer, and Shi Ji was done as well.
Shi Ji's expression was strange—something seemed to have happened. But since Shi Ji didn't want to talk about it, Wu Xian didn't press.
Wu Xian said goodbye to Shi Ji and quickly headed to Mr. Wang's house. There, he found the statue of the Heavenly Official Kui Xing, the Master of Official Fortune, and placed Mr. Wang's sacrificial incense inside.
...
At the Fuxin Clinic, the beds were overturned, and the red lights flickered eerily.
Qi Zhiyong inserted three sandalwood incense sticks into the incense burner before a fierce demon statue. He had just eliminated an evil spirit lying on a hospital bed, which earned him the right to worship the gods.
The evil spirit called itself An Xin, the former owner of the hostel.
An Xin couldn't leave because he was worried about his unattended wife. He even handed Qi Zhiyong three sandalwood incense sticks, begging him to look after her.
But Qi Zhiyong refused.
Anyway, after slaying the evil spirit, the incense sticks were his.
After the sandalwood incense was placed, a surge of black energy burst forth from the demon statue and surged into Qi Zhiyong's body, instantly turning his blood vessels an inky black.
"Ah…"
He stretched out in pain. This was already his fifth time praying to the gods.
Such an aggressive invocation carried great risks, but with the looming threat of a major calamity tonight, he had no choice but to proceed.
Compared to this morning, Qi Zhiyong's mindset had calmed considerably. He was no longer anxious or restless—rather, he was oddly serene.
"Only those with true value have the right to survive."
"If I die today, it means that was all the value I possessed."
...
Underground warehouse beneath the supermarket.
The goods once stored here had long since been cleared out. The concrete floor was damp, and the air reeked of mildew mixed with the nauseating stench of decay. A red candle in front of the god statue cast a flickering light across the room.
He Qiong held a stick of incense, flanked on either side by sisters Su Huijun and Su Huilan, who each held one of his arms.
"Brother Qiong, you'll protect us, won't you?"
A faint smile tugged at the corners of He Qiong's mouth. "Of course. As long as I'm here, you're safe."
"But we worry about you and don't want to be a burden forever. Let me handle the prayers to the god statue, okay?"
"Bu-but I already said—"
"Alright, alright!"
The two sisters gently swayed his arms, their big, watery eyes softening He Qiong's heart.
"Well… alright then."
He stepped back with a reluctant smile, feeling a warm glow in his chest despite himself.
He Qiong came from a fairly wealthy family.
This was actually his first time entering the Blessed Land.
Two months ago, he had accidentally encountered Su Huilan collapsing outside a milk tea shop near the school. Along with Su Huijun, he helped her back home. Over time, the three had run into each other repeatedly, gradually becoming acquainted.
As their time together lengthened, their relationship deepened quickly, with occasional hints of flirtation. He Qiong believed both sisters liked him.
But there was one problem that troubled him deeply.
He loved both sisters at the same time, yet didn't know who to choose—or how to choose without hurting the other.
Finally, two days ago, the sisters invited him to spend the night at the Ping'an Hostel to discuss their future.
That very night, slaughter broke out, the Blessed Land descended, and they became trapped here…
Hungry Ghost: Great Vehicle Meaning Chapter, Scroll Eight: "On Hungry Ghosts. As explained in the Miscellaneous Mind Commentary: Named 'Hungry Ghosts' because they seek from others. Also called 'Hungry' due to constant hunger and emptiness. Named 'Ghosts' because of their fearfulness and timidity."*
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