Khem watched the master's retreating back as he walked back along the path with his black toolbox and the enchanted knife, until he was out of sight. Then, he turned to look at Luang Pu Kesem, his hands still clasped in prayer.
"You don't need to worry about Pharan. Close your eyes and meditate, think of your parents and the Triple Gem." After these words, Khem closed his eyes as instructed, and soon his ears were filled with the melodious sound of chanting that soothed his soul.
"Itipiso, Visesei
Issei, Phuttanameei
Imena, Phuttatangsoei
Isotang, Phuttapitii."
Pharan halted at the cliff's edge, his eyes clearly seeing the situation below, where hordes of forest and hungry ghosts were on the verge of breaking through Luang Pu Kasem's glass barrier.
He knelt down, opened his bag, and took out four sections of rattan, planting them into the ground to form a square around himself, then tied a sacred string from one piece to another, creating a forbidden zone.
Once that was done, he placed a small incense burner on a tray, filled it with soil from the ground, lit nine sticks of incense, spoke words of apology to the spirits of the forest and mountains, and then inserted the incense into the soil, followed by placing two medium-sized candles beside the burner.
Next, he unwrapped the red sacred cloth tightly binding his grandfather's magical knife, immediately feeling the aura of the dark arts and the anguished cries of the spirits trapped within, numbering in the hundreds.
One spirit, driven by pain, burst from the knife to attack, but was firmly held by Pharan's strong hand on its face, which was covered in burn scars, and he said in a calm voice,
"Calm down, I'm not here to hurt you."
This spirit locked eyes with Pharan for a moment, seeing in those deep, dark eyes a compassion that was hard to fathom.
"I'm...in pain, let...me...go." The spirit said. Pharan, sensing its suffering, nodded in agreement.
"I will release all of you."
Hearing this, the spirit's tears flowed, longing for its family and homeland it had left behind so long ago; it had once been a soldier who died in battle. Being told it would finally be freed after being trapped for decades, its despair turned into hope, so it retreated back into the knife to await its liberation.
As Pharan gently touched the blade, the many agitated spirits began to calm down.
Then, he closed his eyes to focus his mind, his lips moving in chant to invoke the Emperor's Mantra for the immediate release of these spirits.
"Na Mo Putthaya, Phra Phuttha, Trairatana Yana..."
Buddho, Dhamma, Sangho, Yathaputmona
Worship Buddha, Worship Dhamma, Worship Sangha
Akki-thanang, Varangandang, Sivali, Ja Mahatherang
The offering of fire, the best of perfumes, the elder monks, I venerate from afar, I venerate the elements,
I venerate all beings.
"..."
"May the things I pray for be sacred and come true immediately."
"..."
"Arahant, this is done by karma, bound by karma, let life go to a good rebirth, let every life and every spirit that has been bound in this thing, be reborn in a good realm, so be it."
This enchanted magic knife seemed to have been purified until it shone with a golden light. Golden spirits, like flames, gradually emerged from it, from one to two, from two to three, until all one hundred and eight were released, scattering in all directions towards the places they longed for.
Some went to find their departed loved ones, others returned to their origins in hell to atone for their remaining sins.
Pharan could have used the power of these spirits, but forcing all beings to yield was not his way of conduct. Thus, releasing them was the best choice.
Then, his ears caught the faint sounds carried by the wind, voices that ranged from young women, young men, to the elderly, saying:
"Thank...you."
"Thank you very much, dear."
"Thank you so much."
In truth, not just anyone can do such a thing. To release so many souls, one must be pure from within, filled with true compassion for all beings.
Such individuals are rare in this world...
After cleansing the dark magic involving trapping and using malevolent spirits, master then picked up the magical knife, holding it reverently with both hands as he closed his eyes again to perform what is known as
"invoking the magical knife." a crucial step before using it.
At that moment, the wailing of numerous spirits, including dozens of hungry ghosts and forest spirits from all directions, resonated so loudly that it seemed to shake the earth. Pharan remained focused, chanting the following mantra:
"Phutthang Raksa, Dhammang Raksa, Sanghang Raksa, Satru Ma Bidha Vinasha Santi."
Upon finishing this chant, the dark sky began to show flashes of lightning, accompanied by thundering roars, serving as a warning to those who would commit evil to cease their actions.
After the invocation, Pharan then proceeded to chant the praises of the five divine weapons:
"Sakkassa Vajiravutthang (The weapon of Indra) Vessavanassa Kathavutthang (The club of Vessavana)
Alavakathu Savutthang (The red cloth of the giant Alavaka) Yamasanayana Vutthang (The eyes of Yama)
Narayanasangakkara Vutthang (The discus of Narayana) Panca Avutthanang, Etesang Anubhavena..."
As he chanted, the glass barrier shattered into fragments, and the spirits surged forward in a solid wave of darkness, some running, some walking, some crawling with their arms, some whole, some twisted and broken, their stench of decay spreading for miles.
While chanting the praises of the five weapons, the magical knife in Pharan's hand glowed. Gradually, golden lines identical to the knife's design appeared in the sky, forming nine concentric circles that expanded to fill the sky, charged with static electricity and echoing with thunderous roars.
Pharan seemed to be drained of almost all his life force, his previous injuries resisting the power of the Buddha within him, causing blood to
flow from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Yet, he continued the chant, now moving on to the summoning of the gods.
"Sakke, Kame, Jara, Kirisukaratae,
Jantarikhe, Vimane, Tipe, Rathe, Cha
Kame, Tavonakahan, Keha
Vatthumahi, Kette, Bhummacchantu, Deva
Chalathala, Visame, Yakkhapandappanaga
Tithanta, Santike, Munivara, Janang
Sadavo, Me, Sunantu"
"..."
"I call upon the divine assembly, residing in the heavenly realms of Kama, in the realm of Rupa, the realm of Arupa, including the great Brahma, and upon the deities dwelling in mountains, caves, and celestial palaces, those residing in the royal island and cities, in humble homes and grand palaces throughout the countryside, and those who manifest in the shrines of the earth spirits."
"..."
"Also, I call upon the deities living in streams, ponds, and all the greenery of the forest, whether equal or not."
"From the Yaksha, Gandharvas , Garudas, and Nagas,
"Please gather here in this place."
Invoking deities isn't an easy task, nor does it succeed every time one attempts to do so, due to various factors.
The two previous times the invocation was successful were during the forest's upheaval five years ago, when the deity invoked was Lord Vessavana, and the second time when Khem appeared, it was Phra Phirun and Phra Mae Thorani. Both times, the invocations were made with the intent to protect the entire village. However, this time is different.
This time, he prays with the sole intention of protecting his beloved and desiring to spend his life with her until old age.
At that moment, the tattoo on Pharan's back suddenly warmed, and behind him gradually appeared the seven golden heads of the supreme Naga king, also known as "Maha Ananta Phaya Nakarat."
The Naga king, nearly five meters long, slithered to a stop just outside the sacred boundary, arching its neck down to shield Pharan's head with its hood. Its tail, adorned with shimmering golden scales, coiled around
Pharan's territory like a magnificent fortress. Then, tiny drops of nectar began to drizzle down.
Pharan placed the magical knife on the red cloth and stood up, his calm eyes surveying the encroaching spirits.
The golden circle of knives remained suspended in the sky. As a hungry ghost's hand reached for him, Pharan raised his right hand to his chest level and made a gentle sweeping motion.
Wheee!
A sharp, piercing scream rang out as the ghost was impaled by unseen golden knives, its spirit extinguished. One of the Naga's heads then stretched out, opened its mouth, and swallowed it whole.
This sound momentarily stopped the wave of forest and hungry ghosts, but instead of fear, it drove them into a frenzy. One forest spirit tried to take advantage of Pharan's stationary stance by diving from a tree, only to be struck by the Naga's tail, turning to ash instantly. Everything happened so fast it was hardly visible.
Once Pharan had determined the direction, he raised his hand higher and struck down through the air in a straight line.
Suddenly, the nine rings of golden knives descended like a torrential rain, accompanied by bolts of lightning striking down.
Blood still flowed from Pharan's eyes every second, and with just one strike, tens of thousands of malevolent spirits were obliterated.
Khem, sheltered within Luang Pu Kasem's glass barrier, was unaware of the external events. He had been sitting with his hands clasped, listening to the chants for only a few minutes before his hands slowly fell to his sides, the clear vision fading, and then he collapsed unconscious.
At that moment, outside the glass dome, a figure appeared, a deity in pale yellow Thai attire, her face strikingly similar to Khem's. She looked towards Luang Pu Kasem with a plea for compassion, to allow her entry into the glass dome.
She was summoned from heaven by a man of great spiritual power, yet she followed the spirit of someone until she reached here. Upon seeing this boy, whose spirit was gradually weakening, she found him on the brink of life and death.
Though she couldn't remember who he was, this child had called her to him. Not only was he gentle in nature, but he was also very cute, making
her feel an immediate connection. She wanted to ask the senior monk for permission to approach.
Luang Pu Kesem, seeing their deep connection, allowed her to enter.
Once inside, she sat down on the floor, lifting the young boy's head onto her lap, gently stroking his soft hair.
Poor little one, burdened with such heavy karma, she regretted not being able to alter the fate that had been set by higher powers.
Her light brown eyes were filled with compassion. Something told her she was deeply connected to this child.
Even now, when our destinies no longer intertwine, the care and concern still linger in my heart.
"If you can return, may it be safely, but if you breathe your last, I will
embrace your spirit myself."
Khem heard a voice that seemed familiar, gentle like a whisper, too faint to catch clearly, but the warmth enveloping his body and heart made him slowly open his eyes to see that he was lying at the dock of an old Thai house from four hundred years ago.
The scene in front of him gradually became clearer. Khem's eyes saw the bare, pale, lifeless feet of many people. He swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he clasped them tightly, then slowly stood up to face what he had been escaping his whole life.
Before Khem stood the male descendants of his mother's family, all of whom had died young, dressed in their last worn outfits, their bodies standing stiffly, their eyes vacant of spirit, devoid of any warmth or emotion.
A chill ran down Khem's back when he sensed someone standing behind him.
"Look at them closely, do you recognize who they are?"
Khem couldn't move, only able to watch as a pale, pointing finger extended over his shoulder, compelling his gaze to follow.
The faces of people from the past superimposed over each of these figures, revealing another truth to Khem.
Indeed, all the descendants who had passed away were once part of that fateful event.
From Phraya Worasingh, who was the root cause of all events, to Lord Phakdiwijitra, who was so enamored with power that he forgot virtue,
There were also the three legitimate sons of Lord Phakdiwijitra. Not to mention the seven close male relatives who stood by watching with indifference, without even a shred of compassion.
And it included all the servants in Phraya Worasingh's household who had a hand in tormenting Madam-Ramphueng during her stay, sometimes nearly costing her her life, those who slandered her, and the servant who beat her to death.
Everyone had reincarnated into the same lineage to atone for what they did to Madam-Ramphueng according to the curse.
Now, only Khem remained alive.
"Do you remember now? You know well what you've done to me.
Why did you think you could be the only one to escape?" Khem felt two icy hands slowly move to his throat and begin to squeeze.
Tears flowed from Khem's eyes out of fear, and he swallowed hard before speaking with a trembling voice,
"That day...I and my mother, we didn't...mean to." Khem had to lie because Lady Keskaew had threatened that if they did not comply, MaeYing Kaknang's entire maiden family would suffer. Neither Khem nor his mother could defy her orders.
But the response he got was a scream filled with hatred that pierced his ears. Madam-Ramphueng's form appeared before him, consumed with anger, before she lunged forward and gripped Khem's throat with immense force.
"Liar!"
"..."
"Whether you and your mother intended it or not, in the end...mychild and I had to die in agony! Do you think such a reason will makeme spare you? You're dreaming!"
Khem gasped for air, his hands tightly gripping the pale wrists, struggling and resisting with all his might.
"The only way you all can atone for what you did to me and my childis through death, and only then will justice be served!!"
Khem slowly slumped to the floor, death drawing near with every breath.
In his final moments, Khem's mind was flooded with countless memories of his life, both good and bad.
Though his life had been difficult, Khem was happy. He was glad to have been born as his parents' son, to have chased his dreams even if he hadn't
reached the end, to have had wonderful friends like Jett and Chan, to have joined volunteer camps, and learned how to interact with others.
He had met Grandma Si and everyone in the village.
Ultimately, Khem was overjoyed to have met the master again...
Khem closed his eyes, weary and in despair, his heart silently repeating apologies with all his might.
"Sorry for being weak, I am...sorry...for only being able to struggle this far."
Now, Pharan understood some truths.
In truth, four hundred years ago, he was a significant military leader in Phetchaburi, leading soldiers in battles to protect the nation. Even though it was his duty, he had killed many on the battlefield.
And the battlefield, or the place where the bloody events occurred, was this very dry forest.
According to principles, attracting such a multitude of malevolent spirits would not be due to the hatred of one ghost alone. Instead, everything that happened was interconnected karma, directly or indirectly.
Hundreds of thousands of magic knives created by Pharan flew through the air like a flock of birds, attacking and destroying the evil spirits under the command of his strong spirit, preventing them from climbing up this cliff.
However, some spirits managed to slip through. A black, ghostly figure resembling a soldier from centuries ago, moving with two arms and one leg, charged towards Khem, who was being held by the deity.
Before it could reach him, two child-like spirits, no older than twelve, appeared in front, blocking its path. Each used one of their feet to push against the ghost's shoulders, stopping its malicious intent.
And before it could do more, several golden magic knives stabbed into its back, and in a blink, it vanished as if it had never existed.
Pharan could sense the spirits of Ekk and Thong, and then his ears heard the voice of an old woman not far away.
Sri Sri, the voice of comfort, come forth, my spirit...
Feeling the warmth he had missed so much, but the pain made it impossible to open his eyes, tears mixed with blood streamed down his cheeks. Pharan's body, if not for the support of the great Naga king, would have lost consciousness long ago. Now it surged with immense strength. In the sky, nine concentric circles of knives formed before golden knives
rained down again, causing agony to the malevolent spirits once more, and again.
Due to pushing beyond human limits, the agony in Pharan's chest caused him to cough up a large amount of red blood.
Even though it was now midnight, there was no sign that the ordeal would end easily.
This was because the time of Khem's birth was not now.
In the last gasp of Khem's breath, Luang Pu Kasem's voice suddenly rang out behind Madam-Ramphueng.
"That's enough, layperson."
Madam-Ramphueng paused, her grip loosening in surprise, not expecting anyone to enter this dimension. Even someone like Pharan, who had accumulated merit over many lifetimes, could not do so.
Moreover, to enter, one must have had a past connection, creating karma with her, and if that person was a man, they would have all died at 20 years old and become her servants. So, who was this person?
With this question in her mind, Madam-Ramphueng slowly released Khem to fall onto the floor, then turned to face the speaker.
Before her stood an elderly monk. Madam-Ramphueng tilted her head left then right, her white eyes with shrunken pupils staring at this monk with bewilderment.
"How is it that you can enter here?"
"..."
"Regardless, this matter does not involve you. Please leave while Iam still speaking kindly."
"The root of all these evils involves only one man and one woman. One has long died by your own hand, and the other is still atoning for their sins in hell, unable to be reborn. Is that not enough for you?"
Upon hearing this, Madam-Ramphueng lunged forward to stand just an arm's length from Luang Pu Kasem, her eyes filled with resentment as she looked at him, the pain of her memories driving her nearly mad.
"They all must pay with their lives!"
"..."
"If they don't want to die, then they must return my child to me.
Only then will I be satisfied!" Madam-Ramphueng knew she was saying something impossible, as her child had already died.
Died right before her eyes.
Luang Pu Kesem did not take offense at Madam-Ramphueng's harshwords. His eyes, clouded with cataracts, softened with compassion beforehe spoke:
"If you desire that, I will offer this child's life in alms, in exchange for myown."
Madam-Ramphueng tilted her head, looking confused at Luang PuKesem, wondering why he would offer such a proposal to her, and why sheshould agree to this exchange. But before she could say more, she wasplunged into memories conveyed through the gaze of the monk before her.
From the day he first opened his eyes to the world, until he was six yearsold, Luang Pu Kesem knew he possessed the sixth sense, allowing him tosee things he shouldn't, like spirits. Haunted by ghosts from a young age, hedeveloped a desire to eradicate these malevolent spirits from the world,disregarding the law of karma. Then, he met a man named Sek, who hadsimilar abilities.
The two became inseparable friends from their teenage years, pledgingto keep their ability to see ghosts a secret and to live like ordinary children.
They grew up together in vocational school, both good-looking andmultitalented, becoming the object of affection for many girls. But as withany coin having two sides, where there were admirers, there were also thosedriven by envy, leading to conflicts with others. The situation escalated until a critical moment when Luang Pu Kesem, asa young man, was shot in the back by rivals and nearly died. This forcedboth to resort to occult practices to protect themselves.
However, these practices, if used correctly, could benefit, but if misused,could bring great harm. One day, due to their feuds with their rivals, LuangPu Kesem's family suffered a calamity, resulting in the accidental death ofhis younger brother.
For Luang Pu Kesem, there were only two paths at that time: one was todelve deeper into black magic to seek revenge, and the other was to breakthis cycle of evil by ordaining as a monk for life to calm his own mind,otherwise, he would never find peace.
At that time, Luang Pu Kasem chose to ordain as a monk, having calmedhis mind, let go of attachments, ceased creating negative karma, and strivedto perform good deeds. After ordaining and adhering to the Buddha'steachings for over fifteen years, he began to see visions of his past lives.
In one life, he was born as a fish in a lotus pond, in another as a heron,and in the third life as a human.
Madam-Ramphueng's eyes widened, tears streaming down her cheekswhen she realized that in the life before Luang Pu Kasem was born as ahuman, he lived only for a short time before being thrown into the river bysomeone.
At this very location.
Madam-Ramphueng took trembling steps backward to look at Luang PuKasem's form more clearly, meeting his compassionate gaze.
What she saw was not a fabricated vision; everything was undoubtedlytrue. That was why this monk could enter her dimension.
"Ugh, huh, my child." Madam-Ramphueng collapsed onto the wooden dock, her strength gone, then crawled forward to prostrate herself at Luang Pu Kasem's feet, crying out in a wail that seemed to tear at her soul.
She had been consumed by bitterness and resentment for centuries, withno way to rectify her feelings. No matter how many she killed, it could neverreplace the loss of her son.
In her life as a servant, she endured suffering worse than a living death.
No one loved her, no one wanted her, and she never truly owned anything.
The one thing most valuable to her was her child.
Raising her child to grow up as happily as possible was what sheyearned for until her last breath.
And now she had seen it.
Luang Pu Kasem, seeing that Madam-Ramphueng was softening, continued to speak:
"Do not create more enmity or karma. Let go of what you hold, and allow me to escort you." Madam-Ramphueng slowly lifted her head and then turned to look at Khem, who was kneeling behind her, crying inconsolably just like her.
As her anger that had once clouded her vision began to fade, she realized that half of this child, in a past life, had helped her numerous times. Her heart, once filled with resentment, now returned to emptiness with a sense of resignation.
She herself was tired after all these years. Having received what she always wanted, she could finally let go.
Now, she only wished to spend a little more time with her child, to have a brief conversation, which would be enough. She clasped her hands in prayer
and said to Luang Pu Kesem:
"Very well."
"Then, please rise." Upon hearing this, Madam-Ramphueng slowly stood up, and as they began to walk away, Luang Pu Kesem spoke to Khem, who was still in a prayerful pose, with compassionate understanding:
"Khem, do not think too much."
"..." Khem clenched his lips tightly as tears began to flow once more.
"Everything was predetermined. We have no debts left between us. Hurry back now."
As if those few words from Luang Pu Kesem had unlocked Khem's heart, he sobbed with relief before bowing in gratitude to the monk.
Madam-Ramphueng followed the monk in his yellow robes with a heart now full of joy. The vision she saw was of a little boy in traditional Thai attire, holding her hand as they walked towards a bright path, accompanied by the sound of a single ankle bracelet's bell ringing, soothing her soul.
Thus, the centuries-long resentment and suffering of Madam-Ramphueng came to an end.
At five forty-five in the morning, the gentle yellow light gradually bathed the vast sky.
Khem slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the lifeless form of Luang Pu Kesem in meditation, his face serene and free from worry.
Khem gradually stood up from the ground. His body was still warm, not feeling cold, and there were no insect bites as there might have been, except for the exhaustion that felt like he had slept for many decades. He felt no pain anywhere else.
Khem started looking around but couldn't see any sign of master, so he quickly bowed to Luang Pu Kasem, stood up, and half-walked, half-ran along the path master had taken the previous night.
His heart was pounding painfully in his chest, but it began to slow down when he saw the master walking back towards him.
Behind the master, the sun was rising over the mountaintop, its rays shining through the master's broad back, blurring Khem's vision. Tears of joy streamed down Khem's cheeks.
Pharan, carrying a box, walked straight towards Khem, while Khem, running until his legs gave out, forced himself to stand and run to him.
At the same time, Pharan set the box down on the ground to catch the smaller figure rushing towards him and embraced him tightly.
Khem sobbed, his body trembling, returning the tight hug, seeing the blood stains on Pharan's face.
"Master, does it...hurt a lot?"
Pharan's head gently rested on Khem's shoulder, shaking slightly to dismiss the question. The only feeling in his heart was the overwhelming joy of seeing that Khem was still breathing.
At this moment, the pain prevented him from speaking, so he could only tighten his embrace a bit more.
6:06 AM on June 6th
Khemjira had safely passed his 20th birthday and escaped the curse.
Epilogue
The two didn't stand hugging for long before they heard the sound of a helicopter landing, the strong wind from the rotor blades blowing their hair and clothes, and they slowly pulled apart.
Soon, they saw Jett and Chan running towards them. Even though Pharan was extremely exhausted, there were still many important things he had to do, like summoning the spirit and taking the monk's body back to the temple for funeral rites.
Once Jett and Chan arrived, they quickly helped support both master and Khem. The four of them walked back to where Luang Pu Kasem was sitting.
Upon arriving, Pharan knelt down in front of Luang Pu Kesem, about two meters away, with Jett, Chan, and Khem sitting behind him in prayer.
He began preparing for the spirit-summoning ceremony by taking a white cloth from his toolbox, spreading it on the ground, and placing an incense pot, a pack of incense, an oil lamp, and a string of beads on it. He then brought out a stainless steel tray, followed by canned rice and pickled vegetables, which he placed on the tray. After opening the cans, he inserted an incense stick into the rice can and lit it.
"Go fetch Luang Pu's bag." Pharan instructed someone, and Chan crawled over to retrieve the bag not far away. Pharan took it and placed it beside the food tray, then lit another incense stick to call Luang Pu's spirit to receive the offerings, and finally placed the incense in the pot.
Then, Pharan clasped his hands in prayer, closed his eyes, and chanted the seven books of Abhidhamma and the Matika Bangsukul. Normally, this ceremony would involve inviting a monk to perform the rites, but with none available, he had to do it himself.
After finishing the chants, Pharan held up the incense pot with both hands, softly saying:
"You are now free from suffering and sorrow. Let's go home, Luang Pu."
After speaking, he slowly stood up, supported by Khem. Meanwhile, Jett and Chan, once the ceremony was over, helped pack everything back into
the toolbox. The canned food, now with extinguished incense, was placed under the Kapok tree where Luang Pu Kesem had sat.
Once everything was ready, Jett carried the master's nearly ten-kilogram bag, while Chan carried Luang Pu's body. They followed the master to the waiting helicopter to return. The driver was the same forestry officer who had volunteered for this mission.
Earlier, around four in the morning, Chan, who was resting in Pinto's hut, woke up and roused Jett, saying it was time to leave. Not long after, Jett received a call from Khachen, whom he hadn't seen in three years, informing him that a helicopter would pick them up to go to a certain location, which was here.
Upon arrival, Khem helped the master into the back seat, followed by Jett with the master's bag. Chan placed Luang Pu's body next to the driver's seat and then sat in the back beside Jett.
After ensuring everything was in order, the driver took off the helicopter, heading towards Ubon Ratchathani.
When Luang Pu Kesem's remains returned to his home temple, Pharan sent Jett and Chan to inform his disciples, relatives, and the villagers of the news, so all could come to pay their respects.
Jett, Chan, Khem, and Pharan himself, despite their bodies being in pain and utterly exhausted, had to force themselves to go through with Luang Pu Kasem's funeral rites first.
Because of the grave karma from this life, they had survived due to the compassion and sacrifice of Luang Pu Kasem. If they didn't fulfill this, none of them could eat or sleep peacefully and continue living with ease.
Since Luang Pu Kasem was a senior monk with many years of ordination and impeccable moral conduct, his funeral was grand, with all the disciples, including Pharan, cooperating. People came in droves to pay their respects to his body, continuing until the cremation ceremony in the afternoon of the next day.
During the offering of sandalwood flowers, after everyone had been busy with the funeral proceedings for Luang Pu Kasem, Jett, Chan, and Khem finally had time to talk.
"Khem, the monk left this for you." Jett said, handing over something wrapped in clean white cloth. Khem took it, unwrapped it, and saw an infant-sized anklet made from snake skin.
Just by looking at it, he knew whose item it was and what he should do next.
"Jett, Chan, thank you so much." Khem said, with Chan nodding slightly and Jett patting Khem's shoulder a few times before they all walked up to the crematorium to offer sandalwood flowers with others.
When it was Khem's turn, he placed the sandalwood flowers and the anklet on Luang Pu Kasem's left ankle, then spoke softly to the lifeless body,
"I'm returning this to you. May you go to a good rebirth, Luang Pu. I will remember this kindness for my entire life."
After the offering of sandalwood flowers concluded, the final cremation ceremony began. Jett, Chan, and Khem approached Pharan, who was standing under a tree, all of them watching the white smoke rising calmly into the sky from the chimney.
No one knew that the anklet had been tightly held by Madam-Ramphuengin her last moments of life until it was stolen and sold by a close servant,who didn't know that the item was meant only as a gift for the descendantsof the Phraya Worasingh family.
About three years later, one day, Mae Ying Kaknang, along with herdaughter Krongkwan, went to the market and found the item for sale. Theybought it back, the maid who had sold it was punished and immediatelyexpelled from the house. The item was preserved and passed down fromgeneration to generation, with the hope of returning it to its rightful ownersomeday.
After that, the four of them went to the hospital for treatment and examination, spending three days and two nights to ensure their bodies had returned to normal strength before they traveled back to Pharan's village.
Although Pharan appeared outwardly strong, his body internally had damage that medical science could not detect, an ailment referred to by ancient beliefs as a karmic illness.
Therefore, after returning, he had to continue treatment at home. Jett, Chan, and Khem chose not to go back to school out of concern, fearing that the master would have no one to look after him.
However, today, everything had to end because exams were approaching, and both classmates and professors had called, insisting that the three return to their studies.
That night, Pharan had to bring up the topic:
"It's time for you all to go back to school."
"Oh, master, how can we leave you when you're still in pain?" Jett, who was currently kneeling and scrubbing the floor along with Chan and Khem, looked up to argue immediately, but then winced as he was hit on the head with a tray again.
"That hurts, master."
Pharan narrowed his eyes and said.
"It hurts but isn't fatal. Do you want me to tell you why I haven't gotten better?"
"But..."
"No buts. Go pack your clothes now. I'll have Uncle Chai take you to the airport."
"Master!" Jett almost threw himself on the floor in protest, but Chan quickly pulled him away. Seeing his friends leave, Khem wasn't sure what to do next, except to quietly follow them.
"You stay here."
Khem pressed his lips together, turned back to the master, sat down, and kept his head bowed, not daring to look up.
And every time Khem acted this way, the master would always gently lift his chin to make eye contact.
"Don't cry."
Khem didn't want to cry, but controlling himself in front of master was extremely difficult.
"Master, I..."
"You're confused. You don't know what to do next, right?" Khem nodded, then shook his head due to the conflicting thoughts in his mind, before resting his face in the warm palms and holding them, gazing into the dark eyes.
"I want to stay here with you."
Pharan's eyes softened, his thumb gently caressing Khem's cheek.
"You don't need to rush that."
"..."
"This home will always have its doors open, welcoming you."
"..."
"Right now, you should go and live your life as fully as you've always intended, do your best in your responsibilities first, and when you want to come back, you can."
"..."
"I'll be here waiting for you. Agreed?"
It felt like a great weight had been lifted off him once more. The events that had just transpired made Khem reluctant to leave Pharan, wanting to care for and repay his kindness right here with no intention of going anywhere.
But beyond this, there were many things Khem wanted to do.
Tears flowed from Khem's eyes onto the master's hands continuously, before he slowly nodded, filled with respect and love.
"I promise I'll live my life well and come back to you soon."
After that day, Jett, Chan, and Khem returned to their full-time roles as university students.
Time passed in peace, Khem learned a lot, understanding the balance between hard study and fun, chasing his dreams alongside Jett and Chan, making new friends, exploring new interests, and even entering art competitions where he won numerous awards. He even got the opportunity to study abroad.
During the school holidays, they returned to participate in community development volunteer camps organized by various rural volunteer clubs in different provinces, places they had never been before, fostering close relationships with the club members, especially with Phraemai.
As for Kornkan, Pondit, and Tejaton, after surviving a life-threatening event, they continued to be ordained as monks, practicing virtue at the temple near their homes.
However, since all of them resided in Bangkok, not far from the university, their studies did not stop; they simply switched to attending special classes every Sunday. They occasionally met with other friends and had conversations.
The volunteer club friends did not hold any resentment towards what the three had done that day; instead, they rejoiced in their merit of becoming monks and regularly visited the temple where the three were stationed to make merit together.
Moreover, Khem got to know Jett's family. His father is currently a member of the parliament for Ubon Ratchathani province, and his mother is the director of a well-known private school in the same province. His older sister, called Sister Jen, loves and cares for Khem as if he were family.
Additionally, Chan's mother owns a medium-sized hotel business in Chonburi province. His eldest brother is now a surgeon, and his youngest brother is still in middle school. Chan's family environment is much stricter than Jett's. Since his mother raised three children on her own, all have grown up to be good and love each other deeply. Knowing Chan has friends, one of whom is quite wealthy, though a bit roguish, and the other, Khem, who is academically excellent and well-mannered, she feels less worried and lets Chan live his life to the fullest.
Every moment and many events that Khem went through were always shared with two people: the father abbot and the master.
After leaving the master's house that day, it seemed the master had switched from a button phone to a smartphone. Khachen, a friend of the master, helped him buy it.
The master, not knowledgeable about technology, was tricked into buying an iPhone Pro Max, which, along with being confusing to use, was as expensive as a motorcycle. He also sent one to Khem to have a matching set. This was during the time when the province approved the installation of a mobile signal tower near the master's village.
Khem and Pharan didn't talk on the phone often; they both had their own daily responsibilities. Mostly, they exchanged short messages before Khem went to bed, or sometimes Khem would send pictures of delicious food, funny pets, or beautiful sunsets.
And he discovered that the master also had a romantic side when he sent back similar pictures.
And finally, the day arrived when Jett, Chan, and Khem graduated together. The atmosphere at the graduation ceremony was hot and humid, but wherever one looked, there was joy, smiles, and laughter.
Unfortunately, on this day, neither master nor father abbot could travel to attend Khem's graduation, but Khem understood and held no resentment.
What Khem didn't expect was the arrival of Khachen, who came with a bouquet of flowers and the keys to a Benz, saying to Khem,
"Pharan asked me to bring you your graduation gift."
Khem was so shocked he almost fainted, but after recovering from the initial surprise, he accepted everything with a joyful smile, thanking Khachen for bringing the gifts. Before Khachen left, they didn't forget to take a selfie together to send to their master.
"I've transferred a hundred thousand baht to you. Use it to buy some snacks. By the way, where's Jett?"
"Oh, over there, hey! Khachen, don't go yet, that's too much money!"
At that moment, Khem didn't know what to do and chased after Khachen, trying to give the money back, knowing well that this person wouldn't listen or comply with his request.
After the graduation day ended, Khem drove the white Benz that master had given him as a gift, taking Jett and Chan to visit father abbot in their home province. When they arrived in the morning, they rushed to find Father Abbot at the temple pavilion and bowed to him.
"Paying respects, father abbot." Khem said, with Jett and Chan following suit.
Phra Pinto looked at his son with eyes full of affection, along with the two young men he had seen once a year since that time.
"Blessings upon you, layman."
"Father Abbot, I brought my diploma to offer to you." Khem took the diploma out of his bag, placed it on a golden tray, and respectfully presented it to the abbot, then stepped back and bowed three times.
"Father Abbot, thank you for raising and supporting me, for always helping and protecting me, sacrificing yourself for me all these years."
"..."
"I've gone through life and death situations. I've lived my life with caution, as you always taught me, and now I've graduated, capable of earning my own living. There's nothing for you to worry about."
"..."
"Father Abbot...would you like to disrobe and live with me?" Khem clasped his hands in prayer, looking at the abbot, hopeful that he might agree, but if not, Khem knew he could only accept whatever decision was made.
Phra Pinto smiled slightly, his eyes clear and filled with compassion and pride for his son. However, returning to a layman's life at this point was something he felt he could no longer do.
"You don't need to worry about me. I am well and happy with my ordination. Leaving worldly life behind to follow the path of Dharma, I don't feel any distress."
"..."
"Today, what I've been waiting for has come true. That is, to see you living the life you dreamed of since childhood, graduating, having a job, smiling like other young people. That's all I need to feel at peace."
"..."
"From now on, I will continue to live by the principles of a monk until the end of my days."
Khem smiled before nodding, having already anticipated that the abbot would choose this path.
"..."
"Whenever you wish to see me, just come and visit. While you still have the strength, do what needs to be done, don't leave anyone waiting for too long."
Khem's heart skipped a beat, and he blushed slightly, knowing that once, Pharan had come here to see father abbot, but he had no idea what they might have discussed.
Once he understood father abbot's wishes, Khem didn't think to challenge or persuade him otherwise. Instead, he changed the subject to health, the upcoming temple fair, and shared his near-future plans, with Jett and Chan answering questions along the way.
When it was time to leave, Khem, Jett, and Chan bowed to his father together, then looked up with cheerful faces.
"Paying respects and farewell, father abbot. Next holiday, I'll make time to visit again."
"May blessings be upon you, and may you all travel safely."
After these words were spoken, all three raised their hands in prayer and said in unison, "Sadhu."
By a little after ten at night, Khem, Jett, and Chan arrived at the master's village.
Upon arrival, they parked the car at the village chief's house because they wanted to reminisce about old times. They shouldered their bags and walked to the master's house.
The night air in the village was quite cold, especially when they walked through the banana and rubber tree plantations towards the master's home, it felt even darker and colder.
Everything around was eerily silent, with only the faint sound of the wind. But this time was different from before because Chan was with them.
Just a few dozen meters from master's house, Khem took the opportunity to hand all his belongings to Jett, saying,
"Take care of these, Jett. I'll go ahead." And with that, he sprinted off, ignoring his friends' protests which were loud enough to scare the birds.
"Hey, Khem, what's the hurry? Wait for me!"
Khem reached the master's house first. He stifled a laugh when he saw the master reading a Dharma book, waiting on a bamboo bed in front of the house.
Pretending not to notice that the master was reading the book upside down, Khem quickly approached. The master set the book down as Khem sat down beside him.
Khem met master's eyes and then slowly bowed down at his feet.
Once again, the master lifted his hand to gently hold Khem's face. After a moment, Khem looked up and smiled.
"I'm back, master."
The master's slender fingers brushed the hair from in front of Khem's eyes, then flicked his forehead gently.
"What did I tell you to call me?" Khem bit his lip softly, his face flushed as he remembered that the master had recently asked him to change how he addressed him from "master" to something else. Khem wasn't quite used to this yet.
"..."
"Phii Phim..."
"What was that?"
"I am back."
The change in the term of address indicated a new form of relationship between us, and this nickname was one that only Pharan's mother used to call him.
After his mother passed away, Pharan hadn't heard it until today.
As if time had stopped, Khem was held still by the master's dark eyes.
The distance between them gradually shortened until he could feel the cool, moist tip of the master's nose touching his cheek.
And then, his lips were kissed gently and sweetly, with the master's hand behind his neck, preventing him from leaning back.
At that moment, Jett arrived in front of the master's house, but before he could see anything, Chan, who was right behind him, spun him around,
pulled out a cold powder from his side bag, poured it into his hand, and immediately smeared it on Jett's face.
"Yikes, what the hell, man, Chan, it stings my eyes!"
At that time, the full moon shone brightly, adorned by a sky full of twinkling stars.
The cool breeze and familiar atmosphere warmed the heart.
Accompanied by the howl of the spotted dog welcoming everyone back home, ready to start a new life together.
THE END