Some Chen Family members, whose minds were not firm, changed their expressions upon hearing this, and their previously wavering attitudes began to falter once more.
Seeing this, Lin Chuqiao reached out to poke Pan Wendi’s arm, signaling with her eyes.
Pan Wendi immediately understood, quietly circling behind Li Tiansheng.
At this moment, Li Tiansheng was still shouting himself hoarse in an attempt to dissuade. Taking advantage of his unawareness, Pan Wendi struck accurately at the back of his neck with a hand blade.
Li Tiansheng let out a muffled groan, collapsing to the ground and instantly losing consciousness.
The Chen Family members were in an uproar, casting shocked glances.
Pan Wendi shrugged, explaining with an innocent look:
"Housekeeper Li has let the evil energy enter his body, causing him to be confused, clearly bewitched by an Evil Spirit to deliberately obstruct the ritual."
"Luckily, I stepped in timely to temporarily clear the evil energy away for him."
Saying this, he scanned the hesitant Chen Family members and raised his voice to encourage:
"Everyone, the more the enemy opposes us, the more it proves that we are doing the right thing."
"Now is not the time to sit and wait for doom. Everyone needs to gather their spirits, tackle this challenge together, and resolve this crisis of the Chen Family!"
"Come! Shout with me! Chen Family mighty! Evil Spirits retreat!"
With those words, he raised his arm and waved it twice, shouting several times.
The crowd merely looked at him with strange expressions, but no one echoed, nor did they blame him for his rashness.
Pan Wendi gave an awkward laugh, scratched his head, and retreated somewhat sheepishly back to Fang Cheng and the others.
Bai Ling nudged him with her elbow, teasing quietly: ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ n0velfire.net
"Big Brother Wendi, you’re wasting your talent not doing pyramid schemes."
"If I do pyramid schemes, I’d have to take you with me, you know."
Pan Wendi tossed his head and said proudly:
"With your ability to mimic and my eloquence, when we join forces, we’d be unbeatable!"
The two of them murmured to each other.
Meanwhile, Chen Xu’an had collected himself and immediately instructed the servants to move the fainted Li Tiansheng aside.
He looked up to observe the sky for a moment, then turned to Master Yuan Jue, respectfully asking:
"Master, the sun is about to set. May I know if the ceremony can begin?"
Master Yuan Jue raised his wrist, glanced at his Rolex watch glistening gold in the sunset, and nodded.
"In ten minutes, it will be Yi Hour, the time when Yin and Yang alternate, evil spirits thrive. It is also the best time to summon spirits and suppress evil."
His voice was sonorous, imbued with a compassionate sentiment:
"I shall now set up the Dharma Platform and perform the ritual, respectfully inviting the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to protect us, reciting scriptures to ferry the spirits, and using the power of Buddhism to suppress the evil here, protecting the Chen Family’s peace."
In the open space in front of the Black Building, the site for the ceremony had already been prepared.
On the Dharma Platform, incense smoke curled upward, and golden Buddha statues were placed high up for worship.
Master Yuan Jue, leading several monks from Cui City Temple, sat cross-legged in yellow robes, chanting sutras lowly.
The sound of the wooden fish came forth with a "tok, tok," followed by the clear resonance of the bronze gong with a "buzz."
The deep Buddhist chants mixed with the recitations of the scriptures, gently echoing in the twilight, adding a somewhat solemn and eerie atmosphere to the manor.
Meanwhile, a dozen Chen Family servants busily piled bundles of dry firewood in front of the Dharma Platform.
Soon, a stack of firewood over a person’s height took shape.
Several strong servants worked together to carefully lift a black-laquered coffin, placing it steadily atop the pile.
The figure of Chen Hongye inside the coffin, still lifelike, appeared even more eerie in the dim light.
After a Rebirth Mantra had been chanted, Master Yuan Jue put his palms together, chanting the Buddha’s name.
Subsequently, Chen Xu’an, holding a lit torch high, stood in front of the coffin.
The firelight illuminated his slightly tense face.
Master Yuan Jue slowly raised his hand, speaking in a steady voice:
Chen Xu’an took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly, as he threw the torch into the pile of firewood.
The gasoline-soaked firewood ignited instantly.
The dry wood crackled and snapped.
The tongues of fire, like living creatures, leapt high, greedily licking the black-laquered coffin, encompassing it completely.
Thick smoke, mixed with the ashes of burning wood, shot straight into the sky.
As dusk fell, twilight gathered.
The firelight reddened half the sky, as well as the faces of the Chen Family members standing before the bonfire.
Their expressions were complex, marked by concerns over desecrating their ancestors, and a hope that the evil would be incinerated.
Fang Cheng, together with Lin Chuqiao, Bai Ling, and Pan Wendi, stood on the outskirts of the crowd, their eyes fixed on the raging flames.
"Will the Evil Spirit really reveal itself?"
Bai Ling asked nervously, in a low voice.
"By burning away the body it resides in and ruining its plans, it won’t be able to contain itself," Lin Chuqiao assured, the flames subtly dancing in her eyes.
At this moment, Chen Xu’an walked over to the four of them.
Having successfully completed the task of burning the body, he appeared visibly more relaxed, speaking with a tone of gratitude and relief:
"If not for your help, I wouldn’t have had the courage to make such a big decision. Thank you for giving me this confidence."
His expression was exceptionally solemn, revealing his sincerity.
Fang Cheng smiled slightly, without saying more.
Seeing this, Lin Chuqiao immediately picked up the conversation:
"You’re too kind, Mr. Chen..."
As they spoke, a burst of exclamations erupted from the Chen Family members in front of the fire pile.
"Huh, why is this body... not burning?!"