I took out my Taoist instrument from my bag, opened it gently, and read it word for word.
"I am entrusted with the imperial decree of the Three Purities to uphold justice in the world and to end injustice in heaven and man..."
The passage I read is called the sentence of judgment.
This is equivalent to a Taoist priest's code of conduct, including what is the bottom line and what is the obligation.
After reading it, I placed the Taoist instrument in front of her and shook it.
"Taoist priests are the judges left by Master Sanqing in the human world. Do you think I have the right to control you?"
"Pooh!"
The old lady spat viciously: "Don't think that just because you're wearing a Taoist priest's skin, you can boss around!"
"When they locked me up, why didn't they see you come out?"
"That's the retribution you deserve! If you are a good person, how can the tiger eat you?"
After saying that, I already raised the big seal on my hand: "Now that you are no longer human beings, your merits and demerits will all be decided by Fengdu City!"
At this time, the big seal was already aimed at her forehead: "You know the power of this thing better than I do."
"You've already been miserable in your life, so don't end up in a state of despair."
The old lady slowly shook her head, looking up to the sky and wailing: "I had a long life, but in the end I ended up like this."
"I'm not willing to give in!"
"Being unfilial to your parents will cause you to have cramps and pull out your bones. Your three sons will definitely not have an easy time when they arrive in Fengdu City."
Even now, I am still patiently persuading her.
Taoist priests are not butcher's knives and cannot just kill ghosts at the sight of them.
Since she is wronged, she naturally needs a place where she can reason. As long as she listens to the advice, there is no need for a sword fight.
Seeing that she didn't speak, I spoke again: "You go on your way, and I will recite sutras to you."
"I can't protect you from being reborn in Dongji Mansion, but I can protect you from suffering."
The old lady hesitated for a long time, and finally raised her head slowly: "Are you true to your word?"
"I lied to you about the thunder and lightning!"
She finally gave up her struggle and just stood there without saying a word.
"At this time, save the suffering god..."
I sang line by line, and the blackness on her body gradually faded away.
There was no magic weapon, so I clapped my hands and chanted, and a hasty ritual ceremony just started in the mountains.
Before dawn, the old lady gradually turned translucent until she disappeared.
Zhang Ben sat slumped on the ground and looked at me a little absently, as if he wanted to say something, but I didn't give him a chance.
Filial piety comes first, and he treats his parents as well.
What this kind of person says has basically no credibility.
No wonder his brother died and there was no one to express condolences. The character of these three brothers was really bad.
Before going down the mountain, I took out my notebook from my bag.
"The carriage fee, the money for the ritual, and the clothes we were wearing, the total is 2,000 yuan."
Zhang Ben raised his absent-minded eyes: "Is it so expensive?"
"Don't want to give it?"
I picked up a stick as thick as my arm from the roadside and pointed it at the tip of his nose: "It's okay if you don't pay, I'll beat you up for the 2,000 yuan in medical expenses."
"Give, give, give."
Zhang Ben covered his head and hurriedly sat up from the ground: "Come down the mountain and I'll give you money."
When we got back to his house, he didn't dare to fuss, so he took out a stack of red bills from his wallet and put them into my hand respectfully.
I really have no sympathy for this kind of person.
However, out of professional ethics, I still handled the rest of the matter properly.
I gave all the money to Chen Jiayan without even looking at it.
"Why do you want so much this time?"
"It should be his doing good deeds and accumulating virtue."
As I said that, I already reached out and stopped the taxi on the roadside: "Get in the car and go home."
When we returned to the teahouse, it was already afternoon.
At this time, it was time for Uncle Ya to tell stories. The teahouse was as popular as ever, and Uncle Ya sat in the hall and spoke impassionedly.
I leaned against the door and suddenly laughed.
It feels good to be able to listen to books for free every day.
I half-closed my eyes, listening to the book happily, and suddenly I felt that there seemed to be more people around me.
I opened my eyes and saw that it was indeed not an illusion.
People from all directions kept pouring in and gathered around the fortune-telling stall not far from me.
Chen Jiayan also noticed something strange around her: "Is it that Taoist priest?"
I covered the sun with one hand and took a closer look. It was really him!
"The tiger is not at home, the monkey is king!"
I stood up slowly and stretched: "How dare you set up a stall at my door when I'm not here for a few days?"
