The Exorcist

Book 5: Chapter 26: Remains

Book 5: Chapter 26: Remains

That weird infant hadnt died thoroughly yet. As the incense stick touched its body, it let out a deafening infants wail. Its little monkeys body writhed vigorously as extreme fear and unwillingness flashed in its eyes.

However, it was useless. Like a block of ice, its body swiftly melted as it came into contact with the fire. Starting from a small hole, the fire burned through it and spread. Its body split into two until both halves completely vanished, turning into green smoke.

Everyone at the scene finally let out a long breath.

We never expected to encounter and battle such a powerful fiend. Being able to emerge victorious was completely due to Uncle Baos planning, our cooperation and luck. If we had to do it over, the outcome would not be guaranteed!

What I thought strange was that the movements underfoot had stopped. Based on that female ghosts emotional and sorrowful state, the death of that weird infant should have caused her to suffer a huge blow. Why was there no reaction?

Was it despair? Did a ghost have hopes?

Uncle Bao didnt look too happy on the other side either. He remained calm and wooden despite overcoming such a powerful fiend. Even Bao Da Tong didnt mouth off and merely cleared up the things on the floor silently. This included the incense stick that remained whole despite burning the entire time.

Ah Zhan sat for a while before making a sound of surprise. He got up and ran over to where the weird infant vanished, picking up something from the ground.

Whats this? An origin core? He walked over and asked, handing the object over to Uncle Bao.

It was an extremely transparent bead. If it werent for the sunlights reflection giving it a faint outline, it would be impossible to see there was something in his palm. It was pure like a dewdrop in water, in complete harmony with the world. Therefore, no one had noticed it lying on the floor.

Uncle Bao looked carefully at the bead and gave it a sniff. There is fiendish energy upon it. It must have dropped when the weird infant was refined. How did you spot it? Its true that you have an innate Yin Yang Eye, but I never thought your natural abilities would be so strong. You can even see hidden objects. How incredible!

What on earth is it? Bao Da Tong stretched his head over.

Thistheoretically it should be the refined inner core of a demon. Yet I dont understand why an ordinary ghost would refine one. Furthermore, its so pure even though she probably died a long time ago. However, Im guessing the reason that weird infant could run out during the day was because of this treasure. Uncle Bao explained.

But isnt it a huge risk giving your inner core to someone else? Bao Da Tong asked.

Therefore, that female ghost and the weird infant must have been related when they were still alive. Perhaps they truly are mother and son.

Should we go take a look? Bao Da Tong asked.

Uncle, we still have friends who are trapped. Ah Zhan interrupted. If they havent died, I must beg uncle to see things through to the end.

Dont worry. This daddy will definitely accomplish what I promised your daddy! Bao Da Tong interrupted.

Ah Zhan ignored him and looked towards Uncle Bao.

Uncle Bao nodded to him and slowly walked over to me.

He cautiously made a few circles around the hole in the ground as if trying to judge the situation below. He only spoke after a while. This hole is too small. We wont be able to enter and the situation below is unclear.

Are we going to clear out the nest? Bao Da Tong said a little excitedly. This made me feel a little more resentful of him. My friends fates were unknown and my heart was hanging in suspense. I didnt know how they were, how Nana was. How could he make it seem as if this were a game?

There is ghostly aura, but its mixed and faint. I think its best if you checked it out first. Uncle Bao said.

Although Bao Da Tong was a little thinner than Ah Zhan and I, he was still an average youth. There was no way he could fit in such a tiny hole. Besides, he had clearly said the situation below wasnt clear. How could Uncle Bao be willing to use his son as a lab rat?!

Isnt it too dangerous? Ah Zhan spoke my thoughts out loud.

Its fine. Uncle Bao smiled. He grabbed the rusty-looking sword of seven colors from Bao Da Tong and marked the ground under my feet. Wan Li, you can leave the circle now.

I moved to step out but realized the red circle had already vanished, as if it had never existed. My legs had already turned numb from forcefully standing in place for so long.

Bao Da Tong stuck out his tongue and slowly started to speak.

It turns out there was a sizeable tomb under the ground. It stretched out beneath the pool of water but was rather well made. Despite the many years, it was only damp and showed no signs of water leakage.

There were three spirits in the tomb. One was the beautifully dressed female ghost. She had remained seated blankly without any reaction the whole time Bao Da Tong was down there. Another one seemed to be a handmaid who had been buried with her. The third was a newly deceased male ghost of a young man. That one was probably Zhao Jiang. Because Ah Zhan had thrown the bloodwood sword down, they had been forced against the wall not daring to move. Furthermore, they seemed completely harmless.

We have to get in somehow while its still daytime. Otherwise, how are we supposed to save our friends? I asked anxiously. How about widening this entrance?

I told you, its a huge stone slab underneath. The waterproofing is also extremely well made, so its not easy to dig open unless you blow it up. Or unless you have that weird infants ability to burst through the ground!

Just tell us what we should do! Ah Zhan was also very anxious.

I saw a grave robbers burrow while I was down there. It seems this tomb has long since been visited by grave robbers. There must be a hidden entrance around three hundred meters away from here. If we want to go in, that would be the best way.

Great, lets get going! I turned to head out but was dragged back by Uncle Bao.

Slow down, young man. Dont be rash. We have to make the necessary preparations. At the very least, youll need something to light the way, right?

He was right. Ah Zhan and I hurriedly fished out several large flashlights from our abandoned things. I felt ashamed. Had we been calmer last night and brought some more equipment, perhaps wed be in a better position now.

Meanwhile, Uncle Bao took out several small flags, chanted a spell and carefully placed them around the hole.

Bao Da Tong was very good with directions so we quickly found the grave robbers entrance. It was truly small and we could only crawl inside, which was a struggle with my broken bones. Ah Zhan was probably suffering too, based on his heavy breathing.

After making our way inside, we realized the tomb was very big. It seemed to have been made by a rather wealthy family. Since it had been penetrated long ago, there was actually some wind blowing through it. The inside was also very clean and there were no signs that it had been plundered.

How weird for it to have been constructed beneath a pool in the valley. Theoretically speaking, this is an extremely inauspicious place. Bao Da Tong always managed to speak my doubts. The Yin energy is heavy here and water is also a Yin element. Layering Yin upon Yin in such a deep valley. Wouldnt the person buried here be doomed to never reincarnate? Also, also, this doesnt make sense if the deceased was someone close. But if it was an enemy, why construct such a nice tomb? Truly, it gets stranger and stranger!

Wont we know by asking? Ah Zhan felt Bao Da Tong was too fussy and was a little impatient. He went ahead to the second burial chamber.

The moment we entered, I almost cried out!

Under the beams of the flashlights, I saw dense rows of people seated together. They appeared like a dark mass, all in identical postures with identical expressions. They stared unblinkingly in the same direction, like preserved corpses buried together with the deceased, but also like a bunch of human puppets. Someone a little more timid would probably have been scared to death.

Nana! I immediately recognized one of the girls in the middle. It was the person I fancied, Ah Zhans girlfriend.

I told you, young people should keep their cool. Uncle Bao held me back once again. They arent in danger for now. Lets go further inside first.

Unable to argue, I was pulled along into the final burial chamber.

This one was extremely large, but also extremely empty. Apart from a large coffin, there were only the three spirits.

The bloodwood sword was at the entrance of this chamber. Therefore, two of the spirits crouched in the corner facing the wall. One was a thin woman dressed in ancient clothing who was curled up indistinctly. The other was equally frail but was looking at us anxiously. It was Zhao Jiang!

The third one was dressed beautifully in red clothing. The color seemed as if it would never fade. Her long hair covered her face.

Is this yours? Uncle Bao who had been urging for patience this entire time suddenly pulled out that bead.

It had been almost invisible under the sun but it revealed the luster of a pearl inside this dark tomb.

The third spirit remained silent.

Uncle Bao asked once again and took a step forward.

This time, she stirred and suddenly stood up tall!