Chapter 63: I hope for world peace

So that's how it is!

No wonder Jin Wuya said that when substituting the white-albino loach skin for the century-old snake shed, Master Yin Xuan didn't question it—turns out Jin Chengyang used this very trick back then!

I have to admit, Jin Wuya really does have a couple of tricks up his sleeve; having received his master's true transmission, a light touch and he found the key.

"The white-albino loach skin is yin in nature; although suppressed by the Golden Scale, long-term erosion will surely damage the former abbot's physical body, letting yin energy leak out, and that's where the problem comes from." Jin Wuya grew more excited as he spoke.

At this moment, he must truly admire his master from the bottom of his heart, right?

After thinking, I probed: "Would doing this also incur a considerable backlash?"

After all, Jin Chengyang fell ill after returning from Jiyu Si back then; perhaps it was related to the backlash.

Jin Wuya nodded: "The backlash is certain, but not fatal; my master's sudden demise must involve some other hidden circumstance."

I worried: "Then you…?"

"I'm fine, I won't die." Jin Wuya, appearing indifferent to life and death, instead asked me, "And you? Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, why did you send Miss Li away?"

I looked at Jin Wuya in astonishment, never expecting him to see through this point.

This person's insight is surprisingly strong!

I could only be frank: "Actually, ever since Sister Li drew that blank lot, I've been looking for an opportunity to get her away."

Jin Wuya started: "Does that blank lot have a problem?"

"Each lot in the cylinder corresponds to something," I said. "The top lot signifies the chosen sacrifice, the other lots are ordinary people not selected, and the blank lot likely refers to those not accepted by the temple. Sister Li's true form is a red carp; strictly speaking, she belongs to the category of spirits and monsters."

It stands to reason that spirits and monsters seeking lots at a Buddhist monastery is illogical.

Therefore, after Sister Li drew the blank lot, if she stays tonight, there might be danger.

But these are merely my guesses; I'm not sure how the facts actually are.

I can't stay too long in the outer court, or it'll draw unnecessary attention; once I get answers to what I want to know, I plan to return to the inner court.

Jin Wuya cautioned: "The inner court holds greater danger; Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, you must be careful."

I smiled at him and hurried back to the inner court.

The night passed peacefully.

Early the next morning, just as I woke up, I heard girls' voices outside.

I hurried out of bed, went to the window, and peeked through the crack; sure enough, early that morning several more girls had moved into the inner court.

Among them was unmistakably the red-dressed girl who had drawn the top lot that day!

Yes, today is already three days before the autumn sacrificial rite.

According to the rules, the girl who drew the top lot must move into the temple today to prepare for the autumn sacrificial rite, or rather, for the prayer festival that Master Yin Xuan speaks of.

I counted, and including myself there are six girls in total.

Every girl's face was lit with happy smiles; they had no idea what they would soon face!

I tidied myself up and pushed the door open.

The red-dressed girl saw me, blinked, and said: "Hey… you… what are you doing here?"

I smiled and said: "Yesterday I also drew the top lot; the abbot invited me to join the prayer festival on October first."

The red-dressed girl immediately leaned in, speaking mysteriously: "Did the abbot tell you? On the day of the prayer festival, we can make a wish to the Buddha, and any wish can come true!"

I exclaimed in surprise: "Really?"

"Of course it's true!" the girl exclaimed, eyes bright. "I plan to wish for a windfall of riches, begging the Buddha to let me get rich overnight—I truly don't want to remain a damned beast of burden any longer! Hey, what about you? What wish do you plan to make?"

I thought for a moment and said: "I wish for world peace."

"Tch!" the girl's face changed instantly. "If you don't want to say, just don't say it—making up such nonsense to deceive me is hypocritical!"

Having said that, she turned and went back to her own room.

I looked helplessly at her retreating back, feeling somewhat stifled in my heart.

If I told them now that we're all sacrifices chosen by Jiyu Si, they might think I've gone mad.

By then, not only would we be unable to save anyone, we'd also have to risk our own lives.

I ignored the girl and went straight to the main court.

Li Qingying had already returned, bringing back the dried white-albino loach skin, while Jin Wuya was preparing to inlay the Golden Scale.

Inlaying the Golden Scale involves the secret art of the cunning craftsmen, so once Jin Wuya began work, we all left the main court.

Li Qingying and I walked side by side, chatting as we went: "Sister Li, before dark today you should leave Jiyu Si and find a place at the mountain's base to spend two nights."

Li Qingying puzzled: "Xiao Jiu, why do you keep sending me away?"

"Only by sending you away can we have outside help when we're trapped later." I said seriously, "If my expectations are correct, regardless of whether Jin Wuya can re‑inlay the fallen Golden Scales, Master Yin Xuan will not easily let him leave this temple, let alone me—we're all chosen sacrifices, and among us only you can be sent away, Sister Li; you are our Fire Seed."

Li Qingying listened, her eyes full of hesitation.

I then put on a stern face and said: "Sister Li, this is an order!"

Only then did Li Qingying reluctantly leave.

Over the next two days, I and the other five girls received the utmost preferential treatment.

Jiyu Si's inner court has a hot spring; its water is drawn from a mountain spring, neither cold nor hot, and soaking in it makes one feel utterly elevated.

Although we ate vegetarian every day, we went to bed early and rose early, and our spirits were all in good shape.

Each morning and evening we were gathered in the main hall to burn incense, bow to the Buddha, and recite the mantra taught by Master Yin Xuan.

The six top lots we drew are now placed side by side before the Buddha statue, receiving incense offerings.

By the evening of the second day, as we continued chanting sutras, we felt light and airy, as if wandering amidst incense and Buddhist teachings, unable to pull ourselves away.

My temples throbbed incessantly; I wasn't sure whether the incense was at fault or the mantra taught by Master Yin Xuan.

However, this state didn't last long; soon everyone returned to normal.

But by the evening of the third day, while chanting the Buddhist sutras, the girls beside me collapsed one after another.

Just a moment ago they were still reciting the mantra; the next moment they crashed to the ground unconscious.

I was mentally prepared; although my lips kept moving, I did not recite the mantra taught by Master Yin Xuan, my breathing also slowed considerably, and I tried to reduce the frequency of inhaling the incense.

After the girls all collapsed, I followed suit and collapsed as well.

Soon, a group of little monks came in from outside and, working together, carried all six of us out.

I narrowed my eyes and saw that all six of us had been moved into the big courtyard, but we were placed in different positions.

And those six positions actually corresponded to the placement of the six‑petal lotus beneath the former abbot's mortal remains.

Sure enough, it was a sacrificial formation array!

At that very moment, I felt footsteps approaching.

Immediately after, a sharp, cool object pressed against the left corner of my mouth.

It was a top fortune slip!

Or, at this moment it should rather be called… a seal‑the‑mouth slip!