Chapter 71: Two Strategies

Soon, the Xia family mansion was filled with the sounds of sorrowful crying.
The monks were well-versed in handling such situations.
They quickly brought hot water and towels, cooperating with the police to console the families of the deceased.

Clearly, the police were presenting this incident as a vicious murder case to these civilians.
I didn’t know how the police would wrap things up later; perhaps they would find a scapegoat and say he was the killer.

As for the Xia family members, they clearly felt isolated, or marginalized.
Originally, they thought they would play a leading role in this ceremony, harboring ulterior motives to gain some benefits for themselves.

But now, they had been completely sidelined.
The police were busy explaining the details of this heinous crime to the victims’ families, and the monks were busy preparing for the ceremony.
No one was paying them any attention.

Some who were used to being bossy were already angry, but with so many people present, they couldn’t express their anger.
Neither the police nor the monks would indulge them.
What they had thought would be a memorial service for Xia Yubing’s parents had turned into a deliverance ceremony for all the victims.
The Xia family mansion was merely a venue.

But there were also some with deeper schemes.
They understood that criticizing and accusing me now was useless and would only provoke resentment.
Therefore, a few of them came to my side again and said with feigned sincerity, “Bing’er, please accept our condolences. We are all very concerned about you. After the ceremony is over, let us help you handle your parents’ funeral arrangements?”

“Uh, then thank you, uncles. I’m at a loss right now. Um, please let me know how much it will cost,” I stammered.

I had no idea about Xia Yubing’s relationship with these people, so I didn’t know how to address them.
Moreover, I could tell at a glance that they had ill intentions.
It was best to say as little as possible.

Fortunately, after hearing that they could ask me for any amount needed, they seemed to have achieved some of their initial goals.
They finally stopped pestering me and went to the side to discuss their own affairs.

Mo Qingyan walked over to me and whispered, “You’re in big trouble. Xia Yubing’s family relationships are complicated. You’ve inherited so much property and have no other immediate relatives. These people probably won’t let you go easily.”

“Then what should I do?” I also whispered.
Inheriting Xia Yubing’s identity was giving me a headache.
I had no idea how to spend this vast fortune, and now I had to deal with so much trouble.

“They probably wouldn’t dare to rob you openly, but it’s hard to guard against a stab in the back. They might have some insidious plots, like seizing your property, borrowing money, or disposing of the inheritance without your permission. It will be endlessly troublesome for you. Let me give you two stratagems,” Mo Qingyan said, leaning close to my ear.

“The first is called ‘Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors’. Take out some of the unnecessary, hot-potato assets and give them to the most aggressive ones. Let them fight over it until they’re black and blue. You can save yourself a lot of trouble. But it must be tempting enough.”

“The second is called ‘Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand’. You still have the life-buying money Xia Yubing’s parents gave you, right? If they ask you for money, just stuff a few bills into their hands. I guarantee they’ll have more than they can handle.”

“Eh? But that’s hell money. Why would they accept it? And what would happen?” I suddenly remembered that yesterday, Mo Qingyan had repeatedly instructed me to burn Xia Yubing’s clothes but hadn’t told me to burn the hell money.
It was still in the hotel.

“Only you see it as hell money. In my and Xiao Qing’s eyes, it’s real cash. It’s the same for most people. As for what happens when you take a ghost’s life-buying money… as long as you don’t take it all, it’s probably just a month or two in the hospital?” Mo Qingyan said playfully, holding up a finger.

“Hiss! That terrifying? Then, if such a dangerous thing is left in my room, will it have any bad effects on me?” I asked with concern.
No matter how I thought about it, this hell money couldn’t be a good thing.

“Don’t worry, Xia Yubing’s parents have already accepted your offerings. As long as this ceremony is completed and you continue to worship them properly, they won’t take your life. That life-buying money is only safe for you to touch.”

Mo Qingyan patted my shoulder as she spoke, “Cherish it. This life-buying money is an all-conquering super weapon in the supernatural world. Others can’t get it even if they want to. If it weren’t for the fact that whoever touches it gets bad luck, there would be people willing to buy it for a hundred times its cash value.”

I felt a little conflicted.
These Xia family members had no grudge against me now, yet Mo Qingyan was telling me to scheme against them first.
I really couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Besides, this wasn’t my family fortune to begin with; I had stolen it from Xia Yubing.

Just as I was hesitating, Xiao Qing walked over to my side and reminded me, “The ceremony has begun. Xiao… Sister Xia, you are the first to offer incense.”

I looked up, and sure enough, the monks were ready.
The offering table was filled with fruits and other sacrifices.
On the altar in front, the nameplates of the deceased were placed, along with some of their belongings from when they were killed.
In my eyes, those belongings emitted a faint ominous aura.

Clang!
A heavy bell rang as a powerful-looking monk struck the Buddhist bell.
Then, the monks sitting on mats began to strike the wooden fish in front of them.
The crisp sound of the wooden fish rang out in perfect unison.

In such a setting, if even one person’s rhythm was off, it would be extremely conspicuous and ruin the atmosphere.
But without any conductor, the rhythm of these monks striking the wooden fish was perfectly synchronized, to the point where it felt like only one sound was being made.

These monks must have chanted sutras and struck wooden fish together day after day to achieve such tacit understanding.
Even their movements were so uniform.

The leading Master Yanming was not striking a wooden fish.
He held a Dharma artifact that looked like a bell and struck a bowl.
Both items were Dharma artifacts, and when struck, their auras harmonized, producing a clear, crisp sound.

Under Master Yanming’s lead, the monks’ auras merged, forming a vast expanse of spiritual light that gradually enveloped the entire Xia family mansion, blocking out all outside noise and turning the scene into a sacred Buddhist land.

“That’s called a ‘seng qing’. It’s a very special type of Dharma artifact in Buddhism, most effective for calming the mind and concentrating the spirit,” a voice whispered in my ear, breaking the solemn atmosphere.

I turned my head and saw that Yi Zhiqiu had come to my side at some point.
Seeing me turn, he smiled and said, “There is still an ominous aura on you. Although it’s very faint, it seems the resentment of the deceased still lingers around you.”

I was slightly startled.
He had actually noticed.
Even I felt that there was no ominous aura left on my body after Mo Qingyan had purified me with spiritual water this morning.

“This is also why you wanted to hold the ceremony, right? A very correct choice. Later, when you’re at the altar, stay a little longer. Say a few more words to the victims, express your sympathy or gratitude, and the resentment will naturally dissipate,” Yi Zhiqiu reminded me.