Chapter 141: The Pure Land and the Missing Parents

So that’s how it is.

I more or less understand now.

If the old lady is telling the truth, then that master was likely a truly high monk.

He knew this place was plagued by evil spirits, so he had the old lady bring his Sarira here to live.

The master probably knew she loved collecting Buddhist treasures.

As long as there was a core capable of truly constructing an energy field, this area could be turned into a Pure Land, continuously purifying the evil.

If this master noticed the abnormality of this residential area and deliberately had the old lady do this, then his merit is undoubtedly immeasurable.

The reason for the old lady’s wealth is also clear.

She has been suppressing evil here, and her merit is growing.

I can see that her fortune is extremely flourishing; she likely has smooth sailing in everything she does.

“I see. He truly was a master worthy of respect. May I ask how long it’s been since the master passed away? Or rather, how long have you lived here?” I asked.

“I don’t remember clearly. Has it been over ten years? Oh, wait. I’ve always kept the master’s final letter. The date is written on it.”

The old lady stood up and retrieved a letter from beneath the shrine.

The paper still radiated a faint golden light.

The old lady handed it to me.

I opened it to find elegant brush calligraphy, just like the work I had recently purchased—beautiful and orderly, with a flowing Buddhist light.

The only issue was that it was written vertically and in traditional characters, making it a bit difficult for me to read, though I could grasp the general meaning.

The date at the end was written using the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches; I checked my phone and confirmed it was written thirteen years ago.

The final sentence was quite strange.

It said something like: [I have troubled you with such a burdensome task. This humble monk has sinned and should enter hell to be punished. But if I do not enter hell, who will? I have only this meager inheritance to compensate you.]

“Ma’am, did the master explain what that final sentence meant?” I asked.

“I don’t know. By the time I received the letter, the master had already passed away.”

“Even the inheritance was handed over by the monks of Ming Temple.”

“I insisted on not accepting it at the time, but they said it was their Senior Brother’s final wish and pleaded with me to take it.”

“As for that last sentence, the master was truly being too humble. What trouble is there in buying a house to live in? He gave me a home and his Sarira; his kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. How could he possibly go to hell?”

I fell silent for a moment before asking again, “Ma’am, having lived here for so many years, have you noticed anything abnormal about this residential area?”

“No, what could be abnormal? The neighbors are harmonious and charitable. Everyone is a good person; they will surely be rewarded in the future,” the old lady said with a beaming smile.

‘I almost feel like we aren’t living in the same complex.’

‘Harmonious neighbors? Charitable?’

‘I’ve lived here for less than a few days and I’ve already discovered hidden corpses and a serial killer openly selling human meat. Has she lived here for over ten years without noticing anything?’

However, I also noticed something else.

This apartment was exceptionally quiet; not a single sound of cars or talking from outside could be heard.

It was perfectly suited for meditation and chanting.

The overflowing Buddhist essence had transformed this room into a Pure Land, isolating the inside from the outside.

Even if people were fighting upstairs, playing loud music downstairs, or blasting the TV next door, not a shred of noise would reach this place.

This apartment was practically secluded from the world.

The old lady suddenly frowned, recalling something.

“Actually, in the past few years, some friends have occasionally left without saying goodbye.”

“Some didn’t even finish paying their rent. Why bother? If they were truly in trouble, they could have just said so, and I would have waived their rent.”

‘Left without saying goodbye? They probably just disappeared.’

‘The old lady is either too old or thinks too highly of human nature, so the thought never crossed her mind.’

‘But then again, the Buddhist aura here is so heavy that one wouldn’t be able to harbor even a shred of malice after entering this house.’

‘I suspect even a homicidal maniac would immediately drop their blade upon entering. Whether they’d achieve instant Buddhahood, I don’t know.’

In other words, living here, the old lady would neither think ill of others nor truly see anyone being murdered.

The master’s Sarira protected her very well—perhaps too well.

“Ma’am, I wanted to ask… is the young girl named Fei’er downstairs your tenant?” I asked.

“Yes. Her parents rented from me about a year ago.”

“Speaking of which, the previous tenant in that unit also left without a word. She only sent a text message saying she wasn’t renting anymore.”

“Are you aware that she comes out every night to walk in the stairwell?” I asked, though I didn’t hold much hope.

“Is that so? I didn’t know. But isn’t it quite normal to go out for a walk at night?”

Sure enough, the old lady was completely unaware.

I had no intention of upsetting her; besides, I wouldn’t be able to get any more information anyway.

Just as I was about to stand up and leave, the old lady spoke again.

“Actually, I haven’t seen her parents for about two months.”

“The little girl said her mom and dad went on a trip. Only the rent is still being sent on time.”

“Really now, what kind of parents leave their child at home and go traveling by themselves? How irresponsible.”

My pupils dilated with shock upon hearing this.

‘What kind of parents leave their child at home for two months while they travel?’

‘Something had clearly happened to them, and the fact that Fei’er could claim they were traveling with such a straight face meant she was definitely problematic too.’

At that moment, I recalled the children’s drawings in the stairwell.

The large patches of red watercolor painted over crooked human figures looked exactly like blood.

Fei’er painted those with her own hands every night. What was she trying to reveal?

I couldn’t sit still any longer; I wanted to go check those graffiti immediately.

I stood up and said, “Ma’am, thank you for your hospitality. I only came by today to say hello, so I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“No trouble at all. It would be nice if you came to visit more often, little girl. Not many people are willing to come chat with me lately,” the old lady said with a smile.

“Right, you gave me a jade Buddha. I should give you a return gift.”

“Let me see… ah, this string of beads is nice. I’ll give it to you.”

She took a string of wooden prayer beads off her wrist.

It looked quite old, but it was a genuine Dharma artifact radiating a faint Buddhist light.

“Ma’am, this is too precious. I can’t accept it,” I hurriedly declined.

The Buddhist light from these beads was far greater than that of my jade pendant. It was worth at least seventy to eighty thousand yuan.

I had only given her a handicraft worth a few hundred; how could I accept such a return gift?

“Precious? What are you talking about? This is just a souvenir I got when I went to pray at Gama Temple. It only cost twenty or thirty yuan. How is that precious?” the old lady laughed.

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