Cataclysm Chapter 15: A Skeleton Under Clothing 8; Fire Array of Karma

Chapter 15: A Skeleton Under Clothing 8; Fire Array of Karma

Translated by Shiya of Exiled Rebels Scanlations 

Editor: Addis

 

Kou Xuanling just walked down from upstairs, he happened to hear Mao Xiaoli’s words, he looked surprised. Once Mao Xiaoli saw Kou Xuanling and Du Shuo, she immediately stopped mentioning the ghost locust and asked him, “What did you find this morning?”

“Definitely more than a third rate Tianshi.”

“Who are you calling third rate?” Mao Xiaoli decided to secretly pick up Kou Xuanling’s hair and then curse him to death with it. 

“Heh.” Kou Xuanling continued down the stairs and sat opposite to Chen Yang and Du Shuo, “I walked around the periphery of the vila district and found a ceremony circle hidden in the villa district of Haoyuan.”

Chen Yang’s eyes show a trace of surprise, those demons even had a relationship with a ceremony circle? “Did you see what the formation is?”

“It’s the Fire Array of Karma,” Kou Xuanling nodded his head as he answered.

Mao Xiaoli did not understand, “What is the Fire Array of Karma?”

“An extremely evil and vicious ceremonial circle, also known as the Array of Skeletons.” Chen Yang frowned, “Are there Tianshis involved in this shady business?”

Even if they were also humans, one could see that they were not good people. Generally, Tianshis who would arrange the Fire Array of Karma, which was an extremely vicious ceremonial circle, were definitely those who had walked into the evil path.

The so-called Fire Array of Karma or more accurately the Array of Skeletons, was a ceremonial circle formed from death. To set up this ceremonial circle, at least one person must die, and it must be an extremely tragic death. Then the bones of the deceased were picked up to create a fake body, trapping the soul of the dead and making a fake tomb with the corpse. 

The purpose of arranging this kind of ceremonial circle was to make it more convenient to harm people. Fierce ghosts could not be too far away from their remains unless there was a medium for them to possess. Or the evil spirits could be away from their remains and continue to harm countless more people through some sorcery media.

The Fire Array of Karma was like a tool to create such a medium.

Chen Yang, “Xiaoli, where did you find the ghost locust?”

Mao Xiaoli answered, “East District A101, surnamed Fang. They moved in a year ago, with a family of five. The parents are doing business outside, so they are not at home all year round and they often brought their two sons with them. They left their daughter, Fang Wenwen alone in the villa. In recent days, she and her younger brother could be seen walking around in the community.”

“Now, I will tell you what I have found.” Chen Yang took some fruits from the plate and put them on the table, “This banana is the Miyun ghost house, the apple is the ghost locust, and this pear is the Fang family.” 

After setting it up, Chen Yang noticed that there was only one banana, apple and pear in front of him. Chen Yang frowned and saw an orange in the dining room, “Brother Du, please get me that orange.”

Kou Xuanling almost choked on his own saliva and looked strangely at Chen Yang.

Du Shuo got up and went to the kitchen to get the orange, he threw it to Chen Yang. Chen Yang caught it without lifting his head up and placed it on the table, “This orange is Fang Wenwen.” Looking up, he saw the others making weird faces, especially Kou Xuanling, it was as if they had just seen something amazing. “What?”

Kou Xuanling looked confused. As expected, the relationship between people sleeping together is different. ¹

Chen Yang looked at Mao Xiaoli, who quickly shook her head. She didn’t dare to say she was afraid to even talk to Du Shuo. It would make her seem too weak. How could the 23rd generation of the Maoshan faction be weak?!

“Then, let’s start with the case in the Miyun Ghost House.”

Mao Xiaoli asked, “Is there a case in Miyun Ghost House? It’s not written in the file.”

“It’s not recorded because no one found out that those who had moved into the ghost house and later moved out, were missing.”

“Missing?” Kou Xuanling continued, “That means they are most likely dead.”

“Most likely.”

Mao Xiaoli said, “What do you mean? Brother Chen, do you mean that every family that once moved into the ghost house was killed after moving out?”

“To be precise, they all died before moving out.” Chen Yang said, “These demons are so smart that it’s astonishing.”

Every family who had moved into the ghost house, had been eaten and killed long before. The people who moved out were just things wearing human skin, and then by creating a tiny accidental disappearance, they managed to hide the murder from the world. The whole family was dead, although some may find it strange, people wouldn’t pay too much attention to it.

Over time, it became a long pending case.

No one suspected that something was wrong with the Miyun Ghost House. In addition, there were rumors of ghosts in the house spreading around, so there were very few people there. There was no loss of human lives on the surface and no one hired Tianshis, so they wouldn’t explore the place either. 

“According to your conjecture, those demons need flesh and blood. But so many people have moved away since then, and rumors of ghosts are boiling. If no one rents the place, there will be no fresh meat and blood supply?” 

It is because of those ghost rumors that Miyun Ghost House had been abandoned for ten years.

“So, it’s time to talk about the Fangs,” Chen Yang said, pointing to the pear. “The Fangs are the last people to move out of the ghost house. Their household consists of four people. Later, they all disappeared, and after that, no one else lived in the ghost house.”

Mao Xiaoli asked, “Fang Wenwen?”

“She is the eldest daughter of the Fang family. She was taken away by her grandfather who lived in Sichuan when she was ten years old. When she was about sixteen years old. She came back to deal with the aftermath of her parents and brothers’ death.”

Wei Changping raised his hand and asked, “If you are saying that Fang Wenwen is from that Fang family, then what is her brother?”

Kou Xuanling surmised, “Can’t you guess? You even hugged him yesterday.”

Wei Changping’s face contorted. Feng Yuan patted him on the shoulder, while covering his mouth and snickering.

Kou Xuanling turned to Chen Yang and said, “These things happened a decade ago, and there are no records left. How did you find the records?”

“Brother Du did.”

Kou Xuanling suddenly looked at Du Shuo, who still looked indifferent, “You have a problem?”

Kou Xuanling quickly shook his head to show that he had no objections.

The director of headquarters had the right to investigate the electronic files stored in the confidential room at any time. Before this, Kou Xuanling had asked Du Shuo to check the records but Du Shuo didn’t agree to it, because he thought the procedure was very complicated and annoying ².

“I suspect that the Fire Array of Karma was set up by Fang Wenwen in order to let those demons leave the ghost house freely. Just innocent people offend them, and they could find a reason to leave the place where their remains were and kill people.” Chen Yang pointed at the orange representing Fang Wenwen.

“Why doubt her?”

“Because of the ghost locust. She’s raising ghosts. I think she’s a Ghost arts practitioner.” Chen Yang also pointed to the apple representing the ghost locust, “Locust trees can nourish ghosts, but can also mask the ghost’s aura. If I’m right, she’s using the locust trees to raise ghosts.”

“Her purpose?”

“I have read that the Fangs were sexist and left her behind due to her gender. Fang Wenwen was sent to her grandfather when she was ten years old, but her father and mother visited her every year. And Fang Wenwen was known as a Wu in the central Sichuan Bashu area.” 

Wu, or Wugui, were people who practiced the Ghost arts. Fang Wenwen was a person who cultivated ghosts, so it was not surprising that she could arrange the Fire Array of karma, a vicious array of the evil sects.

“She wants to revive her family. That’s the only reason I could think of, of course, there are other possibilities.”

Kou Xuanling, “Haa.” 

Mao Xiaoli, “Bless her.”

Feng Yuan and the others were puzzled and asked, “Is there really a method that can bring people back to life?”

“No.” Chen Yang finished and pulled Du Shuo by the corner of his coat and wanted him to say something.

Du Shuo raised his eyes and said, “Life and death are determined by heaven, and cause and effect cycles. It’s impossible to resist.”

Chen Yang asked, “What if you fight against heaven?”

“Divine retribution.”

Chen Yang thought, “You’re right. Divine retribution is already on Fang Wenwen. She wanted to revive her family, but instead she created a monster that was only greedy for flesh and blood.”

Feng Yuan pondered, “But Fang Wenwen has no disease nor pain, and she is living well.”

“Heaven has taken away her life lines.” Kou Xuanling said, “If I’m not wrong, she should have been a person blessed with longevity, but now she’s dry and withered. She does not have long to live.” 

After death was when divine retribution really began.

“The Ghost locust is a ghost kept by Fang Wenwen. She used the Fire Array of Karma to collect fresh flesh and blood for her family, she is very vicious. She is also a Wu, Tianshis seldom associate with Wu nowadays.”

“If one’s heart is straight, then evil can be suppressed.”

Chen Yang said, “Brother Du and I will go to Miyun ghost house and find the remains of the demon. As for Fang Wenwen, we can leave her to Kou Tianshi. Can you go with him, Mao Xiaoli?”

“Sure.” Mao Xiaoli nodded in agreement.

At this time, Wei Changping’s mobile phone rang. After picking the call up, the other side said something. Wei Changping immediately mouthed the word ‘Fang Wenwen’ to everyone. Everyone got quiet and they quietly asked Wei Changping to chat with her.

“Come to your place tomorrow night? Is it just you and your brother?” Wei Changping looked up at Chen Yang, who nodded. “Okay. Tomorrow evening at eight o’clock then.”

Wei Changping hung up and was relieved. Listening to Chen Yang’s analysis just now, he understood the horror that was Fang Wenwen. He was so scared that his legs trembled, “What should I do? Fang Wenwen said that her brother was ill and at home. There’s no one else there. So, she wants me to accompany her. Ge Qing threw the five thunder talisman into Fang Wenwen’s pocket today, and Fang Wenwen’s younger brother was hurt because of it. Is she trying to get me there so that I could be her brother’s nutrients?”

Chen Yang said, “Yes.”

Mao Xiaoli commented, “Fang Wenwen is very beautiful.”

Feng Yuan replied, “Maybe you can have a good time before you die.”

Wei Changping said, “Fang Wenwen also invited Feng Yuan, and I agreed.”

Chen Yang replied, “Then Feng Yuan will go as well.”

Feng Yuan choked.

“Don’t beat the bushes and frighten the snake. You were supposed to go out and lure the demons tonight, but you don’t have to now. Aren’t you happy?”

“……”

The crowd dispersed and went to prepare.

Chen Yang said to Du Shuo, “I don’t think I need your third hint anymore.” His expression was rather smug.

“Yang Yang is really smart.” Du Shuo didn’t think much of it, he was used to coaxing him like a child.

“You’re going to lose to me anyways, so tell me what the prize is first?”

“Good kids play by the rules of the game.”

“Why do you never treat me like a child when we’re in bed?”

Du Shuo was silent for a few seconds and said, “Then next time, you can call me daddy.”

Chen Yang stared at him. He looked for the softest flesh on Du Shuo’s arm, and pinched it hard, not forgetting to give it a hard twist as well.

Du Shuo didn’t even bat an eye though, “Be good, don’t make a fuss.”

Chen Yang let go and suddenly said, “Are you busy working in the human realm?”

“…No.” Du Shuo was just a vase in the human realm, and only a few people in the Tianshi community knew who he really was. Others only regarded him as a mysterious and powerful Tianshi. He didn’t take jobs easily. He only took two jobs in the human realm during the past three years.

The two jobs had killed a lot of Tianshis, and he solved them all alone. His reputation spread, and his place as the head of the Imperial capital’s Dafu headquarters was firm, no one dared shake it. Although he was just a vase in the human realm, meaning he should be very leisurely. In fact, he was still in charge of the affairs of the underworld, so he was still very busy.

Chen Yang complained, “No way! The human realm and the underworld both need you to deal with stuff? That’s too oppressive. Are there no Labor contracts in the underworld that protects you?”

“No.”

“A Labor protection department?”

“No.”

“But that means you are squeezed day and night to work with nowhere to complain!”

Du Shuo was silent.

The Hell servitors of the underworld always want work, as they could accumulate merits and virtues, so that they could be promoted as soon as possible. Then they could stop being a Hell servitor and become a Hell immortal instead. Who would think that there was too much work to do?

<em>Shiya: Says the shut-in boss who is doing all the squeezing lol.</em>

 

 

 

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