Chapter 210: Evil spirits
hey were forced to stay in a temple on a seaside mountain for a few days.
The monks there, moved by their incense donations, temporarily agreed to take them in.
The temple was called Yanming Temple, very much in the standard Japanese style. A stone torii gate stood at the mountain’s base, and a marble staircase led straight up the slope.
The temple itself was quiet and cold, with few worshippers and even fewer monks.
Ai Jiangtu led the group into the temple to settle down. When he turned around, he noticed that Mo Fan had disappeared again. Who knew when he had slipped away or where he had run off to fool around?
Seeing this, Gong Yu muttered in dissatisfaction, “He always acts on his own, way too self centered.”
Ai Jiangtu frowned slightly but did not immediately comment. He had long known Mo Fan’s personality. Mo Fan was powerful, bold, and often acted before reporting to anyone. As the captain, Ai Jiangtu could not deny that Mo Fan’s strength was extremely useful, but managing someone like him was definitely not easy.
Being the team captain was no easy task. If not for the fact that the captain carried the responsibility of keeping everyone alive and leading the team through the exchange mission, Ai Jiangtu would have been far less patient.
He gazed thoughtfully at the temple in the darkness. For some reason, the atmosphere here made him feel uncomfortable. It was not an obvious danger, but rather a subtle pressure hidden deep in the air, like something cold and invisible was watching them.
Upon entering the temple, the National Team, worn out from travel, each found a dorm to rest in.
Ai Jiangtu quietly surveyed the aura of Yanming Temple. A subtle psychic curse seemed to fill the air, but it was extremely faint. Even Mages specializing in the Curse or Psychic Elements might not be able to detect it if they were careless.
Jiang Shaoxu and Ai Jiangtu both sensed something was off, but neither could lock onto the source.
Time slowly passed.
In the middle of the night, Ai Jiangtu was suddenly awakened by the noisy voices of his teammates.
He rushed over and saw Zhao Manyan, with his golden dyed hair, collapsed straight on the ground. Fortunately, Li Kaifeng reacted quickly and caught him. Everyone scrambled to lay Old Zhao flat on the bed.
The team’s Healing Mage, Nanrong Ni, stepped forward to examine him and lightly shook her head. “No signs of poisoning. His spirit has completely shut down. The cold body isn’t the problem; the key issue is with his soul, and I’m powerless there.”
Gong Yu said irritably, “What the hell happened? Where did Zhao Manyan pick up some filthy thing?”
“Wait a sec,” Jiang Yu scanned the people around him and suddenly asked in shock, “Where’s Mo Fan?”
Ai Jiangtu looked around, and his expression darkened slightly.
Mo Fan should have returned by now. He was strong enough that Ai Jiangtu was not worried about ordinary danger, but this temple clearly was not ordinary. If Mo Fan had gone out alone and run into something strange, things might become troublesome.
Sure enough, Mo Fan appeared at the doorway and casually said, “What’s everyone doing up? What happened?”
All eyes instantly locked onto Mo Fan. Gong Yu cursed loudly, “Where the hell have you been? Zhao Manyan’s down!”
Hearing this, Mo Fan rushed to the bedside and looked in shock at the stiff Zhao Manyan. He suddenly recalled what Narahara Sora had said, along with the ghost girl Miyata’s question about his name, and his expression twisted in anger.
“Sh*t... don’t tell me that monk was telling the truth?”
The others were confused and quickly pressed him for answers.
With a grim face, Mo Fan said, “I ran into a ghost girl. She asked me for a name, and I told her Zhao Manyan’s. Then that monk warned me and said she was a soul collecting ghost.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shaoxu broke out in goosebumps and spat, “There’s no such wicked ghost in this world, only monsters!”
Jiang Yu gave a thumbs up and said, “Good lord, Zhao Manyan is truly blessed to have you as a friend. He must’ve stepped in crap eight lifetimes in a row.”
Gong Yu immediately snapped, “You gave her Zhao Manyan’s name? Are you stupid?”
Mo Fan’s face was ugly. “How was I supposed to know she could really take souls by name? Besides, that monk was suspicious too!”
Ai Jiangtu raised his hand, stopping the argument.
“Enough. Arguing will not wake Zhao Manyan up,” Ai Jiangtu said coldly.
The room quieted down.
Ai Jiangtu walked to Zhao Manyan’s side and examined him carefully. His silver eyes flickered slightly as he used his mental strength to observe the surroundings. There were no wounds, no poison, and no external magic residue that could be easily traced. Zhao Manyan’s body was still alive, but his soul seemed to have been pulled into a sealed state.
Ai Jiangtu frowned.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Legends exist for a reason. This is most likely some form of Curse or Psychic Magic, using a person’s name as a medium to attack the soul.”
Nanyu nodded. “That explains why Nanrong Ni cannot heal him. Healing Magic repairs the body, not the soul.”
Jiang Shaoxu looked toward Ai Jiangtu. “Captain, what should we do?”
The others also turned toward Ai Jiangtu, waiting for his decision.
Ai Jiangtu was the captain. Even if Mo Fan was the strongest combat force among them, Ai Jiangtu was still the one responsible for giving orders in a crisis.
Ai Jiangtu pondered for a moment. “Mo Fan, you said you met a ghost girl named Miyata and a monk named Narahara Sora?”
Mo Fan nodded. “That’s right.”
Ai Jiangtu’s eyes sharpened. “Then the monk is more suspicious than the girl. If Miyata truly had the ability to steal souls directly, Zhao Manyan would not simply be unconscious. His soul would already be gone. This looks more like someone used her as bait.”
Mo Fan’s expression became colder. “You mean I was tricked?”
“Most likely,” Ai Jiangtu said. “Miyata may only be a scapegoat or an illusion. The real mastermind is hiding deeper in the temple.”
The others felt a chill.
Ai Jiangtu continued, “Since Zhao Manyan is already affected, the enemy has finally left a trace. Zhao Manyan’s body is now the anchor connecting us to the curse. If we follow that connection carefully, we may be able to find the caster.”
Mo Fan clenched his fists. “Then let’s drag that bastard out.”
Ai Jiangtu nodded. “We will. But we cannot rush blindly. If this is truly a soul related curse, charging into the temple without preparation will only let the enemy take more victims.”
He turned toward the team and gave orders calmly.
“Nanyu, stay here and help observe Zhao Manyan’s condition. Nanrong Ni, maintain his body temperature and make sure his physical state does not collapse. Jiang Shaoxu, use your Psychic Element to sense any abnormal mental fluctuations. Jiang Yu, prepare your summoned beast in case something appears. Gong Yu, Li Kaifeng, guard the outer corridor and prevent anyone suspicious from approaching.”
Then Ai Jiangtu looked at Mo Fan.
“Mo Fan, you come with me. You were the one who made contact with both Miyata and Narahara Sora. If the curse responds to anyone, it will respond to you.”
Mo Fan grinned coldly. “Good. I was just thinking of finding that monk and beating the truth out of him.”
Ai Jiangtu said calmly, “Do not act alone this time.”
Mo Fan paused, then shrugged. “Fine, Captain. I’ll listen this once.”
The others were slightly surprised. Mo Fan rarely listened to anyone, yet even he understood that this situation was different. The opponent was not a Commander level beast that could be crushed with brute force. This was a hidden spirit, a curse, and a trap set inside a foreign temple.
Ai Jiangtu’s silver eyes flickered again as he looked toward the dark corridor outside the room.
“The enemy used Zhao Manyan as bait. Then we will use that bait to follow the line back.”
Mo Fan’s lightning slowly danced around his fingers.
“If that thing really thinks it can mess with my friend and get away with it, it picked the wrong team.”