110-115

Chapter 111: Golden Light Talisman

"Master, the paper crane has stopped again!"

Rubbing his sore neck, Ah Hao looked at the paper crane in the sky, which had stopped once more, and called out.

"I see it," Lin Jiuying replied without lifting his head, his eyes focused on the spinning compass in his hand.

"Master Lin, are you sure this time?"

With previous mistakes still fresh in his memory, Ah Sen, unlike before, approached cautiously, asking hesitantly.

Stepping out of the car with the compass in hand, Lin Jiuying glanced at the paper crane circling above. He formed a hand seal, muttering an incantation as he adjusted the compass.

When the compass pointed in a certain direction, the paper crane in the sky suddenly halted. Slowly, it descended, landing gently atop Lin Jiuying's compass. Its outspread wings drooped slightly.

Lowering his head to look at the fallen crane, Lin Jiuying raised an eyebrow and glanced in the direction indicated by the compass. Finally, he nodded and turned to Ah Sen in the car.

"This time, it should be correct."

"Ah Hao, bring the tools."

After putting away the compass, Lin Jiuying gripped his peachwood sword tightly and cautiously approached the church in the distance.

Hearing his master's command, Ah Hao immediately gathered their equipment without hesitation and followed closely behind.

"Master Lin, wait for me!"

In the car, Ah Sen glanced nervously at the desolate surroundings cloaked in darkness. Without wasting a moment, he jumped out of the car and chased after them.

"Why are you following?"

"Regardless of what happens, this concerns my ancestors. Of course, I have to keep an eye on things."

---

"Master Lin, why would someone care so much about the ancestors of the Deng clan, even going so far as to try to steal them?"

Following behind Ah Hao, Ah Sen glanced at the church ahead and couldn't help but ask.

"To you, an 'Yin Corpse' might just be an ancestor's remains."

Holding the peachwood sword, Lin Jiuying walked at the front, responding in a low voice to the descendant's question.

"But in the eyes of those with sinister intentions, it's far more than just a corpse. An 'Yin Corpse' buried for a century without decay is brimming with Yin energy. For those with evil schemes, it's the perfect medium for casting spells..."

While explaining, Lin Jiuying reached the entrance of the church.

He turned to signal the two behind him, then reached out and pushed open the church's door.

Thud!  

With an ear-piercing creak, the door swung open.

However, before Lin Jiuying could say anything, a roaring flame suddenly shot out from inside the church, hurtling toward him.

"Master, watch out!"

Noticing the incoming flames, the disciple Ah Hao quickly warned.

"Hah!"

Lin Jiuying reacted swiftly. At the moment the flames lunged, he displayed true skill, dropping into a horse stance and narrowly dodging the fiery blaze.

Boom!  

The fire brushed past Lin Jiuying's chest, landing on the grass behind him and igniting it in a fierce blaze.

Glancing at the roaring flames behind him, Lin Jiuying let out a breath, visibly shaken. If not for his agility, he might have fallen into the enemy's trap.

"Master, are you okay?"

Seeing the flames on the ground, Ah Hao quickly asked.

"I'm fine. Just a small matter."

Waving dismissively at his disciple's concern, Lin Jiuying wore an indifferent expression, as if the life-threatening encounter had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"I've seen worse. This is hardly..."

"Master, behind you!"

Before Lin Jiuying could finish boasting, several more fireballs rose from within the church, flying toward him.

"Not again!"

Hearing Ah Hao's warning, Lin Jiuying quickly abandoned his bravado. Turning to face the fiery attack, he furrowed his brows and shouted angrily, "Do you really think Lin Jiuying is a pushover?"

With a shout, Lin Jiuying pulled a talisman from his robe, forming a hand seal while chanting:

"Heaven and earth's mystic origins, roots of all energies. Safeguard through calamities, witness my divine power. Across three realms and beyond, supremacy reigns. Golden light manifests—shield this space, nurture all beings... Demons and spirits, take heed! Summon divine lightning; reveal its might! Appear now, Golden Light Talisman—protect this sacred ground, as I command!"

Boom!  

With the incantation complete, Lin Jiuying threw the talisman forward. It collided mid-air with the fireballs, unleashing a blinding explosion that illuminated the entire church like daylight.

"Master, why haven’t you taught me that trick before?"

Squinting at the spectacle, Ah Hao couldn't hide his envy at the power of the Golden Light Talisman.

"If you want to learn, I'll teach you when we get back," Lin Jiuying replied casually, glancing at his disciple.

"Master, when did you become so generous?"

Instead of excitement, Ah Hao’s first reaction was suspicion.

"I've always been generous. But to master this, you'll first need to read the complete Maoshan Talisman Manual and then purify yourself through three months of abstinence..."

"Three months?!"

Hearing the requirements, Ah Hao's enthusiasm deflated instantly.

"Of course. Did you think these talismans are drawn casually? The spiritual arts have been in decline for ages. Making talismans is becoming increasingly difficult. The Golden Light Talisman, in particular, is rare and precious. If it weren’t for my recent streak of success, I wouldn’t have used something so valuable."

Even as he explained, Lin Jiuying couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for using such a rare talisman in a moment of impulse.

Still, considering the danger ahead, he quickly steadied his emotions and drew another Golden Light Talisman from his robe, holding it in front of him as he stepped into the church.

Inside, the crackling flames illuminated everything.

With his peachwood sword in hand, Lin Jiuying treaded carefully through the church. Behind him, Ah Hao and Ah Sen held their breaths, afraid to make a sound.

After all, if not for Lin Jiuying, the two of them would’ve likely been scorched by the earlier fire.

Phew...  

As they reached a corner, Lin Jiuying paused, taking a deep breath. He signaled the two to be cautious, then stepped forward with a talisman pinched between his fingers.

Upon entering the side hall, the expected attack didn’t come. Lin Jiuying swept his gaze around, the talisman in his hand glowing faintly.

Finally, his eyes landed on a familiar figure at the center of the altar.

---

Chapter 112: Risking Life and Limb

"Master Lin, that's my ancestor!"

Seeing the figure at the center of the altar, Ah Sen's emotions surged, and he almost rushed forward.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Ah Hao reached out to stop him, gesturing with his chin.

"This is the enemy’s lair. Who knows what dangers lie ahead? Let Master check it out first. Once he confirms it’s safe, you can go and retrieve your ancestor."

"Hmm?"

Hearing his disciple's words, Lin Jiuying raised an eyebrow, sheathed the peachwood sword in his hand, and pointed at Ah Hao.

"Ah Hao, go up and check the condition of the corpse."

"Ah!"

Originally waiting at the back to watch the show, Ah Hao's expression froze as Lin Jiuying singled him out. With a bitter face, he said, "Master, the corpse is dangerous! If anything happens, I won't even have time to react!"

"Don't worry. I’ll be watching from behind. Nothing major will happen."

"Even a small problem is more than I can handle!"

Muttering under his breath, Ah Hao knew there was no way to defy his master’s orders.

Reluctantly, he handed the large rooster in his hand to Ah Sen, put on an expression as if heading to his doom, and walked toward the corpse.

"Master, please watch closely and make sure nothing goes wrong!"

"What? You don't trust me?"

"I trust you so much that I feel compelled to remind you!"

Turning his back on Lin Jiuying, Ah Hao muttered under his breath. Looking at the corpse shrouded in flickering flames at the altar's center, he couldn't help but feel a chill creep into his heart.

Step by step, Ah Hao cautiously advanced, his eyes never leaving the motionless corpse.

For some reason, besides fear, he felt a vague sense of wrongness about the scene.

"What’s off here?"

With a puzzled expression, Ah Hao stood before the corpse.

It remained completely still, seemingly oblivious to its surroundings. While he sighed in relief, he suddenly realized the source of the oddity.

"The talisman!"

The talisman that should have been on the corpse's forehead was gone.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when—

*Roar!*

The motionless corpse in the altar's center suddenly opened its eyes, revealing pitch-black pupils devoid of whites, and lunged toward Ah Hao.

"Master!"

As the resurrected corpse bore down on Ah Hao, Lin Jiuying appeared before him, wielding the peachwood sword. In one swift motion, he slapped a talisman onto the corpse’s forehead.

"See? I told you everything would be fine."

With the corpse immobilized, Lin Jiuying turned to his disciple, his expression calm and composed.

"Master…!"

Ah Hao exhaled a long breath, still visibly shaken. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the immobilized corpse’s face twitched. In panic, he shouted,

"No need to thank me! I know you’re overwhelmed with gratitude right now. If you feel guilty, just treat me to a meal back in Hong Kong…"

Lin Jiuying raised a hand to stop Ah Hao mid-sentence, speaking casually.

"No, Master! I’m trying to tell you—the corpse is moving again!"

Interrupting Lin Jiuying’s speech, Ah Hao pointed behind him in terror.

"Moving? Impossible! I just immobilized it with a talisman…"

Lin Jiuying’s first reaction was disbelief. The talismans he used were passed down through the Maoshan school of corpse control, capable of subduing even zombies. How could an incomplete corpse resist them?

Though skeptical, Lin Jiuying instinctively turned around.

And what he saw made his heart sink.

The immobilized corpse tore the talisman off its forehead with a swing of its arms, shredded it to pieces, and lunged at him, roaring.

"Are you kidding me? Is the talisman expired?!"

Faced with this sight, Lin Jiuying immediately dropped his composed demeanor. His eyes filled with disbelief as he raised his peachwood sword to block the attack.

*Bang!*

The corpse collided with the peachwood sword, producing a heavy thud.

Under the force of the corpse’s attack, Lin Jiuying staggered backward several steps before regaining his footing. He clutched his chest in pain, clearly struggling. A glance at his peachwood sword, faintly glowing red, filled him with relief. Without it, the damage would have been far worse.

"Master, are you okay?"

Ah Hao rushed forward to support Lin Jiuying, worry evident on his face.

"I’m fine. I can handle it."

Rolling his shoulders to ease the pain in his chest, Lin Jiuying gritted his teeth as he focused on the corpse. His expression grew grave.

"But even the talisman didn’t work…"

Frowning deeply, he studied the corpse, quickly noticing some peculiarities.

The sharp black teeth protruding from its mouth resembled descriptions of zombies in ancient records.

But Lin Jiuying had never heard of zombies with black teeth.

Moreover, its movements were far too fluid, unlike the rigid gait typically associated with zombies.

"Master, look! Isn’t that the foreigner we saw earlier?"

While Lin Jiuying was lost in thought, Ah Hao tugged at his sleeve, pointing to a shriveled corpse in the church.

Following Ah Hao’s gaze, Lin Jiuying saw the dried-up body on the ground. Near it was a black, curled-up creature that, upon closer inspection, looked like a toad.

"Damn it. We’re too late. The ancestor of the Deng clan has been turned into some kind of abomination."

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 113: Duel of Sorcery

Inside the church.

Lin Jiuying stared at the corpse of the ancestor of the Deng clan, now turned into a malevolent corpse—no, an evil corpse.

His brows furrowed tightly, his expression grave.

Just then, a raspy voice broke the silence.

“I originally didn’t want to cause trouble, but since you’ve come here looking for death, so be it…”

From the shadows of the church, Narcisse’s figure slowly emerged. His cold gaze fell on Lin Jiuying and his two companions, as if he were looking at dead men.

“I’ll use your blood to prove the power of this revenant corpse.”

Holding his peachwood sword tightly and pointing it at Narcisse, Lin Jiuying remained cautious.

From Narcisse’s presence, Lin Jiuying sensed a foul and chillingly evil aura, identical to the one emanating from the evil corpse.

There was no doubt—the one who refined the ancestor’s corpse into its current malevolent form was this man in front of him.

However, holding the peachwood sword and listening to the man’s words, Lin Jiuying’s initially grave expression grew slightly awkward.

Without moving his lips, he whispered to his disciple beside him, “Ah Hao, what’s this guy saying?”

“How would I know, Master?”

Ah Hao looked just as clueless. Glancing at the cold-faced Narcisse, he responded, “But judging by how sneaky he’s been—hiding in the church, stealing an ancestor’s body to make evil stuff—he’s clearly no good. Whatever he’s saying can’t be anything nice.”

“Good point.”

Hearing his disciple’s analysis, Lin Jiuying nodded approvingly.

“Master Lin, this guy seems to be a voodoo priest from Vodou. I heard him call our ancestor a ‘revenant corpse.’”

As the master and disciple speculated about Narcisse’s words, Ah Sen, hiding in the corner, couldn’t help but chime in with a translation.

“And he said he’s going to use the ancestor to kill all of us.”

“See, Master? I was right. This guy’s definitely up to no good,” Ah Hao said smugly.

“If you spent more time learning a foreign language, we wouldn’t need someone else to translate for us,” Lin Jiuying said, dousing Ah Hao’s self-satisfaction.

“Master, you don’t understand English either.”

“I may not understand English, but at least I know a foreign language.”

“What language?”

“Ghost talk.”

In the corner, Ah Sen opened his mouth but ultimately refrained from telling them that Narcisse wasn’t speaking English—he was speaking French.

---

“You’re on the brink of death, yet you still have the energy to chit-chat!”

In the church, Narcisse scoffed coldly at the group. His expression grew darker as he pulled out a voodoo doll and began chanting a spell aimed at the evil corpse.

“Roar!”

With Narcisse’s incantation, the evil corpse raised its sharp claws, twisted its head toward Lin Jiuying and his group, and roared. Then, bending its legs slightly, it leaped fiercely into the air.

“Master, it’s coming again!”

Seeing the evil corpse lunge toward them, Ah Hao quickly warned Lin Jiuying.

The massive evil corpse was plain as day. Without needing the warning, Lin Jiuying pulled his disciple back, avoiding the attack. He glanced at Narcisse in the corner, who was controlling the corpse with his voodoo doll, and frowned before speaking to his disciple.

“Ah Hao, kill the chicken.”

With that, Lin Jiuying gritted his teeth, raised his peachwood sword, and charged at the evil corpse.

“Got it, Master!”

This time, Ah Hao didn’t slack off. While Lin Jiuying held the evil corpse at bay, Ah Hao scrambled to where Ah Sen was hiding, grabbed the large rooster from the ground, and swiftly broke its neck.

“Master, the chicken!”

Seizing an opportunity, Ah Hao threw the lifeless rooster toward Lin Jiuying.

Clashing with the evil corpse, Lin Jiuying found that the usual talismans were ineffective, posing a significant challenge to his exorcism efforts. He could only rely on his peachwood sword and his martial arts skills to hold his ground.

But no ordinary human, no matter how skilled, could outlast an untiring evil corpse. After an intense bout, even Lin Jiuying began to feel weary.

Retreating a few steps to dodge the corpse’s sharp claws, Lin Jiuying heard his disciple’s call.

Glancing at the fierce creature in front of him, he suddenly leaped off the church wall, using it as a springboard to flip over the evil corpse. In midair, he caught the flying rooster.

Landing steadily behind the corpse, Lin Jiuying took a moment to catch his breath. He raised the rooster and sliced its neck with the peachwood sword.

Bright red blood dripped from the rooster onto the sword. Lin Jiuying smeared the blood across the blade while chanting an incantation:

“By guiding light, near or far, the spirit seals the home unseen. As the decree commands!”

With the ritual complete, the peachwood sword glowed red. Lin Jiuying thrust it forcefully at the evil corpse.

Thud!  

This time, the strike worked. The peachwood sword, enhanced by the rooster’s blood, pierced through the evil corpse effortlessly.

The corpse shrieked in pain, black blood gushing from the wound. When the dark liquid touched the blood on the sword, a nauseating stench filled the air.

“Master Lin, will this ruin my ancestor’s body?”

Ah Sen, hiding nearby, couldn’t help but ask. He still hoped to take the ancestor’s body back to Hong Kong. If it were damaged, what would he say to the Deng family?

“If we don’t do this, forget your ancestor—we won’t even save ourselves,” Ah Hao retorted.

“What? My revenant corpse!”

Narcisse’s face twisted in shock.

He hadn’t expected this oddly dressed man to possess the ability to harm his revenant corpse. Watching Lin Jiuying prepare for another strike, Narcisse quickly manipulated the voodoo doll, cursing him.

“I curse you to fall into boiling cauldrons, to have black snakes bite your heels, to be stung by wasps when kneeling, feasted upon by bedbugs at night, and cursed with misfortune!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 114: Beheading

The voodoo doll.

It represents the essence of Voodoo magic, encompassing a wide range of uses.

While it can bring blessings related to love, success, and health, it is most infamous for its cursing abilities.

Inside the church, under the power of Lin Jiuying's peachwood sword coated in rooster blood, the evil corpse was forced to retreat step by step.

This evil corpse, a fusion of Yin corpse techniques and Voodoo resurrection rituals, possessed unique characteristics absent in ordinary zombies, such as immunity to talismans and enhanced agility.

However, these changes had their limits and couldn’t alter the corpse’s inherently evil nature.

The peachwood sword, known for its exorcising properties, became even more potent when combined with rooster blood—an ideal weapon against this abominable being.

Wielding the peachwood sword with fierce precision, Lin Jiuying left a series of wounds on the evil corpse. Within seconds, the once-menacing creature was reduced to a battered, tattered state.

“Roar!”

After enduring dozens of strikes, the corpse’s roar weakened, almost as if its ferocity was fading.

“Master Lin, please grant my ancestor a swift end,” Arsen pleaded, unable to watch his ancestor suffer under Lin Jiuying’s relentless assault.

Arsen understood Lin Jiuying’s mission to eliminate evil, but seeing his own ancestor as the target was deeply unsettling.

“It’s almost over,” Lin Jiuying replied, pausing slightly.

In truth, Lin Jiuying had already intended to finish things. His repeated attacks were not meant to torment but to strip the corpse of its deathly aura and lingering Yin energy.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jiuying steadied himself, gripping the peachwood sword tightly. As the corpse’s ferocity diminished, he prepared to deliver the final blow.

Gurgle, gurgle.  

A sudden noise from his stomach froze him in place.

“Why now of all times?!”

Clutching his stomach, Lin Jiuying struck the evil corpse again. However, the unexpected stomach pain weakened his strike, rendering it ineffective.

The corpse, initially bracing for another devastating blow, blinked its dark eyes in confusion—it felt no significant damage.

“Did I eat something bad?” Lin Jiuying muttered, grimacing as his stomach ached. His righteous demeanor crumbled as pain overtook him.

Scanning the area, he quickly spotted Narcis in the corner, holding a voodoo doll and muttering incantations.

“So, it’s your doing!”

Lin Jiuying immediately realized the source of his sudden ailment. Gripping his stomach, he started toward Narcis.

“Attack him now, revenant!” Narcis commanded the evil corpse, his expression cold and unchanging beneath his cloak.

“Roar!”

Obeying the order, the evil corpse lunged at Lin Jiuying.

“Despicable trickery!” Lin Jiuying cursed, raising his peachwood sword to block the attack. Clutching his stomach with one hand, he struggled to fend off the corpse with the other.

Beads of sweat poured down his pale face as the pain intensified. Unable to unleash his full strength, Lin Jiuying found himself overpowered by the combined assault of the revenant and the Voodoo sorcerer.

“This is bad—Master Lin is losing!”

Watching the escalating battle, Arsen grew increasingly anxious. Just moments ago, Lin Jiuying had held the upper hand, but the tide had turned dramatically.

“I told you that guy was trouble,” Ahao said, visibly distressed.

Seeing his master in peril, Ahao grabbed a wooden stick and charged at Narcis.

“Let’s see you cast another curse!”

However, Narcis noticed Ahao’s approach and sneered. He shifted the voodoo doll slightly, targeting Ahao instead.

“Ah! My stomach!”

Ahao collapsed in agony, clutching his stomach as the curse took immediate effect. His limited spiritual power left him vulnerable to the doll’s influence.

Satisfied, Narcis glanced at the writhing Ahao. “It’ll only take a few minutes before he dies from the pain,” he muttered, ready to focus on Lin Jiuying again.

“Die, you bastard!”

Just as Narcis moved the doll, Ahao, feigning defeat, suddenly leapt up and struck Narcis’s arm with the wooden stick.

“Argh!” Narcis cried out, dropping the voodoo doll.

Freed from the curse’s influence, Lin Jiuying’s stomachache subsided instantly.

“Perfect timing!”

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Jiuying advanced toward the lunging revenant. His peachwood sword glowed with a crimson light as it sliced cleanly through the corpse’s neck.

Swish!  

The head flew through the air, hit the church wall, and bounced to a stop at Arsen’s feet.

“Ah!” Arsen screamed, instinctively kicking the severed head away.

“No! Ancestor!” He wailed in despair, realizing what he had just done.

“Ahao, are you alright?” Lin Jiuying asked, catching his breath.

“I’m fine, Master, thanks to your red talisman,” Ahao replied, pulling back his shirt to reveal the crimson charm tied around his waist.

“Unfortunately, that Voodoo sorcerer escaped,” he added regretfully, glancing at the discarded voodoo doll on the ground.

“It’s alright. The corpse is more important,” Lin Jiuying said, shaking his head as he looked at the headless revenant.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 115: Punishment

"Master Lin, you must prove my innocence. What happened to our ancestor has nothing to do with me."

On a flight back to Hong Kong Island from Heathrow Airport, Ah Sen, looking deeply worried, turned to Lin Jiuying beside him.

"Don't worry, I will explain everything to the Deng clan on Hong Kong Island," Lin Jiuying assured him, noticing Ah Sen’s distressed expression.

He glanced at his disciple, snoring loudly in the seat behind, shook his head slightly, and gazed at the ethereal clouds outside the window. His thoughts drifted back to the events that had unfolded in the London church.

---

*London, inside a house.*

The female homeowner stared in terror at the mysterious man who had broken into their home. Moments earlier, her husband had tried to resist and expel the intruder but was subdued with frightening ease by the man, who used a voodoo doll to paralyze him completely.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

A young blond-haired, blue-eyed boy, drawn by the commotion in the living room, descended the stairs. Seeing his father frozen in place and his mother collapsed on the floor, he tilted his head and stared curiously at the cloaked figure.

"No!"

The sight of her child in the living room jolted the woman out of her paralyzed fear. She scrambled to the boy, pulling him tightly into her arms, and turned to the man with a pleading expression.

"Please, I beg you, spare my child!"

Ignoring her desperate pleas, Narcis fixed his cold gaze on the family before lowering his eyes to the crude voodoo doll in his hand. His expression twitched.

Due to the unexpected events at the church, Narcis had been forced to abandon his most powerful voodoo doll. The one in his hand now was hastily crafted from scraps of fabric, its curse greatly weakened. Otherwise, the man of the house would not have been merely paralyzed but writhing in agony or even dead.

"If it weren’t for that strangely dressed man, I wouldn’t have lost my most important voodoo doll—or my revenant corpse!"

The thought of losing the powerful undead creature he had painstakingly refined caused Narcis to breathe heavily, his face betraying an uncontrollable fear.

Having lost the primary sacrificial offering, Narcis had no choice but to flee. However, before leaving, he needed a stronger voodoo doll for protection.

Under his cloak, Narcis’ cold gaze swept over the family and finally landed on the child in the woman’s arms.

"No! I beg you! I'll do anything, just spare my child!"

Seeing his gaze on her son, the woman became even more desperate. She shielded the boy behind her, continuing to plead with Narcis.

But Narcis’ face remained unmoved. Voodoo was a religion rooted in fear, and begging only affirmed the effectiveness of his actions. To him, the woman's pleas were meaningless.

"Don’t worry, this won’t take long," he said with a sinister smile, taking a step toward the child with the makeshift voodoo doll in his hand.

"Narcis!"

Suddenly, a familiar roar filled the room.

*Boom!*

Narcis froze in terror as the kitchen stove ignited spontaneously. In the flickering flames, the twisted visage of the High Priest appeared.

"High Priest!"

The coldness on Narcis’ face instantly gave way to fear. He stopped in his tracks and knelt on the floor.

"Tell me, Narcis, why have you not answered my call? Have you betrayed me and the Voodoo religion?"

The High Priest’s words struck at the heart of Narcis’ thoughts. He stammered out a response, his voice trembling with fear.

"No, High Priest! I haven’t betrayed you or the religion! I was attacked and forced to flee from the church."

"An attack?"

The High Priest's fiery visage flickered.

"And the offering? Where is it?"

The High Priest cared little for excuses, focusing instead on the safety of the offering.

"The offering was taken by those who attacked me. I tried to stop them, but—"

"I don’t care who took it," the High Priest interrupted sharply. "You failed, Narcis. Again!"

"The offering was essential for the Queen Laveau’s resurrection ritual, and because of your failure, the ritual cannot proceed."

"If the offering is lost, then you shall take its place!"

Narcis, still kneeling, was overcome with sheer terror. He struggled to rise and flee the house, but his body became rigid and unresponsive under the High Priest's fiery gaze.

As the High Priest chanted an eerie incantation, Narcis’ terrified expression twisted further. Gradually, his body quieted, and his face became emotionless and cold.

By the time the incantation ended, Narcis’ fear had vanished, replaced by a blank, lifeless stare. Like a puppet, he spoke in a monotone voice.

"I obey your command, Master."

With those words, Narcis stiffly turned and walked out of the house under the terrified eyes of the family.

As he left, the flames in the kitchen abruptly extinguished, signaling the ritual’s conclusion.

"Honey!"

With Narcis’ departure, the paralyzed husband regained control of his body. He rushed to embrace his terrified wife and child, whispering words of comfort.

"It’s over. It’s all over."

Holding his shaken family close, the man glanced warily toward the direction Narcis had gone.

Through the dim light, he saw Narcis’ stiff figure disappear into the shadows.

---