Chapter 137: A Phoenix Bracelet

Gu Xiangnan was puzzled and asked:
"Seventh Senior Sister, last time you were able to make the spirits of the martyrs manifest directly, why do you need to communicate through a mirror this time? It is too troublesome!"
"You don't understand!"
Zhang Baolian explained while staying busy:
"The conditions of souls vary. For someone like Auntie, who still has lingering attachments to the mortal world, direct contact with her should be minimized unless absolutely necessary."
"Doing this helps her let go of her obsessions faster, allows her to peacefully go where she belongs, and achieves true salvation."
Gu Xiangnan understood his senior sister's intention and agreed to leave everything to her arrangement.
In the blink of an eye, the time reached past midnight.
"It is almost time, let's begin!"
Zhang Baolian tidied her appearance and began to chant the scriptures.
While chanting, she shook the three-pronged bell.
The rest of them sat on the sofa to the side, not daring to utter a single word.
Suddenly, the soul-calling banner standing in the room moved without wind.
A chill quietly invaded from outside the house.
Although it was the scorching heat of summer, the indoor temperature instantly became as cold as an ice cellar.
The body hair of several people stood on end instantly.
"It's coming!"
Zhang Baolian's voice was uncharacteristically steady.
Influenced by her, the others grew nervous as well.
She continued to chant the scriptures, her voice echoing in the room as if it could pierce people's hearts.
The temperature inside the room kept dropping.
Zi Xiaoyin stared fixedly at the mirror, her heart beating like a pounding drum.
Her hands were clenched into tight fists, and her fingernails dug deeply into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
The image in the mirror began to blur and distort.
It no longer looked like a reflective mirror surface.
Instead, it resembled a circular window leading to another world.
Gradually, the image became clear, and a familiar face appeared within it.
Tears burst from Zi Xiaoyin's eyes, and she cried out in shock:
"Mom!"
Then she hurried to the front of the mirror.
Gu Xiangnan and Huang Ying, who were sitting on the sofa, also stood up in shock.
Zhang Baolian reminded them:
"Say what you need to say quickly, there is only one minute!"
Zhang Hongmei's face became increasingly clear, her eyes filled with reluctance to part.
Zi Xiaoyin could not help reaching out to touch the mirror, "Mom, I miss you so much!"
Zhang Baolian said:
"Auntie is not inside the mirror; she is right beside us. It's just that your mortal eyes cannot see her, and the mirror is merely a medium."
Zhang Hongmei in the mirror moved her lips:
"Xiaoyin, you must take good care of yourself."
Zhang Hongmei's voice floated in the room, seeming both present and absent.
Zi Xiaoyin hurriedly nodded in response:
"I will, Mom, don't worry. Being your daughter is the happiest thing in my life!"
"Don't be sad, I will always stay by your side to protect you," Zhang Hongmei looked at her affectionately.
"Xiaoyin, there is a small wooden box under my bed, inside..."
At this moment, Zhang Hongmei's voice grew weaker and weaker until it became completely inaudible.
The image in the mirror also gradually blurred.
"Time is up! I must send her on her way quickly, or else she won't be able to reincarnate!"
Zi Xiaoyin could only nod with tear-blurred eyes.
Zhang Baolian dropped her usual frivolous and unserious demeanor.
Chanting scriptures, forming hand seals, pacing the celestial steps, and concentrating her spirit.
All done in one smooth flow!
She recited the Incantation for Relieving Suffering and Reincarnation:
"The Supreme Decree commands, deliver your lonely souls, let all ghosts and demons, and the four modes of birth receive grace.
Those with heads shall transcend, those without heads shall live, killed by spears or swords, drowning or hanging.
Dead in the light or dead in the dark, dying of injustice and wrongs, creditors and enemies, demanding the lives of young men.
Kneel before my platform, the Eight Trigrams emit light, carry you away, to transcend in other realms.
Whether male or female, bear it yourself; whether wealthy or impoverished, bring it upon yourself by your own deeds.
By decree, gather the multitudes, transcend quickly; by decree, gather the multitudes, transcend quickly."
A small paper lamp that had been resting on the table suddenly floated up.
Zhang Baolian chanted:
"The soul-guiding lamp rises to guide you across. Auntie Zhang Hongmei, this lamp will guide you through the dark fog and find the path to rebirth. Let go of worldly attachments, walk forward in peace, and do not look back."
So this was the soul-guiding lamp!
The soul-guiding lamp floated up on its own, slowly drifting out of the window and far into the distance.
Zi Xiaoyin stood by the window and watched for a long time.
Until it was blocked by buildings and completely disappeared from sight.
Zhang Baolian let out a breath of relief, "Mission accomplished!"
Together, the group bowed in the direction of the soul-guiding lamp.
Just as the soul-guiding lamp rounded the building ahead and attempted to fly higher,
suddenly, an arrow affixed with a talisman was shot toward it.
The soul-guiding lamp plummeted at high speed, crashed onto the ground, and shattered, extinguishing the flame.
Zhang Hongmei was knocked out of her ethereal state and forced back into a human shape.
A man carrying a samurai sword, accompanied by an Onmyoji, walked over.
"Capture her and bring her back!"
Ordered the man with the samurai sword.
"Understood!"
The Onmyoji took out a small bottle, chanted a few incantations toward Zhang Hongmei, and pulled out the stopper.
"No~~~"
Zhang Hongmei shrieked as she was sucked inside.
At this moment, Zi Xiaoyin remembered that her mother had just told her there was a wooden box under the bed.
She had seen that box when she was a child.
Her mother always kept the box locked and wouldn't let her play with it.
Guided by her memory, she quickly found the box.
Gu Xiangnan gave the lock a pinch with his hand, and it broke.
Inside turned out to be a jewelry box containing a jade bracelet.
The bracelet was a translucent, vibrant green throughout, completely free of impurities.
The wondrous thing was that a large pattern was carved onto the bracelet.
Looking closely, it was actually a phoenix, raising its head with wings spread, looking down upon the world with disdain.
It possessed a regal and dominant aura.
Zi Xiaoyin tried wearing the bracelet on her wrist, and surprisingly, the size was a perfect fit.
Gu Xiangnan was astonished. This must be an invaluable treasure!
"Look at this luster, it's definitely imperial green! This single piece is worth at least tens of millions!"
Zhang Baolian chimed in:
"Right! Right! Compared to our twelfth master's bracelet, it's easily a match!"
Although the two of them were not professional antique appraisers,
their twelfth master certainly was!
Born into an impoverished family, Zi Xiaoyin had never seen such a fine item in her life.
Hearing how valuable it was, she let out a startled gasp.
Frightened, she quickly took off the bracelet.
The more Gu Xiangnan thought about it, the more suspicious it felt.
"Sister, this bracelet might have an extraordinary background! Given your family's financial situation, it's impossible you could afford such an expensive bracelet."
"Furthermore, with life having been reduced to such hardship, why not sell the bracelet to improve your living conditions?"
"Clearly, this bracelet holds special significance. You must keep it safe."
Zi Xiaoyin carefully placed it back into the jewelry box.
Huang Ying's illness was cured, and her godmother had been sent off.
Gu Xiangnan's villa had been partially burned down.
He left the repair work entirely in Wang Ke's hands.
With matters at home settled,
Gu Xiangnan told the others that he was going out on a trip for a few days.
Before leaving, he asked Zi Xiaoyin for the snuff bottle back.
The next night,
Yang Peak drove him to the highway entrance.
The two of them got out of the car at the rest area and lit up cigars.
"Brother, you must be extremely careful and make sure you come back alive!" Yang Peak looked at Gu Xiangnan with worry.
He truly admired this younger brother of his.
Yet, he was actually crazy enough to rampage all the way to America—it was simply insane!