Chapter Nineteen: Buddha’s Curse (Seven)

The main hall of the Wu family’s manor was now packed with people. Among them were officials from the local government offices, representatives of the major aristocratic families in Jianghuai, and even some members of the royal family who had nothing to do with the current emperor. They had all been invited by the head of the Wu family to come and celebrate Grandpa Wu’s birthday. Since it was a birthday celebration, the more lively it was, the better. And to make it lively, formalities had to be set aside, and everyone should enjoy themselves. In this regard, Wu Qi’an, the eldest son of the Wu family, clearly did an excellent job. Although he had passed the imperial examinations the previous year, he wasn’t bound by any etiquette at all. He drank heavily, ate heartily, and behaved in a noisy and unrestrained manner—living in pure joy! At that moment, it seemed the eldest son of the Wu family was no different from street ruffians, which was truly astonishing. Many of his peers who had also passed the examinations tried to maintain their dignity and avoid doing anything unseemly. But seeing the eldest son of the Wu family act so freely, why should they stick to formalities? With that thought, they began to drink more, loosen their clothes, and turned the elegant hall into a street-side tavern. Although Wu Weixian was angry inside, it was after all Grandpa Wu’s birthday banquet, so he couldn’t be too strict. He could only drink more to numb himself. Hmph! This unfilial son was doing such things that went against moral standards. If he really inherited the position of family head, who knew how much harm he might cause to the reputation of the Wu family in Jianghuai!
“Master, Grandpa Wu wants you to go over.”
Seeing Wu Weixian’s worried expression, the butler Fugui gently reminded him.
“Mm, I know.”
Wu Weixian sighed inwardly, put down his wine cup, and strode toward Grandpa Wu’s seat not far away. Alas, even though he was the head of the family, he still couldn’t do anything about this old man…
One after another, delicious dishes were brought in from the kitchen, making all the servants drool. The eldest son, with his kind heart, had ordered the kitchen to prepare two sets of dishes—one for the guests in the main hall and another for the servants in the lower rooms to satisfy their cravings. Such a benevolent master could be found in few places throughout Jianghuai—how could anyone not like him? Almond Buddha’s Hand, tiger-skin peanuts, golden-threaded pastry birds, roasted pheasants, rare mountain delicacies, smoked meat golden cakes… Each porcelain tray held dishes that were excellent in appearance, taste, and aroma. Just looking at them made everyone’s eyes widen. If they tasted them, wouldn’t they be so happy they fainted?
“Uncle Fugui, are these all for us to eat?”

A servant in his twenties was already drooling with greed, but since the old butler hadn’t given permission, they dared not eat at all.
“Hmm, this is the grace of the young master. You must remember his kindness.”
Wu Fugui nodded slightly, offering gentle advice. Even though the master held prejudices against the young master, he still wouldn’t give up on easing the tension between them. The young master had been someone he had known since childhood, and he couldn’t bear to see them become enemies. Yet the master was extremely stubborn; only if the young master gained the support of everyone in the household would he consider changing his mind.
“Of course, of course. Good people are rewarded. Hasn’t the young master already passed the imperial examinations? Next spring, he’ll surely win first place!”
“Exactly! Our young master is like a celestial being descended to earth. If he doesn’t become the top scorer, isn’t that unfair to the world?”
“It’s a great fortune for the Wu family to have such a son!”
Receiving such benefits, the servants spoke in overly flattering tones, each one saying more sweet words than the last. Though knowing their words weren’t sincere, the old butler felt somewhat comforted. Waving his hand, he said, “Enough, go ahead and eat. You won’t get a chance like this again in a year—make the most of it. After eating, don’t forget to serve in the front hall.”
With that, the old butler walked away.
“Hey, Er Niu, what are we waiting for? Let’s eat!”
“Yeah, let’s eat! Damn it, we might as well eat since we’re here!”
A burly guard with a face full of fleshy protrusions slapped the male servant hard, nearly knocking him down.
“Hehe, hehe.”
The man ripped off a piece of roasted deer meat, finding it incredibly tender. The fat was crystal clear and deliciously rich. Unable to resist, he kept eating more.
“Mm, delicious!”
“No wonder people want to be born into wealthy families. Compared to what they eat, what we have is nothing but pig food!”
“Hey, stop complaining. It’s the young master being kind by letting you eat. Don’t get such a spoiled mouth that you can’t tolerate plain food in the future!”
“I was just joking.”
The servants enjoyed themselves, eating the delicacies while joking around…
But soon, their faces turned red as they gasped for breath.
“It’s hot! Why is it so hot? Er Niu, I’m so uncomfortable.”
Some of the servants, unable to bear the heat, started removing their clothes, eventually ending up completely naked.

Nevertheless, they still felt as if they were being roasted on a fire, enduring unbearable heat.
No! This burning sensation radiated from within, leaving no escape or refuge!
“Ah, ah! I can’t take it anymore!”
Many naked servants rolled around inside the house, sweatdrops the size of beans streaming down their temples. Their eye sockets gradually sunken, and their cheeks twitched from time to time.
The most terrifying thing was their eyes!
Those were not the eyes of ordinary people! Greed, hatred, thirst—those were eyes only beasts would have!
“Om—Ma—Ni—Pa—Mi—Hum—Kill!”
Suddenly, a low hum came from behind the lower room, followed by complete chaos inside.
“Ah!”
Two servants beside them, upon hearing the command, frantically pounced on their companions and bit their throats without hesitation. The servant whose throat was bitten struggled a few times before falling silent, standing upright on the ground.
“Hiss!”
The two servants who hadn’t yet had the chance to eat the delicacies gasped in horror and instinctively stepped back in an attempt to flee.
But how could they succeed? Some sinister-looking guards surrounded them and threw them to the ground with ease. Then the most horrific thing happened—the disoriented servants pounced on each other, gnawing at their own companions.
They were eating people, devouring them alive!
“The merits of reciting this mantra are indescribable. Men, women, old, young, rich, poor—everyone can recite it, day and night, in every situation. It fosters bodhicitta and great compassion. With sincere devotion, one can turn to Avalokiteshvara. Keep one’s mind focused on this mantra; do not let it wander. By practicing it consistently, all disasters and illnesses will be avoided.”
Their minds seemed controlled, unable to govern their wills. At that moment, they were no different from demons!
In an instant, the two who had been thrown to the ground were killed on the spot! The flesh around their throats had been completely gnawed away, revealing bare bones—a sight truly terrifying.
“Any wish made will be fulfilled. Reciting this mantra dispels demonic obstacles; it prevents harm; it eliminates karmic impurities. It brings wisdom; it leads to accomplishment; it frees one from the cycle of rebirth; it leads to the Land of Ultimate Bliss…”
That voice was everywhere, perfectly controlling everyone’s consciousness, leaving no chance for the servants to regain their senses.
The servants there tore and bit each other like beasts, letting out hysterical roars from their chests…

“Om—Ma—Ni—Pa—Mi—Hung—Kill—Kill—Kill!”
A pair of brothers who had come to work at the Wu family’s manor were now tangled together, rolling in the mud. The brotherly-looking man had just pinned his younger brother to the ground and was about to bite him when he felt a sharp pain at his ear—the left ear had been torn off by his brother!
“Kill them, and you can become a Buddha. By killing, one can achieve Buddhahood immediately. Killing one person earns the status of a Bodhisattva; killing ten earns the status of ten Bodhisattvas…”
The person hiding in the shadows incited them at just the right moment, unleashing all the savage desires among those present.
Two close friends from the same village now acted like strangers, punching and kicking each other while letting out strange screams. The younger man left five bloody marks on his friend’s face and kept laughing foolishly. Enraged, the other man bit his brother’s neck. Blood gushed out like a fountain from the younger man’s neck, with gurgling sounds.
His body trembled as blood flowed out, and eventually he stopped moving due to excessive blood loss.
“Ah! Ah! Ah!”
In no time, those in the lower room who hadn’t eaten any delicacies were overwhelmed by the mindless demons, all of them bitten to death.
“If the heart is filled with demons, then everything in the world is demonic; if the heart harbors evil, then everything around is evil. To eliminate evil, one must kill. Killing one person earns a merit, and when enough merits are accumulated, one can achieve Buddhahood.”
The person chanting the spells finally stepped out of the inner hall, a faint smirk on his lips, as he sneered at the gruesome scene inside.
This is all because of you forcing me to do this. This is just the beginning.
Haha, the Tang Dynasty is destined to become a pasture for the Tibetans, and these two-legged sheep will kneel at the feet of their king, serving as slaves forever!