Chapter 120: The Believer
"Is that so? But that's enough."
Marcus had only approached it with a trial mindset. The expulsion of the curse from Dodo's body had clearly harmed the Mother Buddha Deity.
In the following days, the Mother Buddha Deity's interference with the temple hadn't strengthened. Marcus suspected that the Hsu family members were trying to find ways to restrict the deity.
After all, they were afraid that the Mother Buddha was clearly trying to expand her followers. Once the deity successfully gained initial support, it would be the end for them.
"Master Yuan, how long can the divine power last?"
"Seven days! The ritual is set up for seven days. The divine power will dissipate in seven days at most."
Master Yuan answered solemnly. He was considering whether to actively seek out the Mother Buddha Deity, but he was old and frail and might not be able to successfully exorcise the demon.
From Marcus's description, this was clearly an evil entity capable of developing followers.
This type of entity might not be very strong, but it was definitely very dangerous and had many special abilities.
"Seven days? That's alright, there's still time to prepare."
Marcus was inspired by the previous world and had obtained many books on spiritual practices from Master Alex, studying some techniques before daring to try his luck in this mission world.
Judging from the supernatural activity outside these past few days, the power emanating from the Mother Buddha Deity was insufficient to pose a threat to Marcus.
"Ronan, you take Dodo and stay with Master Yuan. Although the curse on her has been lifted, if she runs around, she might be entangled by the Mother Buddha again."
Marcus instructed Ronan Chen, who was carrying Dodo back to the guest room in the courtyard.
"Then, Marcus, where are you going?"
Ronan Chen asked somewhat anxiously.
He could only feel at ease with Marcus by his side. He knew Dodo was in danger, but he was just an ordinary person and didn't have any methods to deal with such evil spirits. Ronan Chen even considered becoming Master Yuan's apprentice.
"Did you see this news? This is the Mother Buddha's devotee. I have to go."
Marcus pointed to the news being broadcast on the television.
On television, a female reporter dressed professionally was reporting a story:
"Breaking news! A teenage girl was found collapsed by the roadside. Strangely, her entire body was covered in symbols, raising suspicions of abandonment."
Marcus recognized her; this was the only remaining girl from the Hsu family that Li Ronan and her companions encountered when they visited the Hsu family's compound.
This girl had also been sacrificed by the Hsu family since birth, becoming a devotee of the Mother Buddha Deity.
Every time the Mother Buddha Deity became agitated, the Hsu family would hold a ceremony, cutting flesh and blood from this girl's body to offer as a sacrifice to the deity.
During the ritual, she would be sent by her family into the dark cave where the Mother Buddha resided, facing the deity's terror alone.
From a young age, she had been brainwashed by her family, regarding the Mother Buddha as a true deity and keeping the deity's venomous insects and toads as pets.
In her worldview, the dark places like the cave were sacred places.
She was chosen by the deity. It was only natural that her family would cut off her flesh, and the Mother Buddha would take it, for only in this way could the deity protect everyone.
Those manipulative Hsu family members instilled false ideas in her, making her see self-sacrifice as her mission and destiny.
She was a child even more pitiful than Dodo.
Even though her upbringing was distorted by the Hsu family, she still possessed her own kindness.
When Li Ronan miscarried, she hurriedly used toad water to save her. She didn't know there was any curse in it; in her mind, it was a cure-all.
This girl was probably taken away by the Hsu family when they fled their compound.
Otherwise, she would never have survived to this day. It's very likely that the family used her as a means to control the Mother Buddha and made some arrangements against her.
However, now that the devotee has been released, it signifies the Hsu family's compromise. They restrict the deity but dare not provoke her, forced to constantly waver between serving and betraying, barely surviving—all consequences of their own evil actions.
"You and Dodo must not leave the courtyard. Master Yuan is here; nothing will happen. I'll be back once I find this girl,"
Marcus said before driving off to the hospital featured in the news.
He desperately wanted to try again to remove the curse from her body, as removing Dodo's curse had already damaged the Mother Buddha Deity.
The more damage to the Mother Buddha, the better.
Moreover, the appearance of this devotee meant that the deity's scheme had to be under his control.
In the original story, the girl's appearance was meant to remind Li Ronan to copy the curse from the devotee onto Dodo and then sacrifice her.
However, Li Ronan, who initially pitied the little girl, infiltrated the hospital, brutally cut off the girl's other finger, and recorded the curse on her body with a camera.
Li Ronan wrote the incantation on her body, intending to go to the cave and spread the deity's curse to the world through the internet, hoping to gain the deity's forgiveness.
Unfortunately, she had been too clever for her own good, using her own old hair and teeth to complete the offerings in the deity's cave, and the finger came from the little girl; she had never given up a single part of herself.
Now, even if she wanted to sacrifice others, she couldn't.
The cursed camera was destroyed by Marcus, so Ronan Chen and the psychologist would no longer attempt suicide, Dodo's curse was lifted, and the devotee was about to be found by Marcus.
Soon, Marcus arrived at the hospital, without changing into medical attire.
In these hospital departments, there were only a few attending physicians; nurses could recognize each other at a glance.
He simply dressed casually, carrying a bag of flowers, wearing a face mask, and walked to the little girl's bedside, without anyone questioning him.
The little girl's entire body was covered in tattoos of the incantation; she was probably eleven or twelve years old.
She was lying on the bed, unconscious, in the exact same condition as Dodo had been—a condition that medicine couldn't cure.
The nurse had just changed her IV drip and left. Marcus looked around to make sure no one was watching, then took out a large duffel bag.
He put the little girl inside, covered her with a jacket, and then turned and went downstairs, driving back to Master Yuan's Temple.
In this critical time, he didn't have time to explain anything to the people at the hospital.
Taking the little girl away meant the Mother Buddha's power wouldn't affect the hospital, and it was very likely that he would even save someone's life.
The curse on this little girl was much deeper than Dodo's; she had experienced countless rituals and had countless physical contacts with the deity.
Whether it was because the deity was severely injured because of Dodo, or for some other reason, they weren't hindered on the return journey.
Marcus calmly returned to Master Yuan's Temple.
"Master Yuan, do you have any ideas about the curse on this girl?"
Marcus brought the little girl into the temple and asked Ronan Chen to stay in the room to take care of Dodo and not come out, to prevent the little girl from having any of the deity's methods lurking within her.
Master Yuan carefully observed the little girl for a long time before sighing and shaking his head, wiping his eyes with his weathered hand.
This said it all.
He felt sorry for the poor little girl, but there was nothing he could do.
(End of Chapter)
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