I walked quickly, and as soon as I reached the temple, I noticed some people discussing the merit box. Red scarves were being handed out, but only to those who had made an offering. Staff members were explaining the temple’s rules and pointing out on a diagram which areas were off-limits.
Many people had already draped the scarves over their shoulders and started taking photos. I hurried inside, glanced around, and spotted a monk. I walked straight over to him.
"Excuse me, is Logan the Living Buddha here? I need to speak with him."
As I spoke, the monk in front of me immediately bowed.
"The Living Buddha does not see outsiders."
I was turned away immediately. I tried to say I was Logan’s friend, but the monk just smiled, shook his head, and walked off, telling me not to joke.
I bypassed the main hall and entered from the right side, passing crowds of people. After walking some distance, I saw a warning sign and a red wooden door ahead—behind it was the monks’ courtyard. I had no idea how to find Logan in such a huge temple.
After circling around for a while, I saw an old monk teaching scriptures to a group of young novices. Some tourists stood nearby, quietly watching. I walked over—I couldn’t understand a word the old monk was saying, but many tourists were chatting among themselves. I was stunned; they clearly didn’t understand either, yet nodded along as if everything made sense.
Finally, when the old monk finished, many tourists wanted to take photos with him. He didn’t refuse, agreeing pleasantly. Eventually, it was my turn.
"Master, could you take me to Logan the Living Buddha? I’m from Hades Circle."
As I spoke, the old monk gave me a strange look.
"Benefactor, are you alright? Do you need a doctor? Our Living Buddha does not meet with outsiders."
I grabbed the old monk and asked.
"Then, Master, what does it take for Logan the Living Buddha to agree to see someone?"
The old monk glanced around, then smiled without answering. He gestured for me to follow him. I hurried after, and he led me to the side of a Buddha hall before speaking.
"Benefactor, our Living Buddha only meets with those who are generous."
I gritted my teeth, quickly realizing what he meant.
"Get your abbot out here. I have nothing to say to a small fry like you."
I was getting angry and continued speaking.
"I am the current head of the Lanworths of Hades Circle. Go tell your superior lama."
As I spoke, the monk in front of me shook his head and left.
Once again, I wandered aimlessly around the temple for over an hour, asking every monk I saw to tell their master that I was the head of the Lanworths of Hades Circle.
Before long, a few security guards stopped me. They asked me not to disturb the peace of the temple and even questioned if something was wrong with my head.
"You’re the ones with something wrong in your heads."
For a moment, I argued with the guards. They tried to throw me out, but just then, an elderly lama slowly walked over.
"Everyone, please don’t be angry. This lady is a distinguished guest of our abbot."
I snorted and shook off the guard’s hand, following the old monk. He led me into the back section of Golden Temple, where the lamas gathered—a place off-limits to tourists.
"Forgive our rudeness, Lanworth."
I snorted coldly.
"Finally, someone in charge shows up."
The old lama laughed.
"Lanworth, you could have notified the nearby Hades Circle members—they would have relayed your message for you, and we would have welcomed you respectfully."
I sighed.
"No time. Can you take me to your Living Buddha?"
The old lama sighed helplessly. Ahead was a large courtyard flanked by buildings, with many lamas meditating and chanting, looking anxious. I found it strange. Following the old lama, I entered a modest hall where three even older lamas sat. The one in the middle stood and bowed.
"May I ask, Lanworth, what business do you have with Logan the Living Buddha?"
I hesitated for a moment, but still replied.
"Let me meet him first. I need to pass on a message to someone in private."
The old lama who seemed to be the abbot sighed helplessly.
"Unfortunately, you’re too late, Lanworth. Logan the Living Buddha has already attained nirvana."
I let out a cry, immediately realizing these lamas were lying to me.
"Are you really not going to tell me the truth?"
I asked, then continued.
"You’re lying, in front of Buddha no less. Aren’t you ashamed?"
Sure enough, when I said that, all the lamas in the room looked uncomfortable, but still refused to tell me.
"What’s so hard to talk about? You chant Buddha’s name all day, but look at the chaos outside—none of you from the Lama Order have helped. During the recent turmoil, we in Hades Circle were working ourselves to death. Did you help even once? You just sit in your temple, eating vegetarian food, chanting, waiting for those foolish tourists to give you money, right?"
My tone must have been harsh, because the lamas looked even more displeased. I could only apologize.
"I really have urgent business. Just let me see Logan once, or pass on my message: John Chou is waiting for him outside. I’m only here to deliver this."
In an instant, all the lamas’ faces changed dramatically. Suddenly, I heard chanting, drums, and bells, and the world spun as I fainted.
After a while, I came to, lying on a rock-hard bed. Rubbing my aching neck, I saw I was in what looked like an underground cell. Red Sanskrit covered the walls. As I tried to use my powers, I felt suddenly weak, and saw red Sanskrit written on my arms and forehead.
"What are you trying to do? I’m the head of Hades Circle!"
I shouted, but no one responded. I reached for my phone—confiscated. How could I have been so careless? I thought these lamas, being Buddhists, wouldn’t do anything drastic, but not only did they knock me out, they locked me up and wouldn’t even explain why.
"Hey, woman next door, stop yelling. This Brahma Spell is powerful—whether you’re human or ghost, if there’s anything evil inside you, don’t even think about getting out. Any powers you use will be suppressed."
I blinked. A deep, amused voice came from the cell next to mine.
"Who are you?"
I asked, and the voice next door burst out laughing.
"I’m Logan the Living Buddha."
I gasped, immediately jumping to my feet, but my head couldn’t fit through the iron bars—I couldn’t see what was outside.
"It’s all because of that bastard John Chou. He told me to come in here and tell you he’s waiting outside. What’s really going on?"
Logan burst out laughing, then spoke.
"I never thought I’d hear the name John Chou again. That’s ancient history—Mr. Brown must be here too!"
I shook my head and replied.
"No idea where Mr. Brown is, but Ms. Yi is here."
Logan laughed heartily from the next cell.
"That’s a rare sight—Ms. Yi coming out with John Chou. Back in the Hall of Bloodbane, that would have been unthinkable. I’d love to get out and see for myself."
"Why did they lock you up? Aren’t you the Living Buddha?"
Logan smiled helplessly and sighed.
"Over a hundred years ago, when I was exposed, these lamas trapped me here. Their formation is truly formidable, and I’ve accepted my fate—after all, it was my fault to begin with."
Curious, I pressed my cheek to the window and asked.
"What exactly happened?"
"This temple used to be tiny, barely the size of a palm. It was tucked away in a place like this, with hardly any incense offered—only the locals would come to worship. I was bored back then, watching the lamas toil away. Since I had nothing better to do, I pretended to be a high monk returning from distant cultivation and moved into their monastery. I taught them many things, prepared for certain events in advance, and foretold what was about to happen. They believed me. Gradually, word spread far and wide about me, and people started seeking me out for help. That’s how I became the Living Buddha, solving their problems for real."
I laughed and asked.
"But you’re clearly a ghost—how did you avoid their notice? After all, there are quite a few lamas with high cultivation here."
Logan burst out laughing.
"It's a shame, really. They couldn't sense my ghostly aura at all, since my ghost soul is rather unique. It wasn't until later that Yin Choujian saw through me. We fought, and I lost fair and square, so I decided to follow him and take on the world together. After that, I told everyone at the temple I was going into seclusion for meditation or something—came up with all sorts of reasons. They believed me, brought me food and water every day, never dared disturb me. I left behind a fragment of my soul and fooled them for hundreds of years. Eventually, when I had nowhere else to go, I came back here."
"It's a shame, really. They couldn't sense my ghostly aura at all, since my ghost soul is rather unique. It wasn't until later that John Chou saw through me. We fought, and I lost fair and square, so I decided to follow him and take on the world together. After that, I told everyone at the temple I was going into seclusion for meditation or something—came up with all sorts of reasons. They believed me, brought me food and water every day, never dared disturb me. I left behind a fragment of my soul and fooled them for hundreds of years. Eventually, when I had nowhere else to go, I came back here."
"You clearly did some good. Why did they turn on you and imprison you?"
Logan sighed again.
"To be honest, I was rather fond of human flesh. Every now and then, I'd sneak a bite of a young lama—not often, just when the opportunity arose. If I saw one with weak vitality who wouldn't live long, I'd eat him directly, then convince the others it was fate or something. They believed me, thought the young lama had met with an accident while out on pilgrimage."
I immediately felt a surge of anger.
"You deserved it."
But Logan just laughed again.
"When I came back, I kicked the habit. But decades ago, I tried to eat a tourist who'd come here for fun, and that's when I got caught. I've been sealed up here for nearly fifty years now. Sigh."