Half a month passed quickly. Looking at the tally marks I scratched into the wall with a stone, day after day, I felt like I couldn't hold on much longer.
My only comfort was that I could chat with Yuna Ji from time to time. She hadn't been outside for so long, she didn't even know what the world looked like anymore.
These days, I patiently explained things to her, and she got excited like a little child.
"By the way, Ethan, that monk mentioned someone named John Chou. Who is he to you?"
I let out an awkward sound, not sure how to answer Yuna Ji, so I just brushed it off.
"He's... a friend of mine."
"Oh! Really?"
I nodded.
"Ethan, when we get out, will you take me to meet your friend? Please?"
I shook my head desperately.
"Why not?"
"He's... not good with women. He's pretty fierce. It's better not to."
Thinking about how John Chou actually sent ghosts to negotiate with Universal Temple for me, I remembered my apartment building had two female ghosts—one small, one large. They were probably the ones the landlord kept in his room.
"The monk is coming," Yuna Ji said. I hurried downstairs.
Six days ago, Master Jianyun would come by every day, stand at the door, and preach Buddhism to me. I didn't understand much, but I had to grit my teeth and listen.
"Mr. Zhang, today I wish to explain the Lotus Sutra to you..."
"Wait, Master Jianyun, can you let my cousin come over and talk to me? I'm so bored alone."
"All is born from the mind, Mr. Zhang. You should patiently read the sutras and calm your heart..."
I covered my ears, showing I didn't want to listen anymore.
"That's not too much to ask, is it?"
Jianyun looked at me, then nodded.
"Alright, we'll stop here for today. Later, I'll have Chongsheng come over to keep you company, Ethan, so you won't be bored."
I anxiously paced back and forth, just hoping my cousin would come soon.
"Amitabha, Ethan, I have arrived," my cousin said.
I stared at my cousin in disbelief. After all these days, he seemed like a completely different person. The cousin who used to joke around and think about women all day now looked so upright, his eyes empty of desire.
"Cousin, have they brainwashed you?"
"Ethan, the Buddha said: 'Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.' My worldly self has already faded into smoke. Now, I am nothing but a drop in the ocean—a monk named Chongsheng."
Then my cousin sat cross-legged and began chanting. No matter how I called him, he seemed not to hear.
"Little monk..." Yuna Ji's soft voice floated over, seductive and haunting.
I saw my cousin's eyelids twitch, as if he was about to open his eyes.
"Little monk, come here..." Yuna Ji's voice was so sweet it could melt a person. I felt a shiver run through me.
"Little monk, I'm calling you, but you ignore me..."
Suddenly, my cousin opened his eyes and stared straight ahead, then stood up.
"Come over here, little monk, I want to talk to you!"
"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Demons arise from the heart..." My cousin quickly shut his eyes and started chanting again.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Cousin, there's a beautiful woman over there. Go take a look, I promise you'll be satisfied."
Step by step, my cousin walked up the stairs. I hurried to the second floor and looked down. He squinted, hesitating at the doorway.
"Little monk, my hands are so cold. Touch them and see."
My cousin opened his eyes. I wanted to rush out and slap him.
At that moment, my cousin's dull expression gradually returned to normal.
"Touch them, little monk. My hands are so cold."
I watched as my cousin reached his hand inside. Instantly, a strong desire flashed in his eyes.
"Ah, girls really are the best..." my cousin exclaimed, excited. He plunged both hands in, doing who knows what.
"Little monk, look how hard it is for me here. If you let me go, and that one beside you... heh heh..."
Suddenly, my cousin nodded like a pecking chicken and leapt down the stairs.
"Don't worry, Ethan, I've got this. You two wait here—I'm done with this place anyway. If I die, so be it..."
I looked at my cousin with resentment and sighed.
"Damn it, didn't you say there was nothing you could do? As soon as a woman asks, you just..."
I was both angry and amused.
Sure enough, when it was time for meals, my cousin brought the lunchbox over. I hurried to him.
"How did it go, cousin?"
At first, my cousin just stared blankly at me. After making sure no one was around, he smiled, then pulled out a blister pack—twenty-four red pills.
"What are these?"
"Heh, my senior brothers are tough, but if they take these, they'll be out cold for a while. When I steal the key, I'll let you both out and we can leave together."
"Are these poison?"
"You're overthinking, Ethan. An old buddy gave these to me years ago, in case I met a shy girl—just give her a little and... heh..."
"Cousin, that's illegal!"
"Come on, what do you take me for? I've never used them. I don't need help with women."
"Then why do you still carry them around?"
After that, my cousin ran off to Yuna Ji, flirting with her before leaving, satisfied.
Two days passed. On the third afternoon, my cousin brought food, followed by one of his senior brothers. Before leaving, my cousin flashed me an OK sign. I understood immediately—tonight was the night.
Uneasy, I grew more anxious as darkness fell, desperately hoping my cousin would come and free me from this prison.
"Ethan, Ethan!" Yuna Ji called. I ran upstairs. She greeted me with a bright smile.
"What is it?"
"Ethan, I have a Ji Family Heirloom. The monks locked it away in this temple. If we escape, could you help me retrieve it?"
I nodded without thinking. I couldn't believe the monks had locked Yuna Ji away for so many years and even kept her Ji Family Heirloom. It was outrageous.
"Where is it?"
"It's right here in the building where I live."
I looked at her, puzzled.
"Once the door opens, come in. In the center of the room, there's a floor tile. Underneath it is my Ji Family Heirloom. I'm just a woman; I don't have the strength to lift such a heavy tile..."
"Got it."
I waited and waited, but my cousin still hadn't come. I rubbed my dry eyes. The moon hung high—it must be late. Had my cousin been caught?
Just as I had that thought, I heard footsteps. My cousin came running, out of breath.
"Cousin, it's done," he said, pulling out a ring of keys. He tried them one by one. On the fifth try, the lock clicked open. I swung the door wide and rushed out, gulping in fresh air.
"Thank you, cousin. I'm losing my mind in here."
"Hurry. A few of my senior brothers are still out patrolling, but I knocked out the rest. The master should be meditating. We have half an hour. The patrols are all in their rooms now."
We hurried to Yuna Ji's iron tower. With the keys, we tried again and again until the door opened. Yuna Ji looked at us with emotion. My cousin grinned, rushing in to try and kiss her, but she stopped him.
"Not now, little monk. Wait until we're off the mountain—then you can do as you please."
I shook my head helplessly, watching my cousin act like a starving wolf.
Then my cousin and I began searching the floor. After a while, we found a hollow tile. Gritting our teeth, we tried to pry it up with our fingers, but it wouldn't budge.
"Forget it, we'll come back for it next time. If the monks find us, we're done for."
"No!" Yuna Ji cried, her gaze icy. We jumped in fright, but she quickly smiled again.
"This means everything to me. Please, help me."
"I've got an idea," my cousin said, running out. Soon he returned with a small hoe.
"I went to the vegetable garden yesterday and forgot to put the hoe back. Lucky."
With a bang, the heavy tile popped up. Suddenly, dazzling golden light burst forth. Beneath the tile was the Ji Family Heirloom, a fist-sized white jade stone. The walls of the pit were covered in golden Sanskrit, swirling as if alive.
A splitting headache hit me. Yuna Ji shrank back in terror.
"Ethan, hurry, grab it!" Yuna Ji urged.
I reached out, but the moment I touched the Sanskrit, it felt like electricity shot through me. I screamed in pain.
My cousin stared at us, confused.
"What's wrong with you two? Is it this thing?"
I realized my cousin couldn't see the golden Sanskrit. Only Yuna Ji and I could. He reached in and grabbed the Ji Family Heirloom, weighing it in his hand.
"Whoa, why's this thing so light?"
"Ethan, can you put the Ji Family Heirloom away for me?" Yuna Ji asked. I took it, surprised by its weightlessness—it felt real, but light as a feather.
Without thinking, I slipped the Ji Family Heirloom into my pocket. Suddenly, the Sanskrit spun out from the pit, wrapping around me. I screamed.
"Ethan, what's wrong?" My cousin couldn't see it and rushed to my side.
"Cousin, something's... something's wrapped around me!"
My cousin reached out and felt around my body. To my shock, the Sanskrit began to shrink and seep into his body.
Suddenly, I was freed. Yuna Ji laughed and grabbed my hand.
"Let's go! Hahaha! I can't believe the Brahma Lock was broken so easily. Looks like my luck's finally turning."