"Didn't we say not to act rashly?"
Concerned about his son's safety, Su Liguo could no longer remain calm. He immediately stood up and strode toward the Buddhist hall.
The butler hurriedly followed, running in a flustered manner.
Lu Fei and Liu Fugui exchanged glances and quickly followed suit.
As the group hurried along, they had just reached the side hall when the heavy door of the Buddhist hall slammed open with a loud bang.
Two figures stumbled out in disarray.
It was Su Mingxuan and Master Yang. Both looked pale, covered in cold sweat, as if they had just experienced a tremendous fright, appearing quite disheveled.
"Eldest Young Master, are you alright?" The butler quickly helped Su Mingxuan up.
Su Liguo suppressed his anger and asked, "What happened?"
"Just now, Master Yang and the Buddha Mother had a contest of skills..." Su Mingxuan, barely able to stand, leaned against the butler, his lips trembling as he spoke.
"What was the outcome?"
"The master thrust out a sword... and managed to suppress the Buddha Mother..."
At this, everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief.
Liu Fugui could hardly believe it.
Could that Master Yang really be that powerful?
Su Liguo immediately glanced toward the Buddhist hall. He saw the Buddha Mother statue sitting serenely on the altar, still covered by the red cloth, showing no signs of being suppressed.
He couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "Master Yang, what exactly happened?"
Master Yang got up from the ground, adjusted his disheveled clothes, and said, "I must not deceive you, Chairman Su. The Buddha Mother from Nanyang is indeed formidable! I exerted all my strength and barely managed to subdue it."
"But rest assured, from now on, the Buddha Mother will not cause any more trouble. As long as the red cloth is not lifted, it will sincerely bless the Su family, ensuring your business flourishes and your descendants thrive!"
Su Liguo frowned slightly.
So, it was only suppressed and not completely eradicated?
This outcome did not satisfy him, but seeing Master Yang's disheveled appearance, it seemed this was the best he could do.
"What about my sick family members?"
"Their conditions will not worsen. As long as they are properly cared for and treated, they will eventually recover and return home," Master Yang replied vaguely, failing to convince Su Liguo.
He turned to Lu Fei. "What do you think, Young Master Lu?"
Lu Fei looked at Master Yang. A long bruise marred his neck, as if something had choked him. The Money Sword was half-destroyed, and the tassels had turned black. His Tang suit was stained with incense ash, and the hem had several tears.
It really did look like he had been in a fight.
Lu Fei then glanced back at the Buddha Mother statue, sensing that the previous cold pressure had vanished. The Buddha Mother no longer felt ominous and eerie, appearing as an ordinary statue.
Could it be that Master Yang really managed to suppress the Buddha Mother?
He pondered for a moment before asking, "Master Yang, since you battled the Buddha Mother, you must have seen its true form. What does it look like?"
"I fought it from a distance and did not see its true form," Master Yang replied, casting a disdainful glance at Lu Fei. "Battling in the Dao is profound; it's not like street brawling with knives and axes!"
Lu Fei was unfazed by his attitude; instead, he gave a thumbs-up in praise, saying, "Master Yang, you truly are a master! I have one pressing question I'd like you to clarify."
"Speak," Master Yang lifted his chin proudly.
"Since it is a deity, why can't the Buddha Mother reveal its true face? Why must it hide behind the red cloth?" Lu Fei fixed his gaze on him.
Both the "master" who sent the Buddha Mother to Su Liguo and this Master Yang, who had fought it, emphasized the same point: the cloth must not be lifted.
Why?
What secrets does the Buddha Mother conceal?
Master Yang paused for a moment before saying, "Nanyang deities have many taboos, each with their own peculiarities. What's strange about that?"
"Since you've already subdued the Buddha Mother, what's the point of all these rules?" Lu Fei smiled. "Why not lift the red cloth and let us see the Buddha Mother's true form, so that Chairman Su can feel at ease?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Master Yang.
Only Master Yang and Su Mingxuan had been inside the Buddhist hall, and what exactly happened was unknown to the others. Su Mingxuan had only seen him thrust out a sword; the outcome of the duel was merely his word.
Liu Fugui felt a surge of joy.
Lu Fei's move was brilliant!
He had thrown Master Yang a tough question.
If Master Yang dared not lift the red cloth, it would mean he hadn't truly suppressed the Buddha Mother. If he did lift it, Lu Fei would have the chance to see what kind of wicked entity the Buddha Mother really was, thus finding a way to subdue it completely.
"Master Yang, why aren't you moving? Are you afraid?" Liu Fugui urged in a teasing manner.
Lu Fei added, "How could that be? I've heard that Master Yang is famous in Jiangcheng's Daoist circles, not only for his profound abilities but also for his noble character. How could he stoop to the level of a conman?"
The two of them played off each other, pushing Master Yang into a corner.
Master Yang's expression twitched.
He couldn't go back and couldn't move forward.
Su Mingxuan, still leaning on the butler, regained a bit of strength and protested, "Didn't you hear Master Yang say? The red cloth is taboo; it must not be lifted! If you lack the ability yourselves, don't take it out on Master Yang. It's truly shameless!"
"Dad, tell them to get lost! People like this are dirtying our Su family's floor..."
"Mingxuan, don't be rude!" Su Liguo rebuked sternly. "Is this how I taught you to treat guests? These two are my invited guests!"
Su Mingxuan shivered in fright. He wanted to say more, but his father's icy glare silenced him.
Su Liguo nodded slightly to Lu Fei and Liu Fugui, then made a gesture to Master Yang, his tone brooking no refusal.
"Master Yang, please."
He would not be deceived by Master Yang's vague words; to make him believe that the Buddha Mother would no longer cause trouble, he needed something convincing.
When assessing a person, it's not about what they say, but what they do.
"Since Chairman Su has spoken, then I will give it a try," Master Yang swallowed hard, forcing a strained smile, and walked back into the Buddhist hall.
The others followed behind him.
Liu Fugui quietly gave Lu Fei a thumbs-up. Lu Fei remained composed, watching Master Yang's back.
Standing before the altar, beads of cold sweat formed on Master Yang's forehead, and with several pairs of piercing eyes behind him, he trembled as he reached out for the red cloth.
He tentatively tugged at it, and the cloth slipped slightly, revealing the base of the Buddha Mother.
It was a pair of legs seated on a lotus pedestal, carved from blue stone.
After waiting for a moment and seeing nothing happen, Master Yang let out a quiet sigh of relief and boldly pulled on the red cloth.
The red cloth slowly slid down.
The true form of the Buddha Mother was about to be revealed.
At that moment, everyone's hearts raced, and they didn't dare blink.
As the red cloth fell away completely, a strange fragrance wafted through the air, revealing the true form of the Buddha Mother to everyone.
All eyes were raised to gaze upon the Buddha Mother, filled with disbelief, and in an instant, everyone stood frozen in place.