Adam the Spirit Master

Chapter 16

 I felt the force descending and quickly brought up hands to execute the Kuji-in or Nine Hands Seal which served as our spiritual weapon against dark and unseen spirits. 

“ 临兵斗者皆阵列前行“

Instantly a shield of illumination formed in front of me. With a swerve, I leaped forward and gave the force an outward thrust.

The marauding force was now a dark mass that knocked on my shield like a reckless bull. With each pound, I felt pressure on my hands. 

I am dealing with a reckless force. In the midst, I dropped my Buki Brush. As I had to maintain the shield, I was physically unable to reach for my principal weapon.

I clasped my hands together, my right fingers over the left, and combined my pointer fingers to form a sword-like pose, then commanded. 

“Forces of the four directions, at my command! 四方奇兵，为我所用“

It was a war command to focus my energy but the knocks on my shield continued before I brought on the full strength of my powers. Each knock on my shield came with a deep groan that grew in impact. I noticed cracks began to form on the shield. Not many supernatural forces have the strength to break my power shield.

The dark mass began to mutate, and a human face formed, which then changed from an old man’s face to a lady’s. 

“I am Adam Wong Takahashi. Identify yourself,” I demanded, but the only response I received was the incessant hammering on the shield. I worried as I noticed cracks in the shield, which soon spread like a spider web. Finally, I appreciate what Granny Gui told me about the powers of the spirits.  Ache was starting to build in my wrists. 

I had underestimated my opponent. 

Taking a deep breath, I intensified my powers. With my left hand, I wrote the character “护 Protect!” in my other palm and delivered it in a robust shove.

Instantly, an umbrella of light formed over my head, traveling down my body to my limbs and onto the shield. It had the desired impact as the dark mass paused, recoiled, and rescinded. Suddenly, it rolled back and disappeared into the far side of the hall. 

I found the respite and wanted to check on Gui but I had underestimated my opponent. The dark force was only regrouping. It soon materialized, formed quickly like a boulder, and rolled towards me.

The next moment, my shield was crushed, and I was thrown against the wall. I felt pain throbbing down my spine as my fingers went numb. I separated my hands and recombined to muster the force to hold the shield.

“Come on Adam. You can do better!”

As the boulder of dark force rolled toward me, the chill erupted in me. A bout of nausea hit me. I steadied myself and raised my left index and middle finger and clutched my other fingers like it was a sword. I jabbed my fingers forward but the heads-on approach earned me a burnt sensation on the fingertips. 

I felt my knees feeling the impact.  Suddenly, a figure bolted and stood in front of me.

“天地之兵，为我而用！All forces of heaven and earth at my disposal “ The voice sounds familiar but in my compromised state, I could barely place it. 

”Ohmm!” 

The new arrival cried and with a twitch of her hands, a purple stream of light poured forth and held the dark boulder in place. The dark force spluttered but splintered into smaller dark energies. 

Before the dark force could re-organize, the figure lifted me and leapt backward into a vortex of light. Granny Gui was left behind. 

I tried to recognize the sudden samaritan but I soon passed out.

*

I woke to find Ah Mui looking over me through her black-rimmed spectacles. I was lying on the floor. 

“Dr Adam?”

“Ah Mui?”

I was trying to gather my thoughts. I just came back from a transition

“Adam, are you fine?” Visnu asked

I realized I had fallen off my chair. The basin had overturned, apparently by me and the floor is wet.

“Are you fine?” Ah Mui asked

I checked my surrounding

“I am back? I am back!” 

“Yes, you are.” Visnu said “Luckily”

“It was a tough battle,” I mumbled

“You are twitching, and we started seeing the bruises on your hands.” Ah Muiadded.

I checked my hand and found blackish marks. She is right and it sure hurts

“My dear brother disciple, how are you?”

Someone spoke and I found the voice familiar. It took just seconds before I placed the voice.

It cannot be.

I looked up and immediately a tall lady who was clad in purple suit with a black dress and pants. Her trademark boots with a silvery base made her always stand out in a crowd. Her long hair was nicely disciplined into a ponytail. 

“Hello Adam.” She said cooly. Her smooth voice always ended with a sharp edge.

“Kelly! Kelly? Kelly Nishimura”

“You don't have to call that many times. I am here, Adam, my junior.”

“Why are you here?”

“Long story.” She said.

I was pleasantly surprised. 

My relationship with Kelly is always an affectionate partnership between fellow apprentices and partners that has seen more ups than downs. We spent fifteen summers and autumns together, training under one of the best exorcists of our time, Ohmyoji Master Sato. 

We used to meet twice a year, in Spring and Autumn in Otsu, Japan for our annual reunion. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our annual rituals, but we stayed in touch. She was busy with her ghost-slaying ventures and mainly worked with governments and commercial organizations. A different creature from me. 

Nevertheless, we had a close and warm relationship, trained together when we were teenagers and bonded as siblings through the hellish training. We lived through the four seasons, from the sweet vibes of Spring to the biting chill of Winter and supported each other through the trials.  Under Master Sato, we served our apprenticeship together on several assignments in Japan and China.

If I ever had my back to the wall, Kelly would be my preferred partner among all of my fellow disciples. 

“How did she get in here?” I eyed Visnu who nodded in Ah Mui’s direction.

“She called, Dr Adam.” Ah Mui said “I remembered both of you met two years ago and so

I thought she might be a good help. So I told her about our plans tonight.” 

“When you just joined Adam as his slave,” Kelly smirked. “We met at the university office. Remember?”

“What brought you here?” I enquired weakly “I thought you were busy with a project in Thailand.” 

She laughed her trademark laughter – the deep-throaty laugh that gets to your ears. 

“You still remember me, don’t you?”

“Of course, I am your senior…”

“Uhhh, excuse me. How many times must I say this? I am your senior. I joined Master Sato a week before you.” She asserted.

“Yes that's true but you disappeared after the first week of training before appearing a month later. You were ordained and admitted much later, my dear junior disciple.” I quickly corrected her. 

Kelly placed her hands on the hips “If not for me, you would be crushed.”

A wide-eyed Visnu turned “Is she telling the truth?”

“The transition is a challenge. It was something unexpected.” I said, crestfallen. After a short pause, I looked at Kelly 

“Anyway, thank you for turning up.”

“You are welcome.” 

“Now tell me, what’s the purpose of your arrival?”

“I needed something from you.”