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2024-10-31 01:22:40My eyebrows raised in sharp inquisition.
"No wonder you are in Singapore."
Kelly flashed an evil smile. I understood her too well.
“I needed your tool.”
“Which one?”
She bent over and helped me to my feet.
"Which one?" I repeated
“I had an assignment in Singapore. There is spirit on the loose and had created some havoc.”
“Let’s talk later then," I said.
“ Thank you."
"I hadn't agreed." I said, "I have this assignment."
"What’s this transition about?”
“I suspect there is a source of grievance. I think my hunch is right."
"That will mean..." Kelly was cut off in mid-sentence.
“Look, people! I am sorry to disrupt your disciple lovey-dovey catch-up chat, but can I know what happened?” It was May and her face was strained. Whenever she is stressed, I am irritated.
“I am sorry…” I said, "Our conversation is part of my investigation."
“Then please share with us.” She demanded.
Ah Mui had brought over a huge cup of warm water. I had been drained and felt dehydrated, so I grabbed the drink. For the next few seconds, I drank like a hippopotamus.
“How long have I been out?” I asked
“Dr Adam, almost an hour” Ah Mui reported
“That’s very long,” Kelly remarked
“I knew it was not going to be easy, but I didn’t expect it to be this rough,” I muttered.
“You found something?” Kelly asked.
"A reckless and dangerous spirit.”
“Dangerous” May and Visnu exchanged looks.
“Yes, this is unexpected. I encountered a dark spirit. If the force is green or dark brown, it speaks of displeasure. Grey and white are benign forces. But my encounter is a dark mass of energy.”
“There is something in this house?” May repeated and I sensed her scepticism.
“Adam, can you pacify it?”Visnu asked
“Our first encounter. Too early to tell.”
“Can you tell us more?” May asked, getting impatient.
“I assessed there is a disturbed spirit in this space. Even the 地基主 has been attacked. I will need time to investigate further.” 地基主 refers to the guardian of a residential or business unit who has the primary responsibility of protecting its inhabitants.
I sipped from my bottle but found it empty. I turned to Ah Mui who then dug out a bottle of mineral water from her bag and passed it to me.
“What do you think Kelly?”
“My dear junior, you were unprepared. Remember Master Sato always taught us, never underestimate the unseen opponent."
Ah Hock interrupted. He had been wiping the floor after I returned from the transition.
“You mean the 地基主 altar.” He asked having heard my words. "Our 地基主?"
I nodded. His sudden response showed his trust in me.
Ah Hock quickly added. “I forgot to share. Actually, the tablet was chipped off. I realized just this afternoon. The bottom corners were both broken. I thought it must be the cats or rats but we had never had problems in the past years.”
“Ah Hock were there any major incidents in the past days or weeks?”
Ah Hock looked to the ceiling for inspiration and then shook his head
“Nothing. Everyone lives harmoniously. Mr Chua does not like quarrels. He always advocates harmony. You know every morning; he would say positive things to everyone. I,I cant remember anything bad in the past weeks.”
I am befuddled. Something is not right.
“I need to clear my head. The affairs for tonight is over.”
I stood up and started packing my things “Visnu, I owe you an explanation and I will need more time to investigate.
“There is justification to press on an investigation of the case as a supernatural incident.” Visnu stated while May was less encouraging “I hope you find that reason strong enough.”
“It is quite obvious there is. The presence is very strong." I asserted "The nature of that spirit is malignant. I am not sure about the link but I had a gut feeling it will definitely yield some leads.”
May was silent and for a moment I saw the vulnerability in her as she struggled to block me.
“I will continue with my investigation of all the human suspects.” She said blandly.
Visnu nodded “I support May’s position. She will lead the forensic investigation while I will also support Adam’s hypothesis.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that and for the next steps…”
“What do you need now?
“I need to talk to John Chua. Maybe in the morning.”
I looked at Visnu but before he could answer, an interruption darted across the room and landed on my forehead.
“Who are all of you? What are you doing in my house?”
I swung around to see an unexpected arrival.
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Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 18
I turned around and found myself looking at the voice's owner, walking down the corridor towards us with a confident sashay. She is tall and walked with confidence. Her long and wavy hair projected an air of easy confidence. Closer up, she had a beautiful oval face with an impeccable complexion that seemed to have just received some sunshine. I am luckily half a head taller, still.Despite the displeasure on her face, she was pleasing to the eye. One is compelled to be civil in front of the lady. “May I know what is going on?” she demanded as she stood looking at us all.“Hi Mavis.” Uncle Hock called out dropped his mop and walked over "Good to see you back home."“Uncle Hock, what is happening here? It is such a mess. Who are these people?”She gesticulated and looked around “Where is Daddy?”“Your daddy has gone to the condominium at Sentosa. He is not feeling well.”“Still upset about Claudia’s passing?” Mavis saidThen she turned in my direction and looked at us. “Who are these
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 19
Chapter 8After seeing off Ah Mui, I finally reached home at almost 2am.Kelly had followed me and she made a loud whistle upon entering my condominium“Nice place. Keeping is minimalist yet I like the pictures on the walls.”“Don’t touch anything.” I reminded her.“Your decoration reminded me of our home in Kyoto. That ambience.”“Look at all the pictures you took with Master Sato.” She danced over to the walls behind the TV and studied the portraits we took during the last gathering in Japan.“You mentioned you wanted to borrow something from me?”Kelly flashed a sly smile. “You have the Gōruden with you?”The Goruden is a much-coveted tool for an exorcist, any exorcist. It was rumoured to have been created during the Hideyoshi Shogunate and passed down through the ages from one Master Onmyōji to another and proven to be instrumental in keeping many forces of darkness at bay. In my sect, Ten-men sō - Heaven Gate Sect, the Goruden is handed only to the best deshi- disciple“We need
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 20
I walked over to my desk as Kelly nodded eagerly with her eyes following me. I stopped at the altar and knocked three times on the urn. Instantly a chirp was heard and a flame lit up that eventually grew into a tiny figure with a rim of orange over its body. Standing at no more than five inches. It has a boyish face and fiery-red cheeks, with eyes so huge it filled half of the face.It unleashed a soft croon and leapt onto my hands as Kelly unleashed a cry of relish “Hi, Mon,” I said.“Mon?”“Mon as in Monday. It was created on Monday as I meditated.”“He looks just as nerdy as you.”I frowned, as did my Shugo-sha. It flipped its tail from side to side. “Sorry but it is adorable, and it looked robust for its size.”Kelly opened up her left palm in an inviting gesture. Mon took a look at me before flying over. “It has wings,” Kelly exclaimed as Mon fluttered over her palm. “What about your Shugo-sha? I asked “I heard you raised one last year.”Kelly flashed a smug smile and winke
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 21
3rd December 1999Love at first sight is one of the most inexplicable, yet beautiful, thing in the universe.This phenomenon is the reason for my existence. My parents’ love story reads like a novel. I was born to a Japanese mother and a Singapore-Chinese father in 1993. My mother, Yoshiko Takahashi, had followed her parents to Singapore in the mid-1980s. My maternal grandfather has been deployed to the island state as the plant manager at a Japanese biochemical multinational. My mother could finish her final year at the Singapore National University, majoring in Economics. It was the fateful year at university when she met my father, Jonathan Wong, a research fellow at the university. According to my mother, they met at an uneventful book signing ceremony for one their professor. It was love at first sight and an unexpected one. My mother was slim and tall for a Japanese standing at 1.7m while my father, though bookwormish, always provided a calming influence with his soft-spoken
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 22
6th March 2024I woke up with a sharp pain in my temples, ramifications from my exertions during the transition. I looked around my apartment. Kelly was gone. When did she leave?Morning comes quickly and I was awoken by incessant ring. I forgot to put to silent mode. I picked it up, my eyes half closed“Mui?”“Dr Adam? Its Visnu. I need to see you urgently.”“The Chua Mansion?”“Yes. Our investigation of Hock and Aminah did not yield anything.”“What do you mean by that?”“So far we checked their phone records and WhatsApp message history but there are no evidence of bad relationships with the deceased.”“What did May say?”“I have asked her to continue her investigation but May being May, she is not easily convinced.”“If I help you, my primary objective is to solve the case and find the person who killed Claudia. It is not to satisfy May. Is that fine with you?”“I have absolute trust in you, Adam. If I hadn't, I would not have looked for you.”“Thank you.”“As for you and May….”
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 23
As Marcus Chua flashed a pointed finger at me, Visnu hastened to explain“Dr Adam is a faculty at the National University. He majors in sociology.” Visnu looked at me and winked. He has been our trusted partner. We have worked with him on some unique cases where traditional forensic methods fail to solve but his methods worked.”“Unique cases?" Marcus looked at me questionably.“Yes, Dr Adam is a credible authority in exorcism and quite a track record. I think he will be very helpful in our investigation.” Visnu added. Marcus looked unconvinced but I stepped in with a question. “Wouldn’t you like to know what happened last night?” I turned to John Chua.“I heard from Hock that you had done something?” He asked. “Yes. There was a ritual.”“Ritual? Dad, you paid for this?”The comment earned a frown of reproach from John Chua and I knew I had to jump in“Mr Chua graciously allowed us to conduct the session and it was a successful ritual. The process was an eye-opener.”“Eye-opener?” M
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 24
“What are you guys up to?” She quizzed. Her presence has an effect on everyone and soon everyone was on their feet, with the exception of John Chua.“We are, eh, in some conversation.”“That I am excluded?” Her eyes trained on him and a smile grew on his tired face. This is …” She asked.“Dr Adam. This is my sister, Susan Chua.”I bowed and noticed Visnu was on his feet and greeted her with deference. However, I noticed Susan Chua’s attention was on me. “Oh, Dr Adam Wong of National University?” She frowned and shut his eyes “ That Dr Adam from Department of Sociology? Was that you on the Sunday times quite a while ago?”Susan Chua's words surprised me. She knows me! It took me a while to realize that woman standing in front of me is Madam Susan Chua, a well-know philanthropist and the patron of my faculty. She is also the younger sister of John Chua and a socialite who is well-connected to high society. “It is a pleasure seeing you again. I enjoyed that open lecture you gave
Adam the Spirit Master Chapter 25
After we were left alone, there was an awkward moment.“You are really a teaching faculty?”I nodded “Why do you ask?”“You looked too young and good-looking to be one.”I swallowed hard. Wow “Are they all bookworms and intellectual snobs?”“I, I am different,” I replied, nervously.“How did a PhD become an exorcist?” Mavis asked, playing with her cup.“You cannot blame my Daddy or Ah Kor for being sceptical. Usually, they are very nice to strangers.”“I don’t blame them too. The wariness is something I have grown used to. This is the usual reception I get from people. When they announced Master Adam Wong -Takahashi, they were expecting a fifty-year-old with grey moustache and armed with a wooden sword and ninja hairstyle.”“You don’t have any of those?”She chuckled " Not forgetting the booming voice and fierce eyes."“I do have some tools of trade but no sword and moustache!"Both of us giggled “So how long have you been doing this?”“My first exorcist assignment was with my master,
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ay confronted me and I saw her aura was an intimidating ring of red. “What was that for, Adam? Why did you do that?”"Calm down. Don't snap." I defended myself. “ I am just trying to find the truth. I am not hurting her.”“You should at least tell me before you do it?”“Would you believe me?”May shook her head “I tried and I know you have super powers and can see these things and communicate but can you not interfere with my work? She was about to tell me.”“The truth is your methods don’t always work. She did hear something but somehow did not pick it up. She saw something.”May bit her lips “Fine! You had your chance but this is the last time. I will have to report the matter to Visnu about this.”"So be it. For now, let us give Aminah medical assistance,” I said. Ah Mui had brought over medicated oil and applied it on her temples. “So what did she see? Why is she like that?” May asked. “ I think she had seen the spirit. “What is that?”“During the transition, we arrived back
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After a long and awkward silence, Aminah spoke with a firm tone“I am a mother. I have two children – six and four. I cannot be with them because I come Singapore. I need to make money for my family. However, I make sure they have toys. They have no childhood but I must give them enough money. I saw things Mum Claudia threw. They belonged to Marcus, Mavis, and Jonathan. All memories. You cannot throw.”Aminah's lament brought a sense of melancholy and I realized May's stern look had softened. Her eyebrows drooped. She is human, after all.“I can fully understand. Then what happened?” I said.“Mum Claudia was angry. She put things in the box and threw them by the roadside.”“She was mad at you?” I repeated. “Mum Claudia was so angry and her voice loud. I feel my ears burning… " Aminah grimaced and slapped her forehead. "She blamed me for mistakes I did not make.” Aminah shook her head as her eyes burned with angst. “I did not make mistakes.” Her face crumpled in stress as tears roll
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May looked haggard, probably from the rigours of the new investigation. The dark eye rings spoke of a sleepless night. However she still looked menacing with her slender build and trained arms. “May Li?”“I can see you have just finished one of your….work”“Thank you for your kind words.”“Really?”“You used to say ‘strange rites’ or ‘odd rituals’”“People change.”“People change.” I repeated, “Why are you here?”“Adam I need you to stop whatever “ “Siti Aminah I need to question you.” It is important.”I looked at Aminah whose face was now white as a sheet of paper“What happened?”“We would like to seek some clarification.”“Did you get your investigation wrong?” Mavis asked“Madam, our investigation showed that Aminah and Claudia Goh had a long telephone conversation on the day before she died.”Aminah shook her head continuously“No, no. I did not kill Mum Claudia. No, I did not.”“I did not say you kill her. Can you calm down?”At her cue, the two officers tried to restrain h
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Chapter 34
I woke and felt like I was starved of oxygen. “Ah Mui! Mavis!”I cried out loud but nobody responded. I was all alone on the lawn. Alone.The lawn. Why am I here? In my ears, I was accompanied by the chorus of crickets sounds and birds’ chirps. I looked up and found the skies were blue with roses of clouds. A pleasant day and a hot breeze over the lawnThen I remembered Mavis. She was with me at the transition. Could she still be in the mansion? I looked in the direction of the house and was surprised.The mansion that stood in front of me was vastly different from the one I knew. I have seen it before. I slammed my fist in my other palm. I remembered. It was in the pictures Ah Mui had shown meAs I walked towards the mansion, I realized I was looking at an incredible thing. The mansion was from another era. The paint is different a faded yellow instead of a fresh white. The red bricks portion of the walls were old while the ones in 2024 were freshly built. The windows were of
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Chapter 33
I knew something was amiss from Mavis's expression. I formed the sword fingers, inhaled, and turned slowly, ready to fight. I quickly scribbled a protective charm with my Buki brush and pulled the protective shield over us.I soon found myself staring into a dark abyss, a mass of dark energy throbbing and palpitating with each movement sending a ripple of dark energy. We meet again.“兵“ I shouted and executed a swiping move with my right palm to reinforce the shield of energy. Contrary to my expectations, the dark mass did not attack and instead hovered in front of us"What is it?""This is what I wanted to find out."“Is this the same spirit you encountered, Adam?”I nodded. “Do not be afraid. Control your breathing.""I wish I can..." Mavis said and I felt her quivering voice“Raise your scarf,” I said and Mavis obliged by holding up her right hand. Slowly I kept my brush. I joined my hands and bowed“With all respect, I am Adam Wong-Takahashi and I am a sprit master. I want to h
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Chapter 32
We took our seats, side by side, each other.As the trail of agarwood incense drifted into the air, I began my chanting.“Focus,” I whispered.Slowly I felt the water in my feet drift. I caught sight of Mavis opening her eyes. It is her first time and naturally, she is nervous. “Close your eyes. Drop the curtains on your soul. Stay focused but relax. My chanting is the wind to drive a sail. Focus on your mother and the times you spent with her.”“Drop your curtains on the soul.” Mavis smiled, eyes closed. I looked at her intently. She is even more beautiful with her eyes closed. I snapped back to reality“Let’s get started,” I pronounced. I began to focus my mind. Moments lapsed, and soon, it looked like it was not going to happen. I realized that as I gravitated toward the vortex, Mavis remained elusive. I sensed fear in her, and she withheld her consciousness. I could not feel her. I slowed down my chanting and stepped back into our reality. I opened my eyes to check and foun
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Chapter 31
After the permission was obtained, I was back at the Chua Mansion. This time with Ah Mui. The skies were a lot brighter than the the usual nights thanks to a full moon. It gave me a feeling of crystal clarity and provided a soothing sensation to my tight chest. The moon also has a nurturing effect on the minds of Onmyojis. With my bag slug over chest, I led Ah Mui down the walkway, past the lawn towards the tentage where the funeral is held. There is a small crowd and a prayer session was going on as we arrived. The casket has arrived after the mortuary gave the clearance. I peeked and found the Chua family seated at the front row- there was John Chua, Marcus, his wife. Their faces were stern and unsmiling. However, Mavis was not in sight. Suddenly, I felt a touch of chill on my shoulder. I swung around to find frail figure standing behind me – Aminah“Hi Aminah? Nice to see you. You can call me Adam.”“Hi sir, hi sir. Madam Mavis. She in living room.”Saying she led the way and
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Chapter 30
I rushed home after the meeting with Ah Mui to make preparations for the night’s outing.The first thing I did was to head over to the altar and light the incense. I clasped my hands and prayed. Gently I hit the bronze bowl on the altar. The tingle of metallic harmony rippled through the room. Before I chanted the mantra, I searched for my guardian spirit. “Mon?” I called. Within seconds, there was a spark in the air in front of me and Mon materialized like it hatched from air. It released a low croon, the usual greeting when it sees me. Fluttering the wings like a bee, Mon landed on my palm. “Hi, buddy. I need you to be with me tonight. We may be handling a foe. I will need you to cover my back, alright?”Mon flashed a grin and nodded. I checked its features - the horn is bulging out its forehead and its tail has gone longer. It leaped into the air and circled over my head like a gleeful bird. “That’s the spirit.”I commended.“Now can you settle down? Meditate and feed on the s
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Chapter 29
The episode at the mortuary sapped some of my energy and left me flat. On my way back to the office, I was sipping continuously from the water bottle. Despite emptying a one-litre bottle of water, I felt dehydrated. However, the sight of Claudia's distressed spirit dwelt in my mind. It is hard to erase it but it did not affect my moods. I was determined I would find justice for her - find the killer and bring him or her to justice.Back in the office, my mind shifted to my hunger pangs. Earlier, I had asked Ah Mui to order a hearty meal and she did not let me down. When I arrived at the office pantry, I found a table of food and she was laying out the paper plates.One of the key conditions for a successful exorcist assignment is to be fully fed. A full stomach gives us energy and stamina to create the talisman and spells to quell the malevolent spirits.Over a meal of bak-kut-teh(pork ribs soup), fried carrot cakes, and my favourite Wan Ton noodles, we chatted“I got your favourite
