Adam the Spirit Master

Chapter 8

"I have only done a quick check on the internet, Dr Adam. It seems they have a Family Office which provided some writeup. Besides that, the business dailies and Forbest provided some business-related information about the Chuas."

"It is good enough. I appreciate the quick turnaround. I am know I can be quite a pain."

"Don't say that." Ah Mui said. " I am used to it." She winked to which I was at a loss of words and simply nodded.

"The Chua family information you had asked for."Mui turned her laptop screen over and shared a word document.

I read "John Chua has three children – Eldest Son – Marcus Chua, second daughter -Mavis Chua and youngest son Jonathan Chua. Marcus Chua and family stay at the mansion from time to time."

"I remember Visnu and May said once in a fortnight?"

"Then there is Mavis Chua and Jonathan Chua" 

"Marcus Chua is the General Manager of Four Seas." Ah Mui shared.

"He looked stern with that central parting."

"A split image of his father," I said. I shifted to Mavis Chua

"Mavis is that social media darling? I said

"Yes. Didn't you know about her? She is famous."

"No. I am not sure I know her well."

"She is a nutritionist and travel blogger. Her TikTok account shows her travel footprints and every video is well-received. I think she is the few Singaporeans with a million followers. Her health recipes business I heard is very well received."

"I once read she is the favorite of the patriarch. What about the other family members? I am interested to hear more about them."

"Marcus is married with two children. Wife is a home-maker and daughter from another reputed family."

"What about Jonathan?" I asked

"I cannot find much about him but I found his name at the Standard Hospital. He is practicing medicine in the States."

"Looks like all the children are very positioned in life."

"It speaks a lot about the family upbringing."

I scrolled through the document as I ran my thoughts."

"None of them are in Singapore during the day before the murder," I said

"Dr Adam, you are right."

"I will leave that investigation to Visnu and May." I said

"Can you take some more time to dig up more information about them?"

"I will try my best with all the sources available."

"Ah Mui, can you do something more for me."

"Would I reject you, Dr Adam?"

"Could you help me check on the history of the Chua's mansion?"

"The property we were at?"

"Yes, and I need to know some history of the place. Please dig into the archives. I am not sure where but the archives at Urban Redevelopment or Land Authority may offer a clue. I would like to know the history of the place. If you face a problem, let Visnu know and he may help us extract"

Ah Mui threw me a glance "What do you have in mind?"

"I would like to know the history of the land, especially the past before the Chuas bought the land."

"It will take time but I will work on it."

"Appreciate that." 

As Ah Mui scribbled my latest instructions, she spoke.

"As usual, that sense of uncertainty in these assignments. I am excited by such wild elements but this time, I sensed there is something different…"

"Different?"

"The answers lie in tonight's encounter, if any."

"I am sure we will find something!"

Now for the important part of an Sen'i as I give my instructions.

"The things I need for tonight, Ah Mui."

"Do I bring the usual exorcist pack you mentioned this afternoon?"

"The light package – my brush, the Mugwort portion, my Buki Brush, and finally, my Bagua."

"Do you need to tie strings all over the room? Living room?"

I shook my head.

"Our first time at the mansion, I don't want to mess it up. We could be over-tooled for this assignment."

"Really?" Ah Mui asked.

"I could be wrong. Just bring about 500ml of the mugwort essence and get one ball of the red string" The red string is usually deployed to demarcate a boundary when we perform a ritual. It is a critical step because it prevents spirits or other entities from the other supernatural worlds from entering the human physical realm.

"I will get packing." She said, eager beaver "

"Do I have classes tomorrow?"

"No, it is your clean day." Clean – no undergraduate's engagement. 

"You stay put and man the office in case the Dean calls."

"Alright, but I am still coming alone?" Mui asked

"I can't stop you even if I wanted to. You may just sneak in somewhere, somehow." I said and then looked over at my assistant, a head shorter and ten years younger, and saw that thirst for adventure. 

"Sign an indemnity form, Mui!"

She rocked back in laughter "Since when do you issue indemnity forms? My mother does not require it."

"She will kill me." I answered "One day, sooner than later."

"You are an Onmyoji! I'm supposed to feel safe with you around! That's how I assure her."

"That's true," I said 

"I am coming, no matter what you said." She protested.

I gave up and walked over to my private closet and unlocked one of the compartments. This is one cabinet I kept behind my desk. The Dean of Faculty has been fine about me safekeeping my tools in the office as long as I do not perform rituals to disrupt the faculty operations. 

I punched in the combination numbers and unlocked it. Opening it gently, I took out a box from the second shelf. It was a wooden box nicely carves with flower motif.

I opened it to see a necklace with a golden leaf as its pendant. 

"Put this on if you are coming." I instructed.

"The Golden Leaf? Is this the protective token you told me about?"

"Yes. It will keep you safe from the malevolent spirit." The Golden Leaf or Happa no omamoriIt was a protective amulet handed down by Venerable Sato. It is forged from broken pieces of golden ornaments from one of the oldest temples in Gifu, Japan. Personally blessed by the Master Sato, it has proven to be a good ally in my fight against the dark spirits. I have a couple of them, and one was lost by Ah Mui during my previous exorcist assignment. 

"I knew you would not leave me out of this assignment." She said with relish as she put on the necklace. "

"What time are we heading over?" 

"I plan to go over at 11 pm. I had already communicated that to Visnu"

"子时. The first hour of the day and that's the exact moment in a day when the Yin energy is on the ascent."

"The optimal time to open the portal to the other supernatural worlds."

"You are fast becoming my best student."