Webster said... it seemed like a group of nuns, repressed for too long, had suddenly wanted to completely unleash themselves. Was this the work of an evil spirit, or was there some other reason?
Logically, the Buddha in that nunnery was no pushover—how could there be any demonic hauntings? That would be absurd.
Webster shook his head and said this was a mysterious matter. Those nuns didn't seem possessed, nor did they seem insane. He had no idea what was happening.
Later, Dreaming Nun guessed that the problem might lie with the comb—an evil comb from the dead, causing everyone to suffer nightmares. They would need to retrieve a pure and unsullied comb from the dead to break this cursed comb's nightmare.
Pure and unsullied? Like the little girl's comb? But if they could break the curse themselves, why did they need me? If I didn't recognize Markus as a ghost, then I was useless. Tattooing a ghost was a miserable way to go!
This Webster was being a bit unkind—why hadn't he warned me earlier or come to speak with me in person?
Webster shook his head and said he couldn't speak about it directly. I had to reach out on my own, guided by karma. Otherwise, if he forced his way in, he'd disrupt the natural order, and while I might escape unscathed, he'd end up dragging his wife and children down with him.
I didn't really understand what Webster meant by karma—it seemed like a complicated concept.
Then Webster shook his head again and said that the dead man's comb wouldn't be enough to resolve this. Dreaming Nun was being too naive—only the Tattoos of Gods and Ghosts could break the curse.
I couldn't see anything suspicious about this, and it wouldn't do for me to get involved blindly. At the very least, I'd need to know what I was dealing with before getting the corresponding tattoo.
This was still troublesome. Why not just bring out Raul Master? Wouldn't that take care of all the demons and ghosts in one go?
Webster said no—if it were an ordinary ghost or a jiangshi, any number of Celestial Masters could handle it easily. But these things, so sinister you couldn't even tell what they were, were the real problem. Only the Tattoos of Gods and Ghosts could subdue them.
Webster's words... Well, they did hold some truth. The thousand-year-old art of the Tattoos of Gods and Ghosts wasn't renowned for nothing. The key was that the Tattoos of Gods and Ghosts, being a Yin-related magic, were themselves deeply sinister.
Using evil to combat evil wasn't entirely unreasonable.
"Hold on, you're so invested in this Dreaming Nun—what's your relationship with her? You dirty old man, even a nun isn't safe from you..." I gave him a lewd grin.
"Nonsense! You're spouting rubbish before you've even grown proper hair. Dreaming Nun is just an old friend of mine—it's only natural I'd help her," Webster said.
Then he added, "And you—you've got peach blossom luck tonight, so watch yourself."
Peach blossom luck? I looked around—were eight women about to rush out and rape me?
To be honest, it was dark under this footbridge, completely deserted, and extremely unsafe. If someone got robbed here, screaming wouldn't help. But with Webster's line of work, no one should dare mess with him. Who would rob a beggar's pockets for scraps?
"Kid, enough nonsense. If you help me with this nunnery, I'll owe you one," Webster suddenly lowered his stance and said. Seeing my indifference, he had no choice but to bargain.
Ah, so that's what I'd been waiting for all night, going in circles with him.
I said cut the crap—I just wanted one thing: if I solved the nunnery problem, he had to tell me about my parents.
Webster fell silent. After a long pause, he held up three fingers. "I'll only answer three questions. Ask anything."
I snapped my fingers. "Deal!"
"So where's Dreaming Nun's nunnery?" I asked.
"Tch, I told you—let it be. I can't say. You'll have to find out yourself. I don't want to mess with karma," Webster replied.
I groaned. "'Let it be, let it be'—you don't want karma, but what's the big deal? Can't you just give me the address?"
Mostly, I was worried about Antonio. If Webster had just told me, we could've gone straight there. But he had to make it difficult—how could I not be frustrated?
Webster sighed and whispered, "I've done the math. Every nun in that nunnery is fated to die a tragic death."
I sucked in a sharp breath. Now I understood—if I broke the curse and saved the nunnery, I'd be reversing destiny itself.
Defying heaven's will invites divine punishment. If Webster got involved, his wife and children would suffer for it. That's why he didn't dare interfere—not even half a step into karma.
"Wait, what about me? Will I be punished too?" A flicker of fear made me want to back out. But I'd just agreed—was it too late to change my mind?
Webster patted his chest reassuringly. "No, you won't. I've seen heaven's will. If I leak secrets and alter fate, I'm the one who'll be punished."
For example, if someone was about to get hit by a car and Webster warned them, helping them avoid it, he'd suffer heaven's wrath instead.
My situation was completely different. I wasn't peeking into divine providence—I was just caught in the middle of karma, making things take an unexpected turn.
That's a relief, and I understand Webster's position. In that case, I'll find it myself. If Antonio isn't back by tomorrow, Stein and I will turn every nunnery in Vervicity upside down.
After saying goodbye to Webster, Stein and I were extra careful on our way back. I couldn't stop thinking about what Webster had said regarding peach blossom luck.
What if I was right and a group of women actually came out and overpowered me?
Stein said not to worry - if such a "good thing" happened... damn, I mean if such trouble occurred, he'd cover for me. He'd go through hell or high water for me, whatever it took.
But we were overthinking it. The journey back was completely uneventful. The women we passed didn't even glance at us, let alone try to pounce on us.
When we got back to the tattoo parlor, I suddenly noticed someone waiting at the door. When she turned around, I realized it was Chloe.
"Hey Little Boss, you're not just lucky - you're peach blossom lucky! Go ahead, don't bother coming back tonight," Stein said, giving me a shove that pushed me right in front of Chloe.