CHAPTER 917: CHAPTER 465: FAMILY TURMOIL (PART 2)

The other family members echoed one after another, glaring angrily.

The discontented voices of reproach rose in waves, turning the scene of the Dharma Assembly into a pot of boiling water.

Chen Xu’an’s face sank, and upon seeing Li Tiansheng’s cautious expression, he immediately understood something.

Sure enough, Housekeeper Li had gone to report.

When Chen Xu’an previously invited the high monk from Cui City Temple back to the manor to organize the rituals, Li Tiansheng learned he planned to act on his grandfather’s corpse in the Black Building and had earnestly advised against it.

But Chen Xu’an was resolute at the time and did not heed the advice.

It seems the old housekeeper had no choice but to head to the Inheritance Secret Realm and brought out the elders who were in seclusion cultivating there.

Upon hearing that he intended to burn the grandfather’s corpse, these family members rushed back to the Chen Family Manor from the Secret Realm.

Chen Xu’an took a deep breath, faced the crowd’s questioning, and struggled to maintain composure:

"Dear elders, it’s not my intention to desecrate our ancestors but my grandfather’s body is truly too bizarre, I fear it has been possessed by an evil spirit..."

He then patiently narrated the whole story, briefly and clearly.

This included the strange phenomenon of Chen Hongye’s body not decomposing for three years, even becoming more youthful, and the continuous misfortunes faced by family members.

The entire narration was interwoven with the previous conjectures from Fang Cheng, Lin Chuqiao, and others.

"...the situation is getting increasingly dire, more people are suffering, and even my grandmother and nephew have fallen prey to the malicious Needle Curse, lying in the hospital with their fates uncertain."

"We have reason to suspect that the source of all this lies within the grandfather’s coffin, and it’s the corpse causing the chaos!"

Chen Xu’an’s voice gradually escalated, eyes burning with resolute intent.

"For the peace of the Chen Family, to prevent further tragedies, I am willing to bear any consequences!"

"If my judgment is incorrect and the Ancestor Spirit decides to punish, then all the retribution shall fall solely on me!"

His words were powerful and carried a tragic determination to stake his life, unexpectedly silencing Chen Dehai and other family members.

They exchanged puzzled glances, faces showing hesitation.

Lin Chuqiao noticed this, took a step forward, and supplemented with a bright voice:

"Respected Chen Family elders, Mr. Chen’s words are not baseless."

"According to my research, this phenomenon of a body not decomposing and even regressing in age after death is highly likely caused by being possessed by an evil spirit residing within."

"If this continues, not only will more victims arise, but it may also affect the Chen Family’s ancestral fortune, potentially damaging the family’s foundation beyond repair!"

Bai Ling nodded vigorously, her face full of seriousness:

"Indeed, we saw with our own eyes the sinister things in that building and were almost harmed by the monsters inside..."

She exaggerated her "personal experience", lowering her voice when mentioning "monsters", adding to the horror.

After hearing this, the anger on the Chen family members’ faces diminished, replaced by a wave of puzzled concern.

They turned unconsciously towards the coffin with the corpse.

Gazing upon the visibly more youthful former Family Head Chen Hongye, an unhideable fear crept into their eyes.

Some even quietly shuffled their feet backward, evidently frightened by words like "evil spirit" and "monster".

"Amitabha, esteemed patrons."

Just as the atmosphere reached an impasse, Master Yuan Jue from Cui City Temple appropriately spoke, solemnly reciting a Buddhist mantra.

First, he glanced at the Dharma Platform, then towards the coffin, and eloquently said:

"This place is heavy with yin energy, and the resentment soars to the sky, indeed signs of a demonic disturbance."

"I am here at Mr. Chen’s invitation to aid Old Sir Chen’s spirit to transcend, suppress the evils, which is a significant merit."

Master Yuan Jue spoke loudly, carrying a stable Buddhist demeanor:

"As for whether to cremate the body, it is a decision within the Chen Family which I shall not interfere."

"However, if we can align this with the liberation rituals of the Water and Land Dharma assembly, using the pure Yang fire to purify the evils, perhaps the Chen Family could be freed from suffering and remain unharmed henceforth."

Having said this, he clasped his hands together in prayer again, secretly flashing a hint of cunning in his eye.

Evidently, Master Yuan Jue didn’t want to miss the lucrative grand ceremony.

If disrupted by these family members, his efforts would have been in vain.

Chen Dehai and other family members were all filled with hesitation.

The high monk’s words, Chen Xu’an’s resolve, and the corroboration by investigators from Naihe Bridge.

Temporarily swayed them from maintaining their initial stance of opposition.

After all, Chen Hongye’s corpse was indeed eerie, coupled with the recent calamities faced by the family, anxiety had long rooted in their hearts.

Eventually, Chen Dehai sighed deeply, slowly nodded, seemingly persuading himself, yet also announcing to everyone:

"Let it be... let it be... in more than a month, Hongye will be lying in repose for three full years, burning now and relocating him to the family’s Secret Realm for burial would barely adhere to tradition."

Chen Xu’an heaved a subtle sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Fang Cheng and others also relaxed at this resolution, revealing a bit of calmness on their faces.

The tense standstill finally had a resolution.

However, Li Tiansheng suddenly became anxious at this moment.

"Second Young Master, we cannot!"

His face turned pale, shouting loudly, almost lunging toward Chen Xu’an:

"The old lady repeatedly warned that the old gentleman’s remains must not be disturbed!"

"This will provoke the Ancestor Spirit, bring about ancestral punishment, maybe even risk the wrath of heaven and destroy the Chen Family beyond redemption!"

His words grew increasingly alarming, attempting to use family rules and supernatural tales to intimidate the crowd.