I Became a Monk in Japan and Exorcised Demons of Other’s Housewives

Chapter 4: Yes, but It Will Cost Extra!

“Master, this is the place!”

Two middle-aged men stood outside the house, their gazes filled with fear.

These two men were biological brothers—the elder one named Asama Taro, and the younger one named Asama Jiro.

They had invited him here to perform a ritual for their deceased mother.

Before coming, Lu Jin had already sensed that something was unusual about this ritual.

Now, he was even more certain.

Looking at the three-story detached house, an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.

It was as if he had seen something unclean—his entire body felt deeply uncomfortable.

This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Jin removed his shoes and stepped inside.

The room wasn’t large, and strips of white cloth hung around the space. The place was empty, with no one in sight.

The further he walked in, the stronger the oppressive atmosphere became.

It was so suffocating that it was hard to breathe.

Without needing the two brothers to lead the way, Lu Jin walked directly to a bedroom.

The source of that overwhelming, oppressive aura in the air came from this room.

Even just standing outside the door, he felt as if he was about to suffocate.

Lu Jin didn’t rush to open the door. Instead, he turned to the two brothers behind him.

“Now, can you tell me what really happened?”

“If not, I won’t take this ritual job.”

Faced with his eerily calm gaze, the Asama brothers exchanged looks before suddenly kneeling on the floor.

Then, they told him the truth.

Moments later, Lu Jin’s expression showed understanding.

According to the two brothers, their mother had passed away last night.

Both of them had their own families and rarely interacted with their mother due to a strained relationship.

It was their neighbor who discovered the old woman’s death and called to inform them.

That night, the brothers argued over the cost of the ritual and funeral expenses.

They had finally agreed to hold the funeral today, but then something strange happened.

Their mother, who had clearly been dead, suddenly opened her eyes in the middle of the night and let out an eerie laugh, scaring away all the relatives who had been keeping vigil.

Terrified, Asama Taro hurriedly contacted a funeral home, wanting to have the body cremated immediately.

However, no matter what the funeral workers did, they simply couldn’t lift the corpse.

Afraid that their mother wouldn’t rest in peace, the brothers had no choice but to seek out a high monk from a nearby temple to perform a ritual.

Yakushi Temple was the closest one, so naturally, they sought out Lu Jin.

Lu Jin observed the two brothers, their eyes darting evasively.

He immediately understood the real reason.

These two weren’t worried about their mother not finding peace—they were afraid her corpse would turn into a vengeful spirit and harm them.

But he was used to this kind of thing.

People in this country might appear polite on the surface, but deep down, many were cold and selfish.

Not all, of course, but most were refined self-interest seekers.

He had no interest in their petty disputes, but since an evil spirit was involved, the cost of the ritual would not be the same as usual.

“I can perform the ritual, but the price will increase.”

Lu Jin spoke calmly.

After all, he was the abbot of Yakushi Temple, and his status demanded respect.

A standard ritual usually required at least 300,000 to 400,000 yen in offerings.

Now that an evil spirit was involved, the price had to at least double.

And even that was because he saw that the brothers weren’t wealthy—otherwise, he wouldn’t have held back.

If they had been rich or from a financial conglomerate, the cost would be in the millions.

As the saying goes, “The Dharma is not lightly bestowed.”

Even in Journey to the West, Tang Sanzang had to exchange a golden alms bowl for the true scriptures after enduring eighty-one tribulations.

He had spent over a decade practicing Buddhism—he couldn’t just sell his teachings for a pittance.

The money itself wasn’t the point; what mattered was ensuring his Buddhist practice was respected.

The Asama brothers hesitated, as the cost of the ritual was a significant burden for them.

But remembering the terrifying sight of their possessed mother, Asama Taro gritted his teeth and agreed.

“Stay back and don’t come near.”

Lu Jin waved his hand, instructing them to keep their distance.

Then, he slowly pushed open the wooden door.

What seemed like a light door was unexpectedly heavy, as if it had absorbed moisture like a sponge.

Lu Jin had to use all his strength just to push it open.

Clatter!

As the door swung open, an icy chill rushed out.

Lu Jin narrowed his eyes and looked into the room.

The dimly lit space had its curtains drawn tightly shut, allowing no light to seep in.

On the floor, an old woman’s corpse lay still.

Thin strands of black mist seeped from her body, filling the entire room.

The sight was deeply unsettling.

Standing at the doorway, Lu Jin felt a chill run down his spine, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He felt as if he were standing at the boundary between two completely different worlds.

One step forward, and he would plunge into an abyss.

This bizarre situation was unlike anything he had encountered before, making his heart pound with unease.

Reaching down to touch the wooden fish in the cloth pouch at his waist, he felt a small sense of reassurance.

He stepped into the bedroom and walked to the window.

Attempting to pull the curtains open, he realized they wouldn’t budge—as if they had been welded shut.

Shaking his head, he decided not to waste his energy on them.

Lu Jin slowly approached the corpse on the floor and cast a glance at the two brothers standing anxiously at the doorway, too afraid to enter.

Unhurriedly, he took out a Buddhist scripture and his wooden fish from his bag.