Adam the Spirit Master

Chapter 7

After Visnu dropped me at the office, it was way past lunchtime. Ah Mui dutifully ordered lunch and we waited by the working desk in my office. This is not Ah Mui's first assignment and she had already breezed into the momentum. 

She had her laptop in front of her, ready for my instructions. 

The past outings have its close shaves and she made important contributions. However, an exorcist assignment has its risks and I prefer not to push Ah Mui to join even if I need her help.

"You don't need to come if you have classes," I said referring to her postgraduate course.

"No, that starts next week. You have forgotten about that."

I tapped my forehead lightly "You are right."

" I am ready." She continued

"The first thing I need is the floor plan of the Chua's mansion. I had spoken to Visnu about that before he dropped us off."

"I will keep a lookout for that." Ah Mui said and pored over her handphone "Once I receive it, I will forward it to you."

I put my food aside and sipped from my cup of warm water. I like the way Ah Mui remembers my requirements, right down to the finest details. The water is seventy percent of hot water and thirty percent of cold water. It suits my dietary requirements.

"How's everything with your family?"

Ah Mui smiled and stayed silent.

"What? You didn't hear me?"

"I heard you Dr Adam but all these small talk. Are you trying to dissuade me to join the assignment at some point ?"

I rocked back in laughter and then said

"It is not a good thing for us to be so close. You know me too well. I am going to transfer you out."

Ah Mui suddenly turned agape

"What? Hey, you can't do that?"

"Alrighty. Fine! I was just teasing you." I assured her, "Every assignment comes with a risk and this one is no exception."

"I have done well at your last assignment."

I nodded "You have also sustained some injuries."

"A cut on my ankle and some scratches on my arm."

"Plus a hit on your temples."

She smiled coyly. I was referring to the last exorcism at the Jalan Satu Hospital when fallen debris hit her on the head. I thought I would lose Ah Mui when I heard the impact. My heart was in my mouth for the two days when she was hospitalized and regained consciousness the next day, much to my relief. 

I will never forget her mother's glare of reproach. I asked instinctively.

"How's your mother?"

"She is fine. She just sent her regards to you."

"Seriously?" I asked

Ah Mui giggled "Nooooo." 

We laughed together

"She is asking me to find another job. However, I told her I am fine working for you, and if I ever go for another assignment with you, I would let her know."

I snapped my fingers

"That's something I should add in the indemnity form and you have to sign it before I let you on an assignment."

"No way, Dr Adam." Ah Mui said before putting her arms on her waist in feigned displeasure."

I shook my head "Let her know if you accompany me on such assignments." 

"I will"

Food arrived and Ah Mui ran to get it. She had got bento for both of us. She takes the Fried Chicken set and I stick with my usual Salmon set.

As we dug into our food, her phone rang. She checked and then gladly announced

"The floor plans are here."

I checked my handphone too and found a short message from Visnu

"From May. Shared the floor plans. Keep it confidential." he wrote.

Ah Mui had downloaded it on the laptop and shared the screen with me. I quickly pored over it and study the details.

The Chua's mansion was built by John Chua's father – Chua Kok An. A man who made his pot of gold building many shopping malls and infrastructure in Malaysia and Singapore during the 1970s and 1980s.

He probably had the vision of gathering a few generations of his offspring at the mansion which was sprawling with two floors with many rooms. 

On the first floor, there are actually two living rooms, with the smaller living room adjacent to the kitchen and overseeing the swimming pool. 

The larger living room is over four thousand square feet and its entrance faces the lawn and is served by a driveway from the main gate(east). 

Besides a store room, there is another room on the left side( north) of the large living room. I saw the wording "Drawing Room", a recreation room of sorts I thought.

 There is another room, between the two living rooms, that also command a view of the swimming pool. I understand John Chua has used this as his master room due to his physical condition. He suffers from hypertension, and this has affected his movements. 

There are another six rooms on the second floor that are occupied by his children and other family members 

As I pored over the floor plan, Ah Mui placed a cup of coffee in front of me.

"What are you thinking of?"

"The history of a place is always a key factor to consider before exorcism."

"I remembered you said the history of residents must always be considered."

I nodded and then looked at the details. After a long moment, I announced "I have to perform a ritual - Sen'i"

"The transition. You need to travel to another realm?" 

I nodded

"Really?" Mui was wide-eyed

A Sen'i or in plain English - a transition is a ritual when an Ohmyoji enters a different spiritual dimension to seek and track spirits for communication when we investigate cases. The transition leads to the other worlds that are invisible to the average human consciousness. It is an intensive process that requires intensive prayers and meditation. As such, it saps energy and fluids from the person who enters a transition.

A junior spirit master is not expected to spend more than two hours per transition. The veteran Onmyoji can hold a transition for up to four hours but thereafter will require a full day of rest. Usually, during such a long absence, an Onmyoji will be guarded by others for security.

 Even my teacher, Master Sato of Kyoto recounted the longest transition he spent, in pursuit of a fox spirit in the remote area of Ayabe was three hours. One Eight Zero or 180 minutes is always remembered in our sect as the world record. He took one full day to cover from the exertions. 

"This afternoon, you sensed something?"

I nodded "There is something or someone. I cannot put shape to it. It was vague, dark no doubt but highly elusive. There was also a lot of distraction from the number of people present at the scene. There are the police, the family - just too much vibes."

"You do feel something."

"From the state of death, I think it is an experienced spirit with considerable powers."

"Are they not all elusive?"

"Mui, what defines a spirit or ghost, is the emotions. Getting in touch with the vibes is critical to understanding the reason behind their presence and acts. In addition, it will also allow me to understand today's incident."

"What if you do not find anything during the transition?"

I shrugged "We are still successful. It has proven there are no supernatural spirits in Chua Mansion and May is right, and forensic science has to take over. She gets to do things her way. I exit."

"That lady loves to fight with you." Ah Mui teased and tried to suppress her smile. 

"I wish…" I paused and decided not to rake up the past. I shot Ah Mui a glance. "Let's not talk about her." I pleaded.

"I will need you to cordon the area around me with the red strings."

"Got it." Ah Mui typed on her handphone and then asked "What else would you need?" 

I pushed the floor plan aside

"Have you checked on what I asked for?"