Chapter 16: Original Intentions

After Li Ruoke learned from Qi Yan the exact circumstances under which he obtained the amulet, she stood up again, pacing around the small round table as she pondered.

Minutes passed in silence before Qi Yan, growing impatient, pressed her, “Do you even know what you’re talking about? Say something! Why do you keep pacing around like that?”

“Ahem…” Interrupted by his words, Li Ruoke cleared her throat, collected herself, and walked back into her room. When she emerged a moment later, she was carrying a black case over a foot long, rather like the kind of box a magician might use for props.

She set the box on the table and opened it to reveal a folding structure with three layers on each side, each housing a number of amulets without chains. Though not as many as one might find displayed in a temple, there were still dozens.

One by one, she took them out, placing them before Qi Yan as she introduced them. “Let me give you a quick introduction. Look, this one is called Yan Thong…”

Qi Yan examined it closely. This amulet was quite unlike the usual ones: two clay figures embraced each other, half-submerged in a murky blackish liquid inside the casing.

“It’s said to bring romantic luck to the single, and to strengthen bonds for those already in relationships—an amulet for harmony between partners.”

She then picked up another clay amulet, this one depicting a chubby black child.

“This is the most famous Kuman Thong, what people often refer to as raising a child spirit. The son of General Khun Paen. There are many types: for attracting wealth, for protection, for attack, for attracting the opposite sex, or even the same sex… The way to worship it is simple: treat it exactly as you would a real child.”

The third amulet she produced was the most unsettling. Its image was a grotesque “person” sitting cross-legged, hands forming a certain gesture, and even the male anatomy was rendered in disturbing detail.

“This is Hun Phayon, a spirit soldier. Its purpose is to act as a bodyguard—whether a spirit with good or ill intentions tries to approach you, it’ll drive them away! And it doesn’t require offerings, so it’s convenient and practical, though the appearance is a bit much for the eyes…”

She introduced several more in succession. Qi Yan listened intently, until finally Li Ruoke spread her hands over the case and said, “Everything I’ve just shown you, and everything in this box, are all dark amulets.”

Qi Yan glanced at the tableful of dark amulets, then picked up his own and asked, “So what’s mine, then?” This, after all, was the question that mattered most to him.

Li Ruoke shook her head. “I don’t know the exact origin of yours… but what I want to explain to you now is about dark amulets in general.”

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a positive amulet or a dark one; all genuine amulets are made by Thai monks. Of course, fakes don’t count. Now, I imagine someone like you might wonder: why would Buddhist monks, supposed to be compassionate, create these eerie, terrifying dark amulets as well as those of the righteous gods? It seems contradictory, but really, it’s not. The difference lies in the contrast between Thailand’s Theravada Buddhism and the Mahayana Buddhism that survives on the mainland, which leads many shallow people to misunderstand the true nature of dark amulets.”

“A so-called dark amulet is a spiritual object that houses the soul of someone who died an untimely death, a soul heavy with resentment and unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation.”

“It all comes down to karma. The relatives of the deceased, or in the case of evil spirits with no kin, have no way of doing good deeds on their behalf to help them dissipate their grievances. Thus, the souls are forced to linger in the mortal world, never to attain rebirth.”

“Thai monks, moved by compassion for these lonely and vengeful spirits, take them in and forge amulets from their personal belongings or even parts of their remains, shaping them into unique sacred forms. After long periods of ritual cleansing and blessing in the temple, these dark amulets are given to living people of pure intent, who worship them. The worshipper and the spirit then cultivate virtue together, performing good deeds and accumulating merit, so that the spirit’s resentment and sins are gradually cleansed, until it can finally escape suffering and return to the cycle of rebirth.”

“So, the original intention behind dark amulets was to allow good people in the world to shelter these vengeful yet pitiable spirits, using their own virtue to quietly transform and redeem them. The two progress together, supporting each other, ultimately seeking a better fate in the next life. Therefore, the concept of creating dark amulets is not at odds with the compassionate tenets of Buddhism. It’s just that…”

Here Li Ruoke sighed, her tone suddenly weary and wise, belying her youth. “Ah… but the human heart—how many people are truly good? In life, people are plagued by countless obsessions: greed, lust, anger… These negative emotions influence the dark amulet they worship, turning things upside down and creating a vicious cycle.”

“For example, if a dark amulet is genuine and works wonders, it might bring great wealth to its worshipper. But is the human heart ever satisfied? Earn ten thousand, and you want a hundred thousand; get a hundred thousand, and you crave a million… As they make wishes to their amulet, the spirit tries to fulfill them with whatever power it has. But in the end, these spirits are just ghosts—how could they possibly have the means to satisfy the endless desires of mortals?”

“And so, a price must be paid. At first, it might only require simple offerings of food, but as the wishes grow greater, so too does the required payment. Did you know? Some dark amulets even appear in their worshippers’ dreams, demanding offerings of a virgin’s blood and other such things!”

“But that’s not what the amulet itself desires—it’s just that the worshippers’ demands are too much, and the spirit’s power is lacking. To grant their master’s wishes, they can only demand more and more in return, seeking to strengthen themselves.”

“Now that I’ve explained all this, tell me honestly: when a dark amulet turns monstrous, is it really the amulet’s fault, or is it the fault of those greedy, desire-obsessed mortals?”

“That’s why ordinary people simply can’t handle true dark amulets—they lack the spiritual capacity. More often than not, they only bring ruin upon themselves…” When she finished, a hint of melancholy flickered in her eyes. Though only in her twenties, she spoke with the gravitas of someone well-versed in the ways of the world.

Qi Yan had remained silent throughout, stunned, finally gesturing toward the table full of amulets and casting her a meaningful look.

Suddenly, Li Ruoke broke into a bright smile, her solemn air vanishing instantly. “Of course! I should tell you, all these dark amulets here are fakes—I bought them in bulk, three for a hundred yuan.”

Qi Yan was speechless for a long while, finally rubbing his forehead and saying, “Wait… Why did you go on with all those lessons? Am I here to receive re-education or something? You lectured me as if I’d asked for it… I didn’t even choose to get this amulet myself. I had no idea there was so much to it—otherwise, I would never have set foot in that strange, dark temple.”

Li Ruoke packed away her imitation amulets one by one, closed the case, and looked at him with sudden seriousness. “I just wanted to tell you the most important thing: whether it’s a positive amulet or a dark one, it’s the amulet that chooses the person—not the other way around! No matter how bizarre the circumstances under which you obtained yours, you… you are the one it has chosen.”