'In these desolate places deep in the mountains, the most dangerous part is the stagnant water, which can serve as a spiritual object. The mountain pools are the most perilous of all; one should not approach them lightly. If you're alone and encounter someone drowning in the mountains, remember not to jump in to rescue them to prevent any unforeseen danger.'
'Feng Shui can actually be seen as a type of magnetic field. Those who can manipulate objects to adjust the energy of the magnetic field are Feng Shui Masters. When renting a house, if you feel uncomfortable with the space, find the smell peculiar, or see many objects like swords, stones, wooden sticks, or human sculptures, it's best to abandon that house.'
'North America has not been the birthplace of culture for long. Without strong Feng Shui to stabilize the land, it becomes a breeding ground for all kinds of ghosts and demons. When you hear of a church experiencing a 'Jesus hanging upside down' incident, it's best to stay far away and avoid the commotion.'
…
Sun Yan carefully perused the "Mountain Chasing Manual." The numerous entries captivated him, as if opening a door to a wealth of knowledge.
But what he was most concerned about was how to deal with the Evil Spirit.
"Father Jackson, how is that mirror doing?" Joles sat down next to Sun Yan, unable to resist asking.
He was too worried about whether his curse had been lifted; as long as the Magic Mirror wasn't successfully exorcised, he didn't even dare return home.
"For now, I've managed to control it, but the Evil Spirit in the mirror is quite powerful. I need more time to prepare to completely eradicate it." Sun Yan spoke up.
Even though he had no clue how to eliminate the Evil Spirit in the mirror, this was not the time to show uncertainty.
The Exorcism Master's reputation must be upheld.
"You've worked hard. This is a small token of appreciation; thank you, Father, for last night's exorcism. I finally had a peaceful night's sleep." Joles skillfully pulled a stack of ten thousand US Dollars from his pocket and handed it over.
He didn't know what it costs to hire a Father for an exorcism, but as someone tormented by the Mirror Evil Spirit, he cherished the hard-won normalcy in his life.
As long as he could completely resolve his issues, no amount of money was too high a price to pay.
"I didn't expect the priesthood to be so lucrative. It's much easier than making my living in the smoky kitchen back home at the restaurant."
Seeing another hefty sum adding to his account, Sun Yan felt particularly excited and discreetly pocketed the money with a composed demeanor.
With these twenty thousand US Dollars, he could easily buy a decent old pickup in the secondhand market.
Sun Yan smiled politely, "You're welcome. Since I accepted your money, it's my duty to do this. By the way, Mr. Joles, I still don't know what you do for a living?"
The average annual salary for employees in California this year is 73,220 US Dollars. Seeing Joles spend money so generously, starting with a ten thousand mark, Sun Yan knew his job was not simple, and his income was surely far above the normal employment level.
"I work at a security company, primarily providing protection services for businessmen, celebrities, or handling physical, personal, and information safety—what the general public perceives as a bodyguard." Joles explained truthfully.
Sun Yan was intrigued and noted it down immediately.
The publicly known revenue method of a graveyard involves having clients willing to bury their family members in your graveyard.
This way, an annual maintenance fee needs to be paid, ensuring the safety of the relative's grave and periodic clearance of weeds.
The ability to privatize everything and achieve annual taxation, annual fees—this is traditionally American.
However, for the Evangelical Town Cemetery, its remote location makes it hard to attract enough clients besides the locals of the town.
Therefore, charging for exorcisms is where Sun Yan can genuinely make big money; Joles regularly deals with wealthy people.
If he could promote Sun Yan's exorcism skills externally, it would benefit Sun Yan greatly.
Not wanting to disturb Sun Yan, who was engrossed in reading, Joles quietly exited and went to the town store to buy coffee and a bacon sandwich for breakfast.
Until the Mirror Evil Spirit was completely exorcised, he absolutely would not leave Sun Yan's graveyard; only there did he feel at ease.
...
An old Ford SUV drove into Gospel Town along the road. The driver clearly wasn't new to this remote area, making his way effortlessly to the entrance of the Evangelical Town Cemetery.
As the car came to a stop, a white man in a police uniform stepped out and headed toward the cemetery's main building.
Upon entering, he saw a young man he had never met sitting in the living room. The stranger had black hair and yellow skin, with thick eyebrows and large eyes—classic Eastern features—much like Stephen Sun.
"Hello, Father Jackson. I've heard about your grandfather's passing; I am deeply sorry. Father Stephen Sun was a good man."
Already informed by Joles of Father Stephen Sun's death, Henry recognized the young man in front of him as Father Jackson, the person Joles mentioned over the phone.
He removed his hat and took an envelope filled with US Dollars from his pocket, handing it to Sun Yan with solemnity, "I was a long-time friend of Father Stephen Sun's. I understand your Eastern customs for funerals, so this is my bereavement money."
Sun Yan looked at the white police officer in puzzlement, "You are?"
"Father, just call me Henry. I'm the chief of police at the Shajiao District Police Station in Saint Anna City, responsible for security issues and homicide investigations in the Shajiao District."
Henry, quite familiar, sat next to Sun Yan, flashed his ID, and took a file from his briefcase, handing it to Sun Yan, "Father Jackson, our precinct has come across a case that might not be solvable by physical means, and we really need your assistance."
"Are you mistaken? You're seeking my help for a police case?" Sun Yan closed the "Mountain Chasing Manual" and asked in confusion.
Henry smiled mysteriously, "Father Jackson, it seems you're not fully aware of some aspects of your grandfather's identity. In this world, some offenders are not human, which involves theology. When such cases arise, the precinct needs experts to solve them, like your grandfather, who was one of our special Spiritual Consultants."
"Spiritual Consultant…"
Sun Yan mused and asked in surprise, "So you're dealing with a case involving an Evil Spirit?"
"Indeed, and this silent, bizarre situation transcends any case I've handled. The other two Spiritual Consultants at the precinct also couldn't detect the cause. I initially placed my hopes on Father Stephen, but I then heard of his passing."
Henri brandished the file, "Father Jackson, if you're interested, take a look. We trust Father Stephen Sun's exorcism skills, and as his descendant, I'll trust you unconditionally. If you can help solve this case, I'll petition the police department to transfer your grandfather's title of Spiritual Consultant to you."
"Not interested." Sun Yan refused outright; he still had a Mirror Evil Spirit to deal with and had no time to solve cases.
Henry added, "The police department offers Spiritual Consultants an annual salary of 80,000 US Dollars."
Swoosh.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the file was snatched from his hand, and Sun Yan was already poring over the documents and crime scene photos.
This is an offer he has to accept.
Eighty thousand US Dollars could afford a brand-new car, no need for second-hand deals.