Ya Ting stuffed a piece of gauze into the deep wound, filling it completely. Once the hole was packed tight, it no longer opened and closed with a sound, just squirming in a disgusting way. After re-bandaging the wound, she went to sleep.
At six in the morning, she got up to get ready for school, but first, she unwrapped the bandage to check the wound. Sure enough, the human-faced ulcer had returned! Its eyes were closed, not yet opened, and the mouth was blocked by the gauze, making no sound.
Ya Ting didn't have time to deal with the human-faced ulcer. She'd be getting the Taowesuwan amulet at noon, and if it didn't work, she could always think of another way. Worst case, she could just slice it off again.
The entire day at school, Ya Ting was distracted, unable to focus on the lessons. As soon as the school bell rang, she grabbed her bag and dashed out, heading straight to the small shop across the street where her father's old motorcycle was parked.
Back home, she changed into a hoodie, put on a mask, and then a pair of oversized sunglasses that covered most of her face. She didn't want Ajarn Ken to recognize her—after all, just days ago, she had told him she didn't believe in any of this, and now she was about to ask him for an amulet. She felt embarrassed.
"Mom, I'm heading out to buy some stationery," she said hurriedly as she left.
Her dad called after her, "Need a ride?"
"No, I'm good," she answered, not looking back as she ran off.
At the mall entrance, Ya Ting checked the time—it was only ten minutes until her meeting with Ajarn Ken. She wiped the sweat from her face with a tissue, then pulled the hood up—one final precaution to avoid being recognized.
Before long, she saw Ajarn Ken slowly making his way toward the door from the parking lot. As usual, he wore a sleeveless shirt, and his body was covered in intricate Thai script tattoos that drew many curious stares.
Ya Ting waved at him, and Ajarn Ken saw her and made his way over. As he reached her, the first thing he said, in surprise, was, "Oh? It's you? You're the one who wanted to get the Taowesuwan amulet?"
"What?! You can recognize me like this?" Ya Ting asked, confused.
"Your aura," he said, tactfully omitting that her distinctive build made disguise pointless. "And it's grown darker."
Ya Ting blushed, feeling embarrassed. If she had known, she wouldn't have gone through all this trouble to disguise herself.
Ajarn Ken suddenly focused on her knee and said, "Whatever's inside you... even I can't fully discern it."
Ya Ting was both surprised and relieved—surprised that he had noticed her knee despite her long pants, and relieved because it meant he was powerful enough to help her with the human-faced ulcer.
"Can the Taowesuwan amulet help with this… help with what's on me?" she asked.
Ajarn Ken frowned. "I suggest you tell me everything in detail, then we'll arrange a proper ritual. What's on you is quite eerie."
Ya Ting hesitated. First, she didn't have the money for a full ritual, and second, she didn't want anyone to see or know about the human-faced ulcer. She was terrified that it would make the news or become some sort of case study.
So, she shook her head and said, "I'll try the Taowesuwan amulet first. If it doesn't work, I'll come back to you."
"Alright," Ajarn Ken said, handing her a small box. "This is the original temple box. With transport costs, it's forty-eight ringgit."
Ya Ting took the box and opened it. Inside was the amulet, the same one Ajarn Ken had shown in the photos last night.
She handed him the prepared money and asked, "Can I wear it? Is there anything I need to watch out for?"
"It's not enclosed yet, so you can't wear it like I do," Ajarn Ken said, pulling out a necklace with several amulets hanging from it. "But you can carry it with you. It'll be a bit inconvenient though. Just keep the temple box in your pocket, but don't put it in your pants pocket..."
Ajarn Ken went on to explain a long list of rules, and Ya Ting made sure to commit them all to memory.
Once he was done, he added, "Actually, your problem is serious. I'm not sure the amulet alone will be enough. Luckily, I've got something good with me today. Follow me to my car and I'll show you."
At the mention of something "good," Ya Ting's eyes lit up. She eagerly followed Ajarn Ken to his car.
Ajarn Ken opened the trunk and pulled out a glass jar filled with murky, amber-hued liquid. Suspended inside were strange, unidentifiable bits and pieces, their shapes distorted and ghostly in the fluid—like ingredients in some kind of dark, sacred brew.
Ya Ting leaned closer, nose wrinkling at the pungent herbal smell. "What is that?"
"Tiger elixir!" Ken declared with the pride of a master craftsman.
Ya Ting squinted. "Like... muscle liniment0?"
"Not muscle liniment!" Ken's shout made nearby shoppers turn. He thrust the jar at her.
"Tiger elixir! Like... like a magic potion. Made with genuine tiger skin, fangs, and 108 sacred ingredients. Take a good look!"
The viscous liquid sloshed as she took it. Beneath the surface floated a patch of coarse fur and what might have been teeth or claws. Other unidentifiable objects drifted like specimens in a biologist's collection.
Curious, she gave the jar a good shake.
"Stop!" Ajarn Ken snatched it back, cradling the jar like a newborn. "Three years I spent gathering ingredients. Seven times seven days of continuous consecration. Seven different ajarns each performed week-long rituals—"
"What does it actually do?" Ya Ting cut in before he could go on for another hour.
"It repels evil. Very strong stuff," Ajarn Ken said, a little miffed at the interruption.
"Expensive?"
"Not for sale."
Ya Ting's face darkened. "Then why am I here?"
He sighed. "To receive it, of course. I'm giving it to you."
"Really? Thank you, Ajarn!" She reached for the jar.
"Hey! Back off!" He jerked it away.
"Dream on if you think you're getting the whole bottle!" Ajarn Ken said as he turned to fetch a tiny 5ml vial from the car.
Watching him carefully pour the tiger elixir into the vial, Ya Ting thought he looked exactly like Father Ma the other day when he was pouring holy water.
Finally, Ajarn Ken handed her the vial. "This is yours. I hope it helps."
It wasn't much, but Ya Ting was still genuinely grateful. "Thanks, Ajarn. Really."
He nodded approvingly. "Try it first. If it doesn't work, call me."
"I will."
Once he drove off, Ya Ting turned toward home, clutching the Taowesuwan amulet in one hand and the tiger elixir in the other. A sly smile tugged at her lips.
"Human-faced ulcer," she whispered, "Let's see how I deal with you."