Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three

Xu Cheng's life-threatening crisis had been smoothly resolved, and if nothing unexpected happened, he would live out his life peacefully and smoothly.

The looming danger over his head gone, Xu Cheng felt rejuvenated. Hearing Shen Wang's plan, he immediately expressed his wish to leave with him.

Qin You Rong, however, had official duties and had to leave with the members of the Ghost Control Path, expressing his regret at parting.

Contrasting their dire journey here, cramped in train standing tickets, Xu Cheng gritted his teeth and rented a car for their return to C City.

Shen Wang was astounded, "Xu Cheng, why are you suddenly so generous? I'm a bit scared."

"Shen, you've had a hard time on this trip. How could I let you take the train back?" Even if Xu Cheng was frugal, he wouldn't be stingy towards his life-saver.

When Shen Wang said he had a life-or-death crisis, Xu Cheng believed it, but he didn't realize how serious it would be.

Only after witnessing the chaos caused by Lin Yin Yang did Xu Cheng understand just how lucky he was.

Without Shen Wang, he would have had no chance of survival.

While speaking, Xu Cheng opened the car door for Shen Wang, acting diligently like a little brother.

Shen Wang, feeling awkward with his attentiveness, got into the car and laughingly scolded, "You're quite the actor."

Xu Cheng, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin, took the passenger seat, leaving the spacious back seat entirely for Shen Wang: "If my parents knew about this, they would be even more dramatic..."

Shen Wang: "..."

It's good that they left early.

After fastening his seatbelt, the driver glanced through the rearview mirror and chuckled, "It's you guys again."

Shen Wang took a moment to recall and then remembered, this driver was the one who had taken them to Lin Yin Yang's residence a few days ago, a chatterbox and conversationalist.

True to form, the driver soon continued, "Last time you went to see that geomancer, what was it for? Hey, the town issued a notice, that geomancer, he was actually a fraud, fooled us all... I really didn't see that coming, him being a con artist!"

Xu Cheng gave a dry laugh, "Yeah, who could have thought."

Amid the driver's and Xu Cheng's conversation, the car smoothly turned and entered the highway.

Shen Wang started to rest with his eyes closed, nearly dozing off when a sudden brake nearly had him hitting the back of the front seat.

"What happened?!" Xu Cheng, also startled, quickly asked the driver.

The driver, gripping the steering wheel, swallowed hard, "I think I took a wrong turn."

A wrong turn? Xu Cheng puzzled, "Can't we just drive back..."

Turning to look out the window, Xu Cheng couldn't help but swallow too, "Shen, damn Shen! You have to see this!"

Shen Wang had already seen it.

Outside, it was deep night. The highway was devoid of any other vehicles, no lights, and not even the moon or stars were visible. Only the car's headlights illuminated a small patch of the road ahead.

Vaguely, there seemed to be figures wandering on the road.

"This is a highway without a village in sight or a store behind!" The driver, too scared to move, said tensely, "There shouldn't be anyone here."

Just before, both passengers had been asleep, and the driver was focused on the road ahead when he started sensing something amiss.

No matter how remote, it was impossible for there to be no other cars on the road... The more the driver thought about it, the more panicked he became, slowing down until he saw the shadowy figures and then slamming on the brakes!

Awakened from a half-sleep state by the commotion, Shen Wang, with a frown, opened the car door.

The driver exclaimed, "Brother, what are you doing getting out! Don’t go there!"

Watching Shen Wang approach the vague and strange figure, the driver's heart raced, extremely anxious.

"Hey," Shen Wang called out to the resentful spirit, "What are you blocking the road for?"

The figure in the darkness turned around, its head shattered, bone fragments clearly visible, gazing mournfully at Shen Wang, "I'm looking for the way home. Will you help me find it?"

Looking for a replacement and it came to me. Shen Wang couldn't help but smile.

The resentful spirit, with its crooked arm, suddenly appeared right in front of Shen Wang, "Will you help me find my way home?"

"What search? I'll find you the path to reincarnation, how about that?" Shen Wang, unflinching, grabbed the spirit's hand and forcefully pinned it to the ground.

The spirit looking for a replacement was bewildered: "???"

Before the spirit could react, a fist the size of a sandbag smashed down, making it howl in pain.

As Shen Wang struck, he interrogated, "Still want to find the way home? Do you or don’t you? I'm asking you, do you or don't you?"

The spirit wailed in agony, its flesh and blood from the head falling off in clumps, "I won't look anymore, I won't! Please, have mercy, I was wrong."

"Not sincere enough!" Shen Wang landed several more fierce punches, "Either reincarnate or dissipate entirely, choose one."

"I won’t look anymore, I swear, big brother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have sought a replacement, I truly realize my mistake now," the spirit sobbed and cried, its ghostly aura almost completely scattered, visibly weakened.

The spirit had been trapped here after a car accident on this stretch of the highway and couldn't leave, hence the crooked idea of finding a replacement.

Little did it expect to be caught and severely beaten by an oddity.

Being a ghost is too hard, I want to reincarnate. The spirit, wiping its tears, disappeared.

The surrounding darkness dissipated, revealing the faint silhouette of the moon. Shen Wang wiped his fists, disdainfully remarking, "Dirtying my hands, he got off easy."

The driver, with a shocked and complex expression, thought: Is this really about dirtying your hands? You just beat up a ghost!

Xu Cheng was also shocked: "My Shen, why have you suddenly become so violent."

Compared to now, his method of sending Lin Yin Yang's captured ghosts to reincarnation seemed gentle.

Shen Wang got back into the car, covering his mouth as he yawned, "It's okay now, let's continue driving."

The driver, trembling with fear, started the car and cautiously moved forward a few dozen meters, soon passed by another car zooming by.

The air around them felt less oppressive and murky. The driver let out a sigh of relief, glancing at the rearview mirror, "Brother, you turned out to be a hidden expert."

Shen Wang smiled slightly, appearing inscrutable.

The driver, now respectful, spoke more cautiously, "Master, are you hot? Do you want me to lower the air conditioning?"

Shen Wang shook his head calmly, "No need."

Throughout the journey, the driver treated Shen Wang with utmost respect, driving carefully to avoid any bumps, showing extra attentiveness.

Finally, around seven or eight in the evening, high-rise buildings came into view as they entered C City.

Passing by C City University, Shen Wang casually looked out and suddenly yelled, "Stop the car!"

The driver smoothly pulled into a temporary parking space, "What happened, Master? Is there another dirty thing appearing?"

"Dirty thing," Shen Wang sneered, "Indeed, it's something dirty."

The driver's eyes widened in shock, "There are dirty things even with so many people around?!"

Following Shen Wang's gaze, Xu Cheng saw Tang Jiu setting up a street stall.

Tang Jiu had a small table in front of him, with a flag that read 'Fortune-telling, fate, and marriage consultation.'

Shen Wang showed an expression of toothache.

Here it comes, the classic fortune-telling stall scene from a supernatural story!

Whenever the protagonist sets up a fortune-telling stall, there's always someone who doesn't believe him, comes to cause trouble, then the protagonist shows off his skills, astounding everyone, making the troublemaker kneel and sing in admiration.

Typically, an ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend also come to gloat. The ex-girlfriend is a gold-digger who dumped the impoverished protagonist for another wealthy man.

Turns out, the protagonist is richer than the new rich boyfriend, leading to the ex-girlfriend’s public humiliation...

Maybe due to some cosmic limitation, Shen Wang couldn't remember many details, only a vague outline.

Seeing Tang Jiu setting up his street stall, Shen Wang showed an indescribable expression: This kind of plot where the protagonist is underestimated by his ex-girlfriend for running a stall...

As he was thinking, a man and a woman holding hands approached Tang Jiu’s stall.

The elegantly dressed girl sneered, "So you’ve fallen to this level now? Serves you right."

Tang Jiu looked up at the girl: "You found a new boyfriend so quickly... You move fast. But your taste in men is deteriorating, each one worse than the last."

The girl scoffed coldly: "Indeed, my taste in men has always been poor. The worst was when I chose you, truly nauseating."

A shadow flickered in Tang Jiu's eyes, but he remained composed, replying calmly, "I notice your boyfriend’s face reveals signs of romantic excitement, a sign of a fluttering heart. Sadly, his heart doesn’t flutter for you."

Rolling her eyes, the girl pulled her boyfriend away, retorting, "Listening to your nonsense here, weren’t you the one who cheated on me?"

Shen Wang didn’t need to watch further to guess what would happen next.

The plot would typically involve the girl's current boyfriend cheating, her regretting her decision, and eventually returning to Tang Jiu...

Mulling over, Shen Wang dialed a number: "Hello? Is this the police? I’m near the side gate of C City University. I’d like to report illegal business activities, unlicensed vending, promoting superstitious beliefs, and corrupting the minds of university students."

"I hope the police will handle this impartially and imprison this fraudster! Let’s protect the young minds of C City University."

Hearing Shen Wang make the call, Xu Cheng and the driver were stunned, exchanging glances.

"Superstitious beliefs?"

"Corrupting the minds of university students?"

You sure can spin a tale. The driver commented.

Soon, the police arrived, scanning the area and quickly spotting the conspicuously behaving Tang Jiu.

At that moment, Tang Jiu was 'reading palms' with a beautiful woman, kneading and stroking her hand with a greasy, affected smile, "My dear, I see signs of romantic excitement in your life..."

Before he could finish, several authoritative figures approached: "Mr. Tang Jiu, right?"

Startled by the police, Tang Jiu’s expression shifted instantly.

"You are suspected of illegal business operations, obstructing fire exits, and promoting superstitious beliefs. Please come with us."

The woman, who had come for a fortune-telling, jerked her hand back, spitting disdainfully, "So you’re a fraudster, huh? And you touched my hand for so long, ugh! Pervert!"

Hearing her words, the police also showed a hint of disdain and disgust, their attitude turning even colder.

As Tang Jiu was being led away by the police, he wore a look of utter confusion, unable to grasp how his days of fortune-telling on the overpass had suddenly led to his arrest.

Shen Wang, watching from a distance, puffed out his chest in pride: the red scarf on his chest seemed even brighter.

Xu Cheng shivered slightly, instinctively stepping back once, then again.

A man who holds grudges is indeed terrifying!