Chapter Eighty-Three.

Chapter Eighty-Three.

The girl named Chen Xiaofeng lay on the hospital bed, still liaising with clients. Her tone was calm, patiently analyzing the situation, showing no sign of impatience.

Shen Wang observed her thoughtfully.

Distracted by his gaze, Chen Xiaofeng stumbled over her words and hung up the phone, then looked directly at Shen Wang: “Is there something on my face?”

Shen Wang suddenly asked, “Why are you with Zhang Qian?”

Chen Xiaofeng answered without hesitation: “Because he’s handsome and sweet-talking.”

This answer seemed reasonable, yet for a girl supposedly in love, it sounded too rational.

“Do you know you’re pregnant?”

Chen Xiaofeng’s pupils dilated, and she instinctively covered her abdomen.

Seeing her reaction, both Shen Wang and Shi Yan understood her answer. For a moment, all three fell into silence.

Only Xiao Kong, still oblivious to what was happening, cheerfully floated to Chen Xiaofeng’s belly, greeting her unborn child: “Hi there, hello.”

Shen Wang’s eyelid twitched, wanting to tell the naïve spirit that a fetus of this age likely had no consciousness.

The next second, Chen Xiaofeng’s stomach moved abruptly.

Shen Wang was startled: “Do you have any idea what you are carrying!”

Chen Xiaofeng's face was full of shock: “I, I don’t know.”

Her stomach moved again, as if greeting someone outside, and Chen Xiaofeng’s pupils quivered. She clutched her belly and moaned, “What’s happening! The baby is only half a month old, how can this be!”

In a moment of realization, Shen Wang understood why the ghost fetus inhabiting Zhang Qian's body had vanished without a trace, leaving no ghostly aura behind.

Zhang Qian was already dead, and Chen Xiaofeng was in danger.

To protect Chen Xiaofeng, Shi Yan immediately arranged her discharge from the hospital and took her into protective custody at a special facility.

Upon learning that the ghost fetus had transferred to her own body, Chen Xiaofeng lost her composure and revealed everything.

It turned out that Chen Xiaofeng, an orphan with no parents, had a close friend she grew up with, almost like sisters in their bond.

Unlike Chen Xiaofeng, who was alone and had to struggle for herself, her friend was the only child in a happy family, not overly ambitious career-wise, but rather longing for a partner to build a happy family with.

Despite their differing aspirations, their friendship remained unaffected. Chen Xiaofeng was genuinely happy for her friend when she found a boyfriend.

They both seemed to be moving towards their respective hopes: one towards a successful career, the other towards family happiness.

But unexpectedly, a few months later, her friend called Chen Xiaofeng, asking her to accompany her for an abortion.

Speaking of this, hatred filled Chen Xiaofeng's eyes: “She said she was deceived. She thought her boyfriend was a trustworthy man, and they were in a relationship leading to marriage... But he just wanted to play around with her.”

“How serious are young people in relationships these days? You weren’t that naïve, were you?” Chen Xiaofeng mimicked the cadence of the scoundrel, repeating the words that had most devastated her friend.

Her friend believed they would marry, which is why she agreed to be intimate without insisting on protection, resulting in the pregnancy...

After telling the boyfriend about the pregnancy, the man who had promised 'to marry if she got pregnant' immediately changed his tune, giving her a thousand yuan and cutting off all contact.

Tears streamed down Chen Xiaofeng’s face: “It was just a scumbag, who hasn't been let down in their youth? She even consoled me, asking me not to feel sad for her.”

“I took her to the operating room…” Chen Xiaofeng’s voice trembled, as if seeing her friend’s gentle smile again, “After the surgery, I took her home... I thought it was just a minor operation, nothing serious...”

She never imagined her friend, not wanting her parents to notice anything amiss, would neglect proper post-operative care, leading to an infection.

Ultimately, her friend died from complications of a seemingly simple abortion.

Chen Xiaofeng sobbed bitterly, asking in anguish, “Why? The deceived victim is dead, while the culprit remains oblivious, living happily and already pursuing another woman!”

"When I added him as a friend, he had already moved on to another girlfriend. I told her someone died because of him. Guess what he said?"

Shen Wang silently observed the emotionally charged Chen Xiaofeng.

"He said, what does that have to do with me? It’s the hospital’s fault."

Even Shi Yan couldn’t help but frown at this; such callousness was appalling.

Chen Xiaofeng clumsily wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes misty yet resolute: “Such scum, don’t they deserve to die?”

Shen Wang sighed softly: “So, you became his next girlfriend and sought out a mystic expert?”

Chen Xiaofeng did not deny it: “After I added him with a new account, all it took was a little flirting, buying him a couple of pairs of shoes, and he dumped his current girlfriend to pursue me.”

“I intended to kill him directly... but after I shared this story online, someone told me that letting him die so easily was too kind for him.”

“That person taught me a method to make him pregnant with a ghost fetus,” Chen Xiaofeng said with a gleam of excitement in her eyes, “He likes making his girlfriends have abortions, right? It’s only fitting he experiences it himself.”

Watching the scumbag suffer in pregnancy brought Chen Xiaofeng some relief.

But it wasn’t enough! Nowhere near enough!

The pain her friend endured, she wanted him to pay back a thousandfold! Just being pregnant was too lenient.

She wanted the scumbag to die in the most undignified, agonizing way possible because of what was in his belly!

Undoubtedly, Chen Xiaofeng had achieved this.

Observing the satisfied smile on Chen Xiaofeng’s face, Shen Wang’s gaze fell on her abdomen: “Now, that thing is inside you. What are you going to do?”

Thinking of the scumbag’s gruesome death, Chen Xiaofeng’s face momentarily paled, but she looked up resolutely: “I have no regrets.”

As an orphan, Chen Xiaofeng grew up being bullied – chased and called a stray by other kids, regarded differently by teachers, harassed in restrooms by school bullies, and teased by mischievous boys... She thought that was all her life would ever be.

Disrespected by everyone, living a life less valued than a pet dog in someone’s house.

Until her friend transferred to her school and was the first person to reach out to her.

Her friend, coming from a well-off family, was adorable and academically excellent, winning the affection of both classmates and teachers. Such a pretty girl, surprisingly, became friends with the unkempt Chen Xiaofeng.

Not just the other students, even Chen Xiaofeng herself found it hard to believe.

Her friend taught her how to dress up, encouraged her to study harder despite her poor background, protected her from bullies, and even tutored her in her spare time... Without her friend, there would be no Chen Xiaofeng as she is today.

When she decided to avenge her friend, Chen Xiaofeng was prepared to face all consequences.

Shen Wang looked at her with a complex expression: “The thing in your belly will burst out, just like the alien in the movies. You will die a very painful death.”

Chen Xiaofeng pursed her lips and nodded firmly: “I have no family or relatives anyway. When I go down there, I’ll tell my friend that I’ve avenged her.”

Shi Yan, looking at her statement, asked: “You said someone online told you how to make Zhang Qian carry a ghost fetus. Do you still have their contact information?”

Chen Xiaofeng brought up the contact details and showed them to Shi Yan: “After he told me how to summon the ghost fetus, I couldn’t contact him anymore.”

Shen Wang also took a look and found it to be a brand-new burner account, revealing nothing.

Chen Xiaofeng had shared her story on a niche anonymous website just to vent, but someone messaged her privately, telling her how to summon a ghost fetus.

Originally an atheist, Chen Xiaofeng didn’t believe in such things. However, the person suggested that since she was set on revenge, she might as well try this method.

Compared to simply killing the scumbag, making him pregnant would be a far more painful torment.

Chen Xiaofeng was tempted.

After the scumbag became pregnant, Chen Xiaofeng realized that ghosts and deities truly existed in the world. She wanted to ask that internet user about the afterlife.

Unfortunately, that person never came online again.

It was also then that Chen Xiaofeng started the habit of worshipping various deities, whether it was God, Taoist ancestors, or Buddha. She made sure to pay her respects during her days off.

She devoutly prayed to these deities, hoping they would bless her friend in the next life, wishing her happiness and to never encounter a scumbag again.

By this time, the situation had become clear.

Shi Yan looked displeased and cursed: “They dare to cultivate ghost fetuses on our turf.”

Shen Wang, puzzled, asked, “What’s going on?”

“This is a method from Southeast Asia,” Shi Yan glanced at Chen Xiaofeng, “Using a human body to nurture a ghost fetus. Once it’s fully developed, they come to collect it... Those carrying the ghost fetuses are just vessels.”

The other party just needed a vessel, so both the scumbag Zhang Qian and Chen Xiaofeng were tools being used.

Hearing this, Chen Xiaofeng remained calm, as if she had anticipated it.

She touched her stomach, her face no longer showing the previous fierceness, and said wistfully, “I thought I could have a child.”

A relative, connected by blood.

Upon learning of her pregnancy, Chen Xiaofeng’s first instinct was to abort the child, repulsed by the idea of carrying the scumbag’s genes.

But... it was also her child.

Chen Xiaofeng hesitated. She thought that after the scumbag died, she might be able to give birth to the child, raise it alone, and pretend it never had a father.

Shen Wang stood up, approached Chen Xiaofeng, and asked in a voice too low for anyone else to hear: "So, you used this child to stimulate the ghost fetus?"

Chen Xiaofeng's hand paused on her stomach, then she smiled: "Nothing escapes the master's eyes."

She originally planned to make the scumbag suffer for ten months and then, following the advice of netizens, stimulate the ghost fetus, letting the scumbag die in despair during childbirth. To her surprise, the scumbag found Shen Wang and acquired a talisman capable of terminating the pregnancy.

Chen Xiaofeng had to adapt and change her plan accordingly.

To provoke the entity inside the scumbag's stomach, Chen Xiaofeng revealed her pregnancy to him.

As she expected, his first reaction was: "Abort it, I can't possibly keep this child."

This action undoubtedly enraged the thing in his stomach, causing it to emerge prematurely.

Missing out on the ten months of pregnancy was a bit regrettable, but Chen Xiaofeng wasn't greedy. As long as the outcome matched her expectations, she was satisfied.

"This woman is ruthless," Shen Wang straightened up, smiling as well, "In fact, I had a way to terminate the ghost fetus."

Chen Xiaofeng abruptly looked up at Shen Wang.

"When he first came to me, I saw that he was entangled with karmic threads, his own karma," Shen Wang reminisced, "So I only gave him a talisman."

"As long as his karma remains unresolved, using the talisman to abort would only be a temporary solution. It would actually worsen his condition."

Therefore, Shen Wang was certain that the man would return to him.

What Shen Wang hadn't anticipated was that there was another plot behind this incident.

Regaining his focus, Shen Wang looked at Chen Xiaofeng: “I can remove the ghost fetus for you.”

Chen Xiaofeng shuddered: “I…”

“You were used, causing Zhang Qian's death. The punishment for this should be handled by the special department,” Shen Wang said with a smile. “I won't let you die in front of me because of these supernatural entities.”

Chen Xiaofeng opened her mouth, and after a long pause, her eyes reddened slightly: “Thank you, Master.”

At that moment, the ghost fetus inside Chen Xiaofeng seemed to sense something. The ghostly aura, previously hidden, now emerged slightly, like a tender and feeble tendril cautiously exploring its surroundings.

Shen Wang raised an eyebrow and before he could speak, Xiao Kong, who had been quietly hovering nearby, suddenly drifted over and gently grasped the wisp of ghostly aura.

The thin mist of ghostly energy twined around Xiao Kong’s fingertips, making Xiao Kong laugh happily: “Hello there.”

Shen Wang: “???”

Shi Yan, who had been taking notes, stopped and looked on with a complex expression: “Shen, are you telling me your little ghost can communicate with the ghost fetus?”

Xiao Kong assumed a listening posture, nodded solemnly, and then seriously relayed to Shen Wang and Shi Yan: “He says he doesn’t want to disappear. He wants to be born, to be a person.”

Shen Wang: “???”

Aren’t ghost fetuses supposed to lack consciousness?

Xiao Kong continued: “He says he was originally just a confused mass, a collection of many abandoned children by a man. But somehow, after being expelled and re-entering the body several times, he developed thoughts.”

“The man didn’t welcome him, so he wanted to make that man suffer... But this woman likes him, so he wants to be this woman’s child.”

Chen Xiaofeng couldn’t see Xiao Kong. She only saw Shen Wang and Shi Yan simultaneously displaying a strange expression, as if questioning life itself.

With Xiao Kong’s message relayed, Shen Wang’s expression subtly changed and he told Chen Xiaofeng: “The thing in your belly… wants to be your child. Are you willing?”

Chen Xiaofeng: “???”

“It’s not a real child yet, just a collective of resentful energies,” Shen Wang explained. “The resentment of all the girls harmed by Zhang Qian, and the spirits of the aborted children... If you’re willing to accept it as your own child, it is ready to give up its power and become your true child.”

Hearing this, Chen Xiaofeng’s eyes widened in shock.

Just as Shen Wang thought she would refuse, she asked, “Does this include the resentment of my friend and her aborted child?”

Shen Wang hesitated for a moment: “...Yes.”

“Then I’m willing,” Chen Xiaofeng smiled, relieved, “I was worried about this child carrying the scumbag’s bloodline, fearing it might inherit his traits... Now this is really wonderful.”

No genetic connection to the scumbag, yet linked to her friend, made her feel as if her friend might still be with her, existing in another form.

Shi Yan asked in surprise, “Aren’t you afraid?”

“It hasn’t harmed me,” Chen Xiaofeng spoke slowly, “It’s humans who have deeply hurt me.”

After Chen Xiaofeng made her decision, the entity in her belly sensed it, joyfully circling around her body before affectionately nuzzling her slightly pale cheek.

A stream of ghostly energy continuously flowed out from Chen Xiaofeng’s belly. Shen Wang tensed up, ready to defend, but the energy was gently absorbed by Xiao Kong without any resistance.

After the last wisp of ghostly energy disappeared, Chen Xiaofeng was left clean, showing no abnormality.

Xiao Kong burped: “Master, it’s gone.”

Shen Wang used his spiritual power to sense and found that the formless ghost fetus had completely relinquished all its power, transforming into a quiet embryo nestled in Chen Xiaofeng’s womb.

Chen Xiaofeng waited nervously, not fully understanding what had happened, until she heard Shen Wang say, “It’s done.”

“From now on, it will be just a normal human being. I hope you... treat him well.”

Chen Xiaofeng covered her belly nervously, never having imagined that a baby could choose its parents.

Children cannot choose their parents, nor can parents choose their children... But now, a child had firmly chosen her, just as her friend had chosen the less adorable her from among many adorable children.

Chen Xiaofeng felt a twinge in her nose, softly saying, “Hello, my baby, it’s my turn to protect you now, I... I will take good care of you.”

The matter with Chen Xiaofeng came to a close, leaving the task of finding the foreign practitioner who had smuggled into the country.

Before leaving the special department, Shen Wang couldn’t help but ask Shi Yan, “What will happen to her?”

What would be the fate of this resolute girl, willing to pay any price for revenge?

“Well...” Shi Yan pondered for a few seconds, then said with a smile, “Probably nothing much.”

“After all, she’s just an ordinary person, exploited by some ulterior-minded practitioners.”

Shen Wang paused, then also smiled: “That way, she’s still a victim.”

With his mind at ease, Shen Wang further inquired, “Why would foreign practitioners come to our country?”

Shi Yan scoffed, “The World Mystic Arts Competition, held every four years, is about to start. Those who lost previously are getting restless.”

“The World Mystic Arts Competition?”

“You can think of it as the official contest of practitioners worldwide, held in a different country each year. Last time it was in T country, and we won the championship,” Shi Yan explained. “This year it’s in M country, and they seem quite confident.”

Shen Wang: “…”

It was his ignorance, not knowing enough about the modern mystical world.

Without further questions, Shen Wang, who had just absorbed the ghostly energy from the ghost fetus and was feeling somewhat lethargic, bid farewell and left.

The first thing he did upon returning home was to take a bath, to cleanse the bad energy.

After the bath, Shen Wang collapsed on the sofa, sighing deeply: “Interacting with such scumbags really brings bad luck.”

Xiao Kong was already sprawled in his little nest, sleeping with his legs up in the air.

Shen Wang smiled and checked his phone, finding that Liang Ruri had called him twice while he was busy solving cases for the special department.

Seeing Liang Ruri's name, Shen Wang raised an eyebrow and redialed the number: “Have you gathered all the medicinal ingredients?”

On the other end, Liang Ruri, who picked up immediately, chuckled sheepishly: “Brother Shen, about the ingredients you asked us to prepare... we're still missing a few.”

Shen Wang's brow furrowed: “The ingredients I asked you to gather are essential for resolving your sister’s physical condition.”

To accommodate the scarcity in modern society, Shen Wang had specifically chosen the most basic medicines, though less potent and slower in effect...

He hadn’t expected that even these would be hard to come by.

Liang Ruri sounded disheartened: “Brother Shen, we've looked everywhere and even asked industry insiders, but no one deals with these spiritual plants.”

Knowing about spiritual plants meant they really did put in effort. Shen Wang sighed: “I’ll come and have a look.”

Liang Ruri, previously lamenting, immediately brightened up and cheerfully responded: “Then Brother Shen, I’ll book a flight for you. Thank you for making the trip.”

His tone was very humble, full of respect.

After hanging up, Shen Wang thought for a moment and sent a message to Gu Dongting, who was also in the imperial capital.

The next day, Shen Wang arrived in the imperial capital on time and was personally received by Liang Ruri.

Shen Wang noticed Liang Ruri had switched to another beautiful green sports car, very eye-catching in its color.

Arriving at the Liang residence amid many admiring glances, Liang Ruri's first act was to hand the car keys to Shen Wang: “Brother Shen, don’t you need a car? Feel free to use mine, I have plenty anyway.”

Shen Wang: “…”

Indeed, the heir to a wealthy family. Even if they seem simple, none are truly simple. All he did was look at the car a bit more than usual.

Liang Ruri, worried Shen Wang might refuse, was about to persuade further when he saw Shen Wang accept the keys as if it were natural.

Shen Wang: “Then I won’t be polite.”

Liang Ruri, closing his mouth from the intended persuasion, chuckled: “As long as you like it.”

“That’s Brother Shen for you, decisive and straightforward! No need for unnecessary push and pull, which is really annoying.”

Liang Ruri hated it the most when people clearly wanted a gift but still played the game of refusal. Seeing Shen Wang accept it straightforwardly, he was extremely pleased, feeling utterly relaxed.

“The color of this car is really nice, a beautiful emerald green,” Shen Wang commented. “I like it very much, thank you.”

Liang Ruri: “!!!”

Accepting gifts generously and expressing his liking openly, such a way of accepting gifts made Liang Ruri think that even if Shen Wang didn’t understand mysticism, his personality alone could make them good friends.

Yet Shen Wang was a mystic expert. Liang Ruri sighed in resignation, knowing he could only look up to him.

At the entrance of the Liang residence, several family members were waiting. Seeing Shen Wang, they immediately broke into joyful smiles and greeted him: “Master Shen, thank you for taking the trouble to come again.”

“Master Shen, you must be tired. Would you like to rest first, or have something to eat to fill your stomach?”

“This way, Master Shen. The guest room you stayed in last time, we’ve now made it your exclusive room. You can come whenever you want, think of this place as your own home…”

Amid the flattering of the Liang father and son, Shen Wang remained unflappable: “Take me to see the medicinal ingredients.”

Getting straight to work upon arrival, such was the demeanor of a celestial master. Mr. Liang, overjoyed, immediately led Shen Wang to the storeroom where the ingredients were kept: “This way, Master Shen.”

Upon entering the temporary pharmacy, Shen Wang couldn’t help but be amazed: perhaps fearing a shortage, the Liang family had prepared several portions of each medicinal herb, filling the storeroom to the brim, the air heavy with the bitter fragrance of herbs.

Shen Wang merely sniffed the air and glanced around, instantly knowing which herbs were missing.

Seeing Shen Wang’s expression, Mr. Liang's heart skipped a beat, and he asked cautiously, “Master Shen, may I ask if something is not satisfactory?”

“The missing herbs are the most crucial spiritual medicines,” Shen Wang touched his sleeve and said, “I need to see if the mystic practitioners in the city have them.”

But in this unfamiliar imperial capital, whom could he turn to?

Gu Dongting, who was talking to his uncle, suddenly sneezed, causing both him and his uncle to pause in surprise.

Uncle Gu hesitated for a moment and asked, “Caught a cold?”

“I am a cultivator, immune to such minor viruses,” Gu Dongting didn’t dwell on his uncle's rare joke, feeling somewhat distracted as he took out his phone.

…His message list was spotlessly empty, nothing there.

Gu Dongting fell silent for a few seconds, reluctantly switched accounts, and upon opening it, he was flooded with countless messages, including several from the only pinned contact.

[Dongting, stay safe.]

[I’m heading to the imperial capital tomorrow. You’re there too... I’ll treat you to a meal.]

These were messages from two days ago, and just now, a new message had arrived.

[I got a new car. I’ll take you for a ride.]

Gu Dongting: “…”

The smug tone was palpable through the screen, conveying his pride.