Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The neighbor, Wu Shu, had been anxious since hearing about the talisman. Recently, he was particularly afraid of ghosts, feeling guilty and sleepless, especially as his room had been chillingly cold these past days.

But he didn't believe the two young men who had just moved in across the hall could draw talismans, as they didn't look like masters.

However, back at home alone, his unease grew. Wondering if it was all in his mind, even burning joss paper couldn't ease his guilt this time.

Particularly, the thought of indirectly causing someone's death due to his rejection made it impossible for him to forgive himself.

"If I hadn't been so tactful in my rejection, or if I had realized sooner, maybe he wouldn't have become so despondent..."

Wu Shu had been struggling to sleep already, and his neighbor's words only made it worse. Lying there, he kept thinking about what was said and finally, despite fearing a scam, decided to buy a talisman, hoping it might bring some peace of mind.

But when Wu Shu mustered the courage to knock on the door, no one answered for a long time. Just as he was about to knock again, he felt an inexplicable chill, shivering as if the cold was seeping into his bones, despite it being summer.

As he shivered, the door suddenly opened. Startled, he blurted out his purpose...

But instead of a response, he felt a gust of wind as the person raised their hand, making Wu Shu step back in fear: "I know I'm late, but is that a reason to hit me?"

Looking up, Wu Shu was stunned. His neighbor wasn't about to hit him, but was gesturing in the air, then striking towards the empty hallway.

Following the gesture, Wu Shu was terrified the next moment, nearly collapsing to the ground.

The previously empty hallway suddenly flickered with light. In the dimness, he saw a figure materialize out of nowhere – not a person, but a ghastly ghost with a greenish-black face and a gaping wound on its head, dried blood streaking its face in the dim night, terrifyingly ominous.

Especially since the ghost... looked familiar, resembling a male classmate from university he didn't get along with.

But why would he be here? And appearing out of thin air? The next moment, as another neighbor kicked, scattering the ghost's form, Wu Shu was paralyzed with fear: "Damn... a ghost!"

Xie Qingfeng watched Jing Xiu kick the ghost, nearly dispersing its soul, and stopped him, turning to his neighbor: "Did you say you wanted to buy a talisman to ward off ghosts?"

Wu Shu, a beat too slow, finally understood and nodded: "Yes, yes..."

Xie Qingfeng pointed at the ghost, trembling as it nearly lost half its soul: "You don't need a talisman for exorcism. How about sending him to complete destruction? I was waiting for a neighbor to come over; I never make a losing deal. But since this thing dared to covet me and the Emperor, it's better to just send it away."

"For a ghost who was no good in life and still seeks to drag an innocent soul in death, there's no need to let it linger."

"Having the intent to kill, even without bloodshed, is enough. I have no interest in sending such a person for reincarnation. It's better to just let their soul disintegrate, as staying in the living world means they will inevitably harm others."

Wu Shu was stunned, "Ah? What do you mean by 'annihilation in the ghostly realm'?"

Xie Qingfeng: "Complete spiritual disintegration."

Wu Shu's eyes widened, seeing the ghost trembling in fear, realizing its fate, and then desperately pleading with tears and snot: "Wu Shu, Wu Shu, we were classmates, save me! I died unexpectedly, I haven't done anything yet, I can't just lose even my ghostly life, please beg for mercy on my behalf!"

Wu Shu was momentarily at a loss, about to say something, when Jing Xiu gave him a sidelong glance: "Are you sure you want to plead for someone who intentionally chatted with you online, faked his death to make you think he committed suicide because of you, spread rumors about your sexual orientation, and after dying accidentally, still wants to drag you down with him?"

"If you still plead for him knowing the truth, then there's no need to intervene."

Jing Xiu's words left Wu Shu, who was still confused about the situation, stunned. Finally grasping the meaning, he turned pale with anger, pointing at the pitifully cowering ghost: "You, you are that 'Mysterious Resolver' from the internet?"

The ghost trembled, tried to play dumb, but clearly did not expect these two attractive young men to be so formidable. He couldn't afford to offend them, but admitting the truth seemed to close his last path to survival: "I, I don't know what they are talking about, Wu Shu, please help me, I really know my mistake now!"

As he spoke, he tried to drift towards Wu Shu, but a stern look from Jing Xiu immediately stopped him.

Seeing this, Wu Shu fully understood what had happened. Trembling with rage, especially thinking about the tormented days he'd spent feeling guilty, he realized it was all a cruel prank by his classmate!

"Even after dying accidentally, he still wants to use me as a scapegoat?"

Wu Shu had no doubts about his neighbor's words. Being able to reveal a ghost was not something ordinary people could do. Plus, their earlier words suggested they knew he was in danger of being haunted, so they kindly warned him.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Wu Shu wiped his teary eyes: "Master, such a ghost shouldn't be kept. Please, deal with it!"

"Committing such malicious pranks in life, without worrying about the guilt leading to their own downfall, and then trying to drag others down after death – should such a ghost be left to continue harming others?"

Xie Qingfeng, in a good mood, said, "Sure, the ghost was brought by you. According to the going rate, my fee for exorcising a ghost is twenty thousand."

Wu Shu nodded without hesitation: "Okay!"

Hearing this, the ghostly classmate, no longer pretending to be pitiful, burst out in a cloud of black mist and negative energy, reverting to a fierce ghostly form: "Wu Shu, you...” But before he could finish his curse, Jing Xiu stepped forward and stomped down, enveloping the ghost in a golden light. With another stomp, the ghost's energy dissipated completely, its soul shattered.

Wu Shu was utterly astonished. Damn, what kind of neighbors had he encountered? One who could reveal a ghost with a gesture, and the other sending it to its doom with just a few kicks?

Xie Qingfeng, looking at the dispersed ghostly energy in the hallway, in high spirits, took out a QR code: "Scan this to pay."

Wu Shu paid in a daze, and as the door closed, he blinked blankly: The masters these days... are quite user-friendly.

Wait a second, he forgot to thank them!

If it weren't for the master tonight, he might have been observing his own seventh-day death anniversary in a week.

Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xiu returned to their room just as it turned past midnight. Although Jing Xiu had obliterated the ghost, he was still displeased, especially since that scoundrel had dared to covet the National Master. If it weren't for fear of frightening him, Jing Xiu would have liked to tear the ghost apart piece by piece before sending it to its doom.

But when Jing Xiu returned to the room and saw the transfer of 1000 from Xie Qingfeng, his lips curved up, especially at the note: 'Pocket money'.

Who gives their cohabitant pocket money? Naturally, it's one's other half.

Only then did Jing Xiu notice a message from Agent Liang, sent a few hours ago.

There were several messages in a row.

Jing Xiu clicked to read them.

[Liang Chenglei: Are you... short on money? [Hesitant]]

[Liang Chenglei: If you're short on cash, just let me know. There's quite a bit left from those jade pieces we sold. Do you want me to transfer it back to you now?]

[Liang Chenglei: You've gotten so thin over these years. Don't just eat fried rice on the street; have some better food.]

[Liang Chenglei: You eating fried rice on the street got onto the trending searches. I've taken it down. No one suspects... it's you.]

Jing Xiu frowned, looking at the last message which included a link. Clicking it, he found a previously trending search, now cooled down. It was a side profile photo of someone sitting on a curb, looking pitiful with long legs folded, holding a plate of fried rice.

At that time, to gain the National Master's sympathy, he had done it intentionally. Plus, since he had already bought the meal, he ate it after taking and sending the photo.

Although it was just a side profile, someone probably took the photo because it was tagged with 'Jing Mianfeng', so it quickly became popular. But since Liang, his agent, had suppressed it, the search was still there, just not very high.

The person who took the photo didn't suspect it was Jing Mianfeng, merely posting the picture with a caption: "Spotted a guy on the street who looks a lot like Jing Mianfeng. Wow, that side profile is killer, and those long legs have nowhere to go. I'm a fan!"

Jing Xiu replied to Liang, saying to keep the remaining money with him. If a large sum suddenly appeared, the National Master might find out, wouldn't that blow his cover?

Besides... was he short of money?

[Jing: No need. Keep the money with you, and the jade pieces too, for now.]

[Jing: I'm not short on money. [Picture]]

Liang, his agent, hadn't slept all night, haunted by the image of his client, looking forlorn with legs folded, eating fried rice on the curb. Surely others wouldn't think it was Jing, the movie star. After all, why would a star appear so openly on the street?

But Liang Chenglei recognized him immediately, especially that distinctively long hair.

Thinking about how miserably the other seemed to be living, he wondered if he had given all his money to him and was now broke?

Tossing and turning in bed, he grew increasingly concerned about how pitiful his situation seemed.

Finally hearing the notification sound, he abruptly sat up, but upon opening it: "???"

He couldn't believe it when he enlarged the only image sent – it was a transfer receipt, already received.

The caption read clearly: [Pocket Money].

Liang Chenglei counted carefully, making sure he wasn't mistaken. It was indeed... three zeros, a thousand yuan, not ten thousand or a hundred thousand.

Liang Chenglei fell silent, then once again messaged his psychologist: [Dr. Xu, what does it mean if someone who is extremely wealthy gives all their money to someone else and feels proud of receiving a thousand yuan as pocket money? And finds satisfaction in eating a bowl of fried rice? Could this indicate a mental issue?]

Liang Chenglei texted instead of calling, fearing Dr. Xu might be asleep, so he sent the message, which the doctor saw first thing upon waking up.

However, Dr. Xu happened to be awake and replied quickly: [It is a problem.]

Liang Chenglei's hand trembled as he read the four words: [What kind of problem?]

The reply came swiftly: [Love-struck.]

Liang Chenglei, finally realizing what was happening: "..."