Chapter 8

Chapter 8

When a disciple is bullied, it's the master's duty to step in and support. Fueled by anger, Wei Xi intensified his attack, only sparing moments to bite back at Fengyangxian whenever he counterattacked.

Outside the house, Lu Wenqing, who had finally arrived in a car, sensed something amiss from afar. Although the house was surrounded by numerous vehicles, it exuded an eerie aura devoid of human presence, like an iceberg in the middle of summer, incongruous yet isolated, clashing with its surroundings.

The setting sun cast a crimson glow on the sky as the autumn breeze rustled the leaves in the small town. A chill ran down Lu Wenqing's spine, and he asked Li Rui beside him, "Brother, do you feel that something's off?"

Li Rui's expression turned grave as he lifted his wrist. He wore a wristwatch, unremarkable in style and brand, but its hands were now spinning wildly, with the longest one pointing straight ahead.

Li Rui said, "Something's wrong."

It wasn't just slightly off; it was seriously problematic.

Seeing Li Rui's expression, Lu Wenqing immediately called the contact number they had for the Lin family. Hearing that the call couldn't be connected as the other party was out of coverage, his legs went weak. Swearing to himself about his bad luck, he thought, Why am I so unlucky? Taking on a simple job worth a mere hundred thousand yuan has become such a convoluted mess!

The oppressive aura of negativity was like a fierce gust of wind, even unsettling Li Rui. The brothers hesitated, reluctant to leave the safety of their car, both casting glances at the man in the backseat.

Mr. Shuo Zong was no longer pretending to sleep, yet he remained seated, unperturbed by the chaos, his expression calm, showing no intention of offering assistance.

Recalling the rules of engagement for this type of situation—catastrophe, disaster, and adequate payment—none of which were met, Lu Wenqing gritted his teeth and stepped out of the car with a stiffened back.

He bolstered his courage: "No need to be afraid, if I can't fight it, I can always run, right?"

He sneaked a glance at Mr. Shuo Zong's long legs standing behind him. Surely, no demon or ghost would dare to act too wildly in front of such a person?

His confidence surged, and he affixed seven or eight talismans to his body before heading toward the swaying villa, holding his magical artifact aloft.

As he approached the gate, the surrounding aura of gloom intensified. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, the chill made him shiver.

It was then that Lu Wenqing faintly heard screams coming from inside. Knowing there were people still alive, he pushed aside his fear and threw a blasting talisman, blowing open the door that wouldn't budge. Amidst the rising dust, he saw the huddled group in the corner of the room and caught a glimpse of the daylight outside. They seemed like famine-stricken refugees, weeping and clamoring to escape.

Lu Wenqing stopped a middle-aged woman dressed as a shaman and asked what was happening. The shaman's sobs were so intense that her nose was running. "Ghosts! G-Ghosts!"

Lu Wenqing looked embarrassedly at the Nine Heavens Fairy Order she waved in her hand and peered into the house, his pupils constricting. Someone was lying prone at the entrance of an open room in the distance!

He rushed in, and Li Rui crouched down to check. "It's okay, they just fainted."

Only then did the two have the chance to survey the situation inside. Scanning the room, their scalps tingled with alarm!

Before them, a room spanning about ten square meters was packed to the brim with at least dozens of ghosts pressed against every corner. These were no ordinary ghosts; among them were some with dark red auras so dense that one could tell they had consumed many lives to attain such hues. Now, they clung together, heads touching, trembling violently like grain in a sieve, standing in a similar manner as the tearful crowd that had just rushed out of the room. Upon closer inspection, there was even an old Taoist with a long beard amidst them!

The old Taoist's face was filled with fear as he clung tightly to a small ghost beside him. The scene resembled a widow and her orphan, evoking deep sympathy and emotion. Lu Wenqing thought, What on earth is going on here?

He turned to ask his cousin for his opinion but, upon seeing Mr. Shuo Zong, found the man staring intently at the two living beings inside the room with a solemn expression.

At the same time, the person with their back to them also sensed the danger and turned around. Their gaze swept over, sharp as a cold breeze.

Lu Wenqing couldn't help but freeze at the sight of the person's features.

In the next second, before he could react, Mr. Shuo Zong vanished, and a bang echoed as the door closed.

Staring at the now-closed door, Lu Wenqing muttered, "...What was that all about?"

Li Rui was equally confused, "He was trying to help you? With that many ghosts inside, even with me, it would be impossible to handle."

Mr. Shuo Zong had actually offered to help without asking for payment?! Lu Wenqing was both astonished and incredulous. Gathering himself, he continued, "So, bro, did you see that person inside? Why do I feel like I've seen him before?"

Li Rui: "Who?"

"Wei Xi, oh, you might not have met him. He's the eldest son of the Wei family," Lu Wenqing mused aloud, finding the resemblance increasingly convincing. "We were in the same university town, and he was in the drama department at the neighboring school. We'd often run into each other at various events before graduation, so I should know him well enough not to mistake him."

Li Rui recalled the Wei family and suddenly remembered, "Isn't it said that he's missing? It's been months. How could he turn up in Fengyang, dressed like...?"

Recalling the fleeting glimpse he'd caught, he found a suitable term, "Ragged and disheveled. Are you sure you didn't mix him up?"

Lu Wenqing was equally perplexed. He had seen Wei Xi on several occasions at inter-university gatherings and among Beijing's social circle, so he couldn't have misremembered that striking face. However, his recollection of the man was consistently mild-mannered, and he had never left such a sharp and distinct impression as he did with that glance just now.

"Right," Li Rui asked, "I was wondering earlier, why did the eldest son of the Wei family go missing? And it seems like his family isn't overly concerned – they haven't even tried to find him through others."

Upon hearing Li Rui's question, Lu Wenqing's expression shifted, looking awkward as if unsure how to proceed.

After a long pause, he whispered softly, "Well, I heard he wasn't exactly... you know, at home. You're aware that Tianyi, Wei's current wife, isn't his biological mother, and they have a younger son together. As for the reason behind his disappearance... have you been following entertainment gossip?"

Confused, Li Rui replied, "Why would I do that?"

Lu Wenqing had no choice but to clarify, "So you didn't hear about the scandal before he went missing – the one where he was exposed as... being gay? It was quite a commotion back then. The Wang family's youngest daughter was begging to have their engagement called off, and the production team his father got him into refused to work with him. He hadn't even become famous yet. Apparently, there was a big scene at his home, but I'm not sure what happened. Anyway, he left a letter and disappeared."

Li Rui responded, "...Gay? Damn, that's explosive news."

"He himself never admitted it," Lu Wenqing recalled. "I didn't think so either. You don't know how seriously he pursued Wang's youngest daughter back then. Her name was Wang Yue, I think, same college and department but different class. I heard the girls in school talking about it every day, saying how he sent flowers, breakfast, and midnight snacks, always available at her beck and call for four whole years. In my opinion, since there was already an arranged marriage between their families, it wouldn't have mattered if he chased her or not. If he were really gay, why would he bother with all that effort? It's strange that none of his friends within our circle stood up for him back then. Only his classmates spoke up, but what could ordinary people like them do to clear his name?"

Within the room, Wei Xi regarded the unexpected man who had suddenly appeared before him with wariness.

The individual before him exuded an abundant yang energy, so potent that it seemed to have a subtle golden hue, making it unbearable for the ghosts within the room. Wei Xi feasted on spirits for their dense yin energy; hence, not only yin but also yang was part of his sustenance. Under normal circumstances, this person would undoubtedly be an enticing prey that would make his mouth water. Yet, paradoxically, Wei Xi could keenly sense the other's unyielding nature.

For he simply couldn't discern any clues about the person's past or future from their appearance.

Such a scenario was already quite uncommon, let alone the fact that the other party was currently gazing at him with an expression that was a blend of scrutiny, curiosity, and disbelief - a complex look that was too intricate for him to decipher.

Scouring his memories, Wei Xi was certain he had never encountered this figure before. Unable to discern whether the stranger was friend or foe, tension silently escalated between them.

However, after gazing at him for a moment, the figure abruptly averted its gaze, its expression appearing deeply displeased. Its eyes swept around, as if searching for a target to vent its frustration.

Spotting the ghosts huddled against the wall, traumatized by Wei Xi's devouring of the vengeful spirit, its countenance darkened. With a wave of its hand and a few incantations, a scorching blast of heat instantly engulfed the area.

The weak spirits caught in that searing gust were powerless to resist; they were instantly bisected and drifted into the air, vanishing peacefully. Yet, those with tainted hues, having committed evil deeds and fed on humans, seemed to endure immense agony akin to being burned alive. They writhed and screamed frantically, though no sound escaped their lips. Gradually, they tore apart amidst their desperate struggles, disintegrating into ashes.

Wei Xi's eyes widened in horror. My reserves of food supply!!!

Many of the items in there were edible, and he had planned to savor them slowly!

How could this person be so heartless?!

His impression of the other party plummeted. Fengyangxian, who had been reduced to half his body, seemed to sense something and struggled desperately. He waved his remaining left hand, attempting to attract attention.

Wherever you came from, Immortal, just give me a quick death!

Sure enough, the other party noticed him. However, as soon as their gaze landed on him, Wei Xi jumped up in a panic and pounced, striking out, "Don't push your luck too far!"

The other party didn't say a word but frowned and started fighting back with fierce moves. Wei Xi soon realized how formidable the opponent was and decided to take a risk. He opened his mouth and lunged for the other's neck—

Wei Dedao forbade him from eating people, but surely he could bite, right?

But the moment his teeth sank in, he sensed a greater calamity. A rich yang energy flooded his senses, soothing him all over. Yet, his teeth seemed to meet an unyielding object, unable to harm the other party at all!

Since gaining consciousness, this was the first time Wei Xi encountered something he couldn't bite through. He froze in astonishment.

The other party also paused, seemingly speechless at the sight. After a moment of silence, they spoke with a deep, resonant voice like a tolling bell, "Let go."

Of course Wei Xi didn't listen. He clung onto the other's shoulder and even switched to biting on the other side of his cheek.

The other person simply stood straight. Wei Xi was shorter, so with his mouth still attached to the other's neck, he could only balance on his tiptoes. Yet, he stubbornly refused to let go, secretly licking and sucking away a few mouthfuls of yang energy.

Shuo Zong's expression darkened. He reached out to push him away. With his great strength, he indeed managed to pry Wei Xi off. However, Wei Xi tilted his head and bit down on the hand that had tried to push him away.

Shuo Zong wiped the moisture from his neck and looked at Wei Xi, who was still holding onto his hand. Wei Xi wrapped his arms around Shuo Zong's arm, staring up at him fearlessly.

His eyes were big and round, sparkling like a puppy's.

Shuo Zong was so exasperated that he found it amusing. He no longer cared and simply let Wei Xi bite him. His gaze swept over the room and landed on the long-bearded old Daoist's face.

The old Daoist was both scared and speechless. He thought to himself, "Finally, you two have noticed me. You've also seen Wei Xi eating Fengyangxian alive and Shuo Zong wiping out all the little ghosts in the room with a wave of his hand. I dare not even sneak a peek at Wei Xi biting Shuo Zong's hand. I'll just tremblingly bow in gratitude." "Thank you, Master, for your rescue—"

Shuo Zong interrupted his thanks and calmly asked, "What did you see?"

At this question, tears welled up in the old Daoist's eyes. Looking at the torn remains of Fengyangxian on the ground, he was overwhelmed with thoughts and didn't know where to start. He glanced at Wei Xi, whose legs were still twitching in fear. Sobbing, he prepared to pour out his heart to this god-like figure who had descended from the heavens.

However, just as he opened his mouth, a strong force suddenly gripped his throat, cutting off his words.

With one hand, Shuo Zong allowed Wei Xi to nibble on it, while with the other, he choked the old Taoist priest, showing no consideration for the man's age as he lifted him off the ground almost entirely.

His expression remained unchanged, and his voice conveyed no emotion, as if he were simply inquiring, "What did you see?"

The old Taoist's eyes widened in terror, realizing that their savior was not before them but another god of death.

His lips turned purple, his complexion ashen, struggling for breath under the grip. He screamed desperately, "Nothing! Nothing! I didn't see anything!!!"

Shuo Zong stared at him for a moment before gradually releasing his hold. Ignoring the old Taoist who stumbled to the ground, his gaze returned to Wei Xi.

Wei Xi, sensing the strong yang energy within Shuo Zong, had found his rhythm. He savored the taste with each bite, occasionally attempting to chew on the fingers between his teeth.

Though it didn't hurt, the tingling and itching sensations were intense.

"..." Shuo Zong's expression flickered, and after a moment, he slapped the other's forehead. Then, facing Wei Xi's fierce glare, he spoke expressionlessly, "You bloody well must be an idiot."