Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Despite the insults, Wei Xi was still capable of understanding them; he instantly applied more force in biting his finger.

With a grim expression and a piercing gaze, Shuo Zong engaged in another staredown before averting his eyes, saying, "Relax your grip. I won't touch your belongings."

Unable to bite, and finding the situation thorny when it came to fighting, Wei Xi weighed his options. Glancing at Fengyangxian, who was still trying to roll over on the ground, he ultimately decided to back down. However, before doing so, he made sure to take a few more deep breaths of the masculine energy.

Shuo Zong withdrew his finger, still tingling with a residual cool moisture. Unconsciously, he rubbed it between his fingers, the sensation vastly distinct from that of his tongue.

He lowered his gaze and saw a pattern stretching to the second joint of his middle finger. Within the pattern were a few fresh tooth marks, small and neatly semicircular.

Suddenly, he frowned and hastily wiped his hand on his pants, averting his eyes.

This time, Wei Xi ate quickly. He had intended to savor the yin energy after such a long absence, but the unexpected arrival of an unwelcome guest had ruined his plans, leaving him without any reserves. Displeased and wary of any further mischief from the intruder, he folded Fengyangxian several times and bound him with the remaining arm, forming a compact, solid package. With resentment over the damage caused to their unity, he punched Fengyangxian a few more times before swallowing the bundle whole. He regretfully acknowledged that this method left no room for enjoyment.

If Fengyangxian still possessed a semblance of his soul, he would likely be scrambling to burn incense, pray to Buddha, and dance in joy at this moment. Finally, he could die completely!

After one last, relentless scan of the room, Wei Xi confirmed there was truly nothing else left. He shot a malevolent glare at the arrogant man and vowed to find an opportunity to consume him in the future.

Yet, this train of thought inevitably led him to recall the fact that he couldn't bite through the other party just now, leaving him rather dejected.

Just as he was about to open the door, the other party suddenly spoke again, "Wait."

Wei Xi turned back with displeasure, ready for a fight if necessary.

However, the other person merely looked him up and down before lifting his hand to swiftly remove his upper garment, draping it over Wei Xi's head. "Put this on."

Wei Xi glanced at himself and realized that his already tattered robe had been completely torn apart by Fengyangxian, exposing his shoulders all the way down to his waist.

Outside the room, Lu Wenqing and Li Rui waited anxiously, occasionally hearing the sounds of fierce combat from beyond the door. The continuous noise made them both tense, convinced that the ghost they encountered this time was particularly troublesome. Lu Wenqing kept lamenting inwardly that he had taken a loss – accepting such a troublesome job from the Lin family for only ten thousand yuan. Fortunately, the frightening commotion eventually subsided, and the tightly shut door slowly creaked open.

Their spirits lifted, and they immediately looked over to see the handsome young man who had emerged from the room with a grim expression. He was good-looking, but his attire was even more peculiar than before. Half of his tattered robe had been pushed down, its sleeve haphazardly tied around his waist, while he now wore a black long-sleeved top on his upper body.

The shirt hung loosely on him, its sleeves covering half of his hands, while the high collar draped limply around his slender neck, revealing his delicate Adam's apple.

Upon seeing this, the brothers' eyes widened, not because the other party had managed to pull off an eccentric mix-and-match style with his outstanding demeanor, but because – this damn shirt was too damn familiar, wasn't it!

As the door opened wider, Mr. Shuo Zong followed out, now without his shirt, revealing only a black tank top that exposed his tattoos across his arms and shoulders. This was already quite intimidating; combined with his muscular biceps and enigmatic expression, in another setting, he would resemble a gang boss about to pull out a gun and cause trouble. His aura was vastly different from his usual demeanor.

Lu Wenqing was usually intimidated by him, and in this situation, he felt even more uneasy. A mere glance from Shuo Zong made his legs tremble. "M-Master."

Shuo Zong said, "Go bring back the people outside."

Wei Xi wasn't curious about their conversation and walked past them without glancing sideways.

Lu Wenqing had been sneaking peeks at him. As they brushed past each other, a sudden thought struck him, and he called out, "Wei Xi?"

Wei Xi turned around.

Seeing this reaction, Lu Wenqing was momentarily taken aback before he said in disbelief, "It's really you?!"

It took Wei Xi a while to realize who Lu Wenqing was addressing. He finally remembered that he was currently occupying someone else's body.

However, it was surprising that the unlucky ghost, whom he had compassionately helped pass on, not only looked similar to him but also shared the same name. Taking over another person's body was already troublesome enough. Besides, the original owner of this body was clearly from an affluent family. Wei Xi had anticipated encountering this person's acquaintances when he left the mountain, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

He still possessed basic common sense and knew how ordinary people outside the mountains would react to something like possession, regardless of whether it was voluntary or not. It would be a headache for him either way. He couldn't possibly devour everyone who recognized this face, could he? If he did, Wei Dedao would be the first to dig himself out of his grave and go berserk.

Thus, in response to Lu Wenqing's casual greeting, his attitude was rather indifferent, refraining from speaking unless necessary.

Lu Wenqing wasn't particularly familiar with the previous Wei Xi, so he didn't notice anything unusual. He only privately sighed, thinking that Wei Xi had become much colder after the recent blow he'd received.

However, he didn't have time to dwell on it. On one hand, the intimidating Mr. Shuo Zong was standing beside him, and on the other, the Lin family and the group of fraudsters were returning.

The long-bearded old Taoist, supported by others, trembled at the sight of Wei Xi and Shuo Zong. In front of Wei Xi, he was so scared that he didn't even dare lift his head. Shuo Zong merely threatened him, but Wei Xi had swallowed a vengeful ghost alive right before his eyes!

Now, every time the old Taoist closed his eyes, he saw Wei Xi pulling out Fengyangxian's hair, an image that would likely haunt him for the rest of his life and make him never want to eat spaghetti again.

Lin Hanyang returned with his wife and mother, both trembling in fear. He was completely convinced now.

Having received nearly thirty years of education in atheism from primary school to graduate school, all the dialectical relationships between matter and consciousness seemed like paper tigers in the face of what he had just witnessed.

Lin Hanyang was no longer the same person. Once, he firmly believed that his misfortune was a normal fluctuation in the market economy. Now, he couldn't help but think about scattering joss paper as he stepped into his own house. Upon seeing Wei Xi inside, he felt a wave of shame. To be honest, before witnessing Fengyangxian's formidable display in dragging away the old Taoist, he had still harbored some hope.

Looking at Wei Xi and then at the Lu family who had arrived later, he couldn't guess who had dealt with Fengyangxian. All he could do was ask the pale and wobbly Daoist Wang, who, with fear in his heart, pointed at one of them.

Excitedly, Lin Hanyang, his wife, and his mother immediately surrounded Wei Xi.

"Master Wei, has that female ghost really been taken care of? She won't come back anymore?"

Wei Xi pondered for a moment. "No, she won't."

The long-bearded old Taoist saw his harmless appearance and paled in shock.

Lin Hanyang and the others hid in the corner by the entrance, unaware of what was happening inside the house. They assumed Fengyangxian had been subdued by Wei Xi, so Old Lady Lin clasped her hands together and immediately chanted several Amitabha Buddha prayers.

Lu Wenqing couldn't ask any more questions, but upon hearing this conversation, he turned to Shuo Zong in surprise. "Sir, didn't you take care of the ghost inside?"

Recalling the severely ravaged vengeful spirit when he entered, Shuo Zong fell silent for a moment. "Not entirely."

Lu Wenqing interpreted this as Wei Xi's assistance in resolving part of the problem. He was both astonished and envious, lamenting his decades-long stagnation in spiritual cultivation. "Goodness, is this for real? He's learned how to exorcise ghosts after just a few months without seeing him?!"

Shuo Zong glanced at him. "Do you know him?"

Assuming the man was merely curious, Lu Wenqing repeated the gossip he'd just shared with his cousin, even adding an explanation for the term 'gay' in case it wasn't clear. After listening, Shuo Zong said nothing, only casting a meaningful glance at Wei Xi in the crowd.

Wei Xi had already started discussing payment, but it was the Lin family who broached the subject first. Lin Hanyang, inexperienced in hiring a master for such matters, feared underpaying based on the fees his mother had given to other masters in the past. Thus, he respectfully asked Wei Xi to propose his own rate. "Master Lin, I wonder what your usual fee is for conducting a ritual. I'll instruct my family to prepare accordingly."

How much is the fee?

Wei Xi was baffled once more.

He had come for a free meal and initially hadn't considered charging for it, but it seemed that the Lin family intended to give him money. Considering his current penniless state and the goal of reviving his sect, he decided not to refuse. However, how much should he ask for?

The currency in this country was entirely different from what he knew. He searched through his memories of the journey down the mountain for clues. A bowl of pounded rice cake cost ten yuan, and the man at the foot of the mountain who had lost his family had demanded three hundred yuan with an unwavering attitude, indicating that it was a significant amount to him.

A hundred yuan could buy ten bowls of pounded rice cake – indeed, a substantial sum.

After some consideration, he believed that the price for his work should be higher, so he stated, "Five hundred."

Shuo Zong: "............"

Everyone present: "............"

Seeing the Lin family staring blankly at him without speaking, Wei Xi realized he might have asked for too much. Just as he was about to lower the price by two hundred, Shuo Zong had already walked over and covered his mouth. At the same time, he sternly addressed Lin Hanyang, "Pay him the market rate."

Wei Xi attempted to bite Shuo Zong the moment he caught a whiff of his scent, but Shuo Zong's hand immediately released him.

Lost in confusion, Lin Hanyang was even fretting over whether Wei Xi was still upset about the initial 200 yuan he had offered. Upon hearing this, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hastily instructed his family to fetch another 100,000 yuan according to the Lu family's standard. Then, he looked at Shuo Zong and asked, "Who is this?"

Lu Wenqing promptly regained his composure and explained, "This is Mr. Shuo Zong, an authoritative consultant of the Lu family."

"AH!" Lin Hanyang was startled, stealing a glance at the man's strikingly handsome face and the rebellious tattoo on his arm, secretly feeling embarrassed. "He, indeed, is extraordinary."

The bearded Taoist, who had received 30,000 yuan for conducting the ritual, began to question himself intensely, momentarily losing his composure.

After pulling Wei Xi aside, Shuo Zong gestured for Lu Wenqing to go to the room where the incident had occurred. He took out a simple earthenware basin and said, "That female ghost used to hide in here. Where did you get this basin from?"

Upon hearing this, the Lin family's expressions changed drastically. The elderly Mrs. Lin almost fainted again. "This, I found it a few years ago when I was out on the street! There was a construction site, and many people were rushing to grab antiques that they claimed were unearthed during the foundation dig. I managed to snatch this one, and after bringing it home, I had friends authenticate it. They all said it was an authentic antique with a history. I thought I hit the jackpot! How, how could it be..."

Back then, knowing it was genuine, the old lady had been secretly delighted, believing she had both good eyesight and luck, as she hadn't spent a penny but still managed to find something valuable. But now, hearing Shuo Zong's words, she suddenly realized that her son's business troubles and her daughter-in-law's poor health seemed to have started since this pottery basin entered their home.

Lin Hanyang was well aware of his mother's nature. She had lived a hard life in her youth, and although things were more comfortable now, she couldn't shake off her habit of taking advantage of bargains. Even after he brought her to Beijing, she would insist on using her senior discount card to squeeze onto crowded buses during rush hour just to buy groceries from faraway markets, and most of what she bought were wilted vegetables on sale. When eating out, she would hoard high-end hand soap and toilet paper from restaurant restrooms. While shopping on the streets, she would queue multiple times for free samples given away by merchants, and even when traveling abroad, she stubbornly refused to tip, trying to find ways to smuggle bits of dead branches or decaying leaves as "souvenirs." Whenever he or his wife tried to stop her, she would argue, often leaving them both in awkward situations. Lin Hanyang felt helpless, but she was his mother who had raised him for decades, so no matter how unreasonable she was, he could only persuade his wife to ignore it. However, this time, his patience was wearing thin, as his mother's greed for small gains had almost brought disaster upon his entire family.

He sighed. "Mom, I'm not criticizing you, but you never listen. Can being greedy for these minor advantages really bring great wealth to the family?"

"I was just trying to save some money for the family!" The old lady initially tried to defend herself, but then, thinking about the consequences of her actions, she fell silent. "Is, is this thing really that mystical? Does having it at home bring terrible luck? If we hadn't discovered it, what would have happened in the end?"

Shuo Zong glanced at her indifferently, too lazy to speak. Lu Wenqing quickly explained, "When construction sites dig foundations, they sometimes uncover tombs. Naturally, antiques found would be burial goods. How can you just take these home? Burial items are somewhat tainted; if the tomb's feng shui is off, it's even worse. As for the female ghost you mentioned..."

Lu Wenqing hadn't seen the female ghost and couldn't comment, but Shuo Zong merely cast a glance at Mrs. Lin before addressing Lin Hanyang, "Your wife has had much of her life force drained away, which is why she's weak and often falls ill. If this continues, the female ghost will eventually consume her and assume her form to live on with you."

Every hair on Lin Hanyang's body stood on end at these words. The old lady, hearing that she had almost become part of a family with a ghost, turned pale with fear and dared not be stubborn anymore. She hastily vowed to reform and never again take anything without permission.

The family now felt a chill at the sight of the pottery jar and dared not touch it, keeping their distance. "So, what should we do with this thing?"

Lu Wenqing pondered. It was difficult to deal with such an object; sending it to a museum might cause trouble later, but destroying it wasn't straightforward either. After all, it had soaked in a tomb for centuries and then been used by a vengeful spirit as a hiding place. It was no longer an ordinary pottery jar; it wouldn't break from casual handling. A special method was needed to dispel its malevolence.

Thus, he considered his options and began listing complex ingredients like black dog blood and cinnabar, along with a process of soaking the object for forty-nine days to neutralize its negativity. Just as he was about to speak...

He felt a sudden lightness in his hand. Looking to the side, he saw Wei Xi had already taken the pottery basin and was examining it closely.

Lu Wenqing was about to caution him to be careful when he witnessed the young man pressing both hands against the jar, exerting pressure on either side...

Wei Xi said, "There, done."

Lu Wenqing: "???"

For a moment, he was utterly bewildered as he watched the other person hold up the two broken pottery shards, seemingly on a whim, and bring them to his lips for a bite.

Lu Wenqing: "!!!"

How could something like this be put in one's mouth? Alarmed, he was about to stop him when Wei Xi already spat out the fragments with an "eww."

Ugh! The lingering taste of mud, coupled with its gritty texture, made it incredibly unpalatable.

Lu Wenqing: ".................."

To hell with black dog blood.