Chapter 14

Chapter 14

◎A Loving Family◎

Although Xia Junyan was young, talismans were something that only required a bit of time and not much effort for him, so he used them without hesitation. If his skills were lacking, he compensated with talismans.

Seeing that Tu Yeshan was almost out of talismans, Xia Junyan pulled out another stack of talisman paper from his pocket: "Don't think that just because you've lived a few more years than me, you can surpass my abilities. You harmed the innocent for your own selfish interests. Do you think killing the Ghost Baby will let you get away with it?"

Tu Yeshan knew this person was after the Ghost Baby. He had thought Xia Junyan was just an impulsive young hothead, but he didn't expect the kid to be so resourceful, with talismans that seemed endless. However, today he absolutely could not let Xia Junyan leave alive. So, he bit his middle finger again, preparing to summon the little ghost he had nurtured.

Just as he was about to kill Xia Junyan to silence him, several cars arrived. Before the cars even came to a halt, a few uniformed law enforcement officers jumped out and rushed in.

Xia Junyan waved to the leader: "Brother Mu, hurry! This is the guy. He's the one behind the altar in the basement of the White Building! And that Ghost Baby, he just tried to kill it to silence it!"

Mu Chun, the captain of the Special Operations Team of the Management Bureau, said to Tu Yeshan, "Please come with us for investigation."

Tu Yeshan immediately threw out a diversion talisman and tried to flee.

He had always known about the existence of the Management Bureau, but he also knew that most of his deeds were underhanded. Therefore, he had deliberately avoided any involvement with the bureau, usually working for wealthy clients on shady matters.

This was the first time the Management Bureau had come after him.

Xia Junyan wasn't about to let him use talismans in his presence again. He immediately burned the diversion talisman Tu Yeshan had thrown out with a fire talisman: "Trying to escape? No chance!"

Now he wanted to escape? After fighting so fiercely with him earlier, burning through so many of his talismans in one night. Did he know how long it would take to create all those talismans?

Mu Chun signaled to his team members behind him: "Take him in."

Xia Junyan: "There are more inside! His disciples are there too, and Meng Hongwei is involved. Tan Shuyi was killed by Meng Hongwei, and the Ghost Baby is Meng Hongwei's offspring!"

Mu Chun nodded in acknowledgment, then scanned the area and asked Xia Junyan, "Where's the Ghost Baby?"

Xia Junyan cursed: "The Ghost Baby escaped!"

Mu Chun was at a loss for words. The entire mystical community in Yulan City had been searching for the Ghost Baby, fearing it would harm innocents. Now that it had been located, they still let it escape. This kid really was untrustworthy!

The state's deterrence was still effective. Even Tu Yeshan didn't dare to resist and fight his way out. The key was that he was alone, and his two useless disciples were of no help. Facing the Management Bureau, he probably couldn't fight his way out, so he had no choice but to be handcuffed and taken away.

Mu Chun asked Xia Junyan if he wanted a ride back. Xia Junyan thought for a moment and said, "Sure, give me a lift."

The incident tonight was quite significant. Although the villas here were spaced out, Xia Junyan was worried that someone might notice.

He wasn't concerned about ordinary people seeing mystical matters. Those who lived here were either wealthy or influential, and most would know a bit about the mystical world. He just didn't want to drag the Ji family into this.

The Ji family was a major player in Yulan City's business circle, but not many knew that two of their children were involved in the mystical world. Their master wasn't from a traditional orthodox lineage but rather a powerful folk master passed down through generations, with few disciples but each capable of rivaling an entire sect.

The commotion tonight was significant. If he returned to the Ji family now, he might bring unnecessary trouble to them. Since the culprit had been caught and the Ghost Baby had escaped, there was no point in going back now.

On the way, Xia Junyan sent a message to Ji Nanxing, saying he had left first. But after waiting for a while, there was no reply. He snorted and put away his phone. That brat really could fall asleep at any moment, not even worried if he lost the fight. No intention of coming to help at all. Friendship over.

Ji Nanxing, who had no time to check his phone, was busy picking out clothes. Although it was late at night, it wasn't impossible to buy clothes, but it wasn't worth the effort. He still had plenty of his childhood clothes at home.

The night-shift maid brought a cardboard box from the storage room and placed it in front of Ji Nanxing: "Young Master, the clothes for three to four-year-olds should all be here."

Even the storage room was thoroughly cleaned once a month, and everything inside was regularly organized. So, even things he had used or worn as a child could be found immediately when he needed them.

Ji Nanxing rummaged through the box. The eerie green-skinned little ghost wouldn't suit black, and white wasn't great either. Wearing white at night could easily scare people to death.

At the bottom of the box, Ji Nanxing found a Pikachu outfit made of plush fabric. Although it wasn't suitable for summer, ghosts didn't feel heat or cold. The bright yellow color could also soften the horror of the green skin.

"This one will do. Put the rest away and bring me a brazier."

In a place where the maid couldn't see, the Ghost Baby stood obediently beside Ji Nanxing, holding onto the corner of his clothes. If not for its ghostly appearance, it almost looked like a well-behaved child.

After the brazier was brought, Ji Nanxing lit the small clothes and threw them into the brazier, then burned a summoning talisman.

When burning offerings for lingering ghosts without a name or birth date, a summoning talisman was needed to guide them.

If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't bear to see the little ghost following him around naked, Ji Nanxing wouldn't have gone through so much trouble late at night.

Once the small clothes were burned, Ji Nanxing dressed the Ghost Baby. The outfit was slightly oversized, a bit loose, but it made the Ghost Baby look even cuter—provided the hood was pulled up to cover all the exposed parts.

After dressing the Ghost Baby, Ji Nanxing took its hand and walked inside: "Let's get you something to eat. Once you're full, no more mischief. At dawn, I'll take you to find your mother."

The Ghost Baby didn't understand but followed obediently.

Entering a small incense room enshrining the golden statue of the Pure Yang Patriarch, Ji Nanxing lit a few incense sticks and placed them on the altar. He then took a small incense burner and lit a few more sticks, leading the little ghost to sit beside it: "Eat."

The enticing aroma of the incense triggered the little ghost's instincts, and it began to inhale. It had never eaten incense before, but it knew this was something good.

The wounds on its hands slowly healed as it inhaled the incense. Although the dissipated ghost energy wasn't easy to recover, at least the surface of the lingering ghost's skin appeared intact.

After the little ghost finished eating the incense, Ji Nanxing shook a small bell in his hand. Since it contained the scent of the Ghost Baby's mother, the little ghost didn't resist at all and was easily collected into the bell.

Early the next morning, Ji Nanxing, who hadn't slept enough, hitched a ride with his older brother to the Management Bureau.

Ji Yunting smoothed out the little tuft of hair sticking up on Ji Nanxing's head: "I'll come home early today. Your second sister should be back too. Let's have a nice meal together."

Ji Nanxing nodded: "Then I'll come back early today."

Watching his younger brother walk into the Management Bureau, tall and slender with a straight posture, Ji Yunting couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. That soft little bundle from back then had grown up so quickly. In a few more years, he might even be getting married and having children.

But thinking of his younger brother's fate, Ji Yunting guessed that he would probably prefer to stay alone for life. The lingering yin energy that couldn't be dispelled would harm anyone he got close to. Even with them, they now only met for meals once every ten days or so.

Such a good child, yet even an ordinary life was a luxury for him.

Only when Ji Nanxing's figure disappeared from sight did Ji Yunting say to the driver, "Let's go."

The driver immediately stepped on the gas, heading toward the company.

As Ji Nanxing rode the elevator upstairs, he heard his WeChat ping. He took out his phone and saw that his older brother had transferred him some money—not much, just 50,000 yuan. It probably wasn't pocket money, and he wasn't sure why his brother suddenly sent him money, but that didn't stop Ji Nanxing from replying with a cute cat emoji.

Just after replying to his brother, a red envelope popped up in the family group chat.

Invincible Beauty Queen Mom: "WeChat Red Envelope"

Ji Nanxing opened it and grabbed over 80 yuan. His second sister had the best luck, grabbing over 100 yuan, while his older brother got a little over 10 yuan. The last one was claimed by his senior brother—53 cents.

His senior brother sent an emoji expressing speechlessness.

Ji Nanxing also sent a rolling-on-the-floor emoji and said, "Not the luckiest, not happy."

Dad immediately followed up with another red envelope.

After a series of over ten red envelopes flooding the chat, Ji Nanxing finally became the luckiest.

Ji Nanxing replied with a smile: "Happy now!"

Mom sent a petting-the-cat emoji: "Are you being good at home? Are you listening to your older brother and sister?"

Ji Nanxing: "He's been really well-behaved, you can ask the eldest if you don't believe me."

The eldest of the Ji family: "Yes, very good."

Mr. Ji: "We are currently in Monaco, and I've heard that the aromatherapy oils here are the best in the world. I've sent quite a few back. Eldest, you can hand them out as bonuses to your staff. Second, bring some for your research lab colleagues. Third, keep some for yourself—your long hair could use it. Youngest, since you're new at school, remember to get along well with your classmates and teachers. Give each of them a bottle."

The second of the Ji family: "Got it, have fun and don't stress about us."

The family chatted in the group for a while, but unfortunately, the children were all busy with work or projects, and after a few words, they were off to work or their projects, leaving just the two of them left in the chat.

Seeing the children busy, Mrs. Ji looked at Mr. Ji with a worried face and said, "Maybe the eldest should donate a library to the school? The youngest still has three years to study there, and it's a really sensitive age. If he takes frequent leaves and the teachers don't like him, what if they start giving him the cold shoulder?"

Mr. Ji chuckled, "Do you really think our youngest would just take the cold shoulder without a word? You, stop worrying unnecessarily. His older siblings are around; no way he'd get bullied."

Mrs. Ji rolled her eyes and snorted, "You didn't nurse him from day one; you don't get it."

This made Mr. Ji unhappy, "What do you mean? I fed all four of them. You're the one who's been all about the kids for years. Now that I'm retired, while we're still able, we should enjoy life. The older kids are responsible, and they look out for the younger ones. You've got to learn to let go."

Easier said than done, but even if it's hard, it must be done.

They're older now, not the energetic young adults they used to be, so the youngest can still hang out with his siblings, but he can't get too attached. Otherwise, if something happens to them because of it, it would really push the child away.

After wrapping up the daily family chat, Ji Nanxing put his phone away. Fortunately, he was born in this era of advanced technology, where he can still see and talk to them through the screen, even without being there in person. For him, that's more than enough.

Author's note:

Three-sentence ghost story:

Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

You see yourself in the mirror.

Winking and smiling at you.