Chapter 47

Chapter 47

◎The Price of Exchanging Lives◎

In the alley, Liu Sujuan was still in a standoff with Xie Paner. The female ghost bore the mark of a magical artifact, indicating that she was likely being kept by someone from the mystical arts. However, maintaining a ghost servant is no simple feat, and lingering ghosts are notoriously unstable. They should not remain in the mortal world, and those who do must have some lingering obsession.

Only by holding onto their obsessions can their souls remain intact, which means that to keep a ghost servant, one must manipulate their obsessions or use some unorthodox methods to sustain them. After all, without benefits, why would a ghost obey human commands?

Knowing these intricacies, Liu Sujuan did not want to get too involved. She was already quite old, and if it weren't for her nephew, she wouldn't have even left the village. Facing a lingering ghost with an owner, Liu Sujuan had no desire to provoke it.

But now that she had already provoked it, having made two moves—first with the spirit rice and then with the purified water—without the magical artifact's protection on the female ghost, the purified water alone would have severely injured her.

A Taoist skilled in controlling ghost servants was no ordinary adversary. Liu Sujuan weighed her options: should she retreat immediately or resolve the matter quickly and cleanly without leaving any traces?

Some thoughts crossed her mind but were quickly dismissed. She didn't know if the ghost's master was aware of the incident involving borrowed life energy. If they were, and she dealt with the ghost now, they might trace it back to her through Yu Hai.

As she was weighing the pros and cons, a cold wind swept through, and a young man emerged from the air, landing lightly in front of the female ghost.

Xie Paner was as excited as if she had seen a savior and quickly moved behind Ji Nanxing: "This is a bad Taoist! She wants to kill me to return her nephew's life."

Although the purified water had been deflected by the magical artifact's mark, the aura it emitted was terrifying enough—oh no, terrifying enough for a ghost!

If it had hit her, she might have been obliterated before her natural dissipation.

Ji Nanxing looked at the person before him, his phoenix-like eyes, icy and piercing. He gently moved his rosary beads, his voice carrying a chill: "You've overstepped your bounds."

The yin energy emanating from Ji Nanxing was overwhelming. Even though he was a living soul, those lacking in cultivation couldn't discern and only saw him surrounded by yin energy, more terrifying than the most vengeful of ghosts.

Liu Sujuan rarely left the village and was genuinely surprised that the outside world was like this. Such a terrifying ghost acting so brazenly—were there no practitioners of the mystical arts in the outside world?

Originally planning to leave, Liu Sujuan sighed inwardly. Perhaps this was fate. She had left the village and encountered such a situation. Facing the vengeful ghost before her, she couldn't let it go, lest it harm the innocent. She had steeled herself for the possibility of death here today.

Liu Sujuan took out an Eight Trigrams mirror and wrapped a protective talisman around it, then casually tossed it to the entrance of the alley.

Xie Paner couldn't help but ask, "What is she doing?"

Ji Nanxing: "Sealing the entrance to prevent innocent passersby from accidentally entering."

Xie Paner nodded: "Oh, she's quite thoughtful."

Ji Nanxing glanced at her slightly: "And also sealing the entrance to cut off our retreat."

Xie Paner's eyes widened instantly: "What does she want to do? Does she want to kill us?! Is it necessary?"

Liu Sujuan looked at them: "Humans follow their path, and ghosts follow theirs. Since you are already dead, regardless of the reason, you must not disrupt the yin-yang balance!"

Ji Nanxing: "Isn't it you who disrupted the balance? Each soul is bound by its own destiny. What about those who forcibly alter their destiny?"

Liu Sujuan was at a disadvantage, but she could let the female ghost go, not the young man before her. The overwhelming yin energy emanating from him was terrifying. Any malice from him would spell disaster.

"My nephew has already received his due punishment."

Ji Nanxing glanced at the Eight Trigrams mirror on the ground at the alley entrance: "Then what is this for?"

Although Liu Sujuan was nearly seventy, her movements were swift. With one hand, she threw spirit rice, and with the other, she pulled out a string of Five Emperor coins and hurled them at Ji Nanxing: "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust; let ghosts and demons quake, and spirits be revealed!"

Ji Nanxing, seeing her age, held back slightly. With a wave of his hand, he deflected the spirit rice, and with the other hand, he sent out a gust of wind. A wave of yin energy coalesced, and the talisman wrapped around the Eight Trigrams mirror instantly burned.

Looking at the woman before him, who was likely just a village shaman, Ji Nanxing quickly understood. Even among mystical practitioners, few could immediately recognize him as a living soul, let alone a shaman from the wilds. She likely took him for a vengeful spirit.

But at such an old age, seeing a fierce ghost and not running away but directly taking action, she must know her own strength, likely with a resolve to die.

Having lived to this age with a destined body, she still carries a bit of the aura of accumulated virtue. She probably didn’t take the crooked path of borrowing life and fortune. Even if she helped someone do it, it was likely due to family ties. Since her nephew has already paid the price, Ji Nanxing doesn’t plan to get involved any further.

After burning the sealing stone at the crossroads, Ji Nanxing grabbed Xie Paner and quickly left the alley.

Liu Sujuan’s attack missed, and before she could act again, the two lingering ghosts had already left.

Looking at the burnt talisman remnants at the crossroads, Liu Sujuan seemed to age instantly. She knew it wasn’t that the two ghosts couldn’t defeat her and fled, but that they didn’t want to fight her. And she no longer had the strength to chase them. After all, she was old, and time waits for no one.

After leaving the alley, Xie Paner asked puzzledly, “Why did we run? Is that old lady really that strong? Can’t you take her on?”

Ji Nanxing: “She’s not a bad person.”

Xie Paner pouted: “But she hit me.”

Ji Nanxing smiled: “I’m sorry for making you suffer. I shouldn’t have let you pick up that money, causing you to get hit. Tell me, what do you want? I’ll grant you one favor.”

Xie Paner’s eyes lit up instantly: “Really?!”

Ji Nanxing: “Yes, really.”

Xie Paner cheered: “I saw a really beautiful dress! It’s a bit pricey, over a thousand.”

A dress over a thousand—if she had to earn it through labor, she didn’t know how much homework she’d have to do for the Young Celestial Master. If she could get a dress just by having someone sprinkle some rice, she’d be making a huge profit. She even spent a thousand on two incense sticks for the gods recently. Wow, she seems to be on a lucky streak lately!

Ji Nanxing: “Send me the link when we get back, I’ll buy it for you.”

Xie Paner happily skipped around, then noticed the Young Celestial Master pause and asked, “What’s wrong? You’re not regretting it because it’s expensive, are you?!”

Ji Nanxing glanced at Xie Paner and sighed helplessly: “Thanks for making my persona even more deeply rooted in people’s hearts.”

School’s been in session for a while, and the teachers have pretty much figured out the class dynamics. For example, Ji Nanxing, who is not in good health but has excellent grades, with balanced scores in all subjects. So, as long as his napping in class doesn’t bother others, the teachers usually let it slide.

Originally, Ji Nanxing could have made it back before class ended, but shortly after he left his body, Xiao Ye, worried he might be dizzy from low blood sugar, wanted him to have a piece of candy before sleeping.

Xiao Ye first called softly twice, but his little deskmate didn’t respond. Sensing something was off, he nudged him a bit harder, and even the students in front and behind noticed, but his little deskmate still didn’t move.

Xiao Ye panicked instantly, not caring about the ongoing class, and helped Ji Nanxing up from the desk: “Nao Nao? Nao Nao, wake up, don’t scare me, Ji Nanxing!”

But the person was like a coma patient, weakly slumped against him.

This time, though Xiao Ye was panicked, he was noticeably calmer than before. He crouched and picked up his little deskmate, running to the infirmary. As the classroom descended into chaos, Chen Shiyi quickly followed.

Soon, the homeroom teacher arrived and contacted Ji Nanxing’s family. Seeing Chen Shiyi there too, she couldn’t help but say, “You guys head back to class, his family will be here soon.”

Xiao Ye only felt that Ji Nanxing’s body was cold all over. He kept rubbing his hands, trying to warm them, and forced his mouth open to place a pill under his tongue: “Ji Nanxing, you’re not allowed to have anything happen, do you hear me? Why are you so disobedient, not telling me when you’re uncomfortable? Don’t scare me, wake up, Ji Nanxing, can you hear me?”

Chen Shiyi couldn’t help much, only anxiously standing by.

Soon, Ji Nanxing’s family arrived. The one who came to pick him up was the male assistant. Seeing his young master unconscious but holding the golden bell, the male assistant knew he was just out of his body, not really having a physical problem, so he tried to persuade Xiao Ye to go back to class.

Xiao Ye had no mind for class. He tightly held Ji Nanxing and looked at the male assistant he had met before: “Is the car downstairs? I’ll carry him down, I’ll go to the hospital with him.”

The homeroom teacher couldn’t let Xiao Ye leave. She was responsible for the students at school. Seeing more and more people and unable to persuade Xiao Ye, the male assistant had to say, “Let Xiao Ye come along. His family and ours are old friends. I’ll contact his family to explain the situation. Teacher, don’t worry.”

Xiao Ye, holding Ji Nanxing, urged, “Hurry up, what are you still talking about!”

Can’t they see Ji Nanxing’s fainted? They’re still dawdling and chatting, not in any hurry!

The homeroom teacher had no choice but to escort Chen Shiyi back to the classroom for class. Chen Shiyi followed and helped get the person into the car, anxiously saying to Xiao Ye, "Remember to send me the name of the hospital, I'll visit him after school."

When Ji Nanxing regained consciousness, he was already in the car, lying in Xiao Ye's arms.

As soon as he moved, Xiao Ye hugged him tightly again: "Naonao, are you awake? Don't move, don't move around, is your heart uncomfortable? We're almost at the hospital, just hang tight!"

Ji Nanxing felt something in his mouth, so he moved his tongue and took a tissue to spit out the pill. It was an actual medication, not just his vitamin C, and he didn't know what would happen if someone without any health issues took it.

Xiao Ye, however, mistakenly thought he wanted to vomit and quickly helped him sit up a bit, gently patting his chest: "Are you really feeling that bad? Just hang in there, we're almost there, almost at the hospital. Hey, can you drive a bit faster?"

Ji Nanxing pulled himself up by holding onto the front seat: "I'm fine now."

Xiao Ye kept comforting him: "Alright, you're okay now, just stay still and lean on me."

Ji Nanxing: "I'm really okay, I feel fine, nothing's wrong."

Xiao Ye half-hugged him, gently patting his chest: "Alright, I get it, just stay quiet, we're almost there, shh."

The male assistant up front was trying hard not to laugh, suddenly feeling like his young master had met his match.

The hospital they went to was naturally the one managed by the bureau. This hospital was open to the public, appearing to be a normal top-tier hospital on the surface, but inside there was a special department dedicated to handling injuries caused by supernatural entities.

With a classmate accompanying them, it was impossible to just wander around the hospital and leave, or to use ordinary medical resources. Since they were already there, they figured they might as well get a check-up in the special department for supernatural cases.

Ji Nanxing got an X-ray, had some blood drawn, and was then taken to a ward. By then, it was already dark.

Xiao Ye stuck by his side the entire time, even renting a wheelchair in case walking was uncomfortable for him. For the first time, the male assistant didn't know what to do, as everything he might have done was already being taken care of by his young master's classmate.

Xie Paner floated behind them, staying as far away from Xiao Ye as she could.

When Ji Nanxing was back in the ward, Xie Paner perched on the windowsill, laughing her head off: "When you go back to school tomorrow, everyone will probably treat you like a crystal."

"But your classmate is really great, running around like that, you can tell he's really worried about you."

Xie Paner even felt a bit envious. If she'd had a friend like that back then, maybe she wouldn't have given up.

With Xiao Ye there, Ji Nanxing couldn't talk to Xie Paner, but for the first time, he felt the weight of his lies.

To make it easier to skip school, he'd always used being sick as an excuse since he was a kid, but no one had ever reacted like this before. His old classmates hadn't cared much, and even those who were once close only asked about him after he returned to school, never like Xiao Ye.

So Ji Nanxing didn't usually feel bad about using his act; they were just passing acquaintances, like some of his current classmates, who at most would lament how poor his health was and then go on with their own lives.

Because no one really cared, Ji Nanxing used his excuses for leave without any burden.

But now someone cared, took it seriously, and the lie gained weight.

Watching Xiao Ye, who hadn't even eaten dinner and didn't know anything about hospitals, still take him around to different departments with a stack of forms, looking anxious and constantly checking if he was uncomfortable.

Ji Nanxing thought maybe he should find a way to tell Xiao Ye the truth, otherwise, if he kept taking leave and making people worry like this, it would be too much.

Xiao Ye didn't know what Ji Nanxing was thinking. Seeing him so quiet, he thought he was just tired. After so many examinations, even a normal person would be tired, let alone someone who was already feeling unwell. As he tucked him in, Xiao Ye said: "Are you hungry? You couldn't eat earlier because of the blood tests, but now you can. What do you feel like eating? I'll look at some takeout options."

The male assistant beside them said: "Don't get takeout, there's a good private kitchen nearby. I'll go pack some dishes. Xiao Ye, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Xiao Ye shook his head: "I don't have any, thank you."

The male assistant smiled and went out. He was on the clock, doing things for his young master, and now he was even being thanked by others.

After the male assistant left, Xiao Ye held Ji Nanxing's hand: "Are you cold? Your hands are freezing, I'll see if I can turn on the AC."

Ji Nanxing held onto Xiao Ye: "I'm not cold, don't bother."

Xiao Ye looked at him: "Is your heart still bothering you?"

Ji Nanxing shook his head.

Xiao Ye: "Are you dizzy?"

Ji Nanxing shook his head again.

Finally, Xiao Ye said: "Then we can have a good talk now."

Ji Nanxing was a bit puzzled: "Talk about what?"

"Talk about what? Of course, about you being uncomfortable but not saying anything, pushing yourself until you fainted and scared everyone!"

Since the beginning of the school term, you've already fainted twice. If you're feeling off, just speak up, take medicine, and lie down; maybe you wouldn't have fainted.

You know how terrifying it is for someone to lose consciousness, because not every time you lose consciousness can you be lucky enough to wake up again.

Ji Nanxing sat up a bit straighter: "It's not what you think, I'm not uncomfortable, my body is actually very healthy. You know I have a big appetite; how could someone unhealthy eat so much? Things aren't always as they seem."

Xiao Ye: "If it's not what I see, then what is it? Show me."

Ji Nanxing turned to look at Xie Paner, who was sitting on the windowsill and shrugged innocently at him.

Not everyone has the ability to see ghosts, and not every ghost can be seen by everyone when they reveal their true form. Given Xiao Ye's strong yang energy, even a Celestial Eye Talisman might not have any effect on him, let alone Xie Paner's weak ghost energy now.

Unless I leave my body, because of the heavy yin energy, the soul body becomes solid, and then use the Celestial Eye Talisman on Xiao Ye, it might work.

Seeing him turn to look out the window, Xiao Ye reached out and turned his face back: "What are you looking at over there? Trying to figure out how to trick me? Or are you going to say there's someone there to scare me."

Ji Nanxing: "There really is someone over there."

Xiao Ye glanced at the seventh or eighth-floor window, then looked back at Ji Nanxing: "Hmm, so what?"

Ji Nanxing, seeing his expression of 'what else can you come up with', couldn't help but laugh: "You really don't buy it, do you?"

Xiao Ye gently pinched his face: "You know what my family does, do you think I would believe these things?"

Alright, a person with strong, righteous yang energy.

Soon, the male assistant brought in takeout meals and set them on the small dining table: "The doctor prescribed some medicine. After eating, you can head home and rest."

Xiao Ye turned to the male assistant: "No need to stay in the hospital?"

The male assistant shook his head: "No need, just go home and rest well."

Xiao Ye couldn't help but whisper: "Why didn't your family show up or even call?"

No matter how busy they are, they can't just ignore you, can they? Last time the school called the parents, they came quite quickly.

Ji Nanxing: "I didn't tell them; they'll find out when I get home."

Xiao Ye glanced at him and snorted lightly: "You just like to play tough."

After leaving the hospital, Ji Nanxing had initially planned to drop Xiao Ye off first, but Xiao Ye insisted on seeing him home first. Ji Nanxing had no choice but to humor him.

Turning down Xiao Ye's offer to walk him upstairs, Ji Nanxing told the male assistant to make sure Xiao Ye got home, then headed into the elevator with Xie Paner.

Seeing the Young Celestial Master looking relieved, Xie Paner couldn't help but burst into laughter. Being all strategic and in control all the time is such a drag. Kids should have kid problems, you know?

After returning home, Xie Paner plopped down into her pile of dolls and sighed, "It's so comfortable at home. I almost thought I wasn't gonna make it back."

Ji Nanxing walked over and gave her forehead another tap with the golden bell, deepening the mark.

This time, Xie Paner didn't resist at all. Instead, she tilted her head back and let Ji Nanxing tap her, even asking anxiously, "Is one tap enough? Maybe you should give me a few more? Just the head? What about my hands and feet? Should they get a tap too?"

Ji Nanxing brushed her off. Thinking that tomorrow was Friday and the weekend was approaching, he sent a message to the male assistant, asking him to take a day off tomorrow. It would be kinda weird to faint today and then attend classes as if nothing happened tomorrow.

Early the next morning, while Ji Nanxing was still sleeping in, he suddenly felt a chilling, ghostly presence around his neck. He reluctantly opened his eyes and saw Xie Paner squatting by his bed, blowing cold air on his neck. "Getting bored of being a ghost? Ready to vanish into thin air?"

Xie Paner let out a sly chuckle when she saw he was awake. "Yu Hai is dead."

Ji Nanxing closed his eyes again, still drowsy. "Did you go to the hospital again?"

Xie Paner quickly replied, "No, I was afraid of running into that witch from yesterday. I didn't go out. It's just this eerie, gut feeling, like a thread connected to me has snapped. He's dead, so will I soon revert to my old ghostly appearance?"

She was a bit reluctant. What girl doesn't love beauty? Even as a ghost, she loved beauty, especially since she hadn't even had the chance to wear her pretty little dresses yet.

Ji Nanxing said, "The life exchange has already happened. Him dying or not doesn't change a thing for you. He originally had a few months of life left, which he exchanged for your ghostly aura, so you can stay beautiful for a few more months."

Xie Paner remained squatting by the bed. "You think he'll stick around as a ghost, all hung up on unfinished business? If he becomes a ghost, will he come to seek revenge on me?"

Ji Nanxing waved his hand and shooed Xie Paner out of his room. She was such a problem girl, always full of questions. He decided to slap a talisman on his bedroom door later to see how she could get in.

No matter how much Yu Hai's mother couldn't accept it, his death was a done deal. Devastated by the loss of her only son, she blamed all the fault on her daughter-in-law and her sister who didn't save him.

After confirming that Yu Hai had gone to the underworld without lingering due to unwillingness, Liu Sujuan turned around and went back to the village. This matter couldn't be blamed on others. If they hadn't harbored those evil thoughts, how could the retribution have come so quickly?

Just like the female ghost said that day, she was the one who found the money. If an ordinary person had found it and successfully exchanged their life, then when their time came again, could they resist not trying to borrow life and wealth a second time? Human hearts are greedy; once they have one, they will never lack a second.

So this was for the best. At least Yu Hai didn't harm any innocent lives. When it came time for reincarnation and judgment, his sins would be lighter.

Yu Hai's wife sold the house immediately after her husband's death. The process was naturally difficult, but the result was good. She wanted to take her son away from here. As for Yu Hai's parents, she wasn't that saintly. Raising her son alone would be hard enough.

Especially since she couldn't let her son be influenced by his grandmother. She wasn't expecting her kid to turn out some kind of saint, but she hoped he could be an ordinary person with basic moral values. She didn't want him to follow his father's path, making a wrong turn and going astray, nor did she want him to be like her, aiding and abetting evil out of misplaced compassion.