Chapter 48

Chapter 48

◎Breaking the Life Stake◎

After a day without a seatmate, Xiao Ye headed to Ji Nanxing's place under the guise of delivering homework as soon as school was over. The homework questions were copied from the blackboard, and although he could have just taken a photo and sent it to Ji Nanxing, Xiao Ye felt uneasy without seeing him in person.

However, looking at the two people beside him, Xiao Ye was speechless: "Why are you two following me?"

Zhang Yuan, with a backpack slung over one shoulder and holding a bouquet of flowers, raised an eyebrow and said matter-of-factly, "I'm your friend, right? He's the younger brother your family asked you to take care of, right? We're classmates, right? These three identities aren't enough for me to personally come and check on you?"

Xiao Ye rolled his eyes at him and then turned to look at Chen Shiyi.

Chen Shiyi, holding a beautifully packaged fruit basket, revealed dimples on his cheeks, his expression saying it all.

Xiao Ye squeezed his eyes shut in frustration; these two were just getting in the way.

After receiving a reply from Ji Nanxing, Xiao Ye, who had been waiting downstairs, finally headed towards the elevator. He knew the building, the elevator, and even the floor—he had seen Ji Nanxing go up before. But if Ji Nanxing didn't agree, it would be too rude to just go up, so he had to text first.

With Xiao Ye already downstairs, along with Chen Shiyi and Zhang Yuan, it would be too awkward for Ji Nanxing to refuse. After replying to Xiao Ye's text, Ji Nanxing looked at Xie Paner: "Xiao Ye is coming up soon."

Xie Paner, who was holding a tablet and playing a game, exclaimed, "Why is he coming? I haven't even finished this game yet."

Ji Nanxing: "If you don't leave now, you'll have to leave through the window later."

Seeing her team's base being destroyed again, Xie Paner grumbled. Just then, the doorbell rang, and she had no choice but to leave quickly. Staying in a space with Xiao Ye would be unbearable for her due to his overwhelming yang energy.

As Xie Paner left, Ji Nanxing casually waved his hand, opening all the windows and doors in the house. He then gently shook the golden bell twice, completely clearing the yin energy from the house.

Zhang Yuan's yang energy wasn't as intense as Xiao Ye's, but it was still normal for a young person. Staying at Ji Nanxing's house for a while wouldn't have any effect. However, Chen Shiyi was different, which was why Ji Nanxing had Xie Paner leave and just find a corner to stay in.

Apart from seeing Ji Nanxing in casual clothes on the first day of school, this was the first time Zhang Yuan and Chen Shiyi had seen him in casual clothes after so long. Although it was just a simple white sweater, it looked so good on him that they couldn't help but look impressed.

Before they could take a closer look, Xiao Ye pulled them behind him and entered the house first: "Are your parents home? I brought some snacks and Wang Ma's dumplings."

Ji Nanxing stepped aside: "Come in, no need to take off your shoes."

The three entered the house, and Zhang Yuan handed the flowers to Ji Nanxing: "They brought food, so I'll just give you flowers. Hope you feel better soon."

Ji Nanxing took the flowers and thanked him.

Chen Shiyi picked up the fruit basket: "I'll take this to the kitchen for you. Are you alone at home this late?"

Ji Nanxing nodded: "I usually stay here alone and only go back home on weekends."

The three of them turned their heads in unison, with Xiao Ye frowning slightly: "You stay alone? Why do you stay alone?"

Ji Nanxing glanced out the window: "Because of these five minutes here."

Chen Shiyi: "Is your home far from school?"

Ji Nanxing went into the kitchen and brought out three bottles of drinks: "It's about a thirty to forty-minute drive."

Xiao Ye: "Your family is fine with that? What about the male assistant? Do you have a housekeeper looking after you?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "I'm not three years old; there's nothing to worry about. Where's the homework?"

Xiao Ye wanted to say more but didn't want to push too hard and annoy him, so he handed him the homework and looked around the house. It was simple and clean, with a large living room, a balcony, and floor-to-ceiling windows, making the whole place feel open and bright.

A small luxury flat like this would easily cost a few million. They were willing to spend that much money but didn't hire a live-in housekeeper for Ji Nanxing. Xiao Ye found it all a bit strange.

That day at school, seeing how nervous Ji Nanxing's elder brother was about him, it was clear that his family cared deeply for him. Yet, there was also this weird vibe that something wasn't quite right. Every time Ji Nanxing fell ill, it was always his assistant who showed up, as if his family didn't care about him at all.

Maybe rich families have some secrets they don't let outsiders in on. Xiao Ye couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for Ji Nanxing, thinking that his life at home might not be as good as it seemed.

Unaware that Xiao Ye's thoughts had wandered far off, Ji Nanxing spread out his homework and started copying the questions, asking, "Are you guys hungry? Do you want to have some midnight snacks?"

Zhang Yuan, sitting on the sofa with a pillow in his arms, said, "I'm down for whatever."

Chen Shiyi picked up the tablet, "You were just playing a game? Your stats..."

Xiao Ye glanced over and added, "Kind of weak."

Ji Nanxing looked up and gave him a glance. Xiao Ye smiled and said, "Come on, I'll help you level up."

Ji Nanxing took out his phone, "BBQ or hotpot?"

Xiao Ye, "Let's get something warm. The BBQ would be cold by the time it gets here. I'll order, you go ahead and copy your homework."

Ji Nanxing handed him the phone, "You pick."

Chen Shiyi sat next to Ji Nanxing, "Want me to help you copy? You're not fully recovered yet, it's better to rest more."

Ji Nanxing hooked a finger at Chen Shiyi and whispered in his ear, "I just took some time off to catch ghosts, no big deal."

Chen Shiyi immediately whispered in awe, "Ghosts again? What kind?"

Xiao Ye, who was ordering food, looked up at them, "What are you two whispering about?!"

They're so close, what can't he hear?!

Chen Shiyi laughed and moved away a bit. Ji Nanxing ignored Xiao Ye and continued copying his homework.

Zhang Yuan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window for a while, "The view from here is awesome. You can see the school clearly from home. Since your home is so close to school, you can come home for lunch every day, and even take a nap in bed."

Ji Nanxing, "Coming home just means ordering takeout, no different from eating at school."

Chen Shiyi also looked around, noticing a pile of stuffed toys in the corner, including a huge Stitch, "You like dolls?"

Ji Nanxing, "I had too many game coins, so I just grabbed whatever."

Xiao Ye, "Randomly? You picked out every single one. It's fine to like them, no need to be embarrassed. Who says boys can't like dolls?"

Zhang Yuan and Chen Shiyi instantly looked back and forth between them.

Zhang Yuan crossed his arms, "What are we missing here?"

Xiao Ye proudly said, "Yeah, plenty."

Zhang Yuan snorted and shot him a dirty look.

After ordering the hotpot, Xiao Ye's gaze returned to Ji Nanxing. Ji Nanxing was wearing this white pullover sweater, soft and fluffy, glowing under the light—so pretty it almost didn't seem real.

Xiao Ye mentally scolded himself for being shallow but couldn't help admitting that beautiful people are pleasing to the eye. Even sitting cross-legged on the carpet, copying homework, he looked amazing.

After a quick look around, Zhang Yuan, bored, dragged Xiao Ye into a game. Xiao Ye picked up the tablet and looked at the previous game records, "Why is it all Anqila? Last time you said you liked marksmen better."

Ji Nanxing, "Don't bug me, I'm copying homework."

Xiao Ye said "Oh," thinking that mages weren't unplayable, but he wasn't as good with mages as he was with assassins. Looking at the previous losing records, with his level, he could easily bring the mage's rank back even with his eyes closed.

Chen Shiyi wasn’t very interested in games. To keep him from getting addicted and to help him focus on his studies, his family had replaced his phone with an old hand-me-down, first passed from his mom to his dad, and then from his dad to him. The phone had such limited memory that even WeChat needed to be cleared frequently, let alone downloading games.

With nothing to do, Chen Shiyi watched Ji Nanxing copying problems and said, "Did you hear the White Building’s getting demolished tomorrow?"

Zhang Yuan, who was playing a game, nodded, "I know." His dad had even received orders to block the roads and set up barricades.

Chen Shiyi: "I didn’t think they’d actually go through with it. They said it was just closing for renovations and would reopen later. It wasn’t built that long ago. I wonder what they’ll do with the land after it’s demolished—build office buildings or a big shopping mall."

Xiao Ye, staring at the tablet screen without looking up, said, "If they’re still building shopping malls and office buildings, there’s no need to demolish it. Maybe they’ll build residential buildings."

Chen Shiyi turned to Ji Nanxing, "Do you want to go check it out tomorrow?"

Ji Nanxing planned to go to the management bureau tomorrow. Once the White Building is demolished, the altar beneath it will be completely ruined, and Tan Shuyi will dissipate, leaving only the Ghost Baby. He still hadn’t delivered the toys he bought last time, so he thought he’d bring some toys tomorrow. He wondered how the Ghost Baby would fare without its mother.

"I’ve got stuff to do tomorrow."

Chen Shiyi nodded, not insisting. Since they couldn’t be there in person, such a big event would surely be visible online.

There were several pages of math problems and over ten big problems from the board. After copying the big questions, Ji Nanxing put down his pen and got up to wash some fruit for them. Just then, the doorbell rang. Xiao Ye quickly handed the tablet to Chen Shiyi. He had ordered a lot of food and naturally couldn’t let Ji Nanxing carry it all alone.

The delivery guy opened the insulated box, revealing boxes of vegetables and meat. There was too much for two people to carry, so he called out, "Come out and help carry this."

Chen Shiyi and Zhang Yuan immediately stood up, "Coming, coming."

Ji Nanxing noticed the water on the delivery guy’s clothes, "Is it raining?"

The delivery guy replied, "No, the fire hydrant downstairs burst. I happened to pass by and got sprayed."

Ji Nanxing handed him a few tissues, "You’d better take the front door when you leave. Someone threw nails at the back door, and several tires have been popped recently."

The delivery guy thanked him, picked up the empty insulated box, and wiped the water off his clothes as he walked out. When he got downstairs and mounted his bike, he hesitated between the puddle up front and the dark, barely lit back door. He decided to take the front door.

Better to take an extra five minutes than risk a flat tire. Replacing a tire isn’t cheap.

As they opened the boxes of hotpot ingredients, Xiao Ye asked, "Why would someone throw nails at your neighborhood’s back door? Aren’t they afraid someone might step on them? It’s too dangerous."

Ji Nanxing took out a pot from the cabinet, "It’s about parking spaces. The property management’s been cleaning it up lately."

He just hoped the delivery guy took his advice. It wouldn’t be worth breaking a leg just to take a shortcut.

Watching the bubbling, spicy hotpot, Chen Shiyi said, "This is my first time having hotpot with friends."

Xiao Ye, not catching the deeper meaning behind his words, said, "In middle school, parents wouldn’t let us eat out. Once you graduate high school and go to college, there’ll be plenty of chances to eat and drink with friends."

Chen Shiyi looked at them, "Have you guys thought about where you want to go for college?"

Zhang Yuan: "Lan University, the local one." Because Lan University’s forensic department is the top in the country.

Ji Nanxing: "Whatever, I’ll go wherever I can get into."

Xiao Ye placed some cooked lamb in Ji Nanxing’s bowl, "Same, as long as I can keep studying."

Chen Shiyi smiled at Ji Nanxing, "Then I’ll work hard to try to end up in the same city as you."

Getting into the same school is pretty much impossible. Even with an extra brain, I probably still wouldn’t score as high as Ji Nanxing.

Xiao Ye pushed Chen Shiyi, the shorty, away, "Why are you always hanging around my deskmate? He’s my deskmate."

Chen Shiyi retorted, "What’s wrong with your deskmate? In terms of who came first, I became friends with him before you!"

Xiao Ye said with disdain, "Get lost, stop bothering my deskmate."

Chen Shiyi was no longer the Chen Shiyi who used to be afraid of Xiao Ye. Now, he dared to push directly: "You go away, he's my friend!"

The two childish guys were noisily bickering, and Zhang Yuan shook his head helplessly. Ji Nanxing calmed them down by handing each a fish ball.

These days, explosive demolitions are rare in the city center. Most demolishable areas have already been rebuilt. The remaining ones, no matter how run-down, are still prime real estate that's hard to touch, let alone a large shopping mall and office building like the White Building.

On demolition day, the whole street was blocked off. Buses detoured, and media crews were live on the scene, not to mention several drones were deployed for aerial shots.

The Ghost Baby was still in the Pikachu onesie he'd given him. It was summer back then, but now it was late autumn.

After months of recovery, Tan Shuyi had regained some clarity. She knew the truth about Meng Hongwei's past had been revealed, her child's remains had been collected, and the altar that trapped her and her son for years was finally being destroyed today.

Tan Shuyi watched her son play with the toys Ji Nanxing brought, her eyes full of love—it was his first time with toys. "Thank you. It's a shame he was unlucky, born to the wrong mother—me."

Ji Nanxing also looked at the Ghost Baby playing obediently with the toys: "He doesn't see it that way."

Tan Shuyi: "Ever since I was little, my parents worked far from home, only coming back to see me during the New Year. I always wanted a home where I wouldn't be apart from my parents. I always told myself that if I ever had a child, I would make sure to be there for them as they grew up."

Sadly, she had a child, but he never got the chance to grow up.

Tan Shuyi looked at Ji Nanxing: "When the altar's destroyed, I'll vanish, won't I? I know, I can feel my existence slowly fading away, but those Taoists are afraid I'll cause trouble, so they don't tell me."

Ji Nanxing: "Is there anything you still wish for?"

Tan Shuyi shook her head: "I want to be there for my son as he grows up. Can you help me fulfill that?"

Ji Nanxing also shook his head. He was just a man, not a god.

Tan Shuyi: "I didn't really love Meng Hongwei. Men are all the same—he wasn't anything special, just the best of a mediocre bunch, and he had money. I didn't care about marriage, I just wanted a small house, a child of my own, doing what I liked. When I was his mistress, I didn't know he had a wife. He said he was divorced, but due to a company stock agreement, it couldn't be made public, and he said to wait two years. I'd just graduated, hadn't even interned, and was clueless, so I bought his story."

The Ghost Baby ran towards Tan Shuyi with a doll, and Tan Shuyi hugged her son, kissing his cheek, even though his face was a cold, pale green, her eyes still filled with love.

"This is probably my karma—greedy for money, chasing a pipe dream. I thought I only sought stability, just wanted a child, I didn't seek fame, even if he made me hide as an invisible person, I was willing, but I didn't expect he wanted more."

The Ghost Baby still remembered Ji Nanxing. After giving a doll to his mother, he took another doll and handed it to Ji Nanxing.

Ji Nanxing smiled and took it: "Good boy."

The Ghost Baby immediately shyly hid in his mother's arms, just like a normal child.

Tan Shuyi stroked her son's head: "If there's a next life, I'd still want to be a woman, to be a good mom."

Unfortunately, she no longer had a next life.

The clock was about to strike ten, and Ji Nanxing reached out to Tan Shuyi: "Give him to me."

Tan Shuyi tidied her son's cute little outfit, looking at him with lingering affection: "Please, you must help send him to reincarnation. I hope he can be born and grow up normally once."

Ji Nanxing nodded: "I promise."

In the live video, there was a loud boom, and the tall office building collapsed.

The Ghost Baby seemed to sense something and let out a sharp cry. Ji Nanxing held him in his arms, while several other Taoists sat in various positions chanting Taoist scriptures.

Tan Shuyi was at the center of the formation, her figure gradually dissipating. It was painful, but she didn't make a sound, afraid of scaring her son. Seeing her son held in the arms of the Young Celestial Master, Tan Shuyi felt that this outcome was the best she could hope for.

They no longer had to endure endless torment, her child still had the chance to be reborn as a human, and those who had harmed them had received their due retribution. She no longer harbored hatred or resentment, only reluctance, her baby would no longer have a mother.

Tan Shuyi looked at the Young Celestial Master in the distance, enduring the pain but with a smile on her face: "His name is Tan Niannian, meaning 'year after year.' I hope he can be safe and happy."

The little ghost struggled, its shrill and piercing cries echoing throughout the top floor of the management bureau. Ji Nanxing gently tapped its head with the golden bell, and only then did the little ghost close its eyes and fall into a deep sleep.

A towering building collapsed entirely, and as dust rose, the evil altar that drained people's vitality and used living humans as stakes was utterly destroyed. At the same time, a large bell in the Yuchun Temple rang, its resonant sound scattering the rising evil spirits one after another.

At this moment, Meng Hongwei, who was in prison, felt a sudden palpitation, and after a moment, his body convulsed in pain, writhing on the ground. Originally in his forties, he aged almost instantly, his black hair fading, wrinkles appearing, and his entire body hunching over, unable to straighten.

Tu Yeshan, locked in a special prison, felt as if he was nailed to the ground the moment the altar exploded. He was conscious but unable to move, his internal organs burning and crushed as if run over by a car. The pain was accompanied by a life steeped in sin.

Growing up in poverty, he prized wealth above everything. After learning some dark arts, he began to amass wealth frantically, desecrating ancestral graves, stealing people's fortunes, and committing numerous crimes for money, specializing in shady dealings for some big bosses.

Among these, his proudest achievement was the living stake under the White Building, which affected Meng Hongwei and also himself, from which he gained much vitality and fortune.

He thought that such a hundred-year-old landmark building, even if discovered, would not be easily destroyed. He was already old, not seeking immortality, but hoping to plunder the accumulated vitality and evil spirits under the living stake at the end of his life, so that after his death, his soul could escape reincarnation and continue to roam freely.

Unexpectedly, his altar was discovered, and the White Building was destroyed just like that.

In the end, Tu Yeshan died in prison, bleeding from all seven orifices, his eyes wide open in death. The underworld officers, waiting nearby, seized his soul the moment his life force was cut off. Such a heavily sinful ghost was marked in the book of life and death, denied even the chance for a seventh-day return.

The soaring evil spirits were scattered by the bell's sound, and the originally clear sky was slowly covered by dark clouds. The rain started pouring down immediately, washing away all the dust caused by the explosion of the White Building.

In the management bureau, Tan Shuyi's last trace of spirit dissipated, and a tear from a ghost flew out from the array, landing in Ji Nanxing's palm.

The major case that had been haunting everyone was finally closed, and the troublesome evil altar was completely dismantled. The subsequent plans involved the construction of a garden in the area of the White Building, but those follow-up matters no longer required the management bureau's attention.

Everyone cheered, relieved to finally take a break after such hard work.

Just as everyone was happily planning their vacations, Ji Nanxing, holding the little ghost, asked, "What about this little guy?"

The joyful voices immediately fell silent, and everyone turned to look at the little ghost in Ji Nanxing's arms. Oops, they had forgotten about this little guy.

Cheng Yuan stretched lazily: "I'm just in logistics; I can't help with this kind of thing."

Someone said, "Just enshrine it in a jar and offer it some snacks and fruits every day."

This fierce little thing may seem obedient now, but once it wakes up and realizes its mother is no longer there, it might not be so obedient. So, while it's still asleep, quickly enshrine it in a jar and perform a ritual to send it off when the Ghost Gate opens during the Cold Clothes Festival.

Ji Nanxing handed the little ghost to the team members of the first group and gave them the toys: "I also brought some incense for him. Use the incense I brought for offerings."

Seeing the incense Ji Nanxing took out, everyone exclaimed: "Little Nanxing is really generous; I only use this kind of offering incense when worshiping our ancestors."

Despite being just a small stick of incense, as thick as a pinky finger, the materials used are substantial, and the price is far beyond what those few dollars or tens of dollars can buy. Without the right connections, you can't even buy it.

Ji Nanxing handed a small box to the colleague in charge of the ghost jar, saying, "Thanks for your help."

The colleague took it with a smile: "What trouble? It's my job anyway."

Cheng Yuan, shorter than Ji Nanxing, linked arms with him instead of reaching his shoulder: "Let's grab some barbecue later. Captain Mu's treating!"

Mu Chun, who had just stepped out of the elevator, laughed upon hearing this: "I'm not even here, and you're already volunteering me to be the good guy."

Cheng Yuan smiled: "Captain Mu, are you treating or not?"

Looking at the cheering crowd, Mu Chun said with a resigned smile, "Yes, yes, I'm treating. You guys pick the place."

Ji Nanxing glanced at the sealed porcelain jar on the shelf, hoping the little ghost wouldn't cause much trouble when it woke.