Chapter 81

Chapter 81

◎Going Home for the Lunar New Year◎

Shi Wen was slammed to the ground by Wang Shengyu and choked for quite some time. She was almost five months pregnant and couldn’t withstand such abuse. While Wang Shengyu was choking her, blood was already pooling on the ground.

The area where they were renting was near the suburbs, and not many people lived there. Since there was a film studio nearby, most residents were staff from the studio, coming and going at odd hours, making the neighborhood feel even more deserted.

Fearing Wang Shengyu might kill her to silence her, Wan Qing pushed him away and told Xie Paner to make a scene outside.

Xie Paner used her stored ghost energy and smashed open the alarm on the corridor’s fire hydrant.

Fortunately, the safety measures were well-maintained, and the alarm wasn’t just for show. Once broken, it let out a piercing alarm.

Soon, residents from upstairs and downstairs came out to see what was happening.

Meanwhile, Wan Qing smeared the blood on the doorframe. Someone noticed blood coming from the open doorway and curiously went to check, only to find Wang Shengyu sitting there and Shi Wen lying on the ground, bleeding profusely.

The two female ghosts went back to Ji Nanxing’s place. Not long after they finished eating the hotpot, the room still smelled of it.

Hearing their story, no one knew what to say. It was good that Wang Shengyu couldn’t keep it together and exposed himself, but the problem was that if he managed to get a good night’s sleep and clear his head, he might even use a psych evaluation to get off.

At that moment, Brother Zhang floated in and said, “I found the prop.”

They exchanged glances. With the key evidence found, they could get Wan Qing’s best friend to sue Wang Shengyu for murder.

Shi Wen lost her child, but fortunately, she was still alive. She never expected Wang Shengyu to suddenly go mad and try to choke her.

She had known Wang Shengyu for two years. Initially, she was interested in him, even though she knew he was married. Seeing how good he was to his wife, his good looks, decent job, and gentle personality, it was hard not to be attracted to him.

Unfortunately, Wang Shengyu didn’t respond to her hints and even actively distanced himself from her.

Although Shi Wen was somewhat disappointed, she wasn’t the type to cling on. She was ready to let it go, thinking there were plenty of other men. But then, a year ago, Wang Shengyu got drunk and called her out, and they ended up sleeping together under the influence of alcohol.

That was when Shi Wen found out that Wang Shengyu’s wife was a workaholic, prioritizing work over family and even not wanting children.

At that time, she lay in Wang Shengyu’s arms and laughed, “If you truly love someone, how could you not want their child? She just loves herself more than you.”

Wang Shengyu looked down at her and asked, “Would you be willing to have a child for me?”

Shi Wen moved, climbed on top of him, and kissed him, “Marry me, and I’ll give you a child.”

They had been involved for nearly a year. Wang Shengyu told her that he was delaying the divorce with Wan Qing just to make her feel more guilty. He knew Wan Qing well and believed that she would eventually think their divorce was her fault and might even leave him with nothing as compensation.

Just as Wang Shengyu had anticipated, Wan Qing felt guilty, and Shi Wen’s belly gradually grew, making it impossible for her to continue without a proper status.

Originally, they planned to get the compensation and divorce directly, but a video shattered their plans.

Seeing that video, which was edited but still unbearable for any man, probably hit a nerve with Wang Shengyu.

He could cheat himself, but he could never tolerate Wan Qing cheating, especially since Wan Qing’s eagerness to leave him seemed to confirm it, making it even more intolerable for Wang Shengyu.

Shi Wen woke up in the hospital and hadn’t even rested for two days when the police came knocking. They directly presented her with the evidence of the video’s fabrication, the various props scattered in their film crew’s warehouse, her interactions with Wang Shengyu over the past two years, and the identity of the video’s creator, Brother Zhang.

The police didn’t beat around the bush and laid out the evidence in front of her, giving her the choice to confess or face a murder investigation.

Shi Wen was immediately frightened. With her child gone and Wang Shengyu going mad trying to choke her, she didn’t dare to continue entangled with such a man, so she confessed everything she knew.

The video was indeed fake. The girl in the cliff-jumping video was her. At that time, she was almost three months pregnant and certainly couldn’t actually go to Guimin Mountain to jump. But she was from the props department, and fake mountains and plants were the simplest props. With the cover of night and long-distance shooting, the video was convincingly real.

And his brother didn't need to do anything either, just take the video and report it directly, acting as a passerby who accidentally witnessed a suicide scene. After all, he had no interaction with the deceased and wasn't afraid of the police investigating.

Wang Shengyu had promised that once the deed was done, the money from the shop under Wan Qing's name would go to his brother.

Greed can sway hearts, and since the murder didn't require them to get their own hands dirty to reap the benefits, they hardened their hearts and followed Wang Shengyu's plan.

Wang Shengyu, due to his earlier rant at the fast-food restaurant, had essentially confessed. He had indeed considered fighting the case on mental illness grounds to try and exonerate himself.

Unfortunately, even if he had the means to bribe a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation report, his actions—planning the murder and fabricating fake scenes and videos to conceal the truth—along with the evidence from previous investigations and his own statements, proved that he had carried out the murder with meticulous planning and clear intent.

If he were to successfully claim insanity to escape punishment, the courthouse might be overrun the next day.

It was around this time that Wan Qing's best friend submitted Wan Qing's will video, demanding the court reassess Wan Qing's estate.

The whole matter was more or less settled by the end of the year. Wan Qing's estate was donated to charity, leaving nothing for Wang Shengyu, who was sentenced to a long prison term due to the severity of his crime. By the time he gets out, he'll be an old man.

Meanwhile, Shi Wen sued Wang Shengyu for assault, which led to her miscarriage and other emotional damages.

The house that Wang Shengyu and Wan Qing had bought together was half Wan Qing's. Since her share of the estate was to be donated and Wang Shengyu couldn't afford to buy out her half, the house was consequently sold.

After deducting the principal and interest of the loan, there wasn't much of it left, and what remained was all awarded to Shi Wen as economic compensation for Wang Shengyu's assault. Of course, Shi Wen and her brother were also sentenced for helping to forge evidence, though their sentences were relatively short.

All of Wang Shengyu's scheming ultimately left him with nothing but the clothes on his back, and he even brought disgrace upon his elderly parents, unable to hold their heads high in their hometown, with people pointing fingers at them wherever they went for raising a murderer.

Before Wang Shengyu was sentenced and sent to prison, Ji Nanxing took Wan Qing to see him.

After not seeing him for a while, Wang Shengyu bore no resemblance to his former self, unshaven, haggard, with a bloated face and clouded eyes.

He looked at Ji Nanxing with a puzzled expression: "Who are you?"

Ji Nanxing had come through the management bureau, so there were no police officers around. He lit a small incense stick, and Wan Qing's figure gradually materialized beside him.

At the sight of Wan Qing, Wang Shengyu's expression changed drastically.

During his time in the detention center, he had a sense that everything had settled. Although he had lost his freedom, his wealth, and even his future, there was also a contradictory feeling of despair and relief.

Since entering the detention center, Wan Qing had never appeared again. He could finally sleep well and no longer had to worry about being strangled by a ghost or hanged by a rope.

So when he saw Wan Qing this time, after the initial shock, he quickly calmed down: "Are you satisfied?"

Wan Qing: "You brought this upon yourself. We could have had peaceful lives."

Wang Shengyu sneered: "You didn't kill me, just for this day, right?"

Wan Qing shook her head: "I never thought of killing you. Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. Seeing your fate, I can leave in peace."

Wang Shengyu clenched his fists tightly, then looked at Ji Nanxing: "And you, who are you?"

Ji Nanxing: "A Taoist, a Taoist who seeks justice for lingering ghosts."

Wang Shengyu glared at Ji Nanxing: "So if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here today?!"

Ji Nanxing chuckled, and Wan Qing, harnessing her ghostly energy, slapped him hard across the face: "And me! Who is responsible for my fate today!"

Wang Shengyu's face was turned to the side by the slap. After a long silence, he returned to his previous indifference: "You've seen my fate. Are you satisfied?"

Wan Qing's obsession dissipated, and she felt as if she was about to leave. That's why she wanted to see Wang Shengyu's fate one last time. Now that she had seen it and felt at ease, she didn't want to waste any more time on him. She turned to Ji Nanxing and said, "Let's go. Thank you for accompanying me on this trip."

Ji Nanxing said nothing, pinched out the incense, and Wan Qing's figure instantly disappeared.

Ji Nanxing stood up, looking at Wang Shengyu, and said, "You've finished your sentence in the mortal world, but the crimes in the underworld are still waiting for you."

How could someone who committed murder not go to hell after death?

After they left, Wang Shengyu remained seated on the chair until the staff came to take him away. Through the small windows along the long corridor, the bright light indicated that the weather outside must be nice.

If he hadn't killed, would he have amicably divorced Wan Qing by now, waiting for the birth of Shi Wen's child?

If he hadn't been greedy for that little bit of Wan Qing's money, would he still have a bright future ahead?

If there hadn't been that video, the constant suspicion and resentment that couldn't be let go, would today have never happened?

Unfortunately, there are no ifs; it's just his nature.

Wang Shengyu suddenly remembered his childhood, when he picked up a dog, but his family didn't allow him to keep it, so he had to give it away.

The new family he found for the dog also loved dogs, which should have been a perfect solution, but when he saw the dog he had raised for a few days leave without looking back, the little affection he had for the dog twisted into disgust.

Later, one day, he lured the dog out, a few months old puppy with a chubby belly, and he callously threw it to the ground.

He still remembered the dog whimpering and struggling, the bright red blood slowly flowing from its nose, and at that moment, he felt nothing but twisted satisfaction.

Just like when he pushed the drugged Wan Qing off Guimin Mountain, he felt no fear, no panic, only that twisted satisfaction.

He could do without it, but it couldn't be someone else who betrayed him first.

Outside the detention center, the sun was shining brightly. Xie Paner squatted under the shade of a tree watching ants, while Xiao Ye sat in the car playing with his phone.

Seeing Ji Nanxing come out, he immediately opened the door and ran towards him: "Is it done?"

Ji Nanxing nodded: "Yes, it's done."

After speaking, he looked at Wan Qing, who was just looking up at the sky. Before, the sunlight had been uncomfortable for her, with its burning heat, but today the sun felt particularly pleasant, so pleasant that she couldn't help but walk out.

Xie Paner, seeing this, instinctively reached out to pull her: "Wan Qing!"

Ji Nanxing stopped Xie Paner, and Wan Qing turned to look at the little sister who had been following her since her death, smiling: "I need to go where I belong. The remaining incense is for you, but don't get greedy; don't eat too much at once. Follow the Young Celestial Master well in the future, do good deeds, and accumulate virtue for the next life."

After speaking, Wan Qing turned to Ji Nanxing again: "Please let my best friend know that I've left, thank them, and if there is a next life, I still want to be sisters with them."

Although many things had already been said when recording the video, now that it was time to leave, she couldn't help but feel a little reluctant.

But it's okay; her parents are in another world. She's not afraid.

Wan Qing closed her eyes, allowing her body to slowly dissipate in the sunlight.

Xiao Ye couldn't see, but he could see the direction of Ji Nanxing's gaze, so he leaned over and held his hand.

Xie Paner felt a little sad, but she understood that everyone has their own place to go. Wan Qing had done what she wanted to do and left; whether alive or dead, we are all just passers-by.

After Wan Qing dissipated, a small light flew towards Ji Nanxing and landed on him, Xiao Ye, Xie Paner, the lingering ghost Brother Zhang, and Zhang Yuan. It was Wan Qing's gratitude and a return of merit.

What Ji Nanxing didn't expect was that before leaving, Wan Qing directly exposed Wang Kai's voyeurism using Wang Kai's account, the screenshots of the voyeurism, the transaction records, all kinds of transaction records, etc.

Wang Kai, who had just been discharged from the hospital and was resting at home, woke up to his phone ringing off the hook. His family, his friends, and some bloggers he had cooperated with online directly scolded him out of the circle.

Seeing the exposed content, Wang Kai's hands and feet turned cold, and he hurriedly called Ji Nanxing. Ji Nanxing said: "That's the gift Wan Qing left for you before she left. You should also experience what it's like to have your privacy exposed. As for Wan Qing, don't worry, I've already seen her off. The matter for which you paid 500,000 is done; the rest is your own business. It has nothing to do with me, so don't call me again."

After speaking, Ji Nanxing hung up the phone, then sat down and opened his computer to write the case summary report.

The one who should be happiest about Wang Kai's situation is probably Xiao Xiao. She never expected that the guy who had secretly filmed her would one day be exposed. Remembering those days filled with fear and anxiety, Xiao Xiao feels that this is simply karma.

Excited, she bought ingredients and charcoal and sneaked into the shabby little building. At noon, she dragged Lin Yi, Ji Nanxing, and the others over to celebrate.

It was only then that Jiang Tangtang found out about what happened to Xiao Xiao, and with her hands on her hips, she said, "Well, well, something so big happened, and you didn’t even tell me! No wonder you suddenly got so close to the class monitor, Lin Yi! Turns out you guys went through hardship together behind my back!"

Lin Yi and Xiao Xiao each grabbed one of her arms and pulled her down: "Sit down! Even though we didn't go through hardship with you, sharing the good times isn't that enough?"

Jiang Tangtang snorted, picked up her chopsticks, and said, "Then I'll drown my sorrows in food. Who told you to keep things from me!"

Xiao Xiao said, "People really shouldn't do bad things. Sooner or later, retribution will come. I wonder if that blogger will be sued."

Zhang Yuan said, "A lawsuit would be nothing compared to what he's going through now."

Xiao Xiao and Lin Yi looked at Zhang Yuan: "What's worse than that? Is it online bullying?"

Zhang Yuan smiled, and Chen Shiyi said, "Let me tell you, that blogger lost a leg—not a temporary injury, but an actual amputation. Now that the secret filming has been exposed, you can only imagine how miserable his life is going to be."

Xiao Xiao gasped, "What happened? Did you guys check up on what happened to him?"

Since they couldn't directly mention the ghost incident, Xiao Ye vaguely brushed it off, raised his milk tea, and said, "He got what was coming to him. Now, all we need to do is celebrate."

Jiang Tangtang, always one for a lively gathering, immediately raised her milk tea with Xiao Ye. "Cheers!"

The spicy aroma filled the shabby little building, and even the sunlight pouring in seemed to carry a youthful vitality.

Xiao Ye, holding his iced fruit tea, clinked glasses with Zhang Yuan and asked, "How do you feel?"

Getting what he was asking, Zhang Yuan said, "Even though I didn't get to see Wan Qing off, just knowing her name has been cleared makes all the hard work from those days feel worth it. It's like, 'So this is what it feels like to stand up for someone who's already gone.'"

Xiao Ye nodded and asked, "So, is your goal even firmer now?"

Zhang Yuan hummed. "Even firmer. I'm going to work hard to become a forensic examiner."

Ji Nanxing said, "Good luck, future forensic expert."

Zhang Yuan smiled and clinked glasses with him, "Thanks for the well wishes."

Jiang Tangtang shouted from the side, "What are you guys talking about? If you don't eat soon, Chen Shiyi will finish it all!"

Chen Shiyi, who had only taken two bites, looked at Jiang Tangtang in shock, "I've only had two bites of food!"

Watching them argue over the hot pot, Ji Nanxing took a sip of his warm milk tea. This winter really didn't feel that cold.

The weather stayed nice, with clear skies and sunshine lasting until they finished their finals. After a weekend off, they went to school on Monday to collect their report cards and exam papers, picked up their winter homework, and did a big clean-up before officially starting their winter break.

Even though the break had started, Xiao Ye was reluctant to leave. Unfortunately, he was summoned by his grandfather to serve him in the winter retreat city of Haicheng, and his brother had already booked his flight.

Xiao Ye clung to the doorframe, looking at Ji Nanxing with reluctance, "My grandfather will probably stay in Haicheng all winter, so I likely won't be back. You can't leave Yulan City either. I was hoping to spend the New Year with you in the first year we met."

Ji Nanxing said, "The Ji family is big. Even if you stayed here, I wouldn't have time to spend the New Year with you."

Xiao Ye sighed dejectedly, "Alright then. Take care of yourself. Call me if anything happens. I'll keep working on drawing talismans for you over there."

Ji Nanxing smiled, "No need to draw more for me. I haven't used many of the ones you've already given me."

Previously, talismans were scarce, and there weren't many people who could draw thunder talismans. The one he knew was also notoriously lazy, so talismans were always in short supply.

But ever since Xiao Ye started seriously studying talismans, Ji Nanxing never ran out. Now, there's a whole box of them stored in the drawer under his ancestor's altar, more than he could ever use.

Xiao Ye reached out to him: "Come give me a hug."

Seeing how affectionate Xiao Ye was, Ji Nanxing walked over and gave him a hug.

Xiao Ye tightly embraced the person in his arms, stroking his head and saying, "If you get cold, let me know. It's a two-hour flight. I can come over in the morning and go back in the evening. Also, I left a piece of clothing for you. Didn't you say that things I've worn or used carry my scent? And..."

Before he could finish, Ji Nanxing pushed him away: "It's just a month, even less than a month. After the New Year, we'll have to start classes early."

Xiao Ye snorted softly, muttering, "Little heartless."

Although he sounded dissatisfied, his hands were honest as he took off the protective jade pendant he had been wearing since he was young and hung it around Ji Nanxing's neck: "The warmth from the clothes might fade soon. I've been wearing this since I was a kid, so I don't know if it will help, but you can wear it for now. Return it to me when school starts."

After saying that, he ruffled Ji Nanxing's head again, then grabbed his backpack and ran off.

Ji Nanxing touched the jade Xiao Ye had hung around his neck, which still carried his body warmth.

The item that Xiao Ye had worn for so long was indeed imbued with his aura. Wearing it felt like a jade that naturally gave off warmth. Although it only warmed a small area, it was still better than being cold all over.

Not long after Xiao Ye left, Ji Nanxing also started packing his things.

Xie Paner squatted beside him, watching.

Ji Nanxing took out the wooden plaque that belonged to Xie Paner and said, "Go in, I'll take you home."

Xie Paner thought she would be alone again this year. She had already prepared herself to stay quietly in the room, thinking that even though she would be alone, she had incense and a tablet that was always charged to play with, which was much better than previous years.

She didn't expect the Young Celestial Master to take her home.

However, she hesitated and said, "Is it okay for me to go back with you? Didn't you say you have heavy yin energy and usually avoid contact with your family? Won't my ghost energy combined with your yin energy have any effect?"

Ji Nanxing: "My house is big, and the room I live in is quite far from the rest of my family. You won't have any impact if you stay in the room."

Hearing this, Xie Paner felt relieved. Although it was just a different place, having someone around to talk to was different.

Before entering the wooden plaque, she added, "I can help you with your winter vacation homework."

Ji Nanxing chuckled: "You still have incense, right? Your sister Wan Qing left for you tens of thousands of dollars worth of incense. Do you still want to do my homework for money?" The incense was five hundred yuan per stick, and she had left over a hundred sticks for her.

Xie Paner said, "I want to earn money to buy a New Year gift for my homeroom teacher, is that okay?"

Ji Nanxing flipped through the winter vacation homework and said, "As long as it's within a thousand yuan."

Anything too expensive would probably be refused by the homeroom teacher.

Xie Paner exclaimed excitedly: "Young Celestial Master, you're so great! You're such a good person!"

Watching Xie Paner enthusiastically start packing her things and fiddling with the tablet that had become hers, Ji Nanxing smiled. Some people are greedy, while some ghosts are so easily satisfied.

Ji's parents' flight back to the country was in two days. He had been almost inseparable from Xiao Ye during this time, and his yin energy had been significantly suppressed. With the suppression from talismans and artifacts, he should be fine until after the New Year.

Thinking about being able to have a little contact with Ji's parents, Ji Nanxing's mood improved a lot.

The bodyguards stationed on both sides of the residence were also given time off for the New Year. Ji Nanxing was pretty much a homebody and hardly ever went out, so he didn't need bodyguards on standby after returning home.

Sitting in the car, watching the retreating street views, the bare trees and street lamps were adorned with fiery red Chinese knots and red lanterns. The city's festive atmosphere grew stronger by the day.

It's New Year, and everyone is heading home for the New Year. It's really nice.