Chapter 165

Chapter 165

◎Not a Suicide After All◎

After leaving the villa, Shu Rui sat in her car, feeling that something was off. She reached over to grab her handbag, planning to call her younger cousin, but when she opened it, she noticed that the talisman she had placed inside looked as if it had been burned.

Though it wasn’t completely reduced to ashes, there were black scorch marks on it. However, the talisman had been in her bag the whole time, and the other items in her bag were fine.

Staring at the talisman in her palm, Shu Rui glanced back at the villa and finally decided to call her younger cousin.

Before sharing her suspicions, Shu Rui wanted to confirm something: "Are Taoists supposed to capture all ghosts? What if the ghost hasn’t hurt anyone? Can’t they stay?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "Taoists aren’t here to capture ghosts. Since we can see ghosts, we can do many things ordinary people can’t, such as helping them fulfill their unfinished wishes. Typically, once their wishes are fulfilled, they’ll leave on their own without needing any exorcism. Unless it’s a malevolent ghost that has killed someone, even Taoists usually don’t forcibly capture ghosts."

Hearing this, Shu Rui let out a sigh of relief and said, "Do you have time to meet up?"

Ji Nanxing sent Shu Rui an address and asked her to come over directly.

Shu Rui was surprised to find Xiao Ye at Ji Nanxing’s place, and Xiao Ye was even dressed in casual home clothes, even pouring her tea, acting almost like a co-owner. It seemed their relationship was even closer than she had previously thought.

After thanking Xiao Ye, Shu Rui turned to Ji Nanxing and said, "Last time, I did consider some possibilities, but since I wasn’t sure, I didn’t bring them up. But today, I think it’s very likely her."

As she spoke, Shu Rui placed the talisman on the table.

Xiao Ye glanced at it and said, "It’s been burned. Did you go somewhere or did something happen again?"

Shu Rui replied, "There was a rumor going around in the industry a while back involving Xue Yang and Yu Weichi. I don’t know if you’ve heard about it."

Ji Nanxing nodded, and Xiao Ye added, "Of course we know. It was such a big deal back then."

It seemed to have happened last year. He remembered during military training, many people were talking about it. The most common thing he heard was that the goddess had married the wrong person, blindly choosing Yu Weichi.

Of course, some also said that because they had been married for so many years and Xi Jiangyue had always been reluctant to have children, Yu Weichi had cheated.

There were many rumors about their plans for children. It seemed Xi Jiangyue and Yu Weichi had been married for nearly ten years, with Yu Weichi being three years younger than Xi Jiangyue, who was approaching forty.

But despite being married for so long, they had never had children. Some rumors said Xi Jiangyue didn’t want to have kids for fear of affecting her career, while others claimed Yu Weichi was infertile, which was why they couldn’t have children.

Almost every year, there were one or two rumors about their marriage falling apart. Fans even said that if they ever got divorced, it wouldn’t be surprising at all. But instead of a divorce, they received news of Xi Jiangyue’s death.

After Xi Jiangyue’s death, her fans practically wanted to tear Yu Weichi apart. Regardless of the truth, all sorts of conspiracy theories were thrown at him—that he killed Xi Jiangyue for her wealth, that Xi Jiangyue had long wanted to divorce him, but he had been clinging to her.

Finally, when Xi Jiangyue was determined to divorce, he didn’t want to lose both her and her money, so he killed her and staged it as a suicide.

Although these claims were somewhat unreliable—after all, whether it was suicide or not would be determined by forensic experts, and it wasn’t something that could be easily faked—the rumors spread so widely that the public began to believe them, truly thinking Yu Weichi had killed for money.

Although Yu Weichi had achieved the status of an award-winning actor, his public image was clearly not as good as Xi Jiangyue’s. When Xi Jiangyue married him, many people were heartbroken. Now, with the suspicion that he had killed their goddess, the overwhelming wave of online abuse showed no signs of subsiding even months later.

Shu Rui said, "My relationship with Xi Jiangyue was one of sponsorship. I was able to finish university thanks to her support, and later, I entered the entertainment industry because of the resources she provided me. When the rumors about Qingyao Zhuan surfaced, I was in the crew keeping an eye on Yu Weichi. He didn’t do anything to betray Sister Jiangyue, but of course, I don’t know what happened afterward."

Ji Nanxing asked, "Do you think the ghost following you might be Xi Jiangyue?"

Shu Rui nodded, "Yes. Today, I went to Sister Jiangyue’s home, and after leaving, the talisman ended up like this. There’s also something else that feels strange. I asked Yu Weichi about Sister Jiangyue’s situation, but he clearly didn’t want to talk about it. The impression he gave me wasn’t one of avoiding painful memories, but rather a cold refusal to discuss it."

Xiao Ye said, "Xi Jiangyue’s death was publicly attributed to depression and suicide. Depression isn’t just about physical symptoms; the surrounding environment plays a crucial role too. If someone with mild depression is pushed by their environment, it’s not impossible for it to escalate to severe depression and suicide. But the industry you’re in is already complicated. If someone is further pressured or influenced by their partner, it’s easy to push them into depression."

Ji Nanxing looked at Shu Rui, "Do you suspect that Xi Jiangyue’s death is related to Yu Weichi?"

Shu Rui pursed her lips slightly, hesitating for a moment before speaking, "I don’t want to suspect this, but it does seem suspicious. Can you see ghosts? If you could see Sister Jiangyue, could you ask her directly?"

Shu Rui voiced her thoughts: "I've heard that ghosts linger due to unresolved obsessions. If the ghost that has been following me is really Sister Xi Jiangyue, could it be that she has some unresolved obsession? Is she following me because she wants me to help her with something, possibly related to her death? But I'm just guessing, and I hope I'm wrong."

She hoped that Xi Jiangyue's obsession was something else—anything other than having loved the wrong person in this lifetime.

Ji Nanxing: "We can see her. If her spirit is clear and rational, we can indeed ask her directly. But Yu Weichi probably won't let you into his house again."

Whether out of guilt or for some other reason, his deliberate avoidance clearly indicates that he won't give Shu Rui a second chance to visit.

Shu Rui thought for a moment and said, "What if we just call out at the door without going in? If Sister Xi Jiangyue can hear, is it possible she might come out herself? It's just that the Rose Garden villa area is hard to get into. I might need to find out who lives there to see if we can get in."

Xiao Ye: "Which area?"

Shu Rui: "Over by the Rose Garden."

Ji Nanxing: "If it's the Rose Garden, we can just go in."

The Rose Garden, where the boss of Rongsheng Real Estate died along with his entire family, leaving no survivors. Even the Thai witch doctor they hired from abroad fled back to his country in disgrace, having been blinded. At that time, the house was covered by a black banner, which swept away all the negative energy before it was removed. Despite this, the house became notoriously haunted, so notorious it couldn't be sold even at a rock-bottom price, dragging down the surrounding property values.

Eventually, the house was sold at a bargain to a Taoist named Bai Yilong.

This Taoist was also registered with the bureau, but he made his name in the entertainment industry. Destined to be alone, without a wife or children, after making a name, he adopted several orphans as disciples. Those with a spiritual inclination entered the mystical path, while others lived ordinary lives.

He just hoped that in his old age, at least one disciple would visit him occasionally.

Bai Yilong was quite famous, as building a reputation is crucial in the entertainment industry. The decision to sell him Rose Garden was partly due to his fame. Having a Taoist like him there was a living testament to the place's excellent feng shui.

Before going, Ji Nanxing called ahead, but Bai Yilong wasn't there; he was consulting on a film crew's opening direction. So, his disciple came out to greet them.

The disciple, nearly thirty, clearly wasn't cut out for this, having learned little from Bai Yilong. He later switched to the financial sector, managing his master's assets.

All of Bai Yilong's disciples were orphans and took his surname. The one who greeted them was his eldest disciple, Bai Guanqi, who had played with Ji Nanxing as a child. Recognizing Ji Nanxing immediately after years, he said, "Long time no see, you've grown so much."

Ji Nanxing smiled: "Brother Xiao Bai, these are my friends who came with me."

Xiao Ye extended his hand: "Hello, I'm Xiao Ye."

Bai Guanqi shook his hand: "Hello, hello, just call me Brother Xiao Bai like Nanxing does."

Shu Rui also nodded at him: "Hello, I'm Shu Rui."

Bai Guanqi recognized Shu Rui; though not a star, she was a familiar face in the acting world, even if he couldn't recall her name.

Bai Guanqi had little talent for mystical arts but, being Bai Yilong's first disciple, he was often kept around in hopes of sparking some insight.

Back when Bai Guanqi was in high school and Ji Nanxing just starting elementary, their masters would leave them in the library together during busy times, with the older looking after the younger.

Though Bai Guanqi eventually gave up on mastering the mystical arts and rarely visited the bureau, they still shared a bond from their library days.

Bai Guanqi drove them in a small sightseeing cart from the garden, asking as they boarded, "What brings you to see my master suddenly?"

Ji Nanxing: "We're not here to see Uncle Bai, just to get in."

Bai Guanqi understood immediately: "Which house has had an incident?"

Ji Nanxing: "Yu Weichi's. Have you noticed anything unusual at his place?"

Bai Guanqi shook his head: "It's too far away. Unless something very sinister happens and the negative energy spreads, we wouldn't pass by his door without reason, being on the other side of the garden."

Shu Rui, following Ji Nanxing, maintained a calm expression but was inwardly surprised. She didn't know Bai Guanqi personally, but she had heard of a highly skilled master in the industry with the surname Bai. This Master Bai was exceptionally skilled, and even well-funded small film crews might not be able to secure his services.

This revelation gave Shu Rui a new understanding of Ji Nanxing's abilities, and she felt a bit more confident. She thought that if her little cousin couldn't handle it, they could at least call in a more powerful master to save the day.

It was like a resident doctor who could call in a top expert—someone whose appointments were nearly impossible to get.

After learning their purpose, Bai Guanqi asked, "Should I take you to Yu Weichi's house?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "No need. Let's go to Uncle Bai's house. Later, I'll attempt a spirit summoning." If Xi Jiangyue's spirit was still present.

Bai Guanqi agreed and took Ji Nanxing and the others back.

On the way back, Bai Guanqi felt a touch of nostalgia. The child who once only came up to his waist, who used to flip through picture books while Bai Guanqi did his high school homework—barely knowing all the characters—had now grown up and gained some renown in the industry. In terms of skill, even his master might not surpass this kid.

In recent years, he had often heard his master lament how Old Man Yan was so adept at taking in disciples. With just two disciples, each one was more skilled than the last. The youngest, not even an adult yet, had already surpassed most in the Management Bureau.

Every time his master sighed like this, Bai Guanqi and his fellow disciples could only offer a wry smile. What could they do? They simply lacked the talent.

After Bai Yilong moved in, he completely overhauled the house's feng shui. He wasn't a businessman, so he didn't need a feng shui setup to enhance wealth. He sought only stability, but stability was often the hardest thing to achieve.

As soon as they passed through the gate, the oppressive heat from the sun seemed to vanish as they walked under the flower-covered archway. Though the sun was still intense, a faint coolness greeted them as they walked further in, even without an artificial pond or rockery at the entrance.

Ji Nanxing looked around and said, "It seems Uncle Bai has gathered quite a few treasures."

Otherwise, the energy here wouldn't flow so smoothly. The eight directions each formed a corner, yet they were interconnected and balanced, allowing the energy to flow freely without scattering. Since they hadn't lived here long, the human energy hadn't fully merged yet. Once it did, the feng shui layout would truly activate.

Bai Guanqi smiled and said, "My master plans to spend his retirement here. If it weren't for that incident letting him snag this place at a bargain, where else could he find such a scenic spot with mountains and water? He had even considered renting a hill in the countryside."

But who would choose the countryside over the city if they could help it? Although Taoism emphasizes harmony with nature, it also values the quality of life. Having such a peaceful place amidst the hustle and bustle of the city was truly rare.

Ji Nanxing said, "It's a pity there's no guardian artifact here."

In his eyes, the energy here was floating. Although it was smooth, it wasn't solid. A guardian artifact was needed to fully stabilize the energy in all eight directions. But even without one, once the human energy integrated, it would serve as a form of protection.

Bai Guanqi said, "My master has said the same thing. He's always lamented not being able to find a good artifact. Ordinary protective items can't stabilize the energy here, so we can only keep searching. Are you hot? Would you like some drinks?"

Young people probably don't like tea much, so Bai Guanqi had someone squeeze some juice, but he served Shu Rui flower tea: "Celebrities usually watch their sugar intake. Have some flower tea; it's good for beauty and health."

Shu Rui smiled and thanked him.

Bai Guanqi said, "If you're planning to summon spirits later, do you need to choose a direction? Otherwise, the energy here might prevent ordinary spirits from entering."

Ji Nanxing took a sip of juice and said, "I've already chosen. It's the flower bed on the right side after entering. The energy there is the weakest."

Bai Guanqi couldn't help but laugh. "I've often heard my master say that all of us disciples combined can't match even one of Master Yan's disciples. He often marvels at how each generation surpasses the last. I have two junior brothers who are still unconvinced. They really should come and see for themselves. You just walked in, took a glance, and immediately knew where the energy was weakest."

Ji Nanxing smiled. "It's probably like how some people are born with good eyesight. It's innate, not something learned."

Just this innate ability alone was enough to make their master envious.

Bai Guanqi chatted with Ji Nanxing for a while, learning that he was now in high school and discussing various college entrance exam experiences. Shu Rui, anxious about the spirit summoning, didn't show it and quietly listened to their conversation.

It wasn't until almost six o'clock that Bai Guanqi asked, "Do you need to prepare anything?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "Just a brazier for burning talismans."

Bai Guanqi had someone fetch the brazier and then accompanied them to the small garden outside. It had been many years since he had seen anything like this. His master mostly dealt with calculations in the entertainment industry, at most checking feng shui, nothing too grand.

He also wanted to see how far Ji Nanxing had progressed.

Xiao Ye opened his bag and took out a stack of talismans, each type stored in a similarly sized file bag. After rummaging through them for a while, he found the bag containing the summoning talismans and handed it to Ji Nanxing.

Bai Guanqi glanced at it and couldn't help but let out a soft gasp: "This talisman collection is quite comprehensive."

Xiao Ye smiled at him: "Master Bai, if you ever need anything, feel free to ask. I can even do custom talismans."

Bai Guanqi was surprised: "Are you a talisman master?"

He had thought Xiao Ye was just Ji Nanxing's friend, here to watch the show.

Xiao Ye shook his head: "No, I just know how to draw talismans."

A talisman master must know how to draw talismans, but not all who can draw them are masters. The difference lies in creation.

A talisman master not only copies talismans from books but can also create original ones. Xiao Ye, however, couldn't do this because he didn't understand the theory of the Five Elements. He could only copy, so he would likely never become a talisman master.

But that was fine. He was content being a human talisman printer, providing support for his Ji Naonao.

After selecting a direction, Ji Nanxing folded the summoning talisman in his hand and casually drew a circle. He pinched the talisman between two fingers, made a hand seal, silently recited an incantation, and with a light flick, the talisman caught fire.

Ji Nanxing tossed the talisman into the brazier, then took off his bead bracelet and gently shook the Golden Bell.

In Yu Weichi's home, not far away, the curtains shut out all light, leaving the room dim. The TV on the wall played a drama, the volume turned very low. Yu Weichi, sitting on the bed, was glued to the screen, which showed Xi Jiangyue's drama.

He only watched Xi Jiangyue's scenes, skipping past others. When Xi Jiangyue appeared, his entire expression softened.

On the TV cabinet below, three stones were strangely arranged, stacked from largest to smallest, with a yellow talisman pressed beneath the bottom stone.

The room's calm was shattered as the talisman suddenly fluttered.

The talisman seemed to flutter twice, as if blown by wind. Yu Weichi's face instantly shifted. The windows and doors were tightly shut, and the air conditioner's vent wasn't directed this way, so there couldn't be any wind inside. If there was no wind, then the talisman's movement was abnormal.

He thought of something, his frown melting into joy. He jumped off the bed, glancing around: "A Yue, is that you? A Yue, can you tell me if you're still here? You're here, aren't you? I can feel your presence. Can you give me even the smallest sign that you're still here? Let me know you're by my side. Whether you're human or a ghost, as long as you're here, I need nothing else."

But after that one movement, the talisman went still again.

At the Bai residence, Ji Nanxing made a puzzled noise. Shu Rui, with a nervous look, asked: "What's wrong?"

Ji Nanxing: "Something has trapped her."

He could sense Xi Jiangyue's spirit was still there, but something was trapping her, preventing her from being summoned.

Xiao Ye frowned slightly: "Is it troublesome? If it's too much, maybe we should call Brother Zhang to infiltrate and investigate."

Ji Nanxing: "It's not troublesome. It's not something too powerful. Step back a bit."

Everyone quickly stepped back a few paces. Ji Nanxing pulled out a few more summoning talismans and walked toward the brazier. This time, he didn't burn just one talisman. Instead, after making a hand seal with his bracelet, the talismans flew into the air, their spiritual patterns glowing and merging together.

With a loud whoosh, flames erupted. All six talismans burned to ash simultaneously, and a strong wind suddenly blew. The ashes, however, swirled in place, not scattering.

In Yu Weichi's home, the previously calm atmosphere stirred again. The stacked stones emitted a faint sound.

Yu Weichi's heart filled with joy, thinking it was Xi Jiangyue responding to him. But then he noticed the stones shaking more violently, as if trying to break free from some binding force.

This movement made Yu Weichi panic. These were calming stones. The master who gave them to him had said that if they could be stacked, it meant there was a spirit in the house. Placing a calming talisman and the stones would help nurture the spirit.

But now, the situation seemed unusual.

He lunged forward, trying to suppress the stones and stop their trembling. But as soon as he touched them, the three stacked stones shattered, as if exploding from within. The shards flew out, cutting his hand and leaving bloody marks.

But Yu Weichi seemed to feel no pain. He frantically picked up the shattered stones, trying to piece them back together and stack them again.

However, once the stones were broken, they could not be restored. The pile of rubble could no longer be stacked.

Ji Nanxing paid no heed to Yu Weichi's situation. Under his renewed summoning, the force that had restrained the soul could not withstand his attack. The binding was broken, and a gust of yin wind swept through. Xi Jiangyue's soul was also slowly drifting over from a distance, pulled by a mysterious force.

Xi Jiangyue's ghost still wore the white nightgown. It was said that she had taken pills to commit suicide at home, even taking a bath and putting on makeup before her death.

But the specter that appeared before him now clearly did not look like someone who had died by suicide. Her body was entangled with red threads, which were piercing into her flesh, desperately siphoning her essence.