Chapter 223

Chapter 223

◎Found◎

In three more days, it would be his mother's 49th day memorial. Zou He didn't know if the words of the Young Taoist Master could come true, but he could still wait for three days.

After negotiating the terms, Ji Nanxing put Zou He into the golden bell and turned to the Zhou family, saying, "Good deeds bring good rewards, and evil deeds bring karmic retribution. This is just the beginning of your family's retribution."

The old man of the Zhou family was still lying on the ground, gasping for breath like a broken air pump.

The rest of the Zhou family changed their expressions upon hearing this. If someone had told them before that the Zhou family would face retribution, they would have thought that person was crazy.

But now, having witnessed Ji Nanxing capture the ghost that nearly took their entire family's lives, and hearing his words, they felt that his words must be true.

Zhou Yuxuan let go of his grandfather and stood up from the ground: "Ji Nanxing, did you come to our house today because you foresaw that something would happen to our family? Is there any way to resolve this? If our family can get through this, we will definitely do more charity and accumulate more blessings in the future."

Zhou Yuxuan did not refute Ji Nanxing's implication that their family was not good. The Zhou family had indeed made a lot of ill-gotten gains to get to where they were today, but they had never taken anyone's life. Now that the Zhou family was steadily rising, with many profitable projects, they were fully capable of making up for past mistakes.

Ji Nanxing: "Are you willing to sell your company, sell your real estate, and donate all your assets in exchange for peace?"

Zhou Yuxuan was stunned. Even if he was willing, the rest of his family might not be.

The Zhou family, though not a top-tier wealthy family, still had considerable assets. How could they easily give up everything based on someone's words?

Ji Nanxing no longer wasted time with them: "I've pointed out the way for you. Whether you can do it or not is up to you. I still have to deal with Zou He's matter, so I won't waste any more time here."

Xiao Ye carried a bag and followed Ji Nanxing. Zhou Yuxuan chased after them, wanting to say something, but was stopped by a warning look from Xiao Ye.

As soon as they stepped out of the Zhou family's house, Xiao Ye stretched his limbs and sighed: "Their house is cold and oppressive. Even though it's bright and clean, it doesn't feel bright at all."

Ji Nanxing: "Because the entire house is shrouded in malevolent energy. You just can't see the dark mist. Let's go home. We need to find Zhou Yucheng quickly."

There was a shuttle vehicle at the door, driven by the Ji family's steward. Knowing that his young master had returned, the steward had been waiting at the door to pick him up.

After Ji Nanxing left, the old man of the Zhou family slowly regained his breath. He was helped by his family to sit on the sofa. Looking around, before he could ask, his eldest son said: "Ji Nanxing has left. Before leaving, he said that our family will face retribution."

The old man of the Zhou family was old and his reactions were far slower than those of the younger generation. He hadn't even fully understood the situation with Zhou Yucheng, and now hearing that their family would face retribution, he was completely at a loss.

A faint groan came from the corner. Apart from the uninjured servants, the few Taoists they had hired were more or less injured.

Now that the troublesome ghost had been taken away, those people crawled out from their hiding places.

Just as the old man of the Zhou family was about to speak, a group of uniformed people entered through the door. They immediately restrained the Taoists upon entering, and the leader showed them his badge: "Someone reported that you are engaging in superstitious practices here. You are a family with considerable assets, how can you believe in such things? We are taking these people away. Who among you will come with us?"

Since the family was mostly elderly, only Zhou Yuxuan stepped forward. The Zhou family's aunt grabbed her nephew's hand and looked at them: "We didn't do anything, just some ceremonial rites. That shouldn't be illegal, right?"

The leader of the arresting team, Mu Chun, said: "You need to be taken back for education and to pay a fine. Don't do this kind of thing in the future. If you really want to perform ceremonial rites, go to the Yuchun Taoist Temple. Doing it at home could cause accidents or fires. Haven't you learned anything from the national compulsory education? Believe in science!"

The amateur Taoists, thinking they had been arrested by the police, were crying, wondering how long they would be locked up. Zhou Yuxuan had no choice but to follow. They wanted to believe in science, but there really were ghosts.

Just as Ji Nanxing returned home, he saw Mu Chun's car drive past their door. He smiled and said to Xiao Ye: "Mu Chun's Key Performance Indicator for this month is done."

Xiao Ye was surprised: "The Supernatural Affairs Bureau has Key Performance Indicators?"

Ji Nanxing: "Of course they do. They need to eliminate superstitious beliefs. But the KPI in our city is hard to meet. The literacy rate is too high, and fraudulent practitioners don't do well in the city. It's easier to catch them in backwater regions."

Zhao Yu, who had run out to greet them upon their return, heard something about superstitious beliefs and catching people, and looked confused: "What are you talking about? What happened to the Zhou family? Who got caught?"

Xiao Ye outlined the situation at the Zhou family. Zhao Yu was shocked: "So Zhou Yucheng isn't dead? He transferred his consciousness? That sounds even more far-fetched than my family's supernatural encounter. Is that even possible?"

Ji Nanxing: "The source of the Grudge is Zou He; we've already subdued him. Later, take some talismans for your family to wear. Once the cinnabar on the talismans fades away, you can throw them away. The Grudge affecting your family has been resolved."

Zhao Yu was taken aback once more: "So it's just solved like that?"

Xiao Ye: "What else do you want? A massive battle that turns the world upside down to feel it's worth it?"

Zhao Yu quickly said: "Of course, a peaceful solution is definitely the best. What else do I need to do next?"

Ji Nanxing: "Nothing else. Although your family was an innocent victim, remember after this incident, respect for the dead is not just a saying. You can choose not to believe, but it's wise to maintain a sense of reverence for the unknown."

Zhao Yu thought to himself, how could he not believe after this? He would definitely hold the greatest reverence for such matters in the future.

Ji's elder brother was not at home, and the Zhao family's issue was also resolved. Zhao Yu settled the cost of the talismans and Ji Nanxing's intervention for two hundred thousand yuan and left.

Ji Nanxing gave fifty thousand yuan to Xiao Ye, as the talismans were provided by Xiao Ye, and donated the rest. Xiao Ye kept ten thousand, as the use of talismans and cinnabar required replenishing supplies, and donated the remaining forty thousand.

The Ji family's steward approached with a fruit platter: "Young master, Xiao Ye, what would you like for dinner? I'll have the kitchen make it."

Xiao Ye, polite and well-behaved: "I'm good with anything; whatever Nanxing likes, I like."

Ji Nanxing: "If there's time, have the kitchen make braised shark fin, osmanthus lotus root, flowering water bamboo shoots, and sweet and sour mandarin fish. The rest can be whatever."

The steward smiled and nodded in agreement. These dishes were the chef's specialties. The young master usually ate whatever was served, rarely ordering specific dishes, especially when returning without prior notice, to avoid burdening the kitchen staff.

Today, the young master brought Xiao Ye back and specifically ordered the chef's specialties, clearly intended for whom.

Having read so many domineering CEO novels, the steward could finally deliver his NPC line in his mind. Although Xiao Ye was not the first person the young master had brought back, he was the first friend the young master had brought home, rounding off,

It had been a long time since the young master smiled like this.

What other classic lines could there be?

Oh, his young master would no longer be alone.

The steward left feeling comforted, completely unaware of the little drama his steward uncle was enacting in his mind. Ji Nanxing picked up the fruit platter: "Let's go to my room."

Xiao Ye quickly took the fruit platter from his hands; it was too heavy. How could he let his delicate yet fierce desk mate, capable of tearing apart vengeful spirits, carry it?

Although Ji Nanxing usually returned on weekends when not busy, this was Xiao Ye's first time entering. He always knew the Ji family was wealthy, even though Ji Naonao's daily life didn't show it, some habits and details were still noticeable.

The previous large flat was already quite valuable, but the villa in this estate was even more opulent.

Winding around like a maze, servants could be seen everywhere, the overall style simple and grand, not the old-fashioned kind of opulence, but everywhere exuded low-key luxury.

His Ji Naonao grew up in such surroundings, truly a little prince.

Ji Nanxing took him back to his room, turning to see Xiao Ye's ears red, shifting his gaze from his ears to his face, looking into his eyes and asking: "What are you thinking about?"

Thinking so much that his ears turned red.

Xiao Ye's eyes wandered, directly changing the subject: "Your room is so big!"

He couldn't let Ji Naonao know—he had already started fantasizing about their married life.

The real progress hadn't even started, but the progress bar in his mind was almost full (✿@^▽^@)ノ.

Although somewhat suspecting he was thinking of something inappropriate, Ji Nanxing felt Xiao Ye's character was somewhat trustworthy, so he let it go.

"Put the things on the table, and feel free to sit anywhere."

Xiao Ye, trying not to let his eyes wander, asked with a hint of shyness, "Can I take a look around?"

Ji Nanxing: "Sure."

Xiao Ye looked at a wall of photos, all of them with his family: "Naonao, did you grow up here?"

Ji Nanxing: "Yes, I've lived here since I can remember, but the room stayed the same while its style kept evolving. From an ocean theme in my childhood, to a cartoon theme in my teenage years, and when I grew up and had the freedom to choose, I turned it into a minimalist style."

But his brothers and sisters always thought his room was too empty, so they'd try to stuff something in it whenever they had the chance. He's not into anime or comics, yet he has a whole wall of collectible figurines, and in one corner of his room, a three-meter-tall steel armor.

He can't even name the character of that armor, but his senior brother thought he liked it, so he shipped it all the way from abroad, and now it has become the guardian of his room, and the servants have to climb a ladder to dust it off every now and then.

Sure enough, Xiao Ye turned a corner and was stunned by the golden, mechanical cold light of the steel armor: "Cool! Can you get inside this?"

Ji Nanxing: "No, it's just a heavy decoration."

Xiao Ye handed his phone to Ji Nanxing: "Quick, take a picture of me with Bumblebee!"

Ji Nanxing took several photos for him, and Xiao Ye was still regretfully touching it: "The craftsmanship is so exquisite, but it can't be worn. If only I could wear it and strike a few poses, how cool would that be."

Ji Nanxing looked at Xiao Ye who was almost climbing up, the dream of a middle schooler, something he didn't get.

While Xiao Ye was touring Ji Nanxing's bedroom, he released Zou He from the golden bell, and the first thing he did was place a talisman on him.

It wasn't to suppress Zou He, but to block the Grudge on him, otherwise his Grudge would spill over, and if his family got contaminated, they would be affected.

Xiao Ye quietly sent a WeChat message to Zhang Yuan: "Photos??10"

Zhang Yuan, who was honestly doing his homework, was shocked when he saw the enormous Bumblebee: "Where are you guys? At Universal Studios? It doesn't look like it."

Xiao Ye: "At Naonao's house, made it into the hall, smugly crossing my legs.jpg"

Zhang Yuan: "Speechless.jpg, haven't you two been living together all this time, sharing a bed for who knows how long."

Xiao Ye: "It's different; this is Naonao's actual home!"

Zhang Yuan: "Alright, congratulations. Fake smile.jpg."

Xiao Ye: "Here's a red envelope"

Zhang Yuan: "Wow! Congratulations! You're one step closer to your heart's desire!"

Zhang Yuan: "Seriously? One cent? Have a heart!"

Content, Xiao Ye tucked his phone away, hearing the sound of conversation in the room, he quickly moved to Ji Nanxing's side, and asked again: "Why can I see him? Is he stronger than the average ghost?"

Ji Nanxing: "It's because he's neither a living soul nor a dead soul right now, and he's burdened with Grudge, which allows him to manifest."

Xiao Ye nodded in understanding, he's not dead, so he's not a dead soul, but since he's dead, he's not a living soul either.

Looking at the silent Zou He, Xiao Ye didn't ask more, like whether Zou He could return to his own body under these circumstances. If he could return, that would be great; if not, it would just be another blow to Zou He, so, curious as he was, he didn't ask directly in front of the ghost.

Ji Nanxing said: "How did you get pushed out of your own body? Do you remember anything at all?"

Zou He shook his head: "No, I went to bed as usual, and when I woke up, I was in Zhou Yucheng's body, who was nearly dead."

Xiao Ye: "Isn't there a bond between the body and the soul? Can't you sense where your body is at all?"

Zou He shook his head again.

Ji Nanxing: "Since Zhou Yucheng was able to take over his body, he must have a way to sever that bond. It's no wonder he can't feel it."

Otherwise, knowing that humans have souls, how could Zhou Yucheng not take any precautions? After all, the living are no match for the dead. When you're alive, there are a lot of limitations, but once you're dead, you're free from all that.

Xiao Ye: "In that case, wouldn't it be pretty tough for us to find Zhou Yucheng?"

Zou He stayed quiet. If he could find Zhou Yucheng, the first thing he would do is kill him. He wouldn't be hanging around the Zhou family without making a move.

He figured that Zhou Yucheng, being part of the Zhou family—his own grandpa and dad—would definitely show up if something went down with the family, out of family loyalty.

But the Grudge he had attached to them only grew stronger, and Zhou Yucheng never showed up.

Ji Nanxing: "It's tough for the dead to find the living, but for the living to find the living, it's not that hard."

Xiao Ye: "If Zhou Yucheng had planned to hide in advance, it wouldn't be easy for us to find him either."

In a sea of people, even using metaphysical methods, should we use Zhou Yucheng's birth chart or Zou He's to track him down?

Ji Nanxing: "Soul swapping must have been planned in advance. If you were Zhou Yucheng and knew that your target for soul swapping was Zou He, what would you do?"

Xiao Ye glanced at Zou He, who was giving off a vibe of poverty: "Transfer money. Zou He is so broke, Zhou Yucheng couldn't have just sat around. He must have stashed away enough cash to live on, maybe even start a business. But if he prepared money, it could only be in anonymous accounts; otherwise, the Zhou family wouldn't let a stranger they don't know touch Zhou Yucheng's accounts."

Ji Nanxing: "Anonymous accounts are tough to trace, but Zhou Yucheng's accounts are easy to track. It's not difficult to follow large sums of money from his accounts."

Xiao Ye said: "Alright, I'll get someone to look into it first. If we hit a dead end, we'll figure something else out."

People don't just vanish. We'll keep trying different methods until we find him.

In a private resort in Thailand, Zhou Yucheng, now in Zou He's body, was leisurely walking by the sea.

The nearly 1.9-meter-tall frame, though slightly thin, had excellent proportions. His face wasn't strikingly handsome, but it was still attractive, drawing some admiring glances as he passed by.

A young man with half of his arm tattooed with exorcism patterns met him and greeted him in fluent Chinese: "Out for a walk? How are you feeling today?"

Zhou Yucheng, feeling the vibrant vitality in this body, showed a very satisfied smile: "Very good."

Extremely good.

Only after experiencing decay can one truly appreciate how wonderful it feels to be alive.