Chapter 312

Chapter 312

◎Cleared of Charges◎

The female ghost was coaxed out of Tian Xin's body. Others couldn’t see Zhao Yitong—they only saw Tian Xin’s eyes close before she toppled from the rooftop edge.

Everyone panicked, rushing forward to catch Tian Xin. If she had jumped, their hospital would have made headlines tomorrow—or even sooner, given the crowd below filming and taking pictures. But as long as she was unharmed, it didn’t matter what crimes Tian Xin had committed; she couldn’t die like this in the hospital.

The Management Bureau had already arrived to handle the aftermath. The hospital director and the police officer in charge of the incident were called in for debriefing. When they emerged, they had a unified explanation: Tian Xin had suffered a psychotic break due to overwhelming stress and guilt over the retired teacher and his granddaughter. In her delusional state, she had imagined herself as Zhao Yitong, leading to the suicide attempt.

Peng Cheng grinned as he sniffed the incense but didn’t smoke it. Turning to Ji Nanxing, he said, "So this is how your Bureau wraps things up? Can this really be covered up? A lot of people saw what just happened."

Ji Nanxing replied, "We just need a credible story. The authorities can’t confirm ghosts exist. After decades of cracking down on superstition, suddenly admitting some things are real would cause too much ideological upheaval. It’d lead to chaos."

Peng Cheng nodded. "Fair enough. Don’t silence people—just give the public a scientific explanation. Those who believe will believe; those who don’t, won’t. At least it won’t cause widespread panic."

Xiao Ye took a water bottle from his bag, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Ji Nanxing. After talking so much, he must be thirsty. "Drink some water. Are we waiting to go back to the station, or what?"

Since Ji Nanxing had talked Tian Xin down, standard procedure required him to accompany her to the station to give a statement.

Ji Nanxing shook his head. "No need. The Bureau will handle it. But we do need to go to the station."

They drove back to the station where Dong Qi was being held. This time, Xiao Ye went in with them.

The moment Dong Qi saw them, he burst into tears again. "Bro Ye! Any updates? Good or bad? Wait—let me brace myself first."

Ji Nanxing didn’t wait. "Good news."

Dong Qi jolted upright instantly, scrambling to his feet and gripping the bars, as if trying to squeeze his head through. "Good news? What does that mean? Am I—am I getting out?"

Ji Nanxing: "Not yet. There’s still some paperwork. Someone will transfer you soon, and after another round of approvals, you’ll be acquitted. At the latest, you’ll be home by tomorrow night. Just hang in there—it’s over."

His case required the Bureau's protocols, so he’d be taken there first. Once Ji Nanxing delivered Zhao Yitong (now trapped in the Golden Bell) to the Bureau and proved she had possessed Dong Qi to commit the murders, he’d be cleared.

Dong Qi sobbed uncontrollably. "Acquittal"—those two words felt like rebirth. The crushing weight of fear lifted, and he could finally breathe again.

But he was desperate to know. During interrogations, the evidence had seemed irrefutable. "How did you do it? Did you find new evidence?"

Peng Cheng chimed in, "We found key evidence, but don’t ask. It’s confirmed you’re innocent. Just wait for release. And from now on, no more shady online dating or stalking criminals. You got lucky this time. Next time, you might not."

Dong Qi nodded frantically, tears streaming. "Never again. I won’t even date anymore."

Xiao Ye chuckled. "No need to go that far. It’s late—go sit in the corner. We’ll call your family. Your grandma still doesn’t know. Your parents have aged worrying about you. Be more responsible from now on."

As they left the station, Peng Cheng gave Xiao Ye a long look. "What?"

Peng Cheng smiled. "You young people—so steady, way beyond your years."

Xiao Ye shrugged. "You grow up fast in life-and-death situations. Even though I can’t see ghosts, being with Nan Xing has shown me enough."

The more he experienced, the more he understood the disconnect he’d sensed in Ji Nanxing when they first met. It wasn’t youthful melodrama—it was real isolation.

They lived in different worlds. Their biggest worries were exam scores, while Ji Nanxing had repeatedly faced death. No wonder he stood apart, couldn’t be lighthearted, couldn’t experience a normal youth.

Xiao Ye never saw himself as Ji Nanxing’s savior. But he was profoundly grateful they’d met at this age—that he’d entered Ji Nanxing’s life while he still wanted connection.

Ji Nanxing matured him, and he brought out Ji Nanxing’s childish side—everything balanced perfectly.

As Ji Nanxing walked behind them, the golden bracelet on his wrist jingled softly, causing the two in front to immediately stop and turn around.

Ji Nanxing stared at the bracelet for a moment before gently stroking it and saying, "I’ll pass along your apology, but I can’t tell him ‘it’s okay’ for you."

Only Dong Qi knew the terror he’d lived through these past few days. So, when Zhao Yitong apologized for what she had done to him, forgiveness wasn’t something Ji Nanxing could offer on her behalf. He could only relay her remorse—nothing more.

Xiao Ye walked up beside him. "Is she apologizing?"

Ji Nanxing nodded. "Earlier, Cao Zhen’s aura had been too strong for her to approach. Dong Qi had just been scammed out of his money, and his grandmother had fallen because of it. His weakened spirit left him vulnerable to possession by Zhao Yitong. At the time, vengeance had stripped her of reason. When she found a host, she acted without thought. Now, she regrets it and realizes her mistake."

Xiao Ye sighed. "That’s hatred for you—it steals your sanity. And when a ghost filled with resentment is further influenced by ghostly energy, it becomes even harder to stay rational."

Otherwise, what would we need Taoists for? Not all ghosts can distinguish between grudges and justice. Moreover, Zhao Yitong was only sixteen when she died—an impulsive age where self-control was already difficult.

Fortunately, no other innocents got caught up in it.

Peng Cheng dropped them at the Supernatural Management Bureau and took off. The rest was routine interrogation. He had other cases to handle and couldn’t stay any longer.

When Tian Xin came to, clueless about events, she was also brought to the Investigation Bureau for questioning. Someone had recorded the incident on the rooftop, and the investigators played the video for her, bluntly stating, "You were possessed by Zhao Yitong. She was the one who killed Cao Zhen. You and Cao Zhen caused her grandfather's death, and she came for revenge."

Tian Xin was so terrified she couldn’t speak. She wanted to deny it, to insist ghosts didn’t exist, but the video left no room for self-deception.

The body was hers, but the smirk, the stride—all Zhao Yitong. Especially the way she walked: Zhao Yitong had always loved tiptoeing along the edges of flower beds, hopping playfully.

The interrogator let her sweat a second before banging the table. "You and Cao Zhen conspired to murder Zhao Yitong’s grandfather, Zhao Mian, and stole all the valuables and cash from the house, didn’t you? Zhao Yitong’s spirit is still here. If necessary, we can arrange a confrontation. So, you’d better confess truthfully—no hiding anything."

Tian Xin shook her head violently. "No! We didn’t—we wouldn’t! We just needed cash! You're saying Grandpa died? How? And Yitong too? No, no, that can’t be!"

The interrogator flipped open a notebook. "Tell us what really happened that day—the day you went to the Zhao house to steal."

Tian Xin’s mind spun, thoughts splintered. She truly hadn’t known Zhao Mian and Zhao Yitong were dead. They’d wanted a payout, not a body count.

Under questioning, Tian Xin haltingly recounted the events of that day, piecing together a story that amounted to an accidental murder.

After getting involved with Cao Zhen, Tian Xin grew lazy, craving quick money. With her low education, she lost her job as the Zhao family’s maid. Outside, she could only find backbreaking gigs for just $400 a month—too exhausted and broke to continue night school.

But regrets came too late. Cao Zhen coaxed her, suggesting she pretend to apologize to the Zhao family so they could rob them one more time. After that, they’d leave town.

Tian Xin’s greed festered alongside her envy of Zhao Yitong. Despite her parents’ divorce, Zhao Yitong had a doting grandfather who gave her everything. Her parents hadn’t forgotten her either, sending her double allowances.

While Tian Xin worked as a maid, Zhao Yitong lived like a princess.

Tian Xin knew life wasn’t fair, but she couldn’t—and didn’t know how to—balance her envy. So, under Cao Zhen’s persuasion, she gave in.

That day, she returned to the Zhao house, kneeling to apologize to Grandpa Zhao. The old man was kind-hearted, a lifelong educator who always wanted to guide those who strayed. He treated Tian Xin like his own child, trying to teach her right from wrong—even offering her a second chance.

But Tian Xin followed Cao Zhen’s instructions, slipping several sleeping pills into the old man’s tea. Once he was asleep, she let Cao Zhen in, and together they ransacked the house, taking all valuables—even an infrequently used bank card.

Cao Zhen had already planned to use it for internet scams.

Then—the sleeping pills triggered a seizure. No one was home to help. He suffocated to death.

When Tian Xin learned she had caused Zhao Mian’s death, she was overcome with regret—but it was too late. Now, the law would crush her.

Zhao Yitong’s hatred lingered—but watching Tian Xin’s ruin tasted sweeter than killing her. Letting go of her final grudge, she allowed the Taoists of the Management Bureau to guide her to where she belonged.

In their shabby apartment, Dong Qi (now back in class) stared blankly as Xiao Ye recounted everything. "So… ghosts got me off the hook?"

Before Xiao Ye could react, Chen Shiyi and the others beside him nodded in unison: "Yeah, luckily Nanxing is amazing. He spotted the issue with your case right away and helped uncover the truth. Otherwise, you really wouldn’t have known how you died."

Ji Nanxing said, "She was consumed by hatred. When she saw her chance for revenge, she acted recklessly. Later, she realized she almost harmed you and wanted to apologize."

Dong Qi really wanted to say how unfairly he’d been treated—his parents were nearly scared to death for him, and they'd grown noticeably more gray hairs lately. Thankfully, his grandmother didn’t know about this, or it might have given her a heart attack.

But when he thought about how tragic Zhao Yitong’s story was—betrayed by those she trusted, losing her grandfather and her own life—Dong Qi just sighed. "Never mind, I forgive her. She had it rough too, stuck with her enemies for so long but unable to take revenge. If I put myself in her shoes, I can see how hard it must have been. Anyway, I’m fine, and this whole thing taught me a lesson."

Dong Qi then leaned closer to Ji Nanxing. "Top scholar, were you born with second sight? Can you see ghosts?"

Xiao Ye reached out and pushed him away. "Did you know there’s also a ghost in our school?"

Dong Qi gasped. "What?! Seriously? What kind? Is it dangerous?"

Xiao Ye replied, "Extremely dangerous. It’s a former top student who, due to circumstances, became a trapped spirit here, unable to leave the school. So he wanders around the classrooms every day, specifically watching those who don’t pay attention in class or sneak snacks during study sessions. Did you know he's been standing behind you multiple times, glaring at you for not listening and eating snacks?"

Dong Qi nearly jumped in fright. "Seriously?! Bro Ye, don’t scare me like that!"

Guo Xun, crouching in a corner, muttered, "I don’t watch people who don’t pay attention, and I don’t stare at anyone eating snacks. That’s slander!"

Though if someone was eating, he might look their way—after all, it had been so long since he’d eaten anything before meeting Ji Nanxing. He couldn't help looking, but he never deliberately stared!

Ji Nanxing chuckled. "Stop scaring him."

Zhang Yuan slung an arm over Dong Qi’s shoulder. "I think this entire senior year, you’ll be able to focus on studying properly."

Dong Qi sighed. "After all that's happened, I've lost all my distractions."

Still, he felt like he'd grown a little. He couldn't fully articulate it, but there was a newfound calm—like even if the sky fell, he could handle it. People really do grow through experience.

His focus on studying showed results. In the first monthly exam of senior year, Dong Qi’s grades actually improved. If he could keep it up until the college entrance exams, getting into university wouldn’t be a problem.

Though university is just a stepping stone to society and doesn’t guarantee the final outcome, a good one means more opportunities. So this might have been a blessing in disguise.

Senior year students have heavy workloads, and the Management Bureau knew Ji Nanxing was about to take his exams, so they tried not to assign him tasks to avoid distracting him.

Unfortunately, with the shortage of personnel, less urgent cases could wait for other Taoists to free up, but life-threatening situations couldn’t be delayed. So they had no choice but to call Ji Nanxing.

Just after his afternoon nap, Ji Nanxing received a case assignment from the Bureau. Xiao Ye, wiping his face with a wet towel to wake himself up, frowned at the notification. "Didn’t they say they’d try not to assign you tasks?"

In truth, these past two years, assignments had been rare—mostly cases Ji Nanxing stumbled upon himself. If they were reaching out now, it must be urgent.

Ji Nanxing opened the case file and frowned.

Xiao Ye tossed the wet towel aside. "That bad?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "A family didn’t follow proper procedures when relocating their ancestral grave. Three people are already dead."