Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Shi Xuan's grip was incredibly strong, his arms, like steel bars, tightly gripped Wu Heng's waist, his head resting on his shoulder as if he was extremely tired or had endless grievances, like a pitiful, soaked puppy.

Wu Heng was stunned for a long time before he reacted. How did he end up here?

People bustled around them, and Wu Heng wasn't sure if he should push Shi Xuan away, but Shi Xuan gently let go.

"!!! Who on earth is that? Who allowed him to hug my Dr. Wu?"

"It's my fault for being too timid, I only dared to take a photo within half a meter of Dr. Wu today at Chengde Medical Hall, afraid of being too forward."

"Indeed, the bold reap the rewards first. I wonder if Dr. Wu has a pleasant scent, I always feel he has a medicinal scent, I want to smell it too."

"Got it, this is definitely Dr. Wu's patient, seeing Dr. Wu must be like seeing a savior? It's understandable to be excited."

[They look like a couple, don't they?] Tang Xueshan, suppressing her discomfort, typed passionately on her phone.

Beside her, Yang Xing was holding a secret book on welding from Beijing University of Science and Technology, and couldn't help but say, 'Miss Tang, your comments can't be seen up there.'

Without a specific link, ordinary people can't see the underworld comments.

'And do you know what they are doing by jumping the Nuo? They are driving us away! Put down my phone, no more playing! The phone is for studying, not for watching live streams.'

Tang Xueshan, feeling gloomy, returned the phone to Yang Xing, truly envious.

Only after arriving in the underworld did she realize how slow the development was down there. Ordinary ghost citizens were still living in the 80s and 90s, phones and computers were indeed available, but only for high-ranking ghosts. Forget about cars, you could only borrow a paper horse.

Xi Xi was right, it's quite difficult to use a phone down there. As a full-time female writer, she could only continue her old profession, but without a computer, she had to handwrite her manuscripts and submit them to the Ghost Night News, waiting for the distribution of computers and phones.

'Why are you studying rocket welding? You're not thinking of riding a rocket up, are you?'

Yang Xing, slightly embarrassed, said, 'I'm self-studying, to see if Beijing University of Science and Technology can burn me a diploma after I die.'

Only after graduating from university do you earn a real bachelor's degree.

In the dim evening light, it was hard to see clearly, but He Yunxiao and Li Hao recognized that person at a glance, frantically tagging Shi Xuan in the group.

"Group Leader - Li Hao: @SX, why did you go to Nan Nuo Village alone? Didn't we agree that everyone is busy with school and wouldn't go? Backstabbing! @He Yunxiao, did you also go behind our backs?"

"He Yunxiao: ...Are you sick? We left school together at noon, how could I have the international time to reach the village by evening?"

He Yunxiao felt a bit uneasy, among their group, he was probably the only one who hadn't personally visited Dr. Wu's village.

Shi Xuan is just sneaky, quietly pulling off big moves! And not taking them along.

Li Hao, out of jealousy, was frantically typing.

"Group Leader - Li Hao: @SX, Shi, do you understand the art of photography? Good brothers should stand shoulder to shoulder, not hug the waist! That's how you hug a partner! Straight men are like this. [Picture]"

But Li Hao also understood Shi Xuan, after all, Shi Xuan used to be alone without any friends, it's normal not to know.

In the picture, Li Hao, Wang Dong, and three others with colorful hair stood shoulder to shoulder, laughing and joking.

"He Yunxiao: ...6."

"Let's head back first." Wu Heng pulled down the Guan Gong Nuo mask, grabbed Shi Xuan's wrist, and led him back along a path unfamiliar to the tourists.

In Nan Nuo Village, whether male or female, those who perform the Nuo dance wear half-skirts made of deep blue local cloth. As Wu Heng walked quickly, the hem of the skirt lightly brushed against Shi Xuan's exposed calf through his torn pants, the fabric's touch wasn't pleasant but it was tingling.

Shi Xuan suddenly grabbed Wu Heng's wrist, which was gripping him, and the two came to a halt on the deserted gravel path.

Wu Heng partially lifted the Guan Gong Nuo Mask, frowning as he saw Shi Xuan covered in wounds, radiating a somber vibe, as if he'd been through a lot.

"How did you get here?"

Shi Xuan replied briefly, "I jumped into the well."

Wu Heng leaned closer, incredulous, "What? You jumped into the well? Your family's well? And then... you just came here?"

Seeing him nod, Wu Heng thought it sounded like a fairy tale. He could travel freely because, firstly, as an ancient shaman, he knew the necessary spells, and secondly, he had the snake scale of the (intern) Dragon King of the Well as a token for passage. Both were indispensable.

Shi Xuan just showed up like that, with nothing?

"How did you get here? Did you chant any spell?" Wu Heng, both shocked and curious, leaned in closer.

Shi Xuan suddenly raised his hand, his cold fingers didn’t touch Wu Heng’s face but instead brushed lightly against his dangling silver earring, smiling, "It looks good."

Wu Heng’s ears flushed, and Shi Xuan added, "I only wanted to find you."

Shi Xuan didn't know any spells or incantations, he just thought of him.

"I jumped in when I was heading home after school at noon, I searched for a long time," Shi Xuan raised his arm with snake bite marks, "and I got bitten by a snake."

Wu Heng: "..."

The real question is, how didn’t he drown the whole afternoon?

Wu Heng couldn't help but look Shi Xuan up and down, this mysterious buddy had some secrets, and Wu Heng could only speculate.

The well water is actually groundwater, and in the theory of Yin and Yang, it is a place of great Yin. Perhaps it's because the Yin energy is too strong? That’s why it’s considered not to be of the same kind as living things?

Wu Heng, noticing that Shi Xuan was staring at the snake bite on his arm, woke up and said, "... The Well Dragon King is always a non-venomous water snake or dragon. There’s no need to worry about snake venom."

Shi Xuan whispered softly, "But it hurts a bit."

That deep gaze held him tightly, and Wu Heng didn’t know how to respond.

"... Then, come back to the Chengde Medical Hall with me quickly; I’ll treat it for you." Wu Heng pulled Shi Xuan and hurried through the small path, entering from the back door of the Chengde Medical Hall.

The little white snake and Xi Xi did not go to watch the rehearsal of the village exorcism dance because the dance itself is meant to drive away evil spirits. Although they were spirit snakes, they were neither human nor divine, so watching would still be disrespectful.

The little white snake lay on the examination table, “Xi Xi, I want to eat chicken. Do you think our foster father will agree if we ask him to send us some Orleans roast chicken?”

Wu Heng’s voice came from behind, “No.”

The little white snake looked up, ready to argue, but its pair of crimson eyes suddenly widened, “Foster father?”

Xi Xi was also surprised, “Second foster father?”

How did he get here? Wasn’t he supposed to be studying?

The little white snake glanced at Shi Xuan’s empty hands and said dejectedly, “Foster father, do you know you should bring a gift when visiting?”

Shi Xuan arrived, but the roasted chicken didn’t.

Wu Heng took the medical kit from the Chengde Medical Hall and treated Shi Xuan’s wound, while instructing the little gray snake, “Xi Xi, go to my room and find a set of clothes. The one Aunt Zhou Yi made for me last time was a bit big.”

Xi Xi nodded obediently, “Okay.”

Shi Xuan had a lot of injuries, but they were all minor and could be easily treated. Noticing Shi Xuan looking around the clinic, Wu Heng stood up and headed for the stairs, saying, "I'll set up a guest room for you to stay the night."

Xi Xi, balancing a set of clothes on her head, asked curiously, "Godfather, can Second Godfather only stay one night?"

Shi Xuan is a high school senior, and his main focus is school. Isn’t it normal for him to stay until morning and then head back to class?

Xi Xi said in a childish tone, "I smell well water on Second Godfather. Did he jump into the well to get here? Then he could commute like this all the time."

The little white snake was stunned. Did Xi Xi really catch that? It sniffed too and confirmed the strong scent of yin energy from the well water.

The little white snake cheered, "Yay, Godfather, stay at the clinic! The well in the east village is just a ten-minute walk, and the one behind your school is close too. It’s even more convenient than commuting from home."

Best of all, there are tons of great food and fun spots near Jiaming No.1 Middle School, with plenty of fast food joints. It’d be so easy to grab food for everyone! Just thinking about it makes me so happy!

Wu Heng caught Shi Xuan’s gaze and quickly looked away, muttering, "...This isn’t good."

"With more tourists around, it’d be hard to explain if someone saw us."

"Besides, wouldn’t this be like we’re living together?"

"Plus, Shi Xuan was lucky to make it through the water system this time, but there’s no guarantee he can do it again."

"And what commuter student travels three thousand kilometers every day?!"

Shi Xuan pulled out his phone. Somehow, it hadn’t been damaged by the well water. He made a call.

The butler, Wu Su, sat gloomily by the well all afternoon, waiting for Shi Xuan. His heart sank. When the call connected, a familiar cold voice said, "Butler Wu."

No response. Shi Xuan checked the screen to make sure the phone was working. Why wasn’t the other person speaking? "Butler Wu?"

Suddenly, Wu Su wailed, "Young master, did you really drown? How tragic! I’ll fold some gold ingots for you. Just tell me where your body is, and I’ll go find it."

Shi Xuan was speechless.

Wu Su was genuinely heartbroken. He was certain Shi Xuan had drowned. In the Shi family’s eerie place, even the network was underground, and regular calls couldn’t connect. This had to be a ghost call.

Shi Xuan, supposedly dead, had called him first—someone with no blood relation.

Butler Wu, choked up with emotion, said, "Old Bi Deng definitely won’t burn paper money for you. If you don’t mind my family being poor, would you make me your godfather? From now on, I’ll have my father and son burn gold ingots for you during festivals. The old man used to say the ingots folded by Xiao Heng are worth a lot down there. I’ll have him fold some for you."

Shi Xuan replied, "...Butler Wu, I’m really not dead."

Not only was he not dead, but he’d also made it to the home Butler Wu had always dreamed of returning to.

After confirming it multiple times, Butler Wu finally believed Shi Xuan wasn’t dead, but he was still worried the young master might’ve been swept to some remote place and suffered.

After hanging up, Butler Wu left the ancient well and headed home. Seeing Shi Xuan fidgeting on the sofa, he coughed and said, "Jue Zhong, I need to buy funeral supplies. Send me some money."

Shi Xuan was stunned, "What did you just call me?"

Butler Wu said provocatively, "Oh, my mistake. It’s Jue Zong."

Shi Xuan was speechless.

Jue Zong? Damn it! This country bumpkin from the rundown southwest village still hasn’t gotten Mandarin right after over a decade!

"Why are you so happy?" Wu Heng asked, noticing Shi Xuan had changed into the traditional village attire, his eyes still scanning the clinic.

-

Shi Xuan stood on a wooden step, his intense gaze fixed on Wu Heng, and with a smile, he said, "I'm very happy to be in your world for the first time."

The remote mountain village where he grew up, every plant and flower here is so vibrant and alive.

Passive waiting and taking initiative are two different things, and now he possesses the latter.

Wu Heng's emotions were inexplicably in turmoil.

Wu Heng avoided Shi Xuan's gaze, sat down at the consultation desk, quickly set up his phone, and started a live broadcast.

As expected, the uncle with the long nails from last night should come for a follow-up visit.

Shi Xuan, with a smile, picked up the little white snake and the little gray snake and walked outside: "There's delicious food at the night market in the village, I'll take you there."

However, as soon as Wu Heng opened the live broadcast, someone started spamming gifts like crazy, as if bombing, and even a VIP with a cool username had "Emergency!" written after it.

"Nails Higher Than the Sky (Follow-up): Then let's see this emergency patient first."

When Wu Heng connected with the emergency patient, comments flew in the chat.

"Dr. Wu, I saw from a passerby's live broadcast that you were hugged by a crazy patient? Are you okay?"

"Dr. Wu, do you really worship the Nuo God over there? So was the guy who almost fell off the bridge during the rehearsal tonight really a warning from the Nuo God?"

"Want to know what new nail design the nail uncle has tonight."

Wu Heng vaguely said, "It's nothing, just a startled good buddy."

As he spoke, the camera turned on, revealing a middle-aged couple with anxious faces, dressed in what seemed to be wealthy attire.

"Hello, Dr. Wu, we had no choice but to come to you in desperation. Our son has been unconscious for two days, not eating or drinking, and can't be woken up."

The camera then turned to show a young boy lying in bed, with a large black dog jumping up and licking the boy's cheek.

"Black Panther, who told you to lick? You're full of germs! You're just causing trouble now." The middle-aged man slapped the black dog down.

The black dog whimpered a few times, its front paws back on the bed, staring straight at the boy.

Jiaming No.1 High School was on holiday, so He Yunxiao was at home. Seeing the boy's face in the live broadcast, he was stunned and blurted out, "Wang Pengzheng? Holy crap!"

Wang Pengzheng was one of his roommates in the dormitory. He had been sleeping in the dormitory for most of the day before, and now his parents had taken him home, but he was still sleeping.

"? Sleeping for two days? Isn't he going to wake up to pee?"

"The school uniform that flashed by in the camera was from Jiaming No.1 High School in Beijing. I heard their school had a sudden holiday."

"The fog at that school has been super heavy recently, it's really creepy."

"I know you're worried about your child, but why hit the dog? The dog is also worried about its little master."

"If my child were sick like this and the dog was just causing trouble during the consultation, I'd have the heart to stew it into dog meat soup!"

The principal of Jiaming No.1 High School felt like the sky was falling. He was accompanying the Taoist priests and Daoist Physicians from above to check the situation at the school gate when he saw the parents of a student desperately seeking help, even connecting with the recent big influencer shaman!

Wang's mother anxiously said, "We took our child to the hospital, and they said there's nothing wrong, but he just won't wake up, like a vegetable. We suspect he might have eaten something wrong at school, causing food poisoning."

The principal: "!!" No, absolutely not!

As soon as Wang's mother finished speaking, the black dog tried to lick Wang Pengzheng's face again, and Wang's mother roared, "Damn dog, get out, who let it in here?"

The viewers in the chat were about to start arguing again when Wu Heng suddenly spoke up, "Don't blame the dog. The patient has been breathing steadily, thanks to this black dog licking away a lot of yin energy."

Throughout history, whether it's black dogs or black cats, they've been known to ward off evil spirits, and this is no exception now.

The couple stared at the black dog in disbelief. How could this be?

Mrs. Wang asked anxiously, "Yin energy? Dr. Wu, what's wrong with our son?"

Wu Heng briefly explained, "He breathed in some harmful mist, causing yin energy to enter his body, leading to the separation of his three souls and six spirits."

His soul left his body!

If Mr. Wang hadn't caught her, Mrs. Wang would have collapsed to the ground.

He Yunxiao remembered those boys inhaling a large amount of mist in front of him...

He mentioned he'd been working with Dr. Wu for a while, and indeed his intuition was quite sharp. He felt that the mist was eerie at the time, and it turned out to be problematic.

The little white snake had mentioned that when they were delivering yin-tonifying and yang-strengthening medicine to Li Hao and the others some time ago, they saw strange black mist overflowing from that well.

Besides the bustling chat section in the live broadcast room, the senior group chat at Jiaming No. 1 High School blew up, with someone sharing the link to Chengde Medical Hall's live broadcast room in the group.

"?? So my child has been sleeping all the time after coming back because he inhaled the mist? The school just called for a break without explaining why?"

"We shell out six figures in tuition every year, and now our child has problems at school?"

"Other incidents might be the school's fault, but the fog at school can't be blamed on the school. It's a weather condition. The government hasn't even figured out weather control yet, so we can't be too harsh on the school, right?"

"@Zihan's mom, since your daughter's okay, you might not get it, but don't act all high and mighty!"

"Now we need to wake up the children first. @Zihan's mom, why is your daughter fine? Is there any special reason?"

Mrs. Liu Zihan thought her daughter seemed normal. Maybe she was in good health? Or her birth characters were more resistant to demons and ghosts?

Liu Zihan pulled out a crudely made dark blue cloth mask from her bag. "I've been wearing this mask these two days. He Yunxiao and the others said it was made by Dr. Wu himself. I wonder if that's the reason?"

Mrs. Liu quickly shared this in the parents' chat.

The parents' group was still in heated discussion, while Mrs. Wang nervously asked Dr. Wu on the live stream, "Dr. Wu, do you think it's okay for our black panther to keep licking Pengzheng?"

Suddenly, the couple wasn't worried about the germs on the dog's tongue.

Wu Heng shook his head. "Actually, it's quite simple. Since his soul has wandered off, you, as his parents, need to go retrieve it. They are still at school."

Still at school!

Hearing this, many parents glanced at their kids in bed, thinking it sounded crazy, but when they thought of this shaman's track record, they swallowed their words.

This shaman hasn't messed up yet!

The Wang couple looked at each other, gritted their teeth, and said simultaneously, "Let's go to school."

They laid the snoring Wang Pengzheng in the back seat, covered him with a blanket, and holding the black panther, they headed straight to Jiaming No. 1 High School.

Apart from the Wang couple, other parents also arrived one after another.

Everyone, including the principal, stood at the school gate, utterly shocked.

Fog—everywhere they looked was filled with light black mist. It wasn't just a mirage; the entire area was engulfed in mist.

The nearby stationery stores seemed to sense something amiss, closing early, and the absence of vendors outside the school gates made it unusually quiet.

The fog was unnervingly thick.

Clutching a vermilion talisman, the principal was nearly in tears, pleading with the Taoist priest beside him, "Master, please act quickly! What are we to do? There are so many students!"

It was reported that mostly senior high school students were affected, with an estimated three hundred in a deep sleep. Most of these students come from middle-class or higher families, outnumbering the passengers on the Dream Cruise.

If anything happened to them, the principal might as well hang himself in despair.

The Taoist priest frowned, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead in the chilly winter night, clearly distressed and unsure how to answer the principal.

"Dr. Wu, we're at the school gate. What should we do?" Mr. Wang urgently asked through the rearview mirror, glancing at his son lying in the back seat and his wife, who was still live-streaming.

Dr. Wu Heng replied, "I recall giving some masks to the students in the administrator's class. Does your son have one?"

Mrs. Wang hastily searched her son's backpack and retrieved a dark blue cloth mask from the water bottle compartment.

Mrs. Wang glanced at the parent group chat, pondered Dr. Wu's words, and figured out the mask's purpose. Furious, she felt like slapping her son for rejecting such a valuable gift.

"Should we put it on him now?"

Dr. Wu Heng shook his head, "One of you parents should wear it, then enter the school and go to your son's class to retrieve his soul."

"What?!"

"Seriously, Dr. Wu? You want us to go into the school to get our child?"

"The entire school is shrouded in black fog, with who-knows-what inside, and it's pitch dark. You expect us to go in and find him?"

"I can't, I really can't. My school used to be a mass grave, full of ghost stories. Asking me to go there at midnight would terrify me to death."

"Suddenly, I envy those Dream Cruise tourists; at least they're all in it together. Going alone is absolutely terrifying."

Mr. Wang gave Wang Pengzheng a light punch in frustration, muttering about his knack for causing trouble.

Trembling, he put on the dark blue cloth mask, catching a faint medicinal scent, then donned a hat and gloves. Perhaps it was psychological, but he didn't want any skin exposed except for his eyes.

"Parent, the school is closed. You can't enter at this time," the principal said, stepping forward to stop the trembling parent trying to get in.

These Taoist priests and Daoist Physicians from the official mystical sect haven't figured it out yet. How could they allow anyone inside?

Mr. Wang snapped, "I'm going to get my son. Let me go!"

The lead Taoist priest scolded sternly, "Nonsense! It's filled with students' lost souls. One misstep, and it becomes a real soul, turning this place into a vast ghost domain. Anyone living who enters will surely die."

Mr. Wang cursed, "You won't let me go get my son, and you can't do anything either. Damn it, hurry up and figure something out!"

"Dr. Wu, what should we do? The school won't let us in," Mrs. Wang said, sitting in the passenger seat. Seeing the Taoist priests beside the principal, she fully grasped the situation.

This online shaman might be questionable, but the school principal personally invited a group of Taoist priests, confirming the black fog is indeed a serious issue.

More and more parents, unable to sit still, rushed to the school, sensing something major had happened.

Seeing Mrs. Wang in tears, Dr. Wu Heng suddenly asked, "Would you mind your son having a godfather? In the future, he must have a place at the head of the table, a share of the best food, and gifts during festivals."

Mrs. Wang was stunned, then overjoyed. "What? A godfather? You mean... yes, yes, yes! As long as Wang Pengzheng wakes up, I'll have him recognize Dr. Wu as his godfather. The gifts and the head seat? Absolutely!"

What nonsense about peers super adding generations, as long as the child can wake up, not just recognize Wu Heng as a godfather, even recognize Wu Heng as a great-grandfather is no problem.

And if this shaman really has the skills, then they’re getting the better deal.

Li Hao, Wang Dong, and the others were instantly pumped when they heard this.

Wow, we’ll have someone to mess with from now on.

Moreover, that punk He Yunxiao won’t dare to be arrogant anymore. Wu Heng currently only has Xi Xi as his goddaughter, but if he adds a classmate, He Yunxiao’s status will be at risk.

He Yunxiao also felt an indescribable frustration—his roommate is now on the same level as his daughter?

Wu Heng’s lip twitched as he said, “Now take cinnabar… or a red pen will do, and write the name and birthdate and time of one of you two on the southwest corner of that blue cloth mask, then pluck a hair with a follicle and tie it to the mask.”

Wang’s mom quickly called her husband over, took off the cloth mask from his mouth, and, her hands trembling, she quickly wrote Wang’s dad’s name and birthdate and time on the mask with a red pen from the car.

“And then? Dr. Wu.”

Wu Heng’s gaze fell on the big black dog sticking out its tongue: “Put the mask on Black Panther and send it into the school to bring Wang Pengzheng back for you two.”

The couple looked confused: “Huh? Black Panther?”

Wang’s mom cautiously asked, “Wait, so, who’s going to be Pengzheng’s new godfather…”

Wu Heng replied like it was obvious, “Of course, it’s Black Panther. Could it be me?”