Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Jiang Zhuochen hurried downstairs. The vengeful ghost had just broken free from the seal and turned to glare at him with hatred, guttural, hacking sounds kept coming from her throat.

He pulled out a talisman. The ghost's hands were clenched so tightly that even her long fingernails trembled slightly. After a brief standoff with him, she silently vanished into thin air.

Jiang Zhuochen dragged Li Hui onto the sofa and gave him a couple of slaps. "Wake up, wake up."

Li Hui's eyes snapped open, and he gasped for breath, looking around frantically. "Master, did you see that?! A ghost! A ghost!"

"Of course I saw it," Jiang Zhuochen said in a casual tone. "But do you know what it means that *you* could see it?"

Li Hui looked terrified. "What?"

Jiang Zhuochen made a slicing motion across his own neck.

Li Hui immediately went limp. Trembling, he grabbed Jiang Zhuochen's hand, tears and snot flowing. "Master, Master! Please, I beg you, save me! I'll give you anything you want!"

Afraid the man would smear snot and tears all over him, Jiang Zhuochen leaned away in disgust. "Answer a few questions for me honestly."

"Go ahead."

"Did you recognize that female ghost just now?"

"N-no, I didn't," Li Hui said, a flicker of panic in his eyes, as if eager to prove his point. "She didn't even have a head. I don't know what she looks like."

"I saw for you," Jiang Zhuochen replied. "Her appearance matches your description."

"Oh..." Li Hui stiffened his neck and replied dryly.

"I probably don't need to tell you why your wife didn't move on and instead became a vengeful ghost, right?" Jiang Zhuochen asked. "Still not planning to tell me the truth?"

Li Hui's voice grew weaker. "Maybe... maybe it's because our son is missing, and my wife can't rest in peace."

Jiang Zhuochen pressed his advantage. "Why did you need to cover your room in talismans after your wife died? Who were you afraid of? And why was there blood in the bowl in the room?"

"I couldn't see her, Master! How was I to know it was my wife? If you encounter a ghost, of course you'd find a Taoist priest to exorcise it, right?" Li Hui rubbed his hands together. "Isn't it normal to have a bowl of dog's blood in the room for exorcism?"

Jiang Zhuochen stared him down. The other man pressed his lips tightly together, his face tense from clenching his jaw. Leaning back on the sofa, Jiang Zhuochen changed the subject. "Was there anything unusual before or after your son disappeared?"

"No... Yes, yes, I remember now. I was busy at the time and didn't have time to keep an eye on him. Coincidentally, I cut his allowance then, probably over school issues. He ran away in a tantrum and never came back." Li Hui spoke with genuine feeling, even covering his face. "If I'd known, I would have just let him have his way."

"Master, Master, you have to believe me!" Jiang Zhuochen's silence made Li Hui panic. He knelt on the floor, gripping Jiang Zhuochen's arm tightly. "I can give you anything you want. Please, save me."

"I didn't say I wouldn't save you." Jiang Zhuochen freed his arm. "That ghost used up a lot of energy fighting the array. She probably won't appear for the next couple of days. We'll deal with it when she shows herself again."

Li Hui looked bewildered. "Then... then what about me?"

"You?" Jiang Zhuochen said unhurriedly. "Well, you definitely won't die in the next two days."

He stood up and turned to leave. In his panic, Li Hui grabbed him by the pants to stop him. "No, Master, you can't leave! Name your price, I'll definitely give it to you!"

"Name my price, my ass!" Jiang Zhuochen grabbed his waistband and turned to curse at him. "Let go! What's wrong with you? I already said you won't die."

If he weren't forbidden from using spiritual power on mortals, Jiang Zhuochen would have given this guy a couple of kicks to teach him a lesson.

"One million, no, five million! Or do you want a house? As long as you help me resolve this, I'll give you anything, Master. You can't leave, Master!"

Who wanted a house here? It wasn't even as big as a single pond back at Shān Wài Shān. Annoyed beyond measure, Jiang Zhuochen had no choice but to speak. "Don't sleep in that room for the next two nights."

"But..." Li Hui hesitated.

"But what 'but'?" Jiang Zhuochen took advantage of his distraction to pull his leg free and took a few steps back. "If those talismans of yours really worked, would you still be seeing ghosts?"

"Yes, yes." Li Hui excitedly patted the sofa. "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"Give me the pendant back first. I'll replenish the expended magic on it."

Hearing it could protect him, Li Hui handed over the pendant without a second thought, holding it respectfully with both hands. Taking advantage of the other man's ignorance, Jiang Zhuochen openly drew a puppet eye on it before returning it.

"Remember to wear it around your neck. Don't take it off."

Li Hui put it on immediately. "Thank you, Master!"

Finally free of Li Hui, Jiang Zhuochen returned to his hotel, took a shower, and then lay on the bed to monitor the man's every move.

Outside the window, the moon's light shifted from a hazy, warm yellow to a clear, cold silver. Jiang Zhuochen lay drowsily on the bed. Just as he thought the other man wouldn't make a move today and was about to close his eyes, Li Hui opened his bedroom door, holding a bowl that looked familiar.

Frowning, Jiang Zhuochen sat up, watching intently through the puppet eye. But after Li Hui went downstairs to the first floor with the bowl, he stopped, stood in place for a long time, and then retraced his steps.

"Huh?" Disappointed, Jiang Zhuochen flopped back onto the bed.

A mere mortal like Li Hui couldn't possibly know about his trick. That hesitation, stopping mid-action, clearly indicated doubt. Was it because he now had the protective amulet Jiang Zhuochen gave him, so he felt secure enough to do nothing?

Jiang Zhuochen sighed. Maybe he should let the female ghost scare the man a bit more before going over himself?

The next day, Jiang Zhuochen went to Ruyi Barber Shop. The employees inside were so busy they couldn't spare a moment to greet him. He casually found a seat and sat down, his gaze idly following the moving figures.

He was starting to feel a bit idle, and staying too long made him feel awkward. Suddenly, his half-lowered eyelids snapped open as he thought of a way to pass the time.

He could open a shop too. Opening a Taoist temple and returning to his old trade would be perfect.

He was about to stand up and ask someone about the procedures for opening a shop here when Li Hui pushed the door open in a panic.

"Master, Master, save me!"

Jiang Zhuochen rubbed his temples. He was getting sick of hearing that phrase these past two days. He led Li Hui to the break room and closed the door. "What happened?"

"I listened to you last night and slept in another room, but this morning I woke up in the original bedroom." Li Hui's eyes were bloodshot, on the verge of a breakdown. "Do you think the female ghost is coming to claim my life?!"

"That's your wife," Jiang Zhuochen reminded him. "If you truly did nothing wrong by her, why would you be afraid of her coming for you?"

"But she's a ghost!" Li Hui shouted. "Ghosts have no reason! They just kill anyone they see. Master, hurry up and destroy her!"

"If I could destroy her, I would have done it already." His cultivation wasn't high enough, and his spiritual power was insufficient. How could he possibly have the ability to drag a ghost out? "Right now, all she can do is scare you. Don't worry, just wait a bit longer."

Li Hui pulled a check from his bag and handed it over. Jiang Zhuochen took it and shook it slightly. It looked familiar.

"What's this? Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands..."

"It's a check," Li Hui said with an ingratiating smile. "There's three million in it."

Jiang Zhuochen raised an eyebrow. "Why give me money? I already said I'd help you."

"I was hoping the Master could stay with me these next few days." Li Hui swallowed hard with difficulty, as if afraid Jiang Zhuochen would refuse, and added, "If you think the amount is too little, we can discuss it."

"Oh, thank you." Jiang Zhuochen drew out the syllables, unceremoniously pocketing the check. He had just been worrying about opening a shop, and now someone was rushing to help him.

"You want me to protect you, right?" After Li Hui nodded eagerly, Jiang Zhuochen seized the opportunity. "Fine. I've recently run away from home and have nowhere to stay. Help me open a Taoist temple nearby, and I'll help you."

Li Hui was thrilled. "Great, no problem. Give me three days."

"Deal."

Confident he was now protected, Li Hui couldn't hide the smile on his face. He brought Jiang Zhuochen to his company and let him rest in the office.

Jiang Zhuochen weathered a mix of curious and judgmental glances all the way to the office. The place was like something a country bumpkin who'd stumbled on a fortune would own—from the crystal chandelier on the ceiling to the obscure collectibles on the wall cabinets, everything screamed opulence.

Just as he was about to doze off, Li Hui approached. In front of a few onlookers, he spoke politely, "Jiang, I need to step out for a bit."

Jiang Zhuochen stood up and followed him out, not caring where he was headed, since work matters had nothing to do with him.

They went from one company to another, larger one. Li Hui had expected to be turned away again today. To his surprise, after the receptionist made a call, Xu Xing actually agreed to see him.

Li Hui started forward on impulse but stopped after two steps, looking hesitant.

In theory, he shouldn't bring Jiang Zhuochen along for a business meeting. He feared that bringing Jiang might offend Xu Xing and get him kicked out. Yet, without Jiang Zhuochen by his side, he felt restless.

After weighing his options, Li Hui led Jiang Zhuochen to the lounge area in the lobby and had him sit down, whispering, "Master, please wait for me here."

If Jiang Zhuochen had known that Li Hui had chosen money over his life, he wouldn't have waited in this wretched place all afternoon. The elevator doors opened and closed, crowds of people streamed out, and as the crowd thinned, the light outside grew dim.

When his stomach was about to protest, he left without a second thought. No matter how important the matter, it could wait until he was full.

Li Hui waited in the lounge for nearly an hour before Xu Xing showed up. They moved to a conference room and talked all afternoon. Although Xu Xing remained mostly silent, at least he didn't outright refuse.

Li Hui said his respectful goodbyes to Xu Xing and hurriedly turned to leave. As expected, Jiang Zhuochen was nowhere to be seen downstairs.

He wanted to call him but realized he didn't have his phone number. Left with no other choice, he stood at the main entrance, praying Jiang Zhuochen would remember to come back.

As Xu Xing's car drove out of the underground garage, he spotted Li Hui still standing there. He turned the steering wheel and pulled up to the entrance, rolling down the window.

Li Hui hurried over. "President Xu, is there something else?"

"All your people have left, yet you're still standing at my company's entrance," Xu Xing asked. "Isn't it you who has something else?"

"No," Li Hui waved his hand, mumbling vaguely, "I'm waiting for someone."

Xu Xing had no interest in others' private affairs. He lazily acknowledged and was about to roll up the window when he saw someone approaching in the rearview mirror. Li Hui immediately broke into a smile.

"Am I so good-looking that you smile when you see me?" Jiang Zhuochen was baffled. "Are you done? If so, let's go."

He assumed the car in front was there to pick up Li Hui and didn't look closely. He pulled the door open, half-sat inside, and raised his head, locking eyes with Xu Xing in the rearview mirror. Instantly, he was stuck—neither able to get in nor out.

So he glared angrily at Li Hui.

Li Hui felt like crying. He couldn't afford to offend either of these two.

Finally, Xu Xing spoke up. "He's waiting for you?"

"Yes, he needs me for something." Jiang Zhuochen slowly inched his way out. "I won't disturb you anymore. Goodbye."

He closed the rear door and urged Li Hui, "Hurry up and let's go."

Li Hui spoke gently, "Deputy Manager Zhang drove us here. I forgot to ask him for the keys, so we might have to wait a bit."

"With a memory like that, you can still be a boss? I've waited for you this long, and now you want me to wait more?" Jiang Zhuochen was incredulous and immediately turned to leave. "I'll come over tonight. Get back on your own."

Xu Xing turned his head, and as Jiang Zhuochen passed by, his mouth suddenly twisted into a pout. Why wasn't it his master? He hated this place.

"Where are you going?"

Jiang Zhuochen stopped. "To his place."

Xu Xing turned around. The discomfort that had just risen in his heart vanished when he saw Jiang Zhuochen's crumpled expression. "Going to his place so late at night?"

"Yeah," Jiang Zhuochen replied, resigned. "To catch a ghost. Believe it?"

Xu Xing didn't say whether he believed it or not. "Get in. I'll take you there."

"This really isn't necessary..." Li Hui hurriedly declined, his heart pounding in his throat. Before he could finish, he caught Xu Xing's gaze and abruptly bit his tongue. "I... I'll drive."

Jiang Zhuochen was about to walk to the passenger seat when Xu Xing, who had gotten out and come to his side, opened the rear door and tilted his chin.

Jiang Zhuochen paused, then turned and sat inside. Xu Xing walked around to the other side, opened the door, and sat beside him.

Li Hui drove from the front, not daring to breathe too loudly. Beside him, Jiang Zhuochen rested his head against the window, gazing outside. Xu Xing half-closed his eyes, suppressing the doubts in his heart.

The car drove smoothly along the road when suddenly the front windshield went dark. Xu Xing thought they had entered a tunnel until he saw Li Hui's hand tremble violently, his throat emitting a choked, guttural sound.

Author's Note:

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