《Pleasure Helping Spirit System》 Chapter 1 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°F*ck. If I do another good deed, let me be struck by lightning!¡± As he walked out of the local police station, Chen Hao bellowed at the heavens with a bitter and furious look on his face. Bang¡­ A bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the azure skies! Chen Hao was startled. Damn, I was only casually saying it. Is there a need to be so serious? Charity is not always rewarded! The heavens are blind! Today was both a joyful and sorrowful day for Chen Hao. The joyful part was, after graduating from a diploma mill and slogging hard at work, he had finally obtained his first month¡¯s salary from work. Also, he was in a splendid mood as it was a public holiday. So, he had been itching to go to a massage parlor with prostitution services to reward himself. The cheery Chen Hao hummed a song as he rode on his Mobike1 to the place he had been pining for. Seeing an old lady lying on the floor and moaning by the side of the street, he kindheartedly tried to help her up. Who would have known, the old lady suddenly held onto his thigh and yelled loudly, ¡°Someone knocked into me! Someone knocked into me!¡± Then a man and a woman rushed out and grabbed Chen Hao. The entire thing happened like a Blitzkrieg1. By the time Chen Hao managed to react, staring at her son and daughter sticking out their hands and demanding compensation, he was in a terrible state. This was clearly an incident staged to extort money. Unable to wiggle his way out of this, Chen Hao furiously called the police. Unfortunately for him, his opponents were experienced and had chosen a corner where there were no surveillance cameras. The police were helpless with regard to this matter as well. Finally, after much wrangling, Chen Hao compensated with the three thousand over yuan he had with him to resolve the matter. That was Chen Hao¡¯s first salary ever. He had wanted to, after heading to the massage parlor, go for a good meal and replace his phone with a better one. He had wanted to have a taste of what it was like to spend all his salary the first day one received it. Alright, he did have a taste of what it was like now. But all it did was fill his heart with a bitter sensation. [Ding-Dong! Found a man in complete despair. Pleasure Helping Spirit System activated. Ding-Dong! Mission: Within 2,500 meters of the Southeastern direction, find a female ghost and fulfill her dying wish. Reward: Divine Power Blessing] Eh? What kind of situation is this? Pleasure Helping Spirit System? Helping female ghosts? Are you pulling my leg? I don¡¯t even wish to help humans, and you¡¯re asking me to help a ghost? Startled by the sudden voice, Chen Hao glanced left and right but found nobody. Indeed, when a person suffered a blow, he would start to hallucinate. With his money gone, his mind had suffered a great blow. Chen Hao decided to go home and take a nap, hoping everything would be alright after he woke up. After scanning his Mobike, Chen Hao rode away in it. [Ding-Dong! 2,000 meters away from the female ghost.] ¡°Who is it!¡± Chen Hao abruptly stopped and yelled. Startled by this, several pedestrians turned to look at Chen Hao in shock. After several seconds of awkward silence, the pedestrians glared at Chen Hao like he was a lunatic before strolling away. Meanwhile, Chen Hao was still feeling anxious and doubtful. That voice earlier seemed to come from his head. This was certainly not a hallucination! After calmly observing his surroundings for a moment, Chen Hao cautiously continued riding ahead. While he was in a focused and wary mode, indeed, the voice sounded again. [Ding-Dong! 1,500 meters away from the female ghost.] Chen Hao abruptly stopped the Mobike, his face frozen. The voice indeed came from his head. What the heck is going on? What female ghost? This is the goddamn reality, not a movie. Where did this female ghost come from? Mm, moments ago it just said 2,500 meters in the southeastern direction. The direction I¡¯m going in is the southeastern direction. Chen Hao¡¯s gaze flickered for a few seconds before he abruptly reversed his vehicle and rode in the opposite direction. Shortly after, the voice rang again. [Ding-Dong! 2,000 meters away from the female ghost.] This time, the distance pulled further apart. Damn. Was there really a ghost? Chen Hao gasped, feeling a chilliness rise from his feet and speedily spread throughout his entire body. Chen Hao stared at the specified direction of the female ghost in horror as he contemplated whether or not to go over. This was a ghost! Any ordinary person would be afraid! But then again, he lived right over there. Surely he couldn¡¯t abandon his own home, right? Chen Hao was in a dilemma. After a long while, he clenched his teeth and reversed his bike again. Why should he be scared! Although it was late afternoon, the sun was still up. Wouldn¡¯t the ghost be afraid of melting under the sunlight? Ghosts are more afraid of humans than we are of them. I need to be stronger. Can¡¯t show my cowardice. Although he kept giving himself pep talks to toughen up, Chen Hao¡¯s expression was turning stiffer and stiffer. That mysterious voice kept ringing as well. [Ding-Dong! 1,500 meters away from the female ghost.] [Ding-Dong! 1,000 meters away from the female ghost.] [Ding-Dong! 500 meters away from the female ghost.] At this point, Chen Hao stopped. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t have the guts to go any further, but because he had reached his home. He had rented an apartment here, a dilapidated area in the suburbs, and there were many houses behind it, holding back the development of the city. But the rental was cheap. Hence, many youngsters who only just started working liked to rent apartments in this area. Standing outside the housing estate, Chen Hao stared intently in the southeastern direction. If he were to go forward another few hundred meters, that¡¯d be where the female ghost was located. The houses over there had worse living conditions than the housing estate where he was currently staying. Hence, ever since he got an apartment here, Chen Hao had never gone over to the other side. And now, towards that place, Chen Hao felt a sense of awe and curiosity. A female ghost! He wondered what a female ghost looked like¡ªwould she be as beautiful as a goddess, or would she look hideous with protruding eyes and crooked mouth, with blood dripping from all orifices? This curiosity gnawed at Chen Hao¡¯s heart like an ant, making it impossible for him to dismiss it. That voice in his head had said that he would be blessed with divine power after helping a female ghost fulfill her dying wish. Tsk tsk, divine power. He had heard that the old Buddhist monks who possessed divine power could easily increase the value of a cheap piece of fake jade by several hundred folds by blessing it with their divine power. If he learned this skill, he could become a rich man! Chen Hao¡¯s heart pounded wildly, feeling like he was faced with a life-changing decision. Should he run away in cowardice and continue to slog away at work, or should he be brave and confront the ghost for fascinating future prospects? After hesitating for a long time and glancing up at the sun repeatedly, Chen Hao gritted his teeth and started up his bike again. Surely the female ghost wouldn¡¯t be able to harm people in broad daylight? In a state of high alertness, he rode to a dilapidated house that seemed neglected for a long time, before the mysterious voice rang again. [Ding-Dong! Location of the female ghost detected. Do you wish to activate your Yin Yang Eyes1?] He was asked to choose yes or no. The contents had finally changed. Mm, Yin Yang Eyes? Was he about to see ghosts? Chen Hao¡¯s heart pounded wildly like the rumbling of thunder. Looking into the house from outside, the bricks of the walls were exposed and blackened, and the windows were broken and the place was overgrown with weeds. This seemed like an ordinary decrepit old house. But it was exactly this sort of place that gave off a sinister and cold vibe. ¡°To hell with it. If it¡¯s yours it¡¯s yours. If it¡¯s not, nothing you do will change the fact. If this is real, that means I have been bestowed with a miracle. From now on, I¡¯ll be invincible and roam between the world of the living and the dead. If not, I needn¡¯t keep scaring myself and mulling over this.¡± Chen Hao murmured to himself in his heart. Finally, he made up his mind and quietly chose yes. [Ding-Dong! Yin Yang Eyes activated. Pleasure Helping Spirit System has found its host. Host: Chen Hao Dao Attainments: None Supernatural Power: Yin Yang Eyes Spirit Detected: Female ghost Liu Yue¡¯e. Vengeful ghost of three years. Help her fulfill her dying wish and be blessed with divine power.] Chapter 2 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Fe¡­ female ghost! Seeing the clear instructions in his mind, Chen Hao gasped. It¡¯s real! All of this is real! The female ghost truly exists, and the Pleasure Helping Spirit System is also real. Then, the divine power blessing¡­ Chen Hao¡¯s mind whirled quickly, his spirits soaring. This is an opportunity, a huge opportunity, an opportunity to change my life. I can¡¯t let this opportunity slip. The fear and terror in Chen Hao¡¯s heart slowly calmed down, and he was now feeling a sense of anticipation, a desire. Born in an ordinary village in a northern province, other than his parents he had a younger brother who was in junior high. His family had an average-size fish farm. Although they did make some money from it every year, they fell short of the best, but they were doing better than the worst. They were merely ordinary folks. After entering society and seeing what prosperity looked like, Chen Hao also had his own dream. Make the big bucks, stay in a mansion, marry a gorgeous babe, let his parents lead a good life, make something of himself, and bring glory to his ancestors. But with his current job, this dream would remain no more than a dream, with no possibility of ever being realized. And now, the Pleasure Helping Spirit System was his opportunity, his hope. Looking at the skies, the sun was setting and it was gradually getting darker. Chen Hao took a deep look at the dilapidated old house, before turning around and riding away. Half an hour later, before it turned completely dark, Chen Hao returned once again, this time with a paper bag in his hands. After quickly locking up his Mobike, Chen Hao walked towards the dilapidated old house with the paper bag in hand. God knew how long the house had been vacant; even the door was broken, and one could simply push open the door to enter. The interior of the house was battered, run-down and messy, with worn-out tables and chairs and discarded newspapers strewn all over the place. A thick layer of dust had accumulated on the ground as well. Surveying his surroundings, Chen Hao was certain nobody had been to this house in a long time. Liu Yue¡¯e, the vengeful ghost of three years! Did that mean this female ghost had been dead for three years? Chen Hao was silent for a moment before suddenly smiling. Then, as if he had forgotten about the existence of a female ghost in here, he started tidying up the place. After stacking the discarded newspapers together, Chen Hao sat down with his legs crossed and opened the paper bag in his hands¡ªturned out it contained a small pack of peanuts and chicken feet, plus four to five cans of beer. After casually setting it down, Chen Hao opened a can of beer and took a swig, then picked up the peanuts and started tossing them into his mouth and chewing them. He leisurely did so, and time slowly passed. Finally, the skies outside turned dark. Chen Hao took out a candle and lit up the room, before going back to drinking his beer and munching on his snacks. Slowly, the skies grew darker and darker as they entered deeper into the night. Chen Hao had nearly finished eating the peanuts and chicken feet he brought, but still, there was no paranormal activity in the room. The fear he had felt was now replaced with boredom. What¡¯s the deal with this female ghost? It wasn¡¯t easy for someone to finally show up, why aren¡¯t you revealing yourself? After all, you suffered a wrongful death. Even if you¡¯re not coming out to find a scapegoat or something, you could come out and tell someone about the grievances you have suffered, and get me to redress the wrongs did to you! After waiting in silence for a bit longer, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I¡¯m here to accomplish a task, not here because I have nothing better to do, seeking excitement. After Chen Hao picked up the last can of beer and finished it at one go, he yelled out loudly, ¡°Liu Yue¡¯e, you coward! Come out right away!¡± Chen Hao felt rather nervous afterward, gazing around feeling butterflies in his stomach. Contrasting the moon shining brightly outside, it was dark inside the house with a cool and eerie breeze. There wasn¡¯t a goddamn ghost around! Chen Hao was confused. He had already behaved so arrogantly, and the female ghost still didn¡¯t show herself! Did she have an excellent temper, or was he suffering from hallucinations? Or did that Pleasure Helping Spirit System or something didn¡¯t even exist, to begin with? Just as he was hesitating, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew by. Chen Hao shivered, and all of a sudden, his focus was heightened. It¡¯s here. For some reason, Chen Hao was sure of it. This gust of wind was completely different from the usual kind of wind one experienced. There was a bone-chilling coldness about this wind, making one¡¯s hair stand in terror. Wind of the natural sort absolutely didn¡¯t have this kind of effect. Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. Compared to seeing a ghost, he feared more the Pleasure Helping Spirit System being simply his hallucination. Because then, his opportunity to change his life would be non-existent. This was something he was unwilling to accept. ¡°Hur hur, you really only appear when you¡¯re called. Just show yourself. You¡¯ve been dead for three years and no one has helped you. How pitiful is that.¡± Chen Hao snorted coldly, feigning calmness. Shua! In the blink of an eye, a woman in red appeared before Chen Hao from out of nowhere. Her face was deathly pale and she was staring straight at Chen Hao with lifeless, sinister, and cold eyes. Although initially startled, after taking a proper look at the female ghost, the fear he had of the unknown actually dissipated. Despite looking quite scary, this female ghost was actually kind of pretty with long flowy hair and a svelte figure. Dressed in a red dress, if it wasn¡¯t for her deathly pale face, she was certainly a striking beauty. It¡¯s a pity that she¡¯s dead! Chen Hao felt sorry for her. ¡°Damn, what¡¯s with your gaze? I wasn¡¯t even the one who killed you. Who are you trying to scare?¡± Chen Hao summoned his courage and rebuked her. The female ghost¡¯s expression changed, and her gaze changed from cold and sinister to one of shock and disbelief. ¡°You can see me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re stating the obvious. Why else would I call for you? Ay, I¡¯m being kind-hearted here. I passed by this place and sensed your existence. My calculations portend that you¡¯re not destined to die yet and that you died an unnatural death. I felt bad for you, so I decided to come over to help. Tell me if you have any unfulfilled dying wish so that I can do a sending for the soul, lest you roam this world as a wandering ghost and end up pitiful and tragic.¡± Chen Hao spoke half-truths as he tried to guide her with his words. ¡°You¡¯re a Daoist priest!¡± The female ghost cast a doubtful look at Chen Hao, feeling he didn¡¯t look the part. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Why? In your eyes, only someone who wears a robe can be a Daoist priest? How ignorant. I¡¯m an authentic descendant of a Daoist master, and my heavenly eye has been opened. Else, why would I be able to see you?¡± The female ghost froze. Yeah, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t be able to see ghosts under normal circumstances. Else, she would long have taken her revenge and wouldn¡¯t need to have waited till this day, three years after she died. ¡°Aye, do you want my help or not? If not, I¡¯m leaving. Let me tell you, it¡¯s rare for me to show such benevolence. And a lost chance never returns.¡± Chen Hao urged impatiently. The female ghost snapped out of her trance and anxiously begged. ¡°Yes, Reverend. I need your help. Reverend, I beg of you to redress my grievances, to help me reclaim justice.¡± She took the bait! Even though he was feeling joyous inside, Chen Hao maintained a calm expression on the exterior as he said, ¡°I know you have suffered a wrongful death. Look at the resentment inside you¡ªit¡¯s almost turning into dark clouds. But there are dying wishes of different magnitudes. Tell me your story and I¡¯ll see how I can help you.¡± The delighted female ghost quickly recounted to him her story. The female ghost Liu Yue¡¯e was twenty-six years old, inclusive of the three years since her passing. Born in the Hunan Province, she was duped into coming to work in Stone City by a fellow villager five years ago. It was only when she arrived did she realize it was to work as a hostess. Alas, she was detained by an underworld figure nicknamed Brother Tiger in Stone City, and after being humiliated and threatened repeatedly, she finally resigned to her fate and turned into a money-making tool at Brother Tiger¡¯s disposal. During her two years working as a hostess, she had made Brother Tiger plenty of money. However, this was not the worst thing that happened to her. Later, because she didn¡¯t take proper safety precautions, Liu Yue¡¯e contracted AIDS and suffered great torment. Seeing as this money-making tool was turning into useless garbage, yet, because he couldn¡¯t simply let her go, lest she bring him trouble, Brother Tiger strangled Liu Yue¡¯e to death and buried her corpse under this dilapidated old house. After her death, her resentment didn¡¯t dissipate and she transformed into a vengeful ghost. It was only then that Liu Yue¡¯e found out ghosts were classified into different levels. If she yearned to take revenge, she had to turn into a ferocious ghost. But too bad this dilapidated old house wasn¡¯t some wondrous place that could help her grow speedily. Merely relying on her resentment, she only managed to turn into a vengeful ghost, the kind that couldn¡¯t even show its form to ordinary humans at will. If she wanted to take revenge, she might have to accumulate her resentment for several decades. But several decades later, even if Brother Tiger wasn¡¯t yet dead by then, his life would already be pretty much over. Even if she was able to take revenge then, it would do nothing to comfort her soul and dispel the resentment inside of her. Liu Yue¡¯e told Chen Hao that if Brother Tiger didn¡¯t die, she refused to let go of her resentment and rest in peace. Chapter 3 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After finding out why the girl had died, Chen Hao sighed again. She was a pitiful girl. She was young and didn¡¯t have a chance to fully enjoy life. Instead, she fell into the clutches of the devil and had been tortured greatly. She hadn¡¯t even turned 30 when she died. If Brother Tiger were to die, nobody would care too. It might sound like a simple task, but it surely wouldn¡¯t be an easy feat. Chen Hao hesitated before replying, ¡°Are you saying that he must pay for your life with his? That¡¯s reasonable. However, I¡¯m merely a priest and I¡¯m human too. I have to abide by the laws. I can¡¯t just kill anyone. If I do, how different would I be from this Brother Tiger?¡± Liu Yue¡¯e grew unhappy and her resentment engulfed her slowly. ¡°Reverend, you just said that you¡¯ll help me.¡± Chen Hao felt a cold breeze piercing through his skin, making him utterly uncomfortable. Thus, he hurriedly clarified. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I won¡¯t help you, but we have to come up with another method. I can¡¯t kill someone for you. Do you have any evidence against Brother Tiger? As the saying goes, ¡®Should you have any issues, look for the police¡¯. What do you think?¡± ¡°The police?¡± Liu Yue¡¯e scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying by Brother Tiger¡¯s side for the past three years. He¡¯s committed countless sins, but he also made powerful connections. He¡¯s even acquainted with some police officers too. They frequently get together to drink and sleep with women.¡± Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen how cats and mice can get along well too? They¡¯re merely doing it for mutual benefits. Moreover, there may be rotten police officers, but most of them are still morally upright. You have to trust that our laws are fair. As long as everything goes well, Brother Tiger will definitely be sanctioned. Of course, we need adequate proof.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e hesitated for a moment and answered, ¡°I have the evidence. Brother Tiger has harmed many girls before and has filmed the entire process in order to threaten them. In addition, I also know where he keeps his bribery ledger. He¡¯s also a drug dealer. Last night, Brother Tiger and a foreigner just imported a huge amount of drugs. They¡¯re all stashed away in a secret room in one of his nightclubs.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°With that much evidence, he¡¯ll definitely be punished severely. Liu Yue¡¯e, if you trust me, you should leave with me. I¡¯ll follow the laws and help you accordingly. You¡¯ll definitely be satisfied with the outcome. What do you say?¡± Liu Yue¡¯e fell silent, as though she was considering his offer. Chen Hao continued, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t trust me. However, it¡¯s been three years. Have you met anyone who could see you? It¡¯s not easy to carry out religious practices nowadays. It¡¯s fate that allowed us to meet. Otherwise, you can only wait till Brother Tiger gets punished by the Heavens if you want revenge.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e answered miserably, ¡°I have no choice but to trust you. I hope that you won¡¯t deceive me.¡± Chen Hao heaved a sigh of relief and laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I left the mountains precisely for spiritual practice. I can gain merit for helping you, also helping myself in the process. I won¡¯t miss such a good opportunity.¡± Listening to Chen Hao¡¯s words, the look in Liu Yue¡¯e¡¯s eyes turned gentler. Clearly, this priest who had appeared out of the blue had chosen to help her because he could also reap benefits. This made him even more reliable than someone offering to help her for no rhyme or reason. Chen Hao and Liu Yue¡¯e made some plans and left the abandoned house. As they arrived at an internet cafe, Chen Hao searched for the police force from Stone City. Within a short period of time, Chen Hao identified someone. Zhou Gang. He was the second marshal of the police force in Stone City. He was reputable as a strong and formidable officer. Having served for over a decade, he had cracked more than ten tough cases, capturing numerous villains. The most well-known case he dealt with was about the doll murderer. The case had shaken up the entire Stone City. The day before the suspect was convicted, Zhou Gang found the real culprit and cleared the initial suspect of all charges. Chen Hao wanted to use these examples to show Liu Yue¡¯e that they just needed to identify a police officer whom they could trust. Otherwise, their plans would be revealed to the entire force. After confirming their intended partner, Chen Hao rushed to the police station the next morning. After offering the officers a pack of cigarettes, he found out from them Zhou Gang¡¯s residential address. Coincidentally, he was off-duty today. Following the address, Chen Hao arrived at Zhou Gang¡¯s house. It was located on the third floor in a small alley. After all these years, the only interaction Chen Hao had with a police officer was to show his identification card. This was the first time Chen Hao looked for a police officer on his own accord, making him feel nervous all of a sudden. However, thinking that this would determine his future, he had to force himself to do it even if he didn¡¯t have the courage to. Taking in a deep breath, Chen Hao pressed on the doorbell. Within a short while, the door opened, revealing a lady¡¯s pretty and gentle face. She looked rather hagged. ¡°You are?¡± she asked. Chen Hao smiled and replied, ¡°Hi, Madam. I¡¯m looking for Captain Zhou Gang. Is he home?¡± The woman forced a smile and answered, ¡°He is. You may come in.¡± Chen Hao entered and immediately heard a loud wail. Pausing in shock, Chen Hao studied his surroundings. The house wasn¡¯t big, probably only over a hundred square meters. It was decorated in a simple yet warm manner. Just as he was looking around for Zhou Gang, Chen Hao¡¯s expression froze. A burly man with masculine facial features stepped out of the bedroom with a child in his arms. He was Zhou Gang, the man whom Chen Hao had searched for last night. What shocked Chen Hao was the child in his arms. She was around three years old. Donning a floral dress, her hair was tied up beautifully. Yet, she couldn¡¯t stop bawling and tears flowed down her face incessantly. A dark aura circled her head radiating sinister coldness. ¡°You are?¡± Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao in confusion. Chen Hao snapped out of his shock and chuckled. ¡°Hi, Captain Zhou. I¡¯m Chen Hao. I came uninvited, I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Chen Hao?¡± Zhou Gang examined Chen Hao from head to toe, confirming that he had never met this man before. He looked at Chen Hao, hinting for him to continue. Chen Hao laughed and explained, ¡°Captain Zhou, if you trust me, you may get your wife to pluck a fresh willow branch by the river outside this alley. The child will stop crying after you caress her head with the branch.¡± Oh? Hearing Chen Hao¡¯s words, Zhou Gang and the gentle lady turned around in shock. Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao doubtfully. This unknown lad came into his house uninvited. Not only did he not explain his motive, but he even ended up talking about something seemingly superstitious. What did he want? On the contrary, the gentle lady appeared shocked, then she hurriedly asked, ¡°You¡­ Did you mean my daughter?¡± Chen Hao laughed. ¡°Madam, if you trust me, you can give it a try.¡± The woman glanced at her crying daughter and then at Zhou Gang before turning around to leave. Zhou Gang didn¡¯t stop her. As a police officer, he trusted only proper evidence. Their daughter had been crying since yesterday and the doctors hadn¡¯t been able to help them. He took leave from work hoping to take her to the hospital for a check-up. Meeting a person like Chen Hao all of a sudden and hearing such suspicious words from him, he thought that there was something strange. After a short while, the woman returned while panting carrying a willow branch in her hands. Hesitating for a moment, she glanced at Chen Hao before walking towards Zhou Gang. Holding up the willow branch, she waved it slowly above her daughter¡¯s head. Although Chen Hao was smiling, he felt nervous deep down too. He had only given that suggestion after analyzing the little girl¡¯s condition. Using a willow branch to drive away spirits was a superstitious method that originated from his hometown. Placing a chopstick vertically in a bowl to call on a dead relative was also something that he had personally witnessed when he was young. Many of these had oddly led to an improvement in conditions. However, he hadn¡¯t tried it himself and didn¡¯t know if it worked too. As the three of them watched, the willow branch started swaying. Magically, within a short while, the young girl stopped wailing and was merely sobbing quietly now. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked at the willow branch curiously, even trying to reach out to grab it. This miraculous sight caused Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes to widen in shock. The woman also felt fearful yet pleased. Chen Hao felt that it was interesting too. As the willow branch swayed, the dark aura circling the little girl¡¯s head dissipated. He witnessed clearly that the aura had been dispersed by a green gas emanating from the black willow branch. Indeed, the folk rumors weren¡¯t groundless. The willow branch was truly a wonderful item. Chapter 4 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Oh, Tongtong is all better now. Come here, let Mom carry you.¡± The gentle lady happily carried the little girl from Zhou Gang¡¯s arms and peppered kisses lovingly all over her face. The little girl completely stopped crying. As she grabbed the willow branch, she instantly started smiling. Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao solemnly and his eyes glinted in confusion. ¡°Brother, can you explain what just happened?¡± Zhou Gang finally spoke. Chen Hao laughed. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. The child¡¯s grandma missed her and came to visit her.¡± Oh! The happy gentle lady was immediately taken aback, almost causing the child to slip from her arms. She looked at Chen Hao in shock and stuttered, ¡°You¡­ Do you mean Tongtong¡¯s grandma? But she¡­ she¡­¡± ¡°She has passed on, right? If my guess is right, the child was not born when her grandmother passed away. Thus, she left with regrets,¡± Chen Hao explained calmly. The woman was stunned, wondering how Chen Hao had actually found out about it. Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes lit up and said, ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve done a thorough check on my background.¡± Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°If you put it that way, I don¡¯t know how I should explain myself. However, this trick of using the willow branch is just a temporary solution. If you don¡¯t handle the situation appropriately, the child will start crying again before she turns three. When that happens, you¡¯ll know if I am right.¡± Zhou Gang turned silent, but the woman grew flustered. ¡°Master, please save Tongtong. She¡¯s so young. This is too torturous for her.¡± Chen Hao looked at Zhou Gang. Zhou Gang said, ¡°Huihui, take Tongtong back into the room first.¡± The woman opened her mouth but still complied. Carrying her daughter, she stood up and left. At that moment, Zhou Gang turned towards Chen Hao and asked, ¡°Mr. Chen, you came here for something, didn¡¯t you? Tell me what you want.¡± Chen Hao sighed quietly. He was indeed an experienced police officer. The way he looked at him was intense. Without beating around the bush, Chen Hao said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already asked me, I¡¯ll go straight to the point. I came here to ask for your help. In Stone City, there¡¯s a degenerate who has been completely disregarding the laws. He has been acting wildly against the laws and has sinned incredibly. I wonder if you would like to get rid of him?¡± ¡°Degenerate?¡± A glint flashed across Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes and he scoffed. ¡°Stone City has always been a safe and secure place where its citizens live and work peacefully. You must be exaggerating.¡± Chen Hao pursed his lips and answered, ¡°There is definitely darkness where there is light. This is how things have always been. Captain Zhou, your words do not reflect the truth.¡± Zhou Gang asked, ¡°Darkness? What kind of dark forces could exist? Is there a specific person in mind?¡± Chen Hao answered, ¡°Wang Hu. He kidnaps girls to sell them as prostitutes. He kills people and deals with drugs. I wonder if these crimes are sufficient to make you want to arrest him?¡± Zhou Gang¡¯s face turned solemn as he looked at Chen Hao. ¡°Mr. Chen, we¡¯re living in a world where the rule of the law prevails. You need evidence for everything you say. If your words turn out to be false, you have to pay a price.¡± Chen Hao laughed. ¡°Of course I have evidence. Would you dare to act on it?¡± Zhou Gang turned quiet. After a while, he finally answered, ¡°I can let you know that we¡¯ve already filed a case on Wang Hu and are ready to investigate him at any time. The only thing holding us back is that we don¡¯t have sufficient proof. Wang Hu is also under the protection of some people. If we cannot take him down with just one strike, the police force will not act so carelessly.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°I know. This is to prevent taking any rash actions and alerting him. I can offer some guidance to ensure that you can arrest him. After securing all the evidence, no one will be able to clear Wang Hu of his charges.¡± Stunned, Zhou Gang looked suspiciously at Chen Hao. ¡°Are you wondering why I am offering to help you? Who am I and why do I want Wang Hu to be arrested? What secret motives do I harbor?¡± Chen Hao asked as he chuckled. Zhou Gang didn¡¯t answer, but it was clear what he was thinking from the look in his eyes. Chen Hao shook his head and replied, ¡°You might not believe me even if I explained it to you. I want Wang Hu to be punished because one of his dead victims have requested my help. She¡¯s a pitiful lady who was swindled and captured by Wang Hu at a young age. She sold her body for him to make profits and even contracted AIDS. In the end, Wang Hu strangled her to death.¡± An incredulous look appeared on Zhou Gang¡¯s face and he stood up suddenly. ¡°Are you talking about Liu Yue¡¯e?¡± Chen Hao was surprised. ¡°Do you know her?¡± Zhou Gang shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t, but Liu Yue¡¯e was a woman who stayed by Wang Hu¡¯s side back then. She suddenly disappeared one day and Wang Hu claimed that she was ill and had returned home to nurse herself back to health. However, Liu Yue¡¯e¡¯s family reported to the police that their daughter had done missing. We¡¯ve investigated her for months but to no avail. It¡¯s still a mystery to this day.¡± Chen Hao pursed his lips and said, ¡°Haha, is this what you meant by a ¡®safe and secure place¡¯? Indeed, the locals live and work peacefully, but the foreign workers have been subjected to various kinds of abuse and ended up being tools for these criminals. If you don¡¯t resolve this issue, there¡¯ll definitely be even more victims in the future. As the valued protector of the citizens of Stone City, don¡¯t you want to help them?¡± Zhou Gang answered calmly, ¡°I¡¯m merely an ordinary police officer. I¡¯m not their valued protector. Moreover, your words are too bizarre and can¡¯t be collected as evidence. They won¡¯t be a threat to the criminals.¡± Chen Hao continued, ¡°Of course not. But what if Liu Yue¡¯e can help us to find evidence of Wang Hu¡¯s crimes?¡± Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao seriously and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m a police officer. I don¡¯t believe in the supernatural.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s not talk about Liu Yue¡¯e. Captain Zhou, shall we make a bet? If you decide to take action, I will lead the way and find you all the evidence of Wang Hu¡¯s heinous crimes.¡± Zhou Gang hesitated. Would it really be possible? Wang Hu was a notorious figure in Stone City and he had long wanted to arrest him. However, if something went wrong, he had to personally shoulder all the responsibility. if his plans alerted Wang Hu, it would be even harder to capture him. Chen Hao looked at Zhou Gang contemplate and persuaded again. ¡°Captain Zhou, you only have one chance, and we have to strike fast. Wang Hu has just imported a new batch of drugs, this is the best time to arrest him. It won¡¯t affect me if we miss this chance. I¡¯m helping Liu Yue¡¯e merely for my spiritual practice. However, if the drugs are to be sold to the citizens, it is them who will suffer. I hope you will think it through.¡± ¡°Importing drugs? Where?¡± Zhou Gang frantically asked with a sharp look in his eyes. Chen Hao laughed but didn¡¯t answer. Zhou Gang was angered. Why was Chen Hao trying to play the fool with him now? Didn¡¯t he know that from his words, Zhou Gang could simply charge him for intentionally withholding evidence? ¡°Mr. Chen, you have to understand that there¡¯s only one chance to deal with the evildoers. If you¡¯re deceiving me, you¡¯re sabotaging their lives.¡± Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao intently. Chen Hao replied calmly, ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I came to look for you and not another officer.¡± Zhou Gang was silent. After some time, he said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do it. I hope that you aren¡¯t risking your life for a silly joke.¡± After speaking, Zhou Gang picked up his phone and walked to the side to deploy his team. Seeing that, Chen Hao finally heaved a sigh of relief. What a suspenseful experience. He had finally managed to persuade Zhou Gang. With that, he had already accomplished half of his mission. Chapter 5 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The swift action of the police surprised Chen Hao. Within a mere five minutes, a police car stopped below his housing estate. A well-built and capable-looking police officer in his thirties said to Zhou Gang as he drove, ¡°Captain Zhou, why are we taking action so abruptly? Is it a sudden situation where we¡¯re being asked to assist the police in another province? In such missions, we always do all the hard work, but the credit is given to others.¡± Zhou Gang glanced at the calm Chen Hao and said without a hint of expression, ¡°Don¡¯t ask first. Notify each team to head to Club Glam.¡± The capable-looking police officer halted in his actions and asked, astonished, ¡°Club Glam? Why are we going there?¡± Zhou Gang furrowed his brows and said nothing. The capable-looking police officer laughed dryly and dared not ask further questions. As he drove the police car, he took out his walkie-talkie and began giving instructions. Within eight minutes, seven to eight police cars blocked the entrance of Club Glam. A large batch of policemen quickly got out of the cars and split into different groups, blocking the front and back entryways of the club. Looking at the entrance of the club, Zhou Gang gazed at Chen Hao and asked, ¡°Mr. Chen, what are your instructions?¡± The police officer driving the car, who appeared stunned to hear this, stared at Chen Hao with a weird look. Chen Hao smiled lightly. ¡°Of course, head in directly. Someone has been waiting there for us for a long time. She¡¯s counting on Captain Zhou to help address her grievance.¡± Zhou Gang narrowed his eyes slightly. Although he wasn¡¯t superstitious, he had met many unsolved cases that couldn¡¯t be explained by science during his many years working as a police officer. All these had grown to burden his heart. This time, Chen Hao had taken the initiative to show up and used superstitious means, said superstitious things. If it was an ordinary police officer, Chen Hao would be completely ignored, and might even be given a warning. But Zhou Gang was different. He wanted to see if such superstitious methods worked. If Chen Hao turned out to be right, there would be a great use for this man in the future. If he were to encounter weird unsolved cases or even those unsolved cases from the past, he would have a new means of cracking such cases. This was one of the reasons Zhou Gang chose to cooperate with Chen Hao. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯d like to see if someone managed to leak the news to this Brother Tiger despite us acting so speedily. If that¡¯s the case, hehe. Captain Zhou, you need to do a proper assessment of your team.¡± With a chuckle, Chen Hao pushed open the car door and got out of the car. Zhou Gang raised a brow and quietly followed. As for the capable-looking policeman at the wheel, he was in a dumbfounded state. What were the credentials of this young-looking fellow? Why did he have the power to order their team leader around? When they entered the club, the staff standing in the lobby was stunned to see so many police officers. ¡°Aiyah, I was wondering why the spectacle. Turns out it¡¯s our famous Captain Zhou. You¡¯re an important figure, what makes you grace our humble club with your presence?¡± A mature woman with an alluring figure walked over, twisting her slim waist as she did so, fawning over him with a broad smile on her face. Before Zhou Gang could speak, Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Tsk tsk, you people sure are quick to respond. I wonder who this big boss Ma Weizhao is. He¡¯s got some guts.¡± Ma Weizhao? A cold glint flickered across Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes as he said coldly, ¡°Xu Hui, I was tipped off there are drug dealings taking place at Club Glam. This is a search warrant.¡± Zhou Gang then whipped out a piece of paper and, indeed, on it the words ¡°Search Warrant¡± were written. This was Zhou Gang¡¯s style. He had many such search warrants prepared, which came in handy at crucial moments like this. It was only because Zhou Gang had a solid reputation in the Stone City Police Force for being a whizz at cracking cases that he could obtain these blank warrants. Ordinary police officers had to submit applications if they wanted to get their hands on these. A hint of panic flashed across the mature woman Xu Hui¡¯s eyes. She instantly denied with a shocked expression. ¡°Drug dealings? Captain Zhou, you¡¯re accusing us unjustly. Our clubhouse has always abided by the law and has never done anything criminal. Someone must be trying to frame us.¡± ¡°Whether you¡¯re being framed or not, a search and the truth will be revealed. Please cooperate with the police,¡± Zhou Gang said with an expressionless face. Xu Hui hesitated and had something more to say when Zhou Gang waved a hand. Immediately, the police officers who came with him spread out in different directions following his order. With a darkened expression, Xu Hui said coldly, ¡°Captain Zhou, aren¡¯t you going overboard? You¡¯re accusing us of dealing in drugs out of the blue, and even conducting a search in such a grand manner? If word gets out, how is our clubhouse going to conduct our business?¡± Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°How does that affect you from conducting your business? If you¡¯re able to continue your operations after the police searched this place, that means you¡¯re doing legitimate business here, business that puts people¡¯s hearts at ease. Only then will you attract more customers, isn¡¯t that so?¡± ¡°You!¡± Xu Hui glared at Chen Hao. Chen Hao continued, ¡°Right. Xu Hui, is it? Mm, you seem like a pretty woman, but who would have known you¡¯re so vicious-hearted? Hehe, the way of training a slave, imbuing them with low self-esteem and implanting thoughts of servitude. How chilling.¡± Xu Hui could no longer remain calm. She stared at Chen Hao in shock, overwhelmed with disbelief that someone actually knew about her deepest and darkest secret. After all, she always did those things in a masked state¡ªother than several people close to her, no one could possibly have known. She had been betrayed. This thought suddenly came to Xu Hui¡¯s mind. Zhou Gang, who had been observing Xu Hui¡¯s reaction, felt way more reassured about this operation now. It seemed like this mysterious Chen Hao did have some capabilities. ¡°Why? You¡¯re scared? The twenty-seven girls taught by you live in terror under your control every day. Even when they sleep they¡¯re haunted by nightmares. When you did all these things, have you ever considered you¡¯ll suffer retribution?¡± Chen Hao continued, each and every word striking at Xu Hui¡¯s heart. ¡°Wh-what nonsense are you spewing? Teach what? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Xu Hui¡¯s tone had changed, and she was now twisting her body in an uneasy manner; it seemed like she was shivering. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Still denying? You really think Wang Hu can continue to protect you? Hehe, I¡¯ll see how much longer you can hold on for. Captain Zhou, stop searching everywhere. This Brother Tiger¡¯s criminal evidence, one copy is hidden on the third story in Brother Tiger¡¯s office¡ªopen the second drawer and you¡¯ll see a hidden compartment. The hidden compartment is secured by a password: wh737621. Remember, you can¡¯t key in the password wrongly. Three wrong tries and it will self-destruct. The interior will combust and the evidence will be destroyed. The police officer you send needs to be absolutely trustworthy.¡± The minute she heard this, Xu Hui slumped to the ground. She was now staring at Chen Hao as if he was a ghost. Zhou Gang looked towards the police officer next to him, and the latter immediately hurried over. As he did so, he cast an inconspicuous glance at Chen Hao, shock evident in his eyes. Chen Hao looked at Xu Hui disdainfully and continued, ¡°Other evidence, and also the drugs Wang Hu dealt in yesterday, are hidden underground. The location is very discrete¡ªgo to the basement, and in the leftmost room, shift the carpet away and you¡¯ll see an entrance. But this entrance is locked and the key isn¡¯t here. Though, even without a key, it won¡¯t stop our police from finding what they¡¯re looking for, right?¡± Zhou Gang indicated for several police officers to head down to the basement. As for Xu Hui, any hopes of getting away by chance was gone in her eyes, replaced only with despair and terror. Chapter 6 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing that Chen Hao knew the clubhouse like the back of his hand, the excited Zhou Gang looked at him in anticipation. Chen Hao continued, ¡°There¡¯s also Wang Hu. This big boss is another badass, and he¡¯s fishing with a client outside right now. A moment ago Sister Hui here has called to inform him. Wang Hu is on his way back and will probably reach shortly. Now that you have evidence in your hands, you mustn¡¯t let the criminal escape. Captain Zhou, you need to be wary of people alerting him to this. If you let this Brother Tiger run away, this won¡¯t be perfectly resolved.¡± As Zhou Gang snapped back to his senses, he felt secretly ashamed. Chen Hao¡¯s great display of his mystical prowess had completely immersed him in these mysterious means, making him nearly forget his basic duties as a police officer. He immediately ordered his subordinates to arrest Ma Weizhao. Shortly after, a flustered looking and pale police officer was brought to Zhou Gang. ¡°Cap-captain Zhou, wh-what is this for?¡± This police officer stammered. Zhou Gang asked coldly, ¡°What benefits did Wang Hu give you? To give you the guts to take such a risk?¡± The police officer¡¯s expression changed drastically, his body involuntarily slumping to the ground, unable to utter a single word. Disappointment was evident in Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes. Zhou Gang was a forthright man. He was a nightmare in the eyes of criminals, but he treated his subordinates extremely well, dispensing merit where it was warranted. If one did well enough, he was guaranteed the rewards and promotion he deserved. But even then, there was a traitor among his subordinates. Indeed, humans were greedy. A moment later, the police officers who went to search for evidence returned, bringing back with them all sorts of videos, ledgers, drugs, stacks of cash, and even several black guns and bullets. Zhou Gang gasped at the sight of all this. If it wasn¡¯t for Chen Hao¡¯s assistance this time, even if he found sufficient evidence to take action against Wang Hu in the future, it might not be so easy, and it would likely result in casualties and injuries. Zhou Gang¡¯s expression darkened as he ordered his subordinates to split in different directions. Less than 15 minutes later, Wang Hu came running into the clubhouse with his two lackeys. Before he could even open his mouth, police officers swarmed up to him, and he was pinned to the ground with a stupefied expression. Seeing this, Chen Hao¡¯s heart was finally put to ease. Although his plan was a little immature and there was even the element of luck involved, thankfully there were no accidents. His divine power blessing reward was in the bag. At this moment, Chen Hao looked to the side at the vengeful looking Liu Yue¡¯e. His gaze changed as he walked over and said, ¡°How is it? Does it not resolve your hatred? With so much evidence, this Brother Tiger is finished.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e said with clenched teeth, ¡°My hatred is not resolved. I want to see him dead.¡± Chen Hao mused to himself. ¡°What a joke. Even if he¡¯s guilty, the court proceedings will take some time before he¡¯s convicted. Even if he¡¯s sentenced the death penalty, he will have to be scheduled a date.¡± Can this mission not be so troublesome? I don¡¯t want to wait. An idea suddenly struck Chen Hao and he quickly said, ¡°I say, Yue¡¯e. I feel that your hatred towards Brother Tiger is not intense enough.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e froze in surprise and she stared at Chen Hao with a perplexed look. I was even killed by him, how can my hatred towards him not be strong enough? Chen Hao continued, ¡°Think about it. A life for a life, that¡¯s the most basic way to settle scores. But you¡¯ve been killed for three years, and Wang Hu has gone scot-free for as long. If he dies now, you¡¯ll be on the losing end.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e was dumbfounded. Is that the case? Come to think of it, sounds about right. I have been a wandering ghost for three years, yet Wang Hu was scot-free for three years, living it up. Even if he were to die now, it does nothing to lighten the load in my heart! ¡°Th-then, what can I do?¡± Liu Yue¡¯e asked blankly. Chen Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Easy.¡± He shouted for Zhou Gang to come over and asked him what punishment Wang Hu would receive. Zhou Gang paused for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯m not a judge, but now with concrete evidence, even if this Wang Hu isn¡¯t sentenced to death, he won¡¯t escape life imprisonment.¡± With a satisfied smile, Chen Hao turned around and said to Liu Yue¡¯e, ¡°You heard that? Life imprisonment! That¡¯s the best form of revenge.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e, who was being led by the nose, asked, ¡°Why?¡± Chen Hao explained, ¡°Think about it. It¡¯s a cheap deal for him to die now. It¡¯s best if he doesn¡¯t die, yet he won¡¯t be able to live freely as he wishes and be locked up forever. Isn¡¯t this the most horrible punishment? Wang Hu is someone who is used to enjoying life. He definitely won¡¯t be able to take the difference in treatment. He will live in torment every day. That, then, is true suffering.¡± Liu Yue¡¯e fell silent for a moment. After a moment, she suddenly revealed a smile. ¡°Thank you for your enlightenment, Master. Although you¡¯re helping me redress my grievance in order to accumulate merit, Yue¡¯e is indeed indebted to you. I shouldn¡¯t be calculative and pester you endlessly. Now that Wang Hu is receiving the punishment he deserves, regardless of whether it¡¯s the death penalty or life imprisonment, it¡¯s enough for Yue¡¯e. Yue¡¯e is immensely grateful.¡± The minute she finished speaking, a familiar voice rang in Chen Hao¡¯s brain. [Ding-Dong! Dying Wish fulfilled. You are now blessed with divine power.] The next moment, a load of information appeared in Chen Hao¡¯s brain out of nowhere, flowing through his mind for him to absorb. This was how he was being blessed with divine power. But right now, Chen Hao wasn¡¯t in the mood to view this divine power. He was staring awkwardly at Liu Yue¡¯e. How shameful. She¡¯s not a child and isn¡¯t that easy to bluff. He felt vile for what he did. But the fact that his mission was accomplished went to show that Liu Yue¡¯e¡¯s resentment was resolved. Looking carefully, he indeed saw that the resentment on Liu Yue¡¯e was dissipating into the air bit by bit. Very quickly, Liu Yue¡¯e transformed into specks of white light, gradually becoming fainter. ¡°Yue¡¯e is immensely grateful for your great debt of kindness. If there¡¯s a next lifetime, I will definitely repay you.¡± With a peaceful expression, Liu Yue¡¯e took one last serious look at Chen Hao before disappearing completely. Chen Hao remained frozen for a long time, before letting out a sigh. Although she had suffered in this lifetime, she was finally able to let go of her resentment and be reborn as a human. It was considered a good deed. He hoped this girl needn¡¯t suffer such torment in the next lifetime. ¡°Was Liu Yue¡¯e here just now?¡± Zhou Gang asked, his gaze flickering. Chen Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Yeah. Without her, how would I know this clubhouse like¡­ Mm, Captain Zhou, the talk about the so-called ghosts is only superstition. The police were able to arrest the criminals because of the swift action they took and the fact that they had concrete evidence in their hands.¡± Suddenly, Chen Hao¡¯s expression turned solemn and he looked seriously at Zhou Gang. Zhou Gang froze, then gazed at Chen Hao, caught between laughter and tears. What an interesting fellow. ¡°It¡¯s true that the police have evidence in their hands. But Mr. Chen is also a good citizen who assisted the police. You won¡¯t be denied your credit. If something arises in the future, so long as it doesn¡¯t compromise my principles and break the law, you can come and look for me,¡± Zhou Gang said seriously. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°That means I have cozied up to someone powerful? Hehe, not bad, not bad. If I run into trouble, I will surely look for Captain Zhou. Mm, another thing. The two of us are now considered friends who have worked together. Later when I give your daughter a present, you mustn¡¯t regard it as a bribe, Captain Zhou.¡± Zhou Gang replied with a severe countenance, ¡°I¡¯ll get my wife to prepare the food and wine. You¡¯re welcome to visit anytime.¡± Chapter 7 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios With all the evidence, the culprit couldn¡¯t get away now. This swift operation had concluded perfectly. With regard to what would happen after Wang Hu was arrested, it had nothing to do with Chen Hao. After parting with Zhou Gang, Chen Hao began to check on his reward for completing this mission. Divine Power Blessing. From Chen Hao¡¯s knowledge, this was what priests did to scam believers of their money. However, he only realized it after he had accepted the result. Divine Power Blessing wasn¡¯t actually a shady process. On the contrary, it was an authentic way to gain divine powers that were extremely useful. The entire process was simple in some ways, yet also complicated in others. It was complicated because there were many kinds of blessings, and the powers gained were targeted at different things. Yet, it was also simple to carry out. There were no complex ceremonies to prepare and it could be carried out as easily as riding a bicycle. However, to go through the blessing process, he needed to prove that he had acquired adequate skills through his religious practice. Realizing that he hadn¡¯t gained many skills, Chen Hao was rendered speechless. It was a pity his Pleasure Helping Spirit System wasn¡¯t as intelligent as typically portrayed in novels. He really wanted to cuss out loud to express the feelings he felt now. But of course, Chen Hao hadn¡¯t given up entirely yet. He didn¡¯t necessarily need to possess sufficient skills to go through with the blessing. He could also do it through pure determination. However, expending it all could harm his body, and it would be detrimental overall. He didn¡¯t have many skills nor any other choice. He racked his brains as he consolidated all the knowledge he had on the Divine Power Blessing process. After a long time, Chen Hao sighed and his eyes glinted unsteadily. After completely understanding the process, Chen Hao evaluated his options. Judging from the current state of his body, he could merely support the gain of powers on three items. Not only would he fail if he tried on more items, but he would also be risking his life. Moreover, he needed time to rest after each round, or he would hurt himself. This was a blow to Chen Hao¡¯s beating heart. He had initially thought that he could bless a large number of items at the same time. He wanted to earn a fortune from it and marry a beautiful lady during the pinnacle of his life. Judging from his current plight, he wouldn¡¯t be able to succeed. He still had to work hard! However, three items were more than enough. After all, they would be authentic, unlike those that fake priests used to fool people. His items would definitely cost a bomb, and by selling just one, he could easily live a luxurious life. When that thought came to mind, Chen Hao immediately felt happier. He wondered what kind of items he should bless first. It was his first time and he couldn¡¯t afford to do shoddy work. As he pondered quietly, Chen Hao pursed his lips. An idea popped up in his head. It was a rare occurrence that he hailed a taxi and arrived at a street selling small goods. After an hour, Chen Hao left the place and returned to his apartment. Trying to contain his excitement, Chen Hao took out a small jade Buddha figure, a bracelet made from peachwood, and a foot-long sword made from red threads and bronze coins. These were the items that Chen Hao purchased from the street. The jade Buddha figure and peachwood bracelet cost 66 and 85 yuan, respectively. The sword was the most expensive, priced at 120 yuan. It was made from real bronze coins, but they were valueless items. Chen Hao had bought these only after rationalizing that he wasn¡¯t going to sell these items immediately. In the future, he still had to rely on the Pleasure Helping Spirit System to hone his skills. He bought the sword in case he would need it unexpectedly. He had used his savings to buy these items. Although their total price was merely around 200 yuan, Chen Hao was reminded about how more than 3,000 yuan was taken away from him for no reason. Damn. The more he thought about it, the more upset he felt. Those people better not show up in front of him, or he would not let them off so easily. After casting away his misery, Chen Hao picked up the jade Buddha figure and prepared to bless it. He had specially and effortfully selected these three items. He would give the jade Buddha figure to Zhou Gang¡¯s daughter. After all, he made the promise himself. Moreover, there were many potential benefits to establishing a close relationship with a capable police officer like Zhou Gang. It was worth his effort. Chen Hao would be using the bracelet and sword himself. He had been lucky in his first mission, for he had met the confused spirit of Liu Yue¡¯e. He probably wouldn¡¯t be able to rely on his luck the second time and would have to pull some tricks. Otherwise, how would he be able to contain a ghost? Moreover, what was he going to do if he met a ferocious ghost? In order to carry out his missions peacefully, he needed to be stronger and face the ghosts head-on. He didn¡¯t know any spells for now, but it wasn¡¯t a difficult feat for him to create two ordinary magical artifacts. Calming himself fully, Chen Hao held the jade Buddha figure and began to chant the blessing sutras. ¡°The Heavens and the Earth, listen to my commands. Open!¡± As he recited the sutras, Chen Hao could instantly sense that part of his energy had left his body and entered the jade Buddha figure. As though his eyes were playing tricks with him, Chen Hao realized that the figure in his hand was glowing. Taking a closer look, the glow vanished, but the figure now felt different. The texture in his hands was now unfamiliar and it made him feel slightly safe. At the same time, the powers of the figure began to show up too. It protected his body from the evil forces. This was how blessing the item would help. It was a success! Chen Hao was wildly happy, but within a split second, his face changed. His vision began to blur and he felt dizzy. Was this how it felt to be exhausted? It was damn uncomfortable! Chen Hao cursed under his breath and suddenly sat down. He didn¡¯t have the religious ways and could only fight the fatigue with his own physical strength. After a long time, his dizziness was gone. Yet, his body persistently felt heavy, as though he was very tired. He sighed. It seemed like he had been too optimistic. Aiming to bless three items was perhaps challenging his own limits. If he really were to do that, his body would suffer tremendously. It seemed like he had to give up one of his items. It was best that he gave the jade Buddha figure to Tongtong and kept the second item for himself. However, which item should he choose? Chen Hao looked at the bracelet and sword in his hands. The peachwood could protect him and ensure his safety. The bronze-coin sword could take down ghosts and strengthen him. He decided that he shouldn¡¯t be fighting when he was still a newbie. It would be better to just protect himself instead. After all, he was supposed to help the ghosts and not kill them. After making that decision, Chen Hao chose the peachwood bracelet. After taking some rest, Chen Hao felt his body recover. Picking up the bracelet, he began chanting again. ¡°The Heavens and the Earth, listen to my commands. Open!¡± Once again, he felt his energy getting sapped away from him. He focused on the bracelet in his hands this time and clearly saw the ordinary item glow. It was a fleeting moment, but the bracelet felt different again afterward. It was as though the inanimate object suddenly came to life. Chen Hao gasped in shock. Was this one of the effects of Divine Power Blessing? Damn, he wasn¡¯t even skilled. If he were, this light would definitely be glowing even stronger. If he was sufficiently skilled, he could ensure the glow remained. Even if it was just a block of wood, it could also become an exquisite weapon. What powers did the bracelet gain? It could protect the body, fend off evil forces, and help in recuperation. Oh! There was one more! Just as he was thinking about it, Chen Hao felt extremely tired and collapsed on the bed. After a long time, his phone rang. Unfortunately, he was unconscious and didn¡¯t hear it ring at all. Shortly after, the ringing stopped. Chapter 8 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ooh, head hurts! When he regained consciousness in a dazed state, Chen Hao felt as though he had been knocked out from the back of his head with a rod. The heavy and painful sensation made his face twist in agony. Rubbing the back of his head vigorously, Chen Hao sat upright and looked at his surroundings. It was bright outside the windows. From the looks of it, it was almost noon. The rumbling noises from his stomach made it clear he had woken up because he was too hungry. Slowly, Chen Hao recalled what he was doing before he fell unconscious and couldn¡¯t resist laughing bitterly. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m not powerful enough. Blessing magical artifacts is too taxing on my body.¡± With a sigh, Chen Hao got out of bed. After he blessed them, those two objects now seemed to have a spiritual nature about them. The more he looked at them, the more pleased he felt¡ªwhatever conflict he had felt earlier dissipated. Suffering a little to obtain two magical artifacts was totally worth it. Eh, why so many missed calls? Chen Hao was instantly startled when he tapped open his phone. On his phone interface, it was indicated that he had more than thirty missed calls and more than ten text messages. The minute he saw the name, the corner of Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched, and he thought to himself ¡°Oh crap.¡± The missed calls came from Sister Wang, his immediate superior. A sense of doom washed over him. He had been so focused on his mission and the blessing of artifacts that he completely forgot he still needed to go to work. Come to think of it, he had skipped work yesterday, and today¡­ Chen Hao looked up at the skies, helplessness was written all over his face. Seems like he was about to lose this very decent job. Chen Hao hurriedly tapped open his phone and returned Sister Wang¡¯s call. The other party answered nearly instantly and a female voice bellowed over the phone. ¡°Chen Hao, what¡¯s the matter with you? You think you¡¯re still in school and you still have two days off?¡± Chen Hao held the phone away from his ears. After she was done screaming at him, he then said into the phone, ¡°Sister Wang, sorry. I ran into something, so¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me so-and-so passed away in your family, and also don¡¯t tell me who you offended and how you¡¯re being bullied. You¡¯re not acting in a TV drama. Chen Hao, if you don¡¯t feel like coming to work, just resign. I promise you I¡¯ll approve it. Don¡¯t bring your darned habits from your school days into the company,¡± Sister Wang continued ranting. Then, without waiting for him to reply, she hung up. Chen Hao was speechless. Okay, that¡¯s a gone case. It was okay, though. Ever since he found the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, he did not view highly this ordinary job anymore. Perhaps this was an opportunity for him to break free. Chen Hao took a deep breath and quietly resolved to do his best to accomplish the missions so that he could achieve something as quickly as possible. Only then would he become a true master and make his riches with his abilities to bless artifacts. Chen Hao made another call. ¡°Hur hur, I was just thinking of calling you, Brother. Surprisingly, you made the move first. We¡¯re indeed connected by telepathy,¡± Zhou Gang said cheerfully when the call got through. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. What a glib tongue. He¡¯s indeed someone adept at playing the political game in an organization. ¡°Brother Zhou, I¡¯ve prepared the gift for your daughter. Are you free now? I¡¯ll bring it over right away,¡± Chen Hao said with a smile. Zhou Gang replied, ¡°Of course. My wife is out buying groceries. Do come over now. The two of us should have a good drink.¡± Chen Hao accepted the invitation. After hanging up the phone, he took a shower and changed into clean clothes, before leaving the house with his two magical artifacts. Half an hour later, Chen Hao arrived at Zhou Gang¡¯s place. He knocked on his door and was instantly welcomed into the house by Zhou Gang as if he was his close kin. This was vastly different from the way he was treated previously. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Why? You¡¯re so free after cracking such a big case?¡± Zhou Gang said with emotion, ¡°I took action at the spur of the moment. You have no idea what a huge commotion this matter is causing. The higher-ups are having a huge fight about this.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°No matter how they fight, you do deserve credit for cracking the case. Surely you won¡¯t be faulted for this?¡± Zhou Gang told him frankly, ¡°I definitely won¡¯t be faulted. I¡¯ll probably be promoted one level. But I can¡¯t very well take full credit for this myself. The benefits must be distributed.¡± Chen Hao suddenly realized that for someone to successfully work his way up in an organization, he must not be a simple character. An outsider like him needn¡¯t worry for him. ¡°Here, this is my present for your daughter. Put it on her and ask her not to take it off easily.¡± Chen Hao took out the jade Buddha he had prepared and handed it to Zhou Gang. Zhou Gang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony. There was an amazement in his eyes as he received the item and sized it up. He could detect right away that this jade Buddha wasn¡¯t genuine jade. But upon a careful look, he could tell that this was an extraordinary piece of jade. The sentient vibes it gave off made even him feel as though this jade Buddha was alive. Zhou Gang felt a heavy sensation in his heart all of a sudden. Sometimes you can¡¯t base the value of an object off the price tag attached to it. Such as this jade Buddha. Zhou Gang knew that this jade Buddha was perhaps really cheap, several hundred yuan at most. But with this spiritual energy, and the magical effect Chen Hao seemed to imply it carried, the value of this jade Buddha immediately rose by several hundred folds¡ªperhaps you couldn¡¯t even put a price tag on this. Feeling burdened, Zhou Gang wanted to pay him for it. But looking at Chen Hao¡¯s relaxed expression, it seemed as though he totally wasn¡¯t treating him as an outsider. After some thought, Zhou Gang decided against it. It wouldn¡¯t be worth it to ruin his ties with such a remarkable person in his attempt to be polite. Moreover, after witnessing Chen Hao¡¯s incredible methods, Zhou Gang was certain that this remarkable man was a godsend, and that he would be of significant help to him in the future. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony then. I thank you on behalf of my daughter.¡± Zhou Gang gave his sincere thanks. Chen Hao smiled. Although a magical artifact that had been blessed was very precious and he had risked his life for this, it might appear to be a cheap gift. Then again, in this world, money isn¡¯t everything. Connections aren¡¯t something that can be measured with money. ¡°You¡¯re being too polite, it¡¯s just a toy for your daughter. It¡¯s cheap stuff and not worth much money. No need to stand on ceremony. Mm, why isn¡¯t Sister-in-law back yet? I haven¡¯t eaten since yesterday. I¡¯m famished.¡± Zhou Gang laughed heartily. ¡°Then fill your stomach with some fruits first. These are homegrown oranges my wife brought back from her maiden home. The green color is natural, and it¡¯s full of nutrition.¡± Zhou Gang then offered Chen Hao a platter of oranges. Chen Hao obliged. He picked one up and started peeling it. They were chatting as they ate when Chen Hao¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He asked, ¡°Brother, as a police officer you have seen a great deal. I wonder if you can introduce some special places to me.¡± Zhou Gang paused in surprise before asking, ¡°What special places?¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°Such as haunted places where people have died. The legendary ¡®unclean¡¯ places.¡± Ugh! Zhou Gang¡¯s mouth twitched, speechless. Talking about things like this was so incompatible with his image as a police officer. Chen Hao continued, ¡°Don¡¯t doubt me. I¡¯m not going to do any bad deeds. I merely wish to accumulate some merit. In this age, cultivation isn¡¯t simple. We basically need to rely on accumulating merit to improve ourselves. It hasn¡¯t been long since I started cultivating in the mortal world, so I can¡¯t very well loaf around and waste my days away. Else, if I don¡¯t amount to any accomplishments, I¡¯d be disgracing the founder.¡± Chapter 9 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Realization dawned on Zhou Gang. Ah, this explained why he had helped Liu Yue¡¯e so enthusiastically. So it turned out accumulating merit was so important. That meant that the jade Buddha he was holding was a blessed magical artifact, the kind rumored in legends? At this moment, Zhou Gang subconsciously tightened his grip on the jade Buddha in his hands. This was a protective talisman for his precious daughter! After a momentary silence, Zhou Gang shook his head and said, ¡°Indeed, there are quite a few of such places, but most of the rumors are false. Tell you what. I¡¯ll help you check up on some information later and let you know.¡± Chen Hao was delighted. This was the benefit of associating with Zhou Gang. If he were to search himself, it was akin to fishing for a needle in a haystack. God knew where such places were. Moreover, with the help of someone, he¡¯d be able to head straight for such places, saving him plenty of trouble. ¡°Many thanks, Brother Zhou.¡± Zhou Gang dismissed it with a smile. ¡°This doesn¡¯t take much trouble, don¡¯t mention it. Mm, I wonder what are your thoughts on becoming a police officer?¡± Chen Hao paused in surprise. Why is he suddenly mentioning this? Surely he¡¯s not suggesting I become one? What a joke. I¡¯ll be a great master in the future. Becoming a police officer wouldn¡¯t be nearly as impressive. Seeing Chen Hao remain silent, Zhou Gang thought he was displeased at the suggestion. He hurriedly explained, ¡°I know you¡¯re a cultivator who is used to living freely and doesn¡¯t like being restrained. But you also mentioned that cultivation is difficult. If you can cooperate with the police, it¡¯s a way out too, isn¡¯t it? As the ancient saying goes, ¡®it¡¯s much easier to do good deeds when you¡¯re in a position of power¡¯. We police handle all sorts of things and are bound to come across some weird issues that can¡¯t be explained. With your help, we¡¯ll be better able to handle them. Also, you can accumulate your merit at the same time. It¡¯s a win-win situation. What do you say?¡± Now it sounded like a good idea to Chen Hao. After all, he would be more effective with the help of a team rather than doing this alone. Moreover, if in the future he were to run into ferocious ghosts and come across problems, he would need someone to clear up the mess for him. Else he¡¯d be in trouble himself. After considering briefly, Chen Hao said, ¡°I understand your words, Brother Zhou. But you also said it yourself. I¡¯m a cultivator. I don¡¯t like to be restrained. If you run into things that can¡¯t be explained, I¡¯ll gladly render my help. But under ordinary circumstances, I refuse to be bound. Moreover, I¡¯m choosing to cooperate with you, Brother Zhou, not the police. So, if you have any problems, I can help you. As for the rest, we can talk about it another time.¡± Zhou Gang was elated to hear this. Although Chen Hao stated many conditions, so long as he was willing to agree, that was great. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After all, we live in a scientific world, so I understand that it¡¯s not wise to advocate superstitions,¡± Zhou Gang replied seriously. He knew very well that a remarkable man like Chen Hao had character and valued affinity. Because he had helped Chen Hao, there was an affinity between the two of them. Hence, Chen Hao was willing to associate with him. But if he were to deplete this affinity recklessly, it might perhaps not be long before the affinity between him and Chen Hao was fully depleted, and they would then return to becoming strangers. Shortly after, Zhou Gang¡¯s wife Yang Hui returned with one hand holding her daughter Tongtong¡¯s hand, and the other carrying bags of groceries. At the sight of Chen Hao, Yang Hui¡¯s face lit up and she greeted him warmly, as though he was a close family member. As a woman, her thinking was very simple¡ªChen Hao had saved her daughter. Thus, he was her benefactor. Also, there could only be benefits in befriending a remarkable man like Chen Hao. Chen Hao chuckled and didn¡¯t regard himself as an outsider either. He even lifted Tongtong and began playing with her. What surprised the couple was seeing their usually timid daughter who shied from strangers actually allowing Chen Hao to carry her, even smiling very happily. It seemed like she liked Chen Hao a lot. Later, Yang Hui went to cook, and Chen Hao started chatting with Zhou Gang, still carrying Tongtong who was unwilling to get back on the ground. Perhaps intentionally and perhaps not, Zhou Gang started talking about a recent unusual case. ¡°Three months ago, Shuanglong Group that is in charge of developing Stone City¡¯s Stream Mountain encountered something strange. In the development process of the northern part of the mountain, they dug out several large metal stakes more than ten meters high. They had originally dismissed the matter, but after they transported these metal stakes away, the northern part of Stream Mountain would turn abnormally cold every night. Those construction workers who stayed onsite fell sick in two days and were plagued by nightmares. Later, they even went berserk. As time went by, all sorts of rumors went around regarding the north of Stream Mountain. Stone City¡¯s police were asked to conduct an investigation in secret, but the police officers that stayed for the night suffered the same fates as those construction workers. They couldn¡¯t even make sense of how that happened.¡± Chen Hao pursed his lips and smiled. ¡°Brother Zhou, actually, humans and ghosts live in two different worlds. If the ghost doesn¡¯t suffer a great grievance, and even then various coincidental conditions have to be met for them to transform into ferocious ghosts, basically they won¡¯t be able to wreak havoc in the living world. Take Liu Yue¡¯e, for example. She was killed and been dead for three years, yet she was still only a wandering ghost. Don¡¯t talk about revenge. If she wasn¡¯t careful, her spirit might even evaporate. This is why many people suffer wrongful deaths, yet the bad guys who victimized them still remain at large. So, this world still belongs to humans, instead of demons and ghosts. This matter about northern Stream Mountain that you just mentioned, I think it¡¯s just a paranormal plot of land between heaven and earth. To put it in layman terms, there¡¯s a special force field, a magnetic field. Even if that metal stake isn¡¯t some magical artifact, it¡¯s an item that an expert set up to seal anything paranormal. Since it only affected a small area after it was unsealed, it goes to show that this paranormal phenomenon isn¡¯t powerful. Perhaps you just have to find an expert who is well versed in fengshui to do a new setup to resolve this matter. It¡¯s not the doing of ghosts and demons.¡± Zhou Gang shook his head and said, ¡°Shuanglong Group has sought the help of many fengshui masters and even conducted many ritual rites. It was fine at the beginning and there didn¡¯t seem to be any issues. But a month ago, something major finally happened. Three construction workers turned into frozen corpses overnight. If the higher management of Shuanglong Group and Stone City didn¡¯t hold the matter down right away, it would have blown up. It¡¯s just that Stream Mountain is the highlight of Stone City¡¯s development plan, so it¡¯s not just a commercial issue involving Shuanglong Group¡ªit also implicates the development of Stone City. The higher-ups have been seeking help everywhere regarding this matter. Since you¡¯re a cultivator, do you have any solutions?¡± Chen Hao was shocked. Things actually became more serious? Mm, seems like those so-called masters are all frauds. What they did was clearly useless. Else, they could easily seal the paranormal activity and ensure peace in the region for a long time. However, he was afraid that he wasn¡¯t any more powerful than those masters. After all, he had just obtained the Pleasure Helping Spirit System and had yet to accumulate enough experience. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t imparted anything fengshui related. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have to disappoint you, Brother Zhou. My teachings have nothing to do with fengshui, and I know only very little. I don¡¯t have the confidence in resolving this,¡± Chen Hao replied unhesitatingly. Zhou Gang was disappointed to hear this. Chen Hao continued, ¡°But as a cultivator, I can¡¯t stand by and do nothing seeing such paranormal activity. Tell you what. I¡¯ll go down and take a look at the situation first.¡± Happy to hear that, Zhou Gang hurriedly said, ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t worry, without an affirmative answer from you, I won¡¯t divulge anything about you.¡± Very soon, Yang Hui finished whipping up a sumptuous meal. Zhou Gang also took out a bottle of his prized Maotai wine and drank merrily with Chen Hao. Chapter 10 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Located north of Stone City, Stream Mountain stretched for fifty kilometers. It was an idyllic place with lush vegetation, where one could hear the twittering of birds and smell the fragrance of flowers. On top of that, there were many ancient relics in Stream Mountain, and it was a place mentioned in several famous poems. It was also renowned for its scenic nature. It was a pity though, that Stone City was only considered a third-tier small city in China. Due to its inaccessibility, even though it was a fine place, developing it was an arduous task. Through the relentless efforts of several generations of consuls, Stone City finally obtained some resources to commence its reform. Slowly, Stone City was starting to open up roads and attract investment and was gradually advancing to become a second-tier city. But because of geographical factors, it was difficult to achieve a breakthrough in commercial development. Hence, Stone City decided to take another approach¡ªdeveloping Stream Mountain instead. They planned to refurbish the residential areas near to nature and transform it into a tourism destination. The task of developing this place fell upon Shuanglong Group. Strolling at the foot of Stream Mountain, Chen Hao admired his surroundings. There wasn¡¯t a famous main peak in the entire of Stream Mountain. Because there weren¡¯t any particularly high peaks in Stream Mountain, the fame of the various peaks was more or less the same. But there was something unique about Stream Mountain¡ªthe canyon. The weaving canyon, which extended in all directions, divided Stream Mountain up into several islands. Through the ages, the streams trickled through the valleys. Some clever businessmen in Stone City even branded the water from the streams of Stream Mountain, and it was now the main source of drinking water in Stone City. As the saying went ¡°In the mountains, one lives on mountain products. Along the coast, on sea products¡±. Stone City only came to be because of the existence of Stream Mountain. Compared to the vastness of Stream Mountain, Stone City only occupied a small area. Most of it was undeveloped lands, and this was what gave the consul of Stone City the idea to develop this place. The developed land was in the mid-section of Stream Mountain. This was the best route into the mountain. There was once a famous centuries-old temple here, but after the calamity of several decades ago, it had become a dilapidated place. According to the plans of the Stone City officials, since they were developing this area and trying to attract tourism, they naturally sought to have more places of interest. Hence, they wished to rebuild this temple as well. Too bad ever since the paranormal activity appeared, development had stopped. The reconstruction of the temple had yet to commence before it was called to a halt. After arriving, all Chen Hao saw was a huge construction land and not a single person. But it made sense though. After all, someone had died and construction had stopped. The lively scenes had vanished as soon as they appeared, and this place was now quiet and deserted. When he got to the construction site, Chen Hao sized up his surroundings. Ever since his Yin Yang Eyes was activated, not only was he able to see ghosts, but he could also see all kinds of energies in the world. Every fengshui master dreamed of having such eyes. This was because fengshui masters could only deploy their means by observing the movements of the energies. One couldn¡¯t truly be considered a fengshui master if he couldn¡¯t even see energies. Right now, Chen Hao could see the energies in Stream Mountain. The energy was of a light yellow color, permeating the entire Stream Mountain like a massive dragon lying upon the ground. According to what little fengshui knowledge he had learned from various sources, Chen Hao called such an energy ¡°Dragon Energy¡±. Mountain Dragon Energy, the lifeblood of the land. It was because of this Dragon Energy that this vibrant mountain forest existed. Chen Hao¡¯s gaze shifted towards the construction site and he saw a different type of energy from the Dragon Energy. Black energy. Wispy and spreading throughout the entire construction site. Chen Hao carefully observed and discovered that this black energy only existed in dark corners. If sunlight were to shine upon it, it would immediately dissipate. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t resist gazing up at the blazing sun and feeling amazed. The sun is indeed the most awesome existence, the best at purging coldness and evil. As he continued delving deeper, he found himself in the middle of the construction site. All of a sudden, an abnormal sensation seized his body. And as he went deeper in, this sensation became stronger. The chilliness he felt was as though summer had suddenly turned to autumn. Right now, Chen Hao could also feel warmth at his wrist area. And then, the chilliness seizing his body quickly dissipated. Chen Hao revealed a satisfied smile. The efforts he went through to bless those magical artifacts didn¡¯t go to waste. It had a solid defense power. He strolled to an area on the construction site where no sunlight entered. On the ground, wisps of black energies undetectable by the human eye floated about, looking pretty scary. Chen Hao hesitated a moment, before reaching out to touch that black energy. The next moment, Chen Hao could feel a piercing coldness agitating his skin. He hurriedly retracted his hand, then brought his blessed bracelet close to that black energy. This time, the black energy retreated as though it had seen its mortal enemy. Chen Hao forcibly touched the black energy with the blessed bracelet, and the black energy evaporated into thin air instantly. It worked! Chen Hao nodded, then kept away his blessed bracelet and stopped experimenting. Chen Hao started tracing the black energy back to its origin. A moment later, Chen Hao stood steadily in an area filled with several large holes. This was the place where the iron nails were rumored to be found. There were six holes, each about five meters deep. The sun was illuminating the earth right now. He couldn¡¯t tell that there was anything in the holes, and it didn¡¯t even give off a sinister feeling. But according to the movement of the black energy, Chen Hao was certain that these holes were where the black energies originated. That meant that the abnormality here came from under the holes. Too bad Chen Hao wasn¡¯t a fengshui master and didn¡¯t know what the six holes and the six iron nails were about. But Chen Hao had some criticisms about this place. If they wanted to develop this place, they could go ahead and develop it. But why did they have to dig out the setup left behind by their forefathers? After all, this didn¡¯t get in their way. Surely they weren¡¯t greedy for that little bit of money from selling the iron? They only had themselves to blame for their predicament. Chen Hao shook his head and continued observing other spots. This time, Chen Hao didn¡¯t discover anything else. It was evident that the abnormalities in Stream Mountain were caused by this black energy. But as to what this black energy was, and the effect of those iron nails, Chen Hao had no idea. Naturally, Chen Hao had no solution for this issue. ¡°Indeed. Different professions required different skills. I can only earn a living by helping ghosts.¡± Chen Hao turned around and was planning to leave. He had originally come here out of curiosity and thought it was best if he could resolve the issue, but it was fine if he couldn¡¯t. He wouldn¡¯t force himself to come up with a solution. He had just turned around when he halted in his steps and looked towards a spot on the side. This was the famous centuries-old temple in Stream Mountain, Spring Temple. It was said that this temple existed since the Ming Dynasty, which was around four to five hundred years ago. It definitely qualified as ancient architecture and was worthy of conservation. Too bad, with the catastrophe, even ghosts and monsters had to take a beating, much less a mere temple. Someone even maliciously set fire to the temple back then. If it hadn¡¯t been discovered early, half of Stream Mountain would have been destroyed. Even then, half of Spring Temple was burned, and all that remained was the main hall that was still trying its best to withstand the battering of the winds and rain. After pausing for a moment, Chen Hao still walked towards Spring Temple. An odd idea suddenly struck him. He wanted to verify if his thinking was correct. Chapter 11 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The scale of Spring Temple wasn¡¯t considered small¡ªthere were a front and back yard, as well as several rooms. But all these had turned into ashes after the fire. Except for a few weeds and several walls that showed traces of being burned, everything else was buried underneath the ashes. Only the main hall could be considered somewhat intact, with the walls and the roof of the main hall still well preserved. It was just that several years of neglect made it look old and dilapidated. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare enter recklessly, afraid a slight movement would cause this ancient architecture to collapse. It was also only after much observation that Chen Hao cautiously stepped through the entrance and into the hall. Two pillars supported the roof of the hall, on which dark yellow specks of bronze paint could still be vaguely seen. In the center of the hall was a two-meter tall Buddha statue in a lotus stance, with its right hand raised, the palm facing outwards and the fingers upwards, wearing a benevolent smile. Of course, due to neglect, the bronze paint of the Buddha statue had peeled off, revealing the decayed structure within¡ªthere were even several large holes in some spots. It would pain the heart of a devout Buddhist to see the statue in this state. Chen Hao gazed at the Buddha statue with sharp eyes. In the eyes of outsiders, this was a Buddha statue that could be easily destroyed. But in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes, he saw something different. He saw a golden glow hidden in the Buddha statue¡¯s body, and it was continuously dissipating at a very mild rate. This golden glow seemed to be of the same color as the light-yellow Dragon Energy in Stream Mountain, but they differed greatly in their natures. The Dragon Energy in Stream Mountain felt rich and heavy, accepting of everything on earth. As for this golden glow, although it was bright and peaceful, it had a masculine vibe, like that of the sun. The power of faith! It was often manifested in a more tangible form as incense offerings. Chen Hao gasped. If this thing truly exists, doesn¡¯t that imply that Bodhisattva, Arhat, and Gautama Buddha really exist in Buddhism? How powerful is such an existence? But it shouldn¡¯t be the case. Since it exists, why did none of these legendary big bosses appear during China¡¯s calamity? The puzzled Chen Hao carefully sized up the Buddha statue. Although the power of faith existed, this statue was definitely a dead object. Other than the power of faith, there didn¡¯t seem anything special about it. Also, the power of faith was dissipating right now. This was the most suspicious point. If the Buddhism gods, or even the Buddhism masters, existed, they wouldn¡¯t sit by and do nothing as this pure power of belief dissipated. To the gods, this was the root of their strength! Were there some changes between heaven and earth, causing the deities up there to vanish, or was there some other reason? Chen Hao was puzzled. But very soon he gave up guessing. What right had a small fry like him to worry about the deities up there? He¡¯d better worry more about himself. Shaking his head, Chen Hao stared at that ball of power of faith, deep in thought. Chen Hao had discovered when he entered Spring Temple that, not far from the construction site, there was black energy everywhere. However, there wasn¡¯t any of that black energy in the temple. If his guess was correct, it was the power of faith that protected this temple. That meant that the Buddha statue worshipped with incense had the effect of suppressing the black energy. Chen Hao¡¯s gaze flickered, feeling that he had found the solution to resolve the paranormal issue. Just then, his phone suddenly rang. Chen Hao picked it up and saw that the caller was Zhou Gang. He answered the call with a smile, ¡°Something the matter, Brother Zhou?¡± Zhou Gang said, ¡°I¡¯ve sorted out some of the information you wanted. But whether it¡¯s true or not, I can¡¯t be sure. If you have the time, you can come over and get it now.¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°Thanks for the trouble, Brother Zhou. You¡¯ve been a great help. I¡¯m checking on the paranormal activity in Stream Mountain right now. After I¡¯m done I will head to your house to get it.¡± Shocked, Zhou Gang quickly asked, ¡°You went to the Stream Mountain construction site? How was it? Did you discover anything?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°I can only say Shuanglong Group asked for it. Why did they have to dig out those metal stakes? They unleashed the paranormal activity by doing so. Now the entire construction site is shrouded in evil energy. But because the sun is too glaring, I haven¡¯t discovered anything inside the dug holes. Besides, I¡¯m not a professional fengshui master. It¡¯s not easy to resolve this troublesome matter.¡± Zhou Gang sharply noticed that Chen Hao had used the words ¡°not easy¡± and not ¡°impossible¡±. He felt excited. After all, the construction at Stream Mountain was the lifeblood of Stone City. The consul of Stone City was under immense pressure due to this matter, and even the police had been asked several times to investigate the root of the problem. But their efforts had come to naught. If he resolved this matter, he would be making a huge contribution. The bad impression he left on some big bosses previously when he captured Wang Hu would no longer be an issue. Zhou Gang wasn¡¯t an ignorant young fellow. He could tell from Chen Hao¡¯s tone that the latter had no intention to help. Was he going to exhaust what little ties he built up with him for the sake of this one matter? Who was he going to look for if he encountered similar problems in the future? He decided he should patiently nurture their relationship before slowly making plans. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s no need to pursue whose fault it is now. If you find a solution, please tell me. I guarantee Shuanglong Group and Stone City¡¯s officials will give you a satisfactory reward,¡± Zhou Gang said in a serious voice. Though Chen Hao was satisfied with what he heard, he didn¡¯t give a direct answer. After all, he wasn¡¯t completely certain if the power of faith had the effect of suppressing the black energy. If he promised them but failed to deliver, it would be a small matter if he couldn¡¯t get the reward. But more importantly, he would be disgracing his reputation as a future great master. That would become an unerasable smudge in his professional career! After hanging up, Chen Hao was about to leave. But suddenly, he halted in his steps. He fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at the Buddha statue with sharp eyes. As though he had made an important decision, Chen Hao climbed up to the altar and went beside the Buddha statue. He removed his Buddha beads and placed them where the power of faith was effusing. The next moment, something miraculous happened. When the dissipating power of faith came in contact with the Buddha beads, it seemed to be attracted like a magnet. Not only that, the power of faith that had laid quietly in dormancy instantly shifted to the Buddha beads. In the twinkling of an eye, a bright golden glow erupted from the Buddha beads. It was so glaring that it caused Chen Hao to narrow his eyes. A moment later, the golden glow weakened, and the Buddha beads once again appeared ordinary. However, the Buddha beads that were of mediocre quality now showed more visibly a flowing glow, vaguely giving off a peaceful and bright feeling. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t resist swallowing his saliva. Damn, it really can be absorbed! Awesome! Chen Hao quickly picked up the Buddha beads and instantly felt a warm and peaceful power enveloping his body, even going into his heart. All random thoughts and negative emotions immediately vanished. He felt as though he had been cleansed from the inside out. His entire being felt ethereal and natural, and his thoughts pure, his body and mind both at ease. It was then that Chen Hao realized the energy he had depleted creating these two blessed magical artifacts was replenished. The vague fatigue and heavy sensation were gone, and he even felt stronger than before now. What a good deal! Chapter 12 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Wait a minute. This power of incense is different from a blessed magical artifact!¡± Enjoying the catharsis brought to him by his blessed bracelet, Chen Hao acutely sensed its unusualness. Because as he was undergoing the catharsis, he could visibly feel that the power of incense on the Buddha beads was weakening. Chen Hao was perplexed. He hurriedly observed, then found that it was indeed different, making him feel speechless. Because the Buddha beads had absorbed the power of incense, it was still dissipating, but the rate at which it was dissipating was much slower than compared to when it was within the Buddha statue. Moreover, the power of incense that dissipated from the Buddha beads he was wearing was partially absorbed into his own body, while most of it dissipated in the air. Could he have had the wrong idea? Even if it absorbed this power of incense, in the end, the power of incense merely changed vessels. Weren¡¯t his powers enhanced by even a bit? After a long pause, Chen Hao sighed out loud. Indeed, there wasn¡¯t a shortcut to becoming stronger. He overthought things. If he wanted to improve the grade of the magical artifacts, he still had to work hard in his missions and obtain Dao Attainments, then bless the artifacts himself. If it was an external power, it would at most merely be stored and wouldn¡¯t increase his powers at all. But this power of incense had excellent use. The energy that he expended after blessing the magical artifacts was replenished in an instant. It was quite a good mana bug1. It seemed like the power of incense that he borrowed was able to replenish his energy instead. Chen Hao¡¯s eyes glinted unsteadily, thoughts churning wildly in his head. After coming out of Spring Temple, Chen Hao returned to the downtown area and went into the street selling small goods once more and began sweeping goods. This time, with the power of incense as his backing, Chen Hao spent several thousand yuan to purchase tens of items. After getting back to his rented apartment, Chen Hao locked his door and excitedly began blessing the items he just purchased. He blessed more than ten items in one go. By the end of it, Chen Hao found out, to his surprise, that the power of incense on the blessed bracelet was depleted. The blessed bracelet went back to its original appearance, and the warm power of incense disappeared completely. Chen Hao was exasperated. He had only finished blessing one-third of the items he purchased! How did it disappear just like this? The power of incense was way too weak! Come to think of it, every time he regained his energy, a large part of the power of incense seemed to dissipate. This was too wasteful. Chen Hao felt heartache. But he didn¡¯t dare to continue blessing the artifacts anymore. Without the power of incense to replenish his energy, he didn¡¯t wish to relive that experience of having his energy completely depleted. Anyway, now that he found out about the mana bug effect of the power of incense, he could simply go back and do it again. He had blessed more than ten magical artifacts and that should be sufficient for himself. Even if he was unlucky and ran into a ferocious ghost, even if he didn¡¯t manage to defeat it, he could at least run away. Simply relying on the power of incense wasn¡¯t a viable solution, either. After all, there were different grades to a blessed magical artifact. Dharmic Aura, Spirit Aura, Treasure Aura¡ªthese were the three different grades of magical artifacts. The first level, Dharmic Aura. One could simply rely on his energy to bless the item with his aura. But the second level, Spirit Aura, without Dao Attainment, one couldn¡¯t achieve it. Hence, the power of incense could only serve as an emergency object during his newbie stage. He had to think of ways to help more ghosts and obtain Dao Attainment. That was the proper way. After dispelling the idea of finding the power of incense, Chen Hao began sorting out the magical artifacts he blessed this time around. There were thirteen items in total¡ªone copper-coin sword, five jade Buddhas, five Guanyin statues, one God of Fortune wooden figurine, and one bronze Eight Trigram. These thirteen items each had a different effect. The copper-coin sword and bronze Eight Trigram were blessed with the powers to eliminate evil¡ªthey could cause harm to ghosts and suppress evil spirits. Chen Hao would be using this himself and wouldn¡¯t possibly let someone else have it. As for the jade Buddha and wooden figurine of the God of Fortune, these could be sold for money. The jade Buddha and jade Guanyin had the same nature¡ªprotecting the body and fending off evil forces. At a close distance, it had a certain lethality towards ghosts and evil spirits. But the value of the God of Fortune wooden figurine was above that of the jade Buddha because, after the items were blessed, Chen Hao discovered that the God of Fortune wooden figurine had turned into a fengshui magical artifact, so it now had the effect of bringing in wealth and protecting the house. If it was used in a fengshui setup, the effects of this God of Fortune wooden figurine would be even more obvious¡ªit would certainly become a necessity for one running a business. Of course, because it only had the effects of one layer of Dharmic Aura, the powers of these blessed magical artifacts weren¡¯t that great. Also, they had a certain lifespan. The God of Fortune wooden figurine was alright, for it was carved out of old wood and wouldn¡¯t spoil easily. If properly maintained by using a proper fengshui setup, it might be in good condition for even longer. However, as for the jade items, Chen Hao estimated the effects of each piece was at most two or three years. If the owner ran into a sudden situation, it would immediately erupt and then completely lose efficacy. This made him helpless. Unless it was a Treasure Aura level magical artifact that could restore itself, even if the item was blessed, it wouldn¡¯t keep its efficacy forever. Dao Attainment, everything relied on Dao Attainment! Sighing, Chen Hao called Zhou Gang and learned that the latter had gotten home, so he said he would be there soon. After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao took out a sack and placed the bronze Eight Trigram, copper-coin sword, and amulet into it, then slung it over his shoulder. Speaking of which, this cloth bag was really just right for Daoist priests, with its dull yellow color and Eight Trigram design. It was the kind usually saw in supernatural movies. Chen Hao had discovered this in the corner of a shop when he was shopping. The bag was covered with a layer of dust when he found it. It was only after asking that he found out that, actually, this kind of bag was trendy for a period of time, but the fad quickly passed. He had brought in a huge batch of stock and ended up stuck with them. In the end, he really wasn¡¯t able to sell them. Hence, he returned the stock. If Chen Hao hadn¡¯t found it, the shop owner wouldn¡¯t have realized he left out this one bag when he returned the rest. As a future great master, how could he not have such an accessory¡ªa Daoist cloth bag! Chen Hao bought it without any hesitation. Half an hour later, he arrived at Zhou Gang¡¯s house. An apron-clad Yang Hui opened the door and, upon seeing it was Chen Hao, welcomed him in warmly. ¡°You¡¯re here, pal. Come, come, quickly sit down. My wife knew you were coming, so she cooked her signature Sichuan Stewed Fish. Even I rarely get to taste it.¡± Zhou Gang, who was bringing out the food, chuckled and greeted Chen Hao seeing him enter. Tongtong, who was playing by herself, ran over with a smile on her face and asked for a hug at the sight of him. Chen Hao lifted her into his arms and planted a forceful kiss on her face, beaming broadly. Then, Chen Hao looked towards the sumptuous dining table in the living room and said with a smile, ¡°So many dishes, you shouldn¡¯t have gone to such expense.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a casual meal, didn¡¯t cost much money. Hurry up. Sit down and have a good drink with him. The soup¡¯s still cooking in the kitchen, I¡¯ll go and check on it.¡± Yang Hui laughed, then went into the kitchen. Zhou Gang winked and said with a chuckle, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re really my lucky star. My wife doesn¡¯t usually allow me to drink alcohol. Even if a happy occasion arises, she¡¯ll only let me have half a cup. Ever since you came, I finally get to satisfy my craving for alcohol slightly.¡± Chen Hao hurriedly said, ¡°Brother Zhou, spare me. The last time I drank with you, I went back and slept for half a day. This time, I don¡¯t dare to drink recklessly.¡± Zhou Gang quickly said with a serious expression, ¡°This won¡¯t do. In China we have a drinking culture, it¡¯s in our heritage to drink. If you¡¯re a man, you can¡¯t refuse to drink. This Maotai wine today, I got it from my superior. This wine is excellent. I guarantee it won¡¯t go to your head.¡± The helpless Chen Hao could only give up struggling. However, he pondered in his heart what blessed magical artifact could let him drink without getting drunk. When he had the chance, he must create one to protect himself. Chapter 13 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After three rounds of wine and the meal, Chen Hao¡¯s face and neck were flushed, and he felt a little dizzy. However, his head didn¡¯t hurt. Seems like it was indeed good wine. Too bad his alcohol tolerance was too low, so he didn¡¯t have the good fortune to enjoy such wines. Seeing the excellent atmosphere, Zhou Gang grabbed the chance to ask, ¡°Brother, did you discover anything special when you went to look at the Stream Mountain construction site today?¡± After eating his food and drinking his wine, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t very well hide it from him. He replied, ¡°I found the source of evil energy. But the Dragon Energy of the entire Stream Mountain is intact. So I think this evil energy isn¡¯t too serious. But it¡¯s not easy to cultivate these days. Even if it¡¯s this kind of normal evil energy, it¡¯s not easy to handle. I need to ponder over this.¡± Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes lit up, and he pressed on. ¡°Then, do you have a solution, Brother?¡± Chen Hao hesitated a moment before replying, ¡°I did think of a solution, but whether it will work or not I can¡¯t be sure yet. I won¡¯t easily take action for something that I have no certainty of success.¡± Zhou Gang was lost for words and didn¡¯t know how to continue the conversation for a moment. Chen Hao smiled and continued, ¡°Brother Zhou, stop asking. Let me consider carefully again. I will definitely tell you if it works.¡± Zhou Gang sighed and said, ¡°Alright, then. I will await your good news.¡± After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Hao didn¡¯t stay for much longer. He left with the information Zhou Gang handed him. After Chen Hao left, Yang Hui, who had just coaxed Tongtong to sleep, walked out. She looked at Zhou Gang and said, ¡°Ah Gang, I feel that you¡¯re being too impatient. If you¡¯re not careful, you might destroy whatever little ties we have built up with Chen Hao after much effort.¡± Zhou Gang paused, then said with a bitter smile, ¡°Hui, you have no idea. Bai Ju somehow found out that I have acquainted myself with a remarkable man who can help us settle the Stream Mountain construction site. At noontime, Bai Ju asked to talk to me. It was only with much difficulty that I managed to conceal Chen Hao¡¯s identity. But this is indeed an excellent chance. If I can resolve the Stream Mountain matter, I¡­¡± Yang Hui interrupted him. ¡°What you think is your business. When we got married, I already made it clear not to bring your work into our life. In the past you have done very well, I hope you can keep it up in the future.¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°Having interacted twice with Chen Hao, I feel that he is a rather nice person. What¡¯s more, he has remarkable abilities. If these abilities were placed elsewhere, I¡¯m afraid he would easily become a frequent guest of the rich and powerful. It was only because this was the first time he¡¯s cultivating in the mortal world, so you were given the chance. This is your affinity. And to our family, that¡¯s an even greater affinity. Ever since Tongtong started wearing that jade Buddha Chen Hao gave her, she has been sleeping soundly at night. That¡¯s something that¡¯s rarely happened over this one year. Perhaps we might not get Chen Hao¡¯s help in this area, but because of his existence, at least Tongtong and I feel very safe and needn¡¯t worry about ghosts and the like. So, you need to consider carefully¡ªbetween work and family, which one is more important.¡± Then, without giving Zhou Gang a chance to explain, Yang Hui turned around and walked into the bedroom. Zhou Gang was stunned for a moment before he chased up to her with a smile. A moment later, giggling noises could be heard coming from the bedroom. By the time he returned to his apartment, Chen Hao had sobered up by quite a lot, and also realized there was something wrong with Zhou Gang¡¯s attitude at the dining table. In fact, this wasn¡¯t bizarre. After all, he had displayed extraordinary means, and there was indeed paranormal activity at the Stream Mountain construction site. It was natural that he hoped to receive his help. But he had made an acquaintance of this person in order to mutually benefit, not to become a tool someone could make use of. Hence, Chen Hao felt a tad depressed. But right now Zhou Gang hadn¡¯t showed it in an obvious manner. What¡¯s more, he was indeed of help to him. Hence, there was nothing Chen Hao could say about it. He could only wait and see. If Zhou Gang really treated him as a tool for promotion, that was fine. He could repay the debt of gratitude to him and gradually drift away from him. With his capabilities, there were plenty of people who would treat him as a distinguished guest. Shaking his head to get rid of his messy thoughts, Chen Hao took out the information Zhou Gang gave him. There were 16 sheets of paper in total, and there were lines of information detailing the location, as well as the rumors, legends, and reports from police investigations. The information was very detailed and easy to see at one glance. Seems like Zhou Gang had put effort into this. Chen Hao smiled, then started looking at each line. A few moments later, Chen Hao set down the papers and thought in silence. There were seven locations in total. All of them were in the vicinity of Stone City, some far and some near, and their reasons for being haunted were all different. Looking at this, Chen Hao suddenly felt perplexed. According to logic, Stone City was considered a second-rate city now, and its population was in the millions. With such a large base, never mind accidents and natural disasters, the number of elderly couldn¡¯t be too few. Every day there would be old people dying of old age. With the accumulation over time, there ought to exist many ghosts. Why after going so many places, other than Liu Yue¡¯e, there wasn¡¯t another ghost that triggered the Pleasure Helping Spirit System? Surely not everyone died without regrets these days? Or perhaps, certain selection criteria needed to be met before the Pleasure Helping Spirit System was triggered to assign him missions? The Pleasure Helping Spirit System didn¡¯t come with an explanation or instruction manual. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t understand its wonders with his ordinary thinking, so he could only sigh and slowly figure it out by himself. After studying the seven locations, Chen Hao finally selected three and planned to check them out tomorrow. After coming to a decision, Chen Hao laid down and fell soundly asleep very quickly. After sleeping through the night, early the next morning, Chen Hao woke up, not naturally, but by his phone¡¯s ringtone. In a sleepy state, Chen Hao picked it up and took a glance at it. Immediately after, he bolted upright into a sitting position. He hurriedly put the call through and shouted, ¡°Sorry, Sister Wang. I drank too much yesterday. I¡¯ll come to the company right away.¡± ¡°Come, my foot. How many days has it been? I merely scolded you a little and you felt aggrieved and really decided to quit? What do you regard the company as?¡± Sister Wang¡¯s loud voice boomed over the phone, completely jolting Chen Hao awake. Indeed, he hadn¡¯t been to work for two days. He didn¡¯t plan on continuing his nine-to-five life anymore, anyway. Damn, he had just started a nine-to-five job for over a month and it had become a habit. The way the nine-to-five life unconsciously influenced one was truly too scary. Chen Hao was awkward for a moment, unsure of how to answer. Sister Wang was silent a moment, before suddenly asking, ¡°You¡¯re really not planning to come to work anymore?¡± He had to make a clean break, after all. Chen Hao replied, ¡°Sister Wang, thanks for looking out for me this past one month. I know you treated me very well and also helped me a lot at work. But honestly speaking, it¡¯s in men¡¯s nature to strive for better things. I have found a better job now, so¡­¡± Sister Wang fell silent again. Chen Hao was about to explain when Sister Wang¡¯s voice suddenly rang, this time much gentler. ¡°Since you found a better job, I won¡¯t try to persuade you. Youngsters who have just started working in society are all like this. Perhaps you need to steel yourself by changing a few jobs, but I think highly of you. If you don¡¯t do well outside, I welcome you back anytime.¡± Chapter 14 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Chen Hao¡¯s eyes reddened in an instant. Towards Sister Wang, although the greatest impression she left him was her stern side, she truly treated him extremely well. That he was able to get accustomed to the work procedure at the company and get on track so quickly, he had to thank Sister Wang for it. If it wasn¡¯t for the appearance of the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, even if someone tempted him with a high salary, Chen Hao might not necessarily agree to leave. However, everyone should have a dream. If he carried on with his nine-to-five job, everything he dreamed of having would remain a dream. Even if there were hopes of him achieving that, he would be in his thirties or forties by then. Chen Hao wasn¡¯t willing to spend his efforts for such a long time on something he wasn¡¯t certain he could accomplish. He was in his prime youth now, and the drive and passion since his graduation from college had yet to leave him. With the help of the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, he absolutely could achieve his dreams in a shorter time, or even achieve things beyond his dreams. Hence, Chen Hao knew what to choose. ¡°Sister Wang, sorry.¡± Chen Hao apologized in a choked voice. ¡°Sorry, my foot. You¡¯re sounding so polite with Sister. Hmph, I thought you rascal had yet to correct your old habits from your college days. Now, from the looks of it, I had the wrong idea. Instead, you¡¯re very ambitious. It¡¯s normal for men to be ambitious. It¡¯s also very necessary. Girls won¡¯t like a man without ambition. I look forward to the day when you achieve fame and fortune. I will be heartened to see that happen because this proves my judgment was correct.¡± Sister Wang scolded with a smile. Chen Hao felt revitalized all of a sudden and confidently declared. ¡°Sister Wang, just wait and see. Soon, I will let you see a different me.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll wait for your good news. You still have half a months¡¯ deposit in the company, but I won¡¯t return it to you for now. When you find yourself unable to hang on outside anymore, come back to work here so that you can receive your salary as soon as possible,¡± Sister Wang said. Chen Hao was speechless. Where¡¯s the trust? From her words, she clearly doesn¡¯t think that I will do well. Humph, Sister Wang doesn¡¯t know about the wonders of the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, so she¡¯s regarding me as an ordinary person. Let¡¯s wait and see, I¡¯ll give you a huge surprise. After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao didn¡¯t plan on going back to sleep. He jumped up from the bed and quickly washed up and changed his clothes, then went out enthusiastically, bringing along the information Zhou Gang provided. The road to becoming a great master started from here. The first place he headed to was called Zhou Village. It was originally a village in Stone City¡¯s suburbs, but following the development of Stone City, Zhou Village was naturally integrated into the development plan of the city, so it was a prosperous and lively place now. Regarding the paranormal information of Zhou Village, it was because there was a case two years ago, known as the ¡°Sewage Corpse Dismemberment Case¡±. The victim was a woman around thirty. Because the corpse was dismembered into too many pieces¡ªeven the head wasn¡¯t found¡ªto date, the victim¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t confirmed. It had become an unsolved case. As for Zhou Village itself, ever since the corpse was discovered, weird noises like moaning and soft whispering came from the sewer like someone was murmuring something. This noise didn¡¯t appear frequently, only twice or thrice every month, and every time it appeared, it did so between nine and twelve at night. As time went by, all sorts of rumors started spreading. These supernatural tales severely affected the business on the street near the sewer, causing the property prices to fall drastically and voices of discontent to be heard everywhere. Because of this effect, many people were furious. They formed a team to check out what was going on when the voice was heard, but they found nothing¡ªthey couldn¡¯t even figure out where the sound came from. Later, the Stone City police also visited twice. But still, their efforts were fruitless. And now, the streets had become cold and deserted. While the other areas prospered and their property values increased several-fold, the properties in this area were listed for sale at the same old price with no takers. When Chen Hao arrived, what he saw caused him to raise his eyebrows. Even though it was broad daylight and the sun was shining brightly, very few people walked on the streets. It was quite a well-developed street, yet there was rubbish on the ground that nobody bothered to clear. Of course, those shops were all closed. From the looks of the rusty signs, they probably had ceased operations for a long time. Chen Hao surveyed his surroundings again, especially checking those dark corners where sunlight couldn¡¯t reach. Indeed, Chen Hao discovered residual dark energy in these places. Since there was dark energy, it meant there were ghosts! Hur. But why wasn¡¯t the Pleasure Helping Spirit System assigning him a mission? Previously, in Liu Yue¡¯e¡¯s case, he was given notice several thousand meters away! Chen Hao was baffled. Could it be because he was a newcomer when he was assigned his first mission, and after the newbie period, the system no longer entitled him to this privilege? If he wanted to do missions now, he had to find ghosts and talk to them himself? Damn. This wasn¡¯t humanized at all. Thankfully, he discovered dark energy here, which meant that ghosts existed here. Chen Hao felt invigorated. The present him was no longer like how he was when he first met Liu Yue¡¯e. With a big bag of blessed magical artifacts, even if he were to face a ferocious ghost, he could protect himself. He walked along the streets. A moment later, Chen Hao arrived at the entrance of the sewer where the dismembered corpse was found. This was an entrance into a well. The cover of the well had been discarded aside and no one had bothered to put it back into its proper place. Chen Hao silently grumbled, ¡°Thankfully, I came during the daytime. If I came at night, I would have fallen into the hole if I wasn¡¯t careful.¡± Chen Hao walked to the edge of the well and observed below. The well was five to six meters deep, and there was a vague rotten smell coming from below. However, in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes, the thing he noticed more was the moving dark energy¡ªit was very intense, which went to show there was indeed a ghost down there. Mm, he wondered if it was that dismembered female ghost. After some pondering, Chen Hao climbed down the stairs. When his feet landed on the ground, Chen Hao¡¯s brows furrowed. He turned around and saw that not far away in a dark spot in the sewer, there was a deathly pale face. This was the face of an old man, and it was expressionless. His body was somewhat vapory, and only his upper body could be seen. Although Chen Hao was startled, he didn¡¯t feel afraid. He was quite bold, to begin with. Else, the first time he wouldn¡¯t have dared to bluff Liu Yue¡¯e. After that time, as he had seen a ghost before, that layer of mysterious veil had been lifted, so it didn¡¯t feel as scary to him as the unknown. Moreover, as a future great master, for him fearing ghosts would be akin to a pilot having a fear of heights. He certainly couldn¡¯t fear ghosts. Carefully sizing the old man up, a look of pity surfaced in Chen Hao¡¯s gaze. This old man wouldn¡¯t be able to exist for long. Because his body appeared very unstable, and only his upper body could be seen, and the wind in the underground sewer was causing it to float unsteadily. Ordinary ghosts would absorb dark energy and slowly turn corporeal, ultimately turning into the ferocious ghosts that could appear in front of humans. But there were also ghosts who weren¡¯t able or didn¡¯t know how to turn corporeal. Such ghosts stuck to their kind natures and didn¡¯t have evil intentions¡ªthey were called wandering ghosts. Chen Hao thought for a moment, then walked towards the old man. The old man was originally curious as to why someone would come here, so he observed Chen Hao quietly in the dark. When Chen Hao walked over, the old man subconsciously avoided him a little. It seemed as though he was aware that he wasn¡¯t a living person and that there was a distinction between the world of the living and the dead, that if the living and the dead came into contact, it would do the living person no good. However, very quickly the old man was stunned. Because Chen Hao shouted, ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t go. I have something to ask you.¡± Chapter 15 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Are you calling me?¡± When Chen Hao got near, the old man finally managed to react. He quickly backed away a distance and asked cautiously. Chen Hao was speechless. Is there anyone else here? ¡°Yes, you, Sir. You¡¯re a¡­ Mm, do ghosts live here?¡± Chen Hao asked with a smile. The old man was stunned. Since you knew I was a ghost, why are you still asking me? This man is really bold! Something¡¯s not right. He can see me! At this sudden realization, the old man stared at Chen Hao in shock. ¡°Why are you able to see me? Do you have dog eyes?¡± Chen Hao¡¯s expression darkened. If the ghost standing before him wasn¡¯t an old man, he really wanted to cuss at him. What dog eyes. How could dog eyes¡ªan extremely revolting and especially meaningless name¡ªbe used to describe the Yin Yang Eyes? ¡°Sir, I¡¯m a Daoist priest.¡± Chen Hao solemnly expressed his profession, explaining the reason why he was able to interact with him. ¡°Daoist priest? That¡¯s not right. I¡¯ve seen many Daoist priests all these years, but none could see me. It also didn¡¯t seem like they knew any spells like legend have it.¡± The old man rebutted. Chen Hao was speechless. Do you have to be so persistent? Am I not seeing you now? Shall I chant some spells to prove I am one? Damn, the old man seems to be leading the pace. This can¡¯t go on. I¡¯m here to do missions, okay? Taking a deep breath, Chen Hao said, ¡°Sir, there are many types of Daoist priests. Those you saw were fake Daoist priests, the kind who went around duping others to earn their living. I¡¯m a true Daoist priest, one who has cultivation. Or else, why would I be able to see you? Mm, let¡¯s not talk about this. Sir, you haven¡¯t answered my question.¡± The old man suddenly realized, then said with a smile, ¡°Mm, I¡¯m the only person¡ªonly ghost¡ªliving here. I had some companions previously, but they have vanished. I¡¯m the only one left now.¡± At this point, the old man looked rather sad. It seemed like he really missed those companions of his who had left. Chen Hao was silent. Seeing the old man¡¯s current condition, he knew what he meant by vanishing¡ªhaving one¡¯s spirit evaporate, leaving behind nothing. Speaking of which, ever since Chen Hao obtained the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, he had pondered over some stuff. From time immemorial, just China alone had a population of billions, but there were only one billion over living people. Since so many people had died, the ratio that was reincarnated must be great. How did the underworld manage them? Now, from the looks of it, perhaps not every ghost was qualified to be reincarnated. To many people, after they died, if they couldn¡¯t get reincarnated, and also weren¡¯t able to turn into ferocious ghosts, they wouldn¡¯t be able to exist for long. Slowly, their spirits would evaporate and turn into invisible dark energy. ¡°Sir, my condolences.¡± Chen Hao wasn¡¯t sure what to say, so he could only say this. The old man smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Actually, I got over it long ago. Everything has its own lifespan. The course of nature goes round. I was able to exist for so long after I died, I have no regrets about this life.¡± Chen Hao hesitated a moment before asking, ¡°Sir, according to what I know, after a person dies, unless he has an unfulfilled dying wish, he shouldn¡¯t still be staying in this world. Did no one come to pick you up back then?¡± The old man thought about it and replied, ¡°I think there was. More than ten years ago, I was a cleaner in Stone City. One day during a harsh winter, I got up early and cleared the rubbish off the streets, when suddenly I got a heart attack. It was so early and so cold, and no one was there to save me, so I died just like that. I also knew I was in poor health and wouldn¡¯t live for long, so if I died, so be it. But at that time I had a little grandson who was in junior high. His parents had passed away early and there wasn¡¯t anyone to take care of him. After I passed away, there seemed to be something guiding me. At that time I was worried about my grandson and resisted it a little. Ever since then, that sensation has never appeared again.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Sir, that means you¡¯re very worried about your little grandson? Then, do you know how your grandson is now? Do you wish to see him again?¡± Chen Hao stared at the old man with a look of anticipation. The old man smiled. ¡°I was worried initially and I missed him very much. But later, my little grandson was adopted by some kind people. I watched him as he took the college entrance exams and got into a good university. Although we only met twice or thrice these years, he now has a job and a family of his own and is living very well. I have no worries now.¡± Chen Hao was dumbfounded. Damn, must you be like this? It wasn¡¯t easy for me to finally run into a ghost with an unfulfilled dying wish. He actually let go of his obsessions by himself? Are you playing me for a fool? Chen Hao couldn¡¯t take this lying down. He kept asking, but the old man appeared unmoved as if he had truly let it go. There was no signal whatsoever from the Pleasure Helping Spirit System either. It was only then that Chen Hao gave up. Regardless, unless the Pleasure Helping Spirit System assigned him a mission, even if the old man said he hadn¡¯t let go of his obsessions, it was useless for him. ¡°Right. What are you doing here? Did you come to subdue me because you heard I was here?¡± The old man suddenly asked with a panicked expression. Wasn¡¯t it normal for Daoist priests to subdue ghosts? In the past, when he was alive, those were merely stories, but now that it was applicable to him, even if he had let go of his obsessions, he didn¡¯t wish to be subdued. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. Subdue ghosts? Do I have nothing better to do? No way am I doing something that doesn¡¯t bring me any benefits. Anyway, I have no idea how to subdue ghosts either. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re a good ghost and haven¡¯t committed evil or anything. Why would I subdue you? You may live here in peace, nothing¡¯s going to happen. If you run into problems in the future, you may come and find me too. So long as it¡¯s not against the law and isn¡¯t too difficult, I¡¯ll be happy to help.¡± Chen Hao conveyed his kind intentions with a smile. The old man heaved a sigh of relief. Chen Hao continued, ¡°I came here because I heard a dismembered corpse was found here, that a woman had died here. So I came to take a look. After a person is killed, if one dies with resentment, he/she will turn into a ferocious ghost. This is what causes unrest. Sir, you¡¯ve been staying here for so long, do you know what¡¯s the situation?¡± The old man replied, ¡°I know about this. But that person wasn¡¯t killed here. She was transported here after she died, then dumped in the underground sewer. That female ghost has never appeared here before.¡± She wasn¡¯t killed here? Chen Hao paused in surprise. The information mentioned that the underground sewer didn¡¯t seem to be the first crime scene, but that someone had come here at midnight to dump the corpse here. It was just that Stone City wasn¡¯t entirely installed with surveillance cameras back then, and the headless female corpse¡¯s identity couldn¡¯t be found, so they didn¡¯t have more clues and this became an unsolved case. But did not dying here mean that the ghost wouldn¡¯t appear here? Why was this so? ¡°Right. I remember. Back then, the person who discarded the corpse drove a minivan. There were three people?¡ªtwo youngsters and one middle-aged person. That middle-aged person had a big and obvious mole beside his nose.¡± The old man gave him some clues. Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. If the identity of the discarded corpse could be confirmed, they would have clues to continue the investigation. He could provide Zhou Gang with this information. Then, perhaps by following the clues, they could find the first crime scene. ¡°Not bad, this clue is very important. Thank you, Sir.¡± Chen Hao quickly thanked him. The old man smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m glad that I was of help. Those people dared to do something like dismembering a corpse, they must be some terribly wicked people. Such people must be punished by the law.¡± Chen Hao nodded. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t worry. I will cooperate with the police and make sure the bad guys don¡¯t get away scot-free.¡± Then, Chen Hao also asked about the problem of the noises in the underground sewer. The old man answered his question. The answer made Chen Hao feel sad. This sound happened because when the old man¡¯s body resisted the attack of the dark energy, his body couldn¡¯t take it. The dissipation of the dark energy, combined with the movement of the underground sewer, resulted in this paranormal phenomenon. The old man initially couldn¡¯t bear to leave this place because he had lived here a long time, and back then, he had a few old ghost companions, so this was as good as his second home. But in the recent six months, the old man knew he was unable to resist the dark energy, so he went to hide in another place at night. It had been a long time since that weird sound was heard from the underground sewer, but those who lived on the streets had all moved away, so they had no idea. At this point, Chen Hao sharply sensed a business opportunity. Chapter 16 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After crawling out of the sewer, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He was off to a bad start. The female ghost of the dismemberment case didn¡¯t appear, and it wasn¡¯t easy for him to meet another ghost, but that ghost had let go of his own obsessions. How am I supposed to help spirits? How can I obtain the reward? Seems like this path of helping the spirits wasn¡¯t as easy as he had imagined. He didn¡¯t hurry to leave either. Bearing in mind to do acts of kindness, Chen Hao effortfully returned the cover of the well back to its intended position before leaving the streets, prepared to proceed to the second location he had shortlisted. Just as he was waiting for a bus by the roadside, a black car slowly stopped before him. One glance and Chen Hao immediately recognized the model. Mercedes Benz S359, with a price tag of over one million yuan. It was truly a luxury car. Feeling rather envious, Chen Hao secretly wondered if he could one day buy such a luxury car with the help of those blessed magical artifacts. But this wasn¡¯t Chen Hao¡¯s type. He still preferred SUVs, feeling that such cars felt more comfortable to drive in. Just as he was thinking to himself, the car window of the luxury car suddenly rolled down, revealing the pretty face of a woman. ¡°Mr. Chen, where are you heading? Do you need me to give you a lift?¡± The woman asked with a smile. Chen Hao was caught by surprise. Eh, is she calling me? Glancing left and right, he saw nobody else. The woman smiled even more broadly. ¡°Chen Hao, Mr. Chen, I¡¯m speaking to you.¡± Chen Hao raised an eyebrow and gazed at the woman doubtfully. He was 200% certain that he didn¡¯t know this woman. Moreover, in Stone City, he didn¡¯t have any rich relatives or rich friends. How did this woman know his name was Chen Hao? From the looks of it, they were not bumping into each other by chance. It seemed like she had come to look for him deliberately. Trouble! Chen Hao said, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know you.¡± The woman introduced herself. ¡°My name is Bai Ru. You don¡¯t know me, but I know some things about Mr. Chen. Aren¡¯t you curious how I know about you, Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Hao smiled and replied, ¡°Not curious.¡± Then, Chen Hao stopped waiting for a bus and turned around to leave. They were neither kin nor kith. Even a three-year-old kid wouldn¡¯t believe she didn¡¯t come with a motive. Chen Hao¡¯s unexpected response caught Bai Ru off guard. But very quickly, she managed to react. She hurriedly pushed open the car door and gave chase. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you need to keep people at a distance like this? I¡¯m here to sincerely seek help.¡± Bai Ru walked alongside Chen Hao, not beating around the bush, and instead directly revealed her intention for being here. Chen Hao¡¯s gaze froze. Seeking help? He was merely an ordinary university graduate who just started working a month ago. How was he capable of helping someone? If anything, that would be the abilities he suddenly displayed. ¡°Did Zhou Gang tell you this?¡± Chen Hao¡¯s tone grew cold. If that was the case, there was no need to keep his friendship with Zhou Gang. A person who divulged his identity and information casually without his consent wasn¡¯t a worthy partner. Bai Ru blinked and said mischievously, ¡°Captain Zhou isn¡¯t the only person who knows a remarkable man like Mr. Chen.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s gaze flickered. If it wasn¡¯t Zhou Gang, it must be the other police officers who took part in that operation. The greatest suspect was that fellow who drove the car. Indeed, he had wanted to stay lying low for a period of time longer and accomplish more missions to add to his experience. But clearly, his thinking was too naive. Now that he had displayed his extraordinary means, his identity was no longer a secret in the eyes of many people. But so what if they know? It¡¯s not so easy to get me to help them. As a truly capable great master, he had to have the necessary proudness and reservedness. ¡°Sorry you¡¯ve got the wrong person. I¡¯m merely an ordinary university graduate, I won¡¯t be able to help a prestigious person like you in any way,¡± Chen Hao replied calmly, then continued walking. Bai Ru was exasperated. Does he have to be so cold? It¡¯s not like there¡¯s any enmity between us. If the issue is about remuneration, we can talk over it nicely. Why is he unwilling to give me a chance? Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m inferior to Zhou Gang? You even offered to help Zhou Gang. Bai Ru certainly wouldn¡¯t give up so easily and hurriedly gave chase. ¡°Mr. Chen, Master Chen, I¡¯m very sincere. So long as you can help Shuanglong Group resolve the matter about Stream Mountain, we¡¯re willing to reward you with a million yuan.¡± Bai Ru quickly spoke up. Chen Hao felt tempted. One million. He only received a monthly salary of three thousand over yuan from work. Even if a bonus was added, it totaled only around four or five grand. He would have to forgo eating and drinking for twenty over years to save up one million yuan. Money sure came easily to a great master. However, that problem regarding Stream Mountain, he had merely thought of a solution, but he wasn¡¯t sure if it would work yet. He dared not readily give any promise. ¡°You¡¯re from Shuanglong Group?¡± Chen Hao didn¡¯t reject her directly and only asked this. Bai Ru said with a smile, ¡°Master Chen, did you think I¡¯m a fraud? Don¡¯t worry about this. I¡¯m the deputy general manager of Shuanglong Group¡¯s Planning Department. I¡¯m in charge of the Stream Mountain construction site matters. You may verify with Captain Zhou.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°I needn¡¯t verify your identity. But regarding the Stream Mountain construction site issue, I¡¯ve taken a look at it previously. There¡¯s indeed a problem with it. But I¡¯m unable to help. Sorry about that.¡± Chen Hao then prepared to leave again. Bai Ru was dumbfounded. They were having a nice chat, why was he leaving again? Unable to help? That¡¯s not right. Your expression tells me that you have a solution. My judgment can¡¯t be wrong. Gritting her teeth, Bai Ru briskly caught up to him. She said, ¡°Master Chen, don¡¯t be so resolute. You¡¯re a very capable man. If even you are unable to help, I believe, in the radius of five hundred meters, there won¡¯t be another person who can help us. If it¡¯s an issue regarding compensation, I can make the decision. How about two million yuan?¡± It doubled just like that? They¡¯re a big corporation indeed, they don¡¯t regard money as money. Chen Hao sighed inwardly. But at this point, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t very well put on a reserved front. Why did he become a great master? Because of money! Remuneration of two million yuan was worthy of him displaying his skills. Chen Hao halted in his steps and gazed at Bai Ru. The excited Bai Ru stared at Chen Hao in anticipation. If a mere two million could solve the problem of the Stream Mountain construction site, it would benefit her way more than that. Chen Hao said, ¡°Manager Bai, right? Honestly speaking, two million is very tempting to me. But I don¡¯t have a deep understanding of the Stream Mountain construction site issue. To solve that problem, it might take some time, so I can¡¯t promise you right away. When I have a definite solution, I¡¯ll reply to you. How¡¯s that?¡± How could Bai Ru possibly agree? After having met so many frauds, she finally managed to find a genuine expert. If her competitor pulled him to their side, wouldn¡¯t her efforts have been wasted? An idea suddenly struck her. Bai Ru said with a smile, ¡°Master, you¡¯re a professional, so of course you call the shots. Mm, where are you heading to, Master? Since I have nothing on now, how about I give you a lift?¡± Chen Hao was speechless. She¡¯s bent on clinging to me, isn¡¯t she? It seemed like even if he didn¡¯t agree, she would follow him around. He probably wouldn¡¯t be able to shake her off for a period of time. ¡°Might as well. I¡¯ll trouble you then, Manager Bai.¡± Chen Hao nodded and accepted her offer. Chapter 17 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Getting into the Mercedes Benz, Chen Hao immediately felt the comfort of being in a luxury car. Be it physically or mentally, it made Chen Hao feel excited. But as the future great master, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t easily reveal his loser side. Hence, he merely adjusted his posture slightly, told an address, before closing his eyes pretending to sleep. Bai Ru, who had wanted to take the chance to interact with him more and build up a rapport with him, was speechless at seeing Chen Hao behave like this. What¡¯s the meaning of this? I¡¯m a beauty, and I even took the initiative to acquaint myself with you. Can¡¯t you be more of a gentleman? Could this be the legendary weird temper of the genuine great masters? Feeling unsure, Bai Ru had no idea what to say. She did not want to accidentally break some taboo and offend the priest. The loss would then outweigh the gain. The driver of the Mercedes drove steady and fast. Within twenty minutes, they had arrived at the address given by Chen Hao. After the car stopped, Chen Hao opened his eyes and got out of the car. Bai Ru hurriedly got out from the other side, then stood next to him with a face full of smiles, seemingly prepared to wait on him by his side. Chen Hao paused and said, ¡°Manager Bai, as the leader of a large corporation like Shuanglong Group, aren¡¯t you the least bit busy?¡± Bai Ru replied with a smile, ¡°Busy, of course. But compared to those trivial matters at the company, the most important thing is to be of help to Master Chen.¡± She sure knows how to suck up in a classy manner. It¡¯s no wonder she became a deputy general manager at such a young age. Chen Hao said, ¡°Although your words are pleasant to the ears, Manager Bai, it¡¯s not so appropriate for ordinary people to follow me regarding the matters I¡¯m handling now. Are you sure you want to come with me?¡± Bai Ru¡¯s eyes lit up. She gazed at her surroundings. This was a village in Stone City¡¯s suburbs and didn¡¯t seem that big, but it was not secluded either. There were apartment buildings around, and the transport infrastructure seemed quite developed. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you here to see the fengshui, Master?¡± Chen Hao grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth. ¡°Here to see ghosts.¡± Bai Ru was startled. She suddenly felt a sinister and cold wind, despite the blazing sun shining up in the skies. She cast a dubious glance at Chen Hao and said, ¡°Don¡¯t scare me, Master. There are no ghosts in this world.¡± Chen Hao said maliciously, ¡°If there are no ghosts, then what¡¯s going on with the Stream Mountain construction site? And why are you here to beg me?¡± Bai Ru looked taken aback. ¡°There are ghosts in the construction site? Surely not? The masters that we invited previously all said that it¡¯s because the fengshui is bad.¡± Chen Hao smiled mysteriously and said nothing else. He then turned and walked towards the village. Bai Ru hesitated a little. Actually, she didn¡¯t have a deep understanding of Chen Hao. According to her news source, she only knew that he was an ordinary university graduate with an ordinary background, that he had worked in a food company. The only time he displayed his powers was during his cooperation with Zhou Gang. Regarding the process, he had only heard from the recounts of the police officers who took part in that operation. It was very creepy and very magical as if he could predict everything. But then, it didn¡¯t involve ghosts and the like. Could there really be ghosts in this world? Seeing Chen Hao walk further and further away, Bai Ru clenched her teeth and quickly caught up to him. Regardless of whether there were ghosts, surely they wouldn¡¯t run into ghosts in broad daylight? Moreover, Master Chen wasn¡¯t afraid, so what did she have to be afraid of? If they really bumped into a ghost, that only showed that this was truly a remarkable man. Even after the Stream Mountain construction site was resolved, it was worth associating with such a person. Seeing Bai Ru resist her fear and catch up to him once again, Chen Hao sighed. Seems like the Stream Mountain construction site issue was really important to this woman, so important that she could overcome her fear of ghosts. Neither of them spoke anything along the way. After entering the village, Chen Hao came to a two-story building with a vermillion red door and a yard. Standing by the roadside, Chen Hao merely viewed the building and didn¡¯t utter a word. Bai Ru had originally felt a little fearful. But seeing Chen Hao in this manner, she didn¡¯t feel fearful anymore. He didn¡¯t look like he was here to see ghosts. It felt more like he was here to check out the situation. She was just wondering if this Master Chen was going to knock on the door next when she saw the owner calling out ¡°I¡¯m afraid trouble has reared its head at your residence¡±. Next, Bai Ru saw, to her astonishment, that Chen Hao actually turned around and left. What strategy is this? Master Chen, why exactly did you come here for? Bai Ru found herself at a loss. She felt that she didn¡¯t have enough brain cells to process this, even though everyone praised her for being clever. But Bai Ru had overcome her initial fear, and now a different thought bubbled up in her. She must see what this Master Chen was up to. Or rather, to see if he was that genuine great master she had judged him to be. Walking slowly, this time Chen Hao walked outside the villa and came next to a river. This river was named Willow River, and it was the largest river in Stone City. The spring water coming in from Stream Mountain, accumulated over many years, came to form this largest water source in Stone City. The Willow River outside the village was only one of the branches, flowing right into Stone City. Because Stone City valued environmental protection, the river waters were still clear, and weeds and reeds grew in abundance on the two shores. It was pretty scenic. Chen Hao observed as he walked along the river until he came to a spot where the river appeared to have a width of about 5 meters. When he finally stopped, a look of delight appeared on his face. Bai Ru, who had been observing him, felt curious upon seeing this. She also began to size up the surface of the river. The river was calm and there were no ripples. Neither was there anything weird about it. She had completely no idea what was the strange thing about it that made this Master Chen appear so delighted. Could it be that I have the eyes of a mere mortal, so I am unable to see the things he sees? This time, Bai Ru¡¯s guess was accurate. Right now, in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes, he indeed saw something he was looking for. Willow River had moving water, and the source of this water was Stream Mountain¡ªhence, the faint white gas in the water. This gas had an aura that only moving waters had. Or perhaps, put it this way, it was the aura of Stream Mountain. Chinese geomancy, or fengshui, involved wind and water by their literal namesake. The vibrancy and rich spiritual aura of a piece of land made for a blessed land that could bring about prosperity to all living beings living in it. Without any wind or if it had still water, even if it was not a land of death, it was not a place for the living to stay in for prolonged periods. It was not known how deep Willow River was, and Chen Hao had no intention of checking out the depth either. With his Yin Yang Eyes, he could see the slight movements and changes in the aura of Willow River. Chen Hao could sense the convergence of dark energies under this five-meter wide river. Most dark energies were scattered and messy, and only ghosts had dark energies that converged together, transforming into a yin body. And under the water, there wasn¡¯t merely one converged body of dark energy¡ªthere were three. They were respectively next to the river, in the center of the river, and under the grass. After pondering over the information given to him by Zhou Gang, Chen Hao¡¯s gaze fell upon the grass. That drowned kid probably died here. Mm¡­ Then, what¡¯s the background of the other two female water ghosts? One of them carries with it a dark and evil energy. Could the rumors of this village be real? That kid who drowned was pulled into the water by this ghost with dark and evil energy and suffocated to death? Chen Hao¡¯s brows furrowed. He stared at the spot where the evil water ghost was, his gaze becoming unkind. As if sensing the malicious intent, that evil water ghost was startled. It moved its yin body a little, but it didn¡¯t shift. Chen Hao¡¯s gaze flickered, seemingly deep in thoughts. Chapter 18 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After assessing his distance from the evil water ghost, Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. He turned towards Bai Ru and asked her, ¡°Manager Bai, have you played ¡®throw the handkerchief¡¯ before?¡± Bai Ru, who was initially thinking hard about why Chen Hao was smiling, was stunned to hear this question. Throw the handkerchief? What¡¯s this? Chen Hao understood from her expression. He shook his head and said, ¡°You¡¯re indeed a daughter of a rich family who doesn¡¯t even know how to throw the handkerchief.¡± Bai Ru was exasperated. What¡¯s the meaning of this? I¡¯ve had enough. You¡¯ve been playing tricks and mocking at me the entire time. Do you find this funny? I¡¯m engaging your help with cold, hard cash. Can¡¯t you just talk normally? But when she thought of the importance of the Stream Mountain construction site, Bai Ru fought hard to suppress the anger in her heart. She tried her best to force a smile. ¡°Although I haven¡¯t played before, from the literal meaning, it has something to do with some sport like making shots?¡± Chen Hao nodded. ¡°Something like that. When we were little, the boys would throw marbles and the girls handkerchiefs. Mm, I think there¡¯s even a nursery rhyme to do with throwing handkerchiefs. Have you heard it before?¡± Realization suddenly dawned on Bai Ru. Ah, nursery rhyme about throwing handkerchiefs? That she had heard before. But she truly had never played it before. Casting a dubious look at Chen Hao, Bai Ru asked, ¡°Well, Master Chen, is there a reason you¡¯re asking me this?¡± Chen Hao pointed at a tree leaf floating by on the water and said, ¡°Do you see that? It¡¯s under that tree leaf. I¡¯ll give you something. See if you can strike it?¡± Bai Ru looked at where he was pointing. It was perhaps five meters away, a distance neither too far nor too near. But actually, she had a talent in this area. Bai Ru smiled gloatingly. ¡°Master Chen, you might not believe it. When I was in university, I was the strongest player on my basketball team. Every time we competed I was the MVP.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then, alright. Throw this jade Guanyin there. If you hit the spot, I can preliminarily agree to help you settle the problem at Stream Mountain construction site.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s eyes instantly sparkled and she excitedly asked, ¡°Really?¡± Chen Hao said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m a man of my words. As a man, I have at least this much credibility.¡± ¡°Ok, watch me.¡± Taking the jade Guanyin from Chen Hao¡¯s hand, Bai Ru sized it up. At first glance, she deduced it was a fake good. The jade was murky, evidently something made in assembly line production and sold at roadside stalls. But staring at it longer, Bai Ru discovered that this was no ordinary jade Guanyin, for there appeared to have a visible flowing glow. Holding it in her hands gave her a subtle sense of security. This was a trinket. Within a short amount of time, Bai Ru labeled the jade Guanyin as something expensive. This was such an expensive item, yet he could bear to have it thrown into the water? This Master Chen was truly hard to fathom. In any case, it wasn¡¯t hers, so Bai Ru didn¡¯t feel any pressure throwing it. After taking aim at the spot where Chen Hao specified, Bai Ru calmed herself down and, with her sharp gaze, that feel she had when she played basketball¡ªsomething she hadn¡¯t felt for some time¡ªreturned to her. Target locked. Throw! Bai Ru threw the jade Guanyin without any hesitation. The jade Guanyin made a beautiful arc in the sky before it landed neatly in the water. At the sight of this, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t hold himself back from cheering out loud. This throw was incredibly accurate, striking right at the spot where the water ghost was. She was indeed the MVP of her basketball team. Bai Ru was about to gloat when suddenly, a loud ¡°bang¡± was heard coming from the water and bringing about a splashing of water, startling her. She stared at the surface of the river in shock, dumbfounded. Did I not throw a jade Guanyin but a firecracker instead? Chen Hao didn¡¯t have the time to bother with Bai Ru. He was too busy staring at the water surface. Using his Yin Yang Eyes, he could see that the blessed magical artifact had struck the body of the evil water ghost. In an instant, the Dharmic Aura boomed, resulting in a loud explosion. Under the attack of the blessed magical artifact, more than half of the evil water ghost¡¯s dark energy dissipated. The overall vibes its yin body exuded were inferior to the other water ghost, only very slightly stronger than the one among the grass. Tsk, tsk, effective. This blessed magical artifact is truly impressive. Merely striking the ghost with the artifact obliterated its cultivation. Now, even if this water ghost wants to commit evil acts, it will have to cultivate for quite many years before it can harm humans again. Chen Hao felt much better. Regardless of whether this thing had killed the child in the grass, simply looking at the evil energy surrounding it, he could tell it was something bad. Couldn¡¯t go wrong hitting it. ¡°Erm, Master Chen, what¡¯s this situation? That explosion sound just now, surely they didn¡¯t come from the jade Guanyin?¡± Bai Ru was no fool. Looking at Chen Hao¡¯s expression, plus considering the words he said, she immediately realized. Hence, she asked this with trepidation. Chen Hao, who was in a pretty awesome mood, nodded and said, ¡°Yes, that jade Guanyin you tossed out just now is a magical artifact. The spot where you struck, a water ghost is hidden. What do you think will happen when a magical artifact hits a water ghost?¡± Bai Ru was stunned. There¡¯s really a water ghost? He¡¯s bluffing me, right? Does a ghost dare to come out in broad daylight? But looking at Chen Hao¡¯s expression, he didn¡¯t seem to be lying to her. Bai Ru felt shaken. Then, she suddenly asked, ¡°Master Chen, then how¡¯s the water ghost now? Has it been destroyed?¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. This water ghost was hidden by the aura in the water and has an added layer of protection. Although that jade Guanyin is a magical artifact, its grade isn¡¯t high, so it only managed to injure the water ghost severely.¡± ¡°Ah? Not dead? How can it be? Master Chen, do you have other magical artifacts? Let¡¯s continue. We must destroy the water ghost,¡± Bai Ru quickly said. Chen Hao was astounded. Why does this lass hate evil more than I do? So upright and full of integrity? But seeing Bai Ru¡¯s pale face, the terror in her gaze, and her trembling body, realization suddenly dawned on Chen Hao. It¡¯s not that she hates evil like it¡¯s her enemy. She¡¯s just clearly afraid. She struck the ghost with an object, but the ghost wasn¡¯t destroyed. She was afraid she¡¯d have to live with unease from now on, fearing revenge from the water ghost. Chen Hao asked with a teasing smile, ¡°Why? Are you scared?¡± Bai Ru furiously glared at Chen Hao. Scoundrel, you were the one who deliberately duped me into this. Because I didn¡¯t believe in ghosts, you tempted me to hit the ghost, then get the ghost to bully me in order for me to believe in the existence of ghosts. This was a trick! So it turns out everything you did before this was just to confuse me so that I will fall for your trick. This Master Chen is so devious. If Chen Hao had any idea what was going on in Bai Ru¡¯s head right now, he would surely exclaim that it was a waste of her talent not to be a writer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this water ghost can only move about in the water. Just now it was even severely injured. It can¡¯t wait to hide from you, much less take revenge on you.¡± Chen Hao reassured her. Bai Ru continued glaring at him. What a joke. You¡¯re not afraid, but I¡¯m just an ordinary person. How can I not be afraid? ¡°I don¡¯t care. You must destroy it.¡± Bai Ru wasn¡¯t convinced. Chen Hao gazed at the water surface. After it was severely injured, this water ghost was really scared out of its wits¡ªit had sunk to the depths of the river. Perhaps even if they continued to toss magical artifacts in there, they wouldn¡¯t be able to injure the ghost anymore. And he didn¡¯t know any spells to destroy the ghost, so he wasn¡¯t able to do it. After some thought, Chen Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ve already chased this water ghost away. Right now there¡¯s nothing I can do either. How about this? I have another magical artifact, I¡¯ll sell one to you. With a magical artifact protecting you, never mind this water ghost, whatever other ghosts won¡¯t dare to come near you. What do you say?¡± Chen Hao gazed at Bai Ru with an expression of ¡°if you don¡¯t agree, there¡¯s nothing I can do as well.¡± Gritting her teeth, Bai Ru had her doubts. Did this fellow really have no way, or was he deliberately trying to sell her magical artifacts? Or perhaps, this was all a ruse to cheat her out of her money? However, even though she thought this way, Bai Ru didn¡¯t dare to gamble on this. Spending some money to buy a peace of mind was really better than being defenseless when the water ghost came to seek revenge on her. ¡°How much does one magical artifact cost?¡± Bai Ru asked, her gaze flickering. Chapter 19 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Opening for business! Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up instantly as he quietly mulled over what was an appropriate price to quote. Chen Hao was merely fantasizing about exchanging magical artifacts for a luxury car. He wasn¡¯t so greedy. It was a cheapskate item that only cost him under a hundred yuan. All he did was bless it. Furthermore, it had a limited lifespan of two to three years. It was not appropriate for him to quote her thousand to ten thousand times the amount he paid for. If it was of the Treasure Aura grade or even Spirit Aura grade, Chen Hao dared to demand an exorbitant price. But since it was only of the Dharmic Aura grade, he¡¯d better quote a fair price. Chen Hao glanced at Bai Ru and said in a small voice, ¡°One jade Buddha for ten thousand yuan. No bargaining.¡± Bai Ru was originally waiting to mock Chen Hao, but when she heard this she was speechless. He¡¯s only asking for ten thousand yuan? Are you sure this is really a magical artifact? Can it really fend off ghosts and protect me? Seeing Bai Ru remain silent, Chen Hao thought that he had quoted too high a price. But since he already said it, he couldn¡¯t very well lower his price¡ªthat would cheapen his blessed magical artifacts. Chen Hao hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m only selling it to you cheaply on account of the fact that you have helped me earlier. If you¡¯re unwilling, then forget about it. I won¡¯t force it upon you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it. Give it to me.¡± Bai Ru decisively agreed. Chen Hao was taken aback. She¡¯s really taking it? Did I quote too low a price? She totally sounds and looks like she doesn¡¯t care! Indeed, I don¡¯t understand a rich man¡¯s world. ¡°Deal. You give me the money. I¡¯ll hand you the good.¡± Right away, Bai Ru and Chen Hao added each other on WeChat and she directly transferred him ten thousand yuan. Seeing cold, hard cash land in his account, Chen Hao handed Bai Ru a jade Buddha, feeling overjoyed. One magical artifact for ten thousand yuan. Ten magical artifacts would fetch one hundred thousand yuan. Add to that fengshui magical artifacts like the God of Fortune that had an even higher value, he could easily earn two to three years¡¯ worth of wages! Eh¡­ wait a minute. He had tossed one into the water earlier. That was ten thousand yuan gone. Chen Hao¡¯s heart ached. One had to start working to understand the value of money. Throwing ten thousand yuan into the water was too wasteful. He silently resolved never to do such a silly thing again. Chen Hao was overjoyed at having made the sale, while Bai Ru fidgeted with the jade Buddha. Like that jade Guanyin she saw earlier, one glance and you could tell it was a cheapskate item. But its warm and gentle glow was truly more mesmerizing than even real jade. Most importantly, with the jade Buddha in her hands, she felt at ease knowing that even if a ferocious ghost were to appear, it wouldn¡¯t be able to come near her. This feeling made Bai Ru understand that this thing should be a genuine magical artifact, something that had a magical effect mere mortals wouldn¡¯t be able to understand. Bai Ru now gazed at Chen Hao with amazement in her eyes. Although according to the information she obtained, she had deduced this was a truly capable master. Bai Ru didn¡¯t let down her guard. If Chen Hao wasn¡¯t able to help Shuanglong Group solve the Stream Mountain construction site issue, he would be following in the footsteps of those fake masters who were invited to the police station and begging for mercy. And now, Bai Ru had even greater confidence in Chen Hao. This guy will certainly help me fulfill my dream. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re not worried now? Let¡¯s continue,¡± Chen Hao suppressed the joy in his heart and said calmly. The startled Bai Ru asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t we injure the water ghost? Continue what?¡± Chen Hao glanced at Bai Ru. ¡°Did I say I¡¯m here to injure the water ghost? Since you¡¯ve run a check on me, didn¡¯t you find out Zhou Gang gave me some information?¡± Bai Ru confessed. ¡°I checked a little. But what has that got to do with this place?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°A great deal. I have been cultivating hard for more than ten years and recently, I finally had a small breakthrough, with a possibility to improve myself. Naturally, I have to accumulate merit and continue to make progress. I didn¡¯t come here to subdue a water ghost. It¡¯s entirely because the evil energy on that water ghost is too intense and clashes with me, so I couldn¡¯t resist attacking it. It was just something I did on the way. I came here for another water ghost. I¡¯m here to help it.¡± Bai Ru was dumbfounded. Does it work like this? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Moreover, attack a water ghost? You sure sound bold and assured! Why didn¡¯t you do it yourself and instead made me do it? I¡¯m just a normal and frail woman! You scoundrel. Bai Ru felt so aggrieved. She nearly wanted to pin Chen Hao beneath her and give him continuous tight slaps across the face. But after some thought, Bai Ru decided to hold back her urge. After all, she had already offended the water ghost and it was too late for regrets. Now, she could only rely on this genuine master to protect her. Chen Hao didn¡¯t say anything else and simply walked to the water and grass. What happened earlier not only made that evil water ghost severely injured, but it also gave the other two water ghosts quite a good scare. They were curled up even deeper now. But ghosts were bound by certain restrictions. If they died there, their yin bodies could only be hidden there. Unless their corpses were dealt with properly and they transformed into wandering ghosts. Or at nighttime, borrowing the dark energy at night, they could then leave the place where they died and roam about. But if they wished to harm people or something, that would depend on their capabilities. Chen Hao spoke, ¡°Li Meng, I know you can hear me. Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯m here to help you. I think you can¡¯t rest in peace dying this way, right? You must have rage in your heart, have obsessions. But life is like that, no one can do anything about it. One can¡¯t possibly come back to life. If you¡¯re thinking of turning into a ferocious ghost, think again. That water ghost earlier is a perfect example. But obsessions can be eliminated. When the time comes, you can be reincarnated and reborn as a human. I have here with me a coin that has my aura. I¡¯ll leave it here. When you sort out your thinking, you can come and look for me. I¡¯ll help you. If not, it¡¯s okay as well. Unless you turn into a ferocious ghost, else I won¡¯t come after you. That¡¯s all, bye.¡± After saying all those words and leaving behind a coin, Chen Hao turned to leave crisply. Bai Ru watched with a dazed expression, then involuntarily caught up with him, still looking dazed. After leaving the riverside, Bai Ru finally snapped out of her dazed state. ¡°Master Chen, is that what you meant by helping?¡± Chen Hao glanced at her. ¡°Why? Surely you didn¡¯t expect it to show itself in broad daylight? I would like that too. But would it dare to? Moreover, isn¡¯t doing business the same? You need both parties to consent. Else, how would I know what obsessions it has? Surely I can¡¯t randomly help? How the hell am I supposed to accumulate merit that way?¡± Bai Ru was speechless. Your words sound so logical. To think I have no words to refute. But these words gave Bai Ru a new understanding of Chen Hao. This fellow was regarding cultivation as a business. Would doing this really help him accumulate merit? But honestly speaking, as the saying goes ¡°if one does good deeds in the expectation of being rewarded, he would not be rewarded despite his good deed; if one commits evil deeds unintentionally, he would not be punished despite his evil deed.¡± Would the heavens acknowledge the good deeds done by bargaining? Bai Ru felt a curiosity towards the mysterious world. After entering the village, Chen Hao took another look at the vermillion red door and said with a sigh, ¡°If disasters come from nature, something can be done to counter them. But if they are of one¡¯s own making, one is done for.¡± He then continued walking. Bai Ru curiously stared at the vermillion red door before quickly catching up. After they got into the car, the chauffeur cleverly drove back into the city. Bai Ru, who finally couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity, asked, ¡°That Li Meng, is that the child from the house with a red door? I have heard about his incident. I think he¡¯s a junior high student who drowned when he went swimming in the river. There were even reports on it in the city.¡± Chen Hao nodded and sighed, upset. ¡°That¡¯s right. The child is innocent. But it¡¯s not without reason. The owner of that house isn¡¯t a good person. There was deep resentment in the house. This is a sin committed by the previous generation, and the next generation is paying for it. It¡¯s retribution.¡± Chapter 20 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Retribution! Something seemed to occur to Bai Ru, bringing about a change in her expression. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Master, do you mean to say Li Meng¡¯s father did something evil, so retribution fell on his son?¡± Chen Hao shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know if his father was the one who did it. But that house is enveloped in deep resentment. I can sense the resentment of at least three victims who died a wrongful death. If my guess is correct, Li Meng¡¯s mind was influenced by this resentment, leading him to play with water at the river and getting killed by that evil water ghost in the end.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s expression was dull. As if something suddenly struck her, the color drained from her face. Chen Hao looked dubiously at Bai Ru. What expression is this? Don¡¯t tell me there are bad people in this woman¡¯s home who inflicted harm on others? But this woman doesn¡¯t have resentment or evil thoughts or anything of the sort. On the contrary, she¡¯s shielded by a noble aura. Ordinary ghosts dare not come near her. ¡°Master, I encountered a similar problem when I was little. At that time I was like possessed or something. I chased after a ball and ran into the roads and was nearly knocked down by a car. I suffered a great shock from that incident. After that, I had nightmares every night. It took several years before things went back to normal,¡± Bai Ru said. Chen Hao paused, then smiled and said, ¡°This is nothing. Kids are innocent and guileless and don¡¯t have that many thoughts. It¡¯s natural for a kid to get carried away by playing and not be able to distinguish dangers. Why, do you think you were possessed?¡± Bai Ru remained quiet. If she hadn¡¯t seen this today, she might perhaps have this thinking. But thinking about her elders¡¯ past, Bai Ru felt that this wasn¡¯t a mere coincidence. ¡°Right. Since I¡¯ve agreed to help you resolve the Stream Mountain issue, I¡¯ll keep my word. I¡¯ll assign you a task now. Find a deity figurine or something that has been constantly worshipped with incense for a long time¡ªpreferably centuries. Best if you can find a few more,¡± Chen Hao said solemnly. Bai Ru snapped out of her trance, her spirits lifted. At least the ghost stuff hadn¡¯t yet happened. Furthermore, with an amulet now, Bai Ru didn¡¯t wish to think too much about this. Right now, the Stream Mountain construction site issue was much more important. ¡°Deity figurine? Why do you need this?¡± Bai Ru asked in astonishment. Chen Hao glanced at her and said nothing. Bai Ru¡¯s mouth twitched. Fine. I knew this scoundrel wouldn¡¯t tell me. But at least now they had gotten onto the right track. He wasn¡¯t ignoring her like before. Very soon, the Mercedes Benz arrived in the city. Chen Hao got out on a street. Watching as Chen Hao¡¯s back view disappeared around a corner, Bai Ru whipped out her phone and dialed a number. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve already contacted this Master Chen. Mm, I¡¯ve confirmed it. He¡¯s truly capable. But he¡¯s asking us to find a worshipped deity figurine. His request is a little high¡ªover a hundred years old. Alright, I got it. I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± After hanging up the phone, Bai Ru resumed the aura of a career woman and ordered the chauffeur to start driving. After parting ways with Bai Ru, Chen Hao also took out his phone and dialed Zhou Gang¡¯s number. ¡°Haha, Brother, is something the matter?¡± Zhou Gang¡¯s cheerful voice could be heard over the phone. Chen Hao was surprised. This time hearing Zhou Gang¡¯s voice, it sounded much more friendly, and it didn¡¯t give off the same sense of urgency like he had an ulterior motive. What caused this drastic change overnight? Chen Hao had no idea, but he didn¡¯t give this much thought either. He replied, ¡°Brother, I went to look at the underground sewer on San Yuan Road and discovered a pretty good clue. Are you interested to find out?¡± Zhou Gang kept silent for a moment, then spoke up, ¡°Brother, do you feel that I am making use of you?¡± Chen Hao froze in surprise. You even know what I¡¯m thinking? Are police so impressive these days? Zhou Gang continued, ¡°If you feel this way, Brother, I won¡¯t deny it. Previously, I was really astounded by your means. Suddenly meeting a remarkable man like you, it gave me some ideas. I apologize for this. It was my fault.¡± Chen Hao was speechless. Why is he suddenly apologizing to me? I didn¡¯t even say anything! Zhou Gang said, ¡°Last night after you left, my wife reminded me. Although relying on your means I might be able to reap some benefits, but I would then be letting down the affinity between you and me. I shouldn¡¯t be greedy for material gains. As a police officer, I have let my country down, and I also let down your trust in me. So, I¡¯ve been waiting for a chance to apologize to you in person. I hadn¡¯t expected you to do this. I feel that if I don¡¯t make myself clear right now, perhaps after I take advantage of you, you and I will drift apart. Then my wife and daughter will blame me to death. So, I¡¯m making myself clear today. Unless you take the initiative to seek help, or unless it¡¯s beneficial to your cultivation, I definitely won¡¯t force you to do anything against your wishes.¡± At hearing these words, Chen Hao was caught between laughter and tears. He thought he was being sensitive. He hadn¡¯t expected the other party to be even more sensitive, and even graciously speak his thoughts and make his stand clear. After all, the two of them were off to a good start, and Zhou Gang had never done anything that harmed him. Chen Hao wasn¡¯t a petty and calculative man, so he instantly smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. Previously, when I asked you for help, you agreed without a second thought. How could I blame you for wanting me to help you? Earlier on I only didn¡¯t agree to help you directly because I wasn¡¯t sure of success. But now a woman called Bai Ru came to look for me. After we talked, I agreed to help. But whether it will work or not, I can¡¯t be sure yet. When the time comes and I need to ask you for help, just don¡¯t find me troublesome.¡± ¡°Bai Ru? Why would she look for you? I didn¡¯t divulge your information to anyone!¡± The surprised Zhou Gang hurriedly explained. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°When we collaborated previously, you weren¡¯t the only one who knew about me. If one has the will, he/she will be able to find out.¡± Zhou Gang¡¯s face dimmed instantly on the other end of the line. Although he wasn¡¯t the one who blabbed it, clearly it was one of his subordinates. He hadn¡¯t expected that other than Ma Weizhao, some others totally ignored his warning! ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t take my men in hand.¡± Zhou Gang apologized. Chen Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s hard to fathom people¡¯s hearts, it¡¯s not something anyone can control. You can¡¯t be blamed for this. Right. Just let this matter rest, the past is the past. Do you want the information on San Yuan Road that I mentioned? If not, I¡¯m really not going to say it.¡± Zhou Gang smiled. Since Chen Hao said it was in the past, that meant he didn¡¯t blame him for it. After this, he believed their relationship would be enhanced to another level, they wouldn¡¯t need to behave so cautiously around each other anymore. ¡°Haha, yes. Of course, yes. Since Master Chen is taking the initiative to bring me information, it can¡¯t be ordinary information. This corpse-dismemberment case has been unsolved for two years. You have no idea how much thought I have put into this,¡± Zhou Gang said with a chuckle. Chen Hao said, ¡°Mm, the underground sewer at San Yuan Road is not the first crime scene. This is why I couldn¡¯t find the spirit of the dismembered female corpse there. But I did see another old ghost, and from him, I learned that back then there were three people who discarded the corpse¡ªtwo youngsters and one middle-aged person. The middle-aged person has a mole next to his nose.¡± Zhou Gang was invigorated at the newfound knowledge. ¡°Great. With such an obvious trait, this culprit won¡¯t be able to run away. Thanks, Brother. Come over to my place tonight and have a drink with me.¡± ¡°Probably not tonight. I found the spirit of that fellow who drowned Li Meng. I¡¯ve already liaised with him. I¡¯ll see if I can help by doing a sending for its soul.¡± ¡°Li Meng? He really drowned to death? It wasn¡¯t a murder?¡± Chen Hao smiled. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll only find out when he comes to look for me at night. Alright, I need to go. I want to check out another location while there¡¯s still time.¡± Chapter 21 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao flagged a taxi and said a location. Ten minutes later, he alighted at a residential area. It was an old residential area, similar to the place where Chen Hao¡¯s rented apartment was at. It belonged to a more dilapidated area of the Stone City. Nowadays, the development of the city was determined by what its citizens wanted. At places where people loved to gather, there would be all kinds of retail stores and land prices would surge. That would, in turn, attracted more people, and the cycle repeated, developing that area. And at some places, although it looked good, if people did not frequent it, the land would be worthless. Even if you lowered the price, people wouldn¡¯t want it. The only choice was to keep it and wait till it got into the favor of the rich. The old estate area looked dilapidated. The houses were all from the seventies and city planning wasn¡¯t done properly. The place would flood whenever it rained. Most people who resided at this place were either the elderly or people who rented houses in the area. Chen Hao followed the road signs and walked along the streets into the innermost area. A few minutes later, he stopped outside an old and shabby yard. The yard was even older than the surrounding buildings, similar to the yards of tile-roofed houses in villages. At that moment, the door was sealed with a strip of paper¡ªit was evident from the worn color of the paper that it had been there for quite some time. This was the third location. Chen Hao chose this location not because he wanted to see ghosts, but rather because he was curious. The cases here were extremely strange. There were no deaths, but two people were driven crazy. About five years ago, the owner of this yard was an elderly who died alone in the hospital, after which said elderly¡¯s three children suddenly appeared to fight over the property. After all, Stone City back then was developing at a rapid rate, so the prospects were great. The three children of the elderly¡ªtwo sons and a daughter¡ªall felt that if such a big yard was developed, it would bring in a lot of cash. Naturally, none of them would want to give it up. In the end, the eldest kid who was already working was the most vicious. He used some unscrupulous means to chase his younger siblings away and occupied the yard on his own. This was just a common story of unfilial children fighting for inheritance. But after the eldest child moved into the house with his girlfriend, he never left it. Three days later, the second child who was dissatisfied with the conclusion wanted to try again. Upon entering, he gasped before calling the police immediately. What he saw was his brother and his girlfriend with unkempt clothes and strange expressions. They were tearing and biting at each other, screaming that they were hungry¡­ In that situation, there wasn¡¯t even a need to describe how scary it was. When the police arrived later, the eldest child and his girlfriend were diagnosed as mentally unsound. It had been three days since they ate, so when they saw the police, they almost bit them. But no one knew how they became crazy. There were no signs of fighting in the house, nor were there any signs of destruction or burglary, removing any possibility of it happening due to crime. The second and third children were not upset and rejoiced instead. After all, without their selfish brother, the house would belong to the two of them. But on the same night, both the second and third child ran to the yard, screaming at the top of their voices, ¡°Ghosts¡­ Ghosts¡­¡± This situation was evidently different, so the police came to investigate once again. From the statements of the second and third children, the police understood that they saw their deceased father. Said father questioned them relentlessly and even wanted to drag them to death. This scared the living hell out of the two people, who obviously decided to run. This mysterious phenomenon was outside the control of the police. They tried several times but did not see the said ghost, so they could only seal the house to prevent such accidents from happening again. Afterward, perhaps because Stone City¡¯s development wouldn¡¯t expand over, the price of the land wouldn¡¯t increase, so the second and third children stopped appearing as well. For these kinds of cases that didn¡¯t escalate to murder cases, it must have been quite an effort for Zhou Gang to find it. The reason why Chen Hao came was to see what drove the people mad. It was all nonsense to say that it was a ghost. If someone who had just passed on could appear in front of others this easily, Liu Yue¡¯e wouldn¡¯t need his help to deal with Wang Hu. Not only that, but those were also two adults, one of whom was a vicious character who could drive his biological siblings away. For him to go crazy, there must be something else. The entrance was locked, so he couldn¡¯t enter. He looked at the space above the yard. It was where all sorts of energies crossed each other, but there was no dark energy or evil energy¡­ No, what was this! Chen Hao squinted as he analyzed in detail. It was a pale red and weak sort of energy. It came from the house and was carried away by the other energies, dissipating almost instantly. But this red energy was exceptionally odd. Chen Hao was unable to tell its origins. Isn¡¯t this fun. The appearance of this energy meant that it was a new type. With the magical artifact protecting him, Chen Hao had no fear and started finding a way to get in. At this time, Chen Hao found a destroyed part of the wall on the east side of the house. It was only two meters high with things piled in front, making it easy to climb over. Ensuring that there was no one around him, Chen Hao quickly made use of the junk to climb over the wall. Entering the yard, he could see the weeds. Evidently, it had been left empty for a long time. Chen Hao¡¯s gaze was locked on the red energy as he sought its origin. The red energy was present everywhere in the yard, but it was always in strands, completely incomparable to the various dark energy he had seen before this. It was even weaker than the dark energy he saw at Stream Mountain. As he walked and looked around, he quickly reached beside the red energy. After a short hesitation, Chen Hao reached out to touch it. Upon touching it with his finger, a strange feeling surged up. It wasn¡¯t the evil feeling of evil energy, but it wasn¡¯t the cold feeling from dark energy as well. Rather, it felt demonic. Yes, it was demonic energy! Chen Hao confirmed. His gaze shifted as if thinking of something. At this time, Chen Hao felt someone¡¯s gaze on him. He turned around quickly, only to spot a cat. It was a plump black cat, prowling on the walls. Its green eyes stared straight at Chen Hao. The moment their gaze met, Chen Hao felt his eyes blurring as he wobbled unsteadily. At that moment, Chen Hao felt a warmth on his wrist before the dizziness went away. Chen Hao paled. Hell! He fell for it. This cat had strange abilities! Before he could react, the black cat puffed up considerably and it screeched before jumping off the wall. Chen Hao¡¯s expression shifted as he chased after the cat with gritted teeth. Going over the wall, the black cat was already nowhere in sight. But Chen Hao could see the strands of red energy floating in the air. As expected, the red energy came from the black cat. Hell, did this tiny thing become a spirit? Chen Hao shuddered with fear but was excited as well. Demons were things he had only seen in television dramas. In a time where even cultivators were rare, who would have thought that he could find a cat demon? Definitely not letting it run. With that thought, Chen Hao chased after the red energy. After several twists and turns, Chen Hao quickly reached an old building. The black cat¡¯s red energy was coming from within. Just when Chen Hao was about to step in, he paused. From within, a sixteen- to seventeen-year-old girl stepped out carrying a black cat. Chapter 22 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing the cat which he was chasing, Chen Hao¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as he focused. This was not a normal black cat. It could be the cat demon from the legends, so he couldn¡¯t agitate it too much, else it might harm the girl. Chen Hao looked at the black cat. The black cat tilted its head as it looked at Chen Hao. Its fur puffed up immediately and it screeched at a painfully high pitch. ¡°Aiya, blackie, you¡¯re not being good. Are you hungry? Don¡¯t worry, I will get it for you right away. Be good, okay. Hehe.¡± The girl reached out to caress the black cat. She wasn¡¯t shocked at all and was instead looking at it with adoring eyes. Under her cooing, the black cat gradually calmed down. Its gaze never left Chen Hao, remaining alert and threatening. Hmm, this is your owner? Do you think that I can¡¯t do anything to you just because your owner is here? Chen Hao pursed his lips and looked towards the girl. But then, he was startled. The girl was not tall, only around 1.5m. But at her age, she could still grow, so it wasn¡¯t rare. She had porcelain white skin and her facial features were youthful. Along with black long hair dancing behind, her petite and well-developed body was the kind that would excite a guy¡¯s hormones. But the perfection of her features was soiled by blood-red marks, as big as the size of a palm, on the right side of her face. It looked like capillaries which had burst, interlocking tightly together. It was briefly connected to her eyes and looked scary no matter what. But in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes, these blood-red mark lines were not ordinary. Within them was the red energy that came from the black cat. She was tainted by demonic energy! Chen Hao¡¯s expression darkened and became unfriendly. He could tell that the girl loved the cat, but this cat was attempting to hurt her. Wasn¡¯t that just being an ungrateful fellow? What an ass, he couldn¡¯t tolerate this ghost. Without hesitation, Chen Hao strode over. The terrified cat jumped out of the girl¡¯s embrace. It looked like it was going to run away, but after a few steps, it turned back and stood in front of the girl. With its fur puffed up, it hissed in a low tone as if warning Chen Hao to not come any closer. Chen Hao obviously ignored it and continued forward. Meow! The black cat was angered. It dashed towards Chen Hao. With a leap, it extended its sharp claws towards Chen Hao¡¯s throat. How vicious! This ghost was definitely the cat demon. Chen Hao was not startled. Once the cat neared, he slapped it out of the air. With a resounding thud, the cat was thrown several feet away, tumbling on the ground for a few rounds before it whined pitifully. ¡°Blackie!¡± The little girl was shocked by what had just happened. Upon seeing the black cat trembling as it tried to get on its feet, she ran over to pick it up. She then glared at Chen Hao angrily. ¡°Why did you hit Blackie!¡± Chen Hao ignored her as he sized the cat up. Within a single bout, Chen Hao had already exposed the black cat. This small thing probably gained possession of a demonic art, which allowed it to delude people, but its true self was not that much stronger than other cats. To that end, the difference between this black cat and the one from the legends was too different. Although Chen Hao heaved a sigh of relief, he was disappointed too. He raised his head to look at the girl before he said plainly, ¡°Did you see? That it attacked me first?¡± The girl paused. That was true¡­ Blackie acted like it was crazy as it tried to scratch that person. But why would Blackie be so vicious? Could it be that¡­ The girl thought for a while before she continued to glare at Chen Hao angrily. ¡°You must have mistreated Blackie in the past, which is why it¡¯s frightened to see you and tried to attack you. You bad guy.¡± Chen Hao was speechless. Forget it. It was probably pointless to talk sense to an ignorant girl. Chen Hao said directly, ¡°Lass, this cat is strange. Pass it to me.¡± The girl tightened her hold on the cat as she glowered at him. ¡°I won¡¯t give it to you. Go away or I¡¯ll scream.¡± Chen Hao frowned. ¡°Do you know that this cat is unlucky. Furthermore, you¡­¡± The girl cut him off and shouted, ¡°Someone help! There¡¯s a bad guy here, help me please.¡± Chen Hao was speechless. F*ck, I¡¯m doing this to save you. Truly, she was wronging a kind-hearted person, mistaking a good man like him for a bad one. But he couldn¡¯t leave, or it would be affirming the girl¡¯s words. At this moment, a few people around the area quickly ran over to block Chen Hao¡¯s escaping path. ¡°Little Summer, what¡¯s the matter? Did someone bully you?¡± A woman around twenty years old walked to the girl¡¯s side and watched Chen Hao cautiously. With someone to help her, the girl calmed down. She looked at Chen Hao and said, ¡°This bad guy hit Blackie and even wanted to take it away from me.¡± The woman was speechless. This man wasn¡¯t bullying Little Summer but a cat? This person must be sick in the head! But no matter which one he bullied, those were not the doings of a good person. The woman looked at Chen Hao and said, ¡°Youngster, you¡¯re not going to try to explain yourself?¡± Chen Hao replied plainly, ¡°I didn¡¯t bully anyone. I¡¯m just trying to save this girl. Since the two of you know each other, you should be able to tell the strangeness of those red markings on her face.¡± Oh! His stance was unexpected. Why was he talking about the red marks on Little Summer¡¯s face? The people surrounding them looked at each other in confusion. The little girl paused too. The red marks on her face were unbearably painful. Because of that, she had to stop school and self-study at home. If there was nothing important, she wouldn¡¯t even go out, afraid of facing the looks of others. Chen Hao continued, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to cause alarm, but this girl¡¯s family probably brought her to see different doctors, but they all said that the red marks were incurable. Else, they would have disappeared by now.¡± Chen Hao paused before looking at the girl and continuing, ¡°These red marks probably appeared after you came in contact with the black cat. If you say that that isn¡¯t the case, I¡¯ll apologize and leave immediately, never appearing in front of you again.¡± ¡°It did appear after she found the black cat. This young man, you¡¯re saying that it¡¯s related to the black cat? Can those red marks on my child¡¯s face still be removed?¡± A voice came and a woman in her 30s came running over, looking hopefully at Chen Hao. Seeing the woman, the faces of the few people present relaxed. Little Summer¡¯s family was already here, so there wasn¡¯t much need for them to be here anymore. But the situation unfolding was interesting, so no one left, opting to look on with interest. Chen Hao said, ¡°The red marks are not a big problem. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to remove the marks, but I have a request. I¡¯m taking this black cat with me.¡± The woman was elated. She quickly replied, ¡°Sure, this black cat was just some stray. It¡¯s not my house¡¯s cat. As long as you can remove these marks from my daughter¡¯s face, I will agree to anything.¡± ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t agree. He¡¯s definitely planning to do something evil to Blackie.¡± The girl suddenly voiced her objection as she glared angrily at Chen Hao. Chapter 23 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Xiao Xiao, don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± The woman got anxious. Her daughter was her precious. Now that she finally saw hopes of curing the abnormal red spots on her daughter¡¯s face, how could she give up? After berating her daughter, the woman looked towards Chen Hao and said with a smile, ¡°Err, kids are insensible. Please forgive her. Can you tell us how to go about curing this red spot?¡± The furious little girl glared at Chen Hao. Although she also hoped to be cured, she absolutely wouldn¡¯t believe Blackie had infected her with this. Blackie was only a cat. Plus, it loved cleanliness and was very obedient. It appeared so healthy, how could it have infected her with this odd disease? Chen Hao smiled and said nothing, simply walking to the little girl. The startled black cat meowed loudly. Its fur was clearly standing up, and it looked ready to attack any moment. Chen Hao halted in his steps and said after some thought, ¡°Little fellow, since there¡¯s demonic energy around you, you must be different from ordinary cats. You probably can understand human language. If you don¡¯t wish to harm this little girl who adores you so much, then you should give way and let me treat her.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s words made the expression of several curious people change. Demonic energy? Isn¡¯t this something that only demons possess? Could this little black cat be a cat demon? How could it be? This black little wild cat had been living in this housing estate nearby for several years. Everyone who lived in this housing estate knew this cat and had never seen it harm anyone. The little girl was dumbfounded. He¡¯s claiming Blackie has demonic energy? How is it possible? It¡­ Suddenly, the little girl felt the black cat leaping out of her arms and onto the floor. But the black cat didn¡¯t run away. Instead, it stared fixedly at the little girl. Its gaze gave the little girl a weird feeling. This absolutely wasn¡¯t a gaze one would find on a cat. After that, the black cat suddenly meowed sadly. Those around could sense its sadness, and it made them feel pity for it. And later, the black cat did something that stunned everyone. It actually took the initiative to walk to Chen Hao¡¯s side and crouched down, looking at him. Chen Hao smiled, satisfied. Seems like this black cat isn¡¯t an evil cat demon. There¡¯s still hope for it. ¡°Very good. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to eliminate you. But it¡¯s inappropriate for you to continue living with normal humans. You will follow me in the future.¡± Chen Hao then walked to the stunned little girl¡¯s side and carefully observed her face. To be stared at by a man so up close, the little girl finally snapped out of her trance and nervously looked at Chen Hao. Right now, Blackie¡¯s abnormal reaction made her unable to utter a single word. ¡°Seems like the infection isn¡¯t too serious. The little fellow still knows the severity of things. Mm, I¡¯ll cure you. It¡¯ll be quick, don¡¯t be scared,¡± Chen Hao said gently. The little girl pursed her lips and said nothing. The woman also edged closer and watched on anxiously, not daring to disturb him. Chen Hao retrieved a jade Buddha from his cloth sack and slowly pressed it against the red spots on the little girl¡¯s face. The little girl subconsciously wanted to dodge, but when her eyes met Chen Hao¡¯s, she stopped moving. From this man¡¯s eyes, she saw pity and sincerity. The little girl couldn¡¯t resist glancing at Blackie, who was crouched there and not behaving like a cat. Finally, she closed her eyes and stopped putting up any resistance. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, before pressing the jade Buddha against the little girl¡¯s face. The little girl instantly felt a cooling sensation spread out on her face. Then, she felt as though something was removed from her face, making her feel comfortable and relaxed. The woman and those watching saw, to their horror, a red gas dissipating from Little Summer¡¯s face before quickly vanishing. Within the span of a few breaths, the red gas stopped appearing. Chen Hao picked up the jade Buddha and saw that its Dharmic Aura had become a lot fainter. It seemed as though much of the energy was depleted. This low-grade magical artifact that didn¡¯t have the powers to restore itself had half its powers gone now. Even if nothing happened from now on, he figured two to three months later it would return to becoming a normal piece of jade, no longer effective. Just then, someone gasped loudly. Chen Hao looked over and saw that the red spots on the little girl¡¯s face had vanished, and her face was now fair and flawless, with a glow that young girls her age should have. ¡°Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, my precious darling. You¡¯re finally cured. You¡¯re finally cured.¡± The woman agitatedly let out a few sobs as she hugged her daughter. The audience was shell-shocked, an incredulous look on their faces. Looking at the black cat, their expressions changed to one of terror and hurriedly retreated far away. ¡°How can it be? She was actually cured? Didn¡¯t they say it¡¯s a genetic mutation disease and can¡¯t be cured in our country? Why is it caused by something so superstitious?¡± A young lady in her twenties murmured in disbelief. Chen Hao smiled, placed the jade Buddha in the little girl¡¯s hands, and said, ¡°Although she¡¯s cured, in order to prevent a relapse, let her carry this. If one day this jade Buddha loses all its luster, that means you¡¯ve completely recovered.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master. Thank you so much. How much do you want? I¡¯ll go back and take it for you,¡± the woman quickly asked as the thought struck her. Chen Hao shook his head. ¡°Never mind the money. It wasn¡¯t much trouble. Alright, that¡¯s it. I should get going.¡± Chen Hao then waved at the black cat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The black cat obediently stood up and took one last look at the little girl who hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the shock, before quietly following behind Chen Hao. Before he went far away though, he suddenly heard a voice coming from behind. ¡°Big Brother, did Blackie really cause this?¡± Chen Hao halted in his steps and thought for a moment, before turning around and saying, ¡°This black cat shouldn¡¯t be wicked. Perhaps it didn¡¯t mean to do this to you, but you were naturally affected after coming into contact with it over a prolonged period.¡± The teary-faced little girl said agitatedly, ¡°I knew Blackie wouldn¡¯t harm me. Big Brother, you won¡¯t kill Blackie, will you?¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Why would I? Cultivation is not easy. There are too few of those who amount to some accomplishments in cultivation, be it humans, ghosts, or demons. I plan to teach it and see if I can groom it to become a good demon that watches over humans.¡± Chen Hao then turned around and left the housing estate. Seeing the man and cat disappear, the audience and the mother-and-daughter duo were speechless. Teach a cat demon? Watch over humans? Is this still the world we know! After coming out of the housing estate, as they passed by a dilapidated yard, the black cat halted, its gaze lingering upon the yard. Chen Hao didn¡¯t rush the cat. He said, ¡°This is your home, isn¡¯t it? Back then you used witchcraft to scare the son of that man out of his mind, didn¡¯t you? Tsk, tsk. I have to say, well done.¡± The black cat cast a disdainful glance at Chen Hao, before twisting its cat body and strolling ahead sexily. Chen Hao chuckled to himself. Seems like forcing this cat to follow him only meant he obtained it physically. But if he wanted this little fellow to obey him, he would have to train it for a long time. But there was no hurry. He could take it slowly. Surely he would be able to groom this little fellow into a pretty good helper. Chapter 24 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios By the time he returned to his rented apartment, it was near evening. After a busy day and going to three places with paranormal activity, although it didn¡¯t trigger a mission, he had considerable gains. He had negotiated a mission that might allow him to earn a large sum of money. Also, he had adopted a little cat demon and made an appointment with a water ghost. There was no hurry regarding the Stream Mountain construction site issue. Chen Hao merely agreed to a preliminary cooperation. It depended on whether the deity figurine Bai Ru found was powerful or not. If it was, things could be carried out smoothly. If not, he would have to think of another way. Now, Chen Hao was looking forward to the appearance of the water ghost Li Meng. This was probably the only ghost that could trigger a mission among the three paranormal places he visited. Compared to money, what Chen Hao more urgently needed was the reward of divine power blessing. Else, if he simply relied on that one blessing reward he obtained, his powers would remain weak. After entering the house, Chen Hao laid on the bed and relaxed, enjoying the comfort of his bed after going to so many places. After entering the rented apartment, the black cat sized up its surroundings, after which a look of disappointment and disdain appeared in its eyes. Then, its gaze at Chen Hao was not right anymore. It seemed to be saying: With this standard of living¡ªnot even as big a place as my home¡ªyou had the cheek to ask me to follow you? Seeing Chen Hao completely ignore it and relax by himself, the black cat felt all the more displeased. As a cat demon who accidentally gained sentience, although its sentience was only at the level of a child, the black cat was very clever and knew to disguise itself. It knew that it was different from the other cats, and if it behaved too strikingly, it was sure to invite catastrophe. Hence, it only punished the unfilial son after the old master passed away and didn¡¯t do anything out of the ordinary otherwise. But the cat didn¡¯t expect that after the old master, the second human who treated it with sincerity was affected by itself. The black cat felt self-reproach about this as well. It had ever thought of leaving, but later when it discovered that its second owner was becoming more and more isolated and quiet, it felt bad and couldn¡¯t bear to walk away. Hence, it returned to the second owner and gradually cheered her up with its adorable antics. If it wasn¡¯t for Chen Hao¡¯s sudden appearance, perhaps the black cat would have resolved to accompany its second owner for the rest of her life. Too bad Chen Hao ruined everything. The black cat didn¡¯t blame Chen Hao, however, and instead felt rather grateful to him. Especially when it saw Chen Hao curing its second owner with incredible means, it knew that it was time to say goodbye. But the black cat totally didn¡¯t anticipate that its third owner turned out to be so trashy and lived in such a lousy house. One look and it knew he was broke. As a cat demon, the black cat had certain standards for its diet. The second owner was very generous to it. Now, from the looks of it, its life was deteriorating in standards. How could this be! Meow! The black cat meowed and jumped onto the bed, then used its claws to nudge Chen Hao. Chen Hao turned his head and grinned at the cat. ¡°I nearly forgot about you, little fellow. From now on, you and I will be sticking together. Mm, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll eat whatever I eat. I promise not to mistreat you.¡± The black cat rolled its eyes. Who wants to eat what you eat? I want to eat expensive cat food. Not crappy leftovers. The black cat continued to nudge him and expressed its intention with its gaze. Chen Hao wasn¡¯t a cat, so he certainly didn¡¯t understand it. He could only make a guess. ¡°You¡¯re hungry? Right. That little girl was saying she¡¯ll fix you something to eat. Mm, what does a cat eat? Cat food? This shouldn¡¯t be expensive, right?¡± ¡°Mm, just nice. I made a neat sum today. Let¡¯s go, Brother will take you shopping at the supermarket and buy you whatever you want to eat.¡± Chen Hao was in high spirits. A heartened look flashed across the black cat¡¯s eyes. This third owner seems like he knows what he¡¯s doing. Barely acceptable, I guess. Seeing the black cat stop nudging him, he knew that his guess was right. It was indeed hungry. But how much can a mere cat eat? The ten thousand yuan is lying in my WeChat. Watch how I win your heart through your stomach, then make you obediently work for me. At this wishful thought, Chen Hao chuckled to himself and got up with the black cat in his arms, before going out of his house. After scanning his Mobike and placing the black cat in the basket in front, Chen Hao sped towards the largest supermarket nearby. Eight minutes later, Chen Hao arrived at Prosperity Supermarket. Looking at the brightly-lit entrance, Chen Hao held up the black cat, which had a look of anticipation on its face, and said, ¡°Little fellow, Brother is prepared to spend lots of money today. Just wait and see. Following Brother will definitely be better than being a stray cat.¡± He strode into the supermarket and asked one of the staff, then came to a row of shelves. This was a dedicated section for cat food. There were all sorts of cat food on the shelves¡ªWhiskas, Gaines, Purina, all sorts of brands of cat food. This was Chen Hao¡¯s first time looking at cat food. He checked out the price and saw that it varied from cheap to expensive, with the expensive ones leaving him speechless. Damn. Cats eat more expensive food than humans. Where is the justice in that? He had the intention to select something cheap, but Chen Hao realized the little fellow didn¡¯t even care to look at these cat food. Instead, it was staring at him weirdly. Chen Hao was kind of shocked. Damn. Did nothing catch this little fellow¡¯s eye? Surely not. How unique is your taste? Don¡¯t tell me I need to cook fish for you every day. You sure are hard to please. Just as he was planning to ignore the black cat and randomly choose one, his phone rang. Whipping it out, he saw that it was Zhou Gang. It was then that Chen Hao recalled that Zhou Gang seemed to have asked him to have dinner at his place. After the call was put through, Zhou Gang indeed asked, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, why aren¡¯t you here yet? You¡¯re not done with your investigation?¡± Hao¡¯zi?1 Hao¡¯zi! Is that my new name? Chen Hao was speechless. It sounded like after the call at noon, Zhou Gang behaved even more chummy with him now¡ªeven the way he addressed him had changed. ¡°Cough, cough. Err, Brother Zhou, I¡¯m at the supermarket now buying cat food for the cat,¡± Chen Hao replied. ¡°Buying cat food? Why are you buying it at supermarkets? Those poison cats,¡± Zhou Gang asked in astonishment. Chen Hao was speechless. Poison cats? What¡¯s the situation here? Is there a problem with the cat food in supermarkets? Surely not. If there¡¯s a problem with it, why is it still being sold? Chen Hao looked dumbfounded. Looking at the black cat¡¯s gaze again, Chen Hao suddenly had some realization. This little fellow recognized these cat food and knew there was a problem with them. This was why it showed this reaction after seeing them. Damn. How embarrassing. Surely this little fellow wouldn¡¯t think I¡¯m trying to poison it to death! ¡°Cough, cough. Err, this is my first time buying cat food, so I don¡¯t know much about all this. Brother Zhou, is there a problem with the cat food sold in supermarkets?¡± Chen Hao asked meekly. Zhou Gang said, ¡°I can¡¯t quite pinpoint the problem with them. But your sister-in-law has a bestie who is especially fond of cats and is very experienced. Come over now and you can find out more from your sister-in-law.¡± Fine. Seems like I¡¯d better not buy this supermarket cat food, lest the little fellow¡¯s impression of me worsens. After leaving the supermarket, Chen Hao hailed a cab and went to Zhou Gang¡¯s place. Seeing Chen Hao with the black cat in his arms, Zhou Gang said with a smile, ¡°Why are you suddenly raising a cat? You¡¯re even bringing it with you everywhere. Are you thinking of changing your profession to catkeeper?¡± Chapter 25 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Chen Hao laughed bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m fond of cats. But this black cat is different. You can¡¯t let it roam about outside, something¡¯s bound to happen.¡± Incredible! Zhou Gang paused in surprise and dubiously sized up the black cat. No matter how he looked at it, it looked like an ordinary cat. Although it was entirely black without stray hairs, which was a little uncommon, there wasn¡¯t anything unusual about it. But since Chen Hao put it that way, there must be a reason. Zhou Gang didn¡¯t keep asking. Instead, he said, ¡°Ok, let your sister-in-law tell you all about it. She¡¯s rather fond of cats herself. If it weren¡¯t for Tongtong, if she weren¡¯t afraid that a cat would bring about some bad effects to Tongtong, she would have bought one long ago.¡± Just then, Yang Hui walked out of the kitchen. At the sight of Chen Hao, she said with a smile, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, you¡¯re here. Mm, is this your cat?¡± By Yang Hui¡¯s side, Tongtong¡¯s eyes lit up too. She quickly ran over and looked at the black cat with sparkling eyes, seemingly wishing to play with it. Chen Hao smiled and placed the black cat on the floor. ¡°Tongtong, do you like it? Would you like to play with it?¡± Delighted, Tongtong beamed and nodded. Then, she immediately squatted down and used her chubby little hand to carefully poke the black cat with a curious expression. The black cat stared at Chen Hao speechlessly. It seemed to be saying ¡°are you making a fool of me? What happened to buying cat food and eating a sumptuous meal? Why did I suddenly turn into a babysitter?¡± Chen Hao said in a small voice, ¡°This is a mission. Be good and play with the child. I¡¯ll give you good food later. Else, stay hungry for today.¡± Chen Hao then got up and smiled at Yang Hui. ¡°Yeah, Sister-in-law. I was at the supermarket preparing to buy cat food. But Brother Zhou said those would poison the cats. What¡¯s the deal with this?¡± Yang Hui said seriously, ¡°Never buy cat food at supermarkets, regardless of cheap or expensive. Most are problematic. Cats fall sick from eating too much of that. Also, those online group buying sites aren¡¯t safe either.¡± Chen Hao paused in surprise. Indeed, there was a problem with them. Yang Hui continued, ¡°Generally speaking, if you wish to buy cat food, buy it from overseas. That¡¯s what one of my besties does. She has a good source to bring in natural food. Although it¡¯s slightly more expensive, she¡¯s used it for a few years and there have been no problems so far.¡± Chen Hao quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s too troublesome. I generally can¡¯t even be bothered to visit the supermarket. Sister-in-law, can I trouble you to get that friend to help me buy some? Money¡¯s not an issue.¡± Although the cat would be eating more expensive stuff than him, it was more important to feed it with safe food. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t be sure that black cats had stronger immunities when it came to diet. If it became the first-ever cat demon to be poisoned to death, that would be too embarrassing. Yang Hui said with a smile, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll video-call her later and let her look at the black cat. This bestie of mine is an expert at raising cats. One look and she¡¯ll know what cat food this cat likes.¡± ¡°Thanks for the trouble, Sister-in-law,¡± Chen Hao said sincerely. Never mind the rest. Ever since they became acquainted, both Zhou Gang and his wife were of help to him¡ªthis was a solid benefit. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s just buying cat food. I just need to talk to her. Come, let¡¯s eat. Any later and the food¡¯s going to get cold.¡± Zhou Gang interrupted their conversation and pulled Chen Hao towards the dining table. Yang Hui said with a smile, ¡°Alright, you guys can eat first. I¡¯ll go talk to my friend and get her to place an order as soon as possible.¡± Yang Hui then lifted the black cat into her arms and walked into the bedroom with her daughter. After taking his seat, Zhou Gang poured a full glass for Chen Hao. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, the information you gave me today is really useful. We¡¯ve connected the broken lead in the sewer corpse-dismemberment case. We¡¯ve identified the culprits who discarded the corpse and will likely be able to arrest him very soon. Although I¡¯m a little embarrassed, I still want to thank you. I¡¯ll drink this. You can decide if you wish to drink or not.¡± Zhou Gang then raised his cup and finished the contents in one shot. Chen Hao could only drink with him. He tried his best to finish one-third of it, then said, ¡°Brother Zhou, don¡¯t mention this. As a police officer, you have kind intentions. I respect and admire you for your attitude and dreams to serve the people. Else, I wouldn¡¯t have taken the initiative to find you regarding Wang Hu¡¯s matter.¡± Zhou Gang said with a sigh, ¡°Speaking of Wang Hu¡¯s matter, I feel aggrieved. I hadn¡¯t expected that despite my many years of effort, I haven¡¯t a single loyal subordinate under me. They completely disregarded my words and revealed your identity. I feel ashamed.¡± Chen Hao shook his head and said, ¡°This is the current state of our society. So long as there¡¯s an opportunity, who doesn¡¯t wish to associate with the rich and powerful? You can¡¯t blame anyone for this. Moreover, this is nothing. To me, this is also pretty good business.¡± Zhou Gang asked worriedly, ¡°Brother, do you really have confidence regarding the Stream Mountain construction site issue? If not, try not to get involved in this. Previously, several masters were invited by Shuanglong Group. When they first came, they sounded very impressive and all, but right now, they¡¯re being detained at the police station.¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what to do.¡± Zhou Gang nodded. ¡°Then that¡¯s all from me. You¡¯re a truly capable person, I believe in you.¡± After they ate and drank for a while, Yang Hui walked out with a shocked expression. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, surprisingly your cat is pretty not bad. That friend of mine took a fancy to your cat through the video call¡ªshe said that this cat has a good aura, and even asked me whose cat this is and whether the owner is willing to sell.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Your friend has pretty good taste. But I won¡¯t possibly sell it. This is no ordinary cat, most people will get into trouble if they interact with this cat over prolonged periods.¡± Yang Hui froze and gazed towards the bedroom with a look of worry. Yang Hui had absolute trust in Chen Hao¡¯s words. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Sister-in-law, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s fine over short periods of time. Moreover, Tongtong is protected by a magical artifact. No¡­¡± Chen Hao abruptly got to his feet mid-sentence. Just then, the sharp cry of a cat could be heard from the bedroom. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yang Hui and Zhou Gang were both startled. Chen Hao looked towards the window and, after gazing at it for a moment, said, ¡°Sister-in-law, Brother Zhou, you two accompany Tongtong in the bedroom. I need to meet with two guests.¡± Meet with guests? In my house? Yang Hui was lost. Zhou Gang, however, realized what was going on. His expression changed and he said to Yang Hui, ¡°Go and accompany our daughter. Whatever commotion you hear, don¡¯t come out.¡± It was then that Yang Hui understood what was happening. Her face turned pale, but looking at Chen Hao¡¯s calm demeanor, she slowly nodded her head and briskly walked towards the bedroom. After the bedroom door was closed properly, Chen Hao said, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, come out.¡± Under Chen Hao¡¯s gaze, two rays of dark energy flew in through the windows, then transformed into two figures. One big and one small. The big one wore a long-sleeve shirt and was dressed like a scholar, seemingly in his thirties, whereas the small one wore shorts and looked like he was thirteen or fourteen. The similarity between them was that they were both ghastly pale from head to toe and appeared wet. Water dripped from their bodies seemingly endlessly. Chen Hao right away knew where these two ghosts came from. He said in a displeased tone, ¡°Can¡¯t you guys pick a better timing? I¡¯m a guest at someone else¡¯s house right now. Is there a need to be so anxious?¡± The two water ghosts¡ªone big and one small¡ªstared at each other. The long-sleeved scholar bowed and said awkwardly, ¡°Err, I have no idea this isn¡¯t Master¡¯s house. We only came because your scent is here.¡± Chapter 26 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios I have no words to refute you? But since the water ghosts showed up, there was hope for his mission. Chen Hao wouldn¡¯t push this good thing away. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s talk. Mm, you seem to be a ghost of many years? You can show yourself before humans, can¡¯t you? This friend of mine is a police officer. Perhaps he¡¯ll be able to help you guys.¡± Sensing Zhou Gang¡¯s weird expression, Chen Hao suddenly asked. Although I act like a master, in Zhou Gang¡¯s eyes, all he sees is me talking to air. If he can see a ghost for once, Zhou Gang will no longer have doubts about ghosts and demons. It will be more convenient for us to cooperate in the future. The long-sleeved quickly said, ¡°Yes. But this little friend here died not long ago and has a weak yin body. He¡¯s unable to reveal himself in front of humans.¡± The long-sleeved water ghost¡¯s dark energy floated, and the next moment, Zhou Gang¡¯s pupil¡¯s contracted violently. Despite being a police officer for so many years and despite having developed steel guts from braving heavy gunfire, he felt his heart tremble and his legs go weak. ¡°Brother Zhou, don¡¯t be scared. This water ghost is here to seek my help. He won¡¯t harm anyone.¡± Chen Hao took the chance to reassure him. To let him know that he was more impressive than ghosts. Zhou Gang tried his best to put on a calm face as he asked in astonishment, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s that student who drowned?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°That student is standing next to you. But he¡¯s a new ghost and hasn¡¯t accumulated much cultivation, so he¡¯s unable to reveal his form in front of humans.¡± Zhou Gang was enlightened. He now had some understanding of all this ghost talk. Mission accomplished, Chen Hao continued, ¡°Pal, I have only invited Li Meng. Why are you here too?¡± The long-sleeved water ghost awkwardly said, ¡°I died a wrongful death years ago. I have no idea why I wasn¡¯t able to be reincarnated and can only be a wandering ghost. All these years I have roamed about and seen this spectacular world. I¡¯m envious and wish to be reborn as a human, to experience this prosperous era. Yet, I have never met a true master to do a sending for my soul. Until you appeared, Master. You made me see hope. This is why I took the liberty to come to you. I hope you can take pity on me, and on the account that I have been a kind ghost, give me a chance to be reborn as a human.¡± Watching as the ghost pleaded with Chen Hao, Zhou Gang was so shocked that he forgot to be frightened. There was an astounding look on his face. Seems like this brother is more formidable than I thought. Thank god I heeded my wife and came to my senses in time. Else, if I lost this remarkable man as a friend, I would live in regret for the rest of my life. Chen Hao, however, was extremely calm. He nodded. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. Indeed, you¡¯ve never harmed anyone. Under the protection of the Willow River, you¡¯ve gained spirituality and a pure soul. If you have the chance to be reborn, you will at least be born in a rich family.¡± The long-sleeved water ghost¡¯s eyes lit up, and a look of anticipation appeared on his face. It was good enough to be reborn as a human already. But if he could be reborn in a rich family, he would wake up from his dreams laughing. Then again, everything hinged on this master before him. Hence, the long-sleeved water ghost didn¡¯t dare behave insolently, merely gazing at Chen Hao with desire. ¡°However! It¡¯s not so easy for a spirit to be reincarnated. Samsara, the bonding of yin and yang, that¡¯s what¡¯s formidable. Ordinary Samsara happens after death and, according to one¡¯s merits, achievements, and conduct during his lifetime, the corresponding outcome will ensue. Once you miss the chance, it¡¯s as good as giving up on it yourself. Don¡¯t think that just by finding an eminent monk or Daoist master to do a sending for your soul, you¡¯ll be reborn as a human. That¡¯s impossible. How can a mere mortal Daoist priest control Samsara? If it could be done, the heavens and earth would long have descended into chaos.¡± Chen Hao threatened the water ghost using what he figured out for himself. The water ghost¡¯s countenance changed. He did guess this somewhat, but before giving it a shot, he wasn¡¯t reconciled to giving up. ¡°Then, if the priest does a sending for my soul, what will be the outcome?¡± The long-sleeved water ghost asked. Chen Hao said, ¡°Forcibly doing a sending for your soul will destroy your spirituality. Don¡¯t mention becoming a human, it¡¯ll even be difficult for you to become an animal.¡± The long-sleeved water ghost¡¯s originally pale face turned even paler now. Even its body was shaking now. Who was willing to be an animal¡ªwaiting to be slaughtered by humans? Seeing that his threat had worked, Chen Hao chuckled inwardly at having successfully bluffed this ghost. He went on to say, ¡°But you¡¯re lucky to run into me. Our sect¡¯s cultivation system is different from other sects. In this era where the path to immortality isn¡¯t obvious, our sect¡¯s ancestral founder took a different path and created a magical formulation. It focuses on exorcising ghosts and demons, resolving their unresolved issues, and to balance yin and yang. Doing a sending for the soul this way ensures that one¡¯s spirituality is not lost and allows one to be reborn as a human.¡± The long-sleeved water ghost rejoiced at hearing this. He felt like he was riding a rollercoaster, going uphill one moment and downhill the next, bringing about much agitation. Although he grumbled inside, before the great master, he didn¡¯t dare complain out loud, lest he lost his only chance. Even crying would be useless then. ¡°I beg of you to do a sending for my soul, Master.¡± The long-sleeved water ghost placed his palms together and pleaded. Chen Hao said in a displeased manner, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my words. Why the impatience?¡± The long-sleeved water ghost hurriedly put on a patiently listening face. Chen Hao continued, ¡°If you want me to do a sending for your soul, then you need to know where your obsessions lie. The reason you¡¯re unable to be reborn is that your obsessions are standing in your way. Only when your mind is free from cluttered thoughts, when you have no worldly concerns, will I be able to do a sending for your soul. Else, if you are plagued by obsessions, even with my great powers I can¡¯t guarantee you can be reborn as a human. So, tell me, what are your obsessions?¡± At the sight of this scene, Zhou Gang was once again enlightened. So this is how this buddy here cultivates. He supposed that Liu Yue¡¯e¡¯s obsession was Wang Hu, and the reason Chen Hao asked him to arrest Wang Hu was to help Liu Yue¡¯e eliminate her obsessions so that she could rest in peace. But what obsessions does this water ghost have? Zhou Gang watched curiously. The long-sleeved water ghost was lost. Obsessions? What obsessions do I have? If there is one, it¡¯s the desire to be reborn as a human. But to be reborn as a human, he would have to be reincarnated. And in order to be reincarnated, he would have to eliminate his obsessions. To eliminate his obsessions, he would have to¡­ It¡¯s making my head spin. What am I thinking? Who am I? Why am I here? Seeing the long-sleeved water ghost standing there dumbfounded, with no indication from the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, Chen Hao felt a little disappointed. Surely this ghost has at least one obsession? That¡¯s not right. He desires to be reincarnated so badly, so he definitely has obsessions. Could he have become muddle-headed from being a ghost for too long? Speechless, Chen Hao reminded. ¡°By obsession, I mean the matter that bothered you most right before dying. Or perhaps you¡¯ve been dead for too long and have forgotten. Think about it carefully first. I¡¯ll help you when it occurs to you.¡± Chen Hao then looked towards Li Meng, who had been eagerly waiting by the side. He said with a smile, ¡°Little fellow, what is your obsession?¡± Li Meng, who had been listening to their conversation, quickly said, ¡°Master, my obsession is Sister Xueqi. I want to know whether she likes me or not.¡± Chen Hao was speechless. Damn. What are you talking about, little brat? How old are you? You¡¯re so young and already you¡¯re talking about love? What am I¡ªa man who hasn¡¯t even dated a girl despite having graduated from university¡ªsupposed to think? Are you mocking me? Grumbling silently, Chen Hao found to his surprise that there was no alert from the Pleasure Helping Spirit System. This is weird. Li Meng has told me his obsession, so why is there no reaction from the system? Could the system have malfunctioned? That can¡¯t be it, right? Or perhaps, the obsession Li Meng mentioned isn¡¯t even his obsession, and he¡¯s simply bluffing me. With a dark expression, Chen Hao said, ¡°Little fellow, I don¡¯t like being deceived. You¡¯d better think carefully about what your obsession is. If you keep talking nonsense like this, I won¡¯t be able to help you.¡± ¡°Ah, no, my obsession really is this. I¡­¡± Li Meng had wanted to say more, but when he saw the look in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes, he chickened out and didn¡¯t dare to continue. If my obsession isn¡¯t Xueqi, then what is it? Li Meng subconsciously began to recall what he was thinking when he was drowning to death. Suddenly, it struck Li Meng that at that moment, he was thinking about¡­ his mom! [Ding-Dong! Water ghost Li Meng, vengeful ghost of one year. Fulfill his dying wish and be rewarded with Dipper Steps.] Chapter 27 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The ding-dong sound nearly made Chen Hao burst out in tears. Ah, it¡¯s not easy. After doing so much and waiting for so long, the second mission finally arrived. Damn. His speculation was indeed correct. The first mission came easily as welfare to newbies, and after the newbie period, he could only rely on himself. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Chen Hao gazed at Li Meng with a scorching gaze and said, ¡°Seems like you straightened out your thinking. Go ahead and tell me. What¡¯s your obsession?¡± Li Meng looked rather sad as he said in a small voice, ¡°I miss my mom.¡± Mm? Chen Hao paused in surprise. His mom? Could it be that this young fellow¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t by his side? Chen Hao quickly asked, ¡°Be more detailed.¡± Li Meng recounted his story, and by the end of it, Chen Hao¡¯s mouth was hanging open. Li Meng¡¯s family was pretty complicated, and it had to be recounted starting from his grandpa. His grandfather was in his younger days, a loafer who did all sorts of illegal things and got into fights all the time. Later, when calamity struck, Li Meng¡¯s grandfather smartly chose to seek refuge with a local big boss and managed to join the Chinese Red Army. Using this identity, he did plenty of wicked deeds and even caused the deaths of a few people. Later, after the calamity was over, Li Meng¡¯s grandfather cleverly changed tracks and turned back into a good citizen. However, Li Meng¡¯s father inherited his old man¡¯s terrible personality traits but not his shrewdness. Incorrigible and rash, he finally got into trouble and caused someone to be paralyzed, so he ended up fleeing to another country. After that, Li Meng was born. Li Meng knew that he was loved and cared for by a woman when he was young, but somehow, after he returned to his hometown, as he slowly grew up, he only had his father and no mother. When he was seven his father remarried, but that was only his stepmother. His stepmother only showed him concern on the surface, but when no one was around she would beat him up. Li Meng suffered a lot at the hands of that woman. Because of this, Li Meng fell for his next-door neighbor Li Xueqi who was eight years older than him, as Li Xueqi treated him very well since he was young. She was the only source of warmth in his bitter childhood, and it was only because of her that Li Meng didn¡¯t inherit his grandfather and father¡¯s bad personality traits. The reason Li Meng went into the water was that he found out that Li Xueqi was sick, so he wanted to go to Willow River to catch a tortoise for Li Xueqi to fortify her body. Alas, this intention of his was affected by the resentment enveloping his house, and with the help of the water ghost in the Willow River, he was drowned to death, causing the Li family to be without descendants. At this point, it had to be said that because of Li Meng¡¯s grandfather¡¯s mistake, Li Meng¡¯s father only managed to obtain this son outside. When he remarried, his new wife conceived three daughters consecutively, but she miscarried two of them, and the only one who survived was plagued with disease and had to take medicine all the time. Hence, even though his stepmother disliked Li Meng, so long as Li Meng¡¯s old man was still alive, she dared not go overboard. At the moment of his death, the person who came into Li Meng¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t his family or his crush Li Xueqi, but his biological mother, whose looks had already faded in his memory. To sum it up, this was a youth who lacked motherly love. Although he found consolation in his big sister neighbor, his love for his biological mother couldn¡¯t be replaced by anything else. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t help feeling a sour sensation in his heart, and his eyes turned moist. He thought of his parents at home. They had been worrying about him for many years. After he started working, he had been busy trying to make money. Come to think of it now, he felt ashamed, because he had never missed his parents at home. Regardless of the reason, he couldn¡¯t conceal his heart, his lack of filial piety. After settling this Stone City matter, I need to find time to go back and accompany my family more. Else, no matter how much money I make, it will all be in vain. ¡°I get it. Your obsession is wanting to see your biological mother again, right?¡± Chen Hao asked. Li Meng nodded hopefully. ¡°Can it be done? I¡¯ve already forgotten what she looks like. Dad never told me her name and address either.¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you.¡± The elated Li Meng¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. He had been hoping for this for more than ten years. Although he was dead now, he never forgot about his mother. Merely thinking about it made his heart palpitate. The bond between two blood-related people indeed couldn¡¯t be easily broken. Their conversation made the long-sleeved water ghost suddenly think of something. It seemed to understand something now. Then, it smiled, and there was a bright glow in his eyes. [Ding-Dong: Water ghost Zhao Yuan, vengeful ghost of 106 years. Fulfill his dying wish and be awarded 10 years¡¯ worth of Dao Attainment] Shua! Chen Hao suddenly got up, a drastic change in his countenance. Dao Attainment! He finally saw Dao Attainment! Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn! I¡¯ll take this! Whatever it takes! Chen Hao couldn¡¯t contain his excitement as he looked at the long-sleeved water ghost with a scorching gaze. Were the heavens finally opening their eyes? There was no action for a long time, and suddenly, a double voice cracker! What¡¯s more, there was also the Dao Attainment that he had been longing for. Awesome! The long-sleeved water ghost Zhao Yuan was startled, unable to understand why this master was so excited. ¡°You understand your obsession now, right. Tell me about it.¡± Chen Hao tried his best to calm down. He sat down, then guided him with a teacher-like voice. Zhao Yuan didn¡¯t dare hesitate and quickly recounted his story. Different from Li Meng, this Zhao Yuan had a tragic story. But similarly, his obsession was his mother. One hundred over years ago, during the feudal period when great changes were taking place, Zhao Yuan was born in a large family, the Zhao family. That was a large family that occupied a large plot of land. Zhao Yuan¡¯s father was a collateral relative of the Zhao family and originally was under the protection of his collateral family. Zhao Yuan¡¯s father made a living with his farmlands and was also a pretty good hunter, so his family led a passable life. But during that era, the chaos caused by the war was commonplace. In order to ensure its family¡¯s prosperity, the Zhao family organized a convoy. Because Zhao Yuan¡¯s father had pretty good marksmanship skills, and also in order to obtain some meager wages, his father joined the convoy. But too bad. During one joint attack of ruffians, Zhao Yuan¡¯s father died during the chaos. Although the ruffians were ultimately defeated, the Zhao family suddenly lost their pillar of support and lived in hardship thereafter. Thankfully, Zhao Yuan loved learning since young and displayed great talent in studying. His mother had pinned all her hopes on him and worked hard to raise him. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that it was a turbulent era, perhaps Zhao Yuan might have had the chance to bring glory to his ancestors and become an important pillar of strength for the large Zhao family. But after Zhao Yuan grew up, the feudal dynasty dissolved. With that, he lost his chance to seek scholarly honor or official rank. Plus, a weak and defenseless scholar like him could only drift with the tide during that era. Never mind reviving his family, he even had difficulty feeding himself. Zhao Yuan had no choice but to accept the invitation of a scholar friend to go to a rich man¡¯s house in the city to work as a private tutor, in order to earn some money and support his family. That was the last he saw of his loved ones, and they were since separated by life and death. The two scholars ran into bandits on their way and were murdered and robbed of their money, and their corpses were discarded into the river. Nonetheless, the two scholars were indeed influenced by the teachings of Confucius, so even though they died an unnatural death, they didn¡¯t turn into ferocious ghosts. They had been hiding their yin bodies under the Willow River and receiving protection from the spiritual aura of the river all these years. But time changes everything. Just a year ago, Zhao Yuan¡¯s good friend finally could no longer tolerate this endless waiting. Seeing no end in view, he thought of a vicious method. And that was to find a scapegoat so that he could be reincarnated as a human and get to enjoy a wonderful life in this prosperous age. Zhao Yuan tried talking him out of it, but his efforts were in vain. In the end, Li Meng was killed. Too bad that good friend of his wasn¡¯t reincarnated as he had hoped. After his good friend caused the death of the boy, no reincarnation opportunity appeared. Thus, it became more hot-tempered and vicious and even started brewing even more sinister and evil plans. Later, Chen Hao appeared. One magical artifact and he made that good friend go back to square one. Never mind what vicious plans, he was now hiding in Willow River and didn¡¯t even have the guts to come out anymore. Zhao Yuan¡¯s obsession was to see the mother who painstakingly brought him up one last time. ¡°Are you pulling my leg?¡± Chen Hao was speechless. Chapter 28 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing Zhao Yuan¡¯s look of anticipation, Chen Hao felt a headache. Never mind Li Meng. What¡¯s the deal with you? You¡¯ve been dead for over a hundred years. Even if your mother lived a long life, she couldn¡¯t possibly still be alive today, right? How am I supposed to help you? But the temptation of ten years¡¯ worth of Dao Attainment was too great. If he missed this chance, who knew when the next opportunity would come? Chen Hao said awkwardly, ¡°Pal, it¡¯s not that I refuse to help you. Just think about it, you¡¯ve passed away for so many years. I suppose you¡¯ve visited your hometown. Can your mother still be possibly alive?¡± Zhao Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°After I passed away, my yin body was hindered by the spiritual aura of the Willow River, so I haven¡¯t been able to return to my hometown. By the time I could leave, my hometown had undergone a great change. The Zhao family of the past was no longer in existence and the village had turned into a dilapidated one. My mother was also nowhere to be found. Later, I asked around and found out that the rebels had passed by the place and carried out a massacre. The Zhao family had no choice but to move. After my mother was taken away, no one heard anything from her. All these years I have searched for her everywhere but to no avail. Master, I don¡¯t ask that you let me see my mother alive. So long as my mother¡¯s grave can be found, I¡¯d be happy just to be able to pay my respects to her.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s expression eased greatly. If that were the case, it would be much easier. Nodding his head, Chen Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s not too difficult, but it¡¯s also not something that can be done in a short period of time. After all, it happened more than one hundred years ago and there isn¡¯t any record. It¡¯ll take me some time to check. You have to wait patiently.¡± Zhao Yuan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve already waited over a hundred years, I don¡¯t mind waiting for some more time.¡± Heaving a sigh of relief, Chen Hao gazed towards Zhou Gang and said with a smile, ¡°Brother Zhou, it¡¯s time I trouble you again. Do you think it¡¯s difficult?¡± Zhou Gang speechlessly glanced at Chen Hao. How readily you agreed. But it¡¯s not so easily done. It happened more than a hundred years ago. Back then our noble country had yet to be founded. This isn¡¯t much easier than solving a murder case with no leads. But Zhou Gang wouldn¡¯t reject him. After all, he had just established the trust between them. He couldn¡¯t break it at such a crucial time. Moreover, after seeing a ghost for himself, Zhou Gang felt pretty excited. After solving so many cases, he had never encountered a case involving ghosts. This made Zhou Gang think of the legendary Justice Bao1, who could bring the living to trial during the day and judge the matters of the dead during the night. He dared not compare himself with Justice Bao, but he was a predecessor he hoped to emulate. Gritting his teeth, Zhou Gang nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to check. But I need sufficiently detailed information.¡± It would naturally be best to have the help of the police. Zhao Yuan quickly told him everything he knew. As he was told more and more information, Zhou Gang¡¯s expression calmed down. So long as there were clues, he would be able to check on them and find out. After all, since their country was founded, there were records kept in all places. For a large family like the Zhaos moving, regardless of where they went, there would be records. But when Chen Hao asked him to help with Li Meng¡¯s matter as well, Zhou Gang nearly cussed. However, with Li Meng around, he couldn¡¯t very well say anything, so he merely agreed with an expressionless face. After the big and small water ghosts left satisfied, Zhou Gang then said to Chen Hao, ¡°Brother, do you know how Li Meng¡¯s family is doing now?¡± Chen Hao was astounded. ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡± Zhou Gang said in a displeased manner, ¡°Li Meng¡¯s grandfather has passed away five years ago. One year ago, after Li Meng drowned to death, his father went crazy. Li Meng¡¯s stepmother took her daughter overseas with her, and it¡¯s hard to find her now. Do you think that¡¯s a problem?¡± Chen Hao was startled. ¡°So bad? Then, isn¡¯t it impossible to find Li Meng¡¯s mother¡¯s information now?¡± Zhou Gang shook his head and said, ¡°Very hard. Compared to this Zhao Yuan¡¯s case of more than a hundred years ago, Li Meng¡¯s matter is more troublesome. Because when Li Meng¡¯s father fled back then, he changed to a different name outside and rarely revealed his information. What we know is that Li Meng¡¯s father hid in Qingzhou, but Qingzhou is such a huge place with a population in the millions. We don¡¯t even know if his mother is a local. If not, it¡¯s really like fishing for a needle in a haystack. Hopes of finding her are extremely slim.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s countenance changed. He had made a promise. It would be troublesome if it couldn¡¯t be done. The reason an obsession was called an obsession was that it was as good as a lock binding the ghost. Once the ghost told his obsession, if it couldn¡¯t be done, that ghost would probably go crazy and could easily transform into a ferocious ghost. Chen Hao paused for a moment before asking, ¡°How crazy is Li Meng¡¯s father?¡± Zhou Gang said with a sigh, ¡°Delirious. Shoots off his mouth. Basically a goner. He¡¯s now trapped in a mental hospital and waiting for death.¡± Chen Hao clenched his teeth and said, ¡°Go and investigate Zhao Yuan¡¯s family first. I¡¯ll go and look for Li Meng¡¯s father and think of a solution.¡± After agreeing on their plans, Zhou Gang asked Yang Hui to come out. ¡°Have they left?¡± Yang Hui asked cautiously. Zhou Gang nodded, with excitement still lingering in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve really expanded my horizons today, my three moral outlooks nearly collapsed.¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t say this, Brother Zhou. Every civilization has a unique mark. For us China, our Daoism culture has a long history. Even in today¡¯s technologically-advanced world, everyone still has respect and awe for the heavens. It could be said that our three moral outlooks also encompasses information about ghosts and demons. Else, that instant where you saw the ghost, you wouldn¡¯t have been so composed.¡± Zhou Gang considered his words for a moment, then nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, Hao¡¯zi. I liked to act as Sun Wukong when I was little and also enjoyed listening to the Eight Immortals legend. I had always been curious about the gods, it¡¯s just that I had never seen one before, so I was doubtful. Now that I finally saw a ghost, I felt so astounded.¡± ¡°Err, does that affect our family?¡± Yang Hui was a woman, after all, so her focus was different. Chen Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister-in-law. These two ghosts are sensible and know not to leave their dark energy in the house. But this also reminds me. After I settle the matters of these two ghosts, I¡¯ll help Sister-in-law construct a blessed magical artifact that protects the house. So that no ghosts will dare come near here.¡± The overjoyed Yang Hui quickly nodded. ¡°Thanks for the trouble, Hao¡¯zi. Aiyah, the food has turned cold. I¡¯ll go and heat it up for you. And also make some food for Blackie.¡± It was fine after that. They ate and drank, and the black cat finally got a taste of good food, which nearly made it shed tears of joy. Ah, it was not easy. To obtain a meal it had to be played around by a little brat, and the little brat nearly tore off a few of its whiskers. After eating and drinking, with Tongtong looking unwilling to part, with much trepidation, the black cat urged Chen Hao to leave. After getting back to his rented apartment, Chen Hao bathed then laid on his bed and started looking up information on Li Meng¡¯s family on his phone. Li Meng had drowned to death, and Stone City had reported on this before, so he easily found this news. He then saw some related comments. After taking a look at the comments, Chen Hao sighed. Many of the comments were written by people familiar with Li Meng, and some were very detailed. The pitiful state of Li Meng¡¯s family also attracted much sympathy. But after understanding what Li Meng¡¯s grandfather had done, Chen Hao felt that where there was a cause, there would be a consequence. The younger generation reaped the fruits of what the older generation sowed. Likewise, the younger generation suffered retribution for the evil deeds done by the older generation. Chapter 29 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The next day. Chen Hao woke up early in the morning and, after a simple breakfast with the black cat, took a bus to Stone City Mental Hospital. Stone City Mental Hospital was originally just an ordinary mental hospital. But eight years ago a doctor was struck by an idea and invented a technique called electrotherapy. In the end, due to improper use and causing the deaths of a few mental patients, it created a huge hoo-ha all over town, making the mental hospital very notorious. It even became a scare tactic adults used with children thereafter. Li Meng¡¯s father was locked there to receive treatment. Chen Hao had no idea how mad Li Meng¡¯s father was, whether he could find out anything from the latter. But this was the only way to help Li Meng now. Half an hour later, Chen Hao arrived at the mental hospital and, after registering, found Li Meng¡¯s father Li Feng. Chen Hao was stunned by what he saw. According to Li Meng¡¯s age, Li Feng was merely forty or so. But with his head half full of white hairs and an aged face, he resembled an old man in his fifties or sixties. Li Feng was constantly in a state of terror, mumbling to himself, looking rather uneasy. He was bound to his bed by a uniform designated for mentally ill patients. The nurse leading the way for Chen Hao told him that Li Feng¡¯s condition was very complicated and it was of no use even if they injected him with a tranquilizer. Once he was awake he became a maniac, and there was nothing they could do about him. After affecting other patients on several occasions, the hospital arranged him to be locked by himself in a room and generally didn¡¯t allow him to go out. The nurse also reminded Chen Hao not to agitate Li Feng, else it would invoke a strong response in him. They would then have to force this visiting session to come to an end. Chen Hao quickly said something nice, and the nurse then opened the door for him. After entering, Chen Hao didn¡¯t speak and merely sit in front of Li Meng and listened to his words. Too bad Li Feng totally wasn¡¯t conscious of what he was saying¡ªhe was talking nonsense and sounded inarticulate, and Chen Hao wasn¡¯t able to make out a word of what he was saying. Looking at Li Feng¡¯s aura, Chen Hao noticed that there was still residual dark energy on him, and his own aura was also murky. Clearly, he didn¡¯t entirely go crazy because of his son¡¯s drowning¡ªthere was also the influence of the residual dark energy on him. So ruthless! Chen Hao couldn¡¯t help sighing. Back then those few people whose deaths were caused by Li Meng¡¯s grandfather must have suffered great torment, such that even after their yin bodies evaporated, their residual dark energy still carried out such vicious revenge. But now that he had found the cause, things became easier. Chen Hao took out a jade Buddha magical artifact from his cloth sack and pressed it between Li Feng¡¯s brows. Momentarily, the jade Buddha exuded a Dharmic Aura and dispelled the dark energy on Li Feng. After the dark energy was dispelled, Li Feng behaved much more normally¡ªat least he stopped trembling. Chen Hao didn¡¯t shift it away and continued to observe. After that, he found that the magical artifact actually managed to condition Li Feng¡¯s aura. His originally murky aura slowly started to subside. Thereafter, Li Feng stopped mumbling to himself and his gaze became less terror-stricken and slightly more focused. ¡°Where¡­ is this?¡± Li Feng suddenly murmured softly. The overjoyed Chen Hao hurriedly asked, ¡°Hello, Li Feng. I¡¯m a friend of your son Li Meng. I¡¯d like to ask. What¡¯s the name of Li Meng¡¯s mother?¡± ¡°Li Meng¡¯s mother? Xiao Hong, is she back? Where is she?¡± Li Feng¡¯s tone suddenly changed, and it now had a hint of agitation and desire. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered about what he was thinking. He felt it was most important to ask him for more information while he was sober. ¡°She didn¡¯t come back. But what¡¯s Xiao Hong¡¯s surname? My house is over there. I¡¯ll get Li Meng to bring her over, okay?¡± Chen Hao tried guiding him. ¡°Yeah, she won¡¯t be coming back. Xiao Hong won¡¯t be coming back. She has abandoned me and Xiao Meng. She abandoned¡­¡± Li Feng¡¯s tone started to become abnormal, and his breathing got heavier. It was clear he had thought of something and suffered agitation. Anxious, Chen Hao said in a deep voice, ¡°Tell me where she is. I¡¯ll capture her and make her not leave you forever. Quickly tell.¡± ¡°Channel Mountain Lane¡­ who are you? What are you trying to do? Help, someone is trying to kill me! Help!¡± Before he finished his words, Li Feng suddenly exploded. He appeared seized by terror and suddenly seemed to have great strength, making loud banging noises against the bed underneath him. Without waiting for Chen Hao to react, the nurse outside rushed into the room and pulled him over. She glared at him and berated. ¡°I told you not to agitate the patient. Why didn¡¯t you listen? Hurry up and leave.¡± Then, without waiting for Chen Hao to explain, she shoved him out of the ward. The nurse then took out a small needle and injected Li Feng with it in a skilled manner. Within the span of a few breaths, Li Feng rolled his eyes and fell slumped on the bed. Chen Hao was speechless. Damn. I haven¡¯t even finished talking! Why did he suddenly snap? What¡¯s the meaning of Channel Mountain Lane? Which place has such a name? Don¡¯t tell me Xiao Hong is a foreign chick?¡± But since Li Feng was injected with a tranquilizer, there was nothing he could do. Chen Hao could only leave embarrassed under the nurse¡¯s glaring eyes. Although it wasn¡¯t a very fruitful trip, at least with two pieces of information he found a direction to further his investigation. After exiting the mental hospital, Chen Hao took out his phone and called Zhou Gang. The phone rang twice before Zhou Gang answered it. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, how is it? Did you find out anything?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Found out a bit. Li Feng addresses Li Meng¡¯s mother as Xiao Hong, so I¡¯m guessing there¡¯s a Hong in her name. As for her address, it¡¯s called Channel Mountain Lane¡­ then Li Feng¡¯s madness struck again and I was chased out.¡± Zhou Gang was speechless. ¡°Alright, to be able to find out these from a lunatic is not bad already. Mm, I¡¯ll check using the internal system and see if I can find a clue from this information. Wait a moment.¡± Zhou Gang then hung up the phone. There was nothing Chen Hao could do but wait. Regardless, he absolutely couldn¡¯t give up on these two missions. Waving a hand, the black cat that had been hiding in the grass next to the hospital jumped out. Chen Hao lifted it into his arms before leaving. Before Chen Hao got back to his rented apartment, Zhou Gang¡¯s call came again. ¡°I found it. Channel is a county below Qingzhou, and Mountain Lane is a village in Channel County. I searched for names with the word ¡®Hong¡¯ in that village and found a compatible match. I found her contact via a classmate of mine at the police academy. Do you want to try contacting her?¡± Delight could be detected in Zhou Gang¡¯s voice. He had thought that this was going to be the most arduous task, but surprisingly, Chen Hao managed to obtain information from the lunatic. Tracking down using the police internal information network, it turned out to be the easiest task, which caught him by surprise. Chen Hao was elated. He quickly asked for the number and dialed over immediately. The call got through very quickly, and a female voice with a heavy accent answered, ¡°Hello.¡± Suppressing his excitement, Chen Hao said, ¡°Hello, are you Madam Wei Xiuhong?¡± ¡°I am. Who are you?¡± ¡°My name is Chen Hao. A boy called Li Meng asked me to help him find¡­¡± Beep¡ª Suddenly, the line was cut, leaving Chen Hao dumbfounded. What¡¯s going on? I haven¡¯t even finished my words and you hung up? Did I get the wrong person? That shouldn¡¯t be the case. If he got the wrong person, the person on the other end would at least politely remind him that, instead of hanging up directly. And if not, another normal reaction would be to scold him or something. Trouble! Gaze flickering, Chen Hao hurriedly called the number again. ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is not available¡­¡± Chen Hao was speechless. Chapter 30 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Damn. She turned off her phone? What¡¯s the meaning of this! Chen Hao was so furious he nearly slammed his phone. But anger aside, Chen Hao was more or less certain that this Wei Xiuhong was Li Meng¡¯s mother. But what exactly happened between Wei Xiuhong and Li Feng back then? Such that she was showing this attitude when she heard the name of her biological son! Chen Hao felt a headache. Although he had found the person, it didn¡¯t seem like it was of much use. If Wei Xiuhong didn¡¯t change her attitude, even if they met, it might not be a heartwarming scene of the reunion between mother and son. Instead, Li Meng would find himself to have waited in vain for more than ten years, and his love might turn into hatred, resulting in unforeseeable consequences! Indeed, his newbie mission was welfare¡ªhe only had to bluff his way through. But now that he formally started his missions, there was either a problem with the ghosts or the humans. How torturous! After some pondering, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t think of a better solution, so he called Zhou Gang. ¡°How did it go? Is she Li Meng¡¯s mother?¡± Zhou Gang asked curiously. Chen Hao said, ¡°I think so. But there was a little hiccup.¡± Zhou Gang said, ¡°What hiccup?¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°Wei Xiuhong hung up on me.¡± Zhou Gang was speechless. Chen Hao said with a sigh, ¡°Seems like I need to trouble you to help me confirm Wei Xiuhong¡¯s exact address, Brother. If I still can¡¯t communicate with her, I can only go to find her personally.¡± Zhou Gang said, ¡°I¡¯ll go and ask my classmate. But seeing her attitude, I wouldn¡¯t carry much hope. Hao¡¯zi, you need to be mentally prepared.¡± Chen Hao felt sour inside. For his Dipper Steps, even if there was no hope, he had to create it! ¡°Right. How¡¯s your investigation on Zhao Yuan coming along?¡± Chen Hao asked. Zhou Gang said, ¡°Not too smoothly. There are too few records on the Zhao family. Moreover, they moved over a hundred years ago. I plan to send someone to Zhao Yuan¡¯s hometown to check on some old documents. Perhaps I¡¯ll find a clue from there.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll trouble you then, Brother. When this matter is resolved, I¡¯ll give you a gift as a token of my appreciation. Don¡¯t reject me. It¡¯s not money or anything like that, just some little trinkets that serve to protect its owner. Perhaps, in the future, if you run into some paranormal stuff, it can protect you.¡± Zhou Gang had wanted to reject, but upon hearing his last sentence, he smiled and accepted. Having met a real ghost, as someone who fought crime on the frontline, he really wasn¡¯t sure if he would one day encounter some ¡°dirty¡± things. A protective amulet could help to protect his life. In the afternoon, Chen Hao went to Zhou Gang¡¯s place to take the cat food Yang Hui helped him get for the black cat. Yang Hui had obtained this from her bestie. After all, Chen Hao¡¯s order would take several days to arrive, and surely the black cat couldn¡¯t go hungry in the meantime. Chen Hao then recalled that he hadn¡¯t paid for the cat food, so he transferred ten thousand yuan to Yang Hui and told her to keep the rest and continue buying with the remaining money after the cat food was finished. By the time he returned to his rented apartment, it was nearly evening. Chen Hao fixed a serving of cat food for the black cat according to Yang Hui¡¯s instruction, and indeed, from the approving glances the black cat threw his way from time to time, it seemed to be enjoying the food. Caught between laughter and tears, Chen Hao glanced at the shredded potato stir-fry, chili fried egg, and white rice he bought from the roadside, feeling fate¡¯s malicious intent. F*ck, who¡¯s the master here! Just as he was about to imagine these ordinary dishes as expensive delicacies, his phone suddenly rang. Chen Hao picked it up and froze, surprised to see that it came from Wei Xiuhong! Damn, didn¡¯t you hang up on me? Didn¡¯t you turn your phone off? Why are you taking the initiative to call? Do you believe I¡¯ll hang up on you too? Chen Hao twitched his mouth haughtily. But now wasn¡¯t the time to be wilful. Chen Hao hurriedly answered the call and said, trying hard to sound as gentle as possible, ¡°Sister Wei, hello.¡± ¡°Is Xiao¡­ Xiao Meng there?¡± A heavily accented voice spoke in shaky Mandarin. Chen Hao¡¯s expression froze. After some thought, he said, ¡°Sister Wei, I¡¯m going to tell you something, but you need to be mentally prepared for it. Xiao Meng is dead.¡± ¡°What? How is it possible? Xiao Meng is only thirteen. He¡¯s so young, how can he be dead? You¡¯re lying to me, right? Earlier today you even told me Xiao Meng is looking for me.¡± Wei Xiuhong¡¯s tone erupted instantly, sounding incredulous and shocked. Chen Hao said, ¡°You might not believe it, Sister. I¡¯m a priest, and by chance, I met Li Meng¡¯s spirit. He has an obsession now, and that is to see his mother, whom he had never met before. This is why he can¡¯t be reincarnated. I wish to do a sending for his soul, so my friend at the police station helped me find your contact. I wanted to ask you if it¡¯s convenient for you to make a trip to Stone City?¡± Sobbing sounds were instantly heard over the phone. She sounded like she was suppressing herself, but Chen Hao could imagine the grief a mother felt upon learning her child was no longer alive. But why did she hang up on him earlier? Did she think he was a fraud? ¡°Why? Why did this happen? Where¡¯s Li Feng? How did he take care of the child? Why didn¡¯t he die!¡± Wei Xiuhong spoke again, her voice filled with fury. Chen Hao said, ¡°Li Feng isn¡¯t dead. But he¡¯s mad now and locked up in Stone City Mental Hospital. I think he won¡¯t recover.¡± ¡°Went mad? Hmph. This is retribution,¡± Wei Xiuhong said ferociously as she gloated over his plight. Chen Hao was speechless. Clearly, there must be a story between the two of them back then, else she wouldn¡¯t be saying something like this. After Wei Xiuhong finished ranting, Chen Hao said, ¡°Sister Wei, I won¡¯t ask you about what happened between you and Li Feng. Now Li Meng wishes to see you, or else he won¡¯t be able to be reincarnated. As a mother, I hope you can give me a reply. If you consent, I¡¯ll make arrangements for the two of you. If not, I also need to notify Li Meng.¡± Suddenly, Wei Xiuhong lost her voice. Just as Chen Hao thought this woman had qualms and wanted to reject him, she suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ll come tomorrow. Where are you staying, Master?¡± The elated Chen Hao quickly told her his address, then said, ¡°Sister Wei, to prevent you from thinking I¡¯m a fraud, you can get someone to accompany you here. It¡¯s safer¡­¡± Beep¡ª Chen Hao was speechless. Fine. This big sister is truly a candid woman. Okay, then. Now that there was hope for his mission, Chen Hao¡¯s mood was vastly different from a moment ago. The little dishes before him looked more pleasing to the eyes now and he started eating merrily. Having eaten its fill, the black cat was now lying on Chen Hao¡¯s bed and staring at him with a look of contempt. This rubbish owner. The way he eats is so ugly. It was fine throughout the night. Early the next morning, Chen Hao was scratched awake by the black cat, which then pointed at the spot where the cat food was kept and gave him an expression of ¡°you know what to do¡±. Chen Hao, who was having a beautiful dream of transforming into a sword deity and flying about, had an aggrieved look on his face and felt super annoyed. I must have been muddle-headed to have brought this little glutton back. Not only does it eat such expensive stuff, but it also disrupts my beautiful dream. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you¡¯re a cat demon and there¡¯s value in training you, I would have stewed you by now. Getting out of bed feeling annoyed, Chen Hao quickly fixed the cat food. Seeing the black cat eating merrily, he snickered in his heart. Fine, go ahead and eat happily. Now that you¡¯re eating my food, if in future I run into any danger, you will be my cat shield. Chapter 31 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After a simple breakfast, Chen Hao began to get busy. Wei Xiuhong had promised to come to see Li Meng, so he had to make some preparations. After all, Li Meng wasn¡¯t able to show his form before humans yet, so he needed to use some means to help Wei Xiuhong see him. Or, separated by life and death, she wouldn¡¯t be able to see anything. How was she going to believe that a ghost was standing in front of her? There were varied rumored ways in different places to let ordinary people see ghosts. Chen Hao knew of a few such methods. Dip a fresh willow leaf in moving water and cover one¡¯s eyes with it, smearing one¡¯s eyes with cow¡¯s tears, tapping one¡¯s eyes with cinnabar. There was also looking over your shoulder at night, burn incense papers while wearing a black robe at night, etc. Never mind the more complicated methods. Chen Hao pondered for a moment and decided to prepare some willow leaves and cow¡¯s tears. This folklore had been passed down for thousands of years, and in the past, Chen Hao might have felt dubious about this, but now he absolutely believed it. But while willow leaves were fine, seeing as it was the season where they grew in abundance and could be seen everywhere. As for cow¡¯s tears¡­ the only thing that could be found in the city was beef noodles. Without a choice, he had to take a bus down to the village below Stone City. After much walking and asking around, Chen Hao finally found a family that reared cows. But when Chen Hao asked for cow¡¯s tears, the old farmer asked for money, and it wasn¡¯t a small amount either¡ªone hundred yuan for one teardrop. Chen Hao nearly cussed at him. Are you a robber! Even 500g of your beef isn¡¯t worth a hundred yuan! But the old farmer calmly expressed that this was the market price. That he had been doing business for a few years, and that he was honest with all customers. Stunned, it was only after asking that Chen Hao found out that talk of ghosts and monsters were rather popular all these years. Someone in Stone City wanted to, in accordance with ancient folklore, see what a ghost looked like, and it happened that the old farmer had a nearly twenty-year-old ox that was rather famous. Hence, many youngsters came to buy from him, and they were rather generous too. As a result, within the short span of a few years, this cow¡¯s tears¡ªwhich used to be not worth even a single dime¡ªrose to 20 yuan and subsequently even fetched an exorbitant price of 100 yuan. Chen Hao gritted his teeth upon hearing this, silently cursing those youngsters who had no idea of danger. But since he urgently needed the cow¡¯s tears, and the effects of the ox were better, he could only spend this money. After painfully parting with 500 yuan, the old farmer generously gave him an extra tear for free and also welcomed Chen Hao to patronize him again. Patronize your head. No way am I coming back again. After leaving with the cow¡¯s tears, Chen Hao went to pluck some fresh willow branches by the riverside, and also retrieved the spring water from Stream Mountain, to be used later. Looking at the time, it was already 2 pm, and there was no news from Wei Xiuhong yet. Could that woman have regretted it overnight? How can I let this happen? Worried, Chen Hao dialed Wei Xiuhong¡¯s number. Wei Xiuhong very quickly answered it and said in her heavily accented Mandarin, ¡°Master Chen, we¡¯re reaching Stone City soon. Can you wait for us at the entrance of the Stone City police station?¡± Chen Hao chuckled to himself. Indeed, she didn¡¯t trust him. Arranging the venue at the entrance of the police station, and once she discovered something was wrong, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. But he wasn¡¯t a fraud, so he was fine meeting anywhere. After agreeing, Chen Hao gave Zhou Gang a call and told him Wei Xiuhong was coming and that she asked to meet him at the entrance of the police station. Zhou Gang laughed upon hearing this. ¡°Seems like you don¡¯t have credibility, Hao¡¯zi. She doesn¡¯t trust you.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Never mind if she trusts me or not. In any case, after I do a sending for Li Meng¡¯s soul, we won¡¯t be crossing paths again. Mm, just in case, Brother Zhou, you should join in, lest she suspects me.¡± Zhou Gang readily agreed. When he arrived at the entrance of the police station, Zhou Gang was already there waiting for him. At the sight of Chen Hao, he quickly came out to welcome him. ¡°Tell me what I should say when I meet her,¡± Zhou Gang asked. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Nothing much. Just reassure Wei Xiuhong that I¡¯m not a fraud.¡± Zhou Gang nodded. ¡°Right. If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my eyes, you¡¯d count yourself lucky if I don¡¯t beat you up after receiving such a call from you.¡± Chen Hao said with a sigh, ¡°It¡¯s not easy to cultivate these days. Unlike in the olden days. If I say I¡¯m a master with Dao Attainment, no one would dare doubt and test me.¡± Just then, his phone rang. Chen Hao picked it up and saw that the caller was Wei Xiuhong. He quickly answered the call. ¡°Master Chen, are you there yet?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in the police station. Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at the entrance. Please come out.¡± Chen Hao hurriedly exited the police station and saw a black Mercedes Benz parked by the roadside. The car window of the Mercedes Benz was rolled down, and a woman in her thirties holding a phone was waving at Chen Hao. Damn. Isn¡¯t this Wei Xiuhong from the village? How can she afford a Mercedes? Chen Hao was kind of shocked. After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao saw three people getting out of the Mercedes. Other than Wei Xiuhong, there was a guy and a girl in their early twenties. The three of them came to Chen Hao and sized him up without any qualms. Especially the young man and woman. After taking a look at him, they looked rather disappointed. ¡°Sister, is this a true master? He¡¯s so young, he seems even younger than me. Is he a fraud?¡± The guy spoke with a look of disbelief. The girl, however, appeared calm. She asked Chen Hao, ¡°You¡¯re Master Chen?¡± Chen Hao smiled. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Regarding Li Meng¡¯s matter, we¡¯ve already found some news online. To Sister Hong, this is indeed a great blow. But, Sister Hong has worked in our house as a nanny for more than ten years. She¡¯s no different from our kin. So, you need to be responsible for your words and actions. If you dare to deceive Sister Hong, you need to be aware of the consequences.¡± She was threatening him? He couldn¡¯t help it. His young appearance was indeed to his disadvantage. For the sake of his mission, he had to tolerate it. Chen Hao nodded. ¡°Whether it¡¯s real or not, you¡¯ll understand it when you see it. Mm, you two, to guarantee I¡¯m not a fraud, I¡¯ve invited Captain Zhou of the Stone City police force to come along with us. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask at the police station.¡± Oh! The young siblings appeared shocked. He was asking a police officer to follow them when doing something like this? Could he really not be a fraud? Just then, knowing it was time for him to make his appearance, Zhou Gang walked up to them and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Gang from the Stone City police. If the two of you have any concerns, I can vouch for Master Chen. If something happens, I¡¯ll be responsible for you.¡± ¡°Zhou Gang, legendary detective, guardian of Stone City! I¡¯ve heard of your name. A classmate of mine admires you greatly. You even inspired him to enroll in the police academy.¡± The young man marveled in shock, staring at Zhou Gang in astonishment. Zhou Gang said, ¡°You flatter me. I¡¯m only a police officer that serves the people. You¡¯re over-complimenting me by calling me a guardian or something.¡± But since Zhou Gang said it himself, that meant this wasn¡¯t a fraudulent case. After all, a highly reputed police officer wouldn¡¯t ruin his future for a little bit of money. The girl glanced at Chen Hao in surprise, before saying, ¡°Alright, Master Chen, what do we need to do?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. We¡¯re going to Li Meng¡¯s house now. At night, when the mother and son meet, Li Meng¡¯s obsession will be resolved, and he can then be reincarnated. That¡¯s all there is to this matter. Don¡¯t worry, the process isn¡¯t complex. I won¡¯t ask you to fork out any money.¡± Chapter 32 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Evening, Li family village. Night had descended, and it was dark all around. The two cars were parked outside the village. Chen Hao, carrying an annoyed-looking black cat, Zhou Gang, as well as Wei Xiuhong and her two companions got out of their cars, sizing up their surroundings with curious looks. With a police officer accompanying them, Wei Xiuhong and her company no longer felt worried. Now, they felt more of anticipation, curiosity, and also¡­ fear. After all, they were about to see a ghost. Even if it was Sister Hong¡¯s son, that was still a ghost. With Chen Hao leading the way, the five of them arrived beside the Willow River, the place where Li Meng drowned. Under the river, three clusters of dark energy were awakened. Without wasting a moment, Chen Hao called out for Li Meng. They then saw two clusters of dark energy fly out from under the water and land in front of Chen Hao. They transformed into their yin bodies¡ªit was Zhao Yuan and Li Meng. Seeing Chen Hao come with a group of people, the two ghosts stared at Chen Hao in anticipation. Chen Hao said apologetically, ¡°Zhao Yuan, sorry. Your matter happened too long ago, I haven¡¯t found any news of it yet. I only managed to find Li Meng¡¯s mother.¡± Although disappointed, Zhao Yuan still smiled. After all, since Chen Hao was able to help Li Meng find his family, he would be able to help him. It was just a matter of time. Li Meng, on the other hand, looked giddy with delight, his scorching gaze fixed upon Wei Xiuhong. The oldest one in the group was her. And carefully looking, one would discover Li Meng and Wei Xiuhong had rather similar features. Clearly, Li Meng took after his mother in terms of appearance. ¡°Mom! Mom!¡± Tears slipped down Li Meng¡¯s face. But as those tears were in the form of dark energy, they instantly disappeared. When he agitatedly pounced over, he slipped right through Wei Xiuhong, catching him by surprise. Chen Hao quickly explained, ¡°Li Meng, you have a yin body now, and your cultivation isn¡¯t sufficient. You won¡¯t be able to interact with humans. And don¡¯t easily pass through people¡¯s bodies¡ªit¡¯s not going to do your mother¡¯s health any good.¡± Li Meng didn¡¯t dare move recklessly now. He stared eagerly at Chen Hao. Because his mother wasn¡¯t able to see him, his eyes were reddened and his expression was anxious. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve prepared some things to help your mother see you.¡± Chen Hao then took out a willow branch, spring water, and cow¡¯s tears. Upon seeing the willow branch, Chen Hao sighed. Indeed, he was right to have backup plans. The willow branch had withered, the spiritual aura on the willow leaf had dissipated, and even the spring water had lost its spiritual aura, which meant it was useless now. Thankfully, the cow¡¯s tears were alright¡ªhe hadn¡¯t spent his money in vain. Chen Hao took out the cow¡¯s tears and said to Wei Xiuhong, ¡°Sister, please close your eyes. I will help you smear cow¡¯s tears on them. This way, you¡¯ll get to see your son.¡± Wei Xiuhong, who had long been impatient, hurriedly stuck out her head and closed her eyes. Chen Hao tapped a little of the cow¡¯s tears and smeared it upon Wei Xiuhong¡¯s eyelids, then asked her to open her eyes. After blinking her eyes, Wei Xiuhong instantly discovered two more people with them. One big and one small, both drenched and dripping with water, and with ghastly pale complexions. She was initially startled, but after she saw Li Meng, she couldn¡¯t shift her eyes away from him. Mother and son were connected by blood relations. Wei Xiuhong felt a sense of closeness the instant she saw him. This is my child! ¡°Xiao Meng, you are Xiao Meng!¡± Wei Xiuhong said in a quivering voice. Li Meng¡¯s tears slipped more urgently now as he mumbled in between sobs, ¡°Mom, I finally got to see you. Mom.¡± Xiao Meng! Wei Xiuhong couldn¡¯t hold herself back from sobbing and going over to hug him. Of course, she ended up hugging air. Chen Hao explained with a bitter smile, ¡°Sister, you two are separated by life and death. You can see him, but you can¡¯t touch him.¡± ¡°How can it be? My child, my ill-fated child. Mom has let you down!¡± Wei Xiuhong said in a grievous voice. Li Meng merely sobbed and looked at his mother, unable to say a single word. After more than ten years of anticipation, he finally got to see her. This moment, although he could see her, he couldn¡¯t touch her. They were so near, yet so far. There was nothing sadder than this on earth. What was going on here looked a little bizarre. After all, the interaction between a human and a ghost appeared like a lunatic talking to air. The young siblings were speechless by what they saw. ¡°Master, can you do some spells and let us see Li Meng too?¡± the young girl asked. Since he had plenty of cow¡¯s tears and it¡¯d be a waste not to use them, Chen Hao wasn¡¯t petty and nodded. ¡°Sure. Close your eyes.¡± Chen Hao then smeared cow¡¯s tears on the young siblings and Zhou Gang. Suddenly, everyone could see the two ghosts. Zhou Gang was alright. After all, he had seen Zhao Yuan before, so he had a certain understanding of ghosts and the like. However, it was the young siblings¡¯ first time seeing a ghost. The pale faces and wet appearances of the two ghosts really gave the two of them a good scare. They were no longer doubtful about the existence of ghosts. ¡°Is this Li Meng? So pitiful. He¡¯s only thirteen.¡± The young guy slowly lost his fear, and a look of pity clouded his gaze. Sister Hong was like kin to them. Over this more than a decade, she had spent more time with them than even their family. The two of them were as good as Sister Hong¡¯s children. And it was really a pity that Sister Hong¡¯s own child turned out this way. But within 15 minutes, Wei Xiuhong suddenly realized to her horror that she was no longer able to see Li Meng. She anxiously asked, ¡°Master, where¡¯s my child? Why can¡¯t I see him? Master, what happened to Xiao Meng?¡± Shortly after, Zhou Gang and the siblings realized that they could no longer see the ghosts too. Chen Hao glanced at Zhao Yuan and Li Meng who were still standing there, and realization dawned on him. Even if it was cow¡¯s tears, its effect was weak and had a time limit, unlike his Yin Yang Eyes which worked 24/7 and had no restrictions or delays. This was the difference between divine and ordinary methods. Chen Hao explained, ¡°Sister, the spell I cast has restrictions. Mm, I still have some cow¡¯s tears left. The two of you should take the chance and talk. After this, it¡¯s time for Li Meng to go. After all, humans and ghosts live in different worlds and can¡¯t interact for long. I hope you can understand, Sister.¡± Wei Xiuhong nodded sadly. ¡°Thanks, Master. I understand.¡± Chen Hao then smeared more cow¡¯s tears on Wei Xiuhong¡¯s eyelids again, then said to Zhou Gang and the siblings, ¡°Let¡¯s give them some private time to talk.¡± After walking away for some distance, looking at the human and ghost quietly interacting with each other, the humans over here had heavy hearts. For a mother to be sending away her son, after more than ten years of longing, she only managed to see her son¡¯s spirit. Even people who had lived in ease and never experienced the pains of parting with a loved one could feel her sadness and pain. After a long while, Wei Xiuhong came to them with Li Meng. Wei Xiuhong introduced Li Meng to the young siblings. Li Meng said agitatedly, ¡°Thanks for taking care of my mother when she was feeling helpless. Thank you.¡± The young girl said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Meng, very sorry for not knowing about your news all these years. Now that we learned of it, it¡¯s too late. But you can be rest assured, Sister Hong has taken care of me and my younger brother for more than ten years, so she¡¯s like a mother to us. In the future, we will help you take care of Sister Hong and make sure she doesn¡¯t suffer any grievance.¡± Li Meng said happily, ¡°Thank you. With the two of you taking care of my mother, my heart is put to ease.¡± [Ding-Dong! Dying Wish Fulfilled. Rewarded with Dipper Steps.] Then, following the sound, a load of information suddenly surfaced in Chen Hao¡¯s mind. Having been through it once, this time Chen Hao very calmly accepted it. Chapter 33 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After his unresolved issue was settled, Li Meng¡¯s body started to give out a gentle white glow. Amidst the glow, Li Meng¡¯s body became more and more transparent. He thanked the young siblings, Chen Hao and Zhou Gang, and even Zhao Yuan for taking care of him all these years. Finally, Li Meng beamed at Wei Xiuhong. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m leaving. You must take good care of your health. If it¡¯s possible, I¡¯ll continue to be your son in the next lifetime.¡± Li Meng then turned into specks of light and dissipated in the air. Striking a chord in her heart, Wei Xiuhong¡¯s eyes reddened, tears flowing down continuously. She covered over her mouth tightly, trying her best to suppress the sobbing sounds. The young girl held Wei Xiuhong¡¯s shoulders, comforting her gently. ¡°I think you¡¯d better take her to the car first. It¡¯s dark and cold at night, being overly grievous is damaging to her health.¡± Chen Hao reminded her. The young girl gazed at Chen Hao with a complex look in her eyes, before holding Wei Xiuhong and slowly leaving. However, the young guy was pretty bold. After the most difficult first time of seeing a ghost, he actually appeared very excited now¡­ this silly boy. Chen Hao turned around and said to Zhao Yuan, ¡°I¡¯m working on your matter slowly. Also, that companion of yours shouldn¡¯t continue to stay here. Call him out. Remember, this is an order. I¡¯m not asking out of politeness. There¡¯s no room for negotiation. If he doesn¡¯t heed my words, it¡¯s not like I have no means of dealing with him.¡± Zhao Yuan paused, surprised that Chen Hao actually could be bothered with his companion. But thinking about it, it made sense. Li Meng had left, and after his mother¡¯s grave was found, after his obsession was resolved, he would be leaving too. When that happened, his friend would be the only ghost left here. That would be too lonely. They were friends in life and death, and they relied on each other for companionship over these hundred years. As such, their relationship wasn¡¯t inferior to that of a married couple who grew old together. Although his companion ultimately couldn¡¯t resist loneliness and temptation and committed a wrong deed, he had already suffered punishment. He couldn¡¯t possibly leave him in the lurch now. Zhao Yuan responded, transformed into dark energy, and returned to the depths of the river. Zhou Gang asked, astonished, ¡°Why? You want to help that ferocious ghost who caused Li Meng¡¯s death?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Although he did something wrong, it was hard enough that he managed to remain a kind ghost for a hundred years. The reason he committed the mistake was perhaps that he was influenced by that vengeful spirit in Li Meng¡¯s house. So I¡¯m thinking of helping him, lest he remains here and, should he recover one day, become troublesome.¡± Zhou Gang nodded, to express he understood. Such as himself. As a police officer, not only did he have to arrest bad crooks, but he also had to prevent the crimes from taking place. Only then would the people live with peace of mind. A ghost who had harmed someone was akin to a lawbreaker with a criminal record, as well as the motive to harm others again. To continue keeping it here was being irresponsible to the living. But Zhou Gang had no idea that, although Chen Hao made it sound like he was a saint for doing so, in actual fact, he wasn¡¯t able to kill this ghost at present. Yet, he was afraid that this fellow would secretly harm humans. Hence, he decided he might as well do a sending for his soul, lest something happens and he would then be responsible for it. Very soon, Zhao Yuan returned, this time with a man with a weak yin body wearing a green shirt. He seemed slightly older than Zhao Yuan. When the green-shirt man saw Chen Hao, his body quivered a little. He couldn¡¯t possibly not be scared. Standing before him was a true master who could effortlessly destroy his hundred years of cultivation and return him to his original form. Don¡¯t mention committing evil, right now, it only had to suffer a weak blow and his spirit would evaporate. Hence, when Chen Hao threatened him to come out, he could only do as he was told. ¡°Master, this is my classmate-cum-good friend Fan Zheng when I was alive. He was trapped under the Willow River with me for more than a hundred years. He already knows his mistake. Please pardon him, Master.¡± Zhao Yuan bowed to Chen Hao as he spoke. Fan Zheng quickly bowed as well. He said, ¡°I bore evil thoughts and harmed a human life previously. I realized my mistake now. Please do a sending for my soul, Master.¡± Chen Hao said, sounding displeased, ¡°Alright, everyone who committed a mistake shows an attitude like yours after they¡¯re caught. Whether you are truly remorseful or whether you¡¯re putting on an act, you yourself know best. I don¡¯t wish to know. But since that evil energy and malicious intent was obliterated by me, there¡¯s hope for you. Tell me, what was your obsession when you died?¡± Facing different ghosts required different attitudes. If it was someone easy to talk to, then they could have a happy cooperation. If not, he would do it in an oppressive manner. In any case, Chen Hao would be the one calling the shots, so that things would go smoothly and he could then accomplish his task. Fan Zheng hadn¡¯t expected that there was still a chance for him. Elated, he hurriedly said, ¡°Master, my obsession was the imperial examination.¡± Chen Hao was speechless. Expression slowly darkening, displeasure could be seen in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes. Are you pulling my leg? Imperial examination? What era are we in? You think it¡¯s like our junior high, senior high, and college entrance examinations? What goddamn imperial examination? Where the hell can I let you take the imperial examination? ¡°Cough, cough. Master, Brother Fan¡¯s obsession is indeed a little difficult to accomplish. But we can¡¯t do anything about our obsessions. I¡¯ve known about Brother Fan¡¯s obsession with the imperial examination even back when we were still alive. That¡¯s his greatest wish. It¡¯s just that he failed the examination twice and couldn¡¯t take it lying down. But there¡¯s no choice. Brother Fan merely can¡¯t take it lying down that he failed his exam. Master, if you can create an exam and let Brother Fan take it, then consult a knowledgeable person to peruse his script, so long as he manages to pass it, Brother Fan will be able to have his wish fulfilled and resolve his obsession.¡± Fan Zheng¡¯s eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded. ¡°Right, right, right. I only wish to prove that during my hundred years of being a ghost, I have constantly been learning. Please give me a chance, Master.¡± [Ding-Dong! Water ghost Fan Zheng, ferocious ghost of one hundred and three years. Fulfill his dying wish and be rewarded with Partial Unlocking of Spirit Talismans.] Oh! Chen Hao raised his eyebrows. So a dying wish could be fulfilled that way? Unexpected. But since it triggered the mission, that meant it could be done. Chen Hao¡¯s expression calmed as he nodded. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll go help you make arrangements. Remember what you say and don¡¯t just pay me lip service. If you aren¡¯t knowledgeable and fail the exam this time around, you¡¯d have to explain yourself.¡± Speaking of his knowledge, Fan Zheng instantly puffed up his chest and said proudly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Chen Hao looked towards Zhou Gang and said, ¡°Brother Zhou, I need to trouble you to arrange for these two pals¡¯ corpses to be dug out and be buried elsewhere. I¡¯ll fork out the expenses.¡± Zhou Gang said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is a small matter. I¡¯ll get someone to come tomorrow.¡± Zhao Yuan and Fan Zheng were overjoyed and hurriedly bowed and thanked them. Burial brings peace to the deceased¡ªthis is an ancient Chinese tradition. Regardless of whether they died naturally or otherwise, no one would wish to have their corpses left out in the wild and be reduced to a wandering ghost. After doing these, there was nothing else to be done, so the group of them left the Willow River. When they returned to their cars, the young girl asked Chen Hao for his number and added him on WeChat. She then spoke, ¡°I thank Master on behalf of Sister Hong regarding today¡¯s matter. But Sister Hong is overly grieving and she shouldn¡¯t stay too long in this place that brings her sad memories. We¡¯re leaving now. We also can¡¯t fail to show appreciation for your hard work, Master. I¡¯ll transfer you a sum of money via WeChat later. No need to refuse the money, it¡¯s just a token of my appreciation.¡± The young girl then started up her Mercedes and left quickly after. Zhou Gang teased. ¡°This girl is interesting. I have a feeling she didn¡¯t ask for your phone number and WeChat simply to give you remuneration!¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Stop making fun of me, Brother Zhou. I¡¯ve been busy all day and am incredibly tired. We should go back too. I still need to think of a way to get my hands on an imperial examination script tomorrow. Aye, I¡¯ve never even seen that thing and have no idea how to get my hands on one.¡± Zhou Gang said calmly, ¡°That¡¯s easy. Just look for your sister-in-law. Her grandmother is a university professor.¡± Oh! Chen Hao was surprised to learn that. This couple sure could help in every area. Their ties perhaps weren¡¯t easily broken now. Chapter 34 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After turning down Zhou Gang¡¯s invitation to have supper, it was around 9 pm by the time he returned to his rented apartment. Chen Hao had wanted to take a shower and study the Dipper Steps after, but he then saw the black cat walking to the cat food and pulling the food with its paws, staring intently at Chen Hao. Its attitude was very obvious. Even if you don¡¯t wish to eat supper, I do. Chen Hao was speechless. He truly regretted bringing it back. Isn¡¯t it just a cat demon that only knows some trashy spells that his Buddha beads easily managed to undo? What was I thinking when I brought it back? Not only is it of no help, it¡¯s a glutton too. Is this cat worth training? It might fatten to death before it proves to be of any use. Not worth it, so not worth it! Meow! The black cat seemed to sense Chen Hao¡¯s displeasure, so it shrunk its neck, looking aggrieved and bitter. What a trashy owner. What happened to living in the lap of luxury with you? Already you¡¯re showing impatience? Sob, sob¡­ I really miss my little master. ¡°Still acting pitiful? Stop it, you¡¯re a demon and not an ordinary cat. If you want food fix it yourself. You really regard yourself as my master, huh? You¡¯re capable, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chen Hao told the cat this, then ignored the cat and got busy with his own stuff. The black cat glared at Chen Hao. If not for the fact that it knew it wouldn¡¯t win in a fight against him, it would certainly have pounced on him and clawed him to death. The black cat was stunned when it saw Chen Hao walking to the bathroom, looking like he really was going to ignore it. Surely it couldn¡¯t go to sleep hungry? If it didn¡¯t eat its fill at night, it wouldn¡¯t be able to fall asleep. The black cat had no choice but to crawl up. It skillfully picked up a little bowl with its mouth, then poured in the various cat food¡ªeven pouring water was a small feat to it. In no time, it finished fixing its supper. The supper was prepared in nearly exactly the same way as how Chen Hao did it before. Finally, it even used its paws to mix the cat food together until it was satisfied, then slumped onto the ground and peacefully began to enjoy its food. Although Chen Hao appeared to ignore the cat, he was in fact observing it. When he saw this, he felt really annoyed. Damn. You really know how to fix this yourself? You little scumbag. You clearly could do it yourself, yet you liked to order me around. You¡¯re used to being served, aren¡¯t you? I bought safe and expensive cat food for you, you¡¯re even eating better than me. And you still f*cking made me prepare your food for you? Hur hur. Indeed, I¡¯ve been too kind. That needs to be changed. At least towards this little fellow. The cat shouldn¡¯t continue to be spoiled. Chen Hao snickered then walked into the bathroom. The black cat seemed to sense it, causing it to look towards the bathroom with a dubious look. But it didn¡¯t see Chen Hao. Never mind. Let¡¯s talk after I eat my fill. This trashy master. I¡¯ll eat, eat, eat till you¡¯re broke. Six minutes later, Chen Hao came out after a shower. He saw that the black cat had finished eating and had crawled to a corner on the bed and was curled up, seemingly asleep. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. You¡¯re good at enjoying life, aren¡¯t you? Eat and sleep, sleep and eat, living like a pig. Just wait, I just have no use for you right now. When I have use for you later, if you dare to disobey me, watch how I deal with you. After changing his clothes, Chen Hao got onto his bed and sat with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes and quietly sorted out the Dipper Steps information. Dipper Steps. Sounded impressive, like something you¡¯d read in a secret martial arts manual. After browsing through relevant news, the contents were indeed quite shocking. But after sorting out the information, Chen Hao wanted to cuss. Although the Dipper Steps was indeed impressive, its impressiveness depended on one¡¯s Dao Attainment. Because, this was a footwork that one mastered using his Dao Attainment. The higher one¡¯s Dao Attainment was, the more formidable his Dipper Steps. Walking on water, leaping onto roofs and vaulting over walls, or even walking as though one was flying for several hundred meters¡ªthat was child¡¯s play. But without Dao Attainment, all that was useless. Dipper Steps, also known as the Nine Dipper Steps, was a divine power that got more profound the further one advanced. The first steps were the foundation. Even without Dao Attainment, one could achieve this. But these three steps didn¡¯t go beyond the spectrum of humans very much¡ªone would at most be able to go two to three meters in one step, moving distances in an instant that was unpredictable and ingenious. But even then, to be able to take the first three steps, it would require a strong physique, else the prowess of the Dipper Steps couldn¡¯t be displayed. While Chen Hao was free from disease, it¡¯d be a stretch to say he had a strong physique. Even during the freest period in his life¡ªwhen he was in university¡ªhe had never managed to persist in a run for more than a month. Regarding his health now, a change in the weather and he easily caught a cold. Chen Hao figured it would be difficult for him to walk even these three first steps with his physique. The middle three steps would require Dao Attainment to control. One could move five to six meters in one step. Flying onto trees and doing a backflip in air¡ªthose were easily done. As for the final three steps, he learned from the information that it required a Dao Attainment of over a hundred years. Chen Hao felt that he could forget about it in the short run, or even in the next few years¡ªhe needn¡¯t even think about it. It¡¯s so hard to be a master! This lousy system isn¡¯t as smart as the kind you read in novels. His hope to master the skills in a short period of time, then quickly make the big bucks and live in a grand mansion, were crushed. Hopes dashed, Chen Hao¡¯s excitement vanished. There was no such thing as reaching the sky in a single bound. Even if he obtained the system, he had to take it one step at a time, for there was no other way around it. Mm, let¡¯s start from the first three steps. Although it was a simple three steps, each step encompassed twelve transformations, so three steps would encompass thirty-six transformations. They were interchangeable and could be merged to create more combinations. Thankfully, he was being imparted the skill from the system, so he didn¡¯t have to figure out the details by himself. So long as he practiced it sufficiently and learned it properly, he would be able to master it after working up a good physique. This was considered welfare from the system, perhaps. After all, if an ordinary person wished to learn this, even if he studied the transformation of the footwork, it was not something that could be achieved in a short period of time. Much less learning and practicing concurrently. Even if one was especially talented, even these mere three steps would take a few years to master. That meant that, according to proper procedure, if an ordinary person wished to master the complete Dipper Steps, he would have to take what seemed like forever. That he was able to master it directly, the limitations being his own physique and Dao Attainment, was already a massive shortcut. Let¡¯s put that aside for now. I shall have a good rest tonight and think about how to improve my physique tomorrow. F*ck, with the divine powers in my hands, if I have no capabilities to show for, isn¡¯t it equivalent to begging for alms with a gold bowl? No way! Chen Hao planned quietly in his heart. Later, he laid on the bed. As he pondered over it, he took out his phone, and what he saw made his eyes light up instantly. Someone had sent him a red packet! He quickly tapped open and saw that someone with the name of ¡°Good Little Rabbit¡± had sent him 50,000 yuan over WeChat! There were also some voice messages attached. It was only after Chen Hao listened to those messages did he recall that this ¡°Good Little Rabbit¡± was the older of the young siblings who accompanied Wei Xiuhong. This should be the remuneration she had mentioned. Someone who drives a Mercedes is indeed generous. But, why is she inviting me to be a guest? Why, have you fallen for me after seeing me display my divine prowess and communicate with the dead? Forget about it, you¡¯re not my cup of tea. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered with her. He also saw that someone called ¡°Sword Heart¡± had added him as a friend. Chen Hao generally ignored the friend requests of those he didn¡¯t know, so he simply deleted it. Chen Hao set down his phone and prepared to sleep. But his mind was filled with the Dipper Steps and he couldn¡¯t get it. After tossing and turning for a bit, Chen Hao reached out and pulled the black cat into his embrace. ¡°Meow!¡± The startled black cat¡¯s fur exploded. ¡°What are you meowing for? You eat my food and drink my water. Will it kill you to sleep with me? Stop moving.¡± Chen Hao berated the cat, then went on to regard the black cat as his pillow. It felt pretty good. The black cat was speechless. Chapter 35 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Early in the morning, Chen Hao was woken by the knocking of the door. He crawled out of bed feeling irritated, with an urge to pound the disturber to death. He didn¡¯t have to go to work now, but why the hell did he feel more vexed than when he was working? Who was the one disturbing his sleep early in the morning? After putting on his clothes, Chen Hao walked to the door with a terrible countenance and opened it. When he saw who was at the door, he held back his urge to scold the person. The person standing at the door was a woman¡ªBai Ru. It had been two days since he saw her, and she was still as hot and sexy as ever. Of course, it wasn¡¯t for this reason that Chen Hao held back the urge to scold her. Mainly, she was his client. As a master, it would be improper for him to spew out vulgarities. He needed to maintain his aura and image as a master! ¡°What makes you come here?¡± Although Chen Hao wouldn¡¯t scold her, lest it destroy his image, he felt a loss of face as a master to have someone disturb him at his place this early in the morning. Even though you¡¯re a client, it¡¯s up to me to take up your business. How can I allow you to force me like this? With you being so domineering, how do I keep up my style? Bai Ru pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s to ask for your help regarding the Stream Mountain issue, Master.¡± Chen Hao asked, ¡°Have you found the deity figurine?¡± Bai Ru said, ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s not so easy to get my hands on such items. We¡¯re in the midst of discussing it. I estimate it will arrive in two days¡¯ time.¡± Chen Hao was displeased. You haven¡¯t even found the most important thing, and you¡¯re talking about settling the issue? ¡°Then find me again when that thing arrives.¡± Chen Hao made a move to close the door. But Bai Ru turned her body sideways and stopped him from doing so. She said earnestly, ¡°Master, I need your help.¡± Chen Hao said in a displeased manner, ¡°I already stated my request, and you haven¡¯t gotten the item yet. How am I supposed to help you?¡± Bai Ru said, ¡°That thing isn¡¯t urgent. But I need to confirm you¡¯re agreeing to help. Else, all the work I have done previously will go to waste.¡± Chen Hao was befuddled. Why don¡¯t I understand what you¡¯re saying? Bai Ru didn¡¯t dare hide it from him and quickly told him the inside story. Realization then dawned on Chen Hao. The so-called Shuanglong Group wasn¡¯t the company owned by one family, but by two families. The name Shuanglong Group1 came from the names of the two largest stakeholders in the company. One of them was called Bai Jinglong and the other was called Xue Longqi. They were a pair of good friends who grew up together. When they grew up, these two ambitious friends worked hard together and, after much difficulty, founded the Shuanglong Group. From the name, one could tell the friendship between these two families. But no matter how good their ties were, when it involved one¡¯s interests, the relationship couldn¡¯t persist for long. As they earned more and more money and their goals began to diverge, the two founders grew estranged. Although they still appeared close on the surface, in reality, the competition had already begun. The older generation were wily foxes, plus they were still somewhat bound by their ties, so they didn¡¯t do anything overboard. But when it came to the younger generation, that was where the conflict occurred. Bai Jinglong¡¯s daughter Bai Ru and Xue Longqi¡¯s son Xue Chuang were mortal enemies. They were each responsible for a different branch of business in the corporation, and they kept vying with each other to prove that he/she was the future of the Shuanglong Group. Developing Stream Mountain was a major decision of Shuanglong Group¡ªwhether or not the company could advance hinged on the success of this project. But at a crucial moment this issue occurred, even resulting in the deaths of some people. Hence, they had no choice but to halt the project. This was troublesome. If it wasn¡¯t handled appropriately, not only would Shuanglong Group suffer huge losses, but the future development of the company itself would also suffer a great blow. This was something that the management of Shuanglong Group didn¡¯t wish to see. But after several negotiations and yet no solution, they came to a consensus on something. Shuanglong Group made a promise that whoever managed to solve the Stream Mountain issue would become the next successor of the company. This was a rare opportunity, so Bai Ru and Xue Chuang naturally wouldn¡¯t let it slip by, each deploying their own means. Bai Ru pinned her hopes on Chen Hao, whereas Xue Chuang invited an expert from another city. Originally, Xue Chuang wasn¡¯t successful in inviting him, so Bai Ru still had some time to prepare. But for some reason, that expert suddenly agreed, and he was rushing here today, to check out the situation at Stream Mountain. If he beat her to it in the first step, he would always be one step ahead of her. If Xue Chuang inspected the site first, then Bai Ru would have lost. Bai Ru didn¡¯t dare gamble on the fact that the unknown master he found was a fraud. This was why she so anxiously came to invite Chen Hao this early in the morning. What she wanted was for Chen Hao to appear earlier than that expert. This way, even if that expert arrived, Chen Hao would have the chance to handle the matter first, and only if Chen Hao didn¡¯t manage to resolve it would that expert be allowed to take over. This was the first-mover advantage. After hearing all this, what else could Chen Hao say? He had seen stories of feuds of rich families on plenty of TV dramas, and this time he was experiencing it in person. Just as Chen Hao was about to talk, Bai Ru¡¯s phone rang. Bai Ru¡¯s countenance changed when she picked it up and glanced at it. She quickly put the call through. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What? Ok, I got it.¡± Bai Ru hung up directly and said with a scorching gaze, ¡°Master Chen, the expert has already arrived. He¡¯ll probably reach Shuanglong Group very soon. Master, we have no time for hesitation. Please help me out this once. If it¡¯s a success, I can give you a remuneration of three million yuan.¡± Chen Hao knew that he couldn¡¯t put on a pretense any longer. He was very tempted by this business and already had the intention to take it on. He would feel a lack of face if he let someone snatch it away from him! ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll prepare some things and go with you to meet that master.¡± Chen Hao decisively agreed. He quickly packed up his things, then carried with him the black cat who had settled his breakfast by himself and was lying down and letting the food digest, before leaving his rented apartment with Bai Ru. She sped all the way. Ten minutes later, when Chen Hao and Bai Ru arrived at a building with tens of stories, several luxury cars likewise stopped. Bai Ru merely took a glance at those cars and scoffed. She clearly hadn¡¯t expected that despite her quick action, Xue Chuang still managed to catch up. Chen Hao, however, didn¡¯t really mind. A master like him who came to be because of a system would really like to see for himself how a true master of cultivation looked like. After getting out of the car, Chen Hao saw that Xue Chuang¡¯s formation appeared much more impressive than Bai Ru¡¯s. There stood several bodyguards in suits and ties, an alluring secretary with a voluptuous figure, her fair bosom spilling out of her top. Even Xue Chuang himself was handsome and outstanding, with the aura of a rich man¡¯s son. He appeared more magnificent in terms of aura! Chen Hao sighed silently. He then saw a man wearing a dark green long-sleeved shirt, in his forties, with a square face and a crew-cut hairstyle, holding a string of agate beads, being respectfully invited to step out by Xue Chuang. ¡°Yo, it¡¯s Sister Ru. What a coincidence.¡± Xue Chuang smiled lightly, his tone mild, and behaving like a big brother. Bai Ru pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°What a coincidence. I just found a master to help take a look at the Stream Mountain issue. Why, Brother Chuang, you also invited a master?¡± Master? Xue Chuang¡¯s gaze swept over the few people standing next to Bai Ru, and his gaze halted on Chen Hao for a moment. Looks young, average appearance, no aura, no style. Then, his gaze shifted to¡­ Xue Chuang took the chance to glance at his female secretary¡¯s chest, chuckling softly, feeling disdain in his heart. Can such a person be called a master? Loser, more like it. Seems like this time, I won. ¡°Hur Hur. Sister Ru, you¡¯ve been duped by frauds twice. You need to be more careful.¡± Xue Chuang pretended to remind her out of kindness, then stuck out his hand to invite the man with a crew-cut into the entrance of the building. Chapter 36 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Watching as Xue Chuang and his group passed her by, Bai Ru¡¯s expression darkened in an instant. This scoundrel. Are you mocking me? Humph. I was duped, but did you really manage to find a genuine master? Bai Ru looked towards Chen Hao and said, ¡°Master Chen, look at that guy with the crew-cut. Is he really an expert?¡± Chen Hao smiled. ¡°He indeed has true capabilities.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s countenance changed. ¡°Master, are you sure?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°No need to worry. The Stream Mountain problem isn¡¯t a small one. Although this fellow seems to have some capabilities, I feel that he might not necessarily be more formidable than me. We don¡¯t know who¡¯s going to win yet.¡± It was only upon hearing this that Bai Ru¡¯s countenance improved. Together with Chen Hao, she entered the building. At this moment, Xue Chuang who first entered the building looked at the crew-cut expert and said with a smile, ¡°Master Long, my colleague invited someone to help. This wasn¡¯t our company¡¯s decision though, she simply refuses to admit defeat and wants to get involved in everything. This time when the company ran into trouble, she went everywhere looking for experts and has already been duped twice. So please don¡¯t take offense. It¡¯s not because we have no faith in you, Master.¡± The crew-cut guy said with a hint of a smile, ¡°That fellow isn¡¯t simple either. At least, the cat he¡¯s holding is no ordinary cat.¡± Xue Chuang paused, taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected Bai Ru to have really invited someone extraordinary. It was just that¡­ no matter how he looked at that person, he seemed like a loser to him. Is this what they mean by ¡°don¡¯t judge a person by his looks¡±? At this moment, Xue Chuang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly grew alert. A moment later, Xue Chuang and Bai Ru came to a large office. Bai Jinglong and Xue Longqi had been waiting for a long time, and upon seeing them, they got up and revealed a smile at him. Xue Chuang was the first to go up. He enthusiastically introduced Master Long to his father and Bai Jinglong. Bai Ru naturally wouldn¡¯t let Xue Chuang beat her to it. She smilingly introduced the two of them to Chen Hao, heaping him with praises while doing so, to the point that Chen Hao felt embarrassed. But what really caught Chen Hao¡¯s attention was that crew-cut expert. This fellow who didn¡¯t seem like he was pretending to know his stuff exuded a green-colored aura. This aura was above board and upright, with a strong yang energy. This aura made the black cat suffer an agitation¡ªit was now slumped in Chen Hao¡¯s arms, not even daring to move. Is this Dharmic power aura? He didn¡¯t seem that powerful. His aura seemed much weaker compared with the power of incense he obtained from the Spring Temple. Clearly, even if this Master Long had true capabilities, his Dao Attainment couldn¡¯t be that high. ¡°Hur hur, you two masters are experts. It¡¯s just that a freak combination of factors resulted in you two coming together. To give up on either of you would be showing disrespect to the one being given up. How about this? You two masters can check out the Stream Mountain construction site matter together. We¡¯ll follow the advice of whoever has a better solution. What do you think, Masters?¡± Bai Jinglong spoke in a genial and smiley manner. Xue Longqi agreed. ¡°The Stream Mountain construction site problem concerns Stone City¡¯s future development. The Shuanglong Group is under great pressure. It¡¯s our honor to have your help. Please be reassured that whoever¡¯s advice we choose to follow, we will compensate the other one adequately as well.¡± After the two in-charge expressed their attitudes, Xue Chuang and Bai Ru looked at the respective master they each invited. Chen Hao smiled. ¡°I¡¯m okay with that. I wonder what your thoughts are on this, Master Long?¡± Master Long smiled. ¡°There are fewer and fewer people cultivating these days. To meet a fellow cultivator is something to be happy about too. If we check out the place together, we can also exchange our views. This trip would not be wasted then.¡± Bai Jinglong smiled. ¡°You two masters are magnanimous and not hindered by trivial matters. Xiao Chuang, Xiao Ru, you two accompany the masters to the Stream Mountain construction site. Whatever requests the two masters have, be sure to fulfill to your best ability.¡± Xue Chuang and Bai Ru naturally agreed unanimously. With just a few words, they came to a draw in the first round. Next, they would be seeing who had true capabilities. Both parties stayed calm and composed, merely looking at the two masters. Whoever had a more brilliant solution would have the chance to become the person-in-charge at Shuanglong Group. Very quickly, the group of them left the building and proceeded to Stream Mountain. Seated with Chen Hao, Bai Ru looked worried. ¡°Master Chen, this Master Long doesn¡¯t look easy to deal with.¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°The person you are dealing with is Xue Chuang, not Master Long. Moreover, there are many different ways to cultivate. Even if Master Long has true capabilities, if what he knows isn¡¯t compatible with the Stream Mountain construction site issue, there¡¯s nothing he can do about it. Stop worrying. Let¡¯s just wait and see.¡± Bai Ru didn¡¯t know about the ways of cultivation, so she could only keep quiet and silently pray that Master Long wasn¡¯t truly capable. On the other side, Xue Chuang also asked Master Long. ¡°Master, you said that that fellow is not simple. How exactly is he not simple? Are you confident in dealing with him?¡± Master Long turned the agate beads in his fingers and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m just giving him face by saying he¡¯s not simple. He¡¯s merely a warlock. There¡¯s no need to fear him.¡± ¡°Warlock?¡± Xue Chuang was confused. Master Long explained, ¡°By warlock, I mean someone who lacks in both learning and practical ability. He must have accidentally stumbled on some unorthodox methods, and with that, he tries to make a living with this and go around cheating people. Such warlocks don¡¯t know the real spells of the Dao, nor do they know how to cultivate. They make money using loopholes. If it¡¯s a simple matter, they can resolve it. But when they run into a slightly more difficult problem, they are rendered helpless. As I have said earlier, his cat isn¡¯t simple. This cat has demonic energy about it. Clearly, it had secretly eaten some weird flowers or plants, causing it to transform into a demon. It¡¯s a little hard to please.¡± ¡°Demon? Cat demon? Does such a thing exist on earth?¡± Xue Chuang looked shocked and nearly pissed his pants. Master Long said with a smile, ¡°Of course. Where there is good, there is evil; where there is yin, there is yang. Without the existence of demons and evil, there wouldn¡¯t be people who cultivate like us. But this isn¡¯t the olden days, and there are very few opportunities in this world. It¡¯s very difficult to cultivate. This cat demon only managed to transform by chance¡ªit¡¯s not even considered half a demon. I figure it¡¯s only able to do some little spells to aid this fraud. If it runs into a real cultivator, its cultivation will easily be destroyed, and the cat could also easily be killed.¡± Only upon hearing this was Xue Chuang¡¯s heart put to ease. Thereafter, the admiration and joy in his eyes when he gazed at Master Long intensified. Since he even disregarded a demon, the strange matter at Stream Mountain would be a piece of cake for him. Shuanglong Group is mine. With everyone harboring different feelings, very soon, the cars arrived at the Stream Mountain construction site. It was a mess here, and not a single person was around. The cars stopped by the roadside and everyone got out of the cars. Master Long stood at the foot of the mountain, observing the terrain and the direction of the earth vein. His eyes lit up slightly as he sighed with amazement. ¡°This is an excellent place with a coiled dragon laying over water, an auspicious plot of land. The powers of this mountain will ensure Stone City stays prosperous for a hundred years.¡± Xue Chuang smiled gloatingly. ¡°My Shuanglong Group doesn¡¯t understand Feng Shui. But Stream Mountain is surrounded by waters¡ªit¡¯s cooling in the summers and has spectacular scenery in the winters. Once it¡¯s developed, it will surely attract much attention and have bright prospects.¡± Master Long nodded. ¡°It¡¯s an auspicious plot of land. Mm, the place where the paranormal activity took place is in front, right? It¡¯s indeed surrounded by dark energy and hidden dangers. But I can¡¯t tell what¡¯s the problem on the surface. Let¡¯s go over to take a look.¡± Chapter 37 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Arriving at the large pit at the construction site, Master Long looked around his surroundings, seemingly deep in thought. In the day, the bright energy was strong, but the dark energy weakened. If there weren¡¯t remnant dark energy lurking in the shadows, there wouldn¡¯t appear to be anything amiss here. Therefore, Master Long paced around the pit, wearing a particularly odd expression on his face. The arrangement of the large pit hinted at the involvement of the Eight Trigram. However, the metal nails had been ripped off and the ground was damaged. He couldn¡¯t tell properly what the actual layout was. It could be a battle array tactic of the Eight Trigram or a sealing technique. Without knowing who had set up such a layout, he would only be capturing the wrong person. After all, he couldn¡¯t simply make a wild guess about what the layout actually was. If he were to make a mistake, it would cost him a lot. After muttering to himself irresolutely, a glint flashed across Master Long¡¯s eyes. Looking at Master Chen, who was standing around without contributing to the situation, Master Long chuckled. ¡°Master Chen, have you uncovered anything else?¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°No.¡± Master Long was rendered speechless. You answered my question straight away¡­ Are you taking me for a fool? Humph, he lacks the proper knowledge and skills, anyway. Perhaps he really won¡¯t be able to help at all and is merely here to scam money. A look of disdain flashed across Master Long¡¯s eyes and he began to feel conflicted. He initially had thought that this was merely a place where masses of dark energy gathered. He assumed that he could just cast some simple spells to seal the dark energy or gather the energies of the earth to dispel the dark energies. Little did he expect things to go beyond his control. A large hole had already been dug out of this paranormal place, and the flow of energies through the ground had already been disrupted. No dark energy should be able to survive here. However, it remained here and was even getting worse. There was clearly some other issue. Glancing around, Master Long said, ¡°Let¡¯s go up the mountains to take a look.¡± They were probably missing the big picture. If they were to widen their fields of vision, they might be able to find some clues and grasp something. Chen Hao chuckled and didn¡¯t answer him. He simply followed after Master Long, as though he was following a bustling scene. After all, he wasn¡¯t skilled in Feng Shui and there wasn¡¯t a need for him to study the surroundings. With the expert around, he naturally should take the lead. After they climbed to the peak from a small path, it was a good vantage point and they could see everything within ten miles. As Master Long took a look, he indeed gained some insights. The peak of Stream Mountain wasn¡¯t obvious, but the water flowed in all directions, injecting the place with invigorating energy. The flowing waters made the mountain beautiful, and with beauty came life. The peaks of the mountain weren¡¯t prominent. As the water meandered down the peaks, the streams appeared like a crouching dragon. If they were in the olden times, this mountain range would precisely be a blessed land for cultivation. Yes, a blessed land! Master Long¡¯s eyes lit up. As though he was deep in thought, he studied the ridges of the mountains. Recalling everything he had learned about Feng Shui, he identified the node of the ley line where the energies converged. Slowly, a vast image materialized in Master Long¡¯s head and his expression changed immediately. He yelled in shock, ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Den!¡± ¡°What? What Dragon¡¯s Den?¡± Xue Chuang, who had constantly been paying close attention, asked hurriedly. Master Long didn¡¯t reply. Panting, he dashed across the mountain ridges and studied his surroundings. Slowly, Master Long¡¯s expressions turned disappointed and in the end, he looked confused. ¡°So it wasn¡¯t the den of a Real Dragon but of a Water Dragon. That¡¯s weird. A Water Dragon¡¯s Den shouldn¡¯t be breeding such dark energies. After all, this is where the energies of the mountain come together. How could it¡­ Unless!¡± Master Long¡¯s expression grew even more solemn. Over time, fear and dread were written all over his face. ¡°Master¡­ Master Long¡­ Can you tell us what¡¯s happening? I have no clue.¡± Xue Chuang looked at the changes in Master Long¡¯s expression and was rather frightened. Master Long snapped out of his shock. Taking a deep breath, he answered in a deep voice, ¡°Manager Xue, it appears that I cannot accept your gift. The problem with the Stream Mountain construction site is too grave.¡± Xue Chuang¡¯s face turned pale immediately and he replied in panic, ¡°Master, be clear. What¡¯s the problem? If you need help, I can offer you some assistance. Master, you have already promised me. You can¡¯t just withdraw.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Master. We can think of a solution together. We¡¯ll definitely try our best to help.¡± Bai Ru was also stunned and couldn¡¯t help but step in too. After all, Shuanglong Group was in charge of this place. If they couldn¡¯t settle the problem here, the Group was done for. It wouldn¡¯t be beneficial for the two of them too. Master Long said, ¡°I¡¯ve just studied the land of the Stream Mountain and realized that this is a place where energies have gathered for thousands of years. It actually harbors a Dragon¡¯s Den. Although it¡¯s merely a Water Dragon and is vastly different from a Real Dragon, a Dragon¡¯s Den is still what it is. If someone were to extract the Dragon¡¯s energy, although he might not inherit the throne, he will be destined to be a leader.¡± ¡°Dragon¡¯s Den? Destiny?¡± Xue Chuang and the rest were shocked. They had no idea that such a place existed. It didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. If they handled it well, Shuanglong Group might thrive too. Looking at the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces, Master Long sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t harbor those dreams. The Dragon¡¯s Den is already useless. Moreover, the Water Dragon¡¯s Den cannot be compared to a Real Dragon¡¯s Den. Water has no roots and it flows uncontrollably. It has no foundation and can either lead to wonderful or terrible things. Our ancestor was buried here. If it led to a happy outcome, the water will flow in the opposite direction and bring plentiful blessings. On the other hand, if it led to a terrible result, future generations will be cursed with disasters.¡± Everyone turned solemn as they listened. Bai Ru suddenly understood the situation and said, ¡°Master Long, are you saying that there is an ancient tomb at the Stream Mountain construction site? And that the deceased was buried there and did not rest in peace?¡± Master Long nodded and sighed. ¡°The Water Dragon¡¯s Den was uncovered some time ago and someone tried to convert it into their grave secretly, burying themselves here after they died. They wished that their descendants could be a king or a queen, but unfortunately, this person failed. Not only were their descendants not royalty, but they were also cursed. The Den was abandoned and disaster fell upon their descendants. It¡¯s likely that the family line has already ended. If my guess is right, some skilled Master found out about the Den some time ago. In order to prevent the energy from harming others, he cast a spell to seal up the Den.¡± The few of them weren¡¯t idiots. Upon hearing those words, they understood everything immediately. The Shuanglong Group had completely sabotaged themselves. When they decided to develop the land here, they found the large nail and removed it. They had utterly brought it upon themselves! Xue Chuang quietly cussed the workers who made that decision. Three of their staff had died, and it was all because of their own mistake. ¡°Master Long, is there any way to salvage this then? Can we just bury the nail back?¡± Bai Ru asked. Master Long scoffed. ¡°The nail should¡¯ve been a way to seal the energy. The Master back then must have also expended a great deal of energy in order to use a nail to gather the energies of Stream Mountain and use it to subdue the Dragon¡¯s Den. It slowly got corroded and is now damaged. The nail is useless, and there is no effect of burying it back too.¡± ¡°What should we do then?¡± Xue Chuang was on the brink of tears due to anxiety. Thinking that he was just about the take control over the organization, he hadn¡¯t expected this curveball. Not only might he lose control over the Shuanglong Group, but the company might also even be gone. Master Long mumbled to himself and shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no way to block the Dragon¡¯s Den again. If we can¡¯t block it, we need to disperse it. The only way now is to dig the Dragon¡¯s Den out and destroy the layout set up during the ancient times. This way, we can tackle the issue at its root. Of course¡­¡± As he spoke, Master Long turned serious and said, ¡°There might be a backlash. The Dragon¡¯s Den might turn into an evil place, and it¡¯s unpredictable what spirits reside inside. They could possibly be evil and won¡¯t be easy to deal with.¡± Evil spirits! Xue Chuang clenched his jaw and his heart raced. ¡°Of course, this is just a possibility. After all, I haven¡¯t seen a Dragon¡¯s Den myself. I¡¯ve merely come across it in ancient books. It has a low likelihood of harboring evil energies, but I dare not make such a claim. What do you think?¡± Chapter 38 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios I don¡¯t wish to look at it, I only want it settled! Xue Chuang howled in his heart. But now that the problem seemed hundreds, even thousands of times scarier than expected, all the more he didn¡¯t dare throw his temper in front of Master Long. ¡°Master, if, I mean if, there really exists something evil, do you have the means to deal with it?¡± Xue Chuang asked cautiously. Master Long pondered for a moment and then shook his head. ¡°Although people address me as Master, in terms of cultivation, I¡¯m only a beginner. Ordinary ferocious ghosts are easy to handle, but this evil being¡­ hard to say. It depends on what type and grade it is.¡± Xue Chuang felt despair. He had spent a lot of money and paid a great price before finally managing to invite this genuine expert. If even an expert like him didn¡¯t feel confident, then who was capable of settling the Stream Mountain construction site problem? With a pale face, Bai Ru couldn¡¯t resist looking towards Chen Hao and asked, ¡°Master Chen, do you have a good solution?¡± Chen Hao was stunned by Master Long¡¯s judgment. However, he hadn¡¯t expected this construction site to be so impressive¡ªto actually be a Dragon¡¯s Den! But carefully thinking about it, what he said did seem like it. Dark energy could be seen everywhere on the construction site, it was indeed very scary. Moreover, it had seeped out from the underground. Even a fool wouldn¡¯t believe there wasn¡¯t something odd underneath. But this was tricky. The method he previously thought up to use a deity figurine to suppress it would probably only cure the symptoms, not the root of the problem. It could easily lead to trouble if an accident occurred. Upon hearing Bai Ru¡¯s question, Chen Hao shook his head. ¡°Very difficult. The deity figurine I asked you to prepare previously can only cure the symptoms, not the root of the problem.¡± ¡°Deity figurine? Not bad, this is a delaying tactic. The power of incense from the deity figurines is the nemesis of evil. It can temporarily suppress evil.¡± Master Long¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this and he glanced at Chen Hao in shock. He couldn¡¯t tell that this warlock could come up with such an idea. Seemed like he did have some capabilities. Xue Chuang was overjoyed. Even if they could only suppress it for the time being, it was good too. ¡°Will this method work? Then I¡¯ll go and buy several hundred deity figurines now.¡± Master Long said, amused, ¡°Manager Xue, it¡¯s not like that. A deity figurine that can suppress evil must be one that¡¯s truly been worshipped by devout followers for hundreds of years continuously with incense. Only then would it work. Ordinary deity figurines are of no use.¡± Feng Chuang was speechless. They¡¯re that particular? If it¡¯s been worshipped for hundreds of years, never mind the spirituality of whatever, it¡¯d be a treasure. Who would be willing to sell it? Bai Ru, on the other hand, heaved a sigh of relief. Master Chen¡¯s method at least worked. Her efforts hadn¡¯t been wasted. ¡°I¡¯ve already found a deity figurine that¡¯s been worshipped for three hundred over years, but the owner¡¯s asking price is too high, so we¡¯re still in the midst of negotiations. Now, it seems like I can only agree. But the deity figurine will only work temporarily. As for how to settle it subsequently, I need to depend on Master Long and Master Chen¡¯s help. This isn¡¯t just my Shuanglong Group¡¯s responsibility, it also concerns the safety of all living beings in Stone City. I hope the two Masters can help,¡± Bai Ru said sincerely as she bowed to Master Long and Chen Hao. Master Long kept silent and said nothing. Chen Hao, however, said with a smile, ¡°No need to pressurize us this way. Master Long has made it very clear¡ªit¡¯s possible that it¡¯s breeding dark energies. That indeed is hard to imagine for many people. Based on our Dao Attainments, if we wish to deal with it, it¡¯s not just something that can be solved by talking. Hence, before we get to see it, I can stay to help. But if I can¡¯t withstand it, I can only apologize. Shuanglong Group had better have a backup plan and contact the officials of Stone City in advance, to let the country send its large armies to help. In this time and age, technological weapons are the mainstream. Perhaps they will be able to deal with those things.¡± Master Long said, ¡°Master Chen is right. I agree.¡± Since the two masters agreed on this, Bai Ru could only agree as well. After that, the group of them descended the mountain and came to the construction site again. Master Long took out his compass and, using the terrain¡¯s structure, very quickly found the tomb¡ªit was over one hundred meters opposite from the metal stakes formation, the entrance of a valley where the spring water flowed through. According to what Master Long said, this was the Dragon¡¯s Den of Stream Mountain, also known as the Dragon¡¯s Mouth. The so-called Dragon¡¯s Den was different from other dens. Water coming out from the Dragon¡¯s Mouth would benefit everyone around¡ªthis was the air of a monarch. As for the ordinary dens, regardless of the different kinds of accolades attributed to them, they plundered the manifestations of nature to better themselves¡ªthey were in contrast to the Dragon¡¯s Den. When they reached the Dragon¡¯s Den, Master Long stuck a tree branch on level ground and said, ¡°If you¡¯re going to open the tomb, dig 33 feet from here and you¡¯ll see the Dragon¡¯s Door. Open the Dragon¡¯s Door and you¡¯ll see the Dragon¡¯s Palace, which is also known as the Tomb Palace. Generally speaking, if they constructed a tomb in the Dragon¡¯s Den, it won¡¯t be a small tomb. A tomb ten thousand feet deep is attributed to kings; a tomb a hundred thousand feet deep is attributed to emperors. This Water Dragon¡¯s Den doesn¡¯t seem to live up to ten thousand feet, much less a hundred thousand feet. I don¡¯t know the situation inside either. We can only check it out when we get in there.¡± Xue Chuang recorded down each and every word said by Master Long. This wouldn¡¯t merely be used to handle the construction site matters, but it also had to be shown to the consuls of the Stone City to remind them of the severity of this problem, so that they could work hand-in-hand to resolve the issue. Chen Hao listened with keen interest as he had his horizons expanded. This was a good learning opportunity. Although he didn¡¯t know when he might be able to accomplish a mission where he would be rewarded with Feng Shui skills, he didn¡¯t have such knowledge now. Since he didn¡¯t understand, he ought to learn. That was the attitude one ought to have. Master Long instructed on some other minor details, and very quickly, Xue Chuang made the arrangements, displaying his competencies as an upper management executive of the company. ¡°Master Chen, do you have anything to add?¡± After he was done talking about his arrangements, Master Long looked smilingly at Chen Hao. Now, his earlier disdain could no longer be seen. To be able to come up with the idea of using deity figurines to suppress evil, it meant that this fellow had sharp foresight. He probably could tell very early on that this wasn¡¯t a simple spot where evil gathered. Before the imminent crisis, cooperation was strength. This was the most basic requests. Master Long wasn¡¯t confident of settling this matter all by himself¡ªif one could think of taking this on by himself, that person was a retard. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Master Long is a Feng Shui expert with sharp foresight and meticulous arrangements. As a junior, I¡¯m in awe. There is, of course, nothing more I have to add. We can just act according to Master Long¡¯s arrangements. After the Dragon¡¯s Door is opened, I will then accompany Master Long to the Dragon¡¯s Palace.¡± Master Long felt pleased to hear that. He was sick of hearing ordinary people suck up to him. But having someone in the same profession suck up to him? That hit the right spot. It was particularly effective on him. ¡°You over compliment me, Master Chen. During my near forty years of cultivation, Master Chen is also the most brilliant junior I have seen. It¡¯s my honor to cooperate with you. When the Dragon¡¯s Door is uncovered, I will go in to check out the situation with Master Chen.¡± Since Chen Hao gave him face, Master Long wasn¡¯t stingy with his praise either. After that, Master Long left with Xue Chuang. The early-stage excavation work would take some time. He also had to prepare for contingencies, lest he was rendered helpless when faced with a problem. Bai Ru, on the other hand, stayed with Chen Hao. For now, she wasn¡¯t thinking about ways to vie for the control of the company. After all, if the problem wasn¡¯t solved, the company would be facing a huge crisis. In order to develop the Stream Mountain, Shuanglong Group had not only invested an enormous sum, but it also took out a substantial loan from the banks. One mishap and the company would be destroyed, and whoever took over would be the one suffering. ¡°Master Chen, whatever requests you have, you may tell me. These won¡¯t be considered part of the remuneration,¡± Bai Ru asked Chen Hao. Chen Hao thought for a moment, then said, ¡°There really is something. I need a place to train my body, best if I have the guidance of a professional trainer. Also, I need some help with my diet. Mm, something like medicinal meals to improve the body¡¯s constitution, to make one become stronger.¡± Bai Ru was speechless. Chapter 39 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Although she didn¡¯t understand how Chen Hao¡¯s request was related to the Stream Mountain construction site, Bai Ru would still make the best arrangements for him. The trainer was the best in Stone City. Rumor had it that he had trained several famous fighters. The medicinal meal was specially concocted by Stone City¡¯s top chefs. The recipes had been passed down for generations and were renowned for their restorative quality. Compared to hiring the top chefs, engaging the two of them was much cheaper. However, it appeared that the cost of hiring Chen Hao wouldn¡¯t negligible too. Chen Hao didn¡¯t bother to offer a discounted price either. He was receiving training now in order to strengthen himself so that he could assist Shuanglong Group with the issue at the construction site. They were working hand in hand, and since Shuanglong Group wasn¡¯t taking a loss too, he accepted it comfortably. Following the trainer¡¯s arrangements, he went for a body check-up before undergoing a mock training session to build a unique, targeted regime for himself. The results of his check-up came out as a relief to him. He wasn¡¯t perfectly healthy, but he didn¡¯t have any apparent issues either. As long as he persevered and trained, he would be able to recondition his health back in a couple of months. Adding on the nourishment of the medicinal diets, the time taken would be reduced even more. Thinking that he would soon be able to master the first three steps of the nine Dipper Steps, Chen Hao was gleeful. With this divine power, not only could he fight well, but he could also run fast. It was an exceptional technique that could save his life, and it would be beneficial for him to pick it up as soon as possible. Over the next two days, Chen Hao began his strengthening regime. He trained for two hours each in the morning and afternoon. In between each session, he also received massage services by beautiful women to relax his muscles. He also enjoyed three medicinal meals specially prepared by the top chefs every day. He couldn¡¯t tell what ingredients were used to prepare his meals, but the fragrance of the herbs was extraordinary. With each bite, he felt warmth spreading across his chest. Within an instant, his tired body regained significant strength and energy. For the next two days, Chen Hao swiftly got over the fatigue of his first training and his body grew stronger. His pace was initially slow, but as he practiced the first three steps of the Dipper Steps, his movements flowed better. His trainer was surprised to see Chen Hao¡¯s movements and thought that they were rather odd yet intricate. He asked if Chen Hao was interested in boxing. Coupled with his odd movements, he might be able to establish a name for himself in the field. Chen Hao considered his offer and decided to learn more from the trainer. He didn¡¯t do it in order to pick up boxing. After all, being good at fighting was also a good method to deal with spirits and demons. Moreover, he could also practice the Dipper Steps as he learned to box. It would accelerate his progress to becoming proficient at it. With another item added to his training regime, Chen Hao had even less personal time now. All day long, he had no time to think about any other matters at all. That night, while Chen Hao strengthened his arms using a machine, a sound rang through his head. [Ding-dong! The mission of fulfilling the dead¡¯s wish has been completed. The partial unlocking of the talismans has been given out as a reward.] Sh*t! Why was this mission already completed? Chen Hao was stunned for a moment before he suddenly recalled that Zhou Gang had contacted him while he was training yesterday. He had said that the test paper for the imperial examination was ready. Back then, he had been solely focused on strengthening his body and mastering the Dipper Steps. Since he didn¡¯t have time to bother with Fan Zheng, he let Zhou Gang take it over instead. After all, he could see Zhao Yuan too. With a ghost helping Zhou Gang, he didn¡¯t need to personally go over. Chen Hao had thus requested Zhou Gang to help him out. Little did he expect the mission to be already completed today. It seemed like Fan Zheng had been conscientiously studious since his death a century ago. He was cultured and well-read. It was a pity that he had taken a wrong step, but it was too late for any regrets. With the information from the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, Chen Hao knew that Fan Zheng was an evil ghost who had sinned. He would definitely be treated differently from Liu Yue¡¯e and Li Meng, ghosts who had suffered a wrongful death. Even if he were to get over his own problem, he might not be reincarnated as a human being too. Nevertheless, he just needed to complete the mission. He was now skilled in another technique performed by a Master. Feeling pleased, Chen Hao called Zhou Gang to relay his gratitude. ¡°Master Chen, how did you even foresee the future! I was just about to give you a surprise.¡± Zhou Gang was utterly shocked. Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s just a simple trick. Thank you for helping me, Brother Zhou.¡± Zhou Gang laughed. ¡°No problem. I merely made two trips. Also, I have another piece of good news. I have located Zhao Yuan¡¯s family and am going to contact them. I might be able to find some leads within the next two days.¡± This was truly a surprise. As compared to the partial unlocking of the talismans, what Chen Hao really needed was Dao Attainment. Chen Hao replied sincerely, ¡°Brother Zhou, thank you. I will remember our friendship dearly.¡± On the other end of the phone, Zhou Gang smiled happily. He had put in all the effort just to hear those words. Not only did those words dispel his fears, but their close relationship would also only bring greater benefits for himself and his family. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me any further. I know you are busy working at the construction site. When you¡¯re done, just come over and drink with me. I¡¯ll be satisfied if you do so.¡± ¡°Haha. Brother Zhou, rest assured. I will definitely return to visit you.¡± After ending the call, Chen Hao felt much more relieved. He had a mid-life career change and completely had no idea regarding what cultivation entailed. As he carried out his missions, he had fully depended on persuasion and threatening his targets with weapons. Also, his good luck had allowed him to fool a few ghosts and complete his missions. Although he had experienced some setbacks along the way, he had managed to overcome them one by one. Now, Chen Hao not only knew how to carry out blessings, but he was also skilled in the Dipper Steps. He could also perform partial unlocking of the talismans, and his path to Dao Attainment looked to be within reach. After he completely mastered everything, he would undoubtedly already have become a true Master. Feeling pleased, he smiled brightly. Even as he watched the black cat which had recently put on weight laze in a corner, he felt that it looked more adorable now. With his new skill, he had to grow more comfortable executing it. Chen Hao didn¡¯t want to train anymore. He quickly washed up before carrying the black cat in his arms and returning home. After closing the door, Chen Hao began to sort out the message he received about the partial unlocking of the talismans. As he worked through it, Chen Hao was overjoyed. What he needed came to him at the right moment. When dealing with ghosts and demons in the future, he no longer had anything to fear. The talismans were a Daoist incantation and could also be called Daoist amulets. The variety of amulets was plentiful. They could use formulas to either curse or bless someone. There was a total of 72 small, 24 spirit, and 12 amulets of the immortal. The small amulets were well-known to most people and they protected the owner. They could protect the owner¡¯s home, keep ghosts away, attract relationships, draw wealth, and for good luck in war. The spirit amulets could be used to contain ghosts using the powers of the gods, exorcise ghosts, control the five elements, and invite the gods. The amulets of the immortal could go against the laws of nature. Their powers were alarming and they were a killing weapon with incredible force. With any of these amulets, anyone could simply have their way and be in control for generations. Of course, amidst his joy, he knew that there were still certain restrictions. It was a partial unlocking of the talismans, so it was restricted to the small amulets. Even the information on the spirit amulets came only as secondary details to introduce him to them. There was no further information on how to draw up and use his own amulets. Of course, there were no details regarding the amulets of the immortal too. The third category of amulets was just so amazing that no details could even be revealed to Chen Hao. Having experienced this twice so far, Chen Hao was no longer surprised. After all, as he slowly carried out his missions, he would be able to find out more. It was inevitable. Feeling pleased with himself, he began to slowly figure out the ways to draw up and use the small amulets. This type of amulet was not extremely powerful, but it was easy to use. It was a necessary weapon in order to show off to his counterparts. Chapter 40 As he analyzed, Chen Hao was shocked when he came to a realization. It seemed like the small amulets weren¡¯t as simple to use as he imagined them to be. There were two issues. One of them was that it required animal blood. The amulets had different functions because the blood that was mixed together was different. For example, combining the blood of a black dog and a rooster with cinnabar would result in the creation of amulets that could be used to crush, contain, or ward off evil spirits. It could also offer one protection. Adding the blood of a magpie to cinnabar could produce an amulet that attracted good relationships with others. When a horse¡¯s blood was added to cinnabar, it would create an amulet for safety. To draw up an amulet, he had to prepare all sorts of blood. Additionally, the blood had to be fresh, as stale ones would not work. The second problem was drawing the amulet. It seemed relatively simple to draw an amulet, as though he merely needed to practice a few times before producing a perfect one. However, it wasn¡¯t as straightforward. An amulet, on the surface, looked just like a drawing. Yet, it contained incantations that were beyond what the eyes could perceive. The supposedly simple drawings harbored deeper spells, which meant that while he drew, he had to chant the spells at the same time. He had to remain calm, peaceful, and concentrate fully. Therefore, as he drew, the spells and his intentions would be incorporated into his drawings too. This was the only way to create an effective amulet. If he were to just follow the instructions half-heartedly, the end-product would be defective. Even if he possessed exceptional skills, there was no way to utilize the powers of the amulet. Despite receiving the information through the system, Chen Hao understood like the back of his hand the form and drawing of every amulet and even how to match them. However, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to draw a proper amulet within a short period of time. The drawings required the delicate movements of one¡¯s wrist and it was difficult to get it right. Even the slightest pause or gap in the drawings would render the amulet useless. He had to gather his strength before completing an amulet properly. Chen Hao couldn¡¯t even write neatly. It definitely wasn¡¯t an easy task for him to draw an amulet. After all, knowing the theory was vastly different from executing it. In other words, this new skill that he had barely picked up would probably not be utilized for the soon approaching issue at the Stream Mountain construction site. It was only when it came to applying knowledge that one regretted not acquiring enough. He had been offered to join a calligraphy class back in school. Why did he reject it back then? His teacher clearly had faith in his skills and said that he was gifted. He had commented that Chen Hao had his own unique ideas and was a talent who deserved to be trained. Back then, Chen Hao thought that his teacher was merely after his money. Thinking back now, he had actually meant well. Ahh, he was truly regretting his decision now! Chen Hao was depressed and reproached himself. It was indeed tough to be a Master. He had to pay close attention to cultivating himself in all aspects. The only thing that worried him was that if fellow Masters lost their spiritual powers, they would become big shots skilled in multiple areas. Chen Hao quietly made up his mind. He turned around and went to buy a calligraphy brush. He had to practice in order to be able to have beautiful handwriting. He didn¡¯t speak for the entire night. The next morning, when Chen Hao was preparing to go for training, Bai Ru called him. ¡°Master Chen, Master Long is ready and will come at around 10. The Dragon¡¯s Door has been dug out at the construction site. Following Master Long¡¯s instruction, we¡¯ve splashed the blood of a black dog all over it and used a mirror to reflect the sun rays onto it for three days. The police have been sent to guard the area and there haven¡¯t been any problems at night. Do you need anything else? If not, I will send someone to pick you up.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s face froze. He had been fully occupied with training the entire day and had completely lost track of time. Three days had passed so quickly! He thought that the results of his training during the last three days were great. His movements during the first three steps of the Dipper Steps now had a slight semblance of the actual steps. His dodging skills had improved. He really wanted to train for a few more weeks and gain more experience. However, Master Long had already arrived and it wouldn¡¯t be nice for him to cause any delays. ¡°Sure, send someone to pick me up now.¡± Half an hour later, Chen Hao arrived at the Stream Mountain construction site. At that moment, Stream Mountain was already heavily guarded. It was clear that the Shuanglong Group and officials from Stone City had been alarmed after they dug up an ancient grave following Master Long¡¯s discovery. In order to avoid larger calamities, the officials from Stone City immediately showed their utmost support. Not only did they block off the surrounding areas, but they also alerted the troop stationed nearby. Should there be a need, the fully equipped troop would be able to rush over to support them. ¡°Master Chen is here. There are dough sticks, soy milk, and porridge to eat. Have you had breakfast? Do you want some?¡± Bai Ru came out from a room constructed from iron sheets with a bowl of porridge in her hands, giggling as she asked. Chen Hao took a closer look at Bai Ru and was surprised to see how exhausted she looked. She appeared as though she had not slept for several days. Her dark eye circles were obvious. ¡°What happened? Manager Bai, you look tired.¡± Chen Hao didn¡¯t hold back and asked as he walked towards the room. Bai Ru laughed dryly. ¡°Master, don¡¯t you already know? There is a grave problem here at the Stream Mountain construction site and the Shuanglong Group holds the greatest responsibility. Although the officials from Stone City have shown their understanding and support, we can¡¯t just enjoy the show from behind. I¡¯m Bai Jinglong¡¯s daughter and I have to stand on the frontline. I¡¯ve been staying here for the past two days and felt how terrifying the sinister energies can be. Even the ground is frozen. If Master Long hadn¡¯t given us some instructions before he left, Xue Chuang and I would probably already be dead.¡± Shocked, Chen Hao halted his steps and asked, ¡°Xue Chuang? Is he here too?¡± Bai Ru replied calmly, ¡°He¡¯s Xue Longqi¡¯s son. If he wishes to vie for the role of the President of the Shuanglong Group, he can only risk his life to do so. He cannot achieve glory and wealth without some sacrifices.¡± That lad is full of guts! Chen Hao looked around. ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking for him. He has left to fetch Master Long. This is the first time the two of us experienced such a treacherous fight in the past five years. He has pinned his hopes on Master Long. If Master Long solves the problem this time around, he will become the President of Shuanglong Group,¡± Bai Ru said calmly. Chen Hao picked up a dough stick as he looked at Bai Ru curiously. ¡°You don¡¯t look very disappointed. Are you giving up?¡± Bai Ru answered resignedly, ¡°I¡¯ve already tried my best, but I still can¡¯t defeat him. It must be fate. If you dare to go down to the ancient grave and solve the problem there, I might have a chance to change my destiny.¡± After speaking, Bai Ru looked at Chen Hao with eyes gentle full of expectations. The look in her eyes was complex and it could mislead a man to read too much into it, as though she was willing to offer her body to him. Chen Hao avoided her gaze immediately. He bent down and teased the black cat with his dough stick, enjoying how annoyed it looked. Destiny? Fate? Bullsh*t. She just couldn¡¯t give up. Why did she even try to send him to his death? Ha, he wasn¡¯t stupid. No matter how hard she tried, he would never do it. Looking at Chen Hao ignoring her, Bai Ru¡¯s face sunk. Indeed, that b*stard clearly wasn¡¯t capable of feeling protective of the fairer sex. He still remained so unchangingly tough in front of a beautiful damsel in distress. He must be gay. Silently cursing deep down, Bai Ru couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Master Chen, you¡¯re here to help me. Are you just going to watch Master Long solve the problem without lifting a finger yourself? Don¡¯t you have any solutions?¡± Chen Hao let go of the black cat and watched it scurry away. He finally answered, ¡°First, I agreed to help you, but I didn¡¯t promise to assist you to fight for anything. Second, I¡¯ve already told you that I do not understand Feng Shui well. Master Long is the real Master here. Xue Chuang is really capable to have found someone like him. Third, Master Long was the one who uncovered the ancient grave. It¡¯s undeniably his credit. Fourth, the issue at the construction site hasn¡¯t even been settled. Why are you so anxious? Who knows who will become the ultimate winner? Your attitude is wrong and you¡¯re not a good fit for a leadership role. I suggest you stop fighting for the role. If Shuanglong Group were to crumble in your hands, it would be such an embarrassment.¡± After speaking, Chen Hao left her alone, turned around, and walked to the grave. Bai Ru was utterly stunned. Chapter 41 After several days of not seeing the construction site, this place had become somewhat unrecognizable. The various tools and machinery left behind had all disappeared, and there were now many setups that Chen Hao couldn¡¯t understand. Outside the newly dug tomb, several dressing mirrors formed a circle, reflecting the sunlight onto an exposed stone door of the tomb that was speckled with blood. The pungent smell of blood could vaguely be detected. Several rows of large lamps the size of watermelons could also be seen. Chen Hao found this familiar. They looked like laser lights or something, probably something that was used at night. Although he couldn¡¯t understand this setup, Chen Hao discovered that the dark energy on the surface of the construction site had vanished completely. Clearly, the setup was truly useful, and it went to show how professional Master Long was. He stood outside the tomb with his eyes fixed on the door. Although the Dragon¡¯s Door sounded magnificent, it didn¡¯t quite live up to its name, standing at a height of only a little over one meter. There was a dragon pattern on the exterior of the stone door, but as it was buried underground over a long time, it had long since corroded from the moisture and dark energy. It had gone moldy and reeked of a stench now, and the dragon pattern was barely visible. Too bad this Dragon¡¯s Door was pretty well sealed, and even during the day no dark energy had seeped out, so they had no idea of knowing what was going on in there. After going around, Chen Hao didn¡¯t discover anything, so he returned to Bai Ru¡¯s side and asked her about the deity figurine. It wasn¡¯t that Chen Hao wanted to ask, but he had looked around with his Yin Yang Eyes but didn¡¯t see the existence of the power of incense anywhere. It needed to be pointed out that in the case of that deity figurine not far away, the remnant power of incense was as obvious as a lightbulb to Chen Hao the first time he saw it. Bai Ru quickly ran to her car and brought out something covered in a red cloth. She lifted the red cloth, and a one-foot tall wooden figurine of Guan Yu, holding a sword and stroking his beard with an angry look on his face, appeared before Chen Hao¡¯s eyes. He was dumbfounded. Bai Ru said, clearly pleased with herself, ¡°I paid the temple attendant a few million yuan for it. I¡¯ve also had it appraised by an expert. Made with solid centuries-old sandalwood and carved by a renowned sculptor, it has a history of nearly three hundred years. It¡¯s in excellent condition and absolutely lifelike. What do you think of this, Master?¡± I don¡¯t think much of it. Damn. I really don¡¯t understand what rich people are thinking. I asked you to prepare a deity figurine, and you went to get an antique instead? Never mind the size. This figurine of Guan Yu does look pretty scary, but what¡¯s the deal with the weak and nearly undetectable power of incense? What¡¯s this thing good for? Chen Hao remained silent. The pleased look on Bai Ru¡¯s face had disappeared now. She asked with trepidation, ¡°Master, please don¡¯t tell me this is a fake.¡± Chen Hao said in a displeased manner, ¡°I¡¯m no expert and dare not determine whether it¡¯s a fake or not. But I¡¯d like to ask you this: Back then I told you to get me a deity figurine that had been worshipped by genuine and devout followers throughout the years, right?¡± Bai Ru nodded her head meekly. Chen Hao scoffed. ¡°Then, tell me. Which famous Daoist temple did this Guan Yu figurine come from, and how many followers worship it on a daily basis?¡± This!! Bai Ru was lost for words. According to what she knew, this Guan Yu figurine came from an ancient Guan Yu temple and was being cherished as a treasure by the temple attendants through the ages. It was said that before the catastrophe, the Guan Yu temple had good attendance. Because of this, she thought this Guan Yu figurine must have a spirituality about it. But now looking at Chen Hao¡¯s expression, it was clearly not the case. ¡°Ma-master, don¡¯t tell me that this figurine is useless. What should we do, then? I had to ask a favor from one of my contacts to buy this. How did things turn out this way?¡± The anxious Bai Ru was nearly in tears. Chen Hao had become unreliable. This deity figurine that she had pinned her hopes on had also become unreliable. How could she continue this fight? Chen Hao said with a sigh, ¡°You can¡¯t exactly say it¡¯s completely useless. This Guan Yu figurine absorbed plenty of the power of incense a long time ago. It¡¯s just that this figurine is precious and hasn¡¯t been worshipped by the people as much as the clay figurines. Hence, it hasn¡¯t accumulated much power of incense. It¡¯s just being regarded as a precious artifact. Now that the power of incense has dissipated, the effects are very weak. It might be able to protect someone, but to use it to suppress the evil spirits, hur hur.¡± Bai Ru was dumbfounded. The deity figurine that she had spent a bomb on, turned out to be the same kind of thing as the jade Buddha Chen Hao had sold her? Wasn¡¯t she duped! She merely paid ten thousand yuan for Chen Hao¡¯s jade Buddha, whereas this Guan Yu figurine cost several hundred times more. What was the point of buying it! ¡°Master, is there still enough time for me to try and buy a clay deity figurine now?¡± Bai Ru, who was not an ordinary person at the end of the day, asked seriously after suppressing her panic. Chen Hao shook his head and said, ¡°If you¡¯re doing it to vie for the top position, then there¡¯s no longer the need to do it. When Master Long arrives, we will enter the tomb to check out the situation. If there¡¯s no evil spirit residing in this Dragon¡¯s Den, that means Xue Chuang has won. It¡¯s another story if there is an evil spirit inside. If the evil spirit isn¡¯t strong, we might be able to settle it. If it¡¯s too strong, we¡¯ll have to withdraw from this place. If that turns out to be the case, you can then try to get another deity figurine. But this way, the deity figurine you need to obtain won¡¯t be an ordinary one. It has to at least be the kind worshipped at the Shaolin Temple or the Zhenwu Temple on Mount Wutang. There won¡¯t be as many devout worshippers in an ordinary temple. Even the temple or Daoist priest in the temple might be fake. Those worshippers perhaps went with various impure motives. How much power of incense would there be in a deity figurine worshipped by such people?¡± Bai Ru felt despair. Her efforts had gone to waste. She was so far behind Xue Chuang now, and there was basically no chance of her turning things around. Smack! Rage exploded in her heart. Bai Ru threw the Guan Yu figurine on the ground fiercely. She then squatted down, put her hands on her head, and suppressed her sobbing sounds from being heard. Chen Hao¡¯s heart went out to her. Damn. She threw something that cost several million just like that? Even if she has money and doesn¡¯t care, that¡¯s a great disrespect to the deities. Isn¡¯t she afraid of Guan Yu taking offense! He quickly picked up the deity figurine and checked it to make sure it wasn¡¯t damaged. But Chen Hao discovered, to his shock, its uniqueness. Although it didn¡¯t have much power of incense, there was a spirituality about it¡ªa spirituality that changed things. For ordinary deity figurines made of clay, even if they had accumulated much power of incense, the power was only stored in the artifact like energy in a battery. No matter how much power of incense it accumulated, its very nature wouldn¡¯t change. That wasn¡¯t the case for this Guan Yu figurine. The hint of spirituality it contained drew it apart from 90% of the deity figurines around. Chen Hao carefully examined it, deep in thought. ¡°Alright, stop crying. There should be some use for this Guan Yu figurine that you bought. But it won¡¯t be used for suppressing the dark energy. Mm. Let¡¯s not be anxious. We¡¯ll see when we enter the tomb. Perhaps, this thing can help turn things around in your favor,¡± Chen Hao said. Bai Ru instantly got up, staring in disbelief at Chen Hao with her teary eyes. ¡°Really? You¡¯re not lying to me?¡± Chen Hao said calmly, ¡°Up to you to believe me or not. I¡¯ll just leave it at that for now. I need to check out the situation in the tomb before I decide if this deity figurine can be used.¡± Bai Ru gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Then¡­ Alright. I¡¯ll enter the tomb with you, Master. I¡¯ll bring this deity figurine with me and obey your commands.¡± Chen Hao glanced sideways at her. Fierce. In order to climb to the top position, she¡¯s even risking her life. This was truly a descendant of the rich. Chen Hao bowed in defeat to her. Chapter 42 Master Long arrived before ten. Chen Hao was a little shocked to see Master Long, for the latter looked a little different from the first time he saw him. His face was still the same, but he was not wearing a dark-green long-sleeved shirt this time. Instead, he wore a grey shirt jacket and armor over his upper body. His half armor was covered with scratches, and it appeared damaged on the sides, making him appear kind of pathetic. Chen Hao didn¡¯t mock him for it but instead felt envious. He could see a powerful spiritual power weaved like a net over his armor. This is actually a protective spiritual artifact! Master Long is so wealthy! Although spiritual artifacts and magical artifacts differed only by one word, there was absolutely a world of difference between the two. Spiritual artifacts were considered priceless. Even though Chen Hao had some Dao Attainment and could construct blessed artifacts, those were incomparable to the protective spiritual artifacts made out of rare materials. Also, the shoes Master Long was wearing were also not simple. Chen Hao could sense the traces of spiritual power on them. Clearly, those shoes were magical artifacts too. There was also that backpack that was nearly double the size of Chen Hao¡¯s. Surely there were plenty of goodies inside. Are these the assets of a true cultivator? It truly makes one drool with envy. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he already possessed the Pleasure Helping Spirit System and felt that he had a bright future ahead of him, Chen Hao probably couldn¡¯t resist asking Master Long to take him in as a disciple, so that he could find an opportunity to spite him to death and inherit all his assets. ¡°Master Long, you¡¯re full of treasures from head to toe. You make me, a junior, so envious.¡± Chen Hao said with an astonished look on his face as Master Long and Xue Chuang got near. A pleased look appeared in Master Long¡¯s eyes. Yet, he spoke humbly, ¡°You over-compliment me, Master Chen. These are but items that my teacher passed on to me. As cultivators, the most important thing is our own cultivation.¡± He had originally intended to mock Chen Hao for being lacking in both learning and practical ability, for his lack of Dao Attainment, but after he finished speaking, Master Long suddenly realized something. Eh, something¡¯s not right. What did he mean by full of treasures from head to toe? Does he think I¡¯m a pig? Does he know how to speak or not? However, Chen Hao shut Master Long up with his respectful tone. ¡°Master Long, as a junior, I thank you for your teaching.¡± Chen Hao wasn¡¯t deliberately making fun of him. After all, Master Long was armed with so many weapons, so even if he met some formidable evil spirit, there would be someone shielding him in front, giving him time to run away. Seeing Chen Hao show such admiration for Master Long, Xue Chuang felt secretly pleased. The master he invited was more formidable than the one Bai Ru invited. If this tomb issue was resolved, most of the credit would go to him. The position of the President would be his then. Bai Ru, however, was expressionless as she held the Guan Yu figurine in her arms tightly, quietly waiting for the right timing. Thereafter, they came to the tomb. Master Long carefully observed for a moment, then said with a satisfied smile, ¡°Not bad. The dark energy in the Dragon¡¯s Den has been completely sealed, and there isn¡¯t any leakage for the time being. It¡¯s noon now when the sun is the most intense, so it¡¯s the best timing to open the Dragon¡¯s Door. Manager Xue, have you buried the explosives?¡± Xue Chuang replied respectfully, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master Long. According to your instructions, we have invited the most professional explosive experts and made the most appropriate setup.¡± Master Long nodded his head. ¡°Good. Prepare to blow up the Dragon¡¯s Door now.¡± He then shifted away. Everyone else hurriedly followed his cue. When they got to a safe zone, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Master Long, are we going to blow up this Dragon¡¯s Door?¡± Master Long quietly despised Chen Hao. He thought to himself, This guy is indeed a warlock and doesn¡¯t have any skills. Nonetheless, he explained to Chen Hao, ¡°Master Chen, you might not be aware, for ordinary large tombs, in order to prevent someone from destroying it, they would block out the tomb. The most common mechanism is the Dragon Snapping Stone, but there are some places that it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. They will choose means like Glass Fire Dragon, Rear Door Blockade, and Chasm Obstacles. This Dragon¡¯s Den located in Stream Mountain is the den of a water dragon. As it¡¯s connected to the underground waterbed, they wouldn¡¯t be able to set up the Dragon Snapping Stone. Thus, they should have used the Rear Door Blockade mechanism. Once the Dragon¡¯s Door is closed, one won¡¯t be able to open it from the outside.¡± Master Long then gazed at Chen Hao with a jesting look, wanting to see an ashamed look on his face. After all, he claimed to be a master, yet he didn¡¯t even have knowledge of something so basic. Wasn¡¯t this something to be shameful of? However, Master Long was disappointed to see an enlightened look on Chen Hao¡¯s face, followed by a hint of delight. After all, this was something he didn¡¯t know about previously, so he was only too happy to have someone answer his doubts. Why would he feel ashamed? ¡°I see. Thank you for your teaching.¡± Chen Hao thanked him gratefully. Master Long was rendered speechless. Bang! Just then, a loud sound entered their ears, and the ground started to shake and stir up dust into the air. Caught off-guard, everyone subconsciously laid on their stomachs. It was only subsequently that they realized that they were in the safe zone, so they wouldn¡¯t possibly be hurt. They looked at each other. ¡°Cough cough. We can go in and take a look now.¡± Master Long calmly got to his feet and concealed his awkwardness with a cough, then took the gas mask from Xue Chuang¡¯s hands. Chen Hao took one as well, speechless as he stared at the mask. How they entered the tomb was different from what he had imagined. Never mind the explosives¡ªthey were even using a gas mask now. Next, would they be deploying other technological means? Tsk tsk. Could it be that in the world of cultivation these days, they were keeping up with the times and combining cultivation with technology, and using technological means to subdue demons? When they came to the tomb again, the stone door had vanished and instead, they now saw a hole over one meter tall. It was pitch dark inside and they couldn¡¯t see a thing. However, Chen Hao could see intense dark energy gushing out from the hole and vanishing under the sunlight. What shocking dark energy. Could it be that there really are evil spirits residing inside? Chen Hao felt fear in his heart, making him more alert now. Master Long¡¯s expression changed slightly as he quietly raised the level of the danger inside the Dragon¡¯s Den up a notch in his heart. ¡°Master Long, what else do you need me to do?¡± Xue Chuang asked with trepidation as he looked at the hole. Master Long was quiet for a moment, before speaking, ¡°Get someone to move a mirror here and continue to reflect sunlight into the hole. Also, pull the cable over. Follow us and set up the lights.¡± Xue Chuang nodded, then quickly instructed his men to act on it. Master Chen then looked at Chen Hao and said, ¡°Master Chen, let¡¯s go. If there are indeed evil spirits inside the Dragon¡¯s Den, they must be hidden in the Dragon¡¯s Coffin Chamber. With the commotion we made earlier, I dare not guarantee it hasn¡¯t been awoken, so we¡¯d better hurry.¡± Hearing the certainty in his voice, Chen Hao knew that this master must have gone back and checked on the relevant information. As Master Long knew much more about this Dragon¡¯s Den than he did, Chen Hao simply nodded and agreed. They split into two paths thereafter. With Chen Hao and Master Long leading the way, they entered the Dragon¡¯s Door. Chen Hao suddenly found himself surrounded by dark energy and could feel a piercing coldness. However, right after the Buddha beads on his wrist started giving out a soft glow, it caused the dark energy around him to move away from his body. Like Chen Hao, Master Long¡¯s agate beads caused the dark energy to move away from him. They looked at each other, and now had a heightened opinion of the other party¡¯s magical artifact. They continued moving forward. Bai Ru followed behind Master Long and Chen Hao. She held onto the Guan Yu figurine tightly and likewise managed to avoid the dark energy. She followed closely behind Chen Hao, waiting for him to give her a sign. Meow! Just then, the meowing of a cat was heard. Right after, Chen Hao saw a black figure diving into the darkness of the tomb. ¡°Blackie!¡± Chen Hao was exasperated. Dammit. I brought you here to expand your horizons. I wasn¡¯t planning on putting you in danger, but you decided to run in there yourself. You¡¯re courting your own death, aren¡¯t you? But the black cat had already run far away, and Chen Hao couldn¡¯t very well leave the team to find his cat, so he could only silently pray that this darned cat wouldn¡¯t die here. I just spent ten thousand yuan buying you expensive cat food, and you haven¡¯t even taken a bite of it. Chapter 43 ¡°Master Chen, that cat of yours is pretty bold,¡± Master Long said. Nobody could see his expression underneath the gas mask. Chen Hao said with a bitter smile, ¡°Master Long, I had only just obtained this cat not long ago and am in the midst of teaching it, so it still has the nature of a wild animal. I¡¯d originally placed it outside, but it didn¡¯t listen to my instructions and barged into the evil place. Err, this won¡¯t affect anything, right?¡± Master Long said, ¡°Can¡¯t tell for sure. But that cat of yours is not simple. From the looks of it, it must have sensed that there¡¯s good stuff inside the Dragon¡¯s Den and was attracted by it. Too bad though, dangers are hidden everywhere in an evil place. For a cat demon to actually dare fool around like that¡­ if something happens to it, don¡¯t be too sad, Master Chen.¡± He sounded like he was gloating. Even if it was a cat demon, it was still a demon, after all. It was harder to find a demon than a cultivator. Although he sounded like he didn¡¯t care, he actually felt very envious. If Chen Hao were to lose this cat, it would make him feel much more comfortable. Chen Hao was speechless. He silently wondered what good stuff could there possibly be in the tomb, such that this little fellow¡ªwhom even Master Long feared¡ªdared to enter the evil place. Ring ring! Suddenly, several lights started lighting up, dispelling the darkness before their eyes, and revealing to them what was inside the den. Xue Chuang had come in with his men, and they were setting up the lights. Narrowing his eyes, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered about the black cat anymore. He sized up his surroundings. This was a passageway, more than ten meters long and less than four meters wide. There were bricks piling up their surroundings. As it was right next to the waterbed, the walls in the passageway were filled with moss, the ground was wet, and there was even a piece of debris from the explosion on the ground. This passageway seemed like it had been abandoned for several centuries. After careful observation, Chen Hao noticed that the moss on the wall was different from ordinary moss¡ªit was a greenish-black color. Clearly, under the influence of the dark energy over a prolonged period, it brought about some changes in the moss, and it had turned into a new type of moss now. ¡°Be careful, everyone. You mustn¡¯t touch anything here.¡± Master Long reminded. Actually, he didn¡¯t have to remind them. Xue Chuang and the rest were covered up like astronauts, and each and every one of them acted with caution for fear that they would be infected with the germs here. ¡°Master Chen, let¡¯s continue walking. This is the Dragon¡¯s Gate. Once we enter this gate, we¡¯ll get to the outer palace. Under ordinary circumstances, there would be traps inside. Mm. Perhaps that black cat of yours has already helped us clear those traps.¡± Master Long¡¯s tone was ambiguous. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. Damn. I¡¯ve already treated you with enough respect, yet you speak with such a vicious tongue. Why are you cursing my cat time and time again? Has my cat eaten your rice or drank your water? For you to dislike it so much. As Chen Hao criticized silently, whatever fondness he had felt for Master Long disappeared. Although I¡¯m not quite fond of that glutton Blackie either, it¡¯s my cat. I can criticize it, but others aren¡¯t allowed to do so. They continued walking and came to the end of a passageway. Indeed, when they got to the end, they saw a wider space in front of them. They could vaguely see a palace now. Chen Hao felt amazed that in the ancient times where technology was so not advanced, the people then could come up with such a major project. The wisdom and capability spent into constructing this were impressive. After surveying his surroundings, Master Long said, ¡°It¡¯s less than a thousand feet. Seems like there¡¯s paranormal activity in this Dragon¡¯s Den. The method of construction of this den has changed accordingly. This is bad. If there are changes to the tomb, it¡¯d be difficult to find the Dragon¡¯s Coffin Chamber.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Whether we find it or not, let¡¯s discuss after we pass through this external palace. The trap that you mentioned seems to be untouched. Could it be that it¡¯s worn out due to old age and is not working anymore?¡± Master Long snorted. ¡°Unless the tomb has been destroyed, the trap will still be functioning. Mm. Let Manager Xue pull two cable lines, illuminate it, then look again.¡± A moment later, Xue Chuang brought in his men to pull the cable lines and set up two laser lights. Suddenly, the large external palace became incredibly bright. Everyone was dumbfounded. This was a palace with tens of thick pillars supporting the ceiling. In the middle was a white jade walkway that went straight to the main door of the palace. On the left side was a pond, and surprisingly there were lotuses in the pond. Over the pond, there was a curved bridge. On the right side was a square, and on the square, two rows of army weapons racks and tens of people could be seen standing on each side. Wait a minute. Tens of¡­ people! Suddenly, everyone felt a gust of cold air running up their feet to their heads, nearly making them piss in their pants. ¡°Master Long, there¡¯s someone there.¡± Xue Chuang screamed in panic, his legs going numb. Master Long said, sounding displeased, ¡°I saw that. They¡¯re not living people. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Not living people? Xue Chuang paused in surprise, then looked over carefully. Indeed, those people were wearing armor and holding rifles, standing perfectly straight, and not moving at all. If they were alive, they should be showing some reaction. This should be something like the Terracotta Army. Heaving a sigh of relief, Xue Chuang awkwardly glanced at the quiet Bai Ru, his face turning as red as a monkey¡¯s bottom right now under his gas mask. However, Xue Chuang didn¡¯t see that Bai Ru¡¯s face had turned pale now as well, and her body was quivering. It was just that she was focused on Chen Hao, waiting for him to help her turn things around. By the time she reacted, she had heard Master Long say that those weren¡¯t living people, so she wasn¡¯t startled by that. Even Chen Hao broke out in cold sweat. F*ck. These fake people were too unexpected. I nearly lost my face. ¡°Master Chen, there are three paths ahead. It¡¯s where the traps for the outer palace are located. According to my teacher¡¯s secret records, in the outer palace of the Dragon¡¯s Den, there are two chances to die and one chance to live. Which path do you say is safer?¡± Master Long suddenly asked. Chen Hao paused, before looking over carefully. It did seem like there were three paths. One path was a bridge over water, the path in the middle was a white jade walkway, and the third one was a square. Chen Hao didn¡¯t dare speak carelessly, so he asked, ¡°Master Long, did your teacher¡¯s secret book say which path is safer?¡± Master Long replied, ¡°No. The secret book only said that the Dragon¡¯s Den is where the energy of the land converges, so it shouldn¡¯t be sealed completely. This is why there exists the setup of two chances to die and one chance to live. As for what the setup is like, as it¡¯s done by the people who constructed the tomb, without a map, we can only barge in by force.¡± Barge in by force? Are you kidding me? I came here for two reasons. First, to expand my horizons and accumulate experience. And secondary to that, to earn money. There¡¯s clearly a one-third probability of survival. Isn¡¯t it like courting death? No way am I doing that. At most, I¡¯ll just give up on remuneration. No big deal. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea to barge in by force. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Chen Hao shook his head and rejected the idea. With a smile, Master Long asked, ¡°Master Chen, are you scared?¡± Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. You make it sound like you aren¡¯t scared. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of being scared or not. Since there are traps, we should be getting professionals to resolve this. It¡¯s irrational to barge in by force.¡± Chen Hao rebutted. Master Long said, ¡°We don¡¯t have time for that. If we¡¯re getting outsiders in to help, it¡¯s going to take more than a few days. A delay might bring about unexpected changes. If there exist evil spirits in there, if we wait till they have completely awoken, we¡¯d be in big trouble. How about this? Master Chen, you and I will each choose a path to barge in by force. What do you say?¡± Chen Hao very much wanted to refuse. But he was too embarrassed to say that out loud. After a momentary silence, Chen Hao gritted his teeth and nodded. ¡°Okay, Master Long. Which path do you choose?¡± Chapter 44 ¡°I choose the waterway,¡± Master Long said decisively. Chen Hao gazed at the three paths, his gaze flickering. Among the three paths, clearly the one in the middle was the easiest to walk, for it was a straight path into the depths of the palace. This fellow is choosing to walk on the narrowest bridge on the pond? Why did he choose that one? Could it be that Master Long actually knows that that path is the safest but isn¡¯t planning on telling me? That can¡¯t be it. Master Long can¡¯t be that retarded to entrap his teammate before even confirming the existence of evil spirits in there. That means Master Long knows some information and deduced that the waterway has the highest probability of being the safest path. That¡¯s why he took the initiative to claim that path first and make me test the other two paths. Damn. It¡¯s a trap! No way. I must¡­ Wait a minute, there¡¯s a problem. Could this fellow have deliberately chosen first to tempt me into exchanging with him? That means that the waterway is the least safe, and he¡¯s deliberately choosing it to confuse me so that I¡¯ll get suspicious and initiate an exchange. Damn. This fellow doesn¡¯t look so devious! Could I be overthinking this? ¡°Master Chen, are you done considering? If you feel that the waterway is the safest, I can let you have it,¡± Master Long said with a broad beam, assuming an easygoing manner. Chen Hao raised a brow and snorted inwardly. He said, ¡°I choose the square.¡± Regardless of how he looked at it, the waterway was the least safe. Once the mechanism was triggered, he would have no place to hide. On the other hand, the square was different. It at least had a large surface area. Now that he had a preliminary understanding of the Dipper Steps, such an environment was most suited for him. Even if there was a trap, he would have space to dodge. Hence, regardless of Master Long¡¯s intention, Chen Hao decided to choose according to his own circumstances and ignore everything else. ¡°The square? You¡¯ve made your choice, Master Chen?¡± Master Long pressed, seemingly eager to exchange. Chen Hao calmly said, ¡°Master Long, you¡¯d better prepare. We¡¯re pressed for time.¡± He then walked over to the square. Bai Ru subconsciously wanted to follow him, but Chen Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t come over first. Wait for me to call for you before coming over.¡± Bai Ru hesitated a moment, then nodded. All she could think of now was what Chen Hao said about the chance to turn things around. Hence, Chen Hao¡¯s words were like an imperial edict to her, and no one else mattered. When he got to the square, Chen Hao carefully sized it up. The square wasn¡¯t considered small¡ªit was ten-odd meters wide and thirty-plus meters long. The ground was laid with neat rows of slab stones, and on each of the two sides, there was a row of warriors wearing armor and holding swords and guns. Also, there were two rows of army weapons racks, on which there were swords, guns, rods, and all kinds of army weaponry that one could think of. However, as they were left underground for several centuries, under the influence of the dark energy and the moisture, they were awfully rusted. From the surface, there didn¡¯t seem to be any problem with this square. But the ancient people¡¯s wisdom wasn¡¯t to be belittled. The safer a place seemed, the more likely there was a problem with it. Chen Hao calmed his anxious heart down and quietly glanced at Master Long. He realized that Master Long was standing next to the bridge looking at him. As both of them were wearing gas masks, neither could see the other¡¯s expression, but both knew in their hearts. They were risking their lives by barging in by force this time. Master Long had received an expensive gift and accepted this task, so even if he were to risk his life, he had to accomplish this mission. Chen Hao, on the other hand, was provoked into doing this by Master Long. After all, this was a business deal he agreed to take on, and since the other master wasn¡¯t afraid, if he showed cowardice and backed off, it would be a smudge on his path to becoming a great master. This was something Chen Hao refused to let happen. Nearly at the same time, both of them started moving at their fastest speed possible, barging forward directly. On Master Long¡¯s side, the bridge was curved, so he had to keep turning his body as he walked, observing his surroundings and controlling the direction as he went along. It was more straightforward for Chen Hao. He simply had to go in a straight line, until he dashed to the front. Shortly after, the two of them entered the mid-section of the path they had respectively chosen. Just then, Chen Hao suddenly heard a clicking sound, and the next moment his entire body involuntarily lurched forward. Damn. This square is a dead path! Chen Hao gasped in his heart. Sensing a pain between his brows, he subconsciously did a somersault. Swoosh swoosh! The two hidden arrows went through Chen Hao¡¯s original position with a swoosh wound before nailing the wall. Holy crap! Nearly scared me to death! Startled, Chen Hao felt his entire body going weak and his bladder swelling up. But before he could catch his breath, the slab stone he was holding up with his left hand started making ¡°clack-clack¡± sounds. Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched, then he saw the slab stone sink down slowly. F*ck! Again! Is this ever going to end? Chen Hao¡¯s expression changed drastically as he scolded inwardly. But his body didn¡¯t dare hesitate. With a clumsy roll, he shifted away from his original position. But very quickly, he was stunned. Surrounded by the continuous clicking sounds, he could see the slab stones sinking one by one. Clearly, he had triggered a domino effect. It was indeed a dead path! Chen Hao wailed internally. Unable to care about anything else, he summoned his focus, and his body subconsciously followed the footwork of the Dipper Steps, helping him move distances of several meters unpredictably in an instant. Swoosh swoosh! Swoosh swoosh! Swoosh swoosh! The hidden arrows flew past him in a swift and urgent manner. But luckily, these arrows were triggered by a mechanism, and every time they came shooting, he would hear the triggered sound. Although Chen Hao didn¡¯t know how to determine where the sound came from, when he heard it, his body would naturally shift using the Dipper Steps. After it happened several times, Chen Hao felt delighted. Surprisingly, experiencing danger had its benefits too. His sensitized body had now begun getting used to the Dipper Steps. After all, he completely understood the wonders and meaning of the Dipper Steps. It was just that his body was too weak and couldn¡¯t keep up. Even though he had practiced it hundreds of times over the span of several days, he was still in the elementary stage. But now, when faced with the danger of death, it was like the muscles and bones in his body had been activated. Instinctively, he could follow the movements of the Dipper Steps. When it sensed the movement of the mechanism, his body would automatically combine the appropriate movements and flexibly apply it, helping him dodge from the traps easily. Right now, Chen Hao could completely feel the wonders and magic of the Dipper Steps. Experiencing it for himself was totally different from absorbing the knowledge passively. The commotion on this side startled the others in the back. So there was really a trap? Those who had initially wanted to put up a good performance before Xue Chuang felt glad they didn¡¯t act recklessly. Else, they would probably have a hundred holes through them now. Looking at the master again, tsk tsk. He was indeed a master. Could this be the legendary qinggong[1]? Master Long, who set off at the same time as Chen Hao, was observing the latter as well. When the mechanism in the square was triggered, he had halted in his footsteps. When he saw how Chen Hao managed to dodge the traps with his footwork, a shocked expression emerged underneath Master Long¡¯s gas mask. Unlike outsiders who only knew to watch the fun, an insider would know what was really going on. Chen Hao¡¯s steps contained the Big Dipper Technique. Combining the elements to the Chinese zodiac, it contained 36 variations that resulted in unpredictable changes. This was divine footwork. Even though his sect had existed for several hundred years, they didn¡¯t pass on something so divine. Isn¡¯t this fellow a warlock? Where did he learn this from? The incredulous Master Long suddenly had a bad feeling. He subconsciously retreated, and his expression changed before dashing forward. But just then, splattering sounds came from the originally calm water surface. Several hideous-looking weird fishes about one meter long each and with sharp teeth jumped out of the water, attacking Master Long from both sides. [1] A technique in Chinese martial arts that is visually reminiscent of parkou Chapter 45 There¡¯s also a trap in the waterway! Sensing the weird fishes coming at him, a thought flickered across Master Long¡¯s mind, putting a bitter expression on his face. His experience caused his downfall. He had originally thought that the bridge on the waterway was narrow and it was difficult to set up traps, but he hadn¡¯t expected the trap to be in the water. But it was too late for regrets now. With a soft cry, Master Long leaped into the air and pulled something from his waist. A white glow appeared in the sky. As he waved his sword through the air, several weird fishes were split into two, splattering blood everywhere. Seeing that it had worked, Master Long didn¡¯t hesitate. He leaped upon the bridge and waved his sword in the air, killing one or two weird fishes every time he struck. The sudden situation startled everyone. Master Long¡¯s choice is wrong as well! There¡¯s also a trap in the water! Right now, on the left and the right, one in the water and one on the square, the two were doing all they could to fend off the attacks from the traps. Chen Hao was pretty lucky. After ten-odd arrows or so, those clicking and swoosh sounds vanished, leaving behind an uneven square. He heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling a lingering fear. He was truly very lucky. If he hadn¡¯t suddenly decided to diligently practice the Dipper Steps for two days prior to this and activated his body¡¯s ability to apply the Dipper Steps, he would probably be dead by now. It wasn¡¯t easy to be a master. He had learned a lesson this time. After leaving this place safely, he must diligently practice over a period of time, to master his skills completely. Also, he needed to prepare various protective items before undertaking more missions. Having escaped danger, Chen Hao looked over to Master Long, feeling a sense of gloating. Damn, you even tried to entrap me? You¡¯re entrapping yourself now, aren¡¯t you? My trap is at least a dead one, and it¡¯s easy to dodge. Those weird fishes look ferocious. If you¡¯re not careful, that¡¯s it for you. Chen Hao sat down and took out a piece of chocolate. He started eating it to recover his strength while watching the fun. He wasn¡¯t worried about Master Long, for the latter was fully armed and had so much good stuff. Also, with his cultivation, dealing with the weird fishes shouldn¡¯t be too hard. This was a good opportunity to observe Master Long¡¯s cultivation. Chen Hao didn¡¯t want to miss out on this. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Master Long acted rather calmly. Waving his sword, he would chop the fishes either horizontally or vertically. Clearly, Master Long was highly skilled, and the weapon in his hands was incredibly sharp too. The longer Chen Hao watched, the weirder his expression became. Slowly, his gaze started getting serious. On Master Long, Chen Hao saw the basic qualities a genuine master ought to possess. Such as now. The weird fishes were neither demons nor monsters, so they had clearly transformed into this shape under the influence of the dark energy from the Dragon¡¯s Den. Magical artifacts had little effect on such things, so a physical attack would be more appropriate. And Master Long had displayed his extraordinary skills and easily resolved this. This was a basic quality¡ªto be able to deploy both means and to stay calm in the face of danger. At the thought of how he had dealt with his own situation earlier, the difference was stark by comparison. It was embarrassing. Chen Hao felt his face heating up, secretly feeling ashamed for feeling pleased with himself earlier. He was incomparable to a genuine master, more like a fraud who duped people for a living. Must not be proud, must not feel pleased with myself, must be low-key, must work hard, must learn from others what they¡¯re good at. Chen Hao warned himself quietly. Thereafter, Chen Hao got more and more serious as he watched Master Long deal with the weird fishes. Regardless of Master Long¡¯s character, his capability was worthy of one¡¯s respect. Momentarily, as if sensing that Master Long wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with, having seen many of their companions die, the weird fishes finally gave up attacking him. Slowly, the pond resumed its calm manner. Holding onto his sword, Master Long was still in an alert state. After a while, he finally was certain that those weird fishes had backed off out of fear. Only then did he relax and begin taking in big breaths. Compared to Chen Hao¡¯s avoidance tactic, Master Long¡¯s defenses were more physically taxing. Although he made it look like a breeze earlier, only Master Long himself knew how tough it was. Under the influence of dark energy, the bodies of the weird fishes were incredibly hard. Even though his sword was made using a special technique and was extremely sharp, if one didn¡¯t use all his strength, he wouldn¡¯t be able to kill the weird fishes easily. It took a toll on him physically to exert such strength continuously. If those weird fishes were persistent in their attacks, he might have to seek help from Chen Hao a while later. Luckily, that didn¡¯t happen, else he would have to suffer a loss of face. Watching as the two masters overcame the traps, Xue Chuang and the rest who stayed behind in the passageway were overjoyed. Seeing that these two masters managed to get past even such scary traps, they felt confident that this matter could be resolved. ¡°Master Long, do you want to come back and take a rest?¡± Xue Chuang was a smart person. Seeing Master Long breathe heavily, it was evident that he had depleted much of his stamina. Hence, he asked this just in case. ¡°Humph, now that the traps in the outer palace are overcome, if we continue walking we¡¯ll reach the inner palace. Let¡¯s just resolve this now. How can we give up halfway? Master Chen, do you agree?¡± Master Long snorted and asked Chen Hao loudly. Chen Hao got to his feet and said humbly, ¡°Master Long, you¡¯re experienced. I, as your junior, will obey your instructions.¡± Oh! Master Long looked at Chen Hao in shock. What¡¯s going on here? What brought about the massive transformation in this young fellow? He does sound humble and respectful, the attitude a junior should have towards a senior. Master Long couldn¡¯t figure out why, but he decided not to overthink this since there were more pressing matters at hand. ¡°Alright, since those two paths were the wrong ones, the right path must be the one in the middle. Follow us into the inner palace to look for the Dragon¡¯s Coffin Chamber.¡± Master Long instructed, before walking over. Chen Hao got to his feet too and walked through the square. A moment later, they arrived within the palace. When the laser lights were turned on, even Master Long himself gasped at what he saw as he involuntarily retreated several steps. In the center of the hall, a white skeleton more than ten meters tall could be seen lying on the ground with its head raised up high. ¡°Dragon spawn!¡± Master Long let out a loud gasp, his voice quivering. Everyone could tell the fear and terror in his voice. ¡°What? Dragon spawn? You mean these bones? There really existed dragons in the world?¡± Xue Chuang and the rest were scared out of their wits and their eyes widened, full of disbelief. Although Chen Hao was startled as well, he had become much calmer after having been startled a few times. Chen Hao frowned as he carefully sized it up. Isn¡¯t this just the skeleton of a snake? How did it suddenly become dragon spawn? ¡°That won¡¯t do. Let¡¯s go. We have to leave right now. The evil spirit in this tomb is transformed from a dragon spawn. Once it¡¯s awakened, all of us will have to die.¡± Without waiting for Chen Hao to ask, Master Chen spoke again. This time, he took the initiative to ask to leave, and his tone was incredibly firm, leaving no room for negotiation. Leaving? How can we? We¡¯re already here, we have got to resolve this! Snapping out of his trance, Xue Chuang anxiously asked, ¡°Master Long, can you be more specific? Shuanglong Group is unable to accept such a vague explanation.¡± Master Long didn¡¯t give him any face and simply said, ¡°If you can¡¯t accept it, I¡¯ll return to you that spiritual item. Please consult someone else. Evil spirits transformed from dragon spawn are extremely scary. It¡¯s taboo. We can¡¯t stay a moment longer here. I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Immediately after he finished speaking, Master Long turned around to leave, not willing to say even a word more. But when Master Long got to the entrance of the palace, the ground suddenly shook, and a sharp sound rang throughout the place. Hiss! Chapter 46 A shrill noise sounded and a dark shadow emerged from the depths of the hall, rushing straight towards Chen Hao. Meow! A pitiful cry was heard and the black cat seemed to have been greatly frightened. Curling up, its chubby body appeared to even be shivering. Chen Hao was rather shocked. What happened? Did this little fellow startle the evil spirit? Oh no, bringing it along had led to even more trouble. Was it too late to abandon it now? ¡°What a cat demon!¡± Master Long stopped in his tracks and glared fiercely at the black cat¡­ and Chen Hao. With an innocent look on his face, Chen Hao thought that this really had nothing to do with him. D*mn, was he going to die a wrongful death? ¡°Master¡­ Master Long, what do we do now? You can¡¯t just do nothing now.¡± Xue Chuang was flustered and rushed forward to grab Master Long as though he was clutching onto him for dear life. ¡°Let me go.¡± Master Long was exasperated. ¡°Master!¡± ¡°How do I resolve it when you¡¯re holding onto me? Let me go!¡± Master Long yelled. Xue Chuang finally let go and looked at Master Long nervously. This was their last hope. Even if Master Long took no actions, the evil spirit which had already been startled would escape from the ancient grave and terrorize Stone City. Even if they were to leave this place safely, Shuanglong Group wouldn¡¯t be able to shoulder the responsibility. Master Long tidied his clothes and glared once more at Chen Hao. He then took out an item from his bag that looked like an ink fountain thread wheel from the ancient times. ¡°Master Chen, do you know how to subdue it with this?¡± Embarrassed, Chen Hao answered, ¡°No.¡± Master Long was rendered speechless. Why was he even here if he didn¡¯t know anything? Was it that simple to scam a big corporation of their money? ¡°Stay here to protect everyone. Don¡¯t run away.¡± He had completely lost faith in Chen Hao. After relaying a general instruction, Master Chen took out a bottle of red liquid and poured it into the ink fountain thread wheel. He then prepared for the battle. Focusing on three pillars, he twined the ink thread around them five times, forming a web. Master Long then secured the threads before retrieving a peach wood sword and a stack of talismans from his bag. He focused and stayed alert as he observed his surroundings. ¡°Master Long, is this sufficient?¡± Xue Chuang asked worriedly. Master Long glared at him and asked, ¡°What else do you expect? Do you want me to fight head-on with a dragon?¡± Xue Chuang felt rather embarrassed. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡­¡± ¡°Shut up. This is a spawn of dragons that protects its den, and they are spirits that exist alongside the Dragon¡¯s Den. Because it has been unexpectedly consumed by its den, the dragon has turned evil. It should not exist. All the masters typically refuse to acknowledge that they exist. I have no confidence in handling it too. All of you should be prepared to die,¡± Master Long explained solemnly. Xue Chuang didn¡¯t dare to speak anymore. His legs were completely wobbling in fear. Bai Ru¡¯s heart was also thumping. Approaching Chen Hao quietly, she asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Master Chen, is this deity figurine of any use now?¡± Chen Hao was speechless. At this critical point in time, how could this woman still care about winning her own battle? Ha, indeed. Her personality had clearly been exposed during this period of calamity. He should never associate with this woman at all. Although he marked Bai Ru in his heart, Chen Hao still glanced at the figurine of Guan Yu. It was undeniably their trump card in this battle, but since he hadn¡¯t attained Dao, he couldn¡¯t use it to its fullest power. He didn¡¯t know if it would come in handy now. He couldn¡¯t hesitate anymore. At this point in time, he had to take the risk. He had to let Master Long know that he wasn¡¯t incompetent. Chen Hao nodded and answered, ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Bai Ru heaved a sigh of relief, and the look in her eyes turned resolute. Since she was young, she had always heard her father lament that she wasn¡¯t a boy and couldn¡¯t do certain things. Bai Ru thus decided that even though she was a girl, she had to become even stronger than a boy. She wanted to prove her father wrong. Therefore, she gave up on the lifestyle that many women enjoyed. She also majored in economics, which she hated. After entering the Shuanglong Group, she didn¡¯t slack off and tried to demonstrate her capabilities. The incident here at the Stream Mountain construction site was the best chance for her to prove herself. If she won, she would be able to fulfill her dreams. She would be¡­ All in all, this was her only chance. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose it. As she held the Guan Yu figurine even tighter, Bai Ru followed Chen Hao closely as he moved. She was waiting for him to give the command to use to deity figurine. After a short while, the place suddenly turned sinisterly cold. Chen Hao clearly saw dark energy rushing out from the depths of the palace. It was so strong that even a commoner would be able to see it. The energy spread through the entire palace quickly, making the initially illuminated place appear darker than before. Everyone fell silent and watched the scene unfold in shock. No one dared to even gasp. Hiss! Suddenly, a huge dark shadow charged out right towards Chen Hao. Buzz! Within an instant, the ink threads wrapped around the pillars glowed a red color. Disrupted by the red lights, the dark shadow cried out and began spiraling abruptly, revealing the shadow of what seemed like a large snake. The body of the snake was as thick as a bucket and over ten meters long. It flashed his fangs and its eyes were bloodshot. It looked terrifying. ¡°Evil spirit, be gone!¡± Master Long instantly fought back. With the peach wood sword in his hand, he leaped around, wielding a talisman. The sword reverberated and the talisman transformed into a red light, hitting the howling snake. The snake gave another blood-curdling scream. Flipping its body, it vanished into thin air suddenly, appearing in another corner in the next second, shocking everyone watching the scene. ¡°Evil¡­ Evil spirit!¡± Xue Chuang and the rest of the commoners were already shocked beyond words. They muttered under their breaths and shook from fear. One of them even peed in his pants. ¡°Fortunately, it has not transformed into a proper dragon yet. This spawn of dragons is still relatively easy to deal with.¡± Master Long heaved a sigh of relief, and much of the fear he showed was erased from his face. Chen Hao asked, ¡°Master Long, can you explain in detail about this dragon spawn?¡± Master Long looked at Chen Hao in shock. He had never expected this lad to still be curious to learn more about this dragon spawn at this junction. Was he truly that curious or was he just weird? After staying silent for a while, Master Long still answered, ¡°This dragon spawn was born to accompany the Dragon¡¯s Den. Most of them are poisonous snakes transformed into dragons. The one before us is a poisonous snake. They guard the Dragon¡¯s Den, and after the den has amassed sufficient energy, it will draw on part of the energy to transform itself into a dragon. This is the case with the Dragon¡¯s Den here. It had been guarded by a poisonous snake. If the Dragon¡¯s Den were to be uncovered, the snake will typically be slain. I don¡¯t know why this spirit is still alive and hidden amidst the palace. As such, even if the owner of the ancient grave had been able to change his own life, the blessings wouldn¡¯t last more than three generations. Some of the failures experienced by his descendants could have even been caused by the poisonous snake. Having been consumed by the Dragon¡¯s Den, the owner failed and the snake turned into an evil spirit and a prohibited existence.¡± As Chen Hao listened, his confusion was cleared up. Several hundred years ago, a rich or powerful man had discovered the Dragon¡¯s Den. Feeling ambitious, he secretly set up a grave here. His helpers might have completed the task, but they still failed to eradicate the spirit within it. It caused the owner¡¯s plans to be ruined and his family line to end. This was probably what had happened. However, it had already been such a long time, and Chen Hao didn¡¯t want to find out the truth behind it. What mattered now was to deal with the evil dragon spirit. It had turned evil because it failed to transform into a dragon. Now that it was startled, he had no clue how infuriated the spirit was. If it didn¡¯t die, they would perish instead. Chapter 47 ¡°Master Long, since you chose to stay, you must have a way to deal with it, right?¡± Chen Hao suddenly asked. Master Long watched the spirit appear and vanish constantly. There was no way they could calm the spirit anymore. He answered with a deep voice, ¡°I have something that might scare it, but I cannot be sure if it will be able to kill it.¡± ¡°Sure, as long as we have a way. It¡¯s too dangerous for us to be trapped here. Master Long, what do we need to do?¡± Master Chen continued asking. Master Long looked at Chen Hao in surprise. ¡°Master Chen, aren¡¯t you afraid that you might die?¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°I am. But this spirit has been startled. If we don¡¯t settle this problem, the citizens all over Stone City will be in danger. I¡¯m not an amazing person, but I won¡¯t allow the commoners to pay for our mistake. I think you¡¯ve chosen to stay for the same reason too.¡± Master Long was silent for a moment and looked at Chen Hao intently. His impression of this lad was truly changing again and again. He couldn¡¯t even tell what kind of person he was anymore. Even though the lad might not be very skilled, he deserved to be praised for saying those words. ¡°Okay. Since Master Chen feels that way, I have an idea. Would you want to take the risk?¡± Master Long asked. Chen Hao answered solemnly, ¡°Master Long, please go ahead.¡± Master Long took out a talisman from his bag and said, ¡°This is a talisman used to contain spirits. This dragon spirit doesn¡¯t fully exist in our realm and it¡¯s hard to control it. I won¡¯t be able to hurt it using my method. Therefore, I need you to take the risk. Use the talisman to contain the spirit so that I can attack it.¡± Taking the talisman from Master Long¡¯s hand, Chen Hao could instantly tell that it was an authentic one. Moreover, the drawings had been done using one¡¯s powers. It contained a great deal of energy. ¡°I understand. You want me to approach the spirit and then contain it using the talisman.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. That¡¯s the only way I can hurt it. Otherwise, we¡¯ll be stuck here.¡± Chen Hao answered, ¡°Okay, Master Long. Let¡¯s begin.¡± As he spoke, Chen Hao held the talisman in his hand and walked towards the defense lines marked by the ink threads. Master Long looked intently at Chen Hao, and his impression of him grew better. His skills aside, this lad was the most humane and caring out of all the Masters he had spoken to. Master Long began to prepare too. Taking out a box from his bag, he opened it and carefully retrieved a purple round ball the size of an egg from within. Looking at the ball, a glint of woe flashed across Master Long¡¯s eyes. This was the prized possession of Masters like him. After all these years, he only had two left. He had brought it here merely as a precaution. Little did he expect to use it here. Although the remuneration that Manager Xue offered him was outstanding too, it couldn¡¯t be compared to such a precious item. He had lost a great deal taking on this task. Looking at Chen Hao waiting for him, Master Long couldn¡¯t afford to stall any longer. Clenching his jaw, he took the ball out of the box. Holding the peach wood sword in his hand, he called, ¡°Master Chen, I¡¯m ready.¡± Chen Hao lunged forward, lurching out from within the cracks of the red thread. At that moment, the hidden spirit noticed Chen Hao and instantly made its way towards him. Chen Hao held the talisman in one hand and the jade Buddha magical artifact in the other, watching silently as the huge spirit approached him. Finally, when the spirit was just a few meters away from him, Chen Hao struck. He threw the jade Buddha at the spirit. An aura flashed and the artifact exploded. The spirit was hurt by the impact, causing its energy to slightly dissipate. The spirit shrieked but didn¡¯t retreat. On the contrary, it charged at Chen Hao even more ferociously. Chen Hao pretended to be flustered and ran away. When the spirit was almost upon him and ready to engulf him, Chen Hao struck again. Executing the Dipper Steps, his body twisted in an unusual way and he landed by the spirit¡¯s side. At the same time, Chen Hao reached out. Bam! The talisman was stuck onto the spirit¡¯s body. Instantly, the talisman glowed brightly and the spirit¡¯s body froze. It was unable to move at all. ¡°Master Long!¡± Chen Hao shouted and finished executing the Dipper Steps. Within two steps, he leaped across ten meters and hid behind a pillar. When the spirit was rendered motionless, Master Long had only one thought. Chance. Master Long bit his finger and wiped the blood on the ball. Although its surface appeared smooth, mysterious markings that looked like fingerprints started appearing. The markings glowed a purple light, and it grew increasingly bright. Master Long didn¡¯t hesitate any further. Flinging his arm hard, the ball was thrown outwards. At that moment, the spirit suddenly moved. The talisman on its body caught fire and burned to ashes¡ªit was clear that the talisman could only contain a spirit of such caliber for a short instant. And at that point in time, the ball landed right on its body. Buzz! The ball exploded and a frightening purple light engulfed the entire palace. It was as hot as the sun and the onlookers couldn¡¯t even see what had happened. Their eyes teared continuously and everything in front of them was a blur. They couldn¡¯t make out anything at all. Then, a sharp cry burst through the place, the volume causing their ears to ring. It messed up their minds and they didn¡¯t even know where they were standing. After a while, they began to regain their sights. Taking another look at the scene, not only was the spirit gone, but most of the sinister energy in the palace had also vanished. Only some energy lingered. Chen Hao was utterly shocked. What kind of tool was that? How could it be so powerful? Even though he was hiding behind the pillar, the dispersed energy burned him. It had felt just like how a sunburn would feel. It was uncomfortable but didn¡¯t cause any harm. Yet, to evil spirits, this energy was fatal. Master Long was indeed top tier amongst all the masters. He truly had a lot of tools to work with. ¡°Is it dead? Is that thing dead?¡± Xue Chuang asked anxiously, forcing his eyes open despite the discomfort. Master Long didn¡¯t answer and merely focused on observing. ¡°Ahh, look!¡± At that moment, Bai Ru pointed at a certain direction fearfully. Everyone turned to look and gasped in shock. A snake¡¯s skeleton over ten meters long suddenly moved. It slowly twisted its body and looked over at them. ¡°Oh, no. The spirit is part-dragon and its energy cannot be eradicated. It can still move its body. Let¡¯s go!¡± Master Long was flustered. He had already used his strongest weapon but still failed to kill it. He was now at his wit¡¯s ends and there was nothing he could do. Just as Xue Chuang was about to speak, a voice was heard. ¡°Bai Ru, toss the deity figurine to me.¡± Hearing that voice, Bai Ru snapped out of her shock and she subconsciously threw the figurine towards Chen Hao. Chen Hao leaped and caught it. Looking at Master Long, he said, ¡°Master Long, please stall for a few more moments. I have a way to deal with it.¡± After speaking, Chen Hao didn¡¯t allow Master Long any time to refuse. He removed the silk covering the figurine and sat down with his legs crossed. Holding it, he concentrated fully and began to channel his divine powers to bless the figurine. ¡°The Heavens and the Earth, listen to my commands. Open!¡± Chapter 48 As he recited the mantras, Chen Hao felt that his energy was pouring out. Within a split second, it vanished completely. His head throbbed dully and his vision turned black. Right before he felt like passing out, Chen Hao received a message that the deity figurine had been blessed. ¡°The deity figurine of Guan Yu has been blessed¡­ It¡¯s unparalleled.¡± The unparalleled blessed figurine could now vanquish all the evil spirits in the world. ¡°I invite Lord Guan Yu to quell the evil spirit.¡± Garnering all his remaining strength to conjure that thought, Chen Hao¡¯s vision went black and he collapsed onto the ground. As the people around him watched, they gasped in shock. Master Long looked the most surprised. Didn¡¯t he say that he could handle this? Was this what he meant by handling it? What a useless piece of sh*t. Before he could move, the sound of hooves galloping towards them sounded. Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop! The sounds grew louder and clearer. It startled everyone. Even the white skeleton that had been preparing to strike retreated, appearing frightened. ¡°This is¡­¡± Master Long turned towards the source of the sound and stared at it with widened eyes. It wasn¡¯t the sounds of a horse¡¯s hooves. The deity figurine moved on its own on the ground. As its movements grew increasingly rapid, it produced sounds that appeared like a horse galloping away. How could the deity figurine move on its own though? It was also glowing with spirit aura. It was¡­ a spiritual tool! That was impossible. The figurine looked ordinary, he couldn¡¯t have judged it wrongly earlier. How could it have become a spiritual tool? Master Long felt conflicted deep down and was in utter disbelief. He had been practicing cultivation for over forty years and had experienced all sorts of strange phenomenons. Yet, this was something he had never seen before. Master Long was also stupefied and didn¡¯t know how to react. The deity figurine suddenly leaped from the ground and a bright glow visible to even the naked eye emanated from it. Amidst the glow, a large maroon horse emerged. Stepping in the air, it galloped and neighed ferociously. Sitting atop the horse was a burly man of eight foot. His face was reddened and he had a long beard. The long sword he wielded had a green dragon engraved on it. On his head was a green mortarboard, and on his body a robe designed for battles. Beneath his green robe, he donned an armor. He looked dignified and intimidating. Subtly, the people around started to hear a vague chanting. ¡°The King¡¯s ruling begins and the country is unified¡­ Listen to his commands¡­¡± ¡°This is the ¡®Spring and Autumn Annals¡¯, written by Gongyang!¡± Master Long was also extremely well-read. Upon hearing the chanting, he immediately knew what it was. This was the spirit of Guan Yu. How could it be? His practice had already acknowledged that deities didn¡¯t exist, so how could Guan Yu suddenly appear? Master Long¡¯s understanding of the world was shattered and crushed once again. He felt as though his head was swelling and it was about to burst. Guan Yu didn¡¯t seem like he was going to stop. After the maroon horse stepped out, his gaze was fixed on the skeleton. The killing intent in his eyes felt so real. Stimulated by the look in his eyes, the skeleton twisted its body and tried to escape madly into the depths of the palace. ¡°Vanquish all the evil spirits in the world!¡± Following the command in his thick and stern voice, the maroon horse raced forward. It chased after the skeleton, as quick as lightning. Guan Yu moved his arm swiftly, and his sword glided across the skeleton¡¯s body. Within a split second, the skeleton was cut into half. The body fell apart and instantly disintegrated into nothingness. Was¡­ Was it dead? Master Long¡¯s mouth gaped open as he stared in shock. So strong, so terrifying. Was it really Guan Yu? Yes, it was! Master Long snapped out of his shock, and just as he was about to speak, the deity figurine exploded loudly. After an accompanying bright light, wood fragments fell all over the ground. Master Long watched in shock. After a while, he recalled a legend recorded in one of the secret books. A living being¡¯s persistent thought could bring him good luck and turn an object into a spiritual one. This wasn¡¯t Guan Yu, but the spirit of its figurine. It had come to life after being blessed and given rise to Guan Yu¡¯s image. ¡°So this wasn¡¯t a legend, after all. It¡¯s true. Who is this lad?¡± Master Long looked at Chen Hao, who lay unconscious. His eyes were filled with curiosity, shock, and fear. The lad didn¡¯t seem to have attained Dao, but he could still bless a deity figurine. This wasn¡¯t a skill that someone who was not trained or learned could do so easily. ¡­ Chen Hao was in a daze. His head spun and he felt weak, as though he was floating around. Chen Hao could vaguely hear someone exclaim, ¡°He¡¯s awake! He¡¯s awake! Hurry up and inform the doctor. The Master is awake.¡± Where was he? Chen Hao forced his eyes to open. Amidst his daze, all he saw was white. His eyes darted around and he recognized that he was in a hospital ward. Had he been hospitalized? A thousand thoughts rushed through his head. After a while, Chen Hao snapped out of his shock. He had already left the ancient grave. He hadn¡¯t died. That was great news. ¡°Are you okay? Do you want some water?¡± A voice asked by his side. Chen Hao turned around and saw a pretty lady in her twenties. With a smile, she looked at him happily. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Hao asked. The lady hurriedly answered, ¡°Hi, Master. My name is Zhou Yuzhu. President Bai has instructed me to take care of you.¡± President Bai¡­ Was it Bai Ru? Chen Hao stayed silent for a while before asking, ¡°What happened at the ancient grave?¡± Zhou Yuzhu smiled and replied, ¡°Master, don¡¯t worry. The issue has already been settled. The construction resumed operations yesterday. That ancient grave is really amazing. The entire Stone City was in shock upon hearing about it. I heard that it will be redeveloped into a tourist attraction. Oh, right. Master, do you feel unwell? You¡¯ve been unconscious for five days.¡± Five days? Had it been so long? Chen Hao sighed quietly. Without attaining Dao, it was really too much of a risk to bless an item purely based on his own energy. Fortunately, the deity figurine already possessed some spiritual energy and his own energy had merely primed it. Otherwise, even if he expended all his energy, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to bless it. Indeed, if he truly wasn¡¯t so skilled, he ought not to risk his life in the future. He wouldn¡¯t be so lucky each time he went through such a big risk. He requested Zhou Yuzhu to pour him a cup of water and then asked her about what happened after he passed out. Zhou Yuzhu didn¡¯t know much too, but she said that a number of people had personally witnessed the entire fantastical scene. Rumors had naturally spread already. Although the Shuanglong Group and the officials from Stone City had banned the rumors from going around, it was impossible to contain it. With the media reporting about it and the citizens making wild guesses, all sorts of rumors had been spreading. Zhou Yuzhu was an insider and knew a little more than the average person. Through her, Chen Hao understood that after he passed out, the image of Guan Yu from the blessed deity figurine had emerged and sliced the skeleton in half before exploding. With the skeleton dead, there was no more threat to the ancient grave. After Master Long checked around the place, the Shuanglong Group and officials from Stone City entered it. It was only then that they realized there was more than met the eye to the grave. The Dragon¡¯s Den was very small, only about a hundred feet wide. However, behind the Den was an underground cave, where the Dragon resided. It was a pity that the Dragon had been consumed by its den and its space had been taken over by the floodwater, losing its original glory. Besides a few funeral items, there was nothing else. Chen Hao wasn¡¯t interested in the ancient grave at all. On the other hand, he paid more attention to the Guan Yu figurine. It was merely an image of the Saint, but it had possessed such powers. Indeed, Guan Yu lived up to his name. He was truly loyal and unparalleled. ¡°Killing the evil spirits while reading ¡®Early History¡¯; Controlling the Yin and Yang while containing the people.¡± Chapter 49 The news of Chen Hao waking up quickly spread around. Half an hour later, Bai Ru was the first to visit him. The Bai Ru now had regained her lovely youthful appearance¡ªfashionable and pretty. Clad in a suit resembling that of career ladies, she did look like she had the appeal of one. ¡°Master Chen, are you feeling better?¡± Bai Ru placed the fresh fruits and flowers she brought down as she inquired with a smile. Although she was a beauty, the few times he had interacted with her had allowed him to see her true self. Chen Hao did not have a good impression of her. He replied plainly, ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± Bai Ru choked as her expression hardened for a second before returning to normal. She said with a smile, ¡°Master Chen, you look as if you don¡¯t want to see me. When have I offended you?¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°Vice-president Bai must be joking. I don¡¯t seem to recall us being that close. We simply have the relationship of an employer and her employee. Now that the case at Stream Mountain has been resolved, although you did not become the president, you have the same title of ¡®vice-president¡¯ as Xue Chuang, so I guess that¡¯s considered as a successful turnover. It¡¯s time for you to fulfill your promise, right?¡± Bai Ru was exasperated. This bastard. In front of a beauty like me, you¡¯re actually thinking about money? Are you trying to stay single for life? ¡°Master Chen, you can¡¯t just say this. Although we haven¡¯t known each other for long, we¡¯ve been through life and death together, so shouldn¡¯t that count for more than just normal friends?¡± Chen Hao smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about going through life or death together or things like that. This is my job. I just didn¡¯t expect it to be so difficult. If you feel bad for me, you can add a bonus to my payment. I won¡¯t have any complaints about it.¡± You will definitely not get a girlfriend. Bai Ru cursed inwardly. The smile vanished from her face as she looked seriously at him. ¡°Master Chen, since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll be direct as well. With Master Chen¡¯s help this time around, although I didn¡¯t get what I wanted, I did get further, so I feel that the two of us have a chance at further cooperation. If Master Chen is willing, I don¡¯t mind progressing further with you as well. By then, we can become an unstoppable force together¡­¡± ¡°Stop there!¡± Chen Hao couldn¡¯t stand listening more and cut her off directly. He then asked seriously, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too far ahead. We should settle the payment for now before we talk about anything else. Vice-president Bai wouldn¡¯t be just thinking about love and trying to pass up on paying me, right?¡± Bai Ru was flabbergasted. This bastard, how did you understand my words? I¡¯m unwilling to pay? I had a relatively good impression of you, so I was giving you a chance to chase me. Why do you only talk about money? Without it, are you going to die? Puffing up, Bai Ru glared at Chen Hao before speaking in a cold tone. ¡°Master Chen, rest assured. The promised three million yuan, I will give it to you without missing a single cent. I will transfer it to your account once I get back. Are you satisfied?¡± Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Like what people always say, even biological siblings should differentiate money matters and feelings. To be talking about love in front of profits is too fake. I can¡¯t take it.¡± Bai Ru was furious. ¡°So now, can I continue?¡± Chen Hao replied seriously, ¡°You may begin your performance.¡± Bai Ru was speechless. Why did she feel like a monkey performing at a circus? Bai Ru felt uneasy, but at the same time, she was unwilling to give up like this. After all, her trip to the tomb palace had shown her a fantasy-like world unlike that of the norm. For masters like Chen Hao who truly had the ability, she did have some form of impure thoughts about him. Furthermore, although Chen Hao wasn¡¯t extraordinarily handsome, his features were still above average. Alongside that figure of his, it was worth it for her to try her luck. ¡°Master Chen, what do you think of me?¡± Bai Ru probed. Chen Hao replied, ¡°Very beautiful.¡± Bai Ru was elated. At least you have the good taste to admit that I have good looks. ¡°Then, how do you feel about me?¡± Bai Ru probed further, her eyes keen. Chen Hao thought about it for a moment before saying, ¡°Do you want to hear the truth or the lie?¡± Bai Ru paused. There was a truth and a lie? Seeing his calm expression, Bai Ru had a sudden premonition. ¡°Say the truth.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Okay, then I will speak my mind. I, a child of a village farmer, is a nameless nobody. You¡¯re from a noble family, with a background worth millions. This is an indisputable gap between us. It¡¯s to the point that I think that our education and life principles are different. We¡¯re people from two different worlds. If not for the cooperation this time, we were people who would never have crossed paths in our lifetime. Am I right?¡± Bai Ru kept quiet and watched him calmly. Chen Hao then continued, ¡°And this venture allowed vice-president Bai to broaden your perspectives. Was it very magical and did it break the impression you had of this world? There are actually weird things like ghosts and demons in our world¡ªthere are even poisonous snakes. You must be thinking, ¡®what a strange world we live in, it¡¯s too dangerous¡­¡¯ So you wish to find someone to protect you. ¡°For me though, I¡¯m just a new person in the world of cultivation who has my own tricks. During our cooperation, I helped you and gave you a sense of security which confused your heart, right? Nope, I can¡¯t phrase it that way. People like vice-president Bai who seek success through any means have a heart of steel, so it can¡¯t be moved easily. In other words, you saw my capability and many different intentions popped up in your mind. For you, it¡¯s serving, helping, and a form of shortcut. The only thing lacking is¡­ feelings.¡± The word at the end was said in a mocking tone. Bai Ru¡¯s expression shifted and she remained silent. ¡°That¡¯s why, for you to be asking me directly right now and for you to overlook the fact that we don¡¯t match, you intend for me to woe you? To assist you to the best of my ability and help you to become a strong career lady? Is it like that?¡± Bai Ru stayed quiet for a while before sighing. ¡°Master Chen, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Chen Hao retorted, ¡°Overthinking? Am I thinking that you have feelings for me when you don¡¯t, or is what I¡¯m saying not what you¡¯re thinking? You really did fall for me and hoped to soar to the skies with me? Okay. If it¡¯s the latter, I can date you. But I have a request. Can you fulfill it?¡± Bai Ru¡¯s eyes shone. Chen Hao laughed. ¡°I want you to give up on the Shuanglong Group. From then on, you will assist your husband and raise our children. Be a housewife and not show your face outside, don¡¯t seek to prevail over others. Don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re too much.¡± Bai Ru rebuked angrily before he could finish his words. Chen Hao shrugged and smiled at her. What he wanted to say was evident in his eyes. You also know that it¡¯s impossible since we aren¡¯t each other¡¯s tastes, why is there this need to talk about these false realities? To be moved by any beautiful woman I see, do you really think of me as a geek who has never seen women before? Through her anger, Bai Ru realized that she had been tricked by this guy. What a bastard. How could he put the relationship between both genders out so bluntly? For them to have completed this task together, they must have some sort of connection. But Bai Ru couldn¡¯t think of any words to rebuke him. She questioned herself. Towards Chen Hao, if he didn¡¯t have the capabilities, he wouldn¡¯t have caught her eye and she wouldn¡¯t have such thoughts about him as well. Her expression grew unsightly. ¡°Master Chen¡¯s words are too hurtful. Unless you say that people from noble families can¡¯t have feelings. If, in the future, a beautiful and rich young lady fall for you, will you reject her as you did to me today?¡± Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s not for sure. If there are true feelings involved, I will definitely not reject her. Someone beautiful and rich, even a fool wouldn¡¯t reject.¡± Bai Ru was speechless. So you just don¡¯t like me. You bastard, scum, freakin¡¯ geek, worse than a monster¡­ Chapter 50 Bai Ru left. When she came, it was as if the spring breeze was blowing. When she left, it felt like the withering leaves of autumn. It really wasn¡¯t because Chen Hao didn¡¯t have an interest in the opposite gender. After all, he was a twenty-plus-year-old young man with energy and passion to spare. Faced with pretty women, he would definitely have some special thoughts about them. But Chen Hao was a traditional man. For him, a life partner was someone who shared the same values and principles. People like Bai Ru were suited to be successful in the business world. In other words, as long as they could lead a good life, it didn¡¯t matter to them what man they had. Before he even thought about chasing her, he already didn¡¯t dare to share a casual relationship with her. With one foot inside this quicksand, it would just cause him to sink into it. Not only would the feelings not be resolved, but it was also likely for it to turn into a pile of mess. Not more than five minutes after Bai Ru left, the doors to the ward opened again. This time, a few people and a cat entered. Chen Hao smiled once he saw them. ¡°Brother Zhou, Sister-in-law, Tongtong, why are you guys here?¡± Meow! The black cat swaggered over with its plump body, jumping nimbly onto the bed. It laid beside Chen Hao, with its paws on his arms as it looked at him with unblinking eyes¡ªthe epitome of cuteness. But Chen Hao harrumphed coldly and nudged the black cat on its head. ¡°You little brat. You played a part in why I became like this. Don¡¯t think that you can get away with it just by acting cute. I will settle this debt with you next time.¡± The black cat kept its cute expression as it escaped from Chen Hao¡¯s grasp and hopped aside, eyeing Chen Hao with disdain. Trashy owner. How petty. Hmm, this damn cat, what did I owe it. Chen Hao was about to glare at it when Tongtong ran over and plopped onto the bed. In her child-like voice, she said, ¡°Uncle, eat some sweets.¡± Looking at the milk candies on her tiny, white hands, Chen Hao¡¯s expression turned joyful and his heart melted. A pretty and cute loli could heal anything. He couldn¡¯t resist pulling Tongtong up to smooch her. Chen Hao whispered, ¡°What an obedient child. Tongtong, I won¡¯t eat it, you can have it.¡± Tongtong shook her head and insisted. ¡°Uncle, you eat it.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s heart burst with joy. He finally took the milk candy and ate it in a single bite. As he chewed, he made an expression to show how delicious it was. Tongtong laughed at the sight. Zhou Gang and Yang Hui gazed at each other, smiles evident in their eyes. Zhou Gang said, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, you have a good fortune with love. President Bai came down personally to visit. That¡¯s very sincere. Will I get a wedding invitation soon?¡± Chen Hao replied in a displeased tone, ¡°Brother Zhou, don¡¯t get strange ideas. This Bai Ru is not my cup of tea. If I really married her, my life would be destroyed.¡± Zhou Gang paused in shock before inquiring. ¡°Is this Bai Ru so bad? She¡¯s quite famous in Stone City. She has both looks and money. People all say that whoever marries her will be able to work thirty years less.¡± Chen Hao replied, ¡°That¡¯s what normal people think. Me and Bai Ru are people from two different worlds and our birth characters do not align.¡± Zhou Gang was speechless. His brother was really a remarkable man. The flower which everyone sought after and was envious about was like grass in his eyes. Yang Hui, however, was a smart lady. She knew that there must be something else involved, so she tried to change the topic. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, your coma this time scared me and Brother Zhou. You¡¯re right. If this is the result of knowing Bai Ru for such a short time, I¡¯m loathed to find out what happens next. Let this sister-in-law help you find a good and pretty girl instead.¡± ¡°Haha, I like that. I will be waiting for your good news, then.¡± Zhou Gang recovered from his trance and brought a container over. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not talk about Bai Ru. You¡¯re injured and your constitution is weak. This soup is made by your sister-in-law using chicken and ginseng to help you heal faster.¡± Chen Hao chatted casually with the two people while drinking the delicious soup. He quickly understood the details of what happened after he entered a coma. When he was in a coma, Guan Yu quickly killed the skeleton. Not long after, Master Long settled the other dangers in the tomb palace and handed the place over to Shuanglong Group and Stone City for them to clean up. Back then, Chen Hao was in a coma and the black cat guarded him, not letting anyone near him. As long as people got too near, they would suffer from the black cat¡¯s crazy attacks. This cat was ferocious. Even protection charms were not enough to defend against those sharp claws, causing a few people to get hurt in the process. Just when everyone didn¡¯t know what to do, Zhou Gang appeared. After understanding the situation, he took the initiative to bring the black cat away so that the rest could get a chance to send Chen Hao to the hospital for treatment. When he heard all that, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t help but gape at the black cat. This fellow actually has a conscience? The black cat tilted its head up arrogantly as if it was saying ¡°Trashy owner, don¡¯t feel pleased about yourself. I didn¡¯t do it for you.¡± When Chen Hao was sent to the hospital, the doctor realized that he was already brain dead. In other words, he had already turned into a vegetable, causing people to panic. At that time, Master Long appeared and stuck a charm on Chen Hao¡¯s head. The charm dispersed into spirit aura and Master Long left. He only left a word, telling Chen Hao to visit him next time if he had the chance. Afterward, Chen Hao¡¯s health quickly turned for the better. He improved by leaps and bounds each day until he finally woke up five days later. After hearing that, Chen Hao sighed. During their cooperation, he had a small conflict with Master Long. Who would have expected him to not bear grudges and instead help him when he was in trouble. Perhaps this Master Long was worth keeping in contact with. He would find some time in the future to visit him. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, you¡¯ve shown your might this time. Rumors are going around in Stone City saying that Master Chen summoned Guan Yu to banish the demons. But speaking of that, did you really summon Guan Yu? How is he like? Can you call him out again, I want a signature.¡± Zhou Gang revealed a bashful expression, like a fan chasing after his celebrity. Chen Hao was caught between laughter and tears. ¡°Brother Zhou, I really couldn¡¯t tell that you were the type to chase after celebrities.¡± Zhou Gang replied boldly, ¡°Why will I not like them? In this life, I have three idols. The first is Monkey King Sun Wukong, the second is the most loyal Guan Yu, and the third is Justice Bao, Bao Qingtian.¡± Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re good with your words, I guess. As long as they are people of Huaxia, they will treat these three people as idols. You said you wanted his signature, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible anymore. At that time, I made use of the divine energy from the deity figurine. Although I managed to summon Guan Yu, the endowments of the deity figurine were average, so it lasted only for a short while. If you want to see him, I can do it. Brother Zhou, you just have to buy a deity figurine of Guan Yu worth billions of yuan and I will do it for you.¡± Zhou Gang was speechless. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s just forget it. If I had billions of yuan, I would have retired long ago and toured the world with your sister-in-law and niece,¡± Zhou Gang said resentfully. ¡°Psh, you do make it sound good. You¡¯ve said so many times that you wanted to travel, but in the end, our honeymoon was used by you to solve your case. What travel are you even talking about.¡± Yang Hui pulled the rug under his feet mercilessly. Zhou Gang laughed sheepishly in an awkward expression. ¡°Rest assured, wife of mine. We will travel and have our honeymoon. When you give birth to another son for me, we will definitely go traveling as a family of four.¡± Yang Hui rolled her eyes at him. There was nothing to feel shy about since they were already married for so long. There was nothing to hide as long as she felt sweet inside. Chen Hao watched them enviously. He wanted a wife who would stand by his side, a life partner who he shared mutual affections with. Bai Ru? Laughable. Chapter 51 After some casual chatting, Zhou Gang started talking about Zhao Yuan¡¯s matter. The situation was a little complex. He had found his family, but it wasn¡¯t too ideal, because the Zhao family ultimately couldn¡¯t withstand the influence of the war and members of their family went separate ways. Even their family¡¯s genealogy information could no longer be found. If they wanted to know where Zhao Yuan¡¯s mother was buried, they would have to check out one by one, to see if the surviving elderly members had any clues. But hopes were slim. Upon hearing this, Chen Hao felt helpless. After all, it happened more than a hundred years ago and several generations had passed. Moreover, Zhao Yuan¡¯s mother was a nobody and wasn¡¯t famous or anything, so that made finding her even more difficult. Chen Hao could understand. Indeed, the path of cultivation isn¡¯t easy. There¡¯s no such thing as free lunch. Afterward, Zhou Gang and his family stayed a little longer before leaving the hospital, leaving the black cat to accompany Chen Hao. In the vast ward, there was only one human and one cat staring at each other quietly. Chen Hao was very angry about the black cat¡¯s actions in the tomb, actually. This fellow was so bold as to run about recklessly, nearly wrecking the mission. But the black cat was protective of its owner after Chen Hao fainted, and that made him feel touched. Thus, he didn¡¯t have the heart to reprimand it. His feelings about this matter were complicated. Meow! As if sensing the change in Chen Hao¡¯s mood, the black cat suddenly became very obedient. It jumped to Chen Hao¡¯s side and laid down, staring at him pitifully. Chen Hao¡¯s heart softened. Cupping the black cat¡¯s face, he said in a displeased manner, ¡°Don¡¯t try to act cute. Look at how fat you¡¯re becoming. You¡¯re almost like a meatball now.¡± A gloating look flashed by in the black cat¡¯s eyes. Foolish humans are so easy to deceive. ¡°But then again, how dare you to barge into the tomb. Tell me, what exactly did you get in the tomb? That evil snake came chasing after you. Don¡¯t try to fudge your way through this.¡± Chen Hao suddenly glared at the cat. The black cat froze, dumbfounded. Surely this trashy owner doesn¡¯t have designs on my treasure? The black cat¡¯s first instinct was to struggle away. But Chen Hao was prepared for this. He held it tightly and stared at it with a cold smile. Meow! The black cat¡¯s expression instantly changed to a pitiful one. ¡°It¡¯s useless. Anyone who comes clean gets treated with leniency, anyone who holds back gets treated harshly,¡± Chen Hao said with a ferocious expression, revealing his teeth. The black cat felt cowardice. It straightened its body and meowed. Chen Hao sized it up, then said thoughtfully, ¡°From the looks of it, you ate that thing?¡± Meow! The black cat had a gloating look on its face. ¡°A**hole. How can you eat something of such a dubious nature? That¡¯s something you found in a tomb. Aren¡¯t you afraid of turning into a corpse cat?¡± Chen Hao was furious. The black cat put up a furious struggle, then jumped to the end of the bed and threw Chen Hao a contemptuous look before jumping off the bed. This little a**hole! Chen Hao was exasperated. But looking at the black cat now, he realized something different. The demonic energy on the black cat seemed to have become more powerful. Also, its demonic energy¡ªpreviously red¡ªwas now turning to a yellowish color. Could the thing that attracted this little fellow be the dragon energy in the Dragon¡¯s Den? What will a cat that swallowed dragon energy turn into? A chinchilla?[1] Deep in thoughts, Chen Hao was quietly amazed. This little fellow had benefited from all his hard work during this mission. Regardless of himself or Master Long, neither had received more benefits than this cat. Despite their hard work and schemings, they weren¡¯t as lucky as this little fellow. At night, as Chen Hao was enjoying the medicinal meal specially prepared by the top chefs, his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and looked at it, then smiled. This was a notification from the bank that an amount of three million yuan had been deposited into his account, and his new balance was 3,054,213.20 yuan. Three million yuan from Shuanglong Group as remuneration. Fifty thousand yuan from Wei Xiuhong as remuneration. The remaining four thousand over yuan were the accumulation of savings from part-time jobs worked during his university time over many years. Comparing the three sources, he instantly felt the superiority of being a master. At the rate at which he was earning money, there was simply no comparison between the two. A bright future laid ahead of him. Ding-Dong! Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, another message arrived. Chen Hao tapped it and took a look. It was a WeChat message from Bai Ru, who informed him that the taxes for the three million yuan had been paid for and that he could use it with peace of mind. Also, she expressed her apology for her attitude in the morning. She hoped that Master Chen wouldn¡¯t take offense and continue to cooperate with her in the future. Ah, this woman refuses to give up. But Chen Hao wasn¡¯t planning on playing mind games with her and continue to get entangled with her. Since they weren¡¯t suitable for each other, there was no need to drag things out. If he ended up getting into this mess, it would be too late for regrets. Hence, Chen Hao decided to ignore her and continue eating his medicinal meal. After lying in bed for five days, he felt weak all over, and his bones also felt looser. This was bad. Chen Hao needed a strong body in order to practice the Dipper Steps well. He couldn¡¯t continue lying in the hospital like a corpse and ruin all his previous efforts. As he ate, Chen Hao pondered. After Master Long treated him with those amulets, and after five days of deep slumber, Chen Hao was basically fine now. There wasn¡¯t any need to continue staying in the hospital. He could consider getting a discharge tomorrow and continuing with his unfinished training. However, this time, Chen Hao wasn¡¯t planning on taking advantage of Shuanglong Group again. Having accomplished his mission and gotten paid his rightful remuneration, the affinity between him and the company had come to an end. If he continued receiving benefits from them, he would be owing them a favor. Chen Hao understood that taking gifts from someone made him obliged to render the other party services. He wasn¡¯t going to sell himself for a little bit of money. Now that he had made his plans, Chen Hao laid down and drifted to sleep while planning his future. When his breathing became even, the black cat stealthily jumped onto the bed. After sizing him up, it squirmed into Chen Hao¡¯s blanket and laid down next to him. After a while, as if feeling that something was lacking, the black cat placed one of Chen Hao¡¯s arms on its body. Only then did it close its eyes in satisfaction. The next day. Early in the morning, Chen Hao got up to settle the paperwork, then ate a sumptuous breakfast with the black cat, before returning to his rented apartment. Having been away for a few days, his room was still as old, messy, and dirty as ever. Men became inflated when they became rich. This was true for all men. Chen Hao was no exception. Staring at his filthy rented apartment, Chen Hao suddenly wondered if his living conditions were too terrible? This was completely unbefitting of a master. Now that I don¡¯t lack money, it¡¯s time to move to a better apartment. At least, I promised a life of luxury to the black cat back then. Surely I can¡¯t go back on my word. After finding himself a good excuse, Chen Hao started packing his luggage, before informing his landlord. Upon learning that Chen Hao was leaving and was willing to forsake half a month¡¯s rental, the landlord readily returned his deposit and a month¡¯s rental to him. After things were settled, with one hand holding his luggage and the other carrying the black cat, Chen Hao left the old building he had stayed in for less than two months in high spirits. From now on, it¡¯s a smooth-sailing road to¡­ Wait a minute. Did I miss something out? As he stood by the roadside waiting for transport, Chen Hao stared at the black cat with a lost look. The black cat gazed at Chen Hao with contempt. If it could speak human language, the black cat would be hurling vulgarities right now. Foolish human. Your stupidity really leaves me speechless. [1] The word chinchilla in Chinese is made up of the two words ¡°dragon¡± and ¡°cat¡±. Chapter 52 Lanyue Community, Second Story, Block B, Apartment 308. This apartment had two bedrooms and one living room, as well as a small study, occupying an area of 120+ square meters. Most importantly, this apartment was fully renovated, complete with electrical appliances. The simple Chinese interior design style was warm yet stylish, making one very comfortable. Also, the geographical location of this community was not bad¡ªit was neither located in a noisy area, nor was it remotely located. It had accessible transport, and it was selling below market price at 980,000 yuan. Taking away the cost of renovation, it was only about 5,000 over yuan per square meter, which was a bargain in the rapidly developing Stone City. ¡°How is it? Fancy this place?¡± Zhou Gang, who brought Chen Hao here, asked cheerfully. Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°How can your recommendation go wrong, Brother Zhou? It¡¯s just that the prices of property in Stone City are fluctuating greatly and have great potential. Apartments in this area are going for nearly 5,500 yuan per square meter now. Brother Zhou, surely you didn¡¯t oppress the seller into entering this trade using your identity?¡± Zhou Gang scolded with a smile. ¡°Rascal, am I such a person? Honestly speaking, this apartment belongs to my friend¡¯s family. Apart from being a player, that fellow is otherwise a great person. Back then he bought this apartment to keep his mistress. But somehow, in the end, it fell through, so this apartment has remained vacant until now. You said you were looking for a place, so this place came to mind. I asked my friend, and when he heard it¡¯s to be sold to Master Chen, he agreed without a second word. As for the price, my friend bought this place early on, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯s not selling at a loss.¡± Chen Hao cast him a sideways glance. ¡°Brother Zhou, is Sister-in-law aware that you have such a friend?¡± Zhou Gang said in a displeased manner, ¡°Don¡¯t try and dig a hole for me. Your sister-in-law knows all my friends. Although she cannot bear the sight of them, in this time and age, no one can interfere with the other¡¯s business so long as both parties are willing.¡± Chen Hao nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. In the olden days, it was common for a man to have several wives and concubines. Compared to the olden days, our living standard now is much higher. Men understand each other. Alright, I¡¯ve decided. I¡¯ll take this apartment.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll help you settle the paperwork later. Let me know if you have other requests. Stone City is considered my territory, so it¡¯s convenient for me to handle many matters.¡± Chen Hao thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Nothing much, but I still lack a car. It doesn¡¯t have to be too good, something around 200,000 yuan would be fine. I¡¯ll check it out when I have the time.¡± Zhou Gang said with a smile, ¡°Okay. Then, that¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll leave the keys here. This apartment is yours from now onwards. I¡¯ll inform the property management team later, just as a formality. When you¡¯ve settled down, come to my place. I¡¯ll hold an apartment warming dinner for you. That friend of mine will come over too. After all, it¡¯s considered a cheap deal for you, so no harm getting acquainted with him.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Sure. Thanks for the trouble, Brother Zhou. I moved out on the spur of the moment. Without your help, I might have had to sleep on the streets.¡± ¡°Haha. Actually, your sister-in-law had long wanted to ask you about this. Hao¡¯zi, you¡¯re a famous master, after all. How can you live in such a terrible environment? Now that you took the initiative to move out, it¡¯s much easier for your sister-in-law to find you a girlfriend.¡± Zhou Gang said mischievously. Chen Hao smiled bitterly. ¡°Brother, stop talking about that. I was merely being perfunctory then. My path to cultivation is just starting to look up, so I¡¯m not planning to go into a relationship any time soon.¡± Zhou Gang left after resolving the issue of the apartment. After all, the influence of the Stream Mountain construction site was still spreading around, and many people gathered outside it every day. As a result, the Stone City police were extremely busy over this period of time. He had secretly sneaked out to help, so he couldn¡¯t afford any more delay. After Zhou Gang left, Chen Hao started getting busy. Chen Hao felt incredibly satisfied over the newly obtained ownership of his first apartment. This was typical of humans. Regardless of what achievements he had, how famous he was, he needed a place to live, a place to call home. So long as one had a home, one would not be flustered regardless of what he encountered. He brought his black cat out for shopping and started decorating his place. As the apartment was fully renovated and furnished, he could simply move in with his luggage. Chen Hao bought a four-piece set, the scholar¡¯s four treasures (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, and paper), toiletries, some food, and beverage. Chen Hao even bought the black cat a pretty cat¡¯s bed for its enjoyment. After he finished shopping, Chen Hao started cleaning up the apartment. An hour later, with the place looking fresh and tidy, Chen Hao laid down on the sofa in satisfaction. As Chen Hao worked, the black cat watched on arrogantly as though it was the owner, enjoying its new life. But the black cat was a smart one. When it saw that Chen Hao had finished cleaning up, it ran over obediently and leaned against his chest, patting Chen Hao gently with its paws. ¡°You little fellow, you¡¯re indeed only good at acting cute.¡± Chen Hao stroked the black cat¡¯s face. The black cat cast a disdainful look at Chen Hao. Trashy owner, you have no idea. Acting cute is just one of my means of bewitching humans. You have no clue about my brilliance. Having fixed up his new place, Chen Hao decided to reward himself with a meal. He went to a nearby restaurant for a good meal and even ordered two fish dishes for the black cat. The human and cat enjoyed the meal tremendously. Now that the housing issue was resolved, Chen Hao prepared to focus on his cultivation. This construction site tomb incident made Chen Hao realize the difference between him and a genuine master, taming his inflated ego by quite a bit. Chen Hao had made up his mind that until he had reached a certain level of cultivation and conjured up some powerful protective items, he would rather die than take part in an arduous task like the construction site tomb one. His current abilities were: blessing magical artifacts, Dipper Steps, and the Partial Unlocking of Spirit Talismans. Never mind the blessing of magical artifacts. Before he achieved Dao Attainment, he could set that aside for the time being. He now had some experience in practicing Dipper Steps. Placed under danger in the tomb, he had improved drastically. However, Chen Hao felt that there was still room for improvement in the first three steps. He had to keep on practicing it. Next would be the widely-known amulets. In the Partial Unlocking of Spirit Talismans, the 72 small amulets encompassed all amulet types. So long as he mastered them completely, even if he wasn¡¯t able to subdue demons, he would at least be able to retaliate when he encountered ghosts or evil spirits. Also, the various magical amulets had wide uses, which would be useful for keeping up his appearance as a master. But although amulets were useful, they were difficult to draw. Chen Hao could only start practicing from the most basic calligraphy. After getting the black cat to go off to play with its bed, Chen Hao went to the study and took out his scholar¡¯s four treasures. He didn¡¯t start practicing directly, but instead searched up plenty of videos and tutorials on calligraphy on his phone, learning the theory while correcting his mistakes according to the videos. As he practiced, Chen Hao realized that calligraphy was pretty interesting, and soon got engrossed in it. Just as Chen Hao was working hard on this, the black cat that had been playing with its new bed for some time now heartlessly abandoned its new toy. It was a cat demon, a living being with wisdom. How could it possibly be bewitched by such a simple thing? But Chen Hao was busy cultivating and didn¡¯t have the time to bother with it. Ignored, the black cat could only crawl up a shelf on the balcony and open its mouth, facing the moon in the sky. The strange thing was, the black cat did nothing other than squatting down, but the demonic energy on its body seemed to churn. At the same time, a golden glow could be seen in the black cat¡¯s tummy. Chapter 53 Chen Hao continued practicing, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed. These few days, after completing the formal procedures of the purchase of the apartment, Chen Hao ignored everything else and focused on cultivation, training his body, practicing the Dipper Steps, and practicing calligraphy. His schedule was full every day. Zhou Gang had asked him about eating together twice, and Chen Hao had rejected him both times. As for Bai Ru¡¯s various invitations, he naturally rejected them all as well. After several times, Chen Hao would impatiently turn off his phone and ignore all distractions. He improved greatly over these ten-odd days. Firstly, the Dipper Steps. After his near-death experience in the tomb, his body started getting used to the combination of the Dipper Steps. Now that he knew the way and direction, his Dipper Steps improved tremendously. Next would be his calligraphy. Chen Hao¡¯s handwriting was not bad. Else, his junior high teacher wouldn¡¯t have asked him to learn calligraphy. After all, it would be easier to teach someone with a basic foundation, and only if the teacher managed to teach the student well would the parents not feel like they had wasted their money. Chen Hao had just graduated from university, so he hadn¡¯t forgotten all that he had learned. Hence, after his hard work of more than ten days, he was getting the grasp of it. If he persisted on, shortly after, he could consider practicing drawing an amulet. Chen Hao was satisfied with his visible improvement . He felt that he was on his way to becoming a genuine great master. One day. Just like the previous ten days or so, early in the morning the black cat woke up first and squirmed out from Chen Hao¡¯s arms. It twisted its body and pulled open the curtains. Then, ignoring the fact that the sunlight shining in was awakening Chen Hao, it went to the washroom and started washing up. It was a simple process¡ªlick toothpaste, rinse mouth, then clear throat. After washing up, the black cat ran out and started fixing its own breakfast using the cat food that Yang Hui had imported from overseas. The taste of the overseas cat food was very much to this black cat¡¯s liking. It would eat a lot every time. However, what Chen Hao found astonishing was that even though it was eating a lot now, it had become thinner and thinner. Its chubby body was visibly turning into a rectangle-shaped one. As the black cat was enjoying its food, Chen Hao was awoken by the piercing sunlight. He sat upright and stretched with a helpless look on his face, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to get angry anymore. Mornings had passed like that ever since they had moved here. He felt speechless about the fact that he had already bought the cat a pretty cat bed, and it also seemed to like it. But why was it that when it came to bedtime, the cat would always climb onto his bed? Did it feel insecure or something? Mouth twitching, Chen Hao got out of bed and started washing up. By the time he finished, the black cat had finished eating. Without the need for words, the human and cat went out the door one after the other to get breakfast. There was a breakfast shop not far from the area where he lived run by an elderly couple, mainly selling buns, soy milk, and dry noodles. As they had good culinary skills, business was brisk. Chen Hao liked the noodles there, so he would go there at the same time every morning. Several minutes later, the boss brought Chen Hao a bowl of noodles, a steamer of xiaolongbao[1], a cup of soy milk, and a bowl of soy milk. Chen Hao casually brought the bowl of soy milk to the black cat, for it to slowly lick from the bowl, while he picked up his chopsticks and enjoyed his dry noodles. While he was eating, someone suddenly sat in front of him. The speechless Chen Hao raised his head. It turned out to be Bai Ru. Why is this woman everywhere? Haven¡¯t you gotten your promotion and pay raise? Does a senior management executive of the Shuanglong Group have nothing better to do? ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we last met, Master Chen.¡± Bai Ru pretended not to notice how Chen Hao was displeased to see her, maintaining the broad smile on her face, making it difficult to find fault with her. Chen Hao said calmly, ¡°President Bai, are you here to see me because your Shuanglong Group has met with another troubling issue?¡± Bai Ru pursed her lips and smiled, appearing not at all unhappy at Chen Hao¡¯s sarcastic words. ¡°No, all is good. Now that Shuanglong Group¡¯s development has gotten onto the proper track, after the construction at Stream Mountain is completed, it will be rocketing to success.¡± The surprised Chen Hao raised a brow. Damn. It had only been a few days and this woman seemed to have improved. She was now turning his sarcastic remarks into a compliment. Tsk tsk, this woman was indeed scary. Her improvement was terrifying. ¡°Congrats, then.¡± Chen Hao abruptly stopped the conversation seeing that he no longer had the upper hand. Bai Ru smiled smugly. You really think I¡¯m as easily pissed off as I was the last time? I read a lot of books over this period of time and learned a lot. I now have tens of methods for dealing with men like you. ¡°Master Chen, I have been looking for an opportunity to treat you to a meal to thank you, but you kept saying you were busy. This time I even came personally, so surely you will give me the face?¡± Bai Ru went straight to the point. Chen Hao asked with a smile, ¡°If I say I won¡¯t, will you turn around and leave?¡± Bai Ru was speechless. Chen Hao continued, ¡°Forget it, let me put it more subtly. I¡¯m not free. Let¡¯s make it next time.¡± Bai Ru was speechless. Isn¡¯t this as good as saying you¡¯re not giving me face? Seeing that Bai Ru was about to speak, Chen Hao interrupted her. ¡°If you insist on treating me, fine. I shan¡¯t turn down your kindness. You can convert it to cash and transfer the money to me via WeChat.¡± He then continued eating his noodles. Bai Ru¡¯s countenance looked quite terrible at this point. This a**hole. There weren¡¯t any issues when we were cooperating. Why did you suddenly become like this after our cooperation was over? I didn¡¯t do anything to let you down. ¡°Master Chen, is there only cooperation between the two of us?¡± Bai Ru asked softly. Chen Hao smiled. ¡°So you do know your limitations. Honestly speaking, a woman like you is too scary. In order to succeed, you could even disregard your own life. Even if it¡¯s just cooperation with you, it fills me with anxiety, for fear that you will deceive me or something. Thus, President Bai, if you don¡¯t adjust your attitude, there¡¯s nothing more to talk about. There¡¯s no need to discuss anything either. If we fall out, we wouldn¡¯t even be able to cooperate with each other.¡± Bai Ru said, ¡°Fine, then let¡¯s cooperate. Master Chen, I have a sum of money now. Can you give me some pointers on what to invest in?¡± Chen Hao froze and looked dubiously at Bai Ru. Bai Ru was beaming broadly, and her eyes were narrowed like a fox¡¯s. Good fellow. I was tricked. She was putting up an act earlier. She came with the intention of collaborating. Tsk tsk. With your acting skills, you can win the Best Actress award. Why didn¡¯t you go be an actress? Chen Hao stopped eating his noodles and wiped his mouth, then gazed at Bai Ru. ¡°President Bai, now that you¡¯ve received a promotion and a pay raise, why aren¡¯t you handling the matters at Stream Mountain construction site? And instead, you have the time to engage in other business deals? You¡¯re not getting your priorities straight, are you?¡± Bai Ru gazed at Chen Hao for a moment, then said softly, ¡°Because I¡¯ve been abandoned.¡± Chen Hao was speechless. ¡°Isn¡¯t it very shocking? But you might misunderstand my words, Master Chen. By abandoning, I don¡¯t mean in a relationship, but by my family,¡± Bai Ru said with a cold smile. ¡°In the past, I would always hear my father sigh about how I¡¯m not a boy, so on and so forth. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been striving hard to prove that I¡¯m not at all inferior to a boy. So that my father would sit up and take notice of me. This time, as you can see, in order to succeed, I even risked my life. But what happened in the end? I wasn¡¯t appointed President, but the Vice-President. Hur hur. I had initially thought it was no big deal. After all, Xue Chuang is also a Vice-President, so we¡¯re competing on level ground.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s smile intensified at this point, and it somehow made her look even colder now. ¡°But a few days ago, my mother told me something that finally made me understand that all my hard work was merely wishful thinking on my part, that I had an unrealistic rosy view.¡± [1] a type of Chinese steamed bun. Chapter 54 Chen Hao felt goosebumps rise all over him. He felt even colder than the first time he met Liu Yue¡¯e. Damn. What strong resentment. If she were to meet with sudden death, she¡¯ll definitely turn into a ferocious ghost. Other than terror, Chen Hao also felt curiosity. What news could possibly make Bai Ru¡ªwho was bent on competing with Xue Chuang¡ªsuddenly give up the fight? And for her to feel so resentful. Bai Ru gazed at Chen Hao. ¡°Master Chen, you probably wouldn¡¯t have imagined that I actually have a fourteen-year-old illegitimate younger brother. Also, 80% of my father¡¯s shares in the Shuanglong Group are under my brother¡¯s name. Hur hur, isn¡¯t this funny? I had been studying hard since junior high and had given up all my hobbies and dreams and my good friends because I wanted to make my father proud, to prove to him that I won¡¯t disappoint him. But I wasn¡¯t even clear about the reason my father was disappointed. What he was disappointed in, was the fact that I wasn¡¯t a boy, that I wasn¡¯t his real successor. Hur hur, I suddenly understand why after I entered senior high, my father stopped sighing. Turns out it was not because I was the top student of the entire school, but because he got a son then, someone who could carry on his family name in the genuine sense.¡± Bai Ru said those last few words with gritted teeth, the unsuppressed rage and hatred evident in her actions. Chen Hao was speechless. This is the goddamn drama of a rich and powerful family. So dramatic. But it wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, for a man with status, power, and wealth but no son, there would be no one to inherit the fruit of his hard work over a lifetime. A man with a traditional mindset would make a choice he deemed to be correct. Chen Hao said, ¡°So? Are you planning to start your own business, or plot to get back everything that belongs to you, President Bai?¡± Bai Ru glanced at Chen Hao. ¡°Master Chen, you must be joking. Although I¡¯m angry, as a daughter, I won¡¯t do something to defy my father. Since he has made his choice, I should have my own plans. After all, I still have my mother. I can¡¯t disappoint her.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s mouth twitched. With your resentment that¡¯s stronger than a spirit¡¯s, I¡¯d be dumb to believe your words. ¡°Alright, President Bai, I admire your ambition. But what has this got to do with me? I¡¯m not an economist and know nothing about doing business. You have found the wrong person.¡± Bai Ru said with certainty, ¡°You¡¯re the right person for the job. Compared to an economist, you¡¯re of greater help to me.¡± Chen Hao smiled. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s really what you think and you¡¯re not planning on giving up, I can agree to cooperate. You can do whatever you wish to do. Be it looking at the Feng Shui, checking the environment, or something else, that¡¯s my forte. So long as the price is right, I¡¯ll help you right away. I guarantee you a fair price. As for others, there¡¯s no need to speak further. After all, we live in a society bound by law. We¡¯re all civilized and aboveboard people. Right?¡± Bai Ru laughed. ¡°Why? Did you think I¡¯m seeking your help to harm someone, Master Chen?¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. Also, I won¡¯t harm anyone. If someone seeks my help to harm another person, a person as timid as me will definitely get the help of a police officer.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Chen Hao continued, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m done eating and have something on. I won¡¯t chat with you any longer. President Bai, you can go to work on your noble business. If anything¡¯s the matter, you can text me on WeChat. There¡¯s no need for us to meet in person. You¡¯re the woman of many capable young men¡¯s dreams in Stone City. If you meet me too frequently, others would get jealous. That would be troublesome.¡± Chen Hao then got up to leave. Bai Ru didn¡¯t move. She said, ¡°Master Chen, I came with business.¡± Chen Hao halted in his footsteps and asked in shock, ¡°President Bai, that¡¯s amazingly quick. You just decided and now you have business? Shouldn¡¯t you consider it carefully? Be careful of making a loss.¡± Bai Ru smiled. ¡°Master Chen, you¡¯re aware too. The South Street of Zhou Village.¡± Chen Hao¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°You mean that street where the corpse-dismemberment case took place? Why? You wish to invest in that, President Bai?¡± Bai Ru nodded. ¡°The commercial environment in Stone City is excellent at the moment. I¡¯m certain that the development of Stream Mountain will help the advancement of Stone City as well. Out of all the various businesses, the property business is one of the most profitable ones. The South Street of Zhou Village has a pretty good location. Yet, it was affected by the corpse-dismemberment case and haunting. Even though the other properties in the surrounding areas have risen greatly, the property prices on this street have remained stagnant. Without you, Master Chen, I wouldn¡¯t dare invest in this area as well. Moreover, you have been there, so I¡¯d like to ask if there¡¯s a problem there.¡± Chen Hao fell silent for a moment, then said to Bai Ru, ¡°200,000 yuan.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s face dimmed. Daylight robbery! Although this fellow had just received a remuneration of three million yuan, the problem at Stream Mountain wasn¡¯t a minor one, so three million yuan was a very reasonable price. As for the South Street of Zhou Village, it was only an ordinary street and only one person had died, resulting in a minor commotion. There wasn¡¯t a need to do anything, except say a few words, and he dared to ask for 200,000 yuan? Do you have a golden mouth or something? Why don¡¯t you go and rob a bank? Without waiting for Bai Ru to speak, Chen Hao continued, ¡°Don¡¯t think this is too expensive. In return for these 200,000 yuan that you¡¯re paying me, I¡¯m not just going to explain to you the situation of the dead people, but I¡¯ll also give you an idea. I guarantee you won¡¯t suffer a loss on this deal.¡± Bai Ru¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°Please speak, Master.¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°Firstly, there is indeed a ghost in the underground sewer. But it¡¯s not that woman whose corpse was dismembered, but that of an old man. The old man was a cleaner in Stone City many years ago, but because of some special reasons, this ghost likely won¡¯t appear again. So there wouldn¡¯t be a problem if you wish to develop the place.¡± Upon hearing his words, Bai Ru¡¯s expression eased. So long as there isn¡¯t a problem, it¡¯s fine. Chen Hao continued, ¡°Secondly, the rumors of the haunting are both a limitation and an opportunity. These days, regardless of the fact that it was greatly affected and the reviews of the streets being terrible, there really are very few people that are scared of ghosts. Many young people even had the guts to apply ancient methods in order to see ghosts. That¡¯s why you can make use of this legend and develop the place. You can create a unique culture, such as a horror movie theater, haunted house, and other various mysterious cultures. This way, the legend will become true very quickly, bringing in plenty of money. What do you say?¡± Bai Ru¡¯s eyes lit up. She was surprised that other than his capabilities as a master, this Master Chen also had acute business acumen. Although he put it quite simply, Bai Ru had thought of three to four ideas by the time he was done speaking. It could be said that so long as she bought this street, she could construct a mysterious culture street unique to Stone City. When that happened, not only would she rake in lots of money, but she would also achieve great fame. This was a career tailored for the present her! ¡°Alright, you¡¯re indeed a great master with extraordinary insight and marvelous ideas. But Master Chen, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve accepted your offer. Yet you¡¯ve told me everything? Aren¡¯t you afraid I won¡¯t pay up?¡± Bai Ru asked with a grin. Chen Hao smiled as well. ¡°You said it yourself. If you don¡¯t pay up, your surname won¡¯t be Bai.¡± He then carried his black cat and left elegantly. Bai Ru was exasperated. Can¡¯t this scoundrel take a joke? How can he take this chance to rub it in my face? Do you really disdain me so much? Since I¡¯ve fallen out with my father, it¡¯s not a big deal for me to change my surname from Bai to something else. How about I take your Chen surname? Chapter 55 Within several minutes of getting home, Chen Hao received a notification from his bank, informing that 200,000 yuan had been transferred to his account, not a cent less. Chen Hao was dazed for a moment as he stared at the message, before letting out a sigh and turning off his phone. Speaking of which, he truly felt sympathetic after hearing Bai Ru¡¯s story today. She had put in so much effort for her father, yet, in the end, her contribution was easily erased when the illegitimate son appeared out of nowhere. This was truly saddening. But the enmity in a rich and powerful family was way too complex and hard to explain clearly. Now that Chen Hao had the Pleasure Helping Spirit System, he had a goal to strive towards, so he didn¡¯t wish to get involved in this. Let¡¯s take it one step at a time. It¡¯s just a deal with a client. As for the rest, don¡¯t even think about it. After putting these irrelevant and complicated matters out of his mind, Chen Hao continued his daily cultivation. In the blink of an eye, another few days had passed. The buzz in Stone City was still going on, with no sign of dying out. Because the tomb in Stream Mountain had attracted the archaeologists, a lot of information buried in the historic rivers had been discovered. Either by design or accident, under the relaxed attitude of the Stone City officials, continuous reports popped out in the media, which the public discussed with great relish. This was part of the planning and tactics of the development, nothing to be surprised about. However, what surprised Chen Hao was, as the reports grew in number, he and Master Long slowly became a hot topic of discussion. Their mysterious means were something the public delighted in talking about, a trending subject online. It was alright for Master Long, for he had been in this line for more than ten years, had already achieved great fame to his name, and had a lot of connections. However, there wasn¡¯t any information on Chen Hao prior to this. It was like he had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Thankfully, Shuanglong Group didn¡¯t go overboard. They did a good job of keeping Chen Hao¡¯s identity under wraps. Even if there were some hearsay, it wasn¡¯t detailed. Also, no pictures had leaked, so Chen Hao went on living as usual and wasn¡¯t much affected. Of course, due to his new fame, several people had sought help from Chen Hao through Shuanglong Group. However, Chen Hao rejected them all. Having been put in danger once, Chen Hao was now much more alert. Before he mastered his skills, he wasn¡¯t planning to take on more missions. He led a fulfilled and calm life, and the obvious daily improvement was his biggest motivation. Just as Chen Hao thought that this was the way things would be for a long time, Zhou Gang¡¯s call came. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, I have good news. Wanna hear it?¡± Zhou Gang sounded very excited. Chen Hao smiled. ¡°Brother Zhou, don¡¯t tell me that Zhao Yuan¡¯s mother has been found?¡± Zhou Gang gasped. ¡°You¡¯re indeed a great master with spot-on calculations!¡± Chen Hao paused in surprise. He had merely made a wild guess. That got him excited too. ¡°Really? You¡¯ve found her? Damn, you¡¯re awesome, Brother, to be able to find a nobody from one hundred over years ago. Brilliant. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Zhou Gang was caught between laughter and tears. ¡°Why? You didn¡¯t think I would be able to find her?¡± Chen Hao was a little awkward. That was really somewhat the case. After all, it was a vast world, and more than a century had passed. Furthermore, it was a chaotic period then. Who would notice an elderly nobody who had passed away? Chen Hao was prepared for the worst outcome. If she really couldn¡¯t be found, he would find Zhao Yuan, placate him, and seek an alternative method to do a sending for his soul. Even if he couldn¡¯t achieve Dao Attainment for this mission, it wouldn¡¯t matter. But surprisingly, Zhou Gang actually managed to find her! Tsk tsk, the police are truly impressive! ¡°But then, the situation is a little different. We only found the cemetery and can¡¯t confirm which tombstone it is.¡± Zhou Gang elaborated. After more than ten days of investigation, he finally heard about the story of the Zhao family from an eighty-year-old elderly person. Back then, the Zhao family had, unable to withstand the intrusion of the bandits every so often, moved away. It was not a smooth-sailing process for them. After experiencing several battles and incidents, quite a lot of them had died. These people were buried collectively in three cemeteries in different locations. At the start, the Zhao family was still in existence, and they would send people to the cemeteries to sweep the graves. But later, they went their separate ways, so that stopped. Those tombstones that were initially erected were, of course, no longer there, so one could no longer tell whose body was buried there. Chen Hao wasn¡¯t disappointed to hear this. After all, he was relieved that they were able to confirm the location. He wasn¡¯t counting on Zhou Gang finding the exact grave, for the latter wasn¡¯t a deity or something. ¡°Okay, that will be enough. Thanks, Brother Zhou. I¡¯ll go and tell Zhao Yuan at night. I believe he should be able to understand,¡± Chen Hao said with a smile. Zhou Gang hesitated for a moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go with you? Also, that friend of mine has been wanting to meet you, but you have been busy with your cultivation. Let¡¯s go together. Let that friend of mine expand his horizons. That guy is a really superstitious person, with plenty of deity figurines at his home. Of course, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Chen Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s fine so long as he¡¯s not afraid. We¡¯ll stay in touch via phone at night?¡± Zhou Gang heaved a sigh of relief after Chen Hao agreed. He hurriedly said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go and pick you up. I¡¯ll get my wife to whip up a few dishes tonight. After we settle Zhao Yuan¡¯s matter, we can come back for supper.¡± After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao was still grinning from ear to ear. His hopes of obtaining Dao Attainment were getting closer. After receiving this reward, his abilities would advance further. At 6 PM, Zhou Gang arrived at Lanyue Community, stopping in front of the waiting Chen Hao. A slightly plump man in his thirties with big eyes and bushy eyebrows got out of the car first. With a cheerful smile, he opened the car door for Chen Hao, looking eager to please. Chen Hao turned to look at Zhou Gang with a speechless expression. Zhou Gang said helplessly, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, this is my friend Wang Zhen. He¡¯s a huge fan of yours. I reminded him on the way here, but he¡¯s still acting like this. There¡¯s nothing I can do about him.¡± Wang Zhen chuckled. ¡°Master, I really admire you a lot. I¡¯m a hardcore fan of yours. Do you think I have the talent for cultivation? Will you take me in as your student?¡± Zhou Gang frowned slightly. ¡°Brother Zhen, you didn¡¯t mention this on the way here.¡± Chen Hao waved a hand and smiled. ¡°No need to stand on ceremony since there are no outsiders here. But as for taking in a student, I really don¡¯t dare to think about that. After all, I¡¯m also a beginner myself, and there are still plenty of things I¡¯m unsure about. I don¡¯t dare to teach anyone. Aren¡¯t you afraid of becoming possessed by the devil?¡± Wang Zhen was startled to hear this. If these words came from someone else, he wouldn¡¯t believe them. But hearing it from Chen Hao, he was entirely convinced. This was because he had, through his connections, heard a detailed recount of what happened in the tomb, so he knew that Chen Hao was a truly formidable master. ¡°Is it really so dangerous?¡± Wang Zhen flinched a little. Chen Hao smiled, then started fabricating a story. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s dangerous. But cultivation is difficult. I started learning the basics at five and started properly cultivating at twelve. Now that I¡¯m in my twenties, I have just passed the threshold and made some small achievements. You¡¯re already so old. Are you really willing to spend tens of years and start from zero? You need to bear in mind that you¡¯re not young anymore, so it might be more difficult for you than for me.¡± Wang Zhen was dumbfounded. The path to cultivation was indeed like what was depicted in the novels¡ªrequiring ten, twenty years. He wouldn¡¯t be able to stand the long period of time. ¡°Err, then I¡¯d better forget it. I think I might not be suitable for cultivation.¡± Wang Zhen was a little awkward. Chapter 56 After getting on the car, Zhou Gang¡¯s expression became unpleasant. Although it was his own friend, after several reminders, for said friend to still do it his own way was tilting for him. In order to establish a good relationship with Chen Hao, he spent quite a lot of effort. He didn¡¯t want this accident to spoil the good relationship which he had painstakingly built. Wang Zhen was not a fool. He was just too excited and couldn¡¯t resist showing his thoughts. Seeing that Zhou Gang was really angry, he quickly lowered himself and apologized. It was evident from how straightforward they were with each other that their relationship was not shallow. Chen Hao didn¡¯t wish for Zhou Gang to spoil their relationship because of him, so he mediated the situation and finally helped Zhou Gang to stop worrying. Through a series of casual chatting, Chen Hao found out about some things about Wang Zhen. It was a little shocking. Wang Zhen¡¯s parents were in Stone City and belonged to a noble family which did construction business. They had wealth of over hundreds of millions and Wang Zhen would be what people termed as ¡°rich second-generation heirs¡±. But Wang Zhen had two other siblings and he was the second child. He had an outstanding elder brother above him who was already helping his father with the business and an exceptional younger sister who was doing research as well. It was only him¡ªplayful when he was young and uncontrollably wild when he grew up. Not long after he graduated from university, he was forced into a marriage by the older generation. However, the marriage was, in fact, an alliance between businesses. The feelings they had for each other were average and they birthed a son as if it was an errand to be done. On usual days, their days were spent separately. His friendship with Zhou Gang was also accidental. He was too wild usually, causing people to be dissatisfied with him. They schemed against him and he was almost pulled into a drug case. Zhou Gang was the one who solved the case and proved his innocence. They knew each other from then on. Besides his character of loving women, Wang Zhen had a bright personality and wasn¡¯t bothered with trifle formalities, making him a not bad person. Together with Zhou Gang¡¯s personality, they often fooled around together. From one incident, he found out that Chen Hao was Master Chen. He was overwhelmed with excitement. In the rumors, Master Chen was not afraid of dangers and summoned Guan Yu to slice the skeleton into half. But Chen Hao spent his usual days cultivating, which meant that most of his days were spent in seclusion. Without Zhou Gang¡¯s recommendation, it wasn¡¯t nice of him to intrude. Now that he had the chance, he revealed his dream of wanting to ride on a flying sword as he did heroic acts. It was a pity that Chen Hao dealt a critical hit right away, shattering his dreams completely. After understanding him, Chen Hao¡¯s impression of Wang Zhen turned for the better. For a disciple of a noble family to be so silly and cute¡ªhe was probably a strange one. ¡°Master Chen, did you really summon Guan Yu back then to defeat the evil spirits?¡± After getting comfortable with the conversation, Wang Zhen couldn¡¯t help but ask. Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not as incredible as what they say in the rumors. Guan Yu was actually just a spiritual item with divine energy. I just made use of a small spell to add on to it, allowing it to show off its glory. At that time, many people saw that the item only lasted for a few seconds before it crumbled. It¡¯s really not because of my strength.¡± Wang Zhen gasped in shock. ¡°That¡¯s already very great. I met a few Masters in the past, but they were only good with their words and did not have any actual skills. I¡¯ve been deceived many times. Now that I finally got to know a real Master, it¡¯s really my accumulated fortune from three lives. I can boast about it for my entire life.¡± Zhou Gang said in a displeased manner, ¡°Hao¡¯zi is not like those Masters who you speak of, he doesn¡¯t like to be high profile. You can show off if you want to, but don¡¯t reveal Hao¡¯zi¡¯s identity.¡± Wang Zhen laughed sheepishly. ¡°That¡¯s of course. Mythical creatures and beyond is a boundary hard to cross, those are the true masters. If everyone knew about them, it wouldn¡¯t be cool anymore, right?¡± Chen Hao was speechless. ¡°Eh, Master, this cat looks powerful as well? Its eyes are so spirited as if it¡¯s intelligent! Don¡¯t tell me, it¡¯s a cat demon?¡± Wang Zhen looked towards the black cat, revealing a shocked face. The black cat eyed him before it turned around in disdain. Another foolish human. Chen Hao was speechless. Can I tell you that you guessed correctly? After ten minutes, the car stopped and three people and a cat alighted. This was a cemetery. Zhao Yuan¡¯s and Fan Zheng¡¯s bodies were buried here. The sky was dark as cold winds howled on. Even Wang Zhen¡¯s outgoing and silly personality kept quiet here, looking a little uncomfortable. Before they arrived, Zhou Gang even said that they were here to meet ghosts. Although he looked very brave and willing when he first came. Now that he was really here, Wang Zhen¡¯s heart was thumping wildly. After being alive for thirty-over years, this would be his first time meeting ghosts. He couldn¡¯t seem to describe how that felt. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, over here.¡± Zhou Gang led them and they quickly arrived at a cemetery beside a forest. Before Chen Hao spoke up, a wisp of light appeared from nowhere and turned into Zhao Yuan. ¡°Master Chen, Captain Zhou, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± Zhao Yuan raised his hand and greeted courteously like a scholar. ¡°Ghost¡­ ghost¡­¡± Wang Zhen was completely unprepared when he saw the pale face appear out of nowhere in mid-air. Said ghost was even clad in attire from the past. Wang Zhen clenched his ass tightly as a shudder ran through his body and his words were no longer coherent. Zhou Gang said in a displeased manner, ¡°Brother Zhen, didn¡¯t you say that you were not afraid?¡± Wang Zhen was on the brink of tears. He was just trying to boast, how could you take his words seriously. Chen Hao chuckled. ¡°Enough. Zhao Yuan isn¡¯t a ferocious ghost, so there isn¡¯t anything to be afraid of.¡± After speaking, Chen Hao turned to look at Zhao Yuan as he continued, ¡°Come over. Let me tell you a piece of good news. Your mother¡¯s grave has been found.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Yuan¡¯s eyes shone as he asked excitedly. Chen Hao said, ¡°What real and fake. Do you think I have the time to come here just to tease you?¡± Zhao Yuan¡¯s expression hardened and he appeared a little awkward. However, most of it was still joyful. The obsession he had held over a century. He had missed her so much and now he could finally meet her. ¡°However, the situation is unique. What we found was three graves that were buried with your clan¡¯s people, but it has already been more than a century. With the Zhao family in shambles, there was no one to clean the graves, so we basically can¡¯t tell who is who. If you wish to pay respects to them, you can only do it together. I have no way of confirming who¡¯s who for you.¡± Chen Hao continued. Zhao Yuan paused before he revealed a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m already satisfied that their burial grounds could be found. Thank you, Master. Thank you, Captain Zhou. I have nothing to repay your kindness and greatness with.¡± Chen Hao nodded, satisfied. It was good as long as he didn¡¯t cause more trouble out of nothing. After all, he really did need that Dao Attainment. Afterward, Zhou Gang told Zhao Yuan the location of the three graves. After remembering the graves¡¯ locations, Zhao Yuan bowed deeply towards Chen Hao and Zhou Gang once again before vanishing. It was evident that he was very eager to pay his respects. Although it was slightly far, for a century-old ghost, this distance was nothing. When Zhao Yuan left, Chen Hao spoke, ¡°We¡¯ve finished our business here. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Wang Zhen was still watching from the side in a daze after listening to the conversation. It ended like this. The whole process seemed no different from a casual talk? Do humans and ghosts communicate like this? All of a sudden, Wang Zhen was no longer afraid, and there was even a trace of disappointment in his heart. Before he came, he even imagined that he would see those humans versus ghosts war, but it seemed like he over thought it. After he got in the car and Zhou Gang drove a distance away, Wang Zhen sighed. ¡°So a ghost is like that. They don¡¯t seem scary at all.¡± Zhou Gang smiled at that. Who was the one who was about to pee his pants just now? Just when he was about to tease him, Chen Hao suddenly spoke. ¡°Stop the car!¡± Screech¡­ Zhou Gang stepped down hard on the emergency brakes. He was going to ask what was going on when he saw Chen Hao¡¯s serious gaze directed to the front. Chapter 57 Following Chen Hao¡¯s gaze, Zhou Gang looked over carefully. This was an ordinary traffic lane in the suburbs with no street lights. There was wasteland on both sides of the lane, and right now there were also no other cars on the lane. Amidst the darkness, a figure could be seen standing quietly not far away in the light mist. ¡°Someone¡¯s here!¡± Zhou Gang widened his eyes. Why would there be someone at such a remote place at this hour? Could it be a villager from nearby? But looking at Chen Hao¡¯s solemn expression, Zhou Gang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had a bad feeling. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there something in front?¡± Wang Zhen asked curiously. Chen Hao said, ¡°We¡¯ve encountered something evil. Don¡¯t move recklessly.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of¡­ wait, what? Encountered something evil!¡± Body trembling, Wang Zhen let out a gasp. F*ck. They had just seen a ghost, and they were seeing a second one now? Would something happen to him now that he had seen so many of them? ¡°Hao¡¯zi, is there a problem with this ghost?¡± Zhou Gang, who was much calmer, asked softly. Chen Hao nodded. ¡°This is a ferocious ghost. You guys can¡¯t see it, but her resentment is so heavy it has transformed into a cloud. Mm, don¡¯t speak. It¡¯s coming over. You guys hold this.¡± Chen Hao quickly took out two jade Guanying and handed them to Zhou Gang and Wang Zhen. Since the master was behaving so solemnly, the two of them naturally didn¡¯t dare to hesitate. They quickly took the items from him. On the other hand, the black cat merely cast a glance at them, before twisting into a more comfortable position in Chen Hao¡¯s arms and narrowing its eyes in satisfaction. Its leisure manner was as though, after experiencing the tomb incident, it was now emboldened to completely disregard such wandering ghosts. Right now, those three people saw that figure gradually come closer. That thing didn¡¯t walk to them¡ªit moved in flashes, and within several flashes, it appeared just one meter in front of their car. Now that it was this near, even ordinary people like Zhou Gang and Wang Zhen could see it in detail. And now that they got a closer look, the two of them nearly pissed in their pants. This was actually a¡­ headless ghost! There was nothing above her neck, and she was wearing a bloodstained sleeveless dress. They could even see the bloody wounds on the headless female ghost¡¯s arm, which looked like parts of her body were put together after the corpse was dismembered. This ghost was horrifying, forming a stark contrast with Zhao Yuan earlier. Zhou Gang and Wang Zhen¡¯s body fell limp, unable to summon any strength. Chen Hao also suffered a great shock. He had seen a few ghosts now, but this was the most horrifying one out of them all, and also the one most closely resembling what one saw in movies. There was only one word to describe it¡ªdisgusting. But no matter how frightened he was, Chen Hao couldn¡¯t behave like Zhou Gang and Wang Zhen. He was a master! Also, he was protected by magical artifacts. Even if it was a ferocious ghost, it wouldn¡¯t be able to get near him. He told himself he had to stay calm. After calming down the fear in his heart, Chen Hao looked right at the ferocious ghost with an expressionless face. After he stared at her for a good while, for some reason the headless female ghost suddenly turned around and vanished. Chen Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. He could sense that this ferocious ghost was rapidly disappearing. Clearly, it had really left. But there was something strange about this. When he sensed this thing earlier on, it wasn¡¯t too far away. Then it suddenly appeared to stop them, and now suddenly it left? What the hell was going on? ¡°Hao¡¯zi, where¡¯s that ferocious ghost? Why did it disappear?¡± Zhou Gang asked nervously. Chen Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s very strange that the ghost left. She should have died a wrongful death, thus her heavy resentment. But every wrong has its cause, and every debt has its debtor. Even if she can¡¯t take it lying down, shouldn¡¯t she be seeking her enemy? Why did she stop us?¡± ¡°Stop? Hao¡¯zi, you mean this ferocious ghost had deliberately appeared before us?¡± Zhou Gang was horrified. Chen Hao nodded. ¡°I think so. If it¡¯s not that her death has something to do with us, she¡¯s probably here because she has suffered a huge grievance and wants you to help her redress it.¡± Zhou Gang¡¯s mouth twitched, exasperated. Damn. This ferocious ghost has even lost her head, yet she can still tell I¡¯m a police officer? ¡°She must be here to get you to redress the wrong did to her, Ah Gang. We¡¯re not crooks who do bad things. How can we possibly harm someone?¡± Wang Zhen said with certainty. Zhou Gang glanced at Wang Zhen in a displeased manner. ¡°We can¡¯t be sure of that. You¡¯re such a player, god knows how many girls you¡¯ve harmed before. Perhaps she¡¯s one of them.¡± ¡°Ah Gang, you¡¯re a police officer, you can¡¯t make such irresponsible remarks. Even if I like to woo girls, I never force it on them.¡± Wang Zhen¡¯s face had dimmed. One look and you could tell she died a horrible death. How can I¡ªsomeone with tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex¡ªpossibly do something like that? ¡°Alright, that was just my speculation. Perhaps she was just passing by and we happened to bump into her.¡± Chen Hao interrupted their argument. Zhou Gang and Wang Zhen looked at each other, and neither spoke a word. The two of them felt that things weren¡¯t so simple. In the past, they had never bumped into something like this. Now that they suddenly did, nobody would believe there wasn¡¯t a problem. After that, Zhou Gang continued driving, his nerves on tenterhooks. However, in the end, nothing else happened and they smoothly arrived at Zhou Gang¡¯s house. Because of the encounter with the headless female ghost, the three of them were troubled with different thoughts. It was supposed to be a lively dinner, but they simply had a brief meal, before parting. When Chen Hao got home, it was already late at night. He was planning on bathing and sleeping when he suddenly heard a sound. ¡°Ding-Dong: Water Ghost Zhao Yuan, a vengeful ghost of 103 years. Dying Wish fulfilled. You are now blessed with ten years¡¯ worth of Dao Attainment.¡± Chen Hao halted in his footsteps, a look of delight appearing on his face. Dao Attainment¡¯s mission accomplished. Damn. I finally have Dao Attainment now. I¡¯m a genuine master now. While he was feeling delighted, various pieces of information appeared in his mind out of nowhere. Also, a pure, massive, and masculine energy appeared in his lower abdomen, which went on to spread throughout his entire body. It felt as though a small mouse had appeared in his body, and it was running about happily, bloating up his meridians. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t feel any discomfort. On the contrary, it felt pretty good. Chen Hao responded to it in silence. After a long while, that mouse-like strength finished circulating once in Chen Hao¡¯s body and returned to his lower abdomen once more. Chen Hao heaved a sigh of relief. He blinked, feeling ecstatic. The information indicated that this little mouse was Dharmic power, what people commonly knew as Dao Attainment. And the so-called Dao Attainment was the Dharmic power accumulated from one year of cultivation. One year of cultivation resulted in one year of Dao Attainment. Chen Hao¡¯s reward of ten years of Dao Attainment was Dharmic power accumulated over ten years of cultivation. In other words, he reached the sky in a single bound. Don¡¯t belittle ten years of Dao Attainment. For ordinary cultivators, due to the heterogeneous nature of Dharmic power, one year of cultivation wouldn¡¯t be equivalent to one year of Dao Attainment. For the talented ones with sufficient resources, perhaps it would take two to five years of accumulation to result in one year of Dao Attainment. Take Master Long, for example¡ªalthough he had worked hard to achieve cultivation for more than forty years, he merely possessed ten-odd years of Dao Attainment. It could be said that Chen Hao had achieved overnight what Master Long took ten years to achieve. Of course, ten years of Dao Attainment wasn¡¯t a lot. Just looking at Master Long¡¯s performance in the tomb and you could tell that this was only a beginner¡¯s level, and there was nothing great about it. Moreover, Chen Hao was bound by a restriction that ordinary Daoist cultivators weren¡¯t subject to¡ªthat was, he couldn¡¯t accumulate Dao Attainment based on his own cultivation. The system reminded Chen Hao that although he could use this Dao Attainment, when this Dao Attainment was depleted, it would be replenished. That meant that the Dao Attainment that Chen Hao depleted could be slowly recovered. But once he recovered to ten years of Dao Attainment, it wouldn¡¯t increase anymore, and he could only rely on doing missions to obtain more. After reading the message, Chen Hao sighed. Seems like he wouldn¡¯t be able to shake off the Pleasure Helping Spirit System for the rest of his life. Chapter 58 Although it was regrettable that he couldn¡¯t achieve Dao Attainment based on his own cultivation, at least he finally had Dao Attainment now. Plus, in the future, if he went on to do more missions, he would continue to obtain more Dao Attainment. There was nothing bad about this. Chen Hao got his thinking sorted out, then happily started to study Dao Attainment. This thing was way too novel for him¡ªit was unbelievable like the internal energy in a wuxia novel[1]. Such as using Dao Attainment to bless magical artifacts¡ªthat allowed him to obtain true magical artifacts. Such as using Dao Attainment to draw amulets¡ªthat would unleash the true powers of the amulets. Such as using Dao Attainment to practice Dipper Steps¡ªthat allowed him to leap onto roofs and vault over walls. Dao Attainment was the foundation of a cultivator. Without Dao Attainment, everything was futile. The system imparted him with detailed information about all aspects of Dao Attainment. Now, Chen Hao had a sufficient understanding of the use of Dharmic power. If Chen Hao went through all this information, he would possess the skills and capabilities of a genuine cultivator. The excited Chen Hao couldn¡¯t get to sleep, so he took out the magical artifact that he blessed earlier and began to experiment. First, he used the magical artifacts he had with him. Chen Hao first took out the peachwood bracelet and tested blessing it. A blast of energy went from his lower abdomen to the bracelet. At that moment, the peachwood bracelet gave off an intense glow; even the beads on the bracelet appeared more translucent, resembling Chinese glass. After that, Chen Hao received a notification. [Peachwood bracelet, blessed magical artifact. Powers: protect the body, fend off evil forces, suppress evil, help in recuperation, and purify.] Compared to before, there were now two additional abilities¡ªsuppress evil and purify. As the name implied, suppressing evil meant that ordinary spirits and ghosts would be hurt when they came into contact with the bracelet. If the bracelet was used to trap the body of the spirit, the spirit would be destroyed. Purifying was an even more magical power. So long as one brought the blessed bracelet everywhere he went, it would purify the air and viruses around him and cure many diseases. Blessing would deplete two years of Dao Attainment. Chen Hao¡¯s eyes lit up initially, before furrowing his brows and letting out a sigh. Indeed, there was no such thing as creating something out of nothing even though he was given the ability of blessing magical artifacts by the system. This peachwood bracelet was just an ordinary object, and even though it could be blessed to become a magical artifact, it wouldn¡¯t become an extraordinary item, and would still be a magical artifact of the Dharmic grade. If he wished to create a spiritual artifact, he needed to be more selective about the objects he chose to bless. At least, those objects needed to have a spiritual nature about them, such as that Guan Yu figurine. ¡°Oh well, can¡¯t force certain things. I¡¯ll take my time. Sooner or later I¡¯ll have everything.¡± Chen Hao kept away these random thoughts and didn¡¯t bless any more magical artifacts. Instead, he chose to sit cross-legged to recover his Dao Attainment. He willed his Dharmic power to move from his lower abdomen and move along his meridians. It only took about fifteen minutes¡¯ time to move one orbit. He had recovered less than one-tenth of the two years¡¯ Dao Attainment that he had depleted. Chen Hao frowned lightly. That meant he would take three hours to recover after blessing a magical artifact. This was too slow. After all, blessing magical artifacts wasn¡¯t the only thing in cultivation. There were also amulets and Dipper Steps, each requiring a lot of time to practice. If he couldn¡¯t keep up the depletion of his Dharmic power, it would be a big drag on his cultivation overall. Seems like he shouldn¡¯t bless too many magical artifacts. Perhaps he should just prepare a few spares. Thankfully, Chen Hao had made significant progress by now and no longer thought about relying on blessing magical artifacts to earn money. Else, if he solely relied on this means to earn money, the Pleasure Helping Spirit System would probably be destroyed or something. Chen Hao took out another jade Guanyin and blessed it. Spirit aura flickering, he received a notification. [Jade Guanyin: Blessed magical artifact. Powers: protect the body, fend off evil forces, maintain health.] [Blessing depleted two years of Dao Attainment.] Chen Hao¡¯s gaze flickered. Although it depleted little Dao Attainment, the powers gained were relatively little too. That meant that the effects of the blessing relied on the object itself¡ªthe better the object was, the greater the Dao Attainment depleted, and also, the better the effects of the blessing. As he toyed with the seemingly warm jade Guanyin, Chen Hao felt curious. This fake jade now appeared like genuine jade after the blessing. He wondered what it would end up like if he were to bless a genuine piece of jade. If there was a chance, he had to experiment with it. Subsequently, Chen Hao took out the copper-coin sword and bronze Eight Trigram and started blessing them. The spirit aura flickered twice, and the two magical artifacts became more powerful. [Copper-coin Sword: Blessed magical artifact. Powers: eliminate evil, give off warning.] [Bronze Eight Trigram: Blessed magical artifact. Powers: suppress evil, eliminate evil, seal.] [Blessing depleted four years of Dao Attainment.] Those two magical artifacts now each had two new powers. For the copper-coin sword, eliminating evil, give off warning; for the Bronze Eight Trigram, eliminating evil, seal. It was alright for the copper-coin sword, for the results were as expected. But there was something magical about the Bronze Eight Trigram¡ªthere was now a seal on it. Chen Hao was surprised to see this seal, because this meant it was a sealed ability. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just limited to spirits, it also had a suppressing effect on demons and monsters. Chen Hao glanced at the black cat. Hmm, this little fellow is a demon. Should I try out the effect? The black cat was feeling bored and counting its claws, when suddenly it sensed malicious intent targeted at itself. Fur exploding, it instantly leaped up and sized up its surroundings with a dubious and confused look. Who the f*ck is having designs on me? Chen Hao was surprised. I was merely thinking about it, and the cat sensed it? Has this fellow become so powerful? Darned cat. I spend so much money raising you, and you¡¯re hiding so many things from me, your owner? But Chen Hao ultimately gave up on the idea. Who knew if that seal would cause other damage. If the black cat was injured by it, it would be no fun. He then took out the God of Fortune figurine to bless it. Coincidentally, this time it depleted three years of his Dao Attainment, and his Dharmic power was completely depleted. But the effects were not bad. Apart from bringing in wealth and protecting the house, it now had the additional powers of eliminating evil and accumulating energy. It was now a solid Feng Shui magical artifact. What this good stuff lacked now, was a rich man who had an affinity with it. After his experimentation, feeling highly satisfied with the result, Chen Hao kept away his magical artifacts and prepared to take a shower before sleeping. In the few days that followed, Chen Hao trained hard in his cultivation, practicing the use of Dharmic power every day. He would deplete and recover it repeatedly. He would practice combining his Dharmic power and Dipper Steps, as well as combining Dharmic power with amulets. Combined with Dharmic power, the result was extraordinary. His application of the Dipper Steps was getting increasingly strange and unpredictable. Chen Hao had even done an extreme experimentation and discovered that he could move three meters in one step easily¡ªit was not something a human could do! However, combining this with cultivation, it resulted in rapid depletion. With his ten years of Dao Attainment, under normal circumstances, he could only practice Dipper Steps for half an hour. Though there was some difficulty in combining Dharmic power with amulets, so he had yet to succeed in finishing one amulet in one shot. Today, Chen Hao depleted his Dharmic power once again and finished his cultivation for the day. He was planning to bathe and sleep when suddenly he received a call from Zhou Gang. ¡°Hao¡¯zi, I might be in some trouble.¡± Fear was evident in Zhou Gang¡¯s trembling voice. The shocked Chen Hao anxiously asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Gang said, ¡°That headless female ghost appeared again just now. This time, it appeared at my home, giving Tongtong a huge fright.¡± Chen Hao froze, instantly feeling angry. Atrocious. How dare you frighten Tongtong? Even if you died a wrongful death, you shouldn¡¯t be harming the innocent. F*ck. You¡¯re asking for it. Chen Hao said immediately, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll come right away.¡± After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao packed up his stuff, then went out with the black cat. Ten minutes later, a cab stopped in the community where Zhou Gang lived. Chen Hao paid the driver, before hurrying to Zhou Gang¡¯s apartment. On the way, Chen Hao sized up his surroundings. Indeed, there was now dark energy in this community, and most of it was gathered at the story where Zhou Gang¡¯s apartment was located. Chen Hao¡¯s face froze. No wonder there was a difference between wandering ghosts and ferocious ghosts. This ferocious ghost that had died a wrongful death was unscrupulous and did as she pleased. Humph, I¡¯m no longer a pushover. How dare you bully my precious little girl? I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t even get to be a ghost. [1] a genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China Chapter 59 Upon reaching Zhou Gang¡¯s house, he knocked. Zhou Gang quickly opened the door for him, as if long waiting for him to arrive. ¡°How is it? Is Tongtong alright?¡± Chen Hao anxiously enquired. Zhou Gang replied, ¡°She cried for a while after being scared. Your sister-in-law finally coaxed her to sleep a while ago. Oh, and the jade Buddha which you gave Tongtong suddenly broke. Is something wrong?¡± What? Chen Hao¡¯s expression changed visibly. He gave the jade Buddha to Tongtong because that was a magical artifact that could ward off evil spirits. This also meant that as long as dark spirits did not take the initiative to go near her, nothing would happen. For the jade Buddha to shatter meant that not only did it try to get close to her, but it even tried to harm her. His expression turned ugly instantly. Chen Hao went into the bedroom silently and saw Yang Hui coaxing the child. Seeing Chen Hao, Yang Hui was about to stand up, but Chen Hao stopped her and instead went over to carefully observe. The little girl¡¯s cute face was tear-stained and she was still sniffing. It was evident that she was really frightened. The black cat beside Chen Hao jumped onto the bed as it quietly observed the little girl as well. It did not meow, and a strange glint flashed across its eyes. At this time, Chen Hao saw the cracked jade Buddha. Yang Hui cherished this item. Even if it was shattered into pieces, she still gathered them and placed them by Tongtong¡¯s side. It was a pity that she didn¡¯t know that the jade Buddha lost its effects the moment it shattered. A cold glint flashed across Chen Hao¡¯s eyes. From the signs of how the jade Buddha broke, he could tell that the headless female ghost wanted to possess Tongtong but was repelled by the jade Buddha. The jade Buddha broke and the headless female ghost was pushed away as well. Although it didn¡¯t seem like it did much harm, Chen Hao knew that for a child as young as Tongtong with a weak constitution, if the ferocious ghost possessed her, the consequence would be similar to that of murder. For it to try its hands on such a young child, even if it was a wronged ghost, it deserved to die. Chen Hao took out another jade Buddha from his bag and placed it in Yang Hui¡¯s hands. ¡°Sister-in-law, this is a magical artifact which I made recently. It has a better effect than the previous one. If you bring this around, nothing will happen to Tongtong.¡± Yang Hui was elated. When she received it, she replied with gratitude, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, thank you very much.¡± Chen Hao gave a slight smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be this polite. Sister-in-law, take care of Tongtong. I will go settle that unclean thing which came uninvited.¡± After speaking, Chen Hao turned to leave the bedroom. The black cat stared at Tongtong for a while more before it hopped off the bed and ran out as well. Upon reaching the living room, Chen Hao circled the perimeter. The dark energy had yet to dissipate, but he couldn¡¯t feel the presence of the ghost in this area. Evidently, it was injured by the jade Buddha and escaped. Turning to Zhou Gang, he said, ¡°Brother Zhou, take good care of Sister-in-law and Tongtong. I will settle this dirty thing.¡± Zhou Gang quickly replied, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, I know who this female ghost is.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°I have someone in mind as well. It¡¯s probably the body that was split into pieces at the underground waterway of Zhou Village? When I guessed that, I wasn¡¯t intending to meddle with it. After all, all debts have their owner. Someone killed her, so it was within her rights to seek revenge. However, I didn¡¯t expect this bastard to be so vicious. She didn¡¯t go to find the original owner and actually struck at an innocent child. It has no reasoning at all. Since that¡¯s the case, even if she died a wronged death, I have no intention of keeping her.¡± Zhou Gang smiled bitterly. ¡°There¡¯s more to it. This headless female ghost has been following me for a few days. I don¡¯t know what evil spells she did which allowed me to vaguely hear a voice telling me to get Zhang Dakui out of the police station. At first, I thought I heard wrongly, but when I was affected today once again, the jade Guanyin you gave me broke. I sensed that something was off and the headless female ghost came tonight.¡± Chen Hao said, ¡°Zhang Dakui? That¡¯s the person who murders and chops his victims into pieces? The murderer with the mole?¡± Zhou Gang nodded. ¡°That¡¯s him. We caught him near the outskirts and sent him to the police station. I¡¯m in charge of his interrogation, so I was probably tainted by his smell, attracting the headless female ghost to me. Hao¡¯zi, do you think this female ghost can still be reborn?¡± Chen Hao sneered. ¡°Reborn? She can dream about it. Such a vicious thing, why should she get reborn? She should be destroyed. Then this should end once and for all.¡± ¡°This, won¡¯t it harm your spiritual practice? After all, the female ghost was also killed by someone else,¡± Zhou Gang asked in a worried tone. Chen Hao felt helpless. In the past, he used spiritual practice as a means to ask for help, but now it actually trapped him. One lie would lead to more lies to cover it. Chen Hao explained, ¡°Brother Zhou, perhaps you don¡¯t really understand the cultivation world. We¡¯re not really concerned about the Buddha¡¯s saying about cause and effect. What we look at is for our thoughts to connect, for things to go as we wish. When we do kind deeds, normal people can do it as well. When we live in seclusion, even if the sky falls, it¡¯s none of our concern. Helping ghosts is just one of those kind deeds, but I still mainly want to improve my cultivation. So, killing the ghost wouldn¡¯t affect me.¡± Zhou Gang was startled and felt lost. ¡°Oh, you interrogated Zhang Dakui, do you know where the female ghost died?¡± Chen Hao suddenly asked. Zhou Gang replied, ¡°I asked. She was killed at a pig farm near the east side of Xitou Village. The place has already been abandoned. Back then, it was a place where people gathered to gamble¡ªa place protected by gangs. The female ghost was one of the gamblers. She borrowed money with high-interest rates because she was sore from losing, but in the end, she was scammed, causing her to lose millions of yuan in a single night. She didn¡¯t return the money and was thinking of escaping when she was detained and killed by accident. In order to hide that from the others, she was chopped into pieces before being disposed of. The corpse was thrown into the underground waterway while Zhang Dakui said that her brain was sealed with a vicious spell. That was to prevent those people who were wronged to death to turn into a ferocious ghost to haunt them in the future.¡± Chen Hao mocked. ¡°Sealing only her head? Hehe, who is this dumb fellow who lacks proper knowledge and came up with this idea? Didn¡¯t she still come back now?¡± He then continued, ¡°Okay, I will go to that place. This female ghost is too vicious. I¡¯m just afraid that she won¡¯t feel settled even with Zhang Dakui¡¯s death and will continue harming others. The best way is to exterminate her once and for all.¡± Zhou Gang paused before he gritted his teeth. ¡°Xitou Village is a little far and it has already been abandoned for a few years. Even if you called for a taxi, no one would be willing to go. Let me bring you there.¡± Chen Hao frowned. ¡°What about Sister-in-law and Tongtong?¡± Zhou Gang replied, ¡°I¡¯ve informed Wang Zhen before this. He¡¯s bringing a few guys and something like a deity figurine over. That should be enough to protect Huihui and Tongtong.¡± Seeing that Chen Hao was still a little worried, Zhou Gang said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s okay for the female ghost to disturb me, but for her to want to harm Tongtong, I¡¯m unable to tolerate it. That¡¯s why I want to personally witness her soul turn into ashes before I can rest assured.¡± Chen Hao was shocked. Looking at Zhou Gang¡¯s murderous eyes, words of rejection wouldn¡¯t come no matter what. He couldn¡¯t tell that this man who always said he wanted another son actually loved his daughter so deeply. Not long later, Wang Zhen arrived with a few burly men. Each of them was even hugging wooden deity figurines or porcelain deity figurines. ¡°Master Chen, what¡¯s the situation? I heard from Ah Gang that the headless female ghost appeared again?¡± Wang Zhen looked at Chen Hao as he inquired anxiously. Chen Hao cut straight to the point. ¡°She did come and almost harmed Tongtong. I¡¯m going with Brother Zhou to settle this dirty thing. Guard the place with your people. No matter what strange things happen, you don¡¯t have to care. Just hold that deity figurine closely.¡± After he spoke, Chen Hao gazed strangely and pointed to a wooden deity figurine carried by one of the men¡ªone of the eight deities from the legends, Zhang Guolao. Chapter 60 The car drove under the night sky and it quickly exited the city, entering the outskirts. Zhou Gang drove and asked, ¡°Hao¡¯zi, did the headless female ghost really return to where she was killed? It¡¯s so dark at night. If she¡¯s not there, it would be troublesome.¡± Chen Hao stroked the cat while smiling. ¡°Rest assured, Brother Zhou. This kind of dark spirit who died in such a terrible way with no one to collect her corpse has nowhere to return to, so it can only stay at the place where she died. They can go wherever they want at night, but in the day, they can only come back or they would have no place to hide. This time, it was injured by the jade Buddha which I left for Tongtong¡¯s protection, so she definitely went back to recover.¡± Zhou Gang nodded and his gaze turned sharper as well. He didn¡¯t expect a single case to implicate his family and almost hurt his daughter. When he heard Tongtong¡¯s frightened cries, Zhou Gang was anxious and scared for her. His anger soared sky-high as well. What law. What wronged death. If you dared to touch my daughter, you¡¯re dead. ¡°Oh yes, Brother Zhou, take this to protect yourself from getting possessed by the dark spirit.¡± Chen Hao took out another piece of jade Guanyin. Zhou Gang didn¡¯t push it away and accepted it immediately. He knew clearly. Even if he was a police officer who was trained with guns and martial arts, against these ghosts, he was only a burden. He had personally experienced it before, so he knew that Chen Hao¡¯s magical artifacts could protect him from evil. With it, he could at least not be a burden to Chen Hao. Driving at a high speed, the two of them quickly arrived at Xitou Village in twenty minutes. Xitou Village was named this way because one of the forks of the Willow River coincided with the village. A few years ago, Xitou Village could be considered as one of the more famous places in Stone City. People were interested in its seclusion, which was why they set up a gambling den here, allowing people to gamble once every few days. It was afterward when people gambled with too high stakes that the place was reported, causing the place to be wiped clean. However, the mastermind had already escaped and all they arrested were Zhang Dakui and a few others. The headless female ghost was killed by accident, and since her corpse was split into parts, there was no way to identify her. It was only today that they found out that it was related to the gambling den. Today, the originally prospering Xitou Village no longer had the opportunity to rake in the money. Villagers went out to work and stopped returning. Within two years, Xitou Village, which used to have a small population, was now completely abandoned. Getting off the car, Chen Hao discovered that it was actually a dirt road, and weeds had overgrown on it. Evidently, it had been a long time since anyone came here. The surroundings were creepily dark and cold winds howled, looking scary. Chen Hao¡¯s Yin Yang¡¯s eyes observed the surroundings, but he couldn¡¯t find the ghost. Thick dark energy was flowing slowly around the place. Its source was vaguely visible¡ªin one of the village houses. ¡°Eh, this dark energy is strange!¡± Upon discovering the dark energy, Chen Hao observed closely, suddenly finding out why it appeared strange. This dark energy was quite pure, quite unlike that of dark spirits. It was more similar to the dark energy present in the tomb at the construction site at Stream Mountain. Could it be that there was a Dragon¡¯s Den here as well? That wasn¡¯t possible. This Stream Mountain wasn¡¯t anything famous, so it shouldn¡¯t have enough potential to hold two Dragon¡¯s Den! There was definitely another reason. Chen Hao was befuddled. He quickly strode to the village. A few minutes later, two people and a cat arrived at the village. This village was quite small, the sparsely spaced houses added up to around twenty and they were all dirt¡ªshabby and broken in a way where people could no longer stay in them. Under Zhou Gang¡¯s guidance, Chen Hao found the pig farm where the ghost was killed. This pig farm did not fit in with the village. The original owner of the gambling den used the pig farm as a reason to hide its true purpose. He built a tent and stated that it was for pigs when it was, in fact, for gambling. Now that the gamblers were gone, the tent was naturally like the village¡ªfading away with time, slowly disappearing with history. Chen Hao frowned slightly. After entering the village, he did not see the headless female ghost. She obviously did not come back. But if she didn¡¯t come back, where else could she have gone? Could it be that she was still holding a grudge and decided to stir up more trouble? Chen Hao¡¯s heart stirred uneasily and he looked towards Zhou Gang. ¡°Brother Zhou, give Brother Wang a call and ask if something happened at home.¡± Zhou Gang was startled. Could it be that the ghost isn¡¯t here? Doesn¡¯t that mean that she went to my house? Zhou Gang panicked and quickly took out his cell phone to call Wang Zhen. Within a short time, Wang Zhen answered the call in a calm voice. He asked, ¡°How is it Ah Gang? Settled?¡± From his tone, it didn¡¯t seem like anything was off. Zhou Gang let out a breath of relief. ¡°We¡¯ve reached, but we don¡¯t see the female ghost. Eh, are the two of you okay?¡± Wang Zhen replied, ¡°We¡¯re fine. I¡¯m already hugging the deity figurine which Master Chen told me to, so I¡¯m very safe. Oh, I would¡¯ve forgotten if you didn¡¯t ask. This deity figurine is too insane. A few minutes ago, it suddenly jumped on its own, giving all of us a huge scare. However, it stopped after a few jumps. Can you ask Master Chen, what¡¯s the matter? Does the deity figurine not like people hugging it?¡± Zhou Gang¡¯s cell phone was on the loudspeaker, so Chen Hao heard him clearly. His lips twitched hearing those words. What gods don¡¯t like being hugged by people. That was the deity figurine¡¯s warning after sensing the dark spirits. For him to not be concerned by that, he really had balls of steel. But the headless female ghost seemed to have noticed the deity figurines, so she wouldn¡¯t dare to carelessly make a move this time¡ªshe was probably waiting for a chance to strike. ¡°Tell him that it¡¯s okay. With the deity figurine there, the headless female ghost won¡¯t dare to go near them,¡± Chen Hao said. Zhou Gang had complete trust in Chen Hao, so he quickly relayed the message. Meanwhile, Chen Hao started to inspect the pig farm. He realized that the origin of this slow dark energy was this pig farm. Following the source of dark energy, Chen Hao entered the pig farm. He stopped at a flat piece of land as he observed it with strange eyes. Its area was less than five meters square, but it didn¡¯t have a single strand of grass on it, only a rock about a meter tall pressing on it. This was the source of dark energy! At this point, Chen Hao could see clearly that whiffs of dark energy were coming out from below the stone continuously as it spread to the air. It was actually an ominous underground place! ¡°Meow!¡± At this point, the black cat suddenly called out and leaped onto the rock. ¡°Blackie, did you find out anything?¡± Chen Hao asked curiously. The black cat stretched out its paw and tapped on the rock. Chen Hao was startled before his eyes lit up. ¡°This must be where the headless female ghost died. Hehe. No wonder she became this vicious within a short span of two years. She has been nourishing herself with the dark energy from this place.¡± Looking at the rock, something shifted in Chen Hao¡¯s eyes as if he was deep in thought. ¡°Brother Zhou, come over here for a moment.¡± Chen Hao called out. Zhou Gang, who had just hung up the phone, ran over. ¡°Come, let¡¯s move this stone away together.¡± Chen Hao pointed to the big green rock. Zhou Gang nodded and did not probe. Chen Hao was here to kill a ferocious ghost, so the things he did must be for some purpose. But the moment his hand touched the rock, Zhou Gang gasped and pulled his hand back. ¡°This stone is so cold!¡± Chen Hao touched it as well. It was indeed cold¡ªalmost as cold as an ice cube. But that was normal as well. Being surrounded by this dark and chilling energy over the years probably meant that this stone was already different from other stones. ¡°This stone was where the headless female ghost died, so it would definitely be cold. Let¡¯s move it so that she can no longer escape.¡±