Xiao He leaned close to Zhou Huan’s ear and whispered, "Brother Huan, we don't have much time. Can we still stall?" "It's fine. Wang Qiang will definitely find us.

Let’s go to Old Song’s room first and see if he's up. I have a few questions for him!" Zhou Huan then turned to the two bodyguards, "I'm in 304. If anything happens, you can find me.

Your police sister is here too!" "Tch! We have something to ask you?" The two bodyguards scoffed at Zhou Huan while muttering amongst themselves. Zhou Huan and Xiao He walked to Old Song’s room.

As they entered, Old Song’s weak voice said, "Ancestor Master, Xiao He, you’re here!" He reached out a hand covered in dead skin toward Zhou Huan. Zhou Huan pulled a stool from under the bed and gave it to Xiao He to sit on, while he sat by Old Song’s bedside. He looked down at Old Song, "Zixuan, you don't need to speak now.

I only have a few questions for you; just nod or shake your head." Old Song nodded his head twice, his hazy eyes fixed on Zhou Huan. "First, on what basis did you judge this female ghost to be a malevolent vengeful spirit, and why did you resort to burying the corpse with dog blood?" As Zhou Huan spoke, a flicker of terror seemed to cross Old Song's hazy eyes. Zhou Huan continued, "I determined this female ghost only wanted to vent her resentment; she wasn't a malevolent spirit.

I believe you know this, right?" Old Song’s eyes trembled, and he nodded. "Good. Second question: Our sect has a rule that forbids incorrectly performing rituals, forcing ghosts to act, or doing things the deceased did not wish for.

Violators will be expelled from the sect! You know this!" Zhou Huan stated the rule clearly and completely, and Old Song heard every word distinctly. Old Song hesitated.

From years of knowing him, Xiao He could sense from his eyes that Old Song was wrestling with something deeply troubling in his mind. After Zhou Huan finished his questions, Old Song paused for a long while before managing a reluctant nod. His lips twitched slightly, and he spoke with great effort: "I—I know!" "Don't speak.

Just nod or shake your head," Zhou Huan reminded him again, then asked his final question. "Third and last question: The corpse blood sealed in the urn is poisonous. It can be said that anyone who comes into contact with this blood will die, sooner or later.

You know this too, right?" When Zhou Huan finished speaking, tears streamed down his face. A man well past fifty, brought to tears by another’s words, must have had the speaker touch upon the raw nerve of his deepest sorrow, exposing the darkest and most painful side of his heart. After hearing Old Song's answer, Zhou Huan sighed deeply and said softly, "Zixuan, rest well.

When you feel a bit better, I’ll tell you about the rest. Your illness isn't severe; you won’t die this quickly." In truth, Xiao He understood the meaning behind Zhou Huan’s words perfectly. She knew Old Song was doomed, but she wasn't sure if Zhou Huan could save him, as Zhou Huan was a reincarnated master, and no one knew the true depth of his skill in this field.

Old Song's cheeks were wet, his breathing ragged. Gritting his teeth, he managed to lift his body slightly, leaning toward the headboard. He reached out and gently grasped the corner of Zhou Huan’s sleeve: "Ancestor Master, please don't expel me from the sect!" Zhou Huan now understood the situation with Old Song, but seeing his weakness, he didn't want to press the matter.

The questions he just asked confirmed what he had been thinking at the police station; he was waiting for Old Song to reveal the truth himself when he was able, but now was not the time, as Old Song was too frail. Thus, Zhou Huan's tone softened even further: "Yes, rest well." Wang Xiao He committed this exchange to memory, though she felt some confusion about both Zhou Huan and Old Song. Seeing the tears continuously flowing from Old Song's eyes as he looked at Zhou Huan, she decided to create an out: "Alright, Brother Huan, let Old Song rest.

Let’s go sit in the corridor." Zhou Huan stood up, gently helping lay Old Song’s head back down, then he and Xiao He left the room and sat just outside the door. As their bottoms barely touched the bench, they heard a commotion coming from Wang Qiang’s room. Zhou Huan frowned, "That reckless brat.

Why isn't he downstairs watching the cars? Why is he running up here causing trouble!" "Is that Dongzi? Let’s go see what’s happening!" Xiao He instantly recognized Dongzi’s voice too.

Zhou Huan got up and headed toward Wang Qiang's room, Xiao He following close behind. As they rounded the corner at the end of the corridor, Zhou Huan suddenly stopped dead. "What scent is that?

It’s the bitter fragrance of **. Damn, she’s here!" At that moment, Xiao He and Zhou Huan saw a stout woman holding a phone, standing before the two bodyguards, arguing fiercely with Dongzi! Dongzi, however, stood with his arms crossed over his chest, grinning widely, then pointed at the fat woman and shouted, "Fat sow, what are you still squabbling about?

Wang Qiang won't even see you, and you're still nagging at me?" "You wait right here. It’s four o’clock now. Come back at five when our Brother Qiang gets his IV drip, and we’ll go in together.

Let’s see if he helps me or not, hmph hmph. By then, I’m afraid you'll be the one running away with your tail between your legs." "You're just blowing smoke! Do you think those two temple guardians at the door will let you pass?

You bunch are truly all fools. I’m already foolish enough, but you are even worse!" Dongzi’s words instantly enraged the two bodyguards. Now six or seven of them were about to take on Dongzi alone.

Seeing that Dongzi was about to get the worst of it, Zhou Huan hurried forward to intervene. But at that very moment, the little man with glasses underwent a magical transformation. The large, stout woman was just turning to ask him to hold her phone when she saw the scene.

She stumbled backward repeatedly, her bulky body rolling like a ball onto the floor, until she tumbled into the corner, so shocked by what she saw that she couldn't speak, eventually passing out; Wang Qiang’s two bodyguards stopped guarding the door, slowly edging sideways against the hospital room wall. The three repairmen instantly scattered far away. "Oh my heavens, it's here again!" Dongzi kept talking even as he instinctively retreated, backing against the wall, shuffling outward step by step.

When he turned around, he bumped right into Zhou Huan and Xiao He. "Caused trouble, and now you run?" Zhou Huan’s sharp reprimand startled Dongzi into silence. Then Zhou Huan pushed Dongzi aside, "Move over, I’ll handle this." Wang Xiao He followed behind Zhou Huan, watching the body of the little man with four eyes change bit by bit, causing a churning nausea deep in her stomach.

The little man with four eyes wailed incessantly. The doctors and nurses rushing from the nurses' station were so terrified by the sight that they huddled to one side, some even wetting themselves. Zhou Huan calmed his spirit and watched the changes happening to the little man’s body, stating calmly, "Alas, he cannot be saved!" He shook his head.

Turning back, he instructed Dongzi, "Go downstairs and find a place to prepare the paper offerings and incense. We’ll need to see him off soon." This little four-eyed toad probably hadn't done much good in his life. When everyone else scattered, Zhou Huan saw clearly.

The toad's glasses suddenly shattered, and his clothes were violently ripped open, revealing a crimson greatcoat. Initially, the coat had no sleeves, only exposing the little man's bare arms, which began to shrivel. A foul, bloody stench filled the corridor, mixed with a trace of that bitter ** fragrance.

Gradually, sleeves began to sprout on the red coat—a sickly green, growing longer and longer. The large sleeves, beyond control, tightly wrapped around the little man's arms, then pierced through his ribs, emerging from his navel. They then crisscrossed through his upper torso before tying themselves into a grotesque ** on his chest.

It was like a twisted work of art; the process of creation exuded death from every pore. His intestines were entwined with the green sleeves and blood, dripping yellow mess everywhere Dongzi looked. But the little man’s pants were wet—it looked like he had wet himself in terror, yet upon closer inspection of the floor beneath his feet, the wet patch was blood, and the dry yellow stains were feces.

The green ** on the little man’s body opened wider and wider. The green sleeves pierced through every part of his body—through his throat, his mouth—finally erupting from the top of his head. One sleeve wrapped around his neck, dangling him high from the ceiling light fixture in the hospital corridor.

He was dead. "Ah! A ghost!

Someone died!" Several onlookers emerging from nearby rooms screamed in terror. They were all shaking, their faces pale, terrified by the manner of the little man's death. Frankly, if they hadn't witnessed the female ghost's method of killing firsthand, perhaps no one would have believed that such a vengeful spirit existed in this world.

The elevator door behind Zhou Huan slowly opened, and an elderly man stepped out, followed by two bodyguards. Xiao He turned to look—it was Wang Qiang’s father. He was visibly shocked by the sight of the little man’s corpse: "W-what happened here?" Having served as a military officer, he had seen more than most, so his fear was less pronounced than others'.

Zhou Huan gently squeezed Xiao He’s hand. "Xiao He, ignore him for now. What we need to do is persuade this female ghost, try not to confront her directly.

If her pure life is harmed, she might be forced to remain a vengeful spirit forever." Xiao He nodded, "Okay, understood. I’ll call the precinct and ask them to send more people. Things are easier with more hands." "There's no immediate trouble.

Killing this person has already cost her a great deal of vital energy, breaking her vow. This was likely a desperate measure because she doesn't wish to reincarnate. I estimate she won't return until at least midnight tonight.

Come on, help me deal with this body!" Saying this, Zhou Huan slowly walked toward the corpse of the little man with glasses, clasping his hands together in salute. Seeing the scene, Mr. Wang hurried several steps forward, rushing into Wang Qiang’s hospital room while shouting loudly, "Xiao Qiang, Xiao Qiang, are you alright?" From inside the room came a voice that Zhou Huan found both familiar and utterly repulsive: "Dad, I’m fine.

Did you buy me the Lily's cake?" Mr. Wang stood in the room, hands on his hips, letting out a soft sigh of relief. "Oh, my son, you are my only son!

What would I do if anything happened to you? Yes, the cake you wanted is here." He then turned and shouted to the bodyguard who accompanied him, "Xiao Hu, bring the young master his cake!" "Dad, what was all that noise outside? Why were people shouting?

Tell them to stop; it’s disturbing my dreams. I was just playing chess with a beautiful lady!" Wang Qiang shifted his potato-like bulk restlessly in bed. In truth, he was physically capable of getting up; his vital signs were perfectly normal.

He only had some dry skin symptoms on his hand, similar to Old Song’s ailment, which is why the hospital kept him admitted. Zhou Huan looked up at the little man’s face and shook his head. "Young man, it’s not that I won’t help you, but you must face the consequences of your own karma.

Why did you have to meddle with a vengeful spirit's fate? Alas, I hope you can be reborn into a good family, live a proper life again, and stop doing wicked things. I will perform the rites for you!" "Ding!" The elevator opened again.

Dongzi came up carrying a large bag of paper offerings, incense, and joss paper. "Brother, I got the things!" "Did you buy them on credit? How much do you owe?" Xiao He knew she hadn't given Dongzi money, so he must have gone through a lot of trouble to get the items.

Dongzi turned around and immediately asked, "Hey, how much did you say it was again?" Following behind Dongzi was a young woman, seemingly only in her early twenties. Her eyes were fixed intently on the corpse suspended from the ceiling. She plopped down onto the floor, then scrambled up, turned, and fled into the elevator.