Zhou Huan’s heart dropped upon hearing the doctor’s words. What was going on? He was told the person hadn't died, so why was he being thanked? He craned his neck for another look inside. Xiao He was already sitting up in bed, staring blankly at Zhou Huan. Thank heavens, Xiao He was safe.

Zhou Huan let out a long breath and then asked the doctor, "You mentioned thanking me. Who asked you to thank me?"

"A family member of a patient just now said they wanted me to thank you, and they even gave me a keychain. Here." As the doctor pulled out the keychain, Zhou Huan was startled. It was a little keychain shaped like a pair of red and white shoes.

"Where is that person now?"

"Oh, he was just here today to collect some belongings for his family and complete the necessary paperwork. He has already left." After saying this, the doctor turned to leave. "That’s all concerning this matter. I still need to make my rounds. I’ll be going now."

Zhou Huan grabbed the doctor’s arm. "Can you let me see the inpatient records for that family? I need to look at them."

"Well... that might be difficult. That's personal information. You’d typically need a certificate issued by the police station."

"That's no problem. I'll handle that tomorrow. Where do I go to inquire?" Zhou Huan was desperate to find out who wanted to thank him. This was something that should have happened later; could they somehow know things in advance?

"I’ll write down the patient's file number for you. Bring the certificate tomorrow and go to the Medical Records Department. If you need to access any files, you should deal with them directly." The doctor then scribbled a string of numbers on a piece of paper and tore it off, handing it to Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan passed the slip to Hong Kun. "You handle this tomorrow."

As Zhou Huan tried to enter the room, the previous group of family members rushed forward and surrounded him again. Zhou Huan hadn't managed to catch a break.

"Master Zhou, we have something to ask of you. Please, you must agree to our request."

Zhou Huan saw it was impossible to refuse and offered polite words: "Tell me what it is. As long as I can do it and it doesn't violate heavenly principles."

"Our old man probably doesn't have long to live. We want you to personally help select a burial plot after he passes. His grandson is currently in university, and we hope they will achieve great things in the future." The family members pleaded with Zhou Huan, holding his hands. "Don't worry, Master. We can afford whatever the cost is. As long as the elder rests well after death and the children have a bright future, that's all we ask."

"This... Alright, I promise you. Your elder is quite robust; the fact that he choked and still managed to pull through shows his vital signs are sound, so don't worry too much. I have a very tricky situation on my hands right now, but once that's resolved, I will certainly come help you choose the burial site." Zhou Huan had agreed to the matter. His apprentices shook their heads one after another, clearly thinking Zhou Huan was far too agreeable, accepting almost every request thrown his way.

The family members thanked Zhou Huan profusely, left behind a pile of fruit, and departed. Xiao Yan'er's expression was as blank as Xiao He's.

"What's wrong with the children? What's wrong with Xiao He now? Why are they both stunned?" Zhou Huan repeatedly questioned Shi Bingyuan and Tian Xiong.

Shi Bingyuan explained, "Xiao He woke up just now, and suddenly Xiao Yan'er fell asleep in the chair. When Xiao Yan'er woke up, both of them were in a daze. The doctor said Xiao He is troubled in her heart, and Xiao Yan'er is also troubled. I think you need to ask Xiao He yourself about her issues. As for Xiao Yan'er, let Tian Xiong talk to her slowly."

Zhou Huan's brow furrowed, then smoothed out. "Alright. You two take good care of Xiao Yan'er. There have been many incidents recently; keep your spirits up. I'm going to check on Xiao He."

As soon as Zhou Huan reached Xiao He's side, she flung her arms around his waist, burying her head against his stomach and weeping, "Brother Huan, our child, our child—I want our child..."

"Don't cry. Focus on recovering first. We can talk about the child later." Zhou Huan spoke lightly, but his tone was meant to soothe Xiao He.

Xiao He cried until Zhou Huan's shirt was soaked through. Finally, exhausted from crying, she slumped over and fell asleep in the bed.

Zhou Huan covered Xiao He with the blanket. His own heart ached terribly. Holding his compass, he used his finger to trace the image of the person he was seeking over the instrument. As he concentrated, the compass needle began to spin. But strangely, the needle wouldn't settle, oscillating back and forth before finally pointing straight up in the center.

"Master, this is bad! It’s right beside us!" Suddenly, the compass needle pointed toward Xiao Yan'er. Zhou Huan looked sharply, and Xiao Yan'er jumped down from Tian Xiong’s arms and darted toward Xiao He’s bed inside the room.

Zhou Huan swiftly blocked Xiao Yan'er. When he looked at her again, her face was blue-purple, radiating intense despair and agitation. Behind her, however, Xiao He's shadow remained. Zhou Huan tapped the Yintang point on Xiao Yan'er's forehead with his finger, and she immediately passed out.

Suddenly, a white light drifted out and began circling around Zhou Huan.

"Master, it seems to be your child. It wants to return to its mother's body. This looks like Duoling Guitai (Fallen Spirit Returning to the Womb)," Shi Bingyuan stated, clearly familiar with such matters, as he had handled similar cases before.

Zhou Huan shook his head, his voice deep and resonant as it emerged from his diaphragm. "Child, you shouldn't come back. The pain of the parents is too great. I will send you off properly—reincarnate, and we will wait for you to return next time!"

Zhou Huan's words seemed potent. The sphere of light spun a few times, then slowly floated into the room, circled around Xiao He’s face once, and then zipped back to Zhou Huan’s side.

"Go now, child. Come downstairs with me. Dad will see you off!" With that, Zhou Huan led Hong Kun and Shi Bingyuan downstairs. Once outside, he found an empty, lit area, ignited several sheets of ghost money ingots, and chanted, "Go now, child. Mom and Dad will miss you. Prepare well for your next reincarnation!"

Shi Bingyuan and Hong Kun helped burn the offerings, followed by an offering of incense. The small sphere of light had vanished. Zhou Huan then ascended the stairs, sitting beside Xiao He. Li Tian Xiong, meanwhile, was asleep in a chair outside the ward, holding the unconscious Xiao Yan'er.

"Master, let's return to Fushou Hall first. I'm worried Dongzi can't manage everything alone," Shi Bingyuan offered voluntarily.

Zhou Huan nodded. "Go ahead. Take Yan'er with you. And don't forget about the matter tomorrow morning—we must find out who spoke those words. I need to be alone here for a while."

Shi Bingyuan and Hong Kun went straight downstairs and drove back to Fushou Hall. Zhou Huan remained seated by Xiao He's side. He felt the deepest kind of pain; his child was suddenly gone, and he had personally sent them away. This was a crushing blow to both Xiao He and himself, yet Zhou Huan felt powerless, burdened by countless other responsibilities.

Xiao He lay quietly in the hospital bed, unable to utter a sound. Losing a child was a severe drain on vital energy, and for a mother to watch her own flesh and blood perish was an even greater torment.

Zhou Huan looked at the sleeping Xiao He, wanting to weep, but he couldn't. He dared not. No one could endure the agony of losing a child.

A tear escaped the corner of Xiao He's eye, and Zhou Huan gently wiped it away with a piece of tissue.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door, followed by a quiet voice addressing Zhou Huan: "Master Zhou, could you step outside for a moment? I need to speak with you."

Zhou Huan stood up and went out. The doctor from before was holding Xiao He's medical file. "She can be discharged the day after tomorrow. However, we checked her psychological state; her current condition is not optimistic. There is a risk of melancholia."

"What? This... why? Can it not be treated?" Zhou Huan asked urgently.

The doctor replied, "It can be treated, but the degree and effect depend on whether she can forget the child who has passed."

"Isn't that ridiculous? If I can't forget, how can you expect a mother to forget?" Zhou Huan’s control slipped slightly.

The doctor spoke in a gentle tone. "Master Zhou, please don't panic. Take it slow. She still has a chance to recover."

"I apologize. I'm in a bad mood, and I have too many things on my mind. I was rash just now. I am sorry." After apologizing, Zhou Huan turned and pointed toward Xiao Yan'er. "Please take good care of her too. The child is quite pitiful; she has no parents to care for her at such a young age."

"Yes, we will run tests on her. You... is he accompanying the child?" The doctor asked tentatively. Zhou Huan nodded slightly.

Zhou Huan returned to the ward to care for Xiao He, leaving the door ajar. He watched as Tian Xiong carried Xiao Yan'er, guided by the doctor, toward the examination room.

But right behind Xiao Yan'er followed a large shadow, visible as a distortion in the light.

"What?" Zhou Huan couldn't help but exclaim. "It’s those shoes—those red and white shoes." He almost chased after it, but glancing back at Xiao He, he hesitated, unable to leave her unattended. He quickly scribbled several Ghost-Repelling Talismans and Evil-Warding Charms, pasting them swiftly around the ward, then hurried after the shadow of the shoes.

He saw the pair of shoes merely trailing slowly in Xiao Yan'er's direction. After Xiao Yan'er entered the examination room, the shoes stopped side-by-side at the doorway, standing silently.

Seeing his opportunity, Zhou Huan lunged forward and seized the shoes. Immediately, he used his palm wind to seal the spiritual energy within the shoes, then spun around and slapped a Form-Shifting Talisman onto them. Holding the shoes cupped in his hands, he sprinted downstairs.

Downstairs, Zhou Huan found an unpopulated area with lighting, drew a circle on the ground, and placed the shoes inside the boundary on the second floor. He then ignited several Soul-Recalling Talismans and tossed them into the circle, chanting an incantation. After the chant, Zhou Huan immediately commanded, "Come out! If you don't appear now, I will burn your vessel!"

A pained voice suddenly spoke, soft and distinctly feminine: "Master Zhou, you too have just lost a child. You must understand the agony of losing one’s offspring. I only wished to come back and see my child. Please, do not force me. If the time is right, I will certainly emerge to thank you, Master Zhou."

Hearing this, Zhou Huan’s eyes welled up, though he still did not weep. His hand relaxed. With his foot, he gently scraped away one corner of the circle. The pair of shoes shot out instantly, vanishing in a gust of wind.