As the spirit left, Zhou Huan felt this entity was far from ordinary—it was either a truly high-level master or a malevolently vengeful ghost! Yet, Zhou Huan sensed absolutely no malice from the spirit, especially after those parting words, which sounded utterly sincere, all urging him to take a break for now. Did she truly know something? Just who was this person?

These questions swarmed and gnawed at Zhou Huan's mind. Suddenly, on a bright, sunny day, he saw someone riding a horse across the recently harvested fields, and the steed was moving at an astonishing speed. This time, there were actually four people on the horse, an impossibility! The horse leaped and bounded as if it were an enchanted beast, utterly wild and joyful.

"What kind of horse is that? And what are they doing in broad daylight?" Zhou Huan muttered to himself. Mr. Old Wang followed Zhou Huan's gaze but saw nothing.

He asked, "Master Zhou, what did you see? What horse, what people?" Hearing Mr. Old Wang, Zhou Huan reacted sharply. It was just like that day at Dongzi’s company gate when he was burning the horses; when he blinked and looked again, the horses had vanished.

He hastily pulled out his compass, which, again, showed no reaction whatsoever. Zhou Huan let out a long, disappointed breath. "Mr. Old Wang, it's been a long night, you must be exhausted.

Let’s both head back and rest." Zhou Huan was polite, and Mr. Old Wang left, accompanied by his bodyguard. Zhou Huan drove alone, slowly mulling everything over, until he steered the car into the backyard of Fushoutang. The moment he entered, Yang Xiaoling was waiting for him in the main hall.

She was delighted to see him return, but her expression instantly turned ashen. "Brother Huan, my eyelid is twitching. Do you think that’s a bad sign?" Hearing Yang Xiaoling, the skin on Zhou Huan's scalp tightened immediately. What in the world was happening now?

These twitching eyelids were always connected to someone at Fushoutang. If he hadn't taken this job, fine, but ever since he got involved, the twitching eyelids kept coming, one after another. Was the spirit right? Should he really take a rest?

Zhou Huan looked closely at Yang Xiaoling but found no apparent problem with her features. However, at this critical juncture, a twitching eyelid meant he had to be three times more cautious, even if nothing was actually wrong. Zhou Huan then said, "Xiaoling, listen. Starting now, you are not to go out.

If you must go, wait until tomorrow. Take today off from your hotel, and if any clients come, ask them to meet you here instead." "Is that okay, Brother Huan? You know I have so many people at my place. If I don't go, it’s bound to affect business.

My clumsy staff can barely handle the troublemakers as it is!" Yang Xiaoling voiced her difficulty. Zhou Huan felt for Xiaoling’s plight and said with deep seriousness, "You still shouldn't go. If your eyelid is twitching, it’s not a good omen. Starting this afternoon, give your chefs and waitstaff the day off; they can resume work officially tomorrow.

Besides, you can keep me company here at home. I’ll be staying put for the next couple of days. Xiaohe is busier than anyone, so I can’t rely on her." Yang Xiaoling was persuaded by Zhou Huan’s tone. She stayed, making a quick call to arrange matters at her establishment.

She and Zhou Huan then went upstairs. They remained sequestered for three days. During this time, Zhou Huan meditated continuously for all three days. Yang Xiaoling attended to all his needs for food and drink.

It wasn't until the last day that Zhou Huan finally came downstairs to use the restroom for the first time. When Zhou Huan finally descended, his face was glowing, and the trace of dark energy on his complexion had completely vanished. Zhou Huan knew exactly what had happened: during his time on the meditation platform, everything he expelled was stone—every piece resembling a lump of coal. This was detoxification, the result of his three-day, three-night meditation, finally allowing the condensed Black Death Qi within him to solidify and pass out of his system as stone.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiaoling had remained perfectly fine, fortunate to have listened to Zhou Huan and stayed put in Fushoutang for three days and nights. Word had it that someone had gone looking for trouble at Yang Xiaoling's hotel on the first two days, smashing the place up. That person had since been apprehended by Wang Xiaohe and sent to jail. Dongzi maintained his normal work schedule, returning to Fushoutang from his unit.

He seemed particularly happy today. Upon seeing Zhou Huan moving about downstairs, his joy doubled. He scurried over to Zhou Huan like a child and shared some news. "Brother, our manager doesn't seem like a bad person.

I’ve been keeping an eye on her for two or three afternoons. After work, she goes to two elderly people's houses to clean up and cook meals for them. I managed to find out both seniors are widowed and alone. I just can't figure out what's up with this manager of ours?" "Hmm, whatever the situation, we don't know yet.

But starting now, you can follow your manager openly. If she asks why, just tell her the truth and see what explanation she offers." As Zhou Huan and Dongzi chatted, the phone at Fushoutang rang. Honestly, that was the sound Zhou Huan least wanted to hear. He had only just come downstairs, and one event was piling up after another; rest seemed perpetually out of reach.

"Master Zhou? This is the driver, Old Liu. My foot is fully recovered, and I’ve been discharged. I’ve been wanting to find time to visit you, but I’m rushing to recuperate and earn money at work, so that plan’s fallen through.

I figured I should at least let you know. I'll visit to express my thanks when I get the chance." This part was from a phone recording. The voice sounded perfectly healthy; it seemed the driver really was out of the hospital. Zhou Huan's eyes darted around.

"Dongzi, go make some food. I need to go out in a bit." "You're going out again?" "I need to go check on the driver. That fellow had a rough time, but he survived because he wasn't greedy for wealth." Dongzi shed his outer clothes and headed to the kitchen to cook. Shi Bingyuan and Tianxiong had gone to Baoguang Temple for a quiet chat with a few monks.

Hongkun went out to the market to purchase some routine supplies. By evening, it seemed as if by unspoken agreement, everyone returned to Fushoutang simultaneously. "Master, you’re well again!" Everyone was thrilled to see Zhou Huan moving around downstairs. Soon after, Dongzi’s meal was ready, and they all began to eat.

During the meal, Zhou Huan made further arrangements: "Two of you stay behind tonight to watch the place. Tianxiong, you're coming with me to the hospital to see the driver. Bingyuan, you take Dongzi and go pay a visit to the manager's home. We won't talk about anything else; just discuss this eyelid-twitching incident." Zhou Huan actually wanted to extract some unique information from these two key witnesses because most people connected to the initial eye-twitching events were already dead.

Questioning them further would be exceedingly difficult, and they might not get any answers anyway. Thus, they had to focus on interrogating the survivors. After dinner, the groups set out. Shi Bingyuan took Dongzi, driving Hongkun's car toward the manager's residence.

Zhou Huan and Tianxiong took another car and drove directly to the hospital. Upon reaching Driver Liu’s ward, they found the room completely empty. Suddenly, someone slapped Zhou Huan hard on the back. "Master Zhou!" The driver delivered the blow to Zhou Huan’s shoulder with extraordinary force.

Zhou Huan instantly recognized the unnatural power behind it. What was this fellow up to? "Oh! How did you get back here from the back?" "Nothing, just taking a stroll.

My leg is almost completely healed. Did that palm strike hurt, Master?" Zhou Huan instinctively rubbed his shoulder; it still felt somewhat fiery and uncomfortable. "It was fine, but you've recovered remarkably well. You still have this much strength even while hospitalized." As soon as Zhou Huan finished speaking, his shoulder was suddenly overcome by a piercing, icy coldness, a chill that felt bone-deep.

Zhou Huan immediately sensed something was wrong. What was going on with this driver? He turned to Tianxiong and whispered urgently, "Be careful. The driver’s identity is now questionable.

What exactly is this man?" "Master, perhaps we should ask the doctor what's truly wrong with this guy..." Just then, the driver suddenly threw his crutches aside inside the room. He stood up and began bouncing and leaping around. Though favoring one leg, he hopped until he was soaked with sweat. Only then did he stop, collapse onto the hospital bed, and fall into a deep, sound sleep.