Kuang Feifan couldn't help but be deeply curious; anyone who could make a Chery QQ handle like a Ferrari must truly have some serious skill behind the wheel.

The moment the car screeched to a halt, the passenger-side door was shoved open, and a man squeezed out from within.

At first glance, Kuang Feifan couldn't pin down the man’s age. The reason was that the lower half of his face was densely covered by a thick, bushy beard, and a distinct scar ran down his right cheek, stretching from just below his eye all the way to the corner of his mouth. In an instant, he gave off an aura that suggested he was no saint, especially since it was the dead of night, yet he was sporting a pair of dark sunglasses. Coupled with the black trench coat reminiscent of something out of The Matrix, Kuang Feifan felt a prickle of alarm.

Bai Ru looked entirely unsurprised by the sight. Before the man had even fully steadied himself upon exiting the vehicle, she strode forward and slammed her hands hard onto his shoulder a few times, kicking up a cloud of dust from his trench coat.

Bai Ru quickly backed up a step or two, waving her hand to clear the choking dust from her face as she coughed. "Ahem... your coat... when was the last time you washed it?"

The man paid her no mind, a slight smile curving his lips. "This is the cleanest outer garment I own."

Bai Ru turned back, grabbed Kuang Feifan’s arm, and made the introductions.

"Gu Yi."

"Kuang Feifan."

After a round of handshakes and polite small talk, Gu Yi introduced the roommate who had driven him over—Jiang Tao, a relatively handsome young man. Kuang Feifan noticed his forehead was broad and flat, giving an immediate impression of intelligence.

As expected, after exchanging greetings with a few people, Jiang Tao gently lifted the unconscious Li Jin into his Chery QQ, settled himself behind the steering wheel, and made no move to involve himself in their conversation.

Bai Ru concisely recounted the events of the night. When she mentioned how Kuang Feifan had used the Six-Character Great Ming Mantra to shatter the barrier of the Yin-Yang Road, Gu Yi’s tone shifted in surprise. "Not bad. I didn't expect you to get that far."

Since he couldn't read the expression on Gu Yi’s face, Kuang Feifan wasn't sure if it was praise or veiled criticism, so he simply smiled without saying anything.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yi then turned to Bai Ru. "I wouldn't have guessed. Your boyfriend really has some talent. Not only can an ordinary person accept these supernatural incidents, but he can fight back with his limited abilities. You two really are a perfect match."

Bai Ru shot him a sharp look, ignored the topic, and shifted focus. "So, what’s your take on what happened last night?"

Gu Yi slowly walked to the center of the narrow path, scrutinizing the road surface closely. Kuang Feifan genuinely couldn't fathom what the man could possibly see, given the utter darkness before dawn and those dark lenses.

As if sensing Kuang Feifan’s confusion, Bai Ru approached him and whispered softly, "Don't underestimate Gu Yi. Although he has a congenital eye defect, he possesses the 'Wise Eye' that ordinary people lack."

Kuang Feifan froze momentarily. Only then did he realize that Gu Yi wasn't wearing sunglasses to look cool, and he felt a flush of shame for his earlier prejudiced assumptions.

Through Bai Ru’s explanation, Kuang Feifan finally understood that the so-called "Wise Eye," in Taoist terminology, referred to the third eye hidden between the eyebrows. Of course, unlike the normal pair of eyes, it wasn't a true physical eye, but rather a vestigial organ capable of sensing the 'Yin and Yang Qi.'

However, Gu Yi was an exception. He hadn't even undergone formal Taoist training, yet he was born with the Wise Eye open, allowing him to perceive human Yang energy and the malevolent Yin energies wandering the mortal realm. This gift allowed him to completely penetrate the deceptive tricks of malevolent ghosts—things like 'ghost walls' or the 'Yin-Yang Road' were utterly ineffective against his sight. Coupled with the later mastery of exorcism and ghost-dispelling techniques, it was safe to say that if he chose to, he could stand at the absolute pinnacle of the ghost-hunting profession.

Unfortunately, Gu Yi was deeply idiosyncratic, the type who couldn't be swayed by threats or favors. If someone aligned with his mood, everything could be negotiated; but if even the slightest thing grated against his temperament, nothing would move him. Consequently, in his many years in this field, the number of people who could truly call themselves his friends was minuscule, and Bai Ru happened to be one of them.

Hearing Bai Ru’s summary, Kuang Feifan shrugged involuntarily, chuckling. "Most true masters have strong personalities."

Just then, Gu Yi finished surveying the small path and happened to overhear Kuang Feifan’s remark. He let out a hearty laugh. "I wouldn't claim to be a master, but I like the sound of that. You’re a good man."

Bai Ru raised a hand to her forehead with an expression of mild headache. "You two, it’s nauseating."

Kuang Feifan now observed that Gu Yi’s demeanor and actions were indistinguishable from a normal person; there was no outward sign of an ocular problem.

Gu Yi seemed to read Kuang Feifan’s thoughts and addressed him directly. "I’m not like a blind man. Although my normal human eyes can't focus clearly, my Wise Eye can distinguish between anything living and anything inanimate. So, don’t mistake me for being sightless."

Kuang Feifan gasped, blurting out, "You can't possibly read people's thoughts, can you?"

Gu Yi shook his head, smiling. "I don't know any mind-reading tricks. I’m telling you this because most people jump to that conclusion when they learn about my condition."

Kuang Feifan finally relaxed and nodded in understanding.

Bai Ru clapped her hands to recapture their attention. "Well? What did you find?"

Gu Yi spread his hands. "Nothing special. This area used to be a graveyard, quite an old one, judging by the density. There are many residual spirits here; with a little manipulation, they can form a Yin-Yang Road."

Bai Ru frowned slightly. "That’s strange. Why would that ghost be certain that I would take this specific route?"

An idea sparked in Kuang Feifan’s mind. He pulled out his phone, pulled up a map, and checked. "I’d bet nine times out of ten you would take this path. It’s the shortest route to the school."

Bai Ru nodded, then shook her head, leaving Kuang Feifan confused about her reaction.

Gu Yi understood her line of thought and explained, "You're wondering if a ghost intelligent enough to orchestrate this isn't an ordinary spirit, right?"

Bai Ru confirmed. "The school hasn't been around that long, and the victims were all students. How could such a cunning evil spirit emerge here?"

Gu Yi shrugged. "Thinking too much won't help. We should head back to the school now and investigate."

After a brief consultation, they decided that Bai Ru and Gu Yi would take his Chery QQ to the school, with Jiang Tao driving so he could continue to look after the still-unconscious Li Jin. Kuang Feifan, meanwhile, would drive Bai Ru’s car back to the city to investigate the disappearance of He Shaoqing.

The thought of Kuang Feifan facing the investigation into his friend’s disappearance alone made Bai Ru quite worried. She rummaged through Gu Yi’s things and passed Kuang Feifan several trinkets for self-defense before watching him with lingering anxiety as he climbed into her car.

Fortunately, Bai Ru maintained her vehicle well. After sitting idle for half a day, the engine finally turned over. Kuang Feifan carefully steered the car to the side of the road, exchanged a fond, lingering farewell with Bai Ru, and slowly drove away.

Bai Ru let out a soft sigh only after watching Kuang Feifan’s car disappear down the road.

Nearby, Gu Yi suddenly spoke up. "Don't worry. Your boyfriend should be fine. I can see his Yang energy is robust; he’s definitely the type who can turn misfortune into good luck."

Bai Ru nodded tiredly; she didn't feel like continuing that conversation right then.

"What now? Are we just going to leave this small path as it is?" Bai Ru asked.

Gu Yi pondered for a moment. "Actually, once this area develops into a residential zone and human traffic picks up, the residual souls will naturally dissipate. You don't need to worry about it."

Bai Ru frowned. "But what about before that? It’s so deserted now; accidents are bound to happen."

Gu Yi sighed involuntarily. "I knew you couldn't resist meddling."

Bai Ru scoffed. "Don't forget, I was nearly trapped in there myself. This isn't meddling; it’s necessary work."

"Fine, fine..." Gu Yi conceded, rolling his wrists. He then fished out his specialized tools from the car and slowly ambled toward the entrance of the path.

"Heaven's way, Earth's way, Man's way, Ghost's way. If a human approaches, paper blocks; if a ghost approaches, mountains block. Let no evil emerge, let no evil open. Seal!"

As Gu Yi chanted the incantation, one after another, wooden talisman plaques flew from his hands. Sixty-four talismans shot out like meteors, embedding themselves into the ground on either side of the path at precise intervals.

Instantly, Bai Ru felt a clarity wash over her vision, as if the very air had become fresher. Under Gu Yi’s ritual work, the small path capable of manifesting the Yin-Yang Road was finally rendered safe.

"Truly masterful execution!" Bai Ru praised.

Gu Yi waved a dismissive hand. "Just sweeping away some residual spirits. Child's play."

Bai Ru sighed. "It’s child’s play for you, but it’s a huge problem for me. I can only borrow the magic; you can actually wield it."

Gu Yi curled his lip. "Different methods for different paths. The destination is the same."

"Pah..." Bai Ru spat. "Even good words turn sour in your mouth."

Sliding into Gu Yi’s Chery QQ, Gu Yi immediately urged him to turn back into the path so he could test the effectiveness of his sealing spell.

However, just to be safe, Gu Yi sat in the back seat, keeping an eye on Li Jin and applying a calming, mind-clearing charm to him.

After all his fuss, Bai Ru wasn't worried about Li Jin’s safety or encountering another Yin-Yang Road trick again, but she couldn't help but worry about Principal Hao, who was still missing.

Gu Yi comforted her. "Relax. Once I see him, I’ll be able to drive the ghost right out of his body. I’m way better than those exorcists in the movies, damn it."

Bai Ru managed a weak smile.

Gu Yi fully understood that this young woman wasn't just kind-hearted and prone to meddling; she worried about others far more intensely than about herself. If this continued, she would inevitably accumulate a crushing psychological burden—a condition perhaps tied to her profession as a psychological counselor. Some say that therapists are the very group most susceptible to mental illness.

To divert Bai Ru’s thoughts, Gu Yi said cheerfully, "What? Aren't you curious how I ended up with an extra roommate?"

His question did pique Bai Ru’s curiosity a little. After all, an ordinary person wouldn't easily tolerate Gu Yi’s many abrasive habits.

She glanced at Jiang Tao, who was driving beside her. Hearing his name mentioned, Jiang Tao smiled faintly. "To be honest, I owe Yi-ge another thank you. He’s the one who pulled me out of that 'ghost car.'"