Gu Yi’s expression shifted instantly upon hearing Bai Ru’s words. He instinctively leaned back, settling into the sofa, his fingers gently stroking the beard on his chin as he pondered carefully.

The term "Black Sorcery" was something Kuang Feifan had overheard Bai Ru mention during a phone call, though he hadn't pressed for details then. Xu Hui, knowing nothing of it, blurted out, "What is Black Sorcery? How did we get mixed up with that stuff?"

Bai Ru explained simply, "Black Sorcery is a branch of witchcraft. Because it is frequently used to harm others or for selfish gain, it's called 'Black Sorcery.' It’s generally prevalent in places like Southeast Asia. There are many methods, but since the casting techniques are quite peculiar, neither Gu Yi nor I are very familiar with it."

Kuang Feifan added, turning to Xu Hui, "It's like 'raising a ghost infant'—you’ve heard of that, right? That’s one type of Black Sorcery."

Xu Hui shrugged, then immediately asked, "How does this foreign magic connect with the haunted small building we're dealing with now?"

At this moment, Gu Yi suddenly sat bolt upright and interjected, "There are indeed traces of Black Sorcery. Though not obvious, it's the only thing that explains why the ghost inside is so powerful."

Xu Hui remained skeptical and inquired, "Can't Chinese magic make a ghost powerful? Why did you immediately jump to thinking about foreigners?"

Bai Ru took over the conversation, "It's just a feeling, a vague intuition built from years of experience. So, to confirm it, we need to know exactly what happened inside that little building."

This was indeed hard to explain. The only reason Bai Ru suspected Black Sorcery was involved was because of the illusions, corpse manipulation, and soul division techniques they encountered during their experiences—phenomena common in Black Sorcery. However, since intuition is abstract, she only brought it up for discussion, as she couldn't be certain.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yi stated definitively that there were traces of Black Sorcery. This caused Bai Ru to turn and ask him, "Are you sure?"

Gu Yi smiled faintly. "It’s just a feeling, but perhaps stronger than yours. My experience inside the building while rescuing He Shaoqing gave me a sense of familiarity. However, I didn't see any barriers, which makes me suspect there are parts of the building we haven't accessed yet. Didn't you say the ghosts often manifest through mirrors? That’s a medium frequently used in Black Sorcery too."

The group’s discussion ultimately failed to reach a definitive conclusion. They inevitably returned to studying the recovered diary entries, linking them with the pencil drawing they had previously seen. All four felt the drawing was most likely done by the person named Shen Jun.

"Xiangyang Elementary School, Shen Jun." Kuang Feifan said to Xu Hui, "It’s up to you to dig up information on this person."

Xu Hui couldn't help but scratch his scalp awkwardly, "Isn't that scope a bit too wide?"

Kuang Feifan shrugged. "Just a reminder: start your search from '74. Remember? The materials you showed me said that No. 73 Yibin Road has been uninhabited since 1974."

Xu Hui muttered, "Oh, right. '74, Xiangyang Elementary School, Shen Jun..."

Some things simply couldn't be rushed. The terror within the small building gave even Gu Yi a headache. He knew that even if he and Bai Ru joined forces, they might not be able to completely cleanse the building of the fierce evil spirit—that was something neither of them could deny.

Worrying more about it was pointless. The four decided to rest. Bai Ru and Gu Yi split their time watching over He Shaoqing, while Xu Hui and Kuang Feifan resigned themselves to sleeping soundly.

Fortunately, with Bai Ru being a doctor, she knew how to procure some medical necessities. He Shaoqing was severely malnourished, so Bai Ru set up an IV drip of nutrient solution she managed to acquire in Xu Hui's villa.

As for the villa itself, Xu Hui explained that his grandfather had bought it for him. Kuang Feifan could only express deep speechlessness upon hearing that Xu Hui’s parents had remarried separately abroad.

Xu Hui, however, didn't seem bothered. Living in the house, working as a junior police officer—he felt life was good until this bizarre, inexplicable case arose, one he couldn't possibly explain to his superiors. His only recourse was to apply for an extended leave of absence.

Taking long leave wouldn't stop Xu Hui from investigating Shen Jun, though. He headed out early the next morning to take care of business.

Kuang Feifan remained in the villa, fidgeting and constantly checking on He Shaoqing’s condition. Seeing his distress, Gu Yi finally kicked him out.

Bai Ru understood Kuang Feifan’s mood and offered a few comforting words. As they talked, Kuang Feifan inevitably brought up the string of prayer beads he wore on his wrist.

Mentioning this reminded Kuang Feifan of the power released when his blood sprayed onto the beads. He asked Bai Ru, "Just how strong are these beads?"

He then recounted the incident where he bit his tongue and sprayed blood onto the mala beads.

Bai Ru managed a weak smile, though her expression was laced with concern. "Actually, I underestimated the situation initially. I didn't expect the spirits in that building to be so formidable. The material of these beads is special; it’s perfect for countering ghostly illusions. But the sheer scale of the resentment in that building actually suppressed the spiritual energy contained within the beads. That’s why you kept getting hit by waves of illusions. Only at the very last second did the beads’ power preserve the last shard of clarity in your mind. As for spraying blood upward—blood from the tip of the tongue carries the strongest yang energy, which naturally can activate the spiritual power in the beads, especially a virgin's blood. However..."

Although Bai Ru didn't finish the sentence, Kuang Feifan understood her implication: since he was no longer a virgin, the yang energy in his blood would be significantly diminished.

This topic caused the atmosphere between Bai Ru and Kuang Feifan, sitting side-by-side on the sofa, to become instantly charged. They turned their heads to gaze at each other. A faint, sweet fragrance drifted into Kuang Feifan's nostrils, causing his composure to waver slightly as his head slowly leaned toward Bai Ru.

A flicker of confusion crossed Bai Ru's eyes, and just as suddenly, Kuang Feifan’s mouth covered hers.

"Mmmph..."

With a low moan, Bai Ru attempted to push against Kuang Feifan’s chest with a gentle hand, but the soft, weak resistance only made Kuang Feifan lose control further. He wrapped an arm around Bai Ru’s delicate shoulder, their wet lips entwining. Instinctively, Kuang Feifan used his tongue to part her cherry lips, slipping his tongue into her sweet mouth, successfully mingling with her own. The hand around her shoulder began to wander lower, unscripted, his fingers brushing against the smooth, tender curve of her thigh through her trousers. The warm contact sent a jolt, like an electric current, straight up from his palm, causing Bai Ru to tremble subtly.

Just then, the villa door was violently flung open with a loud CRASH. Xu Hui burst through the entrance, looking flushed with excitement. Before he was fully inside, his shout echoed, "I found it! I actually found it for you... Uh... Should I come back later?"