Kuang Feifan glanced at the dishes on the table, momentarily dumbfounded. He had been distracted when Feng Tian was ordering and hadn't paid attention to what was selected. Given the restaurant's name, "Little Sichuan," he had assumed the cuisine would be predominantly spicy. Yet, looking at the spread before them, only the plate of "Spicy Blood Curd" in front of Feng Ping hinted at any heat.

The dish closest to Kuang Feifan was a plate of Leeks and White Rice Shrimp. The rest included Longan and Goji Berry Stewed Dog Meat, Scallion-Braised Sea Cucumber, Braised Eel, and a clay pot soup.

Truthfully, Kuang Feifan was usually unconcerned about food, eating whatever was available, but today’s dishes felt strangely deliberate, as if there was some hidden meaning.

He glanced at Feng Tian, who was currently engrossed in alternating sips of Erguotou liquor with bites of the spicy blood curd. Thin slices of the deep red curd disappeared into his mouth, the glistening oil tracing lines down the corner of his lips; he looked utterly delighted.

Seeing Kuang Feifan look over, Feng Tian smiled and pointed his chopsticks toward the clay pot, saying, "Eat that while it’s hot; it will do you good."

Kuang Feifan ladled some into his bowl. It was black, soft, and flaky. Curiosity piqued, he asked, "What dish is this?"

"Bull Essence," Feng Tian replied, pouring him a fresh cup of wine as he spoke.

Kuang Feifan immediately understood; what was "Bull Essence"? It was just bull penis, dressed up with such delicate language.

He couldn't help but give a wry smile. "So you noticed my weak yang energy. But these dishes probably won’t help; my yang deficiency isn't due to kidney failure."

Feng Tian shrugged dismissively. "It's better than nothing. Since it’s all about deficiency, just eat it."

Kuang Feifan shook his head with a laugh, deciding to let go of his reservations. The two toasted and ate, clearing the table of food in a whirlwind of activity.

Feng Tian signaled the waiter to clear the messy plates and brought out a pot of freshly brewed tea. It seemed he was finally ready to get down to business.

After pouring the tea, Feng Tian studied Kuang Feifan and asked slowly, "Tell me about your situation on your end. I must state upfront that my abilities are limited, and I might not be able to assist."

Kuang Feifan nodded and recounted everything concerning the small building, mostly providing detail where necessary and glossing over minor points, making the story sound almost like fiction to Feng Tian.

Only after Kuang Feifan finished the entire account did Feng Tian frown, shaking his head slightly, silent for a long moment.

Seeing his expression, Kuang Feifan paused, a weight settling on him. He asked, "What is it? Is it very troublesome?"

Feng Tian nodded with a very serious expression. "It does sound quite troublesome. Although I don't know the full extent of Miss Bai Ru's capabilities, I know a bit about Gu Yi. He's quite capable, yet he admitted he couldn't solve the problem with that small building. Why would he think I possess that ability?"

Kuang Feifan wasn't sure if Feng Tian was being truthful or just trying to avoid involvement. After a moment of thought, he sighed softly. "I don't know your true abilities either. But this matter involves the safety of myself and my friends, especially since a close friend is currently on the brink of life and death. So, as long as there's a possibility, I have to find anyone who can help us. That's why I hoped you possessed that capacity."

Feng Tian clearly hesitated, then reverted to his indifferent demeanor. "That's not something you can simply hope for. Seeing how you drink, you seem like a straightforward person, so I won't hide anything from you. What you've described sounds like a truly difficult situation. It's likely something I can't solve purely on my own strength."

Kuang Feifan grew slightly impatient listening to him circle the issue instead of stating a plan. He thought, You call me straightforward, but you’re anything but decisive. However, before coming, both Bai Ru and Gu Yi had warned him that Feng Tian was a complicated man, not easily swayed by a few words. Moreover, Feng Tian and Gu Yi had a history—if Kuang Feifan were more inclined toward gossip, he would have already asked what exactly happened between them.

After a moment of thought, Kuang Feifan changed tactics. "Then, Mr. Feng, do you have any suggestions?"

Feng Tian slowly sipped his tea, feigning difficulty. "Suggestions? Honestly, I have none. Lately, I've been swamped with my own unresolved issues. Alas..."

Kuang Feifan’s expression darkened. If Feng Tian’s previous hesitation was born of uncertainty, this now felt like genuine evasion. This sparked a thought: was Feng Tian truly scared of how terrifying the place sounded? Or was this linked to Gu Yi again?

He gritted his teeth and confronted the issue directly. "I understand there are some misunderstandings between you and Mr. Gu Yi, but I think I’ve made clear the terror of that place. If you have the ability to help but choose not to, can you really rest easy watching evil spirits harm people? I don't take you for a wishy-washy person, so why the continuous stalling?"

Sensing the change in Kuang Feifan’s demeanor, Feng Tian suddenly let out a bitter laugh. "Fine, I won't beat around the bush anymore. I can take some time to check out the place you mentioned and get a feel for it; we’ll analyze the specifics when we get there. To be honest, I don't consider myself all that powerful, and I haven't encountered many truly formidable adversaries. Yes, Gu Yi and I have friction, but it wouldn't extend to the point where I’d stand by and allow malevolent ghosts to cause harm simply because I know they exist."

Kuang Feifan frowned silently, fixing his gaze on Feng Tian.

After a brief pause, Feng Tian took another sip of tea and sighed deeply before continuing, "How about this: I do have some pressing matters to handle right now. Would you mind staying here for a couple of days? Once I wrap up what I’m currently dealing with, I’ll go take a look with you."

Kuang Feifan finally let out a breath of relief. Some matters were indeed best addressed directly; there was no need for roundabout maneuvering. He raised his teacup, about to respond, when a sudden thought struck him. He looked at Feng Tian with a strange expression and asked doubtfully, "Mr. Feng, you want me to stay here?"

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Feng Tian’s face, quickly replaced by a smile. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well, while I don't want to make it a condition for checking out that place, there is something I actually need your help with."

Though Kuang Feifan wasn't sure when Feng Tian had conceived this idea, he knew that if Feng Tian needed his assistance, he had to agree to his request.

He didn't overthink it. His raised teacup never lowered; he gently gestured toward Feng Tian. "All right. Tell me what you need me to do."

Feng Tian raised his cup in return. "Excellent. I think you are exactly the right person for the job."

"Uh..." Kuang Feifan felt a sense of foreboding. Now that Feng Tian mentioned it, he realized what kind of 'help' was needed. He shouldn't forget what Feng Tian did for a living. Feng Tian's request for help wouldn't be something mundane like manual labor.

After they both drank, Kuang Feifan couldn't resist asking, "What exactly do you need my help with?"

Feng Tian gave a somewhat secretive smile. "Accompany me to investigate an allegedly haunted house."

For more novels, visit storyread.net.