A quiet vow ford in her heart. ’This ti... I’ll change it.’
Sean glanced at her hesitantly, then gestured toward soone inside.
When Lana’s gaze followed, it landed on a young girl.
In that instant, everything beca clear. Sean’s sister.
Lana’s eyes sharpened slightly. ’A pure yin body ...’
More precisely, it was the perfect vessel for a ghost.
If a ghost inhabited her body and cultivated within it, their progress would be far faster than remaining in spirit form.
Not only that... they could eventually take complete control of the body and live as a normal human.
It was a temptation no ghost could resist. No wonder they had targeted her.
But that wasn’t all.
Sean’s sister also carried exceptional luck. If she survived this calamity, she had the potential to beco one of the most successful Taoists.
A faint smile appeared on Lana’s lips.
"I can ensure," she said calmly, "that your sister recovers... and regains her stability."
The mont Sean heard that, his eyes widened with hope, almost sparkling with relief.
"Then do it now!" he blurted out, his voice urgent and desperate. "Whatever ritual it is... please, do it now!"
Hearing him, Lana paused.
She looked at him and saw the desperation, the protectiveness, the fear he tried so hard to hide.
A dull ache spread through her chest. Lowering her gaze slightly, she spoke in a quieter tone.
"The talisman practitioner I know..." she said, "isn’t skilled enough yet."
Sean’s expression froze.
"Your sister should wear a crystal pendant," Lana continued, "one engraved with exorcism talismans. If she wears it, she’ll be able to fend off ghosts."
Her voice remained steady, but there was a subtle heaviness beneath it.
"But... my connection with that practitioner isn’t strong enough to obtain one imdiately."
The hope in Sean’s eyes dimd.
His heart sank.
"For now," Lana added, "she can carry talismans, keeping so in her pocket, in her hand." And... it would be best if you move to the inner city until the pendant can be made."
Silence fell. Sean’s fists slowly tightened again.
’So it’s not imdiate ...’
His thoughts spiraled. ’Money... I need money ...’
A dangerous resolve began to form. ’If I sell one of my organs... maybe... just maybe ...’
That way, he could afford both the cultivator’s fees and a place in the inner city for his sister.
As that thought settled in his mind, he lifted his head and gave a firm nod.
"I understand," he said. "I’ll do it."
Lana’s eyes narrowed slightly.
An annoyed expression flickered across her face.
’Do you think I wouldn’t notice?’
She knew him too well. That subtle shift in his gaze, that forced determination... it was obvious.
He was planning to sacrifice himself.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips, though this ti, it carried a faint edge.
"From what I can see," she said slowly, her eyes locking onto his, "you’re quite skilled when it cos to finance topics. ..."
Hearing those words, Sean instinctively assud that she needed his help with sothing. He straightened slightly, a faint sense of usefulness rising within him, and nodded.
"Yes," he replied, his voice firm despite the lingering tension in his chest, "I’m quite smart."
A brief hesitation followed. His fingers curled slightly, and his gaze dropped to the ground, as if weighed down by sothing heavier than fear.
"There’s... sothing I should tell you," he added, his voice lowering. "I... don’t have the money to pay any consultation fee."
The words felt bitter on his tongue, almost shaful.
For a mont, silence lingered. Then... Lana chuckled.
Baron and Sean exchanged a quick glance, both montarily stunned. There was no anger, no irritation... only that calm, almost amused laughter.
Sean frowned slightly, confusion creeping into his expression.
"What... happened?" he asked carefully.
Lana shook her head gently, her eyes softening as if she were looking at sothing far away.
"Nothing," she said, her voice quieter now. "It’s just... in the past, I had a brother."
"He doted on a lot," she continued, her lips curving into a nostalgic smile. "Whenever I look at you... I’m reminded of him."
Sean paused. For a brief second, sothing flickered in his eyes.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Well," he began, "you’re about the sa age as my sister, so I... "
He stopped abruptly. ’No ...’
A thought struck him, sharp and restraining.
’She can say that because she’s powerful... but if I say it, it might seem like I’m trying to climb up to her level ...’
His lips pressed together, and he swallowed the rest of his words, choosing silence instead.
Lana noticed. Of course she did.
A faint displeasure surfaced in her eyes, subtle yet undeniable. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Why?" she asked suddenly, her tone carrying a quiet edge. "Why don’t you consider your little sister?"
Baron’s eyes widened. He looked between the two of them, completely stunned.
’What is going on...?’
If he didn’t know better, he would have thought Lana was Sean’s long-lost sister. The way she spoke, the way her expression shifted... it was too real.
’And... is it just ... or does she look a little jealous when he pays attention to his actual sister?’
He blinked rapidly. ’No... that has to be my imagination ...’
anwhile, Sean stood frozen, caught off guard by her question.
"I..." he stamred, then quickly nodded. "Of course I do. I consider you my sister."
Only then did Lana’s expression ease.
The tension in her face lted, and a small, satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
"If that’s the case," she said lightly, "then you don’t need to worry about anything else."
Her tone carried a quiet finality.
Then she glanced at him and added, "Pack your things. Yours and your sister’s."
Both Sean and Baron froze.
"What?" Baron blurted out before he could stop himself.
Lana, however, paid them no mind. She had already taken out her phone and started typing, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen.
After a mont, she looked up.
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