"Lord Zhu, what’s up?"
"Can’t I just give you a call even if there’s nothing going on?"
"Aiyoo, listen to you—other than drinking with , anything you need, I’m there. But drinking is pure evil, I’m never touching another drop. Well, unless you’re inviting , then I could have maybe three drinks max, but no more than that."
"Hahaha..." On the other end of the phone, Lord Zhu burst out laughing. Of course he knew—last ti Wen Yan got hamred, he woke up straight in the Netherworld; that’s not a small trauma. Never drinking again makes sense. That he’s willing to have three with him is really giving face.
"I just heard sothing, thought I’d let you know."
"Go ahead."
Then Lord Zhu told him about how Qing Xuzi had called, asking about a certain unusual ghost, and relayed the conversation once through.
"He asked, that old Taoist is in Virtue City now. You’d best look into his whereabouts and keep your distance.
He’s dragging around that Jinx—when he gets struck by lightning, you don’t want to get caught up in it.
You’ve already fallen to the Netherworld; your luck’s probably not doing great either lately.
Keep clear of that old Taoist."
Wen Yan listened to Lord Zhu, a strange look on his face. He glanced out the door—Qing Xuzi was still so distance away, eyes glued to his phone, finger sliding constantly on the screen.
"Lord Zhu, I’m afraid it’s too late to avoid him. That ghost showed up at my workplace today, and I was the one who caught him."
"Aiyoo...Are you out of your mind? You’d better steer way clear of that Jinx. Out of all the ghosts, this type is the most cursed—heck, even I get the creeps. Don’t get yourself mixed up with him."
Wen Yan looked down at the Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman on his right hand.
"Don’t worry, maybe I can’t do much about other stuff, but this kind of bad luck caused by outside forces—I’ve just got the thing to block it. At the very least, I can protect myself just fine."
This ti with Hao Mingyang, the Natural Enemy Profession didn’t respond at all. Either Hao Mingyang isn’t big enough to get a warning, or Wen Yan’s sure he can handle it himself.
Hao Mingyang’s influence is bizarre, completely undetectable. Logically, that should’ve triggered a warning.
Still nothing—so, even a temporary ability wouldn’t be better than the Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman.
On the other end, Lord Zhu was shocked. How did he block the Jinx?
How long has it been? Wen Yan keeps getting stronger every day?
And the way he gets stronger is always weird as hell.
Lord Zhu fell silent, then lowered his voice:
"What do you think, is this Jinx telling the truth?"
"I don’t think he’s crazy, if that’s what you’re asking."
"Then be careful. The way I see it, if he’s not crazy, then that ans his na, his experiences, his body—even his soul—were stolen by soone else.
Even if sothing out there had that kind of power, odds are it couldn’t just snatch it by force."
If anything really could take it by force, then you’d better keep the hell away."
But if you ask , that’s not possible."
This kind of heaven-defying stuff—eight tis out of ten, it needs his own agreent to work."
And not agreent under duress, not if he’s tricked either."
It has to be him, clear-headed and willing of his own accord—only then can stuff like this work."
I haven’t heard any rumors for now. Want to help dig around?"
"Is there any danger?"
"It’s just asking for info, what’s dangerous about that?"
"Okay, then I’ll trouble you for it. I’m already caught up in this. He showed up at my workplace, I was the one who took him down—I can’t keep myself out of it now.
If I ignore it now, I just know it’ll co back to bite later."
Besides being weird about the na Hao Mingyang, he also freaks out whenever soone ntions the word ’statue.’"
Thanks for your help, Lord Zhu."
"No big deal, don’t be so polite! Next ti you visit, I’ll treat you to so good booze. Only three drinks, I promise you won’t get drunk—relax."
"Sweet, I’ll hold you to that."
After hanging up, Wen Yan sighed—really need to get to know more experts. He’s got zero leads, but these people, they haven’t even t the guy, just heard about it, and they’re already pointing him in the right direction.
As long as there’s a direction, that’s good enough.
Also, Wen Yan didn’t think he was being paranoid. He honestly believed soone’s deliberately leading the Jinx to Virtue City.
Because even Hao Mingyang himself doesn’t know where he heard about it.
To send a Jinx wandering around Virtue City North, then on to Virtue City Funeral House?
Co on, what are the odds?
There are loads of funeral hos working with the Scorching Sun Departnt—each commandery’s got several.
As a ghost, if you want to off yourself, there’s plenty of places to go—why Virtue City specifically?
And this ghost, a Jinx ghost at that, how the hell did he make it to Virtue City without any trouble?
Is the Jinx supposed to be swinging from a street lamp, swaying in the breeze, radiating a bad-luck aura at all tis?
Wen Yan was not buying the coincidence.
Hao Mingyang isn’t the point—the stuff behind him is what matters.
Once Qing Xuzi ca back, Wen Yan didn’t say much. Now he was starting to think Qing Xuzi might be getting played too.
He pushed those thoughts aside for now and took out a Jade Pendant.
"Taoist priest, can I trouble you with sothing? I’ve got an informant—he got half his body chewed off saving soone. He’s just barely hanging on. Could you take a look and see if there’s any hope?"
"I’ll check on the ghost patient first." Qing Xuzi smiled; when it ca to treating ghosts, he was a real pro.
But as soon as he saw the literal half-body Red Skirt Ghost, his smile faded away.
Wen Yan got startled.
"Taoist priest..."
What the hell, you’re a doctor, right? Aren’t you supposed to know that grinning all confident and then suddenly looking grim is totally freaky?
Qing Xuzi examined carefully, then shook his head.
"It’s fine. Though it’s serious, as long as he’s not dead, there’s hope. Just a bit tricky, that’s all. Don’t worry, it’s not a big problem."
That’s what he said out loud, but inside, Qing Xuzi was already on full alert, ready to throw everything he had at this. No matter what, he had to cure this ghost today!
Can’t predict for a ghost, can’t follow one—he was already doubting his Taoist heart, second-guessing himself all over.
If he couldn’t heal people either, then that would be three blows in a day—his confidence would just shatter.
Whatever it takes, he had to fix this ghost today. No one was stopping him!
"Thank you, Taoist priest! I’ve heard your skills are legendary—especially at treating ghosts..." Wen Yan laid it on thick with the praise. Sucking up costs nothing, and if you want help, you gotta show so respect first.
The more Wen Yan flattered, the more serious Qing Xuzi got, eyes sharp as he sized up the Red Skirt Ghost. He chanted to himself, slow and steady.
"Don’t worry. With here, there is no way he’s dying!"
The Red Skirt Ghost glanced at Qing Xuzi, sensing sothing fierce and intimidating in his eyes—a weird pressure washed over him, making him shrink his neck without even realizing.
For so reason, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
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