After an hour, the acupuncture session ended.
“How does it feel? Any sensations?” Lin’s mother asked eagerly.
“It feels warm around my waist,” Lin Wan said, sensing carefully.
“It’s only the first day, no rush. I estimate it’ll take five days to see results, and standing up might take two months,” Lu Zheng said.
“Two months?”
“Two months!”
Lin Wan and her mother were stunned, not because two months was too long, but because it was so short.
Lin Wan couldn’t help but ask, “In two months, my waist fracture won’t even be fully healed, will it?”
“Pfft,” Lu Zheng scoffed, “You’re underestimating my true qi. I’ve already used it to clear the qi channels in your waist and left a trace of true qi in your body to slowly aid nerve recovery.
With my true qi’s help, both nerve and bone recovery will be much faster.”
Lin’s mother licked her lips, “Why does this sound like a martial arts novel?”
Lin Wan shook her head, “Martial arts novels aren’t this magical. This is next-level, like a fantasy novel.”
Lu Zheng laughed, “Alright, I’ll come every morning. Let’s wait one or two months and see the results.”
Lin Wan nodded with a smile, “Good!”
No matter what, she’d let Lu Zheng take charge from now on.
…
Lin Wan’s situation was on track.
Lu Zheng turned his attention eastward, to Liu Yifan’s matter, which still needed to be dealt with.
Today was the fifth day since Liu Yifan returned from Qing’an Temple, and it was time to invite him to watch another horror movie.
…
In less than ten days, Liu Yifan had experienced three ghostly encounters and was nearly scared to death.
However, since the master at Qing’an Temple performed a ritual to expel the evil, the ghost infant hadn’t bothered him again.
“Didn’t expect that fat monk from Qing’an Temple to actually have real skills,” Liu Yifan muttered to himself, “Much more reliable than those psychology professors.
What past experiences? To hell with psychological stress!
Damn it, clearly someone messed around in a big hotel, caused a death, and that ghost baby targeted me!
Bloody hell! So unlucky!”
In his spacious room, Liu Yifan kept the lights on for days, inviting friends over to smoke, play cards, and games, sleeping in the living room to avoid being alone.
Until this noon, when nothing happened, he confirmed the Qing’an Temple master had sent the ghost infant to reincarnation, and he sent his buddies away.
“Five days without any action, I’m dying here. Let’s call two this time.”
Liu Yifan scrolled through his phone contacts, swiping casually.
He made a call, arranged a meet-up.
Went out, drove, dated, came back.
Liu Yifan led, with two women behind him.
As he opened his door, about to switch on the light, the corridor light shone from behind.
He clearly saw the ghost infant one metre in front of him!
Smiling at him!
Showing a mouthful of inhuman sharp teeth!
“Ah!!!”
…
Liu Yifan fainted again.
This time, Lu Zheng had the ghost child add a little extra, leaving some yin qi in Liu Yifan’s body, enough to make him feel cold during the day and impotent at night.
Leaving physical traces wasn’t necessary, better to let others think he was crazy.
…
“Lin Wan, I’m telling you, Liu Yifan’s definitely getting what he deserves!”
On the phone, Huang Xiumin excitedly reported to Lin Wan.
“This guy’s seen ghosts four times in just over ten days! Haicheng’s rich circle is buzzing, he’s a complete laughingstock!”
“What happened?”
“The first time was at the Waldorf Hotel, some foreign-owned place. No idea if it’s a century-old grudge, but a ghost appeared, and it just happened to catch Liu Yifan.”
Huang Xiumin vividly described Liu Yifan’s ghostly encounters to Lin Wan over the phone.
No choice, whether seeing a doctor or going to a temple, Liu Yifan had to honestly recount his ghost sightings to ensure effectiveness.
So, not only did the police know the full story, but Haicheng’s rich circle did too.
“They say the Waldorf Hotel even hired a priest to hold, what’s it called, a mass!
Liu Yifan was there, and that very night, he saw the ghost again!
Hahaha!
But our local masters are better. They say after he went to Qing’an Temple, he was fine for five whole days! So this morning, right after leaving the hospital, he headed straight back to Qing’an Temple.”
Hanging up, Lin Wan smiled at Lu Zheng, “Do you think there’s really such a thing as karma?”
“There is,” Lu Zheng nodded, “Heaven’s will is clear, carried out through human hands.”
“Sounds like someone’s out to get Liu Yifan,” Lin Wan said, shaking her head.
“Discipline, discipline, you’ve got no evidence!” Lu Zheng tapped her forehead.
Lin Wan covered her head, still a police officer, not yet resigned.
Lu Zheng had spoken with Li Jinglin, giving Lin Wan time to recover before discussing other job arrangements if she couldn’t stand.
“Want to know what’s really going on with Liu Yifan?”
“Of course!” Lin Wan pouted.
“Then wait till you’re better, investigate it yourself, and put him away!”
Lin Wan smiled, tilted her head, and asked Lu Zheng, “Can I really get better?”
Lu Zheng grinned mischievously, “Slap!”
He raised his hand, rubbed his fingers under his nose, “Well, not bad, feels pretty good.”
“What are you doing!” Lin Wan was both shy and annoyed.
“Feel anything?”
“Huh?” Lin Wan paused, “I… I think I did?”
“I’m off! See you tomorrow!”
Before Lin Wan could react, Lu Zheng bolted.
…
Back home, he crossed over, ate a natural dinner made by Aunt Liu.
It was past mid-September, the weather cooling, and darkness falling earlier.
Lu Zheng thought for a moment, crossed over to grab two bottles of Wuliangye, transferred them to porcelain jars, and when it was fully dark, carried the liquor out.
He strolled to the City God Temple, where the surrounding homes within a hundred metres were silent, and the temple itself was pitch black, with only the sound of the wind.
Lu Zheng stood at the gate, softly calling out.
“Is the City God present?”
The next moment, two figures appeared.
“Greetings, Young Master Lu!”
Lu Zheng looked around, seeing the personal guards of City God Xin Zhanting.
“The Lord invites you in!”
As Lu Zheng followed the guards into the main hall, he saw Xin Zhanting sniffing eagerly, eyes fixed on the liquor bottles.
“The wine’s here, got any snacks to go with it?”
Xin Zhanting quickly waved for the guards to prepare food.
“Brother Lu, sit! What brought you here to drink with me?”
Lu Zheng smiled, “These past few days, I’ve been studying the *Tiger Roar Blade* you gave me and made some progress. So, I came to seek your advice. Coming empty-handed wouldn’t do, but I hope Brother Xin won’t mind I only brought wine and no food.”
Xin Zhanting laughed heartily, “No worries, no worries! I’ve got braised meat and roast goose here, temple offerings, good stuff, and I was just wondering who to share it with.”
“Then I won’t hold back!”
