At 8 p.m. outside Qing’an Temple, the area was still bustling with people coming and going.
Liu Yifan didn’t notice Lu Zheng. His face was pale, a faint smell of alcohol on his breath, as he staggered towards the temple gate.
Lu Zheng smiled faintly, approaching Liu Yifan from the side, one hand forming a seal, the other pulling out a brass bell.
“Ding-ling-ling—ding-ling-ling—”
Liu Yifan frowned, the bell’s sound grating on his ears. As he turned to locate the source and snap a rebuke, a sudden chill ran through him.
This cold sensation was identical to the times he’d encountered the ghost infant, etched deeply in his memory.
With a jolt, Liu Yifan felt instantly清醒. Looking around, he saw nothing but a vaguely familiar figure—no sign of the ghost.
“Damn it! It’s late autumn, getting dark earlier. Is that ghost infant coming out earlier too?”
Fearful, Liu Yifan didn’t dare linger on the street and hurriedly dashed into the temple.
From a distance, Lu Zheng glanced back, fully reassured, then turned and left.
…
Midnight.
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
Liu Yifan shot up from bed, eyes wide with terror, forehead drenched in sweat.
He’d been sleeping soundly when the ghost infant’s image suddenly appeared.
Unlike previous encounters—either with a creepy smile or a gaping, bloody maw, always at a distance—this time it was right in his face.
“A dream?”
Under the dim yellow light, the Zen temple guest room felt warm and serene, with incense smoke curling, creating a calming, peaceful atmosphere.
“A dream!”
Liu Yifan nodded. The ghost infant couldn’t enter Qing’an Temple.
“I’ve been too tense lately!”
At this thought, anger surged within him.
No one believed his claims of seeing a ghost. His mother was half-convinced, but his father had dragged him to a psychiatrist!
For over half a month, he’d become a laughingstock in Haicheng’s elite circles!
Damn it, if you’re so bold, stop coming to Qing’an Temple to burn incense!
They mocked him over drinks and dinners, then turned around and offered a million in incense at the temple. Hypocrites!
After scrolling on his phone for a bit, sleepiness returned, and Liu Yifan collapsed back into bed.
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
He shot up again, scanning the room.
Something was wrong!
…
“Knock, knock, knock!”
“Little Lu’s here! Come in, Auntie made winter melon and pork rib soup. Stay for lunch!”
Lin’s mother opened the door, ushering Lu Zheng in with enthusiasm.
In the living room, Lin Wan was slowly moving with the aid of a walker.
“Lu Zheng!”
“Lin Wan.” Lu Zheng smiled, holding up a bag of steamed buns.
“My mum made breakfast.”
“These are Old Yang’s steamed buns.”
“You remembered!” Lin Wan laughed.
One morning on the way to the boxing gym, Lin Wan had taken Lu Zheng on a detour to eat Old Yang’s steamed buns.
“It’s only been a month. How bad would my memory have to be to forget?”
“It’s not that important.”
“Everything about you is important.”
Goodness, that one line made Lin’s mother, just emerging from the kitchen, beam with delight.
“Feeling better?” Lu Zheng approached Lin Wan, observing her legs while popping a steamed bun into her mouth.
“Mm.” Lin Wan nodded, her eyes shining. “A bit better than yesterday. I can control my toes now.”
Lu Zheng nodded, then shook his head. “Don’t rush. Your meridians, or rather, your spinal nerves, are still fragile. Don’t move too much.”
Lin Wan nodded. “I’ve only been up for less than five minutes.”
That said, she used the walker to return to her bedroom, then, with Lu Zheng’s help, lay face-down on the bed.
Lu Zheng turned away, waiting until Lin Wan said, “Ready,” before turning back to see she’d removed her top and was lying ready on the bed.
Having grown accustomed to daily acupuncture, Lin Wan no longer covered her sides with a blanket.
When Lu Zheng turned, he caught a clear view of a defined curve and contour.
After a quick glance, he opened the needle case, took out the acupuncture needles, and began.
His hands moved like weaving flowers, fingers dancing like butterflies. In a blink, fifty-six needles pierced along Lin Wan’s spine and lumbar canal.
With a light flick of his fingers, strands of true qi flowed through the stainless steel needles into her body.
Compared to the previous blockages, Lu Zheng now found the qi flowing smoothly during treatment.
The true qi nurtured her meridians, stimulating nerve activity, promoting natural healing, and strengthening them.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”
“Hey, Xiumin!”
“Hey, Lin Wan, how’s the recovery?”
“Alright, better than yesterday.”
“Great! Looks like the doctors’ prognosis wasn’t so accurate. It’s not that bad!”
“Mm-hmm,” Lin Wan nodded.
Following Lu Zheng’s advice, Lin Wan and her mother only said she was recovering naturally, not mentioning his acupuncture.
Lu Zheng had said it might not work, and announcing it could give a reckless impression.
Later, when it showed results, Lin Wan and her mother found it hard to backtrack, so they kept it secret.
“By the way, Liu Yifan’s got another issue,” Huang Xiumin said.
“Oh? What? Seeing ghosts again?”
“Not ghosts, but nightmares. Apparently, every time he falls into deep sleep, the ghost appears in his dreams, waking him up. He hasn’t slept well for five days.”
“Really?”
“His dad got him two top domestic medical experts and a hypnotist. No effect. Last night, he flew to the Beacon Country for treatment.”
Lin Wan frowned. “Is it real or fake? Did he catch wind of some evidence you found and decide to flee early?”
“No, Captain Li quietly checked on Liu Yifan. Five days without sleep—he looks half-dead, face pale, lips purple, like he’s about to drop.
Lin Wan, do you think Liu Yifan’s offended some god? Seeing ghosts, having nightmares!”
“Comrade Huang Xiumin, remember your materialist values. Don’t you know spirits aren’t allowed after the founding?”
“Heh, it’s just that no one can explain Liu Yifan’s situation, so we’re left thinking of supernatural stuff.”
“Think what? Liu Yifan’s abroad, without his strongest backer. Why aren’t you investigating his possible crimes?”
“Hey, Comrade Lin Wan, you’re on sick leave. Are you teaching an active detective how to do her job?”
Lin Wan, “…”
After chatting for a while, Lin Wan hung up. Lu Zheng had already removed the dozens of needles from her back.
Lin’s mother’s voice came from outside.
“Lunch is ready!”
