The evil spirit summoned by Xue Kai was like a god of slaughter, completely disregarding human life.
The five thugs were like straw before this malevolent entity, which wielded its form like a scythe. Everywhere it passed, severed limbs and mangled remains were left behind.
Yet, this demon exhibited a peculiar restraint.
It seemed to understand how to inflict maximum suffering. It only severed limbs, not taking lives, as if intending for these individuals to die in a state of terrified agony from blood loss.
In the blink of an eye, all five thugs lay on the ground. Before them, arms were piled high, making it impossible to distinguish whose was whose.
Screams echoed through the corridor, so piercingly that Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong's ears began to ring.
Having dealt with the five thugs, the evil spirit turned and offered a slight smile to Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong. Its expression seemed to convey, "You're welcome."
As the spirit turned to leave, Yan Shouyi finally snapped back to reality.
"Yan Gui, stop him!"
He tossed out a piece of Yin wood, and the faceless ghost Yan Gui instantly appeared. Yan Gui was even taller than the current evil spirit, its shoulders brushing against the corridor's ceiling, forcing it to duck. Its massive form effectively blocked the evil spirit's path.
"My elder brother wants you to stay!" Yan Gui declared with an unfriendly tone.
The evil spirit appeared unable to speak. It stood its ground, pointing at itself, then at Yan Shouyi, and finally at the groaning thugs on the floor. It was as if it were asking, "I helped you deal with the bad guys, why won't you let me leave?"
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong advanced, flanking Yan Gui, completely sealing off the evil spirit's escape route. Seeing this formation, the evil spirit grew agitated. It opened its mouth wide, emitting a shrill cry, as if warning Yan Shouyi and the others.
"Where is Xue Kai!" Yan Shouyi demanded.
The evil spirit bared its broken teeth, resembling an angry wildcat. In the next second, it lunged at Yan Shouyi!
However, Lin Zitong intervened before it could. She first performed a burning talisman retrieval, producing a brocade pouch in her hand. Then, she shook her soul-summoning bell and effortlessly controlled the evil spirit, drawing it into the pouch. Though small, the pouch acted like the Purple Gold Gourd that captured Sun Wukong, directly sucking the evil spirit inside.
But the spirit did not surrender. It struggled relentlessly, the pouch shaking as if containing a mouse. Lin Zitong tied the pouch shut with a red string and chanted an incantation, and the evil spirit instantly fell silent.
Yan Gui, witnessing this, clasped its hands and said, "Sister-in-law is truly formidable!"
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but smile wryly; Yan Gui was quite skilled at flattery. He wondered why Yan Gui had never praised him like that before.
Lin Zitong smiled slightly and tossed the pouch to Yan Shouyi.
"I've captured an evil spirit for you. Doesn't that count as accumulating good karma for you?"
"That's your own merit, it has nothing to do with me," Yan Shouyi replied, holding the pouch and examining it. He asked, "Is this evil spirit dead?"
"Of course not. I've only sealed it. If this red string breaks, it can still escape," Lin Zitong explained.
Although the Luban Shu recorded the strengths of various schools, not all ultimate techniques were documented. Therefore, Yan Shouyi did not fully comprehend the Taoist magic of Mount Lu, and Lin Zitong's move just now was something he had never witnessed.
As Yan Shouyi was examining the pouch, he suddenly noticed that the red string was almost severed! It seemed this evil spirit was not so easily subdued! Before Yan Shouyi could say anything, the red string snapped! The just-subdued evil spirit immediately broke free.
Before anyone could react, the spirit bypassed Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong, and burrowed into the idol of the evil spirit worshipped at the altar. A trace of red light flashed in the idol's eyes before it returned to a serene state.
"It hid inside the statue!" Lin Zitong rushed forward, placing her hands on the statue's head, as if fearing it might sprout legs and run away.
Yan Shouyi sighed and said, "There's no need to hold it. The evil spirit is gone."
"What do you mean?" Lin Zitong asked, confused.
"This altar is called the Evil Spirit Altar, and the statue is called the Evil Spirit Bodhisattva. An evil spirit dwelling within an Evil Spirit Bodhisattva can transfer itself to any other such statue with ease. If Xue Kai has set up similar Evil Spirit Altars elsewhere, also worshipping Evil Spirit Bodhisattvas, then the spirit that just escaped has likely transferred itself to another."
Yan Shouyi sighed, "Xue Kai definitely has more than one of these Evil Spirit Bodhisattvas. We failed and the spirit slipped away."
"How could this happen!" Lin Zitong exclaimed angrily, "I should have smashed the Evil Spirit Bodhisattva earlier!"
Yan Shouyi said with a complex expression, "This is a technique from a folk sect, and it has been lost for many years. As far as I know, it's only recorded in our Luban Shu..."
"Xue Kai really knows the Luban technique!"
"There's no point dwelling on that now."
Yan Shouyi stepped forward and struck the head of the Evil Spirit Bodhisattva with his soul-cutting saber. To his surprise, after the head fell, blood flowed from the wound, a horrifying sight!
Yan Shouyi explained, "Don't be scared. This blood isn't from the Evil Spirit Bodhisattva; it's from Xue Kai, left inside. By destroying this Evil Spirit Bodhisattva, Xue Kai will surely know, serving as a reminder for him."
The Evil Spirit Bodhisattva was crafted to be lifelike, appearing terrifying at night. Now with its head severed and bleeding, an ordinary person would surely be frightened. However, Lin Zitong didn't give it much thought. Weren't the pile of arms in the corridor more gruesome than this statue?
Yan Shouyi recalled Yan Gui, understanding that Xue Kai had long known Lin Zitong had planted a spirit-tracking ghost on him. Therefore, their arrival here was merely walking into Xue Kai's trap. In other words, Xue Kai had played them for fools.
Lin Zitong was displeased with herself for the failed attempt.
"This place is not safe for long. We should leave," Yan Shouyi said as he made a call to Xia Zhi. Xia Zhi was aware of his situation, so handling certain special events through her would be much more convenient. Xia Zhi was also happy to help Yan Shouyi, knowing she would need his assistance more often.
The five thugs were completely stunned. Whether it was the pain they were in or the sorcery they had just witnessed between Yan Shouyi and the evil spirit, regardless, when the police and doctors arrived, they would surely conclude that the thugs were not only injured but also mentally unstable. Although they were bad people and deserved punishment, such a fate was perhaps too severe.
As Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong walked out of the corridor, Lin Zitong said dejectedly, "You big idiot, what do you think Xue Kai's objective is?"
"Xue Kai's objective?" Yan Shouyi frowned. He recalled his understanding of Xue Kai. It seemed Xue Kai wasn't trying to kill him. On the contrary, Xue Kai appeared to be protecting him in secret. Whenever something or someone was detrimental to Yan Shouyi, Xue Kai would resolve it for him in advance, and in a particularly brutal and direct manner. Xue Kai seemed disinclined to let Yan Shouyi's hands be stained with blood. Killing Liu Quan and Jiang Yun Ning, torturing these thugs...
"His objective... seems to be to protect me," Yan Shouyi said uncertainly.
"Protect you? This..." Lin Zitong's mind struggled to comprehend.
Yan Shouyi mused, "I think I'll go see my dad tomorrow."
Recalling that Xue Kai had once been imprisoned in the same facility as Yan Shouyi's father, Yan Chou, Lin Zitong understood Yan Shouyi's intention. She immediately said, "I'll go with you tomorrow."
Yan Shouyi shook his head without explaining. Lin Zitong realized belatedly why Yan Shouyi refused her. The person currently imprisoned was her future father-in-law. Although Lin Zitong didn't mind, the Yan family possessed a certain pride. Yan Chou would surely not want his future daughter-in-law to see him in such a state. Yan Shouyi also didn't want Lin Zitong to meet his father in such an environment for the first time.
So Lin Zitong slowly said, "Then... I won't go tomorrow. I'll go back to school."
"Yes, thank you," Yan Shouyi replied.
"You big idiot," Lin Zitong chided him with a glance. Any more thanks between them would be inappropriate.
Considering everything, many events had transpired today. It could be said that neither of them had a moment of idleness. As they walked out of the urban village, Yan Shouyi noticed a late-night snack stall by the roadside. He intended to treat Lin Zitong to some supper to replenish her energy. However, before they could reach the stall, Lin Zitong suddenly received a phone call. Looking at the caller ID, Lin Zitong stuck out her tongue at Yan Shouyi: "My dad."
Lin Zitong had just held a press conference today, so her father likely had something to tell her. Yan Shouyi nodded and waited on the spot for Lin Zitong. Lin Zitong walked aside with her phone. From a distance, Yan Shouyi saw Lin Zitong seemingly discussing some serious matters with her father, Lin Ruofu. Lin Zitong's brow furrowed from time to time. It was probably related to the Lin family's company, Yan Shouyi surmised, as he had no interest in business.
A few minutes later, Lin Zitong hung up, her expression not looking too good.
"What's wrong?" Yan Shouyi asked with concern.
Lin Zitong shook her head. "My dad's plane just landed."
"He's back? Then... should I start preparing to propose?" Yan Shouyi asked.
"Wait a bit longer," Lin Zitong forced a smile, her gaze drifting. She said, "There are still some internal family matters to resolve. This might not be a good time. I'll tell you when the time is right."
Yan Shouyi had a feeling that the issues Lin Zitong was facing were more complex than she let on. They had always been so open with each other that when one lied, the other could see right through it. Yan Shouyi also detected the discrepancy now. However, not prying was their unspoken agreement. Yan Shouyi simply stroked Lin Zitong's hair and said, "Whatever difficulties you face, we'll face them together."
"Mhm!" Lin Zitong replied emphatically, perhaps to reassure Yan Shouyi or to bolster her own resolve. She exhaled and smiled, "My dad urgently wants to see me, so I have to go back now. This supper is on you."
"No problem. When I have time in a couple of days, I'll treat you again."
"You better keep your word." Lin Zitong hailed a taxi by the roadside. Before getting in, she kissed Yan Shouyi on the cheek. She also reminded him, "Tomorrow, when you see your dad, be sure to tell me if you get any news. And if Xue Kai bothers you again, don't try to handle it alone."
"Don't you know me?"
"That's precisely why I'm worried!" Lin Zitong shot Yan Shouyi a glance. Then, she got into the car, and Yan Shouyi waved goodbye as the car drove away.
After Lin Zitong left, Yan Shouyi stood alone on the unfamiliar street, his solitary figure looking troubled. He worried that the trouble Lin Zitong was facing was more difficult than the Xue Kai he had encountered. But he didn't want to pry, preferring to wait for Lin Zitong to speak of it herself. Furthermore, he now faced a more pressing problem. Lin Zitong was gone, and he didn't have enough money to take a taxi back to Shanghang Art School. The distance was at least ten kilometers.
"Forget it, it's just ten kilometers. I'll run back!" Yan Shouyi rubbed his ankle and resolutely started walking. It was past eleven o'clock at night. Yan Shouyi ran swiftly along the sidewalk. Young people out for a night run were taken aback by his speed.
"Running sprints in the middle of the night, is this fitness? This is risking your life!"
"Brother, take it easy, night runs aren't supposed to be like this!"
"Question: What do you gain from exercising late at night? Answer: A healthy corpse!"
An ordinary person running at Yan Shouyi's pace would be exhausted after two hundred meters. But Yan Shouyi's body was extraordinary; sustained running was nothing to him. Others did a hundred-meter dash. Yan Shouyi did a thousand-meter dash! He could run a kilometer at top speed without even breathing hard!
Shortly after, Yan Shouyi ran back to Shanghang Art School and headed straight for the security dorm. Long Feicheng was still slumped on his bed. Seeing Yan Shouyi return, Long Feicheng weakly asked, "Brother Yan, where did you go?"
"I went to many places," Yan Shouyi replied, taking off his clothes. "How are you recovering? Still feeling weak?"
Long Feicheng retorted defiantly, "Weak? There's no such word in my dictionary! ...Though the medicine Old Jin gave me is really effective. I can walk now, and I should be mostly recovered by tomorrow."
"Good, it's good that you're recovering. If you kept lying there, I would have almost forgotten I had a subordinate like you," Yan Shouyi said with a grin.
"Damn it! You're right!" Long Feicheng realized, "I've done so much these past few days, yet it feels like I've done nothing!" Simply put, his presence had been minimal! He struggled to sit up. "Brother Yan, what are you planning to do tomorrow? Take me along!"
By this time, Yan Shouyi had entered the bathroom, intending to take a shower. "Tomorrow, I'm going to Pingshan Prison."
"Prison? Did one of your brothers get arrested for soliciting a prostitute?" Long Feicheng teased.
"My dad."
Long Feicheng was stunned. "Your dad? When did he solicit a prostitute???"
"Get lost. My dad didn't do anything like that!" If Yan Shouyi wasn't in the bathroom, he would have surely punched Long Feicheng.
Long Feicheng coughed twice and asked curiously, "Then what crime did our dad commit?" Long Feicheng's overly familiar demeanor was unparalleled; after just a few conversations, he was already sharing a father with Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi, while showering, replied, "He... killed a few people."
[Author's Note]
Brothers, August is over, and tomorrow is September 1st. I have important matters to attend to, so there will be no update on September 1st!