"Cousin, don't overthink it. Er Zhu and I are just friends," Xiao Tian Huizi quickly explained, seeing her cousin's sly grin.
Though she had feelings for Er Zhu, she knew a relationship with him was impossible. As the pampered daughter of the prestigious Xiao Tian family, she disdained using underhanded tactics to win a man.
"Oh, that's not important. Huizi, I heard things here weren't quite right, so I've brought Master Ming Xiu. He's the foremost pháp sư in our Wō country!" Xiao Tian Min Zi waved her hand dismissively, as if an idea struck her, beckoning towards the doorway while speaking.
A few seconds later, an elderly man with a white beard, clad in a white Taoist robe, slowly entered. Despite his smiling facade, his eyes held a look of contempt and disdain as he glanced at Er Zhu.
"Miss Huizi, I believe with me here, you won't need to seek out any other pháp sư, especially not a Hua Xia person!" Master Ming Xiu clasped his hands together, bowing slightly to Xiao Tian Huizi, but his gaze remained fixed on Er Zhu. As the foremost pháp sư of Wō country, Master Ming Xiu was accustomed to reverence, which had bred a certain arrogance, particularly towards people of other ethnicities. In his view, the people of Wō country were the noblest race on earth, and Hua Xia people were beneath them.
"Er Zhu is my friend. He must stay!" Xiao Tian Huizi frowned, following Master Ming Xiu's gaze. A flicker of anger and impatience crossed her eyes. She couldn't fathom where this old man, on the verge of death, derived such a strong sense of superiority. If it weren't for her cousin bringing him, she would have thrown him out herself.
"Alright, let's put this aside for now. Master Ming Xiu, I'll leave this matter to you!" Xiao Tian Min Zi quickly smoothed things over, seeing the tension in the air. Master Ming Xiu wanted to say more, but seeing his benefactor subtly signaling him, he kept quiet. It was fine for the Hua Xia person to stay; it would give him a chance to showcase the power of Wō country's pháp sư.
"There's no need for all this fuss. Someone simply tampered with Miss Huizi's sleeping pills. There are no ghosts or spirits here. These are merely Miss Huizi's hallucinations!" Just as Master Ming Xiu was about to perform his ritual, Er Zhu stepped forward, his voice soft and his demeanor calm.
"What nonsense are you spouting, a Hua Xia person? I am the foremost pháp sư of Wō country! Am I not as capable as you?" Master Ming Xiu scowled, his triangular eyes blazing with anger. He already harbored ill feelings towards Hua Xia people, and now this Hua Xia person's reckless words only deepened his disgust.
"Miss Huizi, I've already contacted the police. Captain Lin will be here shortly." Master Ming Xiu expected Er Zhu to argue, but to his surprise, Er Zhu completely ignored him, turning his attention back to Xiao Tian Huizi. This blatant disregard infuriated Master Ming Xiu further; a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
"Master Ming Xiu, you should not speak like that again. Don't forget, you are currently standing on Hua Xia's soil!" Xiao Tian Huizi nodded gratefully at Er Zhu, then turned to face Master Ming Xiu with a stern expression.
"Cousin, what are you doing? Master Ming Xiu is the foremost pháp sư of our Wō country. What he says must be correct!"
"Enough, cousin! You and he can scram. I believe Er Zhu!" Before Xiao Tian Min Zi could finish speaking, Xiao Tian Huizi cut her off, her voice laced with even greater anger. She had been suppressing her rage out of consideration for them being from Wō country, but she hadn't expected her cousin and this Taoist priest to become increasingly arrogant.
"Miss Huizi, it's alright if you don't believe me. I'll perform my ritual for you right now!" As Xiao Tian Min Zi was about to retort, Master Ming Xiu pulled her aside, signaling her to be quiet while producing a blood-red jade pendant.
"This jade pendant is an amulet for warding off evil. When I toss it into the air, you will see a mass of black energy. That, Miss Huizi, is the ghost you spoke of!" Master Ming Xiu smiled smugly, his eyes filled with confidence as he looked at the jade pendant, which he had nurtured with his own blood. Words were meaningless to him now. Only by making Miss Huizi witness the necrotic energy would she be convinced. Moreover, it would be a chance to thoroughly humiliate this Hua Xia person!
With a sinister grin, Master Ming Xiu glanced at Er Zhu before tossing the jade pendant into the air. Er Zhu remained indifferent, watching the scene unfold as if it were mere entertainment. The blood jade was quite remarkable; ever since his four bronze coins were shattered, he had been in need of a magical artifact.
Hmm? As everyone's eyes were fixed on the blood jade, they saw no sign of the black energy Master Ming Xiu had described. Xiao Tian Min Zi's face was filled with anger and embarrassment, while Master Ming Xiu looked utterly shocked. How could this be? He had clearly sensed an eerie and terrifying atmosphere here; how could there be no necrotic energy? Master Ming Xiu's face flushed a deep red. He opened his mouth several times to explain, but for a moment, he was speechless.
"The foremost pháp sư of Wō country? I'd say he's all talk and no substance..." Seeing the empty air above, Xiao Tian Huizi snorted contemptuously, glancing at Master Ming Xiu with disdain.
"Master Ming Xiu, what is going on? You must give me an explanation today!" Xiao Tian Min Zi was mortified. She glared angrily at Master Ming Xiu, utterly disappointed. She had intended to bring honor to their Wō country, but instead, this Master Ming Xiu had failed at a crucial moment!
"That black energy is on the second floor!" Master Ming Xiu's face turned even redder. His eyes darted around, and as if struck by inspiration, he shouted and bolted towards the second floor. Xiao Tian Min Zi grabbed Xiao Tian Huizi and followed him upstairs. Just then, Lin Yi arrived with his officers.
"What kind of charlatan is this? Arrest him! The rest of you, follow me upstairs!" Seeing Master Ming Xiu's white robe, Lin Yi didn't bother asking questions and ordered him arrested. Before Master Ming Xiu could react, he was cuffed. Xiao Tian Min Zi instinctively wanted to plead on his behalf, but recalling the embarrassing scene just moments before, she dared not utter a word. After all, she didn't want to be further humiliated.
"Report, Captain. The sleeping pills were mixed with hallucinogenic substances!" In less than fifteen minutes, an officer stood before Lin Yi with Xiao Tian Huizi's sleeping pills and the test results. Hearing this, Xiao Tian Min Zi shot Master Ming Xiu a furious glare. This swindler had completely disgraced her! Master Ming Xiu's angry eyes revealed his shock. He looked at Er Zhu in disbelief. He had thought this Hua Xia person was spouting nonsense, but it turned out he was telling the truth! He, the foremost pháp sư of Wō country, had been defeated by an ordinary person from Hua Xia! This was simply… astonishing!
"Heavens, how could this be? These pills were prescribed by the doctor I trust the most!" On the side, Xiao Tian Huizi was utterly stunned. She never imagined such a thing could happen to her!