Wang Hua was utterly bewildered.
He hadn’t even blinked, yet suddenly found himself in a different place. The two middle-aged men before him had vanished, replaced by a young woman.
Qi Quan reclined on the sofa, legs crossed, a book resting on her knees. Her voice was soft as she asked, "What’s your name? Why were you following that man?"
"My name’s Wang Hua. I was following him because—" He abruptly stopped, realization dawning as he eyed Qi Quan suspiciously. "Wait, who are you? Why are you asking me this… No, hold on—you can see me?!"
His shriek was loud enough to rival a system alert.
Of course, no one but Qi Quan could hear it.
Qi Quan lowered her gaze to the book in her hands, giving him time to collect himself.
Having been a ghost for years and trailing Huang Qifeng, Wang Hua had seen his fair share of the world. He quickly grasped the situation and, ever the pragmatist, blurted, "I’ve never hurt anyone! Don’t exorcise me! I’m not ready to move on yet!"
He assumed Qi Quan was some kind of exorcist here to send him to the afterlife.
"Choosing to linger as a ghost means you have unfinished business," Qi Quan said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "What is it?"
Seeing she had no intention of attacking him—and having spent over a decade in lonely solitude with no ghostly companions to talk to—Wang Hua didn’t hesitate to spill his grievances like beans from a sack:
"I couldn’t bear to leave my sister! When I died, she was the only one I worried about. On my deathbed, I made that scumbag Huang Qifeng swear to take care of her for the rest of his life. But who’d have thought? Once he made it big, he forgot all about his promises! If it weren’t for my sister managing the household and raising his kids, would he even be where he is today? That bastard!"
As he raged, faint golden light flickered around him.
A ghost with karmic merit—no wonder Huang Qifeng could wear those blessed prayer beads on his wrist without Wang Hua being repelled.
While Wang Hua ranted endlessly about Huang Qifeng’s misdeeds, Qi Quan abruptly cut in, "How long have you been following him?"
Wang Hua paused. "...Over a decade, I think. I’ve lost track."
"Do you know the beads on his wrist are blessed?"
"Of course I do," Wang Hua said smugly. "I know pretty much everything about him. But…"
"Hm?"
He grinned sheepishly. "I haven’t tasted real food in years."
Ghosts could consume offerings, but those were usually limited to fruits and raw meat. Plus, his hometown didn’t even have a tradition of offerings—his sister only burned paper money during Qingming and the winter solstice. He’d been craving a proper meal for over a decade.
Now that he finally had someone to talk to, was it too much to ask for a little compensation?
Qi Quan’s lips curled lazily. "Ghosts aren’t meant to linger in the mortal world. Reincarnation would be better for you."
"No!" Wang Hua panicked. "Fine, I’ll talk!"
His storytelling was disjointed, often veering off-topic, but Qi Quan patiently sifted through his ramblings for the key details.
He was Huang Qifeng’s brother-in-law, having died after being crushed by a falling street sign while saving someone. On his deathbed, he’d begged Huang Qifeng to care for his sister, who had raised him.
After death, he’d been trapped near the street sign until one day, he spotted Huang Qifeng again—now dressed in a sleek suit, hair slicked back, sitting in a luxury car with a young, beautiful woman in his arms.
Furious, Wang Hua had charged into the car, demanding answers, but no one could hear him. Refusing to give up, he’d haunted Huang Qifeng ever since, witnessing every vile act the man committed.
"You mentioned he occasionally meets with someone?" Qi Quan asked.
Wang Hua nodded vehemently. "But I never dared get close. That person… they scared me. I couldn’t show myself."
Qi Quan understood.
Ghosts instinctively feared those with spiritual power. The only reason Wang Hua wasn’t afraid of her was because she suppressed her aura as an exorcist.
"What’s your wish?"
"To ruin him! Expose all his crimes! Make sure my sister and her kids live happily!"
Qi Quan gave a slight nod. "Stay with me for now."
Knowing she wasn’t someone to trifle with, Wang Hua obediently agreed.
Downstairs, Qi Changrong and Huang Qifeng’s discussion was winding down.
Qi Changrong had always been interested in that piece of land, and with Huang Qifeng’s help, the deal was even more tempting. Still, he remained cautious.
"Thank you for your generosity, President Huang. But at my age, my eyes aren’t what they used to be. I’ll need time to review the documents. How about I give you an answer tomorrow? A deal worth billions deserves careful consideration."
"Of course," Huang Qifeng said smoothly, rising without a hint of displeasure. "I’ll await your call."
Meanwhile, Gu Qiao had arranged to meet Daoist Master Xuanfeng.
She spoke vaguely, "Lately, my son seems… different. Could you take a look at him?"
If seeing her son directly could dispel whatever influence was at work, then there’d be no need to involve that Qin Ruo!
Xuanfeng’s fingers danced in calculation. "Your son is underage, yet his ‘Red Phoenix Star’ is already active. Troubling indeed."
Gu Qiao: !!!
He was spot on!
Instantly convinced, she pleaded, "Please, Master, guide us."
"Turmoil in one’s descendants often stems from imbalances in the household’s feng shui."
Taking the hint, Gu Qiao invited, "Perhaps you could inspect our home first?"
By the time she returned, Qi Lin had also brought Qi Yuan back.
Their meeting sent ripples through the calm.
Qi Lin, a staunch materialist, frowned at the sight of Xuanfeng.
Qi Yuan outright gaped. "Mom, since when do you believe in this stuff?!"
Xuanfeng stood serenely, the picture of an immortal sage.
"I’ve been feeling unsettled lately. The Master is here to offer spiritual guidance," Gu Qiao said, though her voice wavered slightly.
The four entered the living room.
Qi Changrong and Huang Qifeng were gone, and the house staff had retreated to their quarters.
The space was pristine and silent.
Xuanfeng’s eyes narrowed, masking a sharp gleam as he surveyed the room. Under Gu Qiao’s expectant gaze, he declared, "Stagnant water gathers yin energy. The fountain at the entrance should be removed. The vase by the staircase obstructs flow and attracts negative energy—"
"What a load of nonsense!" Qi Yuan scoffed. "You’re spouting the same garbage I can find online!"
Xuanfeng remained unruffled, his smile unwavering.
"Qi Yuan!" Gu Qiao hissed.
With a chuckle, Xuanfeng met the boy’s disdainful gaze and said leisurely, "Young friend, the ‘Peach Blossom Misfortune’ upon you runs deep."
He’d handled countless cases for wealthy matrons.
Most involved either cheating husbands or rebellious children—the latter often tied to romantic entanglements.
At first glance, Gu Qiao’s well-maintained appearance ruled out marital strife. Her concern over her son’s behavior suggested typical teenage rebellion—except parents usually didn’t resort to mysticism for that. The fact that she had implied something more serious, likely romance-related.
Rich mothers disapproving of their sons’ love interests? He’d seen it all.
And once again, he’d guessed right.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Qi Yuan shouted, jumping in fury. "You're the one cursed with some ridiculous... peach blossom hex!"
Qi Lin also showed clear disapproval.
"Your current lover is not your destined match," Xuanfeng said calmly. "She has deceived you."
Qi Yuan felt his lungs might explode from rage. So, this was all a scheme—his mother had colluded with this fake Taoist to stage a drama and tear them apart!
Overcome with anger and sorrow, his expression turned pitiful as he pleaded, "Mom, she’s really a good girl. Please don’t break us up, okay?"
Upstairs, Qi Quan had been enjoying the spectacle like a juicy piece of gossip. Seeing the situation veer toward a melodramatic tragedy, he waved at Wang Hua, who had been sneaking glances at the commotion.
Wang Hua instantly reappeared in the first-floor living room, face-to-face with Xuanfeng.
Assuming the Taoist couldn’t see him, he curiously tugged at the man’s long beard and chuckled. "So, it’s all fake."
Only after speaking did he realize something was off.
Wait... Had the Taoist just locked eyes with him?
"AAAAAHHHHH!" Xuanfeng’s eyes bulged before he leaped up and sprinted away, shrieking in terror. "A GHOST!!!"
The Qi family trio: "..."
Wang Hua: What the hell just happened???
