【Binbin's Mom: Hello, are you really that kind of master? I'd like to consult you about a problem, is that okay?】
【Binbin's Mom: I have a son, he's fifteen this year. He was always very normal before, but lately he's been acting a bit strange. One weekend I forgot a document when I went to work and went back home to get it. I found him actually wearing a dress!】
【Binbin's Mom: When I asked him about it, he said it was for a cross-dressing role in the school's Mid-Autumn Festival party. I specifically asked his homeroom teacher, and there was no such thing. Later, I found out he started growing his hair long, got his ears pierced, and even started learning how to put on makeup!】
【Binbin's Mom: He's becoming more and more strange. I really don't know what to do. Master, please help me take a look. Is he possessed by an evil spirit?】
The person seeking help sent a long string of messages, the core point being that her son was possessed.
The system said: 【It might not necessarily be possession. Maybe he's just a cross-dressing streamer.】
It had been spending a lot of time online and knew a lot.
Qi Quan: …
The system: 【It could also be heavy teenage curiosity, imagining himself as a girl.】
Qi Quan took a screenshot and sent it to Li Guoyan.
For this kind of case, the Investigation Department could just send someone.
Li Guoyan quickly replied: 【The account's IP has been confirmed, it's in Longjing City. The family situation is also understood. A family of four: a couple, their fifteen-year-old son, and the child's grandfather. Nothing abnormal seems apparent. Di Meng has already taken people over.】
Qi Quan: 【Okay.】
Originally, as far as she was concerned, the matter ended here. Unexpectedly, not long after, Li Guoyan called:
"Master, there really is a ghost inside that boy, but we have no way to force it out."
Qi Quan: "High level?"
"The instrument detected that the ghost energy isn't very dense, probably just a minor ghost. But the strange thing is, we can't use talismans to force it out of the boy's body."
Qi Quan: "Did it put up a fierce resistance?"
"No. The talismans had no effect when struck against the boy. Di Meng and the others exhausted all kinds of techniques, but still couldn't force it out. Other methods would harm the boy, so they can't be used."
Furthermore, according to Di Meng's description, the ghost inside the boy was even looking at them with a mocking expression.
It infuriated the investigators, leaving them frustrated and aggrieved.
Since the establishment of the Investigation Department, the investigators had handled many cases of ordinary people encountering ghosts, but this was the first time they encountered such a bizarre case. It was truly baffling.
Qi Quan said, "If it's not urgent, I can go take a look tomorrow morning."
It was too late now, she didn't want to go out.
That ghost had been inside the boy for quite some time, yet the mother's tone was still relatively calm. The situation probably wasn't too severe.
Li Guoyan: "Alright, I'll have Di Meng pick you up tomorrow."
Early the next morning, as soon as Qi Quan went downstairs, she saw Di Meng waiting in the living room. Shen Hui was chatting with him, and Ling Sheng was making breakfast in the kitchen.
Her breakfast, as usual, had impurities removed.
Di Meng hadn't eaten breakfast yet. He wolfed down two big bowls and praised, "Senior, no wonder you brought this assistant on your business trip. His skills are truly excellent."
Shen Hui: "..."
You probably haven't smelled the dishes this "assistant" specially makes for the master. Those are what's truly amazing.
Qi Quan smiled without comment.
After eating, the three got into Di Meng's car.
Shen Hui sat in the passenger seat, Qi Quan and Ling Sheng sat side by side in the back.
Di Meng was driving the Investigation Department's car. The interior space was relatively small. Sitting two people in the back wasn't cramped, but it certainly wasn't spacious either.
With a sudden sharp turn, Ling Sheng, following the inertia, leaned and bumped against Qi Quan's shoulder.
Qi Quan: ?
...
Logically, with spiritual energy balancing the body, that shouldn't happen.
Di Meng was a cool guy, and he drove coolly too, going for whatever was most thrilling.
Actually, with Qi Quan in the car, he had already restrained himself a lot.
Another turn ahead on the road. Di Meng tried to slow down as much as possible, but still turned quite sharply. However, this time the inertia was in the opposite direction. Qi Quan remained motionless.
Ling Sheng lowered his head, fiddling with his phone.
He had it on silent. The navigation software opened without making a sound. Qi Quan didn't know what he was doing and didn't pay attention.
Ling Sheng searched for the route to the destination.
There were five more right turns along the way.
He couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth, memorized the specific route, exited the app, and put down his phone.
Thus—
For the rest of the journey, Qi Quan was "bumped into" five times in a row.
Saying "bumped" is an overstatement; it was really just slight touches, brushing against her and quickly pulling back. Qi Quan couldn't even tell if it was intentional or not.
They arrived at the residential area somewhat bewildered.
The residential area was located in the suburbs of Longjing City, relatively old.
The head of this household's surname was Fang, the wife's surname was Ruan, the son was named Fang Bin, and there was also the child's grandfather. Following Di Meng and the others' instructions from the night before, they had been waiting at home.
It should have been a warm family of four, but the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Fang Bin sat alone in the center of the sofa, a strange, mocking smile on his face. Mr. Fang turned his head away, not daring to look. Ms. Ruan's eyes were filled with tears. As for the child's grandfather, he was kneeling before a Buddha statue in the living room, murmuring prayers.
They had noticed something was off with the child before, but just thought it was teenage rebellion causing a drastic change in temperament, not thinking too deeply about it.
But after Ms. Ruan saw him wearing a dress, she truly sensed something was wrong.
They weren't without seeking other masters, but none had been able to help.
Ms. Ruan usually paid more attention to the internet. Knowing about the "White Water Real Person" account, she tried asking.
Then the Investigation Department came to their door.
Knowing they were official personnel, their hearts settled somewhat. But unfortunately, the officials couldn't expel the ghost either.
"I wonder if the one coming today will be able to do it," Mr. Fang shook his head and sighed.
Ms. Ruan sobbed, "They said it's an expert. It should be possible."
"Heh." Fang Bin sneered.
He seemed fearless, not worried about being forced out of the body.
After all, they had sought many masters, and he knew those so-called masters couldn't restrain him.
Ms. Ruan's tears immediately streamed down.
"I beg you, please leave my son's body, okay? Whatever you want, I can satisfy you. I'm begging you."
Fang Bin stared at her silently, a trace of reluctance flashing through his sinister eyes, but it was quickly followed by resentment.
He pursed his lips tightly, not uttering a word.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
All four of them froze.
Mr. Fang quickly snapped back to reality and hurried to open the door. Ms. Ruan looked towards the entrance with anticipation. The old man stopped praying, stood up, and looked at Fang Bin.
Fang Bin happened to look up at him too, revealing a sinister smile.
A flicker of fear passed through the old man's eyes.
Qi Quan entered the house.
The apartment wasn't big, the living room seemed crowded, but it was relatively clean and tidy.
She stepped out of the entryway, her gaze meeting the boy on the sofa.
Fang Bin immediately felt a sense of crisis. He still sat up straight, but his hands subconsciously clenched.
"Um, Comrade Di, didn't the expert come?" Mr. Fang took a glance and saw they were all young people, so he couldn't help but ask hesitantly.
Di Meng glanced at him: "She's here. She's looking at your son right now."
Mr. Fang: "..."
...
Why does it feel a bit unreliable?
But he didn't dare say anything, just instructed Ms. Ruan to serve tea to the guests.
Ms. Ruan then went to the kitchen to pour water.
Qi Quan stood opposite Fang Bin. Ling Sheng brought over a chair, cleaned it with a dust-clearing talisman, and placed it behind her.
She sat down accordingly.
Suppressing his fear, Fang Bin looked at Qi Quan and Ling Sheng with great interest and said, "He treats you very well, better than my dad treats my mom."
Everyone: "..."
Mr. Fang, flushed with shame and anger, retorted, "You are not my son!"
"Shall we go get a paternity test then?" Fang Bin shrugged.
Mr. Fang was left speechless, his hands trembling with rage.
Shen Hui asked, "Well, although we already asked this last night, we have to ask again now. What will it take for you to leave Fang Bin's body?"
"Why ask? You can't drive me out anyway. This is my home, and I want to stay right here," Fang Bin said, then turned to ask Ms. Ruan, "Mom, don't you like me?"
Ms. Ruan: "..."
She was so startled she almost dropped the tea tray.
Fang Bin suddenly stood up, walked over to her, and said, "Mom, let me help you. Dad and Grandpa are both terrible, always ordering you to do this and that. Grandpa, well, he's old and almost bedridden, but what about Dad? Still young, yet already a cripple. Tsk."
Mr. Fang felt as if his face had been slapped repeatedly, turning as red as a boiled lobster.
Ms. Ruan looked at Fang Bin with tear-filled eyes, her eyelids red, her gaze a mix of gratitude and helplessness.
In this household, she held the least authority.
Yet this strange ghost was speaking up for her.
Shen Hui watched the highly expressive expressions on Mr. Fang and the old man's faces, desperately holding back laughter until his own face turned red.
Di Meng wasn't as restrained; he laughed outright and teased, "Since you care so much about your mom, then stop scaring her. Come out, become the head of this household, and make sure no one else can bully her."
"You think I'm stupid?" Fang Bin placed the tea tray on the coffee table and rolled his eyes. "Trying to trick me into coming out so you can kill me? Since you can't do anything to me, have some tea to cool your temper."
Di Meng: "..."
The system burst out laughing: 【Hahahaha, this ghost is quite interesting, Boss. It hasn't harmed anyone, right?】
Qi Quan: 【No, at most a Level Two White Ghost.】
【But Di Meng is Level Five. Why can't he handle it?】
Qi Quan suddenly turned to Ms. Ruan and asked, "You once had a daughter. What was her name?"
Both Ms. Ruan and Mr. Fang were taken aback. The old man lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tugging at the hem of his clothes.
Di Meng and the others weren't surprised.
Judging by Ms. Ruan and Mr. Fang's physiognomy, they indeed once had a daughter, but she met with an accident.
"You even investigate such private matters when you come to perform rituals?" Mr. Fang clearly expressed displeasure.
Di Meng scoffed, "Investigate? It's something you can tell at a glance. What's there to investigate? Are you insulting my professionalism?"
"What kind of attitude is that?" Mr. Fang's face flushed with anger. "Is this how you official people handle cases? Can't exorcise ghosts, but love to gossip about people's privacy!"
"Shut up!" Fang Bin jumped up, pointed at Mr. Fang, and cursed directly, "Why the hell do you have so much nonsense! She's asking about my mom, what crap are you spouting!"
Mr. Fang: "..."
Ms. Ruan: "..."
Although... but, it felt satisfying.
She gave Fang Bin a gentle glance, nodded, and replied, "Yes, I did have a daughter. She was Binbin's older sister. But she went missing when she was three. I searched for a long time but never found her."
As she spoke, tears began to roll down her cheeks.
That was her first child. Even after more than ten years, she could never forget the grief from back then.
The fierce expression on Fang Bin's face softened slightly.
Awkwardly, he pulled out a tissue and handed it to Ms. Ruan, saying, "You look ugly when you cry. Stop crying."
Ms. Ruan took the tissue and cried even harder.
Fang Bin: "..."
He turned around, no longer looking at her.
After waiting for her emotions to settle somewhat, Qi Quan asked again, "What was her name?"
"Her formal name was Fang Lan. Her nickname was Cancan (meaning 'bright' or 'brilliant'), because she loved to smile from the moment she was born. Every smile was as bright as sunshine, so we called her Cancan."
Recalling the past, Ms. Ruan's eyes reddened again.
Fang Bin sat back on the sofa, head bowed low, his expression unreadable.
Qi Quan said, "Do you still remember her exact date and time of birth?"
"I remember!" Ms. Ruan nodded emphatically. "I remember very clearly!"
Without hesitation, she reported the date and precise time of birth.
Those in the mystical arts community who hear such details typically instinctively calculate the Eight Characters/Birth Chart.
After mentally calculating, Di Meng and Shen Hui suddenly felt surprised and exchanged a look.
This was a destiny pattern of Pure Yang Eight Characters!
According to their knowledge, people with Pure Yang Eight Characters aren't much different from ordinary folks while alive, but it's different after death.
Generally, ghosts cannot linger in the mortal world for too long after death, and White Ghosts below Level Three cannot manifest physically, but there are exceptions.
Like Su Rong, who died near a grave mound, or Wang Hua and Qi Zheng, who carried merit. They could linger in the mortal world for longer.
Another exception is those whose own destiny pattern is Yang-aligned.
People with such a destiny pattern, if they wish after death, can linger in the mortal world for a very long time, even manifesting visibly before people.
But such destiny patterns are rare; this was the first time Di Meng and the others had encountered one.
They couldn't help but look at Fang Bin.
The Master never spoke idly. Did specifically mentioning Fang Lan mean that...
Qi Quan said to Ms. Ruan, "Call out 'Cancan'."
Ms. Ruan hesitated.
"Why do you keep picking at old wounds?!" Mr. Fang suddenly roared. "We were already in pain when she disappeared, why bring her up again?!"
Fang Bin yanked off a slipper and threw it at his face, his gaze fierce as he said, "Didn't I tell you to shut up?!"
"Thwack—"
The slipper accurately landed on Mr. Fang's face, and the noise ceased.
The old man, who had remained silent until now, immediately pulled his son aside, glaring gloomily at Fang Bin. "He is your father!"
Fang Bin sneered contemptuously, "He's not worth a damn."
Mr. Fang: "..."
His dignity and face were utterly lost!
Once the ghost inside Binbin's body was captured, he would definitely take revenge!
Qi Quan continued to look at Ms. Ruan.
Ms. Ruan took a deep breath, looked around blankly, and called out in a trembling voice, "Cancan, Cancan, Cancan..."
Fang Bin abruptly turned his back, wiping at the corner of his eye.
Di Meng and Shen Hui understood in their hearts.
So that's how it is!
Qi Quan's voice was low and gentle: "Ms. Ruan, do you truly miss her very much?"
"I do! How could I not? She was my daughter. She was truly adorable, like a little sun. No matter how hard my work was, coming home to see her smile at me filled me with energy. I often thought, when she grew a little older, I'd send her to kindergarten, wearing a beautiful little dress, carrying a beautiful little backpack, spending her childhood happily, and then..."
At this point, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Mr. Fang frowned, his fists clenched tightly.
He said impatiently, "It's been so many years. What's the use of saying all this now? Comrades, if you can't exorcise the ghost, please leave."
Ms. Ruan suddenly erupted, shouting loudly, "I will say it, I will say it! What right do you..."
Why won't you tell me! Every time I bring it up, you say you're afraid of upsetting Binbin's mood! Binbin is my son, don't you think I care for him? Why can't he know he has an older sister? What right do you have to burn all of Cancan's photos! Give me back the photos! Give them back!"
The power that burst forth from the usually gentle woman was astonishing.
She forcefully pushed Mr. Fang over, then turned towards Old Mr. Fang.
"For so many years, I've kept some words bottled up inside. Your son and I were busy with work; Cancan was always in your care. I know you never liked having a granddaughter. I've heard more than once from the neighbors that you'd stare at other people's grandsons. Ever since Cancan went missing, you bought that Buddha statue and prayed every day, saying it was to bless Cancan, but I think you were just feeling guilty! Was it you who hurt Cancan? Was it!"
"Have you gone mad!" Mr. Fang shouted in shock and anger, getting up and raising his hand to strike.
But his wrist was caught firmly by a hand.
"Hitting your wife right in front of us, are you even a man?" Di Meng's expression was dark and cold.
His aura was formidable; Mr. Fang, blustering but cowardly, instantly backed down.
Di Meng released his hand and said to Ms. Ruan, "You've actually had your suspicions for a while now, haven't you?"
Ms. Ruan paused.
"Mom." Fang Bin suddenly spoke up, asking tearfully, "Did you really miss me?"
Ms. Ruan stared at him blankly.
The Fang father and son abruptly widened their eyes, looking at Fang Bin in horror.
Or rather... at Fang Lan.
Fang Lan turned around, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Actually, I've been back for a long time."
Ms. Ruan asked instinctively, "A long time?"
"Yes," Fang Lan said. "I found my way back when my brother was five years old."
Ms. Ruan realized something, her face suddenly turning pale. Her lips trembling, she asked, "Cancan? You're Cancan? You really are Cancan! Then you are already..."
The words "dead" simply couldn't be spoken.
All these years, her greatest heartache had been her missing daughter.
She prayed in her heart every day that her daughter was still alive, living well somewhere.
But, Cancan's current state... did it mean she had died long ago?
Tears blurred her vision; she couldn't see Fang Bin's face clearly, yet she could strangely sense the soul within Fang Bin's body.
Having been dead for so many years, Fang Lan had long accepted the fact of her death.
She comforted, "After I came back, my brother was already in kindergarten. No one could see me, so I just followed my brother to school every day. I learned a lot of knowledge at school, Mom. All those things you hoped for, I achieved them. I secretly did my brother's test papers; I often got perfect scores! Mom, aren't I amazing?"
Ms. Ruan burst into loud sobs, wrapping her arms around her in a hug filled with heartache and grief.
Mr. Fang, coming back to his senses, softened his expression and said, "Cancan, why didn't you say so earlier? If you had told your mother and me, we wouldn't have been so worried. Also, by occupying your brother's body like this, aren't you hurting Binbin? How about this, you come out, and our family can live together."
Fang Lan looked at him with a cold laugh and said, "Live together? So your dear father can harm me again?"
Ms. Ruan's body went rigid.
A few seconds later, she raised her head very slowly, staring at Old Mr. Fang, and said in an eerie tone, "You harmed Cancan? It really was you!"
Over the years, she hadn't been without suspicion, but there was simply no evidence.
Old Mr. Fang flatly denied it: "Don't listen to her nonsense! Some stray ghost from who knows where, possessing my grandson's body, trying to drive a wedge between our family!"
"That's right, honey, how can you trust outsiders over me and Dad? Back when Cancan went missing, Dad... blamed himself so much he fainted and was hospitalized. How can you suspect Dad?" Mr. Fang urged anxiously.
After so many years of marriage, how could Ms. Ruan not understand him?
His eyes held guilt!
Her mind went blank. She stared dumbly at this husband she had shared a bed with for over a decade, her heart settling into a strange calm born of extreme disappointment.
Expressionlessly, she turned her head to Fang Lan and said, "Cancan, what exactly happened to you back then? Tell Mom. No matter what, Mom will help you get justice."
Fang Lan smiled. "With your words, I am satisfied."
She closed her eyes, then suddenly drifted out of Fang Bin's body, manifesting visibly before everyone.
She wasn't worried about being captured by Qi Quan and the others.
From Qi Quan's attitude, it was clear the investigators were willing to give her a chance to tell her story.
She maintained the appearance she had at the time of her death.
The little girl was only three years old, fair and adorable, with her hair in princess braids. She wore a pink dress that reached her knees, white stockings covering her calves, and little red leather shoes on her feet—the kind that showed the top of the foot, with a thin strap across the ankle fastened at the ankle bone.
A very typical style from over a decade ago.
Ms. Ruan covered her mouth, biting her lip hard.
She had done those princess braids herself, picked out that dress herself, put on those shoes and socks herself.
She remembered it all clearly.
Looking at the girl's ghostly pale face, she felt as if a sharp awl had pierced her heart, the pain so intense she couldn't speak.
Mr. Fang managed to keep his composure, his face showing delight as he said, "Cancan! It really is Cancan!"
But Old Mr. Fang had turned pale, his eyes shifty, not daring to look at Fang Lan at all.
"Mom," Fang Lan spoke again, now in a little girl's voice, "I didn't hurt my brother."
She didn't want to be misunderstood.
Fang Bin now opened his eyes too. Seeing the little girl in front of him, he playfully made a funny face.
He said excitedly, "Mom, this is a game Cancan and I play!"
Ms. Ruan: ?
The Fang father and son: ???
[Master, are kids these days all this... bizarre?] The system was utterly stunned.
Qi Quan: [Just individual differences.]
Facing everyone's speechlessness, Fang Bin continued blithely, "Actually, I've known about Cancan for a long time. One day I forgot to do my homework, and Cancan did it for me after I fell asleep. Cancan is really amazing! Whenever I didn't understand something in class, I'd ask Cancan after, and she could always teach me!"
"Fang Bin!" Mr. Fang was so angry he became incoherent. "Didn't you see how worried your mom, your grandpa, and I were?! You think this is a game? I'm going to beat you to death today!"
Fang Bin ducked behind Di Meng and chuckled, "You weren't worried about me! Mom was the first to notice something was wrong with me. Since I was little, have you ever cared for me?"
"Your grandpa raised you!" Mr. Fang, blocked by Di Meng, didn't dare approach.
Fang Bin stuck out his tongue: "He never cared about me either! When I was little and hungry, he'd just be busy gambling, ignoring me. He'd badmouth Mom to me every day, till my ears were calloused! He just used me as an excuse to get money from Mom!"
Ms. Ruan: "...Binbin, why didn't you tell me before?"
"You always listened to Dad," Fang Bin hit the nail on the head. "Dad just had to coax and persuade you a bit, and that was it. I was young, had no say, and you wouldn't listen anyway."
Ms. Ruan: "..."
Her eyes red, she said, "I'm sorry."
She had failed both her daughter and her son.
"Don't blame Mom..."
"Fang Lan suddenly tugged at her sleeve. 'It's because Mom was too exhausted, she didn't have the energy left to deal with these things.'"
Fang Bin nodded vigorously. "Exactly."
He looked at the Fang father and son, speaking bluntly, "Anyway, you never cared for me my whole life growing up. Mom had to earn money to support the family and do so much housework. One of you gambled, the other neglected the family, and you still didn't appreciate her!"
The Fang father and son: "..."
Ms. Ruan felt a surge of immense courage. She asked, "Cancan, what really happened when you disappeared?"
Fang Lan tilted her little face up and pointed at Old Mr. Fang. "He sold me."
Everyone: !!!
Ms. Ruan had mentally prepared herself, but hearing the words still sent a wave of rage that clouded her mind. She grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Old Mr. Fang, screaming with all her might, "You old beast! How dare you sell my daughter! You ruined Cancan! You deserve to die!"
[Old beast! He should get the death penalty!] The system was so angry it lost its composure.
Mr. Fang blocked the teacup, anger flashing in his eyes. "Have you gone mad!"
"What if I have? It's still better than the beastly ways of you Fang father and son!"
Ms. Ruan had a sudden, clear awakening.
She said coldly, "Let's get a divorce."
Before Mr. Fang could speak, she added, "And you, get ready for prison."
She glared fiercely at Old Mr. Fang.
Di Meng spoke up at the right moment. "All of you, come with us."
Old Mr. Fang wasn't originally worried. The incident happened many years ago; so what if he sold his granddaughter? Was there any proof?
Surely the authorities couldn't just take his granddaughter's word for it, right?
Ms. Ruan asked Fang Lan through tears, "Why didn't you tell Mom when you came back?"
Fang Lan said, "I was very ugly before. I was afraid I'd scare you, Mom. Also, I'm a ghost. I was afraid you wouldn't accept me."
Having been sold by her own family, of course she felt insecure.
Ms. Ruan glared at Fang Bin. "And you didn't say anything either?"
"I had to keep my promise," Fang Bin said with a grin. "I promised Cancan I wouldn't tell anyone."
Ms. Ruan: "..."
She composed herself and asked, "Why did Cancan need to possess your body? Was it some kind of game?"
"Cancan said her time is running out. She wanted to experience being human again, to taste Mom's cooking, to feel Mom's care." The smile faded from Fang Bin's face. "Cancan said it took her a long, long time to find her way home."
Not just Ms. Ruan, even the system nearly shed tears.
[Wuwuwu, Cancan is so tragic!]
Ms. Ruan cried all the way to the Investigation Department.
Both Fang father and son were taken into interrogation rooms.
"Thank you," Fang Lan stood before Qi Quan, lifting her small head earnestly. "I actually wanted to test if Mom could recognize me too, but I knew it was just wishful thinking. That would have been too much to ask of Mom."
Di Meng couldn't help but ask, "Last night, I'm sorry, but I still want to know why our techniques had no effect on you."
"Not just yours, other Taoist masters' techniques were the same," Fang Lan explained. "Mom had sought out Taoist masters before, and none could do anything. Because my brother willingly let me stay inside him. Unless both he and I agree, no one can force me out."
Shen Hui was surprised. "Is that really possible?"
Never mind a foreign spirit "moving in," even a person's own living soul could be drawn out.
Fang Lan said, "It was a method taught to me by an Uncle Ghost. I practiced it for a long time."
"What Uncle Ghost?"
Fang Lan shook her head. "At the place where I died, there was an Uncle Ghost. He knew many things, some quite similar to your Taoist masters' techniques."
Shen Hui: ?
Could it be a very old, powerful ghost?
He... couldn't help but glance at Qi Quan.
Qi Quan said calmly, "It's a type of technique only applicable between blood relatives. After an agreement is formed between the human and the ghost, it creates a rule. This rule can resist third-party laws."
In other words, after the agreement between Fang Lan and Fang Bin, aside from the two of them, no one else could make Fang Lan leave Fang Bin's body.
Shen Hui said shamefully, "I was ignorant."
The more cases he experienced, the more he realized his own shortcomings.
He continued asking, "How did you die? Where is the place you died?"
Pain surfaced in Fang Lan's eyes. "I was killed by someone who drained all my blood. I don't recognize the place where I died."
Everyone felt something was off.
Why would someone drain a little girl's blood?
If she had died from illness during trafficking, or been beaten to death while resisting, they wouldn't have found it so strange.
But draining her blood?
It carried a sense of special ritual.
Di Meng immediately asked, "Do you remember what the person who killed you looked like?"
Fang Lan shook her head.
"Do you remember the general scene of that place?"
Fang Lan thought carefully and said, "It was just rows of single-story houses. There was a tree in front of the houses. I don't remember anything else."
"..."
This kind of scene had no distinctive features and would be very hard to locate. Moreover, over a decade had passed; that place had likely changed dramatically.
[System: Then what do we do? We can't find the murderer who killed Cancan.]
Qi Quan remained silent.
"Captain Di!" A young investigator walked over to report. "The Fang father and son have confessed!"
Neither of them were strong-willed. Once in the interrogation room, under the investigator's questioning, they were frightened into telling the truth.
Back then, Ms. Ruan and Mr. Fang were busy with work and left their granddaughter with Old Mr. Fang to look after.
Old Mr. Fang was a gambler. At that time, his son and daughter-in-law's careers weren't very successful, their salaries weren't high, and even living in the Beijing suburbs, life was quite tight.
He couldn't get money for gambling, but then he heard people talking about "buying and selling children," and a thought began to stir.
He never liked his granddaughter anyway, always wanting his son and daughter-in-law to have another child. But his daughter-in-law felt one daughter was enough and refused to have more, and his son also thought raising another child would be a heavy burden on the family.
Old Mr. Fang wouldn't listen. He didn't want the Fang family line to die out.
If he sold his granddaughter, he could get ten thousand yuan.
That was ten thousand yuan over a decade ago!
This way, he'd have money for gambling and a reason for his son and daughter-in-law to have another child.
Once the idea took root, he couldn't stop it.
He watched his daughter-in-law buy this and that for a mere girl every day, growing more resentful. Finally, on a bright, sunny afternoon, he sold his granddaughter to a human trafficker.
He used a white knee-high sock to gag Fang Lan's mouth.
It was a pair Fang Lan loved to wear.
Though only three years old, the moment she was forced to leave home was forever etched in her memory, not forgotten even after death.
"Bang!" Di Meng had a hot temper. He punched the table, his voice heavy with anger. "What about the other one, surnamed Fang?"
"He didn't know originally, but later he heard his father talk in his sleep and realized his daughter had been sold by him."
"And then? He just let it go?" Shen Hui asked, incredulous.
The young investigator also wore a look of disdain. "His daughter was already gone. He didn't want to send his old father to prison, so he helped cover it up. Out of guilt, he couldn't bear to see his daughter's photos, so he burned them all, claiming it was to stop his wife from living in pain."
"..."
"Scum!"
The system also said: [Scum! Go die!]
Qi Quan asked calmly, "What about leads on the trafficker?"
"He said the trafficker wore a mask and sunglasses, couldn't see his face clearly. He also didn't want to see clearly, afraid of getting involved."
Everyone: "..."
The trail went cold just like that.
"Senior, we could use a blood relative's hair as a guide," Shen Hui suggested.
System: ["That's right! Boss, didn't you use this method to find Butler Su back then?"]
Qi Quan: ["If the remains have turned to ash, it won't work."]
["..."]
Nevertheless, she decided to give it a try.
She took a strand of Ms. Ruan's hair. Spiritual fire ignited the strand, producing a wisp of blue smoke. If the bones still existed, the smoke would point the way. But unfortunately, the smoke simply curled upwards without any movement.
Fang Lan's remains were likely gone.
Everyone felt rather disappointed.
Qi Quan stood up and said, "Let's go back."
"Wait," Fang Lan called out to her, "Will they go to jail?"
Qi Quan nodded. "They will."
Fang Lan revealed a brilliant smile. "That's good."
Now she could spend her remaining time with her mother and brother without any burdens before moving on to reincarnation.
For some reason, the moment she laid eyes on Qi Quan, she felt an inexplicable sense of trust. Later, when Qi Quan asked her mother about her, her fondness for Qi Quan grew even stronger.
Unlike the previous Taoist masters who only knew how to exorcise spirits.
She hadn't found any of her photos or personal belongings left at home and had never heard her mother mention her in front of her brother, so she assumed her mother didn't care about her at all. That's why she had never dared to tell her mother.
If not for Qi Quan, she might have gone to her reincarnation never knowing how much her mother had always loved her.
On the drive back to the villa, Di Meng and Shen Hui were unusually quiet.
Failing to find the culprit filled them with deep remorse.
The System asked: ["Boss, why did the culprit drain Cancan's blood?"]
Qi Quan: ["Either they're a psychopath, or they bought the child specifically for the blood."]
["..."]
Suddenly, her sleeve was tugged.
Qi Quan turned her head. Ling Sheng, sitting beside her, handed her his phone. A sentence was written on the screen.
["Ding Ji is hiding a type of red pill that smells of blood."]
Qi Quan: ...
The System outright exclaimed: ["Oh my god! It can't be what I'm thinking, right?!"]
Qi Quan nodded, saying nothing.
The car drove all the way back to the villa. Before even reaching the gate, they could see several luxury cars parked outside, each with a handsome young man standing beside it.
Shen Hui got out first, blocking the crowd rushing forward. "Who are you? What's the matter?"
One of them, his voice clear and mellow, said, "Senior Qi Quan, I am a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect. By order of our Sect Leader, I have come specially to invite you to serve as an Elder in our sect."
The others, having been preempted, immediately began speaking all at once.
"Senior Qi Quan, by order of the head of the Yan Family, I have come to invite you to serve as an Elder of the Yan Family..."
"Senior Qi Quan, by order of the head of the Fu Family, I have come to..."
"Senior Qi Quan, I..."
Anyone who had donated money to the charity fund had sent someone to recruit her.
They assumed that since Qi Quan had accepted the money, she had tacitly agreed.
But Qi Quan had never made any promise; she had merely posted a Weibo update.
Shen Hui and Di Meng had headaches.
This was poaching right in front of their faces!
Qi Quan got out of the car, her gaze sweeping coolly over the group of handsome sect disciples. Everyone involuntarily fell silent.
...As expected of a master sought after by the big shots, her aura was truly powerful!
They watched Qi Quan with burning eyes, waiting for her answer.
Qi Quan smiled.
"Thank you all for your generous contributions to the charity foundation."
Leaving only these words, she leisurely entered the villa.
The crowd: ?
That's it?
How were they supposed to report back?
As they started to clamor again, Di Meng directly pulled out a pair of handcuffs and shook them. "Causing a disturbance and disrupting social order is illegal."
The crowd: "..."
Inside the villa, Qi Quan released Qin Ruo from the peachwood talisman.
Qin Ruo bowed respectfully. "Senior, what are your instructions?"
Qi Quan asked, "Have you eaten pills that smell of blood?"
"..."
"It seems you have."
Qin Ruo hurriedly said, "I did eat them. Those pills can instantly replenish spiritual power. Ding Ji gave them to me, but I truly knew nothing about them!"
She had taken a few only after being burned by the talismans on Du Jiaming and Yang Su.
"You dared to eat them without knowing what they were?"
Qin Ruo said with a bitter face, "I... I asked once. Ding Ji said the ingredients included rooster blood, so I didn't ask further."
Actually, asking or not asking made little difference.
Not asking clearly allowed her to deceive her own conscience a little.
Qi Quan waved her hand, sending Qin Ruo back into the peachwood talisman.
["Boss, what should we do now?"]
Qi Quan: ["Contact the Investigation Department."]
She sent a message to Li Guoyan, who quickly replied: ["I will send someone to investigate the blood-scented pills. The Investigation Department just received an invitation."]
Qi Quan: ["An invitation from a sect?"]
["Li Guoyan: Master, you see things with piercing clarity. The Guiyuan Sect has invited me to observe their internal competition tomorrow. Would you be interested in attending?"]
This was a banquet at Hongmen—a trap.
Their previous attempts to recruit Qi Quan were merely the "courtesy" part of their "courtesy before force" strategy. Now, seeing that recruitment had failed, they were setting up this trap, testing whether the Investigation Department dared to attend.
Not going would mean losing face; going carried certain risks.
On the surface, the Guiyuan Sect invited the Investigation Department, but their real target was Qi Quan. In their view, the Investigation Department without Qi Quan was no match for the Mystic sects.
They had been looking down from their high perch for too long, so long they'd forgotten that the rules of the world were not set by them.
Qi Quan asked: ["Only the Investigation Department was invited?"]
["Li Guoyan: The top three sects and families have all received invitations."]
Qi Quan: ["We'll go."]
["Li Guoyan: Good. I'll pick you up tomorrow."]
After the call ended, Qi Quan went upstairs and turned on her computer.
The System said excitedly: ["Boss, are you going to write?"]
["Yes."]
["Alright, I won't disturb you then!"]
At ten o'clock at night, readers flooded into the new chapter of "Diary of a Wealthy Family."
[This business trip was quite pleasant.
I successfully apprehended the mastermind behind the resort case.
But regrettably, he does not admit his guilt.
He holds two trump cards.
His professional skills are outstanding. From this perspective, he could be considered a pillar of talent. He doesn't believe the authorities would abandon such an excellent individual.
He is a core member of a top-tier non-governmental organization. This organization has deep roots and formidable strength, to the extent that it doesn't even regard the official authorities with respect.
He believes the organization will rescue him.
And indeed, that is the case.
The organization is already working on his behalf.
Somehow, they found out about me and even sent people to deliver gifts. Priceless jade and a box of gold bars were presented without batting an eye...
Is this perhaps the legendary bribery?
How am I worthy of such extreme measures from them?
At the same time, I couldn't help but sigh with emotion—they are truly wealthy.
I refused the bribes and chased them out of my residence.
Coincidentally, a kind-hearted lady called at that moment to inform me that the charity foundation I had previously asked her about had been established.
In my happiness, I posted a Weibo update to commemorate the occasion.
Who would have thought that right after posting, the foundation would receive massive donations.
Their generosity confused me.
Could it be that kindness and passion still lie buried deep in their hearts?
I apologize for my previous prejudice.
However, when even more people showed up the next day to offer me high positions, I realized I had been too naive.
What gave them such an illusion?
Is donating to charity an alternative form of bribery?
I don't accept it!
Once again, I declined their invitation and returned home in low spirits.
This matter should be over now, right?
I thought, gazing out the window.
Before I could figure it out, a top-tier folk organization suddenly sent an invitation, asking me to participate in their martial arts tournament.
Is this an attempt to intimidate me with force?
Through the clean windowpane, I looked toward the distant sky.
Beneath the firmament, it seemed a dark aura shrouded a mysterious mountain range.
That was in the southwest direction.
End of new chapter.
[If you see me, tell me to go prepare my lessons: Ahhhhh! The author updated! So good! I believe the author will definitely uphold justice and triumph over evil!]
[Serenity leads to far-reaching vision: The southwest...]
[Kind-hearted sir, what is your honorable age?: The southwest...]
[Today is auspicious: What about the southwest? What's in the southwest?]
[Today brings great benefit: Based on the author's writing style, that folk organization is likely in the southwest direction.]
[Auspicious and prosperous: That makes sense!]
The disciples of the Guiyuan Sect who were secretly following the updates were stunned.
Southwest? Dark aura?
Master! Something terrible has happened!
