Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Xia Sheng recognized the man in the lead. It was Lan Chenghai, the man who had helped her resolve the Feng Family’s troubles the first time she met Shen Shen.

She hadn’t expected the Mystic Studies Association to be this well-funded. They even used Maybachs when they went out.

If she remembered correctly, this man was the president of the Mystic Studies United Association.

In that case, the people beside him were probably members of the association as well.

Lan Chenghai also noticed Xia Sheng. His face lit up, and he immediately walked toward her.

“Little Fellow Daoist, long time no see. Are you here to investigate the serial murders around here too?”

“I just happened to be passing by.” Xia Sheng did not explain much and asked, “Investigating murders is the police’s job. How did it end up in your hands?”

Lan Chenghai sighed and said, “If it were just an ordinary murder case, they naturally wouldn’t need us.

“There have been five consecutive murders in Yanyun District recently. Every victim has been an adult male.

“At first, the police were in charge of investigating, but after more than a month, there was still no progress.

“It wasn’t until the fifth victim appeared, and surveillance footage captured him being lifted into the air by something invisible and having his neck snapped, that it was confirmed to be a supernatural case.

“Previously, I sent disciples from my sect to investigate, but they found nothing.

“Another victim appeared here yesterday. I was worried that if things continued to escalate, there would be more casualties, so I brought people over myself.”

After explaining, Lan Chenghai asked again, “Little Fellow Daoist, since we’ve run into each other here, would it be convenient for you to come with us? I have some questions I’d like to ask you. We can exchange ideas on the way.”

Ever since what happened with the Feng Family, Lan Chenghai had often asked Xia Sheng questions over WeChat.

However, many things could not be explained clearly through text alone. Lan Chenghai had been looking for a chance to speak with Xia Sheng face-to-face, and now that the opportunity had finally come, he naturally did not want to miss it.

However, before Xia Sheng could respond, an old man standing beside Lan Chenghai spoke up. “President Lan, tonight’s mission was entrusted to our association by the police department. I’m afraid it would be inappropriate for you to invite an outsider to participate.

“Or has your Shushan Sect fallen so far that you need to ask a layperson for help?”

Hearing the old man’s words, Lan Chenghai looked rather displeased. “Ding Jingshan, I advise you not to underestimate Little Fellow Daoist just because she’s young. Her cultivation and techniques are above both yours and mine.”

Ding Jingshan was the current sect leader of Xuan Kong Sect.

Now that Spiritual Energy was in decline, the various sects were no longer flourishing as they had in the past, but quite a few had still managed to survive.

The disciples of Xuan Kong Sect were basically people who had once been harmed by evil ghosts. They believed that all ghosts were evil, and that any ghost they encountered should be killed.

Shushan Sect, on the other hand, embraced all paths and advocated equality between humans and ghosts. They believed that ghosts, like humans, could be good or evil, and that problems should be handled on a case-by-case basis with gentler methods.

Because of this issue, the two sects had argued endlessly for a hundred years and had never seen eye to eye.

As the current leaders of their respective sects, Ding Jingshan and Lan Chenghai naturally had many conflicts between them.

If not for the association’s requirements, the two of them would never have come out together to carry out a mission.

After hearing Lan Chenghai’s words, Ding Jingshan let out a derisive laugh. “This little girl is so young. How could she possibly be stronger than you and me?

“Just look at the way she’s dressed. She’s clearly an ordinary student. If you want to fool me, at least find someone more convincing.”

Lan Chenghai frowned.

Xia Sheng swept her gaze over Ding Jingshan and said calmly, “Old sir, you usually cultivate only the path of killing ghosts. Your defenses are far inferior to President Lan’s.
“The Fierce Ghosts tonight won’t be easy to deal with. I advise you not to take part in tonight’s operation. Leave the mission to President Lan, and spare yourself a bloody disaster.”

The Xuan Kong Sect placed great importance on seniority and hierarchy. Ding Jingshan had held the position of sect leader for quite a few years now, and it had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him like this.

After being lectured by Xia Sheng, Ding Jingshan immediately felt the humiliation of being preached at by a junior. Displeased, he said, “Little friend, don’t talk nonsense. My Taoist arts are stronger than Lan Chenghai’s. How could I possibly get hurt? Don’t tell me you’re cursing me.”

Seeing that he did not believe her, Xia Sheng had no desire to say more.

As it happened, the taxi had arrived. She turned to Lan Chenghai and said, “Mr. Lan, I still have something to take care of, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Lan Chenghai had wanted to ask her a few questions, but since she had matters to attend to, he did not keep pestering her.

“All right. Take care, Little Fellow Daoist.”

After Xia Sheng left, Lan Chenghai looked at Ding Jingshan and said, “Sect Leader Ding, this trip is dangerous. You’d be better off listening to the Little Fellow Daoist and waiting in the car for us.”

Ding Jingshan dismissed it. “What, you actually believe that little girl’s casual curse? I’ve been in the Mystic Sect for many years. When have I ever capsized in the gutter?”

Lan Chenghai frowned and was about to try persuading him again, but Ding Jingshan had already called the others and left.

Lan Chenghai sighed and could only follow.

…

When Xia Sheng arrived at Shen Yanchen’s villa, she ran into Shen Ze at the entrance, just as he was coming back from a barbecue meal.

Shen Ze was still carrying a box of skewers. The moment he saw Xia Sheng, he immediately came over with a grin.

“Little Celestial Master, what brings you here? Are you here to see Uncle Nine?”

Xia Sheng shook her head. “Didn’t your Uncle Nine go on a business trip? I came to get something from Shen Shen.”

“Business trip?” Shen Ze frowned.

How come he hadn’t heard about that?

He had clearly seen Uncle Nine coming out of the villa that very afternoon.

Could he have just left tonight?

Before he could figure it out, Xia Sheng had already walked through the door.

Seeing Xia Sheng go in, Shen Ze stopped dwelling on it and turned back into the house.

Xia Sheng knew the villa’s passcode. She opened the door and went straight in, then headed up to the second-floor terrace.

Shen Shen needed to absorb the essence of the sun and moon to grow, so Shen Yanchen had specially placed him on a spacious terrace.

When Xia Sheng arrived, she saw Shen Shen lying listlessly in his flowerpot, his smooth little butt pointed right at her.

Usually, Shen Shen often lay naked on the soil, claiming that only intimate contact could allow him to absorb Mother Earth’s nutrients. But Xia Sheng always felt this little guy might simply be a pervert.

If this little pervert were the size of an adult, the neighbors would probably report him and have him hauled off to the station.

Xia Sheng walked over. “Where do you feel uncomfortable?”

At the sound of Xia Sheng’s voice, Shen Shen climbed up from the soil.

Although he had been pressed against the dirt the whole time, magically, there wasn’t the slightest speck of grime on him.

Meeting Xia Sheng’s eyes, the little guy shyly used a leaf to cover his privates, then feigned weakness and said, “I don’t know what’s wrong either. It just feels like something’s pushing against my stomach, like I want to throw up. I’m nauseous and queasy.”

Xia Sheng examined him, then reached a conclusion. “You simply ate too much and got bloated.”

Shen Shen: “…”

Although the Little Celestial Master was right, why did he feel like she was insulting him?

Xia Sheng asked, “Where are the leaves I asked you to prepare?”

At the mention of that, Shen Shen reluctantly handed Xia Sheng the little leaf he had been using to cover himself.

“Here.”