Volume One, Chapter 122: Nurtured by the Spirit of the Bell

"I just remembered something," Chi Xingwan said.

"Last year, as a guardian, I accompanied three children on a mission..."

Chi Xingwan slowly explained the basketball club incident from the previous year. The founder, a Mr. Zou, had established the basketball club while suffering from cancer, using dark arts to drain the life force of his students to extend his own life.

At the time, Chi Xingwan had immediately reported the matter to the Spirit Master Association, but to this day, the creator of that cursed artifact has never been found.

As a member of the mystical community, Pang Tao was naturally aware of this case.

"Consultant Chi, do you believe these two incidents were carried out by the same person?"

Chi Xingwan replied, "Although the perpetrator deliberately concealed their trail, subtle similarities can still be detected. If it isn't the same person, then it is at least the same school of thought."

Pang Tao frowned and said, "If that's the case, we must report it immediately. Having an unknown sect operating in the shadows is clearly ill-intentioned."

"Exactly." Chi Xingwan pointed to the Thin Cat. "Can I leave this matter to you? Take him to the High Tower."

"No problem." Pang Tao agreed without hesitation. "Let me take you all back first."

The Thin Cat, squeezed in the backseat, was trembling. "Hey, what are you talking about? Where are you taking me?"

Pang Tao drove without looking back. "Don't worry, we won't do anything to you. We just need you to cooperate with an examination. Once that's done, we'll send you to the Underworld."

The Thin Cat shook his head desperately. "I don't want to go to the Underworld!"

"Then would you rather be reduced to ashes?" Chi Xingwan asked, looking back. "You can choose for yourself."

The Thin Cat said weakly, "Is there a third option?"

"No."

"But the murderer who killed me hasn't been caught yet; I cannot close my eyes in peace."

"We will call the police on your behalf."

"But..." The Thin Cat thought for a long time but could not find a reason to stay. He decided to give up and resigned himself to his fate. "If I go to the Underworld, will Ox-Head and Horse-Face fork me into a vat of boiling oil?"

Chi Xingwan thought about it seriously and replied, "Possibly, but it likely wouldn't be Ox-Head and Horse-Face doing the forking; you aren't at that level."

The Thin Cat became even more terrified.

Xiao Yue suddenly asked, "Do you spirit masters need to understand the affairs of the Underworld?"

Before Chi Xingwan could answer, Pang Tao, in the driver's seat, said, "Not really. We and the Underworld are generally like the Chu and Han rivers; we don't interfere with each other."

After saying this, she realized something. "By the way, Consultant Chi, you seem very familiar with the procedures of the Underworld."

Chi Xingwan thought to herself, how could she not be familiar with them? After all, she had worked for free for two thousand years; she could walk from the Ghost Gate to the eighteenth level of hell with her eyes closed.

"I just looked into it when I was bored," she explained.

Returning to the Xiao residence, Chi Xingwan led Xiao Yue and Wei Shi'an into the study.

She took out the ivory jade pendant again. Having only glanced at it briefly before, she hadn't noticed the details, but looking closely now, she realized how exquisite it truly was.

In the center of the jade pendant was a laughing Buddha carved from ivory, surrounded by Hetian jade. It felt cool to the touch.

"Let's begin."

Chi Xingwan's spiritual energy reached out and touched the pendant, and the three of them were quickly pulled into a vision.

In a quaint courtyard, a man held the jade pendant, pacing back and forth nervously. After what felt like a long time, the sound of a baby crying came from the house.

The man immediately approached. A midwife emerged from the room holding a child, her smile polite. "Congratulations to Master Zhong on the birth of his daughter."

"Good, good, good," the man repeated three times. "Quick, give the midwife her reward."

The midwife, seeing that the man showed no disappointment at having a daughter, allowed her smile to become a bit more genuine. "Thank you, Master Zhong. Would you like to hold the young miss?"

The man immediately put away the jade pendant, wiped his hands on his sides, and carefully took his daughter from the midwife.

The newborn child was wrinkled, but in his eyes, she was the most beautiful baby in the world.

After the midwife left, the man carried the child into the room. His wife had already tidied up and was resting in bed.

"Wen Niang, look, this is our child."

Wen Niang looked tenderly at her husband and child, though she complained, "She’s so wrinkled, a little ugly doll."

The man disagreed. "I asked the midwife; she said all babies are like this when they're born. She'll grow into it in a few days. With a mother as beautiful as you, she’s bound to be a beauty herself."

Wen Niang blushed and lowered her head.

The man took out the jade pendant and carefully placed it around his daughter's neck. Fearing the weight might be too much for her, he supported it with his hand.

"This jade pendant is our family heirloom. From now on, it belongs to our daughter."

Wen Niang said in surprise, "But she’s a girl."

"What does it matter if she's a girl? I said this heirloom would go to our first child. Besides, our daughter can stay with us forever. When she grows up, we’ll find her a husband who will marry into our family."

Wen Niang smiled, pressing her lips together. "Husband, we haven't named her yet."

"Right, look at me, forgetting such an important thing." The man tapped his forehead and said, "Let's call her Zhong Lingyu."

...

Autumn leaves fell as Zhong Lingyu ran around the courtyard, stumbling while chasing a rattan ball.

The man sat in a rocking chair watching, his face full of happiness, though he was interrupted by a few coughs.

Wen Niang brought over a bowl of soup. "Husband, I stewed some snow pear soup. The doctor said it clears heat and moistens the lungs. Eat it quickly."

Zhong Lingyu dropped the rattan ball and ran over, hugging the man's leg. "Daddy, Lingyu wants some sweet soup, too."

The man immediately picked up Zhong Lingyu. "Alright, Daddy will feed you."

Wen Niang held his hand as he reached for the spoon. "Husband, this is your soup. You shouldn't spoil Lingyu so much."

The man just smiled. "It's just a few coughs. It will be fine once the weather isn't so dry. Besides, Lingyu is such a little thing; she'll be full after just a few sips."

Wen Niang helplessly let go of his hand, though a look of worry lingered on her face.

...

Another autumn arrived. Zhong Lingyu was galloping on horseback through the streets. When she reached home, she quickly dismounted and rushed inside.

"Daddy!"

The man on the bed struggled to prop himself up, smiling at Zhong Lingyu. "Lingyu? Why are you home so suddenly? Did something go wrong with the business?"

Zhong Lingyu threw herself beside the bed, tears streaming down her face. "Daddy, you've been so sick and you kept it from me! If Uncle Fang hadn't let it slip, I would have known nothing."

The man brushed her hair. "Daddy is fine, just a minor illness."

Wen Niang entered with medicine. "What minor illness? The doctor said..."

Seeing her daughter had returned, she quickly stopped.

Zhong Lingyu pressed, "Mother, what did the doctor say?"

Both were silent. Zhong Lingyu said anxiously, "I'm not a child anymore. I've been learning to run the business with Uncle Fang; I'm an adult capable of standing on my own two feet. Everyone outside calls me 'Little Boss Zhong.' Are you still going to hide it from me?"

Wen Niang finally said with trembling lips, "Lingyu, the doctor said your father's illness is... beyond medical help."

Zhong Lingyu's head roared, her body trembling so violently she almost fell to the floor.

"Impossible, how can this be? It must be that the doctor isn't skilled enough. Daddy, don't be afraid. We'll go to the capital; the doctors in the capital will surely be able to cure you."

The man shook his head with a bitter smile. "Lingyu, don't waste your efforts. It's been nearly ten years. Your mother and I have sought out every famous doctor, including imperial physicians who retired from the palace, but none of them could cure my illness. Daddy... is leaving soon."

"No, I don't want Daddy to leave me..." Zhong Lingyu knelt on the floor, burying her face in the man's chest and sobbing uncontrollably.