Chapter 037: Powerful Spiritual Energy, Can You Focus on What Matters?

Liu Miaoyu took out the yellow talisman from the pocket of her pajamas.

The talisman had turned a dark brown, and the cinnabar-drawn patterns upon it had all blackened. Indeed, these talismans had been casually drawn by Song Kai, so their potency was limited. However, cinnabar is especially effective against dark spirits and ghostly energy—any spirit that saw it would be afraid.

Now, not only had the entity shown no fear, it had actually corrupted the talisman!

A ghost that wasn’t afraid of his talismans!

Why did it keep following Liu Miaoyu?

A flood of thoughts rushed through Song Kai’s mind in that instant, but he did not panic. He quickly formulated a strategy in his heart.

Song Kai was indeed experienced in dealing with such things. Back in the Yuan Dynasty, times were chaotic, famine and corpses littered the land, and the air was thick with the presence of ghosts.

Nowadays, it was almost impossible for a ghost to form. In this peaceful era, with righteousness prevailing, those things could hardly ever gain power.

It was precisely because he so rarely encountered them that Song Kai was startled by Liu Miaoyu’s situation.

Song Kai’s expression shifted from surprise to a lecherous grin. He chuckled and said, “Maybe it’s expired? By the way, Liu Miaoyu, why are you wearing a bra to bed? Isn’t that uncomfortable?”

“Huh?” Liu Miaoyu was stunned for a moment, then she shouted furiously at Song Kai, “You bastard! I’m really scared right now, and you won’t even help me, but still act like such a creep!”

With that, Liu Miaoyu cut off the video call with a snap.

Lying in bed, the more Liu Miaoyu thought about it, the angrier she became. She truly was frightened. Just now, curled under her covers, the first person she thought of was Song Kai. She had set aside her pride and turned to him for comfort, but that bastard only cared about taking advantage of her!

Hmph!

She wiped her tears, feeling stifled and aggrieved. Besides that one night—when she and Song Kai, through a twist of fate, had shared a reckless evening—there was really nothing special between them. Song Kai had no obligation to help her.

Thinking this, Liu Miaoyu picked up her phone, bit her lip, and quickly sent Song Kai a message: “I’m sorry for earlier. I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you. We’re just ordinary classmates—you have no obligation to help me, and I have no right to lose my temper at you. I’m sorry. Good night.”

After sending the message, Liu Miaoyu suddenly felt a trace of heartache.

Yes, what connection did she really have with Song Kai?

She wiped her tears and clutched her phone, waiting.

Five minutes passed, but Song Kai didn’t reply.

Liu Miaoyu grew even angrier, even sadder.

She felt utterly stifled inside.

Oh!

Her eyes red, Liu Miaoyu closed them. At that moment, she even forgot her fear; her heart was entirely occupied by anger and disappointment.

Gradually, Liu Miaoyu drifted off to sleep.

…

At this time, Song Kai was already slinging his backpack over his shoulder and heading out.

“Going to class this late?” Wu Hongying lounged on the sofa, legs propped high, and asked.

“Going to save someone,” Song Kai replied, then turned to her. “Hongying, do you have a car I can borrow? It’s too late to get a cab.”

Wu Hongying didn’t ask further. She pointed to the coffee table and said, “There’s a police motorcycle—you can use it.”

“Thanks,” Song Kai said, taking the keys and heading out.

Wu Hongying spat out a melon seed shell and snorted, “Saving someone? More like chasing girls. Backpack on, off to a date—ah, those high school days were truly the best.”

She sighed and turned back to the TV.

Song Kai wasn’t very familiar with motorcycles. Though he’d once been a rich kid, he’d always been a timid one—not the sort to smoke or drink. He’d only ever driven luxury cars, and had barely touched motorcycles.

However, Wu Hongying’s motorcycle was steady. Song Kai quickly got the hang of the gears and sped off toward Liu Miaoyu’s house.

Song Kai was truly nervous now.

For a ghost to be able to corrupt his talisman—it was not a simple creature, far more difficult than the soul-devouring worm that had harmed Tang Zhong.

Such a ghost, if it truly wanted to harm Liu Miaoyu, could do so effortlessly—it could drive her mad, or even to suicide, with ease.

The fact that Liu Miaoyu only felt cold and frightened meant the spirit was nearby, but had not yet attacked.

Song Kai hadn’t told her to run because he feared it would provoke the ghost and lead it to kill her outright.

But since it hadn’t harmed her yet, she would be safe for the next hour.

He would arrive unexpectedly, get Liu Miaoyu out, and by then, it would be too late for the ghost to make a move.

Fortunately, he had bought some truly effective exorcism tools at Baiyun Temple. Otherwise, going there in the middle of the night would be suicide.

Up ahead was Liu Miaoyu’s neighborhood.

It was a high-end residential area with excellent security.

As Song Kai approached on the motorcycle, he was wondering what excuse he could use to get in, but the security guard had already saluted him and opened the gate.

“Huh? What’s going on?” Song Kai wondered, then realized it was because he was riding Wu Hongying’s police motorcycle, flashing lights and all.

He called to the guard, “Could you check which villa Liu Miaoyu lives in? The owner should be her father, not her.”

The guard didn’t hesitate, checked his register, and said, “Officer, there’s only one villa here. The owner’s name is Liu Zhishan.”

“Great, that’s the one. Which number?” Song Kai asked.

“B5—second street, fifth villa,” the guard replied.

Song Kai thanked him and rode the police motorcycle straight there.

At the villa gate, Song Kai jumped off the bike and paused, wondering what excuse he could use when he met Liu Miaoyu’s parents to lure her out.

After a minute’s thought, he still hadn’t come up with a good idea.

At that moment, the intercom at the gate suddenly blared with an impatient, gruff voice, “Who the hell is standing at my door? Watching the stars?!”

The voice was deep, husky, and commanding—it startled Song Kai.

“Uh, sir? I need to talk to you, could you open the gate?” Song Kai glanced around, wondering how the man inside could see him.

Soon, an exceptionally burly middle-aged man came out—truly massive.

One look, and Song Kai knew that if it came to a fistfight, he’d be no match for this man. His body was thick with muscle, standing about 1.75 meters tall, not only muscular in his arms, but even his jaw and cheeks were packed with muscle.

A textbook tough guy.

Song Kai suddenly felt even more intimidated.

The man opened the gate, looked Song Kai up and down, then glanced at the motorcycle. “Who are you? You’re not a cop.”

“No, I’m... I’m Liu Miaoyu’s classmate. I came here because—”

Before he could finish, Liu Zhishan grabbed him by the collar with one hand and lifted his 120-pound frame off the ground.

“Boy, you came here to harass my daughter, didn’t you?” Liu Zhishan glared at him.

Song Kai wilted instantly—not only was this man physically imposing, he was also Liu Miaoyu’s father.

He hurriedly said, “Uncle, please, put me down first. I’m here for something important, I swear.”

Liu Zhishan eyed him suspiciously.

Song Kai pointed outside. “Let’s talk over there, away from Miaoyu. She mustn’t hear.”

With one hand, Liu Zhishan hauled him beneath a large tree. “All right, talk. I’ll tell you this: any punk who makes a move on my daughter gets his legs broken. You’d better watch yourself!”

Song Kai took a breath and spoke quickly, “Uncle, please listen. I’m Miaoyu’s classmate. I know a bit of medicine and Taoist arts. Before, Miaoyu told me she’s been having nightmares every night—she’s scared. I thought she’d bumped into something unclean on the road, so I gave her two talismans to carry. But tonight, just twenty minutes ago, she called me on video—her talisman had changed color, and—”

“What? Video calling you this late at night?” Liu Zhishan gripped Song Kai’s throat with one hand. “Boy, you don’t know who I am, do you? Back in my day, I killed more men on the battlefield than you’ve eaten buns. Now, tell me the truth—what exactly is your relationship with my daughter?”

“Damn—” Song Kai choked, struggling to breathe. “Uncle, could you maybe focus on the main issue here…”