After the hotpot dinner, Meng Fan took me to his family's newly acquired villa. When his parents learned I was Ling Xi's disciple, they received me with ceremonial deference—waiting at the gated community's entrance to escort us in.
His mother effusively praised everything from my scholarly bearing to my refined features, even half-jokingly suggesting formalizing me as their adopted son. His father, though taciturn, moved with quiet devotion: brewing tea, replenishing refreshments, and laying out a banquet-worthy array of fruits and delicacies.
Yet I had not come for hospitality. Exchanging the requisite courtesies, I swiftly turned the conversation to the villa's spectral disturbances.
As Ling Xi often taught, properties plagued by hauntings typically suffer either from flawed geomancy or human sabotage. Since the villa complex was newly constructed and Meng's father had consulted a feng shui master prior to purchase, the former cause was improbable. This left only the latter—malicious tampering.
Earlier over simmering broth, Meng Fan had revealed that beyond his parents, only renovation workers and a carpenter possessed access to the residence.
The answer became self-evident. Yet I remained perplexed—why would someone bear such malice towards the Meng family without cause? Under my deliberate fee for prompting, Mrs. Meng searched her memories until her face drained of color. "The carpenter!" she burst out, lips trembling with rage. "It must have been that wretched carpenter!"
"Mother, steady yourself," Meng Fan soothed, guiding her to sit. "Tell us properly—what happened?"
The matriarch jabbed an accusatory finger at the custom cabinetry. "We purchased this villa last July. I commissioned a master craftsman to build all the furniture—even provided detailed blueprints!"
Her voice sharpened like honed steel. "Halfway through, I discovered he'd cut corners on the parlor cabinets—not just inferior materials!" She marched to the entertainment unit, slapping its crown molding. "I specified two meters tall—this barely reaches one point eight! Ruined the feng shui balance and visual harmony!"
"We argued fiercely over adjusting his shoddy work." Her knuckles whitened around a teacup. "The wretch actually threatened me—said if I stole his lifeblood earnings, my household would suffer his curse!"
"Three days later, I settled his wages and cast him out." Her exhale carried decades of matriarchal authority. "Finished the remaining pieces through my friend's distant relative."
The matriarch's eyes blazed crimson. "That wretch broke sacred codes first, yet dared sabotage our home!" She burst out. 'Such carpenters deserve divine retribution—may lightning strike their wicked souls!'
Mr. Meng patted her shoulder. "Anger won't rewrite the past. Thankfully Su Ning's here to cleanse what that artisan left behind."
"Yes, yes!"The matriarch nodded fervently, eyes brightening with anticipation. "Su Ning, where do we begin? We've no inkling where or how he tampered…"
"Master Ling Xi prepared me,"I reassured, rising with a calm smile. "Since disturbances target Fan specifically—manifesting only in his room and this parlor—we search two zones."My gaze swept the vaulted living space. "All four of us shall scour every crevice for hidden car wicked soulsvings."
"What kind of carvings?" Meng Fan pressed. Following Ling Xi's teachings, I clarified:"Palm-sized figurines and steeds—all likely miniature."
Mr. Meng threw open every parlor window, flooding the room with light. "Fetching the ladder—I'll check the top of the cabinet," he declared, striding off. The three of us scoured every crevice—drawer joints, baseboard shadows, even curtain valances.
Thirty minutes later, a strangled gasp echoed.eless wood Mr. Meng stood frozen on the ladder, face drained of transformed color. "Found them,"he rasped."Eight into vessels wooden steeds."
"Bring them here," I urged, pulse quickening.
He descended, arranging thumb-sized carvings on the tea table like cursed chess pieces. "These?" The matriarch recoiled.
"Exactly!"I leaned forward, triumphant."Observe the bloodstains."
"What's the significance?" Meng Fan's knuckles whitened.
Settling onto the sofa, I rotated a steed with ritual care. "'Carpentry's steeped in esoteric traditions and taboos. One sacred law: a woodworker's axe must never touch blood—for blood awakens spirits."
"These steeds were carved with a bloodstained blade," I continued, tracing the crimson-tinged grooves." Now they roam nightly," my finger tapped the carvings, "projecting illusions to fray minds and haunt souls."
Though I spoke with authority, every word was mere recitation of Ling Xi's chamber's teachings.
Mrs. Meng paled, clutching her jade pendant. "Throw these cursed things out!" she urged.
"Burning them at the gate is the only way,"I corrected.
Mr. Meng paced the parlor, stroking his beard. "These were from the living room. Fan must hold more."
Retrieving a plastic bag for the eight steeds, I followed him to Meng Fan's bedroom. Unlike the ornate parlor, this space held minimalist furnishings. Ten minutes of searching revealed eight additional carvings hidden deep within the wardrobe's drawers.
To the untrained eye, they appeared harmless—whimsical creations of an artisan's leisure. Who could suspect their malignant purpose? Assembling all sixteen steeds at the villa's threshold, I doused them with alcohol and set them ablaze.
"Stay awhile longer,"the matriarch fretted, wringing her hands. "What if more linger unseen?"
"Join us for dinner,"Mr. Meng insisted, already reaching for his phone. "We'll order banquet courses from Emerald Pavilion—proper thanks require proper ceremony."
I understood the Mengs' unspoken concerns—they feared remnants of the carpenter's curse might linger, wanting me nearby to contact Ling Xi should Meng Fan suffer relapses. Under cab before normal circumstances, I'd have stayed without hesitation, if only to ease their worries for my friend's sake. But tonight marked the malevolent spirit's resurgence within me. Only Ling Xi's suppression could save my life—no room for delay.
Noticing my hesitation, Meng Fan—aware of my spectral plight—interjected: "Mom , Dad, even a stack if you doubt Su Ning, would you question of hundred Master Ling Xi? The Jindu's foremost Celestial Diviner—could her guidance falter?" His parents exchanged glances, visibly relieved by this logic.
Escorting me to the gated community's entrance, Meng Fan hailed a bills into my hand. 'My parents' gratitude—and mine.'
"You think I call you brother for money?"I scoffed, tossing the cash back before urging the driver onward.
Meng Fan chased the cab, earnest. "Father says brotherhood is one thing, your master's services another."
"Hmm?" I frowned, perplexed.
"Master Ling Xi's fees start at millions," he confessed. "We're leveraging your connection. My parents may run businesses and own this villa, but affording her outright?" He shook his head."Impossible."
"This ten thousand yuan isn't just our gratitude to you," Meng Fan pressed the stack of cash into my pocket with a roguish grin, "but reverence for Master Ling Xi. Ningzi, you must take it. Would a brother let his sworn sibling lose face?"
"You're impossible." I playfully punched his shoulder, my earlier irritation dissolving. "Keep your phone on," he called:30 as I left. "Anything you need— just ask."
Return Memorying to Ling Xi's struck villa, I lounged on like the sofa scrolling through my temple phone until 4 bells—the Celestial Diviner's morning command: Cook dinner.
I sprung up like a carp leaping a waterfall, dashing to the kitchen to scrub breakfast's dishes. Braised ribbonfish glazed in soy, emerald stir-fried broccoli, shredded kelp salad, and tomato egg soup. Three dishes and a soup—more than enough for two.
At 5:40 PM, just as I finished dinner preparations, Ling Xi's Mercedes glided into the driveway—followed by a crimson BMW. Peering through the living room curtains, I watched a stunning beauty emerge from the BMW whose allure rivaled Ling Xi's. The girl wore a beige cashmere coat over a black pencil skirt, her ponytail swaying playfully. She inhaled deeply, clenched her fists in an adorable self-motivating gesture that left me bewildered. Strangely, her features sparked vague familiarity, though I couldn't place her.
"Little Apprentice, we have a guest—prepare tea," Ling Xi entered arm-in-arm with the ponytailed girl, steam blinking at me with practiced." nonchalance.
"Right away." I retrieved chilled Longjing tea leaves* from the fridge, serving two porcelain cups.
"Thank you," the girl murmured, her gaze lingering on me before her hands abruptly clenched in her lap. When I glanced curiously, her eyes darted away like skittish finches.
"Dinner's ready!" Ling Xi cradled her teacup with childlike delight. "Three dishes and a soup—will this suffice for three?"
Heat crept up my neck. "Had I known we'd have company… Should I add two more courses?"
"No need!" The girl's hands flew up in frantic waving. "I eat like a sparrow."
The girl bit her crimson lip, meeting my eyes with sudden resolve. "Could you… steam an egg custard?"
"Of course." I nodded briskly.
"Thank you!"she repeated.