Chapter 74: The Self-Cultivation of the Villain
Feng Xuexiang stayed there for just one night before someone from the Crisis Bureau arrived the next day to request his presence at the connected tombs.
The leader from the bureau who came to fetch him had a kindly appearance. He was a rare high-level exorcist, chubby and amiable.
He stood two meters away from Feng Xuexiang as he explained the day’s plan.
“We’re planning to open the Li Dynasty tomb today. Just in case, we’re asking a few of you to help keep things under control. If there’s anything serious, our bureau will be on the front lines, but if the things in the tomb are powerful, we’ll need everyone on site to work together…”
A car was parked at the gate, and Feng Zaiyin waited by the car for them.
Not seeing Yu Shi by his uncle’s side, Feng Zaiyin asked, “Isn’t Mr. Zhou accompanying Ninth Uncle?”
Feng Xuexiang replied, “He doesn’t want to come.”
Of course, he wished Yu Shi would accompany him, but Yu Shi had declined.
Yu Shi felt that since his employer was going to work, there was no need for him to follow all day. Feng Xuexiang was perfectly normal now and could take care of himself.
To confirm that Feng Xuexiang’s condition was stable, Yu Shi had even brought out the long-hidden, nearly forgotten data monitoring function.
The data on the display finally started functioning normally. Based on the monitoring over this period, the display had shown some changes.
The most prominent section was the danger value, marked in red. Out of a possible 100 points, his danger value was as high as 88.
The system had mentioned this before, and Yu Shi understood what was happening. However, what puzzled him were the other two values.
[Current Pollution Value: 20/100]
The system explained that this pollution value represented the chaotic magnetic field around Feng Xuexiang and its impact on the surroundings.
The stronger the influence, the wider the range, and the more people affected, the higher this value would rise.
There was also a clarity value.
[Current Clarity Value: 50/100]
With a clarity value of 50, Feng Xuexiang’s perception of the world was half normal, half chaotic.
The lower the value, the more abnormal the world appeared to him, and the less clear-minded he became.
If it dropped to 0, he would be completely cut off from the real world, returning to the state of madness he had experienced before, with all his actions driven purely by instinct.
Yu Shi paid extra attention to the clarity value.
He hadn’t expected Feng Xuexiang’s clarity value to be only half.
Aside from being a bit clingy and occasionally forgetful, Feng Xuexiang seemed perfectly normal.
The “normal” Feng Xuexiang, however, became emotionally low at midnight, lying on the carpet by the bed because Yu Shi refused to stay with him.
Yu Shi sat by the bed, comforting him for a long time, and finally agreed that Feng Xuexiang could lie on the bed. Only then did Feng Xuexiang reluctantly agree not to demand Yu Shi’s company during the day.
Yu Shi wasn’t an exorcist, so there was no point in going to such a place. He thought it was better to avoid the dangerous excitement.
Instead of joining the excitement at the connected tombs in the suburbs, Yu Shi preferred to take this opportunity to explore Chuncheng, a tourist destination, on his own.
There were few tourists at the moment, making it an ideal time for sightseeing.
Why agree to go on a business trip with the employer? It was precisely for this opportunity to travel at the company’s expense.
After Feng Xuexiang was picked up, Yu Shi changed into comfortable clothes and pants, slung on a backpack, donned a sun hat, and headed out with two travel guides in hand.
When the people waiting outside ran up to ask if he needed a car, Yu Shi politely declined and walked out under the sun.
He had already planned his route. The first stop was the nearby city museum, where a special exhibit of strange burial items from various dynasties was on display.
Yu Shi leisurely followed the few other tourists to see the exhibit. With no one disturbing or crowding him, he could take his time reading the detailed descriptions of interesting artifacts without feeling rushed.
After visiting the exhibit, Yu Shi strolled through one of Chuncheng’s famous streets, bought some small souvenirs, took pictures of the beautiful flowers along the roadside, and sampled some local snacks.
In the afternoon, he took a car to Luoyun Lake to see the vast lotus fields and even rode the sightseeing cable car.
As the cable car ascended, he could see the distant mountains and waters, and even catch a glimpse of the serial tombs in the suburbs, surrounded by crowds of people.
The small, earthy yellow squares and the excavated pits, with crowds swarming around like ants.
Feng Xuexiang was probably there at that moment.
…
By the serial tombs in the suburbs, several tents were set up, and personnel from the Crisis Bureau were keeping watch there at night.
The largest tent, closest to the main tomb, was open, with cool air wafting out as if the air conditioning inside was on full blast.
The staff, sweating profusely from the heat, all wanted to move closer to that tent, but as they got nearer, they realized that the air conditioning wasn’t on.
The low temperature was due to Xue Xiu, the Xue family’s spirit demon, sitting inside like a human air conditioner.
Not only was Xue Xiu there, but Feng Xuexiang was as well, along with people from the Ming and Mei families.
“The head of the Xue family was previously infected by demonic energy, wasn’t it because of this Qianchao Tomb? How is his health now?” asked Ming Tang, the spirit demon of the Ming family.
He was a thin, elderly man with a small bell hanging at his waist, exuding an air of immortality and wisdom. He was older than everyone present.
Unlike the other three families whose spirit demons frequently changed, the Ming family’s spirit demons lived long lives due to their focus on cultivating merit.
To accumulate merit, they liked to “meddle in other people’s business” the most, frequently cooperating with the Crisis Bureau to offer help and often exorcising demons through pacification.
“Thank you for your concern. My father’s health is not in serious danger, but he still needs some time to recuperate,” Xue Ruoyao politely replied from behind Xue Xiu.
Jiang Mang was also standing behind her, looking utterly bored. She accidentally caught Feng Zaiyin’s gaze, who quickly looked away.
Feng Zaiyin hadn’t seen her since the time he brought her out of the lake house, and now she had unexpectedly become one of the heirs of the Xue family, which made him take a second glance.
However, seeing her indifferent reaction, Feng Zaiyin quickly averted his gaze and stopped looking at her.
The spirit demon of the Mei family was still a child named Mei Yeyao, who had only recently become a spirit demon.
His powers were still very weak, and he was sent here just to make up the numbers. Everyone was aware of this, and he sat alone in a corner, surrounded by several nannies, creating quite a commotion.
He hadn’t grown up in the Mei family but was an illegitimate child born outside the family.
No one knew why the Mei family’s spirit object had chosen him as its host, but after it did, the Mei family launched a large-scale search and took six months to find him and bring him back.
Having been without proper discipline before, the child was unruly, throwing tantrums when things didn’t go his way, and he had also picked up a foul mouth. No one in the Mei family could control him.
Mei Yeyao didn’t think much of the others in the tent, and he particularly disliked Feng Xuexiang.
Seeing Feng Xuexiang actually walking towards him, Mei Yeyao blustered loudly, “What are you going to do?! Don’t come closer!”
“You, you stop him!” Mei Yeyao shouted, pushing his nannies away.
But those nannies dared not stop Feng Xuexiang. The only Mei family member present who seemed about to speak suddenly went silent, their eyes glazing over.
“I’ll trade something with you, how about that?” Feng Xuexiang said, pulling out a perfectly blooming purple water lily from somewhere and leaning in to say, “Trade it for a plum blossom branch.”
The plum blossom branch produced by the Mei family’s spirit demon was a type of medicinal herb that could soothe emotions and had some benefits for the body.
Once the Mei family’s spirit demons matured, those with significant power could directly control people’s emotions or even awaken the desires of spirit demons.
But Mei Yeyao, still a child, could only manifest a small amount of plum blossom branch.
“I won’t trade with you; I hate you!” Mei Yeyao yelled, clutching his small tablet on which he was watching cartoons.
He remembered having nightmares before, with many butterflies scaring him by landing arrogantly on his plum tree. It had made him afraid to sleep.
For the child who was all bravado but internally scared, Feng Xuexiang didn’t retract the water lily but only asked, “Are you sure you won’t trade?”
“Ding.” Ming Tang, who was standing nearby, suddenly rang the small bell at his waist. “If he doesn’t want to, just leave it. It’s not right to b*lly a child.”
With the sound of the bell, the Mei family member came back to their senses and hurriedly stepped in front of Mei Yeyao.
Feng Xuexiang glanced back at Ming Tang, his eyes showing a hint of malice.
Ming Tang just happened to restrain him, was unaffected by the illusion, and could even break it… It was truly troublesome.
“Just now, it was a flower, but now it’s turned into a pen!” Mei Yeyao exclaimed, staring at Feng Xuexiang’s hand with excitement and pointing at him. “You can do magic!”
Children’s likes and dislikes were that simple. Once Feng Xuexiang admitted he could do magic, Mei Yeyao became friendly with him.
The two of them chattered away, and after some time, Feng Xuexiang successfully obtained a plum blossom branch.
Not long after, someone from the Crisis Bureau came to request the presence of a spirit demon for opening the first layer of the Qianchao Tomb.
Ming Tang, who often worked with the Crisis Bureau, immediately volunteered, “Then I will go.”
Before he could leave, Mei Yeyao suddenly ran over and handed him a small plum blossom branch.
“Take this with you!”
Ming Tang thought the child was thanking him for his earlier help, took the branch, and pinned it to his chest. The fragrant plum blossom made him smile. “Thank you, little friend.”
After he left, people gradually began to leave the tent to check on the situation, and the number of people inside quickly diminished.
Taking advantage of the moment, Mei Yeyao ran over to Feng Xuexiang and whispered, “I helped you send the flower. Don’t forget what you promised me!”
Feng Xuexiang fiddled with the plum blossom branch in his hand. “Of course, I won’t forget. Once we return, I’ll invite you to come play at my place.”
…
Yu Shi had spent a leisurely and fulfilling day. When he returned, Feng Xuexiang had just arrived as well.
Yu Shi saw him with a cheerful expression, seemingly in good spirits. However, Feng Zaiyin, who was behind him, looked serious and hurried off after dropping him off, ignoring everything else.
“You’re back. Look, do you like this plum blossom? It’s for you,” Feng Xuexiang said, offering the plum blossom branch.
Yu Shi was surprised. “At this time of year, where did you get a plum blossom?”
Feng Xuexiang said, “Last time when we were walking on that road, you mentioned that the plum blossoms there were beautiful and suitable for a vase. So I picked a branch for you. Do you like it?”
“I do, it’s very lovely, thank you.” Yu Shi pulled out a string of small gourds from his bag. “I bought these little trinkets while shopping on the street today. If you don’t mind, you can keep them.”
Feng Xuexiang admired the gourds for a while and then said, “Tonight, we’ll have a guest.”
“Who?” Yu Shi was intrigued; it was rare for Feng Xuexiang to mention having a guest, as he usually preferred to keep others away from his domain.
“A rather useful child,” Feng Xuexiang replied.
…
Yu Shi accompanied him to the Mei family’s villa nearby to pick up the child, only to find out that the guest was the Mei family’s spirit demon.
The Mei family wasn’t keen on letting the child run around freely, but they couldn’t stop Feng Xuexiang. They ended up sending two people to accompany Mei Yeyao.
The only Mei family member with Mei Yeyao was his uncle, who was persistently advising him on the way:
“Yeyao, it’s better not to disturb Ninth Master Feng. Let’s go back. You see, Master Ming from the Ming family has mysteriously fallen into a coma in the tomb, and we still don’t know what’s happening. You’re too young to be of much help right now. I’ve already called your grandfather, so let’s return and wait for him…”
Mei Yeyao, irritated by the lecture, kept shouting until his uncle gave up and followed along with a forced smile. Mei Yeyao was eager to play and see magic tricks, rather than being confined to the villa.
Yu Shi, having listened to half of it, asked Feng Xuexiang, “What happened over there today?”
“It’s nothing major,” Feng Xuexiang said. “The spirit demon from the Ming family fell into a coma after entering the tomb and had to be carried out.”
“And the first layer of the Qianchao Tomb was excavated, revealing that the tomb’s owner is Chi Heng from three thousand years ago.”
Chi Heng was a legendary figure, said to be the first exorcist in history to leave behind a name. He established a powerful family and possessed a method of immortality, living for eight hundred years.
Legend had it that his treasures and method of immortality were buried with him.
Over the millennium, countless people had searched for his tomb in vain, so its sudden discovery naturally caused a stir.
The excavation of the first layer of the tomb was temporarily halted, and work would continue in two days.
With the Ming family’s spirit demon still unconscious inside, the Crisis Bureau dared not act rashly and wanted to awaken Ming Tang first.
The Feng family head, having heard about the Chi Heng tomb, also planned to rush over that night.
In the original world line known to Yu Shi, Feng Xuexiang was not yet conscious. The only one who had arrived first was Ming Tang, a spirit demon who had explored the Chi Heng tomb three times without encountering any accidents.
Because the second layer could not be opened, news of Chi Heng’s tomb was leaked. The Feng family head then brought the unconscious Feng Xuexiang and Feng Zaiyin to join other exorcists in the tomb.
As a result, both the Feng family head and Ming Tang died in the tomb, while Feng Xuexiang regained consciousness there.
