Chapter 57: Saving Up to Buy a Policewoman

When Yan Yu woke early the next morning, he found a thin blanket draped over him, still carrying a faint trace of fragrance.

“Xiao Wan?” Yan Yu called out into the room.

“Don’t bother shouting,” Zhao Qingqing floated out from inside the Hello Kitty, smiling. “That girl left early this morning, probably afraid of being scolded at home.”

Yan Yu considered this. Zhou Lide had been in a bad mood lately; if he found out Zhou Xiaowan had driven out late at night, he’d certainly be angry. No wonder she’d hurried home.

“Has Old Cao left again?” Yan Yu asked, puzzled.

Zhao Qingqing nodded. “He left not long after you fell asleep last night—said he hadn’t finished the 998 full set yet.”

Yan Yu was left speechless. Master Cao’s body wouldn’t last long at this rate.

He asked Zhao Qingqing to draw the curtains. Warm sunlight spilled over him, finally bringing some comfort.

He walked to the bathroom mirror. His brow was sallow, eyes sunken, lips pale; he truly looked like someone suffering from low blood sugar.

Last night, he’d used his own blood to draw a Thunder Talisman in his palm, which had drained him considerably.

Not long after, Su Han returned with breakfast. Seeing Yan Yu’s condition, she was startled. “What on earth did you do last night?”

“What could we possibly have done?” Yan Yu glanced at Zhao Qingqing.

Su Han paused, then goosebumps rose on her arms. “I’ve heard that after being invaded by yin energy, people’s bodies deteriorate rapidly. Did you two… while I wasn’t here last night…”

Zhao Qingqing actually blushed, but still recounted everything that had happened to Su Han in detail.

After hearing the story, Su Han couldn’t help but ask, “So who exactly is this Liu Sen, that even you and Yan Yu couldn’t handle him?”

“If it were just him, I could finish him with a single punch. The problem is, he brought a vengeful spirit in red with him, and that one’s no pushover,” Yan Yu sighed.

Over the years, Yan Yu had caught many ghosts under his master’s guidance, but his own skills remained at the beginner level—not because he lacked talent, but because he hadn’t accumulated enough karmic merit.

According to his master, Lin Xuan, advancing in the Dao required daily training, but also frequent good deeds to build up karmic merit. The more merit, the stronger the Daoist arts.

Except for those who relied on unorthodox methods or extraordinary luck, accumulating merit was the fastest way to improve one’s Daoist abilities.

Thinking back, every time Yan Yu had achieved something, it was always his master who performed the final rites to release the spirits. Only now did he realize he’d been working for his master all these years…

“But that matchmaker in red was struck by my Thunder Talisman, and Liu Sen broke several ribs. I doubt they’ll come looking for trouble again in the next few days.”

Recalling all the danger they’d faced last night while she herself slept soundly in the dorm, Su Han felt a twinge of guilt. “Yan Yu, is there any way I can help you recover your energy?”

“You want to help me?” Yan Yu asked.

Su Han nodded.

Yan Yu, still pale, said, “Have you ever had your period?”

Su Han immediately raised her hand, ready to slap him for his insolence, but he hurriedly continued, “Don’t hit me! My condition right now is just like you girls during your period—blood and energy deficient. Whatever you eat during that time, I’ll eat. I should recover quickly.”

Su Han rolled her eyes. “Next time, try not to exaggerate so much.”

Yan Yu nodded meekly.

“How about this? You rest at home, and I’ll make you black-bone chicken soup with red dates for lunch,” Su Han offered.

“Perfect!” Yan Yu’s mouth watered at the thought. Living with Su Han clearly had its perks.

Su Han went out to buy groceries, leaving Yan Yu and Zhao Qingqing to rest at home.

Aside from some bedding, pillows, and personal belongings, the apartment was well-equipped. Yan Yu turned on the television and found the news covering the events of the previous day.

“At 1 a.m. yesterday, the Meihua Police Station received a report of a taxi losing control, breaking through a guardrail, and plunging into the city’s west moat. By the time police arrived, the driver had drowned, and no other passengers were found. According to the investigation, driver fatigue was the main cause. Recovery efforts are ongoing…”

Yan Yu watched several news reports. All the media only covered the death of Feng Liang’s father, with no mention of his mother’s fall from the building.

A couple both dying under suspicious circumstances in a single night should have been front-page news everywhere.

“It seems Yang Yongsheng has blocked off the information again,” Yan Yu muttered, frowning.

With Feng Liang’s whereabouts unknown, Yan Yu was at a loss. Things were growing more complicated.

Feng Liang wanted to kill Yang Yongsheng. Yan Yu cared little about Yang’s fate, but he worried that if Feng Liang committed murder, he would become a vengeful spirit consumed by obsession, making things harder to resolve.

He also feared Feng Liang would suffer punishment in the afterlife.

Most crucially, Yan Yu believed Yang Yongsheng might know what happened to his mother eighteen years ago. He needed to find Yang before Feng Liang did and question him face to face.

“What should I do…”

At noon, Su Han, apron tied around her waist, emerged from the kitchen carrying a fragrant pot of chicken soup, its aroma rivaling that of a Michelin chef’s creation.

“Lunch is ready!” Su Han called.

Zhao Qingqing was the first to dart to the table, inhaling the delicious scent. As a ghost, she couldn’t eat living food, only absorb its essence.

However, food touched by ghosts was said to become tainted with yin energy, as if the dead had eaten it first, and if the living then ate it, they’d fall ill. This was why offerings at rituals were never consumed afterward.

Dahei, too, wagged his tail excitedly, circling the table with eager eyes.

“Where’s Yan Yu?” Su Han asked.

Zhao Qingqing pointed to the bedroom. “He seems to be playing games in there.”

“He plays games?” Su Han was slightly surprised. Peeking into the room, she saw Yan Yu indeed playing League of Legends.

Watching closely, she realized he was hiding in the bushes as Garen, staring at the minions without moving.

“What are you doing? Go farm those minions!” Su Han couldn’t help but say.

“Shh, keep it down. I’m saving up money—don’t want the enemy to notice me,” Yan Yu whispered.

“Saving up? To buy items?” Su Han looked more carefully: Yan Yu already had six thousand gold, with only a Doran’s Shield and a health potion, which meant he hadn’t returned to base once in nearly half an hour.

“Not for items. I saw a really strong Caitlyn last game, and I heard you need 6,300 gold to unlock her. I’m almost there! Once I get Caitlyn, those punks are all dead!” Yan Yu said fiercely.