Chapter Four: United in Purpose

Nian Xue watched, delighted both in her heart and her eyes. “This kid truly has some insight.” She whispered, “Steady your mind, recite it once more!”

“Heaven’s gate opens, earth’s gate opens, the child from a thousand miles brings the soul. The lost soul of Liang Lingzhi, if you hear my call, return swiftly, return swiftly!”

The little grass figurine seemed to understand Ye Dong’s words, nodding toward him.

Seeing this, Nian Xue couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s done! Liang Lingzhi’s soul has entered the grass figure. All we need to do now is return and restore his soul to his body.”

Ye Dong was ecstatic, tears of joy streaming down his face. He laughed and cursed, “Damn, that fool finally got his life back!”

Nian Xue felt a warmth in her heart. “Though these few are always bantering and teasing each other, when it matters most, they remain loyal brothers.”

“You two! What are you doing?!” The distant shouts of security guards echoed toward them.

Both were startled. Ye Dong couldn’t make out what incantation Nian Xue was chanting, but seeing her blow out the candle at her feet and disrupt the formation with a single hand, she didn’t wait for Ye Dong and dashed off by herself.

“Stop! Stop!”

Ye Dong hadn’t expected that Nian Xue was such a master at escaping.

“Nian Xue, you didn’t even wait for me!”

Nian Xue chuckled, “It’s just your slow reaction! Hurry, get out!”

The two raced to the hospital. After Ye Dong found a way to send Liang’s mother away, Nian Xue gently took out the grass figurine and recited toward Liang Lingzhi’s body, “Wandering soul returns to the body, six spirits reunite, soul and body as one, mind at peace and spirit calmed. Liang Lingzhi’s soul, return swiftly!”

Ye Dong watched closely. Once Nian Xue finished her incantation, Liang Lingzhi’s strange smile slowly faded, his face gradually returning to that of a normal person.

Seeing this, Ye Dong reached out and touched Liang Lingzhi’s body, feeling warm currents constantly welling up from within. At this moment, Ye Dong knew that the fool’s life had truly been saved.

Suddenly, Nian Xue exclaimed, “Oh no!”

Ye Dong was startled, “What’s wrong?”

Nian Xue replied, “We left the big and the small duo back at the bar!”

Ye Dong burst out laughing, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d have forgotten! Let’s go bring them back.”

Ye Dong walked into the corridor, took out his phone, and dialed Officer Li.

“Hello, Ye, it’s late. Is something wrong?”

“Liang Lingzhi is awake.”

“Liang Lingzhi is awake!? I’ll be right there!”

“Compared to Liang Lingzhi’s awakening, I have something even more important for you.”

“What is it?!”

“A murder case.”

...

After the call, Officer Li hurried over, bringing two subordinates with him: Wang and Yang.

Wang, bored, glanced out the window at the tidy cityscape and smiled, “Our city’s appearance management is pretty good; there are far fewer homeless and beggars than before.”

Yang laughed, “Maybe they’ve gone to Dubai to make their fortune? Professional beggars earn more than us!”

Officer Li’s mind was only on Liang Lingzhi, ignoring his subordinates’ banter. When the three arrived at the hospital, dawn was nearing. Officer Li saw Liang Lingzhi, surrounded by doctors, able to speak and jump about just like any normal person. He asked the doctor in confusion, “Doctor, how did he suddenly wake up?”

The doctor was equally bewildered. “To be honest, we don’t know how he woke up. It must be a miracle, much like those vegetative patients who awaken after hearing a loved one’s call.”

In such circumstances, perhaps only miracles can explain it.

Officer Li noticed a girl by Ye Dong’s side and asked, “And this is?”

Ye Dong introduced, “This is my good friend, Chen Nian Xue. Officer Li, whom I’ve mentioned to you before.”

Nian Xue nodded and smiled at Officer Li, “Hello, Officer Li.”

“Hello.”

Officer Li sized Nian Xue up. His policeman’s intuition told him that this Nian Xue was not ordinary.

At Liang Lingzhi’s sincere request, the doctor allowed him to be discharged. The group didn’t go straight home but followed everyone to Nian Xue’s Compassionate Paper Workshop, where the big and small duo were also brought over.

Officer Li signaled to Ye Dong, “You mentioned a ‘murder case’ on the phone?”

Ye Dong nodded and countered, “Officer Li, do you believe in ghosts and spirits?”

Officer Li pondered before saying, “As a law enforcement officer, I do not believe in such things.”

Ye Dong continued, “Then, the clues I’m about to share regarding the murder case were given to me by a female ghost. Will you believe them or not?”

Officer Li was troubled, “Is this connected to Liang Lingzhi’s sudden coma and sudden awakening?”

Ye Dong nodded, lips pursed. “Liang Lingzhi’s incident was merely the beginning.”

Officer Li was astounded. “Your story is hard to believe.”

Ye Dong, sensing Officer Li’s disbelief in the supernatural, turned to Nian Xue, “Nian Xue, show him your powers.”

Nian Xue flicked her delicate hand, and a sheet of yellow paper caught fire without flame, burning to nothing in an instant.

Officer Li frowned, “That’s not magic; it’s a trick!”

Nian Xue grew annoyed, scolding him, “Nonsense.”

Wang, who had accompanied Officer Li, said, “There’s phosphorus powder on the yellow paper; it combusts on contact with air. Nature Discovery has explained it countless times.”

Nian Xue was speechless. She soaked the yellow paper thoroughly with tea, then with another wave of her hand, the damp strip ignited.

Yang, beside Wang, commented, “We’re experienced detectives; your tea contains oil.”

Nian Xue glared at him, irritated. “Whatever you see later, don’t make a fuss.”

The three police officers exchanged glances, not knowing what Nian Xue was up to, but watched her hands intently. “Whatever tricks you have, show them.”

Nian Xue softly recited her incantation and opened Xiaoting’s hidden oil-paper umbrella. Xiaoting’s fragmented soul appeared before everyone, drifting eerily and terrifyingly.

All three policemen were shocked, retreating repeatedly. Wang and Yang, being younger and less steadfast, stumbled back and fell to the floor, mouths agape, pointing at Xiaoting’s soul, unable to utter a word.

Officer Li, steadier, stepped back a few paces, gripping the table to steady himself, eyes wide as he stared at Xiaoting, gasping for breath.

Ye Dong pulled Wang and Yang up from the ground, patted Officer Li’s shoulder, still stunned, “You three, surely you believe now?”

Wang and Yang, clearly frightened, managed a wry smile. “Chief, the truth is right before our eyes; how could we not believe?”

Officer Li took out a pack of cigarettes, handed one each to Wang and Chen, then took one for himself. Fumbling for his lighter and finding none, he signaled Wang to light it for him.

Wang’s hands trembled, unable to manage the lighter, so Nian Xue shook her head, pulled out a sheet of white paper, and with a graceful motion, lit their cigarettes.

Liang Lingzhi’s eyes were wide open. After a long moment, he exclaimed, “Beauty, how are you here?”

Xiaoting smiled awkwardly, “Are you alright?!”

Liang Lingzhi at first refused to believe that Xiaoting had lured his soul away, even debating with Ye Dong about it earlier, but seeing Xiaoting’s soul now, he was nothing but shocked.

Mu Xiaobao, still drunk, seemed a beat behind. Seeing Xiaoting’s soul suddenly appear, he wasn’t surprised until he caught on to the conversation. Then, with a crash, he rolled off his chair.

An Dachun, also drunk, laughed, “Ye Dong, why did you fall to the floor?”

He mistook Mu Xiaobao for Ye Dong.

Mu Xiaobao, trembling, pointed at Xiaoting, “It was her… she lured away the fool’s soul!”

An Dachun seemed to sober up instantly and also tumbled from his chair in fright.

Once Officer Li and the others had calmed down, Ye Dong explained the entire sequence of events in detail. Those who hadn’t known the truth broke out in cold sweat as they listened.

Officer Li asked, “Xiaoting, you said you were murdered? Please, explain everything in detail.”

Seeing that everyone present was working for her justice, Xiaoting was moved and burst into tears.

Those gathered felt a pang of sorrow. Nian Xue comforted her, “Xiaoting, now that Officer Li is here, tell him your grievances one by one, so he can help catch the culprit soon.”