Chapter Forty-One: The Guest Becomes the Host

“Master, I heard that Junior Brother Ye Dong and the others have been put through the wringer. Should we…” Zilong asked through the rearview mirror.

Chen Yao shook his head and smiled. “Zilong, have you forgotten? When you three brothers first became my disciples, didn’t you go through the same ordeal?”

Zilong gave a wry smile. “Master, the three of us came from hardship. It was a blessing for you to take us in and teach us. At the time, we really disliked you for what you put us through, but looking back now, it’s actually a fond memory. But Ye Dong and the other four weren’t raised in hardship. I’m worried they won’t be able to handle it and will give up their cultivation. What then?”

Chen Yao glanced at the time. “Destiny determines the encounter; the outcome is ours to shape.”

Zilong smiled calmly. “I understand, Master.”

The two of them slung their bundles over their shoulders and got out of the car, looking toward the newly built Starlight Orphanage, ten meters ahead. Chen Yao softly asked Zilong, “Can you sense anything?”

Zilong narrowed his eyes, surveying the scene for a long while before replying, “I’m afraid I’m too dull, Master. I can’t see anything unusual.”

“The door’s locked—we’ll have to climb over the wall,” Chen Yao said coolly.

Dark lines appeared on Zilong’s face. “Master, it’s late. Could you not tease me with your cold jokes?”

Chen Yao chuckled. “Sorry, I haven’t gotten into work mode yet.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his brows knitted tightly. Suddenly, an overwhelming aura surged from him. “Zilong, let’s move.”

Zilong felt his heart tremble. “Understood, Master.”

The wind in the night seemed to still, and the leaves ceased rustling. With a nimble leap, master and disciple vaulted over the three-meter-high wall and entered the brand-new Starlight Orphanage.

“Huff… huff… huff…”

Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind came from somewhere. Chen Yao’s ears twitched, and he whispered, “Huahua must have sensed my presence. She’s probably hiding. Use your Heaven-Earth Eyes to find her.”

Zilong didn’t know why Chen Yao had deliberately released such a powerful aura, but as always, he chose not to question, following Chen Yao’s instructions instead.

“Heaven and Earth without limit, Yin and Yang in my command. With Heaven’s Eye, reveal truth from falsehood. With Earth’s Eye, seek the source. Supreme Lord of Taiyi, by law, act now!”

Zilong’s eyes shone like torches, sweeping the orphanage as if he were a scanner. In the basement, he detected Huahua’s restless spirit. “Master, I’ve found her—she’s in the basement.”

Chen Yao nodded. “Then, as usual.”

Zilong moved his hands in rapid gestures, chanting, “Spirits of the land, keep your posts, guard this place, come to my aid! By law, act now!”

With the incantation to bind spirits, an invisible energy enveloped the entire orphanage. Zilong muttered, “Huahua’s ghost is growing more agitated.”

“As expected,” Chen Yao said quietly. “Let’s go restrain Huahua first, then we’ll fetch Miaomiao. Remember—no harm must come to Huahua.”

Zilong acknowledged the order and followed Chen Yao as they darted toward the basement.

By Miaomiao’s side, Huahua’s lips curled into a sneer. “Hmph, no one can hurt Miaomiao. You’ll die in the basement!”

A spirit, suppressing its presence, attempted to slip into Miaomiao’s room, but was halted by a cold, childlike voice: “No one can hurt Miaomiao—give me your life!”

The spirit chuckled. “So, you’ve been by Miaomiao’s side all along!”

It was Chen Yao’s voice.

The little girl was clearly startled. “How does he know I’ve always been with Miaomiao?”

Panic surged in her heart, making her more frenzied. She shrieked, “What I hate most are you heartless, wicked exorcists!”

Chen Yao opened his spiritual eye and saw a girl identical to Miaomiao standing guard over the sleeping child. He smiled. “I can send my spirit outside my body. Your little tricks can’t deceive me into going to the basement. Let’s be clear—you can’t do anything to me. You are Huahua, aren’t you?”

Huahua’s eyes were cold and anxious. “His Daoist arts are this advanced? He saw through my ploy?”

“Does it matter who I am?” Huahua feigned composure, giving a cold laugh. “Aren’t you here to take Miaomiao away?”

Chen Yao’s voice was icy. “No. The living and the dead walk separate paths. It’s safer for us to protect Miaomiao.”

The girl shrieked suddenly, her voice hoarse and ancient. “Protect Miaomiao? I’d be grateful if you didn’t harm her! Hypocritical exorcist—give me your life!”

Before she finished speaking, she lunged at Chen Yao, arms outstretched. “No one can separate me from Miaomiao!”

Chen Yao frowned. “Obstinate spirit!”

He formed a hand seal to defend himself, but Huahua gave a chilling laugh, spun around, and possessed Miaomiao’s body.

“What are you doing? Don’t you know that possessing a living body will harm Miaomiao?” Chen Yao’s brow furrowed as he barked, “Get out of her body, now! Or I won’t be merciful!”

“I know why you want Miaomiao. You’ll never succeed! No one can separate me from her! If we must die, let us die together!”

With that, the nimble little body leapt through the window, scattering glass everywhere.

“What’s going on? Are there thieves?” The orphanage teachers, roused by the noise, hurried over. The children sat up, rubbing their sleepy eyes and looking around in confusion.

Chen Yao sighed and chased after them. “Huahua has only possessed Miaomiao for now. If she moves to another child, it will be a real disaster!”

Miaomiao’s small body, barefoot in the wind, let out wild howls as she sprinted toward the wall. “Wahaha! Wahaha!”

Hearing Huahua’s manic shrieks, Chen Yao’s heart dropped. “This is bad—Huahua has been overtaken by evil thoughts! At this rate, Miaomiao will be in grave danger!”

He shouted in Miaomiao’s direction, his voice ringing like a bell: “Zilong! Don’t underestimate her—Huahua is possessed by evil! She’s dangerous!”

Zilong’s figure shot out, blocking Miaomiao like a mountain. Seeing him, Miaomiao’s already contorted body twisted again as she tried to flee in another direction.

“Miaomiao’s body is already starting to deform!” Zilong exclaimed. “This evil spirit possession is too much—if Huahua’s malice merges perfectly with Miaomiao’s yin body, it’ll be a catastrophe!”

Chen Yao’s eyes flashed like lightning. “Huahua, don’t be foolish!” He flung five talismans from his hand. “Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—destiny in my grasp. Stabilize the spirit, restore balance, five elements, hold your ground!”

The five talismans transformed into golden lights, swirling above Huahua.

Miaomiao’s eyes filled with terror as she felt the energy controlling her body rapidly being drawn away by the five talismans overhead.

“This exorcist… is truly formidable!” Huahua’s face twisted in pain, blood trickling from her bitten lips as she struggled to step forward.

Chen Yao shook his head. “Such stubborn evil!”

He pressed his index and middle fingers together, pointing at Huahua’s charging form. “Bind the ghost’s shadow, suppress the evil spirit! Three grounds, three terrors—let it be fixed! By law, act now!”

In an instant, the wild, disheveled Huahua froze in place, unable to move. But her fierce and venomous expression showed she had not given up on breaking free. “Let me go! You exorcist fiend!”

Rope-like bolts of lightning appeared out of thin air, binding Huahua tightly. The searing pain made her curse and scream, “Ah! Ah! Let me go! Exorcist, let me go!”

Her agonized cries, mingling with the crackling thunder, woke everyone in the orphanage.

A mass of pitch-black energy slowly oozed from Miaomiao’s body, only to be sucked back in again and again. After several repetitions, the body under Huahua’s control was drained of strength, bound tightly by the lightning cords. Pale and bloodied, Miaomiao looked terrifying.

Chen Yao and Zilong approached, blocking off all escape.

Chen Yao’s eyes were sharp as he stared at Miaomiao. “Come out. Those who bring disaster upon themselves cannot escape fate. Don’t force my hand!”

Grinding her teeth, Huahua slowly turned her head, eyes burning with hatred and unwillingness. Suddenly, she threw her head back and let out a heartrending wail. “Why must you hound us to death? Why won’t you even spare a little child like Miaomiao? You animals—worse than beasts!”

Huahua’s anguished curses were filled with utter despair.