The Religious Affairs Bureau is a rather inconspicuous department in China. It is located in a three - story brick building in Beijing with a history of over a hundred years.
Ji Chen had already registered our vehicle license plates, so the barrier at the guard gate didn't stop us. It lifted, allowing our two cars to drive in.
This was a courtyard enclosed by a three - story brick building in a square shape. The courtyard itself served as a parking lot.
When Si Jiangchen and I got out of the car, we heard a burst of crying and wailing from Wei Wenzhao's car.
"What's going on?"
Si Jiangchen turned his head and asked Wei Yuan, who had just opened the car door and climbed out.
Wei Yuan snorted and then leaned back into the car, seemingly trying to persuade Lin Shuya to get out. But Lin Shuya completely disregarded her own image. With disheveled hair and tears streaming down her face, she stubbornly refused to get out of the car.
"Sister Shuya, what are you afraid of?"
Si Jiangchen slowly walked up to the car, propping one hand on the car roof. Looking down at Lin Shuya's hysterical state, the smile on his face was as unchanging as a mask.
"I'm scared, A Chen!"
Lin Shuya reached out and grabbed Si Jiangchen. "They... they'll think I'm a monster!"
"No, in their eyes, you're just a patient."
Si Jiangchen's smile was gentle, but his eyes were as cold as ice, making Lin Shuya shiver. "A... A Chen... Do you know something?"
"...I know everything."
Si Jiangchen said calmly.
"Wu wu wu..." Hearing Si Jiangchen's words, Lin Shuya suddenly slumped in her seat like a boneless stray dog, covering her face and crying loudly. She let her husband and son help her out of the car.
At this moment, I didn't notice Lin Shuya's strange behavior. I was so shocked by this ordinary - looking building that I couldn't speak.
This wasn't an office building at all. It was clearly the Palace of Hades filled with ghosts!!
Even in the bright sunlight of a sunny day, the three - story brick building seemed to be shrouded in a thin veil of darkness. Many spirits, some with pale faces and some with ferocious expressions, were wandering in the corridors, completely ignoring the fact that it was daytime when yang energy was strong and yin energy was weak.
I saw a spirit with blood oozing from all seven orifices charging straight at Wei Yuan. Just as I was about to open my mouth to warn him, I saw Feng Qianqian, who had just got out of the car, gently tug on Wei Yuan's arm, pulling him aside just in time to avoid the spirit.
Right!! I suddenly remembered that Feng Qianqian had the natural ability to see yin and yang and could see those things since she was a child.
Sure enough, after Feng Qianqian grabbed Wei Yuan's arm, she didn't dare to raise her head. She shrank behind Wei Yuan and stared intently at the texture of his shirt...
"Mr. Si, welcome, welcome."
While I was observing this strange building, I saw Sun Liren's obsequious face appear in the doorway of the building.
He reached out his hand enthusiastically to shake Si Jiangchen's, as if what had happened in the restaurant yesterday had never existed.
"Thank you, Deputy Director Sun."
There was still that unchanging, mask - like smile on Si Jiangchen's face. "I'd like you to help with my sister's illness."
I was thoroughly disgusted by this kind of two - faced behavior in official and business circles. They clearly hated each other in their hearts but had to act as if they were on good terms.
"It's no trouble. I've already heard from my assistant."
As Sun Liren led us inside, he said, "Actually, our soon - to - be - appointed bureau chief has in - depth research on Mrs. Lin's abnormal aging and ulceration. So, although he hasn't officially taken office yet, I've already invited him here to diagnose Mrs. Lin."
"Thank you."
Si Jiangchen put his arm around me and followed Sun Liren upstairs. I was extremely shocked. What did Si Jiangchen mean?!!
He had actually invited Du Peiyun here?!!
Before I could recover from my shock, I saw several spirits surging out of the dark corridor. Among them was actually the Taoist Su, who had harmed the little ghost Dongdong that was related to me!
"Ah!!"
I couldn't help but tremble, and my fingers tightly grasped Si Jiangchen's arm.
"That... that Taoist Su is dead?!!"
My voice was filled with shock.
"After what he did to you, shouldn't he die?"
Si Jiangchen couldn't see the spirits. Hearing what I said, a hint of coldness seeped into the smile on his face.
It turned out that the kick he had given Taoist Su on his back not only broke his ribs but also turned his internal organs into a mess of minced meat.
After we left, a large amount of blood gushed out from Taoist Su's mouth and nose. By the time he was sent to the hospital, it was already too late to save him!
"I took it upon myself to avoid you and Wang Yingxiu getting involved in the karma of killing him."
Seeing that I was silent, Si Jiangchen lowered his head and gently kissed my hair. "What, are you so touched that you can't speak?"
My heart felt soft and sour, as if there was a ball of cotton stuck in my throat. I would choke up if I made a sound.
Si Jiangchen was different from my grandfather Du Wenzhong. Although they both treated me well, Si Jiangchen always silently solved my problems for me. I even used to complain that he was holding me back?!!
...
I leaned my body against his chest to show my gratitude.
When I looked up again, I found that the newly - deceased Taoist Su had noticed us. He immediately staggered towards us. The broken ribs protruding from his chest were like white daggers. I could even smell the stench of the blood spurting from his mouth and nose.
"Evil spirits in the world, listen carefully..."
I could only move my left hand, but it didn't stop me from performing the ghost - suppressing spell. Just as I made a finger gesture, suddenly a yellow - glowing talisman was slapped towards my forehead.
I had to stop the spell and use my sword - finger to point at the talisman. Unexpectedly, Si Jiangchen was faster than me. He flicked the talisman with his finger, and the yellow talisman immediately turned into a small flame. It burned in the air like a lotus for a moment and then turned into grayish - white ashes that fell to the ground.
"Mr. Si, you're really amazing!"
I heard a familiar voice. We were standing on the second - floor corridor. The door of an office at the end of the corridor opened, and Du Peiyun, still dressed in a linen - colored Tang suit, walked out. "Every time I see your Taoist magic, I can't help but feel ashamed of myself..."
"Where, where."
Si Jiangchen pointed at Lin Shuya, who was still covering her face and crying behind us. "The corpse poison in my foster sister is a harmful legacy of your Du family for a hundred years. I hope the head of the Du family can subdue it and let her die a natural death."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Si Jiangchen wasn't here to save Lin Shuya!
He was here to make Lin Shuya lose her ability to live forever and let her die!
"A Chen! No... I don't want to die!!"
Lin Shuya finally wailed. She struggled and even tried to bite Wei Yuan, who was holding her. "I've been looking for remedies for decades. You can't just let me rot away!"