Inside the study room, Hao Zhengyi and Crow helped Huang Ran from the floor onto a reclining chair. Huang Ran was drenched in sweat, his face flushed as red as a cloth. His eyes were wide open as he gasped for breath, looking very much like he was having an asthma attack. Crow unbuttoned Huang Ran's shirt, revealing a thick layer of white flesh underneath.
Hao Zhengyi's next action was even more puzzling. He pulled out a narrow-bladed dagger and made a small cross-shaped cut on Huang Ran's chest. Fresh blood trickled down his torso to his belly. Strangely, after this, Huang Ran's complexion improved considerably, and his breathing gradually steadied.
Seeing Huang Ran's condition improve, Hao Zhengyi turned to Xiao Heshang and said, "Consultant Xiao, your things are here. Can we take Brother Huang Ran away now?" Xiao Heshang clearly didn't trust Hao Chairman and replied evasively that these items were messed up by Meng Qiqi and Zhang Zhiyan and needed to be recounted, so it wouldn't hurt to wait a few more minutes. Hao Zhengyi didn't press further and wandered over to the bookshelf, seemingly looking for a book to pass the time.
At this moment, Xiao Heshang and Jin Buhuan were recounting the files and the few items wrapped in red silk. I and Sun Fatty couldn't lend a hand, and Sun Fatty's mind was elsewhere. He strolled over to Yang Xiao and pulled him into a corner for a whispered conversation. After Yang Xiao's wife's reincarnation incident, he owed me and Sun Fatty a favor. Besides Director Wu, he probably liked us best.
Sun Fatty spoke very quietly, so no one could hear their words. Watching Sun Fatty gesticulate animatedly, I saw Yang Xiao nodding in agreement with nearly every sentence. Curious, I approached them, but by then their conversation was ending. Yang Xiao pulled out a small black bead from his jacket pocket and, in front of Sun Fatty, crushed it. A wisp of black smoke rose and quickly dissipated into the air.
The moment the black smoke appeared, a faint yet chilling aura suddenly filled the living room. Except for the Ma family's servants, everyone felt this subtle change and simultaneously turned to stare at the shattered bead fragment in Yang Xiao's hand. Sun Fatty seemed unprepared for this outcome and quietly warned Yang Xiao, "Don't act now. Not to mention, we're not the only ones here."
Unexpectedly, Hao Zhengyi's reaction was quite different. His gaze lingered on Yang Xiao a moment, then glanced at Sun Fatty as if nothing happened. He casually picked up a book from the shelf and started flipping through it nonchalantly.
Xiao Heshang was startled by Yang Xiao's move but immediately understood Sun Fatty's intention and gave him a sharp glance. Then Hao Zhengyi put the book back on the shelf and asked Xiao Heshang, "Consultant Xiao, are you done counting?"
Xiao Heshang glanced at the bead fragment in Yang Xiao's hand and, with a bitter tone, said, "We're not sending you off."
Hao Zhengyi smiled faintly, "Then we shall meet again when fate allows. We won't disturb you and Mr. Ma's reunion any longer." With that, he helped Huang Ran and Crow slowly walk out of Ma Xiaolin's mansion.
Watching their retreating backs, Sun Fatty suddenly said to Xiao Heshang, "Old Master Xiao, you don't mean he even knows about the last time the Misfortune Spirit showed up, do you?"
Xiao Heshang did not answer but sighed heavily while staring at Hao Zhengyi's silhouette.
At this moment, Ma Xiaolin, having seen Jin Buhuan off and noticing Hao Zhengyi and his group's departure, politely exchanged a few words and returned to the living room. The boss was still savoring the fitting words Jin Buhuan had told him earlier. Seeing us, he smiled warmly and said, "Masters, you must honor me by staying for dinner tonight. I've ordered a top-notch abalone feast—something you won't find just anywhere, even if you have money. Please don't rush off after dinner; stay here for the night. Consider it my apology for last time. My place isn't large, but I have ten or eight guest rooms—better than a hotel, right?
Before Xiao Heshang could speak, Sun Fatty jumped in and said, "No need to be so polite, Boss Ma. Having a meal here is no problem, but staying overnight at your place—forget it." At this, Sun Fatty's expression became a bit awkward. He seemed to hesitate for a moment but then leaned closer to Ma Xiaolin and lowered his voice, saying, "I'm just saying, Boss Ma, haven't you noticed something off recently?"
Sun Fatty's words made Ma Xiaolin pause in surprise. He gave Sun Fatty a suspicious look, shook his head, and said, "Nope. I'm living happily. Since the last unlucky spirit left, nothing like that has happened again. Besides, I've got Master Jin himself setting up formations here—nothing can go wrong."
By then, Xiao Heshang had finally finished counting the items and documents. After personally packing them into boxes, he sneered upon hearing Ma Xiaolin's words and said, "Little Fatty, forget it. You've done all you can by warning him. Life and death are destined, wealth and honor are decreed by heaven. It's all his fate. After this, it depends on whether his virtue holds up." Sun Fatty sighed, glanced at Ma Xiaolin, and said to Xiao Heshang, "Old Xiao, we do have some connection with Boss Ma. If something's going to happen to him, isn't it a bit inappropriate to just stand by?"
Hearing what Xiao Heshang and Sun Fatty said, Ma Xiaolin still didn't believe it and thought they were trying to scam him. Ever since he allied with Jin the Blind, he'd become somewhat reckless. Boss Ma chuckled and said, "Are you guys sure you're not mistaken? If there was really something wrong, Master Jin would've told me just now…" Before he could finish, Xiao Heshang cut him off coldly, "If something goes wrong again, remember to find your Master Jin and see if he can hobble over on his cane to save you!" Then he turned to us and said, "Let's go. Don't delay Boss Ma's big affairs." With that, he personally picked up a box and left the study.
We followed behind carrying the remaining boxes. Sun Fatty took the chance to quietly ask Yang Xiao, "Old Yang, what exactly was that thing you just released?" I was beside them, and Yang Xiao, showing no sign of guarding against me, casually answered with two words: "Hungry Ghost."
This exchange was basically over. Huang Ran went back with Hao Zhengyi to the Religious Affairs Commission and could finally go home for the New Year; we carried the boxes back to the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation. On the flight back to the capital, I took advantage of Jin Buhuan falling asleep and asked Sun Fatty, "Great Sage, the hungry ghost Yang Xiao released—was that meant for Boss Ma? Would Ma Xiaolin really play such a big game?" Sun Fatty, who was already half-asleep, yawned at my question and said, "It just so happened that Boss Ma ran into it. Yang Xiao was here, but I originally got a ghost-summoning spell from that guy Xiong Wanyi." At this, Sun Fatty suddenly perked up, glanced at Xiao Heshang sitting a row away, paused for a moment, then lowered his voice and continued, "I'm just saying, Old Xiao probably prepared something for Ma Xiaolin too. If Yang Xiao's stuff wasn't powerful enough, Old Xiao and I would have used a double approach today."
While Sun Fatty spoke, I glanced at Yang Xiao by the window. He looked wide awake and was watching the landscape of mountains and cities below the clouds like a model diorama with great interest.
Back at the Bureau, Ouyang Pianzuo and several investigators from his Fifth Division were already waiting by the entrance. Unexpectedly, Gao Liang didn't show up. I had thought that this time, Fatty Gao would personally come to greet us and lock away the things Huang Ran stole years ago—along with relics and wooden talismans—down in the Bureau's underground fourth floor, but now all those things were temporarily held by Ouyang Pianzuo. By the way, as a side note, Director Gao disappeared from my sight entirely from then until after the Spring Festival...
On the day we returned, Pojun informed Sun Fatty and me about the Bureau's traditional duty schedule for the New Year. Because the Lunar New Year is the slowest period of the slow season, almost nothing special ever happens, so the newbies of the Bureau always take shifts during this time. This year, Sun Fatty and I, as two newcomers, were stuck on duty here—my plan to go home for New Year was completely ruined. But Sun Fatty didn't seem bothered. Being a lone wolf, he was worried about having nowhere to go for the holiday, so staying on duty suited him just fine. I later heard that the two brothers surnamed Yang from the Sixth Division were supposed to come too, with Sister Lu even personally looking for them, but Wu Rendi blocked them. Now it seemed that without a director's backing, Sun Fatty and I were just expendable.
The New Year was approaching, and as usual, the investigation divisions started to have group dinners. But aside from Director Gao, our Division One's Director Hao was missing for a long time, so it was just me, Sun Fatty, and Pojun—too few for even a four-person table, let alone any festive atmosphere. Eventually, during the Fifth Division's gathering, Ouyang Pianzuo had his investigators pull the three of us in, so there was at least a little bit of a dinner vibe.
I originally thought Xiao Heshang might stay and spend the New Year with Sun Fatty and me at the Bureau. Unexpectedly, on the 29th day of the lunar month, he told me he had promised my grandfather he'd go back to my hometown for the holiday. This guy, who usually just freeloads meals, was going to my grandfather's house for New Year, while I, the eldest grandson of the old Shen family, had to sadly keep watch over the Bureau overnight.
New Year's Eve came quickly. The Bureau was empty and quiet, and I felt a little out of place. Since there was nothing to do, after locking the Bureau's door, Sun Fatty and I strolled up to the third-floor cafeteria. Sun Fatty had arranged with Old Jin to keep plenty of semi-prepared dishes in the kitchen, and the fridge still had bags of ready-made dumplings. Originally, I wanted Old Jin to prepare something fresh, but Sun Fatty vetoed that—he wanted a proper New Year atmosphere. Sun Fatty also brought a bottle of baijiu with a long history. The label was faded, and when I asked where it came from, he grinned slyly and said, "Who cares where the booze comes from? I'm just saying, good wine won't kill you."
After a long time of cooking, by dusk a rich New Year's Eve dinner was finally ready. Surprisingly, Sun Fatty's cooking was pretty good. Drinking some, watching the Spring Festival Gala, and chatting nonsense, the first bottle of baijiu quickly ran dry. Feeling unsatisfied, Sun Fatty, fueled by the alcohol, pried open Old Jin's storeroom and pulled out two bottles of Maotai.
We drank until the countdown to midnight on the Spring Festival Gala, and one and a half bottles of Maotai were gone. Sun Fatty and I were both flushed and red-faced. If I hadn't built up a tolerance from drinking in the military, I'd probably have passed out under the table by then. Even so, we were getting a bit dizzy and our tongues were loosening. Sun Fatty, getting drunk, stripped down to just his thermal underwear and was grinning stupidly at the TV hosts. Seeing him like that, I felt a little moved and got up to pour him another glass.
"Gr...Great Sage, one...more..." I clinked my glass with his, and before he could react, I tossed back my drink first. Sun Fatty's eyes were already unfocused, but he grinned and drank his cup, leaning back in his chair and ogling the TV hosts. After a few more rounds, I felt the moment was right and asked, "Gr...Great Sage, let me ask...you something. On the train...that phone call...who was it?"
Sun Fatty's gaze blankly shifted from the host to me. He stared without speaking. Just as I was about to pour him another drink, he suddenly burst out laughing—"Ha ha ha." The laughter sobered me up a bit. Fortunately, aside from laughing, he did nothing else. He squinted drunkenly and said, "What did you say? Didn't...hear clearly. Say it...again."
I had heard before that some people laugh stupidly when drunk. Now I'd seen it myself. I had no choice but to repeat the question. This time Sun Fatty heard clearly. He nodded drowsily with eyes closed, trying to recall. Just when I thought he'd fallen asleep, he suddenly opened his eyes, laughed again, then said with a smile, "You were...there too... Didn't you hear? It was...my dad. He asked if I was...coming home for dinner..." Before finishing the sentence, Sun Fatty slid off the chair onto the floor. When I went to help him, I heard him already snoring. No idea if he was really drunk or pretending. My own drunkenness hit then, and I leaned back in my chair and passed out…
The following days passed similarly. On the third day of the lunar New Year, I got a call from my mom. She told me not to come home right after the New Year because my younger brother (my uncle's child, the one who was colorblind since childhood) was getting married on the tenth day. Grandpa wanted me to go there and support him. I was confused—if my brother was getting married and I wasn't allowed home, where was I supposed to support him? After my mom explained, I understood—the brother was marrying into the family (marrying a bride from outside), and the wedding had to happen because my sister-in-law was already two months pregnant…
Unexpectedly, things changed again. On the morning of the seventh day, the main group gradually returned to the Bureau and resumed work for the new year. Sun Fatty and I were finally relieved. There was a little side story: Old Jin in the cafeteria came in that morning and found his storeroom broken into, missing two bottles of Maotai. Being the stubborn type who would rather die than suffer a loss, he charged over to Division One with a kitchen knife looking for Sun Fatty and me. In the end, Sun Fatty paid 3,000 RMB (he wasn't as fast as me at running away; Old Jin initially demanded 10,000 RMB but Sun Fatty bargained it down to 3,000) to calm Old Jin's anger.
That noon, while Sun Fatty, Pojun, and I were chatting, we suddenly got a call from Xiao Heshang, apparently from the airport (I could hear announcements of arrivals and departures). He sounded urgent and said only one sentence: "I'm coming to find you with your grandfather. Get ready…" Before I could ask more, he abruptly hung up. When I tried to call back, his phone was off.
At that moment, I felt something was wrong. Grandpa always thought I was a police department section chief, but if we met now, the truth would come out. Also, Xiao Heshang said he was bringing my grandfather to find me—could those two really be heading straight to the Bureau? The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. Sun Fatty, always sharp-eyed, noticed my mood and asked. I told him what Xiao Heshang said on the phone. Sun Fatty laughed, "Lazi, I'm just saying, our Bureau may have nothing else, but we've got tons of official IDs from various ministries. If you can be a section chief once, why not again? Stop staring blankly, find Ouyang Pianzuo and get a superintendent's uniform to fool your grandpa, then we can keep celebrating the New Year."