Volume One, Chapter Five: The Master Is Going to Be Late for School

“Master, what should we do?” Lin Dali anxiously asked, staring at Old Li writhing on the ground.

“The Soul-Hiding Altar is easy to break. Just smash the altar and burn whatever’s inside. But…”

But this Soul-Hiding Altar had been absorbing the life force at the construction site for a long time. The deadly spirit it nurtured there would be difficult to deal with. Ying Yuwei didn’t voice the rest of her thoughts; she felt telling Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali would only increase their fear and wouldn’t help her dispel the deadly spirit.

Lin Dali’s heart jumped to his throat when he heard Ying Yuwei say “but.” “Master Ying, I’ll add another million! Just help me solve everything here!”

Ying Yuwei looked at Old Li’s contorted body on the ground, then took out a piece of red cloth from her bag and covered him with it. Black energy immediately surged from the cloth. Kneeling on one knee, Ying Yuwei pressed down on Old Li’s struggling body, chanting an exorcism spell while instructing Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali to smash all the Soul-Hiding Altars.

The moment the altars shattered, a torrent of malevolent energy burst out, trying to invade Old Li’s body, but Ying Yuwei’s red cloth blocked it.

Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali stood there, jaws nearly hitting the floor—they had only seen such scenes in movies.

Unable to enter Old Li’s body, the malevolent energy shifted its target and rushed toward Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali.

Seeing this, the two clung to each other, shouting, “Master, save us!”

Just as the malevolence was about to reach them, a golden glow erupted from Zhou Dawei’s body, forming a protective barrier around them that repelled the evil energy.

“Hey? We’re okay!” The two patted themselves all over, relieved to find no limbs missing.

At that moment, Zhou Dawei felt the yellow talisman in his pocket and gratefully looked at Ying Yuwei.

After Old Li’s malevolent energy dissipated, Ying Yuwei pulled out a Bagua mirror from her bag, bit her tongue to draw a drop of blood, and sprayed it on the mirror. It instantly emitted a dazzling light, dispersing the lingering black smoke in the air.

Strange—this Soul-Hiding Altar had absorbed so much life force, yet the deadly spirit it bred was so easily vanquished. Ying Yuwei wondered silently.

She then walked the construction site with her compass, confirming that the malevolent energy was indeed slowly fading and would be completely gone by dawn.

Though the malevolence would disappear by morning, the area had been disturbed for a long time. Ying Yuwei turned to Lin Dali and instructed:

“For the next month, no construction should proceed here. But at dawn and dusk every day, someone must light three incense sticks at each of the four cardinal points—east, south, west, and north.”

Malevolent energy had long been stagnant here; strong vitality was needed to cleanse it. But if that vitality came from people, they would suffer continual illness. So Ying Yuwei devised using the life force from incense smoke instead.

At that moment, her words sounded like a divine revelation to Lin Dali, who nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Looking at Ying Yuwei, Lin Dali hesitated slightly and asked, “Master, how much is your Yin-Yang water?” Earlier, when Ying Yuwei had them fetch the Soul-Hiding Altars, Lin Dali had nervously drunk three small caps and then finished the rest of the Yin-Yang water in one gulp.

Ying Yuwei noticed the now-empty water bottle on the ground and held up one finger.

In truth, it was cheap and simple to make—just collect some rainwater in a large iron basin and mix it with boiled tap water. The earlier mention of one million was more about Ying Yuwei suspecting Lin Dali, a real estate boss, of trying to gouge her.

She was about to offer a friend’s discount: “You give a hundred…”

“Fine! One million, plus two million for your labor, three million altogether. I’ll pay you all at once,” Lin Dali cut her off cheerfully, sealing the deal.

Three million! Darn capitalism—it was faster than robbing a bank! If only Ying Yuwei had known Lin was so generous, she would have asked for more. She silently regretted it.

Overall, Ying Yuwei was satisfied, and Lin Dali felt he got great value.

Ying Yuwei, Zhou Dawei, and Lin Dali stayed until dawn. Still puzzling over how weak the deadly spirit was, Ying Yuwei searched the site again with caution but found nothing suspicious.

Just as Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali were nodding off at daybreak, Ying Yuwei suddenly slapped her thigh and shouted, “Oh no, big trouble!”

The two snapped awake, looking as if facing a dire threat.

“What’s wrong, Master?” Lin Dali jumped up, thinking that whatever made the Master say “big trouble” had to be serious.

Ying Yuwei packed her things hastily and dashed out, shouting, “I’m going to be late for school registration!”

Huh? Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali exchanged stunned looks. That was the big trouble the Master was talking about?

At the school gate, a stretched Lincoln was parked. Lin Dali hurried from the driver’s seat to the passenger side and opened the door.

“Boss Lin, do you have any cash to help me pay the tuition fee upfront?” Ying Yuwei asked, a little embarrassed.

Yesterday she’d worried about tuition, but at least today she wouldn’t have to owe the school.

Hearing this, Lin immediately took out his wallet from the car and handed her all the cash inside.

“Master Ying, is this enough? If not, I’ll go get more right now.”

Ying Yuwei looked at the thick stack of bills—about ten thousand—and quickly nodded, “It’s enough!”

Lin Dali thanked her profusely and saw her through the school gate. Just then, a tall boy around eighteen or nineteen dashed out from behind the car and slapped Lin Dali on the shoulder. He wore casual blue and white clothes, an unzipped jacket over a simple T-shirt, sleeves rolled up slightly revealing his wrist. His fingers were slender and well-defined.

“Uncle, what’s this about?” the boy, An Yu, asked with a curious look.

Lin Dali clicked his tongue and brusquely brushed off his hand.

“What are you thinking? Uncle’s just here to help Master Ying register for school.”

An Yu looked doubtful. Master? Going to university? That didn’t sound right.

Besides, he had just seen the girl get out of his uncle’s car—the one with stunning black eyes, thick lashes like little brushes, narrow eye shape with a slight upward tilt that gave her an alluring yet fierce look, breathtakingly beautiful.

He also saw his uncle slip her some money. Putting two and two together, An Yu suspected his uncle was betraying his aunt, having an affair.

Lin Dali, seeing his precious nephew’s suspicion, gave him a look like he was crazy.

“I’m not telling you anymore. Uncle’s got business at the site. But you better not mess with the Master!”

Lin Dali drove off, leaving only those words behind. The more Lin said that, the more An Yu wanted to learn about this so-called Master his uncle mentioned.