Though my uncle acted nonchalant, there was a subtle hint of joy on his face when he heard Mr. Wang calling. This only strengthened my resolve to help him succeed—he couldn't be looked down upon.
Mr. Wang didn't chase after us; we took the initiative to return to the entrance. He glanced at me and said, "Earlier, this young man…"
"Li Yang!" I reminded him.
Mr. Wang smiled awkwardly, "What Li Yang, the young master, said earlier has some merit. Since you're here, why don't you come upstairs and take a look?"
I knew he would try to keep us. His expression of disappointment and worry was the same as my mother's.
All parents, no matter where they are, can't bear to see their children suffer.
Back in the villa, I said, "Uncle, you chat with Mr. Wang here, I'll go upstairs to take a look."
Mr. Wang looked at my uncle. Since my uncle thought I was carrying Huang Jiu in my bag and didn't want anyone to see, he nodded.
Mr. Wang instructed the butler to take me upstairs. The butler wasn't too friendly toward me, but I didn't mind. He was simply doing his duty.
Upstairs in the villa, there was another, smaller living room. The rooms were distributed on either side of two hallways. The hallways resembled two hands that had come together and then spread out, cradling the living room.
If the villa's design was a typical feng shui layout, the design of this room was clearly tailored for Mr. Wang's beloved daughter. While it didn't provide any significant feng shui benefits, it reflected the deep love of a father. But the love of the wealthy is something that the poor cannot understand.
"Chen Bo, you mentioned that the young master passed away three years ago. Could you tell me more about the specific situation?"
I noticed a photo on the wall—a picture of a brother and sister. Although they were fraternal twins, they looked strikingly alike. If not for the different clothes, it would be difficult to tell them apart.
Chen Bo didn't respond right away, his eyes showing signs of impatience. I understood what he meant: if I didn't have the skills, I shouldn't waste time here. After all, someone like Mr. Wang, with his status, wouldn't easily divulge family matters.
I smiled and walked toward the left hallway.
The moment I stepped onto the hallway, Huang Jiu moved inside my bag. I stopped.
There was some yin energy—weak, but flowing. It brushed against me, even through my clothes, sending a cold chill down my spine.
Normally, yin energy gathers in one place, and if there's no source, it dissipates after a few days. But the energy that lingers must come from either a gathering place or something nearby with malevolent forces.
This flowing yin energy in the hallway was rare. It could only mean one thing: it had been drawn in by some kind of trap or arrangement.
I turned back, heading toward the right hallway.
Sure enough, there was more flowing yin energy here as well.
This wasn't a good sign. What had originally been two hands now seemed like ghostly hands, and the longer they held onto the "gem," the more sinister it would become.
I'd already checked the villa's general layout, and everything seemed fine. So, where was this yin energy coming from?
I paused for a few seconds, then turned left again.
Chen Bo, following behind me, was growing more impatient. "Do you even have any skills? If not, stop wasting our time. The young lady and Mr. Wang are already exhausted from all this. We can't afford to let you drain their energy for nothing."
It was natural that people would look down on me if I didn't show anything useful. After all, who wouldn't judge others this way?
I said nothing and stopped in front of the second room in the left hallway. I turned to Chen Bo and said, "This should be the young lady's room, right?"
Annoyed and impatient, Chen Bo hadn't introduced the room to me. Now, seeing that I had directly found his young lady's room, his expression showed a hint of surprise.
I tilted my head toward the door, signaling him to open it.
Chen Bo hesitated for a moment and warned me, "The young lady just managed to fall asleep. Please don't disturb her."
I reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll be gentle. I just want to take a quick look."
Chen Bo finally gave in and gently turned the doorknob. The moment he cracked the door open, a black mist surged out. But after a brief swirl, it shrank back inside.
Chen Bo couldn't see it with his naked eyes, but he could feel the coldness. He shivered slightly and muttered, "Ever since the young lady's incident, her room has been unnaturally cold, and even the air conditioning doesn't help."
The yin energy was mixed with malevolent forces. Of course, air conditioning wouldn't help.
I didn't respond, but gently pushed the door open and peeked inside.
It was broad daylight outside, and the sunlight streamed in through large windows. But inside the room, the light was noticeably dimmer than elsewhere.
I glanced around and then focused on the large round pink bed in the center of the room. A girl, about my age, was lying on it. Her complexion was pale and slightly thin. Even while sleeping, her brow was furrowed, and she occasionally trembled as if trapped in a nightmare.
I activated my spiritual vision and saw two streams of black energy swirling from the southwest. They met above her head and formed a vortex. The black energy in the center fluctuated—sometimes dispersing, sometimes condensing.
When it dispersed, a phantom image of an animal appeared in the center.
I turned back to Chen Bo and said, "Chen Bo, why don't you step aside? There may be something you'll find too frightening to see."
Chen Bo snorted dismissively. "I've lived more than fifty years. I've seen all kinds of things while following Mr. Wang. What's there to be afraid of?"
Since he wasn't bothered, I figured I wouldn't say much more. Huang Jiu's existence was something I couldn't keep hidden forever. It had its uses in many situations.
I placed the bag on the floor, unzipped it, and Huang Jiu immediately stuck his head out. "I can't breathe in here!" he grumbled.
Chen Bo stumbled back, his face pale. He had to lean against the wall to stabilize himself.
I grinned and asked, "Chen Bo, ever seen a talking yellow weasel before?"
Chen Bo, though taken aback, quickly regained his composure. His face turned slightly red as he replied honestly, "Well, no, I haven't. But I've seen mediums with spirits possess them. Li Yang, are you a medium?"
Since he had already changed his way of addressing me, I realized that if I'd known how useful Huang Jiu would be, I should have brought him out sooner.
I grabbed Huang Jiu's head and pulled him out of the bag.
Huang Jiu, wearing his floral shorts, swiftly hopped onto my shoulder and confidently said, "Old man, now that you know who I am, hurry up and show some respect by offering me a big rooster!"
Chen Bo, probably having seen mediums before, quickly composed himself. When Huang Jiu made his demand, Chen Bo hurriedly bowed, as if to prepare the rooster.
I quickly stopped him and said, "Don't listen to him. Come with me to the young lady's room."
I then gave Huang Jiu a light tap on the head. He muttered, "Li Yang, why do you always pick on my head?"
I made sure to do this for Chen Bo's benefit. I didn't want Huang Jiu stealing all the attention.