A Self-Directed Performance, Arrogant Evil Cultivator

"Fierce?"

Lin Chen's eyes lit up, a flicker of excitement crossing his face. The fiercer the ghost, the stronger its strength, and the more Origin he could harvest.

He knew Master Yi Jie's capabilities well. Even injured, a First-order Ghost was nothing more than crumbling clay and rotten wood to him, and he could even hold his own against an ordinary Second-order Ghost.

For something to leave Master Yi Jie helpless, it had to be at least a Second-order Ghost, or even a Third-order Ghost—and that meant a gleaming pile of Origin!

"Bold move, a mere ghost daring to run rampant and harm people. This Young Master will make sure it's ground to ash!" Lin Chen sneered coldly.

Master Yi Jie harbored no doubt about Lin Chen's words. After all, he had personally witnessed a peak Third-order Mummy being crushed to dust by Lin Chen.

With Master Yi Jie driving, the two soon arrived at their destination. Looking at the standalone villa before him, Lin Chen couldn't help but sigh.

Even though he wasn't short on money now, a villa like this was still something he could only gaze at from afar!

"Master Yi Jie, your Vajra Temple's benefactors really aren't ordinary!" Lin Chen glanced at Master Yi Jie beside him.

Hearing this, Master Yi Jie didn't hide the truth. "This benefactor's surname is Wu. He's the chairman of Wu Corporation."

Wu Corporation?

A hint of surprise flashed across Lin Chen's face. Wu Corporation had some reputation in Qingzhou. Word had it that the Wu Family was worth tens of billions. A standalone villa like this was nothing to them.

"Damn, I underestimated these monks. No wonder emperors in ancient times loved to suppress Buddhism when they ran out of money!" Lin Chen mused inwardly. A benefactor worth tens of billions—just a sliver from their pockets would be enough to keep a temple's incense burning bright.

"Master Yi Jie, Master Lin, please, hurry inside!"

As soon as Lin Chen and the other got out of the car, a slightly anxious middle-aged man, flanked by several bodyguards, rushed over to greet them.

"Benefactor Wu, no need to worry. Benefactor Lin's skill surpasses this humble monk's. With him handling this, Miss Wu's matter will be resolved with ease." Master Yi Jie looked at Wu Hongbin.

Perhaps Master Yi Jie's words had an effect; the anxiety on Wu Hongbin's face visibly lessened, and he regained some of the composure and decisiveness befitting a tycoon worth tens of billions.

"Interesting!"

A glint of sharpness flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. Master Yi Jie's words just now weren't mere talk—they seemed to carry some special technique that could calm the mind and soothe the spirit.

"Master Lin, I'm in your debt!"

Wu Hongbin looked at Lin Chen, showing no disregard for his youth. After all, this was someone even Master Yi Jie acknowledged.

Under Wu Hongbin's lead, the group entered the villa and arrived at Miss Wu's room. There, a pale-faced woman lay on a luxurious large bed.

"It's her!"

Looking at the woman on the bed, Lin Chen was momentarily stunned. This was the woman he had encountered last night. Who would have thought that after all this circling around, they'd meet again.

Seeing Lin Chen frozen, Master Yi Jie spoke up. "Benefactor Lin?"

"Miss Wu and I are classmates. I ran into her last night and told her she'd encountered a ghost, but she didn't believe me." Lin Chen said calmly.

"Before my daughter fell unconscious, she mentioned someone had warned her about a ghost, so I immediately sought out Master Yi Jie." Wu Hongbin paused here, then added with a sigh, "I never expected that the one who warned her was Master Lin. It's a pity my daughter didn't know what was good for her and let down your kind intentions."

"It's not Miss Wu's fault. Anyone else wouldn't have believed it easily either." Lin Chen smiled faintly.

If a stranger suddenly popped up and told you that you were haunted by a ghost, who would believe that?

Wu Hongbin's words were just a way to lower his stance, hoping Lin Chen wouldn't hold a grudge. Lin Chen wasn't about to take such pleasantries seriously.

"No time to waste. I'll—"

Just as Lin Chen was about to make his move, a bodyguard hurried into the room. He seemed to have something urgent, but hesitated to speak directly out of consideration for Lin Chen and Master Yi Jie.

Seeing the bodyguard's reluctance, Wu Hongbin's face darkened, and his tone turned icy. "Say what you have to say. Master Yi Jie and Master Lin are no outsiders!"

"There's a man outside who claims he can cure the young lady's illness."

"Interesting!"

Lin Chen stopped his actions at that, turning his gaze to Master Yi Jie. "Looks like someone's got their eye on Vajra Temple's incense offerings."

Master Yi Jie's expression soured. He understood perfectly what Lin Chen meant. Miss Wu had just fallen ill, and someone showed up offering to treat her—how could that be a coincidence?

Wu Hongbin's face was even darker. He had thought his daughter had simply stumbled into a ghost by accident, but now it was clear someone had set their sights on the Wu Family!

"Benefactor Lin, just focus on treating Miss Wu. Leave the rest to Vajra Temple. We are not to be trifled with!" Master Yi Jie said in a grim tone.

"Since they're here, let's meet them first!"

Lin Chen chuckled lightly. He wanted the ghost, and he wanted the Evil Cultivator too—both were Origin!

"Very well!"

Master Yi Jie nodded slightly, and the group returned to the living room. Soon, a gaunt, sallow-faced middle-aged man with a gloomy demeanor entered the living room, escorted by a bodyguard.

The Sallow Man swept his gaze over Master Yi Jie and spoke with a light laugh. "It seems Mr. Wu has already found a master. I wonder if he can cure your daughter's illness?"

At these words, Wu Hongbin's face turned ugly. He had no problem befriending extraordinary individuals, but being schemed against was another matter entirely.

Still, his daughter wasn't out of danger yet. If Lin Chen was unwilling to provoke this man, he might have to beg for the man's help—after all, he couldn't abandon his only daughter.

"What do you want?" Wu Hongbin cut straight to the point.

"Twenty percent!" The Sallow Man smiled faintly.

"That's quite an appetite. Aren't you afraid of choking?" Wu Hongbin's face darkened. He had expected the man to ask for a king's ransom, but he hadn't anticipated such greed.

Twenty percent of what? The Wu Family's assets, of course!

At least two to three billion!

"Since Mr. Wu has invited an expert, you should know that besides This Humble One, no one can cure your daughter's illness!" The Sallow Man said with a faint smile, then continued, "And I can guarantee that from now on, no one in the Wu Family will suffer from a similar ailment again!"

Wu Hongbin's face turned extremely ugly, but his gaze shifted to Master Yi Jie and Lin Chen beside him. If the two of them didn't step in, he would have no choice but to bleed himself dry.

"Vajra Temple, Yi Jie!" Master Yi Jie looked at the Sallow Man.

"Stinking monk, can't cut it yourself, so you're calling in the big guns?" The Sallow Man sneered, then added, "Friendly reminder, Miss Wu has at most half a day left!"

"You..."

Master Yi Jie was furious inside but didn't lash out immediately. The Sallow Man was no weaker than him at his peak, and now that he was injured, he was no match.

Rushing in would only bring humiliation!

"I can't take it anymore. This is the first time I've seen someone so arrogant, putting on a whole show and still acting so righteous." Lin Chen looked at the Sallow Man and chuckled, "The last guy who dared to act this cocky in front of me? Young Master sold his coffin lid."