The Truth

Before He Xunxian could speak, Madam Cao frowned and said, "Doctor Li, what are you doing..."

In her eyes, even if the two addressed each other as fellow Daoists, Daoist He was at least a senior. For this young man to act so boisterously as a junior was truly impolite, not to mention that the money her family was willing to give had nothing to do with him.

"Oh, it is no matter. Aside from making offerings to the Three Pure Ones and performing what good deeds I can, money is of little use to a man of the cloth. Since Fellow Daoist Li has said so, I shall return it to Chairman Cao."

He Xunxian cursed the brat for being incredibly cunning. He hadn't appeared a moment sooner or later, but chose to pop up just as he had received the money and was preparing to leave. Despite his deep frustration, he maintained a breezy, detached air as he retrieved the check and handed it back to Chairman Cao with both hands.

"This, how could I accept this? Daoist He, it is quite alright, please keep it. I cannot let you go through all this trouble for nothing."

Chairman Cao was stunned; he had not expected the man to truly treat money like dirt and return it without hesitation.

Tingsong and Wentao, the two young acolytes, glared fiercely at Li Bai. This guy had made them spit out the meat they had just swallowed; he was truly detestable.

He Xunxian's tactic of advancing by retreating caused the atmosphere in the room to subtly turn against Li Bai, and the expressions of the Cao family members were clearly displeased.

Li Bai acted as if he didn't see the angry glares of the two acolytes behind Daoist He and said, "I can treat this illness, and it won't cost much. There is no need to trouble Fellow Daoist He!" Having said that, he stared directly at He Xunxian.

Damn, these pretentious hypocrites are so annoying. I can't let them get away with it; they need to get lost, and fast!

"If that is the case, then I shall leave it to Fellow Daoist Li."

Unexpectedly, He Xunxian cursed the little bastard in his heart, shoved the check into Chairman Cao's hand, and turned to leave without a moment's hesitation.

The other party had snatched his business with such an ugly display, and while he appeared to walk away with graceful magnanimity, in reality, he was completely unable to deal with this psychiatrist.

The master and his two disciples hadn't walked far from the Cao villa when Tingsong said with great reluctance, "Master, that brat was so arrogant, are we just going to leave like this?"

"That's right! We should have engaged him in a magical duel to let him know the methods of our Qingliang Temple."

Seeing that the check had been returned, Wentao thought of his soon-to-be-lost bonus and felt a sharp pang of regret.

"What do you know? That kid is cunning. Do not act rashly until we have figured out his background."

The fact that the young man could name the Zhu You Shu and see through the ether made He Xunxian feel an inexplicable sense of trepidation, as if everything he did was laid bare before the other man, with no secrets left to hide.

To play the part of an expert and swindle wealthy clients who didn't care about money, the three Daoists of Qingliang Temple had put in a great deal of effort. They had not only rigorously researched various monsters and ghosts but also developed a series of talismans, magical artifacts, Daoist formations, and ritual techniques. They were quite professional; even if viewed as magic tricks or stage performances, they were highly valuable.

How could a scam art without substance possibly fool anyone?

As a result, they had indeed hoodwinked quite a few big spenders, making the business of Qingliang Temple more prosperous with each passing day.

However, a fake is a fake, and no matter what, it could never become real. Once exposed, these scam techniques, which were no different from magic tricks, would lose all their appeal.

The reason Qingliang Temple could operate as it did today, aside from the three Daoists diligently honing their various "spells," was their caution. They carefully analyzed and studied every major client to find the most secure way to gain their complete trust and have them willingly hand over their money. This was the survival strategy of Qingliang Temple; they were not short-sighted swindlers who hit and ran. At the very least, if they were going to scam someone, they did it with dedication.

In fact, He Xunxian's caution was pure foresight, saving himself and his two disciples from a disaster.

"Doctor Li, Daoist He meant no harm!"

Watching the backs of the three Daoists disappear outside the villa gate, Chairman Cao couldn't help but sigh, awkwardly clutching the check.

"No harm? Then why did he use ether on your daughter?"

Li Bai glanced at him sideways.

"Ether?"

It wasn't just Chairman Cao; even Madam Cao, who had been about to scold him, widened her eyes in shock, barely able to believe her ears.

"Ether is a chemical that can be used as an anesthetic, but it has significant side effects, so it is rarely used. It is primarily used in industry and pharmaceutical production."

As a professional doctor, Li Bai knew the properties of ether like the back of his hand.

That man surnamed He and his two disciples had been honest enough to return the check and leave obediently, escaping the disaster of being slapped in the face on the spot.

"Ah! How can that be? Then what about that ancient evil object?"

Chairman Cao looked incredulous as he looked down at the clearly visible white mark on the floor. According to Daoist He, this was the trace left by a Yu after it had performed a "Sand Shot."

"The reason the monster appeared is because he walked around earlier, secretly sprinkling a special chemical, and then remotely detonated another chemical. The reaction left a mark—much like how lye turns red when it meets turmeric powder. It's that type of chemical reaction."

Li Bai's Glazed Heart had long since captured every detail of the marks on the floor, not even missing the remnants of the celluloid container that hadn't burned away, and he had immediately identified the cause.

Furthermore, when he had stood before Daoist He earlier, he had already noticed the remote control in the man's sleeve.

"Ah!"

This time, even Madam Cao was dumbfounded.

She recalled that Daoist He's pacing had indeed been as suspicious as Doctor Li described.

She had thought it was a secret Daoist technique, but once explained, it was nothing more than middle-school chemistry.

"As for this Spirit Calming Jade."

Li Bai's gaze fell on the pendant still held in Chairman Cao's hand. He sniffed and said, "The jade is a fine piece, no doubt, but the key lies in the sachet below it. This fragrance should be made from a variety of spices meant to calm the mind. Hmm, the scent is a bit sharp and unnatural; it must be a concentrated extract."

In just a few words, he had completely stripped away the methods He Xunxian had used at the Cao residence. If He Xunxian and his two disciples had insisted on staying, their faces would likely be swollen from slaps by now.

"Daoist He actually dared to drug Qiuqing?"

Chairman Cao's expression darkened. He angrily tossed aside the Spirit Calming Jade pendant and rushed into his daughter's room to check on her condition.

Madam Cao, worried for her daughter, followed closely behind. They had thought they had found a high-level expert, only to realize they had been dealing with con artists.

Once the truth was exposed, Chairman Cao and his wife were both shocked and furious, followed by a lingering sense of fear. Being swindled out of money was a small matter, but if they had delayed their daughter's treatment, the regret would have been unbearable.

"There is no need for the two of you to worry. The dosage I administered was quite small, and with the room being well-ventilated, the effects will dissipate very quickly."

Li Bai, who had finally reached the room, spoke as he reached out to gently press his finger against Cao Qiuqing's Renzhong Acupoint.

A faint, imperceptible thread of pure Gang Qi vibrated at his fingertip; stimulating the Renzhong Acupoint was the most effective method to restore consciousness and rapidly neutralize the effects of anesthesia.

"Mmm!"

Cao Qiuqing, the Cao Family's Youngest Daughter, let out a soft groan in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze gradually cleared as she regained consciousness from her daze.

However, her expression quickly turned peculiar. Her face grew increasingly pale, her eyes filled with terror, and her entire body began to tremble.

She truly looked as if she were possessed by an evil spirit; it was no wonder Chairman Cao had invited someone from Qingliang Temple.

Seeing his daughter suffering another episode, Chairman Cao felt a heartache so intense he wanted to bash his head against a wall. He urged Li Bai anxiously, "Doctor Li, please, think of something! My daughter is having another episode."

"Doctor Li, I beg you, save my daughter! Name your price—we will pay you anything."

Madam Cao, who had previously been quite dissatisfied with Li Bai for driving away Daoist He and his two companions, was now driven by maternal love, her voice thick with tears.

Snap!

The sound of a finger snap echoed.

Without the need for words or tools, a single snap was enough to reach directly into the mind.

Cao Qiuqing's expression inexplicably relaxed, her eyes slowly closed, and she returned to a state of sleep.

"Ah!"

Madam Cao gasped in surprise. She had watched Li Bai snap his fingers in a casual, understated manner, yet her daughter had immediately ceased her terrified, restless behavior and drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Chairman Cao was equally incredulous. Just as he began to suspect that this psychologist had used some form of anesthetic, Li Bai took the initiative to explain.

"This is a form of Zhu You Shu. Well, perhaps 'hypnosis' is a term you would find easier to understand. Most importantly, it has no side effects; everything is under control."

Chairman Cao and his wife nodded in unison, their surprise fading. Hypnosis was not some sort of magic practiced by Immortals, but rather a relatively unique professional skill.

The two of them simply hadn't expected this young psychologist to possess such a talent. It was no wonder Daoist He had turned and left without a word; it was likely that even the Daoists at Qingliang Temple might not know how to perform hypnosis.