Huaxiang Tower

Qin Yang asked no further after that, simply telling Li Baling to rest more.

After a few casual remarks, he and Zhao He took their leave.

"Nephew, care to chat for a moment?"

Li Tong caught up and called out to Qin Yang.

"Zhao He, wait for me at the gate."

Qin Yang said softly.

Zhao He nodded lightly and walked ahead.

Qin Yang and Li Tong went to a corner of the garden.

"Nephew, from what you said just now, it sounds like you've noticed something?"

Li Tong asked urgently.

Qin Yang gazed at Li Tong's weary, aged face and said seriously, "I think Baling might not be sick, but rather haunted by something unclean."

He hadn't said it in the room earlier for fear of scaring Li Baling.

The guy was already tormented enough by nightmares; a fright could really cause trouble.

"I... I actually thought the same." Li Tong sighed softly.

He had long suspected Li Baling wasn't suffering from some strange illness but was possessed.

In this world, beliefs in ghosts and gods were widespread, and many people believed.

"Uncle Li, didn't you try inviting some Taoist priests or monks?" Qin Yang asked.

"I've invited every famous priest and monk in the city. The moment they heard about Baling's condition, none dared to come."

"At most, they drew a few peace talismans, which were utterly useless."

"Do you know any experts in this area, nephew?"

Li Tong's eyes held hope.

Qin Yang smiled bitterly inside.

He only knew one expert who could deal with evil spirits and ghosts.

That was Yin Hezi, who had saved him at the Broken Temple.

But he and Yin Hezi had parted after just one meeting, and he had no idea where that corpse driver had gone.

"No, I don't." Qin Yang shook his head directly.

"Then... what do we do?" Li Tong sighed helplessly.

"I think the problem might be at Huaxiang Tower."

"I'll go investigate and see what's really going on."

Qin Yang said softly.

He had a clear sense of gratitude and grudges. Li Baling had helped him once, so he couldn't just stand by and let him die.

Besides, Yin Hezi had once said that his blood energy was strong enough; as long as it wasn't a place as ominous as the Broken Temple, he could handle ordinary evil spirits.

"Nephew, should I send a few people to assist you?"

Li Tong spoke gravely, as if grasping at a last straw.

"No need." Qin Yang refused outright.

Li Tong definitely couldn't hire a Qi Gathering Martial Artist.

Ordinary Blood Moving Martial Artists would only hold him back, so it was better to go without.

"Then be careful."

At this moment, Li Tong was filled with gratitude toward Qin Yang.

He never expected that the one who could finally help Li Baling would be one of his former worthless friends.

Qin Yang exchanged a few pleasantries and then walked out of the Li Mansion.

"Zhao He, you know where Yi Hai and Han Zhiye live, right?"

Qin Yang asked casually.

"I do. You want to go see them?" Zhao He looked surprised.

"Haven't seen them in a while. Thought I'd drop by." Qin Yang smiled.

"Really?" Zhao He was full of suspicion.

"Of course it's true. Would a brother lie to you?"

Qin Yang smiled.

"Then let's go to Yi Hai's place first. It's the closest." Zhao He said casually.

For a Young Master like him, idle time was idle time—anywhere was fine for killing time, and it didn't matter.

The two wandered a bit more through the Inner City before arriving at an ordinary residence.

It was clear that the Yi Residence was far inferior to the Li Mansion, barely counting as a well-off household.

"What's going on?" Zhao He's expression shifted to shock and doubt.

He saw white mourning silk hung high over the Yi Residence, and occasional wailing drifted out from within.

"Son, how could you be so foolish?"

"If you're gone, what am I supposed to do?"

A sharp, tearful cry rang out from inside the residence.

Qin Yang and Zhao He exchanged a glance, then stepped into the residence.

A coffin sat in the main hall, surrounded by over a dozen figures in mourning clothes.

When Qin Yang spotted the spirit tablet placed atop the coffin, his brow furrowed.

The name Yi Hai was clearly written on it.

"Did you bring any money?"

Qin Yang asked softly.

"A bit," Zhao He replied, at a loss.

He hadn't expected Yi Hai to be dead.

"Give them the money first."

Qin Yang and Zhao He went to offer condolence money, a small gesture of their intent.

Yi Hai's father, dressed in mourning clothes, poured them both a cup of tea.

"Uncle, Yi Hai was fine before—how did he suddenly..." Zhao He couldn't help asking.

Yi's father sighed heavily. "I don't know either. These past few days, Yi Hai kept having nightmares. He couldn't sleep, his spirit was terrible, and then yesterday, he couldn't take it anymore—he hanged himself."

Hearing the cause of Yi Hai's death, Zhao He's face went pale.

But Qin Yang suddenly stood up, pulling Zhao He along to offer incense to Yi Hai.

Then the two took their leave from Yi's father.

"Qin Yang, you heard how Yi Hai died, right?"

"It's exactly the same as Li Baling's strange illness. I feel like they've been possessed by something."

Zhao He had also realized something was off.

"Who's next?" Qin Yang didn't elaborate, asking softly.

"Han Zhiye. His place is in the Inner City too."

Zhao He answered instinctively.

This time, his pace quickened noticeably, desperate to find out Han Zhiye's situation.

But when they arrived at the Han Residence, they happened to see a funeral procession leaving the gates.

A Daoist priest at the front chanted a strange-sounding requiem, paper money flew through the air, and weeping filled the scene.

Crackle, pop~~~

The sound of firecrackers came from ahead.

The smoke from the firecrackers grew thicker, gradually swallowing the funeral procession.

Qin Yang and Zhao He stood there, watching the procession disappear at the street corner, the sounds of crying still lingering in their ears.

"Han Zhiye's dead too?" Zhao He's scalp went numb.

"Yeah, it should be him."

"I saw his parents holding his spirit tablet."

Qin Yang said softly.

"Li Baling, Yi Hai, Han Zhiye—all of them met with misfortune."

"Then that leaves Zhang Zhengde."

Zhao He's voice began to tremble.

"Do you think there's any point in going?" Qin Yang said indifferently.

"They... could it be that they all ran into trouble after going to Huaxiang Tower?"

Zhao He suddenly spoke.

"Probably. We'll have to go to Huaxiang Tower and see to know."

Qin Yang didn't jump to conclusions.

"I'm not going to see this Qin Yang."

Zhao He shook his head fearfully.

Qin Yang could understand and nodded. "Then I'll go alone."

After parting ways with Zhao He, Qin Yang headed toward Huaxiang Tower.

This most renowned den of pleasure in Linjiang City stood five stories tall, adorned with many lanterns.

But since it was still daytime, Huaxiang Tower appeared quite desolate, with only two burly men guarding the entrance.

"Young Master, we're not open for business yet. Come back tonight."

One of the burly men stopped Qin Yang as he tried to enter.

"Is that so."

"I want to book a room."

Qin Yang said indifferently.

Hearing this, the burly man immediately changed his tune, flattering, "Then come in and have some tea first. I'll go fetch the manager."

The so-called manager was really just the madam.

Soon.

A gaudily dressed, fading beauty of a woman walked over.

"I thought it was someone else—turns out it's Young Master Qin."

"You haven't been here in ages. The girls have missed you to death."

The madam beamed even brighter upon seeing Qin Yang.