Huaxiang Tower

When Qin Yang had asked this much, he did not continue questioning Li Baling, merely telling him to rest well.

After chatting for a few more moments, he and Zhao He took their leave.

"Nephew, could you come over for a few words?"

Li Tong hurried after them and called out to Qin Yang.

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

Qin Yang said softly.

Zhao He nodded lightly and went on ahead.

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

"Nephew, from what you said earlier, it seemed like you discovered something?"

Li Tong asked anxiously.

Looking at Li Tong's weary, aged face, Qin Yang said seriously, "I think Baling may not be sick. He may have been entangled by some filthy thing."

He had not said it in the room earlier because he was afraid of frightening Li Baling.

The fellow had already been tormented badly enough by nightmares. If he were given another scare, something might really happen.

"I... I've actually been thinking the same thing." Li Tong sighed faintly.

He had long suspected that Li Baling had not contracted some strange illness, but had been afflicted by evil.

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

"Then Uncle Li, haven't you tried inviting some Taoist priests or monks over?" Qin Yang asked.

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

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

"Does nephew happen to know any masters in this field?"

Li Tong's gaze was filled with anticipation.

Qin Yang smiled bitterly inwardly.

He had only met one master capable of dealing with evil spirits and ghosts.

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

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

"No." Qin Yang shook his head directly.

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

"I think Huaxiang Tower may have a problem."

"I'll investigate and see what exactly is going on."

Qin Yang said quietly.

He was a man who drew clear lines between gratitude and grudges. Li Baling had helped him once, so he could not simply stand by and watch him die.

Besides, Yin Hezi had once said that his qi and blood were strong enough. As long as it was not a place of great evil like the Broken Temple, he should be able to handle ordinary evil entities.

"Nephew, shall I hire a few more people to assist you?"

As though clutching at his last straw, Li Tong asked in a grave voice.

"No." Qin Yang refused outright.

Li Tong definitely could not hire a Qi Gathering Martial Artist.

Ordinary Blood Moving Martial Artists would only hold him back. Better to have none at all.

"Then be careful in everything."

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

He had never expected that the one who could help Li Baling in the end would be one of his former fair-weather friends.

After responding with a few words, Qin Yang walked out of Li Mansion.

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

Qin Yang asked casually.

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

"I haven't seen them in a long time. I'm going to visit them." Qin Yang smiled.

"Really?" Zhao He was full of suspicion.

"Of course it's true. Would I lie to my brother?"

Qin Yang laughed.

"Then let's go to Yi Hai's place first. His home is closest to here." Zhao He said casually.

In any case, for a young master like him, being idle was being idle. Going anywhere was merely a way to pass the time, so it did not matter.

The two wandered around the Inner City for a while longer before arriving at an ordinary residence.

It was clear that Yi Residence was far inferior to Li Mansion. It could only be considered a moderately well-off household.

"What's going on?" Zhao He looked startled and doubtful.

He saw white mourning cloth hanging high outside Yi Residence, while cries occasionally drifted out from within.

"Son, why were you so foolish?"

"What am I supposed to do now that you're dead?"

A shrill wail came from inside the residence.

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

They saw a coffin placed in the main hall, with more than a dozen figures dressed in mourning clothes gathered around it.

When Qin Yang saw the memorial tablet resting atop the coffin, his brows furrowed.

The name Yi Hai was written on it.

"Did you bring money?"

Qin Yang asked softly.

"I brought some..." Zhao He seemed at a loss.

He had never imagined that Yi Hai would be dead.

"Let's give it first."

Qin Yang and Zhao He went to offer funeral money as a small token of their condolences.

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

"Uncle, Yi Hai was fine before. How did he suddenly..."

Zhao He could not help asking.

Yi Hai's father could only sigh repeatedly. "I don't know either. These past few days, Yi Hai kept having nightmares. He couldn't sleep, and his spirits were terrible. Then yesterday, he couldn't bear it anymore and hanged himself."

Upon hearing how Yi Hai had died, Zhao He's face changed drastically.

But Qin Yang suddenly stood up and pulled Zhao He over to offer incense to Yi Hai.

Then the two bid farewell to Yi Hai's father and left.

"Qin Yang, you heard how Yi Hai died too, didn't you?"

"It was exactly the same as Li Baling's strange illness. Why do I feel like they've been afflicted by evil?"

Zhao He had also realized something was wrong.

"Whose house is next?" Qin Yang did not say much, merely asking quietly.

"Han Zhiye's. His family is also in the Inner City."

Zhao He answered instinctively.

This time.

His footsteps had clearly quickened, eager to learn Han Zhiye's situation.

But when he arrived at Han Residence, he happened to see a funeral procession leaving Han Residence.

A Taoist priest walked at the front, chanting salvation scriptures in a strange melody. Paper money fluttered across the sky, and mournful sobbing filled the air.

Crackle, crackle, crackle~~~

A burst of firecracker explosions sounded from ahead.

The smoke formed by the burning firecrackers grew thicker and thicker, gradually obscuring the funeral procession.

Qin Yang and Zhao He stood where they were, watching the procession vanish down the street while the sound of weeping still lingered by their ears.

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

"Mm, it should have been him."

"I saw his parents holding his memorial tablet."

Qin Yang said softly.

"Li Baling, Yi Hai, and Han Zhiye have all met with disaster."

"Then Zhang Zhengde, who remains..."

Even Zhao He's voice began to tremble.

"Do you think there's still any need to go?" Qin Yang asked blandly.

"They... could they all have gotten into trouble because they went to Huaxiang Tower?"

Zhao He suddenly said.

"Probably. We'll only know after going to Huaxiang Tower."

Qin Yang did not jump to conclusions.

"This... Qin Yang, I'm not going."

Zhao He shook his head fearfully.

Qin Yang understood and nodded. "Then I'll go by myself."

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

The most famous den of tenderness in Linjiang City was a five-story building hung with countless lanterns.

But it was still daytime, so Huaxiang Tower appeared exceedingly deserted. Only two burly men stood guard at the entrance.

"Young master, business hasn't started yet. Come back tonight."

Seeing Qin Yang about to enter Huaxiang Tower, one of the burly men stopped him.

"Is that so?"

"I want to reserve a room."

Qin Yang said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, the burly man immediately changed his expression and said ingratiatingly, "Then please come in and have a cup of tea first. I'll go find the manager."

The so-called manager was actually the madam.

Very soon.

A flamboyantly dressed, middle-aged woman walked over.

"I was wondering who it was. So it's Young Master Qin."

"You haven't come in such a long time. The girls have missed you to death."

When the madam saw Qin Yang, her smile grew even brighter.