Chapter 42: Probing and Rejuvenation Talisman

Where the green light emitted by that talisman passed, the pain in my body immediately vanished, my wounds healed, and the bruises disappeared.
However, there were too many and too scattered wounds on my body, requiring Yi Zhiqiu to hold the Rejuvenation Talisman and treat them little by little.

“Wait, you’re using a Daoist talisman to treat me?
That’s too wasteful; these flesh wounds will heal on their own in a few days,” I said regretfully.
According to Xiao Qing, even a second-hand talisman cost one or two thousand, so wouldn’t this complete Daoist talisman be worth tens of thousands?
Moreover, with the Rejuvenation Talisman’s instant healing effect, it could save a life if used at a critical moment.
Yet, he used it to treat my flesh wounds, when I could have just gone to the hospital for disinfection and some Tianqi powder.

“It’s not wasteful.
This is what I owe you.
I caused you these injuries.
I promised to protect you well,” Yi Zhiqiu said earnestly.

“Eh?
But that’s not your fault.
The Painted Skin Ghost used a feint to draw you away,” I said.
I could still distinguish right from wrong, and regardless, Yi Zhiqiu had saved my life.

“No, it’s not.
Actually, I had already eliminated that skin.
After that, I was observing the whole time, and when I saw you being grabbed by the Painted Skin Ghost, getting battered and almost dying, I then confirmed that you really hadn’t cultivated evil arts,” Yi Zhiqiu explained.

No wonder I wondered why he arrived so late; it turned out he was testing me.
My face darkened as I said, “What are you thinking?
Before encountering the Painted Skin Ghost, I was just an ordinary student.
I had no idea ghosts even existed, so how could I possibly be cultivating evil arts?”

“Because I noticed you could sense the surrounding ominous aura just now, and you even absorbed vital energy from me, which is why I suspected you had prior contact with the supernatural,” Yi Zhiqiu said while treating me.

“Are you referring to the chilling aura in this park?
Hiss!
It feels a bit cold.” Stripped bare, I shivered from the biting cold aura.
Only when Yi Zhiqiu channeled spiritual energy from the Rejuvenation Talisman into my body did I feel slightly warmer.

“Yes, this park is filled with pear trees, which are inherently yin-aligned.
The language of pear blossoms also carries meanings of sadness, pain, loneliness, and melancholy, and the word ‘pear’ sounds like ‘to leave’ .
Yin energy naturally converges here, making it very suitable for summoning and attracting ghosts,” Yi Zhiqiu replied.

“So that’s why you brought me here, to use me as bait?” I asked, deliberately avoiding the topic of absorbing vital energy.
I guessed that vital energy was that very warm aura from him just now, and when I touched it, I felt a strong urge to absorb it.

“I’m sorry, I must apologize to you.
If you need me to compensate for emotional damages, I can do so,” Yi Zhiqiu said.

“No, that’s not necessary.
I agreed to be the bait myself, and getting injured is my own fault,” I said, feigning unhappiness, trying to divert his attention.

However, Yi Zhiqiu still recalled the main topic: “You can sense ominous aura.
This must be because the ominous aura entered your body when you were attacked by the Painted Skin Ghost, allowing you to perceive the flow of energy to some extent.
Many people thus open their Yin-Yang Eyes and can see ghosts.
This is a very dangerous thing; you must not continue to explore the supernatural world.”

Indeed, there were no records of the Painted Skin Ghost causing someone to become a ghost-transformed being.
Even though Yi Zhiqiu discovered that I could sense ominous aura and even absorb vital energy, he never considered the possibility that I had become a ghost-transformed being.
Conversely, his suspicion that I had previously dabbled in evil arts was probably an unconscious assumption that I couldn’t have become a ghost-transformed being because of the Painted Skin Ghost.

“Okay, I understand.” I nodded, agreeing with him.
Xiao Qing and Senior Sister Mo had also said that being able to see ghosts was a very dangerous thing.
I didn’t plan to delve deeper into it from now on; I only hoped I could selectively not see ghosts in the future.

“Hmm, almost done with the treatment.” Yi Zhiqiu raised the Rejuvenation Talisman and checked my body again, but as soon as he saw Xia Yubing’s beautiful body, he quickly turned his head away.
The conversation just now had distracted him, and now that he was fully aware again, he couldn’t maintain his composure.
Xia Yubing’s body, with its restored fair and tender skin, was even more beautiful and alluring.

“Uh, my butt actually still hurts quite a bit,” I said, feeling a little awkward.
I had been sitting the whole time, so Yi Zhiqiu naturally couldn’t treat my butt.
When the Painted Skin Ghost grabbed me and ran, I hit my backside several times, and it still hurt.

I stood up and turned around.
Yi Zhiqiu immediately turned too, handing me the Rejuvenation Talisman: “Miss Xia, please treat yourself.
Just paste the talisman onto your skin.
This Rejuvenation Talisman still has about half its spiritual power, and it’s not very convenient for me.”

“Thank you, but you called me Miss Xia again.” I took the Rejuvenation Talisman and, upon pasting it onto my butt, the pain indeed vanished instantly.
I then handed the Rejuvenation Talisman back.

“Alright, Xia Yubing, you don’t need to return the Rejuvenation Talisman to me.
Consider this Rejuvenation Talisman a gift to you, as compensation for my earlier test,” Yi Zhiqiu said.

“Alright then, thank you.” I gratefully accepted the Rejuvenation Talisman.
This way, I could at least repay Xiao Qing for the half Daoist talisman she used for me earlier.

“Let’s go back,” Yi Zhiqiu said.
I nodded, and together we returned to the open ground of the park.
Indeed, as soon as we left the pear tree grove, we heard the police’s discussions and saw them busily cleaning up the scene, like two completely different worlds from the pear tree grove.

The police officers brought two wooden buckets covered with black talismans, placed the mutilated remains of the Painted Skin Ghost into them, and sealed the top with Daoist talismans.
They even sealed them separately, which was indeed very professional.
The commanding officer was listening to his subordinate’s report, his face grim, completely devoid of the relief and joy that usually came from eliminating an evil ghost.
Instead, when he saw us return, his gaze fell upon me.

“Miss Xia, I have some rather bad news to inform you of.
Please prepare yourself mentally first,” the officer said solemnly.

“Wha, what?” I looked at him with some worry.
So serious right after returning, could it be some news that’s not good for me?

“According to the information relayed by the officers investigating the case, your parents have both been killed.
They were most likely murdered by that evil ghost,” the officer stated.

“Huh?” I was stunned for a moment.
Of course, I knew my parents had been killed by the Painted Skin Ghost; I had even personally visited the scene this morning.
But how did they know it was my parents who died?
Could it be that the police had discovered my true identity?
Just as I was about to panic, the officer seemed to assume I was stunned by overwhelming grief and continued, “Mr.
and Mrs.
Xia were killed in their home.
They had been deceased for some time when we discovered them.
We are truly sorry that we didn’t discover the evil ghost’s mischief in time.”

“Eh?” I was stunned again, then immediately realized: he wasn’t talking about my parents, was he?
He must be referring to Xia Yubing’s parents!