Chapter Two: The Sudden Appearance of Demonic Traces

“Sir, you want to go to the Mid-Levels now? Are you living there or are you visiting someone? I just heard on the radio there’s been an incident—a huge explosion! They say there might even be terrorists causing trouble,” the taxi driver asked hesitantly, eyeing Shi Jun in the rearview mirror. “Are you sure you want to go? It’s too dangerous—who knows if there’ll be another explosion? You’re not actually going, are you? Maybe you should reconsider…”

“I have to go! Please, drive faster!” Shi Jun’s teeth itched with impatience as the driver rambled on like a nagging priest, and seeing the taxi crawl along only made his anxiety worse.

“What? You’re not going just to watch the commotion, are you? That’s really dangerous! You look so young, why don’t you value your life at all…” The driver sighed, launching into a safety lecture. Shi Jun was so annoyed he nearly passed out; seeing they’d finally reached the Mid-Levels, he quickly paid, got out, and jogged hurriedly to the site of the incident.

But upon arrival, he found he couldn’t even get through the gate—the entrance to the Mid-Levels residential complex had already been sealed off by the police. On both sides of the barricade were crowds of onlookers, exchanging whispers and craning their necks to catch a glimpse inside.

Shi Jun squeezed into the throng, stretching his neck to see plumes of smoke billowing within, something still burning, and a foul, acrid stench wafting over on the breeze, making him sneeze several times in a row. He cursed Motuo inwardly—what a lustful little demon, always lingering by the beauty’s side instead of coming to help. If only he were here, he could have slipped in unseen to investigate.

As he hesitated, Shi Jun suddenly sensed a strange surge of spiritual power behind him. Turning around, he saw it was Wang Li, and hurriedly asked, “Are you all alright? Where’s Chi Shang?”—Wang Li had clearly used an invisibility technique; as soon as Shi Jun spoke, several people nearby cast him odd looks.

“Come with me.” Wang Li turned and strode off, Shi Jun quickly following behind.

* * *

They walked briskly for quite some time, finally reaching a small grove far from the Mid-Levels. From a distance, they saw Chi Shang sitting cross-legged under a tree, eyes closed and face ashen. The black mist that usually enveloped him had thinned considerably, drifting weakly around him.

“Fifth Brother’s a bit injured, but don’t worry—it’s nothing serious,” Wang Li said lightly, though his face was grim.

The two stood in silence for a while. Seeing Chi Shang showed no signs of recovering soon, Shi Jun grew worried. Though he was bound to Chi Shang by a heart contract, he knew little of its intricacies—should he will it, he could know Chi Shang’s whereabouts or thoughts, even control him. He could also heal Chi Shang with the power of his heart, far more effective than self-healing. But Shi Jun barely understood his own abilities, and could not wield them with ease. Chi Shang, for his part, was too proud to accept help, and seeing Shi Jun offer none only suited him—he seemed rather pleased to be respected by the Underworld Envoy.

“Who were those people? Why did you end up fighting?” Shi Jun quietly asked Wang Li.

“Hell if I know! I’m still muddled myself!” Wang Li’s round face was flushed with anger. “We got here and saw chaos in the sky—turns out the little lass was fighting three guys. Well, anyone bullying our little lass can’t be decent, so we jumped in! But those bastards were tough—they injured Fifth Brother, though we hurt two of them badly as well.”

He spat heavily before continuing, “I was going to call it quits, but those dogs wouldn’t let up—they called in four more reinforcements. These newcomers were strong; even the lass got hurt. I saw we couldn’t hold out, so I told her to fetch help, and the two of us held the line. Then another bunch arrived—didn’t look like the same group. Apparently, they’d planned to fight here but were delayed. Seeing the commotion had drawn too much mortal attention, both groups agreed to postpone and left. We took the chance to slip away, though a few sore losers tried to chase us down. So, we hid out here to let Fifth Brother recover.”

Wang Li finished in one breath. Shi Jun finally pieced together the story and promptly asked, “Mei Jue said you were fighting people from the Demon Realm—is that true? Who were the others?”

“Who knows? They weren’t good people, that’s for sure!” Wang Li scratched his head. “The other lot were slickly dressed and arrogant—I didn’t like them either.”

Which was to say, he knew nothing. Shi Jun shook his head with a smile. Seeing Chi Shang’s color gradually returning, he finally relaxed a little. Soon after, Chi Shang stood, heaving a long sigh. “Those people are formidable—nearly wounded my true form… By the way, sir, you’ll need to be careful from now on.”

Shi Jun’s questioning gaze prompted Chi Shang to explain, “I overheard the two groups talking—they seemed to be searching for someone, and mentioned the Light of the Heart’s Eye! I sensed something was wrong, but given the circumstances, I couldn’t press further, and they didn’t want to say much.”

“The Light of the Heart’s Eye?” Shi Jun was astonished. “Who are they? How could they know about that?”

Chi Shang pondered, a hint of confusion on his face. “The first group was definitely from the Demon Realm—they used fire-based magic; the others, I suspect, were Celestials. There was deep animosity between them, and the reason seemed to be a race to find a mortal man with the Light of the Heart’s Eye—surely, that means you?”

Wang Li craned his neck, surprised. “Really? I didn’t hear a thing.”

“Third Brother, you were too busy bellowing in battle—your shouting was so thunderous, I could barely hear myself think!” Chi Shang laughed.

“I see… Haha, well, if you’re joking, you must be almost recovered.” Wang Li scratched his head in embarrassment.

Shi Jun thought, This is more complicated than I imagined. How could a mere mortal like me be so sought after? First the Underworld Emperor inexplicably abducted me, and now both Demon and Celestial Realms are sending people to find me? And if it’s really me they’re after, what for? Is the Light of the Heart’s Eye unique to me, or could they be looking for someone else? His mind spun with questions, but he knew they were probably looking for him. He nodded and said lightly, “Whatever. If they’re after me, we’ll meet eventually. For now, I won’t worry about it—let’s deal with it when the time comes.”

* * *

Back at Hu Hai’s place, Mei Jue explained what happened, and the group finally understood: earlier, while Mei Jue was in the Mid-Levels, she’d accidentally encountered the Demon Realm intruders. Though Mei Jue was invisible to mortals, these powerful beings saw through her, sensing her spiritual energy and questioning her rudely.

Though Mei Jue recounted the episode simply, everyone could guess—the demons were clearly enchanted by her beauty, using their questioning as a pretext to harass her, and thus the fight began. Chi Shang and his brothers arrived just in time for the ensuing chaos.

“Hmph! So this is the conduct of you Demon Realm types!” Hu Hai accused Motuo indignantly. “Harassing respectable girls in public—you’re all scoundrels!”

Mei Jue glanced at Hu Hai, surprise flickering in her beautiful eyes.

“Who are you talking about?” Motuo’s face fell as he leapt up, squawking, “What’s it to me? Don’t lump us all together! The Demon Realm is vast—of course there are a few black sheep! Is your human realm so pure? Lustful men abound, or Miss Mei Jue wouldn’t need to hide herself, right?” The last line was delivered to Mei Jue with gentle concern.

Before Mei Jue could reply, Hu Hai retorted, “Nonsense! Look at yourself—whistling and preening every time you see a beauty, then blaming others!”

With a beauty present, Hu Hai dared expose his own faults. Motuo instantly shot back, “So all demons are lechers and all mortals are saints? Sure! Your Chen Ya is greedy and deceitful—call that proper? And Li Qiang, sneaking around with her, is he noble? Please!”

Motuo’s words struck a nerve, and Hu Hai’s face flushed red. He wanted to retort but remembered he’d started the quarrel, and Motuo was always sharp-tongued. He grunted, shook his head, and said no more.

Motuo instantly regretted his words but refused to admit defeat. After a pause, he muttered, “See? Can’t take a joke…”

“Will you stop?” Chi Shang, seeing the tension, quickly interrupted and turned to Mei Jue. “Sixth Sister, are you feeling better?”

“Yes, much better. Thank you.” Mei Jue nodded absently, her face clouded with worry, as if something weighed on her heart.

Shi Jun sat quietly, observing. Why had Mei Jue appeared in the Mid-Levels for no reason? What was she doing there? Was it all a coincidence? The way she spoke, her hesitant manner—she was clearly hiding something. Could she have caused the collective suicide?

* * *

Unlike Hu Hai and Motuo, who lost their wits around Mei Jue, Shi Jun kept his head. He considered his suspicions, but with Chi Shang and Wang Li present, he couldn’t ask directly. So, he said, “It’s a blessing you siblings are free again. If it weren’t for the collective suicide incident, we should be celebrating. How about we wait until all your brothers are gathered, and then plan something?”

He noticed Mei Jue’s expression change abruptly before she lowered her head, trying to hide her reaction. Shi Jun pretended not to notice and turned to Motuo, joking, “You’re so careless, even with your brothers—no wonder Hai is upset.”

Motuo snorted, unconcerned. “Impossible! Hai and I have been insulting each other for ages—he actually likes it. If I don’t mock him daily, he gets itchy…”

“Nonsense!” Hu Hai shouted, but soon laughed.

“Enough. Let’s discuss how to investigate the collective suicide—it’s a headache letting it drag on.” Shi Jun continued, watching Mei Jue closely.

“Exactly!” Wang Li agreed heartily. “The sooner we solve it, the better—save us all the worry!”

As expected, Mei Jue shifted uneasily, raised her head, and softly asked Chi Shang, “Fifth Brother, what does this have to do with us? Why should we get involved?” Before Chi Shang could answer, Motuo launched into an eager explanation.

Mei Jue listened quietly, her worry deepening, though she tried to hide it. When Motuo finally finished, she forced a smile and said hurriedly, “I—I’m tired. I’d like to rest.” She exchanged a look with Chi Shang.

Chi Shang understood, but glanced at Shi Jun—who had already turned away, feigning ignorance.

“No problem! There’s a guest room here—I’ll get you fresh sheets!” Hu Hai, ever the host, bustled off.

Shi Jun remained in the living room, knowing whatever the three siblings discussed inside must concern the collective suicide. He already suspected Mei Jue, but if she truly was responsible, how would Chi Shang and the others react? As he pondered, worry creased his brow.

Seeing this, Liu Qing drifted over and whispered, “Hu Hai and Motuo went out to buy Mei Jue some treats from the human world…”

Shi Jun replied absentmindedly, lost in thought.

“Something’s wrong!” Liu Qing suddenly exclaimed.

“What is it?” Shi Jun asked.

“I sensed all three of them just flew out the window,” Liu Qing said, pointing to the bedroom door.

“What?” Shi Jun was stunned, then smiled. “They’ve probably gone to the Mid-Levels. In that case, let’s follow and see what we can find.”

* * *

Shi Jun and Liu Qing (to be precise, one man and one ghost) arrived at the Mid-Levels. Shi Jun had wanted to examine the scene thoroughly anyway—he’d left in a hurry before and hadn’t had the chance. Now was the time to see if they could uncover the truth about the collective suicide.

“Do you want to turn invisible? I learned the technique from Chi Shang earlier,” Liu Qing offered.

Shi Jun considered it. “Good idea. It won’t fool Chi Shang and the others, but it’ll make our investigation easier.”

They found a secluded spot, and Liu Qing cast the spell, which Shi Jun observed carefully, memorizing each step.

“That Mei Jue—I feel she’s hiding something.”

“You think so too?” Shi Jun was surprised. “I noticed it as well, but she seems so innocent—not someone capable of such cruelty. She’s not good at hiding things, or I wouldn’t suspect her at all.”

“True, but every time you mention the collective suicide, she gets nervous,” Liu Qing said, drawing on her greater experience. “Even if she didn’t do it, she must know something. And sneaking out like this only deepens my suspicions.”

“Agreed.” Shi Jun nodded. “I don’t want to wrong an innocent person—that’s why we must find out the truth.”

“And if it really was her? What if Chi Shang and the others beg for mercy or try to shield her?”

Shi Jun had already considered this. He sighed, smiling bitterly. “What else can I do? If there’s real evidence, I’ll do what must be done.” His ambiguous answer revealed his helplessness.

* * *

The battle between Mei Jue’s group and the Demon Realm intruders—since both sides used invisibility—had no direct witnesses, despite the chaos. The Demons’ fire magic was fierce, setting several major fires in the complex, but they were put out in time and no innocents were harmed. Chi Shang and his brothers, wielding water magic, caused sudden ice storms during the fight, leaving puddles and unseasonal icicles hanging from branches. The alternating fire and ice left residents—already shaken by the collective suicide—terrified and confused.

Shi Jun searched everywhere but found no trace of Chi Shang or the others, nor did he glean any useful clues from the residents’ gossip. Disappointed, he noticed dark clouds gathering—the air thick with the threat of a storm. As he worried, Liu Qing hurried over, pointing ahead. “Look!”

In the air, a black shadow darted swiftly from a tall building, gliding soundlessly to land among a group of people deep in conversation.

Shi Jun rushed over, breathless, but the shadow had vanished without a trace. He scanned the area, found nothing suspicious, and told Liu Qing, “Let’s split up and look—meet back here if you find anything.” He approached the group, remaining alert.

But the black shadow was gone as if it had never existed. The group continued their chatter and complaints, so Shi Jun moved on, wandering into the neighboring amusement park.

This was the city’s largest amusement park, built with Hong Kong investment and modeled after Disneyland, a paradise for children that was always packed. But now, for some reason, the gates were shut and the grounds deserted. Only a chubby little boy stood alone in the vast plaza, blankly bouncing a rubber ball.

Seeing Shi Jun, the boy grinned with his not-quite-grown teeth. “Big brother, come play with Bao Bao inside!” he called, pointing at the gate, his smile adorable.

Shi Jun hesitated, then smiled. “The park’s closed—we can’t get in.”

“We can! My dad’s the gatekeeper, but he’s so busy he doesn’t care about me,” the boy pouted. “Please, big brother, take me in to play?”

Shi Jun had no time for children’s games, but the boy’s pleading was hard to refuse. He almost agreed, but remembering his priorities, he steeled himself. “I’m busy, Bao Bao. Play by yourself, okay?” He patted the boy’s head and walked away.

* * *

After searching the area thoroughly and finding nothing, Shi Jun’s stubbornness flared. “I refuse to leave without finding those guys today!”

Liu Qing hesitated. “They might have gone back already…”

Shi Jun plopped down on the curb. “I have a feeling we’ll find something today. I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy, like something important is nagging at me but I just can’t remember.” He held his head in his hands, visibly troubled.

“Really?” Liu Qing sat down beside him, her expression lonely. “You know, this is a wonderful place—mountains, water, fresh air, beautiful scenery. But it’s unlucky—perhaps people shouldn’t live here.”

Shi Jun laughed. “Who knew you were an expert in geomancy, Sister Liu?”

“Did you know?” Liu Qing smiled sadly. “My home is right here.”

“What?” Shi Jun was surprised. “You lived here? Then…”

“Does money solve all problems? Of course not! The troubles of the rich are just different. Once you’re wealthy, you lose many things. Still, everyone wants money, even though it can’t buy back my life. All I want now is for my daughter to be healthy and safe—she doesn’t need to be rich, just comfortable. But she must find a good man… Lately, I’ve been thinking, I’m not really an ordinary ghost anymore, right? So I won’t go to the Underworld—I’ll stay by my daughter’s side forever, protecting her…”

Though Liu Qing spoke calmly, Shi Jun’s heart clenched and his nose stung with sympathy. Poor parents everywhere, he thought. It seemed Sister Liu truly intended to remain a ghost for her daughter’s sake… Suddenly, a thought struck him. “Oh no!”

“What is it?” Liu Qing asked urgently.

“That child was strange!” Shi Jun blurted, springing to his feet. Liu Qing hurried after him, baffled.

They ran to the amusement park entrance. Shi Jun looked everywhere, but the little boy had vanished. Frustrated, he stamped his foot. “Something was off! I saw a boy here earlier—he asked me to play with him, but I didn’t notice anything odd at the time and just walked away!”

“What was strange?” Liu Qing mused, then suddenly exclaimed, “Wait—you were invisible! How could he see you?”

“I was a fool! I missed such an important clue!” Shi Jun sighed, shaking his head. “Let’s search again.”

They had barely walked away when they heard a thumping behind them. Turning, they were shocked to see the boy had appeared as if from nowhere, standing alone and blankly bouncing his ball, as if he didn’t recognize them.

After a long moment, the boy looked up, his face suddenly animated, a faint green light flickering in his eyes. He grinned and called, “Big brother, Auntie, will you play with Bao Bao?”

“Of course—Bao Bao is such a good boy!” Liu Qing replied instinctively, drifting toward him with a motherly smile, leaving Shi Jun stunned.