The malicious ghost raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, then shifted direction and walked toward Jiang Luo.
The black-haired young man lifted his eyelids and calmly blew a puff of smoke into the malicious ghost’s face. His crimson lips in the smoke were irresistibly alluring—like a richly fragrant rose.
Chi You’s cane tapped down beside Jiang Luo’s foot. The scent of nicotine mingled between them. But amid the thick smoke, Chi You could also smell something distinctly Jiang Luo’s. In a good mood, he said, “How rare. You were waiting for me?”
Jiang Luo replied, “If your eyes were working properly, you wouldn’t have asked such a pointless question.”
The malicious ghost’s coat was without a single crease, his leather shoes spotless, like a gentleman from the Republic era. But faint traces of blood lingered on him—Jiang Luo knew that was the scent of Qi Yuan’s blood.
His gaze subtly scanned Chi You, from his fedora to his tie, from the tie to his pristine white gloves. His stare was both secretive and blatant, like examining an intriguing toy.
Chi You remained unbothered, slowly stroking the head of his cane with his palm. “You personally waiting for me makes me feel like you’re up to no good.”
“I’m up to no good?” Jiang Luo chuckled. “Teacher Chi, are you sure you want to say that with a straight face?”
He jabbed the cigarette-holding hand at Chi You’s chest. “Oh, sorry—forgot for a second that you don’t even have a heart. So how could you have a conscience?”
The finger poked lightly, but it felt scalding—turning the atmosphere instantly intimate and electric.
Like dry air that hadn’t seen rain in forever, just a spark and it could all ignite.
The handsome malicious ghost, who looked every bit a noble gentleman, narrowed his eyes and reached out to catch Jiang Luo’s finger.
His silk glove was cool to the touch, and he let it glide lightly over the back of Jiang Luo’s hand like a dance. Jiang Luo smirked and tried to burn Chi You’s hand with the cigarette.
But the malicious ghost reacted swiftly, grabbing Jiang Luo’s hand. Two long fingers slipped between Jiang Luo’s fingers, slowly pushing forward—getting closer and closer to the cigarette held between his index and middle fingers.
He was like a deeply cultured, stern old-school gentleman. His handsome brows furrowed. “Burning others with your cigarette—that’s not very polite.”
Though he chastised Jiang Luo with strict words, the movement of his gloved fingers, threading so deliberately between Jiang Luo’s, carried a teasing, intentional tickle.
He looked proper on the surface, but Jiang Luo knew every smooth motion and every glance from this so-called gentleman was loaded with innuendo—an unspoken invitation to bed.
“You lack manners,” said the malicious ghost. “But I can offer you some basic etiquette training.”
Surprisingly, Jiang Luo felt a bit tempted. He raised the corner of his eye, his whole body relaxed against the wall. The black-haired beauty looked like someone you could do anything to—but Chi You knew this was just a carnivorous flower temporarily draped in harmless disguise. In reality, he was covered in poison, and touching him too much could cost your life.
This beautiful carnivorous flower lifted his eyes to the malicious ghost and lazily said, “Teacher Chi, are you so idle? You’ve already killed Qi Yuan at the trial, and now you want to waste your time giving me a free lesson on manners—wait, it is free, right?”
“For others, maybe not. But for you, it’s free,” the malicious ghost said, finally taking the cigarette from Jiang Luo’s fingers and placing it between his own. He let go of Jiang Luo’s hand. “After all, we share a rather… unique relationship.”
The final words rose in tone like a pervert’s. Even with his eyes closed, Jiang Luo could feel the excitement hiding in those words.
The black-haired young man immediately rolled his eyes.
“First,” the malicious ghost took a satisfied drag, smoke curling from his lips, making his flawless face look even more godlike. Looking down at Jiang Luo, he said, “As a gentleman, you shouldn’t smoke in public. Understood?”
Jiang Luo glanced at the cigarette in his mouth and said with clear meaning, “I understand now.”
“Good boy.”
The malicious ghost nodded in approval. He flicked some ash off the cigarette, then raised his cane and tapped Jiang Luo’s calf. “Second, in a setting like this, your posture should be proper—stand up straight.”
Jiang Luo obediently straightened his back, but his expression was still careless. “Teacher Chi, your free lessons are truly dull. Compared to that, I’d rather know—why the h*ll did you dress like that for the trial today?”
He asked seriously, “Did you lose your mind?”
The malicious ghost generously ignored Jiang Luo’s blatant retort and leisurely said, “Why don’t you try guessing?”
Jiang Luo immediately asked, “What’s the reward if I guess right?”
The malicious ghost’s pale lips curled up in a pleased smile. He stubbed out the nearly finished cigarette and tossed it on the ground. “Probably the next free lesson.”
Jiang Luo: “No thanks, I’m not interested.”
That said, he still guessed eagerly, “When I was in the Mirror World, I saw a photo of a man dressed exactly like you now. That man is your grandfather, right? Is he connected to Qi Yuan?”
The malicious ghost’s cane slid between Jiang Luo’s legs. “When standing, your legs must be together—no gaps.”
The cane moved up from the calf but was caught firmly by Jiang Luo’s legs just before the knee, unable to budge an inch. Jiang Luo’s long legs closed tightly without a sliver of space. He forced a smile, “Is that so?”
The malicious ghost smiled faintly and withdrew the cane. “Yes.”
He lifted Jiang Luo’s trouser leg from the ankle, answering the previous question, “Keep guessing.”
Jiang Luo recalled Qi Ye rushing to see him in the rain at night, only to meet Chi You, and how off Qi Ye had seemed lately—like his entire cognition was collapsing, lost and desperate.
His thoughts shifted to Qi Yuan’s agonizing posture before death.
Chi You definitely did something to Qi Yuan.
He didn’t kill Chi Zhongye outright but used Qi Yuan’s death to scare Chi Zhongye, so the Chi family would live in constant fear of Chi You killing them, even in prison, tormented day and night until Chi You truly came for them.
Compared to Qi Yuan, the surviving Qi and Chi family members endured immense psychological torture. That’s the real contradiction.
The original owner was just a disposable pawn, who after harming Chi You, was brutally tortured to a barely human state. So why did Qi Yuan, one of the main culprits, die so decisively?
That was too strange.
Jiang Luo pondered carefully, then suddenly looked down. “What are you doing?”
His trouser leg had been lifted by the malicious ghost’s cane to the calf, revealing pale skin at the ankle.
The malicious ghost calmly withdrew the cane and traced it up over Jiang Luo’s knee and thigh through the fabric. “So, what’s your guess?”
Jiang Luo looked at him meaningfully. “Qi Yuan killed your grandfather?”
The malicious ghost’s movements hesitated just slightly, then naturally continued upwards to Jiang Luo’s hip. “Close.”
Jiang Luo grasped the cane firmly and said decisively, “Your soul-made Yuan Tian Bead can strengthen others’ spiritual bodies, and your grandfather’s soul has the same effect, right? He used your grandfather’s soul to enhance his own spirit.”
Chi You said, “Correct.”
“The Chi family’s puppet soul refining technique—its greatest power is soul refinement,” he said absentmindedly. “Only the Chi family knows how to extract others’ spiritual bodies and use the soul’s value to the extreme. Clearly, Qi Yuan was the ‘successor’ of my grandfather’s spiritual body.”
He chuckled softly. “The Qi family’s three generations of geniuses—sounds enviable, doesn’t it?”
Jiang Luo recalled the humiliations he suffered as a child, and an inexplicable anger flared up. He clenched the cane and tugged hard. The malicious ghost was pulled forward a step, pressed close to him.
Jiang Luo’s breath was hot, each exhale deliberately enveloping the malicious ghost. His red lips parted and closed with a sneer: “Teacher Chi, you’re really pathetic. So you came to court this time to reclaim your grandfather’s spiritual body?”
“And dressed like your grandfather—maybe as a kind of memorial?”
“That’s a good description,” Chi You praised with mock seriousness. “No wonder you’ve been to university.”
Jiang Luo sneered twice.
The malicious ghost chuckled quietly. He stood properly in front of Jiang Luo, close but not touching a single inch of his skin. Polite and refined, quite the gentleman.
But that was only on the surface. In truth, only Jiang Luo knew the cane in his hand was mischievously rubbing against his waist, even trying to be more discreetly naughty.
Looking at this pretentious Chi You, Jiang Luo was itching to shatter his false facade.
He tossed the cane aside, calming the anger he didn’t know who it was aimed at. “Chi You, I told you, next time we meet, I’ll destroy the clothes you temporarily keep.”
Jiang Luo reached into Chi You’s coat pocket. “Are you carrying them on you?”
The malicious ghost’s eyes darkened. “You can check.”
Jiang Luo was unapologetic and quickly emptied both coat pockets. “Not here.”
He glanced at Chi You, then reached inside his coat to feel inside his suit pants pockets.
Chi You’s thighs were strong and long, but a bit cold. Jiang Luo felt through the thin fabric in both pockets, feeling like he was fondling Chi You’s legs. Ignoring Chi You’s increasingly heated gaze, he finished the search and withdrew his hand. “Not here either.”
“Could it be…” Jiang Luo looked at the breast pocket, “Here?”
But he found nothing after checking thoroughly.
Chi You said, “Something this important, of course, I keep it safe. Otherwise, if you destroyed it, wouldn’t that be a pity?”
Jiang Luo snorted and withdrew his hand.
Chi You, provoked beyond endurance, bent his head to get closer. Jiang Luo put his index finger against his chest, tilting his head to avoid him, eyes sparkling with amusement. “As a gentleman, how can you kiss others in public?”
“What does it matter,” the malicious ghost chuckled lowly, revealing his true nature, “they can’t see me anyway.”
Jiang Luo turned his face away again, “But I don’t want to be all lovey-dovey with you.”
Just then, someone called out from the end of the corridor, “Jiang Luo, let’s go! Officer Lin is looking for you!”
It was Lu Youyi and the others.
Jiang Luo’s faint, almost invisible smile froze. He instantly recalled what Lu Youyi said about “kissing” and what Ye Xun said about “ambiguity.” If they saw him and Chi You in this state, there’d be no way to clear his name—even throwing himself into the Yellow River wouldn’t wash it away.
Jiang Luo immediately wanted to end the game ruthlessly. He tried to push Chi You away but then hesitated, remembering that the others couldn’t see Chi You and fearing his movements would give something away.
Seeing his expression, the malicious ghost mused, “Looks like you’ve already come up with another ‘script’ with your friends.”
He traced Jiang Luo’s lips with his finger, interested. “What’s the script this time?”
Jiang Luo warned through clenched teeth, “Don’t move.”
But no sooner had he said this than the malicious ghost’s movements grew bolder. He roughly forced his way inside Jiang Luo’s lips while one hand gripped Jiang Luo’s waist. “Your friends are coming this way.”
Jiang Luo bit down hard but only caught the malicious ghost’s glove. His eyes flashed with anger as he glared at Chi You. Knowing his friends were about to see him being one-sidedly toyed with, the shame made the corners of his eyes flush red, and he wanted nothing more than to break free and fight.
“Don’t move, seriously,” the malicious ghost coaxed kindly. “They can’t see me, but if you move, they’ll know something’s wrong.”
“Idiot,” Jiang Luo muttered, stubbornly biting the glove, “I curse you with impotence.”
Next second, he involuntarily muffled a groan.
“Jiang Luo?” The friends who had already reached halfway thought he hadn’t heard, so they raised their voices, “We’re supposed to go.”
Chi You withdrew his hand but kept it on Jiang Luo’s waist. He sighed, “That curse is really vicious. You told me we’d cooperate before, you even kissed me in the dream, yet today you curse me so harshly. Jiang Luo, why are you so fickle?”
His voice lowered, muttering to himself. Finally, he pulled his hand out of Jiang Luo’s mouth. Jiang Luo bit down too hard, so Chi You abandoned the white glove. He gently kissed Jiang Luo’s lips holding the glove. Their eyes met, filled with a mix of madness, fascination, and coldness. He whispered, “But I really like you just like this.”
Jiang Luo’s breath caught for a moment. The malicious ghost’s gaze enveloped him like an ocean, making it hard to breathe, as if sinking into the sea, trapped in quicksand, with a faint yet exciting throb beneath.
His mind blanked for a moment, then seemed filled with vanity and pride, or some joy he couldn’t yet identify.
Shouldn’t you like me?
I’m so outstanding. One day I’ll be the one controlling you.
Jiang Luo’s thoughts spiraled. The malicious ghost’s kiss suddenly fell on his neck. Jiang Luo’s neck trembled, surprisingly stirred. His Adam’s apple moved, and the malicious ghost sucked and licked it.
Jiang Luo’s fingers grabbed the malicious ghost’s arm. In the next moment, the malicious ghost looked up sharply in shock, his expression dark as ink. In disbelief, he vanished on the spot.
Jiang Luo only exhaled, releasing the glove from his mouth, then laughed loudly. “Told you not to move, but you did—and now you’re gone.”
Using the last of his remaining energy, Jiang Luo wrote the character “Get lost” on Chi You.
Though that single character completely drained the energy he’d just regained, Jiang Luo felt great. He turned to his companions, bright and lively, “Officer Lin’s looking for me? Okay, let’s go.”
But his friends looked at him with strange expressions.
Jiang Luo was puzzled. Lu Youyi blurted out, “Jiang Luo, why is your face so red?”
Jiang Luo’s smile stiffened as he looked toward the glass window.
In the reflection on the glass was his flushed face.
But that wasn’t the most important part.
The most important was the smile still lingering at his mouth’s corner, the springtime warmth at his brows and eyes, like someone who had just had an intense workout with someone else.
Jiang Luo: “…”
***
Jiang Luo barely got past his friends with a lie and then led them to Officer Lin.
Officer Lin found an office and explained their plan.
The state intended to establish an agency to recruit talent from the metaphysical community, specifically to handle metaphysical incidents, completely breaking the tripartite balance of power in the metaphysical world and bringing it fully under state control.
This agency would be unknown to the general public, primarily led by metaphysical experts. It would have dedicated police and medical support as logistics to protect it. The state would handle the other details. What they needed most now was talent willing to cooperate with the government.
Previously, the state had covertly worked with twelve universities, indirectly assigning student tasks. Now, the state was directly recruiting talent. Essentially, it was entirely different.
Of the eight people, only Zhuo Zhongqiu was hesitant; the others—those not recruited by the six major families—showed full enthusiasm for the cooperation.
Jiang Luo pondered briefly. “What’s the agency called?”
Officer Lin smiled awkwardly. “Following your rules, the full name is the ‘Bureau of Natural Science and Social Research Protection.’ These days, we’ve gotten used to calling it the ‘Research Bureau.’”
Jiang Luo: “…Nice name.”
“If you don’t like it, you can apply to change it,” Officer Lin said enthusiastically. “What do you think? Interested in cooperating? Once you join the ‘Research Bureau,’ you’ll be the first generation of elders. We fully respect your opinions and ideas. You’ll enjoy the treatment of state civil servants and even get government-funded team-building trips. How great is that?”
Ge Zhu’s eyes lit up, and he poked Kuang Zheng, saying, “I’m tempted.”
Kuang Zheng finished reading the contract, and a flicker of hesitation appeared on his face. He whispered, “My parents have always hoped I could become a teacher or a civil servant.”
Besides Jiang Luo and Zhuo Zhongqiu, the others were clearly interested. But none of them agreed immediately; they wanted to see what Jiang Luo and Zhuo Zhongqiu would decide.
Zhuo Zhongqiu frowned deeply. She was young herself and, compared to inheriting the Zhuo family, she wanted to build her own career. Moreover, establishing a brand-new department from scratch with the state was just too cool—she simply couldn’t refuse!
She couldn’t help but run over and sit beside Jiang Luo. “Jiang Luo, you’re a disciple of the Heavenly Master Residence. What do you think?”
Jiang Luo lowered his eyes. “I plan to leave the Heavenly Master Residence.”
The moment he said that, everyone looked at him in shock. Zhuo Zhongqiu was stunned for a few seconds, then stammered, “Why?”
Because his personality didn’t get along well with Feng Li.
Feng Li’s controlling nature irritated Jiang Luo. From the very first moment he met Feng Li, Jiang Luo disliked him. But Feng Li treated him well, and if things stayed like that, Jiang Luo would have been willing to obey Feng Li as a disciple, to repay Feng Li’s investment. But the way Feng Li looked at him on the mountain made Jiang Luo feel disgust and loathing deep in his heart.
If Feng Li no longer looked at him as a master to a disciple, then Jiang Luo wouldn’t treat Feng Li with the attitude of a disciple anymore.
He had already decided to sever ties with the Heavenly Master Residence, and the cooperation opportunity offered by the state was his best next step.
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