Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Becoming Famous I

Losing the support of the unresentful spirit, Qiao Ting was truly no longer a concern.

The sky was filled with talisman papers, emitting various colors of light, like floating lanterns.

Soon, the "lanterns" trembled, and thunderous sounds followed one after another, striking at the malevolent spirit.

A quarter of an hour later—

The clouds cleared and the rain stopped, as if the smoke had dissipated.

Ming Yue's eyes felt dry. She rubbed them and let out a long sigh.

Qiao Ting, oh, Qiao Ting.

I won't judge whether you had a correct heart in your medical practice.

After all, in the world of the living, it's about actions, not intentions.

No matter how dark your heart was, it was still you who got hurt.

However, in the world of the dead, both actions and intentions are judged.

I only hope that you, without fear, disappear cleanly, without resentment or regret.

—Once the matter is done, leave without a trace, doing good deeds without seeking recognition.

Xi Cheng'en, along with a few younger ones, took a taxi and left.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiu, Zhou Jingren, Zhai Dan, and the two younger ones walked away from Bao Mountain, under the clear moonlight, heading west.

—This was said to be, "Stepping on the moon to rid oneself of the mildew."

—But in reality, the night had been too stimulating, and no one could sleep.

The hospital buildings were slowly fading into the distance, and behind them, Zhai Dan and Zhou Jingren were chatting casually.

"Da Ren, just now your brother praised the little junior sister," Zhai Dan patted Ming Yue's shoulder and said with a laugh.

Zhou Jingren pretended not to know, expressing mock surprise, "Oh my god, even my older brother can be intimidated by the junior sister's domineering aura, I truly admire it—" He showered Ming Yue with exaggerated praise, making her both amused and helpless. Yan Jun also laughed along.

"Admire what nonsense."Chen Xiu walked over from the outpatient department, his gaze still fixed on the people from the Ghost Slayer Association in the distance. His hand had already landed on Zhou Jingren's shoulder:

"Da Ren, you're not being righteous. Why didn't you tell Ming Yue about the fine ticket the Ghost Slayer Association gave us?"

Zhou Jingren, unfazed, waved his hand like swatting away a fly:

"Ignore them."

Ming Yue, however, became nervous. She stared at Chen Xiu, stammering:

"Senior... what fine ticket?"

"Did the Ghost Slayer Association... cause us trouble?"

Yan Jun shook his head behind her, not interrupting the senior's moment of showing off.

Chen Xiu leisurely lit a cigarette, the smoke rings drifting into the night sky. The moon had shifted to the east, and checking the time, it was already past midnight:

"That's right."

"The Spirit Binding Institute isn't following orders, blindly venturing into dangerous zones, and enforcing laws beyond their jurisdiction."

"If they don't fine us, who else will they fine?"

Zhou Jingren grinned and hooked his arm around Chen Xiu's shoulder, continuing the conversation with a smile:

"Yeah."

"There's also another offense, taking first-year students who haven't even weaned yet into the malevolent spirit traps."

"Haha, the fine ticket was well deserved, haha!"

Ming Yue: "..."

Zhai Dan, who was receiving the fine ticket: "..."

Yan Jun: "..."

Zhai Dan looked at the two younger ones, who looked like they were going to a grave, and sighed, explaining:

"Junior, don't mind them."

"They did issue the fine ticket, and it was aimed at the Spirit Binding Institute—don’t worry, don’t worry, when there are too many lice, it doesn’t itch. The Ghost Slayer Association and the major spirit institutes are on equal footing, they can't do anything to us."Seeing Ming Yue's nervous face, Zhai Dan comforted her, then hesitated for a moment before saying:

"It's just a bit embarrassing face-wise."

"But," the senior sister smiled, "it's a great opportunity to gain fame."

Ming Yue: "..."

Ming Yue, confused, asked, "What fame, senior sister?"

Zhou Jingren rubbed the younger student's head, rubbing it until Ming Yue yelped, her hair messed up like a lion's mane. Then, the second-year senior laughed loudly:

"We've made it! We've made it, hahahaha!"

"This huge malevolent spirit incident, we've almost finished seventy or eighty percent of it!"

"Once the Ghost Slayer Association headquarters reports this, hahahaha! All the spirit institutes nationwide will know that we were the ones who controlled this incident at Baoshan Hospital!"

"Impressive! Clever!"

"I’m sick to death of the nearby Jiang University!"

"Fame! It's pouring like a heavy rain!"

The last sentence from the senior sounded almost theatrical.

Damn.

National announcement!

Ming Yue: "..."

Stunned.

"Wait, wait, wait..." Ming Yue was surprised, "There's such a move!"

"Yes, announcing it to all the spirit institutes nationwide and saying ‘learn from our example’."

Chen Xiu, with a cigarette in his mouth, raised an eyebrow and boasted: "Cool, right?"

Who knows if it's really to prevent future problems, or if it's secretly encouraging people.

Isn’t this just like the officials in Northern Song Dynasty competing to die for the court in order to be remembered in the historical records?

Ming Yue nodded like a little chick pecking at rice: "So cool."Zhou Jingren laughed uncontrollably, one hand patting Ming Yue’s head like a dog, and the other patting Yan Jun's shoulder:

"You're about to get famous, you little ones."

"After the malevolent spirit is eliminated, the Ghost Slayer Association will definitely review the entire hospital scene and the traces left on the malevolent spirit."

"Your handiwork will be discovered soon."

Yan Jun smiled, saying nothing.

Ming Yue immediately changed the subject, turning her head from side to side, "Senior, where's Jun Weiran?"

At this, the two "shameless old seniors" immediately gasped in unison.

Ming Yue: "What's wrong?"

And then she added, trying to cover it up: "Just concerned about a classmate."

Zhou Jingren gave a mischievous smile, "Yan Jun, do you have anything to say?"

Yan Jun: "..."

Yan Jun smiled and said, "I have nothing to say. I'm also concerned about my roommate."

Chen Xiu and Zhou Jingren burst into bizarre laughter.

After dealing with the Baoshan Hospital malevolent spirit incident, the two seniors shed their previous serious, authoritative façades and let out their mischievous, gossiping, and spirited youthful sides.

They eagerly observed the next generation’s rumors, full of excitement.

Ming Yue felt completely uncomfortable under their laughter.

"He already left, Little Ming Yue," Zhou Jingren said.

Ming Yue: "..."

"Oh." The little girl responded weakly, looking to everyone like a moonflower that withered before it even bloomed.

The mischievous Zhou Jingren felt a bit guilty. He nudged Yan Jun, giving him a look of encouragement—‘Bro, your chance has come’—then gently reassured Ming Yue:

"Junior, liking this sort of thing is perfectly fine.""But whether it's suitable or not, I think it's pretty important—oh, Zhai Dan, why did you kick me!" Senior Zhou cried out.

"Shut up!"

Zhai Dan’s eyes carried a commanding look.

Under the moonlight, Ming Yue kicked a stone, keeping her head low and silent.

Yan Jun glanced at her, knowing full well that she wouldn't give up.

However, Captain Yan was more concerned about another piece of information—"Senior, what do you mean by 'suitable'?" Yan Jun avoided Ming Yue’s gaze and quietly asked.

Zhou Jingren looked at him, "Are you pretending?"

Yan Jun, confused: "What?"

Zhai Dan elbowed him and glared, "Stop messing around."

"The junior doesn't have any elders in the Yin-Yang profession," she muttered, implying he didn't understand the old grudges between the Jun and Ming families.

Zhou Jingren suddenly understood.

"Junior is an only child, huh?"

Yan Jun: "..."

Yan Jun politely said, "If it's inconvenient for you to talk about, I'm willing to apologize."

Before Zhou Jingren could speak, the sharp-eared Ming Yue took over:

"No need to apologize, Captain."

Her voice was soft yet cold.

"It’s just some nonsense, really."

"Originally, Jun Weiran and I were childhood sweethearts, but it got messed up and ruined."

Yan Jun: "..."

Zhou Jingren shook his head disapprovingly, "Junior, calling your father’s greatest battle in life ‘nonsense’ doesn’t seem very appropriate, does it?"Ming Yue turned her head to look at him, her gray, ghostly eyes, now out of the high concentration of Yin energy, returned to their dull, lifeless state. At a glance, it seemed as though her entire face only had one golden eye flashing with light, like a cyclops:

"But my dad never gave any high praise to the events of the 90s—really, he didn’t."

"He just couldn’t stand it and lent a hand."

"And he paid a painful price for it—how could that be considered glorious?"

The person is dead, how much more painful could it be?

Zhou Jingren remained silent.

After all, as an outsider, it wasn't wise to talk about things the people involved didn’t want to discuss.

A good topic was killed off by Ming Yue herself.

Chen Xiu smoked.

Zhou Jingren looked up at the sky.

Zhai Dan gave the two of them an accusing look.

Ming Yue remained silent, while Yan Jun… Yan Jun looked at Ming Yue.

Yan Jun shared a dorm room with Jun Weiran.

For half a year, Ming Yue’s affection for Jun Weiran’s "whispers" had been obvious to anyone in the entire Ling Institute, from the third-year students to the first-year ones, anyone with any awareness could see it.

This wasn’t surprising to Yan Jun.

Ming Yue was inherently open and straightforward, always acting with integrity, never hesitating to speak her mind.

She was eager to attach her feelings for Jun Weiran with a label that everyone could see, so no one else could take him away.

However, what truly surprised Yan Jun were the occasional, boundary-crossing expressions of understanding Jun Weiran showed toward Ming Yue over the past six months.

A boy, outwardly fine, who deeply understood a girl who had a secret crush on him.

What did that mean?Yan Jun: Represents suppressed passion.

Just a joke.

Yan Jun believed this meant mutual affection.

However, after the night at Baoshan Hospital, Yan Jun began to doubt his observation.

Jun Weiran did seem to have some entanglement with Ming Yue.

But his attitude didn’t show even the slightest hint of "liking."

He avoided her and, in fact... seemed to have some barely contained animosity.

Ming Yue’s words earlier made Yan Jun understand the initial entanglement between them.

Turns out, they were childhood friends.

Turns out, the Ming and Jun families knew each other... but possibly fell out later.

However, Yan Jun did not know the source of the old grudge.

And he had no intention of hearing the parties involved speak of it—it would only hurt both sides.

The five walked silently, side by side.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and they soon reached the place where Zhai Dan had set up the black fire net the evening before.

The black fire net was still burning, but there were no ghostly heads in sight.

The source of the Baoshan Hospital incident had been eradicated, the Yin-Yang environment had returned to normal, and the gathered souls had returned to the earth.

However, what they didn't expect was that two figures were standing outside the black fire net, staring at them with gloomy expressions.

Ming Yue: "..."

Ming Yue let out a soft exclamation and immediately prepared to flee, scaring the other four, who quickly raised their guard and asked what was wrong.

It turned out to be Ming Ye and Zhou Lu.

One was holding an umbrella, and the other stood with his hands behind his back.

Who knew how long these two had been standing there in the middle of the night.Who knows what umbrella they were holding tonight.

Not too close, not too far, Ming Ye let out a cold laugh, his direction precise, reaching Ming Yue’s ear, sharp and piercing.

He was good-looking, with deep-set brows, sharp features, and pale skin, like a vampire.

Just like Ming Yue, inheriting the good genes of the family.

But what was more striking than his appearance was the overwhelming aura he carried.

It was like a raging wildfire on a dark sky, pale in color.

Zhou Jingren furrowed his brows.

With a brother working at the Ghost Slayer Association, he had heard of Ming Ye’s fame countless times. Now, in the moonlight and black firelight, he thought the person looked a bit familiar:

“May I ask who you are, sir?”

Ming Ye answered coldly:

“North of Jinling City.”

“Ming Ye from the Ming family.”

Zhou Jingren: "..."

The others: "..."

The group scattered immediately, quickly backing off, exposing the little mouse, Ming Yue, to the light.

Ming Yue first nervously glanced at Zhou Lu, checking that his umbrella-holding arm was steady, ensuring that Ming Ye’s shadow was not exposed to the moonlight. Only then did she dare to look up and awkwardly smile at Ming Ye.

Ming Ye spoke softly: “Moon, this is what you were talking about—”

“—the Baoshan class dinner?”

Ming Yue: "..."

Right now, Ming Yue really wished she could sink into the earth like those ghostly heads and never open her eyes again.

“Sorry, brother, the Baoshan Hospital was haunted.”“I got itchy hands, so I just followed.”

“With a senior looking out for me, so...”

Ming Yue stood by the black fire net, lowering her head, sincerely admitting her mistake.

Ming Ye sighed inwardly.

A hawk doesn’t need to wait for its wings to grow strong; it will use wind and rain to accelerate its growth.

What was he stopping?

What could he stop?

Ming Ye waved his hand, a flash of black light passed, and the soul fire net that the Black and White Impermanence had set up instantly melted away, gradually disappearing.

The students behind: "..."

They were stunned, gaping in disbelief.

Ming Yue, feeling very self-aware, took a few steps forward and properly stretched her head.

Ming Ye looked down at her from above.

The slap didn’t land.

“Kneel in the ancestral hall for three days.”

“Sort out the Baoshan matter, come out of the ancestral hall, and I want to see it.”

Ming Ye said this, took Zhou Lu’s umbrella, and turned to leave.

... No idea where he planned to go in the middle of the night in the wilderness.

Ming Yue felt guilty, her head lowered, her face turning as red as her neck.

Zhou Lu stood in front of Ming Yue, softly and gently scolding her:

“Master, you were too reckless.”

“Why didn’t you call home if you weren’t coming back for dinner?”Ming Yue held back her breath, and the image of Ming Ye’s disappointed and sighing gaze kept lingering in her mind.

She was so aggrieved that tears were about to fall.

“I…” she whispered, her heart tightening painfully, “... There’s no signal in the hospital.”

Zhou Lu sighed and reached out with his cold hand to gently pat the top of Ming Yue’s head.

“Please don’t do this again, young master.”

Ming Yue held back her tears and nodded vigorously.

The other students behind them were too scared to focus on the family drama, and instead, they exchanged looks of fear:

“Did you see that?”

“Yeah, I saw! I saw!”

“Th-That... That’s the Ming family’s butler! He, he, he!”

“He, he, he... has no shadow!”

“Heaven, help us!”

Sure enough.

Under the bright moonlight, Zhou Lu lovingly patted Ming Yue’s head. His pale, blue-white face twisted into a smile, like wearing a death mask.

Behind him was the vast wilderness, with no shadow in sight.