Chapter 17: Let Him Come Over Himself

After checking the rewards from the Green Book, Bai Xian took out two items from her “Little Treasury”: a dog demon’s fang and a river monster’s carapace. The former was a canine tooth she’d picked up after smashing the dog’s head, while the latter was a reasonably intact scale from the pig-faced dragon. They didn’t have any other use—she simply kept them as mementos.

The villa’s living room contained an empty solid wood display shelf, perfect for these curios. Once the tooth and scale were set upon it, the bare display finally looked pleasing to the eye.

At that moment, the chubby ghost happened by, having just finished washing the dishes.

“What are these? Just one look gives me the chills,” he remarked.

“Just some ornaments,” Bai Xian replied offhand, then, as if remembering something, asked, “Do you know if there’s anywhere nearby to learn martial arts?”

The chubby ghost shook his head. “Everyone around here’s moved away. When I was alive, it was all farmland.”

Bai Xian hadn’t expected much from him anyway. She pulled out her phone and began searching through her WeChat contacts.

Through this recent journey, she’d discovered a glaring weakness of her own: the Green Book’s rewards were all specialized for dealing with supernatural entities. If she faced demons or vengeful spirits, she could certainly put up a fight. But if her opponent was someone like Cai Wei, the scar-faced expert from the authorities, she’d likely be at a disadvantage.

So, now that she was back, she intended to shore up this shortcoming—namely, to study spear techniques.

It only took a few swipes before she found what she was looking for: a WeChat group that Wang Fei had invited her to during her first time forging an iron spear. The group consisted of smiths, clients, and quite a few martial arts enthusiasts. Their daily chatter revolved around weapons and martial arts, and since joining, Bai Xian had mostly lurked, quietly observing.

After some thought, she quickly typed out a message on her phone:

Bai Xian: “Does anyone know where I can study martial arts near Victoria Bay in Yu City? I’d like to learn spear techniques.”

The group quickly buzzed with enthusiastic replies, but most were just in it for the gossip or to show off. The few serious responses were either too far away or didn’t offer spear training.

Traditional martial arts were hardly popular these days, and spearmanship was an especially obscure branch. Few learned it, and even fewer taught it.

Eventually, one group member mentioned a martial arts school that might have an instructor for spear techniques.

Bai Xian thanked them, noted down the name and address, and prepared to pay a visit.

Just as she was getting ready to leave, the doorbell rang.

So many people seeking me out today, she thought, but she still rose and opened the door.

Outside stood Chen Xu, clad in shirt, slacks, and leather shoes, his smile rather sheepish.

“Miss Bai, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“You again? Oh, right, I nearly forgot to file a complaint about you.”

“It was indeed my fault this morning, coming so early,” Chen Xu replied with embarrassment, rubbing his hands together. “But this time, I really do have an important matter.”

“What is it?”

He pointed toward a silver-and-black Maybach parked at the gate.

“Our company chairman is in that car. If you could just…”

Bang!

Her response was the slam of the door.

“If he wants something from me, let him come here himself,” she muttered.

Bruised and dejected, Chen Xu trotted back to the car and quietly relayed her demand.

“Chairman Li, as you can see…”

After a brief silence, a deep male voice came from inside the car.

“You’re sure she spent the whole night here, and nothing happened?”

“I’m certain,” Chen Xu confirmed. “I’ve just checked the security cameras—she never left the villa all night.”

“Alright. If she really has such skill, then I was at fault for underestimating her.”

With a click, the car door opened and a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair stepped out. After straightening the creases in his casual trousers, Chairman Li strode purposefully to the door and knocked.

Even though he’d been told the “master” was a young woman, when Bai Xian opened the door, Li Jianguo still couldn’t help but feel a little skeptical.

Could this slip of a girl really be the expert who had subdued a haunted house?

But he was a seasoned businessman of over twenty years, well aware that appearances could be deceiving. He forced a genial smile.

“Miss Bai, my name is Li Jianguo. I’m the owner of Jinshan Construction. I have a small favor to ask.”

Jinshan Construction was the largest building group in Yu City, and Li Jianguo was a prominent figure in town. Bai Xian had only ever seen him in the news or on her phone screen, never expecting he’d come knocking at her door.

“What sort of favor?” she asked. She was in a hurry to visit the martial arts school and didn’t want to waste time on this money-obsessed tycoon.

Li Jianguo hadn’t expected she wouldn’t even invite him inside. A bit awkward, he cleared his throat and explained:

Earlier this year, Jinshan Construction had purchased a plot of land by the Chang River, intending to build a riverside garden community. The preliminary surveys had gone smoothly, but trouble arose during the demolition phase—not from stubborn residents, but from a “stubborn bridge,” a stone arch dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

The city’s cultural and archaeological authorities required every stone in the ancient bridge to be numbered, then relocated and reassembled in a museum. It shouldn’t have been a difficult task, but this simple numbering job had dragged on for over half a year, with more than ten workers hospitalized.

Now, no one dared touch the bridge.

Rumor had it that a malevolent entity haunted the spot. Jinshan Construction had invited many “masters” to exorcise or suppress it, but anyone with real skill took one look and fled.

As for those with no true ability, they’d perform their rituals and ceremonies to little effect, often falling gravely ill or nearly losing their lives in the process.

All told, the company had spent millions, yet the problem remained unsolved. Li Jianguo had been so tormented he could barely eat or sleep. Desperate, he’d sought out Bai Xian, the one who had pacified a haunted house.

After hearing Li Jianguo’s story, Bai Xian quickly formed a judgment.

“Sorry, I’m busy these next few days. Perhaps some other time.”

She moved to close the door.

Outside, Li Jianguo’s eyes lit up—she’d said she was busy, not that she couldn’t do it!

He hastily pressed against the door, only to find the girl’s strength astonishing—though he was a burly man over six feet tall, he couldn’t stop the door from slowly closing.

“If you’re willing to help, I’ll pay you a hundred thousand as a reward…and you can live in this villa as long as you like, free of charge!”

Creak!

The door swung open, revealing the girl’s smiling face.

“Do you mean it?”

Li Jianguo rubbed his sore arm. “My word is my bond.”

“When do we leave?”

“The sooner, the better.”

“Then let’s go now.”

She’d been worrying about money, and now a hundred-thousand-yuan job had landed right at her doorstep!

She slipped on her shoes and followed Chairman Li to his luxury car. The driver floored the accelerator, and the Maybach roared away from Victoria Bay.

On the way, Li Jianguo asked, “Aren’t you going to prepare any tools?”

Other “masters” always arrived with heaps of so-called ritual implements, sometimes needing a team just to carry everything. He’d never seen someone show up empty-handed.

Her hands empty, Bai Xian remembered her new iron spear was still being forged.

“Just have the site prepare an anti-riot fork for me.”

Li Jianguo’s smile stiffened.

An anti-riot fork…to exorcise evil?