Since they figured out the how, all that remained was to save Bao Da Tong.
“His thoughts are really meticulous.” Wan Li sighed. “Looks like that little fellow is no ordinary ghost to be so scheming and come up with such a nefarious plan.”
The other two didn’t speak but they knew he was right.
Although it wasn’t clear why Lil’ Tong wanted to harm Bao Da Tong, he had truly used a clever method. He had taken advantage of an unplanned event and then manipulated things to cause his enemy to complete his plans.
No matter what “he” turns into, I can recognize him!
Was Lil’ Tong referring to Bao Da Tong? Was he randomly picking on Bao Da Tong, or did he hate him for saving Xiao Xia and suspecting him? Was he trying to get rid of an obstacle or did he already have a grudge against him?
This was really a mystery!
But Ruan Zhan had no time to consider all of that. He could only put the riddles aside for now. His task at hand was to save Bao Da Tong. Luckily Bao Da Tong had been smart enough to protect his own life.Luckily Xiao Xia had remembered the event, allowing him to find the root cause. It was also lucky he had sensed that Bao Da Tong was in danger and hurried back. Otherwise, he would have snuffed it this time for sure.
“What needs to be done?” Wan Li asked.
“Call Ni Yang up.” Ruan Zhan instructed concisely. “That kid is really good with laptops. I need someone to fix that damaged photo.” Ruan Zhan opened the photos in the E drive and found Bao Da Tong’s photo. As expected, the background had turned black and white, with the photo covered in faint red lines. They appeared identical to the imprints on Bao Da Tong’s body. It was like the photo had been crinkled, and blood was seeping out of the cracks.
“But this way Ni Yang will find out about your secret.” Xiao Xia was a little worried.
“It’s fine. Put the laptop in Bao Da Tong’s room so Ni Yang won’t see what I’m doing here.” Ruan Zhan said. “Besides, those two kids are very smart and they hang around here all the time. Bao Da Tong hasn’t appeared in two days so they must have realized something already. We just have a tacit understanding.”
“What will you do?” Wan Li asked.
“I will astral project my soul and try to repair and return Bao Da Tong’s damaged soul. However, I need someone to protect me. If Lil’ Tong notices and tries to interfere, I will be in danger. I need someone innately repulsive to spirits.”
“Say no more, that’s me.” Wan Li raised his hand.
“What about me?” Xiao Xia asked.
“You handle the communication.” Ruan Zhan said. “Although I’m astral projecting, I will telepathically tell Wan Li what to do. Since he can’t leave my side, you will have to transfer the message to Ni Yang in the other room. Likewise, if something happens at Ni Yang’s side, you need to immediately let me know.”
After planning things out, Xiao Xia fetched Ni Yang and asked him to help fix one of Bao Da Tong’s photos. According to Ruan Zhan, Ni Yang had to remove all the lines on the photo and make the background pure white again.
“Don’t worry, I’m able to discern between several shades of white. Also, my photo editing skills are second to none.” Ni Yang knew something happened to Bao Da Tong, and also knew his boss was no ordinary person. However, he was smart enough not to ask any questions.
Xiao Xia smiled gratefully. “But your boss also said during this process, things you’ve already fixed might revert back, or strange things might appear on the photo. Don’t panic if that happens, because the corruption definitely won’t be faster than you can fix it. When the boss tells you to stop, you have to immediately save.”
“I got it, I got it.” Ni Yang answered, thinking that Liu Tie was going to be exhausted tonight. He had heard Sis Xiao Xia tell Liu Tie he would have to take care of all the bar’s customers by himself tonight. He had to make everything appear normal, and no one could suspect anything was different. He also couldn’t allow anyone to approach the stairs or the kitchen. Even if a customer tried to use the restroom, he had to tell them it was broken and have them use one from a store nearby. While a laptop seemed easy to use, using any software expertly, especially a photo editing one, was very difficult. This was apparent from Ni Yang’s serious expression. He was normally sloppy and enjoyed messing around. But now, his expression was so focused Xiao Xia didn’t dare make a sound, afraid of distracting him and endangering Bao Da Tong.
“Huh?” After some time, when Xiao Xia’s legs were almost too sore to remain standing, Ni Yang suddenly exlaimed softly.
Xiao Xia hurried over. On the screen, Bao Da Tong’s face which had been half-fixed already was suddenly covered in bloody lines again. They were like red spiderwebs, and even emitted sizzling sounds.
“Did the laptop overheat?” She subconsciously sniffed, but didn’t smell any burning.
“It’s fine, Sis Xiao Xia.” Ni Yang’s eyes were still fixed on the screen, his hands continuing to move. “Didn’t the boss say things will get undone during the process? It’s fine as long as the reversion isn’t as fast as my fixing.”
Xiao Xia leaned over. On the photo, the left side of Bao Da Tong’s face truly had less red lines than the right. The skin color also seemed more normal. This made her calm down somewhat. She stood silently and watched. Since Ni Yang was repeating the same process, his actions became more fluid and his speed increased. Therefore, the red lines grew less and less. Ye tat that moment, an inexplicable gust of wind blew against Xiao Xia’s face!
The weather had been abnormally hot today without any wind. They hadn’t turned on the AC out of fear the fiend’s would come disturb their attempt to save Bao Da Tong. Actually, all paths to the outside such as power outlets, pipes, ventilation ducts, windows and doors, and even walls had been placed under a formless restriction by Ruan Zhan. Even her laptop was running on battery. The room was essentially isolated from the outside world. Therefore, even if a window was open, there shouldn’t have been any wind.
Then where was it coming from? And why did it contain chill and the smell of blood?
“From the laptop.” Ni Yang said.
“Huh?” Xiao Xia didn’t understand right away.
“I’m saying the wind is coming from the laptop!” Ni Yang’s hands didn’t stop as he spoke with a pale face.
He had long since realized his boss was no ordinary person, and had merely refrained from asking. However, this gust of wind startled him. It felt extremely supernatural. Furthermore, the background in Big Bro Bao’s photo turned murky, as if it was going to rain inside the laptop. He even felt as if Bro Bao’s face suddenly smiled at him from the laptop, causing his hand to shake and almost making him mess up!
Shocked at Ni Yang’s words, Xiao Xia hurriedly looked out the window. She had returned in the afternoon. Due to worrying about Bao Da Tong’s matter, she hadn’t noticed the sky had turned completely dark. But since the weather was warm, the streets were still filled with people. However, within the crowd she immediately spotted that girl Zhang Jia Lin.
Zhang Jia Lin stood across from the Nocturnal Revenant bar. She didn’t look at Xiao Xia and seemed about to enter the bar. Xiao Xia knew she was here to interfere with Ruan Zhan’s rescue attempt. Therefore, she definitely couldn’t let her inside. She hurried over to the other room and carefully opened the door.
Ruan Zhan’s upper body was bare. He sat cross-legged beside Bao Da Tong. Two fingers on his left hand pointed towards Bao Da Tong’s forehead while two on his right pointed towards his own. Wan Li stood next to the door, his expression stern and vigilant.
If Bao Da Tong had been like a statue the last couple of days, he was currently like one that was melting. He was covered in sweat. The glyphs had mixed with the sweat, and trickled off his body like blood. The bedsheets were also soaked. All the water inside his body seemed to be getting squeezed out.
Ruan Zhan was the same way. His smooth chest and abs were covered in beads of sweat. His long hair was already soaked, with several strands hanging next to his cheeks as if casting a layer of shadow over his face. It made him seem brooding and mysterious.
Xiao Xia knew Ruan Zhan couldn’t speak and thus looked over at Wan Li.
“Did something happen?” Wan Li asked quietly.
“Zhang Jia Lin, that little girl, I mean, that fiendish child…” Xiao Xia didn’t know how to describe her properly, “seems to be about to rush into the bar!”
Wan Li had expected interference so he wasn’t surprised. He merely closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. “Take the bloodwood sword and tattered banner. Say they are ornaments and place them on the counter across from the entrance. Don’t worry, she won’t get in!”
Xiao Xia glanced at Ruan Zhan. She knew he could hear what was going on despite not moving or speaking. He was giving her instructions telepathically via Wan Li. Therefore, she immediately took the two treasures from the bookshelf.
Ruan Zhan had left them for her and Wan Li to protect themselves. They had already used them during that thrilling scene on the incomplete overpass a few days ago. Ruan Zhan had reverted them to their cute, miniature state after her returned, which would come in handy now.
She hurried down the stairs, almost stripping over a chair in front of the stairwell. Ignoring the puzzled glances of the crowd, she rushed behind the bar and positioned the items in place.
“Sis Xiao Xia, what are these?” Liu Tie actually still had a sense of curiosity while he was bustling around.
Xiao Xia looked around the bar. It was quite a bit busier than normal. However, Liu Tie had blocked off the kitchen and stairs with chairs, along with a paper sign that read “do not enter”. The bar was temporarily cafeteria-style. Those who wanted drinks would come order and pick up themselves. Therefore, it wasn’t chaotic despite being busy. He should be able to handle things on his own.
He really deserved to be employee of the month!
Thinking this, Xiao Xia patted Liu Tie’s shoulder. “Some good stuff from Master Bao.” She randomly made something up. “He said this would bring wealth and fortune. I was supposed to put it up but kept forgetting. I remembered just now.”
She had raised her voice and most people had heard it. They immediately started asking how much the “lucky charms” were worth.
“You should ask Master Bao. I’m also not too sure.” Xiao Xia responded randomly.
“When is Lil’ Bao coming back? Haven’t seen him in a few days.” A regular asked.
“He’s off on a consultant trip for a tomb’s fengshui. He should be back soon.” Liu Tie hurriedly spoke up.
Xiao Xia understood this was what he had been telling customers, and added a few words in agreement. Then, she walked beyond the counter and looked out the door.
Zhang Jia Lin was there!
She stood around a meter away from the door, staring fixedly inside. Her arms were outstretched, as if about to open the door and enter, but she didn’t dare take that step. No one passing by seemed to notice her existence. Even when people walked by the door or entered the bar, they would pass right through. “She” clearly wasn’t corporeal!
Where had the real Zhang Jia Lin gone? Had the little lass’s body already been destroyed by this fiend?
Xiao Xia’s anger overcame her fear, causing her to glare back at the fiendish child without shirking back. “What comes around, goes around. Since you’ve harmed people, you should await punishment!” She spoke in her mind, knowing the fiend child could hear her.
As expected, her mind chilled and a sentence wormed its way inside. “Give him to me, I want revenge!”
Revenge? Against whom? Bao Da Tong? What had he provoked this time?
Xiao Xia was confused for a moment. Before she could ponder over it, the little girl’s figure suddenly vanished. Liu Tie called behind her, “Sis Xiao Xia, shouldn’t you head back up? Didn’t you still have unfinished work to do?”
“I’ll head up right away.” She looked around, confirming the fiend child hadn’t entered, before going upstairs.
Ni Yang was still nervously restoring the photo. Since the AC was turned off, sweat had also soaked his clothes. Xiao Xia used a towel to wipe his face, preventing sweat from dripping into his eyes. She took the opportunity to glance at the screen.
Bao Da Tong’s face was already over half restored. Although there were new red lines forming erratically across his face, it was already possible to count exactly how many there were. The rescue seemed to have reached the final phase.
However, Xiao Xia didn’t dare grow careless and she walked over to the window. This time, Zhang Jia Lin was no longer there. However, the window inexplicably started shaking, as if someone was trying to get inside. Xiao Xia hurriedly retreated a few steps, trusting Ruan Zhan’s restriction to obscure any entrance. However, they had to make sure no one would get used.
“Ni Yang, I’m going to check the other room. Remember, don’t approach the window, no matter what.” She instructed seriously. “Can you do it?”
“I can!” Ni Yang was still working and he responded without looking back. “You should get me something to plug my ears. After you left, the laptop made weird noises several times, preventing me from focusing.”
Xiao Xia agreed, finding some talisman paper to shove in Ni Yang’s ear. That would offer him both physical and magical protection. She was also very surprised at Ni Yang’s ability to ignore the weirdness. After finishing up, she ran to check the other room.
The three men remained in the same state. One was lying down, one was seated and the other stood by the door. It made her suddenly feel as if time was paused. She knew time was of the essence and thus crept over to the window. Surprisingly, Zhang Jia Lin was standing below this window!
She looked very reluctant, her pale little face raised towards the window as if lost in thought. Yet before Xiao Xia could try to figure out what she was going to do, she suddenly opened her mouth and spat a stream of black smoke towards the window!
