Chapter Thirty-Four: The Search

Shen Chang'an agreed, and Chen Mengchen proceeded to share more details.

When they first purchased the mall, the city's development hadn't yet reached that area, so prices were not particularly high. In the following years, the city expanded rapidly, and before long, development arrived. It was only natural that Chen Mengchen's elder brother would be the one to develop that property.

Shen Chang'an didn't dwell on these matters but instead asked if there had been any difficulties or obstacles along the way.

Chen Mengchen shook her head, admitting that she wasn't clear about all the particulars and that it would be best to ask her brother if he wanted to know more.

Seeing that he wouldn't glean anything further, Shen Chang'an didn't pursue the matter. After all that had happened earlier, neither of them was in the mood for much conversation. After finishing their meal, they headed home together.

Once back in his own room, Shen Chang'an lay on the sofa, his mind restless, going over the day's events again and again, unable to find peace.

"Brother Shen, what are you thinking about?" Xiao Fen took the initiative and asked, sidling up to him.

Shen Chang'an glanced at Xiao Fen. If she wasn't sporting the look of someone who'd died, she would be a beautiful urban woman.

"Xiao Fen, why did you try to jump from the building before?" The memory of today's jumper returned to him, and Shen Chang'an asked almost without thinking.

A look of embarrassment flitted across Xiao Fen's face. After a moment, she replied, "Well, I misjudged someone. Thought I'd met my Prince Charming, turns out he was just a player."

Shen Chang'an let out a quiet "oh," then after a pause, asked, "Don’t you want revenge?"

Xiao Fen considered it and replied, "At first, I was consumed with hate. But after spending a year or two here, I mostly forgot about it. I'm already a ghost, what else can I do?"

"Already a ghost..." Shen Chang'an repeated the words, sensing a deeper meaning hidden within them.

"Brother Shen, let's not talk about such sad things. You went out with that beauty from 902 today—why did you come home so soon?"

Shen Chang'an paused, puzzled. "It's the middle of the night. I have to come home and sleep."

"So you just had dinner with her and came back?"

"What else was I supposed to do?"

Xiao Fen's expression twitched. "Brother Shen, you just rely on your good looks to play the field. One of these days it's going to catch up with you."

Having said her piece, Xiao Fen didn't wait for a reply, drifting off to another room.

Shen Chang'an looked after her, bemused. "Crazy woman. Of course I have to behave myself—otherwise, you'd all take advantage of me, you female demons."

...

The next morning.

"Damn!"

Shen Chang'an cried out, swinging his arm violently at the sky—only to realize, upon waking, that he was simply flailing about in bed.

He hastily checked himself over; his whole body was drenched in sweat, his face deathly pale.

"Was that really a dream?"

In his dream, Shen Chang'an had clearly felt a vicious ghostly spirit pass right through him, coming within a hair's breadth of tearing out his heart, liver, and lungs.

"Did that thing really come?"

He was ill at ease. The events in his dream felt all too real, and a chill of fear crept into his heart.

He hurried out of his room to find the group of ghosts passing the time in the living room and quickly asked, "Did any of you notice anything unusual last night?"

The ghosts exchanged looks and shook their heads, saying the night had been perfectly normal—except for Shen Chang'an's sudden shout in the morning.

He pressed further, "No problems at all? Did you sense anything entering our home?"

Suddenly, Xiao Fen exclaimed, "Not last night, but the night before, when I was in your room, I noticed something terrifying on you."

"Something terrifying?" Shen Chang'an was taken aback.

Xiao Fen nodded. "I can't describe it, but it was strange—so oppressive I could hardly breathe."

"Why didn't you say something earlier?"

Xiao Fen pouted, "You never asked! How was I supposed to know what it was? I thought you were refining ghosts or something..."

Shen Chang'an could only rub his forehead. These ghosts of the modern world were nothing like those in the world of his books. They knew next to nothing about supernatural matters, far less than he did. In the books, Lady Li was versed in dark arts, able to gather resentment and hatred, and was formidable beyond compare.

But if Xiao Fen truly sensed a spectral presence at night, Shen Chang'an dared not take it lightly.

He hurried back to his room, took out his talisman paper, brush, and the blood of the mountain fiend, ready to draw symbols.

He’d bought the brush and talisman paper at the local convenience store. The brush was easy enough to find, but proper talisman paper was another matter. The best would be made from peach wood, but that required a custom order, so he made do with yellow paper.

Still, using the blood of a mountain fiend as ink was the most extravagant he’d ever been with his talisman-drawing. Before, he’d resorted to leaves and bark, diluting his ink with water. He’d never had the chance to use monster blood.

He even took a bath beforehand—since incense was unnecessary, the efficacy would depend on his own power. Shen Chang'an didn't dare invoke the founder of Green Azure Palace except when reciting sutras for the deceased.

Once he’d calmed his heart and dispelled his anxiety, he began to draw.

The greatest taboo in drawing talismans was a restless mind; agitation led to an unsteady hand and disrupted flow of power, ruining the talisman entirely.

Shen Chang'an, however, had mastered two methods for restoring his spiritual energy—Nine Breaths of Qi Absorption and Fasting—so he wasn't concerned. As long as he focused, success was almost guaranteed.

He'd practiced drawing talismans countless times. When his power had nowhere else to go, he’d drawn talismans every day, amassing stacks of them.

He was no longer simply drawing; now, he could alter the lines according to his will without affecting the talisman's function.

This was already a sign of true mastery. If he could invent his own talismans, he could found his own school and become a grandmaster in the art.

But with his lazy nature, that was unlikely.

The entire morning slipped away as Shen Chang'an was lost in his work. It wasn’t until Chen Mengchen came looking for him that he realized how much time had passed.

Still, the results were impressive: in one morning, he created over a hundred talismans of various kinds, far more diverse than before.

Previously, his powers were weak, and so were his talismans; to achieve an effect, he had to pile them on in large quantities.

Now, thanks to the Nine Breaths of Qi Absorption, his power had grown rapidly, and with better materials, a single talisman could outstrip a dozen of his old ones.

He changed into loose clothing, tucked the talismans close to his body, and felt reassured.

Because he’d made the talismans himself, he could channel power to whichever one he needed, so there was no need to organize them by type.

Preparations complete, Shen Chang'an finally opened the door.

"You've been cooped up in there so long—what were you doing?" Chen Mengchen asked curiously.

Shen Chang'an waved it off. "Nothing much, just changed clothes. Oh, here—these are for you."

He handed her two talismans.

Chen Mengchen took them, puzzled by the markings. "What are these?"

"Talisman papers. This one is a Talisman of Evil Suppression—so long as you have it, most monsters and evil spirits won't dare come near. The other is a Demon-Seeking Talisman. If you see it start to burn, don’t think too much; just pick a comfortable posture, so you’ll look decent when you die."

Chen Mengchen's mouth twitched. "If there's a ghost, I die?"

Shen Chang'an shrugged and said no more. The Demon-Seeking Talisman only worked at close range, and the Evil Suppression Talisman would keep monsters at bay. If something managed to break through the latter, its power would be terrifying. In that case, escape would be pointless—death would be all but certain.

But such a scenario was unlikely. As he’d said before, his power was the strongest in this world. Others struggled even to sense spiritual energy, let alone absorb it; if someone could gather ten strands in a day, that would be miraculous.

Shen Chang'an, on the other hand, could absorb vast amounts at once thanks to his two abilities. One session of Nine Breaths of Qi Absorption was enough for others to practice for a year. So, despite his short time cultivating, no one in this world could match his power.

His Evil Suppression Talismans might not be much in the world of his books, but here, nothing could break them.

He’d crippled a massive mountain fiend with a single talisman; as for insubstantial ghosts, they’d be crushed if they so much as approached.

The two of them went downstairs, where the driver Chen Mengchen had arranged was already waiting. Without delay, they got in and left.

The mall Chen Mengchen’s brother had bought wasn’t far—last night, they’d reached it in just half an hour on foot, so by car it was even quicker.

The car drove straight into the underground parking lot. As soon as he got out, Shen Chang'an took out the Jade Amulet of Zhonglong and activated his Spirit Nose.

Chen Mengchen watched with curiosity. She’d seen him sniffing at the amulet on the mountain before and couldn't help asking, "What is that snuff bottle of yours?"

Shen Chang'an winced. "What snuff? I’m a modern gentleman—I don’t smoke, drink, or gamble, understand?"

She pouted but persisted, "So what is it, really? Why do you sniff it every time?"

Seeing her eager look, Shen Chang'an knew she was set on getting involved. "Please, don’t mess with this. If you sniffed it, you’d be in bed for four or five days."

The Spirit Nose Amulet consumed very little power, but it still required spiritual energy.

For Shen Chang'an, innate true energy was plentiful; a single breath gave him a bounty. But for an ordinary person, one breath would cost them three days of their lifespan.

The efficiency of converting one's own essence into power was abysmally low; forcing it would mean exhaustion and several days in bed, if not worse.

Though unwilling, Chen Mengchen knew he wouldn't lie about this, so she gave up.

Shen Chang'an, now using the Spirit Nose, began to sniff.

But aside from the smell of car exhaust, there was nothing.

"No ghosts?"

Not only was there no trace of a vicious spirit, he couldn’t detect a single wandering soul.

"Is the building too tall?"

The range of the Jade Amulet was limited; he couldn't cover an entire mall in one breath.

"Anything?" Chen Mengchen asked.

Shen Chang'an shook his head. "Let's go up first. We'll see."

"Mr. Shen, this way, please," the driver said, leading them to the express elevator.

But Shen Chang'an stopped abruptly. "Let's use the escalator instead."

The driver paused, glancing at Chen Mengchen for guidance.

She quickly said, "Do as he says. We'll use the escalator."

They took the elevator to the first floor, then ascended floor by floor via the escalator.

As they climbed, Shen Chang'an carefully probed for any sign of spirits, but to his surprise, there was nothing at all.

"Really nothing?"

He was astonished; even in the parking garage he'd noticed it. If ghosts haunted this place, there should be traces of them throughout the building.

Ghosts and spirits rarely intruded upon each other's territory and would leave distinctive marks to ward off outsiders.

If another spirit entered, conflict was inevitable.

At first, Shen Chang'an thought the ghosts here might be unusual, so he searched floor by floor, but even on the eighth floor, he found nothing.

This left him perplexed. Was it possible there were truly no ghosts here? Then what had happened with the jumper yesterday? Was it just coincidence?

He glanced out the window—the spot where the person had jumped had already been cleaned up. It seemed he would have to investigate the area himself to draw any conclusions.

As he was pondering, Chen Mengchen spoke. "Chang'an, we're here."

Shen Chang'an snapped out of his thoughts to see the driver opening the door—and standing before them were two... Taoist priests?