IMMFBCG Chapter 40

Chapter 40: The Accident

Bai Liu held the soul-binding rope awkwardly and instinctively replied, “I’m fine.”

After he spoke, Bai Liu noticed that Xue Yasu was unresponsive. He suddenly realized that in his earlier panic, he had accidentally “performed” a scene of dying right in front of his unsuspecting client.

In his current state, Xue Yasu couldn’t see him at all.

If this continued, he might end up being taken to the hospital.

He glanced at Ye Xue, hoping she’d help him out. “Shishu, uh… could you say something for me?”

Ye Xue, half-amused and half-exasperated, reassured the now-worried Xue Yasu, “It’s alright, he’s just…”

She thought hard, catching Bai Liu’s desperate hints, and finally came up with an excuse. “…practicing his skills. Yeah, just practicing.”

Xue Yasu looked puzzled. “But… Daoist Bai Liu doesn’t seem to be breathing?”

Ye Xue moved closer to Bai Liu, continuing, “It’s like this; it’s a secret technique exclusive to the Xuanzhen Temple…”

She took over dealing with the door ghost, motioning behind her for Bai Liu to quickly return to his body.

Bai Liu retrieved his soul-binding rope and swiftly returned to his body, slowly opening his eyes. “I’m fine.”

He got up, building on Ye Xue’s explanation. “I was just practicing, see? I’ve caught the ghost.”

Seeing him awake, Xue Yasu breathed a sigh of relief. “So that’s why the shadow suddenly stopped moving—it was because of your spell.” She turned to Ye Xue, who had just dispatched two ghosts with a single sword strike, and curiously asked, “Does Daoist Ye also know this technique?”

“Well…” Ye Xue avoided her gaze, afraid Xue Yasu might ask for a live demonstration. She mumbled, “Not really, only Bai Liu can do it.”

“I see,” Xue Yasu said, accepting her explanation without further thought.

The soul-binding rope, which had been restraining the door ghost, was now back in Bai Liu’s hands, and the ghost was about to slip away when Ye Xue slapped a talisman on it, freezing it in place.

With the ghost now immobilized, Ye Xue quipped, “Oh, so you think you can come and go as you please, huh? This isn’t a hotel.”

Only now did she finally take a moment to inspect its appearance. “…How ugly.”

The door ghost was a foul, ghostly being born of negative energy. Unlike audio ghosts, it had a repulsive aura, with a body pitch-black and lacking defined features, save for blood-red lips from which its earlier cries had come.

Though its face was incomplete, once it drained Xue Yasu of her vital energy, it would eventually develop fully, taking on her exact appearance.

Bai Liu, seeing it clearly, was also disgusted and muttered, “This thing wanted to scare me?”

The door ghost, feeling it was being unfairly bullied, found itself the target of both supernatural violence and personal insults.

Yet it didn’t have a chance to respond, as the next moment Ye Xue dispatched it with her ghost-slaying sword.

With the matter resolved, Ye Xue and Bai Liu bid farewell to Xue Yasu, preparing to head back to the temple.

Xue Yasu had originally wanted them to stay the night, but Ye Xue had to return to school in the morning, and her belongings were at Xuanzhen Temple, so she politely declined.

By the time the two returned to the temple, it was almost five in the morning.

Bai Liu hadn’t even managed to get any rest before Wei Xingteng hurriedly pulled him away.

Ye Xue, after only two hours of sleep, forced herself up, packed her things, and headed back to school.

As exam week approached, things became busier; sometimes, Ye Xue didn’t even have time to return to the temple and would instead stay at her dorm with her roommates, studying and working on her thesis.

Fortunately, Xuanzhen Temple was now running more smoothly, with more structure and steady business. Xuzhou and Bai Liu could handle things when clients came, allowing Ye Xue to focus on her studies.

One day, Ye Xue suddenly received a call from an unknown number.

She stared at the unfamiliar number for a moment, hesitating before answering. “Hello, this is Ye Xue.”

As soon as the call connected, a familiar voice called out, “Miss Ye.”

Hearing the voice, Ye Xue was momentarily stunned. “Uncle Wang?”

The caller was Uncle Wang, Yu Qi’s driver.

The familiar sound of his voice made Ye Xue suddenly realize she hadn’t seen Yu Qi in a long time.

Uncle Wang said, “Yes, it’s me. Miss Ye Xue, are you free right now?”

Ye Xue set down her study notes, walked to the balcony, and asked, “Uncle Wang, what’s the matter?”

There was a slight hesitation in Uncle Wang’s voice, laced with concern. “Mr. Yu was in a car accident a few days ago, but due to special circumstances, he couldn’t go to the hospital and has been recovering at home.”

Yu Qi’s constitution was rather unique. Even on an ordinary day, spirits hovered nearby, eyeing him hungrily, and now, in a weakened state, a hospital—a place steeped in negative energy—was out of the question.

Ye Xue’s expression shifted, and she asked worriedly, “How is he doing now? Is he okay?”

Uncle Wang reassured her, “Miss Ye, please don’t worry; he’s in stable condition…”

He hesitated again, unsure if he should continue.

Ye Xue picked up on his reluctance. “Uncle Wang, is there anything I can help with?”

Uncle Wang finally made up his mind and told her everything. “The doctor advised Mr. Yu to rest at home, but he hasn’t been following orders and continues working. No matter how much I try to persuade him, he won’t listen. Miss Ye, you’re his friend; could you help me convince him to rest?”

Before the accident, Yu Qi had been working tirelessly, tackling multiple days’ worth of work in a single day. Uncle Wang had been increasingly worried as he watched Yu Qi go without sleep. After the accident, the doctor insisted Yu Qi stay home and avoid the office.

Uncle Wang thought Yu Qi would finally get the rest he needed.

However, while Yu Qi didn’t go to the office, he brought his work home instead.

Uncle Wang suspected that Yu Qi was pushing himself to clear his schedule so he could see Ye Xue.

Stubborn as Yu Qi was, it was rare for him to be swayed by others once he’d set his mind on something.

But there was still hope.

After consulting with Assistant Zhou, Uncle Wang had secretly found Ye Xue’s number and called her.

Ye Xue returned to her dorm, eyeing her study materials. She packed them into her bag and said as she walked, “Sure, I’ll come by now.”

Uncle Wang sighed in relief. “Thank you, Miss Ye. Please wait a moment; I’ll send someone to pick you up.”

He hung up the phone, finally feeling some relief.

When Uncle Wang returned to the room, Yu Qi was sitting on the bed, a portable table set up before him.

The limited space held his laptop and a pile of files and contracts.

Uncle Wang brought in his medicine, feeling slightly guilty for going behind Yu Qi’s back.

Yu Qi, glancing at the files, heard the footsteps and said, “Uncle Wang, just leave the medicine there; I’ll take it in a bit.”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Uncle Wang couldn’t help but urge, “Sir, if you get too engrossed, you’ll forget to take it altogether. Besides, the doctor advised you to rest as much as possible; why not put work aside for now?”

Yu Qi coughed a bit, smiling casually. “But I am resting, you see. There’s not much else for me to do.”

Uncle Wang wanted to argue, but the sound of his phone interrupted. He glanced at the screen, initially thinking it was Ye Xue, but saw it was Assistant Zhou.

Uncle Wang, afraid their conversation might disturb Yu Qi, quickly stepped outside to answer the call.

Assistant Zhou said, “Mr. Yu’s phone ran out of battery. The head of Taihe Temple asked me to let him know that they’re planning to visit this afternoon.”

Since Taihe Temple has deep connections with Yu Qi, and his master had once helped them, they felt uneasy after hearing of his accident and wanted to check in on him.

Uncle Wang went back into the room and informed Yu Qi, “The monks from Taihe Temple said they would come by this afternoon to see you.”

Yu Qi looked up at the time—it was just before 10, leaving him plenty of time to finish his tasks before their visit.

He nodded slightly. “I understand.”

Then, as if remembering something, he added, “I’d like some quiet time alone. Unless it’s urgent, don’t come in.”

Seeing the pile of documents on Yu Qi’s desk, Uncle Wang sighed, realizing Yu Qi was hurrying to complete everything. He nodded and replied, “Understood, sir.”

Elsewhere…

As Ye Xue stepped out of the school gate, she saw the Yu family car waiting for her.

Uncle Wang hadn’t come, so he’d sent Assistant Zhou to pick her up instead.

After working together for a while, Assistant Zhou and Ye Xue had grown familiar with each other. He gave her a friendly nod from a distance, “Ms. Ye Xue.”

Ye Xue returned the greeting, “Hello, Assistant Zhou.”

Assistant Zhou opened the car door, and Ye Xue got in.

On the way, Ye Xue took out her notes to review, but, already well-prepared, found herself unable to focus. She finally closed the material and put it back into her bag.

When the door to the room opened again, Yu Qi, who was absorbed in his work, didn’t even look up, his tone slightly cold. “Didn’t I say not to disturb me unless it’s urgent?”

“Oh? Then should I just leave?” a teasing voice replied.

Yu Qi froze for a moment at the familiar tone, then looked up to see Ye Xue standing in the doorway, her scarf partly covering her face, showing only her naturally bright and smiling eyes.

She wore a light cream-colored coat, looking a bit travel-worn, clearly coming straight from her arrival.

Yu Qi was taken aback. Realizing what he’d said, he quickly tried to explain, “I wasn’t talking about…”

Ye Xue laughed and waved it off. “It’s fine. Just joking.”

She took off her scarf and hung it nearby, then walked over to Yu Qi’s desk. Noticing the piles of documents, she remarked, “You’re injured and still working?”

Although she spoke playfully, her tone made Yu Qi feel strangely flustered.

Avoiding her gaze, Yu Qi closed his laptop and even tried to cover up the documents, as if he’d been caught doing something wrong.

Uncle Wang, standing nearby, pointed out with a hint of reproach, “He hasn’t even taken his medication yet.”

Hearing this, Yu Qi remembered they weren’t alone and cast a slightly annoyed glance at his driver and assistant.

Uncle Wang, having just revealed Yu Qi’s neglect, felt sheepish under Yu Qi’s gaze. He quickly tugged on Assistant Zhou’s sleeve, and the two of them slipped out, leaving the room with only Yu Qi and Ye Xue.

Ye Xue glanced at the retreating pair and then at Yu Qi, who was now avoiding her eyes. She couldn’t help but shake her head with a soft laugh.

She poured out the cooled water in his cup, refilled it with warm water, and handed it to him. “Here you go.”

Yu Qi opened his mouth, attempting to explain, “I was just about to take my meds…”

Ye Xue smiled, not pressing him. “Okay, go ahead.”

As she sat beside his bed, Ye Xue noticed just how pale Yu Qi looked, his once well-fitting clothes now hanging loosely on his thinner frame.

After swallowing his medicine, Yu Qi noticed her gaze lingering on his face. He awkwardly held the now-empty cup, unsure what to do, and simply looked down at it in silence.

Then, attempting to break the tension, he asked, “Why did you come over?”

Realizing his question sounded more like an interrogation, he quickly added, worried she’d think he was ungrateful for her visit, “I mean to say…”

“What?” Ye Xue asked, not catching his words.

Looking up at her, Yu Qi’s gaze softened, and a pale smile appeared. “I’m really glad you came.”

…

The monks from Taihe Temple arrived earlier than expected, a testament to how concerned they were for Yu Qi.

Assistant Zhou greeted them and quickly led them to Yu Qi’s room.

Inside, the atmosphere was calm and warm.

Ye Xue sat nearby reading, while all of Yu Qi’s work materials, once strewn across his bed, had been neatly placed to the side. Although the items were within arm’s reach, Yu Qi chose to leave them alone and followed her advice to rest against the headboard.

Seeing her protective amulet peeking out around her neck, Yu Qi’s thoughts wandered, and his hand instinctively reached for his own amulet’s spot, finding comfort in the familiar chill.

When the door opened again, Ye Xue looked up.

A group of monks dressed in traditional robes entered the room with a serene air.

Assistant Zhou announced, “Ms. Ye, Mr. Yu, the masters from Taihe Temple have arrived.”

Yu Qi nodded slightly. “Welcome.”

Ye Xue hadn’t met monks from outside the Xuan Zhen Temple, so she glanced over curiously, greeting them with a smile, “Hello, Masters…”

Upon seeing one of the monks, Ye Xue froze for a second, her smile faltering slightly.

It turned out to be the very security guard from Haicheng University, now donned in familiar Daoist robes and standing among the monks with an air of quiet dignity.

When he met Ye Xue’s gaze, the guard seemed equally surprised to see her there.

Finally, he gave her an awkward but polite smile. “Miss Ye…”

At that moment, Ye Xue understood everything.

No wonder every time she encountered him while returning from ghost hunting, he’d give her that knowing look and never question her activities, even covering for her now and then.

So, this was the real professional all along.