Chapter 72

Qi Xu even somewhat suspected that the middle-aged male ghost was not the Trading Tea Tray’s first owner. It had merely found a compatible master and then exerted its greater power. It might even have skimmed some benefits from what it gave to the middle-aged male ghost, pocketing them to strengthen itself.

In such a situation, Qi Xu would never take it, no matter what.

Even if it was a decent tool that she could use later against other ghosts, Qi Xu did not need it.

Modern education had shaped Qi Xu into a very upright person, one whom some from the older generation might call “someone who read too many books and became a fool, with no flexibility at all.”

Even so, she would absolutely never resort to crooked thinking.

Qi Xu’s ghost body appeared to have a rather eccentric personality, switching only when negative emotions erupted. Even after so much time had passed, Qi Xu still struggled to suppress the surging negative emotions in her heart.

That said, it was just a massive outburst of negative emotions, not a complete personality change or a turn to the dark side. How could she become a villain because of that?

She seemed extremely cold and ruthless toward ghosts, but that was only because they were all villains, and it was normal for them to be treated that way by her. Back when she had caused a commotion in the busy street and faced the investigators’ challenge, Qi Xu had only tied them up to keep them from moving around and accidentally hurting themselves by falling. She had not done anything excessive.

With Qi Xu’s personality, it was very hard for her to turn dark.

Having made up her mind, Qi Xu had no intention of accepting the Trading Tea Tray’s allegiance, nor did she plan to let it go find a new owner to harm the innocent. Thus, her black fog struck directly, smashing the Trading Tea Tray to pieces. After it was destroyed, the cup of tea on top of it also turned into yin energy of heaven and earth, dissipating directly and continuing to wander through the world.

To prevent this yin energy from sneaking back onto her, Qi Xu even had the black fog around her work hard to drive it away.

The Ghost Domain also dissipated, reverting to the original appearance of the research building. Qi Xu’s human body lost the support of the chair and fell to the ground with a splat. Qi Xu drifted over, thought for a moment, and then slipped back into her own body.

She was actually a bit worried that she would be unconscious for a long time after returning, but her previous experience told her it was not the case. She had gone in with the mindset of giving it a try.

The Life-Borrowing Red Packet’s mastermind had already been defeated by her, and now only Zhuo Zi’ang remained unresolved. Even if she was in her ghost body, she could not help Xia Zhiming, as she could easily crush ghosts but could not lay hands on living people.

She did not have the right to judge or kill others. Even if Zhuo Zi’ang had committed a grave wrong, it should be handed over to the authorities—at the very least, left for the Vice Bureau Chief to decide. She was a public servant now, after all, and private punishment would violate discipline.

As Qi Xu had expected, she woke up not long after returning this time. She picked up her phone and called Xia Zhiming. To her surprise, Xia Zhiming’s phone ringtone echoed directly in the empty research building. Qi Xu was stunned for a moment, then followed the sound. Before Xia Zhiming could even answer, she found her.

Xia Zhiming was not far from Qi Xu, in a classroom next to the first-floor lobby. When Qi Xu entered, Xia Zhiming was sitting on a desk, panting for breath, while Zhuo Zi’ang lay at her feet, unknown if dead or alive. Qi Xu walked closer but before she could ask, Xia Zhiming waved her hand. “Call the Vice Bureau Chief and have her send people to take him away.”

“Damn it, there are too many idiots and losers in this world.”

Qi Xu was taken aback, then followed Xia Zhiming’s instructions and called the Vice Bureau Chief. After hanging up, she caught a faint whiff of blood. Looking more closely, she saw a cut on the back of Xia Zhiming’s shoulder.

“Ah! What happened to you?!” Qi Xu let out a sharp cry, then rushed over. She stood by Xia Zhiming’s side, darting around like a headless fly. She wanted to touch the wound but worried that fumbling with it would make the pain worse.

Xia Zhiming lifted her chin, pointing at Zhuo Zi’ang on the ground.

“There, after this idiot came in, he stabbed me in the back with a little knife. We tangled for a bit, and then yours truly subdued him.” Xia Zhiming grew angrier as she spoke and simply kicked Zhuo Zi’ang.

Though Zhuo Zi’ang was unconscious, he had not completely lost awareness. With the force of Xia Zhiming’s kick, he groaned from his position on the ground.

“Useless trash.” Xia Zhiming cursed again.

Her spirits were high, but blood had been flowing from her back the whole time. Qi Xu’s nose stung, and in an instant, her eyes grew wet. Seeing her like this gave Xia Zhiming a headache. “Don’t cry. I hate it when people cry. If you’re gonna cry, go far away and do it. Don’t snivel in front of yours truly.”

“But, but you’re hurt and still bleeding! How about you come with me to the infirmary first to stop the blood? Then we can go to the hospital. I’m really worried about you, wuwu…”

Xia Zhiming was displeased. “Go my ass. If both of us leave, what if he gets up and runs off? You think that’s why yours truly has been watching him here?”

Qi Xu had not known earlier, but now she understood—it was to prevent Zhuo Zi’ang from sneaking away after waking. She looked down and noticed a knife lying not far from him, still stained with blood.

No need to say it; that was the weapon that had hurt Xia Zhiming. Qi Xu froze for a second, then hurriedly reminded her. “Shouldn’t we move that knife farther away? What if he wakes up, sees it, grabs it, and hurts you again?”

“Are you dumb? You don’t even have gloves. If you go pick it up now, won’t that put your fingerprints on it?! Then you’d be in a mess you can’t explain.” Xia Zhiming scolded Qi Xu, then said smugly, “As if this kid could stab me again. Yours truly already twisted his arm clean off.”

Hiss, she said she twisted his arm off—Qi Xu glanced at Zhuo Zi’ang and sure enough, his wrist was visibly swollen, and the position looked extremely awkward.

“This is legitimate self-defense. Even if the Vice Bureau Chief comes, she can’t say a thing.”

“Of course it’s legitimate self-defense. He hurt you this badly.” Qi Xu was one hundred percent on Xia Zhiming’s side, and she truly felt Zhuo Zi’ang was too much. How could he do that?

Qi Xu wanted Xia Zhiming to go get treated first while she watched him, but Xia Zhiming refused and insisted on waiting right there. Seeing that wound, Qi Xu grew frantic. With the other investigators still not arriving, she rushed out of the research building and hurried to the infirmary.

With her exceptional affinity, she got a bunch of hemostatic supplies from the school doctor, then rushed back in a panic. She first disinfected and stopped the bleeding on Xia Zhiming’s wound according to the school doctor’s instructions, applied a hemostatic bandage, and only then accompanied her to continue waiting.

To distract Xia Zhiming and make it hurt less, Qi Xu shared some little bits of knowledge she had just learned from the school doctor.

“Xia Zhiming, did you know? Band-Aids and wound dressings are actually different. First, Band-Aids contain medicine, while wound dressings don’t. Second, Band-Aids are for larger wounds… like yours, while wound dressings are only for small ones. Also, Band-Aids stop bleeding and promote healing, but wound dressings only stop bleeding.”

After Qi Xu’s long explanation, Xia Zhiming was uninterested. “Oh, is that so.”

Qi Xu looked at Xia Zhiming, extremely worried, because her face had gone somewhat pale—clearly from losing too much blood earlier. There was quite a bit of blood on her back, quite shocking to see.

Qi Xu inwardly cursed the investigators who still had not arrived. How could they be so slow? Her family’s Xia Zhiming was really going to die from blood loss! After fretting for ages, the investigators finally showed up. As it turned out, they were familiar faces—Zhang Ziyue and her senior.

Seeing Xia Zhiming, the two were startled. “How did you get hurt so badly?”

“He ambushed me.” Xia Zhiming kicked Zhuo Zi’ang on the ground again. She said to Zhang Ziyue’s senior, “He ambushed me from behind and hurt me—don’t forget to report every detail to the Vice Bureau Chief. This kid’s no good, sending Life-Borrowing Red Packets to classmates and sneaking attacks from behind. If he doesn’t get locked up for a few years, it won’t make up for my injury.”

The senior waved her hand. “Got it. You should head out now.”

Qi Xu hurriedly pulled a white coat from her bag, which she had temporarily borrowed from the school doctor. Her affinity was sometimes ridiculously effective. Normally, the school doctor would not easily give such a key item to others, but Qi Xu had pleaded pitifully. “If we don’t cover it up, with all that blood, people will point and stare on the way to the hospital.”

“…Then wash it clean before returning it.”

“Thanks!”

Xia Zhiming had not wanted to put on the white coat at first, but Zhang Ziyue and her senior also persuaded her. “Just wear it. Otherwise, walking around school like that will scare people.”

Only then did Xia Zhiming reluctantly put on the white coat.

Qi Xu wanted to take Xia Zhiming to the hospital, but Xia Zhiming insisted on driving herself. She led Qi Xu toward the parking lot in the education park outside the school. It was already past three in the afternoon, but the September sun was still blazing. Many students were still in class, and those without classes did not want to wander outside in this heat. So the roads in the education park were mostly empty, with only the occasional car passing by.

Qi Xu tried to persuade her. “Don’t drive. You’re in this state—can you even drive?”

“If I don’t, are you gonna do it?!”

Sometimes, Xia Zhiming really did not treat her own life seriously. Qi Xu followed behind her, watching her back. At first, she walked steadily enough, but after a few steps, she suddenly lurched forward.

Qi Xu’s heart jumped to her throat. She rushed up and caught the unsteady Xia Zhiming in a half-hug. Xia Zhiming wanted to push her away and say she was fine, but in her condition, how could Qi Xu feel at ease?

Supporting Xia Zhiming half-hugging, half-carrying, Qi Xu pulled out her phone. “I’ll call a car. Don’t walk anymore. I’m really scared you’ll die on the road!”

Xia Zhiming grumbled, wanting to say “mind your own business,” but this time, she truly had no strength left.