Chapter 39: The Master Soul Does Not Return

"Will he be alright now?"

Liu Sui shook his head. "He won't die, but he certainly won't wake up either. Unless his main soul is retrieved, he will remain in a deep sleep forever."

I glanced at Qiu Xiaoli and finally let out a sigh of relief. Just then, the voices of Qiu Xiaoli’s mother and several doctors drifted in from outside the ward.

"I’m asking you, as the patient’s family, what do you think you’re doing? The patient is in critical condition right now—how could you let people barge in and mess things up?"

Qiu Xiaoli’s mother shrieked, "It’s all because of this useless thing! He actually went to beg those two little punks and even knelt before them. If anything happens to Xiaoli because of them, I will never forgive you!"

She was scolding Qiu Xiaoli’s father.

Hearing them, I walked silently toward the ward door. I opened it, and everyone standing outside turned to look at me. Some glared with rage, some gritted their teeth, and others wore faces full of expectation.

I nodded at Qiu Xiaoli’s father, then took Liu Sui and headed straight for the stairwell. We hadn't gone far when a flurry of footsteps followed behind us.

I turned around to see the group of doctors staring at me in shock.

"Am I mistaken, or are you certain the patient is really okay?" one doctor asked, seemingly unable to comprehend the situation.

Beside him, a nurse trembled so violently that the metal tray in her hands clattered to the floor, though she didn't even notice. "It doesn't seem to be a mistake... the patient is really fine."

"How is that even possible?"

Liu Sui and I walked all the way to the hospital entrance. The man stared at me with such icy indifference that I couldn't help but shiver. "What are you looking at?"

Liu Sui shook his head. "Don't even think about slipping away. Get back here and clean up."

And so, my miserable life began. I was dragged back to campus by Liu Sui and forced to start cleaning. When classmates I knew walked by, they all looked at me in disbelief. "Li Xi, since when did you become a janitor?"

I had to come up with an excuse: "I’m working part-time to support my studies."

The cleaning didn't end until seven in the evening, and my whole body ached with soreness. Liu Sui, however, acted as if nothing had happened, barking orders at me. Once the tools were put away, he locked the door and turned to leave. I suddenly called out to him, "Are you sure Qiu Xiaoli will sleep forever, with no way to be saved?"

Liu Sui didn't even turn his head. "There is a way, but very few have ever succeeded. It’s him—he doesn't want to live anymore, and his soul refuses to return."

"Tell me," I insisted. "Even if few succeed, I have to try."

Liu Sui turned around and gave me a very serious look. "You’re a stubborn one. You remind me of an acquaintance of mine."

"An acquaintance? Who?"

Liu Sui let out a long sigh. "An acquaintance, yes. I used to be good friends with him, but now we are just acquaintances. Perhaps... even enemies. His name is Chu Ge."

With that, Liu Sui turned and headed toward the abandoned school building. As he walked, he called out, "Just find his main soul and persuade him to return to his body. That’s all."

Then, Liu Sui vanished into the night. I turned and headed toward the dormitory, keeping his words firmly in my mind. I had to find Qiu Xiaoli’s main soul.

But the world was so vast—where was I supposed to look?

Back at the dorm, Li Xiang and Hu Tou rushed up to me, pestering me with questions. I brushed them off with a few perfunctory words and climbed into bed.

The next day, Ren Yunwen’s body was cremated and buried. I went to the crematorium and followed the funeral procession all the way to the cemetery.

The crematorium was near our school, no more than two kilometers away. When the staff tried to move Ren Yunwen’s body into the furnace, it still maintained a kneeling posture; they had to put in a great deal of effort to force it inside.

At the burial, Ren Yunwen’s parents wept uncontrollably. After all, it is the greatest tragedy for parents to bury their child. I never imagined that someone who was already dead could appear before me in such a way, driven by his girlfriend’s suicide.

Even more incredible was the fact that his corpse had knelt before me.

Deep down, I was still confused. When we suppressed the "Phone Ghost," I had seen with my own eyes that Liu Sui had taken Ren Yunwen’s soul as well. Without a soul, how could his body still walk?

Listening to the wails of his parents, I felt an intense sense of oppression. I offered a few words of comfort and then beat a hasty retreat.

I went straight to Liu Sui’s place, hoping to resolve my confusion. After hearing my question, Liu Sui let out a long sigh. "Didn't I tell you? There is something wrong with this school; many things are beyond our imagination."

I looked at him, puzzled. "Beyond the fact that a soulless corpse could walk, what else is beyond imagination?"

Liu Sui shook his head. "Many, many things—including you."

I pointed at myself. "Me? What do you mean?"

Liu Sui shook his head again, refusing to say another word.

It was already afternoon by the time I returned to the dormitory. That was when I received a call from Xie Laowu.

"Hey, you little brat, are you dead yet? I’ve arrived."

I almost hung up the phone. Everything was already over, and now this old guy shows up. I forced my tone to remain calm. "No need. I’m already fine. You can leave."

On the other end, Xie Laowu exploded. "Are you playing games with me? I busted my hump to get here, and you’re telling me to just leave?"

Busted his hump? I couldn't help but sneer. If not for Liu Sui, I didn't even know if I’d still be alive.

Ten minutes later, I met Xie Laowu at a restaurant outside the school. The old guy was the same as ever—careless, dressed sloppily, and covered in stubble. He stared at me viciously. "Tell me clearly, what the hell happened?"

I took a sip of water and said coolly, "What happened? If I’d waited for you, I wouldn't have enough lives to lose. Naturally, an expert helped me."

"Which bastard dared to steal my business? Take me to him. I’m going to beat him to a pulp."

Hearing this, a thought struck me. Liu Sui was cold and arrogant, and Xie Laowu was obnoxious. I had long wanted to teach them both a lesson, but I lacked the ability. Why not let them tear each other apart while I watched from the sidelines?

I grinned. "Fine, but I’m afraid you’re no match for him. Are you really sure you want to find him?"

Xie Laowu jumped up from his chair. "Damn it, say that again! In this world, who has Xie Laowu ever feared?"

I gave him a cheeky smile and told him not to get angry. Then, I led him into the campus and arrived outside Liu Sui’s cabin. I pointed at the small house and said, "He’s inside. Go ahead."

Xie Laowu wiped his face arrogantly and began to shout at the top of his lungs, "That little coward is hiding here! Daring to steal my business—I’m going to knock his teeth out today!"

With that, Xie Laowu charged toward the cabin, smashed the door open, and went inside. I stood outside, unable to suppress my joy. The two people I wanted to punish were now fighting each other. How could I not be happy? The pathetic part was that the brainless fool Xie Laowu hadn't realized what he was getting into.

However, just as I was gloating, a blood-curdling scream erupted from inside the house.

"Ah!"