Chapter Eight: Old Scars

Page 1 of 3

As dusk fell, Lin Fan awoke to find himself at home. Lin Hai and Lin Qi were glued to the TV on the couch, so engrossed in their drama that they hadn’t noticed his return.

Lin Fan glanced at Lin Hai and, catching him off guard, asked, “Uncle, how did I get back here?”

Startled out of his reverie, Lin Hai jolted upright. “Damn! Next time you wake up, can you give me a heads-up? I carried you home! And by the way, I’m docking your pay for passing out on the job and slacking off today.” One of Lin Hai’s guiding principles was to never let himself suffer a loss.

Before Lin Fan could reply, Lin Qi, who had been sitting quietly beside them, glared at Lin Hai and snapped, “I should be docking your pay! How many times have you knocked him out now?”

Lin Hai looked aggrieved. “...Didn’t I get punished for it? I had to eat dinner for two by myself tonight. Ugh—” Remembering the unrecognizable dishes he’d scarfed down earlier, he grimaced at the memory.

Three dark lines appeared on Lin Qi’s forehead. Her voice was gloomy as she said, “Old man, what’s that supposed to mean? Explain yourself.”

For some reason, as Lin Fan looked at Lin Qi, the terrifying vision of the ghost woman flashed through his mind, and he couldn’t help but change the subject. “Uncle, what about that ghost woman?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already dealt with her, and the payment’s hit my account. This matter’s pretty much wrapped up. Well? Nephew, didn’t I tell you? Your uncle isn’t a con man, but a gallant, dashing living Bodhisattva who rescues people from peril!” Lin Hai quickly followed Lin Fan’s lead, boasting as he switched the topic.

“Hmph!” Lin Qi snorted in disdain.

“Impressive, but not handsome,” Lin Fan nodded, then shook his head.

Suddenly, the sharp chime of the doorbell interrupted their conversation.

Lin Qi looked at Lin Hai, Lin Hai turned to Lin Fan, and Lin Fan had no choice but to get up and head for the door.

Approaching the entrance, Lin Fan glanced at the figure on the video intercom and frowned in puzzlement. He called back to the living room, “Uncle, your nemesis is here. Should I open the door?”

Lin Hai was baffled. He shot a glance at Lin Qi, thinking, “My nemesis? Isn’t she sitting right here?” But he couldn’t say that aloud, so he feigned ignorance and asked, “Who could it be at this hour?”

“It’s Zhang Yang and his family’s housekeeper, Aunt Zhao,” Lin Fan replied casually.

“Damn! I wasn’t looking for them, but they’ve come knocking on their own. Let them in.” Lin Hai straightened his posture and tidied his appearance, instantly switching into professional mode.

Lin Fan ushered Zhang Yang and Aunt Zhao inside.

Before Lin Fan could close the door, Zhang Yang rushed into the living room, dropped to his knees before Lin Hai, and pleaded humbly, “Master, it was all my fault before. I was ignorant. I apologize. I hope you’ll be magnanimous and not hold it against a hot-headed fool like me. Please, I beg you, let that girl go.”

Lin Hai rubbed his eyes, a little surprised, and called out in a teasing voice, “Am I seeing things? Isn’t this Young Master Zhang? What’s with the new leaf? Did you take the wrong medicine, or forget to take it today?”

Zhang Yang remained silent, still kneeling.

Aunt Zhao stood quietly by his side, head bowed.

The room was silent save for the shrill cries of the drama’s protagonists on TV.

Lin Hai, who always yielded to softness rather than force, frowned at Zhang Yang’s persistent silence and continued kneeling. He waved impatiently, “What are you, descendants of kneeling tribes? Does kneeling make you feel better? Get up, I can’t stand to see such a pathetic display.”

Seeing Lin Hai’s tone soften, Aunt Zhao hurried over to help Zhang Yang up and pleaded, “Young Master, get up. The Master is a man above the mundane, supreme and magnanimous. He’d never stoop to the level of women and children. Let’s talk things through.”

Lin Fan also stepped forward to help Zhang Yang up, thinking to himself, “You guessed right—my uncle can be pretty petty.”

“When did my reputation get so good? That’s not what you used to say,” Lin Hai muttered, though he knew their visit concerned the ghost woman.

“I can’t listen to this, I’m going to bed. I want nothing to do with your nonsense. And I’m warning you, don’t knock him out again.” Lin Qi pointed at Lin Fan, then went upstairs without a backward glance.

“Heh, don’t worry,” Lin Hai promised quickly.

Zhang Yang and Aunt Zhao couldn’t help but look over, surprised at how deferential Lin Hai was to a young girl. Who was she to command such respect?

At that moment, Lin Fan brought over tea and invited the two to sit on the couch.

No sooner had Zhang Yang sat down than he pleaded again, “Master, I failed to recognize your true Daoist heritage and skills. Please, don’t hold my ignorance against me. We’re here today to beg you to release the ghost girl from earlier—I’m willing to pay any price to ransom her. What do you say?”

Lin Hai and Lin Fan exchanged glances, each harboring a multitude of questions they couldn’t voice.

Page 2 of 3

Lin Hai sized up Zhang Yang carefully. Compared to a few days ago, he was like a different person. Dealing with smart people, Lin Hai saw no point in pretending, and slipped back into his true self. “Hell, do I look like a madam running a brothel? Ransom? ...Still, you mother and son sure are puzzling. One pays me to catch the ghost, the other wants to buy her back. Do you think my place is a red-light district? Tell me what’s really going on.”

Lin Fan nodded in agreement. “Crude as it sounds, it makes sense. Do you know that ghost girl?”

Zhang Yang looked at Aunt Zhao, and after she nodded, he clenched his teeth and said, “Not only do I know her—her name is Zhou Ting. She was my first love.”

Lin Hai smirked. “First love, huh? More like first night. I’ve seen at least a dozen in the tabloids.” He’d already guessed it was yet another tragic love story cut short by fate.

But Lin Fan was intrigued. He plopped down next to Zhang Yang, handed him a cup of tea, and encouraged, “Take your time, tell us everything.”

Zhang Yang took a sip of tea, his gaze growing distant as he drifted into memory, recounting the tale of his love with Zhou Ting.

Several years prior, when Zhang Yang was still in college, he’d met Zhou Ting by chance in Zhang Hua’s office. Her clear eyes, adorable demeanor, lively spirit, and simple professional attire made her seem especially elegant and refined, immediately catching Zhang Yang’s attention.

After a few calculated “chance” encounters, Zhang Yang learned that Zhou Ting was a student working part-time as Zhang Hua’s assistant to support her impoverished family. Through repeated contact, he discovered that not only was Zhou Ting beautiful, she was pure, strong, and kind-hearted. This only strengthened his resolve to pursue her, and his life grew vibrant because of her presence.

At first, Zhou Ting was repelled by Zhang Yang. Perhaps it was resentment toward the rich, or the misdeeds of a privileged few that made people wary of the wealthy. No matter how she rebuffed him, Zhang Yang never gave up. Every time he appeared by her side, he radiated nothing but sunshine and determination.

Over time, Zhou Ting was moved by his persistence, and the two young people grew closer, eventually falling deeply in love.

Their sweet, joyful days didn’t last long before Zhang Hua’s interference shattered them, leading to tragedy.

When Zhang Hua discovered Zhang Yang’s romance with her assistant and learned of Zhou Ting’s family’s dire straits, she was convinced Zhou Ting was using Zhang Yang to marry into wealth. She fired Zhou Ting, secretly gave her parents a large sum disguised as a scholarship, and hinted that they should keep their daughter away from Zhang Yang. Out of desperation, her parents complied, against their own wishes.

Their pure love was sentenced to death by Zhang Hua’s worldly prejudice.

From then on, Zhang Yang was constantly monitored to prevent him from seeing Zhou Ting. But even so, he found ways to slip away and meet her. Their love went underground, fraught with hardship and thorns, but whenever they met, all troubles melted away, and time seemed to stand still in their world of pure, passionate, sweet devotion.

Until a year ago, when Zhang Hua discovered they were still seeing each other and, in a fit of fury, did something she would regret forever.

In a public scene at Zhou Ting’s school—before her classmates and teachers—Zhang Hua berated her mercilessly, even producing evidence of her parents taking “breakup money.” Zhou Ting felt utterly exposed, her heart bleeding with pain, shame, humiliation, and helplessness. In her anguish, she rushed to the rooftop and leapt to her death.

Lin Fan was so absorbed in the story that he was weeping uncontrollably.

Lin Hai was also moved, realizing why Zhang Yang had been absent from the gossip columns lately. It made sense now.

“Don’t you hate your mother?” Lin Fan asked through his tears.

“Hate? I wish I could. But how can I hate the mother who, after losing her husband, still chose to bring me into this world, raise me with such hardship, and value my life above her own?” Zhang Yang had never felt hatred for Zhang Hua.

Lin Hai regarded him seriously. “Didn’t expect you to have such depth. I thought all rich kids were just wastrels.” He found himself reappraising the young man before him.

“So, you already knew about her and intentionally kept her around?” Lin Fan finally caught on.

Aunt Zhao explained, “It was my fault, really. After the tragedy, Zhang Yang was inconsolable—he wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t speak. I’ve watched him grow up; my heart ached for him, and I wondered how I could help. I remembered an old village custom: if you keep a lost loved one’s belongings and burn musk incense on the seventh day, the scent can draw the spirit back. I thought maybe we could call Xiao Ting back to comfort the young master. I never expected it would actually work, or that he loved her so deeply. But I didn’t know how to send her away, and the young master wouldn’t let me try, so we’ve kept her for a year—until you appeared…”

“You kept a ghost in your house for over a year?” Lin Fan was shocked—he’d never heard of such a thing.

“I don’t care if she’s human or ghost; she’s my beloved. Master, I can’t lose her. Please, help us.” Zhang Yang was near hysterical.

“Yes, Master, perhaps you could let…” Lin Fan chimed in.

“Let what? Absolutely not! Idiots! Don’t you realize I’m saving your lives? You’ve already violated a fundamental taboo.” Lin Hai glared at Zhang Yang, furious.

Aunt Zhao quickly restrained the overwrought Zhang Yang and asked anxiously, “Master, what do you mean?”

“Sigh… The paths of the living and the dead must never cross. Humans walk their road, ghosts theirs; they should not interfere with one another. What you’re doing will drain your lifespan, and also diminish hers. For both your sakes, I can’t let Zhou Ting go. This is the will of Heaven,” Lin Hai said sadly.

“I’m not afraid. As long as I can be with her, nothing else matters. If it costs me my life, then I’ll just stay with her forever,” Zhang Yang insisted.

“Damn it, are you really that dense?” Lin Hai cursed.

“Yes, young master, could you really leave your mother and me behind?” Aunt Zhao pleaded.

At her words, Zhang Yang was pulled back to his senses. He stared blankly ahead, silent.

Page 3 of 3

Lin Fan, unable to bear Zhang Yang’s near breakdown, asked, “Master, is there really no other way?”

Suddenly, Lin Hai seemed to think of something. He scratched his head and looked at Lin Fan. “Now that you mention it, there might be one way to let them settle things themselves. But, my disciple, you’ll have to make a sacrifice.”

Zhang Yang and Aunt Zhao’s eyes lit up, and they turned to Lin Fan.

“Uh… Master, is there any risk to my life?” Lin Fan asked.

Lin Hai thought for a moment. “There shouldn’t be.”

“What do you mean, shouldn’t be?” Lin Fan grumbled to himself, then looked at Zhang Yang’s hopeful face and couldn’t turn him down. He gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, I’ll help.”

“Thank you so much, young master. I owe you a great debt. If you ever need anything in future, I’ll do everything in my power to help.” After thanking Lin Fan, Zhang Yang turned to Lin Hai. “Master, since your disciple has agreed, what’s the plan? How will you do it?”

“What’s the rush? Do you think summoning a spirit is as simple as a neighbor dropping by? I have preparations to make,” Lin Hai thought to himself, already planning to charge handsomely for his services.

“But Xiao Ting…” Zhang Yang pressed.

“Don’t worry, she’s safer with me than with you. For now, let’s set her aside. I have other questions,” Lin Hai waved his hand impatiently.

Zhang Yang wanted to argue, but Aunt Zhao stopped him and said, “Please, Master, ask whatever you wish.”

Lin Hai asked, “Zhou Ting’s been with you for over a year without incident. Zhang Yang’s sleepwalking only started a month ago, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t understand it either. Why would Zhou Ting want to harm the young master? If she wanted to, she would have done it long ago. I tried asking her, but she doesn’t know the cause. Could it be that being together for so long has…?” Aunt Zhao wondered aloud.

Zhang Yang hurriedly interjected, “Aunt Zhao, don’t talk nonsense. This has nothing to do with Xiao Ting.” He turned to Lin Hai. “Master, I’ve asked her, and she said it feels like some force invades my body while I sleep, controlling me. She’s been trying to find the cause too.”

“Exactly. Zhou Ting isn’t to blame—she’s been merciful, knowing that extremes breed disaster. Otherwise, you’d have burned out long ago.” Lin Hai had already determined Zhou Ting was just a scapegoat; otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept her around.

“Could it be that when I summoned her, some other vengeful spirit came along… Oh, I don’t want to think about it. It’s too frightening,” Aunt Zhao speculated, shuddering.

Lin Fan and Zhang Yang exchanged glances; they’d both considered the same possibility.

“Heh, Aunt Zhao, I didn’t expect you to be good at both summoning and deduction. You’re right—your household isn’t haunted by just Zhou Ting,” Lin Hai confirmed her suspicion.

“What? Old man, you can’t be serious.” Lin Fan stared at Lin Hai in disbelief.

“Is that true, Master? There’s really another…” Zhang Yang was equally shocked.

Aunt Zhao, hearing Lin Hai’s confirmation, went pale and trembled uncontrollably as though sitting on ice in the dead of winter.

Lin Hai squinted and said coldly, “Hmph! I suspected as much, but didn’t expect it to be true. It’s hidden itself well—but now it’s out of luck crossing paths with me.”

“Master, is there really a malicious spirit trying to harm me?” Zhang Yang asked.

“Yes, and it’s a cunning one. But don’t worry—while I’m here, your family will be safe. However, today’s events have cost me over a decade of cultivation. If I go again, I may not have enough strength…” Lin Hai finally got to the point.

The little admiration Lin Fan had just built for Lin Hai instantly crumbled.

“Don’t worry, Master. I know how to show gratitude. Here, take this cash for now—please help look after Xiao Ting. When this is over, I’ll come again to thank you properly and pray for blessings on my family until you’re satisfied.” Zhang Yang pulled a wad of cash from Aunt Zhao’s bag, placed it on the table, and spoke earnestly.

“Good, good, I’m liking you more and more. Don’t worry, that malicious spirit just cleared Zhou Ting out of its way, so it won’t act tonight. By tomorrow, everything will be resolved. I’m exhausted. You should go home for now.” Lin Hai eyed the cash with satisfaction, then made a polite gesture of dismissal.

Zhang Yang sat in a daze, unsure what to do. He hadn’t even seen Zhou Ting and hated to leave like this. He looked pleadingly at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan glanced at Lin Hai, who was all but drooling over the cash, and got up to comfort Zhang Yang. “Zhang Yang, Aunt Zhao needs rest after tonight. Go home for now. My master isn’t the kind of scoundrel to take your money and skip out. Tomorrow, you’ll have your answer.”

Seeing this, Zhang Yang knew there was nothing more to say. Supporting the still-shaken Aunt Zhao, he left.

End of Page 3 of 3