At this moment, Shu Chen only felt: just as I suspected.
His expression betrayed nothing as he calmly asked, “Why would Senior Brother say that?”
Qin Yu’an pointed outside the carriage. “You can’t see, so you wouldn’t know that these black mists look different to our eyes. This kind is quite rational, and usually only seeks revenge on the culprit. And coincidentally, our mission is to exorcise the evil afflicting the long-ailing Prince.”
The carriage slowly came to a stop, and someone lifted the curtain for them. “Two immortal masters, we have arrived at the Prince’s residence.”
Shu Chen glanced at the crowd coming to receive them, then rose and transmitted his voice in reply: “Of course, it’s both. Besides, Senior Brother forgot our mission is to exorcise evil and eliminate demons.” The scent of this Prince’s residence was truly a chaotic mess.
After descending from the carriage, a young nobleman in ornate robes approached them.
“I am Lin Jin, heir of Prince Kang. On my father’s orders, I welcome the immortal masters. Please, come in.”
Shu Chen nodded politely. “After you, Young Prince.”
The next moment, he noticed a flicker of surprise in Lin Jin’s eyes as he looked at him.
Sure enough, once inside the residence, Lin Jin couldn’t resist probing: “I wasn’t aware that two immortal masters would be coming to help. But rest assured, we will prepare two equal shares of the payment and deliver them to you tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Qin Yu’an took a small step back, standing behind Shu Chen, and declined: “No need. He’s the lead, I’m the assistant I’m just here to accompany and run errands.”
Lin Jin didn’t press further upon hearing this, and instead smiled at Shu Chen. “The immortal master is truly accomplished at such a young age!”
Shu Chen: “I heard some townsfolk talking when I entered the city. The Young Prince is also exceptionally talented. Huiyuan is fortunate to have you.”
Huiyuan Prince Kang’s fiefdom.
Lin Jin’s smile gained a hint of genuine warmth. “May I ask the names of the two immortal masters?”
“My surname is Shu, given name Chen.”
“Qin Yu’an.”
Lin Jin: “My father was suddenly struck by a severe illness today and cannot receive you in person. I hope the two immortal masters will forgive him. I have already ordered a modest banquet to be prepared. Master Shu, Master Qin, this way please.”
Shu Chen: “Is the Prince’s condition serious?”
Lin Jin sighed. “It grows worse by the day. We’ve exhausted all options, which is why we sought the help of immortal masters.”
Qin Yu’an, who had been observing the residence, asked: “Is the Prince’s illness related to our mission?”
Lin Jin: “There are too many eyes and ears here. Please follow me we can discuss it in detail over the meal.”
Once they were seated, Lin Jin slowly recounted everything he knew.
According to him, Prince Kang’s illness had come without any apparent cause, and every physician summoned had been unable to diagnose it. It wasn’t until the Princess Consort went to the temple to burn incense and met the abbot that, with his reminder, they learned the Prince was afflicted by an evil spirit.
Lin Jin set down his wine cup, his eyes filled with worry. “At first, we were skeptical, but from then on, my father began acting strangely waking in fright in the middle of the night, and according to my mother, muttering apologies in his sleep. The master from Huishan Temple performed two rituals, but neither worked.”
“My father and mother always had a loving relationship, but during that period he constantly avoided her. On the rare occasions they did meet, he couldn’t speak a full sentence to her just kept saying ‘I’m sorry.’ This continued until one day, my father collapsed while bathing. After he was rescued, my mother told him that whatever he had done to wrong her in the past, as long as he confessed, she would forgive him.”
“That’s when we learned that my father had once had two children outside his marriage, hidden from my mother.”
Shu Chen lowered his head to conceal the emotion in his eyes.
Lin Jin continued: “My father feared it would damage his relationship with my mother, so he never told her. When the two children were very young, he gave their mother a sum of money and had someone send them away. He hadn’t been in contact with them all these years.”
“Before the incident, my father received a letter it was from that woman. In it, she said the two children were gravely ill, and as a mere woman she couldn’t afford their medical expenses. She begged my father, for the sake of blood ties, to help them.”
“My father didn’t act on it at the time. A few days later, he remembered and sent someone to where he’d settled them only to find all three dead, their bodies left uncollected in the house. Counting the time, my father’s health began to decline right after that.”
Lin Jin looked at Shu Chen, fear plain on his face. “Immortal Master, could it be that the mother and her two children resented my father for not helping them in life, and after death their resentment lingered, coming back to trouble him?”
Shu Chen didn’t answer the question. Instead, he asked: “If the evil spirit is those three, then what about the ‘demon elimination’ part of the mission?”
Lin Jin picked up the cup beside him and gave an awkward smile. “I was afraid the immortal master would look down on this mission, so I added that on my own. I hope the immortal master will forgive me.”
Shu Chen thought: You were afraid someone incompetent would take the job, weren’t you?
He placed both hands on the table, sat up straight, and gave a barely perceptible smile. “But I genuinely smell the presence of a demon in the Prince’s residence.”
With a clatter, the cup in Lin Jin’s hand fell onto the table. He stared in bewilderment and terror.
Qin Yu’an chimed in as well: “That’s right, I sense it too.”
Shu Chen: “If the Young Master doesn’t believe me, I can begin exorcising the evil spirits right now.”
Lin Jin snapped back to his senses and said politely, “The master has traveled far and must be weary. There’s no need to rush this matter. I’ve already prepared lodging for you please rest well tonight, and we can begin tomorrow.”
By the time everything was settled and the two fellow disciples arrived at their quarters, it was already past the third watch.
Perhaps because he’d been forced to take a nap during the day, Qin Yu’an showed no sign of fatigue. Full of energy, he pulled his junior brother into conversation.
“Don’t you think Lin Jin is strange?”
Shu Chen: “He doesn’t seem to want us to start working early.” He was the one who said his father was gravely ill, and he was also the one saying there was no rush.
Qin Yu’an: “Given the strength of this evil presence, he must be hiding something else.”
Shu Chen: “Mm. Who would tell others all the bad things they’ve done?”
Qin Yu’an stared at him. “Are you trying to avoid talking to me?”
Shu Chen: “I’m a bit tired.” He didn’t want to talk to anyone.
Qin Yu’an patted his shoulder. “Then get some good rest. I’ll come find you tomorrow.”
Fortunately, he knew his junior brother was usually somewhat aloof with people, so he didn’t think much of it.
After he left, Shu Chen lay on the bed and let out a deep breath.
Finally alone.
With insufficient conditions, he cast a cleansing spell on himself. He’d endure for tonight, settle the matter tomorrow, and take a proper bath once he returned.
He hadn’t been lying down long before he sat up again, his gaze landing not far away.
By the moonlight, he could see clearly.
A little thing had come.