Zuo Zhu’s previous display of tacit understanding was not an act. The moment Huo Fu’s hand touched her head, she nestled into his embrace, feeling utterly wronged.
“Brother Huo, last night I almost… almost didn’t get to see you, wahhh…”
Second Uncle Li hesitated, then asked, “Master Huo, what do you think should be done?”
“If we only kick them out, what if Mr. Li wakes up and tries to bring them back?”
Second Uncle Li immediately understood. “Big brother is ill. I have the authority to manage the Li family now, so I’ll make a decision in his stead. Li Qing and the Li family will be completely severed. He and his mother can never be recognized by the Li family again.”
No one opposed this, not even Second Uncle Li himself.
The family was already large, and Big Brother’s many illegitimate children meant dividing the inheritance among more people. Kicking Li Qing out reduced one claimant.
Although Li Qing, an illegitimate child born before the family amassed wealth, was one of Big Brother’s favorites, that did not stop Second Uncle Li from making the decision.
Even without Huo Fu prompting, Second Uncle Li had planned to expel all of Big Brother’s illegitimate children once Mr. Li passed away.
Li Qing and Lin Yuran, an illegitimate son and a mistress, had no right to sully the Li family estate.
“No! You can’t do this! Qing’er is Mr. Li’s child; you can’t decide this on your own!” Lin Yuran panicked.
Even Li Qing, who had been terrified moments ago, jumped up. “Why! Why can you decide for my father?”
“Because Big Brother is unconscious. The Li family is under my control! Liu Minmin, tell the guards outside to throw them out!”
Despite their resentment, the guards quickly removed them from the villa.
Li Qing was dragged by the arms, and Lin Yuran was pushed along beside him.
At the last moment, Li Qing turned back, his eyes full of venom, fixed on Zuo Zhu and Huo Fu like snakes ready to strike.
His greatest resentment was toward the two of them. The haunting in the Li household had never targeted them.
If Huo Fu hadn’t arrived, even with Mr. Li’s sudden illness, Li Qing could have still used the suicide ghost to threaten Second Uncle Li, who wouldn’t have been able to do much.
But Huo Fu and Zuo Zhu’s arrival had not only exposed his role in Li Fang’s death but also seized the suicide ghost, forcing Second Uncle Li to expel mother and son completely.
Li Qing knew well that with Mr. Li’s fragile state, once he died, the Li family would be under Second Uncle Li’s control, and he would never be allowed back.
He had the chance to live as a rich second-generation heir like Li Fang, but all of it was destroyed by Huo Fu and Zuo Zhu’s sudden intervention.
How could he not hate them?
Yet no one paid attention to his hatred. Zuo Zhu continued pretending to whine in Huo Fu’s embrace, while he noticed Li Qing’s vengeful gaze and raised an eyebrow with a cold, mocking smile.
Once Lin Yuran and Li Qing were gone, Second Uncle Li, worried Huo Fu might still be dissatisfied, cautiously said, “The problem is, ghosts harming people can’t be reported. Otherwise, I could have sent Li Qing to jail for killing Li Fang! But Master Huo, rest assured, the Li family will never acknowledge such an illegitimate child again. I’ll also make sure he learns a lesson!”
Huo Fu did not respond.
Seeing no objection or anger from him, Second Uncle Li slowly relaxed.
“Master Huo, about our family…”
Huo Fu interrupted, “There are still two ghosts.”
Hearing this, Second Uncle Li’s expression changed. “Two… more?”
The suicide ghost Li Qing brought was one, it had killed Li Fang and intended to harm Zuo Zhu.
The hanging ghost raised by Second Aunt Li was another, meant to target Zhao Yunling but failed.
Huo Fu’s words revealed there were two more.
Aside from the ghost haunting Second Aunt Li, the other might be haunting ill Mr. Li.
Before anyone could make sense of it, Second Uncle Li forced a smile. “Master Huo, maybe we should have breakfast first. Without food, we can’t think properly.”
Huo Fu glanced at him and didn’t continue, just as he was about to get up, noticing Zuo Zhu still buried in his arms.
“Wahhh, I’m so scared,” she whimpered, still unaware the drama had ended.
Huo Fu resisted the urge to pat her head, casting a light glance at the others.
Thinking he understood, Second Uncle Li smiled ambiguously. “It’s fine; we’ll just return to our own affairs.”
He left with the previously silent Second Aunt Li and the distracted Zhao Yunling, leaving the hall to Huo Fu and Zuo Zhu.
After witnessing Huo Fu’s strength, none dared to scorn them, even Zuo Zhu’s exaggerated acting now appeared as proof of Huo Fu’s charm.
They were relieved she had not been with Li Fang earlier; otherwise, Huo Fu might have ignored the Li family entirely in anger.
Once everyone left, Huo Fu expressionlessly pushed Zuo Zhu’s head away, as if the girl who had called herself his girlfriend was not him at all.
Zuo Zhu blinked. “Is it over?”
“Yes.”
She relaxed, shaking her head. “My head feels woozy from all that whining.”
Suddenly remembering Second Uncle Li’s mention of breakfast, she brightened. “Let’s go eat!”
Huo Fu glanced at her. “We’re going somewhere else.”
Reluctantly, she followed, eyeing his back with quiet dissatisfaction.
Ever since being with him, she couldn’t even eat properly.
Sensing intense resentment, Huo Fu turned to her with a deathly stare. “What is it?”
Zuo Zhu instantly transformed into a compliant little worker, smiling brightly. “Brother Huo, you haven’t held my hand yet.”
Huo Fu studied her hand for a moment and grasped it. “Troublesome.”
He strode ahead, dragging the bewildered Zuo Zhu along.
Truly dragging—she leaned at an awkward angle, feet barely moving, yet they quickly put distance behind them.
She pinched his hand. “Don’t you think something’s strange?”
Huo Fu frowned. “You want me to carry you too?”
Zuo Zhu forced a smile. “Yes.”
She thought her teasing obvious, but the next moment Huo Fu actually lifted her up.
They vanished from sight.
Fortunately, they were alone. Being seen floating midair in defiance of gravity would have scared anyone.
When they reappeared, they hovered high above.
Zuo Zhu had experienced this before in the ghost village, when Huo Fu had lifted her above the village.
This time, at least she was being held, and she felt touched.
Looking down, she realized how high they were and instinctively clutched Huo Fu’s neck.
“Where are we?”
Huo Fu pointed below.
Zuo Zhu saw Li Qing and Lin Yuran on the street.
“We won’t be seen, right?” she asked, worried about the busy road below.
Modern society had surveillance everywhere, plus drones—floating midair like this could be easily spotted. Oh, but Huo Fu wasn’t exactly a living person.
“You won’t be seen,” he reassured.
Relaxed, Zuo Zhu focused on the mother and son below.
They seemed to be in a fierce argument. Lin Yuran tried to reach out, but Li Qing shoved her away repeatedly, clearly irritated.
Huo Fu, noticing her gaze, said ominously, “Keep staring at him and I’ll drop you.”
“I’m not looking!” Zuo Zhu wrapped her legs around his waist. “Don’t drop me!”
He hadn’t wanted her to watch Li Qing, but now she clung like an octopus, making the sight unsightly.
He wanted to complain but stayed silent.
Zuo Zhu, seeing him relax, secretly continued watching Li Qing and Lin Yuran.
“Why did you bring me to watch them? What’s so interesting?”
Before he could answer, Li Qing made a sudden move.
Angered by Lin Yuran’s words, he shoved her to the ground, then ran toward the roadside, apparently trying to stop a car.
Then, an accident occurred.
The approaching taxi lost control, brakes failing, speeding forward.
Li Qing, at the roadside, became a target, hit by the taxi, then another vehicle—tossed into traffic repeatedly.
Zuo Zhu’s heart nearly stopped. She grabbed Huo Fu’s shirt, pale-faced.
“Did you intervene?”
Huo Fu looked calmly at the chaos below, even as Lin Yuran’s wails reached them.
“No,” he shook his head. “I brought you to witness his fate.”
Even amidst the panic, Zuo Zhu’s heartbeat slowly stabilized.
“His fate?”
Huo Fu smiled, an eerie, chilling smile. At that moment, he truly resembled a demon, not a normal human.
“Does anyone still think raising ghosts to harm others comes without cost?”
Zuo Zhu gasped. “You mean Li Qing, who killed Li Fang with a ghost, is now paying the price?”
She barely remembered minor details from the comic, let alone the specific outcomes for everyone in the Li family.
“Yes.” Huo Fu extended his hand, dark sparks merging into Zuo Zhu’s necklace.
“This is the energy of the suicide ghost I just destroyed.”
He had brought her here to witness Li Fang’s conclusion.
For those who invoke ghosts, the moment a ghost dissipates is when the cost retaliates.
Li Qing’s punishment could have taken longer without Huo Fu. The suicide ghost’s power was strong and would not have dissipated quickly. Li Qing could have prolonged his life.
But after the bathtub incident last night, Huo Fu would not let it slide, which is why Li Fang’s fate arrived early.
Huo Fu’s interest peaked. “I’m a demon too. If you wish, you can use me as an offering to fulfill your desire.”
Zuo Zhu looked through it all. “And after my wish is fulfilled, I die?”
“That depends on the size of your wish.”
“No need,” she said. “I don’t have special wishes. The only hope is that you don’t eat me.”
Huo Fu asked, “Really no wish at all?”
Zuo Zhu suddenly asked, “And you? If you ate me or Zhao Yunling, would there be a price?”
Huo Fu snorted. “Do demons pay a price for eating? It’s only natural.”
“So if you don’t need me, would you really swallow me in two or three bites?”
Huo Fu paused, then laughed, patting her head. “What are you thinking? I wouldn’t swallow you in two or three bites.”
He grinned devilishly. “Of course, I’d devour you in one eager bite.”
Zuo Zhu’s lungs almost exploded.
Forget whether he would actually devour anyone, whether he was a creation of hers, whether he protected her last night, or whether he might be punished in the future—her chest heaved with fury.
Huo Fu nudged her. “You’re squishing me.”
Zuo Zhu smiled bitterly. “Maybe because I’m too fat.”
Huo Fu nodded knowingly. “Indeed!”
Zuo Zhu gave up being angry and leaned on him. The more he said she was squishing him, the more she pressed against him.
Huo Fu: “……”
He was far from unaware of what was happening.