People like Ye Feng could be described as those who live by the adage: "Three years without a business, then feast for three." He could easily close a deal worth over a hundred thousand with just one casual transaction. Of course, in reality, there weren't that many supernatural incidents. Those who sought him out for exorcisms were not frequent visitors.
This allowed Ye Feng plenty of time to squander, and QQ became one of his preferred forms of entertainment. However, it would be a mistake to think he only used it for leisure. He had a fair number of clients on there, and he often found himself answering their questions online.
But these weren't Ye Feng's true pursuits. With practiced ease, he clicked open a peculiar application on his desktop, aptly named "Ling"—or simply "L."
A single letter, yet upon opening it, a window appeared that resembled QQ's interface, another instant messaging platform. However, unlike QQ, L was devoid of any commercial clutter, its simplicity astonishing.
As Ye Feng navigated the application, he noted the pitifully sparse friend list on L. It was no surprise; this software belonged to an entirely different realm. It was developed by beings from the spirit world specifically for their communication. The confidentiality it offered surpassed the capabilities of modern technology, making it inaccessible to those not from the spirit realm. Thus, L became the most common means of contact among them.
The real value of L lay in the various bounty tasks that occasionally popped up. These tasks offered rewards that weren't mundane money, but rather treasures known in the spirit realm—priceless artifacts for those who inhabited it.
Intrigued by the array of bounties on display, Ye Feng murmured, "Wow! A bronze-armored corpse? Someone dares to mess with that? And this one's even crazier—seeking seeds from the World Tree? If I had those, I would have planted them myself. They say those trees can nurture fairies. Who knows if that's true…"
As he mused, a new window suddenly appeared on L, revealing a figure. The video displayed a young man, clad in a simple white Tang suit, who appeared to be about Ye Feng's age.
"Hey, Ye Feng! Long time no see!" the young man greeted cheerfully as soon as the call connected.
"What do you mean, long time no see? I'd rather not see you at all," Ye Feng replied, irritation evident in his tone. "Every time I see you, it's bad news. Last time you told me about some vengeful spirit—please, are you really comparing that with a battle spirit? I haven't even settled that debt with you yet, and here you are again!"
The young man was Zhong Wufei, a fellow from the spirit realm rumored to be a descendant of Zhong Kui. His prowess in ghost hunting was remarkable, particularly with his family's heirloom—a Blood Gourd—an ultimate weapon against spirits. Any ghost trapped inside would dissolve into ethereal essence within minutes. The more spirits he captured, the stronger the gourd became. Coupled with his own skills, Zhong was quite renowned in the field.
When Ye Feng first entered the spirit realm, Zhong was the first person he encountered. Over time, they had grown to trust each other like brothers, despite being separated by the distance from Shanghai to Nanjing.
"Come on, Ye Bro, you know I'm still just starting out. I can handle ordinary vengeful spirits, but when it comes to battle spirits, I'm out of my league. Just let it slide this time…" Zhong chuckled, knowing full well Ye Feng was just venting.
After three years of friendship, Zhong was acutely aware of Ye Feng's talents—his innate yin-yang eyes, profound skills, and mastery in various methods. Ye Feng was particularly famous for his ability to create talismans and magical artifacts.
In today's spirit world, while many could exorcise demons or create talismans, few could forge powerful artifacts. Ye Feng was among the elite in this regard, producing items two or three times more effective than others. Zhong held him in high esteem for this.
"Fine, I won't press you too hard. But what brings you here? Spit it out," Ye Feng replied, shaking his head, aware that Zhong wouldn't reach out without a purpose.
"Right, you know me well," Zhong said, straightening his expression. "Yesterday, a woman visited me. She has a daughter who's quite peculiar. According to her, since her daughter turned nine, she has been reliving the same dream every night."
Ye Feng listened intently as Zhong continued. The girl would fall asleep and immediately enter a dream where a bizarre creature—part horse, part beast, with wings and a single horn—pursued her relentlessly. Each night was different in setting, but the sequence of events was always the same. Just as the creature was about to catch her, she would awaken, a pattern that had persisted for over a decade.
Her parents, desperate and searching for help, had considered various masters, as their daughter had nearly succumbed to despair several times. She lived in constant dread of sleep.
After recounting the details, Zhong sighed, "You know, my family excels in exorcisms, but this dream business? I'm at a loss. You're the only one I know who's studied these strange phenomena. Can you help?"
Ye Feng pondered for a moment. This kind of dream-related predicament was unfamiliar territory for him. He decided it was best to meet the girl first. Nodding, he said, "I can't guarantee anything, but let's meet. Have them come to my place. You have my address."
Suddenly recalling something, he added, "By the way, how well-off are they? Just a heads-up, my fees aren't cheap."
"Don't worry about that, Ye Bro. They're wealthy, having moved from Hong Kong. Price isn't an issue for them. I'll let them know to come as soon as possible. If anything comes up, I'll inform you. Bye!" With a wave, the video call ended abruptly.
Ye Feng didn't dwell on it, instead resting his chin on his hand, a mischievous smile creeping across his face. "Hong Kong? Now that's intriguing. I've heard the Ma family, one of the four great demon-hunting families, is based there. It might be worth meeting them. The Ma family's divine dragon lineage is truly something special."
In the world of exorcism, four prominent families had thrived through generations: the Mao, Guan, Jiang, and the Ma families—each a powerhouse in the spirit realm. Their lineage offered them immense power, with unique strengths: the Mao family's innate understanding of Taoism, the Guan family's unmatched skill in talismans, the Jiang family's sword talent, and the Ma family's dragon bloodline.
Each of these families produced natural exorcists, and one had to admit that fairness was a myth that had never truly existed.
Shaking his head, he turned back to the screen, resuming his exploration of the various tasks. However, fate seemed to have other plans.
" honk honk!!"
The sound of a car horn suddenly pierced the air outside his villa.
Ye Feng turned to the window, spotting a sleek black sedan parked outside. Beside it stood a middle-aged couple holding a pale, unconscious little girl, clearly seeking his assistance.
"Interesting, two clients in one day," he mused, descending the stairs to greet them. Once they were seated, he observed the man's square jaw, his stern demeanor hinting at a high-ranking position, while the woman exuded an air of nobility, clearly of no ordinary stock.
The girl in their arms appeared gravely ill, her face drained of color, eyes closed in an unconscious state.
Recognizing their purpose, Ye Feng smiled knowingly, preparing for what lay ahead…