"Is it really an anomalous presence causing trouble?"

Liu Qingyan sniffed and whispered to Lu Zheng, "There's a stench and Corpse Qi, but no Nether Qi. It's of the ghostly type, yet hasn't entered the Netherworld?"

Lu Zheng blinked and subtly moved his fingers to perform the Qi Observation Technique.

Then...

Lu Zheng shook his head, "During the day, the opponent is hidden too deeply, can't be found."

"So wait until night?" Huangfu Ning asked.

Lu Zheng nodded, "Yes, let's wait until tonight to see if the opponent shows up."

As his words fell, a series of footsteps came from the doorway.

Lu Zheng turned his head and saw a man in his fifties walk into the courtyard.

Lin Zhijing, Xiao Yuzhen, and the beautiful woman hurried out to greet him.

"Father!"

"Master!"

The middle-aged man came to the entrance, exchanged a glance with Lu Zheng, and quickly cupped his hands, "Lin Kongzhu of the Lin Family greets Young Master Lu."

"Greetings, Patriarch Lin." Lu Zheng nodded.

"Young Master Lu..."

Lu Zheng waved his hand, "Could I trouble Patriarch Lin to send someone to inquire around the area if anyone else is like your son?"

"Hm?" Lin Kongzhu was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Young Master Lin was drained of some life and Yang Qi by a ghostly presence last night, which is why he's unconscious and physically weak," Lu Zheng explained, "I want to know if the ghostly presence has absorbed anyone else besides Young Master Lin."

"What?"

Though Lin Zhijing had sent people to report back, Lin Kongzhu thought, like his son, that this was Lu Zheng's excuse.

But seeing the situation before him...

It looks too real, doesn't it?

Lu Zheng frowned, "Please Patriarch Lin, send someone to inquire."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Lin Kongzhu quickly nodded, instructed the servants to inquire at neighboring households, and then returned indoors.

"Is there anything else Young Master Lu wishes to instruct?"

"No other instructions, let's wait, and I'll check again at night," Lu Zheng said.

Lin Kongzhu nodded, glanced at the bed-ridden Lin Zhidong, then turned to look at the doorway where a beautiful woman stood waiting with hope and entreaty.

"Well, Young Master Lu, about Zhidong..."

Before Lin Kongzhu could finish speaking, Liu Qingyan had already approached Lin Zhidong's side, untying the small leather pouch she carried.

Inside were dozens of densely packed Silver Needles.

"Patriarch Lin, your son is not ill or cursed but has had his life absorbed and Yang Qi drained. Moreover, there's residual Corpse Qi left in him, causing further weakness and unconsciousness."

Liu Qingyan inserted the Silver Needles one by one into Lin Zhidong's head and neck.

"I will remove the Corpse Qi from his body, so it won't get worse. This way, his life isn't in danger; however, he'll need good supplements afterward to restore his Primordial Qi."

"Thank you, Miss Liu!" Lin Kongzhu nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with more confusion.

"Qingyan, thank you!"

At this point, Xiao Yuzhen also entered the room, serving tea to each person present.

With Liu Qingyan busy, she stood by her side, waiting with the tea.

"You're welcome," Liu Qingyan replied with a smile, then flicked her fingers, causing a faint smell to waft through the room.

"Open the windows for ventilation," Lu Zheng instructed, leading the Lin family servants to immediately open all windows in the room.

"Miss Liu's family is well-versed; truly worthy of a medical family!" Lin Kongzhu praised, now believing about eighty percent of Liu Qingyan and Lu Zheng's words.

"Earlier, I doubted you; please Young Master Lu, forgive me!" Lin Kongzhu bowed deeply.

No matter real or fake, they've gone this far, so it's time to accept it.

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan noticed Lin Kongzhu's thoughts, but they didn't bother to respond, given it was just a coincidence, with Liu Qingyan simply being kind-hearted.

Of course, no matter how kind-hearted, Liu Qingyan would only remove toxins from Lin Zhidong. Ask for help in restoring Primordial Qi? Dream on...

Yes, it's the same for Lu Zheng. Since he knew of the evil presence, his main goal had become getting a share of the fortune.

...

After Liu Qingyan finished the acupuncture, Lin Zhidong's complexion was still paper-white, but lacked the bluish-black hue, and his breathing steadied, though he remained unconscious.

"His Divine Soul is too depleted, he will likely remain asleep for another day," Liu Qingyan said.

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

Liu Qingyan glanced at Xiao Yuzhen and then said to Lin Kongzhu, "Patriarch Lin, the matter from yesterday was actually resolved on the spot. My husband is a renowned layman and has dealings with the Yizhou Town Anomaly Suppression Bureau. Having repelled what troubled your son, he wouldn't resort to petty schemes just for this.

Today's matter concerning your son truly has nothing to do with us. I'm willing to help, not because of your misunderstandings, but because Yu Zhen is my childhood friend, and Lin Zhidong is her fiancé."

Lin Kongzhu's eyes narrowed, understanding Liu Qingyan's words.

"Rest assured, Miss Liu, everyone at home likes Yu Zhen very much. I will also ensure that Zhidong does not fail to repay her affection."

"Qingyan..." Xiao Yuzhen's eyes were complicated.

On the other side, Lu Zheng had just taken a sip of tea when Lin family's servant brought back the results.

Aside from Lin Zhidong, no one else was affected.

"Ah, how strange..." Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, murmuring to himself, "Why specifically target Lin Zhidong?"

What Lu Zheng couldn't understand, Lin Kongzhu couldn't understand even more.

But by now it was nearing noon, Lin Kongzhu stood to invite Lu Zheng and the others to lunch together.

"Master, the meat and vegetables prepared by the kitchen storage have spoiled again," a servant reported, "Chef Liu tried to take a pork leg just now and only discovered it."

Lin Kongzhu frowned and reprimanded, "If it's spoiled, go buy new ones; don't you see we have guests?"

"Yes!" The servant responded, quickly excusing himself.

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed, "Patriarch Lin, what's going on?"

Lin Kongzhu shook his head, "Nothing, just that the meat and vegetables bought are inexplicably spoiled many times.

Earlier they said the buyer was using inferior goods, but changing the person didn't work.

Later it was said the storage room was damaged, allowing summer heat to invade, so we had it repaired, but it's still not okay.

I was thinking perhaps the repairer's workmanship is lacking, and was planning..."

As he reached this point, Lin Kongzhu suddenly paused and looked at Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng calmly asked, "How long has this been happening?"

Lin Kongzhu's heart began racing, "It's been about... two months..."

"I think... I might know what's going on..." Lu Zheng nodded.

Lin Kongzhu felt uneasy and gingerly asked, "Should we still check the kitchen?"

"No need, let's wait for tonight."

...

Nightfall, Lin Mansion.

Lu Zheng stood in the front courtyard of the mansion, holding a Qi-Seeking Talisman, strolling forward until he reached the servants' rear courtyard.

Liu Qingyan, Huangfu Ning, along with Lin Kongzhu and his sons, accompanied by a group of servants wielding knives and batons, followed behind. Seeing Liu Qingyan present, Xiao Yuzhen also joined the group.

The group entered the rear courtyard, only to find there was already a woman in a coarse hemp dress standing silently in the center, seemingly waiting for them to arrive.

"It's you?" Lin Kongzhu called out in surprise.

"Who is she?" Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.

Lin Kongzhu's eyes filled with fear, "She says she's called Wei Niang, fainted outside Lin's residence months ago while pregnant. I took pity on her and brought her into Lin's home as a servant… By the way, her belly…"

"Master..."

Wei Niang spoke softly, "I took to heart your kindness, intended to leave once the child healed, remaining detached from your fates. Who knew Lin Zhidong's True Qi left traces yesterday, noticed by my child, who in a moment of excitement disobeyed my instructions.

Now my maneuvers are exposed, we have no choice but to trouble you together to help with my child's recovery."

Next moment, a roar suddenly echoed from the woodshed behind her.

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, the woodshed shattered, revealing a large-headed, slender-bodied, hideously grimacing Corpse Infant.