Chapter 657: Chapter 641 Suspected Demonic Possession

The scholar known as Lei Ming, who was Nian Youwei’s schoolmate and from Prefecture City, had a modest family fortune. Before falling ill, he was a kind and filial son to his parents and loving towards his wife and children. Yet unexpectedly, after passing the Imperial Examination, he seemed to have become a different person, becoming solitary and arrogant.

Qin Liuxi found it strange and said, “If it’s as you describe, that he has changed into another person, do you intend to seek my help without him knowing?”

If it were really a case of demonic possession, the person should be in a panic.

“It was Brother Lei who asked for my help,” said Nian Youwei with a bitter smile. “Although he has become increasingly unlike his former self, there are times when he’s normal. One day, he asked me to seek a master to expel the evil spirits. But no sooner had he spoken than he changed again. You wouldn’t know, his gaze became terrifying.”

Qin Liuxi pondered thoughtfully. This must undoubtedly be a case of demonic possession; the real Lei Ming’s soul is still present but suppressed, hence the short durations of clarity during which he seeks help from his friend.

“Junior Temple Master, do you think this odd illness of my classmate can be cured? He took the examination four times before passing. If it continues like this… then his decades of study would have been in vain.”

Qin Liuxi countered, “From what you have seen and know, does Lei Ming’s talent truly match the ranking he received?”

Nian Youwei was startled.

“I’m not mentioning the times he failed to pass, but if you compare his previous failing ranks to his current successful rank, do you think his talents justify this ranking?” Qin Liuxi implied meaningfully. “Everyone has their habits, including in reading and writing, and even in their style of composing essays. And what about this time?”

Nian Youwei’s face turned slightly pale.

Qin Liuxi’s words almost spilled out that Lei Ming’s success in this Imperial Examination could have been because someone else inside him took the exam for him. If this were indeed true and discovered, not only would his titles be revoked, but even his eligibility as a scholar could be stripped, and his life in officialdom would be over!

No, no. “Children should not speak of strange forces and gods.” Who would believe that? After all, the person who entered the examination room was indeed Lei Ming; who could be sure that his heart had changed?

“If there’s a vast difference, then perhaps the true candidate in this examination was someone else. So, you needn’t worry too much about whether his years of study were in vain. Rather, worry about his capabilities as an official, whether he has the talent and ability to seek the welfare of the people.”

Qin Liuxi paused slightly before continuing, “Of course, a good official doesn’t necessarily need to come through as a scholar; one can be effective and do good even as a regular degree holder. It all depends on the intent behind their studies. Let’s leave that aside for now. To find out whether your classmate can be saved, we first need to meet him and see what’s up. Right now, it’s all mere speculation.”

Nian Youwei was overjoyed: “Are you willing to take on this matter?”

“You mentioned that we share a good karma, so having a look wouldn’t hurt,” Qin Liuxi smiled lightly.

Nian Youwei sighed in relief and said, “Then let’s go to his house right away. It’s quite coincidental indeed, we only arrived in Prefecture City yesterday, and you got here today. Brother Lei truly has good karma.”

Seeing Nian Youwei’s relieved expression, Qin Liuxi threw cold water on his hopes: “Don’t be too happy yet. If it really is a case of demonic possession, it’s doubtful whether Brother Lei’s soul is still there!”

If this wild soul were benign, then dual souls coexisting in one body could happen, but with time, one would certainly overpower the other, eventually consuming and erasing the weaker one.

Nian Youwei turned pale: “This, this…”

“Let’s head over.”

…

The Lei Family was engulfed in a cloud of sorrow.

Lei Ming had repeatedly taken the Imperial Examination for four sessions and finally succeeded in becoming a scholar. It was supposed to be a supremely joyous occasion to glorify his ancestors and transform his family’s fortunes. Everyone should have been exuberantly welcoming Lei Ming’s return and celebrating a family reunion, yet something amiss was discovered.

That was the drastic change in Lei Ming.

Although he still acted considerate, filial and gentle, a mother’s intuition is strong, and Lei Mu quickly sensed something was amiss. Her son was still her familiar son, but these minute changes in his body language felt particularly odd and suspicious to her.

Since returning from the Imperial Examination, why did he start to unconsciously flick his fingers?

Lei Ming’s wife, Mrs. Huang, also noticed something was wrong. As his bedfellow for many years and the mother of their two children, with their daughter soon to be married, how could she not understand her husband? Yet Lei Ming’s contrived behavior made her extremely uneasy and fearful.

The couple had a very deep bond; how could she possibly feel fear towards him? This thought chilled Mrs. Huang to the bone.

Perhaps sensing her suspicions, Lei Ming started staying in the study right after returning and became much colder, which further panicked Mrs. Huang.

In her mother-in-law’s main house, after a sleepless night with dark circles under her eyes, Mrs. Huang and her mother-in-law discussed Lei Ming’s strange behavior, and the joy of her husband passing the Imperial Examination had completely evaporated.

Mrs. Huang licked her dry lips and said hesitantly, “Mother, I think there’s something not quite right with my husband, I don’t know if it’s…”

Madam Lei’s eyes darted over, startling Mrs. Huang into silence.

“You noticed it too?” Madam Lei’s voice was hoarse, her cloudy eyes reddened, and tears began to roll down.

“Mother?” Mrs. Huang was terrified.

Madam Lei gripped the chair’s armrest tightly, gritting her teeth, “That’s not my Ming, I fear it’s some wandering ghost who’s taken over my son’s body and dared to come back home.”

A mother knows her son best; no matter how well he pretended, she never felt that heart-connection tingle that bound mother and son.

Bang.

Mrs. Huang was so shocked her face turned pale, and in her panic, she knocked over the teacup on the table, feeling slightly dizzy.

She had somewhat anticipated it, yet couldn’t believe it, but her mother-in-law had bluntly perforated the truth.

Mrs. Huang bit her lip hard and asked, “Mother, what should we do?”

Madam Lei said, “Hastily go to Cien Temple and invite Master Mingxin. I cannot stand idly by as some Wandering Ghost wreaks havoc in my son’s body.”

“I’ll go right now.” Mrs. Huang hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes, stood up, and almost staggered due to shock and panic, quickly stabilizing herself by holding onto the table.

Just as she reached the door, she screamed shrilly and retreated backward into the room, tripping over her own feet.

Sharp pain shot up from her ankle as she fell to the ground and, panic-stricken, she watched the slowly approaching figure, covering her mouth to stifle her scream and scooting backwards on her buttocks.

Madam Lei abruptly stood up, her face stern, her body trembling.

“Wife, where are you going?” Lei Ming walked in, looking down at Mrs. Huang on the floor, bending over, and reaching out his hand: “The floor is cold, get up quickly.”

Mrs. Huang screamed again in terror, crawling and rolling to Madam Lei’s side.

Madam Lei, holding back her sorrow and pressing down on the edge of the table, shouted sternly, “What kind of demon are you? Leave my son’s body immediately!”