Judge of Souls-Chapter 24 - Make trouble

Zhou Yi’an took out another cigarette from under the table.

Chu Xuanliang looked over.

“Don’t fan it away!” Zhou Yi’an quickly said in fear, “This is an e-cigarette!”

Yama stared at the thing between her fingers.

Chu Xuanliang covered his eyes. “You can’t smoke this!”

The host’s and Ye Lin’s father’s voices echoed in the living room.

Host: “Mr. Ye was also an outstanding media professional when he was young, then he switched to business, and now he’s a successful businessman.”

Ye Lin’s father: “Haha, you’re exaggerating.”

“When you were young, you reported on many shocking incidents. I’ve heard about them, please correct me if I’m wrong. For instance, you exposed a human trafficking case, helping reunite a victim with her father. You also exposed an unqualified food company, forcing them into bankruptcy and an apology. You spoke up for impoverished defendants, delved into dangerous situations to investigate the truth, and helped them win their cases.”

“No, I was just a messenger really. That’s what I told Ye Lin too, but I never thought…”

“Sometimes society is too harsh on such brave individuals. Do you regret it?”

Ye Lin’s father said painfully: “I don’t know anymore.”

Chu Xuanliang turned his head and noticed Zhou Yi’an’s fingers holding the cigarette were slightly trembling. He frowned almost imperceptibly.

Zhou Yi’an turned off the TV and said carelessly with a laugh, “Heh. Being a reporter used to be very lucrative back then. In his era, the pen was powerful enough to kill. Our teacher said that one of his classmates, when following seniors to interview companies, would bring an empty sack and return with it full. Their monthly bonuses were higher than a year’s salary. It’s different now, social news reporters earn even less than paparazzi.”

Chu Xuanliang: “Really?”

Zhou Yi’an: “See? They say intelligence comes from being deceived. Modern netizens get scammed frequently but never learn, right? Besides, the internet wasn’t as developed back then, information spread through newspapers and TV. People are so naive, they believe anything as long as it’s printed in a newspaper. Whether companies had problems or not, reporters could write whatever they wanted, and people would sincerely believe it. Many companies went bankrupt after being exposed, not just one or two.”

Yama raised an eyebrow.

“Now people always say celebrities earn too much. What’s wrong with celebrities? They only focus on those who’ve made it big, of course they’ll be jealous. Why don’t they see how many people are still honestly working hard at the bottom? It’s like crossing a bridge packed with thousands of soldiers – those who make it across are life’s winners, aren’t they?” Zhou Yi’an said, “Comparatively, I think the older generation had it much easier making money.”

Chu Xuanliang said, “Nothing is easy.”

Zhou Yi’an laughed mockingly. “It’s easy for some and hard for others. Like my dad, he’s just a nouveau riche, uneducated and mean-spirited. Business was easy back then, opportunities were everywhere. They sold bread from street carts and made enough for a storefront in a year. Later, they heard from someone that property prices would rise, and without checking if it was true, they invested everything in it. Now, well, they just lie around eating and drinking, keeping mistresses, doing nothing at all.”

Yama: “Isn’t he your father?”

Zhou Yi’an’s expression showed undisguised contempt. “Please. I’m a woman, he won’t leave me a penny. Being able to feed me is already a huge favor to him. He has four daughters, but only one precious son.”

Jiang Feng asked, “Wasn’t there family planning back then?”

Zhou Yi’an’s expression became momentarily distant, then after a pause she said, “Who knows? Don’t you know how people used to have children secretly back then?”

Zhou Yi’an didn’t want to talk anymore and stood up saying, “Chu Maoxian isn’t here yet, are you staying?”

Chu Xuanliang quickly said, “We’re leaving.”

“I’m scared to stay here alone,” Zhou Yi’an said, “Little brother, stay and keep me company. Sister will cook for you. Sister’s cooking is very delicious.”

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It took Yama a while to react.

Little brother?

Jiang Feng pushed him forward with an open hand. “He’s yours.”

Yama: “??”

Even King Yama can hit people!

Yama turned and slapped back, tilting his head up to glare at Jiang Feng.

Zhou Yi’an loved seeing him like this.

“I’ll cook for you,” Zhou Yi’an said, “Do you prefer Hunan or Zhejiang cuisine? Sweet or spicy? I can make both.”

Yama’s ears twitched, his expression softening a bit.

Zhou Yi’an understood from his expression and bent down saying, “Do you like fish? Shrimp? There’s a box of yellow croakers in the fridge. There’s also frozen steak and pizza. Oh, shall I make you a cheesecake?”

Yama’s eyelid twitched.

Compared to this, Jiang Feng’s home was really poor, with mostly just instant noodles.

Chu Xuanliang said timely, “We’ll come pick you up tomorrow. Although this apartment hasn’t shown any abnormalities recently, it has had two incidents before. It’s indeed dangerous for Zhou Yi’an to stay alone. Please stay to protect her.”

Yama nodded reluctantly. “Fine then.”

Chu Xuanliang wanted to say more.

This child might get lost if let out. Just for some food…

Chu Xuanliang, with a father’s concern, left with Jiang Feng. After leaving the door, he immediately called Officer Ye, but couldn’t get through.

After hesitating at the doorway for a while, he said to Jiang Feng, “Well, let’s go.”

Zhou Yi’an really made a table full of dishes for Yama. However, cooking takes time, and half of it was vegetarian products from her fridge. As for seafood, it was all steamed. She fried a plate of chicken legs for Yama and stir-fried several simple dishes.

Yama had a good impression of this girl.

Worth noting down!

After dark, Zhou Yi’an helped him move everything to the coffee table in the living room and taught him how to use the TV.

“Don’t eat too much, you won’t be able to sleep if you’re too full,” Zhou Yi’an yawned and said, “I’m a bit sleepy, I’ll go to bed first.”

Yama nodded.

Zhou Yi’an really felt very tired, and had a bit of a headache. She rubbed her forehead and went to the bathroom to wash her face.

These past few days, whenever she closed her eyes, she would think of Ye Lin’s water-bloated face and couldn’t sleep at all.

She changed into her pajamas and lay in bed.

The curtains weren’t drawn, and from her lying position, she could see the moon outside through the window.

Tonight’s moon was blue.

She put her hand under her pillow, then turned her head and let out a deep breath.

In her drowsiness, she felt she had fallen asleep, and heard someone calling her name.

That voice was very familiar, but she hadn’t heard it for so long that she thought it was just her imagination.

Zhou Yi’an opened her eyes to see a dim alley. Cold wind whistled through the corridor. In her ears came the sound of children’s recitation, growing increasingly clear.

“Spring sleep not aware of dawn… Birds chirping heard everywhere…”

Zhou Yi’an felt very dazed.

The place where she lived long ago had an elementary school on the left and a market at the back. She still remembered the monthly rent was 100 yuan.

Turning around, she indeed saw that building with blackened exterior walls.

Zhou Yi’an walked along the path in her memory, returning to her doorstep. She pressed her lips together, pushed open the door, and called out. “Dad?”

The house was very run-down, and the window that let in light was blocked by a tall building, so the room was dim all day long.

A wooden table was placed on the left side of the room, the tabletop polished to a shiny finish.

At the table, a bespectacled middle-aged man turned around, smiled and nodded, then reached out his hand to her.

This man was missing the middle finger on his left hand, cut off by creditors years ago when he couldn’t repay his debts.

Zhou Yi’an used to always ask him why he was missing a finger, and he would say she was transformed from that finger.

After sixteen years, he had returned.

Zhou Yi’an instantly burst into tears.

Zhou Yi’an sat next to him and said, “Dad, talk to me. I haven’t seen you for so long.”

The man reached out his hand to her. Zhou Yi’an grasped it.

Cold, hard, like touching stone.

He led Zhou Yi’an out the door and walked deeper into the path.

The road ahead was different from her memories.

That road was winding, its end invisible, with orange fireballs floating on both sides, and not a blade of grass growing on it.

Zhou Yi’an stopped and asked, “If I go in, will I never be able to come back?”

The man’s grip on her hand suddenly tightened, making it impossible for her to break free. Still wearing that seemingly fake smile, he dragged her inside.

Zhou Yi’an struggled. “Let go! I can’t die yet!”

Yama sat in the living room, biting a chicken leg. The TV was playing something he couldn’t understand at all.

He got up to wash his hands and only then noticed several fine threads had appeared in the room.

Those white threads were barely visible under the light, they were strands formed by magic power that ordinary people couldn’t see. They appeared from the doorway and extended all the way to Zhou Yi’an’s room.

Yama searched thoroughly at the doorway but found nothing. He bent down and felt the carpet, picking up a layer of powder.

Someone had sprinkled a layer of white ash on it.

Yama immediately rushed to Zhou Yi’an’s room, where she was lying stiff and motionless on the bed.

“Zhou Yi’an?” Yama pushed her, “Zhou Yi’an! Wake up quick!”

Zhou Yi’an showed no response at all.

Yama felt her neck – it was ice cold. Her body temperature had already started dropping.

Someone really dared to make trouble in front of him. Yama smiled coldly.

He clasped his hands together, separating his spirit from the divine wood.

A tall figure floated in the air. King Yama opened his eyes and shouted in a thunderous voice. “Presumptuous!”

Instantly, divine power surged along the white threads on Zhou Yi’an’s body, and in a distant villa in A City, the sorcerer who was performing the spell spat out a mouthful of blood from his heart. Both his soul and body felt as if they had been scraped by sharp blades, causing unbearable pain.

The middle-aged man beside him was frightened and stepped forward to ask, “Master! Are you alright?”

“She…” The sorcerer lay on the ground, barely able to move a finger. He managed to squeeze out a few words from his throat, asking, “What powerful person does she have on her side?”

With that, he could no longer hold on and passed out directly.

“Powerful person…” Ye Lin’s father’s face became distorted, “I knew she killed Ye Lin, it must be her! I won’t let her get away with this!”

****

Officer Ye’s call came back in the middle of the night.

Chu Xuanliang lay in bed, rubbing his aching forehead, looked at the time – it was exactly 4 AM: “…you’re getting back at me.”

Officer Ye: “Don’t say that. I’m just diligent in my duties, couldn’t wait. I want to ask you something, why did you suddenly ask me today-”

Chu Xuanliang noticed his unusual tone and sat up to ask, “What happened to him?”

“Speak of the devil, and devil appears,” Officer Ye said jumpily on the other end, “Ye Feng is dead! In his home. Ye Lin’s body was also found outside A City. Both drowned!”

He knew nothing good would come from getting involved with Chu Xuanliang, one hundred percent guaranteed.

But this time was definitely the fastest-acting case yet.

Officer Ye said bitterly, “I’ll talk later, I need to go check the scene. You should come take a look too, these bodies are clearly not normal.”