Chapter 11: Mastering Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry

“Re-really... it’s a ghost! You... you must quickly take the peachwood sword and catch it!” Fan Wei stammered, his voice trembling as he spoke to Daoist Qingxu.

At that moment, even Daoist Qingxu’s hand gripping the peachwood sword was shaking violently with fear. After all, it was his first time encountering an evil spirit, and his initial instinct was to flee.

But recalling that he had already boasted earlier, if he showed cowardice now, Fan Wei would surely not let him off.

So Daoist Qingxu could only mutter various incantations under his breath, silently reminding himself that the peachwood sword was a magical tool, surely capable of vanquishing the evil spirit.

After a while, Daoist Qingxu finally mustered the courage to raise the peachwood sword. However, it felt as if the sword weighed a thousand pounds, and raising it was a tremendous effort. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead.

“Ha... ha... ha...”

“Ah...”

After several deep breaths, Daoist Qingxu shouted loudly, raising the peachwood sword, preparing to thrust it toward the ghostly figure.

“Woo...”

But before he could move, the ghost suddenly emitted a shrill, piercing scream.

In the terrified gazes of the crowd, the ghost abruptly opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Daoist Qingxu, as if intent on devouring him.

Surrounded by eerie blue flames, it seemed as if they had descended straight into the eighteenth level of hell.

Seeing this, the courage Daoist Qingxu had just gathered shattered instantly.

“Ah...”

Without hesitation, he immediately dropped the peachwood sword and fled down the mountain recklessly.

The ghost did not pursue but instead turned to look at Fan Wei and the others.

“Ah...”

Only then did Fan Wei and the others regain their senses and chased after Daoist Qingxu down the mountain.

Their speed was so fast that within a few breaths, their figures vanished from sight.

Once they had completely disappeared into the mountain, Chen Fan stepped out from behind a tombstone, holding a candle and a shadow puppet-like object.

The ghostly figure they had seen was created by Chen Fan using these two items.

The ghostly flames were made from white phosphorus.

The rumors circulating in Dongyang County today were also spread by the storyteller Guo Hua at Chen Fan’s behest.

“Master physics and chemistry well, and even if you travel through time, there’s nothing to fear!” Chen Fan said with a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

After returning to the inn, Fan Wei and the others, seeing that the ghost did not follow, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Their clothes were soaked with sweat, and they collapsed onto the inn’s lobby floor, panting heavily.

After recovering some strength, they slowly stood up.

“Qingxu the fraud, come out here!” Fan Wei suddenly shouted loudly.

Earlier, Qingxu had confidently claimed that there would be no malevolent spirits in that land and arrogantly said that even if there were, he could subdue them.

So Fan Wei had followed him up the mountain to see for himself.

But unexpectedly, they truly encountered a malevolent spirit—and even more unexpectedly, Qingxu fled faster than anyone else.

Fan Wei now wanted to confront Qingxu.

Furious, he stormed toward Qingxu’s room.

“Bang.”

At the door, Fan Wei kicked it open with a single blow.

“Ah...”

“Help! Don’t eat me!”

Startled by the loud door crash, Daoist Qingxu trembled and cried out.

He thought the malevolent spirit was chasing him.

He was curled up on the bed, tightly covered by a blanket.

Seeing Qingxu’s cowardly demeanor—more so than his own—Fan Wei’s anger flared.

“Damn it! You’re such a coward and still dare to call yourself a Daoist? You’re nothing but a fraud.”

“Beat him!” Fan Wei said coldly.

The servants behind Fan Wei, long displeased with Qingxu, clenched their fists and began to strike him.

“Ah...”

Fan Wei shouted again, but this time not from fear, but from pain.

After a while, Fan Wei called off the servants, who had thoroughly beaten Qingxu, leaving him bruised and battered.

Qingxu then realized that those attacking him were Fan Wei and his men.

Previously, because of his status as a Daoist, Fan Wei and the others had treated him with courtesy.

Now, daring to lay hands on him, Qingxu immediately grew furious.

“Fan Wei, what do you think you’re doing? How dare you hit me! I am—”

“Keep hitting him,” Fan Wei said, waving his hand dismissively as Qingxu tried to put on airs.

“Ah...” Qingxu wailed miserably again.

“Stop... stop hitting me, I was wrong,” Qingxu begged hurriedly.

Hearing this, Fan Wei called the servants off once more.

Qingxu was now covered in blood.

“What’s going on with the Su family’s land? It’s not a feng shui treasure at all. Are you lying to me?” Fan Wei snarled, grabbing Qingxu’s collar fiercely, choking him.

Fan Wei was furious because if this matter spread back to the Fan family, and Fan Zeng found out he had chosen a haunted site for their ancestral grave, he would be unforgiving.

Seeing Fan Wei’s murderous glare, Qingxu quickly shook his head in denial.

“That land truly possesses the rare White Tiger Double Embrace formation. If the Su family relocates their ancestral grave there, their descendants will flourish and their official careers will prosper,” Qingxu said, his face flushed red.

“Then why is there a malevolent spirit?” Fan Wei asked coldly.

Qingxu looked puzzled and shook his head.

“Uh...”

Seeing this, Fan Wei gripped his collar tighter.

Qingxu began to feel suffocated.

“Although I don’t know why the malevolent spirit appeared, I can have my master come and catch it. He is the famed inheritor of Longhu Mountain, the Real Person Qingyang.”

“Catching a few malevolent spirits is like a walk in the park for him. Once the spirits are dealt with, the Fan family can relocate their ancestral grave to that land.”

“At that time, Brother Fan Wei, you will be greatly honored. Prime Minister Fan will surely reward you richly, maybe even grant you an official position,” Qingxu said with an enticing tone.

Fan Wei was immediately excited at these words. Who would want to be a commoner if they could become an official?

He slowly released his grip on Qingxu’s collar.

Freed, Qingxu gasped for air.

“Quickly notify your master to come,” Fan Wei said eagerly.

“Don’t worry! My master already knew I found the White Tiger Double Embrace feng shui treasure, and he wanted to come see it for himself.”

“He’s already on the way and should arrive in Dongyang County tomorrow unless something unexpected happens,” Qingxu replied.

Hearing this, Fan Wei nodded with satisfaction, then gave a sheepish smile.

“Daoist Qingxu, it was all a misunderstanding earlier. Later, I’ll treat you to the Red Chamber,” Fan Wei said with a flattering smile.

Qingxu’s face showed some displeasure.

“Tonight, I want four girls,” Qingxu said grumpily.

“No problem. Tonight, four girls will attend to you,” Fan Wei said with a smile.

Unbeknownst to them, Chen Fan was outside the window, listening to their conversation.

He had thought the problem would be resolved tonight, but Qingxu was bringing in a master.

Looks like tomorrow would be a busy day.

Chen Fan smiled wryly and prepared to leave.

However, as he was about to leave the inn, he saw Su Wenqi, the enchanting woman, walk inside.

This immediately piqued Chen Fan’s curiosity.

Su Wenqi had a home in Dongyang County; why was she coming to the inn alone so late at night?

Could it be...