Chapter 8: The Taoist Priest of Maoshan (Part 1)

A radiant young woman hurriedly walked into the outer room of the hospital ward, holding a beautiful girl about four or five years old. She greeted them through the transparent glass wall. "Auntie and Didi have arrived," Wu Can said to his still-dazed father

Chen Pan smiled and said, "You little rascal, since you like my family's treasure so much, when she grows up, I will marry her to you as your wife, how does that sound?"

Wu Deneng's phone buzzed. He moved away from the patient and ran to the corner to answer the call. "What? My parents are missing?! For how long? Nonsense, a month... Sigh, yes, I've been overwhelmed with work lately, and I indeed haven't called my parents in over a month. Alright, please help me report this to the local police station."

Wu Can impatiently interrupted, saying: "What is it?! I practiced the art of dream manipulation, and it has become a hindrance instead. If I had known, I wouldn't have practiced it. Tell me, why is this happening?"

Wu Can exclaimed in realization: "So that's how it is! Can I start cultivating now, is it still in time?"

Sigh, brother-in-law, how can you believe in wandering sorcerers! However, since you have mentioned it, we must give it a try. I am here, so you can rest assured, " Chen said, looking at his sister's cold, pale hand.

Wu Can chuckled awkwardly and said, "Hehe, I'm used to it, I'm used to it. Seeing such a lovely little one, I just can't help but pinch her a couple of times!"

Wu Can advised, "Father, since Mother’s illness is hopeless in the hospital, why not invite a renowned Taoist priest to give it a try? You mentioned earlier that the forensic examination of the two deceased maids revealed no signs of injury or cause of death. Besides demons and monsters, what else could it be?"

The gazes of the two adults simultaneously shifted to Wu Can, but unfortunately, Wu Can's hand was still resting on his cousin's rosy cheeks, caught red-handed with both the person and the evidence.

Hahaha! With the commotion caused by the two children, the somber atmosphere was significantly lightened, and the two adults couldn't help but laugh as well

Wu Can angrily shouted: "Swindler of the Jianghu!"

Wu Deneng's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh exclaiming, "That's right, how could I have forgotten this! Your grandparents often associated with some peculiar monks, nuns, and scholars, but unfortunately, they have also gone missing. Hmm, I heard that there is a Taoist priest at the Ziwai Temple who specializes in ghost-catching and feng shui; I heard he is a disciple of Maoshan. I will send someone to invite him right away"

Chen Pan and the girl with big eyes, Dandan, put on their disinfectant suits before the nurse allowed them to enter. The beautiful and bold young woman shouted, "Why can't I come back? My sister is so ill. If it weren't for Old Jiang secretly telling me, who knows how long I would have been kept in the dark! Dandan, quickly greet your uncle and cousin!"

Ah, this, I am a true immortal! It is quite easy to save your mother. Once you completely merge the remaining seven souls and three spirits to form the power of dreams, I will be able to use your dream power to heal your mother. He knew that humans fear and despise demons, so he always maintained the identity of an immortal elder. Upon hearing Wu Can's doubts, he naturally did not dare to admit it.

Wu Deneng carefully tucked away his business card and said with a wry smile to the woman outside, "Chen Pan, why are you back? Aren't you supposed to be in Beijing for negotiations and signing today?"

The middle-aged Taoist arrived with great elegance, and then left feeling quite embarrassed. He only uttered four words: "No remedy for the heavens"

This Qingfeng Daoist is a true direct disciple of Maoshan! After saying this, the Taoist, who was regarded as a swindler by the world, vanished.

Wu Can noticed that his father's expression was quite poor, realizing that the situation was not so simple. He asked, "Is there anything else bad? Has the New Science Network Group encountered problems as well? Is someone shorting our stocks? Or is there a malicious hacker attack?"

Wu Can heard his father's call and hurriedly asked, "What happened to Grandpa and Grandma?"

Wu Deneng stared blankly at the business card, murmuring to himself: "So, does this mean that Xiaoli is really possessed? Is there really someone who wants to harm us?"

Wu Deneng smiled in a comforting manner, though the smile was rather unappealing: "You need not worry, I have already sent someone to investigate this matter. Also, you should refrain from going out these days; I suspect that someone may be plotting against us. Shortly, I will have the bodyguard take you to your aunt's house to stay for a few days"

"Hello, Uncle, hello, Brother, why has Auntie fallen asleep?" The girl with big eyes called out in a sweet voice, her adorable expression making one unable to resist the urge to pinch her cheeks

Upon hearing that he did not wish to practice the art of dream manipulation, the Nightmare Elder immediately became anxious and argued: "Your three souls and seven spirits have already begun to merge, existing in a peculiar state of semi-dissolution. I have not used the Book of Law to guide your primordial spirit to wander beyond the material realm... In simple terms, your body has transcended the cycle of reincarnation. Even if you were to die now, the Black and White Impermanence, as well as the Ox-Head and Horse-Face, would have no power to seize you." There was one point he did not mention: if Wu Can were to die now, he would become a true member of the Nightmare clan.

The adorable little girl suddenly cried out, "Mom, my brother is pinching my face again!"

Hehe! Wu Deneng felt a slight comfort in his heart upon seeing how clever his son was, able to deduce so much information from just a few words. "You guessed correctly; the stocks have been maliciously speculated, the server group has been maliciously attacked, and the portal website was almost tampered with. I now suspect that your mother's illness may also have been secretly manipulated by someone. Alas!"

Chen Pan approached the bedside and said, "What urgent illness does my sister have? I just saw a Taoist priest in a yellow robe coming out of here. Did you invite him?"

Wu Can shouted anxiously: "Stop! I don't want to know these things for now, I just want to ask, how can I save my mother? You are an immortal, you must have a way to save her, right? Are you really a fake immortal?"

The Nightmare Immortal said with embarrassment: "If you have not practiced the manipulation and the *Diagram* of Dream Techniques, I could take your primordial spirit into your mother's body to help her repair her damaged soul..."

The middle-aged Taoist stared at the boy in astonishment and fled even faster. When he reached the door, the Taoist suddenly had a pang of conscience, stopped, and said to the father and son: "I recommend an address where a senior expert resides, but his fees are extremely high and peculiar. You might as well try your luck!" As he spoke, seemingly to prove that he was not a swindler, he tossed out a business card. The paper flew slowly, as if a strange force was supporting it, drifting like a snowflake into Wu Deneng's hand.

The Nightmare Immortal said: "I am only afraid that time is running out, which is why I asked you to invite someone with true abilities to set up a Returning Yang Formation or a Ghost-Repelling and Evil-Dispelling Formation, to temporarily prevent your mother's condition from worsening, giving us a chance. Of course, if you can find a true expert and supplement it with miraculous medicine, your mother could recover without needing my intervention."

Indeed, it is my request. The cause of Xiaoli's illness cannot be determined, and we can only place our hopes on the mystical teachings of the Xian Dao. Since you are here, please help me take care of your sister while I go to pay a visit to a master from the Maoshan school