Taboo Mage - Chapter 211 - Midnight Call

I stared, feeling confused and annoyed by Zhou Qifang’s shifting attitude.

Zhou Qifang shot me a sidelong glance and said, “I did say it was worth my while to come here, but that doesn’t mean I have to take care of this matter. I just came to take a look, is that so wrong?”

I gritted my teeth; this person was truly unreasonable. If he had already decided not to get involved, why was he following me around? Was it just to enjoy the show?

His interest certainly seemed genuine.

I snorted softly and turned to head downstairs. If he wouldn’t help me, that was fine. I could handle this on my own!

Behind me, Zhou Qifang’s voice came again. “Gu Qingshu, don’t forget the curse on you. If you’re not afraid of the backlash, you might as well go help out!”

I paused slightly but then continued walking forward.

However, this time I started to hesitate. If Zhou Qifang was right, and that dead dog had possessed Old Lady Xu, it wasn’t for revenge against Xu Benzhang but rather against the old lady herself.

In that case, she must have been an evil person deserving of her fate. Although the Resentful Spirit was certainly vengeful, it wouldn’t harm innocents without justification, which indicated that Old Lady Xu wasn’t as benign as she appeared.

If she truly wasn’t a good person, then helping her would inevitably result in backlash for me.

Thinking back to those nights filled with restlessness and torment, I couldn’t shake the fear rising within me. Curses were not something to be taken lightly.

I was scared too.

Standing at the fourth-floor hallway, I could hear Xu Benzhang’s cries echoing from his room, and my heart felt like it was being weighed down by a heavy stone, sinking deeper and deeper…

I wasn’t sure how I made it back home, but when my awareness returned, I found myself sitting on my own couch.

Lin Huan, sitting across from me, looked at me with concern. I moved my stiff neck and smiled at him, indicating that I was okay.

The tension on Lin Huan’s face finally eased, and he smiled as he said, “Boss, you really frightened me. When Boss Zhou was leading you around, I thought you’d lost your mind! I even discussed with Boss Zhou whether we should try soul summoning to find you.”

“Shut it! You’re the one who’s lost your mind,” I replied weakly, managing a smile while scolding him.

Lin Huan scratched his head, suddenly recalling something. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys, saying, “Boss, I got the car back from De Yi Winery. The manager there insisted on interviewing me, but I turned him down. Here’s the key; you can take a look at the car…”

I glanced at the keys in Lin Huan’s hand and replied, “That car was originally drawn by the little fox as a gift for Uncle Lin. Why don’t you ask him? You two can discuss how to handle it.”

“Sure thing! Thanks, Boss!” Lin Huan nearly leaped off the couch in excitement.

Uncle Lin didn’t know how to drive, and given how much he cared for his son, it was clear that the car would ultimately end up in Lin Huan’s hands.

This was perfect; it would fulfill Lin Huan’s dream of having his own car, and I felt quite pleased about that.

“Alright, keep an eye on things at the shop. I’m going to take a nap.”

After coming back from the sanatorium, my whole body felt sore. I stretched lazily and turned to Lin Huan before getting up to head back to my room for some rest.

Lin Huan nodded, but then the phone on his desk rang.

I glanced at him, and he picked up the call, mumbling a few responses. Covering the mouthpiece, he turned to me and said, “Boss, it’s Xu Benzhang.”

“Ask him what he wants,” I paused, then whispered.

Lin Huan relayed my message and responded a bit more before hanging up. He said, “Xu Benzhang mentioned that his mother’s condition seems to have worsened and asked when you could go check on her again.”

I frowned, pondering on the sofa for a moment before saying, “If he calls again, just tell him that I cannot handle his family’s issues and that he should find someone else.”

With that, I went upstairs.

Lying in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Images of Old Lady Xu flashed through my mind, crawling on all fours like a dog across the floor.

For some reason, I suddenly thought of my own mother.

When my mother was alive, she made me promise never to touch the life amulet, but I hadn’t kept that promise. Now, not only was I tied to the life amulet, but I was also dealing with so many other people.

In my life, I hadn’t fulfilled my mother’s only hope.

Looking at Xu Benzhang, he busied himself with work every day. His filial piety towards Old Lady Xu was genuine; it was just unfortunate that he was going about it the wrong way.

I couldn’t help but wonder, if my mother were still alive, would I end up becoming the second Xu Benzhang?

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, I finally gave up and sat up in bed. I pulled out the handkerchief and the Kun Xuan Mirror that I had been keeping under my pillow.

I had been sleeping with the handkerchief and the Kun Xuan Mirror for so many days, yet I hadn’t encountered Pan Yuzhi in my dreams again. Was it possible she had been reincarnated? Or was she so frightened by me that her soul had scattered…?

Suddenly, my phone rang with a jarring sound.

I glanced at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number. I pressed the answer button and asked, “Hello, who is this?”

“Gu Qingshu…” A faint and elderly voice called through the receiver.

The tone was eerie and hoarse, and the moment I heard it, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine, goosebumps erupting all over my skin.

“Who… who are you?” I struggled to suppress the sudden surge of fear and horror, forcing myself to ask.

“I’m Xu Benzhang’s mother… you saw me today… hehehe…” The raspy voice continued, accompanied by an inexplicable, sinister laughter.

I threw my phone across the room and shouted, “What the hell!”

In that instant, my door was flung open with a loud bang.

Zhou Qifang stood at the doorway, worry etched on his face as he asked, “What happened?”

I pointed at the phone I had thrown on the floor. Zhou Qifang picked it up and glanced at the screen.

“There’s no one calling. What’s going on with you?”

I was still too shaken to collect my thoughts. Zhou Qifang toyed with my phone for a moment before stuffing it into his own pocket. Then, without warning, he grabbed me and pulled me into the bathroom.

Cold water sprayed from the showerhead, drenching my head and cascading down to soak my entire body.

I struggled, gasping for air as the water hit my face.

Zhou Qifang’s hands clamped down on my neck like a vise, pushing me under the spray.