Chapter Ninety-Six: Zhang Shengnan's Tribulation

“Looks like you do have quite the air about you, sir. I wonder whether I am worthy enough to ask you to make a trip to Dragon King Mountain.”

Bai Ling stood before Fang You in a set of black, form-fitting leather clothes and spoke to him.

“If you had asked more politely, I would have gladly helped. After all, my father once made a promise with your people, so I naturally would not refuse.”

After speaking, Fang You raised a hand and removed the talisman from Gao Changyi. In an instant, Gao Changyi recovered his freedom, but he still instinctively stepped back a little. Faced with Fang You, fear had already crept into his heart.

“Then we shall trouble you—”

“Brother Fang You, the Taoist priest!”

Suddenly, from outside the door, Zhang Shengnan walked in wearing a white dress, calling Fang You by name.

In Fang You’s memory, Zhang Shengnan had always been dressed in police uniform, looking every bit like a young female officer. But today, she seemed like a genuine, lovely girl in the prime of her youth, the kind of dazzling presence that would be impossible to miss in any crowd.

“And these two are?” Zhang Shengnan asked in some confusion as she looked at Gao Changyi and Bai Ling.

“These two are distant friends of mine. By the way, have you not been working at the police bureau lately, little officer?” Fang You hurriedly stressed the word police on purpose.

After all, Bai Ling and Gao Changyi were tomb raiders, and grave robbery was illegal in modern times. If Zhang Shengnan found out, even though she was already on leave at home, there might still be trouble.

The clever Bai Ling immediately understood what Fang You meant as soon as she heard this. She deliberately said with a teasing smile, “Looks like the little Taoist priest’s little girlfriend has arrived. We only came to have our fortunes read. Since that’s the case, we won’t disturb you.”

When Zhang Shengnan heard someone call her Fang You’s girlfriend, she did not refute it. Instead, she seemed to accept it and walked toward Fang You. “Come with me to the amusement park today. I finally got a long holiday, and I usually don’t have many friends, so it’ll just be you.”

Seeing Bai Ling and Gao Changyi already gone, Fang You turned back to Zhang Shengnan. “Looks like you’ve been very free lately.”

“Of course. I’ve been cooped up at home until I’m practically growing mold. Come keep me company!” Zhang Shengnan said coquettishly, as though she had simply and forcefully taken on the role of Fang You’s girlfriend.

Fang You had originally planned to refuse, but when he saw the black aura gradually gathering between Zhang Shengnan’s brows, he knew her days were probably numbered.

Though a Taoist should help the afflicted banish evil, avoid calamity, and save the dying and the injured, there are some karmic chains even a Taoist cannot interfere with.

Just like certain wronged souls underground who give up the chance of reincarnation or take their grievances before the judges of the underworld. Once they succeed, they can come to the mortal world in due course and take revenge on their enemies.

That was why there were always some strange, unexplained deaths in this world: sudden collapse, abrupt illness, or a moment’s lapse behind the wheel. These were all caused by wronged spirits interfering from beneath, making you repay the debt of your own sins.

Zhang Shengnan’s debt was a true karmic debt, the kind only she herself could repay. He could not forcibly interfere.

Thinking of this, Fang You unexpectedly said, “Where do you want to go?”

When Zhang Shengnan heard him agree, surprise showed on her face. She had assumed he would refuse decisively, as he always had before. She had never expected him to accept without the slightest objection.

But in the next instant, excitement and delight flooded her expression.

“Let’s go to the East Suburb Amusement Park in North City!”

The sky was clear, the clouds beautiful, and Fang You went to the amusement park together with Zhang Shengnan.

It was a bright day, with a breeze drifting by from time to time, bringing a pleasant coolness.

Fang You and Zhang Shengnan rode the towering roller coaster together, then took a water ride gliding over the surface of the lake.

After a long while, Zhang Shengnan bought a stick of cotton candy, took a bite, and then handed it to Fang You. Under ordinary circumstances, Fang You would certainly have refused, but today was an exception.

He also took a bite.

After playing themselves tired, they sat on a rest bench nearby, Zhang Shengnan leaning on Fang You’s arm and drifting off into a sleepy daze.

Looking at her beside him, Fang You felt another stir in his heart. “If I were an ordinary person, how wonderful that would be.”

Smack, smack. Zhang Shengnan smacked her lips in her sleep. Fang You quickly shut his mouth, afraid she might hear something.

In the afternoon, the two of them entered the haunted house together. Zhang Shengnan, frightened, clung to Fang You’s body. Fang You, having seen all manner of ghosts and spirits, was naturally unmoved by such childish tricks.

White waves seemed to roll through the sky, and from time to time, white birds flew past their sides.

The elephants in the zoo were majestic and strong, while the monkeys leapt here and there, frolicking and making a racket.

At one point, they even saw a giraffe eating a banana fed to it by someone else.

Before long, Zhang Shengnan had dragged Fang You into the arcade to take a few photo booth pictures.

She pressed her face close to his, the two of them touching at such a near distance that Fang You could clearly feel her warmth.

The fragrance from her hair, her lips, and her fingertips seeped into Fang You’s very heart and lungs. It was absolutely more pleasant than the finest cinnabar incense, more refreshing than the spiritual energy of Mount Mao.

Unknowingly, evening had already arrived.

Zhang Shengnan, reluctant to part, linked her arm with Fang You’s as the two of them walked out of the amusement park together.

A smile played on Zhang Shengnan’s lips, and Fang You had never before felt such warmth from human companionship.

After a long while, the two of them walked for three hours along the road before returning to the fortune-telling shop.

Zhang Shengnan looked at Fang You and held out both hands. “I’m going home now. Come here and give me a hug.”

Fang You blushed slightly, but as if he had thought of something, he did not refuse.

Zhang Shengnan and Fang You embraced. In an instant, Zhang Shengnan secretly kissed Fang You on the cheek.

Then, with a mischievous smile, she got into the private car she had driven over. “See you tomorrow, little Taoist priest, Fang You! Bye-bye!”

The scent of her remained on Fang You’s face, along with the warmth of her lips.

Something stirred within Fang You. He looked up at the sky. Had he, in some past life, also been a man burdened with terrible sins and great wrongdoing? Was that why this life had destined him to bear a deathly fate, to end alone and forsaken?

Watching Zhang Shengnan’s departing figure, thinking of the karmic tribulation she was soon to face, Fang You, who had always believed he had already seen through life, death, and karma, suddenly felt a trace of hesitation in his heart.

“Could it be that I’ll truly never see Zhang Shengnan again?”

That was what he thought.

Then he changed his mind. “Maybe she really can get through this ordeal.”

But then Fang You recalled Zhang Shengnan’s silly, innocent expression. Could she truly overcome the karmic tribulation of her life on her own?

“I, a descendant of Mount Mao, upheld by the arts of Mount Mao, slay demons, guard the Way, and banish evil and avoid calamity. If I wish to break karma and save one person, then so be it.”