Chapter 271 - 270: A Good Family Man

Chapter 271: Chapter 270: A Good Family Man

The paper man was stunned. It had been happy to see the father and son. The master of this Ghost Realm was a complete lunatic who attacked without saying a word, and it was barely holding on.

But who would have thought? It had dodged for so long without getting hit once, only for "first blood" to be drawn by the very person it thought was an ally!

Frustrating! Infuriating! Unbearable!

The woman was also dazed by the impact. No one, ghost or otherwise, would feel good after getting slammed by a big piece of metal.

Fortunately, Huo Yunjing was quick to take responsibility for his mistake. He strode over, picked up the paper man, and asked with a light cough, "Are you okay? I thought you could dodge it."

The paper man: ’...So it’s my fault now?’

The paper man stared at him accusingly with its beady eyes.

Huo Yunjing reached out and pulled the cleaver from its shoulder. Looking at the sizable gash, he promised, "I’ll have Qing Yin patch you up when we get back. I guarantee you’ll be good as new."

The paper man sniffled pitifully.

Huo Yunjing looked at his son.

Huo Xingchen quickly went over and took the paper man’s hand. "You’ve worked hard. Go get some rest." With that, he recalled the paper man into his storage bag.

Huo Yunjing relaxed imperceptibly. When he turned his gaze to the woman on the ground, his eyes turned cold. "If communication is impossible, then let’s just send her on her way."

The woman leaped up from the ground, completely ignoring the man before her. Her pitch-black eyes were fixed on Huo Xingchen as she opened her palm, and two cleavers suddenly appeared in her hands.

A crazed smile spread across the woman’s face. Just as she raised the cleavers to strike, a long-handled scythe suddenly appeared before her.

The scythe had a large blade and a long handle, looking at first glance just like the Grim Reaper’s.

The woman froze.

Huo Yunjing’s pale, slender hand gripped the jet-black handle. The stark contrast lent a touch of refined coolness to the otherwise menacing scene.

Huo Xingchen’s eyes lit up. ’Dad’s weapon is so cool! Compared to this, my Conductor’s Baton is just a kid’s toy! I want a cool one like that, too!’

"So you do know fear. It seems you haven’t lost your mind completely," Huo Yunjing said flatly.

The woman took a cautious step back. She didn’t speak, but deep wariness rose in her eyes.

"I’m curious about something," Huo Yunjing asked, his expression cold. "Are you truly insane? Or are you just venting your frustrations?"

The woman didn’t want to speak, but the scythe suddenly pressed closer, resting against her neck in a silent threat.

The woman closed her eyes. "I..." A hoarse voice, as if she hadn’t spoken in a long time, rasped out. She paused for two seconds before continuing, "Both."

Some things, when bottled up for too long, become hard to articulate. You don’t know who you can tell. But once the dam breaks, the words flood out, unstoppable.

"At first, I impulsively grabbed a knife from the kitchen, but I just wanted to scare Zong Yao," the woman said, her expression numb. "But he didn’t believe I’d do it. He didn’t care about my threat at all."

"My mind just went blank, and when I came to, his hand had been severed." The woman’s dark eyes shifted. "I admit, I panicked, but there was also a sense of thrill. Before I could figure out what to do next, he came home."

The woman’s lips curled into a grin. "As soon as he got back, he started blaming me. I got so annoyed, I just killed him, too."

Huo Xingchen’s interest was piqued. "So Zong Yao wasn’t dead at that point?"

The woman fell silent. After a long moment, she spoke again. "He was probably unconscious."

Zong Yao died later because he never received medical treatment. While he was desperately in need of a doctor, his father was busy blaming his mother. His mother, unable to take it anymore, killed his father and then herself. No one wanted to save him.

Such a family might have seemed glamorous and well-off to outsiders, a family that shouldn’t have had so many troubles and problems. But in reality, it was rotten to the core.

When raised by a pair of pathological parents, what good could ever come to the child?

With the final question answered, Huo Yunjing casually swung the scythe. The sharp blade sliced through the woman’s neck, and her soul, split in two, dissipated.

As the woman vanished, the Ghost Realm naturally began to collapse.

After tonight, apartment 3603 was once again a clean apartment 3603. There would be no more paranormal incidents.

"I did the final cleanup!" Huo Xingchen announced proudly. "I cleansed the entire floor of all the residual Yin Qi and ghost energy!"

Gu Qingyin smiled and gently pinched his cheek. "My son is amazing!"

With the story told, Huo Yunjing drove into the city, found a 24-hour restaurant, and treated Gu Qingyin to a late-night snack before the family of three headed home.

Before falling asleep, Gu Qingyin was still thinking, ’Even if Huo Yunjing isn’t going out to clear Ghost Lands anymore, I still have to keep reading for three more days... When will this ever end?’

That night, Gu Qingyin slept very soundly. She left the house at seven in the morning, feeling refreshed. But before she could even get breakfast, she received a piece of mixed news.

Because Huo Yunjing wasn’t a registered Heavenly Master, the Heavenly Master Association wouldn’t give any reward even though he had cleared the Ghost Land. So, the job at 3603 was basically done for free.

Well... that was the bad news.

There was also good news. To continue earning the privilege of reading in the Book Collection Pavilion, Gu Qingyin had to clear Ghost Lands herself. This meant she didn’t have to go to the Book Collection Pavilion to read every single day. She now had a legitimate reason to take a break!

After some thought, Gu Qingyin decided to go read today first, then scout out the nearby Ghost Lands. She would find the closest one, take care of it, and then take a day off before going back to her reading.

Even though reading would still take up most of her time, it was much better than having to go every single day.

"Remember to pick me up on time tonight," Gu Qingyin urged eagerly before getting out of the car. "I’ll be out on time."

"Okay," Huo Yunjing replied with a smile. He then grabbed an insulated bag from the passenger side. "Take your lunch."

Gu Qingyin’s eyes sparkled. "You got up this morning to make this?"

Huo Yunjing hummed in agreement. "Didn’t you say there’s a place to eat? Set an alarm for noon and eat on time."

Gu Qingyin nodded repeatedly. "You’re the best!"

Huo Xingchen squeezed forward. "I helped Dad, too!"

Gu Qingyin beamed and kissed his little cheek. "Thank you, sweetie. Mommy feels so happy!"

Huo Xingchen smiled so hard his eyes crinkled shut.

Huo Yunjing, not having received a kiss, felt a bit disgruntled. He clicked his tongue and hurried her along. "Go on, the Book Collection Pavilion is already open."

Gu Qingyin grabbed the lunch bag and got out of the car, full of energy. She set an alarm as she walked, but since she had to be quiet inside the Book Collection Pavilion, she could only set it to vibrate. She worried she’d be too absorbed in her reading to notice it.

Once inside the Book Collection Pavilion, she gave the lunch to Li Tianshi and asked him to come get her at lunchtime.

Li Tianshi was more than willing to help. He added a compliment, "You even make your own lunch? You’re quite the homemaker."

Gu Qingyin beamed with happiness. "It wasn’t me. My husband got up early to make it."

Li Tianshi’s smile froze slightly. "You’re married?"