The Exorcist

Book 1: Chapter 5: First Impressions

That night, Wan Li called.

I couldnt find you after I returned to the clinic in the afternoon, and didnt dare call you in case you were busy with the case. He said. How were things today?

Same old.

Why so dispirited? Didnt sleep well last night?

Yep. Actually, she was very tired these days, but due to the nightmares she was always a little afraid to sleep. Now, she was considering whether she should just not sleep.

Did you go find Ruan Zhan yet? Wan Li probed. You wouldnt have forgotten, right? That friend of mine who can communicate with spirits!

You have a friend who can communicate with spirits?! Ive only met with a friend of yours who really deserves a beating. When Ruan Zhan was mentioned, Xiao Xia felt an inexplicable fire rising from somewhere, immediately becoming enraged instead of listless.

Sounds like youve met him.

Twice!

This means he wasnt willing to help you?

Why have me go if you knew the outcome? Trying to embarrass me?

Hey, be reasonable. Ive already told you hes afraid of trouble and most likely wont agree. However, I didnt expect you to get angry. His reputation amongst women has always been pretty good.

Those women may be blind but I am not. Actually, Im the one asking for his help. It would be a kindness if he agreed but its also the norm if he didnt. Its also all thanks to you. What do I have to be angry or complain about? He isnt obligated to help me. Im just angry about his attitude. He puts on such a beautiful smile, acts so amicable, but is actually just refusing everything. Nothing stirs his emotions. He looks like a gentle prince charming but is actually the evil witch! Hes got no humanity, no compassion, and no conscience! Xiao Xia was furious. Although she knew that asking for help required her to lower herself and the outcome was never certain, she felt angry whenever she recalled Ruan Zhans face for some reason. Its good to be a little angry, its good to be a little angry. This can help distract you from your negative emotions.

Wan Li!

Fine, fine, dont be angry anymore. Tomorrow wont work, I cant take off. How about the day after tomorrow? Ill go with you to find him. This guy isnt giving me any face at all. Shouldnt he consider whos asking him for this favor? Great Lawyer Yue asking him for a small favor, isnt that thinking highly of him!?

I wont go!

Why wont you go? The more hes afraid of trouble, the more we should trouble him to death! And then use him to death! Wan Li followed up on Xiao Xias words. He knew Xiao Xia was very childish when she loses her temper. Instead of comforting her, it was better to stimulate her desire for revenge and her competitiveness. He still wasnt sure if Xiao Xias nightmares were due to mental issues or due to something foul. Therefore, he had to figure out the truth no matter what.

As expected, Xiao Xia expressed her agreement.

To tell you the truth, you also cant blame him. Wan Li also spoke up for Ruan Zhan. Everyone has their own peculiarities. Ruan Zhan isnt someone easy to understand. Even I dont understand him completely. However, I didnt think you would see through his front at a glance. Very impressive!

Cheh, dont know you know I am?

Thats right. Your intuition is your biggest strength. You should join my field. Its a waste for you to be a lawyer.

If you have any other compliments, you should lay them all out.

Id be talking the entire night! Its better to talk about Ruan Zhan. Arent you interested in how we became friends, and why I say he can talk to spirits?

Not interested. Xiao Xia huffed, but her heart itched with curiosity.

Then just treat it as a bedtime story. Ive been friends with him for many years. We actually met when we were seven. Now, its been twenty-four years already. He wasnt his parents biological son. He was found by his dad when he was five, who then adopted him. Its not clear if he remembers anything before then. Regardless, hes never brought it up. His adopted father used to be a Daoist priest, but since society is trying to abolish bad elements and outdated superstition, he could only return to a normal life. He moved to our town afterwards. His dad was very knowledgeable in ancient history. Even his name came from ancient literature.

Stop speaking nonsense. His name is just weird. Theres nothing profound about it.

See, you dont know it. His name comes from Records of the Jin Dynasty: Ruan Zhan Encounters a Ghost. Its said that the Ruan Zhan in ancient times was someone who didnt believe in ghosts. He got into a debate with someone about this and that person lost in the end. However, he then told Ruan Zhan that he was a ghost before fading away. Ruan Zhan fell ill from his shock and passed away afterwards. I dont know why his dad chose this name for him, but it might be because he was born with such abilities. Its like how you are called Xiao Xia because you were born in the summer, and my parents hoped the fabled roc would fly ten thousand miles when they called me Wan Li.

How do you know he has that sort of ability? It was nighttime and Xiao Xia didnt dare say the word ghost. However, this was what she was most curious about.

I found out the year we met each other. That year, something weird happened in our school. Afterwards, some supernatural events happened at my college as well, but I cant tell you about it now. You arent mentally stable at the moment and will get terrified. Ill find a chance to tell you later. Regardless, you should believe me. He can truly see what we cannot, and can also banish them.

Werent you scared? You still became friends with him?

I was! How could I not have been?! However, my curiosity was too great and it overcame my fear. Speaking of which, our fates were interwoven quite firmly. We were in the same class from elementary school until middle school. During middle school, we sat at the same table. During high school, my family moved to Chongqing and we kept in contact via letters. Afterwards, he stopped responding to me and I assumed we had drifted apart. Who would have thought I would meet him when I went to Beijing University for college. We were even in the same major.

He also studied psychology? Xiao Xia was surprised. No wonder he was so good at acting. However, he wasnt able to fool this Yue Xiao Xias super vision.

Thats right. However, he vanished again after graduating. Then, after I came to this city for work, I unexpectedly encountered him again. At that time, he had opened his bar. Its not clear why he didnt pursue a career in his field of study. But think about it. We keep encountering each other after all sorts of twists and turns. We were destined to be friends, and cannot get away.

It sounds like youve been stalking him. Xiao Xia said sarcastically.

Hey? It really does. That guy is very passive about relationships. If we hadnt known each other for so long, and if I werent such a great and understanding person, it would be hard for us to become friends.

I feel its because you were childhood friends from a young age.

Thats right. Thats the key reason. No matter how a child rejects the world, its still easy to make friends. If I only met him after growing up, he would probably act cordial but remain distant like you said.

Now that you mention it, this is all your fault. You clearly knew his personality but still refused to go with me. Xiao Xia recalled Ruan Zhans polite yet firm refusal and couldnt help but feel her ego took a blow.

Youre mistaken about that. Wan Li could sense Xiao Xia was hung up over this, and hurriedly spoke his thoughts. No matter what, helping you means betraying him since Ive promised not to speak about his matters. He would be angry that I broke my promise, so me coming along would just make things worse. Only after his anger fades will there be a chance if I appear.

But do I really need his help?

Theres no need to doubt it, and no doubt you need it. I dont know whether theres someone better, but hes the only one I know. Therefore, this is all I can help you with. Dont overthink it. Sleep well and we will go see him the day after tomorrow. Whether it works or not, we might as well try. Alright, Im going to hang up. Goodnight.

Goodnight.

After hanging up, Xiao Xia started worrying again. Should she sleep? Shell have nightmares, and she couldnt endure another fright. Better to not sleep? But she still had to work tomorrow, and she felt exhausted and extremely uncomfortable.

Forget it! Come what may!