Zhu Yanyi paused, surprised. She hadn’t known the Book of Life and Death could judge souls. Before she could wonder how this ability appeared, a blue seed emerged from the evil spirit and landed in her hand.
Startled, Zhu Yanyi woke up fully. She opened her palm to see a blue seed resting there.
“Did you just encounter the Dream Soul, one of the evil spirits?” Yan Aohan had noticed the strange fluctuations around Zhu Yanyi when she fell asleep. He couldn’t wake her because this was a trial she had to face. His only role was to protect her from physical harm in the real world.
Zhu Yanyi nodded. “So that was the Dream Soul. It wasn’t so bad. It was sentenced to the sixteenth level of hell, to endure the volcano punishment for six hundred years. How does the Book of Life and Death have the power to judge?”
“Because the seed in your hand is a red spider lily seed,” Yan Aohan explained, pointing to the flower. “When cultivating the red spider lily, half the seed is placed in the Book of Life and Death, and half is planted in a quiet place. Evil spirits will go there on their own. Once judged, their records appear in the book. You can check it whenever you have time.”
Zhu Yanyi frowned slightly. “I feel like my path is getting weirder. Didn’t I want to become a Medical God? Why am I dealing with evil spirits now?”
“A Medical God heals people, heaven, and souls. Souls are also patients. So, managing evil spirits is not unusual for you,” Yan Aohan explained calmly.
“Oh,” Zhu Yanyi said, shrugging. “But I’m only a Divine Doctor now. I’m still far from being a Medical God.”
“You’ll get there one day. Just keep working hard,” Yan Aohan smiled.
Zhu Yanyi looked at the red spider lily seed. “This seed is quite pretty.” She looked up. “Didn’t you say there were red spider lily seeds? Why didn’t I see any?”
“How many seeds can one evil spirit carry?” Yan Aohan tapped her forehead gently. “Don’t be too greedy. Getting one red spider lily seed this time is good enough. More evil spirits will come to you this week; today’s was just the first.”
Zhu Yanyi stuck out her tongue. “So, will I dream of evil spirits again tonight?”
“You little greedy ghost. There’s only one Dream Soul. Not every evil spirit is the same, and they appear differently. Just face them calmly like you did today,” Yan Aohan said. He was pleased with her calmness. It showed her honest nature and dislike for tricks.
Zhu Yanyi tilted her head, thinking seriously. Then she continued, “You know, I didn’t expect to meet an evil spirit while sleeping. I thought it would be like on TV—spooky atmosphere, eerie music, everything pitch black, blood on the walls, and a creepy eye watching you everywhere. I imagined many scary ways for them to appear. I never thought it would just happen in a dream. The dream was boring and not scary at all. It should have had mountains of knives or seas of fire to frighten me. Or maybe giant snakes or tigers. Why didn’t it scare me?”
Zhu Yanyi’s disappointed expression made Yan Aohan laugh. He tapped her forehead again. “I’ve never seen anyone who wishes to meet evil spirits.”
Zhu Yanyi giggled. “It’s fun! You said my body is protected from evil souls, so I have the courage to face them.” She recalled the spirit attacking her. “That evil spirit really tried to steal my Book of Life and Death. But when it lunged at me, it was repelled by the aura around me. It must have been pushed away by the book.”
Yan Aohan thought for a moment and understood. “That evil spirit was unlucky. A lucky spirit would know that the owner of the Book of Life and Death is not easy to deal with.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yanyi glanced at her. “It sounds like you’re happy I’m being tested.”
“No, no, I’m just saying,” Yan Aohan laughed heartily.
Zhu Yanyi laughed too. Their teasing was filled with affection, like pink hearts floating between them.
Outside, evil spirits still drifted. Zhu Yanyi stayed inside. She checked Zhu Xinfu’s pulse, confirmed he was fine, and then sat cross-legged with Yan Aohan to meditate.
Zhu Xinfu woke up around four in the morning. As soon as he moved, Zhu Yanyi sensed it and rushed over. “Grandpa, are you okay?”
Zhu Xinfu still felt itching in his eyes and tongue, but it seemed less intense than yesterday. He shook his head to show he was fine.
Zhu Yanyi smiled gently. “Grandpa, don’t worry. You fainted from exhaustion yesterday, so you’re safe. You avoided the itching during recovery last night. I expect the itching to fade gradually starting tonight.”
Zhu Xinfu made a gesture. Zhu Yanyi understood. “Grandpa, you mean the itching isn’t as deep as yesterday?”
Zhu Xinfu nodded.
Zhu Yanyi checked his pulse again. She confirmed his recovery had accelerated, thanks to the Nine Needles of Yanluo. She wouldn’t mention this, however. She smiled lightly. “Congratulations, Grandpa. Your recovery is faster than average. The itching will lessen today, and each day will be better than the last.”
A smile appeared on Zhu Xinfu’s face. It was good news.
“In a couple of days, Grandpa, you can start practicing your voice. I’ll give you a prescription. You drink it, then practice speaking.” He hadn’t spoken in over forty years. Without practice, his vocal cords might struggle to produce sound.
Zhu Xinfu’s smile deepened. After so many years, he could speak again. He nodded, joy radiating from him.
Around seven in the morning, Zhu Shun Yao and Huang Mei Ying came to take over. Zhu Yanyi gave them some instructions, then went to eat breakfast with Yan Aohan. Afterward, she returned to her practice chamber to rest. She had been meditating all night, so she wasn’t tired. She planned to round the wards later and then nap in her practice chamber.
Yan Aohan had his own tasks. After breakfast, he walked Zhu Yanyi back to her practice chamber and left quickly.