Chapter 030: Instead of Taking a Long Leave, Why Not Invite Me, the Taoist?

Song Kai returned to the classroom like a hero, escorted by a group of girls.

At the end of the school day, Song Kai approached Liu Yajuan and spoke, “Teacher, I’d like to discuss something with you.”

“Go ahead, my great hero,” Liu Yajuan replied with a chuckle.

Song Kai wasn’t in the mood for jokes. He simply rubbed his nose and said, “Teacher, here’s the thing: for the next two months, I’ll often need to be away, so I’d like to request an extended leave. I’ll be present for the college entrance exam as scheduled, but staying in the classroom during these two months honestly doesn’t mean much to me. Please understand.”

Liu Yajuan was taken aback, then pondered for a moment. “Song Kai, your grades are indeed excellent. I’ll grant your request, but you must at least come once a week to review material. Two months is plenty of time to forget things in an instant. Never be careless; do you understand?”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Song Kai grinned at Liu Yajuan.

She patted him on the head. “Oh, right, about tomorrow’s basketball game…”

“I won’t be playing tomorrow,” Song Kai replied. “That game is pointless, and winning doesn’t earn you any money, does it?”

“Well, alright!”

Both of them laughed.

Song Kai left the school together with Liu Miaoyu and Zhou Ran. This time, Zhou Ran was treating.

Song Kai told the two women about his leave.

“What? Why? If you’re not going to school for two months, what will you be doing?” Zhou Ran stared at him.

Song Kai waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not that I’m skipping school, I just don’t want to waste time in class. I have a lot of important things to do. For example… making money.”

“Money? Are you out of cash?” Liu Miaoyu gnawed on a lamb shank and said, “I could lend you some. I have a little stash myself.”

Song Kai curled his lip. “Not small money—big money. Money enough to buy the best medicinal herbs. Even a mere decades-old mountain ginseng costs over a hundred thousand. It’s exhausting!”

Both Zhou Ran and Liu Miaoyu were speechless.

Liu Miaoyu picked up a lamb chop and stuffed it into Song Kai’s mouth. “Mountain ginseng? You’re not the Empress Dowager. Just eat your lamb!”

Song Kai could only smile bitterly. These women simply didn’t understand.

Since that assassin died last time, Song Kai had been on edge. Now, he needed to accelerate his training. Without thunder and lightning, he’d have to seek out the finest supplements.

With the right combination, turning those top-tier herbs into pills would greatly help cultivate the Nine Thunder Inner Qi.

After parting ways with the two beauties, Song Kai headed to the gym.

While jogging, Song Kai checked the weather on his phone, looking for thunderstorms anywhere.

“Young man, be careful on the treadmill. You’re running so fast and still fiddling with your phone. Take care!” A middle-aged man on the next treadmill advised.

Song Kai thanked him and continued to look at his phone.

Tang Zhong shook his head. Young people these days just don’t cherish their health. When you reach my age, you realize your body is your most valuable asset.

Wiping his sweat, Tang Zhong kept running. As he jogged, he felt a chill in his body.

“What’s going on? Why am I getting colder the more I run?” He wiped his brow, but the sweat kept pouring out. “I really am getting old—just a short run and I’m drenched.”

He pushed himself to continue, but suddenly his heart throbbed painfully. He cried out, and his vision went black. He collapsed onto the treadmill.

Song Kai was absorbed in his phone when he heard Tang Zhong’s cry. Turning, he saw the man collapse.

“Hey!” Song Kai rushed over.

Tang Zhong rolled off the treadmill onto the floor.

Song Kai hurried to pull him away from the machine. He glanced at Tang Zhong’s face and frowned—it was dark and ashen. This was definitely not a simple heart attack.

There was no time to diagnose further. Song Kai shouted to the gym manager, “Get a cup of hot water—quick! And a needle, any kind, just hurry!”

The manager, pale with fright, rushed off to fetch the needle and water.

Looking at Tang Zhong on the ground, Song Kai’s brow furrowed. Tang Zhong’s complexion was tinged with bluish-black—clearly poisoned by yin energy.

Soon the manager returned, carrying hot water and a pin.

Song Kai took the pin, straightened it, and stabbed it directly into Tang Zhong’s heart area.

The manager gasped in shock, spilling the hot water, and stammered, “Sir, are you sure about this… Shouldn’t we call an ambulance?”

“Quiet!” Song Kai snapped.

Gao Fei immediately fell silent, secretly wondering how he could shift the blame if something went wrong. He resolved to hold Song Kai responsible and make sure he didn’t leave.

Song Kai manipulated the pin a few times, then pulled it out.

Almost immediately, the middle-aged man began to open his eyes.

Seeing this, Gao Fei let out a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the floor.

Tang Zhong opened his eyes, his throat parched and his heart still feeling tight.

Song Kai said, “Here, give him the hot water.”

Gao Fei quickly handed it over.

Tang Zhong sat up, drank a few sips, and felt much better. He nodded to Song Kai. “Thank you, I’m much improved. Ah, I really am getting old—this heart attack was worse than ever.”

He laughed at himself.

Song Kai remained serious. “Sir, your problem isn’t just heart disease. You’ve been… Well, perhaps we should discuss this somewhere else, if you’re willing.”

Tang Zhong looked at Song Kai in surprise, then nodded. “Alright, let’s go rest over there.”

Gao Fei quickly offered, “Mr. Tang, do you need an ambulance? That was dangerous just now.”

Tang Zhong waved him off. “No need.”

He and Song Kai walked toward the lounge.

In Tengyun City, Black Horse Gym was one of the finest. The lounge featured showers and a swimming pool.

Song Kai and Tang Zhong sat by the pool.

Song Kai spoke, “Mr. Tang, I’ll be frank. You didn’t faint just because of heart disease, but also because you’ve been affected by yin energy. Your yang energy has been drained, which is why you felt cold, sweated coldly, and why your heart condition, while not severe, flared up so violently when your yang was low.”

Tang Zhong’s face changed. Just as Song Kai described, he’d recently felt chilled and sweated easily. Before his heart attack, he’d been shivering.

He turned to Song Kai. “Young man, what do you mean ‘affected by yin energy’? Is it… ghosts?”

Song Kai nodded. “You could say that. Everything in the world has yin and yang, and ghosts belong to the realm of yin evil. Mr. Tang, you’d better check your surroundings carefully.”

Tang Zhong swallowed, his gaze flickering. He sighed, “Looks like someone really wants me dead. Well, I am about to retire, but I’ve blocked many people’s financial paths—it’s no wonder they want to get rid of me.”

Song Kai was taken aback, looking at Tang Zhong.

Tang Zhong gave a bitter laugh. “I’m the head of the city’s commerce bureau, and also oversee some health inspections. You may have heard about all the recent scandals with Putian hospitals. I’ve been strict with inspections of pharmaceuticals and medical institutions, which has made several Putian bosses hate me to the core… Well, I really can’t afford to provoke them!”

He stood up to leave, but Song Kai grabbed his arm. “Mr. Tang, why not let me help you?”

Tang Zhong looked at him in surprise.

Song Kai hadn’t intended to get involved, but upon learning Tang Zhong was a good official, his sense of justice was awakened. As a Taoist priest, exorcising evil was his duty.

Besides, he could probably earn a reward!

Song Kai said, “Honestly, there aren’t many reliable Taoists left, but fortunately I am one. I’ll help you find the curse they’ve placed on you—just pay me whatever you wish, is that alright?”

Tang Zhong nodded immediately. “Of course, I’d be grateful. But the enemy is powerful… won’t it be dangerous for you?”

Song Kai waved it off. “Don’t worry. Exorcising evil is our duty as Taoists.”

“You’re a Taoist?” Tang Zhong laughed, sizing Song Kai up.

Song Kai replied, “I used to be. Don’t let my youth fool you—I’m quite capable. So, give me your address. I’ll prepare some things and come to your home…”