I, the number one master of metaphysics, have achieved legendary status in the entertainment industr

"Hmm." Yu Tinglan put away her phone. "I heard that Xingyue pushed him out to take the blame for everything—his dismissal, the compensation claim, and the industry blacklist. Those who used to call him brother and fawn over him are now keeping their distance."

The house seems to have been mortgaged, and he's probably hiding in some cheap hotel now, too ashamed to show his face.

Her tone was flat, revealing little sympathy: "He only has himself to blame."

As the two were talking, the restaurant door was pushed open, and a thin man wearing a mask and a baseball cap slipped in.

He quickly scanned the room, his gaze settling on Lu Fan's table, before he lowered his head and strode over.

As they got closer, Lu Fan and Yu Tinglan recognized him; it was Liu Xiong.

Lu Fan and Yu Tinglan were not surprised that Liu Xiong could find them. Although Liu Xiong was down on his luck, it was quite possible that some people would help him track down their whereabouts out of old friendship.

Despite Liu Xiong's best efforts to conceal it, his eyes, visible beneath the brim of his hat, were bloodshot, and his gaze was darting around nervously. He exuded a dejected air, like a frightened bird.

He walked to the table, and before the two men could speak, he hurriedly lowered his voice and said, "Mr. Lu, Mr. Yu, could... could we speak in private for a few minutes?"

Seeing that Lu Fan and Yu Tinglan both remained silent with cold expressions, Liu Xiong continued with a bitter face, "Teacher Lu... I... I really have no other choice. I know I'm ashamed to come to you, but I... I'm truly desperate!"

"Xingyue told me that I have to pay a lot of money. I've already lost my house and car, and it's still not enough. My old friends don't answer my calls anymore, and nobody in the industry dares to hire me. Even small companies are afraid of getting into trouble if I try to become a consultant."

He spoke faster and faster, his voice trembling with tears: "That's nothing, the key thing is... I always feel like someone's following me! I can't sleep well at night, I keep having nightmares, dreaming about... dreaming about Yun Xuzi, and... and those..."

He shuddered violently, unable to continue speaking, his eyes brimming with fear.

"What's the use of you coming to us?" Yu Tinglan said coldly. "You should have known this day would come after what you did."

"I know! I know I deserve it!" Liu Xiong nodded vigorously, then looked at Lu Fan anxiously. "Teacher Lu, you are a master! I... do I still have some kind of ghostly thing left by Yun Xuzi on me? I feel uneasy, my whole body is cold, and I'm panicking."

Could you...could you take a look at this for me? Or, could you please post something online, something like...something about how I was forced into this situation, to clarify things a little and give me a way to survive? I beg you!

Lu Fan watched him quietly until Liu Xiong gradually calmed down under his gaze, leaving only heavy breathing and pleading in his eyes.

"Liu Xiong," Lu Fan spoke, his voice not loud, but it made Liu Xiong stiffen, "You do indeed still have remnants of Yun Xuzi's magic on you, you're shrouded in Yin energy, and your mind is disturbed. But this result is the price you paid for choosing to aid and abet evil. As for clarifying things?"

Lu Fan gently shook his head: "You know the truth yourself. The only 'advice' I can give you is to leave this city, go somewhere where no one knows you, and maybe you can find an ordinary job and barely survive. If you stay here, the people watching you will probably be more than just creditors and onlookers."

Liu Xiong's face instantly turned ashen; Lu Fan's words shattered his last glimmer of hope.

Leave? Where can he go? Can the people he's offended and the enemies he's made over the years really be wiped clean just by leaving? And then there's the ever-present chill and fear that haunts him.

He wanted to plead again, but when he met Lu Fan's calm yet all-seeing eyes, all the words stuck in his throat.

He knew it was no use.

Liu Xiong sighed, hunched over, and got up to walk outside.

"If you want to live a few more years, stay away from Wang Zhentao and anyone associated with Yun Xuzi. They may not want to keep you as a stain on their record now."

Lu Fan's voice rang out from behind Liu Xiong.

Liu Xiong shuddered violently, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

After Liu Xiong left, Yu Tinglan breathed a sigh of relief: "Judging from his appearance, although he's not homeless, he's not much better off. He's completely devastated, abandoned by everyone, and his future days are probably going to be tough."

She shook her head and continued, "Our feud started because of an artist. Liu Xiong was petty and wicked, and he deserved his fate."

Lu Fan gazed in the direction Liu Xiong had left and said calmly, "His mind has been largely corrupted by Yin energy, and being plagued by nightmares is just the beginning. Even if he hides at the ends of the earth, unless a master removes it for him, he will hardly have any peace for the rest of his life. This is perhaps more tormenting than simply being poor and destitute."

At this point, Lu Fan gained an understanding of Yun Xuzi and his group. These people were utterly inhuman, only valuing people's worth. When you lost your value, they would turn on you and bite you back, showing no compassion whatsoever.

Ting Lan withdrew her gaze and looked at Lu Fan: "People like that don't deserve sympathy. Yun Xuzi, Wang Zhentao and their gang are indeed ruthless; they can even abandon their own people without any mercy."

Lu Fan nodded and didn't continue the topic. The two finished their meal quietly, and by the time they paid the bill, the streetlights outside were already on.

"I'll walk back; it's not far, and it'll be good for digestion," Lu Fan said to Yu Tinglan.

Yu Tinglan picked up her handbag and casually replied, "I think I've eaten too much too. Let's take a walk together."

The two walked side by side on the sidewalk, the streetlights stretching their shadows longer and shorter.

No one spoke, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward; instead, there was a rare tranquility.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the building where Lu Fan lived.

Lu Fan stopped in his tracks: "I've arrived."

Yu Tinglan also stopped, looked up at the tall buildings in front of her, and then turned to look at Lu Fan. The light from the streetlights reflected tiny specks of light in her eyes.

"Aren't you going to invite me up for a seat?" she suddenly asked, her tone laced with a hint of jest, yet also hinting at something else entirely.

Lu Fan was slightly taken aback, then smiled: "Sister Lan is joking. The house is all yours. You should be the one treating me to tea."

"Alright." Yu Tinglan curled her lips into a smile. "I didn't realize you were so cunning. You even wanted me to make you tea. Fine, let's go. Who told me to fall for your tricks?"

The elevator slowly ascended, leaving only the two of them in the small space. The faint scent of Yu Tinglan's perfume lingered in the air, while Lu Fan stared ahead at the changing floor numbers.

With a "ding," the elevator arrived.

Lu Fan entered the password to open the door and stepped aside to let Yu Tinglan go in first.

She closed the door and walked towards the open kitchen. "Sister Lan, please have a seat. What would you like to drink? Tea or coffee? But I only have regular green tea and instant coffee here."

……