Having devoted myself to guiding souls, I was surrounded by them after my death.

In the spirit cage, such illogical phenomena may be an indication of an evil spirit.

"What are you looking at?" Su Yining came closer.

Chen Shi pointed to the puddle of water and said:

"Senior, who dares to try it?"

"?????"

Chapter 27 Another Gamble

Jiangling Piano Shop at dawn

"call……"

Warm white steam rose from the bathroom, and soft, warm yellow light shone on the tiles.

Jiang Liu stepped barefoot onto the ground, threw the bath towel aside, and immersed herself in the bathtub.

Her fair, delicate body was immersed in warm water, the surface covered with foam that barely covered her collarbone, revealing her fair neck.

"I wonder how my junior brother is doing."

Jiang Liu wore a slightly melancholy expression, her long, ink-black hair cascading over her shoulders and back, strands clinging to her damp skin. Water droplets slid down her neck and melted into the warm water.

Warm water enveloped her body as she slowly closed her eyes, her body gradually sinking until her entire face was submerged.

It felt as if I was cut off from the outside world, with only the deathly sound of water in my ears.

The warm water enveloped my entire body, initially bringing a sense of relief and relaxation. But as the air in my lungs was slowly depleted, a dull urge to suffocate began to rise, and my consciousness gradually faded and became hazy.

But she still didn't get up.

The scene from that time resurfaced in my mind.

However, the water wasn't warm, but rather icy cold river water.

Five years ago, she jumped into the river and didn't know how long she had been there when a hand suddenly grabbed her and carried her on its back.

The scene was chaotic, and all she could hear was the sound of water. She only remembered the people who were rescuing her shouting:

"Just hang in there...we'll be there soon..."

"We'll be there soon..."

Jiang Liu tried hard to recall that person's face, but she just couldn't remember it because she hadn't seen it at all.

She could only recall the birthmark on the other person's back and a scratch she had left in her panic.

Underwater, the pain of suffocation intensified, his chest swelled, and a dizzying feeling of impending suffocation swept over him.

Just as her consciousness was about to completely succumb, the last vestige of clarity in Jiang Liu's heart instantly pulled her back.

"Oh--!"

Jiang Liu suddenly sat up, her wet black hair falling down her cheeks. The warm air from the bathroom filled her lungs, followed by broken breathing.

"Soaked for too long..."

Her face flushed, she got up, rinsed off the soap, wrapped herself in a towel, and walked out of the bathroom.

Stepping onto the balcony, the warm summer breeze felt sticky and humid, caressing her skin.

"The Spirit Cage has indeed opened." Jiang Liu frowned slightly.

As a top-tier ferryman, she possesses exceptional intuition. Just this afternoon, a malevolent spirit appeared in a cage at the Jimu Private Hospital.

As for the prey, unsurprisingly it was her somewhat inexperienced junior brother.

"You mustn't let your senior sister down."

Jiang Liu stared intently in the direction of the private hospital.

Just then, a crow landed on the railing.

"Tsk." Jiang Liu rolled her eyes.

"You seem to dislike me." The crow opened its sharp beak and spoke in a human voice.

"Ugh, where are all these birds chirping at night? It's so noisy, I need to get my beauty sleep." Jiang Liu yawned, completely ignoring the crow.

"You sensed it, didn't you? A malevolent spirit has opened its cage at a private hospital in the suburbs, and it hasn't disappeared all afternoon."

The crow said, "That evil spirit is of the common danger level. Only you can enter the cage from the outside. I'll have to make the trip for you."

"I won't run." Jiang Liu flicked her fingers.

“Jiang Liu…” the crow flapped its wings.

"Hey, why are you in such a hurry?"

Jiang Liu said:

“Someone is dealing with that evil spirit; I believe him.”

"Someone is handling it? I don't remember sending a ferryman there..."

The crow tilted its head, then seemed to realize something, and suddenly let out a sharp "caw!"

"Huh! That student from Nanjing University!? You really took him in as your ferryman?"

"uh-huh."

Jiang Liu replied nonchalantly, "Who told me to lose the bet?"

“Jiang Liu, we don’t need those wild goods of dubious origin… If you’re interested in bringing people, just say the word, and you can choose any genius from Lingyi Temple. I know there’s a promising talent right now, named Luo…”

"Hey, is this ever going to end? I said I don't accept disciples, but that junior brother is an exception." Jiang Liu immediately called for a halt.

"That evil spirit is at the common danger level, which is too dangerous for that student!"

The crow immediately raised a question:

"Moreover, Lingyi Temple will not acknowledge that kind of wild origin."

"Whether you acknowledge my junior brother or not is none of my business. I'm fine with that."

Jiang Liu glanced coldly at the crow:

"If I set my sights on someone, I'll protect them. If those old fogies have any objections, they can come to me and say it to my face. Do they dare?"

"..." The crow was rendered speechless.

"Also, don't underestimate him."

Jiang Liu smiled faintly, her face alluring:

"He's really good at surprising people."

"When did you start giving others such high praise?" The crow flew a little closer.

"How about we make a bet?"

Jiang Liu said, "If my junior brother successfully defeats that evil spirit, and there are any problems at Lingyi Temple, you must vouch for him and prevent those old fogies from causing him trouble."

"And what if you lose?" the crow asked, looking at her.

"Lost? So be it." Jiang Liu shrugged.

"I can tell you trust him a lot."

“Since I’ve taken on this role as a teacher, I have to be responsible. He’s my student now, so of course I trust him.” Jiang Liu leaned on the railing, her slightly damp black hair blowing in the summer breeze.

"Um……"

The crow said, "Well then, your father has always attached great importance to your marriage. As a top-level ferryman, you have strong intuition, and your descendants will not be weak intuition either."

Jiang Liu remained expressionless, already guessing what the crow wanted to say.

"If that college student fails, you'll have to listen to your father, okay?" The crow's sharp beak opened and closed, sounding more like a tentative inquiry than a bet.

"..."

Jiang Liu remained silent for a moment, then smiled dismissively:

"You know perfectly well that you have no way to force me to listen to him except through a bet, which is why you made this condition, right?"

“After all, you are a top-tier expert, and no one can force you.” The crow flapped its wings and said frankly, “It’s just a chance. After all, your father often brings up marriage proposals at Lingyi Temple, which is a headache for us as well.”

"Okay, deal."

Jiang Liu was carefree; with a flick of his long hair, he left the balcony without looking back, as if he had already won.

"By the way, Jiang Liu."

The crow said from behind:

"You are the only surviving top-tier ferryman. Now that the three evil spirits have reappeared and the top-tier evil spirit has revived, we need you more than ever. Cherish your life, okay?"

Bye-bye~

Jiang Liu ignored it and slammed the door shut.

"call……"

Back in her room, Jiang Liu lay down on the bed, stretching out her limbs and sinking into the blankets.

"Sigh, an old relic is an old relic."

Jiang Liu gently bit her lip, a smile playing on her lips:

"Keep it up, junior! Don't let me down!"

……

……

A few hours later, inside the Jimu Private Hospital.

"Senior, it's almost time."

Inside the ward, Chen Shi glanced at the wall clock, confirmed it was 8 a.m., and then called out to Su Yining.

The hot female senior jumped off the bed and peeked through the crack in the door.

"There shouldn't be anything dirty outside, right?" she asked, like a detective who had secretly infiltrated the area.

"It's at least past the time limit required by the college regulations."

Chen Shi opened the door and strode out.

Just as they stepped out, the door to room 405 next door was also pushed open, and an old man in a hospital gown came out:

"Hey, little one, you're still here?"

"Wow, Old Deng, you're still here too?" Chen Shi exclaimed in surprise.

"Why does that sound like you're cursing me?"

Just then...

"Waaaaah..."

The faint sobbing sounded again, the voice hoarse, as if it were being choked.

"That crying sound again?" Su Yining immediately became alert.

"Sure enough, as long as the evil spirit itself is still there, all the supernatural beings in the spirit cage will be reborn indefinitely."

Chen Shi made a decisive decision:

"Let's go, get out of this corridor."

"Hey, little kid, where are you going?" Seeing that Chen Shi was about to leave, the old man hurriedly followed.

"Why are you following me? Go back to your ward and stay there!" Seeing that the old man was about to follow, Chen Shi immediately called him back to his ward.

"Hey, that ward is really creepy. Do you remember me telling you that there's laughter and clapping coming from room 404 every night?"

The elderly man, afraid of being left alone, quickly followed, his legs and feet moving quite nimbly, not at all like an elderly person who was sick and hospitalized.

“Ever since this hospital changed, that laughter was even louder last night! And, I also heard a woman screaming in the corridor last night. It’s really weird. I don’t want to be alone.” He followed, hunching over.