The Exorcist

Chapter 45 Three Questions

When the door opened, Ruan Zhan and Xiao Xia stood there.

Xiaoxia covered her mouth with a look of disbelief on her face. The scream was obviously made by her, while Ruan Zhan stood upright, neither trembling nor expression, but his face was as white as snow.

Bao Datong and Wan Li were acting pretentious downstairs just now. He didn't seem to notice it, but in fact he saw it all. This made him keenly feel that something was wrong, and that the problem must be because of him. Xiaoxia happened to say that he wanted to bring some drinks downstairs, so the two of them went upstairs together.

He was always afraid of noise, so the room upstairs was designed to be very soundproof, but Wan Li and Bao Datong didn't even close the door, so he heard the conversation coming from the room as soon as he went upstairs. For some unknown reason, maybe it was just a feeling, he and Xiaoxia couldn't help but walk lightly and came to the door, so they heard everything they should have heard.

His body stiffened, and he walked in step by step, the doubts in his heart growing.

"That - A Zhan, maybe just - a person who looks similar, not uncle." Bao Datong explained that neither he nor Wan Li realized that someone was eavesdropping, so the situation in front of him surprised him and he didn't know what to do. Expressing what he meant, "I've never seen such a strange thing, so I'm making a fuss. In fact, the possibility of them being similar is really high. It's really true! As you know, I'm a country bumpkin and I've never seen the world. , Haha - I was shocked at the time." He laughed twice and tried to cover it up, but Ruan Zhan's eyes were like knives, forcing him to have nowhere to hide.

"Just say it." Wan Li sighed softly.

"Okay, let me tell you, it's irrelevant people and things anyway!" Bao Datong muttered, giving himself a little psychological hint, which made him more convinced that the deceased just looked very similar to Ruan Zhan's father. It was easier for him to tell the truth.

"After our troops were divided into three groups, didn't I go to Xitou Store? The weather was hot and I was afraid that the body would rot, so I rushed there as quickly as possible. In fact, the journey went smoothly - okay, okay , let me get to the point." Bao Datong glanced at Ruan Zhan and gritted his teeth, "The villagers in Xitoudian are very scared because of the demon boy. The body was washed down from the mountain by the rain, so they haven't called the police yet. , there was no pretense, they just covered a mat and sent two brave old men to watch. As soon as I mentioned you, they immediately took me to see it. I lifted the mat and almost sat on the ground. He had a long His face was exactly the same as my uncle's, but after being shocked, I thought that he must not be my uncle. Anyway, the world is so big and full of wonders, even if they look like twins - by the way, maybe they are really uncle's twin brothers. Lost, that must be it.”

Bao Datong talked nonchalantly, convincing himself along the way. But deep inside his heart was like a piece of land, with uneasy weeds growing wildly. He pulled them out again and again, but those weeds grew faster. Maybe in his subconscious mind, he had already determined that the corpse was Ruan Zhan's father!

Ruan Zhan's father is a man who is very good in magic and Taoism. He is older than his father. Others may not know his father's true age. Doesn't he know? Although these two old men both have a young son, they are actually over a hundred years old, even though they appear to be in their sixties. Therefore, even if Ruan Zhan's father really had a long-lost twin brother, it would be impossible for that non-monastic person to live to this age.

There is another irrefutable proof, that is, the Taoist robe.

This is no longer an era when Taoism was popular. Except for filming movies and TV series, who would wear Taoist robes? It was too weird, so Ruan Zhan’s father didn’t own one. The last time he brought Ruan Zhan to his home, the two old men talked about it. His father was so happy that he gave Ruan Zhan's father a Taoist robe that he had treasured for many years.

The robe was apricot, with black edges on the collar and cuffs. The belt was embroidered with a golden curse mixed with seven red bats. At that time, when he secretly saw this scene, he almost laughed out of his teeth. He thought this robe was too fancy. He didn't expect that his father, who looked like a simple and honest old farmer, would actually hide such a thing. With his father's expression as if he was offering a treasure, It’s true that I am going crazy as a teenager. And when he saw the clothes stained by mud and water on the corpse, his shock was indescribable. This could not be faked. Only people from their group could identify the golden light spell on the belt.

However, he knew that Ruan Zhan's father had passed away when he was in high school, so this situation was simply unacceptable to him. Therefore, he didn't know how to mention this matter to Ruan Zhan. He always felt that there was a secret hidden in it. A big secret, a secret that no one can bear!

Humans are animals with emotions. Because they have emotions, they are weak. When weak humans encounter unacceptable facts, they will unconsciously choose to escape and try their best to convince themselves that the facts are not true. That's how he was. Ever since he saw the corpse, he had been denying that it was definitely not Ruan Zhan's father, even though he knew in his heart that it was!

"Take me to see it." Ruan Zhan said four words stiffly.

"Go and see? No need! I've already pretended to bury him, so it's best to bury him as soon as possible!" Seeing Ruan Zhan's knife-like eyes, Bao Datong gave up completely, "Okay, first take a look at the photos I took. . I know this is disrespectful to the deceased, but I think you need to confirm." He took out his mobile phone, "I tried to take pictures as clearly as possible, not only the face, but also other obvious features. I found him On the soles of the feet——"

Before he finished speaking, Ruan Zhan snatched Bao Datong's cell phone. He looked at the phone, Bao Datong and Wan Li looked at his face, while Xiaoxia was still standing by the door blankly. She vaguely understood what they said, and was a little overwhelmed by what Bao Datong said. From her direction, she could only see Ruan Zhan's back, and she felt that his back was straighter than usual, as if he was trying desperately to withstand something.

"Take me to see it." Ruan Zhan put down his phone, his face getting paler.

"But, if you recognize it - I mean - can you go tomorrow?" Bao Datong glanced at Wan Li for help, and Wan Li shook his head.

"Don't make me say it a third time."

"Okay, I'll book a flight right away."

"No need." Ruan Zhan said, reaching out to hold Bao Datong's arm, drawing a talisman in the air, and stepping out.

Bao Datong knew about his time-space distortion technique, but this was the first time he experienced it in person. His eyes blurred and he returned to the entrance of Xitoudian Village. Ruan Zhan had never been to the foot of Back Mountain, so they could not get there directly, so they had to walk there.

Bao Datong sighed deeply in his heart, thinking that he just pretended to be an old man and did not bury him. Maybe subconsciously he was waiting for Ruan Zhan to come and see for himself!

Under the gloomy sunlight, in the dense shade of a large locust tree at the foot of the mountain, a simple coffin stood alone, as if it was an extended part of the locust tree, quietly waiting for something. This atmosphere, this environment, this air that seemed to have condensed into water in mid-air, all made it all particularly weird. In the scorching weather of July, people couldn't help but feel a chill rising from the bottom of their hearts. The moment Ruan Zhan saw the coffin, his feet visibly hesitated, and then he strode over as if he had made up his mind.

Bao Datong stopped a few meters behind him and saw him gently opening the coffin lid, leaning down to take a closer look. He even repeatedly checked the sole of the corpse's right foot, then straightened up and closed the coffin lid again.

"Is it his old man?" Bao Datong asked anxiously when he saw Ruan Zhan walking back step by step.

"Please let the villagers bury them first." Ruan Zhan said calmly, but his voice sounded extremely depressed, as if something was tumbling in his heart and could explode at any time. "I am also a son of man. I will never let him die in the wilderness." It’s inappropriate.”

Sure enough it is!

Bao Datong opened his mouth, but did not say a word. He just followed Ruan Zhan to the village and watched him ask and persuade the village chief to bury this poor man who died in a foreign country first in the village cemetery, and promised Give Xitoudian Village a large amount of benefits. When he did all this, he was so methodical and steady, as if he was handling the affairs of a stranger. Only his deliberately slow tone and low voice with suppressed emotions revealed his inner torment.

After everything was done, Ruan Zhan took Bao Datong back to the bar without looking back. Since it was already open, they went directly to Bao Datong's room upstairs. I saw Wan Li and Xiao Xia staying there, just as they had left. They had been gone for several hours, but it seemed as if time had stopped.

The four people looked at each other, but no one spoke, and a terrible silence filled the air. After a while, Bao Datong was the first to lose his temper.

"The thing is-"

"My father passed away." Ruan Zhan interrupted Bao Datong, "This time it's true."

"Azhan—" Wan Li said with difficulty. In fact, he had such a premonition and preparation, but he still didn't know how to deal with it at the moment.

Ruan Zhan's extremely pale face, his stiff body, and his terrifying calmness all made people feel that he had suffered the most significant blow in his life. This blow cannot be caused by the death of his father, there must be a deeper reason.

He raised his hand to stop Wan Li from talking anymore, stretched out his fingers to draw the talisman, as if he was going to a place where no one was around, but he only drew half of the talisman, and his hand stopped in mid-air and could no longer draw. He has always liked to be alone, and has always been used to avoiding other people. Now he feels that there is no place to hide, a lightless, uninhabited, silent place, whether it is a cave or a tomb, as long as no one touches it. Him, so that he would not collapse on the spot.

At this time, Taoism is of no use! He smiled bitterly in his heart and moved his steps. It’s more reliable to rely on the physical body’s feet!

"Don't hide!" A female voice sounded, and at the same time a slender figure flashed beside him, two slender arms wrapped around his waist, hugging him tightly, "Don't take it to heart! Say it! "

He lowered his head and looked at Xiao Xia's delicate face, which he had always warmed, loved, and rubbed gently in his heart. Thinking about it at this moment, he suddenly felt an endless sadness. By next spring, he will die. In his short thirty-three years of life, she was his only fire. But if his life itself is inferior, if the inner world he built collapses at this moment, Should he let her go before burying her too? !

He broke away from her, turned around slowly, and looked at Wan Li and Bao Datong.

In normal times, these two men would be the same characters who were still talking and laughing, but now they looked at a loss. what is this? Concern leads to chaos? ! Then let’s say it! Anyway, that’s just what happened!

"Do you remember what Sima Nan said to me before he died, Wan Li?" He spoke, his throat was dry, and it took a lot of effort to spit out every word.

"He said: Night Wind Ring, Yin and Yang Pole, and, are you sure he is dead?" Wan Li murmured, "What's wrong?"

"I got the answer today." His face was expressionless, and his eyes as black as a deep pool no longer had a sense of depth and looked a little hollow.

Wan Li knew about this, but Xiaoxia and Bao Datong were confused. But Ruan Zhan didn't pause and said word by word, "Ye Fenghuan answered the question about my relationship with Sima Nan. He has changed into countless skins, but his identity will not change. He is my father's master. To be sure, He said, he is my master!"

Everyone was shocked. They had thought about the various relationships between Sima Nan and Ruan Zhan, but they never expected it to be like this. No wonder he and Ruan Zhan have many similarities in their fighting gestures, and those differences are probably because Ruan Zhan did not learn Taoism directly from his father, but relied on his innate talents and the heart left by his father. I figured out the Dharma formula by myself. Since I am self-taught without a teacher, I added my own innovations!

Ruan Zhan ignored what others were thinking and continued, "The Yin-Yang level is a birthmark in the shape of a Yin-Yang fish. It is very magical. It is a dominant inheritance and can only be passed down between biological father and son. There is one under my feet. Of course my biological father had one in the same place.”

Having said this, Bao Datong stood up and said, "He is your biological son - didn't you say he was your adoptive father?" He had seen the soles of the corpse's feet, and there was indeed a birthmark on it that looked like an anode. He also Take a photo with your phone as an important feature!

"Yes, he is my biological father. I just found out." Ruan Zhan answered stiffly when he heard his own voice, speaking without any emotion. But can we really remain indifferent? Why do you feel like something is cracking in your heart? !

"There is no need to answer the last question. He is not dead, but now he is dead! That's it." After using his last control to say this, he turned and walked out of the door.

If saying that Sima Nan was Ruan Zhan's master had shocked the other three people, then the fact that Ruan Zhan's adoptive father was actually his biological father was a complete surprise and completely shocked them. When Ruan Zhan's lonely figure disappeared from the door, Xiaoxia was the first to react and chase him out.

When she saw Ruan Zhan holding on to the wall and walking aimlessly in the corridor, she felt completely distracted and twisted with distress. She pulled him to her room, and he let her pull her. She pushed him to sit on the bed, and he sat on the bed without saying a word.

"Say something, don't scare me!" Xiaoxia sat next to him, held his hand tightly, and stared at his expressionless face, fearing that his soul would just leave the body. "Please react, I I’m so scared! I’m so scared of you like this!”

She is really scared!