My outlook on life is about to be overturned

The entrance of Jinghong Hotel had two stone lions holding stone beads in their mouths. Looking into the hotel lobby, there stood a stone statue of Guan Yu, holding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade. While such protective and warding-off items were common in hotels, Xiang Que noticed that the placement of the stone lions and Guan Yu statue wasn't random; they were blessed or "opened" by a skilled practitioner.

People in business often seek peace of mind, and Wang Jun, fearing retribution for his wrongdoings, spent a considerable amount to have the stone lions and Guan Yu at the hotel entrance. This was done to prevent any malicious interference with his business.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, Xiang Que instructed Chen Dong, "Book a room, the one at the far end of the fourth floor, on the innermost side of the corridor, next to the window. And remember, don't mention anything about Wang Jun. Just pay whatever amount is required."

Chen Dong rolled his eyes and said, "Ah, this Wang Jun has been inviting me to come here for the past two years, but I haven't..."

Xiang Que interrupted him, "You go, that's it. Do as I say."

Chen Dong was left speechless. He humphed and went to the hotel front desk. While Xiang Que explained his situation to the female ghost, Chen Xia whispered to him, "Chen Dong is just a child. Under Chen Sanjin's protection, he will always be like a fledgling bird under the wings of an eagle, unable to fly too high. If you want to fly, don't bother with him. Chen Sanjin is always there for him. Mr. Xiang, if there's anything that offends you, I hope you won't take it to heart."

Xiang Que chuckled and said, "If he's a child, I won't stoop to his level. Besides, even if we were to compare, he'd have to break a leg."

Chen Xia was stunned for a moment, then asked, "You mentioned that Chen Dong's leg would break. And why did you change your mind after giving him the jade pendant this morning?"

Xiang Que squinted and calmly said, "He's destined to face a calamity sooner or later. Two months from now, your brother will encounter a severe misfortune. If lucky, he'll spend three to five months in the hospital; if unlucky, he won't get out of bed for the rest of his life. So, I suggested to your father to break one of his legs in advance to avoid the disaster that would befall him in two months. A hundred days of recuperation, and the calamity won't reach him. Also, him suffering the leg fracture in advance serves as a substitution for the later catastrophe."

Chen Xia rubbed her temples, struggling to process the information. Finally, she managed to ask, "That jade pendant is actually a magical artifact with protective properties. When your brother wears it, it will help him overcome the imminent calamity two months later. So, I advised Chen Sanjin not to break his leg."

"That's right," Xiang Que affirmed. "The jade pendant is a magical artifact for avoiding disasters and warding off evil. By wearing it, your brother would have been protected from the upcoming calamity. So, there was no need to break his leg."

Chen Xia continued, "Can you tell me who you really are? And why does Chen Sanjin trust you so much?"

Xiang Que smiled and said, "You're intelligent. Just think about it."

Chen Xia massaged her forehead, her thoughts gradually becoming clearer. This time, Chen Sanjin's strange behavior and the odd occurrences in the family suddenly made sense to her. She had always considered it mere coincidence, but now, with Xiang Que's confirmation, she felt a mix of shock and disbelief. She looked at Xiang Que, her eyes wide open.

Xiang Que calmly stated, "Some things may not have been encountered, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Most people in this world are guessing about those inexplicable things. I can tell you for sure... you'll understand everything soon."

Chen Dong returned after completing the formalities, leading them towards the room on the fourth floor. Xiang Que observed the numerous spiritual altars on each floor, adorned with Buddha statues and deities. It seemed that Wang Jun had spared no expense in safeguarding his business from evil influences.

Once inside the room on the fourth floor, Xiang Que took out the talisman where the female ghost was hidden, releasing her. As soon as the female ghost appeared, the temperature in the room sharply dropped. This was the place where she died, and the spiritual aura was much heavier here than in other places.

While Chen Xia and Chen Dong couldn't see the female ghost, they both shivered. They simultaneously glanced at the air conditioner, only to find it turned off. Ignoring their reactions, Xiang Que addressed the female ghost, "Is this the place where you were killed? Do you know where you died? We're looking for any clues that may have been overlooked after such a long time."

The female ghost recounted to Xiang Que that she was stripped naked, bound to the bed, and assaulted by Wang Jun's four subordinates in succession. Subsequently, the four men continued to brutally beat her on the bed until she was beaten to death.

Xiang Que gestured for Chen Dong to come over and said, "Take apart the bed and move the nearby cabinet for me."

Chen Dong complained, "I'm already doing you a favor by being your driver. Now you want me to do physical labor? Your requests are unrealistic."

Ignoring his protests, Xiang Que stared at Chen Dong's legs with a meaningful gaze. Chen Dong, feeling a shiver down his spine, worried that Xiang Que might bring up the topic of breaking his legs again. Reluctantly, he obediently dismantled the hotel bed and moved the cabinet as instructed.

Curious, Chen Xia asked, "What are you trying to do?"

Xiang Que replied, "This room witnessed a murder over a year ago. I'm checking if there are any overlooked clues."

Chen Dong, still dismantling the bed, teased, "Are you going to shout 'the truth is only one' and then feed us a load of nonsense later? Do you think you're Conan or Sherlock Holmes? Can't we have a normal conversation?"

Xiang Que said, "You'll understand later," and continued examining the room. The female ghost explained that she had been assaulted and beaten to death on the bed. When Chen Dong questioned Xiang Que's intentions, Xiang Que responded, "This room had a murder more than a year ago. I'm trying to find something."

Chen Dong, now amused, raised his head and said, "Big brother, are you going to shout 'there is only one truth' and then tell us a bunch of lies? Do you think you're channeling Conan or Sherlock Holmes? Can we have a normal conversation?"

"Later, you won't be normal," retorted Xiang Que. He then gestured for Chen Dong to move aside, and he carefully searched the area. The female ghost's place of death had been thoroughly cleaned, leaving no visible clues. However, Xiang Que suddenly noticed faint red marks in the gaps between a few floor tiles.

Xiang Que said, "Feel this. Is this your blood on the floor?"

The female ghost confirmed that the faint red marks were indeed her bloodstains.

"Do you know where your remains were hidden after your death?" Xiang Que asked the female ghost, who shook her head, indicating that the passage of time and her distance from her bones prevented her from sensing their location.

Confused, Chen Xia and Chen Dong watched as Xiang Que seemingly talked to himself, occasionally frowning or pursing his lips. Until he took out three copper coins and a compass, Chen Dong jokingly remarked to Chen Xia, "When did Conan get this equipment? He can't even figure it out, and now he's talking nonsense. Is he trying to be Sherlock Holmes or reincarnated as him? Can't he say something sensible?"

"After a while, you won't find it sensible," Xiang Que responded. He then threw the three copper coins onto the floor one by one and observed as the compass needle began to slowly rotate. When it stopped, it pointed southeast, and the hexagram on the coins indicated water.

"Come with me to a place," Xiang Que said, putting away the coins and holding the compass. "Southeast, is there a lake or river around here?"

Chen Xia explained, "Yes, not too far. About ten kilometers southeast, there's an inner-city river that runs through the Tangshan urban area."

"Take me there," said Xiang Que.

Exiting the hotel room, Chen Dong, with curious eyes, tugged at Xiang Que and asked, "Hey, what the heck are you planning? Damn, big brother, you've got me confused. I've been following you around all day, doing this and that. I feel like my whole worldview is about to be overturned. Let's not talk about worldviews; I'm helping you out, so you should at least let me know what I'm worth."

"You weren't forced to come along, were you? I didn't beg you," Xiang Que responded.

"I want to be a supporting role in your story."

"Ah, as a supporting role, you should have the awareness of being one, right? You shouldn't follow the main character's storyline?"

"No, I'm just curious. You have to let me know what the script is about," Chen Dong was on the verge of going crazy.

"I've already told you, right? That room had a murder before. A woman died there, and I'm going to find her remains. They should be in the river about ten kilometers away," Xiang Que explained.

Chen Dong continued to be bewildered, asking, "You can determine where the bones are by playing with three copper coins and a compass? No, how did you know there was a murder in that room? Bro, I'm confused now. I can't figure it out. My head is buzzing. I'm afraid if I stay with you any longer, I'll turn myself into a lunatic."

"You can leave; no one is stopping you," Xiang Que replied.

"I'm worried that if I leave, you and my sister will be alone together, and some murder case might happen," Chen Dong said with gritted teeth.

"Chen Dong, you won't keep that leg," Chen Xia kicked him in the butt and exclaimed.

After leaving the hotel, they got into the Range Rover and headed southeast. After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a river. Xiang Que, getting out of the car, used the compass along the riverbank to confirm the location.

Chen Dong spat and asked, "Sis, how does he know where the bones are by playing with three copper coins and a compass? No, how did he know there was a murder in that room? Bro, I'm confused now. I can't figure it out. My head is buzzing. I'm afraid if I stay with you any longer, I'll turn myself into a lunatic."

"You can leave; no one is stopping you," Xiang Que replied.

"I'm worried that if I leave, you and my sister will be alone together, and some murder case might happen," Chen Dong said with gritted teeth.

"Chen Dong, you won't keep that leg," Chen Xia kicked him in the butt and exclaimed.

After leaving the hotel, they got into the Range Rover and headed southeast. After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a river. Xiang Que, getting out of the car, used the compass along the riverbank to confirm the location.