On the photograph was a young woman with long hair and eerie eyes that seemed fixed on whoever looked at them.
Emerging from beneath the car, Leo pointed at the items on the ground and turned to Director-General Lynd, asking, “Director-General Lynd, do you recognize these items?”
Staring at the objects on the ground, Director-General Lynd suddenly recalled something, his expression turning strange and fearful.
“Could it be because…” Director-General Lynd found the idea inconceivable.
It turned out that a week ago, Director-General Lynd and his friends had almost collided with a funeral procession on a bend of a road while they were heading to the suburbs for fishing.
Thankfully, he had reacted quickly and avoided hitting anyone, but the shock had caused the pallbearers to drop the coffin to the ground.
“Ah, so that’s it. You understand now,” Leo nodded, continuing, “You collided with a funeral procession and didn’t stop to apologize, but instead drove away.”
Hearing this, Director-General Lynd was taken aback, “How did you know?”
Leo sighed, “Though unintentional, you still should have acted differently. When encountering a funeral procession, it’s important to stop and show respect or take another route. You collided with them, causing the coffin to fall, and then didn’t apologize or make amends. It’s no wonder the ghost of the deceased has been pestering you.”
Director-General Lynd’s face turned pale with fear. He looked at Leo anxiously, “Mr. Bloomer, are you saying there’s a ghost…”
Director-General Lynd found the whole situation utterly baffling. Could such unclean entities truly exist in this world?
“Yesterday was probably the seventh day after the deceased’s passing. That’s why you and your family experienced those eerie occurrences,” Leo explained.
Director-General Lynd had no desire to go through yesterday’s events again. He looked at Leo with pleading eyes, “Mr. Bloomer, please, you have to help me with this.”
Leo spoke solemnly, “I can help you, but whether the departed will let go of you depends on your actions.”
“What do you mean? I can burn more paper money for her to use in another world!”
“It’s not about that. The resentful energy has attached itself to you. If you don’t resolve her grievances, this energy will persist, potentially affecting your family,” Leo clarified.
In a state of urgency, Director-General Lynd asked, “How can I dispel her grievances?”
Leo instructed, “Stand in front of the red embroidered shoe and extend your left hand.”
Following Leo’s words, Director-General Lynd complied.
Leo flicked his left index finger, then caught Director-General Lynd’s wrist, letting three drops of his blood fall onto the embroidered shoe.
“Now, use the lighter to burn the paper money, filial cloth, embroidered shoe, and photograph,” Leo continued.
Nervously, Director-General Lynd took out his lighter and attempted to ignite the paper money. To his surprise, no matter how he tried, the flames produced by his lighter refused to catch, as if the fire had no heat.
After a few failed attempts, Director-General Lynd looked at Leo helplessly.
Leo furrowed his brow and muttered, “It seems the grievances are quite strong.”
Leo approached the embroidered shoe, crouched, retrieved a silver needle from his silver needle box, then focused his spiritual power and pricked the shoe with it.
The moment the third needle punctured the shoe, an eerie, cold wind swept through the previously still environment. Director-General Lynd shivered involuntarily.
Even stranger, the wind didn’t disturb the joss paper and photograph on the ground.
“Now try again,” Leo instructed.
Director-General Lynd used his lighter to ignite the joss paper this time. It burned quickly, reducing to ashes.
In Leo’s eyes, the dark energy lingering around Director-General Lynd grew fainter.
“Continue with the rest,” Leo instructed.
Director-General Lynd ignited the white filial cloth with his lighter. To his shock, the cloth ignited instantly and turned to ash.
The photograph and embroidered shoe followed suit.
As the embroidered shoe turned to ashes, a wisp of green smoke enveloped Director-General Lynd’s body. In fear, he watched the smoke twist and turn around him before vanishing, taking the black energy on his body’s surface with it.
Feeling an immediate sense of relief and as if a burden had been lifted, Director-General Lynd asked eagerly, “Mr. Bloomer, is the energy gone from me?”
“It’s mostly gone.”
“Mostly?” Director-General Lynd frowned slightly. Did that mean there was still some left?
Leo explained, “To fully cleanse the energy from you, you’ll need to visit the grave of the deceased. Bow three times, light three incense sticks, and genuinely apologize. I believe, with a sincere attitude, she won’t haunt you anymore.”
“Alright, thank you so much, Mr. Bloomer. I’ll go and apologize to her later.”
Director-General Lynd felt much lighter physically and mentally. His spirits had improved, and the discomfort that had been bothering him was gone.
Today’s events had made him completely change his perspective on Leo. When he first met Leo, he’d seen him as a smooth-talking con artist. Now he realized how ignorant he had been.
This young man was indeed skilled. Director-General Lynd had made up his mind to befriend him.
“Director-General Lynd, I’ve resolved the issue for you. You can continue using your BMW,” Leo said, pointing to the car.
Director-General Lynd shook his head at the car, “I’d rather not. The trauma remains. Do you have a car, Mr. Bloomer?”
Leo nodded.
“In that case, I’ll sell this one.” The memories of the embroidered shoe and photograph under the car’s chassis had drained Director-General Lynd’s courage to drive it.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Director-General Lynd left in a taxi.
As for the BMW, Director-General Lynd planned to leave it here and have an agency handle the sale.
The money from the car’s sale would all go to Leo, as a token of gratitude for saving his life.
After leaving Nameless Clinic, Leo went to the Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company and handed the three martial arts manuals to Curtis. He told Curtis that he and his comrades could try practicing.
Though Curtis didn’t understand much about martial arts, he had strong combat skills. When he saw the ancient texts on combat techniques, he felt like he had found a treasure trove.
Leaving the Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company, it was almost time for Sophia to finish work. Leo headed to the Golden Leaf Shopping Plaza.
Once he picked up Sophia, he planned to ask her about the family meeting this morning.
Despite having a powerful strategy in place, Leo knew that due to his understanding of the old lady’s personality, Bruno wouldn’t face severe punishment.