"So, you truly are not being possessed?" The monk asked, his voice wavering between doubt and desperation.
"Of course I'm not. Why on earth are you so convinced that my soul has been hijacked?" Bai Xifeng shot back, her tone dry.
"The rumors within the mansion are quite specific." The monk countered, trying to regain his footing. "They say your personality has shifted overnight that you have become aggressive and erratic. Usually, such a rapid transformation is a telltale sign of an invading spirit."
Bai Xifeng let out a sharp, mocking laugh. She didn't need a detective to tell her who was fueling those rumors. "Since your little light show failed to produce a demon, shouldn't you just pack up and leave? Honestly, I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep." To emphasize her point, she let out another wide, uninhibited yawn.
The monk and his disciples shifted uncomfortably. The situation had become incredibly awkward. However, when the monk considered the hefty fee he had been promised by the Han family and the blow to his reputation if he failed, he decided to double down.
"I will not be fooled! I will force the entity out of this vessel, no matter how deep it hides!" The monk declared, his eyes burning with a misguided sense of righteousness.
Bai Xifeng merely sighed, a look of profound boredom on her face. "Fine. If you want to waste your breath, go right ahead. I'm going to nap." Without a shred of hesitation, she repositioned herself on the stone bench of the gazebo, closing her eyes and settling in for a slumber.
The monk and his men stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded. 'But Bai Xifeng didn't care for their opinions. Her body was still recovering from the intense detoxification of the previous night, and her mind was heavy with the weight of Baishe's lessons. Within moments, she had successfully drifted off into the dream world.
Even Baishe, watching from his spiritual vantage point, found the scene ridiculous. Most people would be trembling in fear, yet she was bold enough to treat an enemy's ritual like a lullaby. He sighed, mentally preparing to weave a protective barrier around her just in case the monk's incompetence actually managed to spark something dangerous.
"Master, what is our next move?" One of the followers whispered.
The monk glared at the sleeping girl. He had made a declaration, and he was too proud to back down now. "We try again. Channel more power this time! Chant the incantation once more!"
The rhythmic, low-toned chanting resumed, and once again, a pulsing red light enveloped Bai Xifeng's prone form. She remained perfectly still, her breathing steady and deep, completely unaffected by the spiritual pressure.
In her dreams, the ancient courtyard vanished, replaced by the sterile, gray walls of the orphanage from her past life. She was a child again, watching from the shadows of a corridor as a wealthy benefactor arrived in a luxury car to hand over a massive donation.
She remembered the way the Director's face had transformed, a mask of saintly gratitude that vanished the moment the cameras were gone. Bai Xifeng had hidden behind a heavy curtain that day, listening as the Director and her senior staff whispered about how to "allocate" the funds.
Only a pittance would ever reach the children's plates. The rest was destined for the Director's private offshore accounts and designer handbags. They had laughed about it, never suspecting that the quiet, observant girl in the corner understood every word of their corrupt scheme. Even then, Bai Xifeng had not been stupid. She had learned very early on that the world was full of people wearing masks, much like the monk currently screaming at her sleeping body.
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