A smirk curved on Lu Ding’s lips.

This guy’s really stubborn. Even now, he refuses to use it.

“Alright then, I’ll respect his wishes.”

With the matter settled, Lu Ding stood up, ready to leave—he still had to return to the Bureau to report his mission.

But just as he was about to step away, Ji Hong called out to him.

“Investigator Lu, could you wait just a little longer? I don’t want compensation—I just hope you can stay for a short while.”

“Alright, I’ll wait a bit.”

Skipping compensation was always good news. Every investigator had a monthly compensation quota, and as an intern investigator, Lu Ding’s limit was five million per month. If that was exhausted, different rules applied.

This policy existed to prevent investigators from going overboard just because they had government-backed compensation, turning themselves into mobile artillery units and blowing everything to smithereens at the slightest provocation.

So, saving funds where possible was always beneficial.

With Lu Ding’s agreement, Ji Hong turned back to Bai Xiaoxiao.

“Miss Bai, can you start treating my daughter now?”

Bai Xiaoxiao hesitated. “C-can I?”

She glanced at Lu Ding as she spoke.

Lu Ding raised an eyebrow. “Why are you looking at me? You were hired to treat her—so treat her.”

“Oh, oh, right! Yes, of course! I can do it! Where’s the Second Miss?”

Ji Hong led the way. “This way.”

As they left, only three people remained in the living room.

Ji Feiyu leaned weakly against the sofa, turning her head toward Lu Ding, who had pulled a chair over and sat down.

Beside him, Yan Feifan stood respectfully.

For some reason, Ji Feiyu found herself staring at Lu Ding, her mind slowly drifting.

Yan Feifan leaned in and whispered, “Brother Lu, I think she might have a bit of Stockholm Syndrome. Plus, you’re good-looking, and your methods just now were… well, a bit too brutal. Maybe she has certain… tendencies.”

Lu Ding, noticing the direct stare, asked, “Like what you see?”

Ji Feiyu instinctively nodded—then quickly shook her head.

Suddenly—

A chilling presence surged through the air, accompanied by a furious shriek.

“A mere Bai Family junior dares to break my spell? You are unworthy!!!”

Lu Ding shot to his feet.

Another monster?!

He hated arrogance—especially when it strutted around in front of him.

He had to see for himself what was going on.

Inside Ji Yanshuang’s Room

Thick black mist churned, and within it, a ghostly woman in white floated eerily, her form half-transparent.

Bai Xiaoxiao trembled violently.

She had never expected the Second Miss of the Ji family to be entangled with such a terrifying spirit.

This thing was beyond her ability to exorcise.

BOOM!!!

A familiar sound.

A familiar entrance.

The door blasted apart, and multiple slashes ripped through the black mist, drawing agonized screams from the ghost.

“COME ON THEN!!! LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN STOP ME!!!”

The ghost’s twisted face glared at Lu Ding, her blood-red eyes seething with hatred.

Then, her gaze fell on the 749 badge on his chest.

She shrieked. “749!!!!”

Lu Ding didn’t bother responding—hundreds of slashes tore through the mist, annihilating it instantly.

“I remember your scent… I will find you…”

With those final words, the ghost dissolved into nothingness along with the dissipating black mist.

Lu Ding’s expression darkened.

Being marked by a ghost?

That was not good.

A thief can steal for a thousand days, but no one can guard against a thief for a thousand days.

On the bed, with the spirit gone, Ji Yanshuang’s eyelashes fluttered—she was waking up.

Lu Ding stepped forward.

As Ji Yanshuang opened her eyes, the first thing she saw—

Was Lu Ding’s face.

A surge of safety washed over her, but in the next instant—

The sheer oppressiveness of his gaze crashed over her like a tidal wave, filled with predatory intensity.

“That ghost—where did you encounter it?”

Still groggy, Ji Yanshuang took a moment to process his words.

That ghost had tormented her in her dreams for what felt like an eternity—

As if her entire life had been consumed by it.

After a pause, she finally answered. “Baiyao Ancient Town. Yes, Baiyao Ancient Town. I went there to see Baiyao porcelain, and after I came back… I started dreaming of her.”

Baiyao Ancient Town!

Lu Ding memorized the name.

“Yan Feifan, check if we have any missions related to Baiyao Ancient Town.”

Why wait for the ghost to come after him?

Better to hunt it down first—rip it to shreds before it even had a chance to act.

Even if there was no mission, Lu Ding would still go.

But having a mission would be more convenient—he could expense the trip, and if he wrecked anything, the government would pay for it.

Yan Feifan immediately understood what Lu Ding was getting at.

He pulled out his phone and started searching.

After a while, he shook his head. “Brother Lu, nothing came up.”

Lu Ding frowned.

Looks like I’ll have to go on my own.

“Forget it. Let’s head back to the Bureau.”

He turned to leave.

Ji Hong quickly called out, “Investigator Lu! Why don’t you stay for a meal before you go? It won’t take much of your time.”

“No need.”

He had to turn in his report ASAP and get to Baiyao Ancient Town.

That ghost dared to threaten him?!

He had spent nearly twenty years waiting for his golden finger to activate—

And now something dares to threaten him?

Absolutely not.

Ji Hong escorted Lu Ding and Yan Feifan to the door, watching as their vehicle disappeared down the road.

At some point, Ji Yanshuang had made her way to the living room.

Seeing the bloodstained floor and dismembered corpse, she should have felt disturbed.

But after what she had endured in her dreams—

This was nothing.

Ji Feiyu and Ji Yanshuang, the two sisters, clung to each other and cried for a long time.

Finally, Ji Yanshuang asked, “Sis, where did you and Dad find that Investigator Lu?”

“Find him? People like him—you don’t find them.”

The voice came from Bai Xiaoxiao, who was still lingering in the room.

Ji Yanshuang turned to her curiously.

Her large eyes, soft voice, and frail demeanor after her ordeal made her look incredibly delicate.

In the sweetest, most innocent tone, she asked, “Big Sis, you know Investigator Lu?”

Even as another woman, Bai Xiaoxiao couldn’t resist that voice.

Her heart nearly exploded from cuteness.

Clearing her throat, she warned, “Ahem! Listen up, but don’t spread this around. You’re outsiders, so just take it in and keep quiet.”

“Investigator Lu belongs to the 749 Bureau—National Security Investigation and Containment.”

“They’re different from regular security forces. The 749 Bureau handles all supernatural incidents in the Han Empire.”

“They deal with spirits, demons, and all manner of strange occurrences.”

“Their job is to capture, detain, and contain those who disturb the balance.”

“But this Investigator Lu… he seems a bit… different. He’s way too bloodthirsty. It’s not against the rules, but ripping a person apart alive? That’s just terrifying.”

The sisters processed the information.

Ji Yanshuang glanced at the bloodstains on the floor.

“So… the one who died was a demon?”

“Nope.” Bai Xiaoxiao shook her head. “Same as me—a Spirit Practitioner. Except I’m from an orthodox sect, backed by the Spirit Guardians, while that guy took a wild, rogue path. He probably messed up somewhere, and then your sister ended up calling 749 on him.”

Ji Feiyu hurried to clarify, “I only met him by chance at Shanghuo Old Street. He said something unclean was clinging to me. Later, he called me, asked me to bail him out, and said he could save you. That’s why I brought him here.”