Chapter 143: Something That Shouldn't Grow on a Human

  "What do you mean by something that shouldn't grow on a human?" 

  Lu Fei found the claim strange and unsettling. 

  Chen Jinfa shrugged helplessly. "I don't know either. My friend wouldn't let me see the child. He just said there's definitely something wrong with the baby and asked me to find someone reliable to take a look. You're the only expert I know, so here I am!" 

  "Brother Chen, but I only deal with evil entities," Lu Fei replied. 

  "That's simple. You just take a look. If the child is an evil entity, you handle it. If not, just point them in the right direction. Easy, right?" Chen Jinfa said cheerfully. 

  "You make a good point," Lu Fei chuckled. 

  If he wanted to encounter more evil entities, he needed to explore and investigate more situations. Even if this turned out to be unrelated, it would still be a valuable experience. 

  In this line of work, aside from magical skills, knowledge and insight were crucial. 

  The recent incident with the Human-Skin Ghost had made Lu Fei realize he still had much to learn and improve. 

  "If you're free, let's go now. I've already prepared the car," Chen Jinfa said, standing up. 

  "In such a hurry?" 

  "My friend is anxious. His child has turned into a freak—how could he not be in a hurry?" 

  Lu Fei laughed. "I think it's not just your friend who's in a hurry, but you too, Brother Chen." 

  "Ha!" Chen Jinfa laughed heartily. "Curiosity is human nature! The way my friend described it, I'm dying to see what's wrong with this baby. Shall we go?" 

  "Let's go!" 

  Lu Fei was equally intrigued by this strange case. Before leaving, he packed his things and decided to bring along the black Huangquan Umbrella. 

  It was a powerful tool he needed to familiarize himself with. As the saying goes, mastering more skills never hurts, and the same applies to having more tools. 

  He locked up the pawnshop and hung the "Call If Needed" sign on the door before heading out with Chen Jinfa. 

  "By the way, Brother Lu, how should I handle the sharp-cornered evil at the mall?" 

  "Simple. Set up a small green area in front of the mall and bury four stabilizing stones in it, pointing toward the sharp corner. That will neutralize the evil energy." 

  "Great! I'll arrange that right away... By the way, what do you usually do for fun, Brother Lu?" 

  "Nothing special. I just read books and play some games." 

  "Ah, young people shouldn't live such a boring life. Come hang out with me more often..." 

  Chen Jinfa was quite chatty, keeping up a lively conversation about various topics during the entire drive. 

  An hour later, they arrived at a grand European-style villa. 

  Surrounded by lush gardens and tall trees, the place was serene and beautiful. On the lawn, a few pedigree dogs frolicked, but the tightly shut windows on the third floor gave off an ominous vibe. 

  "Brother Lu, we're here." 

  Chen Jinfa opened the car door and led Lu Fei into the luxurious and spacious living room. 

  "Ah Hao! Ah Hao!" 

  Under a giant crystal chandelier sparkling with brilliance, a man sat on an Italian leather sofa, flanked by two maids. 

  "Ah Hao, I've brought the expert here! Aren't you coming to greet us?" 

  Chen Jinfa strode over and slapped the man's shoulder in a familiar manner, but the man dodged to the side. 

  "You're not Ah Hao!" 

  Chen Jinfa exclaimed in surprise. 

  The man turned around and stood up. He was dressed in white and looked equally startled to see Chen Jinfa. 

  "Who are you?" 

  At that moment, Lu Fei and Tiger also walked over. When they saw the man in white, they froze. 

  "You're here too?" 

  "What are you doing here?" 

  The man in white gaped. 

  Chen Jinfa glanced between the two of them. "Brother Lu, you know him?" 

  "Yes," Lu Fei nodded. 

  The man was Jing Jian, a rogue cultivator who had visited Lu Fei a few days earlier. 

  "Shopkeeper Lu, what brings you here?" Jing Jian asked, frowning slightly. 

  "I'm here with a friend," Lu Fei said with a calm smile. 

  "That's right. Shopkeeper Lu is here to help Ah Hao. Who are you?" Chen Jinfa asked, sizing Jing Jian up. 

  "I'm Xiaoya's friend!" Jing Jian puffed out his chest, refusing to back down. "She invited me here!" 

  "Xiaoya? That's Ah Hao's wife!" Chen Jinfa frowned, clearly displeased. "If he already hired someone, why didn't he tell me? I'll go have a word with him!" 

  He stormed toward the spiral staircase, but just then, a stocky middle-aged man with a large head and thick neck descended the stairs. 

  Short and round like a winter melon, he shared Chen Jinfa's rough demeanor. Despite his expensive attire, he exuded an unmistakable air of crudeness. 

  "Brother Jinfa, why didn't you tell me you were coming?" 

  "Ah Hao, what's the meaning of this? You hired someone and didn't say a word to me? I even brought an expert to help you!" Chen Jinfa huffed. 

  "You mean him?" Jiang Hao glanced at Jing Jian, his face twisting with disdain and annoyance. "I didn't invite him. He's some bumpkin from Xiaoya's hometown that she insisted on bringing. If she weren't recovering from childbirth, I'd have kicked him out by now. Don't bother with him. Where's your expert?" 

  Chen Jinfa led him over to Lu Fei. 

  "This is him, the renowned shopkeeper of the Evil Pawnshop, Lu Fei." 

  "The Evil Pawnshop?" Jiang Hao's eyes lit up at the name but clouded with doubt when he saw Lu Fei's youthful appearance. "Shopkeeper Lu, a pleasure to meet you. I didn't expect you to be so young." 

  "Brother Hao, nice to meet you," Lu Fei replied politely, maintaining his composure. 

  "Age doesn't determine ability!" Chen Jinfa interjected. "Didn't we all start young? My construction site's troubles were all resolved thanks to Shopkeeper Lu! Now, let him take a look at your... uh, your adorable child and figure out what's wrong!" 

  "Alright, I'll trouble you then, Shopkeeper Lu." 

  Convinced by Chen Jinfa's confidence, Jiang Hao led them upstairs. Jing Jian, thick-skinned, tried to follow, but Jiang Hao slammed the door in his face. 

  Inside the baby's room, the decor was charmingly pink, with a princess-style crib surrounded by plush toys. 

  Jiang Hao, his expression conflicted, pointed at the crib. "Brother Jinfa, Shopkeeper Lu, no matter what you see, I ask that you don't let it leave this room. My reputation is at stake." 

  "Brother Jinfa's character is beyond reproach," Chen Jinfa said impatiently as he approached the crib. 

  One glance, and his expression shifted to shock and confusion. 

  "This child..." 

  Lu Fei, trying to stay respectful, curiously stepped closer. 

  The baby in the crib had a normal body and limbs, but its face was grotesque. 

  The skin was covered in white fur, the nose was black, and the large floppy ears drooped like an animal's.