07 At Ease in Reincarnation

The moonlight was dim, and the night breeze was cold. Han Ling and Leander stepped out of the living room and walked to the front entrance. Tonight, he was determined to retrieve the two mutilated corpses and put an end to this malicious, grudge-filled conspiracy.

Leander stood by the doorway, one hand in his pocket, waiting for Han Ling to finish calculating the exact positions. He raised a brow at him. "Done?"

Han Ling nodded, his tone calm yet firm, leaving no room for doubt. "The body parts are around the An family estate. But the heads… I'll need their names and birth dates."

He lowered his gaze to the ghost he had just released from the sachet.

"Your name and birth date. Speak."

The resentful ghost of the female college student choked on her sobs as she answered, "M-my name is Ellie… I-I don't know my birth characters… sob…"

"Your date of birth is fine too."

"I was born on June 29, year 34535…"

Han Ling closed his eyes lightly, a wisp of divine sense spiraling around his fingertips as he felt a faint response somewhere. He opened his eyes and said, "It's not quite a full eight characters, but it's enough. Her head is slightly to the north."

As for the baby girl, she had no name, no known birth date. Han Ling looked at the baby's broken spirit, took a thin golden needle from his sleeve, and pricked a thread of the baby spirit's essence. A vague shadow appeared in the blood light. Han Ling murmured softly, "To the east, then."

One to the north, one to the east — diametrically opposed. He withdrew his gaze and said to Leander, "We'll have to go to both places for the heads. Can you handle it?"

Earlier, when entering the An residence, Han Ling had sent the butler home. He wasn't sure if Leander could take him there.

Leander raised his brows, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I have a friend familiar with this kind of work. I'll have him handle it. We'll meet up with him after we're done here."

Han Ling gave a slight nod. "I don't like owing favors. But if the person you found is reliable, I'll agree for now."

The An family was no longer of any help. Han Ling followed An Yan's lead to fetch an empty suitcase, brought his spirit sword, and with Leander beside him, set out on this bone-chilling journey of corpse retrieval.

---

In the dead of night, the An family's backyard was silent. Han Ling stood in the overgrown weeds, a slip of white paper between his fingers, muttering under his breath as his eyes glowed faintly. Gradually, the aura buried in the earth revealed itself; strands of resentment seeped through the cracks in the soil, weaving into a simple yet vicious formation.

"Just as I thought… not random at all. They used the corpses as the array's core." He frowned slightly.

This cruel method — burying body parts at the formation points to lay a yin array — would sap the family's fortune and health over time, eventually claiming lives. Yet… the array itself was crude, clearly arranged in a hurry, as if the perpetrator couldn't wait to wipe out the An family completely. Otherwise, the cursed sachet wouldn't have appeared so soon.

Understanding the malice behind it only deepened Han Ling's disdain. He drew his spirit brush, sketched a few talismans on the ground to break the array, then dug up the loose soil by hand. Piece by bloodstained piece, he carefully retrieved the mutilated remains and placed them into the suitcase. He repeated the same process at each formation point.

The stench of rotting flesh was sickening, but Han Ling simply waved a sealing charm over the suitcase, ensuring not a trace of odor escaped. He put away the talismans, glanced at the night sky, and said coldly, "It's done here."

When he closed the suitcase, An Yan approached with reddened eyes, handing him a thick envelope and choking back tears. "This is your payment… Thank you for saving our family."

Han Ling shook his head. "Your family's fortune has already been damaged. These two weeks are just the beginning. If you don't resolve it soon, it will only get worse — and could even cost lives."

"Donate the payment to a charity. Especially for children who've lost their parents or abducted girls. Consider it an offering to accumulate merit. And remember: go to the temple twice a month to give thanks, for at least a year. Preferably, make it a lifelong habit. Otherwise… your family's fortune will never recover to what it once was."

An Yan and his family nodded profusely, tears streaming down their faces in gratitude.

---

Meanwhile, Leander drove the black shuttlecraft from the landing pad over to them. Seeing Leander piloting a sleek, cold-looking black ship, Han Ling raised a brow — once this was over, he was going to have his butler buy him one.

In the end, Leander loaded Han Ling and the suitcase onboard and headed to the special department's rendezvous point.

The shuttle was quiet, the soft glow of the dashboard lights illuminating their faces. Halfway there, Leander glanced sideways at Han Ling, the corner of his elegant mouth curling up. "That look in your eyes back in the yard… rather frightening."

Han Ling cast him a sidelong glance, his tone mocking yet sharp as a blade. "What, did you think I was here to do charity work?"

They exchanged looks and both let out a soft laugh. In that silent exchange, an unspoken, inexplicable understanding lingered between them.

The shuttle finally stopped at a cordoned-off construction site, surrounded by police cars, forensics vans, and several black-uniformed agents working on scene. Among them, a few emitted a faint golden glow — the mark of those with deep merit and rare fate.

Han Ling took one look, slightly surprised, and murmured to himself, "So they really are… colleagues."

Leander smiled faintly, parking the shuttle, then said, "My friend's here."

From the group of black-clad agents, a stern, handsome man with an air of authority stepped forward and extended his hand. "Hang Zhongxuan, Director of the Special Department."

Han Ling raised his hand, icy fingertips meeting his, and replied calmly, "Han Ling."

Hang Zhongxuan's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he nodded. "What's the situation?"

Han Ling tilted his head toward the suitcase and began speaking unhurriedly. "Someone used the corpses of a college girl and a stillborn baby to perform dark arts — dismembering, extracting souls, and trapping them in cursed sachets. They were forced to watch as their own remains were desecrated, their resentment deepening."

"As for the heads…" He looked at Leander. "Didn't you say someone went to retrieve them?"

Leander smiled, raising a hand. "Both north and east — already brought back."

Hang Zhongxuan nodded, then ordered the forensic team, "Begin reconstruction."

The forensic agents opened the suitcase, carefully laying the broken remains out on a white sheet, preparing to sew them back together.

But Han Ling frowned at the sight, muttering softly, "Too slow. Troublesome."

He stepped forward, pinched a talisman between his fingers, and pressed it onto Ellie's head. Chanting quickly, a flash of white light burst forth — and the body pieces, as if guided by invisible hands, assembled, reshaped, and restored themselves into a whole. Even the bloodstains and torn flesh vanished, leaving her looking as if she were alive once more.

Silence fell over the entire scene as everyone watched in stunned awe at the miracle unfolding before them.

Hang Zhongxuan's expression darkened. He looked deeply at Han Ling and asked in a low voice,

"Where… did you learn this method?"

Han Ling thought for a moment about how to answer. Back in the sect, he had seen too many disciples being reborn with broken bodies and incomplete souls. Unable to bear it, he once asked the Grand Elder if there was a secret art that could repair shattered bodies and complete a soul before reincarnation. The Grand Elder only looked at him quietly before tossing him an ancient book to figure it out himself…

"I learned it from the elders at home," he finally replied.

From the sachet, Han Ling released the souls of Ellie and the baby. He said softly,

"The bodies have been recovered."

He looked at Ellie and the baby's spirit, his tone gentle.

"You can reincarnate now. Rest easy."

With a wave of his hand, two white talismans inscribed with crossing-over sigils burst into flames.

Ellie had a name, so the incantation included it. The baby did not, so it was simply called Nameless Infant Spirit.

As the talismans burned out, the figures of the underworld messengers appeared again. They nodded at Han Ling, smiles of approval on their faces.

At that moment, Ellie's ghost slowly became whole. The tattered, disfigured face was washed clean by light, revealing a vibrant, youthful visage. Her long golden curls swayed in the wind, and she now wore her favorite dress from when she was alive.

Ellie's eyes reddened and she whispered,

"I still… can't stop worrying about my parents… afraid they won't be able to find me…"

Hang Zhongxuan spoke up,

"I'll handle it personally. I'll tell them the truth."

Ellie looked at him, finally letting go. She gave Han Ling a deep bow.

The infant spirit too was wrapped in light, clothed now in a tiny hospital gown, its chubby little hand waving at Han Ling.

Han Ling smiled faintly at them.

"Go on. Be reborn into a good family. The suffering of this life ends here."

As the underworld messengers led them away, he added softly,

"Don't linger anymore. May your next lives be kind to you."

Ellie and the baby smiled happily as their forms slowly faded.

The night remained dark, the wind grew colder, yet no one at the scene flinched.

After the two spirits vanished, the oppressive yin energy in the air gradually dispersed, and the heavy, suffocating atmosphere eased. Someone quietly exhaled and wiped the cold sweat from his brow, murmuring,

"It's… finally over, right?"

Han Ling didn't answer. He looked down at the now-empty sachet and brushed the ashes of the two crossed-over souls onto the ground.

"Only here is finished. The one behind it all… is still at large."

Hang Zhongxuan's face hardened at that, and he nodded gravely. He turned to the police and medics behind him and ordered,

"Clean this place up. Take the bodies back to the coroner. Lock down the scene. I want every detail of the evidence… on my desk tomorrow."

They quickly obeyed, not daring to delay. Han Ling's ritual had shaken everyone—even the seasoned agents of the special department no longer dared underestimate him.

Leander stood not far away, arms crossed, a faint, ambiguous smile on his lips. When Han Ling glanced at him, he raised an eyebrow and said quietly,

"What, still thinking about the mastermind?"

Han Ling lowered his gaze, his eyes cold.

"Anyone who dares to use infant spirits and vengeful ghosts in their spells… is no decent person. He didn't show himself this time, too eager to harm others, and left flaws. But… he'll strike again."

Leander shrugged.

"So what are you going to do?"

Han Ling replied blandly,

"Don't know. Depends on how things develop."

Hang Zhongxuan came over, his gaze steady as it swept over the two of them. He said to Han Ling,

"Thank you for stepping in this time. Otherwise… the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Han Ling only nodded slightly.

"The victims are your concern. I won't interfere. But this array—I broke it. I hope you catch the real culprit. I've already placed a tracking spell on someone possibly connected to this case. You can follow him and investigate."

Hang Zhongxuan paused, looked at Han Ling meaningfully, and smiled faintly.

"Looks to me like you might as well handle the investigation yourself. Things haven't been very peaceful lately; we probably won't have much energy to pursue it."

Han Ling said nothing, as if he hadn't heard.

Then Hang Zhongxuan turned to Leander, a trace of teasing in his tone.

"Your friend here is… quite interesting."

Leander smirked and replied with a half-laugh,

"Thanks for the compliment."

The subtle mutual understanding and veiled tension between them made Han Ling glance at them briefly, but he said nothing.

---

Once the body parts were loaded onto the coroner's vehicle, the site finally quieted down. The cleanup was nearly complete, and dawn was just beginning to break.

Hang Zhongxuan finally walked up to Han Ling and handed him a business card.

"If you run into more trouble later, you can come to me."

Han Ling glanced at it and replied,

"Got it."

He stuffed the card casually into his pocket without another look and turned toward the parking lot. Leander followed behind him, yawning lazily.

"Let's go, Master Exorcist. We've been at this all night. Time to sleep."

Han Ling didn't comment. He simply opened the ship door and sat inside. The wind outside was bitterly cold. He pushed aside a strand of disheveled black hair, his eyes falling on the ruined construction site in the distance, his gaze dark and unreadable.

The case might be closed for now, but he knew better than anyone—the one pulling the strings was still lurking in the shadows. Such a person, if left alive, would cause endless harm.

Leander set the ship on autopilot toward the Han family grounds and left it at that. He glanced at Han Ling, half-joking:

"I really wonder what someone like you would be like in love."

Han Ling raised an eyebrow, turned his head slightly, and curved his lips into a handsome smile.

"Wanna find out?"

Leander didn't reply but kept his eyes on Han Ling, until Han Ling, uncharacteristically flustered, turned away to look out the window. Even then, he could feel the other man's gaze, making him uneasy.

On his wrist, the sword spirit Xiao Yun buzzed excitedly, clearly enjoying the scene. Annoyed, Han Ling smacked it, finally quieting it down.

---

After Han Ling's ship disappeared into the distance, Hang Zhongxuan stood there, his expression subdued. He held the sealing talisman Han Ling had just used, gently running his fingers over it. A faint glow still clung to the paper, proof of extraordinary skill.

"What a… rare talent," he murmured.

Beside him, his subordinate Cen Wenyu raised an eyebrow and asked in a mild tone,

"Chief, should we look into his background?"

Hang Zhongxuan didn't answer right away. He stared at the brushstrokes on the talisman and replied word by word,

"No need. People like him… best not to let him know we're investigating. Understand?"

Cen Wenyu snorted and walked away. Hang Zhongxuan could only sigh and follow to appease him.

He tucked the talisman away and headed toward his own ship, faintly sensing that a new storm was about to break.

---

Inside the ship, Han Ling leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, fingers idly playing with the now-empty sachet. The resentful energy within it had been completely purified, leaving only scraps of cloth and dried blood.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a near-emptiness, cold and detached.

He had seen too many vengeful spirits like Ellie. Still tormented by pain even in death, unable to reincarnate, trapped.

Every time, he tried to save them. And every time, the heaviness in his chest only grew.

"When will people… stop hurting others?" he murmured softly.

Leander, driving, heard him and glanced sideways, smirking faintly.

"You think you can save them all?"

Han Ling narrowed his eyes.

"If I meet them, of course I'll save one more if I can. Even if I know I'll never save them all… at least there are still laws in this world."

Leander chuckled but said nothing.

On the streets outside, more and more people began to stir as dawn broke.

Han Ling leaned against the window, fingertips still icy. He recalled the moment Ellie and the baby walked toward the underworld messengers, the final, relieved smiles on their faces, and felt something stir in his heart.

Perhaps… he should keep doing this.

Even if it was just one more person, spared a little more suffering.

By the time they neared the Han family's estate, the last of the night was gone. A cat leapt onto a wall, the blackness finally retreating. The morning bells rang faintly in the wind, waking the slumbering city.

He closed his eyes lightly and murmured under his breath:

"May your next lives be smooth and safe."

Leander, who had been listening quietly from the side, simply kept his gaze on Han Ling. He wanted to know—why did Han Ling want to save people? How could he have such a compassionate heart?

"What about An Junhui?" Leander broke the slightly heavy atmosphere.

"Let's see if he makes contact with whoever's behind this. I'm guessing it won't be long before he makes a move."

"I put a tracking spell on the paper figure. As soon as there's movement, it'll notify me."

"…Then… can I come with you when the time comes?"

Leander reached out and tapped Han Ling's earlobe with his finger. Han Ling swatted his hand away, muttering: "Suit… yourself…"

The moment Leander's finger touched his earlobe, Han Ling felt a strange tingling run through his whole body, leaving him a little weak-kneed. He could only slap Leander's hand away to shake off the unfamiliar sensation.

Leander's silver eyes glimmered with delight as he narrowed them playfully.

That evening, Hang Zhongxuan returned to the Special Department headquarters. His office was dimly lit, the scent of sandalwood curling through the air, golden talismans hanging on the wall. On his desk lay a few files—and an anonymous letter.

He sat down, picked up the letter casually, and unfolded it to read.

On the paper was a single, graceful yet chilling line:

"There's a second move. Can you stop it?"

Hang Zhongxuan set the letter down, his gaze growing somber.

It seemed someone had been targeting the An family for a long time—and not just them. This time, they'd used vengeful spirits and infant ghosts as bait, setting up a formation to destroy fortunes and take lives. But the deeper schemes… were still hidden beneath the surface.

He rubbed the sealing talisman between his fingers, but in his mind he saw Han Ling's cool yet resolute eyes.

—If it really came to that, he would probably have to step in again.

At that moment, the door opened and a gentle-looking man stepped inside. He was tall and lean, wearing rimless glasses, his features scholarly and refined.

It was Hang Zhongxuan's partner—the talisman master, Cen Wenyu.

"You're back." Cen Wenyu smiled as he came closer, placing a freshly brewed cup of tea in front of him.

"Is it resolved?" he asked.

Hang Zhongxuan gave a slight nod and handed him the letter. "Not over yet."

Cen Wenyu read the note, his brows furrowing slightly, though his voice remained calm.

"They'll strike again? Is it connected to those other recent cases?"

Hang Zhongxuan replied evenly, "They will. And this won't be the last time. We're still investigating… I can't rule out that it's all the same mastermind."

Cen Wenyu refilled his teacup and said softly, "Don't overwork yourself. Someone's keeping watch on the board, and someone's already working to break it from the shadows. You don't have to carry it all yourself."

Hang Zhongxuan picked up the tea but only stared at the dark liquid in silence. Then he reached out, giving Cen Wenyu's hand a quiet squeeze to let off a bit of his tension. As always—so nice to hold.

"Hang Zhongxuan, that's enough, okay? You're hurting me," Cen Wenyu complained, glaring at him.

Hang Zhongxuan, of course, didn't look the slightest bit afraid.