The Exorcist

Book 8: Chapter 22: Unexpected Guest

Spring was cold this year. It was almost March but the snow outside was heavier than it had been all winter.

That person seemed to have been walking through the snow for a long time and was covered in snow. Walking into the bar, bringing along a gust of cold wind, the stranger’s intrusion caused everyone to glance towards the door.

He wore a thick padded jacket that made him seem both afraid of the cold and old-fashioned. The jacket’s hood was pulled over his head, and along with the long woolen scarf around his neck, his face was mostly covered, his features hidden. Only a pair of bright eyes were visible.

Somehow, Ruan Zhan suddenly felt the person before them was very familiar. He seemed to be the person he had seen in his father’s vision, the one who drew the glyph in blood on his chest and gave him the crystal dagger. The person his father intentionally hid from him!

“Xiao Xia, come here.”Ruan Zhan was the fastest to react. He took a few steps forward in front of Xiao Xia, who was still staring towards the door in astonishment.

“Who are you?”

Ruan Zhan asked bluntly, and even with a bit of hostility. Yet before that person could respond, Bao Da Tong’s surprised voice rang out:”Dad!”

Could it be Uncle Bao?

Ruan Zhan was stunned and Wan Li shut his file with a snap. Bao Da Tong walked up with some joy and even more reluctance.“Why are you here? Didn’t you go traveling?”

“You’re my son alright. You can even recognize me dressed like this.”Uncle Bao responded without answering.

“I can recognize you even if you’re wrapped up like a rice ball.”Bao Da Tong helped his father take off the scarf, and even exchanged his own running shoes with his father’s soaked ones. Only then could Ruan Zhan and Wan Li recognize Uncle Bao.

“You haven’t answered me. What are you doing here?”

“Is that young lady Ah Zhan’s wife? He’s guarding her like a treasure, and isn’t even letting this elder get a good look at her.”Uncle Bao walked slowly to the middle of the bar, ignoring his son’s question a second time. He examined Xiao Xia who greeted him with a smile. “Hmm, well-defined brows with clear and bright eyes. Definitely a kind, gentle, generous and polite youngster. Ah Zhan, good eye.”

“Old man, why on earth are you here?” The barefooted Bao Da Tong continued asking stubbornly as he followed behind Uncle Bao.

“I was traveling around, so can’t I end up traveling here?”Uncle Bao didn’t look back as he responded to Wan Li’s greetings, and then took out a rope of strange bones which he handed to Xiao Xia.“Uncle here is a country bumpkin who doesn’t have anything good. I made this little trinket myself. You can put it on for fun.”

Xiao Xia received it respectfully and solemnly hung it around her neck. Each bone bead had a strange rune carved upon it which she examined continuously. Seeing that she liked it, Uncle Bao was also very pleased.

“Ah Zhan, not going to give a greeting?”

“Are you him?”Ruan Zhan asked randomly, but he felt Uncle Bao would understand what he meant.

“Our Da Tong should be the one to do such things. Why is it you?”Uncle Bao’s response was even more confusing.

Bao Da Tong lost his patience. “Hey, can you guys stop speaking in riddles? Everyone else is confused here. You should at least mind your surroundings.”

“What I mean is,” Uncle Bao’s eyes remained on Ruan Zhan as he addressed his son.“Asking questions rashly and impatiently is more your style. Ah Zhan has always been a steady and calm child who plans things out. A rare paragon of wisdom. It’s not like him rush straight to the point.”

“Was it you?”Ruan Zhan asked again.

“What if I was an evildoer? Wouldn’t you have just revealed your hand?”

“Man, you’re driving me crazy!”Bao Da Tong yelled, collapsing into a chair. “What on earth are you guys talking about? Was it you what? Just what is it that happened?”

“How could Uncle Bao be an evildoer?”Wan Li said.

“You kids have all gotten worse.”Uncle Bao sighed. “You were such a clever child, and now make a living studying human nature. Why are you regressing as you age?”He pointed at Wan Li. “In this world, anyone can be good, but also anyone can be evil. The line between the two aren’t so clearly defined. Sometimes, what you see with your eyes can be far from the truth.”

“Yet people also have faith. Faith can be the highest truth, and can allow one to discern what’s real.”Wan Li said. “I know Uncle Bao is a good person. This is something I firmly believe.”

“Well said.” Uncle Bao nodded at Wan Li with a smile, and then pointed at Ruan Zhan. “This child doesn’t have faith, though it’s not his fault. No one has ever given him reason to have any.”

“Will this never end? We’re now getting metaphorical?”Bao Da Tong wailed once again. “Let me warn you, if you guys don’t start speaking a normal language that I can understand, don’t blame me if I screw something up later!”

“Let’s speak upstairs. Uncle Bao looks both cold and hungry.”Xiao Xia also didn’t understand the conversation between those three, but had refrained from interrupting all this time. She now took the opportunity to do so. “Bao Da Tong, hurry and take Uncle Bao upstairs for a hot shower. I’ll prepare a bowl of hot soup right away.”She nudged Bao Da Tong, and then said to the two part-timers who had been watching things play out.“The two of you can help me in the kitchen, and then we can close up shop. It’s snowing too hard, so there won’t be any customers. You guys can sleep here for the night and return to campus tomorrow once the snow melts.”

She had subconsciously started acting as the proprietress, successfully ordering all six men of varying ages to disperse according to her instructions.

She heard Uncle Bao praising her behind her back. “Methodical and organized. She’ll make a good wife and mother.”Extremely pleased, she meticulously prepared some hot food for the elder and carried it upstairs.

“If you want to ask a question, provide some information in exchange.”After a hot shower and some food, Uncle Bao looked healthier and more spirited.

When he had first entered the Nocturnal Revenant, his bright eyes made him seem like a wise elder. Yet after he had taken off his jacket, revealing his full appearance, his sharp gaze was purposefully hidden. His appearance made others view him as just an honest old farmer. Only those who knew him would know how elegant his otherworldly demeanor was. Bao Da Tong was still far from matching him in this aspect.

However, he had a very amiable personality: serious, yet also humorous. Bao Da Tong was a little like his father in this respect. Even the way father and son discussed issues was similar. Before getting to the point, they would ask for information in exchange.

Ruan Zhan glanced at Xiao Xia. With her unspoken support, he decided to tell them everything he had previously told Xiao Xia. He hadn’t wanted to involve his friends in this matter, but Uncle Bao’s sudden appearance was too strange. He had no choice but to tell them. Although Xiao Xia was much weaker in terms of power, essentially the difference between heaven and earth, he had gotten used to being mentally bolstered by her during their recent time together.

He slowly recounted everything, his mind completely calm. However, his words were particularly shocking to Wan Li and Bao Da Tong, who didn’t know what to do after listening.

“Uncle Bao, if this is what you wanted from the information exchange, I’ve told you everything. Now, it’s your turn to answer me. Are you that person?”

“You’re impatient again, but it’s understandable. After all, the bond between father and son cannot be controlled.”Uncle Bao nodded. “Yes, the person whose face you couldn’t see in your father’s vision was me. I was also the one who gave him the crystal dagger. He’s giving you hints about the danger during his episode, as well as the importance of the dagger. However, he didn’t want you to come looking for me, so he didn’t let me reveal myself. You father and son are the same in this regard, wanting to carry everything by yourselves without burdening friends.”

Ruan Zhan suddenly understood, and a large weight was dropped from his heart.

He knew he would have to confront his father sooner or later. Therefore, he paid close attention to any clues his father left for him. The mysterious person had always worried him as an unpredictable third party. Now that he found out it was Uncle Bao, there was nothing to worry about anymore.

“You must also have been the one to help my father out of the coffin.”He asked again, and received the same affirmative response. He had previously figured that it had to be someone with profound powers. Who else amongst his acquaintances had powers on his father’s level?

“But what did Uncle Ruan to wrong to end up in such a state that he even needed to drag Ah Zhan into it?”Bao Da Tong turned his head to look at Ruan Zhan.“No offense, but I think uncle is really selfish. He’s the one who screwed up, but is making his son bear the burden. What’s worse is that he actually thought of creating a tool with his own flesh and blood to rid himself of the consequences. That’s too perverse.”

Ruan Zhan remained silent. Although he didn’t like how Bao Da Tong spoke about his father, it was the irrefutable truth. That’s right, did he still count as a father? Why did he love him so much even though he didn’t receive any love in return? Was he really that cruel?

Smack.

The four young people were all startled by the crisp sound. Then came Bao Da Tong’s complaint. “Old man, why did you hit me!”He rubbed the back of his head and sucked in a breath, griping, “And you used so much force. I’m going to get a concussion!”Then he looked at the others pleadingly. “See, this is my life. This is how this old man normally treats me. He lets me loose to graze like a sheep, and randomly ambushes me!”

The three watched in astonishment, none of them knowing what to say.

“I hit you because you were talking nonsense. You’re so sure your Uncle Ruan is a bad person?”Uncle Bao seemed to have really gotten angry. His previous amiable appearance had immediately vanished as he turned into a stern elder. “Do the three of you think the same way?”

Still, no one spoke, but doubt spread within their hearts. What did Uncle Bao mean by this? Could Father Ruan have his own difficulties, just like Ruan Zhan? Did he become like this for some inevitable reason, forcing himself and his son into this situation?

“You can’t be blamed for your thoughts, but now that I know about it, I can’t let you remain in the dark.”Uncle Bao stood up, grabbing a chair to sit by the door. He waved his hand and formed a barrier, indicating for his four juniors to sit in a row on the bed. “I’m going to tell you the ins and outs of this matter. Tian Yi was going to make me swear never to reveal it, because he’s afraid if Ruan Zhan found out it would make it hard to act against him. Therefore, I’ve kept it in for over three decades. Ah Zhan, do you know how much pain you have to endure when dispelling evil aura? So many things, so much evil, he shouldn’t have to bear it alone. I’ve always held some hope of resolving this situation safely. I kept trying to find a good solution. Although I haven’t found it yet, we cannot give up. Tian Yi has said that only a miracle can save Ruan Zhan’s life. I need you guys to understand that miracles don’t drop from the sky. Either you bring one about yourselves, or there won’t be one!”

Ruan Zhan remained silent but his body trembled slightly. It sounded like Uncle Bao was saying his father faced immense difficulties. He understood how hard it was to endure trouble without being able to speak of it. He was willing to give his father the benefit of the doubt for his treatment. It would mean his existence wasn’t meaningless.

Xiao Xia gripped his hand tightly and said to Uncle Bao, “Regardless, it was wrong of him to have Ah Zhan be born like this. People shouldn’t be treated as tools, even if he is his father.”

“Xiao Xia.” Wan Li interrupted. “Those are my thoughts, don’t tell me it’s nonsense.”Little Xia pouted and muttered. With regards to her sweetheart, she would go after anyone who hurt him. Especially since she had been thinking those words for a long time, so she couldn’t help but vent at Uncle Bao.

“Xiao Xia is right.”Uncle Bao didn’t scold her. Tian Yi did not let anyone in the world down, apart from Ah Zhan. But Ah Zhan is his son, and there also isn’t anything wrong with a son helping his father. As the saying goes, a son repays his father’s debts. I know kids these days value independence, but such deeply ingrained values are also not completely wrong. Have you guys heard the saying: those who love most must be without love. Someone who wants to help everyone must possess a lot of love, but will also treat those around him more cruelly in comparison. That’s how it is. Ah Zhan, I hope you can understand. Besides, Tian Yi also failed in this matter. He wasn’t able to remain without love. He loves you extremely much, but he had no other choice. Ah Zhan, are you willing to forgive him, to help him?”

Ruan Zhan nodded solemnly. “If I wasn’t going to help him, I wouldn’t be so troubled. It’s because I have to choose between him and Xiao Xia. As for forgiveness, I’m not sure if I can do it.”

Uncle Bao listened to his honest thoughts and remained silent for a bit. Then he nodded and said,“You really are a good child. Considering the way you were treated, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you couldn’t take it, or even turned out evil. It wasn’t easy for you to still remain so clear-headed.

“But is there really no other way?”Wan Li asked.

Uncle Bao shook his head, his chest filled with frustration. “Over the years, I’ve traveled far and wide, trying to find some spiritual location that could suppress the evil aura. I sought out many hidden Daoists in efforts to research suppressive methods. But alas, I wasn’t able to be of much help. He even managed to do more, since he at least found Ironhead Mountain.

“So the reason you’re often gone, leaving me home alone, was to help Uncle Ruan?”Bao Da Tong asked. “Then I forgive you. It was for the sake of helping your only friend. If it were me, I would also do the same.”

Uncle Bao was gratified at his son’s words. How could he not understand what he owed his son. How could he not have felt heartache? This was something only a father would understand.