Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Wu Heng was certain that He Yunxiao was sneering on the other side of the camera.

The little white snake was still a bit worried: 'What if... I can't suppress it?'

Wu Heng: '...I can help you.'

Seeing Wu Heng's exasperated and frustrated expression, the little white snake got excited and immediately said, 'I'll go then.'

Xi Xi thought it was brave of her big brother to agree to go despite the tough decision, so she cheered him on: 'I'll go with big brother, Xi Xi will protect big brother.'

He Yunxiao, on the other end, frowned deeply, thinking his snake daughter was perfect in every way except for her excessive tolerance, then he heard Xi Xi praise: 'Big brother, you are such a good snake.'

Even though there was the idea that taking risks could lead to new territory, it was ultimately for the sake of those innocent schoolmates at Dad's school, so big brother is indeed a good snake.

The little white snake was confused: 'Huh?'

What good snake? Why does this sound a bit off?

Wu Heng and Zhou Yi burst out laughing.

Well, the 'good snake' card has already been handed out.

"Wait, are they chatting? Why does it seem like Wu Heng and the others are talking to two pet snakes?"

"I think Dr. Wu must understand what the snakes are saying, those who have pets at home really envy this skill."

"I just saw Wu Heng prescribing medicine for the black panther, I found out he can also double as a shaman veterinarian."

Once the little white snake was convinced, Wu Heng composed himself and looked at the anxious principal and others on the other side of the camera, saying, "As for dispersing the mist from the well, I have a solution, and it will be carried out together with the village exorcism meeting."

The members of the mystical sect exchanged knowing glances.

These are skills passed down or taught for making a living, and it's impossible to reveal them to outsiders.

"So it has to wait until tomorrow?" Some parents watching the live stream asked, clearly upset.

They couldn't see what was going on inside the school, only that the principal had invited a bunch of Taoist priests, and even the police had arrived without driving away these mystical priests, instead quietly setting up isolation barriers.

It must be really dangerous inside, and their children are in more danger the longer they stay, perhaps even coming back as fools.

Some overwhelmed parents immediately regretted it, slapping themselves in the face, wondering why they were still hesitating about whether this shaman could do it, if they had rushed to connect, maybe their child would be awake by now.

"Dr. Wu, when the time comes, make sure those evil spirits are wiped out!" A parent cried out in a curse.

Wu Heng reassured them, "They're not that bad."

Those highly educated teachers cherish their students dearly.

As soon as he said 'they,' the parents burst into tears again. Indeed, something this big couldn't be caused by just one, but many.

"I'm not leaving; I'll sleep in my car at the school gate tonight!" A parent wiped away tears and made a decision.

This decision was agreed upon by many parents, and the police immediately stepped forward to disperse them, as the mist's spread was unknown, and staying outside the school was not safe, it had to be left to the police.

The parents had no choice but to stay at nearby hotels for the night. Knowing that their children's souls had gone to the school, being closer to the school made them feel more at ease.

As they watched the crying parents leave, the Wang family of three finally realized the value of reaching out to Wu Heng for help earlier.

"Dr. Wu, we're signing off now," said Mr. Wang, sending several more gifts to Wu Heng and becoming the top contributor of the night.

The family got into the car, with Wang Pengzheng sitting in the back holding the black dog, stroking its head and sighing, "Godfather, since I was the one who had you neutered, I promise to take care of you in your old age."

The black dog glared: "Bark bark bark!"

Sitting in the passenger seat, Mrs. Wang scolded, "Stop saying things that tug at the heartstrings."

Well, the black dog's status at home was definitely going to surpass his now.

-

After ending the call, Wu Heng quickly glanced through the list of connection requests, somewhat surprised not to see the ID "Nails Taller Than the Sky."

"Where is the patient with the crazy nail growth? Not returning for a follow-up?" Wu Heng asked in the live stream.

The administrator, He Yunxiao, also quickly checked the list of connection requests and indeed didn't see this patient, wondering if they had gone to bed because it was too late.

"Nails Taller Than the Sky (Follow-up): Dr. Wu, the students at the school are more important. You should concentrate on preparing for the village exorcism ceremony."

"This uncle is quite understanding. I also think those unfortunate students are more urgent. Dr. Wu, you should rest tonight."

"Can Hengbao find some time to sell those cloth masks? I will definitely buy them."

"This uncle doesn't seem to be in a hurry, probably not a serious illness, right?"

"If I were this uncle, I wouldn't seek treatment. Getting a beautiful manicure every day would make me happy."

"This uncle is quite kind-hearted. From his videos, it looks like he picked up a dog? A bit cute."

Many netizens clicked on the uncle's profile and found that he was a man who loved life. Last night, he posted a new video.

It seemed to be filmed while lying on the ground, the camera pointing at something hiding deep under the bed. It wasn't clear, but a pair of bright eyes could be seen staring at the camera. The uncle was quite puzzled in the video, asking, "Folks, it looks like a Samoyed has wandered into my house. Whose lost dog is this?"

"Recently, there have been black bears around our village. It's risky to let this chubby dog out. But why doesn't it eat rice? Does it require dog food?"

Because he had connected with Wu Heng, he also gained quite a bit of traffic. There were hundreds of comments in the section offering advice, and it was quite harmonious.

"Wu Heng, about the rehearsal for the village exorcism ceremony tonight..." Village Chief Zhou Dagui hurriedly walked in, seeing Wu Heng live streaming, he immediately stood straight and reflexively straightened his clothes, carrying the heavy burden of being the village chief.

The old village chief nervously waved, "Hello, everyone."

Seeing this, Wu Heng smiled at the camera and said, "See you tomorrow."

"Wu Heng, the lead dancer nearly fell off the bridge tonight and developed a high fever upon returning. What's going on?"

Wu Heng took a sip of water and said, "They were fooling around in front of the gods, and the exorcism deity gave them a small warning."

If it weren't for the fact that these people grew up drinking the water of the exorcism river, it wouldn't be as simple as a few days of fever.

It's proper to hold a sense of reverence for the gods.

"So you'll still be the lead dancer for the village exorcism ceremony tomorrow," the village chief said happily, then remembered the video he had seen of Wu Heng dancing the shaman dance, which was quite different from the village exorcism ceremony. He was worried the young guys couldn't keep up.

Wu Heng seemed to know what the old man was thinking and said, "The dance steps are merely an evolved form of expression. What truly matters in exorcising evil and inviting blessings is the collective positive energy of the people."

Hearing this, Zhou Dagui finally left with peace of mind.

As the Chengde Medical Hall was closing, Wu Heng gathered his things and escorted Shi Xuan and Chen Zhao to the guest rooms on the second floor.

The guest room contained only a simple small bed, a desk, and a wooden wardrobe. Wu Heng was aware that Chen Zhao didn't mind living under a bridge, so he only looked at Shi Xuan and said, "It's a small rural place. You'll have to make do for two nights."

Shi Xuan glanced at Wu Heng's bedroom diagonally across and softly asked, "Am I only allowed to stay for two nights?"

His gaze fell on Wu Heng's fair and delicate face, clean and clear, but Wu Heng seemed to understand the deeper meaning in his words, "Once you go back to school, you might not be able to come over easily using the well."

"Godfather, who’s going to the school to show the dam movie?" Xi Xi suddenly asked, tilting her head.

The little white snake immediately retracted its head and said repeatedly, "I’m too busy dispersing the fog to split myself… Wow, I’ve learned an idiom! Teacher Yang would be proud!"

Jiaming No.1 High School is sealed off, and it’s easy for the living to get trapped in a ghost realm if they enter. No one dares to go in alone, let alone screen movies for the ghosts and spirits.

Chen Zhao, standing nearby, said painfully, "I could actually do this job and would be willing to, but there’s just not enough time."

Chen Zhao is now well-off, but he still can't shake off his habit of being money-minded. He’s always been willing to risk his life for money, but unfortunately, time’s just not on his side.

Shi Xuan looked at Wu Heng and said, "I’ll do it."

Wu Heng suddenly looked up, meeting Shi Xuan’s intense gaze. In the exchange of glances, Wu Heng instantly understood the hidden meaning in Shi Xuan's eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.

Others thought Shi Xuan was just a caring, good-hearted citizen concerned about his schoolmates, but in fact, he was vying for a chance to share a room with him in the future!

Proving he’s capable of commuting over three thousand kilometers.

He’s planning to stay at Chengde Medical Hall for more than just a few nights.

He was practically spelling it out.

Wu Heng's cheeks warmed as he said, "Then make a temporary certificate, burn it, and write ‘Teacher Shi from the Cultural Propaganda Department of Jiaming High School’ on it."

Zhou Yi, standing nearby, was startled, "Jiaming High School?"

Zhou Yi had heard that the current Jiaming No.1 High School was rebuilt on the ruins of the old Jiaming High School...

Shi Xuan grabbed some yellow paper and cinnabar, wrote what Wu Heng told him, and burned it. In his hand appeared a black, work ID-like certificate, something Wu Heng and the others were familiar with.

Chen Zhao, seeing this, was envious, "Damn, you can get fake certificates approved on the spot down there? Are the people stamping them in the underworld just temp workers sleeping on the job?"

If this could be used to make money, Chen Zhao couldn't even imagine.

Chen Zhao immediately knelt and said, "Dr. Wu, can’t I really switch mentors? I know it’s shameful, but I could bring my master with me to join your school!"

Wu Heng: "..."

This guy just takes and takes!

-

With all the entertainment options these days, few young people care about folk activities like the village exorcism festival, but this time it was unprecedentedly lively.

Early that morning, the Village Chief had splurged on several drones flying overhead, and the provincial media was set to broadcast live.

Tourists in local ethnic outfits were snapping photos by the streets, lining up to receive the morning offerings at the Exorcism Temple.

Wu Heng knelt inside the Exorcism Temple, painting bright pigments on himself. Ancient symbols covered his face, arms, and even his chest.

After nearly falling off the bridge the night before, a group of young men were behaving much more obediently. They lined up as instructed by Wu Heng to have mysterious symbolic tattoos drawn on their bodies.

The village picked the fattest, loudest rooster, and its most colorful feather was placed in Wu Heng’s hair accessory, making it stand out.

"Come on, let Wu Heng dot the eyes for everyone," old lady Lai said, handing him a steaming bowl of chicken blood.

Different places have different customs, and they can vary from one mountain to the next. The village exorcism festival of the Exorcism River's eighteen villages still tends to be primitive, requiring the village's spiritual shaman priests to dot the eyes of the exorcism dancers.

It is said that dotting the eyes can reveal ghosts and spirits, while the divine Nuo Masks aid in swiftly exorcising evil.

The crowd looked somewhat surprised by old lady Lai, but Wu Heng took the bowl of chicken blood. Back in ancient times, only an exceptional shaman could perform the eye-dotting in sacrificial rituals.

Wu Heng lightly dipped his left index finger in the chicken blood and made a symbolic dot on his forehead without actually applying the blood. Once everything was completed, everyone knelt and bowed in the Nuo Temple.

Wu Heng leaned against the window, pulled out his phone, and watched the screen flicker occasionally as he touched it. Finally, he made a call.

"Shi Xuan, if you're sure you don't want me to see you off, take a leaf I placed on the clinic counter. It has my shamanic power on it."

Shi Xuan saw the gray and white snakes skillfully pick up a leaf and asked with a light laugh, "Worried I'll get lost again?"

Wu Heng said, "I'm afraid you'll be covered in wounds again."

There was a brief silence, as if offering gentle reassurance: "Don't be afraid."

The call ended, and the Village Nuo Festival officially began.

Outside, the cheers of tourists echoed. The young men, inexperienced in such grand events, nervously rubbed their hands, took a deep breath, donned their masks, and set off from the Nuo Temple.

The moment they stepped out, they were greeted by the sight of the Nuo River teeming with tourists. Visitors from all over the country cheered, drones flew overhead, and media cameras were aimed at them.

The Flag Team led the way with colorful banners, accompanied by the resounding clash of gongs and drums. The Nuo dancers, dressed in vibrant costumes, moved out. Wu Heng stood at the center, the colorful rooster feather atop his head gleaming in the sunlight. He moved with the natural grace of his flexible body, displaying exceptional agility.

The young men from various villages, initially nervous, quickly found their rhythm after witnessing Wu Heng's effortless movements.

The most primal human movements were on full display, with powerful muscles showcasing unmatched strength and beauty.

Wu Heng leaped onto the wooden bridge spanning the Nuo River, the iron chains creaking and swaying beneath him.

Su Chenyu, who had just arrived, felt his heart leap into his throat. Wasn't there a mishap during last night's rehearsal here?

Su Chenyu fingered the fish scale necklace around his neck and gazed at the churning Nuo River with little fear.

"If we fall again this time, then last night's rehearsal wasn't the Nuo God's anger, but simply a lack of proper safety measures in this small place. Everyone should avoid visiting here."

"Be careful with your words, really."

"Wow, Wu Heng is an amazing dancer, he's practically a god."

"The first time he danced the shamanic dance for He Yunxiao to deal with the snake fetus, I thought it was beautiful. Today, it's a different kind of beauty."

The Village Nuo team, made up of over eighty energetic young men, danced with solemn grace, yet brimming with vitality.

An indescribable sense of righteousness enveloped them.

This was truly a feast!

-

Shi Xuan climbed out of the misty well and checked the time on his phone. Only five minutes had passed since he left the east side of Nan Nuo Village. The little gray and white snakes still hadn't arrived.

Once familiar, twice easy. This time, he didn't get lost, though Shi Xuan didn't understand why he could also travel through wells.

He could hear the sirens and knew the area was already surrounded.

Shi Xuan didn't wait for the two snakes. He was familiar with the back mountain and quickly made his way to the high wall of the school, easily climbing over it.

Parents of the students, who had been awake all night, arrived early at the school gate, their hearts filled with unease as they looked at the still misty, even thicker, school grounds.

While the highly anticipated Village Nuo Festival in Nan Nuo Village had already begun, there was no movement here at all.

"Dr. Wu suggested showing a movie, but who’s going to do it?" a parent asked, getting to the point.

Everyone exchanged glances, unsure who would handle it.

Could this go wrong?

The principal’s heart was also in turmoil. He felt such a big event should be left to official personnel, like the Daoist Physicians from the Xuanmen tradition, but these people were amateurs offering half-baked ideas.

Can we really rely on a minor online shaman?

"Listen, there’s a noise inside!" a parent suddenly exclaimed, straining their ears.

Indeed, strange sounds were coming from inside, though their source was unclear.

"Ahhh, did Hengbao forget who’s supposed to show the movie? I’m switching between two live streams."

"Curious, can an online rural exorcism also ward off evil? If electronic exorcism works, I’ll buy some electronic talismans."

"It should work, right? Online learning really sticks, doesn’t it?"

"I’m a student, that’s the sound of a chair falling… it’s too heavy to move."

A parent, disregarding the cost, flew a drone inside. Perhaps because it was daytime, they managed to capture some brief, lagging footage.

The scene stunned all the parents.

A student’s chair was floating in the black mist, slowly moving toward the playground.

Just as they wanted to see more, the drone’s feed was cut.

A parent muttered, "Could it really be that the children’s spirits are moving their own chairs downstairs to watch the movie?"

Jiaming High School has its own cinema! Why move chairs downstairs?

Some gray shadows were walking briskly through the thick black mist, urging the students, with closed eyes, to carry chairs to the playground.

'This is a learning movie arranged by the higher-ups for everyone. You must watch it carefully,' said a ghost in old-fashioned round glasses and a Zhongshan suit, giving the students a sinister smile.

Movies are a rare treat, especially one arranged by the higher-ups for students to learn from. We should cherish it.

Even their highly educated teachers rarely got to watch a movie. Movies were something from abroad, and now the students could watch one together. It was a good opportunity.

Both teachers and students were filled with anticipation. Everyone arranged their chairs in order, sat down, and focused on the giant screen.

Each person held a pen and a notebook, ready to jot down the key points.

Shi Xuan, a temporary worker from the propaganda department, took out his phone, connected to the ghost network, and projected the live stream onto the screen.

A black-and-white movie appeared, and thunderous applause immediately erupted.

The scene showed a team of people beating drums and leaping forward, crossing the Nuo River wooden bridge, accompanied by a mysterious and melodious tune.

They looked somewhat dazed and bewildered.

'Teacher, what is this about?'

Several teachers stared blankly at the screen. A teacher who had studied folklore deeply said, 'It seems to be a rural exorcism dance.'

The students asked in confusion, 'Who are they exorcising? Do we need to learn this too?'

Several teachers in Zhongshan suits, covered in blood, looked at each other, uncertain. 'It seems… they’re exorcising us?'