Chen Hao answered the call from Zhang Chuiping.

Over the phone, Zhang Chuiping told him that recently, there had been more than a dozen bizarre murder cases in the urban area of J City, with most of the victims being teenagers under sixteen. These cases were deemed bizarre because each victim had died suddenly from cardiac arrest, with no signs of injury or poisoning on their bodies.

The J City police initially thought it was a matter of adolescent mental health issues and didn't investigate further, leaving the matter to the J City Disease Control Center. As the victim count rose, the cases began to draw significant attention from the authorities.

After over a month of investigation and with the number of victims increasing daily, the cases still offered no lead.

In a state of desperation, someone within the police force speculated that these incidents might be connected to the supernatural and sought the help of the Yin Yang Master Association of J City.

Since the matter had already incited panic among many parents, the president of the J City Yin Yang Master Association had no choice but to step forward, leading several high-mana Onmyoji in the association to investigate. However, even after half a month, the president of the association had not identified the culprit.

Just over an hour before Chen Hao and his team arrived in J City, another child, aged nine, had died suddenly at home.

Therefore, Zhang Chuiping's call to Chen Hao was a plea for help with the investigation.

Although he was planning to go into seclusion tomorrow, Chen Hao agreed to Zhang Chuiping's request on the spot. He believed that even in his absence, Ye Yuqiao, Xie Xiaofeng, and Tang Jing would be capable of resolving the matter.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Hao told Ye Yuqiao, Xie Xiaofeng, and Tang Jing about the situation.

Hearing Chen Hao's explanation, Xie Xiaofeng, full of confidence, laughed and said, "You bastard, just focus on your secluded cultivation. We three will take care of this mission."

"You guys need to be careful, though!" Chen Hao laughed, then said in a leader's tone, "Don't forget you're representing me, Chen Hao. Make sure you do a good job! Don't dishonor me."

Xie Xiaofeng scoffed with disdain and, looking at Chen Hao in the rearview mirror, flipped him the middle finger.

Half an hour later, Xie Xiaofeng drove to the Yin Yang Master Association of J City.

As soon as the car stopped, Lu Yuan, the president of the J City Yin Yang Master Association, along with two Onmyoji, came out to greet them.

In the world of Onmyoji in the East Country, everyone knew the Exorcism Special Vehicle driven by Chen Hao and his team.

As soon as Chen Hao got out of the car, Lu Yuan excitedly said to him, "Chen Hao, we've finally been looking forward to your arrival!"

Although Lu Yuan remembered Chen Hao from the Onmyoji conference of the East Country two months ago, Chen Hao did not remember him; he only just learned his name was Lu Yuan from Zhang Chuiping.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Hao and his party were invited into the J City Yin Yang Master Association. Then, Lu Yuan shared with Chen Hao a major discovery they had made in the past twenty or so days: every teenage victim shared a common trait, they all had exceptional academic achievements.

In other words, each of them was a high-achieving student.

"If all the kids who died were top students, then it must have been the underachievers who became murderers," Xie Xiaofeng casually remarked.

He spoke thoughtlessly, more in jest than in seriousness.

However, his words caught Chen Hao's attention. After thinking for a few seconds, he looked at Xie Xiaofeng gravely and said, "You might be right."

Xie Xiaofeng was surprised, looking quite taken aback.

"We've also considered this possibility," Lu Yuan said with a sigh. "Within these four months, there was indeed an eleven-year-old child in our city who hanged himself due to the unbearable pressure of his studies."

Hearing this, Chen Hao, Ye Yuqiao, Xie Xiaofeng, and Tang Jing all felt chills and sorrow for the tragedy.

"What happened next?"

"Afterward, we visited the child's home. His family was completely destroyed. His mother went mad from the shock, and his father disappeared."

"What about the child's Yin Soul? He hanged himself, so naturally, he would become a fierce ghost after death."

"We couldn't find it!" Lu Yuan shook his head, "We searched everywhere for half a month but couldn't find his Yin Soul. It might have been devoured by an evil ghost, or it might have hidden in a common household, or possibly drifted off to some other place."

"Was his father found?" Tang Jing asked, "Didn't his mother go insane? His father wouldn't be planning to abandon her, would he?"

"He was found," Lu Yuan's expression grew increasingly grave, "His father did indeed want to divorce his mother, blaming her for giving the child too much pressure while he was alive, which drove him to his death. Later, the court rejected his father's divorce request on the grounds that his mother was ill. Two days later, his father also hanged himself at home."

Upon hearing this, Chen Hao and the three others were shocked, each with a heavy expression.

"And after that?"

"After that, we performed a rite for his father's Yin Soul, and his mother was admitted to a psychiatric hospital."

"Which psychiatric hospital?"

"In East Town."

...

The night was deep.

Inside a hotel room.

Chen Hao was still pondering the bizarre case and the unfortunate family, while Ye Yuqiao was sinking into the sadness of having to part with Chen Hao the next day.

"Yuqiao, do you think that child who hanged himself could be the assassin?"

After a long while, seeing that Ye Yuqiao didn't respond, Chen Hao brought his face close to the bed-bound Ye Yuqiao. He originally thought she was asleep, but Ye Yuqiao's eyes were wide open, somewhat dull, somewhat vacant, and somewhat sad.

"Yuqiao, can't you bear to part with me?" Chen Hao asked softly, "How about you join me in seclusion for cultivation, or maybe I won't go into seclusion after all."

"Nonsense!" Ye Yuqiao immediately replied, her voice somewhat hoarse, "Since it's called seclusion for cultivation, how can I join you? Sigh!"

With a sigh, Ye Yuqiao opened her arms and embraced Chen Hao, then said, "Last time in Rainbow Paradise, we were apart for a full twenty days. This time, it might be even longer. Every time you're not by my side, I feel uneasy in my heart."

"Can't we communicate over long distances through the Nether King's Heart?" Chen Hao said, "Don't worry! If you ever encounter any danger, tell me, and I'll rush over to save you."

"Yes!" Ye Yuqiao twisted her lips bitterly, "To avoid disturbing your seclusion, I definitely won't let myself fall into danger."

"If you miss me too much, come and disturb me. Many times, I need to know that there's someone like you in this world who cares about me!"

...

The next day.

The sky was somewhat overcast.

First thing in the morning, Chen Hao and his companions arrived at the Yang Wood Forest in East Town.

After a long embrace with Ye Yuqiao, Chen Hao said goodbye to Ye Yuqiao, Xie Xiaofeng, and Tang Jing, and entered the Yang Wood Forest alone.

Meanwhile, Ye Yuqiao, Xie Xiaofeng, and Tang Jing headed towards the psychiatric hospital in East Town.

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