The room was filled with black smoke, accompanied by wailing sounds that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Wang Huzi asked tremulously, "Ch-Chief Chen, what should we do now?"

In his anxiety, Wang Huzi forgot his agreement with Chen Xiao and addressed him as Chief Chen.

Chen Xiao ignored him, opened the window, and the black smoke drifted out.

Within three or four minutes, all the black smoke had dissipated, and the wailing sounds ceased.

"Alright, it's fine now," Chen Xiao said calmly.

Wang Huzi remained apprehensive and asked hesitantly, "Mr. Chen, is it really okay? There aren't any ghosts left in the house, are there?"

Chen Xiao explained, "I told you, Old Mo was just afflicted by evil. What you saw earlier was just evil qi (energy), which is fundamentally different from ghosts."

If Mo Shi Shou had heard these words ten minutes earlier, he would have scoffed.

But now, they sounded like golden rules, like the very truth!

Xue Shenyi cupped his fist in respect and bowed, saying, "Mr. Chen, your medical skills are extraordinary. I admire you immensely. I apologize for my earlier offenses and hope for your forgiveness."

Xue Shenyi was an upright man. Chen Xiao smiled slightly and said, "It's alright, I didn't take it to heart."

"Mr. Chen, thank you for using your divine skills to exorcise the evil from me. May I ask for your esteemed name?" Old Mo asked with utmost respect.

Those who knew him would be astonished to see him being so respectful to a younger man!

Chen Xiao said, "My surname is Chen, and my given name is Xiao."

Old Mo nodded slightly, but then Mo Shi Shou suddenly froze and exclaimed, "Wait, what did you say your name was?"

"Mo Shi Shou, my name is Chen Xiao," Chen Xiao repeated.

"Everyone heard it clearly, except you. What's wrong with you? Did you stuff chicken feathers in your ears?" Wang Huzi jeered triumphantly.

Chen Xiao's display of divine skills had given him a chance to show off in front of Mo Shi Shou, and he couldn't have been more pleased!

However, Mo Shi Shou unusually ignored Wang Huzi's taunts and instead bowed deeply to Chen Xiao.

"Divine Doctor Chen, please accept my humble bow!"

Chen Xiao was slightly taken aback, wondering if such a grand gesture was necessary.

Wang Huzi was also stunned. Mo Junsheng was known for his integrity.

Despite being the mayor of the city, he hadn't relied on his father at all, climbing up the ladder step by step.

It was truly surprising that he would set aside his pride and bow so deeply to Chen Xiao.

Even Old Mo thought he was going overboard.

However, Mo Shi Shou's next words made Chen Xiao realize the reason.

"Divine Doctor Chen, thank you for saving my son's life. I just returned from out of town and wanted to visit you as soon as possible, but my father was unwell, so I came to see him first. I didn't expect to meet you here. It's such a coincidence!"

Chen Xiao smiled, "So you're that young man's father!"

Chen Xiao had previously saved a young man in the hospital who had been stabbed in the head with an iron skewer. That young man was Mo Shi Shou's only son. That was why Mo Shi Shou bowed so deeply upon hearing Chen Xiao's name.

Mo Shi Shou and Chen Xiao now understood each other, but everyone else was completely bewildered!

Wang Huzi asked, "I say, big brother, what's going on? Do you know Mr. Chen?"

Old Mo also said, "Yes, Junsheng, tell everyone what's going on."

Mo Shi Shou then explained how his son had been injured and saved by Chen Xiao.

Hearing that his beloved grandson had been stabbed in the head, Old Mo was both angry and fearful.

"Thankfully, there was Mr. Chen. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster. Junsheng, you must discipline your son more strictly in the future. Don't let him cause trouble everywhere!"

"Yes, I understand, Dad. I've already confined the boy to his room to reflect on his actions. He has grown a lot from this incident and will likely not make the same mistake again," Mo Shi Shou said.

Old Mo was relieved. "Speaking of which, our whole family owes Mr. Chen a great debt of gratitude. I don't know how to repay it!"

Wang Huzi thought, "Isn't this playing right into our hands? If you don't know, I do!"

He was about to mention the guandao (a type of Chinese pole weapon) when Chen Xiao preempted him, saying, "Old Mo, I am a doctor, and it is my duty to heal the sick and save lives. You don't owe me anything, and there's no need to be so polite. However, there is something I don't understand."

"What is it? Mr. Chen, feel free to ask!" Old Mo said heartily.

Chen Xiao said, "Old Mo, this place has excellent feng shui (geomancy). Logically, it shouldn't attract evil spirits. So where did the evil qi (energy) on you come from? Have you traveled far recently, or visited any other places? Such as hospitals or funerals?"

Old Mo shook his head. "No, I haven't left this place in over half a year. And I've had this nightmare problem for about four or five years, but it's recently become more and more severe. I wake up from nightmares almost every night."

Chen Xiao frowned and said, "In that case, I'm afraid that my exorcism just now was only a temporary solution."

"Ah? What should we do then? Mr. Chen, please help us think of a solution!" Wang Huzi pleaded.

Chen Xiao pondered for a moment and then said, "Old Mo, can you show me around the house? I want to find the root cause of your affliction."

"Of course. Mr. Chen, although my house is large, I spend most of my time in two places: this bedroom and the living room for guests. If you don't find anything in the bedroom, then I'll take you to the living room!" Old Mo said.

Chen Xiao nodded. "Very well. Old Mo, please lead the way."

The group left the room and walked along a corridor built over a stream. Ahead of them was the Mo family's reception hall.

The entire hall was built using ancient mortise and tenon joinery. The mahogany furniture was everywhere. Chen Xiao could sense a very faint spiritual qi (energy) on them, indicating that the furniture was quite old, all antiques.

In particular, the grand master chair placed at the head of the room was made of *zitan* (red sandalwood), and this chair alone was worth a fortune!

Behind the grand master chair hung a *guandao* (a type of Chinese pole weapon), more than two meters long, extremely imposing!

The blade was sharpened, gleaming with a white light, chilling and terrifying!

This must be the *guandao* that Wang Huzi mentioned. But after seeing it, Chen Xiao couldn't help but frown, and the expression on his face became somewhat strange.