According to reason, standing outside a window isn't much of a business in the world of术道 (Shu Dao – esoteric arts). Any術士 (Shu Shi – esoteric practitioner) could solve it.

Old Liu should have been able to handle it himself. Why did he need to come back and ask me to do it?

Old Liu shook his head. "I don't understand this business."

"Hmm?" I understood what Old Liu meant. He was saying that he couldn't resolve Chen Xiaobei's problem; the person standing outside the window wasn't a simple character.

However, he couldn't say that now. Saying it too seriously might scare Chen Xiaobei.

I asked calmly, "What does this person you're talking about look like? Have you ever seen them anywhere before?"

"I…" Chen Xiaobei hesitated. "I can't really say. That person doesn't seem to be the same person. Sometimes it's a woman, sometimes it's a man, and sometimes, I can't see what they look like at all."

I couldn't help but frown. It wasn't strange for someone to be outside the window, but constantly changing people was a bit puzzling.

I thought for a moment and said, "Can you see this person everywhere, or only in certain places? Like at home, or at school?"

Chen Xiaobei said, "I can only see them when I'm in my room. My brother can see them everywhere. This is our secret, only we know about it. It wasn't until Grandpa Liu revealed the secret about me that I told this secret."

I turned to look at Chen Xiaobao. "You two are twins?"

"Yes!" Chen Xiaobei nodded.

"I need to go to your house!" I stood up to pack my things, but Chen Xiaobei quickly stopped me. "No, you can't go to my house."

I looked at Chen Xiaobei, confused. I could tell she was genuinely scared. "Why?"

Chen Xiaobei clenched her fists. "My dad doesn't believe in these things. He gets angry at anyone who mentions them to him, even his best friends. Neither my brother nor I dare to tell him."

When I looked at Old Liu, he nodded. "Xiaobei's father and grandfather have always believed in the 'Three Nos'."

"First, they don't believe in feng shui or numerology. Second, they don't believe in gods or Buddhas. Third, they don't believe in Jianghu (martial world) practitioners."

I asked curiously, "What do they believe in then? Do they believe in the idea that humans can conquer nature?"

Old Liu shook his head again. "They don't believe in anything! Not even that humans can conquer nature."

Judging by Chen Xiaobei's age, people in her grandfather's generation would believe in something, more or less. There were very few people who believed in nothing at all.

I frowned. "This is going to be difficult! Someone who doesn't believe in anything at all might actually be a術道 (Shu Dao – esoteric arts) practitioner!"

I stood up and walked around the room twice. "Ye Yang, you and Feng Ruoxing take that kid and investigate him. I'm going to the Chen house. Old Liu, you're coming with me."

Chen Xiaobei almost cried. "You really can't go to my house."

I bent down. "Little friend, if I don't go to your house, I can't solve your problem. Don't worry, I have a way to convince your dad and your grandpa."

Old Liu also said, "Xiaobei, our boss is very capable. If he says something will work, it will definitely work. Just come with me."

Old Liu took Xiaobei's hand and walked out of the door. Looking at their backs, they really looked like grandfather and granddaughter.

An old friend!

There are many kinds of old friends.

Just looking at the gentleness in Old Liu's eyes, I knew that this so-called old friend must have been a lover in a past life.

But what could come of meeting an old friend? Fate hadn't arranged for them to be together in this life!

As I drove towards the Chen house, I heard Old Liu sighing softly. I glanced back at Chen Xiaobei, who was asleep in the back seat. "Old Liu, is there something else you're not telling me?"

Old Liu said, "She still lives in that old alley, still waiting for me there. In her past life, she said she would wait for me there. She's back, but I haven't been reincarnated."

Old Liu said with heartache, "You didn't see Xiaobei's face. Before I found her, there wasn't a trace of color in her face, and there were dark circles under her eyes. I don't know how long she's been unable to sleep. I… sigh…"

"I should have come to find her sooner!"

I looked out at the old alley. "So, you used to live here?"

"I did!" Old Liu said. "I bought her a house here back then. I lived here for many years."

"That little courtyard hasn't changed!"

"That jujube tree is still there too. I heard that the Chen family tried to cut down that jujube tree several times, but whenever someone touched the jujube tree, Xiaobei would cry, until the family stopped touching it."

Old Liu rambled on for a long time before I finally asked, "When you lived here, was there any problem with this place?"

"No!" Old Liu shook his head. "I have that much discernment. I wouldn't have chosen a haunted courtyard, would I?"

I continued, "So, the haunting started after you moved away. Who lived in this courtyard after that?"

Old Liu said, "Only the Chen family. The Chen family has lived here for four generations. I also found out some things."

"When the old master of the Chen family lived here, the whole alley was peaceful. After he passed away, the alley started to be haunted."

Old Liu emphasized again, "I'm talking about the whole alley, not just the Chen family."