Chapter 1105: A good night

"So, my dreaming is a mental health issue, not a metaphysical one?"

Upon hearing this, a look of doubt seeped into Wan Hu's eyes. "Metaphysical? You thought it was a supernatural event?"

Shen Ci wore a troubled expression. "I'm only asking for your help because I don't know the cause. I've already seen a psychiatrist and taken the sedatives the doctor prescribed, but they had no effect."

"This medicine of mine will definitely be effective."

"You're that confident?"

Wan Hu looked indifferent, yet his tone was extremely firm. "Otherwise, wouldn't all these years I've spent by Master's side have been for nothing?"

Shen Ci: "..."

"By the way, you should still have the protective amulet Master gave you back then, right?" Wan Hu asked suddenly.

Back when Master Yu celebrated his birthday, he had personally named Shen Ci to light the longevity lamp for him, and then gifted her a protective amulet as a present.

Shen Ci nodded. "Of course. I treasure it very much; I have it safely stored away in a box."

"If you keep it tucked away, it loses its effect," Wan Hu advised. "A protective amulet should be kept on your person at all times. If it truly is an evil spirit entering your dreams, this amulet can block it for you."

As he spoke, Wan Hu reached into his collar and pulled out an object. It was strung on a black cord and worn around his neck like a necklace. He took it off and handed it to Shen Ci with a serious expression. "I'm giving this to you."

Shen Ci watched as he took something he had been wearing against his skin and handed it directly to her. Her first reaction was to refuse.

"Little Master, th-that wouldn't be appropriate, would it? This is your item."

"It's fine, I'll just make another one later," Wan Hu said casually. "This is Imperial Kiln Wood. The fragrance it emits has a very good calming effect. If you wear it, you'll sleep better."

"Then let me buy it. Sell it to me!"

"It's not worth much. Just take it."

As Wan Hu spoke, he tossed it lightly. Shen Ci reached out and caught it instinctively, while Wan Hu had already begun to lower his head to pack up his things.

The Imperial Kiln Wood felt warm in her hand, still retaining the body heat from Wan Hu's chest.

Shen Ci felt a bit embarrassed and could only offer repeated thanks.

"Thank you for coming all this way. How do you usually charge for this kind of thing? I'll pay you a bit more for your trouble according to the going rate," Shen Ci said politely.

She understood the rules of this trade; Su Zhe had told her more than once that Master Yu only cared about money.

Besides, she was the one asking for help today, so there was no reason for him to work for free.

But Wan Hu stood up and said to Shen Ci, "No need for formalities. I am not my master."

"How can that be? Little Master, even if you aren't Master Yu, you still have real skills. Besides, today I am..."

"You've misunderstood," Wan Hu interrupted Shen Ci, explaining, "I mean that I also have the master's teachings. Before I have finished my apprenticeship, I am not qualified to charge fees. This is a rule of the sect, not me being polite to you."

Shen Ci looked puzzled, clearly not expecting Master Yu to have such a rule.

"Then, then when will you be qualified to charge money to help others?"

Wan Hu paused at this, and replied truthfully, "When my master passes away."

Shen Ci: "..."

"We should be about the same age. You don't need to use honorifics with me, and you don't need to call me Little Master. Just call me by my name," Wan Hu said. After finishing, he gave a slight nod and put his backpack back on.

Shen Ci still politely walked him to the entrance of the residential complex.

Given her usual personality, she wouldn't have treated a peer this way.

Part of it was because of Master Yu, and the other part was because Wan Hu possessed an aura that transcended his age—though, of course, it was mainly due to his own abilities.

Shen Ci felt a natural sense of awe toward him.

It wasn't until she walked Wan Hu to an Aston Martin parked on the side of the road that Shen Ci finally managed to reconcile the person with reality.

He doesn't charge for his services, yet he can already afford to drive such an expensive car?

"I'll be going now. Remember to take the medicine before bed every day. If there are any other situations, contact me at any time."

Shen Ci snapped out of it. "Okay. Thank you for today. Drive safely."

Wan Hu got into the car, tossed his backpack onto the passenger seat, gave a slight wave to Shen Ci through the car window, and started the engine to leave.

Shen Ci watched the car disappear into the night, only then realizing that it had already turned dark.

"Sis!"

At this moment, Shen Xing suddenly darted out from the side of the road, giving Shen Ci a huge fright.

"Why are you back? You scared me!"

Shen Xing grinned, looked in the direction Wan Hu had left, then looked back at his sister with a very meaningful expression.

"Mom and Dad moved out, and you've already brought a boyfriend home?" Shen Xing asked curiously. "Who is it? Have I met him?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci slapped her brother on the head. "Stop spouting nonsense. He's a master."

"A master?" Shen Xing looked hesitant, clearly not believing it.

Although it was dark, he had vaguely seen that the other person was a young man. How could there be such a young master?

Shen Ci couldn't be bothered to explain. She pulled her brother toward the main gate. "Aren't you busy lately? Why are you back before the weekend?"

"Bai Bai's birthday is tomorrow. I came back to get some clean clothes."

"Oh? Taking it so seriously? Are you planning to confess?"

"No..."

Before going to sleep that night, Shen Ci went to the kitchen and took that large bowl of solidified black ointment out of the refrigerator. The moment she peeled back the plastic wrap, the pungent smell rushed straight to her brain, nearly making her faint on the spot.

She gritted her teeth, used a spoon to take a scoop, quickly sealed the plastic wrap, and put it back in the refrigerator. Then, following Wan Hu's method, she stirred it with warm water until it was fully dissolved.

Once dissolved, it was a cup of pitch-black liquid.

It looked like poison.

But thinking about it from another angle, cola was also black.

Shen Ci took a deep breath, pinched her nose, and mimicked the way Wan Hu drank water, downing it in two gulps.

As the bitterness slid down her throat, Shen Ci realized that this thing was not as hard to accept as it smelled; it was actually fine to drink.

This gave her a lot of peace of mind, so she wouldn't feel like she was being tortured every night drinking this stuff.

Returning to her room, she took that wooden box out of the safe, took out the protective amulet Master Yu had given her, and placed it under her pillow.

Finally, she sat on the edge of the bed, looked at the Imperial Kiln Wood in her hand, and gently rubbed it with her thumb.

This piece of wood had no special shape; it was just a piece of polished wood with a hole drilled in it, strung up with a black thread.

But just as Wan Hu had said, the wood was incredibly fragrant. The scent was refreshing and very pleasant.

Hanging it around her neck, Shen Ci turned over, lay down, and pulled up the quilt.

Perhaps out of trust in Wan Hu, the moment she closed her eyes, Shen Ci had a subconscious premonition that she would have a good night's sleep tonight.