Black Qi Soars Skyward

Go, go, go!

The pickpocket ran at an incredible speed, wearing the best-quality sneakers and pants designed for easy movement.

Even if the plainclothes police reacted, they wouldn’t be able to catch him.

But at that very moment, for some inexplicable reason, his feet slipped.

He flew forward and slammed hard into a wall.

Before the crowd closed in on him, he glanced at the spot where he had slipped—there was nothing there, not even a drop of oil.

So why had he fallen?

Before he could figure it out, fists rained down on him like a storm.

The middle-aged man whose wallet had been stolen was visibly furious. Even as the police rushed over, his punches continued to land ruthlessly on the pickpocket.

No one dared to intervene, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

It was just an all-out beating.

Bystanders like Lin Mo thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, with some even cheering loudly.

Auntie Zheng, having seen enough, quickly pulled Lin Mo and Xie Yuling away.

"Stop watching. These thieves usually work in groups. If they see you enjoying it too much, they might target you next."

Lin Mo nodded repeatedly and dragged Xie Yuling, who was still eager to keep watching.

As they walked, Auntie Zheng continued lecturing them, "From now on, when you see things like this, don’t get involved. And don’t stand too close when watching the commotion."

"Mom, what if something like this happens to us?"

"Then you scream as loud as you can! That’s how you get help."

Xie Yuling couldn’t help muttering, "But you’re telling us to just stand by?"

Auntie Zheng rapped her daughter on the head.

"That’s completely different!"

Xie Yuling rubbed her head. "Double standards."

It was different, but hey—double standards? That’s just human nature.

Lin Mo simply smiled without commenting. After all, this was just a parent’s way of ensuring their child stayed safe.

There was nothing wrong with that.

Lin Mo glanced back at the pickpocket’s shoes—the slip had been his doing, a subtle application of spiritual energy. The effect had been immediate.

When he turned back, Xie Yuling was staring at him, her big, beautiful eyes blinking as if to say: Was that you?

Lin Mo blinked back innocently: Guess?

Guess my foot!

Xie Yuling punched Lin Mo’s arm hard.

It didn’t hurt, but that didn’t stop Lin Mo from tattling to Auntie Zheng about the "violent offender."

And so, Xie Yuling got another rap on the head.

The trio strolled around until they finally left Shangxiajiu.

But as soon as they stepped out, Xie Yuling froze, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped Lin Mo’s arm.

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow and followed her gaze to the shopping mall across the street.

To his eyes, the entire building was shrouded in a dense, swirling mass of yin energy.

Yet, this energy didn’t spill beyond the mall’s boundaries, as if something had sealed it inside.

Lin Mo recalled the most infamous urban legend in Yangcheng—Lilin Plaza, the most widely circulated supernatural hotspot.

Rumors said the place was eerily cold, freezing even in the height of summer.

Some blamed the air conditioning, but now, it seemed there was another reason.

Lin Mo patted Xie Yuling’s head gently. "It’s fine."

Auntie Zheng, walking ahead, noticed nothing unusual, while Lin Mo began recounting the legend of Lilin Plaza.

"They say when construction first started, they dug up eight coffins..."

Before he could finish, Xie Yuling was already clinging to his arm, shivering.

"Lin Mo, stop telling these scary stories. Yuling’s terrified of this stuff," Auntie Zheng scolded.

Lin Mo chuckled and nodded. "Alright, alright, no more."

He glanced back at Lilin Plaza with a faint smile.

The plaza was surrounded by residential buildings—eight towering structures, each spewing thick black energy into the sky.

But the energy seemed trapped, unable to disperse.

Lin Mo muttered under his breath, "Damn, so the urban legends are real?"

After a brief pause, he followed Auntie Zheng and Xie Yuling to their next destination—Yide Road.

Yide Road was Yangcheng’s largest wholesale market for dried seafood, nuts, snacks, and toys.

Auntie Zheng was there to stock up on dried goods for the New Year.

Along the way, she walked ahead while Xie Yuling remained visibly uneasy.

Lin Mo, trailing behind, lowered his voice using spiritual energy to speak to her.

"What’s wrong? Still thinking about Lilin Plaza?"

Xie Yuling looked up at him and nodded emphatically.

"Want me to take you there next time to check it out?"

She shook her head vigorously—no way was she going back there. She didn’t even want to return to Shangxiajiu.

"Relax, that place is sealed. Nothing dangerous can escape."

Was that true? Of course not.

Ghostly remnants usually couldn’t harm ordinary people, but Lin Mo suspected that the sheer volume of dark energy concentrated there could affect even a Body Tempering cultivator.

But one thing was certain—even if all that energy combined, it wouldn’t stand a chance against Lin Mo.

"Really?" Xie Yuling asked hesitantly.

"Really. And if anything happens, I’ll handle it!"

Lin Mo flashed a peace sign.

Xie Yuling rolled her eyes, but for some reason, her heart felt inexplicably at ease.

Still, she turned to him and said, "If something happens, don’t go."

Lin Mo poked her forehead.

"Weren’t you just calling Auntie Zheng out for double standards?"

"That’s different."

"Definitely her biological daughter."

Auntie Zheng bought all sorts of New Year treats—candied winter melon, candied lotus seeds, candied water chestnuts, candied radish, candied lotus root...

And of course, premium dried seafood like scallops, abalone, and sea cucumbers.

Dried abalone might seem expensive, and well, it was.

Auntie Zheng bought a pound of "20-head" dried abalone—meaning twenty pieces made up one pound.

Each abalone was about 5.5 centimeters long.

Though small, dried abalone expands three to five times after soaking.

Lin Mo couldn’t help asking, "Auntie Zheng, you know how to cook abalone?"

Auntie Zheng smiled. "It’s for poon choi. Every New Year’s Eve, Yuling and I go to her uncle’s place for dinner, and I help prepare the dish."

Ah, so that was the plan. Lin Mo hadn’t known.

Xie Yuling nudged Lin Mo’s shoulder and whispered, "I’ll ask Mom to save some cooked abalone in the fridge for when you come back."

Lin Mo nodded eagerly. "Sounds great! I’ve never had dried abalone before."

Auntie Zheng watched the two with a warm smile. Having Lin Mo around had made Xie Yuling so much livelier.

Both of them were top students—they’d surely end up at the same university.

And after graduation… well, marriage wasn’t out of the question.