“Chen, how come you’re here?” Faur asked.
“I came to see the patient in the vegetative state,” Chen Zhao said.
“Let me bring you there.”
Wate Leeders was still lying in bed, his cheekbones visible. After all, he had been living on nutrient injections and had not been exercising. He had lost almost all of his body functions.
Even if he could wake up, he would need a long period of rehabilitation.
His daughter, Suma Leeders, was not present. Chen Zhao heard that Suma had been working for more than 14 hours a day to pay for her father’s hospitalization and treatment.
“This human’s soul is damaged,” Samuel said. “If you can’t restore his soul, he’ll sleep forever.”
Chen Zhao was surprised. “Damaged soul?”
“That’s right. There are traces of magic where his soul is damaged. It’s probably caused by a spell.”
Spell? Was it Blackie?
Blackie might have damaged Wate’s soul while practicing sorcery on him. This could explain why Blackie had asked Chen Zhao to treat Wate.
“Do you know Blackie?”
“You mean the Soulbringer at home?”
“Yes. What will happen when a Soulbringer harms a human?”
“If a Soulbringer kills a living soul, the Soulbringer will lose the number of lives that is equal to the amount he has taken away. A Soulbringer typically lives for no more than 500 years, so normally they will never harm a life on purpose.”
Chen Zhao gave it some thought and asked, “What if Blackie caused this? Will Blackie receive any punishment?”
“No, at least not before the man dies.”
“Damaged soul. Is there a way to heal him?” Chen Zhao asked.
“Heal his soul.”
“How?”
“Use soul fragments and then cast Soul Heal, but you can’t restore his lost memories.”
“Teach me Soul Heal.”
“I don’t know it myself.”
“What? You’re a demon king. Why don’t you know it?”
“Why would I know such an inferior spell? Do you think I even have a target to cast the spell on? I only kill.”
“Then what’s your use here?”
“I don’t know it, but my subordinates do,” Samuel said.
“Fine, at least you’re slightly useful,” Chen Zhao said, twitching his mouth. “Summon me to Hell, for I need to learn the spell.”
“I want ten chicken drumsticks and ten pots of catnip.”
“Deal, when will you summon me?”
“My true form in Hell doesn’t even have a token from you. Can’t summon you yet.”
“What can I give you as a token?”
“Just something that you use frequently. Let me bring it back to Hell.”
“I’ll find one when I get home,” Chen Zhao said.
Chen Zhao left the ward. Faur was waiting for him outside.
“Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a solution?”
“He has no relation with you. Why are you so concerned?”
“Suma is in deep pain. If you can wake her father up, it’ll be a great relief for her.”
“I can’t promise anything,” Chen Zhao said.
“With Suma’s financial condition, I don’t think she can hire you. When you met each other last time, she didn’t seem to know you. Why would you help?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Forget it, I won’t ask. You won’t tell me the truth anyway.”
Chen Zhao and Faur approached the vending machine and Chen Zhao inserted a few coins. “You want a beverage?”
Faur ordered a cup of coffee. The two sat along the aisle.
“Your dad’s birthday is on the 18th, right?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Winnip called me yesterday. We plan to spend a few days in Sacramento. You want to come?”
“I need to look at my schedule first. I’m not as free as you.”
Just then, they heard an abrupt voice.
“Trickster.”
Both Chen Zhao and Faur were stunned. They lifted their heads and saw a red-haired lady standing before the vending machine.
“Is she referring to you?” Faur asked in surprise.
Chen Zhao looked at the red-haired lady. She looked familiar but Chen Zhao could not recall where they had met.
“You are…”
“You can’t remember? I was Mr. Rasfa’s health consultant, and I was fired because of you.”
Chen Zhao slapped his head. “You’re Reidra?”
Reidra gave a cold humph, took her beverage and left.
Faur looked at Chen Zhao. “Looks like she hates you a lot.”
“Maybe because I snatched her client.” Chen Zhao helplessly shrugged his shoulders.
“Why did she call you trickster?”
“Why would I know? We’ve only met once.” Even Chen Zhao himself was baffled.
“Don’t tell me there’s something else between the two of you. You know, she looks pretty.”
“You’re too imaginative.”
Chen Zhao smiled and shook his head. “I should leave.”
Just then, a trolley with a white sheet on top was pushed past Chen Zhao.
Chen Zhao was already used to it.
It was a hospital, after all, and corpses were common.
“Hu… Master, what’s that?”
“Dead people are covered with white sheets.”
“But that person isn’t dead,” Samuel said.
“Not dead?” Chen Zhao was puzzled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I can hear his weak breathing and feel his complete soul.”
Chen Zhao chased and caught up with the trolley.
Sitting along the aisle, Faur saw Chen Zhao run back and asked, “What happened?”
“I want to see this person.” Chen Zhao stopped the trolley.
Just then, Tim Waltz and Reidra also walked over.
“What are you doing?” Tim Waltz roared in anger. His eyes were red and there were some tear marks on his face.
“Mr. Tim, he’s a trickster,” Reidra said.
Tim Waltz approached Chen Zhao. “What are you doing to my son’s body?”
“Sir, I’m sorry. I just saw him move.” Chen Zhao found an excuse.
“Hoffman’s dead. His doctor has already confirmed it. Are you trying to do something to a corpse?” Reidra said. “But I can understand it. As a trickster, as long as you can get money, you won’t mind using a dead person.”
Faur looked at Chen Zhao. “Chen, maybe you saw it wrong.”
“Sir, are you sure you don’t want another examination?” Chen Zhao asked.
Tim Waltz was somewhat hesitant. He turned his head and asked Reidra, “You know him?”
“He’s a shameless trickster.”
“Ms. Reidra, you keep saying I’m a trickster. Who did I trick?”
“You’re an illegal doctor!” Reidra said.
Chen Zhao shrugged his shoulder. “I admit I’m illegal, but it doesn’t mean I deceive people.”
