Ghost Exorciser: The Oust Fake Heiress Strikes-Chapter 417: Thugs

A thought crossed her mind. "Do you want me to read your fortune?" she asked suddenly.

The man blinked before quickly nodding. "Yes...yes, of course!"

He eagerly extended his hand.

Lana stepped closer, her fingers lightly touching his palm. Her gaze sharpened as she observed the lines, her mind calculating, analyzing.

Moments passed. Then...she reached a conclusion. ’His luck... is extraordinary.’

He would live a life that flowed smoothly, like a calm river under a clear sky. There would be almost no obstacles, no major setbacks, nothing that could truly shake his foundation.

Except for one. A single point. A single danger. A life-and-death calamity. It had already passed.

’Around the age of eighty...’ Lana thought quietly, her fingers still resting lightly on his palm. ’He crossed it... and survived.’

From this point onward... Only fortune remained.

His later years would be peaceful. His children would surround him with warmth and care. His life would stretch long, steady, and prosperous.

Lana released his hand and gave a small nod. "You have very good fortune."

The man’s face lit up instantly, relief and joy washing over his features. "Thank you.... thank you so much!"

Lana didn’t say anything more for a moment. ’Two words are enough... no need to complicate it.’

Then she added calmly, "You may face small problems here and there, but nothing significant. Overall... your life will be smooth."

The man nodded repeatedly, clearly reassured.

"You’ll live a long life," Lana continued, her tone steady. "So there’s no need to worry too much."

After that, she glanced at the time on her phone. "I have other cases to handle, so I’ll be leaving now. My friend will arrive soon; you can discuss the Feng Shui matters with her."

The man agreed immediately. After leaving, Lana headed toward her next task.

This time... It was different.

The location was in a slum area on the outskirts of Xila City. As she arrived, the surroundings changed drastically.

Narrow alleys. Uneven ground. Small huts lined the area, most of them barely standing, their walls patched together with scraps of tin and wood.

Lana stopped in front of one such hut. It looked fragile. As if a strong gust of wind could bring it down.

’This is the place ...’

She stepped forward and knocked gently on the half-broken door.

After a moment, it creaked open.

A middle-aged woman stood there, her face worn with time, her eyes tired yet alert. She looked to be in her late forties.

Lana gave a polite smile. "I’m Lana from Shadowridge University. I’m here regarding your request."

The woman froze for a second. Then... relief flooded her expression. "You finally came... please, come inside."

As Lana stepped in, her gaze swept across the interior. And she paused.

There was almost nothing. A small, worn-out bed. A crude cooking setup that barely resembled a proper stove.

No appliances. No comfort. Not even basic necessities. ’... This is worse than I expected.’

She remained silent, though something tightened faintly in her chest.

The woman hurried outside to fetch water. Even for that...she had to walk to a nearby well.

Lana watched quietly. ’While I live comfortably... there are people struggling just to survive...’

She exhaled slowly, steadying her thoughts.

When the woman returned, she handed her a cup of water.

Lana accepted it without hesitation and drank it.

The woman’s eyes softened, clearly touched by the gesture.

"You must already know why you’re here..." she said cautiously.

Lana shook her head. "Not exactly. Tasks assigned by the university are often kept vague on purpose. The details are revealed only after we arrive."

Especially if the task is issued by a person close to a soldier. The woman nodded slowly. Then she began.

"For the past few days... some thugs have been coming here. They keep troubling us."

Lana frowned slightly. ’Thugs...? Then why assign this as a cultivator task?’

Still, she listened.

"They’re very cunning," the woman continued, her voice trembling faintly. "Whenever police officers or my husband are around, they don’t show up. But when we’re alone... they come."

Her hands clenched tightly. "They target me... and my son."

Lana’s gaze sharpened.

"At first, I thought they were just normal criminals," the woman added. "But one day... I noticed something strange."

She hesitated. Then she lowered her voice. "They don’t have legs."

A silence fell.

"They wear shoes... so it’s hard to notice," she continued. "But I saw it clearly once. There was nothing below. No legs at all... yet they were walking like normal people."

Her breathing grew uneven. "I think... they’re not human."

Lana’s expression turned serious. ’Spirits... disguising themselves as humans?’

She looked at the woman. "Have you noticed any pattern? Do they appear at a specific time?"

The woman thought carefully before shaking her head. "No... there’s no fixed timing."

Lana nodded slowly. ’That makes it harder.’ ...’

After a brief pause, she said, "Alright. I’ll stay tonight."

The woman agreed immediately. That night... Lana remained alert. Her senses extended outward, carefully scanning for any trace of negative energy.

Time passed. Hours slipped by. But...nothing. Not even the faintest hint of a spiritual presence.

’Strange...’

By morning, Lana had to return to the university. Before leaving, she turned to the woman. "If anything happens, call me immediately."

She even left behind an extra phone for her. The woman was deeply moved. "I... I’ll definitely leave a five-star review for you."

Lana only smiled faintly. "That’s not necessary."

Back at the university, Lana attended her lectures as usual.

The classroom was calm, filled with the soft murmur of students and the faint scratching of pens against paper.

Then...her phone vibrated. Loudly. Once.

The sharp vibration of her phone cut through the quiet lecture hall. Lana’s eyes dropped to the screen.

Her expression changed instantly. ’An emergency ...’

Without wasting a second, she stood up and turned toward the lecturer.

"Uncle," she paused briefly before correcting herself, maintaining formality, "Professor Axel, I need to leave." It’s urgent."

Axel glanced at her, his gaze sharp yet understanding. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath.