**Chapter 120: The Copper Coin that Only Shows the Reverse Side**
After leaving the school, Luxianbei hailed a taxi and headed straight to Huacheng Central Hospital, skillfully avoiding the security’s gaze as he made his way to the inpatient department.
Why avoid the security? The reason is simple.
Have you ever inquired? In all the major hospitals in Huacheng, who doesn’t know the famous name of Luxianbei?
Every hospital he has visited has blacklisted this guy who is suspected of having a mental illness and loves to tell ghost stories to doctors.
Dodging and weaving, Luxianbei finally arrived at Professor Ma’s hospital room door. He pressed his ear against the door, peered through the small window, confirmed that only Professor Ma was inside, and then sneakily entered.
…
When Luxianbei entered the hospital room, Professor Ma had just finished arguing with the doctor. He was curled up in bed, hugging a blanket, sulking.
Imagine Professor Ma, a commanding figure at school, now having to adhere to the hospital rules, unable to even go to the restroom freely; naturally, he was in a bad mood.
“Click—!”
Hearing the door to the hospital room gently close, Professor Ma’s face darkened.
“Are you serious? How annoying! Haven’t I made myself clear? I don’t need a psychiatric evaluation! Get lost!”
While Professor Ma rambled on, he sat up straight, turned around, and when he saw Luxianbei, he couldn’t help but freeze for a moment, his eyes reddening.
He looked as if he had seen a long-lost relative; if it weren’t for his dignity as a teacher preventing him from shedding tears, he might have broken down on the spot.
Seeing this expression on Professor Ma, Luxianbei initially thought he would say something like, “Luxianbei! You finally came! I’ve missed you so much!”
However, after staring at him for a few seconds, Professor Ma’s expression darkened again. “What are you doing here? Is there something you want? If you just came to see me, then hurry back!”
“There’s nothing special about this old man; with the time you have, you might as well finish your paper and hand it in.”
Although Professor Ma’s tone was very impatient, Luxianbei could clearly see a trace of happiness in his slightly cloudy eyes due to age.
Hiss—! Is the professor being tsundere? Luxianbei furrowed his brows and said, “Professor, I do have something important to discuss with you.”
Upon hearing this, Professor Ma’s expression suddenly turned resentful, as if blaming Luxianbei for only coming to see him when he had something to do, and never visiting when he didn’t.
Luxianbei, “…” Dealing with an elderly person throwing tantrums is really a hassle, even more troublesome than wooing a beautiful girl!
Luxianbei imagined replacing the character art of beautiful girls from various romantic strategy games with photos of Professor Ma. Though the image was quite distressing, the dialogue felt completely natural.
At different times, failing to woo a beautiful girl resulted in lost affection, whereas failing to win over Professor Ma would result in lost grades.
“Something important? Did you encounter difficulties while writing your paper? Let me tell you, I can’t help you with that; I assigned it to you to train your independent thinking ability,” Professor Ma said.
Luxianbei rubbed his temples and explained, “Professor, I came to see you, not about the paper …”
Luxianbei then turned to glance towards the direction outside the hospital room, taking a few steps closer.
“Professor, someone was attacked by an urban legend at school again yesterday, and that urban legend looked almost exactly like Luxu, carrying a lantern.”
Upon hearing this, Professor Ma immediately set aside his sulking and began listening seriously.
“I came here to ask you if you know where these urban legends come from and their purpose in appearing at the school.”
“By the way, that urban legend appears to be an old man, dressed in a bright-colored funeral suit,” Luxianbei briefly described.
An old man in a bright-colored funeral suit? Professor Ma’s expression turned serious as he pondered this, a glimmer in his eyes as he looked at Luxianbei and said, “I might really know a bit about this…”
In the following minutes, Professor Ma summarized the mysterious process of the old friend who gifted him the bamboo slips: from d*ath to sudden resurrection, and then to mysterious disappearance.
“Alas! That’s the situation; I’ve told you all I know, but I’m not sure if it will help,” Professor Ma sighed, his gaze dimming into silence.
He had been worried about the whereabouts of his old friend and his son. Although he had already suspected something, he didn’t expect to hear news again in such a way.
After listening to Professor Ma, Luxianbei pondered the recent series of urban legend attacks at school and suddenly felt a realizable understanding.
The urban legends that appeared with the bl**d-red lanterns were likely targeting that set of bizarre bamboo slips.
Those who were attacked were probably because they encountered Luxu while sneaking into the laboratory to search for the bamboo slips.
And since Professor Ma was the holder of the bamboo slips, it was reasonable that he could be attacked.
As for Xue Hua…
He simply brought trouble upon himself; if he hadn’t gone to that place and taken those photos, he wouldn’t have encountered that strange old man.
Now that the set of bamboo slips was in my possession, doesn’t that mean I hold absolute initiative?
I just don’t know if there are other similar urban legends lurking in the shadows, Luxianbei thought.
While Luxianbei was deep in thought, Professor Ma leaned closer and patted his shoulder, saying, “Luxianbei, if it really doesn’t work out, you might as well just give away the bamboo slips.”
“I’ve already replicated the contents of the bamboo slips; even if the originals are gone, I can continue the research.”
“We don’t need to risk our lives against those spooky things just to keep the bamboo slips. It’s really… too dangerous, and I worry about your safety.”
Seeing the concern in Professor Ma’s gaze warmed Luxianbei’s heart. “Professor, don’t worry; I’ll be careful.”
After all, I won’t confront them directly. If I’m thoroughly prepared but still can’t win, I won’t need you to tell me; I’ll ditch the bamboo slips and run.
If worse comes to worst…
While Luxianbei was mentally complaining, Professor Ma’s voice suddenly reached his ears.
“Luxianbei! I…”
Luxianbei turned to look at Professor Ma, who had a conflicted expression, his lips opening and closing several times before finally speaking, “Before you confront those monsters, I have a treasure I want to give you, which might offer you some help.”
Such good news? Luxianbei furrowed his brows a little, but what treasure could the professor possess? Only spirit energy items could help in this situation, right?
Just as Luxianbei was thinking this, he saw Professor Ma stand up, reaching into his coat and rummaging around for a while before pulling out an old, polished copper coin.
Professor Ma took Luxianbei’s hand and placed the copper coin in his palm, seriously stating, “This thing has been with me for a long time; whenever I encounter difficulties, it helps me make decisions.”
“Though I don’t know if it can help you, it has indeed helped me through many hardships. Just take it; even if it doesn’t have any practical use, it can serve as a talisman.”
Luxianbei had seen this special copper coin before; back in the research room, he often saw Professor Ma playing with it.
Luxianbei felt touched that Professor Ma would give this copper coin, which held special significance to him, to him at such a moment, even if it ultimately could not help.
Thinking this, Luxianbei took the copper coin, stored it carefully, and sincerely thanked Professor Ma, “Then I’ll thank you first, Professor.”
Professor Ma waved his hand, “Stop saying those useless things to me; I’m not giving it to you for keeps. Once you resolve this matter, hurry and return it to me.”
I can’t rest easy unless that copper coin is by my side! Professor Ma thought, and more importantly, he hoped Luxianbei would return safely.
Luxianbei, “…” It’s just a copper coin, right? So stingy!
Suddenly, Professor Ma’s expression darkened, his tone serious as he said, “Moreover, there’s one more thing!”
Luxianbei nodded seriously, “You say it!”
Professor Ma grabbed Luxianbei’s wrist earnestly and said, “Quickly accompany me to the restroom. I’ve gathered every patient and doctor I could, and they’re all ignoring me now. I’ve held it in for nearly ten hours!”
Luxianbei, “…”
Right, the hospital did send a text before saying Professor Ma always needed someone to accompany him to the restroom, making everyone suffer.
I didn’t expect this symptom to last so long.
Isn’t he going to get beaten for acting like this in the hospital these past few days?
…
Ten minutes later.
Luxianbei bid farewell to Professor Ma and boarded the bus back to University City.
Sitting on the bus, he finally had time to examine the copper coin Professor Ma lent him.
Holding the polished copper coin in his hand, Luxianbei didn’t feel any burning pain in his eyes or any other unusual reactions, which temporarily ruled out the possibility of the coin harboring an urban legend.
The only thing that felt special was that no matter how long he held the copper coin, it felt cold to the touch, like an ice block.
Maybe it’s like the Ming King Statue, a so-called spirit energy item? Why not give it a try? Luxianbei pondered, staring at the copper coin.
With this thought, he mulled for a few seconds, then spoke to himself, “Copper coin, copper coin, do I need to prepare fifty Initial Scene Spring Breeze charms for this operation?”
After saying this, while thinking that the front side is needed and the reverse side is not, he did as Professor Ma usually did and tossed the coin into the air.
“Ding—Pa—!”
Catching the coin, Luxianbei looked at it and frowned, “Reverse side? Isn’t fifty enough? Then…”
“Sixty coins?”
“Ding—Pa—!”
“Another reverse side?”
“Then what about eighty coins?”
“Ding—Pa—!”
After looking at both sides of the coin, Luxianbei was astonished, “This… why is it still a reverse side?”
Eighty coins are already close to my limit. If I need more, I won’t have any stock left! What do I do now?
“Eighty coins aren’t enough? Why don’t you go rob a bank? Do you need a hundred coins?” Luxianbei muttered to himself as he tossed the coin again.
“Ding—Pa—!”
Luxianbei, “……” Still a reverse side?
d*mn! Does this coin have a problem? Why does it only show the reverse side?
The copper coin, “…”
As a qualified divination-type spirit energy item, I won’t speak recklessly.
So…
It’s not that I have a problem; it’s that you have a problem!
