David Carter explained to him helplessly, “Please, Little Simon, try to understand. I really had no other choice, ahem, I mean, after I discovered the spirit board was reliable, I couldn’t help but become, become, well, a bit curious about it.”

　　He spoke hesitantly.

　　Clearly, there was something he was hiding.

　　Samuel didn’t press for details. He knew the other wouldn’t tell the truth, so he simply asked, “Who told you the spirit board was reliable?”

　　David Carter said, “This spirit board really is reliable. After I summoned it, I first asked about some old events in our town, and it gave all the correct answers.”

　　“Some of those secrets I barely knew myself, but it knew them all perfectly.”

　　“So you see, this spirit board is truly impressive!”

　　Samuel stared at David Carter.

　　The blue long robe with split sides that David Carter wore reminded him of the robe that old ghost wore.

　　They were identical, so much so that when he first saw the man and the ghost together, he thought they were father and son.

　　So he asked, “Have you ever seen what the vengeful ghost haunting you looks like?”

　　David Carter hesitantly shook his head.

　　Samuel asked again, “Where did you buy this robe? Does anyone else in your town have one like it?”

　　David Carter replied, “To answer Little Simon, this robe was made by the best tailor in our old town. Anyone with some status or wealth in our town owns one like this.”

　　Samuel nodded. That made sense.

　　He said, “Have you ever considered that maybe the spirit you summoned is actually the ghost of an elder from your town, which is why it knows so much about your town’s past?”

　　David Carter exclaimed in surprise, “No, that can’t be, can it?”

　　Samuel said, “It’s very possible!”

　　David Carter frowned and thought for a while, then said decisively, “Whatever the case, the vengeful ghost has already been dealt with by you, Little Simon.”

　　He took the initiative to end the topic.

　　Samuel still wanted to learn more about the outside world from him.

　　But after glancing at the sky, David Carter said, “Little Simon, I’ve already completed the task entrusted to me by my old friend. It’s getting late now, so I won’t trouble you any longer. I’ll take my leave.”

　　The sun was setting, its light fading.

　　A chill filled the mountains, crows flew by, cawing.

　　Samuel asked in surprise, “It’s about to get dark. Mr. Carter, are you going to walk the mountain path in the dark?”

　　David Carter smiled and said, “I’m used to traveling at night.”

　　Samuel still wanted to keep him to learn more about the outside world.

　　But he was determined to leave. After packing his bundle, he hurried out into the courtyard.

　　Watching his back, Samuel frowned, feeling that things were not so simple.

　　He couldn’t say exactly why.

　　He just felt that something was off about David Carter.

　　Out of caution, he called out tentatively, “Mr. Carter, wait a moment!”

　　David Carter froze, then turned around timidly.

　　Samuel stared at him and said, “Mr. Carter, you’re leaving in such a hurry. Are you hiding something important from Little Samuel?”

　　David Carter instinctively hugged his bundle tighter and said, “Why would you say that, Little Simon? I—I’m not hiding anything from you!”

　　This was a classic case of “the more you try to cover it up, the more obvious it is.”

　　Samuel tensed up inside, his face darkening as he glared at him.

　　David Carter looked embarrassed.

　　He glanced aside helplessly and said, “Please don’t be angry, Little Simon. You really have sharp eyes. But actually, actually, I’m not hiding anything from you, it’s just, well, um, hehe, that, hehe.”

　　After a few awkward noises, he finally showed a helpless expression:

　　“It’s not that I meant to hide it from you, Little Simon, but this thing has another important use…”

　　“Enough nonsense, what’s really going on?” Samuel’s face darkened, and he put on a masterly air.

　　David Carter said dejectedly, “Alright, I really have let you down, Little Simon. Just now, when you asked me for food, I didn’t tell the truth.”

　　“In fact, I don’t just have flatbread on me, I also have wine and meat.”

　　Wine and meat…

　　Samuel was stunned when he heard this.

　　Listen to that—does that sound like something a person would say?

　　You had wine and meat and didn’t bring it out earlier?

　　He pointed at the statue of the Daoist Lord in the main hall and said, “Mr. Carter, come look for yourself. Look at the expression on the Daoist Patriarch’s face right now.”

　　David Carter quickly glanced at the statue and muttered, “He seems to be smiling?”

　　Samuel slapped him on the shoulder and said, “Smiling? Are you blind? You call that a smile? That’s clearly anger!”

　　“Think about what you’ve done…”

　　He looked up at the statue.

　　As usual, the Daoist Lord looked dignified and imposing.

　　So he had no idea how crooked David Carter’s eyes must be to see that expression as a smile.

　　After being slapped, David Carter shuddered violently.

　　He rubbed his eyes and looked at the statue, then hurriedly said, “Please, Little Simon, say no more. I know I was wrong. I’ll hand over all the wine and meat right now.”

　　He rushed to the offering table, opened his bundle, and took out three oil-paper packages.

　　Samuel pressed down on his shoulder from behind and said, “Mr. Carter, you’re not handing the wine and meat to Little Samuel, are you? You’re offering them to the Daoist Patriarch himself!”