"What a load crap of bullshit!" Brian didn't believe Lionel already; his words only heightened his suspicions.

  Lionel looked at him coldly, his face barely showing any expression. He was showing the man respect, giving his professor and his senior face. But the man remained adamant in insulting him.

  "I think Lauren doesn't need me. You're free to find whoever you want." Lionel didn't show them any mercy this time and left the living room, without waiting for anyone.

  He was intrigued to learn how capable he had become and how powerful his new talismans were. He was also interested in the ghost that had haunted Nia and now Lauren. But his self-respect was paramount. He wouldn't help anyone who kept on insulting him.

  "Lionel, wait," Phil shouted and ran after him, but not before glaring at Brian.

  Even Jacob looked displeased, finding his father unreasonable. Glancing at him annoyedly, he followed Phil to stop Lionel from leaving.

  "Lionel, please wait."

  Lionel stopped when he heard his professor's husband. However, he didn't hide his fury as he waited to see what the man was up to.

  "Lionel, don't take Brian's words to heart. He is just worried about Lauren."

  Lionel wasn't persuaded by him. Brian had a strange way of showing his worry. "Mr. Carlson, you and I know that isn't his worry speaking. Instead, it's his arrogance. I'm not obligated to help him in the first place and even more so after he insulted me."

  "I understand, Lionel. But..."

  "Lionel, I apologize on my father's behalf. Please forgive him." Jacob arrived and apologized sincerely.

  "It's strange that the man at fault doesn't consider it so, while the others do. I won't accept your apology. You may look for someone else to help your sister."

  Lionel didn't budge and turned to leave, only to stop when Jacob blocked his path.

  "Lionel, you have every right to be angry. Show your anger on my Dad. But please help Lauren. Please," Jacob begged, not caring about his father. His sister's well-being was his current priority.

  "Please, Lionel. Help us," Phil too added, hoping for the young man to soften his stance just once.

  "I'll ensure Dad doesn't get in your way."

  "How? Can you control his mouth?" Lionel sneered, not believing Jacob's fanciful words.

  "Just trust me this once. Please. If Dad insults you again, you're free to leave and no one will stop you."

  Lionel observed Jacob who seemed to be at his wits ends. His heart softened and he nodded, deciding to give them one last chance, for Lauren's sake.

  "Thank you, Lionel. Thank you so much."

  "But let me warn you. My fees aren't that cheap." Lionel didn't hide the truth.

  After Brian's stupid stunt, he decided to hike his fees.

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  "No problem. Just help Lauren."

  Lionel accompanied Phil and Jacob inside the villa. He didn't even glance at Brian who sat with a dark expression. It seemed he had been told off by the two women.

  "I'd like to see Lauren."

  "Sure."

  Jacob took the lead, ignoring his father while the others followed behind him.

  Lionel forgot about his displeasure for the time being and focused on the dark energy in the villa. The closer he approached Lauren's room, the stronger it became.

  Phil's heart dropped when he saw the young man's grave face. The situation wasn't good at all.

  'Will Nia be in danger again? Will she...' Just the thought of Nia being haunted by a ghost again made his legs lose strength and he almost buckled to the ground.

  If not for Lionel holding him in time, he would have dropped to his knees for sure.

  "Are you alright, Mr. Carlson?"

  Phil didn't react. He didn't even respond. He remained silent and that alone gave Lionel his answer.

  Patting his shoulder lightly, he smiled at him assuringly. "I'll try my best to protect your daughter. With me around, nothing will happen to her."

  Lionel didn't know why he was trying to comfort the man. He didn't know what kind of evil he was dealing with or if it was something he could even handle. Yet, he couldn't stop himself when he saw Phil's pale face.

  Fortunately, his words helped Phil recover and his face lost some paleness. He looked better than before.

  "Thank you, Lionel."

  Lionel nodded as they proceeded towards Lauren's room.

  Jacob was already inside and Lionel's jaw dropped when he saw Lauren. The girl's face was covered slightly with cadaveric qi. He hadn't witnessed something like that around Nia. But with Lauren, it was impossible to not see it.

  'Could it be because I am now a Silent Exorcist?' he wondered, pursing his lips.

  Sighing heavily, he walked towards Lauren. As soon as he placed his fingers on her forehead, he sensed a strong dark energy. But along with it, he also sensed a mark, a ghost mark. Whatever was haunting Lauren had left its mark on her.

  Lionel examined the girl on the bed. She was pale, resembling a corpse, just.

  At first, he hadn't noticed it. But now, he did. Lauren's life force was being sucked dry by the ghost and if this continued, she would die in two days.

  "Whatever happens next might blow your mind. But please don't interrupt me." Lionel's gaze especially lingered on Brian who only rolled his eyes at him.

  He was about to remark snarkily again, only to stop when his wife glared at him threateningly.

  Lionel ignored him and picked one of the Cleansing Talismans with strong spiritual energy.

  As soon as he smacked it on her forehead, Lauren started twitching.

  Everyone gasped in fright when they saw her condition. What mortified them was that she started screaming, a shrill scream that almost exploded their eardrums. It didn't sound anything like human.

  Although Phil and Sophia had already braced themselves for what was about to come, they still were spooked.

  Susan, Jacob, and Brian's conditions were more terrible, especially Brian's. His eyes almost popped out of his sockets when he saw the talisman Lionel had smacked on his daughter's forehead disappear in thin air.

  'What the heck!'

  Lauren twisted in agony as she kept screaming. There was a surge in the negative energy and Lionel noticed that the cadaveric qi was now covering her entire face. She would die soon if this continued.

  Instantly, he smacked a Blessing Talisman on her forehead and it started to work its charm.

  The Blessing Talisman devoured the cadaveric qi while the Cleansing Talisman eliminated the dark energy.

  Meanwhile, Lionel threw another Cleaning Talisman in the air to eradicate the dark energy that had filled the room in just a few seconds.

  Seconds passed and Lauren finally stopped twitching and screaming. While no one noticed anything amiss, Lionel did. He instantly saw a wisp of black smoke leave her body.

  This smoke was different. It held a lot of resentment energy and Lionel's lips thinned into a line thoughtfully.

  Lauren's eyeballs rolled behind her eyelids while everyone held their breaths. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she looked around.

  However, she was too weak, weaker than Nia and she fell asleep again.

  "Lauren...." Susan stopped herself, recalling Lionel's warning.

  "She's fine now." He nodded and moved away, allowing the Wallace family to check on her.

  Lionel didn't linger inside the room anymore and walked out. He was surprised to see how effective his Cleansing Talisman had been. There wasn't any residual negative energy in the villa.

  "Lionel, what the hell happened there?" Phil was right behind him and asked him. His worldview had changed completely and he was now petrified.

  "About that..." Lionel thought for a moment. "I'd like to have a word with you all later. I have a few questions to ask."