The Exorcism Casebook of the Imperial Academy

Fake crybaby, real scheming little liar gong x seemingly cool shou who can't handle a crybaby

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The Qi family was a well-known local merchant family. Qi Fu's father had him late in life, and spoiled him until he became an unrestrained little menace. As the years passed, the Qi family decided they couldn't keep indulging the little devil!

So the Qi family spent a fortune donating grain and silver, and somehow managed to get Qi Fu enrolled at the Imperial Academy.

Unable to get out of it and unwilling to live a dull life, Qi Fu put his people skills to work, befriending all his classmates. Every day, he took them bird-hunting in the mountains or fishing in the river, leaving their studies completely behind.

The Imperial Academy's entire teaching staff had had enough. They jointly filed a complaint, submitting Qi Fu's name to the Jingyi Pavilion and denouncing him as a slacker and a menace to his peers...

Lu Zhixi came from a distinguished family. Clever and studious, he had earned the emperor's favor, and so became the Imperial Academy's director at a young age. But after Qi Fu enrolled, he faced the greatest crisis of his career.

When he heard the news, Lu Zhixi summoned Qi Fu for a private scolding, intending to restore his authority as a teacher. But before he could get more than a few stern words out, the notorious "little demon king" turned red-eyed and started sobbing!

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For the sake of the Qi family's generous donations, the Imperial Academy reluctantly agreed to keep Qi Fu.

But Qi Fu wasn't a complete wastrel. He was bold and observant, and didn't believe in ghosts or gods. More remarkable still, he could see through appearances to the truth.

Later, strange phenomena began occurring in the capital. Rumors grew wilder by the day: the Moon Demon eating people, a woman in red haunting the streets, ghost soldiers marching through the city. Why were voices heard from the long-abandoned ancient temple late at night? And when Mars guarded the heart, who was using someone else to do the killing?

These bizarre events left everyone at the Imperial Academy terrified. Qi Fu, quite unlike himself, came to Lu Zhixi's rescue. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Leave it to me!"

He went where no one else dared, and investigated cases no one else dared touch.

It turned out everything had a rational explanation. Qi Fu exposed the culprits one by one, then hurried to Lu Zhixi to claim credit once everything had settled down.

"Director, I've helped the academy deal with so many problems. Surely you won't expel me?" Qi Fu raised his watery eyes, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

Lu Zhixi smiled gently, like winter sunlight on snow, and promised to grant him three wishes.

Without a moment's hesitation, Qi Fu grabbed his wrist and pinned him against the wall, baring his canine teeth in triumph. "First, may we stay together forever. Second, may we grow old together. Third..." Qi Fu leaned close to Lu Zhixi's reddening ear. "...may my disrespectful offense of 'laying hands on' my teacher be forgiven. Director Lu, what do you think?"

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Notes:

1. Fake supernatural, light mystery, ancient teacher-student relationship, 1v1, both are each other's one and only.

2. Qi Fu is the gong, Lu Zhixi is the shou. Younger gong, with a five-year age gap.

3. Fictional ancient setting loosely inspired by the Ming dynasty. Many original details, so please don't take it too seriously.

4. The protagonists solving cases = the author's intelligence ≠ Sherlock Holmes. Bouncy romance; I'll do my best to avoid glaring plot holes. Discussion and suggestions welcome, but if you're looking for hard-core deduction, this may not be for you.

Theme: Break superstition and embrace science