The dark curse imprint was ripped straight out by Shan Shan, and Yin Kairui immediately lost consciousness.
But simply tearing it free wasn’t enough to satisfy Shan Shan’s anger. She grabbed the dark mass of the curse with both hands and pulled with all her might until the curse imprint was… torn clean in two.
Qin Hangxuan could almost hear the sound of the person who had cast the curse spitting blood in agony.
And that was exactly what happened. Not far away, inside another hotel room, a middle-aged man suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his entire demeanor instantly became weak and listless.
He still refused to believe what had happened. “Impossible… this can’t be! How could anyone break my curse?”
He thought of how long he had spent weaving and strengthening this spell. Even more importantly, there should be no one in this area with the power to undo his work. The few people capable of doing so were nowhere near here, and they were certainly not people Yin Kairui would ever have access to or be able to call upon.
Gritting his teeth, the man’s eyes hardened with ruthless determination.
The curse placed on Yin Kairui might have been broken, but it had not yet completely vanished. Now that someone had dared to interfere, he would make them pay.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when, ignoring the pain surging through his body, he sat cross-legged and began casting another spell. This time, he directed the remaining fragments of the curse to attach themselves to whoever was currently holding them.
The spell took effect immediately.
Back where Shan Shan was, the broken pieces of the curse which had already lost most of their power and were slowly fading away suddenly surged with new energy, as if injected with a potent stimulant. They sprang back to life and lunged straight toward Shan Shan, trying to cling to her body.
Qin Hangxuan’s heart leaped to his throat. “Be ca ”
Before he could even finish his warning, he watched as the curse fragments that had attached themselves to Shan Shan caused her absolutely no harm at all. On the contrary, they began to sizzle and burn the moment they touched her, and within just two seconds, half of their dark energy had been completely incinerated.
Qin Hangxuan fell silent, speechless.
Right… he had completely forgotten about Shan Shan’s unique constitution. He had simply let his concern make him lose his composure for a moment.
“What is it?” Shan Shan asked, looking up at him with a confused expression.
“Nothing,” Qin Hangxuan said, shaking his head. “I was just wondering would you like me to take care of these remaining fragments for you?”
Shan Shan hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly, “I’m still a little bit angry… Can I tear them apart a few more times first?”
Qin Hangxuan sighed inwardly. “…Yes, of course you can.”
And so Shan Shan proceeded to tear and shred the remnants of the curse with even greater force.
The moment Shan Shan’s natural protective energy had begun burning the curse, the spellcaster had already suffered a first backlash. Before he could even recover from that, he was struck by a second, and then a third wave of retribution.
Terrified by what was happening to him, he immediately severed all spiritual ties between himself and the curse. But doing so caused him to vomit even more blood and subjected him to yet another severe backlash.
If anyone had been present to see him, they would have noticed that in the short span of just a few minutes, the man had coughed up more than ten mouthfuls of blood, and looked as though he had aged ten years or more. His whole body radiated exhaustion and weakness.
He didn’t even have the strength to tend to himself. His body swayed unsteadily, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed onto the floor, unable even to make it to his bed or pull a blanket over himself.
Of course, Shan Shan knew nothing of his miserable state. Only after she had vented all her frustration did she hand the remaining dark energy over to Qin Hangxuan.
Qin Hangxuan stared at the small mass of dark energy now no larger than a baby’s fist in his hands, feeling a swirl of complicated emotions. He remembered how vast and intimidating it had been only a short while ago, and how pitiful and diminished it looked now.
And tearing a curse apart with her bare hands… If he recalled correctly, she had also captured a powerful spirit with her bare hands not long before.
This was far more than just a special constitution. It was a type of spiritual power and natural defense that had never been recorded or seen before.
But those were matters for him to research and investigate later. Right now, the most important thing was taking care of Yin Kairui.
Removing the curse was only the first step. Next, they had to clear away all the residual negative energy from his body, release some stagnant blood, and then let him rest properly.
Strong and capable, Qin Hangxuan lifted Yin Kairui easily and laid him down comfortably on the bed. Then he turned to Shan Shan and asked, “Would you like to stay here and watch over your brother for a little while? I’ll go tidy up the room and order some food, and then we can eat together, alright?”
Shan Shan immediately raised her hand excitedly. “I eat a whole lot! I can eat enough for ten people!”
Qin Hangxuan smiled, unbothered by her words. “That’s perfectly fine. I’ll order plenty of food.”
Shan Shan decided right then that Qin Hangxuan was a very nice person, and gave him a bright, sweet smile.
Qin Hangxuan couldn’t help but smile back. He gently patted her head and asked her to keep an eye on Yin Kairui while he went back to the next room to sort things out.
In this world, spiritual practices and metaphysical knowledge were widely recognized and developed; they were no longer simply dismissed as superstition. But those who practiced these arts also bore the responsibility of removing all traces of their work once it was completed.
And so, Qin Hangxuan was now… cleaning up.
He carefully cleared away the ritual formation drawn on the floor and removed all the talismans stuck to the walls. Anything that could be thrown away was discarded; items that could not be disposed of casually were burned in a safe manner; and tools and materials that were still usable were carefully stored away.
He worked quickly and efficiently, and the room was soon restored to its original state.
Afterward, he ordered food enough for fifteen people and only called Shan Shan out to eat once the delivery had arrived. Most of the dishes were mild and suitable for children, and none of them were too spicy.
Shan Shan watched Qin Hangxuan eat with wide eyes and let out a sound of amazement. “Big Brother, you eat just as much as I do!”
She knew that Yin Kairui and the people around him all had normal appetites. Even though she always ate politely and properly, she was well aware that her own eating habits were quite different from most people’s. Seeing Qin Hangxuan eat so heartily made her feel as though she had finally met someone who understood her.
Qin Hangxuan let out a helpless laugh. “People who practice spiritual arts all have bigger appetites than most people. We need more energy to sustain our work.”
Shan Shan’s eyes lit up as a sudden thought struck her. She raised her hand again and said, “I know! It’s because there’s so little spiritual energy in the world, and eating food is one of the ways to replenish it isn’t that right?”
Qin Hangxuan looked at her in surprise, but nodded in confirmation. “That’s correct. Who taught you that?”
Shan Shan tilted her head to the side. “I just… know it.”
And indeed, she had always known.
Spiritual energy was very scarce in this world. But Shan Shan was different her body naturally generated its own spiritual energy, so she did not need to rely on absorbing it from the surrounding environment. Otherwise, she would have found life here very difficult to adjust to.
Qin Hangxuan knew nothing of this. By the time they finished eating, he had consumed food meant for four people, while Shan Shan had happily finished the remaining eleven portions. She patted her round, full belly and let out a satisfied burp. “I’m all full! Thank you, Big Brother. When my brother wakes up, I’ll ask him to pay you back for the food.”
“There’s no need for that,” Qin Hangxuan said. “Consider it my treat.” He felt more and more determined to get Shan Shan to join his department, and couldn’t help but try to persuade her again. “You were so worried about your brother before, but now he’s going to be just fine. Why don’t you come work with us? You’ll learn all kinds of powerful skills, and you’ll be even stronger when you grow up.”
“I can’t,” Shan Shan said, shaking her head with a small sigh. “I still have other brothers and sisters to look after. I have to go save them too.”
“Where are they? Are they cursed as well?” Qin Hangxuan asked immediately. “I can help you break any curses that are placed on them.”
After all, with Shan Shan around, any curse could be torn apart and destroyed in the blink of an eye. He would even be willing to offer his services for free, as long as she agreed to join their spiritual affairs department.
Shan Shan looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “But I don’t even know where they are right now.”
Qin Hangxuan’s mind worked quickly. “Do you know that I work for the government? Do you understand what that means? It means we have access to all kinds of resources and people who can help us search for information and track down anyone we need to find. If you want to locate your family, joining us is the best way to make it happen!”
To be honest, Shan Shan was quite tempted.
She had already encountered all sorts of unpleasant people and dangerous situations, but there were still so many of her brothers and sisters she hadn’t found yet, and she was becoming more and more worried about them.
But Yin Kairui was still asleep. Even though she was eager to agree, she held herself back and said carefully, “I don’t dislike you at all, and I think you’re a really good person. But I listen to what my brother says. If he tells me I can’t go, then I won’t go.”
And just like that, the conversation had come full circle.
Qin Hangxuan had never met such a young child who was both so determined and so obedient. Even though his attempt to persuade her had failed, he didn’t feel discouraged at all. He simply smiled gently and said, “Alright, I understand. But listen to me, Shan Shan whether you decide to join us or not, if you ever find any other members of your family or need help with anything at all, you can always come find me. Why don’t you ask your brother to take you to buy a mobile phone in the next couple of days? We can exchange numbers, and then you’ll be able to call me whenever you need anything.”
“You can rest assured that no matter what happens, as long as I have the time, I’ll come to help you immediately.”
He was trying hard to build a good relationship with her, and Shan Shan, thinking of all the people she still needed to find and the help she might require in the future, decided it would be wise to accept his offer. “Okay then! Thank you so much, Big Brother!”
“You’re very welcome,” Qin Hangxuan said happily. “And one more thing if you ever meet anyone else who practices spiritual arts in the future, you can always call me and ask about them. We keep records of most people in this field, and I can tell you whether they’re trustworthy or not. You’ll be able to feel safe knowing the truth.”
Shan Shan was already very impressed with Qin Hangxuan.
He had saved Yin Kairui’s life, so she already held him in high regard. Now, as he spoke to her so kindly and honestly, she listened closely to everything he said, answering him from time to time.
Yin Kairui woke up briefly at eight o’clock that evening. Qin Hangxuan gave him some warm porridge to drink, and Yin Kairui, though still weak, asked Qin Hangxuan if he would be kind enough to apply medicine to Shan Shan’s injuries. After that, he closed his eyes and fell asleep once more.
And so it was Qin Hangxuan who tended to Shan Shan’s wounds that night.
But when he saw the marks covering her body, his expression turned grim and serious. “How did you get these injuries?”
“My Uncle and Aunt hit me,” Shan Shan answered simply. “But they’re already getting much better now.”
While her wounds couldn’t heal instantly, they were mending far faster than those of an ordinary person. The infected areas had already cleared up, and many of the cuts and bruises had already formed scabs. Thanks to the natural spiritual energy flowing through her body, she also felt no pain or itching from the injuries, and her overall condition was excellent.
“This is domestic abuse,” Qin Hangxuan realized. Now he understood why, when he had examined Shan Shan’s spiritual aura earlier, he had sensed that she had narrowly escaped death and had survived against all odds.
The severity of her injuries was such that it was a miracle she was still alive.
It truly was…
Her special powers could protect her from supernatural threats and dark magic, but they could not shield her from the cruelty of ordinary human beings.
“Did you report this to the police?”
“Yes, I did!” Shan Shan nodded firmly.
Qin Hangxuan asked no further questions.
Since the authorities were already involved, the matter would be handled through proper legal channels, and there was no need for him to intervene directly.
It was a shame, though. If Shan Shan had agreed to join his team, gathering evidence and ensuring her abusers were properly punished would have been far simpler and faster.
Once he had finished applying the medicine, Shan Shan began to feel sleepy. She climbed onto the bed and settled down to rest. Qin Hangxuan replaced the protective talismans placed on Yin Kairui’s body with fresh ones, and then went back to the next room to sleep.
The next day, Yin Kairui felt much stronger and clearer in mind. He woke up naturally around eight o’clock. Although his face was still pale, his limbs felt somewhat weak, and he still had a slight headache, his condition was vastly improved compared to the unconscious state he had been in the day before.
After eating breakfast, he felt even better.
He only ate a small amount, while Qin Hangxuan and Shan Shan both ate heartily. Qin Hangxuan pointed toward the balcony and said, “Go out and sit in the sun after you’ve finished eating. It will help your body recover much faster.”
Director Luo had spent several days sunbathing to aid his own recovery, so Yin Kairui was already aware of the benefits of sunlight. He walked slowly over to the balcony and sat down to let the warm rays wash over him.
Once she had finished her meal, Shan Shan ran over to join him. She climbed onto his lap and sat there comfortably, looking out through the large glass windows at the world outside.
Their room was on the eighth floor not particularly high up and Shan Shan had excellent eyesight, so she could clearly see all the people walking back and forth on the street below.
The air conditioning was running inside the living room, but there was none on the balcony, and the glass door between the two spaces was closed. Yet Yin Kairui didn’t feel hot at all. He was beginning to truly feel the changes taking place in his body. Although he was still physically weak, it felt as though some invisible weight or restriction that had been holding him back for a long time had finally been lifted.
“Ah!”
Shan Shan, who had been sitting quietly beside him, suddenly let out a cry of surprise. She stared intently at a woman walking toward the hotel entrance below one who was wearing a wide sun hat and her eyes lit up with recognition. “Is that Sister Bailing?”
“What did you say?” Yin Kairui asked, still half-asleep and unable to hear her clearly.
Shan Shan had already jumped down from his lap. She took a few steps forward, then paused uncertainly.
Sister Bailing seemed to be doing fine, but she remembered that Brother Shuixian was still recovering from his own injuries. After a moment of hesitation, she decided that she had to go and check on Sister Bailing first at the very least, she needed to confirm that this was indeed the person that Uncle Luo had mentioned to her.
With that decision made, Shan Shan rushed toward the door as fast as her little legs could carry her. “Brother, I’m going out for a little while! I’ll be right back~”
As she passed through the living room, she didn’t forget to call out to Qin Hangxuan, “Big Brother, please look after my brother for me, okay?”
Before anyone could reply, she had already run out of the room.
She was a smart child and had already learned how to operate the elevator. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed the button for the ground floor. As it happened, the elevator was currently on the ninth floor and was already moving downward. When the doors opened, two young women standing inside were momentarily taken aback to see such a small child standing alone.
But Shan Shan had already rushed inside. Seeing that the button for the first floor was already lit, she stood quietly by the door and waited patiently as the elevator descended. The moment the doors opened again, she shot out like a small cannonball only to crash straight into someone standing in the hallway.
Shan Shan was quite heavy for her size and moved with surprising force; if the person she had hit hadn’t been standing with excellent balance and a firm footing, they would have been knocked backward several steps.
The collision left Shan Shan feeling dizzy and disoriented, and she would have fallen flat on her bottom if the person she had hit hadn’t quickly