“Sorry, we don’t have much to offer at home. This cured meat was given by relatives during New Year’s, and we’ve been saving it ever since. Normally we just eat pickled vegetables and such…”
He Xiaohua’s mother kept talking about how expensive city living was, how poor their family was, how high the rent had become – now reaching two thousand per month – and how Xiaohua felt too embarrassed to ask Feng Shuangshuang for anything. She claimed all the money her father earned went toward covering the rent.
She spoke as if it were all true.
“Auntie, we’ve already eaten, so no need. We just came to check on Xiaohua and see if there’s anything she needs…”
Shi Qing smiled warmly as she inquired about their current family situation.
Upon hearing they were here to offer assistance, He Xiaohua’s mother immediately perked up, chattering endlessly about various matters, though her underlying message consistently emphasized their financial struggles and need for money.
After some subtle probing, Shi Qing determined that He Xiaohua’s mother was merely materialistic and didn’t seem to know anything about casting curses on Feng Shuangshuang.
When the conversation reached its natural conclusion, Shi Qing stood up with a smile: “Auntie, we came in a hurry and didn’t bring anything. Shuangshuang and I will go shopping to buy some things for Xiaohua. Please continue with your work.”
“Ah? How can we accept that? Xiaohua doesn’t really need anything, but her younger brother – he’s already ten years old and still wearing clothes altered from Xiaohua’s old ones…”
After leaving the Xiaohua’s home, Shi Qing first went with Feng Shuangshuang to a supermarket where they bought some cheap but decent-looking items to store in the car. Then they followed Liu Fengcheng to explore the surrounding area.
Nothing seemed unusual around the residential complex, so the three decided to head directly to their hometown. Before going, they specifically prepared some cigarettes and alcohol.
After the driver asked for directions several times along the way, they finally located He Xiaohua’s hometown following a three-hour drive.
He Xiaohua’s hometown was nestled in a mountain village, surrounded by continuous mountain ranges.
Liu Fengcheng approached some passing villagers with cigarettes while asking for directions, eventually leading them to a cemetery.
The cemetery remained perpetually shaded by dense trees, with little sunlight filtering through, creating an eerie atmosphere.
As they ventured deeper inside, they discovered one particular grave radiating intense resentment energy, clearly indicating something unusual.
Comparing it with grave core soil samples, Liu Fengcheng finally confirmed this was the correct grave.
The tombstone bore the name: He Shuan.
“Could this be an ancestor of the He family?”
“Very likely.”
Liu Fengcheng nodded.
To break this fortune-transferring curse, they needed to mix He Xiaohua’s blood with the blood of the spellcaster and grave soil, then use the mixture to draw a talisman. This talisman would be burned to ashes and given to Feng Shuangshuang to drink.
Just as they collected some soil from the grave and prepared to leave, a sudden whooshing sound came from behind them.
“Watch out!”
Liu Fengcheng swung his Peach Wood Sword toward the space behind Shi Qing and Feng Shuangshuang, revealing a pitch-black Evil Ghost that had appeared behind them unnoticed.
The Evil Ghost emanated dark energy from its entire body, with pale white pupils glaring viciously at them.
“This must be the Evil Ghost from this grave. It doesn’t look easy to deal with.”
Liu Fengcheng’s expression turned grave. This Evil Ghost possessed considerable power – once Feng Shuangshuang’s luck was completely transferred, this ghost would be able to devour her.
By that time, the Evil Ghost’s power would become even more terrifying. They had to destroy it before that happened!
“Roar…”The evil ghost fiercely charged at the three of them. Liu Fengcheng immediately took out his Bagua mirror, bit his finger, and drew a talisman on the Bagua array.
“Restrain!”
The ghost’s form was barely held back, but sweat beaded across Liu Fengcheng’s forehead.
“Run! This evil ghost is unusual—I can’t hold it much longer…”
Liu Fengcheng shouted at Feng Shuangshuang and Shi Qing, gripping the Bagua mirror with one hand while barely managing to control the Ghost Hand Vine with the other.
Shi Qing pressed her lips together, then suddenly pulled out a Ghost Hand Vine from her backpack and lashed it fiercely at the evil ghost.
“Annihilate!”
As the word left her lips, the Ghost Hand Vine twisted like a living creature, writhing toward the evil ghost.
Though the ghost had no physical form, it was tightly bound by the vine—the more it struggled, the tighter the restraints became.
Gradually, the ghost’s face twisted in agony. Shi Qing pressed urgently, “Who cast the curse?”
“It’s no use. This evil ghost seems artificially forged—it has no consciousness. You won’t get anything out of it.”
Liu Fengcheng approached, panting heavily, astonished that Shi Qing—who wasn’t a cultivator—could control the Ghost Hand Vine.
But then he reconsidered: since she was the one who sold the Ghost Hand Vine, perhaps it wasn’t so strange after all.
The Ghost Hand Vine tightened relentlessly until, with a loud bang, the evil ghost exploded and vanished completely.
With the ghost gone, the three headed to He Xiaohua’s village. As outsiders, they were met with suspicion at first, but when the villagers learned Feng Shuangshuang was the benefactor who had sponsored He Xiaohua, their attitudes warmed considerably.
Shi Qing began asking questions, starting with the village children before shifting to other matters. Soon, she uncovered some information.
He Xiaohua’s grandfather lived alone and was known for being secretive—no one knew what he did.
As for He Shuan, He Xiaohua’s uncle, he had died in a fall years earlier.
Shi Qing also learned from the villagers that a bright student from the village had been tragically killed by a wolf some time ago, the wounds described as horrifying.
Hearing this, Shi Qing and Liu Fengcheng exchanged a look—something felt off.
“Auntie, what’s going on with that grandmother over there?”
Shi Qing suddenly gestured toward an elderly woman sitting at the village entrance and asked.
The woman sighed heavily. “Ah, don’t mention it. Granny He’s grandson has been missing for over ten days. He was such a good student—a generous sponsor from the county thought he was bright and well-behaved, so they paid for his schooling and sent books and clothes every year. It’s so sad… no one knows if he’s alive or dead.”
Hearing this, Liu Fengcheng immediately walked over.
“Grandma, I know some divination techniques. If you tell me your grandson’s birth details, I can try to locate him.”
The old woman grabbed Liu Fengcheng’s hand, her expression frantic with hope. “Really? You can really find him?”
After some effort, Liu Fengcheng obtained the boy’s birth details. He performed a quick calculation, then his eyes snapped open.
“I’ve found him! Is there anyone around here with a pagoda tree planted at their doorstep?”
“A pagoda tree?”
The woman tilted her head thoughtfully, then suddenly clapped her hands. “Oh! That’s Old He’s place—right over there…”
She pointed toward the end of the village. The “Old He” she referred to was none other than He Xiaohua’s grandfather.”Granny, your grandson has been found. Quickly call your family members over.”
Shi Qing nudged the old woman and said loudly.
She suspected that He Xiaohua’s grandfather was the one who cast the curse, but in a village like He Family Village, people usually band together against outsiders. So it would be best to gather all the villagers.
Upon hearing this, the old woman immediately stood up excitedly, trembling slightly as she hurried home to call her family. The surrounding villagers also promptly followed Liu Fengcheng to watch the spectacle.