It's late-night reading time again.
[I've moved.
I now live in a lakeside villa—spacious and expansive, where I can do whatever I please.
No more gossip to overhear, no more awkward glances to endure.
I’m happy.
After visiting the Taoist temple that day, I realized I could still see strange, inexplicable things.
So I picked up a few books on metaphysics and gained a deeper understanding of these phenomena.
Last night, an unexpected guest arrived—a young man who looked like an old man. I know how odd that sounds, but he truly suffered from such a bizarre condition.
His face was covered in wrinkles, his temples streaked with white hair, and he could barely stand.
At first, I didn’t recognize him, but after he introduced himself, I was shocked to learn he was actually the infamous playboy of Jiangcheng. It was hard to believe.
I could tell his time was running out.
He begged me to save him.
I saw it clearly—his fate line and life line stretched in another direction, tinged with a dark crimson hue.
A peach blossom mark was hidden between his brows.
I’d read about this in one of my books—a forbidden ghostly technique called the "Peach Blossom Seal," used by malevolent spirits to steal a person’s vitality and fortune.
As the scion of a wealthy Jiangcheng family, he naturally carried great fortune. But how many other young heirs in the city were similarly blessed?
Following the methods described in the books, I removed the Peach Blossom Seal, dispelled the ghostly curse, and restored the stolen vitality and fortune to his body.
Once the seal vanished, he regained his senses.
After the exorcism, drained of energy, I retreated to my room to rest.
This morning, after breakfast, he returned with lavish gifts to express his gratitude. His spirit and complexion had improved dramatically.
Though… he’d do well to practice some restraint in the future.
After he left, my phone rang—an unknown number.
It was my invisible younger brother.
But the one seeking me wasn’t him—it was his future brother-in-law, the fiancé of his beloved older sister.
In the past, out of resentment, I’d said some harsh words to the fake heiress’s fiancé. Now that I’ve moved on and moved out, I no longer want to meddle in their family affairs.
But why is the fake heiress’s fiancé looking for me?
Could it be about that plot of land shrouded in dark energy?
Should I help him, if only out of respect for my biological parents’ future son-in-law?]
Luo Xiaoyu finished reading the latest update and immediately left a comment.
[CallMeWhenYouSeeMeStudying: So the author really saved someone last night! Author, if you’re not feeling well, rest more—here’s some white liquid for you~]
[DyingFromLaughter: I just want to see how long this act lasts. Yesterday, someone commented "save my dog life," and today this chapter drops? Unbelievable!]
[NovelStarvationIsReal: The author’s story is so thrilling! I’m feasting on drama every day!]
[MaleChastityNovelsOnly: Is that fiancé the male lead? So cliché! Is this a double-first-love story? Author, please confirm!]
[TodayIsLucky: Pfft, as if he’s worthy of the master!]
[RealityShift: What a juicy scandal! I’m staying tuned!]
[RedPlumBlossoms: The female lead is so full of herself! Are these bizarre events just her delusions?]
The system couldn’t help but ask: [Big Boss, why did you call the dark art a "ghostly technique"?]
[It’s a forbidden arcane method—to prevent other practitioners from copying it.]
The system: […]
The boss thinks of everything.
Song Lin had finally secured the land in the northern suburbs today, his blood thrumming with excitement.
Returning home from the banquet just past ten, his private phone suddenly went berserk, bombarded with messages.
[Qi Lin: You went to see her?]
[Zhang Chengyan: Congrats on the northern suburbs deal! Keep it up~ PS: You’re not worthy of the master!]
[Yingxue: Are you busy?]
[...
Yingxue: Did you go find her?]
[Yingxue: If you see this, please reply.]
Song Lin immediately called Qi Yingxue, but no one picked up—she was probably filming a night scene.
He didn’t try again, instead frowning at Zhang Chengyan’s cryptic message.
What nonsense was this?
Late-night film set.
Qi Yingxue’s distracted performance led to multiple NG takes, frustrating the director and crew.
"Cut!" The director roared, then took a deep breath, forcing patience. "Ms. Qi, take a break. Let’s shoot the next scene first."
The next scene featured the second male lead and second female lead in a moonlit battle, their masks falling mid-fight, leading to a tearful reunion.
The scene demanded intensity in combat and restrained emotion in recognition, solidifying their love-hate dynamic.
The second male lead, Wei Xu, was a rising idol-turned-actor with mediocre skills, especially in line delivery.
The second female lead, Yuan Qing, was a seasoned actress with a decade of experience. Despite her talent, she’d never landed a breakout role. Her only lead project was scrapped after the crew met with disaster.
Strangely, every production she joined afterward suffered mishaps.
At first, no one linked it to her, but netizens noticed a pattern—male co-stars who filmed intimate scenes with her often encountered minor misfortunes.
Whether superstition or coincidence, Yuan Qing’s reputation as a "jinx" spread, relegating her to perpetual supporting roles.
Wei Xu, new to the industry and arrogant, hadn’t heard the rumors.
Seeing Yuan Qing’s mature beauty, he saw an opportunity to take liberties under the guise of acting.
As they rehearsed the wire-fu sequence, Wei Xu’s lackluster performance dragged the scene down—until the masks fell.
Suddenly, his acting improved, eyes brimming with awe and nostalgia.
Once grounded, he abruptly pulled Yuan Qing into an embrace, ad-libbing the clichéd line—
"It’s you?!"
The crew: ???
"Cut!" The director exploded. "Wei Xu! No hugging here! You’re ruining the character! Again!"
Wei Xu released Yuan Qing, feigning remorse. "Sorry, Teacher Yuan. I got too into the moment."
Yuan Qing sighed but stayed professional.
On the retake, Wei Xu "accidentally" grabbed her hands.
The crew: "..."
Qi Yingxue, watching from the sidelines, smirked.
"Yingxue-jie, is he doing this on purpose?" her assistant whispered.
Before Qi Yingxue could answer, a wire snapped—Wei Xu plummeted to the ground with a sickening thud, his scream piercing the night.
Silence. Then chaos.
"Call an ambulance!" the director shouted.
Wei Xu lay sprawled on the ground, a pool of vivid crimson slowly spreading beneath him. His eyes were wide with terror as he stared blankly at the sky, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Amid the chaos, Qi Yingxue felt her limbs turn to ice.
This was the first time she had witnessed such a gruesome scene.
Wei Xu was currently one of the biggest stars, and news of his injury couldn’t possibly be kept under wraps—especially not when it was this severe.
The film crew had no choice but to halt production.
Overnight, the incident exploded online. When the police launched their investigation, they discovered that the safety wire’s rope had been cleanly severed—as if cut with precision.
Such a clean cut couldn’t have been tampered with beforehand unless Wei Xu had deliberately wanted to die, somehow wielding a sharp tool mid-air to…
Slice through the rope.
But that theory made no sense either.
The wire rope was specially designed, nearly impossible for a human to cut so cleanly.
From the on-set footage, Wei Xu’s wire had remained intact until the third take, when it suddenly snapped, sending him plummeting to the ground.
The situation was growing increasingly bizarre.
The system, bored out of its mind, often indulged in online gossip.
When Qi Quan woke up that morning, it immediately launched into a rambling account of the incident before concluding: [Boss, that perpetual supporting actress really might be cursed. So many of her male co-stars have had accidents—this one’s especially bad.]
Qi Quan, savoring the meal Su Rong had prepared for her, narrowed her eyes in contentment. [There’s no such thing as a cursed person.]
[Really?]
[People just look for excuses to explain their misfortunes.]
[But the coincidences are too uncanny.]
Qi Quan asked, [Among the male actors who had accidents after working with her, were there any minor or background characters?]
[Hmm, not that I’ve heard. Mostly just the male leads or major supporting roles.]
[Why is that?]
The system pondered. [Probably because if a minor actor got hurt, no one would care enough to report it.]
Qi Quan nodded. [That’s a possibility.]
[So…?]
[So, I’m going to eat now. Be quiet.]
[…]
After breakfast, Qi Quan retreated to her room to meditate. Su Rong finished cleaning up and prepared to leave.
Wang Hua drifted over to him and asked, "Are you going to see Niu Qiang?"
Ever since reuniting with his sister, he had lost all vitality. If not for his determination to witness Huang Qifeng’s downfall, he would have long since moved on to the afterlife.
He understood his sister.
She had never seen the horrors Huang Qifeng had committed, so she could feign ignorance—but he had seen them firsthand.
Those atrocities had haunted him for over a decade.
Su Rong’s expression turned cold. "What of it?"
"That Buddhist bracelet Huang Qifeng wears is powerful. Niu Qiang might have something similar—be careful. Also, I’ve told you all of Huang Qifeng’s secrets. If you have time, report them anonymously."
Without a physical form, he couldn’t operate a computer to file a report, but Su Rong could.
Su Rong’s expression softened slightly. "Fine."
Huang Family Villa
Niu Qiang was fast asleep in a first-floor room.
Now Wang Qin’s personal driver, his job was leisurely since she rarely left the house.
His phone suddenly rang—his son was calling.
He had married late, and now in his forties, his six-year-old son was his pride and joy.
"Dad, I miss you."
Niu Qiang’s face lit up with fatherly affection. "I’ll come see you tonight, okay?"
"Okay."
"Be good in class today. Listen to your teacher."
"Dad… I don’t like piano lessons. Can I stop?"
"No, son. If you learn piano, you’ll be a little prince when you grow up—then you can marry a princess. So practice hard, alright?"
"Dad, I… it hurts… Uncle, please… don’t kill me… I’ll be good… don’t…"
The voice on the phone abruptly deepened, turning eerie and cold.
"Uncle, I’m so cold… the river water is freezing… I can’t breathe… it’s so painful… Uncle, won’t you come keep me company?"
Niu Qiang’s eyes bulged in terror. Just as he was about to throw the phone away, something coiled around his neck—cold, slimy, like skeletal fingers soaked in water, tightening around his windpipe.
"Ghk—ghk—"
Air grew scarce. Choking, he thrashed like a fish out of water, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes bloodshot—on the verge of suffocation.
Then, the skeletal grip vanished.
He doubled over, coughing violently, gasping for air. Remembering the phone, he snatched it up in panic.
The call had ended. His wallpaper appeared—a photo of his son on his sixth birthday, beaming like an angel between his parents.
Trembling, Niu Qiang reached out to touch the screen.
Just before his finger made contact, the image twisted—his son’s face morphed into that of a ghastly child, skin blue-gray, eyes enormous and hollow, staring straight at him.
Niu Qiang screamed, hurling the phone against the wall, shattering it.
Scrambling to his feet, he fled the villa, speeding toward Huang Qifeng’s office in his car.
Huang Qifeng was at his desk when Niu Qiang burst in unannounced.
"I’ve told you to knock," Huang Qifeng snapped. "Why can’t you remember?"
"Boss!" Niu Qiang’s face was pale with terror. "I saw a ghost!"
"You look like you’ve seen one, alright!"
"I’m serious! A real ghost!"
Huang Qifeng stiffened, recalling the monstrous face Qin Ruo had revealed after her dark arts failed. He didn’t dismiss it this time. "What happened?"
"I—I saw that kid. He’s here for revenge! He threatened my son! Boss, what do I do?!"
Huang Qifeng frowned. "What kid?"
He’d done too many terrible things to remember.
"The one from Chìhé Village… the one I strangled."
It was his first time participating in child trafficking. Su Rong was the first child he’d killed—an experience etched into his memory.
Huang Qifeng scoffed. "Just some brat’s ghost. What’s there to fear? I’ll get you a protective charm later to ward off bad luck. You’re just scaring yourself."
With his Buddhist beads shielding him, he’d never encountered a ghost—so he couldn’t fathom Niu Qiang’s terror.
Niu Qiang returned to his quarters, still shaken.
No matter where he looked, the child’s grotesque face haunted him.
Yet his neck bore no marks.
Had it all been in his head?
The only way to escape Su Rong’s torment was to—
Su Rong strolled back to Lakeside Villa, mentally planning Qi Quan’s lunch, when he spotted two figures walking side by side on the street.
Qi Yuan and a woman.
As Qi Quan’s ghost servant, he wasn’t fooled by illusions. Beneath the woman’s glamorous facade, he saw her true face—wrinkled and aged.
Watching Qi Yuan’s lovestruck expression, Su Rong silently applauded.
Even Zhang Chengyan had no idea what Qin Ruo really looked like. If they ever learned the truth, he wondered how they’d react.
Su Rong chuckled. Best not to shatter their illusions.
As he reached the villa gate, he found an unexpected visitor waiting.
Qi Yingxue stood at the villa's entrance wearing a hat and mask, dressed in a white sundress and carrying an exquisite handbag, repeatedly pressing the doorbell.
Unfortunately, Su Rong had been absent earlier, Wang Hua couldn’t assist, and Qi Quan had tuned out all noise—no one came to answer the door.
Su Rong glanced at her before drifting leisurely toward the main house.
"Master, there’s a visitor at the gate—Qi Yingxue. Should we let her in?"
Having grown bored from prolonged cultivation and itching to make more tiny outfits, Qi Quan sighed inwardly at Su Rong’s report.
One ghost attendant simply wasn’t enough.
If she recruited a few more, she could craft even more clothes.
"Let her in."
"Yes."
Qi Yingxue’s emotions were tangled.
Three months ago, upon learning the truth of her origins, she had been anxious. But after seeing the dark-skinned, timid Qi Quan, her worries vanished.
She remained the only princess of the Qi family.
Over those three months, Qi Quan’s antics only reinforced her belief—Qi Quan could never compare to her.
Yet after just a few days away filming, the world seemed to have turned upside down.
This villa before her... was something she couldn’t afford even after years of acting.
Yet Qi Quan had obtained it effortlessly.
And Song Lin—why had he sought out Qi Quan? What had they discussed?
Suppressing her unease, Qi Yingxue rang the bell again.
The door suddenly opened.
Greeting her was a tall, strikingly handsome man in a crisp white shirt and trousers, his deep, enigmatic eyes exuding an irresistible charm.
In her mind, Song Lin was exceptionally good-looking, surpassing many male celebrities. But compared to this man, he fell slightly short.
"I’m the butler here. My surname is Su. And you are?" Su Rong offered a polite smile.
Qi Yingxue’s brow twitched.
Su? The butler?
This property had originally belonged to the Su family. Had they even gifted the butler along with it?
"Mr. Su, I’m Qi Quan’s sister. I’d like to see her."
After Qi Quan returned to the Qi family, since her adoptive parents had long passed, avoiding any custody disputes, the Qis simply treated Qi Yingxue as an adopted daughter, referring to them as sisters.
Qi Yingxue, radiant and poised, seemed more suited to the role of an elder sister compared to the frail and timid Qi Quan, thus becoming the adopted elder sister.
Su Rong ushered her inside.
Stepping into the courtyard, Qi Yingxue was further awed by the Su family’s extravagance. This exquisitely designed villa wasn’t just astronomically priced—it was likely priceless.
A thread of resentment coiled in her heart.
Passing through a lotus pond teeming with fish and a vine-covered corridor, she finally reached the pavilion in the backyard.
Inside, a woman lounged leisurely, feeding fish.
How carefree.
Qi Yingxue entered the pavilion and looked down at Qi Quan reclining on the rattan chair. Smiling, she said, "Xiao Quan, I only found out last night after returning home that you’d moved out. Why so sudden? Was living at home unpleasant? Are you still upset with Mom and Dad? Or did Xiao Yuan offend you?"
Before Qi Quan could respond, her system couldn’t hold back.
[Why does her tone sound so grating?]
Qi Quan didn’t even lift her eyelids, replying lazily, "Do directors actually let you ad-lib like this on set?"
"......"
System: [HAHAHAHA!]
Beside them, Su Rong’s lips curved slightly.
"Xiao Quan, I understand if you weren’t used to living at home after just three months back. But moving out like this—Mom and Dad will be heartbroken." Qi Yingxue was no stranger to veiled sarcasm; she was a master of it herself.
Qi Quan cut straight to the point: "No matter how heartbroken they are, it can’t compare to how you felt when you learned Song Lin came to see me. My time is precious—spare me the nonsense."
Qi Yingxue froze.
The old Qi Quan had been sensitive and explosive, easily provoked. How had she transformed into someone entirely different in just a few days?
Before she could dwell on it, she took a seat opposite Qi Quan. But when their eyes met, she was so stunned she forgot her words.
The entertainment industry was brimming with beauties, and her standards were sky-high.
Yet Qi Quan left her breathless.
True beauty lay in the bones, not just the skin. Qi Quan’s features were already exquisite, but her bone structure was even more flawless—a rare beauty by any measure.
When she first returned to the Qi family, twenty-two years of hardship had dulled her radiance, making her seem unremarkable.
But now, not only had her beauty returned, she carried an aura so unique it was mesmerizing—and intimidating.
Qi Yingxue found herself staring, dumbstruck.
[Big shot, this roundabout-talker seems to have been struck dumb by you.]
Qi Quan was unfazed: [Oh.]
In her past life, not only had countless men pursued her, but even exceptional women had clamored to befriend her.
"Ms. Qi," Su Rong interjected softly.
Qi Yingxue snapped back to reality, lowering her head awkwardly and gripping the handle of her bag. "I heard A-Lin came to see you. If he said anything inappropriate, I apologize on his behalf."
"Finished?"
"Ah? Oh, yes."
Qi Quan gave her a sidelong glance and rose, stepping out of the pavilion.
"See yourself out."
Qi Yingxue opened her mouth, then blurted, "Xiao—Qi Quan, I know I took your place, but my feelings for A-Lin are real. We’ve known each other for over a decade, I—"
"Ms. Qi, please leave," Su Rong interrupted.
Qi Quan was already far away, her skirt fluttering in the breeze, her slender figure casting an ethereal, captivating silhouette—like an observer amused by the mortal world.
Back in her room, Qi Quan retrieved her half-finished miniature garments and resumed her artistic endeavor.
[Big shot, why did you agree to see her?]
Qi Quan: [Sensed some lingering ghostly energy. Wanted a closer look.]
[And?]
[She’s tainted by a third-tier ghost.]
The system asked curiously: [Ghosts have tiers?]
Qi Quan nodded.
[How are they classified? What about Wang Hua and Butler Su?]
[There are nine tiers, followed by Ghost Generals and Ghost Kings. Those two are merely first-tier white ghosts.]
[What’s a white ghost?]
[Those who’ve never killed are white ghosts, typically tiers one to three. First-tier white ghosts are the cleanest. Second-tier enjoy playing pranks to scare people. By third-tier, they’ve nurtured malice—even if they haven’t killed, they’ve caused accidents.]
[What else?]
Since she had time to spare, Qi Quan indulged in a basic lesson on mystical arts.
[Tiers four to six are red ghosts, ranked by their victim count. Seven to nine are blue ghosts—usually regional terrors, drenched in blood and devoured souls.]
The system asked naively: [So ghosts just need to kill to grow stronger?]
[But once they kill, they forfeit reincarnation. They’re bound to ghosthood forever.]
[I see. What about Ghost Generals and Ghost Kings?]
[Blue ghosts are rare enough. Those are even rarer.]
The system benefited greatly and grew even more curious about Qi Quan's abilities. It cautiously asked: [Then, oh great one, with your skills, what level of ghost could you defeat?]
[I don’t know.]
[You don’t know?]
Qi Quan smiled. [I’ve never encountered a Ghost King.]
The system was stunned—that meant she had faced Ghost Generals and won!
Oh great one, please accept this humble disciple’s bow!
[So, Qi Yingxue ran into a third-tier ghost?]
[She just got a bit of yin energy on her.]
[Oh, then it’s nothing serious.]
Life in the villa was peaceful and serene, and Qi Quan loved it here, as did Su Rong and Wang Hua.
Outside, however, the public was in an uproar over the news of "Wei Xu’s severe injury."
Yuan Qing was once again dragged into the spotlight and roasted over the flames.
Fans who sympathized with Wei Xu directed all their anger at Yuan Qing, flooding her social media with insults, calling her a jinx, a curse, and worse.
Fans of other male actors who had "suffered" in the past also joined the "righteous crusade," dredging up old grievances.
Some overzealous fans even tracked down Yuan Qing’s address and, taking advantage of living in the same neighborhood, splashed chicken blood on her front door.
Yet Yuan Qing remained silent.
Even the few rational voices defending her were drowned out by the tidal wave of vitriol.
Originally, this had nothing to do with Qi Quan, but there’s always someone who loves stirring the pot. A user named "Flying Heaven Lu Ma" tagged Qi Quan in a post.
[Flying Heaven Lu Ma: Lots of people are calling Yuan Qing a jinx. @White Water True Person, what’s your take on this?]
The system, monitoring the situation, was shocked.
[Who is this guy? Why tag you?]
To be honest, the "White Water True Person" account had very few followers—just some curious readers who stumbled upon it. No one actually took the account seriously as belonging to a genuine cultivator.
So this person’s sudden appearance was especially odd.
Qi Quan glanced at it casually and said: [Flying Heaven Lu Ma—a rare and expensive fate pattern. This person probably knows a bit about fortune-telling, happened to read my novel, thought I was spouting nonsense, and decided to mock me.]
[Even if he read your novel, aren’t there tons of supernatural stories out there? Why single you out?]
Qi Quan was certain: [He knows my real identity.]
The system had an epiphany: [That makes sense! His account has a decent following, and many of his posts are about divination and fortune-telling. He’s probably from the esoteric circles. So, great one, how will you respond?]
Though it asked, the system assumed Qi Quan would ignore it.
To its surprise, Qi Quan opened the app and replied with three words: [Not a jinx.]
The system was stunned. [Great one, you actually—]
[I’m just stating facts. Whether people believe it is their business.]
The system thought: The great one is all tough talk but soft-hearted—clearly trying to speak up for Yuan Qing.
Thanks to the traffic from "Flying Heaven Lu Ma’s" account and the frenzy of Wei Xu’s millions of fans, Qi Quan’s reply quickly went viral.
This struck a nerve with multiple fanbases.
How dare someone defend that jinx? Attack her!
The "White Water True Person" account’s follower count skyrocketed—though they were all haters, the numbers were real.
After that one reply, Qi Quan logged off, leaving the chaos behind without a second thought.
As for the person who tagged her—if they wanted to keep stirring trouble, their true colors would show eventually.
Qi Quan didn’t give it another thought.
The ignored "Flying Heaven Lu Ma" waited eagerly for Qi Quan’s next response. After two hours of silence, he slammed his mouse in frustration.
A message popped up in his group chat.
[Big Bro Fatty: School’s starting soon. When are you guys heading back?]
[2D Otaku: The campus Wi-Fi is slower than a clogged toilet. Home’s way better. Not looking forward to it.]
[Ning the Hero: Handling something right now. Might take a few days off.]
[Big Bro Fatty: @Chen Feilu, little bro, what about you?]
Chen Feilu’s eyes lit up, and he quickly messaged Ning Zhi privately: [Ning-ge, something weird happened near my place. Feels kinda supernatural.]
[Ning Zhi: Go on.]
[Chen Feilu: Someone here got hit with rapid aging. Hospitals couldn’t fix it, so they called in some "master" who cured them. Then two more people got it and were sent to the capital’s hospital. Heard they’re not doing well—they’re planning to find a top-tier master there.]
[Ning Zhi: Seriously?]
[Chen Feilu: You’re from the capital, right? Can you check it out? You’ve taught me a lot about the supernatural, but this? Never heard of it. Sounds like a tall tale. You’re the expert—can people really reverse aging?]
[Ning Zhi: I’ve heard of cases like this, but curing it is nearly impossible. It’s also super rare—almost extinct. How’d three pop up at once?]
[Chen Feilu: So it’s legit weird?]
[Ning Zhi: Gotta go. Talk later.]
After the chat, Chen Feilu was even more convinced.
If even Ning-ge said it was hard to cure, how could Qi Quan, the supposedly real daughter of the Qi family, have healed Zhang Chengyan so easily?
She’s way too young!
The Chen family, though not top-tier in Longjiang’s business world, was still wealthy and well-connected.
He’d stumbled upon The Diary of a Wealthy Family by chance.
In college, he’d met his roommate Ning Zhi and witnessed him wielding a peachwood sword to exorcise spirits. From then on, he idolized Ning Zhi, who taught him plenty about the supernatural.
Chen Feilu considered himself half an expert now. He could tolerate The Diary of a Wealthy Family as exaggerated fiction, but the author had to go and pretend to be some kind of celestial master.
The stuff about the Su family’s son, the nanny’s ghost, the factory’s dark energy—all nonsense!
He’d seen Su Linhai and visited the site himself. No ghosts, no dark energy.
He couldn’t refute it in the comments, and the "White Water True Person" account had no posts, leaving him frustrated. Seizing this chance, he impulsively tagged Qi Quan.
Now, with no reply, he pinned his hopes on Ning Zhi to expose the fraud once and for all.
In a mansion in Longjing City, Ning Zhi crossed the threshold and bumped into his uncle.
"Perfect timing. I just got a job but can’t take it. You handle it."
Ning Zhi frowned. "What job? No cheating-spouse cases."
"Not that. Two 'rapid aging' cases. If you won’t go, I’ll find someone else."
Ning Zhi’s brow twitched. What a coincidence.
"Fine, I’ll take it."
"Good. You’re the most talented in the family. If you can’t fix it, neither can I."
Ning Zhi: "..."
With elders shamelessly slacking off, the younger generation had no choice but to work harder to uphold the family’s reputation.
Longjing City First Hospital.
Du Jiaming and Yang Su shared a hospital room. Staring at each other’s deeply wrinkled faces, the former rivals temporarily set aside their grudges and spoke from the heart.
"Even the best hospital in the capital can't cure us. We might really be dying," Yang Su said, his eyes filled with despair.
Du Jiaming, however, remained calm in this critical moment. "Your dad and my dad went to find a master. They’ll definitely cure us."
"A master? Since when do you believe in that?"
Du Jiaming replied, "When Zhang Chengyan was hospitalized, who could’ve guessed he’d recover?"
"He was really cured by a master?" Yang Su was shocked. "I never thought Longjiang City had such a powerful master!"
"Have you even been keeping up with the novel updates?" Du Jiaming frowned in disdain.
Yang Su widened his eyes. "You still have the mind to read novels?!"
"'The Diary of a Wealthy Family'—it mentioned that Qi Quan was the one who cured Zhang Chengyan. I just confirmed it with Old Zhang. Think about it, doesn’t Old Zhang’s recovery and change of stance prove something?"
"Then let’s go back and find Qi Quan!"
"Are you stupid?" Du Jiaming scoffed. "How old is Qi Quan? If she could cure Old Zhang, surely the masters in the capital must be even more capable than her, right?"
Yang Su thought about it and nodded. "You’re right."
So the two of them lay back comfortably, waiting for the master to arrive.
Since childhood, no matter what trouble they caused, their families had always bailed them out. This time would be no different.
When Ning Zhi entered the hospital room, he saw two "old men" lying in bed, their expressions oddly serene.
It was strange. He had never seen terminally ill patients maintain such peace of mind. For a moment, he felt a surge of respect.
Behind him followed Father Du and Father Yang.
In Longjiang City, the Du and Yang families had extensive connections, but in the dragon-and-tiger den of Longjing City, they were like two drops of water in the ocean—utterly insignificant.
They had pulled strings with numerous business associates just to get in touch with the Ning family.
The Ning family was said to be an ancient lineage of metaphysics practitioners, with centuries of inherited knowledge—undoubtedly formidable.
Though Ning Zhi looked extremely young, the aura around him commanded respect.
Father Du asked respectfully, "Master Ning, can these two children be cured?"
Ning Zhi frowned as he examined them.
As the most talented exorcist of his generation in the Ning family, his foundation was solid, and he had handled many metaphysical cases. His experience allowed him to recognize at a glance that they had been afflicted with the "Peach Blossom Seal."
The Peach Blossom Seal was a long-lost forbidden technique—one that could bewitch the mind and drain a person’s vitality and fortune. It had been banned by the metaphysical community for ages.
He had only ever read about it in family records.
The records... mentioned a way to break the seal, but if it were that easy, why would it be forbidden?
There was one stringent condition:
The exorcist attempting to break the curse must be at least two cultivation levels above the caster. Otherwise, not only would the attempt fail, but the victims would suffer severe backlash.
This forbidden technique also imposed strict requirements on the caster’s cultivation level. An exorcist could gauge the caster’s strength by examining the Peach Blossom Seal.
The seals on these two had four petals, meaning the caster was at least a fourth-level exorcist. Practitioners below the third level couldn’t even cast such dark magic.
And Ning Zhi himself had only just reached the fourth level.
For his age, being a fourth-level exorcist was already considered highly gifted.
His family’s talents had dwindled over time. The highest-level exorcist in their clan was only sixth-level and currently in seclusion. No one else could solve this problem.
Ning Zhi took a deep breath and said regretfully, "I’m sorry. My abilities are insufficient to save them. You’ll have to seek help elsewhere."
Before coming, he had held onto a sliver of hope—maybe it wasn’t the Peach Blossom Seal, just some malevolent spirit causing rapid aging.
Du Jiaming and Yang Su instantly widened their eyes.
Was it really that difficult?!
Father Du quickly spoke up, "Master Ning, please wait. You haven’t even tried. How can you be so sure it’s incurable?"
"To be honest," Ning Zhi said earnestly, "this is my first time seeing something like this. I’ve only ever read about it. To save them, you’d need an exorcist at least two levels above me—and even if you found one, they might not be willing to help."
Father Yang didn’t understand. "Why not?"
It wasn’t like they couldn’t pay.
"Saving them would require an enormous expenditure of spiritual energy," Ning Zhi said solemnly. "In other words, curing one person would drain most of an exorcist’s power. Curing two would deplete their entire cultivation. The cost outweighs the gain."
Though cultivation could be regained through practice, in this day and age, few exorcists reached the sixth level. Everyone cherished their hard-earned power. What reward could compare to that?
"That can’t be!" Yang Su blurted out. "Are you just trying to scare us into paying more?"
Ning Zhi’s expression darkened. "Believe what you want."
"Wait," Father Du stopped him. "Is this truly that difficult to treat? Even the exorcists in Longjing City wouldn’t take the case?"
Ning Zhi was firm. "Yes."
"But I have a nephew whose condition was even worse than theirs—he wasn’t expected to last a day. Yet now he’s perfectly healthy."
Ning Zhi was skeptical, but then he recalled something Chen Feilu had told him. He asked, "Are you from Longjiang City?"
"Yes, why?" Father Yang was puzzled. What did geography have to do with it?
Ning Zhi pressed further, "Do you know the name of the master who treated him?"
If this was true, perhaps that nephew had stumbled upon an exceptionally skilled and benevolent exorcist. Such a senior was worth seeking out.
"Name?" Father Du shook his head.
He hadn’t read the novel and didn’t know which master the Zhang family had hired.
Du Jiaming suddenly spoke up. "Her name is Qi Quan."
"Qi?" Ning Zhi searched his memory but found no record of a senior with that surname.
"Come to think of it, she’s about your age, Master Ning. My friend was sent to her, and he recovered in no time."
Like Yang Su, Du Jiaming believed Ning Zhi was putting on airs. He wanted to provoke him by mentioning Qi Quan.
In his view, if Qi Quan could do it effortlessly, surely an exorcist from a prestigious capital family couldn’t possibly fail.
"Impossible!" Ning Zhi flatly denied. "Not even a sixth-level exorcist could do it. How could someone barely in their twenties break such a curse so easily?"
Either it was a rumor, or the person had never been afflicted with the Peach Blossom Seal to begin with.
Du Jiaming, seeing his dismissive attitude, grew furious. "Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t!"
"Jiaming!" Father Du glared at him.
Did he not realize exorcists weren’t to be trifled with?
Ning Zhi’s face was stern. "If you don’t believe me, go ask the Exorcist Association. Lives are at stake—I have no reason to lie. Goodbye."
He strode out of the hospital, then paused and dialed Chen Feilu’s number.
"Ning-ge?"
"Feilu, that 'rapid aging syndrome' you mentioned before—what exactly happened?"
Chen Feilu had already shared everything he knew. "I’ll send you a link to the novel. It mentions something about a 'Peach Blossom Seal.' I’ve never heard you talk about it, so it’s probably just made up."
"Peach Blossom Seal!" Ning Zhi grew increasingly puzzled by the situation. "Send me the link."
Chen Feilu forwarded it immediately.
The novel wasn't long, and he quickly reached the latest chapter, his frown deepening with each line.
"Peach Blossom Seal" was right—but could someone really break such a sinister curse so effortlessly? And a young woman at that, only twenty-two years old?
Ning Zhi found it hard to believe.
Perhaps he should make a trip to Longjiang City.
At the hospital, Father Du said to the two men, "We've exhausted every possible solution. Master Ning is someone we barely managed to connect with, and as for the Heavenly Master Association, we can't even find the door."
The implication was clear: they were left with no choice but to wait for death.
"Let's go home!" Yang Su immediately declared. "We'll find Qi Quan—she can save us!"
"That's right! If she could save Zhang Chengyan, she can definitely save us too!" Du Jiaming, usually composed, was now anything but calm.
Father Du and Father Yang exchanged glances. At this point, it was their only option.
As they packed their things, they contacted Father Zhang.
Upon hearing the news over the phone, Father Zhang was stunned. "Even the masters in Longjing City can't help? Is it really that difficult to cure? Then... then..."
Their family had gotten off far too lightly!
Seeing how effortlessly Master Qi had revived Zhang Chengyan, he had assumed the curse was easy to break. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that even the masters in the capital would refuse to take the case.
What incredible luck had befallen their family!
No—the compensation they'd given before was far too little. The thought filled him with unease.
He immediately dropped everything, gathered his wife and son, and returned to Lakeside Villa.
Qi Quan was meditating, so Su Rong received them in her stead.
"Mr. Su, we won't disturb the master. Please accept these on her behalf."
Father Zhang handed over several bank cards and had servants carry in an assortment of jade, porcelain, jewelry, and other valuables.
"That won't be necessary," Su Rong replied, knowing Qi Quan preferred clean transactions without lingering debts.
Mrs. Zhang quickly interjected, "Oh, but it is! The master expended so much effort to save our Chengyan—these are only what she deserves. Mr. Su, you look familiar—have we met before?"
She deftly changed the subject.
Su Rong: "..."
Wang Hua, floating nearby and invisible to the others, chuckled. "If only they knew the truth—it’d scare them half to death."
"We were blind before," Father Zhang pressed on. "We had no idea the master’s abilities were so profound. These are just small tokens of our gratitude. We sincerely hope she’ll accept them."
Su Rong raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden realization?"
Father Zhang sighed. "Mr. Su, you may not know this, but the Du and Yang families tried seeking help from masters in Longjing City. Yet even after consulting one—a renowned master from a prestigious Heavenly Master family—they were told there was no cure."
Su Rong understood now.
If even the top masters in the capital couldn’t handle it, the "Peach Blossom Seal" must be an exceptionally tricky affliction.
Zhang Chengyan’s current vitality, compared to the other two’s dire states, only underscored Qi Quan’s extraordinary skill.
No wonder the Zhangs were showering her with gifts.
Wait—if that was the case, had his own family’s compensation been too meager as well?
Unsure how to proceed with so many valuables, he was about to consult Qi Quan when her voice echoed in his mind: "Accept it."
The Zhangs were different from the Su family.
Though the Peach Blossom Seal hadn’t been a challenge for Qi Quan, it was still a rare and complex curse—no amount of payment would be excessive. The Su family had only needed a simple soul summoning, and now that Su Rong was her ghost attendant, tending to her daily needs, there was... a degree of personal consideration.
With Qi Quan’s approval, Su Rong accepted the gifts.
Father Zhang relaxed slightly and ventured cautiously, "Would the master be willing to take on other patients?"
"Just schedule an appointment in advance," Su Rong replied.
This was the rule at Lakeside Villa. Qi Quan wouldn’t turn away "patients," but from then on, anyone seeking her help would have to abide by her terms.
Father Zhang nodded eagerly. "Of course, of course!"
After the family left, Su Rong meticulously sorted through the gifts and discovered several high-quality peachwood pieces and even a few peachwood swords.
Peachwood repelled evil spirits, and ordinary ghosts would indeed fear it—but Su Rong had transcended the ordinary, so the wood posed no real threat.
The Zhangs had been thoughtful—Heavenly Masters often wielded peachwood swords.
Yet Su Rong had never seen Qi Quan use one.
Just as he was about to ask, a slender, pale hand reached into view.
The fingers brushed against a piece of peachwood, testing its texture before setting it down.
"Good quality. Take them all to my room."
"Yes."
With time to spare, Qi Quan carved a few peachwood talismans, etching intricate arrays into them for future use.
The villa’s phone suddenly rang.
"Hello, Lakeside Villa," Su Rong answered, his tone polite but distant.
"Brother!" Su Nuanuan’s cheerful voice rang out. "It’s me!"
Su Rong’s expression softened. "What is it?"
"My eighteenth birthday is in two days, and I’m throwing a party. Can you and Sister Quan come?"
Su Rong longed to reunite with his family but needed Qi Quan’s consent first. "Let me get back to you, alright?"
"Okay, I’ll wait for your call!"
Qi Quan spent the afternoon carving talismans, and Su Rong didn’t disturb her until dinner.
After a moment’s thought, Qi Quan said, "We’ll go."
Though she disliked crowds, Su Nuanuan’s birthday would undoubtedly draw Longjiang City’s elite—young talents included. A certain Miss Qin wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity.
Having lost Du, Yang, and Zhang as pawns, she’d surely be hunting for new, higher-quality replacements.
This was precisely the kind of spectacle Qi Quan enjoyed observing.
As expected, Qin Ruo saw the event as her golden chance.
The Su family ranked among Longjiang City’s most influential, and nearly every prominent household would attend—including the Songs and the Qis.
She wasn’t worried about running into Zhang Chengyan or the other two at the party. Even if Zhang Chengyan’s curse was broken and he now despised her, the Zhangs wouldn’t dare make a scene at the Su family’s event.
As for the other two, they were probably still waiting to die.
The expert who’d saved Zhang Chengyan wouldn’t have the energy to rescue them anytime soon.
With Qi Yuan protecting her and her own cultivation to rely on, she had nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, Du Jiaming and Yang Su sat in their car, both sneezing in unison.
"Do you think Qi Quan might refuse to help us?" Yang Su muttered nervously.
Du Jiaming shared his unease but kept his composure. "We’ve already made an appointment—she wouldn’t back out now, would she?"
Yang Su: "Why not? Remember that trip we took to Lingxu Temple?"
"What about it?"
"The more I think about it, the weirder it seems. We’d been there before—why did all three of us keep tripping that day? And if Qi Quan really is a master, wouldn’t she have known someone was tailing her with ill intentions?"
"Yikes—"
Du Jiaming shuddered at the realization.
Goosebumps prickled his skin as panic set in. "Then what do we do?"
"Kneel and beg for forgiveness?"
Du Jiaming: "..."
The car pulled into Lakeside Villa and stopped at the entrance.
With Father Du and Father Yang supporting their sons, Su Rong guided them to the treatment room.
"Family members, please follow me to the side hall to wait," Su Rong instructed. "The two patients will remain here."
Du Jiaming and Yang Su sat nervously in their chairs, their anxiety palpable.
A moment later, someone entered the treatment room. Without hesitation, the two men dropped to their knees, their aged faces lined with wrinkles, and pleaded desperately, "Master, we beg you to save our wretched lives!"
Qi Quan: "…"
