Chapter 26 Part 2: A Fate Worse Than Death

Qianyang pressed her lips slightly, signaling Xiao Jia’s father to comfort her.

 

Having witnessed his son responding to Qianyang’s words, Xiao Jia’s father’s doubts were now replaced by hope.

He immediately pulled his wife to his side and comforted her softly.

 

Qianyang said, “After losing a soul, compared to words, he is actually more sensitive to your emotions.”

“For the past three years, he has fully felt your pain, which is why he has completely shut himself off.”

 

Xiao Jia’s parents’ eyes were red.

“Master, what should we do…”

 

Qianyang said, “With your current state of mind, you’re not helping his situation.

Even if I retrieve the soul he lost, he will need a long time to recover.”

“If you remain pessimistic, he may never walk out that door for the rest of his life.”

 

– When my oldest was two, he was completely inseparable from me.

He followed me everywhere, not letting me eat, not letting me use the bathroom, not letting me do anything.

He needed my attention on him at all times.

I was very impatient and often got angry at him, and he often cried.

– I had no choice but to see a psychologist.

The doctor told me that it was actually my behavior affecting his behavior, making him feel like I couldn’t be without him.

The reason he cried so much was because he sensed my negative emotions.

Later, I tried to restrain myself, not worrying about everything he did, not losing my temper in front of him, and he gradually stopped clinging to me.

– That’s right.

Don’t think children are too young to understand.

They can actually sense adults’ emotions.

– Xiao Jia must have felt his parents’ emotions and become even more withdrawn.

– His parents also became more pessimistic and exhausted after repeated futile attempts.

 

Having finally seen a glimmer of hope, Xiao Jia’s parents no longer doubted Qianyang’s words.

“Then, then what should we do?”

Xiao Jia’s mother asked.

 

Qianyang said, “At the very least, make him feel that everything is normal, including himself.”

“Apprentice, come here.

See if he responds to your words.”

“Okay!”

 

Yang Mao came to the bedside, holding his phone with one hand and waving the other in front of Xiao Jia’s face.

“Little guy, there are many big brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts in this phone who want to say hello to you.

Give us a smile!”

 

Even though they knew Xiao Jia couldn’t see the comments, the viewers still flooded the screen with greetings.

 

– Hello there, little one!

– Wow, so cute!

Auntie wants to kiss you!

– The weather is beautiful today.

The sun is out.

Let’s go fly a kite!

– Hehe, my complete set of Ultraman figures can be yours.

– Your SpongeBob pajamas are super cute!

– Xiao Jia, Xiao Jia, what do you want to be when you grow up?

– Hey!

In ten years, you’ll be taking the college entrance exam.

Hurry up and start cramming!

– Damn… is there a human there?

Putting pressure on a good little kid right away.

 

After about ten seconds, Xiao Jia’s eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly lifted his eyes.

Though he didn’t smile, it was enough to show he had reacted to Yang Mao’s words.

 

It seemed that since losing his soul, no one had spoken to him in a normal tone anymore, and no one had patiently waited for his reaction.

 

Gradually, he had stopped reacting altogether.

“Xiao Jia… really reacted…”

A smile broke out on Xiao Jia’s mother’s face.

“He can still get better…”

 

Qianyang said, “The first priority is to get your own emotions in order.”

 

Xiao Jia’s father’s expression was solemn as he nodded.

“Master, we understand.”

“Yes.

Yang Mao, open the windows, but don’t open the curtains yet,” Qianyang said.

 

Xiao Jia’s situation needed to be taken step by step, gradually.

 

Now that they knew he could still react, things would be much simpler.

 

Hearing her words, Yang Mao went behind the curtains and opened the windows on both sides.

 

The morning had arrived.

It was a perfect time for the rising sun.

 

Qianyang bent down, looking into his dull, vacant eyes, and said, “The sunlight is beautiful today.

Let me show you.”

 

He didn’t want to go out to fly a kite because he knew it would make his parents sad.

 

He didn’t want to see the sun or leave his room because he thought his parents would take him for treatment, treat him like a monster, and that would also make them sad.

 

It wasn’t that he couldn’t; it was that he was afraid of hurting his parents.

 

The wind outside blew the curtains, making them dance in the air.

 

Xiao Jia’s gaze seemed to flicker.

The curtains brought alternating light and shadow, dappling his overly pale face.

 

His pale lips parted slightly.

“Yang Mao, open the curtains,” Qianyang said.

 

The curtains covering most of the window were pulled aside.

The morning sun pierced through the mist, completely dispelling the darkness inside.

 

The clear, warm morning light, carrying the mist in the air, fell upon Xiao Jia.

 

Suddenly exposed to sunlight, he appeared even more dazed.

 

The direct sunlight enveloped him, carrying the chill of winter.

 

Xiao Jia lowered his gaze, looking at the golden sunlight spilling over the blanket.

His fingers twitched unconsciously.

 

The few people in the room held their breath, letting him feel it on his own.

After a long moment, the long-lost sunlight warmed his body.

 

Gradually, he began to move!

 

His neck, stiff as wood, slowly turned toward the window.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother gasped, gripping her husband’s arm tightly to ease the indescribable excitement in her heart.

 

Xiao Jia’s father also clenched his jaw, his eyes red.

 

Finally, when his vacant gaze shifted to the window, sunlight flooded his entire face and flowed into his eyes, instantly adding a spark of life.

It was as if, in an instant, he had transformed from a piece of wood into a real person.

 

– AHHHHH!

He moved!

He moved!

– Sob sob, I don’t know why, but I want to cry.

This little one must have been in so much pain these three years.

– Although Auntie Wang’s intentions weren’t good, because of her, Xiao Jia has a chance to recover.

 

Xiao Jia looked at the falling sunlight, and the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted slightly.

 

Yang Mao stood by the window, in the best position to see his expression clearly.

 

At that moment, he gripped his phone tightly, his palms sweating.

 

He watched as, bathed in the sunlight, the wooden little boy came back to life, a smile slowly curving his lips.

 

Under the sunlight, it became an incredibly vivid smile.

 

– Oh my god…

– Sob sob, I can’t hold it in anymore.

Completely can’t.

– He smiled!

He clearly loves the sun!

– Little Xiao Jia, get well soon.

Let’s go fly kites on the grassland together!

– I can’t take it.

I really can’t take it.

– Why do I cry like a dog every time I watch Qianyang’s stream?

 

Xiao Jia’s mother, seeing this, could no longer contain herself.

She had to rush out the door, sobbing quietly where Xiao Jia couldn’t see.

 

This was the first time in three years that Xiao Jia had smiled.

 

It was as if the lively, adorable child from his early years had returned.

 

Xiao Jia’s father also stood frozen in place.

“Mom…

Mom…”

 

Barely audible, Xiao Jia seemed to have made a sound.

 

Even though the walls were covered in soundproofing foam, Xiao Jia’s mother, who had collapsed in the hallway just a wall away from the room, still heard those two words.

“Mom…

Mom…”

“Kite… fly…”

“Kite… fly…”

 

The man could no longer bear it.

His right hand pressed tightly over his eyes, tears pouring out uncontrollably.

His chin, covered in stubble, was clenched tight, trying hard to suppress any sound.

“Dad…

Mom…”

“Kite… fly.”

 

He slowly lay back on the bed, slowly closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

“Master, is Xiao Jia okay?”

Yang Mao asked nervously.

 

Qianyang said, “He’s fine.

Having lost a soul, he should be drowsy.”

 

– Sob sob, fly a kite.

When you get better, Mom and Dad will fly kites with you for sure!

– Auntie can fly kites with you too.

– I can make many, many beautiful kites.

Would you like me to give them all to you?

– Baby, rest well.

We’ll be waiting for you to get better.

 

Qianyang closed the bedroom window and pulled the curtains halfway, then brought everyone back to the living room.

 

After confirming Xiao Jia’s condition, it was time to address other matters.

“Master, thank you… really, thank you so much…”

Xiao Jia’s mother was in tears, almost kneeling to Qianyang.

“Master, I’m sorry.

I never imagined you could actually make Xiao Jia speak.

Rest assured, as long as you can cure Xiao Jia, I will give you anything you want, even if it means losing everything!”

Xiao Jia’s father said.

 

Qianyang’s expression didn’t ease.

“Although I completely understand your feelings, I hope you can pull yourselves together immediately and listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

 

The two dared not be careless anymore.

They quickly wiped each other’s tears, sat up straight, and looked at her with both nervousness and anticipation.

 

Qianyang spoke gravely.

“Have you ever offended anyone?”

 

The two froze for a few seconds, looking at each other.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother hesitated. “Master, what do you mean?

Off… offended anyone?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father said, “Before Xiao Jia got sick, our business was going very smoothly.

As businessmen, I’m sure you understand, we don’t easily offend people.

Moreover, we’ve always treated others well.

We’ve helped relatives and friends when they encountered difficulties.

How could we have offended anyone?”

 

Qianyang frowned.

“If everything goes smoothly for you, your family is happy, and you have good relationships with relatives and friends, wouldn’t that invite jealousy?”

 

The two were stunned, looking at each other in confusion.

 

– As the saying goes, no one wants you to be better off than them except your parents.

– Not necessarily.

Some parents are jealous too.

– …Living too happily really does invite jealousy.

– The closer the acquaintance, the easier the jealousy.

Most people don’t care if someone completely unrelated is doing well.

– Is the streamer suggesting… someone set this up?

– Holy shit?!

– That’s terrifying?!

 

Xiao Jia’s parents gradually understood, and their expressions grew uglier.

“Master, are you saying that someone did something to us, causing Xiao Jia to become like this?”

Xiao Jia’s father asked in a low voice.

“Yes,” Qianyang replied.

“…Why?”

Xiao Jia’s mother murmured in despair.

“Why… why do this to us?”

“Even if, even if we accidentally offended someone, why couldn’t they come after us?

Why target Xiao Jia?

He was only four years old then…”

“Who… who is it… why…”

 

Xiao Jia’s father stared silently at the floor.

“Master, you said before that there’s something wrong with our house?”

“That’s right.”

Qianyang looked around the room.

“Is the layout standard for the complex?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father shook his head.

“No.

When we renovated, we knocked down everything except the load-bearing walls and redesigned the layout.”

 

Hearing this, Xiao Jia’s mother looked up in a daze.

“The house… the layout is a problem?”

“There are major problems with the layout.

The balcony overhang blocks yang energy from entering; the sealed interior prevents yin energy from escaping.”

“Hiss…”

Yang Mao seemed to remember something.

“Master, I recall you saying this is the kind of place…

Junior Apprentice Sister likes best?”

 

Qianyang pressed her lips.

“That’s right.

This place has extreme yin and declining yang.”

 

The couple was dumbfounded, unable to grasp the meaning.

 

Yang Mao continued, “Then why did I sense nothing wrong?

There are no ghosts here.”

 

Qianyang said, “You’re not wrong.

There are indeed no other ghosts here.”

“Why is that, Master?”

 

Qianyang looked at the still-damp beer stains on the balcony floor.

“Because they are blocked by the ‘Three-Person Family’ plaque.”

 

The couple realized belatedly, speaking in disbelief.

“Master, someone deliberately designed the house this way, to keep yang energy out and yin energy in, and then used the ‘Three-Person Family’ plaque to keep other dirty things out?”

“Yes.

Where did the plaque come from?”

Qianyang asked.

“…A friend gave it to us,” Xiao Jia’s mother murmured.

“The house… the renovation blueprints were also given by that friend,” Xiao Jia’s father said, his face ashen, faint veins bulging on his forehead.

“That plaque must be made of locust wood, with cinnabar characters.

It repels yang and locks in yin.”

Qianyang’s expression was grave.

“This method is extremely malicious.

The two of you come and go, and your own yang energy can still resist.

But Xiao Jia is young, his yang energy naturally weak.

If he stays here long-term, his soul will inevitably be corroded by the yin energy and dispersed here.”

“What?!”

 

Hearing this, the couple was horrified.

“Dispersed here?!”

 

– Wow…

– Yang can’t come in, yin can’t get out.

How is this place any different from a coffin?

– Locust wood and cinnabar used together??

– How great must the hatred be to use such a vicious method on a child?

– Too terrifying, right?

– Sounds like the friend did it intentionally?

Oh my god, you never really know someone.

– Wait, even if the adults had a conflict, why not target the adults directly?

That’s way too much.

– Who, exactly, is it!

I want to drown them in spit!

– Xiao Jia’s soul is dispersed?!!!

 

“Master, don’t scare us.

Didn’t you say Xiao Jia lost his soul?

How, how could it be dispersed?!”

 

Qianyang thought for a moment.

“Without other measures, his soul would certainly have dispersed by now.

But the person who did this doesn’t seem to want him dead.”

 

The couple’s faces did not improve.

They stared at her, pale.

“Master, what exactly is going on?

If he doesn’t want Xiao Jia dead, why do this?”

 

Qianyang pondered.

“Perhaps he thinks Xiao Jia is young and doesn’t want him to die.

Or perhaps he just doesn’t want you to escape this gloom.

Xiao Jia alive is an endless torment for you.

If Xiao Jia died, you would be devastated, but at least you wouldn’t be living like this, in pain and the despair of a hopeless future.”

 

Hearing these words, the couple froze completely.

 

Undeniably.

 

If he didn’t want Xiao Jia dead, was it really better to keep him alive in a state worse than death?

 

The person behind this clearly just didn’t want them to have any release.

 

He wanted them to live forever in the shadows.

 

What kind of deep grudge could drive someone to such madness?

 

– So despicable.

– He wanted to make their lives miserable forever.

– Killing would be a mercy.

Prolonged torment is the true cruelty.

– The worst part is, the law can’t punish this.

– So disgusting…

Even if we find the person behind it, can’t we do anything to them?

– Absolutely vile!

If you have this ability, why not help people in need like the streamer and earn some money?

Why do something that harms both others and yourself?

– Doing this to a little child—you deserve to die!

 

Qianyang walked to the wall outside Xiao Jia’s bedroom.

Looking at the soundproofing foam covering the wall, she took a small pair of scissors from her cloth bag, cut an opening, and tore down all the foam on that section.

“Master?”

Yang Mao looked at her in confusion.

 

Qianyang bent her fingers and knocked back and forth on the wall.

 

After a moment, as if sensing something, she stopped her fingers at the center of the wall, pressed her ear against it, and knocked a few more times.

 

Then she turned to the three, pointing at the spot she had knocked.

“There’s something inside here.

It should be related to the soul he lost.”

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