Chapter 27 Part 2: The Curse Beneath the Red Cloth

His energy was so limited.

Speaking and reacting consumed a great deal of it.

 

After placing Xiao Jia on the sofa, the two quickly composed themselves.

Xiao Jia’s mother walked to Qianyang and started to kneel.

 

Qianyang caught her in a flash, and Yang Mao also stopped Xiao Jia’s father, who was about to kneel.

“You don’t need to do that,” Yang Mao said, already familiar with Qianyang’s style.

“My master will help you, but not for free.”

“Master, how much money do you need?

Name your price.

If I have it, I’ll give you everything!”

“We, we have about sixty million, including our property and company.

I can transfer all of it to you!

Please, you must save Xiao Jia!”

 

– Damn.

– This is really good.

– I want to learn this too.

Help others, accumulate merit for myself, and make a ton of money.

– The twenty-one billion compensation was easily dealt with.

– Sixty million, AHHHHH!

– Sigh, if Xiao Jia hadn’t encountered this, their family of three would be so happy.

– Yeah, and the child is so sensible.

 

Qianyang said, “As agreed earlier, twenty thousand is fine.”

 

– …

– Oh right, that was agreed with Auntie Wang at the beginning.

– A sweet little one with a beautiful heart and beautiful face.

Love her.

– Who’s going to pay that money?

That Wang person?

– Didn’t she say she’d pay if he was cured?

– Forget it… such a bad person, her money is dirty.

 

“T-twenty thousand?”

The couple stared at Qianyang in disbelief.

“No, absolutely not.

You saved our child’s life.

Twenty thousand is too little!”

 

Qianyang didn’t care.

She picked up the longevity lock, examined it closely, and said casually, “You can give whatever you want.

But if it’s too much, I won’t accept it.”

 

Seeing Qianyang so indifferent to money, treating it like dirt, they hesitated.

“Master, what about… ten million?”

 

Qianyang: “?”

 

– Satisfying.

– (Quietly) I didn’t dare say it, but I also thought twenty thousand was a bit low.

– This is the correct way to ask for help!

Within what you can give, give the most appropriate amount!

– Sob sob, I’m sad for Xiao Jia, but also drooling over that ten million.

– I’ve decided!

I won’t miss a single one of the streamer’s future streams!

I want to become an occult disciple too!

– To be honest, I’ve already learned the Object-Locating Art from the first stream (though I can only use it within three meters).

 

Yang Mao was stunned by the astronomical figure.

A few hours of outdoor streaming, a net profit of ten million??

His pathetic salary would take five hundred months!

“Too high,” Qianyang refused, shaking her head.

“Two million.”

Any lower, and they wouldn’t feel right.

Any higher, and Qianyang couldn’t accept it.

 

– Damn, I can’t do this streaming job.

– Me neither.

When he said ten million, I immediately agreed.

– Exactly.

– To be honest, the streamer’s goal is to accumulate merit and gather believers, not to make money.

Ten million is indeed ridiculous.

 

Yang Mao glanced at the comments and didn’t dare mention how the twenty-one billion compensation was being settled, with her even earning an extra four hundred million.

“Master, what should we do?

What do you need us to do?”

Xiao Jia’s father asked.

 

Qianyang said, “First, find that child and return the longevity lock to him.”

 

Yang Mao was taken aback.

“Doesn’t that mean confronting Wang Yong face to face?”

“Yes.”

 

Since Wang Yong had hidden the longevity lock in the bedroom wall, he would naturally recognize it and wouldn’t let his own child take it.

So they had to go to him themselves.

But confronting him directly—who knew how that would play out?

 

After a moment of silence, the couple asked, “Master, if we get Xiao Jia’s soul back, what about that child?

What will happen to him?”

 

Qianyang said, “He will return to what he originally was.”

 

Once the life he “borrowed” was taken back, he would naturally return to his original fate.

 

– Wait, there are over two hundred thousand people in the stream.

What if someone tips off the bad guys?

– Right!

Oh no, Auntie Wang has already seen Qianyang.

What if they just take the child and run?

– Sigh, we shouldn’t have streamed.

The enemy is in the dark while we’re in the light.

So passive.

– AHHH, no!

Xiao Jia finally has a chance to recover!

 

Yang Mao also noticed this and frowned.

“Master, what if that family is watching the stream right now?”

 

Qianyang glanced at the items in the red cloth, unruffled.

“Finding someone isn’t hard for me.

And we have his child’s baby hair and longevity lock.

In other words, his child’s life is in my hands.”

 

Qianyang raised her eyes, and beneath her calm expression was an indescribable fierceness.

“If they have the guts, let them try to run.”

 

Xiao Jia’s mother stayed home to watch the child, in case of accidents.

Xiao Jia’s father asked neighbors upstairs and downstairs to keep an eye out, to prevent anyone from coming to harm his wife and child.

The couple usually got along well with others.

After Xiao Jia got sick, they often interacted with the neighbors, worried about disturbing them.

Their relationships were quite good.

After roughly understanding the situation, the neighbors all said they wouldn’t let anyone near their door.

 

With Xiao Jia’s father leading the way, Qianyang and the others headed to Wang Yong’s house.

Fortunately, since the two families had a good relationship, his house was nearby.

They arrived in just a few steps.

“Ding dong—”

“Ding dong—”

The doorbell rang.

A moment later, the security door was pulled open.

From the bright, spacious living room came the cheerful music of a cartoon.

A little boy sat on the sofa, giggling.

 

Auntie Wang looked at the door, surprised, then snorted.

“Oh?

Look who’s here.

Our white-eyed wolf?”

“Second Uncle!”

The little boy heard the voice and nimbly jumped off the sofa.

“Second Uncle, what brings you here?

Where’s Second Aunt?” the little boy asked with a smile.

 

Looking at the bouncing, innocent, cute little boy in front of him, Xiao Jia’s father’s expression wavered.

 

Auntie Wang snorted.

“So?

Did you cure Xiao Jia?

You came at a good time.

I just put the rice in the pot.

Come in.”

 

Xiao Jia’s father said stiffly, “Where’s Wang Yong?

I need to see him.”

“I’m here.”

 

Just then, a man walked out of the bedroom.

He stood expressionlessly in the hallway, looking coldly at the three.

He seemed unsurprised.

 

Xiao Jia’s father looked at him, and bloodshot veins instantly appeared in his eyes.

His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists, as if desperately suppressing his anger.

 

Qianyang reminded, “Let’s go.”

“Second Uncle…”

The little boy didn’t understand what was happening, only feeling that Second Uncle was different from usual, not paying any attention to him.

 

Auntie Wang’s eyes flickered between the two.

She made a strange face and muttered, “What’s up with you two?”

“Whatever you need to say, say it quickly!”

“Really, bringing two frauds into the house…”

 

They tacitly didn’t reveal anything in front of Auntie Wang and the little boy, and went into the room with Wang Yong.

 

– Strange.

Auntie Wang seems unaware?

– Huh?

I thought she purposely brought them to watch the show!

– She wanted to watch the show, sure, but maybe she also wanted to help a bit?

– She probably didn’t know.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought Qianyang.

– Better safe than sorry.

– Looking at this little boy, I have mixed feelings.

– …I can’t say he’s innocent, but he hasn’t done anything wrong either.

– AHHH, Second Uncle ignoring him made him sad.

– I can only say his dad is a piece of trash.

Everything is his dad’s fault.

– Right, the only one deserving to die is his dad!

– Wang Yong probably knows, right?

His expression doesn’t look right.

 

Following Wang Yong into a bedroom, Yang Mao was the last one in.

As he turned to close the door, he heard a crashing sound.

He turned back in shock and saw Wang Yong kicked to the ground by Qianyang, a gleaming sharp knife in his hand.

“Holy shit?!”

Yang Mao exclaimed.

 

But the next moment, Wang Yong lunged again, stabbing the knife toward Xiao Jia’s father’s chest.

“Watch out!”

 

Before the words faded, Qianyang spun and kicked his wrist.

His grip loosened, and the knife flew away.

“I won’t let you hurt my son!!”

Wang Yong shouted angrily.

 

Yang Mao quickly covered the camera.

If any bloody incident happened, it would be bad.

 

– Holy shit?!!

– He actually dared to attack with a knife?!

– He’s deliberately trying to kill!

– Damn, wait to go to jail!

– In broad daylight, in front of the camera, he dares to act so recklessly?!

– Senior Disciple Brother!!!

Why are you covering the camera!

 

Yang Mao stammered, “The stream will get banned!”

 

Xiao Jia’s father could no longer contain himself.

His eyes bloodshot, veins bulging at his temples, he raised his fist and lunged at Wang Yong.

“Wang Yong!!!”

“How dare you do this to Xiao Jia?

Haven’t I been good to you?

Huh?!”

“When have I ever treated you badly?

When have I ever done anything to wrong you?”

“Do you have any shame?

Do you have a conscience?

You watched us struggle to that point for Xiao Jia…

How dare you?!

Why?!”

 

He must have been consumed with hatred.

His fists kept hitting Wang Yong’s face.

 

Wang Yong stopped resisting.

He sat on the floor expressionlessly, letting the rain of punches land on his face.

“Where have I wronged you?

Where has Xiao Jia wronged you?

Where have we wronged you?!

Tell me!”

 

Xiao Jia’s father was furious, each punch landing solidly.

Blood began to flow from Wang Yong’s nose.

 

Wang Yong kept his eyes down, numbly letting him hit him.

“Tell me… tell me… why did you do this to Xiao Jia…”

Xiao Jia’s father’s fists gradually lost their strength.

He was almost breaking down, tears and snot streaming down his face.

“I treated you like my own brother… why did you do this to me…”

“If you wanted my life, why hurt Xiao Jia… he was only four years old then…”

 

Hearing Xiao Jia’s father’s sobs, Wang Yong, his face swollen and bruised, covered in blood, said calmly, “You’re used to Xiao Jia being like that, aren’t you?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father shuddered, looking at him in disbelief, his tears stopping.

 

Wang Yong continued, “Since he’s already like that, what difference does it make?

You won’t care about anything, won’t ask anything.

From now on, we’ll still be good brothers.

I’ll treat Xiao Jia as my own child.

Xiao Qi will treat you as his own parents.

We’ll still be a family.

Isn’t that good?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father’s eyes widened, as if he had heard the most absurd thing.

He stared motionlessly at the man he had once been as close as a brother to, until his body began to tremble.

“You… how can you say such a thing?

How can you…”

“Wang Yong, you disgust me.”

 

– So disgusting.

– How can there be such a disgusting person in the world?

– I want to vomit.

He wants the victim to pretend nothing happened and continue the happy charade?

– Your child is a human being.

Aren’t other people’s children human beings?

– Oh my god…

I’ve seen everything now.

– Who wants to be family with you?

Disgusting.

 

Qianyang looked coldly at the man on the floor.

“Who taught you to do this?”

 

Such a vicious method was beyond the reach of ordinary occult disciples.

Qianyang wanted to know which piece of trash had used occult arts to help a beast harm others.

 

Wang Yong narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

The corners of his torn mouth lifted.

“Aren’t you so capable?

Guess.”

“Then guess this: since he could borrow Xiao Jia’s life, can I borrow your son’s?”

 

At the mention of his son, Wang Yong’s expression indeed changed a few times.

After a moment of silence, Wang Yong took something out of his pocket.

“He said you’d understand after seeing this.”

 

Qianyang looked at the object in his hand—a folded yellow talisman paper with some kind of pattern drawn on the back.

“Apprentice, streaming time is almost up,” Qianyang said.

“Huh?

Okay…”

Yang Mao, though confused, followed her instructions and turned off the stream.

 

– Huh??

– No!

– I don’t need to see it, just let me listen!

– Don’t turn off the stream!

 

Yang Mao ended the stream without further ado.

 

Qianyang reached out and took the talisman paper.

The moment her fingertip touched it, she felt a sharp sting.

A drop of blood emerged and merged into the paper.

As if feeling nothing, Qianyang brought the talisman paper to her face and let out a mocking laugh.

“…The Hundred-Claw Heart-Piercing Curse?”

“What?!”

Yang Mao was shocked.

“He dared to…”

 

Wang Yong’s expression visibly froze.

“You know?

Why did you still take it?

He said the person cursed would…”

“A hundred claws piercing the heart, unbearable pain?”

Qianyang was smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

 

Whether it was an illusion or not, looking at his master’s smiling profile, at the moment her eyes lowered, Yang Mao felt a chill.

“Master!

Are you okay?”

Xiao Jia’s father’s expression changed.

“Wang Yong, are you crazy?

Why are you harming innocent people?!”

“Master, are you okay?”

Yang Mao also asked worriedly.

“I’m fine.”

Qianyang twirled the talisman paper, as if nothing was wrong.

“It’s just… someone using the Heart-Piercing Curse on me for the first time… it’s a little… unpleasant.”

“How is that possible…

How can you be completely fine?!”

Wang Yong looked at her incredulously.

“Did the curse fail?”

“No.”

Qianyang brought the talisman paper to her eyes.

With her right hand, she pressed her index and middle fingers together and drew a few light strokes in the air.

The air around the talisman paper visibly stagnated for a moment.

 

Then, her eyes curved, and she said softly, “When I speak nicely, you don’t listen, do you?”

 

She flicked the hand holding the talisman paper, and it spontaneously ignited!

 

As the ashes fell to the ground, Wang Yong stared blankly.

The next moment, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a hand.

Then, an unbearable itch spread through his limbs, like a million ants crawling over his body, converging on his heart.

“Ah…”

He clutched his heart, his face instantly losing all color.

“Ah!”

 

Clutching his heart, he was in extreme agony.

His face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead.

He curled up on the ground, his fingers clawing frantically, hoping to relieve the torment of a hundred claws piercing his heart.

“Ah…”

 

Wang Yong struggled like a dying fish, sweat dripping from his temples in large drops.

He was in the utmost agony.

He wished he could cut open his chest to relieve the unbearable itch.

 

The two in the room were terrified by the scene.

One moment, he had been full of life; the next, he seemed on the edge of death.

“Thud—”

Just then, a muffled sound came from the next room.

 

Qianyang was giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Naturally, whoever had cast the curse would also suffer.

 

Qianyang looked down at the man on the floor and said softly, “He’s next door?”

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