Chapter 4

For a moment, everyone’s eyes moved to the object—a small, crude, flat statue, roughly five centimeters tall.

Seeing the statue, a flicker of guilt crossed Mr. Li’s face, yet his body continued to struggle wildly, out of his control. Yun Zouchuan applied a bit more pressure. Seeing he could only flail his limbs helplessly without breaking free, she stopped bothering. If she accidentally broke his ribs, this job might end up costing them instead of earning.

Li Xiuya stared in shock at the burst remains of her own pillow. “How could this be inside my pillow? How come I didn’t know?”

“You should ask Mr. Li,” Zhu Ming said. “It seems your husband wasn’t aware he was also being affected. But now that he understands the severity, I think there’s no need to hide it any longer—unless he plans on fully becoming this thing’s host.”

The sheer terror of having his body move uncontrollably was fully evident from the rivers of cold sweat pouring down Mr. Li’s forehead.

Avoiding his wife’s gaze, Mr. Li stammered, “I… before, on a business trip, I heard there was a very effective spirit medium locally. I went to ask for a protective charm. Honey, I had no idea this thing was so weird!”

“If it was meant to bring peace and safety, why didn’t you tell Miss Li?” Zhu Ming extended the Crowbar towards Mr. Li. He strained, his hand reaching desperately for the statue, only to keep falling just short.

She scrutinized the statue with a half-smile, analyzing it. “Pottery, human head, snake body, female characteristics. In our ancient Huan folk legends, snake-related spirits and deities are often associated with fertility and sexuality. The most famous one is called Nüwa, the very ancestor who created humans. Miss Li told me she’s been having intimate dreams recently and experiencing strange intimate contact in reality with Mr. Li. The answer should be self-evident.”

The more Zhu Ming spoke, the worse both Li Xiuya and Mr. Li’s expressions grew.

Mr. Li stubbornly insisted, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Wife, believe me! How could I use such shady stuff?”

Zhu Ming said, “Don’t rush. I’m not done analyzing. Considering the events between you two, traditional beliefs, and the fact that Mr. Li didn’t want to tell anyone, could it be because—”

Mr. Li held his breath.

Zhu Ming: “Because Mr. Li suffers from impotence and could only seek treatment through unconventional means!”

His breath catching, Mr. Li nearly choked. Humiliated and angry, he shouted, “Enough! This is slander! I am NOT impotent! The statue was for another purp—” His voice trailed off. Dejectedly, he admitted, “Fine. I’ll tell the truth. Honey, I just heard that putting this under the pillow would bless a couple with many children and much fortune… I know you didn’t want kids. The spirit medium told me this could change your mind.”

Li Xiuya’s expression had turned utterly terrible. “We’ve been married for ten years. We agreed from the start to be DINKs. No wonder… no wonder you were arguing with me about this right before your business trip, and then dropped it when you came back.”

Mr. Li cried out anxiously, “Is it strange that I want a child at my age? But I truly didn’t mean to hurt you! How could I know this thing was so evil?!”

Zhu Ming clicked her tongue. Men, oh men. Their ego in certain areas practically rivals the sky. He’d rather confess than let anyone doubt his sexual prowess for a second. It was rather laughable.

She interrupted the two of them: “Miss Li, Mr. Li, the main issue right now isn’t whether you want a child, but this statue. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take it away for disposal.”

Although furious at her husband for causing this mess, Li Xiuya wasn’t heartless enough to leave him under the control of an evil object—plus, it was dangerous for her too. “But what about him?”

Zhu Ming: “Don’t worry. Once the statue is dealt with, he’ll return to normal. After that, he just needs to bathe his body daily in Scorching Yang Energy, absorb the Purple Qi from the East, Vajra Southern Sun, and Golden Crow Tail Light, receive Xihe’s Blessing, and cultivate the Golden Wheel Halo. Naturally, over time, the evil energy will dissipate, and he’ll be healthy and strong.”

Li Xiuya was baffled. “What does that mean?”

Yun Zouchuan: “Get plenty of sunlight.”

Li Xiuya: “…”

It was three in the morning, and the thunderstorm still raged. It was hard to get a taxi at this hour. Zhu Ming said, “Tonight isn’t suitable for disposing of the statue. A-Zou and I will stay with you tonight and leave at dawn.”

Li Xiuya was endlessly grateful. “That would be wonderful. We have a bed in the guest room. You can rest there for the night.”

The room was prepared for their parents, who occasionally came to stay. It worked perfectly now.

Li Xiuya tidied up the guest room. Zhu Ming and Yun Zouchuan used a bedsheet as a rope to tie Mr. Li to a chair. His body was still out of control, making it a bizarre sight.

Walking to the guest room door, Zhu Ming saw Li Xiuya changing the sheets, her head bowed. Her back was bent, and she raised a hand to wipe her face occasionally.

Knock, knock.

Zhu Ming tapped on the doorframe. “Miss Li, the master bedroom is safe now. If you have anything to say, you can go talk privately.”

Li Xiuya started, sniffled, and adjusted her expression, not wanting others to see her vulnerable side. She turned and smiled. “Thank you so much for tonight. I didn’t expect your studio, not being very famous, to be so capable, pinpointing the key issue right away. Boss Zhu, do you have the legendary Yin-Yang Eye?”

Ouch, that hit close to home. But Zhu Ming would never demoralize her own side. She smiled brightly. “That’s right. Real skill is never affected by fame. Our Little Fire God Strange News Studio might be low-key, but our business scope is vast. Contact us again if you need anything in the future. Repeat customers get a five percent discount.”

No, Li Xiuya would rather forgo the discount than ever need them again.

Still, she accepted the business card Zhu Ming handed her. The back read: “Ghost Catching, Demon Subduing, Feng Shui, Your Good Home Helper.” The front read: “Infidelity Tracking & Evidence Gathering, No Need to Worry About Lawsuits.”

This studio’s business scope really was unexpectedly broad. Li Xiuya said sincerely, “It’s late. Rest well.”

Then she went to the master bedroom, while Zhu Ming and Yun Zouchuan went to the guest room to rest.

A stranger’s bed was never as comfortable as one’s own. Zhu Ming closed her eyes and feigned sleep, hearing faint sounds of an argument drifting from next door.

Yun Zouchuan couldn’t sleep either. She tossed and turned a few times, finally unable to contain her confusion. “Boss, how did you know the evil object was in the pillow? I can see Ghosts too, but it wasn’t a wandering spirit. When I came in, I noticed the evil aura in the room was everywhere, evenly distributed.”

Normally, you couldn’t locate it by concentration levels.

People like them had an official designation: Awakened. It referred to those who had awakened abilities that defied common sense. The abilities of Awakened were diverse. Throughout human history, some had summarized cultivation methods and principles for Awakened and passed them down—for instance, Awakened with surface identities like Celestial Masters, Eminent Monks, etc. Also, people within the same family often possessed similar Supernatural Abilities.

But many Awakened had bizarre and varied abilities that defied systematic cultivation or categorization. That didn’t necessarily mean they were weak. Strength depended on effort as much as talent.

Yun Zouchuan’s and Zhu Ming’s innate abilities were different. But being Awakened meant one’s spiritual nature was sufficient. Therefore, with cultivation, most Awakened could see things ordinary people couldn’t. Both of their spiritual sensitivity was high. What Zhu Ming could see, Yun Zouchuan should also have been able to see.

Facing her employee, Zhu Ming wasn’t as gentle and polite as she was with the Financial Backer. “Fool. Not all paranormal events can only be solved with Supernatural Abilities. We confirmed there was evil energy here, so what Miss Li said was likely true. The problem was with Mr. Li.

You observe carefully. He was lying on the right side of the bed. But on the right nightstand were small items commonly used by women: a hair tie, face mask, lip balm. No one wants to reach over someone else just to grab a small item. So, the right side was actually Miss Li’s sleeping spot. As for the specific location, observing the direction he instinctively protected when his body twisted was enough. Besides, there’s no harm in guessing wrong. Guess boldly, verify carefully, you see? That’s why I’m the boss and you’re the employee.”

Having been lectured, Yun Zouchuan pursed her lips but endured it. After all, Zhu Ming held her salary.

The thunderstorm gradually lessened, as did the argument next door, which first climbed to a peak, then quieted down. But Zhu Ming only caught the loudest, most hysterical shout.

“Divorce! We’re getting a divorce tomorrow!”

She wasn’t particularly interested in other people’s family drama. She just hoped to see the final payment arrive when she woke up in the morning.

Time passed. The morning light dispelled the damp night. Zhu Ming yawned, lazily got up, used a ride-hailing app to call a car, and bid farewell to Li Xiuya, who had stayed up all night with red-rimmed eyes.

Kind-hearted by nature, and having overheard much of the argument, Yun Zouchuan tried to comfort her. “Don’t be sad. Any man who tries to force you to get pregnant, you have the right to castrate him.”

Li Xiuya: “Huh???”

Yun Zouchuan blinked, completely oblivious to anything wrong with her statement. “My boss taught me—mmph.”

Zhu Ming laughed awkwardly, covering A-Zou’s mouth. “She’s still young, just edgy and immature. Don’t take her seriously.”

Yun Zouchuan: “Mm! Mmph!” That’s exactly what you taught me back then!

The sunlight shone on Mr. Li, and the strange twisting of his body slowed. Zhu Ming told Li Xiuya to let him sunbathe for a while after noon before untying him, then took her leave.

“Boss Zhu, when will that evil object be disposed of?” Li Xiuya asked, still somewhat uneasy.

“This evil object is potent. It requires the extreme Yang energy of high noon to be exorcised,” Zhu Ming said solemnly. “I need to perform a ritual. To prevent any harm from affecting you, I won’t invite you to watch.”

Li Xiuya wasn’t that interested anyway. After expressing her gratitude, she paid the remaining balance. The sound of the payment received was like heavenly music. Zhu Ming waved goodbye to her with a smile.

Turning around, the smile on the woman’s face dropped, too lazy to maintain. Listlessly, she went downstairs. From Yun Zouchuan’s pocket, she fished out the small statue.

She closed her palm. A plume of twisted black mist, accompanied by faint, piercing shrieks, seeped through her fingers. Walking a few steps further, the bright post-rain sunshine fell on her. Without pausing, Zhu Ming stretched out her hand. A handful of ashes slipped from her palm into a Trash Can.

She brushed off her hands, about to stretch lazily, but stopped halfway.

Reaching into her trouser pocket, Zhu Ming pulled out a small, pristine white card.

The white silk ribbon tied to the card fluttered in the breeze. Opening it, she found a strange Invitation Letter.

“You are cordially invited to our world: Night of Sacrifice. Tonight, we won’t part.”

Above the text, on the inside of the invitation cover, was drawn a totem exactly identical to the statue she had just crushed.

Zhu Ming’s brow twitched. Her voice dropped. “A-Zou, check your pockets.”

The tracksuit was loose, so Yun Zouchuan hadn’t noticed it immediately. Now, checking her pockets, sure enough, she also found an identical, small white card.