Chapter 23: It Seems Like We’ve Been Surrounded Part 1

Wang Ya picked up several more talisman papers to suppress the body and wrapped the Ghost Collecting Bell around her wrist. Only then did she look gravely at Old Tang and Zhang Beauty. “You two, step back!” With that, she strode forward and stood outside the Talisman Array. She formed hand seals with both hands and glared with wide eyes, resembling a majestic and furious Diamond Guardian. Her lips moved silently as she rapidly recited the incantation, her palms swiftly forming seals. Her hand gestures flipped so quickly that they blurred into an illusionary afterimage.

The air in the room seemed to grow heavy and oppressive along with Wang Ya’s movements. Old Tang and Zhang Beauty, who had already retreated two meters away, were forced to keep backing up until they reached the wall by the window and could retreat no further. Their breathing grew extremely labored, as if under immense pressure or as if the oxygen in the air had been drained, leaving them gasping for breath.

Old Tang and Zhang Beauty didn’t dare disturb Wang Ya. With their backs against the wall, they each circulated their qi to resist the invisible suppression in the air.

Suddenly, Wang Ya thrust her hand seals forward with a mighty shout!

Old Tang and Zhang Beauty felt as if they heard an explosion. A tremendously powerful vibration rippled through the air, making their eardrums ache. Several meters ahead, the Talisman Array seemed to stir up an invisible, towering storm. To their naked eyes, nothing appeared to happen ahead, but their senses told them a powerful airflow was swirling there, as if the entire Talisman Array had ignited, releasing a surge of mighty power that converged on the large rooster standing on Huang Qi’s chest. The rooster didn’t move at all. Its eyes bulged wide like a sculpture—or as if it had been acupoint-sealed.

It was just an ordinary large rooster, yet at that moment, it seemed connected to another world, drawing in all the swirling “qi” from the room.

In an instant, the previously surging qi in the room vanished, and the oppressive feeling dissipated with it.

Old Tang and Zhang Beauty still held their breath. They exchanged glances, seeing only shock in each other’s eyes.

Wang Ya collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. She was drenched in sweat, soaked through as if she’d just been pulled from water.

After about three or four minutes, Wang Ya finally caught her breath.

Zhang Beauty walked over to Wang Ya and asked, “Are you okay?” She extended a hand to help Wang Ya up.

Old Tang grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the cases pushed into the corner and handed it to Wang Ya.

Wang Ya ignored Zhang Beauty’s gesture and stood up on her own. She took the mineral water from Old Tang and drank it down in one go. Without a word, she walked to the corner, picked up the remaining lump of clay from the floor, and continued molding the little figure. This time, as she kneaded the clay, she mixed in Zheng Yanxia’s fingernails and hair. Then she said, “Not enough hair. Cut another strand over.”

Old Tang hesitated as he glanced at Huang Qi lying in the array. He asked uncertainly, “Is it safe to enter the Talisman Array right now?”

Wang Ya had no patience for Old Tang’s chatter. She grabbed a small pair of fabric scissors, stepped into the Talisman Array, and snipped off a long strand of hair with a “snip.” She tied it into an intricate knot and kneaded it into the clay. Then she said, “Zheng Yanxia’s Birth Chart.”

Zhang Beauty furrowed her brows. “With the hair and nails, do we still need the Birth Chart?” Judging by Wang Ya’s methods, if they gave her Huang Qi’s Birth Chart, wouldn’t Wang Ya hold Huang Qi’s life in her hands?

Wang Ya said, “If I’m not mistaken, the Dead Old Lady must have sealed Zheng Yanxia’s soul with a magic artifact. You both saw the fierce power I unleashed earlier. Let me be straightforward: I loaded that Talisman Soldier Doll with enough ferocity that even if the Old Ghost came swinging her Ebony Staff for a head-on clash, I could chip it. The rooster’s divine soul carried the Talisman Soldier Doll onto Zheng Yanxia’s body. The first thing it finds won’t be Ghost Granny—it’ll be Zheng Yanxia. If Zheng Yanxia is sealed in some magic artifact, the Talisman Soldier Doll will smash it open and free her soul right away. But this Talisman Soldier Doll is extremely fierce, and it’s bound to startle Zheng Yanxia’s divine soul. Plus, the rooster is yang, and the Earthly Soul is yin. If Zheng Yanxia’s Earthly Soul isn’t frightened by the rooster, I’ll change my surname to Huang after her! Without Zheng Yanxia’s Birth Chart to gather the soul at this point, there’s no way to call back the Earthly Soul. If you don’t provide the Birth Chart, bear the consequences yourselves!” Why had she bothered to save Zheng Yanxia? Because Zheng Yanxia held dirt on her! So she needed to hold dirt on Zheng Yanxia too! Mutual assured destruction—see who dared make the first move!

Wang Ya’s words were blunt and clear. Even if Old Tang and Zhang Beauty suspected her motives, they had no choice. Before Wang Ya acted, they could have refused when they learned she wanted Huang Qi’s Birth Chart, found another way to save her without Wang Ya’s help. But now, with things underway, there was no turning back—they had to agree.

Old Tang had no choice but to write down Huang Qi’s Birth Chart and hand it to Wang Ya.

Wang Ya memorized Huang Qi’s Birth Chart, then grabbed the kneaded clay and molded the mud figure.

Wang Ya molded the figure swiftly, her fingers shaping it with the flair of a clay sculptor. Of course, this mud figure was no ordinary one. It contained Huang Qi’s fingernails and hair kneaded in, and a talisman paper inscribed with Huang Qi’s Birth Chart, rolled thin and placed inside as the figure’s spine.

Wang Ya placed the finished mud figure on the ground less than three inches from Huang Qi’s head, with a sheet of talisman paper underneath to suppress it, and began reciting the incantation while forming seals.