Chapter 78

Chapter 78: He Must Die

Chapter 78: He Must Die

Ling Rong harbored deep resentment: for her father’s murder, betrayal, and the murder of herself and her child. But most of all, for her soul being trapped and denied reincarnation.

She never expected the once gentle and kind-hearted man to resort to such cruelty, not just killing them but also sealing their spirits, condemning them to an eternal cold existence at the bottom of a lake, unable to reincarnate.

How vicious that man was!

That’s why Ling Rong's resentful energy was so intense, accelerating the dissipation of Xie Qikang’s life force.

“With such intense resentment, you could have dragged him to hell the moment you got close. Why didn’t you kill him?” Qin Liuxi asked.

Ling Rong replied, “Wouldn’t killing him quickly be too lenient? I want to torture him slowly, to ensure his days and nights are tormented. Do you know how satisfying it feels to see him wasting away in fear and panic, yet still pretending to be righteous in front of the Zhou family? Bah, he had already betrayed her, fathering a child with his mistress. She's just too naive to see the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Speaking, she let out a self-mocking laugh, “What right do I have to judge her? Wasn’t I just as blind?”

“Given Xie Qikang’s past actions, resorting to dark arts to suppress your spirits, he should have been alert to such anomalies. Why hasn’t he suspected anything?” Qin Liuxi wondered, finding it illogical.

If Xie Qikang had done such things and had been suffering from a mysterious illness for half a year without a diagnosis, he should have considered the possibility of supernatural involvement. “He who has done no wrong does not fear ghosts knocking at midnight,” but he was guilty and thus had reason to fear.

Normally, one who had committed such deeds should suspect them as the cause. Why hadn’t Xie Qikang sought out a Taoist?

Ling Rong replied, “He did seek out the sorcerer, but I frightened his servant to the point of collapse.”

Qin Liuxi’s eyes narrowed, her voice sharp, “Did you harm an innocent person?”

Ling Rong felt a chill run down her spine, her face tense with caution, she trembled, “No, I didn’t harm him. I just scared him so much that he was bedridden for two days. He went to a Taoist temple and got a talisman for protection.”

“And what about Xie Qikang?”

“He sent more people, of course. I didn’t dare to do anything wrong again, so I let it be. Fate played its part – I later heard the servant report that the Taoist priest died last year. But Xie Qikang, relentless in his obsession, was determined to find someone to deal with us, mother and son.” Ling Rong gritted her teeth, her eyes bloodshot.

Qin Liuxi inquired, “So, his trip to Ningzhou wasn’t to seek medical help, but to consult a Taoist?”

“There’s a Longyun Temple in Ningzhou, known for its capable Taoist priests.”

Qin Liuxi understood, “So, you plan to strangle him on his way there. Why haven’t you acted yet? An eye for an eye; end it and be done.”

Ling Rong fell silent, then asked, “Are you advising me to hold back?”

“I'm not in a position to advise you. Without experiencing another’s pain, one shouldn't urge kindness upon them. As long as you don’t harm the innocent, you’re simply seeking justice. Why should I interfere? But remember, taking a life is a grave sin. Even as a vengeful spirit, the ledger of deeds in the underworld will record it. Once you commit murder, you become a malevolent spirit. Your deeds will be noted, and you’ll face punishment in the lower realms of the afterlife. And for him, reincarnating into a better life would become impossible,” Qin Liuxi pointed at the child ghost at Ling Rong’s feet.

Ling Rong looked down at her child, her eyes filled with love and sorrow, “I know, that’s why I’ve refrained from delivering a fatal blow. But Master, your Taoist teachings always speak of karma and retribution. He lives like a demon, yet enjoys life without remorse. I cannot accept that.”

"You needn't feel aggrieved. His time is running short," Qin Liuxi said. "Did his mother die of heart palpitations?"

"How did you know?"

"His lips are purplish, and his eyelids are swollen. These are signs of a weak heart, possibly hereditary or developed over time. Now, with his life gate showing signs of decay, earlobes bearing knife-like creases, and dark clouds over his forehead, compounded with your resentful energy, he will surely die of a heart attack within three days."

Ling Rong was stunned. She thought Qin Liuxi meant Xie Qikang would die by her hand, but it was illness?