Chapter 93: Station 23: Exorcising Evil

Chapter 93: Station 23: Exorcising Evil

Liao Xinya was the last one to be brought to the guest room.

Upon entering the room, she immediately noticed the absence of a man with glasses, and then sensed that the atmosphere inside seemed somewhat peculiar.

Ming Yiyang and Lin Yongjian sat on opposite sides, both wearing grim expressions. Yet, both of them couldn't help stealing glances at Yan Qiling.

Yan Qiling sat at Ming Yiyang's upper seat, intently using the tea lid to skim the floating foam from the tea leaves.

Upon seeing her enter, the man closed his teacup lid halfway and set it aside before rising to bow respectfully.

"Housekeeper Xi Yi," he greeted.

Liao Xin Ya followed the other servants in returning the gesture.

It was precisely because she was the last one that Xi Yi personally escorted her.

As a maid to the young miss, she could only trail behind Xi Yi. When guests of higher status than herself paid respects to Xi Yi, she couldn't simply stand idly by; she had to promptly return the courtesy.

Xi Yi chuckled and returned the greeting with a bow, but he didn't take a seat. Instead, he gestured for Yan Qiling to sit first and surveyed the surroundings before asking:

"I wonder what your thoughts are on the puppet's demise?"

Diao Qingchang, always mindful of the rules, promptly spoke up:

"Housekeeper Xi Yi, this... Two murders in one day. In my opinion, perhaps the marriage between the two ladies should be postponed?"

Xi Yi's triangular eyes, resembling dead fish, lifted to look at him critically:

"Mr. Diao, that might not be the most appropriate thing for you to say. Aren't you more aware of the situation than I am? Nobody knows Madam's intentions better than you; she is wholeheartedly determined to see this marriage through. Now, whether this marriage happens or not, it must happen. Isn't that right, Mr. Diao?"

Diao Qingchang had no intention of directly confronting him. Noticing his words being tactfully dismissed, he laughed it off:

"Yes, yes, mainly... um, ah, it truly is an eventful time, isn't it?"

"You're right about that; it is indeed an eventful time," Xi Yi replied, still maintaining his insincere smile.

Diao Qingchang found his joyful appearance akin to the paper figurines hung at the front of a wedding palanquin, possessing an eerie kind of charm.

Well, it wasn't exactly beautiful.

... Never mind.

Xi Yi surveyed the surroundings once more and spoke leisurely, "There have been some incidents in the family, but they're not significant issues. As long as the bride arrives at the Wen residence on the wedding day, everyone will be generously rewarded. Madam has made it clear that the Bai family will never neglect those who have helped us."

His words held hidden meaning, leaving the others with little to say.

Yan Qiling picked up his teacup again, sipping gently before setting it down and saying softly, "Xiao Ou's death was peculiar, but it seems to have been an accident – a slip and fall into the water. It has nothing to do with any of us. May I ask, Steward Xi Yi, what is the purpose of our presence here? Please enlighten us."

Finally, Xi Yi cracked a wide grin, delighted that someone had paved the way for him to speak further, "To be honest, Madam is also deeply concerned about this matter. Last night, she consulted the Dragon Fish Ciyu Deity, and this afternoon, the revered deity appeared in Madam's dream, revealing that among the recent newcomers to the Bai household, there is someone whose fate is incompatible, carrying a harmful aura. It's said that this person needs to undergo a 'dispelling of evil' ritual to remain in the Bai residence."

Lin Yongjian frowned slightly and asked,

"What would happen if we don't perform the exorcism?"

Xi Yi's smile turned cruel,

"Well, that might require sending her to the 'Pigsty' first. It's an unfortunate necessity for the two ladies' weddings... I hope you all can bear with it temporarily. Once the 'exorcism' is successful, Madam Old Bai will have peace of mind when any of you visit the Bai family."

His sinister triangular eyes shifted to Liao Xinya behind him,

"Xiao Jia, you shall start."

Before the young girl could speak, Yan Qiling promptly interrupted,

"Butler Xi Yi, we naturally follow Madam Old Bai's arrangements. However, since this situation is unexpected, it would be unwise to let the young lady enter the Dragon Fish Hall first. She's young and inexperienced. If she were to offend the divine spirits recklessly, it wouldn't be a good thing."

"How about I go in first, and then she follows? What do you think?"

Xi Yi's expression changed slightly, revealing an appeasing demeanor.

"Madam has instructed that you are an utterly pure and virtuous person. Hence, there's no need for you to participate in the purification ritual. It would suffice for you to sit in the guest room and enjoy some fruits," the servant said respectfully.

Yan Qiling grasped the underlying message.

Although the servant appeared courteous, his words had aroused suspicion among the others.

The "purification ritual" likely wasn't as straightforward as it seemed, especially for ordinary folks like Liao Xinya. It could be a challenging obstacle for them.

By intimidating or even eliminating these people... Old Madam Bai seemed intent on demonstrating a stern lesson through a show of force.

Not insisting further, Yan Qiling suggested, "In that case, let everyone have a cup of tea before we proceed. Since we're invoking the divine power for the purification, we should be adequately prepared to honor the deity's goodwill."

Xi Yi had already refused once, so he didn't wish to decline again. Besides, Madam's attitude toward Yan Qiling was perplexing, and he dared not comment recklessly.

After some deliberation, Xi Yi agreed to the request, stating that he would return to collect the group after finishing his tea.

The moment he left, Liao Xinya briefly recounted the sequence of events, from Yue Pengpeng's plea for help to her disappearance.

Immediately, Yan Qiling unfolded the red note and pointed out the new rules to the others.

However, compared to those rules, he was more concerned about the "eight characters" left behind by the man in red shoes.

Diao Qingchang also noticed it and quickly connected it to the clue in Xi Yi's words:

"Xi Yi just said that 'incompatible fates' carry evil energy. This is indeed related to the eight characters, so perhaps we need to modify them to pass this so-called divine test?"

Lin Yongjian was surprised:

"Don't eight characters determine someone's fate at birth? How can they be changed?"

Diao Qingchang didn't think it was that difficult:

"It can be temporarily concealed, like a charm for good luck. It's not a permanent change. I could draw such a talisman, but the issue is—"

"What kind of eight characters do we need? Who knows what requirements the Dragon Fish Benevolent Jade God has for one's fate. Sigh... if only Boss Chi were here, he would surely figure it out."

Ming Yiyang had long retracted the purple hue in his eyes. He gently twirled the necklace around his neck before releasing it and speaking up:

"Most people have ordinary fates. The so-called 'malefic influence' merely signifies how many lives the Vengeful Spirit King intends to take this time," Ming Yiyang explained.

Others looked slightly alarmed, while Diao Qingchang stroked his blue Utpalaka flower around his neck, deep in thought.

"That makes sense... Then I'll draw some impressive fates for everyone. A fate with pure yang energy will not only be free from malefic influence but also ward off ghosts and deities. Hehe."

Diao Qingchang was an action-oriented person; even before he finished speaking, he pulled out a stack of yellow talismans from his bosom. Ignoring the surroundings, he bit his finger and began to draw.

Ming Yiyang had no objections to his actions but simply said, "Draw them for the others. I don't need one."

Diao Qingchang paused, then nodded in understanding.

However, he soon realized something was amiss. "Where is Shi Wenguang? He hasn't arrived yet."

Previously, when Shi Wenguang was absent, Diao Qingchang had assumed he was just running late, based on Yan Qiling's explanation. But now, with Xi Yi's arrival, Shi Wenguang still hadn't shown up.

Yan Qiling, upon hearing the question, promptly pulled out a red slip from his sleeve.

The last entry on the red slip seemed to have dissolved like ink soaked in water, becoming utterly indistinct.

Diao Qingchang's face paled with shock.

"What does this mean? I lost my side gig?!"

This heaven-defying focus was enough to make Ming Yiyang roll his eyes if he were listening.

Now, the purpose of the red slip was evident: whenever someone died, its rules would instantly alter.

But this was the first time it had blurred into an indiscernible mass, leaving everyone baffled.

Yet, Yan Qiling quickly grasped the reason:

"Shi Wenguang probably hasn't died yet. He's currently in a state between life and death, so the red slip's rule hasn't changed. But once he passes away, a new rule will appear on the slip."

Diao Qingchang, who had been consistently composed, finally revealed a hint of anxiety.

He distributed the drawn talismans to each person, speaking rapidly:

"This yellow talisman can disguise your birth chart. As long as you carry it with you, your birth charts will become what I just described - not only free from negative influences but also capable of repelling ghosts. However, this item can only protect you for two hours, so remember to manage your time."

Then, he pulled out another talisman, intending to give it to Yan Qiling:

"I'll have to leave when Xi Yi comes to collect the person. I need to finish this matter quickly and find Shi Wen Guang. You don't have to worry about me, alright? If anything unexpected happens, use this talisman to contact me. Come on, come on, Mr. Yan, would you please hold onto it?"

Yan Qiling waved his hand in refusal:

"Let Ming Yiyang take it. He's a celestial master and proficient in this."

Diao Qingchang was about to persuade further when a hand reached from behind, snatching the talisman away from the tall youth.

The young man securely rolled up the talisman and put it in his inner pocket, waving at Diao Qingchang:

"I'll take care of it. If there's any issue, we'll contact you."

Diao Qingchang clicked his tongue, nodding slowly and reluctantly.

"Sure, why not."

Ming Yiyang lifted his sharp, snowy brows with a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Diao Qingchang sensed trouble and promptly complimented him:

"How could I not trust Brother Ming holding onto it? Of course, I have absolute faith in you."

Liao Xinya had no objections to Diao Qingchang's self-appointment. However, for her, the current priority lay elsewhere:

"I would like to know if there are any further plans. After tonight, we have less than two days left. Have we found any leads on the exit?"

A faint approval flashed in Yan Qiling's dual-colored eyes as he turned his gaze to Diao Qingchang:

"We haven't seen anything at the Bai family yet. I wonder how things stand at the Wen family's place."

Diao Qingchang shrugged and shook his head candidly:

"No luck there."

"Though I think it's mainly because we didn't stay long enough. Plus, the incident with Mai Zeyu kept us entangled with the Wen family, preventing us from investigating any leads. If possible, we should revisit the Wen family tonight... Oh, indeed, there is something I haven't mentioned to you all. But it was mainly because it's still in the speculative stage, so I held off on sharing."

Seeing everyone's attention fixed on him, he couldn't help but exclaim:

"Are you guys really expecting me to speak now? I feel like the Master of the Abyss is watching us. What if it stops me from finding any clues once I share them?"

Liao Xinya replied calmly:

"You've already revealed that you possess a clue. If It truly is observing you, then whether or not you speak, you'd still be Its next target. It's better to contribute something while you're still alive than to die without leaving any evidence."

Diao Qingchang was astonished by the young girl's decisiveness and ruthlessness:

"Holy shit, what a valid point... Alright."

"I suspect that the Bai family and the Wen family might have a mirrored structure."

Yan Qiling's eyes lit up with interest:

"Elaborate."

Diao Qingchang no longer held back:

"The butler of the Bai family is named Xi Yi, while the one for the Wen family is Yi Xi. The room allocated to me by the Bai family is on the right, and the one from the Wens is on the left. Essentially, their layouts are identical, just flipped in reverse."

"Therefore, I suspect that other aspects might be inverted as well. Anyway, since Brother Ming has a map, I plan to roam around with it, particularly checking the accounts office and the storehouse – I didn't get the chance yesterday."

As he was about to continue, Yu Kui, who had been cowering in the corner, abruptly stood up with a start, staring fearfully at the entrance.

However, there was nothing there.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a page boy carrying a white paper lantern stepped in from outside.

The boy was only waist-high, but his grin was unsettlingly chilling.

With a crisp child's voice, he announced, "May one of you please come out and accompany me to the Fish-Dragon Hall for an exorcism."

Diao Qingchang took a deep breath, patted Ming Yiyang's arm, and gave him a firm handshake.

"Brother Ming, I'll be going."

Ming Yiyang looked at him and, surprisingly, nodded.

Diao Qingchang followed the child away just like that.

As soon as the child left, Yu Kui immediately retreated back into his corner, muttering to himself in an enigmatic manner.

Ming Yiyang rubbed his fingers and met Yan Qiling's gaze.

The man strolled slowly to his front, gently taking Ming Yiyang's hand in his, and whispered, "Let me see your injury."

Ming Yiyang compliantly opened his palm.

In the large, calloused hand, a result of years of wielding a blade, there were no fresh wounds; only a crumpled piece of paper lay there.

As if genuinely inspecting the wound, the man used two fingers to unfold the note, then fully spread it out on the warm palm:

Yu Kui is acting strange, his toes are pointing backward in the mirror.

A fleeting hint of purple flickered in his eyes, but Yan Qiling's palm promptly covered it.

"Stay still."

"It's just a minor injury."

The man's icy breath brushed against the nape of his neck:

"It might come in handy."