Chapter 168

Chapter 168

◎An Unimaginable Way to Fall from Grace◎

Bai Guanqi wasn't entirely convinced by Yu Weichi's words, as he was also one of the parties involved. Until the truth was revealed, he naturally couldn't take sides. He simply told Yu Weichi to go home and lay low for the next few days. Once Xi Jiangyue's soul was properly restored, they would naturally investigate the matter thoroughly.

After Yu Weichi left, Bai Guanqi called Ji Nanxing and told him about what Yu Weichi had said, also asking about his progress.

Ji Nanxing: "Xi Jiangyue has a karmic thread tied to stolen fortune. I just finished extracting the spiritual threads and am about to cut them."

Bai Guanqi, though not skilled in mystical arts, had a lot of theoretical knowledge. Upon hearing this, he said, "So, whoever harmed Xi Jiangyue will soon face karmic retribution?"

Ji Nanxing glanced at Xi Jiangyue in the jar and hummed in agreement, "It should be soon."

Forcing something unnatural onto a fragile life will inevitably lead to collapse.

Bai Guanqi: "Should I post on Weibo now?"

Ji Nanxing: "Go ahead. Let them feel the guilt and fear they deserve."

After hanging up, Bai Guanqi went upstairs to find his master, and soon the account "Lao Bai of the Mystic Arts" had a new update.

"Retribution is coming. Keep your eyes open to see who it is. #Xi Jiangyue's Suicide#"

Because of the previous Weibo post, many people had been following the account's updates recently. As soon as this post went up, it quickly garnered a lot of comments and reposts, skyrocketing to the top of the trending list.

"I'm just watching to see who the retribution is for."

"The case is halfway solved. Old Bai must be referring to someone in the industry. Otherwise, if it were an ordinary person, he wouldn't say to keep your eyes open."

"I hate it when they only give half the story. Why not just name names? Otherwise, anyone in the industry who has the slightest issue can be linked to this."

"Is it a charlatan or a master? Waiting for the result."

"It has to be Yu Weichi. Yu Weichi just went to see a master, and I heard the master didn't even let him in. Then this Weibo post came right after. Isn't it obvious?"

"Legal punishment is terrifying, but karmic retribution is truly satisfying. I'm just watching to see what kind of retribution it will be!"

"@Yu Weichi, @Yu Weichi, @Yu Weichi!"

Many people pointed fingers at Yu Weichi. Yu Weichi's manager ignored the paparazzi tailing them, as the neighborhood wouldn't let them in anyway. He drove straight into the complex to find Yu Weichi.

Yu Weichi's manager's movements were being reported in real-time. Many haters and former fans who turned on Yu Weichi after Xi Jiangyue's suicide flooded his Weibo with comments. Slowly, everyone started flooding his comments with the same phrase: "Retribution is coming—are you scared?"

Whether Yu Weichi was scared or not, his manager certainly was. After years of working with Yu Weichi in the entertainment industry, this was the first time they faced almost a full-scale online attack. Even during Yu Weichi's relationship and marriage to Xi Jiangyue, things weren't this dire.

While knocking on the door, the manager was wondering what state Yu Weichi would be in. If things got worse, they might have to flee abroad to escape the backlash. It would be better than staying here and enduring the online abuse. Besides, with Xi Jiangyue gone, and knowing Yu Weichi, he might not stay in the industry and could go back to inherit the family business.

To his surprise, when he opened the door, Yu Weichi wasn't tormented by the online abuse but was extremely excited, hugging him and saying, "The one who killed A Yue is about to get their comeuppance! A Yue didn't commit suicide, she wouldn't. Finally, someone believes me!"

The manager was stunned by the hug, "What's going on?"

While some were overjoyed, others were so panicked that they dropped their phones.

The assistant picked up the phone for Xue Yang and, seeing her pale face, asked worriedly, "Sister Xue Yang, are you having low blood sugar again? I'll get some glucose."

Xue Yang said, "It's fine, go rest. I'll sleep for a while."

The assistant hesitated to leave her alone, but seeing Xue Yang's insistence, she had no choice but to leave the room.

As soon as she left, Xue Yang hurriedly called to contact the master. She had tried to make offerings to the little ghost last night, but the little ghost did not respond. The jade Buddha amulet was already shattered beyond recognition, and since yesterday, no one had answered the phone at the master's end.

Xue Yang didn't know what to do. The master she found for raising the little ghost wasn't recommended by anyone in the circle. Those well-known masters within the circle aren't safe; whatever they do spreads almost immediately throughout the entire circle.

Most people who seek so-called masters or even raise Buddha amulets are just after wealth, wanting to climb the ladder, wanting more opportunities to shine. There are too many such people, so it's common in the circle to use all sorts of methods to boost luck. Some with good connections and effective results in changing their luck even recommend each other.

But what Xue Yang wanted wasn't just ordinary luck-changing; she wanted more, so she didn't dare let others know what she'd done.

But now the master she'd contacted was unreachable, and the jade Buddha amulet for the little ghost was shattered. She had no idea what had happened and was even tempted to fly abroad.

But the drama was still filming, and there was no time for her to take leave. Besides, taking leave now, she hardly dared imagine what the media would make of it.

But if she didn't go and there really was retribution, she was done for.

This matter couldn't be kept from the company because she needed them to cover for her, but before she could call her agent, her agent called her first.

As soon as the call connected, the agent tore into her: "What exactly did you do in Thailand!"

Xue Yang's mind went blank, thinking some new scandal had surfaced online. Before she could panic and speak, the agent lowered his voice and hissed: "Who is that man? When did you start dating? Where did you go for the abortion? The country's huge; finding a discreet place isn't that hard, but you went to Thailand! Don't you know abortion's illegal there!"

Xue Yang felt her blood run cold, her voice trembling: "Bro Zhou, how'd you find out about this?"

The agent hung up and then sent a message that had just come out that morning. It turned out a private clinic had been raided there, since under normal circumstances, abortion isn't allowed. Now that the black clinic had been busted, records from recent years were uncovered, and Xue Yang's name was right there.

Of course, she didn't use her stage name, but her real name was also quite famous. The most troublesome thing was that Thailand actually used this as a news point. Because it was illegal, if Xue Yang entered the country again, she might be arrested upon entry.

This kind of international news was not something they could buy off domestically. Some tourists, students, and workers there quickly took screenshots and sent them back to the country, and the matter instantly escalated out of control.

When the agent received the news, it was already too late to salvage the situation. He really couldn't understand, even if she was unmarried and pregnant and wanted to get rid of the child, why not go to any other country, but run to a country where abortion is not allowed? Is she out of her mind!

People go abroad to have children for the sake of nationality, but does getting rid of a child also require considering nationality? It's just ridiculous!

The company was also in an uproar. Who would have thought that Xue Yang, who had been silent, would drop such a big bomb on them. Because she committed a crime abroad, and it was this kind of crime, she would not be able to enter the country in the future. It's really a rare event in the entertainment industry every year, but this year is the most outrageous!

Many people found this news unbelievable and thought that the marketing accounts were really fearless, spreading rumors to this extent. Because it was so outrageous, many people's first reaction was that someone was trying to smear Xue Yang.

But as more and more messages came back to the country, and some people went to foreign websites to check and confirm, and Xue Yang's company still hadn't issued a statement, people went from disbelief to speechlessness.

"This kind of thing that even marketing accounts dare not fabricate must be true, because it's so outrageous, it's real."

"Exactly, when making up stories, they usually follow a plausible and realistic line. Those that look too outrageous to be true are often real."

"No, I don't understand why. Was this sister cursed? Abortion is not like giving birth, why run there, what's the point?"

"Lao Bai just posted on Weibo this morning, and then Xue Yang's hot search exploded. I feel like this is more like retribution."

"Can someone tell me, apart from the suspected online rumors of Yu Weichi plotting for money and life, who has evidence, and what has he done that is solid enough to collapse his reputation?"

"To the above, apart from being scolded, there really doesn't seem to be any substantial evidence."

"Not sure, let's wait and see."

Just when she was thinking about not being able to take leave from the filming crew, as soon as this news came out, the director gave Xue Yang a vacation, saying it quite euphemistically, asking her to rest and adjust her mindset, and to deal with this matter as soon as possible.

In fact, they had already started looking for actors who could take over. The insecurity of artists these days is too great, not to mention Xue Yang, who can almost be classified as a high-risk artist. If she couldn't withstand this wave in the end, wouldn't the entire crew be doomed.

Fortunately, although the drama is still filming, a lot of scenes have been shot, but it's not yet halfway through. Changing the female lead at this time would definitely be a bit of a loss, but it's better than ending up with nothing and not being able to broadcast after filming.

Photos of Xue Yang leaving the filming crew were also reported in real-time by some paparazzi. Those who had gathered under Yu Weichi's Weibo, waiting to see his retribution, immediately turned to Xue Yang's Weibo, and some even pulled out screenshots of Xue Yang's previous clarifications of rumors.

"I just feel like Lao Bai really has something special about him. I'll follow him first and see what happens next."

"This sister is probably the only celebrity in the world to be banned from entering a country for such a reason. It's absolutely ridiculous, like one absurdity leading to another, reaching the height of absurdity."

"Is she considered 'cancelled' now?"

"I'm a bit curious about the follow-up. I want to see how much more absurd this can get."

Xiao Ye was scrolling through his phone, then looked at Ji Nanxing: "Naonao, should we also open a Weibo account and manage it like Lao Bai? That way, we wouldn't need to rely on the Bureau to take cases."

Ji Nanxing shook his head: "But then things would become more complicated. We'd have to verify the truth ourselves, which is troublesome."

He felt that his current lifestyle was just right. If he wanted to take a case, he could browse the Human Realm Network; if not, he could focus on his studies. He didn't need fame or to earn that much money, so there was no need to tire himself out.

Xiao Ye thought about it and agreed. If Ji Naonao could live a peaceful life, that would be great. The Bureau would assess the difficulty of cases, and they could take on some less challenging ones. If they encountered high-risk cases, there would be help available, which was better than going it alone. So he didn't bring it up again.

He just said, "This Master Bai has really made a name for himself this time."

Then he turned to see Ji Nanxing also scrolling through the news and leaned over: "This is probably just the beginning. I really don't understand why Xue Yang would go there for an abortion. It's quite baffling."

Ji Nanxing looked at Xiao Ye: "Do you know what a Kuman Thong is?"

Xiao Ye had done some research: "It's a child who died at a very young age or before birth, enshrined in a Buddha amulet for cultivation, that is, a little ghost..."

Xiao Ye paused mid-sentence, his face filled with disbelief: "The little ghost you took in, could it be Xue Yang's own child?"

Otherwise, why would she go all the way there for an abortion? If it was to create a Kuman Thong, her actions would make sense, but that's just too horrifying!

Ji Nanxing: "Probably. The relationship between a yin child and its caretaker is mutually beneficial, but if the yin child is one's own child, then this mutual benefit can be maximized. Not all mothers are maternal, but children are naturally dependent on their parents. To gain maternal love, a child would do anything for its mother."

Xiao Ye was speechless for a long time. He thought he had seen a lot of human wickedness, but he never imagined it could get even worse.

Ji Nanxing lowered his head, continuing to scroll through the entertainment news, his eyes cold and emotionless. People like Xue Yang deserve whatever comes to them.

Soon, the agency came up with a PR strategy. Playing dead was not an option unless she planned to leave the industry altogether, so they held a press conference.

Xue Yang, with red and swollen eyes from crying, claimed that she was on vacation with her boyfriend and didn't know she was pregnant. She engaged in some strenuous activities, got too tired, and had a miscarriage, not an abortion. She didn't expect the hospital to be a black clinic; they were unfamiliar with the area and were taken there by a guide.

Some people believed her, but more did not. Some even bluntly said that Xue Yang was treating everyone like fools. A normal miscarriage wouldn't make such news, and if it were a miscarriage, why not go to a proper hospital instead of a small clinic? It's not as if she couldn't afford it. Who do you think you're fooling?

Despite the mockery, it gave some die-hard fans a reason to stand up for her, saying that if she really wanted an abortion, she wouldn't have gone so far. Abortion is legal in their country, and as long as she brazenly sticks to her story, she can still stay in the industry. She just won't go to Thailand anymore.

But the production team quickly terminated her contract. The replacement was none other than Shu Rui.

Shu Rui didn't expect this opportunity to come her way. She and Xue Yang were quite similar, both with innocent, first-love faces, like delicate white flowers. But she was busy investigating everything related to Xi Jiangyue within the industry, and she was also filming a supporting role.

The production team said they could wait a month for her to finish her current project.

A month later, Shu Rui terminated her contract with her original agency, thinking that her resources might decline again, so she should seize any work opportunity. She agreed.

At the same time, she sent the information she had gathered to Ji Nanxing. One thing that made her suspicious of Yu Weichi was that Xue Yang had many accessories identical to Xi Jiangyue's, but those accessories were custom-made for Xi Jiangyue by Yu Weichi.

Shu Rui said over the phone, "I don't know if Xue Yang copied Xi Jiangyue or if Yu Weichi made two sets. I couldn't find Yu Weichi's transaction records."

Ji Nanxing: "It's not Yu Weichi. He hasn't done anything to harm Xi Jiangyue."

Shu Rui tightened her grip on the phone: "So it's Xue Yang? Did you find any evidence?"

Ji Nanxing looked at Xi Jiangyue, who, despite being nearly forty, was still very beautiful and youthful: "No evidence, but this is what Xi Jiangyue herself said."

After hanging up the phone, Xi Jiangyue looked at Ji Nanxing: "Is it Haitang? It's Shu Rui."

Ji Nanxing nodded, and Xi Jiangyue smiled: "That child is very good. Back then, I impulsively chose a high-achieving student to sponsor. The little money I sponsored each year wasn't even enough for a bag, but she is very grateful. Was it her who found you?"

Ji Nanxing: "She's my cousin's girlfriend."

Xi Jiangyue looked a bit dazed: "A girlfriend? Time really flies. The little girl who used to write to me reporting her grades is now at the age of dating."

Ji Nanxing: "Why were you following her earlier?"

Xi Jiangyue: "I don't know why I could still wander after death, but no one could see me. I saw how heartbroken my husband was. He couldn't accept that I was dead and even wanted to commit suicide to be with me."

At that time, she saw Yu Weichi trying to take pills, and she nearly used up all her strength to knock over the pill bottle.

Maybe the noise made Yu Weichi realize she was still there. At that time, she didn't think much of it and just wanted to find someone to help her keep an eye on Yu Weichi, to prevent him from doing anything foolish. In this circle, there are few people you can really trust. After thinking it over, the only person she could ask for help was the child she'd sponsored.

So she went to Shu Rui, but she didn't expect Shu Rui to be followed by that little ghost. At that moment, the little ghost wanted to kill Shu Rui, and she rushed over again to push Shu Rui away. But that act drained all her strength. When she came to, she was already at the Taoist's house. She had no idea what happened in between.

Ji Nanxing: "Do you know why the little ghost wanted to hurt Shu Rui?"

Xi Jiangyue lowered her eyes, looking a bit somber: "Because of jealousy."

Xiao Ye, sitting nearby and listening, was surprised: "Jealousy?"

Xi Jiangyue nodded: "I know the little ghost was raised by Xue Yang, but I don't know what Xue Yang promised him. He'd been following me. Once he found out I was pregnant, the little ghost got really aggressive, always trying to get rid of my child. After I lost the baby, I had dreams more than once of a child choking me, saying that my child could only be him, not anyone else."

She only realized the little ghost had been following her after she died, when she repeatedly reflected on her life. Back then, she just felt emotionally off for no reason and even suspected that she might actually be suffering from depression.

Xi Jiangyue said: "Back then, my mental state was very poor. The miscarriage really hit me hard. I really wanted my own child. Shu Rui visited me back then, and during our chat, we talked about the child I'd lost—a girl. I even said that if she had grown up, she might have been as gentle and lovely as Shu Rui. Later, I wondered if the little ghost's attack on Shu Rui was triggered by that statement."

Ji Nanxing said: "It's very likely. Little ghosts are extremely jealous. They won't allow their caretaker to have another child besides them."

Xiao Ye wanted to ask how Xi Jiangyue had died, but he was afraid of touching on a sensitive topic for ghosts, so he held back.

Ji Nanxing, however, had no such reservations. Now that she was finally lucid, it was natural to ask more questions: "How did you die?"

Xi Jiangyue: "Killed by the little ghost. I could clearly feel him possessing my body. I could see what he did after taking over my body. I even saw myself swallowing the pills, but that wasn't me. I never thought of committing suicide."

Xiao Ye said: "But didn't he say he wanted to be your child? Why did he suddenly kill you?"

Xi Jiangyue smiled bitterly: "Because I could no longer get pregnant. At that time, the family doctor came to check on me. By then, I was already emotionally unstable due to the little ghost's influence. My husband was in the living room talking to the doctor about my condition. He didn't know that the little ghost was affecting me and thought I was just unable to cope with the loss of the baby. He asked the doctor if it would be dangerous for me to get pregnant again after recovering. He knew how much I loved children and how much I wanted a child. He thought that if we had another child, it might help me recover from the loss. But the doctor said it was unlikely because of my age, the advanced stage of the miscarriage, and the damage to my body. Although IVF was still a possibility, given my age, even if I did conceive, it might not be sustainable."

She was upstairs listening at the time, but she didn't know that the little ghost following her had also heard. A few days later, the little ghost killed her.

But to the outside world, everything just happened to coincide—her emotional instability, the miscarriage, and her inability to conceive again—leading to the conclusion that she had committed suicide due to depression.

But even though she couldn't have a child, she never thought of dying. At that time, she thought that if Yu Weichi didn't mind, they could adopt a baby together.

But she never got the chance to say this to Yu Weichi before it was too late.

Ji Nanxing: "The reason the little ghost followed you is likely because Xue Yang promised him reincarnation. The greatest obsession of all little ghosts in yin talismans is to be reincarnated. Xue Yang probably told him that you would be his new mother, and as long as he helped her with some tasks, she would send him to you for reincarnation. But then you became pregnant, which enraged the little ghost."

The possibility of reincarnation was now zero, and Xue Yang probably coaxed the little ghost into helping her with more tasks, promising to find him a good family. So the little ghost abandoned Xi Jiangyue and, in a fit of rage, killed her.

This was similar to Xi Jiangyue's own speculation. Having been in the industry for so many years, she knew a lot of things. After reflecting on it, it was easy to piece together the twists and turns.

Ji Nanxing said: "What other obsessions do you have now? I can help you fulfill them, and then you must leave."

Xi Jiangyue: "I want those who harmed me to face retribution, and I also want to see my husband one more time."

She knew how difficult it had been for Yu Weichi during this time, but she still hoped he would live on. Time heals all wounds, and she was willing to wait for him in the afterlife rather than have him commit suicide for love.