Chapter 169

Chapter 169

◎ Long-Distance Magical Battle ◎

A meeting couldn't happen right away. Xi Jiangyue had just had the red thread of stolen luck cut off from her body, and her mind was slightly clearer, but she was still very weak. After speaking a few words, she became dazed again.

Ji Nanxing placed her back into the spirit jar. Xie Paner, who had been watching from a distance, floated over: "Young Celestial Master, is it really possible to steal luck?"

Ji Nanxing was putting away the spirit scissors, which were made by cutting paper with talismans and then wrapping ghost threads extracted from the little ghost around them, eventually forming a pair of scissors.

This tool was more durable than paper items. If further cultivated with yin energy, although it wouldn't become a full-fledged magical tool, it would be quite useful against yin entities, and the key point was that ordinary people could use it too.

Seeing Xie Paner curious about luck, he explained: "Anything that exists can be stolen—be it luck, fate, or lifespan. As long as one has the ability, it can be done."

Xie Paner: "Why did Xue Yang use the same items as Xi Jiangyue? Was it also to steal luck?"

She had seen the items sent by the girl named Shu Rui, but she didn't understand the purpose behind it.

Ji Nanxing: "Because she wanted to become her and replace her."

She likely didn't just want Xi Jiangyue's luck; she wanted everything about Xi Jiangyue—her enduring acting career, her national recognition, even Xi Jiangyue's man.

This was likely a strategy suggested by Xue Yang's master, stealing Xi Jiangyue's luck while using a substitution method, starting with small items and then moving to mannerisms and behavior.

He was aware of a type of gu from abroad, with a very ordinary name, called the Peach Blossom Gu. Those affected would gradually develop peach blossom marks on their bodies. Once the flowers bloomed, it proved the gu had taken root. The person affected would fall in love with the one who cast the gu, no matter who they loved before.

The first signs of the Peach Blossom Gu were nightly erotic dreams, then gradually becoming unable to distinguish between the caster and their loved one. As the symptoms worsened, they would completely regard the caster as their loved one, but to others, it would seem like the affected person had changed their heart.

Some people have strong wills and are not easily influenced, so additional measures are needed to assist the Peach Blossom Gu, such as blurring the differences between oneself and the loved one of the target—similar accessories, clothes, and increasingly similar behaviors. The more alike, the more it can confuse the affected person.

Xiao Ye frowned and asked, "Is the Peach Blossom Gu also a type of worm?"

Ji Nanxing nodded: "In more scientific terms, it's a worm that can manipulate neural thoughts."

Xie Paner sighed while sitting on the sofa: "Originally a great star, she was targeted because of her strong luck, which led to her losing her life and being separated from her lover by death. How tragic."

Ji Nanxing: "How do you know she wasn't destined for a short life, which is why she had such strong luck?"

Xie Paner opened her mouth and let out a silly "ah."

Xiao Ye, sitting beside her, laughed: "If you keep teasing her, you'll really make Senior act silly."

Ji Nanxing smiled, walked into the room to put away the scissors, and returned to the living room to see Xiao Ye holding his phone and tapping away. As he passed behind him, he casually glanced over and saw Xiao Ye ordering insect repellent. He chuckled: "Have you finished the insect repellent you bought earlier?"

Xiao Ye looked up, serious: "I think it's good to take insect repellent occasionally, just in case it has a preventative effect."

Ji Nanxing nodded: "Then go ahead and take it."

Xiao Ye continued to browse through insect repellent packages, saying: "I bought a set for you too, you should take some."

Ji Nanxing walked away with a smile.

The downfall happened faster than expected. Xue Yang's company originally planned to issue a statement, no matter how shaky it seemed. Although this act was illegal abroad, it wasn't in their country. It wasn't something like tax evasion that would lead to a ban, at most it would be an embarrassment abroad, and after being mocked for a while, things would probably blow over.

But they didn't expect brands to be so sensitive to risky artists now. The statement was issued in the morning, and the termination notices came at noon. Once one brand terminated, others who were initially waiting also followed suit.

Xue Yang wasn't exactly a seasoned top-tier star. Although she had been playing lead roles in recent years and could carry a series, she hadn't produced any critically acclaimed works that would solidify her status. So when trouble hit, few brands were willing to stand by her.

While the company was in a state of chaos, Xue Yang kept making phone calls, but no one answered. She couldn't go there now; she would be arrested if she did. With no other options, she could only turn to her manager for help.

After listening to Xue Yang's words, the manager's face darkened: "So you actually raised a little ghost, not just some bogus Buddha amulet?"

Xue Yang nodded uneasily, then grabbed the manager's hand: "Bro Zhou, you've got to help me, you can't just leave me hanging."

"I'm begging you, I have no one else to turn to," she pleaded. "If this isn't resolved, my life is really over!"

The manager pinched the bridge of his nose: "Is that old Bai from the mystic circle referring to you? What does Xi Jiangyue's death have to do with you?"

Although Xue Yang was panicked and desperate, she wasn't foolish enough to spill everything, only saying: "I just wanted to siphon off her fortune, her death has nothing to do with me, really nothing! But I'm not sure if it's connected to me siphoning her fortune, but I really didn't know it would turn out like this. I just wanted better luck, Bro Zhou, please help me, find Master A Liang, he has a way. As long as we find him, he will definitely have a way to save me!"

The manager pushed her hand away: "Have you thought about why you can't contact him as soon as you're in trouble? Instead of chasing after him, you should figure out how much it'll cost to get a top-notch expert in the country to fix this for you!"

Xue Yang, thinking of the vanished ghost child, was filled with unease: "But can local masters handle something like this? I don't know who to find."

Maybe it's her upbringing or the influence of media, Xue Yang always felt that local masters weren't the type to be swayed by money and willing to help people take shortcuts.

Take old Bai from the mystic circle, for instance; he must've caught on to something, but instead of coming to her to discuss a price, he posted it online as if to denounce or warn. They wouldn't be willing to help her.

Most importantly, she was also afraid that the master would find out that Xi Jiangyue's death was caused by her driving the ghost child. There's a difference between ordinary luck assistance and murder.

Seeing her silent, the manager was truly furious: "Now you're scared! What were you thinking before? Others go for Kuman Thongs or luck-changing beads, and they don't end up in such a mess! And your abortion—be honest, why did you go all the way to Thailand? Is it connected to this?"

The manager wasn't stupid, and having seen plenty in this industry, some things are fine if not connected, but once connected, they can't be hidden.

Xue Yang hesitated, not daring to tell the truth.

Seeing her like that, the manager felt a chill in his heart. He never imagined that such an innocent young girl would turn out like this. The first time he saw Xue Yang was on a stage; although she wasn't the lead dancer, she was the most spirited and beautiful among the dancers.

He still remembered Xue Yang's naive and innocent appearance, but how many years have passed? Even if this industry can corrupt, their company has always been on the straight and narrow—it shouldn't have made her this dark!

After all, he had groomed her. After so many years of investing manpower and resources, just when it was about to bear fruit, he couldn't just give up. So after telling her to stay put and that he would find someone to help, the manager left.

With years in the industry, the manager naturally had connections. There weren't many famous masters on their side; the well-known ones were state-affiliated, like the Chongming Taoist from Yuchun Taoist Temple he knew. A righteous Taoist like him wouldn't help cover up such matters, so he had to look outside.

The manager quickly brought in a master from Taiwan. His friend there said this master was skilled but pricey—if you couldn't afford him, you couldn't hire him.

Xue Yang still had funds, despite some terminated endorsements and paid compensations. Realizing her situation was dire, she straight up offered ten million, asking the master to help her clean up the mess.

The master, named Xia Linfang, was said to be from the Zhengyi sect of Daoism, quite skilled. As soon as he saw Xue Yang, he frowned: "The issue with you is quite severe."

The manager said beside him: "If it weren't serious, why would we go to such lengths to bring you here, Master Xia? Xue Yang was just momentarily led astray to raise a little ghost. Please help us solve this once. She will definitely do more good deeds in the future, absolutely never dare again."

Xia Linfang shook his head at Xue Yang: "If the little ghost was still here, this wouldn't be too hard to solve, but now the little ghost is no longer by her side. Twenty million—ten million is my fee, ten million is for her to make a substitute life. Only by offering a substitute life to appease the vengeful spirit can this be resolved."

The manager looked at Xue Yang, who without hesitation said: "Okay, twenty million, please help me, Master!"

Xia Linfang nodded, pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a bunch of things, then turned and handed it to the disciple following him, then cut Xue Yang's hair and drew her blood: "Wait until tonight. Once the substitute life is completed, the karma is cut, you will naturally be fine."

Hearing him speak so casually, Xue Yang relaxed, thanking him repeatedly, then cautiously looked at the manager: "Bro Zhou, thank you for not giving up on me."

The manager was already somewhat cold towards Xue Yang. Although Xue Yang didn't say it explicitly, many things don't need to be said so clearly—to abort a child several months pregnant and make it into a Kuman Thong, such a ruthless woman he had never seen before.

He wouldn't invest much emotion in Xue Yang anymore. Once he recouped the money invested in her, their management contract could also not be renewed.

Xue Yang, of course, felt the manager's coldness, but she didn't care. As long as she got through this, as long as she still had value, she didn't need to care whether the manager was cold or warm. It's just mutual benefit in the workplace—only a fool would invest emotions.

That evening at Ji Nanxing's place, out on the spacious balcony off the living room, Xiao Ye was holding an oil brush, dipping it in a layer of cumin powder and then a layer of chili powder before brushing it onto the meat skewers.

The meat was freshly slaughtered that day, the lamb airlifted from Inner Mongolia, and the vegetables freshly picked from a farm he had someone go to. He specifically had Naonao eat less at noon and in the afternoon, just to show off his skills that night. Sitting beside him, Ji Nanxing held a small fan blowing towards the charcoal stove: "For this meal, you starved me for two meals."

Xiao Ye immediately cried out in defense: "When did I starve you for two meals? Didn't you have lunch and dinner? Didn't you have the fruit platter and small cake in the afternoon? You just finished the braised chicken wings I bought earlier."

Ji Nanxing: "That little bit doesn't fill me up. You know how much I eat."

Xiao Ye sped up the process of brushing the seasoning: "Almost there, almost there. Everything's fresh, so it cooks quickly. I picked this up from the canteen guy at my brother's place. It's way better than the last time we grilled skewers while camping."

Ji Nanxing casually picked up a washed lettuce leaf and started munching: "Isn't your brother's canteen a military canteen? Are the chefs there really that good?"

Xiao Ye put down the skewers and snatched the plate of lettuce from him: "Seriously, are you that hungry?"

He knew Ji Naonao's appetite. He had deliberately kept his lunch and afternoon snacks light to save room for the late-night snack. Now he's even munching on lettuce leaves.

As he spoke, he shoved the fruit platter into Ji Nanxing's hands: "Grab some fruit first. The skewers will be done in no time."

Ji Nanxing smiled. He wasn't exactly starving, but sitting in front of a pile of food, he just grabbed something to snack on.

Xiao Ye arranged the skewers and, seeing that the iron plate was hot enough, quickly placed the thawed lamb on it. He added cumin and chili powder, stir-frying it rapidly. In no time, the sizzling lamb was ready: "Try this lamb. Does it have that lamb flavor?"

It was because Ji Nanxing had said during a hotpot meal that lamb these days doesn't taste like lamb anymore that Xiao Ye had specially ordered Inner Mongolian lamb. If it tasted good, he could stock up and freeze it for future hotpot nights.

Ji Nanxing took a bite and nodded: "This is good. The lamb has a great flavor."

Xiao Ye smiled, seeing him enjoy it: "It's good, right? I got it from a top-notch farm. It's raised on high-quality feed, not like those lambs pumped full of additives."

Xie Paner floated over, not daring to get too close to Xiao Ye, who had strong Yang Energy. She hovered around Ji Nanxing: "It smells amazing. I want some too."

Ji Nanxing turned to Xiao Ye: "Set some aside for Xie Paner. She wants some too."

Xiao Ye readily agreed: "Sure, but let's get you fed first, so you don't blame me for starving you."

Xie Paner pouted and muttered softly: "I knew it. The Young Celestial Master is his favorite."

Ji Nanxing glanced at her: "Keep it up, and you won't get any."

Xie Paner quickly made a zipping motion over her mouth and floated out of the balcony. Being a ghost had its perks—you could float around wherever you wanted. No wonder people called them "floaters."

Just as they were enjoying the meal, Ji Nanxing's smile disappeared, and he looked toward the house. He put down the unfinished lamb, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and said, "Keep grilling. I'll take care of something real quick and be right back."

Xiao Ye followed his gaze: "What's going on? Did a ghost show up?"

Ji Nanxing: "No ghost. Just someone up to no good. It's nothing major."

With that, he headed inside, closing the balcony door behind him to keep the smoke out, and went to the room where the ancestor's altar was kept and where Xi Jiangyue's spirit was being nurtured.

Red threads were wrapped around the porcelain jar holding Xi Jiangyue. Xie Paner, who had floated in after him, gasped: "What's happening? What are these? Weren't the red threads tied to Xi Jiangyue cut before?"

Ji Nanxing: "These are karmic threads. Xi Jiangyue is the victim, so these threads have surfaced."

Xie Paner didn't understand: "What will happen?"

Ji Nanxing: "Repayment. Whoever owes her will repay."

Xie Paner finally understood: "Oh, so that's a good thing, right? But why are the karmic threads appearing now? Is it because Xi Jiangyue's spirit has been nurtured well?"

Ji Nanxing sneered: "Of course not. Someone is trying to repay the karma early by using a substitute."

Using a substitute to repay karma early—who knows where that karma will end up.

Xiao Ye handed the barbecue setup on the balcony to the bodyguard. After all, they couldn't leave the burning charcoal unattended. He followed Ji Nanxing inside and, upon hearing his words, frowned: "Is this Yang Xue's counterattack?"

Ji Nanxing sighed helplessly, "Her name is Xue Yang."

Xiao Ye: "What does it matter what her name is? How are we going to deal with this now?"

Ji Nanxing grinned, "Obviously, whoever gets involved has to take the blame."

After speaking, he asked Xiao Ye and Xie Paner to leave. He grabbed a handful of ash from the incense burner at the Ancestor's Altar, scattered it in a circle on the ground, opened a drawer to take out a cloth doll, pulled out a causal talisman from the side, placed the doll in the circle, and then sat down cross-legged.

Under the influence of the spell, the doll lying on the ground slowly sat up. Ji Nanxing took a brush dipped in cinnabar and wrote Xi Jiangyue's birth date on the back of the doll. Then, he twisted his fingertips again, extracting Xi Jiangyue's aura and wrapping it around the doll.

The doll, which had its eyes closed, suddenly opened them. The red threads that had been wrapped around the porcelain jar flew over and wound around the doll.

Ji Nanxing grinned. After the red threads securely wrapped the doll, he immediately pasted the causal talisman onto it, then silently chanted a spell while turning the bead bracelet in his hand.

The yellow talisman burned up instantly as the spell was uttered, and along with the doll, a faint sound of agonized screams echoed from the flames within the ash circle.

At Xue Yang's place, everything had been going smoothly. When the causal lines stabilized, Xia Linfang slightly relaxed. Even though Xue Yang's case was quite costly, as the act of substitution is not easy to perform, he had even brought out his best treasures for this.

But this deal was also profitable. Indeed, mainland celebrities are wealthy, casually spending tens of millions.

Just as he was about to dispose of the substitute straw doll to completely resolve this karmic retribution, a burning sensation exploded from his chest. Xia Linfang, holding the table with one hand and clutching his chest with the other, watched as red threads began to wrap around him. Startled, he hurriedly took out a magical tool to sever the red threads.

But remote spell battles are essentially a contest of power through a medium. Whoever is stronger, more skilled, or better equipped can overpower the other.

Obviously, Xia Linfang was outmatched by Ji Nanxing. The moment the red threads wrapped around him, he couldn't defend in time and was instantly burned by the fire, writhing in extreme pain on the ground.

This sudden change frightened Xue Yang and her agent. The disciple by Xia Linfang's side also panicked and rushed over, shouting, "Master!"

But Xia Linfang, having survived many years, surely had some tricks up his sleeve. Enduring the burning pain, he struggled to sit up, chanting spells to resist while pointing at the burning straw doll on the ground, though he was too pained to speak.

Fortunately, the disciple by his side was not foolish and quickly reacted by sprinkling a handful of prepared spiritual rice on the straw doll. The fire on the doll was mysteriously extinguished by this handful of rice.

Once the fire was out, Xia Linfang's pain subsided, but the vitality burned away in that moment would not return just because the fire was put out.

Xue Yang, horrified by Xia Linfang's transformation, covered her mouth.

Xia Linfang's disciple also ran over worriedly, "Master!"

Xia Linfang looked at his now emaciated hand, touched his wrinkled face, and almost couldn't catch his breath. If before, though in his fifties, he looked at most thirty, now he looked like he was in his seventies or eighties.

Xia Linfang, looking at the straw doll on the ground, gasped, "I was careless."

How could someone who could capture such a little ghost be an ordinary Taoist? Mainland China has always been cracking down on feudal superstitions, and mainlanders often go to their side to seek gods, worship Buddha, find masters for fortune-telling and feng shui. He had never encountered a mainland Taoist before, and didn't expect to nearly die at the hands of one in their first encounter.

Supported by his disciple, Xia Linfang stood up and looked at Xue Yang and her agent, "You'll need to find someone else to handle this. The opponent is too powerful; I am no match."

Of course, the money couldn't be refunded. He had nearly lost his life; not asking for additional compensation was already generous.

The agent panicked, "But we don't even know who the other party is."

Xia Linfang: "That's your problem."

After speaking, he left with his disciple, fearing to be dragged back into the matter if they lingered.

Ji Nanxing, puzzled, looked at the motionless doll on the ground. He seldom engaged in remote spell battles and had little experience with them. Looking up at the statue of the Ancestor's Altar, he thought for a moment and decided to strike first. He turned to take a long needle from the drawer and stabbed it into the chest of the burned doll.

He taught the other party a harsh lesson. Anyone who dared to take on Xue Yang's case and help her with substitution was likely no good. He doesn't kill, but he can definitely incapacitate someone.

Xia Linfang, who had already walked outside, suddenly grabbed her chest, vomited a mouthful of blood, and then collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The cloth doll stopped moving entirely, and the scattered red threads vanished. Ji Nanxing dusted off his hands and came out of the room, seeing Xiao Ye and Xie Paner waiting at the door. He smiled at them and said, "It's okay, it's all taken care of."

Xiao Ye sighed in relief: "You must be starving. Come eat—I grilled a ton for you."

Ji Nanxing went to wash his hands and then came to the terrace to have a late-night snack. At first, it was just him, Xiao Ye, and a ghost on the terrace, but now a few bodyguards had joined them. Since Xiao Ye had bought a lot of food, it would be hard for just the two of them and the ghost to finish it all, so adding a few bodyguards was just right to avoid wasting food.

As Xiao Ye fed him bite by bite, his phone rang. Xiao Ye glanced over: "What does he want now? Selling talismans again?"

He seemed reluctant but added, "If he’s really that broke, buying a few is fine. I don’t mind."

Ji Nanxing smiled and answered the phone. Before he could speak, Xia Junyan's burst of uncontrollable laughter came through the phone: "Hahahahaha, Xingxing, do you know what just happened? It's the happiest thing I've encountered this year, hahahaha."

Realizing it wasn’t serious, Ji Nanxing kept eating his skewers and joked, "Did you hit the jackpot?"

Xia Junyan: "Of course not! Didn't I tell you about my uncle, who was kicked out by my grandfather years ago? Later, he competed with my dad and took over our family business, forcing me to come here to make a living. Guess what happened to him? He just got beaten in a magical duel and is now vomiting blood and being rescued in the hospital. His apprentice, unfamiliar with the place, contacted me, asking if I could save his master. Screw him, I wish he would ascend to heaven soon! I'm so happy, indeed, bad deeds will be repaid sooner or later!"

Ji Nanxing hummed in agreement while eating meat, thinking that the case was solved. It turned out that the Taoist he dueled with was Xia Junyan's uncle. No wonder he was from the talisman school and not much of a fighter.

Author's note:

Xia Linfang: The opponent is a tough one, run, run!

Ji Nanxing: Not much experience in dueling, just to be safe, I'll give another needle.