Chapter 295

Chapter 295

◎Foolishness and Malice◎

Cheng Fengxian was not doing well at the moment. Having lost his protective necklace, he felt as though a blade was poised to fall at any second.

Though nothing had happened yet, he was as skittish as a spooked horse, causing chaos in the hospital, even wanting to turn over every blade of grass in search of it.

Old Master Cheng knew he would never find the necklace and didn’t want him disturbing others further, so he directly had the bodyguards toss him out.

Cheng Fengxian refused to give up. The necklace had been right there—he had seen it thrown out the window with his own eyes. How could it vanish in such a short time?

After the initial panic subsided, it finally clicked for Cheng Fengxian that his father had done it on purpose. Since when did his father care about what jewelry they wore? Even if he was angry, slapping them would have been more reasonable than ripping off their jewelry and throwing it away.

Cooling down, Cheng Fengxian returned to the hospital. He wanted to see his father and ask him directly.

But before he could meet Old Master Cheng, he encountered Cheng Junan—who had risen from the dead.

Cheng Fengxian’s eyes widened in disbelief. If it weren’t for the medical staff supporting Cheng Junan, he would have thought he was seeing a ghost.

Cheng Junan had just had his abscess drained. After lying unconscious for so long and having his soul forcibly extracted, even though he was now awake, his body was extremely weak. But despite his physical frailty, he carried himself with undiminished authority.

Seeing his uncle staring at him as if he’d seen a ghost, Cheng Junan tilted his head slightly and gave him a benign smile. "Uncle, why are you looking at me like that? The doctors at this hospital performed miracles to heal me. Don’t you seem happy for me at all?"

Cheng Fengxian's words caught in his throat. "Y-you—you weren’t... weren’t you dead?"

He had seen the corpse with his own eyes, even touched Cheng Junan’s lifeless body. Though it hadn’t stiffened yet, there had been no warmth at all. How could he have risen from the dead?

Cheng Junan: "My would-be killer hasn’t faced retribution yet. How could I die before them? Uncle, you really don’t seem pleased. I’m sorry to disappoint you—your nephew didn’t fulfill your wishes."

As soon as Cheng Junan finished speaking, a terrified scream erupted from not far behind him.

Turning around, he saw his aunt’s family had arrived—all of them, including his aunt's husband and cousin.

Right after, his parents stepped out of the elevator. His father stood rooted in shock at the sight of him, while his mother’s first instinct was to push everyone aside and run toward him. She reached out to touch him but hesitated, as if he might vanish at her touch. "Xiao An! Xiao An! Is it really you?"

Cheng Junan smiled. "Mom."

That single word undid his mother completely. She pulled her frail son, who still needed support to stand, into a tight embrace and broke down sobbing. "You scared me to death! You really scared me to death! Without you, how could I go on living? It’s so good—it’s so good that you’re alright!"

Cheng Junan gently patted her back. "I’m fine now. The one responsible has been found. Nothing like this will ever happen again."

His mother’s expression instantly darkened. "The one responsible? Who was it? Who?!"

In that moment, her mind immediately went to that woman's child. Why did he have to return now, of all times? The moment he learned about Cheng Junan’s situation, her son nearly died—it was impossible not to suspect him.

Cheng Junan reassured her, "Don’t worry, Mom. That person will pay for what they’ve done. Even if they used dark arts, they won’t escape legal punishment."

Then, with a smile, he turned back. "Isn’t that right, Uncle?"

Everyone there could read between the lines. Cheng Junan’s words and attitude made his meaning unmistakable. And seeing Cheng Fengxian’s pale, sweat-drenched face, the guilt was written all over him.

When Cheng Junan’s aunt, Cheng Fengwan, put two and two together, her gaze at Cheng Fengxian filled with reproach and resentment. If he was going to act, he should've finished the job. Instead, he’d failed to do so and was now left holding the bag.

She couldn’t help but fantasize—if Cheng Fengxian had been capable enough to kill Cheng Junan outright, and if Old Master Cheng’s investigation later exposed him, wouldn’t the entire Cheng family have fallen into her hands? The more she thought about it, the more resentful she grew. Cheng Fengxian was utterly incompetent.

Cheng Fengxian felt his limbs go numb, his heart pounding with fear. When he’d committed the act, he hadn’t been afraid—back then, all he could think about was the benefits he stood to gain. But now that things had spiraled out of control, terror set in. He had no idea what awaited him.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Old Master Cheng appeared in the doorway. "Why are you all crowding the hallway? You’re disrupting the staff. Come inside."

Cheng Fengwan was the first to step forward: "Dad, what on earth is going on? How could Jun'an..."

She wasn't afraid—after all, she wasn't the one who had done anything wrong. Even if Cheng Junan hadn't died, losing Cheng Fengxian wouldn’t be a loss. One less person to share the inheritance meant more for her. So when she took Old Master Cheng’s arm to ask, her voice was tinged with barely concealed delight at others' misfortune.

Old Master Cheng gave her a heavy look. Compared to his two sons, he had devoted the most attention to this daughter—teaching her how to judge people so she wouldn’t be deceived, how to protect herself so she wouldn’t be bullied, and leaving her the most resources to ensure she would never lack for anything. He had taught her everything—except, it seemed, how to have basic human decency.

Filled with disappointment, the old man shook his head and walked into the hospital room. Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he turned sharply to Cheng Fengxian. "Out with it - what have you done? This is a family matter, and though Jun’an has suffered greatly this time, I’ll make the decision for him—he won't press charges or seek revenge."

Cheng Junan’s mother couldn’t hold back: "Dad!"

Her son had nearly died! Once so healthy and vibrant, now he was wasted away to a shadow of himself, having endured such torment and pain. And now they were just supposed to let it go with a simple "family shouldn’t hold grudges"? How could that be fair?

Old Master Cheng roared, "I'll do the talking here!"

His shout silenced everyone. Cheng Junan’s father tugged at his wife’s sleeve, urging her to save it until they got home—now wasn’t the time to upset the old man.

Cheng Junan patted his mother’s hand soothingly, calming her down.

Cheng Fengxian looked up at his father, thinking that Dad still cared for him. He was just considering how to talk his way out of this when Old Master Cheng added, "If you wait until the cops show up, it’ll be too late. Whatever you’ve done, come clean before they come for you—maybe you can still get a reduced sentence."

Cheng Fengxian: "What have I done? Nothing! Reduced sentence for what? Dad, you just said we wouldn’t hold grudges!"

Cheng Junan’s cousin scoffed—what a moron. Denying one second, admitting the next, not even thinking before he spoke.

Old Master Cheng: "I was talking about what you did to Jun’an. I’ll have him write a forgiveness affidavit so he won’t hold it against you. But the past—do you really think you can keep hiding it?"

Cheng Fengwan blurted out, confused: "The past? Dad, what past? Has Third Brother harmed someone before?"

Cheng Fengxian turned and glared at her: "Shut your mouth!"

Old Master Cheng: "You’re my son. If I could protect you even at the cost of my own life, I would. But Fengxian, this isn’t just about a failed investment or losing money. Whatever you’ve done, come clean before they come for you. Maybe there’s still a way to fix it."

Cheng Fengxian stared at his father, who had aged so much recently, and asked, "Losing my necklace—was that deliberate?"

Old Master Cheng said nothing, his silence said it all.

Cheng Fengxian’s eyes reddened instantly: "Dad, I’m your son! Are you trying to get me killed?"

Old Master Cheng: "Is it me who wants you dead—or you who wants the whole family dead?"

Enraged, Cheng Fengxian lunged forward, going for his father’s collar as if to demand whether he truly meant to drive him to his death!

The moment Cheng Fengxian moved, Cheng Junan instinctively rushed to block him—but his body was still far too weak. He could hardly stand unaided, let alone move fast enough. He barely took a step before his legs gave out, and he would have collapsed if his parents hadn’t caught him.

Cheng Fengwan, standing not far from Old Master Cheng, nursed plenty of resentment toward her father—favoring grandsons over granddaughters, doting on her elder and younger brothers while being harsh with her, refusing to let her take over the company because she was a woman. But no matter her resentment, he was still her father, and instinct kicked in before she could think.

She shoved Cheng Fengxian aside, then rubbed her sore arm and snapped, "Have you lost your mind?!"

As Cheng Fengxian turned to retaliate, Cheng Junan’s cousin rushed to shield his mother, and Cheng Junan’s uncle stepped in to block him. The room erupted into chaos.

Ji Yuanting had just reached the doorway. Seeing the commotion, he took a step back and gestured to the enforcement officers from the Bureau beside him: "After you."

He had been on his way earlier but was called back midway to bring a team to detain Cheng Fengxian, which delayed his arrival. Now, he walked into a full-blown family meltdown.

Before the scuffle could turn bloody, the Bureau officers waded in and broke it up. Cheng Junan’s cousin struggled indignantly: "Who the hell are you? Let go of me!"

The officers shoved him aside and pinned Cheng Fengxian’s arms behind his back: "You're a suspect in the mass suicide case in Taoxu Village fifteen years ago. You’re coming with us for questioning."

Cheng Fengwan stared at the officers in shock: "How could he possibly be involved?"

Bureau officer: "Inciting others or using dark magic to lure people into suicide is also a crime."

Cheng Fengxian, who was never strong-willed and buckled under pressure, panicked as soon as they came for him. Trembling with fear, he pleaded, "No, it wasn’t me, I had nothing to do with it! Dad, save me! Dad, I don’t want to go with them! Dad, help me!"

No matter how much he resisted, his fate was sealed—he was taken away. After he was escorted out, Ji Yuanting finally entered the room and glanced at Cheng Junan’s complexion. "You’re recovering well. Two or three more treatments, and the corruption within you will be completely purged."

Cheng Junan looked at Ji Yuanting. "Was that the Bureau who just took my uncle away?"

Ji Yuanting nodded. "If he did it, he won’t escape. If he didn’t, he won’t be wrongfully accused. You’d better think carefully—once the evidence is confirmed and he’s convicted, what will your family do?"

After speaking, Ji Yuanting took out a charm pouch and handed it to Cheng Junan. "This is follow-up protection. Keep it on your person at all times once the sores are fully removed. If the charm shows any signs of disturbance, you can go to the Bureau and ask a Taoist to handle it. Your family’s case is closed on my end. Here’s the Bureau’s number—if you want updates on Cheng Fengxian’s situation, you can call and inquire."

With that, Ji Yuanting left. If not for his curiosity about someone still contracting snakestring sore these days, and his master’s connections, he rarely took cases anymore.

Still, solving one occasionally wasn’t bad. It had been over a year since he last worked with his younger martial brother, whose skills had grown increasingly formidable, casting spells with practiced ease. Once the *demon-repelling silver* was reforged into a magical tool, he wouldn’t have to worry so much about his younger martial brother facing something too powerful to handle.

Cheng Fengxian was taken to the Bureau, where he barely lasted through the professional interrogation. A few lingering ghosts dressed in villagers’ clothes, standing in the corner and staring at him with ghostly gazes, were enough to make him break down and confess everything.

"We never thought things would turn out like that. To cut costs and save trouble, we discharged untreated chemical wastewater directly. The discharge point was dangerously close to Taoxu Village’s water source. At first, no one paid attention—until more and more villagers fell ill."

Cheng Fengxian wept uncontrollably. "Once I realized what had happened, I immediately shut down the factory. But after years of pollution, stopping it didn’t make the damage disappear overnight. Then people started dying, and they threatened to sue me."

Interrogator: "How did you make them commit suicide?"

Cheng Fengxian: "That village had few young people—most had left for work elsewhere. Only the elderly or those without means remained. I chose that remote place precisely because it was sparsely populated."

Over a decade ago, the country had already prioritized environmental protection. His investment project, which produced heavily polluting wastewater, couldn’t obtain legal permits. That’s why he set up the factory in such an isolated place. When disaster struck, he couldn’t imagine the consequences if it were exposed.

But with so many falling ill, it was impossible to hide. The illiterate villagers were ignorant and easily intimidated, but they had children. Once those working outside returned and learned the truth, all hell would break loose.

Compensating one or two was manageable, but this was an entire village.

At the time, the government was cracking down on cults, especially those convincing the sick to drink talisman water instead of seeking medical treatment. Cheng Fengxian had an idea—cults thrived by brainwashing, and these villagers were ignorant and easily manipulated.

Cheng Fengxian: "I paid a few cultists to deceive the villagers. I told them their suffering in this life would become blessings for their descendants. I also promised that every household with someone sick from the factory would receive a million yuan in compensation—as long as they never revealed the truth, the money would go to their children."

Fifteen years ago, for villagers who barely earned a few thousand a year from farming, an impossible sum was unimaginable fortune.

Brainwashing plus financial temptation—especially for those already deathly ill—convinced them that since they couldn’t be cured, securing compensation for their children was the best option. So they agreed to commit suicide together.

Interrogator: "There must have been survivors in the village. Why didn’t they expose you?"

Cheng Fengxian: "Because they didn’t know. The sick knew the factory caused it, but it had already been relocated. The illiterate villagers had no way to trace it. Later, I had people reinforce the brainwashing, convincing many that talisman water could cure them. By the time the suicides happened, the survivors didn’t know about my monetary promises—they just thought those people believed in the cult’s promises of eternal blessings and chose suicide because they thought they were dying anyway."

Remembering this now, Cheng Fengxian still trembled with fear. He'd committed atrocities beyond forgiveness, yet somehow managed to cover it up.

But every night, he was haunted by nightmares, feeling surrounded by lingering ghosts—the dead returning for vengeance. Even fleeing abroad didn’t free him.

At first, it might have been his own paranoia, but eventually, the supernatural became real—chilling stares, shadowy apparitions, and several near-death accidents where he was almost pushed into traffic.

Then a friend offered him an ancient protective talisman for sale. After buying it, the shadows could no longer approach him.

Cheng Fengxian confessed: "But it only worked for a while. Soon, the spirit's power grew. Though it couldn’t touch me, it could appear before me, dogging my every step."

Since the ghost couldn’t harm him directly, he grew less afraid despite its constant presence. But he didn’t want to live like this forever, so he tried negotiating.

The ghost wanted his life—but if he were brave enough to die, he would’ve killed himself long ago. Finally, the ghost said it wanted Cheng Junan’s body instead—it wanted to become Cheng Junan.

Cheng Fengxian thought—as long as he wasn’t killed, anything was fine.

The interrogator asked, "How was the grudge transferred to Cheng Junan?"

Cheng Fengxian replied, "A lingering ghost gave me a packet of some unknown powder. I poured it into wine and made him drink it."

The interrogator pressed, "You managed all this alone? Who helped you?"

Cheng Fengxian listed several names—the factory owner at the time (since the factory was his), as well as another responsible manager. He couldn't avoid blame, and neither could the factory owner, so they had to work together to cover it up. He also named the village chief of Taoxu Village and a few villagers.

Without help from people in Taoxu Village, the manipulation and brainwashing wouldn't have worked so well. Those who assisted initially wanted to threaten him for benefits, but compared to compensating an entire village, it was easier to buy off a few people.

After revealing all the names of those involved, Cheng Fengxian added, "Most of them are already gone. After the factory was shut down and the Taoxu Village matter was resolved, I went abroad. Those people never even left the city, let alone the country. Even if they wanted to blackmail me later, they couldn’t find me. But I made sure to keep track of them—some died of illness, others in accidents. Hardly any are left now."

Only because it had been buried for so many years, and nearly all the witnesses were dead, did he dare to return. Plus, he'd made a deal with the vengeful spirit haunting him. Otherwise, he would never have come back.

The final question from the interrogator: "Did you ever pay the promised one million per household?"

Cheng Fengxian shook his head. With so many households, where would he get that kind of money? If he truly had that much, he could have just paid them off to keep quiet. He wouldn't have needed to trick them into silence forever.

Outside the interrogation room, Xiao Ye shook his head. "Cold-blooded bastard. No wonder it spawned a vengeful spirit."

Ji Nanxing thought of the villagers who had gone up the mountain together, watched the sunrise one final time, and then drank pesticide. He lowered his gaze. "Let’s go home."

Xiao Ye could tell his mood just from his voice. And given how vile and cruel this case was, it wasn’t hard to guess he wasn’t feeling great. Gently poking his palm, Xiao Ye said softly, "Don’t be sad. Even though it took fifteen years, the truth is out now, and their souls have been laid to rest. You did all anyone could do."

Ji Nanxing smiled slightly, closing his fingers around the fingertip pressing into his palm. "I’m not that sad. I just feel it's all so pointless."

Because of one greedy fool, everything was lost.

Xiao Ye froze, letting his hand be held. Hearing his sigh, he whispered, "Then let’s look into how their children are doing now. If they’re doing well, we’ll leave it be. If not, we’ll help them a little."

Ji Nanxing said, "There are so many people. It won’t be easy to investigate. It'll be a pain."

Xiao Ye grinned. "Leave the pain to me. You just focus on the results!"