“Afflicted by evil energy?” Liu Cheng’s eyes widened in panic. “Is… is there a way to resolve it?”

Although Liu Cheng didn’t understand much about these things, he knew being afflicted by evil energy was no small matter — if dragged on for too long, it could be fatal.

Li Xin didn’t answer immediately but began to examine the layout of the house carefully.

Because the Liu family was in the real estate business, they had always paid a lot of attention to feng shui. A few years ago, when they first developed this place, it was Li Xin who came to inspect the feng shui. Even the layout of this villa had been arranged under his guidance — under normal circumstances, there should have been no problems.

Li Xin himself found it strange and scrutinized every corner of the house. The servants and Liu Cheng dared not make a sound, afraid of disturbing him.

After a thorough check, he found nothing wrong.

Li Xin then walked out onto the balcony to observe the surroundings outside. His gaze eventually locked onto the newly built road.

He turned back and asked Liu Cheng, “When was that road constructed?”

Liu Cheng immediately came to the balcony and said, “Last year. It was part of a municipal project.”

Li Xin nodded, understanding the situation. “It’s that road — it became a source of evil energy, causing the old master to fall gravely ill.”

“What?” Liu Cheng looked shocked. “That’s impossible! When the city government came to build the road, they negotiated with us. I told them I was worried it would disrupt the feng shui here. They even brought in a so-called master from the Metaphysics Association to explain everything to me. He said the road passing behind our mountain would be like a ‘jade belt wrapped around the waist,’ which would boost the resort’s business. That’s why I agreed!”

Li Xin chuckled lightly. “And afterward?”

“Afterward, the resort’s business really did double!” Liu Cheng said firmly.

Li Xin shook his head and pointed toward the road. “This road curves like a bow. On the inside of the curve, it’s indeed called ‘jade belt wrapping the waist,’ a sign of prosperity. But on the outside of the curve, it’s called ‘reverse bow evil,’ which brings harm and death.”

“What?” Liu Cheng broke into a cold sweat.

“That half-baked master only understood half the concept but missed the other half,” Li Xin continued, pointing at the vehicles passing along the road. “Each car that passes is like an arrow shooting at the owner of this house. Over time, no matter how strong one’s fortune is, it can’t withstand the constant assault. The fact that the old master held on for half a year is thanks to the good deeds he accumulated from frequent charity work. Otherwise, he would have passed away long ago.”

“But… but why is it that only my father is affected, and no one else in the villa?” Liu Cheng asked.

Li Xin pointed again toward the road. “Because the center of that curve aligns directly with this room. The evil energy concentrates here and affects only the old master. Others are also impacted, just less severely, so it’s not as easily noticed.”

Liu Cheng immediately thought of how he himself had been feeling unusually fatigued lately. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “Master Li, please help us resolve this.”

Li Xin nodded. “First, move the old master to another room. Then have someone buy two stone lions as tall as a person and three zhang of red cloth.”

Liu Cheng agreed to everything at once, hurriedly ordering the servants to carry the old master to a guest room and sending people to purchase the required items.

Li Xin calculated with his fingers and said, “If we get through tonight safely, the old master should be out of danger.”

“And if…” Liu Cheng didn’t dare finish his sentence.

Li Xin smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. With me here, even if the reapers come, they won’t be able to take him.”

“Good, good!” Liu Cheng finally let out a breath of relief. “We’ll be relying on you, Master Li.”

Li Xin nodded and instructed, “Have Chang Wu bring some talismans up to paste around the house.”

“Yes!” Liu Cheng quickly ordered someone to fetch Chang Wu.

Chang Wu and Chang You were twin brothers who had long served at Li Xin’s side. Though young, they were highly capable.

Usually for tasks like this, Li Xin only needed to give a brief instruction, and the brothers could handle everything perfectly and efficiently.

By evening, the stone lions had been placed exactly as Li Xin instructed, connected by three zhang of red cloth painted with talismans.

In the courtyard, Li Xin set up an altar, held a peachwood sword, and chanted incantations. With Chang Wu assisting, he performed a full ritual to dispel the evil energy.

Once the ritual papers burned completely, Li Xin withdrew his spiritual power, set down the sword, and walked over to Liu Cheng.

“It’s done.”

Overjoyed, Liu Cheng grasped Li Xin’s hand and thanked him profusely. “Thank you so much! I’ve already settled the auction house bill. You’ve worked hard.”

Li Xin nodded, very satisfied with Liu Cheng’s tact — he had only hinted at it subtly, and Liu Cheng immediately understood.

He smiled and said, “President Liu, you’re too polite.”

Liu Cheng chuckled awkwardly. “It’s only right.”

Though he said that, he cursed Li Xin countless times in his heart, calling him a black-hearted charlatan.

Li Xin added, “The old master’s health has deteriorated severely. Though the evil energy has been dispelled, his recovery will now depend on himself.”

Liu Cheng thought, If I’ve spent all that money and still can’t save my father’s life, wouldn’t it be all for nothing?

Thus, he pleaded again, “Master Li, could I trouble you to stay here tonight? I’m worried something might happen overnight, and it would be reassuring to have you around.”

Li Xin was eager to return and examine the jade crown, not wanting to waste time here. But seeing that Liu Cheng had spent a fortune, he couldn’t very well refuse. After a moment’s thought, he agreed.

“Alright. Arrange a room for me next to the old master’s.”

“Thank you so much, Master Li!”

Before Li Xin returned to his room, he took one last look at Old Liu. Seeing that he was indeed frail, Li Xin left a talisman on him, thinking that if a ghost emissary came to claim him tonight, seeing the Nine-Qian Heavenly Master seal would give Old Liu some leeway, allowing him to spare the old man’s life.

But things often do not go as expected.

That night, not only did the ghost emissary arrive, but it was one who was stubborn, only following the rules and acting strictly by the book.

At the hour of the rat (midnight), Li Xin was sitting in his room meditating when he suddenly sensed someone tampering with his talisman.

Li Xin was both surprised and curious. Who could be so reckless as to tamper with his talisman?

He hurriedly got up and went to Old Liu’s room.

Upon entering, he saw a ghost emissary dressed in the attire of the underworld’s officials, standing by Old Liu’s bed, with his hand around the old man’s neck, attempting to extract his soul.

Li Xin immediately spoke out to stop him, “Wait!”

The ghost emissary ignored him and, with a forceful grip, began to lift Old Liu’s soul.

Li Xin quickly stepped forward, grabbing the emissary’s wrist from a distance, trying to make him release his hold. “This person’s lifespan has not yet ended. He’s only been cursed. The curse has already been lifted. Please, show some mercy.”

The ghost emissary, pressured by Li Xin’s spiritual power, momentarily stopped and did not pull out Old Liu’s soul entirely.

He turned and coldly looked at Li Xin. “His name is on the list for tonight. I’m just following orders. Heavenly Master, it would be best if you refrained from interfering.”

Li Xin was stunned and looked at the ghost emissary in disbelief.

Normally, if someone dared to speak to him this way, he would have made them disappear without a trace. But the ghost emissary in front of him looked so much like his senior brother, Jing Wuran, even the voice was identical.

The ghost emissary, seeing Li Xin’s lack of response, applied more force and began to lift Old Liu’s soul further out.

Li Xin immediately came back to his senses and struck the emissary’s wrist with a palm. He controlled his strength carefully, aiming to break the emissary’s spell without harming his soul.

The ghost emissary’s hand loosened upon being struck, but to Li Xin’s surprise, his arm suddenly burst into eerie green ghost fire.

Li Xin paused, puzzled. “I didn’t use much power. Why is this happening?”

Seeing the ghost fire spreading across the emissary’s chest and not dying down on its own, Li Xin quickly cast a spell to extinguish the flames.

The ghost emissary, wounded, covered his scorched arm and glared at Li Xin. “You are a Nine-Qian Heavenly Master, don’t you understand the principles of reincarnation? This person’s life is over. If you continue to defy heaven, you will face divine retribution.”

His angry gaze was exactly the same.

Li Xin became a bit dazed, not really hearing what the emissary had said, and trembled as he called out, “Senior Brother.”

The ghost emissary was confused by Li Xin’s reaction. “What?”

Li Xin’s eyes filled with tears, and he rushed forward. “It’s my fault, I hurt you. Let me take a look.”

The ghost emissary was startled. Was this person sick?

He quickly dodged backwards to avoid Li Xin’s reaching hand. “No need, Heavenly Master.”

“Senior Brother, I’m Xuanjue, your disciple Li Buyi, don’t you remember?”

“What disciple? Heavenly Master, are you mistaken? Stop talking nonsense.”

Seeing the emissary’s anger, Li Xin realized he had lost composure.

He truly couldn’t be sure if the emissary in front of him was Jing Wuran, so he forced a smile and held back his tears. “My apologies, I… you look so much like my senior brother.”

The ghost emissary seemed uncertain and, seeing Li Xin’s sorrow, softened his tone. “I’m just doing my duty. Heavenly Master, please step aside.”

Li Xin’s attention was focused entirely on the emissary’s arm. “Let me heal your injury first, please?”

The ghost emissary glanced at his arm and realized that his own powers wouldn’t be able to heal the injury. With a sigh, he reluctantly agreed. “Fine.”

Li Xin calmed his emotions and said, “I’m glad you’re not mad at me.”

With that, Li Xin lifted the emissary’s arm and cast a healing spell, though he was still curious as to why the emissary’s soul seemed so fragile.

Curiously, he probed the emissary’s soul and was shocked to find that he only had a heavenly soul!

A person has three souls and seven spirits, and even if gravely injured, a person would still have more than one soul after death, and their soul would be intact in the underworld. No wonder a simple blow had caused so much damage.

Li Xin’s suspicion grew stronger.

Before long, the ghost emissary’s arm was healed. Li Xin withdrew his power and gently set the emissary’s arm down.

The ghost emissary shook his arm, gave Li Xin a disdainful look, and tried to reach for Old Liu’s soul again.

Li Xin immediately stopped him. “Please, show mercy. This person was only cursed. I’ve checked, and he still has ten years of life left.”

The ghost emissary paused, realizing he couldn’t defeat Li Xin, and temporarily halted his actions. “I’m just following orders. If Heavenly Master doesn’t believe me, you can ask King Yanluo in the underworld, but there’s no need to trouble me, a small official.”

Li Xin didn’t back down and, with a push, sent Old Liu’s soul back into his body.

The ghost emissary was furious. “What do you mean by this, Heavenly Master?”

“I just don’t want you to make a grave mistake.”

“You’re being unreasonable!”

The ghost emissary moved to take Old Liu’s soul again.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the window. “Wait!”

Hearing the voice, both Li Xin and the ghost emissary looked towards the window, where a blue-faced ghost emissary floated in.

He looked anxious and quickly checked Old Liu’s bed. Seeing that his soul was still inside, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, good, luckily I made it in time.”

“What’s going on?” The ghost emissary, seeing his colleague intervene, asked with confusion.

The blue-faced ghost emissary quickly explained. “It’s a mistake. The list for today was wrong.”

“Wrong? How so?”

“This person was on the list of those who died suddenly yesterday. When you went to take the task, there was no issue, but just now, another one came for a task. I glanced at the list, and his name was blank. Something didn’t seem right, so I went to ask in the underworld and found out that he died from a curse. But now the curse has been lifted, and his life has been restored. His soul can’t be taken. If it is, there will be trouble.”

The ghost emissary listened to his colleague and realized it matched what Li Xin had said. He then bowed to Li Xin. “It seems this was a misunderstanding. Thank you, Heavenly Master. Otherwise, we would have made a big mistake.”

“No need for thanks. It’s good that we cleared it up,” Li Xin said, bowing in return, as the ghost emissary had done the old-fashioned way.

“Since that’s the case, we’ll take our leave now.” The ghost emissary then flew out of the window without looking back.

“Chi Yu, wait for me!” The blue-faced ghost emissary called out quickly, ready to follow, but his arm was grabbed by Li Xin.

“Who did you just call him?”