Chapter 160: Don’t Show Off Before Unleashing Your Big Move
Xuan Xia on the wall had no idea of frugality at all, directly scattering a stack of talisman paper into the courtyard like throwing money around.
While the talisman paper was fluttering down, Xuan Xia followed what the Daoist Master below said, supplemented by an incantation to break the illusion.
Finally, with Xuan Xia’s shout of “Break,” the originally fluttering talismans burst forth with golden-red light, runes detaching from the talisman paper one by one, flowing in the air.
Each rune was different; some were like falling meteors, others like rippling water patterns, but with these changes, the originally deathly still courtyard finally began to change.
Just like breaking the calm surface of water, ripples spread out from the empty courtyard, circle after circle expanding outward. When the ripples reached a threshold, the illusion of calm was truly broken, revealing the true state of the courtyard.
It turned out that Yan Wentao and Qu Xingxuan, who had entered the courtyard first, weren’t idle either.
In the muddy ground under their feet, countless hands were stretching out densely.
These arms varied in thickness and size, but their density was such that even Xuan Xia, without claustrophobia, felt her scalp tingle at the scene.
With so many arms, Yan Wentao and the others could hardly find a place to step.
And that wasn’t all; these arms were alive-like, desperately trying to grab Yan Wentao and the others. Two Daoist Priests couldn’t dodge in time; one was grabbed by the hem of his robe and nearly dragged down.
If he fell, that scene would be unimaginable.
The other was grabbed at the ankle.
With that grab, the Daoist Priest immediately limped.
Even though that Daoist Priest reacted quickly and immediately broke free, there were already two bloodstains on his ankle.
This was truly too ferocious!
“Layman Xuan, how is it?” The Daoist Priests outside the wall didn’t know the specific situation inside and could only guess from Xuan Xia’s expression.
Now seeing Xuan Xia’s expression change several times, none of them good, they didn’t know what she had seen exactly. The two Daoist Priests scratched their ears and cheeks, both curious and worried.
Xuan Xia turned her head to the two Daoist Priests and said, “Illusion break.”
The two Daoist Priests’ expressions relaxed a bit.
Good, good, good; as long as it’s broken.
One Daoist Priest hurriedly said, “Are my fellow brothers okay? Hurry and have them open the gate.”
Xuan Xia couldn’t care now whether it would alert the courtyard’s owner and directly shouted to Yan Wentao and the others inside, “Daoist Master Yan, do you need any help?”
In the end, no one in the courtyard paid her any attention, not even a glance.
Xuan Xia frowned, feeling something was off.
She observed again and confirmed that Yan Wentao and the others really couldn’t notice her, then reported to the two Daoist Priests, “The formation in the courtyard isn’t broken; Daoist Master Yan and the others seem to be entangled.”
The two Daoist Priests, just from Xuan Xia’s description, couldn’t imagine what was going on, so after discussing, one carried the other on his back to see the situation with their own eyes.
This time, it was the same “Trouble” Daoist Priest who had climbed the wall first. As soon as this “Trouble” Daoist Priest saw the situation in the courtyard clearly, his catchphrase “Trouble” slipped out again.
The “Trouble” Daoist Priest said, “This is a corpse field! What a vicious person! To turn the courtyard into a corpse field!”
“Corpse field?” Xuan Xia didn’t know the details, but just the name sounded creepy. What kind of lunatic uses their own courtyard as farmland, specifically for burying corpses?
But thinking that the other party could command evil spirits and ghosts to harm people, it wasn’t strange for them to use their own courtyard as a corpse field.
The “Trouble” Daoist Priest immediately said, “We must break this corpse field formation right away; the longer it drags on, the worse it is for them.”
Now Yan Wentao and the others were trapped in that corpse field, unable to retreat or advance.
The longer it dragged, the more it would consume their physical strength and energy; one misstep, and sooner or later they’d be pulled down by these arms, and it wouldn’t be as simple as an ankle injury.
Xuan Xia hurriedly asked, “What do we do? Daoist Priest, teach me.”
The “Trouble” Daoist Priest indeed wasn’t in a good position to cast spells now, so he immediately agreed to Xuan Xia’s suggestion and taught her on the spot how to break the curse.
Xuan Xia noted it carefully. After the teaching was done, the “Trouble” Daoist Priest took out two talismans and offered them earnestly, saying solemnly, “Layman Xuan, I entrust this to you.”
With the “Trouble” Daoist Priest’s instructions, Xuan Xia also looked serious, solemnly taking his talismans, then pulling out a stack from her own bag.
The “Trouble” Daoist Priest: “…”
How did she have so many more?
Compared to her lavish spending, the “Trouble” Daoist Priest felt his two talismans looked particularly like a joke, even wanting to take them back.
But Xuan Xia didn’t give him the chance; she stood directly on the wall, flinging the stack of talismans in her hand, all landing in the courtyard.
“Trouble” Daoist Priest: “…” Heart aching, unable to breathe.
Xuan Xia put what she just learned into practice, her hands forming hand seals as taught by the “Trouble” Daoist Priest, and after a long divine incantation, the edges of the flung talismans glowed with golden light. The golden light was like a giant sword or a beam of sunlight piercing through dark clouds, shooting straight into the courtyard.
The areas hit by the golden light, where dozens of arms had been surging, suddenly shrank back into the ground like they feared the light, but they were one step too slow, instantly turning into withered branches under the sunlight.
The withered branches quickly turned to dust.
Immediately after, the surrounding arms were all infected-like, turning entirely to dust in an instant.
Yan Wentao and the others, nearly exhausted, suddenly perked up and finally saw Xuan Xia standing on the wall, as well as the “Trouble” Daoist Priest peeking half his head out.
The several Daoist Priests hurriedly cupped their hands, thanking Xuan Xia from afar.
With the barrier spells in the courtyard fully broken, Yan Wentao and the others immediately split into two groups: one heading to the house, the other to open the courtyard gate to let in Xuan Xia and the others.
When the group behind Xuan Xia entered the house, the first group of Daoist Priests, each holding magic tools, had already surrounded the house’s owner, a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man was half-collapsed on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, one hand clutching his chest, his eyes filled with resentment toward the Daoist Priests.
His appearance clearly showed he had failed in the magic battle and suffered backlash.
If not for the backlash, with the formation in the courtyard, he might have escaped long ago.
Xuan Xia looked at the middle-aged man, immediately taking out her mobile phone to snap a photo of him, planning to send it to Ding Lu later for Cheng Qinhua to identify if it was this man.
After taking the photo, Xuan Xia cautiously asked the leading Yan Wentao, “Daoist Master Yan, is it him? Are there no others?”
Yan Wentao and the other Daoist Priests who entered first had already searched the house and confirmed only this man was there.
“This man carries the scent of refining corpses,” Yan Wentao added, his expression full of hatred.
There are always such heinous and deranged people in this world!
What scent? Xuan Xia instinctively sniffed, but she smelled nothing.
The middle-aged man sneered, about to speak, when a flash of light passed before everyone’s eyes. He suddenly widened his eyes but was a beat too slow, unable to dodge as a mobile phone smashed right into his face.
“Ah—”
A scream immediately burst out.
The Daoist Priests all turned to look at Xuan Xia, their gazes full of shock.
Xuan Xia felt lingering fear yet innocent, explaining to everyone, “I didn’t do it on purpose; I was afraid he was going to chant a spell.”
In that moment, she forgot she was holding a mobile phone and only thought it was bad, wanting to stop him quickly, so she naturally threw it.
Only after the mobile phone left her hand did she realize she threw the wrong thing.
She really didn’t mean to!
Everyone thought about it and agreed; who made the man sneer like that, making them think he was about to unleash a big move.
So this was a lesson: don’t act cool before unleashing a big move!
These days, those who act cool don’t end well.
The Daoist Priests quickly withdrew their gazes, continuing to righteously interrogate the man.
The man, hit by the phone, turned resentful eyes to Xuan Xia, saying in a trembling voice unfit for his gaze, “You’re so vicious…”
Xuan Xia: I’m not, I didn’t; how can you be like this!
But his gaze made Xuan Xia too scared to go pick up her mobile phone; in the end, Qu Xingxuan helped her retrieve it.
After picking up the mobile phone and checking it, Qu Xingxuan sighed, “It surprisingly didn’t break.”
Xuan Xia chimed in, “Of course. This is a drop-proof phone case; it’s especially sturdy and practical.”
The man who was hit: “…” Vicious woman!
The Daoist Priests: “…”
The man thought of when he had ever suffered such humiliation, and with malicious intent rising, he coldly swept his eyes over the room of Daoist Priests, truly beginning to chant a vicious curse, planning a jade-shattering mutual destruction.
Seeing this, everyone threw their magic tools at the man.
The man’s curse wasn’t complete and was forcibly interrupted.
Next came the group beating.
After beating him, they tied him up and conveniently gagged his mouth.
Just after tying him up, the square-faced Daoist Priest who had gone outside the village to call for aid returned. Seeing everything done without a chance for him to shine, his face was full of regret.
…
Not long after, reinforcements from Qinghui Temple hadn’t arrived yet, but people from the city police station came first.
It turned out that after receiving the square-faced Daoist Priest’s call for aid, Chang Zhendong immediately contacted the city bureau to send people over for support.
These people were full of righteous qi, unafraid of evil spirits.
Yan Wentao was glad the investigators had arrived and quickly informed them about the corpse field, even taking them to see it on-site; the others were shocked.
This was no simple support.
The people who came quickly contacted the coroner and more manpower to rush over.
The Daoist Priests weren’t idle either; those injured by the corpse field formation needed to stop bleeding and remove poison, while those with stamina left began preparations to perform a deliverance ceremony after the corpse field was opened.
But Xuan Xia didn’t participate in the following matters.
Her identity was special; she still held the title of a public figure.
If recognized and word spread, it would be troublesome to explain, plus it wasn’t early, and she had a flight to Jiangshi tomorrow, so she was arranged to leave first.
Yan Wentao and the others specially had the square-faced Daoist Priest drive Xuan Xia back; after all, he missed everything.
On the way back, Xuan Xia sent the man’s photo to Ding Lu.
She soon got a reply; Cheng Qinhua was very certain this man was the master who performed the ritual for him.
Xuan Xia simply told Ding Lu the result; for more details, they’d have to wait for Qinghui Temple to inform the couple.
Ding Lu repeatedly expressed thanks to Xuan Xia in the messages.
To resolve the matter in such a short time, before this, Ding Lu wouldn’t have dared to imagine.
–
After a busy day, Xuan Xia returned home wanting nothing more, washed up straightaway, and slept.
She slept until the next day when it was bright.
The flight to Jiangshi was scheduled for the afternoon.
After waking, Xuan Xia first contacted Yan Wentao to ask about the progress of last night’s events.
Yan Wentao had been busy all night and hadn’t had a chance to catch up on sleep when Xuan Xia contacted him.
As for the follow-up, it was simple: the middle-aged man had been taken into custody by the city police station.
Unchecked, one wouldn’t know; he had quite a few charges, originally a wanted fugitive.
No one knew what methods he used to roam freely in Yanjing for so long; even before Cheng Qinhua, he had deceived many people, with plenty of victims wanting to settle scores with him.
As for the corpse field in his courtyard, the coroner was working overtime, but the workload was enormous, needing time to identify and confirm.
Xuan Xia could fully imagine how huge the workload was; after all, her first sight of that dense mass of arms was too shocking!
Of course, such events couldn’t appear on TV; everything proceeded in secret.
However, the city police station’s leader said that this time, Qinghui Temple would definitely receive great merit.
Qinghui Temple felt this great merit should include a share for Xuan Xia; after all, at the critical moment, she helped everyone escape the trap.
As for how to record this great merit, it needed careful discussion.
After hearing this, Xuan Xia felt very embarrassed; she didn’t care about great merit or not.
Of course, if they could award a certificate of honor and record it in her file, she would be willing to accept.
…
Arriving in Jiangshi, it was just when the lights were coming on.
Jiangshi’s night view was very beautiful and brilliant, but Xuan Xia suddenly felt an indescribable sensation.
This city was where Xuan Xia had stayed for two years, but now it had become a city she arrived at for a business trip.
On the way to the hotel, Ji Ziyao recalled the last time they went to the police station and deliberately asked Xuan Xia, “Are you going out strolling tonight?”
Xuan Xia gave him a black line look.
Would he nag her every time she came?
Ji Ziyao chuckled.
He had been in a good mood these days; the company leader wasn’t making things difficult anymore, interpersonal relations in the industry were going smoothly, and he suddenly felt like his luck had turned, everything going well.
After a while, Ji Ziyao suddenly asked her again, “In another month, school starts, right? Have you planned it out?”
By September, Worldly Fireworks would start filming; if no accidents, by the end of this month, Xuan Xia would enter the group for training.
Worldly Fireworks had a 120-day filming schedule, and as a main actor, Xuan Xia naturally had to stay with the crew, meaning she couldn’t go to school at all.
Ji Ziyao had asked Xuan Xia before about balancing work and studies, and suddenly remembering now, he asked again.
Xuan Xia didn’t hesitate, nodding immediately, “I’ve thought it through. I plan to take a two-year leave of absence.”
Actually, she had decided long ago.
She really liked her current life arrangement and was willing to continue striving and pursuing it.
Taking a two-year leave could also completely bid farewell to some people, enough for them to complete their stories without involving her.
Ji Ziyao didn’t ask more, just nodding, “Then you have to strive hard these two years and try to stand firm.”
The entertainment industry was cruel; new actors emerged every day, and veterans were eliminated and forgotten. To develop long-term, one must “stand firm.”
Xuan Xia’s current momentum was good among newcomers, but it was still unstable; there were plenty of chances for competition and replacement. Take Worldly Fireworks; until the real wrap, one’s heart was always hanging, as there were many precedents of last-minute cast changes or being replaced after filming started.
Besides, Ji Ziyao wanted her to go even higher.
So he actually supported her decision: while young, go for it!-
The next day, Xuan Xia dove into filming the shampoo ad materials.
Before filming, Xuan Xia had looked into it; shampoo product materials required quite a lot.
But she didn’t expect it to take a whole day; to pose for styling, her neck suffered terribly.
Even after getting a massage post-wrap, it hadn’t fully recovered.
By the time she went to film the dating show, her neck still hadn’t fully recovered.
So she looked particularly stiff.
Upon meeting, Zhou Shiqing scrutinized her all over, his brows furrowed for a long time without relaxing.
Xuan Xia’s gaze followed his, but she didn’t ask first what he was looking at.
In just over a week apart, Zhou Shiqing had changed to a new styling again.
This time, a head of blue wolf-tail hair, giving off another wild vibe.
After scrutinizing for a while, Zhou Shiqing finally couldn’t hold back, hissing as he spoke, “Have you had some ordeal lately?”
“What ordeal?” Xuan Xia suspected he had learned face reading?
“I feel like you’ve changed a lot.” Zhou Shiqing said again.
Xuan Xia: ?
Zhou Shiqing looked left and right again, hissing nonstop, finally saying solemnly, “Don’t learn any bad habits from me; just be yourself. So, right now, immediately, change back for me!”
Xuan Xia had a black line: “…”
Change back your big head ghost!
“Teacher Zhou, you’re so humorous,” Xuan Xia said dryly.
Zhou Shiqing heard the sarcasm, simply pointing at her neck and asking directly, “Then tell me, why are you holding your neck so straight? Showing off your swan neck to me?”
