Volume One, Chapter Ten: Chaos in Her Room

“You two sisters should say your goodbyes properly. Tonight, bring your child and come find me; I’ll help you leave,” Chi Xingwan said to Yang Haiyun.

Yang Haiyun bowed deeply to Chi Xingwan. She knew that the only reason her sister could hear her was because of Chi Xingwan.

The others couldn’t hear Yang Haiyun’s voice and could only listen to the strange conversation between Chi Xingwan and Yang Haifeng.

Zhu Yaru and Xiao Duo huddled together, trembling with fear.

Xiao Peiyuan’s eyes were filled with suspicion. He had been frightened earlier, but now as he regained his composure, he sensed these two women were putting on an act.

Grandmother Xiao kept her gaze fixed on Chi Xingwan, her eyes full of scrutiny, probing, and a faint, elusive hope.

Before today, she had no idea Chi Xingwan possessed such abilities—or perhaps, she didn’t even know such bizarre things could exist in this world.

If reality truly was so strange, then was there perhaps another way to treat Ayue’s illness?

Grandmother Xiao was no saint; she too was partial, and in her heart, Xiao Yue always came first.

“We’re leaving now.”

The Xiao family finally snapped out of their reverie and realized Chi Xingwan was already at the door.

Once they descended the stairs, Chi Xingwan intended to part ways, but Xiao Duo stopped her.

“Hey, is my problem solved?” he asked.

Grandmother Xiao, who had been suppressing her anger all the way, could no longer hold back when she heard Xiao Duo address Chi Xingwan as “hey.” She kicked him sharply. “Show some respect!”

Xiao Duo shrank back and quickly corrected himself. “Miss Chi, may I ask if my problem is resolved?”

“No,” Chi Xingwan replied.

Xiao Duo was shocked. “Didn’t you say you’d send them away tonight?”

“I did say I’d send them away, but that doesn’t mean your problem has been solved,” Chi Xingwan said calmly.

Xiao Duo’s shoulders twitched in fright. “So… something’s still following me?”

Chi Xingwan shook her head. “No, but your sins haven’t been cleansed. From now on, misfortune will cling to you. If you continue down this path, you’ll bring disaster to your family as well.”

Xiao Peiyuan asked nervously, “Then how do you cleanse your sins?”

Chi Xingwan answered, “Sincere repentance, atonement, and accumulating virtue.”

“Can you be more specific? How exactly should I do that?” Xiao Duo asked irritably.

Chi Xingwan’s gaze was cold. “Do I really need to teach you? Use every method you can think of to do good and accumulate virtue. If you need someone else to spell it out for you, it only proves you’re not sincere—just going through the motions. In that case, you might as well not bother.”

With a chilly glance, Chi Xingwan strode away.

Grandmother Xiao hurried after her. “Xingwan, let me take you home.”

Chi Xingwan did not refuse.

In the car, Grandmother Xiao spoke. “Xingwan, I won’t beat around the bush—I want to know if Ayue’s illness is related to these matters.”

As Xiao Yue’s closest relative, Grandmother Xiao received Chi Xingwan’s honesty.

“Yes, but not because of sin. It’s his fate. Still, fate can be changed, and I will do everything in my power to help him.”

Grandmother Xiao couldn’t quite describe her feelings—mostly powerless, as if she was utterly unable to help. At the same time, she felt a sense of relief. At least, she had finally found the cause, and knowing it meant there would surely be a solution.

Chi Xingwan didn’t mention the curse, nor did she say Xiao Yue might only have eight years left. There was no point in saying so—it would only add to the sorrow.

When they returned to the complex where the Chi family lived, Chi Xingwan took out two jade pendants before leaving the car and handed them to Grandmother Xiao.

“These are protective jade pendants, for you and Secretary He.”

Grandmother Xiao accepted them with a smile, thanking her on Secretary He’s behalf.

Chi Xingwan watched the car drive away before entering her home.

At that moment, chaos reigned in her room.

Dai Dai was flapping its wings, its eyes unusually serious as it focused on a particular direction. With a sudden dive, it attacked the floor.

As soon as Chi Xingwan entered, she saw Chi Qianyu lurking furtively, clearly plotting some mischief.

She didn’t care and went straight to her room.

As soon as she opened the door, Dai Dai rushed out, grabbing her sleeve with its beak and pulling her with all its might.

Chi Xingwan caught Dai Dai and whispered, “Is there something inside?”

Dai Dai nodded vigorously.

Chi Xingwan smiled gently. “It’s alright. I’m not afraid.”

She led Dai Dai into the room and shut the door behind them.

From the dim space beneath the bed, a pair of icy eyes watched Chi Xingwan.

Meanwhile, Chi Qianyu was restless in the living room, frequently running upstairs and watching Chi Xingwan’s door from the elevator entrance.

“Qianyu, what are you doing?”

Chi Qianyu jumped in fright, then relaxed when she saw it was Chi Yueyao. She dragged Chi Yueyao back to her own room.

“What’s going on? You’re acting so mysterious.”

Chi Qianyu was brimming with excitement. “Yueyao, I put something in Chi Xingwan’s room. Just wait to see her make a fool of herself.”

Chi Yueyao’s eyes flickered. “What did you put in there?”

“You’ll know soon enough.” Chi Qianyu’s face was flushed with anticipation, eager to hear Chi Xingwan scream.

Dai Dai stood on the desk, glancing at Chi Xingwan from time to time.

“This is Qianyu’s doing? Did she lose her mind to come up with such a stupid trick?”

Dai Dai tilted its head. “Sister, aren’t you scared?”

Chi Xingwan lifted her chin. “Do you think I’m scared, or is it scared?”

Under the bed, a green bamboo viper was curled tightly, its crimson eyes betraying an unmistakable hint of terror.

“It’s actually quite beautiful,” Chi Xingwan observed the venomous snake intently.

“Eh?” Dai Dai tensed up.

“Of course, not as beautiful as you. But…”

Dai Dai relaxed halfway, only to tense again.

“But what?”

Chi Xingwan replied matter-of-factly, “But it’s more useful than you. If the Blood Fiend Sect’s legacy had survived, they would love it.”

Dai Dai scoffed, its tone sour. “What use could it possibly have?”

Chi Xingwan smiled, half amused, as she looked at the bamboo viper. “The Blood Fiend Sect loved to use venomous snake blood for their talismans.”

The bamboo viper shuddered beneath the bed, its tail twitching as if it wanted to flee.

“Hahaha…”

Dai Dai laughed mercilessly, but after a moment, it realized something.

“What’s the Blood Fiend Sect? What are talismans?”

Chi Xingwan looked at it in surprise. “You mean you know nothing about the Mystic Arts?”

Dai Dai nodded honestly.

“You’ve become a spirit, and yet you’re still clueless?”

The girl and her parrot stared at each other for a long while.

Chi Xingwan sighed in resignation. Well, it was just a child—she forgave its ignorance.

She explained briefly what the Mystic Arts were, then turned her gaze back to the bamboo viper beneath the bed.

“Don’t worry, I’m not from the Blood Fiend Sect, so I have no interest in snake blood. If you cooperate with me in a little performance, I’ll let you go.”

The bamboo viper slowly slithered out from under the bed, raising its head and nodding repeatedly in agreement with Chi Xingwan’s request.