23. Honest and fair to all!

"Is my eldest sister really being hexed by someone?"

Yun Ran handed the phone back to the chubby boy and sighed softly, "Miss Zhu is indeed having some problems, but it cannot be entirely blamed on a curse. These changes she is undergoing are things she agreed to herself, which is why the masters you invited previously couldn't find any traces of external harm on her."

The chubby boy looked shocked, eyeing Yun Ran with deep suspicion. "Are you serious?"

Yun Ran pulled up the charity event payment QR code set up by their lead teacher and held it out to the boy. "Of course I am. But first, please make your payment!"

Watching Yun Ran’s firm expression—the look of 'pay up if you want the truth'—the chubby boy felt a moment of bewilderment: She’s so obsessed with money; could the Yun family really have mistreated her that badly? Still, his hand didn't falter as he pulled out his phone and transferred 2,000. He immediately followed up with, "How much will it cost to resolve this?"

"In light of your sincere desire to learn, I'll charge you 8,888!"

At that moment, even the Ginseng Fruit felt that Yun Ran truly possessed the aura of the swindling charlatans seen on the streets.

[I’m telling you, Host, you should know when to stop. You’re just bullying such an innocent and gullible kid!]

"What do you know? This is called 'suppress first, then promote.' Even a master must understand how to market themselves. My martial uncle said that a master must always maintain this kind of posture!"

The Ginseng Fruit, originally destined to be bound to a high-level warrior and tasked with the mission of maintaining human peace, now truly felt a sense of existential doubt.

"Ding!" came the sound of the payment arriving. Yun Ran was quite satisfied with the boy’s cooperation.

Only then did she begin to ask for Miss Zhu’s birth date and time. Since the Zhu family had hired many masters before, the boy actually remembered them and quickly provided the details to Yun Ran.

Yun Ran closed her eyes, shaking her head as she calculated on her fingers, muttering under her breath. After a minute, she opened her eyes.

"Two years ago, Miss Zhu must have gone to the mountains in the southwest. She mistook a nature spirit for a mountain god and worshipped it, voluntarily entering into a contract with that spirit. Everything she is suffering now is self-inflicted. If you want a solution, you must first find out exactly where she made the pact, who taught her how to do it, and what kind of contract it is. Furthermore, nature spirits are very petty. If you want to break the contract, you cannot do it by force. It must be done with its willing consent; otherwise, you will face backlash, and her life will be at risk."

The chubby boy was stunned. Everything he had learned over the past decade made him doubt what Yun Ran said—did nature spirits really exist? Yet, his reason told him that Yun Ran seemed to have calculated some hidden truths.

Rumors outside said the eldest sister’s abnormalities began a year ago, but only the Zhu family knew that they actually started a year and a half ago. Two years ago, the eldest sister had indeed gone to the southwestern mountains. Publicly, she said it was for a vacation, but in reality, she had taken a team to hunt for wild ingredients.

Though he thought this, the boy wasn't entirely satisfied with the outcome. "Just like that? You made that 8,888 too easily!"

Yun Ran calmly took out a Vajra Protection Talisman and handed it to him. "What’s the rush? I take money to get things done, and I never cheat my customers! The spirit that contracted with Miss Zhu is just playful and petty; it’s easy to coax as long as you fulfill its wishes. Find a master you trust, go back to the southwestern mountains, and do as I said; the contract can be broken. What you should be guarding against isn't the spirit, but the mastermind behind it. Give this Vajra Protection Talisman to Miss Zhu; it will keep her safe through this ordeal."

With that, Yun Ran waved her hand, signaling that the boy could leave.

Clutching the talisman, the boy hesitated for a moment before turning away. He called home and had Xiao Sun, the man sent to assist him in secret, take the items back.

When Old Master Zhu heard the report from his second son, Zhu Guangjin, his face remained expressionless, but his eyes were filled with fury. Anyone would be enraged to learn that their capable and sensible descendant had been reduced to this state by a villain using a nature spirit.

Seeing the Old Master’s imposing anger, Zhu Guangjin assumed he was venting his frustration because he thought his son was being reckless. He couldn't help but feel aggrieved: It was all that brat’s fault for dumping this hot potato on him! But as a father, he had to protect his son, so he quickly explained, "Dad, Jia is just worried about Xuejun. You watched him grow up; he isn't..."

Old Master Zhu looked at this son who lacked any sense of social cues and sighed slightly. It didn't matter if his son was foolish, as long as he knew how to respect his elders and care for the younger generation, that was enough.

"Enough, I know about this. Tell your eldest brother to return immediately. And you... go and invite Master Han."

Relieved to be 'pardoned,' Zhu Guangjin immediately agreed and scurried off.

Master Han had a very good relationship with the Zhu family; he had been the one to arrange the feng shui for all their restaurants and farmhouses. When he heard that Miss Zhu had entered into a contract with a nature spirit while searching for wild ingredients, he slapped his forehead.

"So that's how it is! That explains it!"

He had been saying that even though he could sense there was something wrong with Miss Zhu, he could never find the source. So that was it.

"Old Master, don't worry too much. Now that we know the cause, it’s manageable. I will personally accompany the eldest miss on this trip."

Old Master Zhu had intended to ask Master Han to go, but since it was difficult to ask directly, he had used Master Han’s sense of guilt to make him offer. Ginger really is spicier the older it gets!

"Then I’ll leave it to you, Master Han."

Elsewhere, after the Bureau of Management took Zheng Qiang into custody, they confirmed that the death mark on him had been erased. They immediately reported the news. Xie Xuzhi looked at the provided data. His originally professional attitude changed the moment he saw the familiar name, and he suddenly smiled.

"No need to investigate further. I know who erased this death mark. Seal this file!"

His subordinate was taken aback but immediately complied respectfully. This deputy director looked young, but he was decisive and hailed from the Xie family; no one dared to question or act presumptuously before him.

When he was left alone in his office, Xie Xuzhi rubbed the bead Yun Ran had given him, his eyes filled with amusement. Even Master Mingyuan couldn't determine the material of this bead, yet such a small object was capable of suppressing evil spirits and curbing the baleful influence on his own life.