Chapter 54: The Malevolent Curse

Xiao He suddenly exclaimed, "I remember now!"

"Quick, tell us!" Mrs. Wu was extremely anxious.

"After Miss bought those straw weavings, the old woman gave her a small sachet. She said it was made by her granddaughter and contained a talisman for safety prayed for at the local temple. Seeing Miss’s kind heart, she gifted it, hoping for her safe journey. Unlike the straw weaving, the talisman was finely made, which is why Miss liked it and kept it with her."

Xiao He looked at Lu Zhaoling in shock. "Miss wanted to pay, but the old woman refused, saying her poor granddaughter was always ill. Seeing Miss so lively, she hoped her granddaughter could be like her. She asked if Miss would be willing to exchange her life for the granddaughter’s."

Even though they had never heard of such things before, after seeing Lin Yanran’s condition these days and hearing Lu Zhaoling mention certain matters, Mrs. Wu and Lin Rong had grown suspicious and their hearts tightened.

"Miss said she was willing," Xiao He said fearfully, glancing at Lu Zhaoling. "Second Miss Lu, are you saying it’s not right to agree?"

They had all been afraid since Miss had changed like this.

Lu Zhaoling didn’t answer but asked, "Where is the sachet?"

"After Miss fell ill and vomited in the capital, the sachet was taken off. It’s here."

Xiao He quickly retrieved a small sachet from the dressing box and handed it to Lu Zhaoling.

The sachet was red with an embroidered flower, vibrant and exquisitely crafted. No wonder Lin Yanran liked it.

"Second Miss Lu, is there something wrong with this sachet?"

The sachet was sewn shut. Lu Zhaoling had Xiao He bring scissors and swiftly opened it.

Inside was a yellow talisman folded into a triangle.

She unfolded the talisman and found a small lock of hair and several tiny pieces of fingernail wrapped inside.

Lin Rong and Mrs. Wu gasped in shock.

"This..."

Without Lu Zhaoling saying more, they instinctively knew the sachet was sinister.

Who would put such things inside a talisman for safety?

Lu Zhaoling then said, "This is a life-exchange talisman."

"A life-exchange talisman?"

Her expression grew serious.

She had thought few people here practiced talisman magic, but now she saw such a vicious curse.

The assistant doctor looked shocked as well. "Second Miss Lu, so Miss Lin isn’t simply ill?"

"She is, but in another sense. Originally, another person was afflicted with this strange illness, but because of the life exchange, the suffering was transferred to Miss Lin. In other words, someone else was meant to endure this pain."

Lin Rong was furious. "That old woman has a wicked heart!"

What had his daughter done wrong?

Mrs. Wu burst into tears. "Why? My Yanran was only kind-hearted. Why would the old woman be so cruel?"

She pitied her daughter deeply.

"She must have been waiting all along to find a suitable person to give the life-exchange talisman to. Miss Lin’s fate is good and she has some virtue; that’s why she was targeted. But stealing her life wasn’t easy, so the old woman sold those straw crafts first. If I’m not mistaken, those straws were graveyard grass soaked with human blood. After Miss Lin touched them for a few days, she absorbed some dark energy, making her prone to illness. When she was sick, the talisman could work more easily."

Lu Zhaoling said this, and Mrs. Wu swayed, nearly losing her balance.

"Please, Second Miss Lu, save Yanran," she cried.

"Life exchange requires the consent of the other party, so the old woman asked Miss Lin if she agreed, and Miss Lin said yes," Lu Zhaoling explained.

Lin Rong clenched his fists, eyes red. "Yanran didn’t know this was happening. She’s always been kind..."

Xiao He covered her mouth and wept.

"It’s all my fault. If only I had stopped Miss then."

The assistant doctor sighed. "You’re just a young girl; you didn’t understand. It’s not your fault."

He then looked at Lu Zhaoling.

Well, Second Miss Lu wasn’t much older than Xiao He; how would she know?

"The old woman’s granddaughter isn’t just ill; it looks like she suffered backlash from a curse."

So, the curse was a form of dark magic.

After the backlash, she tried to transfer it to someone else.

This was no simple matter.

Baicheng Town? Maybe when she had time, Lu Zhaoling could visit. Someone like that, if left alive, could harm many.

Mrs. Wu suddenly knelt before Lu Zhaoling.

Lu Zhaoling quickly stepped aside, frowning.

Seeing this, Lin Rong immediately helped his wife up. "Madam, let’s speak calmly. Please don’t do this."

He could tell Lu Zhaoling disliked such behavior.

Mrs. Wu’s tears blurred her vision. "Second Miss Lu, please save my Yanran. I beg you."

Lin Rong supported her, looking at Lu Zhaoling. "Second Miss Lu, do you have a way?"

Seeing the eerie, evil talisman, they believed the story, but they truly didn’t know whom to turn to. Their only hope rested on Lu Zhaoling.

But Lu Zhaoling was so young—perhaps she only knew such things existed but didn’t know how to remove them.

Lin Rong and his wife’s hearts burned with anxiety.

Lu Zhaoling nodded. "I can handle it, but it will cost."

She was currently weak in spirit; this would drain her energy greatly. If she didn’t charge well, how could she recover?

Hearing she could help, Lin Rong and Mrs. Wu rejoiced, shouting together, "Money is no object! We’ll sell everything if we must to pay you!"

Lu Zhaoling nodded.

"Bring a copper basin. I’ll burn these items first."

She then instructed Qing Yin, who guarded outside, "Qing Yin, bring cinnabar, yellow paper, and brushes."

"Yes."

Qing Yin, who had been waiting outside, brought the items upon hearing her.

Lu Zhaoling sighed softly.

In her current state, this was quite taxing.

She unfolded the yellow paper and took up the brush to draw a talisman.

The moment her brush touched the paper, everyone felt her aura shift. A gentle breeze seemed to stir, refreshing their spirits.

Lu Zhaoling quickly finished the talisman. Once complete, golden light flickered briefly on it, then vanished.

Lin Rong and the others stared wide-eyed, wondering if it was a trick of their eyes.

The copper basin was brought over. Lu Zhaoling placed the talisman, the hair, and the fingernails inside, then held the freshly drawn talisman and gently waved it.