The same tattoo. The same fingers.
Cover the faces, and it’s clearly the same person.
A terrible suspicion rose in Li Shaojin’s heart.
After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Qiaoqiao, are the people in these photos… human?”
“Big Brother already knows the answer, doesn’t he?”
His heart sank like a stone.
Wang Qinglin had come to them repeatedly, pushing for collaboration—there was no way his intentions were pure.
Just then, Liu Yusi returned home, radiant with joy. She tossed her bag to Li Shaojin and immediately swept Li Qiao into a hug, peppering her daughter’s face with kisses.
“Take the things out of the bag—they’re all gifts for Qiaoqiao!” Liu Yusi nuzzled against Li Qiao’s shoulder. “Did you miss Mommy today? I thought about you the whole time I was out!”
Such a clingy, affectionate beauty.
Meanwhile, Li Shaojin unpacked the bag—and froze. The table was soon covered in presents. Holding up a small designer pouch, his voice trembled slightly.
“Qiaoqiao… did you modify this bag?”
“Of course she did!” Liu Yusi beamed. “Look at the talisman inside—it’s an expansion charm! No more heavy bags. Fits everything, weighs nothing!”
Once again, Li Qiao shattered Li Shaojin’s understanding of the world. His sister was a hidden master, defying all logic.
Liu Yusi proudly waved her phone. “I started a group chat today—all high-society ladies who want expansion charms. Money’s no object to them. Qiaoqiao can set the price!”
Six members. Influential women in the capital. Future clients secured.
And this was just the beginning—Li Qiao had countless talismans for every supernatural need.
Rubbing her hands in anticipation, Li Qiao declared: “Five hundred per charm.”
Same as her daily divination rate.
Liu Yusi and Li Shaojin gaped at her.
“Qiaoqiao, such a treasure is worth far more than five hundred,” Li Shaojin protested.
Liu Yusi nodded vehemently. These women could afford millions without blinking.
After some thought, Li Qiao revised: “Then… a hundred thousand.”
Mother and son exchanged a glance. Fine, as long as she’s happy.
Liu Yusi then launched into tales of her day—how she’d flaunted her magic bag, leaving her friends speechless with envy. Gesturing at the gifts, she added, “I bought snacks—all the trendy ones girls love! And this necklace was a steal at twenty thousand. Once we’re back on our feet, I’ll get you ten-million-yuan necklaces! Dozens of them!”
Her smile faltered with guilt. They’d finally found Qiaoqiao, yet couldn’t give her the lavish life she deserved.
“I’ll work harder,” Li Shaojin vowed. “One day, my sister will live a life of leisure.”
Li Qiao smiled. His future was written in the stars—overflowing with fortune.
The threads of fate were already shifting.
This warmth, this mutual care—this was what family felt like.
Midnight
In the neighboring villa, He Jingnian lay resting when the curtains stirred. A shadowy mass slithered in.
As it lunged at him, the Five Emperor Coins on his wrist flared gold, repelling the darkness into the wall.
He Jingnian’s eyes snapped open, sharp as blades.
The next instant, a talisman left his hand—but the entity fled.
Barefoot, he gave chase—and collided with Li Qiao outside.
Under the streetlamp, their gazes locked.
“You encountered something unclean,” she stated, studying him.
A nod. “It escaped.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll find it.” With swift fingers, she folded a talisman into a paper crane.
A whispered incantation, and it took flight—circling He Jingnian once before darting eastward.
“Move!” Dragging him by the arm, she sprinted after it.
The crane halted at a villa—Xie Haozhi’s home.
Dark. Silent.
“Xie Haozhi!” No response.
He Jingnian pulled her back. “Careful. Something’s wrong here.” Stepping in front, he led the way.
Their cautious exploration revealed a horror: three coffins in the parlor.
Inside lay Xie Haozhi and the Qing brothers—dressed in burial shrouds, ankles chained, eyes and mouths sealed with red paper. Crimson numerals marked their foreheads: One. Two. Three.
Even battle-hardened He Jingnian felt a chill.
“What a vicious method.”
Li Qiao’s fury ignited. Ten talismans per coffin, then she turned to He Jingnian.
“Mr. He, I need a drop of your blood.”
Without hesitation, he bit his finger, dripping blood onto three talismans.
“Heaven and earth as one, condensed to blade.
Three Purities’ sword, cleave the void—
BREAK!”
BOOM.
The chains shattered. The red seals disintegrated to dust.
“You—again!” A venomous voice hissed from the shadows. “You dare ruin my work?!”
Li Qiao scanned the darkness, lips curling. “The only one damned here is you. A so-called cultivator, using forbidden arts to harm innocents? After death, you’ll rot in all eighteen hells—no reincarnation, ever.”
“Who are you?!”
“Your grandmother!” A fire talisman shot upward.
Screams. The stench of burning flesh.
The three men awoke to a nightmare: a charred figure writhing on the floor, flames unquenched by his spells.
With a final snarl, the scorched man lunged—only to fake a retreat and vanish.
Li Qiao let him go. “Pathetic.”
He Jingnian: “Will he die?”
“No. But he’ll wish he had. The fire burns for three minutes.”
Xie Haozhi sat up, dazed. “What the hell?! Why was I in a coffin?!“
