Li Qiao: “…”
Li Shaojin: “Second Brother, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“I’m just looking out for my little sister.” Li Shaoyang grinned, ruffling her hair affectionately.
His sister was perfect—pretty, gentle, and not the least bit spoiled. How could he not adore her?
When they arrived at the villa district, Li Qiao spotted He Jingnian’s car passing by.
Their eyes met through the windows. She waved, and the usually cold-faced Ninth Master He actually smiled back.
Not long after, a message from him popped up:
[See you tonight. The Five Emperor Coins have dimmed again.]
[Don’t worry. Today’s fortune favors you.] She’d checked his aura earlier—no immediate danger.
No further replies came.
Li Shaojin and Li Shaoyang exchanged glances.
Shaoyang was stunned.
The infamous He Jingnian—the man rumored to bring death to anyone close to him—was on familiar terms with Qiaoqiao?!
A terrifying thought struck him.
I must protect our family’s precious cabbage from that wolf!
Back home, the trio hadn’t even stepped inside when they heard a woman sobbing.
“Old Xue was perfectly fine! How could he suddenly fall so ill? Yusi… I think he’s dying…”
Madam Meng clung to Liu Yusi, weeping uncontrollably.
Wait—Xue? The same Xue they’d just seen recently? How could he be on death’s door?
“What did the doctors say?”
“They can’t find the cause. He’s in a coma, can’t swallow, survives only on IV drips… Last night, his heart stopped. They resuscitated him after two hours…” Madam Meng wiped her tears. The prognosis was grim.
No identifiable illness—
Li Shanchuan and Liu Yusi shared a look. Could it be related to that soup?
This called for Qiaoqiao.
“Qiaoqiao…” Liu Yusi hesitated.
“Aunt Meng, President Xue isn’t just sick.” Li Qiao’s voice was calm.
“What do you mean?”
Li Qiao hesitated, reluctant to reveal the truth. But Madam Meng caught on immediately.
Something was being hidden from her.
“Qiaoqiao, if you know something, tell me.”
Well, they’d find out eventually.
Li Qiao uttered two words: “Infant flesh.”
The uninitiated gasped in horror. Liu Yusi silently handed Madam Meng a glass of water.
“I don’t need water right now—”
“You will.” Liu Yusi patted her hand sympathetically.
Madam Meng: ???
“There’s a dark ritual where consuming infant flesh preserves youth. At that private party… Dad mentioned President Xue drank the ‘fish soup.’ But it wasn’t fish. It was—”
“Blergh—!”
Madam Meng bolted outside, hand clamped over her mouth. Liu Yusi followed, water glass in hand.
The sounds that followed were… predictable.
Shao Jin and Shaoyang stood frozen, faces green.
Li Qiao summarized the events of that day. The two brothers, despite their iron wills, barely suppressed their own nausea.
Shao Jin had at least seen ghosts before, but this level of evil shattered his worldview.
Shaoyang, however—
“I… I need a moment.” He clutched his chest and sprinted out.
How could people be so cruel?
Li Qiao waited patiently on the sofa until everyone regained their composure.
..
Hospital, Xue’s Room
President Xue shouldn’t have been affected so severely. There had to be another factor.
Once the vomiting subsided, Li Qiao accompanied Madam Meng to the hospital, followed by Liu Yusi and the Li brothers.
Xue lay pale and motionless on the bed. Madam Meng wiped her tears, hatred burning for Chairman Li and his wife.
“Qiaoqiao… can he be saved?”
“His condition is unusual. The soup alone shouldn’t have caused this. But now, the vengeful spirits are targeting him. Someone’s using him as a scapegoat.“
“A scapegoat? Who would—?” Madam Meng’s eyes widened. “It’s them.”
Without hesitation, she blasted the revelation into her ladies’ group chat—where Mrs. Lin was also a member.
[Eating infants for youth? And now trying to kill Xue?]
The chat exploded.
[????? Eating BABIES???? You’re joking, right?]
[You’re serious?]
[This is disgusting. Who the hell would—BLEGH!]
[Lin Jing, EXPLAIN YOURSELF. WAS THAT PARTY A TRAP?]
[I almost drank that ‘soup’ too! LIN JING, YOU PSYCHO!]
Mrs. Lin stayed silent.
Liu Yusi squeezed Madam Meng’s shoulder. “Lin Jing can wait. Right now, we focus on Xue.”
Madam Meng nodded fervently, hope in her eyes as Li Qiao raised a talisman.
It burst into flames in her hand.
With a flick of her fingers, the burning talisman sank into Xue’s forehead—vanishing without a trace.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
“President Xue’s soul isn’t here. Aunt Meng, I need to visit your home.”
Li Qiao’s frown deepened.
…
Meng Residence
Shao Jin’s expression was grave. This wasn’t just a simple haunting. He worried for Qiaoqiao.
“Shaoyang, stay with Mom. Qiaoqiao and I—”
“I’m coming too.” Shaoyang’s voice was firm. His worldview was crumbling, but he needed to see this through.
Li Qiao paused at the door. “Hurry up, brothers.”
“Coming!” They rushed after her, steps light with anticipation.
In the master bedroom, Li Qiao’s gaze zeroed in on the bed.
“Lift it.”
A servant obeyed, revealing a hidden compartment—and the grotesque doll inside.
Madam Meng recoiled. “What’s this filth?! Burn it—no, throw it—”
“Don’t.” Li Qiao’s voice was icy. “President Xue’s soul is trapped inside.”
How vile. Not content with making him a scapegoat, someone had tried to harvest his soul for dark arts.
She picked up the doll and handed it to the stunned Madam Meng.
“This… is Old Xue?”
The others exchanged dubious glances. This was absurd.
Then Li Qiao slapped the doll’s mouth.
“Save me… Master, save me! I’m trapped! Get me out—PLEASE!”
President Xue’s voice came from the doll.
Li Qiao: “…”
Li Shaojin: “Second Brother, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“I’m just looking out for my little sister.” Li Shaoyang grinned, ruffling her hair affectionately.
His sister was perfect—pretty, gentle, and not the least bit spoiled. How could he not adore her?
When they arrived at the villa district, Li Qiao spotted He Jingnian’s car passing by.
Their eyes met through the windows. She waved, and the usually cold-faced Ninth Master He actually smiled back.
Not long after, a message from him popped up:
[See you tonight. The Five Emperor Coins have dimmed again.]
[Don’t worry. Today’s fortune favors you.] She’d checked his aura earlier—no immediate danger.
No further replies came.
Li Shaojin and Li Shaoyang exchanged glances.
Shaoyang was stunned.
The infamous He Jingnian—the man rumored to bring death to anyone close to him—was on familiar terms with Qiaoqiao?!
A terrifying thought struck him.
I must protect our family’s precious cabbage from that wolf!
Back home, the trio hadn’t even stepped inside when they heard a woman sobbing.
“Old Xue was perfectly fine! How could he suddenly fall so ill? Yusi… I think he’s dying…”
Madam Meng clung to Liu Yusi, weeping uncontrollably.
Wait—Xue? The same Xue they’d just seen recently? How could he be on death’s door?
“What did the doctors say?”
“They can’t find the cause. He’s in a coma, can’t swallow, survives only on IV drips… Last night, his heart stopped. They resuscitated him after two hours…” Madam Meng wiped her tears. The prognosis was grim.
No identifiable illness—
Li Shanchuan and Liu Yusi shared a look. Could it be related to that soup?
This called for Qiaoqiao.
“Qiaoqiao…” Liu Yusi hesitated.
“Aunt Meng, President Xue isn’t just sick.” Li Qiao’s voice was calm.
“What do you mean?”
Li Qiao hesitated, reluctant to reveal the truth. But Madam Meng caught on immediately.
Something was being hidden from her.
“Qiaoqiao, if you know something, tell me.”
Well, they’d find out eventually.
Li Qiao uttered two words: “Infant flesh.”
The uninitiated gasped in horror. Liu Yusi silently handed Madam Meng a glass of water.
“I don’t need water right now—”
“You will.” Liu Yusi patted her hand sympathetically.
Madam Meng: ???
“There’s a dark ritual where consuming infant flesh preserves youth. At that private party… Dad mentioned President Xue drank the ‘fish soup.’ But it wasn’t fish. It was—”
“Blergh—!”
Madam Meng bolted outside, hand clamped over her mouth. Liu Yusi followed, water glass in hand.
The sounds that followed were… predictable.
Shao Jin and Shaoyang stood frozen, faces green.
Li Qiao summarized the events of that day. The two brothers, despite their iron wills, barely suppressed their own nausea.
Shao Jin had at least seen ghosts before, but this level of evil shattered his worldview.
Shaoyang, however—
“I… I need a moment.” He clutched his chest and sprinted out.
How could people be so cruel?
Li Qiao waited patiently on the sofa until everyone regained their composure.
..
Hospital, Xue’s Room
President Xue shouldn’t have been affected so severely. There had to be another factor.
Once the vomiting subsided, Li Qiao accompanied Madam Meng to the hospital, followed by Liu Yusi and the Li brothers.
Xue lay pale and motionless on the bed. Madam Meng wiped her tears, hatred burning for Chairman Li and his wife.
“Qiaoqiao… can he be saved?”
“His condition is unusual. The soup alone shouldn’t have caused this. But now, the vengeful spirits are targeting him. Someone’s using him as a scapegoat.“
“A scapegoat? Who would—?” Madam Meng’s eyes widened. “It’s them.”
Without hesitation, she blasted the revelation into her ladies’ group chat—where Mrs. Lin was also a member.
[Eating infants for youth? And now trying to kill Xue?]
The chat exploded.
[????? Eating BABIES???? You’re joking, right?]
[You’re serious?]
[This is disgusting. Who the hell would—BLEGH!]
[Lin Jing, EXPLAIN YOURSELF. WAS THAT PARTY A TRAP?]
[I almost drank that ‘soup’ too! LIN JING, YOU PSYCHO!]
Mrs. Lin stayed silent.
Liu Yusi squeezed Madam Meng’s shoulder. “Lin Jing can wait. Right now, we focus on Xue.”
Madam Meng nodded fervently, hope in her eyes as Li Qiao raised a talisman.
It burst into flames in her hand.
With a flick of her fingers, the burning talisman sank into Xue’s forehead—vanishing without a trace.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
“President Xue’s soul isn’t here. Aunt Meng, I need to visit your home.”
Li Qiao’s frown deepened.
…
Meng Residence
Shao Jin’s expression was grave. This wasn’t just a simple haunting. He worried for Qiaoqiao.
“Shaoyang, stay with Mom. Qiaoqiao and I—”
“I’m coming too.” Shaoyang’s voice was firm. His worldview was crumbling, but he needed to see this through.
Li Qiao paused at the door. “Hurry up, brothers.”
“Coming!” They rushed after her, steps light with anticipation.
In the master bedroom, Li Qiao’s gaze zeroed in on the bed.
“Lift it.”
A servant obeyed, revealing a hidden compartment—and the grotesque doll inside.
Madam Meng recoiled. “What’s this filth?! Burn it—no, throw it—”
“Don’t.” Li Qiao’s voice was icy. “President Xue’s soul is trapped inside.”
How vile. Not content with making him a scapegoat, someone had tried to harvest his soul for dark arts.
She picked up the doll and handed it to the stunned Madam Meng.
“This… is Old Xue?”
The others exchanged dubious glances. This was absurd.
Then Li Qiao slapped the doll’s mouth.
“Save me… Master, save me! I’m trapped! Get me out—PLEASE!”
President Xue’s voice came from the doll.
