Jumping off a cliff?
That desperate?
Li Qiao didn’t believe he’d take his own life so easily.
There had to be some trick.
Madam Liu wailed as she rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, Shao Rong informed her that Liu Yusheng had attacked an officer, jumped off the cliff to escape—
And ended up breaking his leg in the process.
Li Qiao studied Liu Yusheng, whose entire being radiated misfortune, and couldn’t help but smirk.
“How tragic.”
Behind her, Liu Yusi and Song Xi exchanged glances. Liu Yusi hesitated before asking, “Qiaoqiao…”
“Mom, just wait and watch. The Liu family’s luck will only decline from here.”
As the saying goes, those who dig their own graves must lie in them.
Liu Yusi and Song Xi followed the police to the station. As Li Qiao prepared to hail a cab home, she sensed someone watching her.
When she turned around, Shao Rong was already in his car.
Was it him?
As his car passed by, it slowed to a stop. “Need a ride?”
“No, thanks. I’d like to stay and enjoy the scenery. It’s quite nice here.”
“Mm.”
Li Qiao waved them off. Jiang Feng, trailing behind her, eyed her suspiciously. “Li Qiao, are you close with that cop?”
“Not really.”
They’d only met a few times.
Jiang Feng exhaled in relief. Good, good. At least Lanfeng doesn’t have another love rival to worry about.
Li Qiao snapped photos with her phone as she strolled, while Jiang Feng kept watch.
Then—
She froze, her brows furrowing.
No.
Something had happened to He Jingnian.
She dialed his number, but no one answered. When she tried He Yi next, the call still failed to connect.
“Li Qiao, what’s wrong?”
“He Jingnian’s in trouble.” Her voice was urgent.
Jiang Feng hesitated. “You two…”
“Now’s not the time for nonsense.” Li Qiao shot him a stern look.
His stomach dropped.
If Li Qiao sensed something was wrong, He Jingnian must be in serious danger.
“I think I know where he might be…”
Li Qiao’s gaze sharpened.
Last time, when they returned from Wuxi Mountain, she’d caught a fleeting glimpse of He Jingnian’s figure.
“To Wuxi Mountain.”
“I’m coming with you.”
On the way, Jiang Feng asked, “Li Qiao, last time you used a paper crane to track someone. Can’t you do the same for He Jingnian?”
From the passenger seat, Li Qiao toyed with a talisman.
“I can’t sense him.”
Jiang Feng stiffened.
Even she can’t find him?
This was bad.
Li Qiao sent a quick message to Master Qingxu, arranging to meet at the foot of Wuxi Mountain.
When they arrived, the old Taoist priest came panting toward them. “I rushed here as soon as I got your message. Nearly killed myself on the way!”
His whisk was tucked haphazardly into his belt as he caught his breath.
“Master, I can’t sense He Jingnian’s presence. I can’t locate him.”
Master Qingxu’s smile faded.
His expression turned grave.
He performed a divination—only to reach the same conclusion as Li Qiao.
“A living person’s location can’t be impossible to divine.”
Unless—
That person was already dead.
Their eyes met. Without hesitation, Li Qiao pulled out a copper coin.
She sat cross-legged on the ground, recalculating He Jingnian’s fate.
When the coin landed, her face lit up. “There’s still a sliver of hope.”
“Where?” Master Qingxu pressed.
“The summit of Wuxi Mountain.”
Li Qiao gazed up at the towering peak.
Soon, Jiang Feng drove them as far as the narrowing path allowed.
“This won’t work,” Master Qingxu sighed.
“Master, do you have cinnabar ink?”
“Of course. I carry these things with me always.” He handed her the brush.
Li Qiao took it and swiftly drew a talisman on yellow paper.
Three identical talismans materialized in moments.
The display left both Master Qingxu and Jiang Feng stunned.
Though the priest had seen her craft talismans before, it never failed to awe him.
No tedious rituals, no pauses—just flawless execution in a single breath. A true prodigy of the mystical arts.
Jiang Feng, though clueless about the craft, was thoroughly impressed.
“Stick these on your legs for a speed boost. They last five minutes.”
“Seriously?” Jiang Feng eyed the talisman skeptically.
But the moment he slapped it onto his thigh—
Whoosh!
He shot up the mountain like a bullet. “AAAAH—I’M SO FAST—AAAAH!”
Master Qingxu trembled as he clutched his talisman.
“Master, why hesitate?”
Li Qiao raised a brow. The old man’s eyes sparkled. “This talisman is a treasure worth studying.”
Then—smack!
He vanished up the trail in a blur.
“LITTLE FRIEND—!”
His panicked voice echoed through the trees.
Li Qiao chuckled.
Five minutes later, all three stood at the summit.
The atmosphere here felt… off.
“Over here—there’s a cave!” Jiang Feng called out.
Li Qiao paused mid-step. “He’s inside.”
She hurried in without another word.
Five minutes of walking brought them to a vast chamber.
Unlike the peach blossom paradise they’d once stumbled upon, this cavern held a single coffin at its center.
At the four cardinal directions around it stood statues of deities—
Each grinning eerily.
Jiang Feng shuddered. “Creepy. These don’t look like proper gods.”
“What a vicious scheme.”
Master Qingxu pushed open the coffin lid—
Inside lay He Jingnian, still as death.
Li Qiao’s eyes zeroed in on the red threads binding his wrists, ankles, and neck.
Four threads led to the statues.
The one around his neck—
She looked up.
A headless serpent’s tail coiled above them.
“What are you looking at?”
Jiang Feng followed their gaze but saw nothing unusual.
“A curse. A vile, ancient one.” Li Qiao’s voice was grave. “In imperial times, traitors were executed by dismemberment—drawn and quartered. Right now, He Jingnian is suffering that fate through dark magic. It won’t touch his body, but his soul is being torn apart.”
Jiang Feng’s jaw dropped. “And… after his soul is torn?”
“It’ll be devoured. For certain beings, a shattered soul is a feast. He Jingnian will vanish from existence—completely.”
“That’s beyond cruel.” Jiang Feng couldn’t help but pity him. Who’d want him erased so thoroughly?
“Li Qiao, your talismans can save him, right?” If anything could ward off evil, it’d be her magic.
But she shook her head. “Talismans won’t work here.”
“Then what do we do? We can’t just watch him die!” Panic edged Jiang Feng’s voice.
