Seeing that Ye Chen remained defiant, Yu Jinghai sneered and said to Wang Zhengang,


“Looks like someone is tired of living. Fine, prepare three sticks of sandalwood incense, a golden incense burner, and a peachwood sword for me—I will help him meet his fate.”


Wang Zhengang did not dare to delay and quickly gathered the requested items.


Soon, the incense was lit in the burner, and wisps of smoke curled into the air.


Yu Jinghai raised his peachwood sword and began chanting an incantation.


Standing nearby, Qin Gang suddenly felt dizzy, as if his head was being weighed down by lead balls, and his temples throbbed violently.


He tried to endure it, but after a while, the discomfort became unbearable. His stomach churned, nausea rose, and sharp pain stabbed through his head.


Struggling, he asked, “Master Yu, how much longer will this feng shui ritual take?”


“Your family is shrouded in heavy yin energy. This is an expected phenomenon. The ritual takes time, be patient,” Yu Jinghai replied.


Hearing this, Qin Gang had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure.


However, the longer he endured, the worse he felt.


Just as he was about to collapse, a warm, protective energy suddenly surged from his chest, stabilizing his heartbeat and preventing him from passing out.


His mind flashed—“Isn’t this the Frightening Evil Talisman that Ye Chen gave me?”


Yu Jinghai, oblivious to this, took a mouthful of water and spat it onto his peachwood sword, then swung the sword through the incense smoke.


As soon as the sword cut through the smoke, Qin Gang felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer.


A mouthful of blood surged up his throat, and he spat it out violently.


“Second Uncle!”


Qin Aodong rushed forward in shock and caught Qin Gang before he collapsed.


Qin Gang’s face was ashen, and he could barely speak.


“Master Yu! What’s happening to my uncle?!” Qin Aodong demanded in panic.


Yu Jinghai remained calm and said, “The Qin family’s yin energy was too strong. I used a forceful feng shui ritual to disperse it. As the head of the family, Qin Gang bore the brunt of the impact. But that blood he just spat out? That’s the breaking of the curse—the Qin family’s misfortune is now dissolved.”


Qin Gang, still weak and trembling, struggled to his feet and forced a grateful expression.


“Thank you, Master Yu, for the ritual. I am deeply indebted to you.”


After spitting out the blood, he indeed felt much better, and even Qin Aodong felt a sense of relief in his body.


At this, the onlookers—many of whom were metaphysical experts—nodded in acknowledgment.


Even Bao Fugui frowned and muttered, “Yu Jinghai really is skilled. The Qin family’s misfortune was severe, yet he managed to neutralize it. Impressive.”


The other masters also looked at Yu Jinghai with newfound respect.


As Qin Aodong helped Qin Gang to sit down, he turned back to Ye Chen and sneered,


“Well, fraudster? Now give us back our money!”


Ye Chen smirked and said casually, “I can return the money if you insist, but I doubt Qin Gang will live long enough to spend it…”


“What?!” Qin Gang turned pale instantly.


Ye Chen gave him a cold look and said, “Look at your palm. Do you see a red line?”


Startled, Qin Gang quickly turned his palm over.


And sure enough—


A faint red line had appeared, running from his lifeline all the way up his forearm!


“What is this?! I never had this before!” Qin Gang panicked.


Ye Chen’s voice was icy, “This is your true fate. The Qin family was steeped in misfortune, and Yu Jinghai’s ritual didn’t break it—it transferred it to you.”


“In three days, this red line will reach your elbow. When that happens, you will die.”


“Your entire life’s good karma has been sacrificed to extend your family’s survival.”


Qin Gang stood frozen in horror.


Even Qin Aodong was frightened, frantically looking at the other masters for confirmation.


And to his dismay—many of them nodded grimly.


“It’s true.”


“Qin Gang won’t live past three days.”


Hearing this, Qin Aodong fell to his knees and pleaded,


“Master Yu! Please save my uncle!”


Yu Jinghai smirked arrogantly.


“The ritual has already been performed—it cannot be undone.”


“One life for an entire family’s safety. You should be grateful.”


Qin Aoshuang was shocked and pale.


After hesitating for a moment, she knelt before Ye Chen and begged,


“Please… save my father…!”


Ye Chen glanced at her indifferently.


“Your family chose to trust Yu Jinghai. What does this have to do with me?”


Qin Aoshuang’s eyes turned red, and she gritted her teeth.


“If you save my father, I will do anything you ask!”


Ye Chen chuckled.


“Not interested.”


Qin Gang, now desperate, suddenly threw himself to his knees in front of Ye Chen.


“Master Ye! I was blinded by greed! It was all because of Qin Aodong! Please, forgive me!”


He grabbed Qin Aodong and slapped him repeatedly, leaving his face swollen and bloody.


Meanwhile, Qin Aoshuang clung to Ye Chen’s leg, crying.


“Please… save my father…!”


After a long sigh, Ye Chen finally relented.


“Enough. Get up. I was just scaring you.”


Everyone froze.


Qin Gang, stunned, asked hesitantly, “So… I’m not dying?”


Ye Chen pointed at his chest, “Lucky for you, you had my talisman on you. Otherwise, you’d be dead already.”


Looking down, **Qin Gang pulled out the Frightening Evil Talisman, eyes wide with disbelief.


“This saved me?!”


Ye Chen nodded, “The red line will fade soon. Yu Jinghai’s tricks aren’t enough to overcome my talisman.”


Indeed, as Qin Gang looked at his palm, the red line was already fading!


“Master Ye! Thank you! If not for you, I would have…!”


Ye Chen waved him off.


“Don’t thank me. You were just lucky.”


Then, Ye Chen turned to Yu Jinghai and smirked.


“Now, the truth is clear. Are you still not ready to admit defeat?”


Qin Aodong, now realizing his mistake, also knelt and apologized repeatedly.


Meanwhile, Yu Jinghai’s face turned dark with rage.


“You dare mock me?! I was going to let you live, but you leave me no choice!”


Reaching into a black porcelain jar, Yu Jinghai released a swarm of strange, black mosquitoes that quickly descended onto the food, devouring it voraciously.


Song Wanting’s expression twisted.


“What the…? He’s raising mosquitoes?!”


Everyone stared in confusion—until the devoured food began rotting instantly, and from within crawled even smaller, more sinister black insects…!