CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: THE PERSON BEHIND

Ji Hua’s problem was temporarily suppressed, and Ji Changxing and Mu Keying anxiously drove the smashed-up car back to the Ji Family.

In the study, Lu Zechuan wore a stern expression, his aura quite low.

He knew Xia Mian was formidable, knew Xia Mian would get involved in the Ji Family’s affairs, and was worried the forces behind the Ji Family might target them.

Yet, he just disliked Xia Mian being entangled with outsiders!

"Master, Sun Shao and Sun Wu have returned," Uncle Sun approached, face laden with worry, "They’re not in good shape."

Uncle Sun had three sons, Sun Shao, Sun Wen, and Sun Wu, all working for the Lu Family.

A few days ago, Sun Shao and Sun Wu were sent out by the young master, but upon their return, they looked unusually pale, as if they’d taken a trip to the Ghost Gate.

"I’ll go see them," Lu Zechuan stood up.

With the commotion from the Ji Family, he was wide awake, so he might as well see what the Sun brothers experienced on their outing.

"Mianmian, come along!" Lu Zechuan glanced back at Xia Mian.

Xia Mian looked at him but didn’t argue over his use of "Mianmian."

The two went to where the Sun Family servants resided, and upon entry, saw Sun Shao and Sun Wu tied to the bed’s foot by Uncle Sun.

"Young Master, their symptoms are very similar to those of that Ji Family young master earlier," Uncle Sun’s expression was serious, his eyes filled with concern and tension.

Sun Shao and Sun Wu were his sons, and seeing them like this, it’s impossible for him not to worry.

Lu Zechuan’s face darkened slightly, "I was careless."

He had only instructed them not to be noticed, forgetting that those they watched weren’t ordinary people at all.

"I sent them last time to keep an eye on those two who meant harm to you," Lu Zechuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of coldness emanating from them, "I didn’t expect it would bring harm to them."

Sun Shao and Sun Wu had followed him since childhood, their skills naturally weren’t lacking, yet now they had been harmed into this state.

"Let me see," Xia Mian crouched down, lifting Sun Wu’s eyelid to take a look; his eyes were vacant, pupils void of focus.

The fact that these two could return on their own was fortunate amidst misfortune.

"It’s fine, they’ve just been subjected to Soul Control Technique," Xia Mian sighed in relief internally.

As long as it wasn’t like Ji Hua’s black magic, it wasn’t as troublesome for her to solve.

Uncle Sun felt the weight in his heart finally lift upon hearing Xia Mian’s words.

"Does Miss Xia have a way to break it?" Uncle Sun, concerned for Sun Wu and Sun Shao, hurriedly asked.

Xia Mian nodded, "It can be broken, it’s not difficult."

Xia Mian spoke, standing up straight, "Fetch two red ropes, a bowl of black dog blood, a bowl of millet, and two fire basins."

Uncle Sun hurriedly responded with an acknowledgment, then went to fetch what Xia Mian needed.

Lu Zechuan stood not far away, his gaze assessing as it fell on Xia Mian, the doubts in his heart gradually widening like rippling water, "Who taught you these things?"

Xia Mian had told him she had the Yin Yang Eye since childhood, he believed it.

But these Taoist Techniques couldn’t be innate, could they?

"I learned them in dreams," Xia Mian looked up at Lu Zechuan, her eyes clear and free from any impurity, "Do you believe?"

Lu Zechuan’s thin lips slightly curved into a smile, "I believe."

As long as she said it, even if she claimed the earth was flat, he would believe it!

Xia Mian also smiled, a touch of starlight appeared in her eyes.

If one could find a soulmate who understands and protects you in life, it must be the fortune accumulated over several lifetimes!

While they spoke, Uncle Sun had already prepared the items and brought them back.

Xia Mian instructed Uncle Sun to sprinkle millet from the door to the feet of Sun Wu and Sun Shao, tie the red ropes to their wrists, stretch the ropes from the fire basins back to the door, place the black dog blood beside the fire basin, and after chanting the spell and completing the summoning, sprinkle the black dog blood into the basin.

Uncle Sun listened intently, afraid to miss a word, and thereby impact Xia Mian’s summoning.

With everything ready, Xia Mian looked up at Lu Zechuan, "You should step away for a bit; you’ve been plagued by bad luck recently, this summoning ritual might affect you."

Lu Zechuan’s dark eyes deepened, and he turned to another room.

He had to heed Xia Mian’s words and avoid giving her trouble.

After Lu Zechuan stepped away, Xia Mian turned to Uncle Sun, "Are you ready?"

Uncle Sun nodded solemnly.

Xia Mian sat cross-legged, muttering under her breath: "Wandering souls scattered, where do they find refuge... Frightened and shocked, true soul lost,

Respectfully ask the road god, quickly help seek, child returns soul, body safe and sound!"

As the spell slowly wafted out from Xia Mian’s mouth, a sudden wind arose in the corridor outside.

Uncle Sun stood at the door, feeling a cold wind blow past, causing chills all over his body.

In the midst of the eerie winds, suddenly two more sets of footprints appeared among the millet sprinkled on the ground.

Xia Mian’s chant continued, the footprints traced the red ropes slowly and stopped at the edge of the fire basins.

Xia Mian glanced in the direction of the footprints, "Return now! I’ll protect you wholly!"

The footprints then moved forward again, crossing the fire basins, straight to Sun Wu and Sun Shao.

At the moment the two sets of footprints crossed the fire basins, Xia Mian grabbed the black dog blood on the ground and splashed it into the fire basin.

Originally, there were only some talismans in the fire basins, with faint sparks, but as soon as this bowl of black dog blood was splashed, the flames leapt up as high as a person!

At the instant Xia Mian splashed the black dog blood, in a luxurious villa somewhere in Beijing, a man dressed in white silk abruptly sat up from the ground, his chest churning wildly, uncontrollably spitting a mouthful of blood.

The man’s face immediately turned ashen, devoid of any blood color on his lips.

The woman lying beside him woke to the commotion, sitting up, sleepily asking, "What’s wrong with you?"

The man didn’t speak, just feeling his blood surge again, vomiting yet another mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, the woman’s face changed, "Someone broke your magic?"

The man said nothing, got out of bed, pulled a handkerchief from beside the bed, and angrily wiped his lips, his eyes in the dark radiating a dim light, like a beast having found prey, "Interesting."

***

Sun Wu and Sun Shao awoke after Xia Mian completed the summoning.

Unfortunately, like Ji Hua, they couldn’t remember a single thing from before waking up.

Xia Mian didn’t find this surprising.

Lu Zechuan reentered the room after they woke, seeing Sun Wu and Sun Shao’s pale faces, he spoke a few comforting words, "As long as you’re okay, go rest."

Sun Wu and Sun Shao were too ashamed to lift their heads, "Master, we are truly useless."

Lu Zechuan waved his hand, "It’s not your fault, go on."

Sun Wu and Sun Shao, heads drooped like frostbitten eggplants, were led away by Uncle Sun.

Lu Zechuan slowly sat down in the chair, his expression was unprecedentedly serious.

Whose hands lurk behind these manipulations of fate?