Madam Feng was fuming at Jiang Zhan’s words, but with Liu Xianggu present, she forcefully suppressed her anger, shooting a fierce glare at Jiang Ancheng.
Jiang Ancheng rubbed his nose. It wasn’t his fault; he didn’t know this unfortunate child.
“Xianggu, please begin,” Madam Feng said in a deep voice.
Liu Xianggu nodded, glanced at the water clock, and began to walk around the incense altar with her eyes closed.
Everyone held their breath, hearing only the muffled words from Liu Xianggu’s mouth and the sound of wind rustling through the leaves of the Chinese toon tree in the corner.
Liu Xianggu circled the incense altar again and again.
She wore a loose robe today, and as she moved, the hem fluttered. Her seemingly chaotic steps subtly revealed a certain rhythm, inspiring a sense of solemnity in those who watched.
Jiang Zhan quietly pulled at Jiang Si: “This fortune-teller’s spinning is making me dizzy. Fourth Sister, are you alright?”
As the younger generation stood together, everyone turned to look as soon as Jiang Zhan finished speaking.
“I’m fine,” Jiang Si said, tugging at the corners of her mouth, suddenly feeling the urge to give her brother a good thrashing.
Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out, followed by a crisp bell sound, which finally drew everyone’s attention.
Jiang Si took the opportunity to step on Jiang Zhan’s foot, chiding, “Second Brother, can’t you stay quiet?”
“So we’re not allowed to talk now?” Jiang Zhan grumbled.
“Because quiet pretty boys are more likable.”
“Ahem,” Jiang Zhan coughed into his fist, his tone deepening, “Fourth Sister doesn’t know, but I’m a man of few words.”
“Ah!” A sudden exclamation rang out.
Jiang Si stopped responding to Jiang Zhan and looked toward Liu Xianggu, who was performing the ritual.
Incense had been inserted into the altar at some point, and accompanying the alternating fast and slow bell sounds, the rising white smoke from the burning incense suddenly turned black.
How could good white smoke change color?
Liu Xianggu shook the bell in her hand more urgently. The rapid bell sounds combined with the black incense smoke made everyone subconsciously tense up.
At that moment, the bell sound suddenly stopped.
Everyone’s hearts seemed to skip a beat.
“Look!” Jiang Qiao pointed forward, losing her voice.
The black smoke above the incense burner on the long altar seemed to have come to life, condensing into a stream that slanted towards a certain direction.
That direction was exactly where Jiang Si and the others stood.
A shadow suddenly fell over the hearts of the younger generation standing there.
No one was a fool. The black smoke pointing in their direction surely wasn’t a good omen.
Jiang Si nodded inwardly.
She had to admit, Liu Xianggu did have some skills.
Liu Xianggu, holding the bell, looked towards Madam Feng.
Madam Feng understood and said in a deep voice, “There are no outsiders here now. Xianggu, please speak freely.”
Liu Xianggu’s lips trembled slightly: “Madam, that harmful evil spirit is attached to one of these people!”
Except for Jiang Si, whose face remained expressionless, everyone else looked stunned. Jiang Zhan even couldn’t help but shout, “Stop talking nonsense!”
Among the grandchildren, Jiang Zhan had the most straightforward personality, which was why he had never been favored by Madam Feng.
“Silence!” Madam Feng wished she could throw Jiang Zhan out.
“Fine, I’ll be quiet. This is ridiculous,” Jiang Zhan grumbled softly after feeling Jiang Si gently tug at him.
Madam Feng’s deep gaze swept over Jiang Si and the others, lingering a moment longer on Jiang Qian.
At such a sensitive time, Jiang Qian felt her face heat up, even feeling that everyone’s gaze towards her had changed.
Don’t panic!
Jiang Qian took a deep breath inwardly.
Given that dream, it was normal for Grandmother to suspect her.
Jiang Qian turned her head slightly to look at Madam Xiao, who nodded lightly at her.
Jiang Qian relaxed, her expression composed.
Liu Xianggu was invited by her mother, and everything had been arranged by her mother. Once Liu Xianggu pointed out Jiang Zhan, it would no longer be her concern.
Jiang Qian’s eyes turned to Jiang Zhan, and his disdainful expression made her laugh inwardly.
She could hardly wait to see Jiang Zhan’s expression when he found out he was the culprit.
It would surely be spectacular.
“Can Xianggu point out who the evil spirit is attached to?” Madam Feng asked, enunciating each word.
No matter who this person was, even if it was her usually beloved granddaughter Jiang Qian, she wouldn’t tolerate it!
Liu Xianggu slowly walked in front of Jiang Si and the others, her gaze sweeping across everyone’s faces. Those she looked at couldn’t help but feel nervous, especially the usually timid Fifth Miss Jiang Li, who even began to tremble, her frail body like a withered leaf hanging from a branch in the autumn wind.
“To confirm which person the evil spirit is attached to, I need to ask the young masters and misses to stand out individually, allowing me to verify with my spell one by one,” Liu Xianggu said with the air of an otherworldly expert.
“Xianggu, please proceed with your spell. We must find and remove this evil spirit at all costs!” Madam Feng’s tone brooked no argument.
“Then I beg your pardon,” Liu Xianggu bowed to Jiang Si and the others.
Her bow happened to be directed at Jiang Si, but naturally, no one noticed at this moment.
Jiang Si watched Liu Xianggu with some curiosity.
That day, she had only reached an agreement with Liu Xianggu. What she wanted was the result of Jiang Qian’s misfortune, but as for the process, she didn’t understand these tricks and illusions, so she didn’t interfere, leaving it to the professional fortune-teller.
Now, how would Liu Xianggu manage to point out Jiang Qian?
As Jiang Si was pondering this, Liu Xianggu raised the bell in her hand.
The bell was made of copper, its patina showing its age, with ancient patterns on its body exuding a mysterious and profound aura.
Liu Xianggu shook the bell in her hand, and a clear, crisp sound immediately rang out.
In the spacious courtyard, apart from the sound of wind rustling leaves, only the sound of this bell remained.
Liu Xianggu lowered her hand and looked at the bell with affection: “I don’t know if Madam has heard, but there is a kind of bell that rings for the living, but when it encounters spirits, evil entities, or other yin objects, it makes no sound.”
Madam Feng nodded slowly: “There is such a saying in old tales.”
Liu Xianggu smiled: “This bell of mine is exactly that kind, called the Soul-Fixing Bell.”
As soon as the words “Soul-Fixing Bell” were uttered, a gust of wind blew past, causing goosebumps to rise on everyone’s exposed skin.
“Well then, I shall begin,” Liu Xianggu pointed at Fifth Miss Jiang Li, who was standing at the outermost edge. “Let’s start with this young lady.”
Jiang Li’s face immediately turned pale. Under everyone’s gaze, she dared not say a word and shuffled step by step to stand before Liu Xianggu.
Liu Xianggu raised her hand, gently shaking the bell in front of Jiang Li’s brow. The clear sound of the bell immediately rang out.
Jiang Li let out a heavy sigh of relief, retreating two steps as if drained.
Liu Xianggu walked past Jiang Li, moving on to the next person.
The bell sound rang out from time to time, and soon it was Jiang Zhan’s turn.
Jiang Zhan said impatiently, “Please hurry up.”
The bell began to shake.
Ding-a-ling—
Liu Xianggu’s face remained calm as she walked past Jiang Zhan.
Jiang Qian couldn’t hide her astonishment and looked towards Madam Xiao.
Madam Xiao wore the same expression.
Mother and daughter exchanged glances, but before they could think further, Liu Xianggu had already arrived in front of Jiang Qian and raised the bell, giving it a gentle shake.
In that instant, heaven and earth fell silent, and the bell made no sound.