The Qi Matriarch was absolutely determined not to let Qi Xinyu bear the reputation of murderous sin. After all, she was to be married in a few months — if such an ill name spread, how would Qi Xinyu face the world?

She had to insist to her last breath that someone had harmed Qi Xinyu. Yes — that short-lived ghost from the Lang Family was the chief culprit. Everything had started with her.

The Qi Matriarch said with agitation: “It was that young lady from Marquis Kaiping’s household who spoke wicked words and cursed my child, causing all of this…”

“Mother!” Qi Xinfei cut her off sharply. What curse could reduce a person to such a state — even speaking it aloud would be hard for anyone to believe.

Daoist Cheng also found it beneath contempt inwardly, saying: “For a mere curse to have ruined the Fourth Young Lady’s appearance and damaged her soul, that mouth of hers would have to have been consecrated and blessed.”

And not merely consecrated — it would also need to have been steeped in poison. Otherwise, how could it have this kind of effect?

These Qi Family people were truly incapable of distinguishing what mattered. Rather than focusing on expelling this karmic malevolence, they concerned themselves with matters of reputation. Clearly they had brought this upon themselves through their own wrongdoing, yet they insisted on pushing the blame onto someone else. If there truly were such a formidable young lady, he would want to see for himself — just how was that mouth of hers formed, that a few curses could ruin someone’s beauty so completely.

He glanced sidelong at Qi Xinfei’s darkened expression and said: “Rather than speak of curses, it would be more convincing to say she was used as a conduit to attract evil and invite malevolence — otherwise it would be difficult to make anyone believe it.”

“Yes, yes, exactly so.” The Qi Matriarch nodded rapidly like a hen pecking at grain.

Daoist Cheng gave a derisive laugh and said: “You may present such an explanation to the outside world. But as for what truly happened — you know in your own hearts. After all, the Fourth Young Lady’s karmic malevolence has likely already seeped poison into her five organs. Merely washing away the ill reputation will not restore her to her former self.”

In this world, was there any true miracle medicine that could restore flesh to the bone?

Even the great Xuan Clans possessed no such elixir that could patch up the hole in her forehead and leave it smooth and unblemished as before. And even if such medicine existed — what was her standing? Was she worthy of such rare medicine?

Daoist Cheng’s expression carried a trace of disdain. If not for Eighth Mistress acting as the intermediary, for a minor family like the Qi’s to summon a member of the Xuan Clan for exorcism — that would be pure wishful thinking.

Qi Xinfei could see the contempt showing on his face and felt a flash of private irritation. She asked mournfully: “Daoist, is there truly no other way?”

“That’s right — she is the Eighth Master’s own younger sister-in-law. She is to be married soon, and to a young master of Marquis Changshun’s household.” The Qi Matriarch said tearfully: “If she cannot be fully restored, I fear both families’ betrothal will fall through entirely.”

And what did that have to do with him?

Daoist Cheng thought inwardly with indifference and said: “This old Daoist can only do what he is capable of. But as I have said — she has suffered a karmic evil backlash, and the malevolence has entered her five organs. Even if the malevolence is expelled and her life preserved, this wound will be difficult to fully heal.”

The Qi Matriarch wailed, her vision going dark. Whatever would they do?

Qi Xinfei bit her lip and said: “All shall be left to Daoist Cheng’s best efforts. If it truly comes to this, it is the consequence of Yueer’s own mistakes. Her greatest error was relying on being a young lady connected by marriage to our Rong Family and becoming too imperious about it. I will go to the Eighth Master and the clan elders to make my apologies afterward. Yet she is still so young — to have brought such great calamity upon herself simply for being a little too headstrong, inviting envy and hatred.”

She wept like pear blossoms bathed in rain, a sight that moved one to pity. Glancing at Daoist Cheng and seeing him about to speak, she quickly cut in first: “I have no intention of making things difficult for the Daoist. It is simply that I cannot bear to see a perfectly fine child reduced to such a state. I would never ask the Daoist to trouble himself over it. After all — I have heard that the Second Mistress of the Lang Family and the First Mistress of the Gong Family are close companions. We too dare not offend them.”

Daoist Cheng: “!”

He was old and worldly-wise — how could he fail to see that Qi Xinfei was applying subtle pressure against him? He thought to himself: these young women were all too practiced in the underhanded ways of the inner household. He would not fall into this trap. So he said: “Those who persist in wrongdoing will inevitably destroy themselves. If that young lady of the Lang Family truly has committed the sin of a wicked mouth, the karmic backlash will find her in due course. There is no need to trouble yourself over it. And if — as the Mistress says — she is short-lived, then even less reason to quarrel with her. A wicked mouth combined with poor fortune — she will settle her own account sooner or later.”

Qi Xinfei and the Qi Matriarch went green in the face. Was this what they wanted to hear?

They wanted him to help deal with that malicious short-lived ghost and avenge Qi Xinyu!

“The Daoist is right.” Qi Xinfei forced a strained twitch of her lips.

Lang Jiuchuan, having observed all of this, let half her face go dark.

Jiangche, who had been watching alongside her, laughed so hard he kept rolling about, saying: “He says you’ve committed the sin of a wicked mouth — but he himself just uttered a curse against you. Doesn’t that count as him committing the same sin? He dares curse you — shall we deal with him?”

Lang Jiuchuan shot him an irritated glance. Did he think it was so effortless for her to cast techniques through her spiritual power? Couldn’t he see she was already running on empty?

Besides — the way things stood with Qi Xinyu, this Qi Matriarch was single-mindedly determined to pin the matter of her karmic malevolence onto her own head. Given what those people had been up to before, they would certainly resort to dirty tricks again and press this crime onto her.

She had to act first.

Lang Jiuchuan activated her hand seal. The small paper figure quietly climbed down from its hidden spot on the roof beam and slipped away along the corner of the wall. As for the karmic malevolence on Qi Xinyu’s body — it was nothing to concern herself with.

Just as the old Daoist had said: the malevolence had entered her five organs, and the Yin malevolence had long since penetrated throughout every channel in her body. To remove it was not impossible, but it would require profound cultivation. This Daoist’s level of practice was simply not equal to the task.

Even if someone else were brought in to expel the Yin malevolence from her, that wound on her forehead was beyond full recovery. For a woman — and especially one like Qi Xinyu, who was arrogant, imperious, and had always prided herself on her looks — to have her beauty ruined was an utter and complete catastrophe.

Furthermore, once the Yin malevolence was removed, her body would need extensive recuperation — requiring vast quantities of rare natural treasures, medicinal talismans combined with medicinal baths. Did the Qi Family have the means for that?

A ruined body, a ruined face, and burdened by the karmic debt of murderous sin — Qi Xinyu would not live long.

As expected, Daoist Cheng regulated his breath for a while, had the acolyte prepare the necessary items, instructed the Qi Family to prepare spirit money candles and the like, set up a ritual altar, and began performing the rites to expel the malevolence.

Yet his cultivation was not particularly high. Having already grappled with several vengeful ghosts earlier and expended considerable power, attempting to expel malevolence now — he was simply not equal to the task. Instead, he was struck by a backlash from the karmic malevolence within her body. His chest convulsed with a violent shock of pain, and he vomited a great mouthful of fresh blood. His complexion turned a ghastly blue-black, his hands trembling.

He probed his energy center — his inner power and cultivation were completely drained, empty as a void.

Daoist Cheng nearly fainted. He had suffered a devastating loss.

He suppressed his fury with great effort, his face drawn tight, and said: “This karmic malevolence is truly formidable — it has already entered the lungs and viscera. This old Daoist can do no more than extract a fraction of it. Word must be sent to the clan so that a senior elder may come to assist. Eighth Mistress — this old Daoist has done all he can. You should be clear in your own mind: your younger sister may not be able to hold out until the clan’s people arrive.”

Thud.

The Qi Matriarch crumpled softly to the floor.

On the other hand — Lang Jiuchuan, the moment she opened her eyes back in the Tower of Heaven, hooked a hanging ghost out from some corner of the tower and said: “I’ll offer you a fine incense. Go and spread some news for me — say that the Qi Family’s Guiyang County Mistress has committed such grave murderous sin that she has been seized by vengeful ghosts, her beauty completely ruined, and she is not long for this world.”

The hanging ghost: “!”

The person is practically dying already — is it really appropriate to spread such rumors?

Lang Jiuchuan said: “Go on. I am giving someone a taste of their own medicine — nothing more than karma and just retribution.”

After all, had they not once spread word that she was a jinx-mouth, a short-lived ghost, a curse-bringer?