This thing!

Lang Jiuchuan’s choice of words left Zuo Yan looking somewhat awkward and deflated, at a loss for what to say. He couldn’t help glancing at the bed, and felt a twinge of resentment in his heart.

Perhaps it was because the Bai Family had few descendants — by his wife’s generation, there were only her and her cousin Bai Jingsong. His brother-in-law was the sole heir of his branch, someone who was being prepared to carry on two family lines.

Perhaps it was because his wife’s parents, uncles, and aunts from the previous generation had all died young, leaving this one male as the sole hope for carrying on the family line. And so the Bai Family’s elders had indulged him somewhat. His grandfather’s teacher had been the former Director of the Imperial Academy — not quite someone whose students filled the realm, but he had still taught several disciples who now held important positions.

Yet somehow, he had failed to properly instruct this one and only grandson. Or perhaps he had wanted to, but was afraid — afraid that managing him too strictly would cause him to vanish early like his children had. Add to that the protection of the teacher’s wife and the boy’s aunt, and there was simply no way to get a foothold in disciplining him.

And so Bai Jingsong grew up into a small wastrel. Especially after his elder cousin married into the Duke’s estate, he became even more unruly — but since he had never committed any truly grave wrongs, they simply turned a blind eye.

But could someone tell him — why on earth had this rotten child ended up in this condition? How old was he, and why had he contracted — why had he contracted a case of priapism!

He contracted it, fine — but why wouldn’t it go down!

Zuo Yan glanced at his brother-in-law’s conspicuous state beneath the blanket, which could not be concealed even by the covers, and felt as though his eyes had been sullied. Thinking back to how he had made the request just now, he realized he truly had put Lang Jiuchuan in an impossible position.

She was a woman on the path of cultivation, but she was still an unmarried young lady — asking her to treat this was genuinely mortifying.

“I apologize. I asked too much of you.” Zuo Yan clasped his hands together in a bow.

Lang Jiuchuan said coolly, “The reason I don’t want to save him is because these people have committed wrongs. As for how he ended up this way — perhaps you should ask them why.”

Zuo Yan was taken aback.

Lang Jiuchuan’s voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it was heard by all. Old Master Bai, who was standing nearby, spun around instantly: “You — can you save him?”

“I won’t save him!” Lang Jiuchuan looked toward the ghost of the maidservant standing at the foot of the bed, watching the resentful energy radiating from her body and the words she kept murmuring under her breath. “The young master of your household has committed a grave wrong, and this is the karmic backlash. He forced himself on that maidservant, and instead of consoling the victim, you had her beaten to death. For a household that calls itself a family of scholars and culture, your actions are truly filthy.”

As she spoke, she cast a glance at Old Madam Bai, her eyes filled with contempt.

This old woman carried the heaviest karmic burden of all. Who knew what heaven-offending deeds she had done to bring the Bai Family to such ruin.

The Bai Family’s early deaths and the curse upon them were likely the result of this old madam’s own misdeeds, which had drawn down heaven’s wrath.

Her words were spoken at a volume that carried, drawing everyone’s attention. Old Madam Bai’s expression darkened particularly. Her round face had always appeared kindly and pleasant, but her eyes, when they looked at people, were sharp with shrewdness and calculation — and now they had turned hard and cold as well.

Lang Jiuchuan was utterly unafraid, holding the old woman’s gaze directly.

“Who are you? How dare you, you little wretch, speak such nonsense in my Bai estate?” Madam Ma shrieked, lunging forward with her hand raised to strike.

Zuo Yan stepped in front of Lang Jiuchuan. “Aunt, please don’t act rashly.”

His intervention caused everyone’s expressions to shift. Madam Ma shrieked even more sharply: “Young Lord, Ning’er isn’t even dead yet, and you’re already rushing over to her family’s home to make trouble with someone on your arm? Even if you want to make trouble, at least pick your moment! My son has been struck by this terrible ailment after being seduced by that shameless girl, and we’re all in a panic — yet you —”

“Aunt!” Zuo Yan raised his voice sharply, then stepped aside to make room and said, “This is Qingyi Sanren, an Immortal Master. I specifically invited her to treat Ning’er. She says Ning’er’s frail constitution is the result of a curse. We came here partly to see whether Little Song’s sudden illness might be connected, and also to ask grandfather and grandmother whether there is anything they know about it — for after all, my father-in-law, younger uncle, and even little aunt all died in the prime of their youth. This is no coincidence, and is not what Aunt imagines it to be.”

Everyone was stunned. Old Madam Bai in particular changed color, her whole body beginning to tremble.

A curse?

Old Master Bai swayed on his feet, his vision darkening, looking as though he were about to faint. Zuo Yan hurried to support him, and recalling Lang Jiuchuan’s words, asked, “Grandfather — Teacher — what is really going on?”

Old Master Bai said nothing, only looking toward Old Madam Bai.

Old Madam Bai’s eyes flickered, and she too remained silent.

Lang Jiuchuan watched this display and let out a cold laugh. They were already at death’s door and still dared to conceal things — they deserved to have their bloodline extinguished!

There was no reason to stay any longer. She turned and walked away.

Zuo Yan saw her leaving and quickly released Old Master Bai to catch up with her. “Master, you —”

“Forgive me. I’m afraid this matter is beyond my power. Please go and ask the people of the Xuan Clan.” Lang Jiuchuan said coldly.

Zuo Yan frowned, and before he could say another word, Madam Ma had already charged out after them: “Don’t go! What curse? Explain yourself!”

Lang Jiuchuan looked at her and said, “Bai Ning is under a curse. As for whether your son is cursed as well — there is no need to elaborate. If he cannot get through this crisis, this is as far as he goes.” She then added, “Never mind the fact that he forced himself on that maidservant — I don’t know what he took that brought on this condition. That is his own doing. What did the maidservant do wrong? You had her beaten to death, so don’t blame her for harboring resentment.”

Madam Ma’s pupils contracted sharply. Was she saying that Oriole had turned into a vengeful ghost and was now clinging to Little Song?

Lang Jiuchuan said expressionlessly, “Indulging a child is the same as killing them. His situation today is entirely the result of your coddling and indulgence. You have pampered him to his ruin. Whatever fate befalls him is a consequence of your own wrongdoing!”

A maidservant was still a person. He had forced himself on her and then his own body had failed him — yet they blamed it on the victim. Where was the justice in that?

Yes, in the eyes of the powerful, a life was worth nothing. A mere maidservant — kill her if you like.

But not in her eyes. She would not permit it.

Lang Jiuchuan would not claim to be any great person of virtue, and “loathing evil as one would loath an enemy” was probably too lofty a phrase for her — but she simply could not stand how the powerful treated lives as though they were weeds.

Zuo Yan had not expected to hear something like this from Lang Jiuchuan, and he couldn’t help looking toward Old Master Bai. “Grandfather — Teacher — was it truly as she described?”

Old Master Bai gave a bitter smile, closed his eyes, and gave a weak nod.

Zuo Yan’s face darkened. “This is absolutely outrageous!”

Madam Ma fell to her knees before Lang Jiuchuan with a thud: “Master, you can save my son — please, show mercy, please save him! He is my only child, I cannot lose him, and the Bai Family cannot lose him either! What I said earlier was disrespectful — I apologize to you, Master. It was my wretched mouth, I was wrong.”

Slap. Slap. Slap.

Before her words had even finished, she raised her own hand and slapped herself hard across the face several times.

Lang Jiuchuan flicked her sleeve, cutting off the self-inflicted strikes. “There is no need to put on this act. I am powerless to help. The Surveillance Division has already been established — perhaps you can petition the Xuan Clan for assistance.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Old Madam Bai’s prayer beads flying toward the foot of the bed. In a single swift motion she crossed the distance, catching the newly-departed ghost of Oriole in her hands, and snapped furiously, “You old hypocrite — do you plan to kill her a second time?”

Old Madam Bai’s cheekbones were rather prominent. She looked at Lang Jiuchuan and said, “It seems you do have genuine abilities. Tell me — what conditions would it take to move you?”