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Chapter 75 - Theme: Exposing a Fraud, Calming the Storm

At that moment, I finally understood why my master had always spoken so scornfully of Cui San. The man was exactly what my master said he was—a charlatan, a snake-oil salesman with barely a surface-level understanding of metaphysics, relying solely on fast talk and theatrics.

In the realm of feng shui and the mystical arts, things are obscure, profound, and often imperceptible. For someone like Cui San, his typical "services" usually involved rearranging a few pieces of furniture and selling overhyped trinkets. If they worked, great. If not, well, the client could hardly complain. He was an expert at bluffing laypeople.

But facing a real situation like this one—something with teeth—he wasn't just useless. He was dangerous.

He hadn't even taken the time to understand what condition Li Juan was truly in before barging in, shouting at the top of his lungs. His bellow jolted even me, let alone the poor girl I had just calmed down with a soul-cleansing mantra.

Now awakened, Li Juan's eyes turned venomous. Her face twisted into a feral snarl, and her throat let out another deep, animalistic growl as she locked eyes on Cui San.

He still didn't realize how serious the "Extinction Hex" was. It wasn't a simple case of spirit possession—it was worse. Far worse. The victim lost all self-awareness and turned into a mad beast. At this point, Li Juan was practically a wild animal.

"See that?" Cui San said smugly. "With one roar, I've broken the spirit's hold. Now I'll expel the foul energy from her body."

He pulled another talisman from his sleeve and slapped it onto Li Juan's forehead, muttering some chant under his breath.

I leaned closer, curious whether he actually knew any real spells. But what I heard made my jaw drop—it wasn't an incantation. It was a tongue-twister, whispered at lightning speed:

"Chi putao bu tu putao pi, bu chi putao bu tu putao pi…"

("Eat grapes without spitting out the skin; don't eat grapes and don't spit out the skin…")

Was this guy serious?

I glanced at Li Juan again—her face had become even more contorted with rage. Her eyes were practically spewing fire.

I knew this would go south fast.

I turned to everyone in the room and said, "Let's not distract Master Cui during his ritual. Please, everyone—let's step outside."

I gave Uncle Hu a quick signal, and we gently herded the family and Liu Peng out. Liu Peng, ever the curious one, hesitated, clearly hoping to watch the drama unfold, but I nudged him along.

Uncle Hu, ever the mischief-maker, shut the door behind us and pressed his ear to it.

Moments later, a loud BANG echoed from inside, followed by a pained shriek—"AYYOOO!"

What followed sounded like a war zone. Grunts, thuds, and groans rang out from within. The Extinction Hex was no joke. It endowed its victims with unnaturally strong and violent energy. For an elderly man like Cui San, this could easily end in serious injury—or worse.

Then came the frantic pounding on the door and Cui San's desperate voice:

"Open the door! Quick! Open the damn door!"

Uncle Hu held the door bolt firm and replied with a grin, "Master Cui, you're the top expert in Yanbei's feng shui scene! Surely you've got this under control!"

"Open the door or someone's gonna die!" came another pitiful cry, weaker than before.

He wasn't lying this time. Attacks from someone under the Extinction Hex could absolutely be fatal.

I nodded. "That's enough. Let him out."

Uncle Hu yanked open the door. A second later, Cui San tumbled out like a ragdoll, rolling across the floor.

Hot on his heels came Li Juan, wild-eyed and shrieking. She hurled a mirror at the door—the same mirror she'd once used as a keepsake, now shattered into pieces.

Uncle Hu slammed the door shut again and dropped the bolt. Li Juan pounded against it from the inside, wailing like a banshee.

Cui San, sprawled on the floor with his hair in disarray like a bird's nest, looked utterly broken. His face was pale, his expression one of sheer terror.

He scrambled to his feet and made a break for the exit, only to be grabbed by Li Juan's father.

"Master Cui! What about my daughter? Did you solve it?"

"She's beyond saving!" he shrieked. "That spirit's too fierce—there's nothing I can do! Start planning her funeral!"

And with that, he yanked free and bolted like a startled rabbit.

But Uncle Hu caught him again. "Not so fast, Master Cui! We had an agreement, remember? Three kowtows if you failed."

Cui San froze. His face twisted in embarrassment, lips trembling, but no words came out.

Now that I got a good look at him, I nearly burst out laughing.

His face was a mess—scratched up like a scratching post for a dozen angry cats. One eye was swollen shut, already turning black and blue.

He'd been thoroughly humiliated.

Still, I couldn't bring myself to make an old man kneel. He'd been beaten enough.

"Let him go," I said quietly.

Uncle Hu snorted. "Cui San, maybe cut back on the scams, eh? Try earning some actual merit. Eighty grand? Pfft—your broken bones aren't worth eight hundred."

Red-faced and thoroughly disgraced, Cui San fled, his pride in tatters.

The family stood stunned, overwhelmed by the chaos. Their last hope had crumbled.

And in the room behind us, Li Juan continued her frenzied wailing.

I stepped up to the door and said, "Open it."

Uncle Hu hesitated. "Be careful, young master. You've got a pretty face—don't let her wreck it. Just look at what she did to him."

"I'll be fine."

He opened the door.

Li Juan burst out like a wild horse, hair flying, fury in her eyes.

Liu Peng recoiled in shock. Her parents looked lost, helpless.

But I stepped forward to meet her.

As she lunged, I ducked low and wrapped my arms around her.

Even with my spiritual training, I was startled by her strength. She was barely fifteen, yet her power was monstrous.

Thankfully, Uncle Hu leapt in to help restrain her, and together we wrestled her down.

With my hands finally free, I pressed a new spell seal against her crown and began chanting the Tranquil Heart Mantra once more.

As the sacred words left my lips, Li Juan's crazed thrashing began to slow.

Little by little, her body relaxed… and peace returned to her eyes.

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