Volume One, Chapter 12: Hosting the Banquet, Seeking the Sorcerer

"Very well." Sensing the weight of Lu Boshang's words, Xie Wanning did not decline but nodded in agreement.

She could afford to accept this favor.

Besides, she did not believe she would encounter any situation requiring the full might of the Lu family to resolve. Simply put, there was no one in this world she truly cared for.

"Your wife is safe for now, but..." She shifted the subject, her tone carrying a gravity that could not be ignored, "The Buddha statue placed in the villa hospital must be disposed of immediately."

That Buddha statue was the source of the death energy plaguing the Lu family. If it were not removed, Lu Yanci and his mother would undoubtedly be the first victims.

"Miss Xie, that Buddha statue was something our mistress knelt and prayed for three days at the temple to obtain. What exactly is wrong with it?" Uncle Fu could not help but step forward, asking with a look of confusion.

"If you want to know, bring your things and come with me. You will see for yourselves." Xie Wanning glanced at the talismans and cinnabar brush on the desk before speaking to Uncle Fu.

"Understood."

Uncle Fu nodded firmly. Lu Boshang looked at Lu Shinxin, who was guarding the bedside, and said, "Xinxin, stay here and keep your mother company. Your brother and I will go with A'ning."

"All right, Dad. I'll watch over Mom, so please go ahead."

Lu Shinxin’s expression was serious as she immediately agreed. She knew the situation was dire and threatened the lives of her mother and brother, so it had to be handled immediately without delay. Thus, she had to serve as the backbone at home.

The group headed toward the villa hospital.

...

Ever since Xie Wanning had declared the hospital problematic, Lu Boshang had acted decisively, ordering an emergency evacuation of all staff and the transfer of all essential supplies and medical equipment to the villa. Consequently, the villa hospital now sat empty, filled only with an eerie, deathly silence.

The automatic glass doors slid open, and a biting, icy wind rushed toward them. Uncle Fu, who was leading the way, was so startled he stumbled back, nearly losing his footing on the stairs.

Lu Yanci’s face had begun to turn pale. The moment he stepped near the hospital, he felt an ache in every bone of his body. Countless bizarre sounds seemed to be screaming and roaring in his ears, causing a dull throb to return to his head.

Seeing them stop in their tracks, Xie Wanning stepped forward to lead the way. She turned slightly, her gaze sweeping over them one by one before settling on Lu Yanci’s pallid face.

"The death energy in this hospital is too heavy. You all had best stay close to me, especially you."

Noticing Xie Wanning’s gaze, Lu Yanci looked up at her but did not move.

Seeing his son’s sluggish reaction, Lu Boshang frowned deeply, wondering when his son had become so hesitant. He stepped forward and pulled Lu Yanci toward Xie Wanning. "Stay close."

Lu Yanci: "..."

He lowered his eyes, looking at the woman who was a head shorter than him. The scene from that morning flashed through his mind, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Damn it.

Lu Yanci’s brow furrowed tightly. He loathed this feeling of his heart being beyond his control, and the way he looked at Xie Wanning turned even colder.

What exactly was this woman trying to do? Why did he always feel that the way she looked at him was... unusual?

"A'yan, why are you standing there? Let's go!" Seeing Lu Yanci frozen in place, Lu Boshang gave him a gentle push from behind, urging him urgently.

Only then did Lu Yanci snap out of it, realizing that Xie Wanning had already walked inside. He clenched his fists, hesitated for a brief moment, and then quickly followed. Lu Boshang and Uncle Fu exchanged a glance before trailing closely behind.

The further they went, the heavier the death energy became, making it feel as if a mountain were pressing down on their backs, stifling their breath. Only Xie Wanning could see the death energy hovering above their heads like vultures waiting for an opportunity, their eyes filled with malice.

Soon, they arrived before the Buddha statue.

The statue featured a golden body and a jade throne, radiating golden halos under the lights as if it had descended from the clouds to the mortal world. Yet, beneath this radiance, the death energy was thickening. It seemed as if, having failed to find a host for so long, it had become filled with resentment. The way it "looked" at them was like a venomous snake—insidious and evil.

"Has your Lu family offended anyone? Especially someone versed in the occult arts?" She pondered for a moment, her eyes shifting back to Lu Yanci as she emphasized, "Especially you."

Once again singled out, Lu Yanci looked at Xie Wanning with a touch of scrutiny. He pursed his thin lips, not answering her directly.

"Think carefully. Three years ago, did you come into contact with any strange people or strange objects?" Seeing his silence, Xie Wanning added.

Three years ago, Lu Yanci had fallen ill suddenly. Afterward, his mother had gone to the temple to pray. If this was a premeditated scheme, she could only say that the person behind it was truly meticulous and ruthless.

Death curses, fake Buddha statues... If she was not mistaken, the mastermind was targeting Lu Yanci.

Lu Yanci furrowed his brows, thinking for a long time, but his expression grew increasingly heavy, tinged with pain and confusion. Under the gaze of the three, he spoke slowly, "I don't remember things from three years ago... very clearly."

Since he woke up, he had discovered his memories were blurry and fragmented; he could not even tell if some of them were truly his own. This was why he felt a sense of emotional detachment toward everyone.

Seeing that Lu Yanci could not recall, Lu Boshang turned to Uncle Fu and whispered, "Go and investigate everyone A'yan met and everything he came into contact with three years ago. The more detailed, the better."

"Yes, sir." Uncle Fu nodded and turned to leave.

After Uncle Fu left, only Xie Wanning and the Lu father and son remained. The air fell into a heavy silence.

Lu Boshang looked at the Buddha statue, his eyes narrowed as he tried to discern something unusual. Yet, the statue’s face remained compassionate, filled with a pity that almost moved one to tears.

"Nancheng has always been a hub for commerce," Lu Boshang sighed. "Businessmen here generally believe in gods and Buddhas, especially the God of Wealth. But I have never heard of anyone who practices the occult."

"However," Xie Wanning replied, "the death curse and this statue, which was formed by absorbing the essence of corpses, are definitely not the work of an amateur."

"You are right," Lu Boshang said, his face growing somber. "But this statue was personally crafted by Master Xuantong three years ago; he could not possibly be the culprit. As for those who handled it during transport, I have already had them investigated."

Xie Wanning furrowed her brows in thought. "Do you have any suspects? Find a suitable opportunity to gather them all in one place, and I will have my ways."

"This..." Lu Boshang lowered his gaze, lost in thought. After a moment, he spoke, "Xinxin’s twentieth birthday is in five days. I can use this as an opportunity to invite the heads of the major families in Nancheng and the prominent figures from the Chamber of Commerce."

"Dad, the Lu family is not what it was three years ago," Lu Yanci interrupted, his tone heavy. "The business world is not a battlefield; there are no true enemies, only allies with shared interests. Now that they see the Lu family losing its footing, those people have likely been plotting day and night to carve up the Lu family like a piece of meat."

He paused for a moment. "I’m afraid Xinxin’s birthday banquet won't be enough to draw them in."

Upon hearing this, Lu Boshang’s brows furrowed involuntarily, clearly troubled by the dilemma.

"Then what are we to do?"