In the study next door, Ye Qiu overheard Li Zhengxi asking about the paintings and immediately sensed something was off about the man.
“Why do you ask?” Xu Zhiming questioned.
Li Zhengxi said, “I just want to know where those paintings went.”
Xu Zhiming replied, “I’ve already had them burned.”
Burned?
What a waste.
Those paintings were worth over a hundred million!
A flicker of pain crossed Li Zhengxi’s eyes, though it vanished quickly, it was caught by Ye Qiu’s sharp gaze.
Li Zhengxi said, “To be honest, Mr. Xu, those paintings came from an ancient tomb and carried heavy yin energy. Hanging them in the room was bad for Old Mr. Xu’s health.”
“I mentioned this to Old Mr. Xu at the time, but he insisted on keeping them up, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
“Fortunately, you’ve had them burned, Mr. Xu. That should have a positive effect on Old Mr. Xu’s condition.”
Xu Zhiming said, “Enough talk. You said you could cure my father, so get on with it!”
“Mr. Xu, please be patient. I’ll start treating Old Mr. Xu shortly, but witchcraft is mysterious, and I need to make some preparations.”
Li Zhengxi turned to Li Minghan, “Bring the things in.”
“Yes.”
Li Minghan hurried out and soon returned with a travel bag.
Li Zhengxi opened it, pulling out a Taoist robe, a peach wood sword, yellow talisman paper, and other ritual items.
Ye Qiu glanced at them. These were mere trinkets, not genuine ritual tools.
In other words, Li Zhengxi’s so-called ritual was pure theatrics.
What was this old man up to?
Li Zhengxi donned the robe, held the peach wood sword, and said to Xu Zhiming, “Mr. Xu, please step back.”
Xu Zhiming moved aside.
Then, Li Zhengxi burned incense and paper, prancing around the bedroom like a charlatan, wielding the peach wood sword while muttering gibberish.
Ye Qiu couldn’t help but want to laugh.
This wasn’t a ritual—it was a performance.
Li Zhengxi’s movements were bizarre, like a madman flailing about.
Ye Qiu found it amusing.
“If this can cure Old Mr. Xu, I’ll write my name backwards.”
Li Zhengxi danced around Xu Yuanzheng’s bed a few times, then pointed the peach wood sword at him, shouting, “Awake, awake…”
But Xu Yuanzheng showed no response.
Xu Zhiming, tense, asked, “Why isn’t my father waking up?”
Li Zhengxi let out a long sigh, “I thought Old Mr. Xu’s witchcraft was easy to break, but I was too optimistic.”
“The witchcraft affecting Old Mr. Xu isn’t ordinary—it’s an extremely powerful and evil kind.”
“I’m certain now that someone is trying to harm Old Mr. Xu.”
“But don’t worry, Mr. Xu. Since I’ve promised to cure Old Mr. Xu, even if it costs me my life, I’ll see it through.”
Li Zhengxi then pulled an ancient wooden box from the bag.
Opening it, he took out dozens of talismans and said, “Mr. Xu, you probably think I’m being greedy by asking for ten billion US dollars, don’t you?”
“Not at all.”
“See these talismans in my hand?”
“I bought them from a reclusive master, each one costing a hundred million US dollars.”
Xu Zhiming was shocked, “What talismans are that expensive?”
Li Zhengxi replied, “These are life-saving talismans. They can save Old Mr. Xu’s life.”
Xu Zhiming, skeptical, said, “With your financial status, you couldn’t afford such costly talismans, could you?”
Li Zhengxi smiled, “You’re right, Mr. Xu. I’ve made some money over the years, but I couldn’t afford these.”
“But I knew these talismans could save Old Mr. Xu’s life. Old Mr. Xu has been so kind to me—how could I let him die?”
“So, I knelt outside that master’s door for a day and a night.”
“In the end, moved by my sincerity, he agreed to let me use the talismans and pay later.”
“And now, once you pay me the fee, Mr. Xu, I’ll settle that debt.”
Xu Zhiming’s expression softened.
“Li Zhengxi, I didn’t realise you’d gone to such lengths for my father. Rest assured, if you cure him, I’ll pay you the full ten billion US dollars.”
Ten billion US dollars was an astronomical sum for most listed companies, but for Tianxing Group, it was merely a quarter’s profit.
“Mr. Xu, you’re a straightforward man. I trust you.”
Li Zhengxi then placed the talismans on Xu Yuanzheng’s body.
Soon, Xu Yuanzheng was covered in them.
Ye Qiu glanced over and immediately recognised them. These weren’t life-saving talismans—they were ordinary peace talismans from Chinese temples.
“Shameless!”
“Ordinary peace talismans, and he calls them life-saving talismans worth a hundred million US dollars each. He’s just scamming!”
“It’s clear now—Old Mr. Xu’s coma must be connected to Li Zhengxi!”
Ye Qiu was curious. What method had Li Zhengxi used to put Old Mr. Xu into a coma?
Why couldn’t even he find the cause?
And how would Li Zhengxi make Old Mr. Xu wake up?
After placing the talismans, Li Zhengxi resumed prancing around the bedroom with the peach wood sword.
Three minutes later, Li Zhengxi suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale, his body swaying.
“Father, what’s wrong?” Li Minghan, startled, rushed to support him.
Li Zhengxi said, “As I mentioned, treating Old Mr. Xu might cost me my life. The witchcraft he’s under is too strange, but after my ritual just now, I’ve made some discoveries.”
“Old Mr. Xu must have come into contact with something unclean, which caused the witchcraft.”
“If we find that object, we can wake him up.”
Li Zhengxi then pulled a compass from the bag.
Muttering incantations, he began pacing around the bedroom with the compass.
Xu Zhiming and Li Minghan watched him intently, barely daring to breathe.
After a few minutes, Li Zhengxi frowned, “The unclean object isn’t in Old Mr. Xu’s bedroom.”
“Then where is it?” Xu Zhiming asked.
“I’m not sure yet, but I’m certain it’s somewhere in this villa,” Li Zhengxi said. “Mr. Xu, may I look around the villa?”
“Go ahead.”
Li Zhengxi, compass in hand, left Old Mr. Xu’s bedroom.
Xu Zhiming and Li Minghan followed.
In the study, Ye Qiu had just withdrawn his gaze when Xu Changjin’s voice rang out, “Ye Qiu oppa, look at this—what is it?”
