Volume One, Chapter Six: That Night Five Years Ago

To watch someone touch his own body right in front of him—this feeling was truly...indescribable. Yet from the cool, distant glint in Yun Mojiu’s eyes, it was clear she harbored not the slightest impure intent.

Yun Mojiu swiftly tapped several points on Xiao Junhe’s chest, then overlapped her hands and rapidly formed a series of seals. A faint, milky-white glow seeped from between her fingers. With a wave, the radiance shot straight toward Xiao Junhe’s soul. In the next instant, consciousness deserted him.

His soul floated up, lying supine in the air, slowly drifting above his physical form before gently descending and merging with his body once more. When his soul had fully returned, Yun Mojiu formed another seal. A transparent, compass-shaped talisman array appeared in midair, spinning rapidly.

From within Xiao Junhe’s body, wisps of black vapor were continuously drawn into the array. As the blackness diminished, Yun Mojiu bit her fingertip, gathered a drop of blood, and swiftly pressed it onto the talisman paper affixed to Xiao Junhe’s forehead. The moment the blood touched the seal, the array shattered with a muffled bang, dissolving into the air.

Yun Mojiu exhaled deeply. It was done.

“What are you doing?!”

Suddenly, a figure burst into the room, immediately rushing at Yun Mojiu. The man’s movements were swift and practiced—clearly a trained fighter. Yun Mojiu’s right foot remained planted as her left foot drew a semicircle behind her. She shifted her body just enough to evade his punch with precise economy.

Just as he was about to strike again—

“Jian An, stop.”

On the bed, Xiao Junhe slowly opened his eyes, speaking just in time. “Miss Yun is here to help me.”

At those words, the man instantly withdrew his fist, casting a curious glance at Yun Mojiu.

He had only stepped out to buy a few things, never expecting to return and find the two men at the door standing rigidly as statues, and a strange woman inside, apparently laying hands on his boss. In his urgency, he hadn’t thought twice, assuming she meant harm.

But what did Mr. Xiao just say? She was here to help him. Help with what? How?

Seeing Xiao Junhe attempt to sit up, the man hastened to his side to assist him. “I’m sorry, Miss Yun. Jian An is my assistant—he only acted out of concern for me.”

“My apologies,” Jian An echoed softly.

Yun Mojiu shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“You may try getting out of bed now to test your recovery.”

“All right.”

Xiao Junhe responded and tried moving his legs. Where before he had been utterly powerless, he now found he could easily lift them. He clenched his fists, struggling to suppress his excitement, though the slight tremor in his eyes betrayed his inner turbulence.

Jian An was stunned. “Mr. Xiao—your legs! You can move them!”

He couldn’t be blamed for his shock. As Xiao Junhe’s assistant, he knew better than anyone the hopeless state of his employer’s legs. For the past two months, they had been completely paralyzed! Yet now he watched in disbelief as Mr. Xiao not only moved his legs but stood and walked as freely as before.

He looked sharply at Yun Mojiu. Who was she, really? Over the years, he had accompanied Mr. Xiao to see many renowned masters, but none had been able to halt the decline of his health. And now, this woman had enabled Mr. Xiao to stand again!

His gaze toward Yun Mojiu was filled with awe and gratitude. Xiao Junhe was not just his employer, but also his savior—more than anyone, he wished him well.

When Yun Mojiu saw that Xiao Junhe’s legs were functioning, she left her phone number and bank account information. “Transfer the payment directly to this account. Remember: until the curse and array are completely lifted, you must receive treatment once a week. Contact me at this number in a week.” Her tone was firm.

Xiao Junhe accepted the note. “Understood.”

After she left, he turned to Jian An. “Have someone look into who she really is.”

Jian An was caught off guard. “You don’t know her, sir?”

Xiao Junhe didn’t answer, giving only a cool glance.

Jian An fell silent. He realized he’d asked too much. But his curiosity only deepened. Mr. Xiao didn’t even know the master who had just healed him—where on earth had she come from?

After leaving the ward, Yun Mojiu took the elevator down to the first floor.

“Miss Yun?”

As she stepped out, a delighted voice greeted her. She turned to see Qin Meng, holding a payment slip, rushing over with excitement. This was the young woman who had been frantically searching for her child at the hospital entrance earlier.

“It’s you. How is your child?” Yun Mojiu asked with a smile.

Qin Meng bit her lip, nodding eagerly. “She’s fine now. When she woke up, she insisted on seeing the beautiful big sister who saved her.”

Yun Mojiu quickly jotted down her phone number and handed it over. “I have something urgent today, so I’m afraid I can’t visit. Here’s my contact—tell your little girl that when she’s better, she can call me.”

“That’s wonderful. She’ll be so happy to know that.”

Qin Meng accepted the note as if it were a treasure. After exchanging farewells, she walked toward the elevator. Just then, another elevator arrived at the first floor and opened. As Qin Meng entered, someone inside jostled forward, causing a person at the front to stumble directly into her.

Startled, she bumped straight into the man’s chest.

“Oh!”

She quickly stepped back. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, looking up.

A familiar face came sharply into view.

It was him!

Her pupils contracted and her heart skipped a beat. Flustered, she lowered her head and squeezed past him into the elevator.

It can’t be—after all this time, surely he doesn’t recognize me anymore!

She took a deep breath, striving for composure.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Shen Yuting suddenly turned his head. Through the narrowing gap, he caught sight of Qin Meng’s face.

A frown creased his handsome brows. The scent on that woman...so familiar! Like a distant memory from five years ago...

Jiang Qianqian, after taking a few steps and noticing he was no longer beside her, turned to find Shen Yuting staring dazedly at the elevator.

Supporting her bandaged left hand, she walked over in puzzlement. “Yuting, what are you looking at?”

Following his gaze, she saw only the closed elevator doors.

Shen Yuting turned to her, his eyes unreadable.

“What’s the matter?” Jiang Qianqian asked, confused.

His expression darkened. “Why don’t you wear the perfume you used five years ago anymore?”

Jiang Qianqian’s heart thudded violently. Why was he suddenly bringing this up again?

But she had long since mastered the art of deception. With a coquettish tilt of her lips, she replied, “Oh, I just don’t like that scent anymore.”

She wasn’t the woman from that night—how could she know what fragrance it was?

“Is that so?” Shen Yuting asked, his tone inscrutable.

“Yes,” Jiang Qianqian replied with a bright smile, looping her arm through his. “Yuting, Xiao Fan’s car must be waiting outside. Let’s hurry.”