TFOF Ch63

“Impossible! He would never—”

Hearing Aunt Qiao’s words, Li Bo blurted out in disbelief. However, halfway through his sentence, he suddenly remembered that Yang Siguang was still beside him, and his voice caught in his throat.

The man took a deep breath, forcibly calming himself.

“Something’s definitely wrong here,” Li Bo said firmly.

“Even if my brother’s resentment after death was strong, leaving some lingering obsessions that might continue to trouble Siguang… placing a death curse? Impossible. He wouldn’t do such a thing. He…” Li Bo hesitated briefly before continuing, “He always regarded Siguang as someone very important to him.”

As his words fell, Li Bo immediately noticed Yang Siguang casting a deep, searching look at him.

At the same time, Aunt Qiao sneered.

The woman, who had been eager to avoid the matter altogether, now seemed to have her fighting spirit ignited by Li Bo’s statement.

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m wrong? Well, aren’t you supposed to be part of the Li family? Can’t you see it yourself?”

Aunt Qiao then turned her sharp, knife-like gaze toward the frail young man standing unsteadily beside Li Bo.

“You’ve been having nightmares every night lately, haven’t you?” Aunt Qiao asked.

Yang Siguang hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.

Hearing this, Aunt Qiao smirked mockingly at Li Bo.

“Then, Li Bo, tell me—what young man in his twenties would suddenly start having nightmares every single night for no reason? Isn’t it obvious? He’s been ensnared by a death curse, his seven souls are already scattered. Look at him—two of the three protective flames on his shoulders are extinguished, and even his three corporeal souls are barely clinging to his body. When those leave, not even an immortal can save him—it’ll be a certain death.

“And look at the ghostly aura clinging to him. How long did it take you to drive here? A normal person would’ve made it in thirty minutes, tops. But you—didn’t it take much longer? Do the math!”

Her voice grew increasingly stern.

“And that ghostly aura—if you didn’t tell me he was alive, I’d have thought you brought a wandering spirit into my house! Now it makes sense why your family’s Li Chen died so mysteriously, leaving such heavy resentment. I always thought it strange that you only ended up with a rotting hand—it didn’t seem like the Li family’s usual temperament. Turns out, you weren’t the main target at all, just collateral damage.”

Aunt Qiao spoke with relish, but the faces of Yang Siguang and Li Bo grew increasingly pale.

“Aunt Qiao!”

Finally, Li Bo took a deep breath and loudly interrupted her.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to realize she’d said too much. She blinked, swallowing dryly, and fell silent.

Then, turning to Yang Siguang, her expression became awkward and uneasy.

“Kid, I’m not trying to pick on you, okay? It’s just… well, I’m not one to sugarcoat things or lie to make people feel better. The truth is, your luck’s been terrible. You’ve gotten yourself tangled up with that little monster Li Chen.

“People under a death curse only have forty-nine days of life left at most. So… how many days has it been for you?”

As Aunt Qiao’s words sank in, Yang Siguang’s already pale complexion turned even more ashen.

Seeing this, Aunt Qiao’s gaze flickered uneasily.

After a moment of thought, she decided it was best to offer some form of comfort. She added earnestly, “…Well, with just a few days left, if there’s anything you want to eat, drink, or do, make sure you go ahead and enjoy yourself.”

Yang Siguang: “…”

Li Bo pressed his throbbing temples hard and timely intervened to stop Aunt Qiao from offering further “comfort.”

“Is there really no other way, Aunt Qiao?”

Aunt Qiao gave a slight cough and shook her head.

“I told you, I really can’t help… Your Li family, tsk, I’m already one of the more capable ones, daring to stand here and talk to you. If it were someone else, just the faint ghostly aura clinging to you would’ve scared them off long ago.”

After finishing, Aunt Qiao stood in place for a moment. She had already said everything she could. As for the things she couldn’t say, there was no need to frighten them further.

She thought for a moment, then sighed and turned to leave.

But just as she did, Li Bo suddenly raised his voice.

“Five million.”

Yang Siguang: “Li Bo?”

The young man was still in a state of extreme shock and confusion after learning that Li Chen had placed a death curse on him and that his days were numbered. However, the words “five million” jolted him back to his senses.

Yang Siguang stared at the man beside him in disbelief, doubting his ears. Did he hear correctly? Could Li Bo really be offering five million to persuade Aunt Qiao to save him?

Aunt Qiao was also stunned, staring at Li Bo with wide eyes, clearly as shocked as Yang Siguang.

“…That’s the most liquid cash I can access right now.”

In stark contrast to their reactions, the man who had named the astonishing figure remained remarkably calm.

He didn’t respond to Yang Siguang’s incredulous gaze but fixed his eyes steadily on the woman in front of him.

Every word he spoke was filled with sincerity.

“For the sake of my mother, Aunt Qiao, please help save his life,” he said.

“Li Bo, there’s no need to push yourself this far.”

Yang Siguang was horrified. He instinctively reached out to tug at Li Bo, his mind in turmoil.

He couldn’t fathom why Li Bo, at most an acquaintance, would go to such lengths and spend such an exorbitant amount of money for someone he barely knew.

Aunt Qiao was equally stunned. She stared at Li Bo for a long time before blurting out dryly, “Are you out of your mind…?”

She muttered to herself.

But a moment later, as if something had occurred to her, her gaze shifted to Yang Siguang’s pale face. Then, with a hint of realization, she asked, “Wait, so this little friend of yours… is he your boyfriend?”

“Aunt Qiao—”

“No, no, we’re just… just…”

Even at a moment like this, hearing Aunt Qiao’s comment made Yang Siguang’s face flush uncontrollably.

He stammered, repeatedly denying it. Meanwhile, Li Bo froze for a moment before responding awkwardly, “No, it’s just… I have my reasons.”

Aunt Qiao clicked her tongue.

“Well, your reason sure is expensive. Five million? Ha, five million to get me to clean up your Li family’s mess? What a joke…”

She stood up, wiped her hands on her clothes, and decisively turned to head deeper into the farmhouse.

Li Bo watched her cold retreating figure, feeling his heart sink.

At the same time, he felt Yang Siguang’s hand gripping his with increasing force, the latter’s palm icy cold.

For someone who had experienced so many terrifying situations, Yang Siguang’s reaction was already remarkably composed.

But even the calmest person would feel helpless and panicked after hearing such a grim verdict from Aunt Qiao.

A familiar yet strange sense of pity overwhelmed Li Bo’s heart once again.

The wound in his palm began to throb faintly with pain.

He couldn’t help but recall everything he had seen in Li Chen’s room.

A crushing wave of guilt surged over him. Unable to stop himself, he turned to look at Yang Siguang’s bloodless face.

“Don’t be afraid. If worst comes to worst…”

If worst comes to worst, I’ll see if there’s anyone else who can help.

But he didn’t say those words aloud because he knew deep down that even if Aunt Qiao seemed unreliable and greedy, her abilities were undeniably formidable.

If even Aunt Qiao refused to intervene, there might be no one else in all of China capable of saving Yang Siguang from Li Chen, who had already turned into a vengeful spirit.

Li Bo’s heart sank deeper.

Strangely, Yang Siguang seemed to have reached the same conclusion.

Despite his pale face, he forced a bitter smile and said to Li Bo, “It’s okay.”

Li Bo heard Yang Siguang say, “Actually, I’m not that…”

Not that what?

Li Bo was about to ask when Aunt Qiao suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The woman let out a long sigh, turned around, and looked at the two of them.

“What are you standing there for?”

Aunt Qiao barked gruffly.

Yang Siguang and Li Bo both froze, lifting their heads to look at her.

By now, dusk had fallen, and the surroundings were eerily silent, save for the faint sounds of chickens and dogs from deeper within the farmhouse courtyard.

Yet under the glow of the setting sun, the ordinary-looking woman seemed to be faintly bathed in a golden light.

“Are you coming or not? Do I have to invite you two personally?!”

Facing their overjoyed expressions, Aunt Qiao rolled her eyes and said coldly.

*

Aunt Qiao led the two of them through the farmhouse courtyard filled with rustic charm.

Finally, she stopped at a hall in the farthest corner of the courtyard.

She opened the door, revealing a dark and dimly lit room.

A faint, elusive scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

In the center of the dimly lit room stood a shrine of indiscernible design. Within it, there were no deities or idols, only an unassuming purple clay jar.

Aunt Qiao tilted her chin, signaling for Yang Siguang to kneel before the shrine.

The room was shrouded in darkness, and although two electronic candles flickered faintly before the shrine, the shadows around it appeared denser than elsewhere.

As Yang Siguang knelt, his figure seemed increasingly frail and insignificant, as if he might be dragged into the depths by something lurking in the shadows.

“What are you staring at? You too!”

Just as Li Bo was lost in thought, gazing at Yang Siguang’s back, Aunt Qiao slapped him sharply on the back.

“What, you think that thing clinging to you doesn’t need to be dealt with? The ghostly aura around you is practically suffocating!”

She shot him a glare, her tone brimming with irritation.

“You men… Even if you want to date, you need to stay alive first. Honestly, I don’t know what I did to deserve this—having to deal with you, you little troublemaker. Back when I warned your mother not to send you to the Li family, she wouldn’t listen! That place, no matter how wealthy, is nothing but a den of evil spirits. Riches mean nothing if you can’t live to enjoy them! I consulted the immortals, did the calculations—they all said you’d die if you went there. But your mother didn’t care! I’ve managed to keep you alive until now, and just when I thought I could breathe easy, this mess lands on my plate. If it weren’t for your mother, who’d dare touch this cursed affair?”

Though her words were filled with complaints, Aunt Qiao’s hands moved swiftly.

She pulled out two talisman papers, slid them between her fingers, and then retrieved a dagger from beneath the shrine.

Approaching Yang Siguang and Li Bo, she cut a lock of hair from each of them with a single stroke.

Next, she instructed them to extend their hands.

A faint gasp escaped as Aunt Qiao pricked Yang Siguang’s fingertip, collecting his blood and nail clippings.

After Yang Siguang, it was Li Bo’s turn. Unlike Yang Siguang, Li Bo appeared unfazed by Aunt Qiao’s actions. His expression remained calm, as though he didn’t feel any pain at all.

Aunt Qiao shot him a cold glance before wrapping their blood, hair, and nails in the talisman paper, folding it carefully.

Under her deft fingers, the yellow talisman paper gradually transformed into two paper dolls.

…

Yang Siguang watched her intently.

Truthfully, in such an unfamiliar place, seeing the woman silently fold paper while murmuring under her breath was unnerving.

Yet, inexplicably, her presence made him feel more at ease.

Just as Yang Siguang thought the ritual was complete, Aunt Qiao suddenly looked up at him.

“Alright, almost done. We just need one last thing,” she said.

Although she had merely folded two paper dolls, Aunt Qiao already looked noticeably more fatigued than before.

“Hair, blood, nails, and essence—just one more to go, and the substitute will be ready.”

With that, Aunt Qiao turned, opened a drawer, rummaged around, and tossed something over to Yang Siguang.

Instinctively, he caught it. Expecting some kind of mystical tool, he glanced down—and froze.

In his hand was a square plastic packet labeled “0.01 Ultra-Thin.”

Yang Siguang: “Huh?”

He stared blankly at it for a second, and then Aunt Qiao’s earlier words came rushing back to him, making his heart sink.

Sensing his hesitation, Aunt Qiao added casually, “Yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. For a substitute made for men, you need this to fool the ghost.”

Then she pointed outside.

“But not here—this is sacred ground. Don’t do anything unclean here. Go to the restroom. That brat knows the way; let him show you.”

Finished speaking, Aunt Qiao seemed utterly unconcerned.

“But… but…” Yang Siguang stammered, holding the condom awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

The woman rolled her eyes impatiently.

“Come on, don’t be shy. No one cares. You’re a college student, aren’t you? Shouldn’t take long. Hurry up!”

Awkwardly clutching the packet, Yang Siguang remained frozen, unsure whether to agree or not.

Li Bo let out a wry smile, stepped forward, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, effortlessly leading the stunned young man outside.

“That’s just how Aunt Qiao is. Don’t mind her. She’s making a proper substitute for you. It needs these items to confuse Li Chen… or rather, the ghost’s perception. This way, if it attacks again, the substitute can take the hit for you.”

His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

As they spoke, Li Bo guided Yang Siguang through the courtyard to a small detached building.

It was the restroom.

Opening the door revealed a clean and well-maintained space, free of any unpleasant odors.

Li Bo gave Yang Siguang a gentle nudge.

“Alright, go ahead,” he said.

Then, lifting his own condom, he waved it slightly in front of Yang Siguang.

“I’ll take care of mine in the car. You… good luck.”

Seeing Yang Siguang’s stiff expression, Li Bo’s gaze wavered slightly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be quick too—”

Halfway through his sentence, Li Bo seemed to realize that night had fully fallen, and the countryside was far darker than the city.

Yang Siguang couldn’t make out Li Bo’s expression in the dim light, but the man seemed a little embarrassed.

Yang Siguang, however, was even more mortified.

He fled into the bathroom as if escaping, and with a click, shut the door.

After a few seconds, he raised his hand, looked at the condom meant for collecting that thing, and let out a long sigh.

Yang Siguang, of course, knew there was no other meaning behind this, but precisely because of that, he felt utterly deflated, unable to accomplish the task even after a long while.

To make matters worse, just as he was staring at himself in a daze…

The dim and yellowish light in the bathroom flickered a few times, and then, with a pop, it went out.

The entire bathroom plunged into pitch-black darkness, where one couldn’t even see their hand in front of their face.

“Ugh—”

Yang Siguang’s body stiffened immediately.

Perhaps, just as Aunt Qiao had said, his spirit had already become fragmented and weak, to the point where even ordinary darkness could leave him paralyzed with fear, unable to move.

At the moment the power went out, he almost screamed. Rationally, he knew it was no big deal, but he couldn’t control his thoughts. He kept imagining that, perhaps in the next moment, a pair of cold hands would reach out from the darkness, wrapping around his bare waist, writhing and moving…

Yang Siguang bit down hard on his lip, holding his breath entirely.

Fortunately, the moment of terror didn’t last long.

The next second, he heard Li Bo’s voice coming from outside the door.

“Siguang? Why’s it dark—are you okay?”

“I… I…”

I’m fine.

Li Bo’s arrival brought Yang Siguang a bit of strength, but when he replied, his voice was still hoarse.

He stared blankly into the void around him… though all he could see was a mass of darkness.

He swallowed hard and reached out, trying to fasten his pants. But as he raised his hand, he accidentally knocked something off the shelf beside him. A clatter of pots, bowls, and basins fell to the floor, creating a loud commotion.

Startled, Yang Siguang instinctively flinched away, only to bump into the sink, eliciting a sharp pain that made him cry out.

This sound clearly gave the person outside the wrong impression. Li Bo’s voice suddenly grew tense.

“Siguang?!”

Then, in the darkness, the door handle made a clicking sound as the spring mechanism disengaged. The bathroom door was pushed open from the outside, and a tall figure hurriedly squeezed in.

“What happened to you? Are you okay?!”

The darkness obscured Li Bo’s face, but Yang Siguang could smell the familiar cologne on the man. In the night, the rich scent of tobacco mixed with whiskey became overwhelmingly strong.

“Did it come for you again?”

Li Bo asked anxiously, reaching out to grab Yang Siguang.

Yang Siguang took a deep breath. Instinctively, he wanted to struggle, but the man’s arm was as strong as an iron band.

And the scent of Li Bo’s cologne, like real whiskey, flooded his nostrils, making him dizzy.

“No… no… it’s just… just a power outage… or maybe the lightbulb blew.”

Yang Siguang replied dryly. It must have been the earlier fright—his heart was still pounding wildly.

“Phew… that’s good.”

Li Bo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he was standing far too close to Yang Siguang. So close that his lips seemed to inadvertently brush against Yang Siguang’s ear.

Yang Siguang shuddered. Even though he knew the other person couldn’t possibly see him right now, he still awkwardly nodded.

“I’m really fine. I just accidentally knocked something over.”

He said.

“You really scared me.”

Li Bo’s tone lightened.

“I thought you’d been attacked again in here.”

At this moment, Yang Siguang wasn’t sure whether to remind Li Bo to let go of him. He felt somewhat light-headed. The darkness enveloping him seemed to possess some sort of peculiar power, making his entire body weak and limp, afraid to move.

“Though I must say, this place doesn’t exactly set the mood.”

Then he heard Li Bo speak.

The atmosphere turned somewhat strange.

Yang Siguang’s eyes widened in the darkness. A peculiar shiver spread through him, originating from the arm tightly wrapped around him. It coursed under his skin, sparking faint, unsettling sensations along his nerves.

“Ahem, I… I just feel a little…”

Yang Siguang heard himself mumble weakly.

Li Bo, who was usually adept at reading people’s emotions, should have noticed Yang Siguang’s stiffness and tension. He should have let go of him immediately.

Yet at this moment, the man’s voice suddenly became low and husky.

“Do you need my help?”

He asked.

Help? What kind of help?

Yang Siguang’s mind went blank for a moment, and before he could react…

Li Bo’s hand moved, sliding down along the loose fabric of his T-shirt.

For a split second, Yang Siguang almost screamed.

He should have pushed Li Bo away—he was fully aware of that…

But an unprecedented sense of weakness and lethargy seeped into his flesh from the surrounding darkness. All he could do was slightly tilt his head back, gasping heavily, his body trembling as if electrified…

He was utterly at the mercy of the other.

Before long, the final material needed for the substitute, warm and damp, filled Li Bo’s palm.

Faintly, Yang Siguang thought he heard Li Bo chuckle softly, seemingly satisfied.

“Alright, that’ll do.” A low whisper reached his ear.

As night fell, the temperature in the suburbs dropped significantly.

After the earlier commotion, a thin layer of cold sweat had formed on Yang Siguang’s back, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

By the time he came to his senses, Li Bo had already let go of him.

“Get yourself sorted, then come out.”

Li Bo said.

At the end, as if sensing Yang Siguang’s turmoil, the man softly added an explanation.

“Just think of it as mutual help between friends. Don’t worry, it’s nothing.”

With a click, the bathroom door closed.

Yang Siguang staggered, nearly collapsing to the floor from the sudden weakness that overtook him.

He braced himself against the edge of the sink, the residual heat in his body still boiling and churning beneath his skin.

He was utterly disoriented.

He had no idea how long he stood there. Then, with a buzzing hum, the bathroom light flickered back on, the familiar dim yellow glow filling the space once more. At the same time, the ventilation system kicked in, gradually extracting the lingering scent of the man’s cologne from the bathroom.

Yang Siguang drew in a sharp breath, as though he had suddenly been jolted awake from a vivid dream.

He almost thought he had imagined it all—

But right beside his hand was the condom Li Bo had prepared for him. Even though it was tied off, the distinctive smell of its contents lingered faintly. And when he looked into the mirror, he could clearly see his own reflection—flushed cheeks, moist eyes…

Yet the dark circles under his eyes remained as heavy as ever.

Yang Siguang didn’t even know how he managed to refasten his pants.

After hesitating for a moment, he carefully tucked the item into his pocket.

Then, feeling dazed and unfocused, he walked out of the bathroom.

Li Bo was standing by the door, smoking a cigarette.

The night in the suburbs was thick and heavy.

The man’s figure seemed to merge into the darkness, leaving only the faint glow of the cigarette at his lips, flickering on and off.

The rising scent of tobacco gradually blended with the lingering cologne in the night breeze, causing Yang Siguang to stop in his tracks, staring at Li Bo in a daze for a long moment.

For a while, Yang Siguang truly didn’t know what expression he should wear to face him.

Fortunately, Li Bo’s reaction was calm enough.

Hearing the movement at the door, the man slowly turned around, his expression composed.

“Are you done?”

“…Mm.”

Yang Siguang responded awkwardly.

Li Bo’s gaze seemed to flicker for a moment.

“Good, then.”

He said.

“Let’s go. Aunt Qiao is probably getting impatient.”

The man turned and walked away, making no mention of the chaotic “mutual help” that had occurred in the bathroom.

Yang Siguang watched his retreating figure, lowered his eyes, and quickly followed behind.

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