To Raise a Soul 44.2

On their way home, Qiu Feiqian stared out of the window from her front passenger seat. Everyone tactfully left her undisturbed.

With the eventful struggles of that morning and afternoon, everyone was hungry but nobody had a good appetite. When they arrived home, they hastily ate noodles simply to fill up their stomachs. With tacit understanding, they gathered in the living room.

Once she was seated, Qiu Feiqian said, “Today…” She let out a few coughs to clear her hoarse throat before continuing, “You’ve all seen what happened today. I mean what I say, so if nothing is found then the companies Xiangfei and Qianle…”

“Mom, Xiangfei and Qianle will only be yours,” Yin Yan interrupted. His words were unexpectedly reassuring for her. “There were other problems apart from those snacks. The arrangement of the living room is also problematic. Yu Zhen’s grandpa was a Taoist. Under his grandfather’s influence, he has picked up some understanding about some ‘superstitious beliefs’. For now, let’s not debate about whether these superstitious beliefs are effective, or if they’re scientific. From the arrangements within the house, along with the outcome they were trying to bring about with the snacks, we can infer something about the hearts of those who set forth those arrangements.”

Surprised at what they just heard, Yin Hexiang and Qiu Feiqian looked at each other and they both frowned.

It was no secret in either the Qiu or Yin households that Qiu Xiehua was quite superstitious. It was because of Qiu Xiehua’s superstition that Yin Yan had suffered a lot of injustice and bullying from the Qiu family.

With Yin Yan’s words, some thoughts formed in their minds.

Did Qiu Xiehua add things to the snacks not just because he didn’t like Yin Yan, but for some underlying reasons and objectives?     

Everyone focused their gazes on Yu Zhen.

Under the pressure of their gazes, Yu Zhen finally understood why Yin Yan had secretly, and in detail, explained the principles behind the soul-devouring formation and the heart-soothing talisman on the ride home.

“Well, about this…” Yu Zhen started, but he was hesitant about how he should begin with his explanations.

Thinking that Yu Zhen was too polite to dare to speak of the faults of his elders, Qiu Feiqian leaned towards him and said, “Xiao Zhen, don’t be afraid. Tell us what you know. Mom won’t blame you.”

[It’ll be enough if you speak honestly. I’ll help you fill in the gaps.] 

Yu Zhen looked at Yin Yan and then back at Qiu Feiqian. She was clearly in an unpleasant mood herself, but she gave him a reassuring look. His heart softened and Yu Zhen looked around for a moment before pulling Yin Le’s bag over and fishing out some pen and paper. As he immersed himself in drawing, he explained, “In that case, let’s first talk about that red talisman beside grandfather’s bed. That type of talisman is quite rudimentary and its effects are limited. It’s called the heart-soothing talisman. The person who controls the talisman can use it to make others believe the person’s words and agree to their requests. Mom, look at this…”

Qiu Feiqian’s eyebrows rose at his words. Her attention shifted to the paper under his hand and then she watched Yu Zhen draw out the pattern of the talisman. 

I noticed the new talisman when we were in his room. I thought the old man’s superstitious beliefs reappeared when his memories returned. I’d only thought it was a talisman for his own safety and protection, but it turned out to be a talisman for bewitching others.

Remembering the sort of ‘advice’ that Qiu Xiehua had offered, pain and anger filled Qiu Feiqian and her hands tightened into fists.

It was on purpose! Today’s entire visit was planned! The Old Man has no fatherly love for me! Not even a bit!

Noticing her unusual mood, Yu Zhen paused. However, Yin Yan patted his shoulder, indicating that he should continue.

[The Qiu family is on the verge of collapse. Freeing ourselves from them is good for Mom and the Yin family.]

Qiu Feiqian quickly restrained her emotions and said, “Xiao Zhen, continue. Mom wants to clearly understand what was wrong in the living room.”

Yu Zhen glanced over at her with worry, but he then turned over the paper and continued, “There’s a soul-devouring array in the living room…”

He explained the array in a simple way. In cooperation with Yu Zhen’s words, Yin Yan presented fake, black-stained bones to Qiu Feiqian. 

When the drawing of the array was completed, Yu Zhen had reached the part of the explanation that Qiu Feiqian was most concerned about. “A substance that would act as the catalyst for the array was added to the snacks. The soul-devouring array works in a similar way to a sacrificial array. Anyone who had eaten the snacks would have been sacrificed by the array. Once the sacrifice was completed, the creator of the array would’ve then reaped the benefits. But the catalysts used by the two arrays are different. The strength and the objects of sacrifice for the arrays are also different. The most harmless catalyst is the blood of a living person. It would only bring small, non-life-threatening crises onto the targeted individual or sacrifice. In the most serious case…”

“What’s the most serious case?” Qiu Feiqian asked. Her expression had become cold, showing her lack of warmth towards the Qiu family. 

Yu Zhen put down his pen and lightly exhaled. “The most serious case involves the use of corpse oil and corpse powder from someone who had died tragically. After the array is complete, the person, who is the object of sacrifice, will start with a light illness that progresses to a serious condition. That in turn would then lead to a violent death. If the creator of the array and the sacrificed individual are related by blood, the formidable power of the array would be doubled.”

Bang!

Yin Hexiang smacked the table. Qiu Feiqian stood up abruptly, her chair falling behind her in a crash. Very noticeably, her chest rose and fell a few times but she pressed down her rising emotions. She snidely laughed and said, “Xiping will be keeping an eye on things and the test results will be out tomorrow morning. Don’t dwell on this. Tomorrow morning, Mom will bring you all to make our case.”

Yin Le watched her with worry. He wanted to comfort her, but was unsure about how to do so. He simply stepped closer, hugged her, and said, “Mom, I love you.”

“Mom loves you too.” With red eyes, Qiu Feiqian returned the hug.

Yu Zhen had a bad night’s sleep as his dreams were chaotic. He couldn’t remember what he dreamed about, but was aware that he was in a state of being half asleep and half awake. When he finally woke up, he had a splitting headache.

“The results are out.”

Yin Yan had woken up before him and he was washed and dressed.

Yu Zhen’s mind cleared up at his words. Sitting up, he asked, “Did they find anything?”

The question was redundant. With Yin Yan around, even if there was nothing, he could make sure the police found something. 

“They found something. Mom and Dad are awake. They’re getting ready to go to the Qiu residence.”

Yu Zhen lifted the covers and, ignoring his slippers, he ran towards the bathroom.

Everyone soon gathered in the living room. No one had the appetite to eat breakfast. Considering the circumstances, Qiu Feiqian should have been the first to be overwhelmed with emotions or lose reason, but instead, she was the one with the calmest and most ordinary expression. She made everyone eat something to pad their stomach.

They once again arrived at the Qiu residence. The whole Qiu family was present, and eager to hold a ‘trial’ for Qiu Feiqian’s ‘humiliating’ and ‘slanderous’ words towards Qiu Xiehua.

As soon as Si Ling opened the door, she shouted, “Aiyo, the unfilial daughter who called the police on her father has arrived. Everyone, come see.” 

Without a word, Qiu Feiqian stepped forward and slapped her. She replied coldly, “This slap is for not properly teaching your child to behave! For letting Qiu Junwen, a grown adult, pick on Xiao Zhen and Xiao Le!”

Si Ling covered her cheek in shock. Then her temper exploded and she snapped, “Qiu Feiqian, you dare to hit me?!”

“If I could, I’d kill you.”

Qiu Feiqian pushed her aside and stepped into the house. Her gaze landed on Ye Mei, who stood close by with a similarly shocked expression on her face. Qiu Feiqian sneered, “You’re used to putting on an act to try and smooth things over. You hide in the back while goading Si Ling into making the moves. You reap what you sow. Today, I won’t strike you. But in the future, don’t blame me for acting against your parents’ family when it comes to business!”  

Si Ling and Ye Mei were stunned silly by Qiu Feiqian’s unusually imposing manner. For a while, they couldn’t speak. Qiu Junwen weakly stood up and said, “A-aunty, what’s the matter? It’s so early in the morning. Hitting people isn’t so good…”

Qiu Feiqian suddenly laughed.

Cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of the Qiu juniors. There was an unexpectedly scary atmosphere that intimidated them into silence.

Qiu Feiqian looked back at her sister-in-law and said, “Si Ling, look. This is the son you raised. His mom was struck right in front of him, but he only acts with his eyes. He’s afraid to even be angry. What a terrifying scene.”

The comment made Qiu Junwen’s face turn pink, and it stabbed at Si Ling’s heart. A fierce expression surfaced and she looked ready to tear into Qiu Feiqian.

“Enough!”

Qiu Feixiong slapped the armrest of the sofa, breaking his act of being calm. He stood up and shouted, “Feiqian! What kind of attitude is this?! You’re the one who is slandering Dad! The one in the wrong is you! So why are you making a racket here today?!” 

Qiu Feiqian looked at him with the expressionless look back on her face. “I’m in the wrong? What did I do wrong? I didn’t follow your and Dad’s plans? I didn’t fall for the heart-soothing talisman and hand my companies over? I didn’t suppress Xiao Yan and Xiao Le? I didn’t let them taste the refreshments which had corpse powder and corpse oil? Or was my wrongdoing in not dying with my family to allow you, a vicious group of people, to inherit my property?”

Qiu Feixiong’s expressions changed several times and he looked at her in surprise.

“You are curious about how I know?” 

Qiu Feiqian smiled bitterly and then looked around the living room, noting each adult and child of the Qiu household. Her gaze paused on Qiu Feixiong’s youngest son, Qiu Junhua, as well as the newborn, Qiu Ruijie, who was in the arms of a nanny a short distance away. She forced herself to look away and she continued, “In this world, there are people besides Dad who know about these superstitious beliefs. If you don’t want anyone to find out about the bad things you’ve done, you shouldn’t have done them in the first place. Once done, it will eventually be revealed. The police will be here shortly. Pass this message on to Father for me— In this life, I, Qiu Feiqian, will be an unfilial daughter!”

She turned around, spine straight, and marched out of the house.

“Aunty…” Qiu Junhua called out.

Within the Qiu family, the only ones with any humanity left were Qiu Junhua and the baby Qiu Ruijie. Although Qiu Junhua was from the younger generation of that rich family, he was an honest person.

Qiu Feiqian paused in her steps. She didn’t turn around, but she said, “Junhua, do your best. The core of this family is rotten but you have to live well.” Qiu Feiqian then continued walking until she stepped outside the door of the Qiu residence.

Yin Hexiang and the three children were waiting outside. Seeing her return, he rushed over and asked, “Did you get bullied?”

“No.” Seeing her husband, her strong front immediately collapsed and she leaned on him. “Let’s go home. The rest can be left to Xiping and the lawyer.”

Yin Hexiang nodded and supported her back to their car.

They had Qiu Feiqian sit in the back so she would be accompanied by Yu Zhen and Yin Le. 

As they left the Qiu residence, they drove past the police car which was on the way to arrest members of the Qiu family.

When the two vehicles passed by each other, Qiu Feiqian clenched her fists and suddenly said, “Xiao Yan, Mom’s weak. I’ve let you down.”

“You haven’t,” Yin Yan replied. His voice was calm throughout. “I don’t blame you. You’re the best Mom in ‘my’^[1] heart.”