Chapter 3: Curse Breaking Fails, Backlash Ensues-O pequeno coitadinho reconhecido pela família rica é, na verdade, um grande mestre do misticismo(Chuva no início do verão)

Bai Qianzhou used her finger as a brush to trace a talisman in the air, injecting it directly into Bailu’s brow.

A plume of black mist erupted from Bailu’s forehead, lashing out violently at Bai Qianzhou. Forced to stumble back two steps, Bai Qianzhou felt a familiar, metallic taste of blood rising in her throat. The sharp tang of iron lingered on her tongue, causing her heart to tighten.

"How could this be?" Bai Qianzhou looked down in astonishment, her gaze fixed on her own trembling hands. Had the curse-breaking failed? She had even suffered a backlash.

How was that possible?

"Little Master, how did it go? Was it successful?" Pei Hexuan asked in a hushed tone.

Bai Qianzhou did not answer. She watched Bailu’s face in silence for a moment, deep in thought. Then, she raised her hand again, drew a different talisman, and channeled it into Bailu’s brow.

This time, there was no backlash; the process went smoothly. Within moments, Pei Hexuan noticed that the pallor of Bailu’s face seemed to give way to a faint, healthy hue.

He turned to her, his face alight with excitement. "Little Master, is she cured?"

Bai Qianzhou shook her head slowly, her expression grave. "No. It is only a temporary suppression. To break the curse completely, I must find the object used to cast it."

Pei Hexuan’s brows furrowed, and a wave of anxiety washed over him. "Where can I find such an object?"

"Usually, the item used to cast a curse is kept nearby. We may need to search your home."

"Yes, of course. Little Master, please go to the room next door to rest. Once my wife wakes up, I would appreciate it if you could accompany us back to the Pei residence."

Bai Qianzhou nodded and retreated to the adjacent room.

The moment the door closed, a streak of crimson bled from the corner of her mouth. She wiped it away casually, then sat cross-legged, forcing herself into a meditative state to suppress the roiling of her qi and blood caused by the backlash.

"Darling, you’re finally awake." Before long, Bailu stirred, and Pei Hexuan gripped her hand tightly.

"Husband? Where am I?" Bailu asked, dazed.

"We’re in the hospital. Do you know you’ve been in a coma for half a month? You nearly scared me to death! Is anything hurting?"

Pei Hexuan’s voice was filled with concern, tinged with a hint of reproach, though it was mostly layered with worry and deep affection.

"No, I’m fine. I just feel as if I’ve had a very, very long dream. Now that I’ve woken up, it’s all faded away. What happened to me?"

Pei Hexuan recounted her half-month-long coma and how Bai Qianzhou had saved her.

"Husband, where is that Little Master? Has she left? I must thank her properly." As Bailu made to sit up, Pei Hexuan hurried to support her.

"Don’t rush. She hasn’t left; she’s resting in the next room. Let me help you." Pei Hexuan helped Bailu put on her shoes and steadied her as she stepped onto the floor.

However, Bai Qianzhou was already awake. She sat in her room, having released the vengeful spirit—the one that had nearly caused the car accident—from its seal. The air in the room seemed to congeal, thick with an ominous aura.

"Tell me, who ordered you to harm Mr. Pei?" Bai Qianzhou sat in a chair, arms crossed, one leg draped over the other, her eyes locked unblinkingly on the struggling spirit.

No matter how hard the spirit fought, he could not break free from the four-cornered containment, left only to howl and shriek in futility.

"Stop wailing. Given your power, trying to break my barrier is nothing but an act of arrogance."

"If you tell me the truth, I might grant you a quick end. Otherwise..."

A sweet, innocent smile spread across Bai Qianzhou’s face, though to the vengeful spirit, it looked terrifyingly monstrous.

"I... I don't know. I don't know anything!" the spirit shook his head.

"You refuse to speak? That’s fine." Bai Qianzhou’s smile remained unchanged.

"Then I shall... make you speak in my own way." She stood up and walked toward the barrier, stepping lightly into the containment field.

Before the spirit could even react, Bai Qianzhou’s fist struck like lightning, slamming viciously into his face.