“Oh, the backlash.”
Xi Yu was finally released and quietly took a deep breath.
He had almost been strangled to death.
At the news, Luo Cheng’an immediately looked anxious. “How could he vomit blood? We have to—”
He stopped halfway through and suddenly turned to look at Xi Yu.
Xi Yu was hugging his blanket and dozing off, looking as though he couldn’t even keep his eyes open.
But the words Xi Yu had said last night echoed in his ears.
A life exchange will cause a backlash. Sudden serious injuries…
He seemed to suddenly understand something.
Luo Cheng’an tremblingly reached out to grab Xi Yu.
Xi Yu dodged.
Don’t touch me.
“You got Parkinson’s or something?! You’re coming with us. Let Xiaoyu sleep a little longer.” Mother Luo slapped Luo Cheng’an’s hand away. “Hurry up. Your second uncle specifically told us to bring you.”
Father Luo had no intention of taking Xi Yu. Hospitals were too chaotic, and when the family met, he wanted to formally introduce his son in an appropriate setting.
“No!” Luo Cheng’an shook off Father Luo, then immediately dropped to his knees beside Xi Yu’s bed and clasped his hands together. “Come with me, come with me! Waaaaah, please!”
Damn it, how could it be my older cousin who got seriously injured?!
Luo Cheng’an shamelessly clung to Xi Yu. He annoyed Xi Yu so much that Xi Yu furiously absorbed several mouthfuls of merit before reluctantly getting up to wash.
The family of four drove to the hospital.
Xi Yu slept the entire way.
Luo Cheng’an nervously rubbed his hands together, but he didn’t dare disturb Xi Yu.
When they reached the hospital room, Luo Cheng’an said, “Mom, Dad, you go in first. I need to pee.”
With that, he grabbed Xi Yu and ran toward the bathroom.
“Is it… Brother Jing? That Life-Exchange Lock?” Luo Cheng’an asked tremblingly in an empty corner.
Xi Yu shook his head. “I don’t know him, and I’ve never met him, so I can’t answer you.”
“All I know is that one lock has two counterparts. One is removed and the other is used. It takes your fortune and exchanges it for his life. Now that yours has turned to ashes, the other one will inevitably break.”
Luo Cheng’an splashed water on his face, then used every ounce of strength he had to drag Xi Yu along with him.
When Second Uncle Luo saw Luo Cheng’an, his eyes lit up. He hurriedly brought him to the bedside.
“You finally came. Your Brother Jing has been asking about you for ages.”
…………………………
Luo Shujing was receiving an IV drip. His face was deathly pale, looking as though a gust of wind could knock him over.
His slender neck was completely bare.
Luo Cheng’an tightened his grip on Xi Yu’s hand.
Xi Yu tried several times to pry it loose but couldn’t. It hurt so much that he wanted to lose his temper, so he simply shifted his gaze toward Luo Shujing.
He now understood why Luo Shujing wanted to borrow Luo Cheng’an’s life.
Luo Shujing had the appearance of someone destined to die young. At most, he wouldn’t live past thirty.
Yet now, several strands of golden light swirled around the vital point of Luo Shujing’s fate, showing signs of narrowly escaping death.
Even after the Life-Exchange Lock broke and Luo Shujing suffered its backlash, he still hadn’t died.
Xi Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.
It was clear just how many disasters and sufferings Luo Cheng’an had endured for him over the years.
It was only because Luo Cheng’an had such abundant merit.
If it had been anyone else, they wouldn’t have survived until today.
Luo Shujing noticed Xi Yu’s gaze and coughed twice before smiling apologetically.
“This must be Xiaoyu. I should have prepared a gift for you when you first came home, but…”
Before Luo Shujing could finish, he suddenly began coughing violently.
Xi Yu nodded. “It’s fine.”
Luo Cheng’an instinctively went over to support him. “Don’t talk anymore, Brother Jing.”
Luo Cheng’an’s suspicions from earlier were suppressed by familial affection. He also remembered how well Luo Shujing had always treated him.
Ever since he debuted in the entertainment industry and began getting criticized, it had always been Luo Shujing who defended him.
From childhood to adulthood, Luo Shujing had always been by his side.
He truly didn’t want to believe that Luo Shujing was the one trying to harm him.
Seeing the reluctance on Luo Cheng’an’s face, Xi Yu sneered inwardly.
Someone covered in merit really did possess great compassion.
Second Aunt Luo and Second Uncle Luo also exchanged pleasantries with Xi Yu.
The words and actions of this family of three were remarkably gentle and mild, making them appear completely harmless.
But Xi Yu could see the baleful aura lingering around their bodies.
Especially Second Uncle Luo.
There was actually a human life weighing on his back.
Xi Yu’s eyes darkened. He quietly took a step backward, feeling that his presence was bad luck.
Second Aunt Luo poured water for everyone and then walked toward Luo Cheng’an.
“Cheng’an, have a glass of—ouch!”
Unexpectedly, she stumbled.
The warm water poured directly over Luo Cheng’an’s shoulder.
Second Aunt Luo hurriedly grabbed some tissues and pulled aside Luo Cheng’an’s collar to wipe him off.
When she saw that there was nothing around his neck, a trace of venom flashed through her eyes.
“What’s wrong with you?! You can even spill a glass of water!” Second Uncle Luo scolded helplessly.
Yet his gaze was fixed on Luo Cheng’an’s neck.
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Luo Cheng’an hurriedly waved his hand. “It’s not even hot.”
Luo Shujing pressed his lips together, appearing even weaker. As if trying to casually steer the conversation away from the accident, he asked, “Why isn’t Cheng’an wearing his necklace?”
Luo Cheng’an was wiping his clothes with a tissue.
Xi Yu saw his hand pause.
Xi Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting for this sweet idiot to answer.
The air fell silent for two seconds.
“Oh. Xi Yu said it looked good, so he snatched it.”
Xi Yu: ??????
Damn it, I’m calling the police!
Five pairs of eyes turned directly toward him.
Xi Yu sneered. “That’s right. I intend to snatch away everything belonging to Luo Cheng’an, then stomp him beneath my feet.”
Then kick him onto the judgment platform and ask him whether his conscience hurts for framing me while covered in merit!
The hospital room fell silent for a moment.
Father and Mother Luo’s expressions became complicated.
Luo Cheng’an looked deeply hurt.
Luo Shujing pulled Luo Cheng’an toward himself in a protective gesture.
“Cheng’an did nothing wrong. He didn’t know this would happen. You can’t blame him.”
“Then who should I blame? You?” Xi Yu said coldly. “Fine. I’ll take everything from you.”
Luo Shujing fell silent.
His gentle expression stiffened, clearly not expecting Xi Yu to say something like that.
“Xiaoyu…” Mother Luo tremblingly walked over to Xi Yu.
After calling his name, her eyes reddened slightly, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She simply couldn’t bear to blame him.
Luo Cheng’an bit his lip, his shoulders trembling, looking utterly aggrieved.
Xi Yu glanced at Luo Cheng’an, genuinely afraid he might burst out laughing.
“Brother Jing, I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll go home first. I’ll come see you another day.”
Luo Cheng’an covered his face and hurried out of the room.
“Wait, Cheng’an, Cheng’an…” Mother Luo called after him anxiously.
“I’ll go after him.” Xi Yu stopped Mother Luo from following and put on a solemn expression. “This is a matter between us juniors. Don’t interfere.”
Xi Yu turned around, opened the door, closed it, and then let out a breath.
The entire sequence was completed in one smooth motion.
The hospital room was practically filled with the baleful aura of Luo Shujing’s family of three.
And there was also that female ghost behind Second Uncle Luo, constantly sticking out her tongue.
He didn’t even want to talk about it.
He couldn’t stay there for another second.
Xi Yu went outside and walked around, but he couldn’t find Luo Cheng’an.
He wandered into the garden.
There were too many resentful spirits in the hospital, but the sunlight made the garden considerably quieter.
Well, one had to admit, the landscaping at a private hospital really was good.
Xi Yu plopped himself down on a chair.
He had just been about to close his eyes and catch up on some sleep when he saw an extremely thin strand of black smoke bypass him and drift toward the depths of the garden.
The sunlight was so intense, yet there was actually a resentful spirit reckless enough to enter the garden.
There’s something in the garden…
Xi Yu raised an eyebrow, stood up, and followed the resentful spirit.
The farther inside he went, the more solemn Xi Yu’s expression became.
He actually sensed the aura of the demon race here.
When that strand of smoke disappeared, Xi Yu saw a tall, slender figure whose back was enveloped in thick black mist.
A demon!
And not just any demon.
It was a member of the demon race with extremely profound cultivation!
Disgust and disbelief flashed through Xi Yu’s eyes.
He had clearly slaughtered every demon.
How could there still be demons?
Even if some had escaped the massacre, there shouldn’t be one with such a powerful demonic aura!
Xi Yu’s expression turned vicious.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and formed a seal, his fingertips drawing a golden talisman invisible to ordinary humans.
His red lips parted, and he slowly spoke with boundless killing intent.
“Extermi—”
“What pig?”
Luo Cheng’an grabbed Xi Yu’s hand and frowned.
“I’ve been looking for you forever.”
Xi Yu’s hand was forcibly pulled apart.
He watched helplessly as the fully formed talisman suddenly dissipated.
He endured it.
And endured it again.
One second later, he slapped Luo Cheng’an on the head and snapped furiously:
“You really are a pig!”
Stupid pig. Idiot pig. Ukrainian mini milk pig!
He was so pissed off!
Did this idiot know how difficult it was for him to form a seal with his current cultivation?
Being able to form one every half a month was already an achievement!
Xi Yu gritted his teeth and looked toward the demonic creature in the distance.
Their eyes met.
A pair of pitch-black, unfathomably deep eyes stared back at him.
He’s been discovered!
Xi Yu calculated for one second.
His sneak attack had failed.
There was no way he could win in a head-on fight.
He grabbed Luo Cheng’an and ran.
After twisting through countless corridors and paths, they had run far enough.
Xi Yu slowed his pace, intending to stop.
But Luo Cheng’an continued charging forward like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.
“Stop running.” Xi Yu was panting heavily.
Luo Cheng’an was exhausted too, but he still dragged Xi Yu along.
“Run! Run! That was Lu Zhixing just now!!! The Great Demon King!”
Xi Yu was extremely sensitive to the word demon.
“Tell me more.”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lu Zhixing stood rooted to the spot.
His pupils contracted.
His fingertips trembled faintly with excitement.
Found him…
Lu Zhixing looked in the direction Xi Yu had disappeared and murmured softly:
“Long time no see, Master…”
…………………
“Do you know what it feels like to become unlucky just by saying one sentence to someone?! You don’t know!”
Luo Cheng’an wailed.
“When I was little, Dad told me to learn more from Lu Zhixing. But the moment I walked up to him, a ceiling light fell and hit my foot, and I ended up hospitalized for a month!
“Later, after I entered the entertainment industry, I took Lu Zhixing as my goal and excitedly went to ask him for an autograph. Then I fell down the stairs and ended up hospitalized for another month…
“Anyway, there were tons of incidents like that.
“He’s practically a walking Great Demon King. Whoever gets close to him gets unlucky!”