C4 The Fourth Chapter

Although the red glow was barely perceptible, so much so that Xia Ye, who was close at hand, failed to notice it, Qiu Feng himself sensed it.

It was an indescribably subtle sensation, elusive and difficult to articulate.

Qiu Feng took a piece of white paper and placed it atop his head. As he gazed at Xia Ye, his mouth hung open in astonishment, unable to close.

A refreshing coolness emanated from the paper. It was faint, but Qiu Feng couldn't help but burst into delighted laughter.

The Clear Heart Talisman was designed to gather the refreshing Qi from all around. Wearing it, one could stand under the fierce summer sun without feeling the slightest heat.

The description of the Clear Heart Talisman pertained to the finished product. The one Qiu Feng had crafted, lacking in potency, could not endure for long and at best offered a slight cooling effect.

However, that was trivial. What mattered was that Qiu Feng realized his studies in talisman arts were not in vain. On the lands of Foglaostein, his skills were indeed valuable!

"Brother, are you okay? You..." Xia Ye's face was etched with concern as she observed Qiu Feng's peculiar behavior.

"I'm fine, just overjoyed."

It was too complex to explain in the moment, and Qiu Feng didn't feel like elaborating. He tossed aside the Clear Heart Talisman he had finished and picked up his brush once more, lost in thought.

With sufficient killing intent, Qiu Feng could have devised over a thousand talisman arts to address Xia Ye's issue. Regrettably, he was only at the initial stages of harnessing this intent, and his power was so feeble that he couldn't perfect even the most basic Clear Heart Talisman.

Watching Qiu Feng engrossed in his thoughts, Xia Ye quietly set down the inkstone and retired to the inner chamber to rest.

In the deep of night, the dilapidated door creaked open as Qiu Feng, with bloodshot eyes, excitedly approached the slumbering Xia Ye, clutching a pen and paper.

"Sister, sister..."

After Qiu Feng softly called out several times, Xia Ye sleepily opened her eyes.

"Brother... What are you...?"

Xia Ye was startled. She and Xia Yi shared the old ancestral home, which was divided into an inner and an outer room. Xia Yi had always stayed in the outer room while Xia Ye occupied the inner one. Despite living together for so long, Xia Yi had never before set foot in her private quarters.

In the dead of night, why had her brother come inside? He had never done this before...

Xia Ye's cheeks flushed as red as an apple, her heart racing uncontrollably.

Qiu Feng, with a pen and paper in hand, shook with excitement. "Sister, I've come up with a plan that will make the other party suggest calling off the engagement themselves."

I had completely misunderstood my brother. He is the epitome of integrity in Kisal, how could he ever consider such a thing? I... I really...

Xia Ye was so mortified she couldn't even raise her head.

"This strategy, though, might require you to endure some discomfort for a few months."

Xia Ye looked up, her expression resolute. "Brother, as long as I don't have to marry Qin Yan, I'm willing to bear any hardship."

"Very well," Qiu Feng said softly, sitting at the edge of the bed. "Sister, do you trust me?"

Xia Ye, taken aback for a moment, then nodded emphatically. In this world, the only person she could truly rely on was her brother, Xia Yi.

"Then, please remove your clothes now."

Xia Ye froze, her mouth agape as she stared at Qiu Feng, speechless.

"If you trust me, then take off your top."

With her head bowed and ears burning red, Xia Ye's hands were tightly clasped together, shaking from nervousness.

After Qiu Feng's persistent coaxing, Xia Ye, with trembling hands and eyes shut, slowly removed her top.

Her bare shoulders trembled slightly, as pristine as inverted jade bowls, with not a hint of droop. The rosy peaks stood proudly erect...

Bathed in moonlight, she was a vision of loveliness, igniting a forbidden desire within Qiu Feng.

"Sister..." Qiu Feng swallowed hard, fighting to control his rising emotions, and turned his head away. "Just turn around so your back is to me."

With a soft whimper, Xia Ye covered her face and turned away.

Her smooth, flawless back was like a sculpted piece of alabaster, utterly impeccable. The sight of her slender waist and the gentle curve of her hips was almost too much for Qiu Feng to bear.

Taking a deep breath to steady his racing heart, Qiu Feng lifted his brush and began to draw on Xia Ye's back.

The rune Qiu Feng painted this time was exceptionally large, its peculiar design not only fully concealed Xia Ye's jade-like back but even the two rosy spots on her chest received a gentle touch from his brush.

Of course, those touches on her chest were purely his own addition, unrelated to the runes he was crafting.

Qiu Feng ceased his brushwork and began to murmur incantations, continuously tapping Xia Ye's back with his fingers. Bursts of red light emitted from his fingertips intermittently, and with each emission, his spirit seemed to wane.

It took over three hours, and only as the sky lightened and the roosters began to crow did Qiu Feng announce the completion of his runes.

"All done, sister. Rest well, and when you wake up, don't be frightened by anything you see. Trust in me," he reassured her.

Qiu Feng then tested the slimness of Xia Ye's waist with his hands before turning to admire the perfectly shaped pair of jade bowls on her chest, asking with genuine curiosity, "Sister, how old are you now?"

He placed particular emphasis on the word 'old.'

"Sixteen," Xia Ye responded, her small hands still covering her face, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

"Not so young anymore," he remarked.

With one last reluctant glance, Qiu Feng pulled his gaze away, stretched languidly, and, yawning, left the inner chamber.

...

Qiu Feng didn't wake until the evening, his exhaustion stemming not from physical strain but from a depletion of his mental energy.

Xia Ye's door remained shut. Had it not been for the meal laid out on the table, Qiu Feng might have thought she was still asleep.

"Sister, sister," he called softly, but received no reply. He pushed the door open and entered the room.

Xia Ye lay on the bed, her whole body tucked into the blanket, only her dark hair visible.

"Sister, it's time to eat," he said.

Instead of a reply, he heard the faint sound of Xia Ye's sobs.

"Sister, is your skin now a mix of black and red, looking rather frightening? Don't worry, it's a special technique I learned from a secret tome passed down by the Xia family ancestors. Your current condition is only temporary; you'll be back to normal in no more than three months."

After Qiu Feng patiently explained the situation, Xia Ye finally, with trembling hands, pulled the blanket from over her head.

Her once delicate face was now a mottled mix of black and red. Any trace of her original innocence had vanished, leaving her resembling the Asura Evil Ghost of legends.

The spell Qiu Feng had cast on Xia Ye was known as 'Rakshasa's Descent.' The term 'Rakshasa' refers to a grotesque and hideous ghost, and by invoking its image upon a human, one performs the 'Rakshasa's Descent.' This spell not only disfigures the person but is also rumored to possess the unconfirmed power of warding off evil.

Given Qiu Feng's current level of power, which was only enough to conjure simple talismans, he couldn't even contemplate using more advanced techniques. Even if he managed to draw a high-level talisman, he lacked the ability to successfully harness a baleful aura.

Unable to confront his adversary directly, Qiu Feng resorted to an unconventional strategy: transforming Xia Ye into a Rakshasa ghost woman to see if Qin Seng's son would still desire to marry her.

"Sister, heed my advice. Go outside now, just as you are, and let everyone see you. Believe me, once word of your transformation spreads, Qin Seng will come forward to call off the engagement within three days."

Qiu Feng's words were spoken with unwavering confidence. Xia Ye, gathering her bravery, stepped out of the room.

That evening, a succession of screams echoed from the Xia Mansion. Three individuals fainted at the sight of Xia Ye, and the impact was even more dramatic than Qiu Feng had anticipated. Within hours, the news had traveled beyond the walls of the Xia Mansion.

Xia Yan returned to find himself in a frenzy. The rapid dissemination of the news was largely due to his absence; by the time he returned, the tale had already reached Insasari.

Silencing the gossip had become an impossibility. When Xia Yan finally laid eyes on Xia Ye's altered visage, he was so shocked that he collapsed to the ground, speechless and dumbfounded.

With Xia Yi's influence gone, the Xia family's vast business empire was left without a pillar of support in the Imperial Court. This was precisely why Xia Yan was so adamant about securing an alliance through Xia Ye's marriage to Qin Seng's son.

What was he to do? The wedding was fast approaching, and secrets like this couldn't be hidden forever. Besides, who would dare conceal such a significant matter? If he crossed the Right Prime Minister Qin Seng, could he expect anything good to come of it?

Early the next morning, Xia Yan, laden with a generous gift, hurried to seek an audience with Qin Seng.

What could possibly be done in this situation?

He decided to be forthright; he would lay it all out and let Qin Seng make the final call.

Xia Yan nervously explained his purpose. Qin Seng listened with an unchanged expression, asked a few probing questions, and, having gained a general understanding, dismissed his visitor with a cup of tea.

"Father, do you think that old fox Xia Yan is trying to trick us?"

As soon as Xia Yan had left, Qin Yan could no longer contain his impatience.

Qin Yan was short with beady eyes and a toad-like mouth. Had he not been born into a family of high status, he would have gone unnoticed wherever he went.

"Trick us? Xia Yan doesn't have the nerve," Qin Seng coldly scoffed. "Take some men to Xia Mansion right now. If anyone dares to obstruct you, show no mercy. Go and see Xia Ye with your own eyes before reporting back to me."

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yan was thrilled, his short legs shaking with excitement as he rushed out, hands fumbling at his crotch.

Qin Yan had long lusted after Xia Ye. If Qin Seng hadn't made enemies of some influential figures in recent years, risking exposure, there would have been no need for an engagement. In Qin Yan's view, he would have simply taken her by force.

Leading a menacing entourage, Qin Yan arrived at Xia Mansion. Xia Yan had anticipated their arrival and offered no resistance, allowing Qin Yan to easily make his way into Xia Ye's private chambers.

"Everyone, stay outside. Whoever interferes gets a beating. I won't be out for at least two hours," he commanded.

Qin Yan entered, immediately assailed by a foul, unbearable stench.

Seconds later, he burst out of the room, doubled over in retching, unable to stop even as the bitter bile rose in his throat.

"Go!"

Bent over and unable to straighten up, Qin Yan was propped up by two servants as he left the Xia Mansion.

Upon returning home and encountering Qin Seng, he didn't even get a chance to open his mouth before Qin Seng gestured dismissively, signaling there was no need for explanations.

"I've just had the Master Shaman cast a fortune for that woman, Xia Ye. Yan'er, can you guess what the divination revealed?"

"What did it say?" Qin Yan asked, his face still twisted in discomfort after vomiting so much bile.

"A Rakshasa Ghost. She's marked by extreme malevolence. Should she wed, her husband will surely be cursed with calamity!"

Unable to contain himself, Qin Yan spat on the ground once more.