Chapter 177: Intense Exhaustion

Setting up a protective barrier for Ning Qingying didn’t require much energy. Removing the thing giving her those dreams wasn’t hard either. The real challenge was forcing the entity to reveal itself, keeping it intact, and letting Siyuan get the information he needed.

How tough was it? Think about eggs. Anyone can eat an egg. Peeling a boiled egg? Even a three-year-old can manage. But what if you had to peel a raw egg? Not just peel it, but do it without breaking the thin inner membrane? That’s a whole different story. Much harder than just smashing it.

“You’re serious?” Ning Qingying hugged her pajamas tight. The night sea breeze carried a chill. That unsettling dream and Siyuan’s strange behavior now? Fear was real. Her skin was covered in goosebumps.

“Stop talking. Hold your doll.” Siyuan sounded harsh, not gentle at all. “Don’t move, don’t daydream. Just think about the scene. The one from earlier.”

That scene. Ning Qingying’s face flushed crimson immediately. Sure, she was a celebrity, but Old Ning kept her locked down tight. Her manager was his old secretary; her agency? He funded it specially. Even her bodyguards and servants were his picks. Every daily plan got reported. Where she went, who she met? A full write-up landed on Old Ning’s desk the next day. Once, she dared stay out all night at a friend’s party. Old Ning hauled her back himself and grounded her for a whole week.

It was weird. Ning Qingying would throw tantrums at anyone—even high officials—but acted meek as a little chicken around her uncle, Old Ning. As for Ning Qingyuan? That sister was fiercely independent and powerful enough that no punk dared bother her. Old Ning worried constantly: one daughter looked “Beware of Dog” unapproachable and might never marry; this “younger one” practically wore a sign saying “Very Tasty, Come Eat” and attracted trouble like flies. Sometimes he just wished he could melt the two girls back together in a mould and come out with two normal ones. Then he could die in peace.

So, thinking about that… unpleasant dream scene now? Especially with a near-stranger standing close? Ning Qingying just couldn’t instantly pull it up mentally.

“Knew you couldn’t.”

Siyuan sighed. He gritted his teeth and bit his thumb. Hard. Blood welled. He pressed the bleeding thumb hard to the center of her forehead. Words spilled from his mouth—strange sounds, some garbled language.

“Ew! That’s gross! What are you doing?” Her complaint got no answer. Instead, Siyuan gave her a sharp rap on the head. Thwack. Afterwards—weirdly—the bright alertness faded. Sleepiness washed over her. Her eyes locked onto the flickering campfire, watching its orange tongues dance left and right.

Hazy shapes filled her vision. Now? She stood on a beautiful, sunny grassland. Warm wind, bright sun. She looked around, amazed. Birds sang nearby. No other creatures. Soft grass, warm sun… She felt exhausted from the scare earlier. She just flopped down on the grass and drifted off to sleep.

Half-asleep, a cold rush startled her. Eyes flew open. The man from the dream was back. Her robe lay open, exposing pale, smooth skin that shimmered healthily under imaginary sunlight. His head dipped between her breasts. A warm, soft tongue slid down her cleavage, lower… finally lapping around her belly button.

Intense! Ning Qingying couldn’t stop herself. Her hands grabbed tufts of grass. Fear still prickled inside, but the incredible sensation overpowered everything. She couldn’t choose. She just let that faceless man slide off her final piece of clothing.

“NOW!”

Suddenly, a crack like thunder boomed overhead. Light flashed across her vision. Awareness snapped back. DARKNESS. Around her? Black. Only the crackling fire remained. And Siyuan, crouched beside it. Gone were the grassland, the sun, that clever tongue.

“You screamed… really loud,” Siyuan said, standing. He seemed to be holding something, but from Ning Qingying’s view, it was just a blob of twisting black mist. “Okay, cover yourself up.”

Ning Qingying froze. Glanced down. Her pajama top was undone—wide open! She sat exposed before a younger guy! Not just that… Her underwear felt damp, soaked? Cool and sticky against her skin in the night breeze.

“What? What did you DO to me??”

“Me?” Siyuan looked amused, almost laughing. “You undressed yourself! Why ask me?” He didn’t waste time arguing. Holding the blob of mist, he walked to the campfire. Glanced back at Ning Qingying, who looked genuinely traumatized. “Curious what your boyfriend looks like?”

Ning Qingying ignored him. Just sat hunched on a broken rock. Lost and pitiful. Siyuan ignored her too. Plopped down by the fire. Pushed and shoved the dark squirming thing into an ordinary, discarded soda bottle he’d found.

That thing? Trapped spirits probably had some dignity. Normally captured? Held in sacred tools. Maybe an ancestral golden prayer bowl? Or a jade gourd? A holy cup? Fine, even a regular bronze censer or judge’s pencil holder was better. This? Starting out with a soda bottle? That’s just insulting. Fine. Even if you HAD to use one… Couldn’t he find a glass bottle? Looked a bit more respectable. A PLASTIC bottle? And no lid!? He stuffed the opening with USED toilet paper he’d apparently spotted near the rocks. How sick could one person be?

“Here. Look.”

Siyuan passed her the grimy bottle. “This is your lover. Ewwww… Good luck ever marrying.”

“Stoppit! That’s disgusting!” Tears welled. “It never happened!”

Siyuan whistled. “Just take a peek.”

Curiosity won. Ning Qingying hesitantly held the dirty bottle up to the firelight. Swirling black mist filled the bottle, like heavy smoke trapped inside. Twisting and jerking violently. Suddenly—a HORRIBLE man’s face SHOT out of the mist! Snarling! Then vanished instantly back into the smoke.

“AHHH!!!”

She hurled the bottle away from her! The nasty paper plug went flying off. Siyuan moved fast. His foot slammed down hard over the bottle’s opening. He chuckled. “Where you going? Get back in!” He pressed down harder. The ghostly form seemed to actually FEEL the pressure. Like a turtle scared by fire, it instantly shrank back into the cheap plastic bottle. Even wide open, it dared not try escaping through the neck now.

“What… IS that?!”

Pure terror filled Ning Qingying’s face. Tears streamed freely now. Seeing a girl like this, Siyuan had a rare moment of softness. Busy tinkering with the doll, he walked over and clumsily wiped some tears with his sleeve. “Why cry? Joking earlier. It only sucked your life energy.”

Ning Qingying lifted her tiny, pretty face. She whispered, “Life energy?”

Siyuan rolled his eyes. Preparing the ghost attached to the doll as he explained the situation to poor clueless Ning Qingying.

“Told you earlier—shouldn’t have grabbed the doll. That was a Voodoo Doll,” Siyuan crouched, scratching symbols onto a hard rock with a coin. “Something usually stuck to them. Those things? Either ruin your luck, drain your lifespan… or combo types like this one. Energy sucker. ‘Life energy’ is vague, yes. But it controls luck, spirit vitality, physical strength. Felt good before, right?”

Ning Qingying paused, teeth sinking into her lower lip. She gave a tiny, reluctant nod.

“Should feel good. When energy gets sucked? Male or female, the feeling is like peaking joy. But very different from… well, sex. Way easier to get hooked. Hooked? Within ten days, you get sucked dry. Look like a prune. Have accidents everywhere. Age super fast. You’re twenty-three? Might look forty-something soon. Picture that. You depend on your face to survive. That day comes? You’d have nothing.”

“But… why ME?” Her voice trembled slightly.

“Prime target. Young and vibrant.” Siyuan smiled grimly. “That woman gave out more than one today. Meaning her? Pocket full of Voodoo Dolls. Simple plan—steal everyone’s luck for herself. But…” His voice suddenly sharpened. “CRAP!”

He stuffed the bottle haphazardly into his backpack slung behind him. “I need to go. You head back.”

“No…!” Ning Qingying clung to his arm like a drowning person. Eyes wide and begging. “I… I’m scared…”

“It’s over now. Really safe.”

“I’m really scared… Please don’t leave…” Her acting skills were top-notch, yes. But this fear? Real. With Siyuan nearby, she felt strangely protected. Watching him prepare to leave? That cold dread washed back strong.

“Not time! I’ll come back soon!”

“No… Can’t…” Her tears flowed freely again. “I can’t go back alone…”

“Alright, ALRIGHT!” Siyuan groaned dramatically. “Only doing this for your sister Ning Qingyuan.”

He glanced at his watch. “Flying you is risky. You drive? Right? Navigate for me.” He rattled off an address.

“Yes! On it!” Ning Qingying didn’t hesitate. Grabbed Siyuan’s wrist and dragged him toward the garage. Forgot she wore only thin pajamas. Didn’t care what paparazzi might snap. Barefoot? Didn’t matter. Found her Maserati keys. Buckled Siyuan in. The car’s engine roared to life. Tires squealed as she rocketed away like a shooting star.

“Why going there?” Inside the speeding car near Siyuan, the fear faded strangely. Replaced by intense curiosity. Like a million question marks floated around him. “She’s bad? Why chase her?”

“Bad person? Maybe unclear. But know this—today’s her TERRIBLE day. We’re late? She’s dead.”

“How?”

“So many questions.”

“Tell me? Please?”

“Don’t wheedle. Won’t work.” Siyuan took a drag off a cheap cigarette blown wildly by the wind whistling through his open window. “Those Voodoo Dolls? Not cheap knockoffs. Each holds a bound Living Soul. Not small ghost tricks. Powerful magic. If she took it slow? Could be Asian richest maybe in years. But? Too greedy.”

“Meaning?”

“She can’t control the Little Ghosts! BACKLASH time!!!” Siyuan sounded exasperated. “Your sister was an EXPERT at this stuff! How you know NOTHING?”

Ning Qingying lowered her eyes. “We’re not the same person. Just an orphan. No parents. No one taught me. Normal not to know.”

“Right.” Siyuan sounded awkward. “Sorry.”

“So… what is backlash?”

Siyuan blinked. This girl? Jumped right out of sad mode? Back to brazenly demanding answers? Honestly… kind of impressive resilience?

Defeated, Siyuan sighed heavily. Stubbed out his cigarette. Rolled up the window. “Means the ghosts she controlled break free. Turn on her. That simple.”

“And then?”

“Then?” Siyuan suddenly cracked a sly, very unkind grin. “Remember that… wet pants feeling? Times ten the power. Times ten the duration.”

He didn’t elaborate. Ning Qingying was annoying sometimes, sure. But still a girl. Sister to likable Ning Qingyuan. Saying nasty stuff bluntly? He didn’t think it appropriate. The polite version? Imagine trying to endure peak physical sensation—times ten? What happens? Basically? Imagine sticking your… core… onto one of those jackhammer drills used to break up concrete streets… at FULL POWER… for ten solid hours. Who survives? Maybe only Mother Earth herself.