Chapter 15: The Art of Scent Observation

Upon hearing my words, both father and daughter from the Liu family nodded in firm agreement. They were deeply convinced by what I said. At present, I was the only one capable of lifting the curse placed upon them.

“Qiyue, we are truly grateful for your help this time. I have no way to repay you, but once this matter is resolved, I am willing to give you half of my estate,” Liu Sihai said to me with utmost seriousness, his tone becoming exceptionally solemn at that moment.

“Let’s discuss that after I have lifted the curse,” I replied, refraining from making an immediate promise as I lit several incense sticks on the ritual altar.

“In that case, I am indebted to you, Brother Qiyue,” Liu Sihai said respectfully, clasping his fists before turning to enter the circle I had drawn on the ground with Liu Qingqing.

“Brother Qiyue, I trust you. You will surely help our Liu family overcome this disaster,” Liu Qingqing said with a smile before stepping into the circle. Yet from her expression, I detected a trace of loneliness and guilt.

For Liu Qingqing, dissolving our marital bond might have been her gravest mistake. But with the bond severed, it seemed we could never return to how things once were.

“Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to protect you,” I sighed, lamenting the whims of fate. Had things been less complicated, perhaps by now we would have been husband and wife.

“Grandfather, I’m sorry. This time, I must attack!” With a sigh, I formed a talisman with my right hand, preparing to act.

Just as I began erecting the ritual altar, an eerie expression appeared on Liu Sihai and Liu Qingqing’s faces. Their features twisted into a bizarre visage that even made me frown.

If I guessed correctly, this was the ghostly fox spirit that served under Chen Yanlong. Though I didn’t understand why this spirit had cursed the Liu family members, my instincts told me this was no ordinary matter.

“Who are you? Why have you cursed the Liu family?” I demanded harshly at the dark energy possessing the father and daughter.

The black aura trembled slightly, seemingly surprised that a mere wandering geomancer like me possessed such skill.

“Little wanderer, mind your own business. This won’t end well for you,” Liu Sihai’s twisted expression changed again, as if someone else was speaking through him to communicate with me.

This confirmed my suspicion. The mastermind behind this was definitely a detestable witch doctor from Southern Xinjiang.

“My grandfather once told me that any malicious witch doctor from Southern Xinjiang should be killed on sight. You are unfortunate to have crossed paths with me today,” I sneered, plunging the copper coin sword in my hand toward Liu Sihai’s face.

At first, the witch doctor possessing Liu Sihai did not believe I would dare strike him. But upon seeing my attack, a flicker of panic crossed his face.

In an instant, he transferred the black aura into Liu Qingqing’s body, twisting her face into a furious grimace.

At the same time, a hoarse voice emerged from her mouth.

“You reckless wanderer, how dare you attack me? You don’t even know how to write the word ‘death.’”

Before the words were finished, Liu Qingqing stood upright from the sofa. This uncanny scene made me realize that the enemy I was facing tonight was far more formidable than I had imagined.

As Liu Qingqing rose, her eyes, which I had instructed to remain closed, now opened. The once bright and beautiful girl had transformed into a terrifying figure.

She roared as she lunged toward me, but before she could step out of the circle, she was forcefully repelled.

This situation was bewildering.

“You have some skills, I see. Using a soul-trapping curse to bind me. Your master must be quite skilled,” she sneered.

“But don’t get cocky. I still have powerful moves I haven’t used.”

Her expression then shifted back onto Liu Sihai’s face, but this time it was a smiling one.

Why was that? I was puzzled.

Soon, the smile morphed into one of fear, and the witch doctor controlling Liu Sihai began slowly advancing his body.

Though I didn’t know why this being had cursed the Liu family, from the nervousness he displayed earlier, it seemed the curse was crucial to their survival, forcing them to dispatch their own witch doctor to confront me.

“Are you really determined to fight? If so, you may die,” the dark aura within Liu Sihai hissed fiercely at me.

Though I was unsure what formidable technique he was referring to, his aura and expression made me tense up slightly.

Soon, the black energies around Liu Qingqing and Liu Sihai began to merge.

As time passed, the congealed dark energy gradually took on a human form. His features were blurred, but the entire figure exuded an eerie atmosphere.

If I was right, this was the Miao witch doctor personally engaging me.

In that case, I had to stay calm and cautious. Facing such an unpredictable adversary, I could not afford the slightest carelessness. If caught off guard, our situation would become perilous—an outcome I desperately wished to avoid.

Therefore, I resolved to give my all; only then would I stand a chance.

Since this Southern Xinjiang witch doctor sought to defeat me with sorcery, I had to respond in kind to avoid being underestimated.

I retrieved an incense burner from the ritual altar before Liu Sihai and the others and inserted five incense sticks, lighting them. This was my method of summoning assistance, a special technique my grandfather had taught me.

If the Southern Xinjiang witch doctor wanted to eliminate me through others, then I would call upon a formidable ally to fight alongside me.

The five incense sticks burned steadily, smoke curling upward. I narrowed my eyes, contemplating the lit incense.

This was an unconventional technique. If used properly, it could help me overcome a powerful enemy. But any mistake could make matters worse.

No choice—I had to be cautious from the start to prevent an uncontrollable outcome.

This technique was the Incense Divination art my grandfather taught me, said to have originated from the great strategist Wolong of Shu Han.

He often used incense to glimpse the heavenly dao, thus inventing this method.

As the saying goes, three sticks for gods, four for ghosts, but five to invite immortals.

As I completed the Incense Divination, I fully understood the method employed by the Miao witch doctor.

Not simple at all! He was using the dead as a medium for his curse. This witch doctor was indeed skilled.