Chapter 49

“Zhao Baoshang went home,” Yan Zhen told Kuang Ying.

“Then she probably won’t be coming back for a while.” Kuang Ying scrolled through her phone. “Xu Fengmei’s PR used to tie them together too tightly. Now that she’s dead, everyone is looking for Zhao Baoshang. I bet they’ve blocked her front door by now.”

Yan Zhen shook her head. “How can this be blamed on Zhao Baoshang? Xu Fengmei had a concentration of dark energy (Yin Qi) around her; it’s highly likely she brought this karmic retribution upon herself.”

She called Zhao Baoshang, but there was no answer.

This wasn’t right.

Sensing something was amiss, Yan Zhen used a soup spoon to perform a quick divination of Zhao Baoshang’s location. Finding that she was still within the Zhao estate, she felt somewhat relieved.

However, Zhao Baoshang had acted last night as if she would return soon. Why wasn’t she back yet, and why wasn’t she answering her phone? Yan Zhen couldn’t figure it out.

Kuang Ying asked from the side, “By the way, how did you and Zhao Baoshang get so close?”

Yan Zhen replied, “Our relationship was never actually that bad.”

Kuang Ying looked confused. “But didn’t you two always look like you were about to start a fight? And at night, she kept stealing your blanket and [unauthorized copy]sleeping in your bed. I heard you crying out after she kicked you. If I hadn’t been too tired to get up, I would have helped you beat her up.”

Yan Zhen didn’t know how to explain: “…You… probably misheard.”

“Impossible!” Kuang Ying boasted. “My English listening score in high school was always perfect.”

Yan Zhen was at a loss for words, but fortunately, her phone buzzed twice.

Excusing herself, she checked her messages. It was from Tang An, asking if she knew about the situation online.

Yan Zhen asked what was happening.

Tang An replied: 【Hurry up and look at Weibo. Everyone is calling you a ‘mistress’ who climbed her way up and claiming that Zhao Baoshang drove Xu Fengmei to her death. If you don’t resolve this, your career might be over.】

Yan Zhen followed the advice and opened Weibo.

Her notification bar was packed with private messages. She clicked through a few. Some were cursing her, some were praising her, and many had sent strange strings of birthday numbers.

Stunned for a moment, Yan Zhen scrolled through her own feed. She hadn’t logged in for a long time; her top post was still her “Challenge Letter” titled [If you’re not convinced, come at me]. She had forgotten all about it after posting, which was why she hadn’t yet proven her abilities to the public.

But now was not the time for that.

Yan Zhen looked at the trending topics. The public opinion on Weibo was indeed strange; perhaps out of respect for the deceased, everyone was attacking Zhao Baoshang. Fans were listing examples of how Zhao Baoshang had ruthlessly blacklisted Xu Fengmei after growing tired of her. The articles were incredibly sentimental, leading bystanders to mistake them for the truth.

After washing her face, Yan Zhen picked up her phone and posted a clarification: 【Xu Fengmei’s fate is the result of her own actions. Please do not misunderstand. The ‘Golden Clouds Obscuring the Sun’ in the capital recently made people irritable; the resentment, stress, and insomnia many have felt over the past few days are all related to Xu Fengmei.】

Her influence was growing. Immediately after posting, there were hundreds of retweets and comments.

Xu Fengmei’s fans quickly swarmed Yan Zhen’s comments.

【LOL, Zhao Baoshang’s mistress-fan is out here jumping around again. What right do you have to talk about her? Don’t you know she’s your senior?】

【And Xu Fengmei is already dead, yet you still talk like this! Are you even human?】

【What ‘Golden Clouds’? If Xu Fengmei had that kind of power, why didn’t she just rule the world?】

Yan Zhen replied: 【Those who haven’t encountered metaphysics may find this absurd, but every word I say is true. Xu Fengmei’s face showed excessive resentment; she was clearly being used and cannot find peace in death. The more you worship her, the more likely you are to bring harm upon yourselves.】

The fans didn’t believe her: 【We’ve got a cultist here, take her out and execute her!】

【I’m starting to believe you and Zhao Baoshang cursed her to death… give her life back!】

【I grew up watching Xu Fengmei’s movies. Even if it harms me, so what? I’m willing! I’d give my life to exchange for Xu Fengmei’s!!】

Seeing how stubborn they were, Yan Zhen prepared to display the true power of metaphysics.

However, at that moment, the tide on Weibo suddenly turned.

Han Xiaomeng first retweeted Yan Zhen’s post, then shared a photo of an incense burner on her own page. In front of the burner was a small paper figure dressed in green.

Han Xiaomeng wrote: 【I wonder if anyone has seen this before. This is ‘raising a ghost’ (Kuman Thong), taught to me by someone in the industry. I almost lost my life to the backlash, but Master Yan saved me.

I didn’t originally want to reveal who taught me this evil practice, but seeing people so ignorant and misled by a villain, I must step forward and tell you: the one who taught me to raise ghosts was Xu Fengmei! She is not the person you see on screen! She is malicious—perhaps more so than anyone else here!

Now, to the point. Six months ago, Xu Fengmei approached me and my friends, asking if we lacked an ‘opportunity.’ She gave us this ghost and told us to provide for it well. We naturally didn’t doubt the words of a Movie Queen.

At first, it worked well. But as time went on, our luck got worse and worse. We often felt weak, paralyzed, and anorexic. I tried to stop halfway, but after a few days, I began having nightmares and vomiting; I couldn’t live a normal life.

I went to ask Xu Fengmei. At the time, she was holding a Golden Man and a Golden Dog award. She told me that once you start raising it, you cannot abandon it, or it will turn into a vengeful spirit and haunt you forever. I was scared to death and thought I’d have to live like that forever.

Fortunately, I met Master Yan. She helped me remove the ghost and explained bailiantales.comthat if you raise these things for too long, they only provide luck to a specific person until your own luck is drained and you die in an accident.】

After this long post was published, the internet fell silent for a moment. People had long heard rumors about actors doing such things, but this was the first time someone had given a real, solid exposé. The photos made it look very convincing.

But how could this be Xu Fengmei?? In the eyes of her fans, she was proud and untainted, standing atop humanity like a Greek goddess. How could she do something so filthy!!

Fans immediately retorted: 【Don’t believe her! She just posted a few photos, there’s no other evidence.】

Han Xiaomeng replied: 【I might not have ‘evidence,’ but I’m certainly not the only one in the industry who was instructed by Xu Fengmei. I’m telling you all now: as long as you speak up, Master Yan will help you get rid of your ghosts. Now that Xu Fengmei is dead, her true face has yet to be fully revealed. Only by working together can we resist this, find the mastermind, or else we’ll just be waiting for the next ‘Xu Fengmei’ to come and ruin us!】

After Han Xiaomeng said this, many celebrities began to hesitate.

A moment later, someone posted an anonymous exposé: 【I am an 18th-tier actress, quite ordinary-looking. Xu Fengmei gave me a medicine, saying it would make me beautiful and that she used it herself… Now, although I am much prettier, my whole body itches and aches every night. You can’t understand this kind of pain!! I wish I had never taken that medicine!】

【I entered the industry this year, male. I called Xu Fengmei ‘Sister Xu.’ How did she treat me? She gave me several talismans and tricked me into putting them in the bags of actresses in the same cast. Within a month, those actresses all had accidents. Could it be such a coincidence?? I believe Xu Fengmei was absolutely playing with witchcraft!】

【It wasn’t just talismans; there were hairclips, earrings, vases… basically anything that could drive someone to a mental breakdown came from her hand. Xu Fengmei was the legendary head of a cult. Now that she’s done so much evil, she’s met her retribution!】

One exposé followed another. The fans tore into them frantically, unmasking several anonymous posters. But it was useless. Xu Fengmei had done too much; the list was endless. For a year, with the Zhao family’s support, the entire Tianhua Company had been her shield. She could do whatever she wanted.

Even her unscrupulous “water army” (paid posters) saw that she was dead and her reputation was unsalvageable. They quickly sold their information to other companies—how they secretly photographed Xu Fengmei and Zhao Baoshang, how they marketed “shipping” narratives, and how they hyped [stolen content]her up while tearing others down. Those companies seized the chance to promote their own insider knowledge.

Xu Fengmei’s image collapsed instantly. Bystanders decided they couldn’t keep up with the drama and stopped defending her. Only the die-hard fans continued the fight.

The noise online was so great that it reached Xu Fengmei’s distant parents. Tianhua Company had intended to handle her cremation after contacting them, but her parents were adamant: they insisted on following the customs of their hometown and taking the body back for a “water burial.” They wailed and cried, enlisting several fans to help them snatch the body back to organize a funeral.

Xu Fengmei’s parents told the fans, “A-Mei was so lucky to have fans like you. We will hold a grand funeral for her; please come and see her off.”

They hired a hearse and lined the coffin with fresh flowers. Xu’s mother cried as she applied makeup to Xu Fengmei’s face. Looking at the wrinkled skin, the mother suddenly stopped crying. She was confused—did her child really look like this? How did someone this ugly become a Movie Queen?

But she didn’t have long to wonder. The fans arrived. They surrounded the cemetery, their wailing loud enough to pierce the sky. After the collective emotion cooled, they began taking turns to offer flowers.

When the first fan approached, their hand trembled. They stared at the person in the coffin, unable to believe this was Xu Fengmei. Then came the second, and the third. Everyone was in disbelief—could a person really become this ugly after death??

A fan with wavering loyalty took a photo and shared it on social media. It was immediately reposted to Weibo. No one believed this person was Xu Fengmei. This was a completely different species from the Xu Fengmei they knew!

A post-mortem mutation? It was too bizarre. The matter even caught the attention of certain military personnel.

In a military courtyard, an elderly lady listened to her subordinate report the details. She asked, “What exactly is going on?”

The subordinate replied, “We don’t believe in metaphysics, but when they found Xu Fengmei’s [stolen content]body, her organs had failed and her skin looked like that of an 80-year-old. It’s said several of her bones were shattered.”

The old lady sipped her tea. “That is quite terrifying.”

“Yes,” the subordinate continued hesitantly. “And her house smelled terrible. When the third team went in to inspect, they found… all sorts of things used in witchcraft and sorcery.”

The old lady said, “So, it’s highly likely she brought about her own destruction?”

The subordinate nodded.

“Fine, then tell the public the truth.”

Just then, her daughter walked over. Hearing this, she was puzzled. “Mom, why are you meddling in entertainment industry matters?”

The old lady replied, “Courtesy requires reciprocity. I’m just doing a small favor.”

“Reciprocity? Who sent you a gift?” the daughter asked.

The old lady laughed. “Well, you weren’t here a few days ago. You don’t know that your precious son was making a scene about going to the North and South Poles and wanted to fly a government helicopter there himself.”

The daughter’s face changed. “Mom, you didn’t agree, did you?”

“Of course I couldn’t agree,” the old lady said. “But he’s stubborn and wouldn’t listen. In the end, I relied on a folk remedy I heard from someone—I burned incense for three days. By the fourth day, your son finally settled down.”

Not only did he settle down, but he also seemed to have attained a sort of enlightenment. The old lady sighed. There really are supernatural things in this world; one cannot disbelieve, nor can one abuse them.

Following the old lady’s orders, the subordinate released the information about Xu Fengmei. As soon as the police evidence was out, those who had been shouting loudly were instantly silenced. Inside Xu Fengmei’s house were various ghosts, paper dolls, and dark, crawling insects.

The photo of Xu Fengmei at the time of her death was slightly processed and posted on Weibo. Her face was aged, yellow fluid leaked from her eyes, and a layer of foundation covered her face like a mask, yet it was cracked and peeling.

People who had just eaten literally vomited. No one could believe this was the once elegant and dignified Xu Fengmei. The police hadn’t originally intended to release the photos, but since post-mortem images were already circulating, they released them as a warning against the dangers of dark magic.

【I don’t believe it!!】 some cried.

【I don’t believe it either, but it’s impossible for the whole world to unite against a dead person!】 others analyzed rationally.

【Besides, according to insider info, Zhao Baoshang has fallen out with her family and doesn’t have the power to pull this off… Though I don’t want to believe it, Xu Fengmei really might have done something.】

Once the first person stepped forward, a crowd began to question why they had worshipped her in the first place. Some liked her movies, some her face, and some her perceived integrity. But now, her movies were all provided by Zhao Baoshang, her face looked like an 80-year-old’s, and her character was beyond words.

After her death, the belated truth was finally revealed. Once the mask was peeled [stolen content]away, Xu Fengmei was nothing like the persona she had created!

A crowd of fans immediately left, and the arguments on Weibo ceased. Those who had loved her were even more furious—the more they had worshipped her, the more they now loathed her. What “Movie Queen”? She was just a shameful creature!

In a certain villa, Master Bai suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood. Immediately, his skin began to shrivel rapidly. A female disciple beside him hurried to his side. “Master, are you okay?”

Master Bai convulsed for a long time before recovering. He slapped the ground, but his hand had lost its former strength; it landed weakly, and the impact made his bones ache.

“What happened?” Master Bai clutched his chest. “Where is the power of faith?”

“It’s gone,” the disciple added. “Xu Fengmei is dead.”

“Dead?!” Master Bai’s eyes widened. “How could she die so suddenly? And even if she’s dead, her fans shouldn’t just vanish!!?”

“I heard when she was found, she had organ failure and osteoporosis. She likely took too much medicine at once. Photos of her house were leaked, and her image collapsed.”

“That idiot!!” Master Bai spat more blood. His plan was so close to succeeding, yet a mistake happened at the critical moment! She truly was a useless piece of work. Had he known, he would have refined her soul earlier.

“What about the Zhao family?” Master Bai grabbed the disciple.

She replied, “There has been no reaction or change from the Zhao family.”

Master Bai almost fainted. “How can there be no reaction? Impossible?! Where is the Black Bronze Toad? What about the jade pendant Xu Fengmei had me curse??”

The disciple paused. “Although there’s no change at the Zhao house, Xu Fengmei did tell me one interesting thing before she died.”

“What ‘interesting thing’? She’s dead! What could she have said?!”

“Master, you might want to listen.”

Master Bai signaled her to continue.

The disciple said, “Xu Fengmei said that one night during the filming of The General’s Order, she saw Zhao Baoshang carrying two large roosters to a local villager’s house. She tossed them into the chicken coop and didn’t even make a sound when she was pecked several times.”

Master Bai didn’t understand. He puzzled over it for a long time. “What does that mean?”

The disciple explained, “Zhao Baoshang has germaphobia, yet she was willing to toss lost chickens into a coop for that person. And that household only has one daughter. What do you think her relationship is with that daughter?”

Master Bai suddenly realized: “Zhao Baoshang likes that villager’s daughter? She actually fell for someone?” He clapped and laughed. “Good. Having a weakness is a good thing.”

Yan Zhen was in the dorm studying the jade pendant when [unauthorized copy]she suddenly sneezed. Zhao Baoshang still hadn’t come back.

Online, the heat surrounding Xu Fengmei vanished instantly, as if a spell had been broken. Everything moved in a peaceful direction. Yan Zhen felt at ease and went to a major class. The professor from before, perhaps feeling he had lost face, still hadn’t shown up, and another teacher filled in.

After class, as Yan Zhen passed the school gate, she saw a familiar Land Rover. She looked at it twice, and then someone stepped out. It was the old lady.

Yan Zhen recognized her as the woman she had saved from the car accident. The old lady approached her and stood with her hands behind her back.

Yan Zhen greeted her, “Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine, it was never a big deal.” The old lady looked at Yan Zhen with gratitude and admiration. “I didn’t come here today just to show off my health.”

Yan Zhen asked with a smile, “Are you here for your grandson?”

The lady shook her head. “I came specifically to thank you.” She told Yan Zhen, “My grandson was acting foolish that day, and I couldn’t stop him. If not for your method, he might have died on the road by now.”

Yan Zhen hurried to say, “It wouldn’t have been that serious. Your face shows a house full of grandchildren; your grandson will naturally grow up safely.”

The old lady was even more moved. She had intended to come thank Yan Zhen yesterday, but her grandson’s change of heart was quite intense—he knelt before her, saying he had been unfilial, and insisted on staying for dinner. She had no choice but to stay with him all day.

This morning, before coming, she heard her subordinates talking about the Weibo posts attacking the girl. She quickly had someone help ​read the original at bailiantales.com​out behind the scenes. Only after the situation calmed down did she come to find Yan Zhen.

The lady invited Yan Zhen into the car. Inside sat another woman. The old lady introduced her, “This is my daughter; she insisted on coming today.”

The woman looked at Yan Zhen. “Are you the actress who played Huolu?”

Yan Zhen nodded.

The woman praised, “I love that character; it was so soulful. And your commercial was amazing.”

“Thank you,” Yan Zhen replied.

“MMV is a big brand; you’re definitely a top star now. I didn’t expect you to be so kind-hearted. If you hadn’t stepped up, my mother might have been hurt.”

The old lady nodded in agreement. “Just saying ‘thank you’ isn’t enough. Why don’t you come over to our house for dinner?”

“Yes,” the daughter added. “Our whole family is eating together today. Though we aren’t many, we have some influence in certain areas and could surely help you.”

Yan Zhen thought about it but didn’t agree. “I want to go to the Zhao house first.”

“Why go to the Zhao house?” the old lady wondered.

“I have a friend—” Yan Zhen hesitated on the word ‘friend.’ “She went out last night and hasn’t returned. Her phone is off. I want to go to her house and look for her.”

The daughter said, “You’re looking for Zhao Baoshang, aren’t you? Leave your contact info, and we’ll arrange dinner in a few days.”

The Land Rover dropped Yan Zhen at the Zhao estate. Looking at the sudden increase in security, Yan Zhen was confused. The guard wasn’t usually this strict.

A guard stopped the car, and seeing the old lady inside, he quickly called out, “Madam Lin.”

The lady nodded and asked, “Why is it so strict all of a sudden?”

The guard replied, “Second Miss Zhao is in trouble. The old master is afraid she’ll run away, so he has us guarding the place strictly.”

“Second Miss Zhao”—that was Zhao Baoshang.

The old lady looked at Yan Zhen and asked the guard, “What did she do?”

The guard said, “I don’t know the details, I just know she’s currently kneeling in the study.”

Yan Zhen performed a quick calculation and told the old lady, “Thank you for the ride today, this is enough. Please open the gate; I’m going to rescue Zhao Baoshang now.”