Chen Xu stood at the head of Lin Qi's bed, quietly observing him for a moment.
After a while, perhaps due to a mysterious connection between the two, Lin Qi's tightly shut eyes suddenly began to tremble.
He struggled, as if he was about to wake up!
Just then, Chen Xu suddenly reached out like lightning and plucked three stray hairs from Lin Qi's temples.
At the same time, his hand rested above Lin Qi's eyes, posing as if he was concerned and checking his forehead temperature.
This action concealed Chen Xu's hair-pulling gesture, also heavily pressing upon Lin Qi's slowly opening eyes.
Standing crowded beside Lin Qi's bed, Xu Wenyuan was moved and said, "Brother Chen, it's clear you care for Brother Mu Xian more earnestly, not in vain for all the good relations you two shared in the past."
Because of Lin Qi's strange complexion, honestly, despite being very worried, Xu Wenyuan dared not touch him.
Witnessing Chen Xu's action, Xu Wenyuan felt both moved and ashamed.
Chen Xu smiled faintly.
No one knew that at this moment, Lin Qi was frantically struggling, his eyes in tremor.
But his struggles were futile, as the slender hand pressed against his eyes and forehead seemed to bear no pressure, yet inexplicably possessed an unspeakable sense of oppression.
It was like a heavy mountain, an ancient furnace descending into the mortal world, firmly shackling him in boundless darkness.
Lin Qi was furious, terrified, and hated, wanting to scream, wanting to alert his family and friends that Chen Xu was the true culprit harming him.
However, he was suppressed so thoroughly, as if sinking deep in a dark quagmire.
He could only painfully remain conscious, knowing his enemy was beside him while his friends and family mistakenly believed this villain was a good person!
He heard his mother, Madame You, hopefully say, "Dear nephew, have you found out anything? You scholars are well-read and knowledgeable, might you discern what illness Qi'Er has?"
Then, the "scoundrel" Chen Xu feigned a sigh and responded, "I'm so sorry, Brother Lin's sudden illness is indeed peculiar and hard to solve. With my shallow learning, I am ultimately powerless."
Madame You was instantly disheartened, involuntarily sobbing, "It's not your fault, just pity my boy, sob sob..."
Xu Wenyuan and other classmates hurriedly comforted Madame You, inadvertently neglecting Lin Qi himself, the patient's reason for their gathering.
Surrounded by so many people, yet not one realized Chen Xu was harming him!
Lin Qi could only feel cocooned in rage and terror, his consciousness constantly struggling, shouting, sinking within the dark abyss.
If shouting had sound, surely by now he would have ruptured the eardrums of the entire world—
Just at this juncture, hurried footsteps were heard approaching from outside.
It was Lin Qi's servant happily announcing, "Madame, Daoist Xuanjing from Cloud Rest Temple has arrived! Master invited him back."
Lin Qi was overjoyed.
Madame You exclaimed in joy, "Quickly, quickly invite the Daoist in."
In the next moment, a finger fell like a giant stone, suddenly pressing on Lin Qi's forehead. All his joy was swallowed by darkness, and he lost consciousness, falling into a coma.
Lin Qi was resentful!
Outside, footsteps drew nearer.
Madame You, anxious and expectant, quickly said to the County School students, "Apologies to you all, we really have no other choices, having sought out every nearby famous doctor, yet none can treat Qi'Er's condition. I've long heard that Cloud Rest Temple is efficacious, Daoist Xuanjing possesses great divine power, hence Qi'Er's father personally went to invite him, thankfully he has arrived."
The students, understanding the undertone, Xu Wenyuan and the others promptly said, "It's best that a master has arrived. Certainly, the master will require some quietude for spellcasting, and we should take our leave for now."
Madame You then instructed others to lead the students outside, but instead of directly sending them away, they were led by servants to the pavilion in Lin Mansion's garden.
Everyone was concerned about Lin Qi's situation, wishing to wait here for an outcome.
As they exited, the students encountered a group passing through the corridor, meeting them face to face.
Chen Xu's gaze fixated on the slender-looking black-robed Daoist in the center, his brow faintly twitched.
Upon seeing this person, a subtle sense of oppression suddenly surged in his heart.
And the Daoist likewise seemed to sense something, abruptly turning his head to gaze at the students.
Chen Xu's thoughts shifted, immediately taking the three strands of hair clenched in his palm into the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.
These three hairs, once plucked, actually had the entry: [Parted hair, when calcined and crushed can form Blood Residue Charcoal, internally ingestible and externally applicable, having a very slight hemostatic effect...]
Chen Xu had previously wanted to suppress Lin Qi using the hair, hence did not store it in Fire and Smoke Kitchen. Now, with the Lin Family truly inviting the master here, Chen Xu immediately utilized Fire and Smoke Kitchen to isolate the hair into the void.
The black-robed Daoist frowned, Lin Qi's father hurriedly asked, "Daoist, is there anything amiss?"
Daoist Xuanjing slightly furrowed his brows, seemingly puzzled, yet after a moment, still shook his head saying, "Nothing, perhaps my sense was mistaken."
Chen Xu restrained his emotional fluctuations, recalling Mr. Zhou's words: once he applies the causal line to cast spells, Lin Qi's divine soul would be slashed and obliterated as if burnt by a great sun.
Should Lin Qi's divine soul perish, both causal ties would be severed.
Thereafter, no trace would remain on that line, and the fortune originally stolen by Lin Qi via the exchange head technique would entirely return.
Chen Xu observed as Lin Qi's father and others escorted Daoist Xuanjing into Lin Qi's room, unconsciously drifting to the rear of the group of students.
As everyone traversed the corridor, the sight of verdant trees and shrubs along the way improved previously heavy moods.
Several students discussed, "Since the Lin Family has indeed invited such a master as Daoist Xuanjing, Brother Mu Xian certainly has a chance at salvation."
No one knew, at the rear, Chen Xu opened his palm, astonishingly revealing three black strands of hair once more.
He gazed upon them, silently reciting, "The cosmos is everlasting, all things bear causality, for all animosity, retribution shall ensue... by my name, ignite my furious blaze, manifest!"
As his words concluded, a transparent flame, indistinguishable from the celestial light at this moment, spewed from his lips.
In an instant, the flame incinerated the three strands in his palm without leaving the slightest trace.
Ahead, a student suddenly remarked, "How peculiar, the sun seems exceptionally hot today."
The words had scarcely fallen when within Lin Qi's room an earth-shattering wail erupted: "Qi'Er! Qi'Er! My son, what's happened to you?"
The students hurriedly turned their heads in surprise, looking towards the rear.
Chen Xu also turned back, listening to the room filled with bitter lamentations.
Lin Qi's father exclaimed in shock, "Daoist Xuanjing, is my son deceased? How can this be?"
Daoist Xuanjing's voice was exceedingly calm, "Ultimately arrived a step late, nothing can be done."
"No, I don't believe it! Just as we entered, Qi'Er still had breath, how could he be gone in an instant..."
"Do you doubt me?"
The noise within suddenly ceased.