Chapter 23: Don't Believe Me? Go Outside and Trip Over Your Own Feet!

Old Man Li’s expression tightened. He hadn't even spoken yet—how did the shaman know?

He decided to simply take out all his money and pile it on the table. It amounted to a good twenty or thirty copper coins. The shaman glanced at them, remaining calm and composed. She couldn't help it; having been fed so well previously, she truly didn't care for this small amount. It was pathetic that a father was less generous than his own son; no wonder the Li family was spiraling downward.

She was also from Li Family Village, though she didn't live there permanently. Consequently, she had actually sent people to inquire about the Li family’s affairs. After hearing the details, she felt Li Feng had it even worse. What kind of family was this? The eldest and the third son’s lives were considered precious, but the second son’s life was treated as disposable? Li the Second was generous and clearly a man of pure filial piety—nothing like this whole household.

"Master, is there any solution?" Old Man Li asked anxiously, his tone sounding rather abrasive.

The shaman felt a sense of disdain. When Li the Second met her, he always addressed her as "Immortal," but to Old Man Li, she was merely a "Master," as if she were some kind of con artist.

"Ahem!" She gave a performative cough, then raised her hand to perform some divination. After a long while, she said, "The malevolent spirit in your house is quite formidable; it is blocking your family's fortune."

She looked at the man beside him. "This person with you must be a scholar, right? Did he pass the county examination?"

Li Qingyun was startled. He put away his cocky attitude, looked steadily at the shaman, and cupped his hands in a salute. "Yes. I wonder, Master, can you tell if I will pass the prefectural examination smoothly?"

*Difficult!* the shaman thought, sneering inwardly. *What a pretender!*

This single word shocked both men. Li Qingyun managed to keep his composure, but Old Man Li could no longer sit still. He looked at the shaman with a panicked expression. "I beg you to point me toward a solution. If my son can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, I will surely reward you handsomely!" Even Old Man Li began to use flowery language.

The shaman curled her lip. He was over thirty years old, yet he was still called "my little son"? He had been taking the exams for twenty years and was still a commoner; she had never seen anyone so hopeless.

"A solution is possible, but..." The shaman feigned difficulty.

"Just tell us straight!" Old Man Li said firmly.

"Sigh!" The shaman sighed. "Actually, when I passed by your house, I already saw the signs. That malevolent spirit in your home is Li the Second!"

"Surely you’ve noticed it yourselves? You’ve all suffered misfortunes ever since you got close to him. If you continue to stay near him, you will certainly be plagued by him. Forget about becoming a scholar; I fear even your household will never know peace!"

Was it really that serious? Old Man Li’s heart hammered against his ribs. He was skeptical, yet deeply confused. What the shaman said seemed to hold some truth; Li the Second had indeed been acting strangely lately. The reason he and his old woman had been injured seemed to be linked to whenever they got close to the second son. But Li the Second was the most useful laborer in their family. If he really was a malevolent spirit, what were they supposed to do?

"That can't be, can it?" Old Man Li tried to protest. "The second son is very filial and treats us well. In the past, he was always obedient and never showed any disrespect. Could there be a mistake?"

As long as it wasn't the second son, anyone else would have been fine!

The shaman mentally mocked the ancestors of the Li family before putting on a neutral expression. "Believe what you want, then!"

"If you don't deal with the malevolent spirit, never mind becoming a scholar—your entire family will face a bloodbath. Go back and think about it yourself. Once you've figured it out, come back to me for the solution!"

Old Man Li was stunned. He had come here specifically seeking a solution, and now, without having said anything, she was already chasing them away?

"Master, this isn't right, is it?" Li Qingyun, who had been silent, looked deeply at the shaman. "If my second brother is a malevolent spirit, then why are Dagou and Erniu, his own sons, perfectly fine?"

The shaman rolled her eyes. She finally opened her eyes fully and looked at Li Qingyun as if he were an idiot. "They are father and son, and your second brother’s children are filial! They are obedient to him, so naturally, the malevolent spirit wouldn't do anything to them. Of course, if you also want to be a son to the malevolent spirit and treat him with the same filial piety, he won't harm you either."

Li Qingyun’s face turned blacker by the second. After a long moment, he stood up, grabbed Old Man Li’s arm, and said, "Father, she is nothing but a swindler! Let’s go!" As he spoke, he reached out to snatch the copper coins from the table.

The shaman, having reached her limit, picked up her cane and swung it at them without restraint. "You impudent wretches, trying to pull your scams on me! Get out!"

"Next time any of you comes within half a step of this place, I will curse you with misfortune for the rest of your lives!"

With a loud clatter and thumping, Li Qingyun took several blows to his back. Wincing in pain, he abandoned his father and rushed out in a panic.

"Wait for me!" Old Man Li shouted, but Li Qingyun pretended not to hear and ran even faster.

"You unfilial brat, you deserve to be miserable in your old age! Your second brother was a good man, yet you tormented him until he was possessed by a malevolent spirit!" The shaman shouted after them. "You better think carefully—if you don't drive that malevolent spirit away, your whole family is finished!"

Terrified, Old Man Li fled, not daring to stop. Leaning on his cane and limping, he hadn't gone far before he saw Li Qingyun collapsed at the edge of a field.

"Qingyun!" Old Man Li nearly lost his mind. What had happened to his third son?

"Uncle Li, what happened?" A farmhand walked over, looked at Li Qingyun in the ditch, and asked with a grin.

"Quick, lend a hand and pull your Third Brother Li up first!" Old Man Li roared until his voice cracked.

"Oh, right!" The honest farmhand put down his things and jumped down. With a single heave, he tossed Li Qingyun back up. The rough handling left Li Qingyun gasping for air, barely able to breathe.

Old Man Li was terrified and scrambled over, not daring to let anyone else touch him. "Lad, thank you, Uncle Li is grateful!"

The man scratched the back of his head, looking awkwardly at Li Qingyun. "Uncle Li, Third Brother seems a bit weak. Even a child could jump over this ridge, but he managed to fall like this!"

Old Man Li’s face turned green, but he couldn't afford to lash out. The farmhand, completely oblivious to his irritation, offered helpfully, "Should I go call your second son to help?"

"No, no need!" Old Man Li’s face turned pale. He looked at the man and said, "Could I trouble you for one more thing? My legs aren't good—could you help carry your third brother back?"

"Sure!" The man picked up his hoe with one hand and slung Li Qingyun over his shoulder with the other, marching straight toward the Li household.

With his stomach pressed against the man's shoulder and bouncing with every step, Li Qingyun felt a wave of nausea so strong he wished he were dead. He had never suffered such indignity in his life! Li the Second—he would never forgive him!