Chapter 28: Cleansing the Filth and Dispelling Calamity

The curtains blocked the source of the malevolent energy emanating from the dilapidated building outside, yet the cold, putrid stench lingering in the bedroom did not dissipate. Like a maggot burrowing into bone, it coiled around Yang Rui, grating against his already frail body and frayed nerves. The sinister paper doll, adorned with his own hair and pierced by three pitch-black coffin nails, radiated the most venomous of curses in total silence.

Su Jin stood at the bedroom door, her face heavy with concern, her hands instinctively clenched into fists. She could not see the intangible malevolence, but the stench filling the air and the instantaneous transformation of Yang Rui’s face—now ashen and murderous—made it clear that this was no mere prank, but a lethal dark art. "What can I do?" Her voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremor, yet it remained remarkably firm.

"Stay back. Don't touch anything," Yang Rui said, his voice frigid. His gaze, sharp as tempered steel, remained locked onto the paper doll. "This thing is tainted with filth and a curse. If a living person touches it, they will suffer a severe illness at best, or a total collapse of their fortune at worst. Old Ghost Qu... he certainly lives up to his reputation. Ruthless!"

He did not immediately attempt to move the doll. The art of *Yansheng*—a form of witchcraft—is most susceptible to brute force; one slight misstep could trigger a backlash for the practitioner, while the one breaking the curse could be ensnared by the lingering malice. Enduring the stabbing pain in his back and the waves of icy chill from the encroaching malevolence, Yang Rui slowly closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. The Star-Fixing Compass tucked against his body emitted a faint yet resilient warmth, like a spark in a freezing night, shielding his wavering spirit.

A moment later, he snapped his eyes open, sharp as a hawk’s. He walked to an inconspicuous wooden crate in the corner and unlatched it. Inside were no jewels or treasures, only neatly folded old Taoist robes, a few thread-bound ancient books wrapped in oil paper with frayed edges, and various ritual implements—compasses, copper coins, and antique jade—wrapped carefully in red cloth. A scent of aged incense and cinnabar wafted out, carrying a sense of settled, steadying power.

Yang Rui carefully retrieved a white jade peace buckle, rounded and smooth as mutton-fat jade, and three heavy copper coins, their edges worn shiny and inscribed with the characters for the "Five Emperors." He handed the buckle to Su Jin at the door. "Take this. Keep it close. It will ward off the filth, steady your spirit, and protect your aura from being tainted by the malevolence."

Su Jin took it immediately; the jade felt warm, and the nauseating, bone-chilling cold seemed to dissipate slightly. She gripped the jade buckle tightly as instructed.

Yang Rui took the three copper coins and stepped toward the corner radiating that ominous aura. He did not touch the doll directly; instead, he stopped three paces away and crouched down. Enduring the tearing pain in his back, he placed the coins on the floor one by one, arranging them in a specific, ancient triangular formation—one at the front (Heaven), one at the back left (Human), and one at the back right (Earth).

"The Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Man, be bound!" he commanded in a low voice. He pressed his right hand into a sword-finger gesture and struck the air toward the center of the three coins! At the same moment, the Star-Fixing Compass in his left hand resonated with his intent, emitting a deep, low hum audible only to him!

*Hum—!*

An intangible, balanced energy field instantly expanded from the three coins, like boulders dropped into a murky swamp to suppress the water veins! The gray-black malevolence filling the air shrieked silently as it twisted and churned, reacting like water droplets hitting hot oil. It was no longer able to spread at will, firmly suppressed within the bounds of the Three-Talent Array.

Yang Rui’s forehead beaded with fine cold sweat. The movement aggravated his back wound, the pain piercing like steel needles. Yet his eyes remained resolute, his actions fluid. He reached into the box again and pulled out a small packet wrapped in yellow talisman paper containing a golden-red powder that radiated a potent, masculine energy—Pure Yang Cinnabar! He also drew out a specialized talisman brush, its tip sharp and saturated with a mixture of rooster crest blood and cinnabar, both substances of the highest purity and strength!

He took a deep breath, ignoring the malevolent energy that still writhed under the suppression of the array, his gaze electric. He swept his wrist through the air, his brush dancing like a dragon!

"By decree! Ancestors of the Three Pure Ones, lend me your power to purge evil! Break the filth, dispel the calamity, hide the myriad spirits of darkness!"

"Righteous Qi of the Big Dipper, shatter!"

"Turbid Yin of the Earth, disperse!"

"Righteous Law of Humanity, suppress!"

Three short, powerful commands accompanied the brush as it traced three complex, arcane trajectories in the air, glowing with faint golden light! With every stroke, the Star-Fixing Compass emitted a stronger hum! The three ethereal talismans took shape like swords of golden flame, radiating immense righteousness and majesty, before slamming into the paper doll trapped by the array!

*Hiss—!!!*

It sounded like a searing-hot iron pressed against ice! A piercing, teeth-grinding shriek exploded in the perception of both Yang Rui and Su Jin!

The paper doll shuddered violently! The twisted runes painted in filthy blood on its surface began to struggle like living creatures, and the dark red stains hissed, emitting wisps of foul, black smoke as if ignited! The three black coffin nails driven into its heart vibrated with a buzzing sound, as if enduring immense pressure, and fine cracks began to spread across their surfaces!

"Ugh..." Yang Rui’s body swayed, his face turning deathly pale! A cold, venomous backlash surged back along the connection of the ethereal talismans, striking him like an invisible hammer to the chest! A taste of sweetness rose in his throat, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. This was a powerful counter-strike from the practitioner, Master Qu, channeled through the medium of the curse!

"Yang Rui!" Su Jin cried out, instinctively wanting to rush forward.

"Don't come over here!" Yang Rui roared, his voice hoarse but filled with unquestionable resolve! He bit his tongue, the sharp pain mixing with the pure Yang blood of his tongue to force his wavering spirit back into focus! A fiercer light erupted in his eyes!

"Trying to fight back? Old Ghost Qu, you aren't worthy!" He bellowed, and the Star-Fixing Compass in his left hand erupted with an unprecedented, clear radiance! Though invisible to the naked eye, the balanced, vast power, like a river of stars inverted, flooded his body and forcibly suppressed the impact of the backlash!

His right hand swept the brush again. This time, he did not draw a talisman; he struck with a side-handed flick, carrying a resolute intent of annihilation, and pointed his brush tip through the air at the three splintering coffin nails!

"Break!"

*BOOM!*

A dull explosion of energy erupted on a sensory level!

The three black coffin nails shattered completely, turning into dust!

All the filthy runes on the paper doll ignited like scraps of paper, instantly bursting into ghostly green, bone-chilling flames! These flames held no heat, but radiated the purest essence of destruction.