Chapter 490: Curse

"This is an infectious disease—or rather… a cough… an ancient infectious disease with unknown cause… Leave quickly."

Fang Qiong covered her mouth with her hand, coughing uncontrollably, her expression anxious.

Fang Xing, however, stared at the empty air beside Fang Qiong's bed, lost in thought.

The Dark Path is the most skilled in wielding corruption, curses, and shadow energies.

It is perfectly normal and natural for an ancient tomb master who is an extraordinary being to use the power of the Dark Path to guard his tomb.

"But this level—or rather… this rank—is too high."

"No wonder the previous extraordinary potions had no effect."

He muttered two words, then extended a finger, striking directly at Fang Qiong's forehead.

Fang Qiong gasped, suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of strange knowledge in her mind.

Most importantly, it was a secret martial scripture: The Darkless Hand!

In addition, there were the esoteric sect's precepts and initiations.

"I…"

She gasped for breath, her body instinctively circulating her internal qi and blood.

On her body, those black spots suddenly came alive, boiling and coalescing…

Finally, they all gathered at Fang Qiong's shoulder, sealed by a ring of flame patterns.

Crack!

She tore off her bandages and stood up: "I… am better?"

"Not only better—because the Dark Aether rank that infected you is extremely high, after consuming it, your strength will enter a rapid growth phase."

"In about a few months, you could break the First, even the Second Limit."

Fang Xing's expression was cold as he extended his fist.

His esoteric martial arts now were the Six Void Art, encompassing all things.

His will, vast and boundless, connected through the strange symbol on Fang Qiong's shoulder to an unknown entity.

"There's still a faint link—I'll sever it now. Later, when I destroy the source, the threat will vanish entirely."

A great sun appeared on his third eye, and a spark of fire descended.

The black mark instantly boiled, yet could not break through the flame seal; from afar, a terrible wail echoed.

Then… everything vanished without a trace.

"Ah Xing… when did you become the Master of the Esoteric Sect?"

Fang Qiong had heard that scream too; fear surfaced on her face: "It… who was that?"

"What I initiated you with, besides the esoteric martial art, includes common knowledge of the mysterious world… You should know—you're not sick, you're cursed. The one who cursed you is likely an Immortal—or even something beyond an Immortal…"

Fang Xing wore an intrigued expression: "I told you not to join that archaeological team. Turns out walking too many night paths invites ghosts, huh?"

"Immortal…"

"Even a malevolent spirit born from a fallen Immortal is terrifying…"

Fang Qiong shrank her neck: "Still… I'm more curious about your changes."

"Just say I awakened my past-life wisdom…"

Fang Xing dismissed it casually; it fit well with esoteric sect cultivation.

"Handle your discharge paperwork yourself. I'll wait for you outside in the car."

After finishing this, Fang Xing stepped out of the ward.

Outside, Shi Lei stood like a bodyguard, with several security guards lying on the ground.

Farther off, several nurses and doctors peeked out nervously.

"They're just doing their jobs—don't forget to pay them double compensation…"

Fang Xing gave the instruction, then walked outside the hospital and got into the steam-powered car, as if meditating.

Not long after, Shi Lei returned and bowed respectfully: "I compensated each of them with a year's salary… they were very pleased."

"Good."

Fang Xing picked up paper and pen and drew a symbol—the same one on Fang Qiong's shoulder—a pattern resembling a black eye, twisted and profoundly sinister.

"Go find any information related to this symbol."

Fang Xing handed the paper to Shi Lei and added casually: "Also… send a few people to bring back Fang Fang."

Fang Fang is his younger sister, currently attending Cuiting High School, and suspected of having contacted an outer cell of a secret society.

But according to investigations, that secret society isn't significant—just send a few people to deal with them.

Unbeknownst to all, Fang Xing's Esoteric Sect has now become a major power in the mysterious world.

…

Cuiting High School.

As the only high school in Cuiting City, its academic quality is poor, and many students are distracted, neglecting their studies.

Fang Fang is short, with baby fat on her face—clearly vulnerable—and at Cuiting High, she lived in constant fear of being bullied in restrooms or locker rooms.

Moreover, she had a people-pleasing personality; after long observation and flattery, she was finally recommended by a close friend to join the school's "Sisterhood."

You should know that Joanna, the queen bee of the sorority, was a star at Cuiting High School—not only the cheerleading captain but also the girlfriend of the football team captain, and she had always been the one bullying others, never the other way around.

"If I join the Sisterhood, I could also…"

Fang Fang followed her friend into an empty classroom.

Inside, over a dozen female classmates had gathered—some with heavy smoky makeup, others in short shorts with sexy figures, some idly blowing bubbles…

Fang Fang looked at them and thought they were so cool.

She quickly chose a corner and sat down.

Soon, a tall blonde girl entered, her chest heaving: "Welcome, new sisters." She was Joanna—now she looked at the girls with a mocking smile: "But to join the Sisterhood, you must first pass a test…"

Joanna's red-lipped smile grew more suggestive: "The first test… Chair Dance!"

She clapped her hands, and a group of football players entered—each bulky and gorilla-like, some with lewd grins on their faces.

They each dragged a chair, sat on it, and stared at their crotches with suggestive expressions.

"This…"

Fang Fang felt shy; though she knew about such things between men and women, she had never experienced them.

"I don't believe any of you are still little girls, right?"

Joanna laughed brazenly.

These girls' minds were easy to read—envying the big sister's glory, fearing exclusion, fearing ridicule.

Even virginity could become a reason for mockery—thanks to her subtle indoctrination, shaping the school's culture.

Normally, this would require media coordination, but for a Blood Path extraordinary being, the difficulty and time needed shrink dramatically.

"Soon, the entire Cuiting High will fall… becoming a new blood source for our Bloody Sisterhood."

Joanna felt triumphant, ordering a girl to light an arousing incense.

Quickly, the classroom filled with a scent that made cheeks flush and hearts race; many girls felt parched.

"Perfect… now, if only one of them takes the lead…"

Joanna was thinking when the classroom door suddenly burst open!

Bang!

Accompanying the door's crash was a dark shadow.

Closer inspection revealed it was her football-team captain boyfriend—beaten into a swollen pig's face.

"Ah!"

The girls screamed, shattering the suggestive atmosphere.

"Who?"

Several football players rose, some grabbing baseball bats.

"Is this the place?"

Shi Ding walked in. Once the Shi family's eldest heir, destined to inherit the estate, he had prostrated himself at his younger brother's feet after initiation.

Compared to the power of the Black Ring City, what was the Shi family's meager wealth?

Compared to the authority of an Esoteric Sect Grand Master, what was even a Black Ring City?

He scanned the room, spotted Fang Fang, and sighed in relief: "Take her. Break the legs of everyone else."

"Who are you?"

Joanna was stunned, slipping a hand into her pocket and gripping a talisman.

"Esoteric Sect… Shi Ding!"

Shi Ding sneered: "What? Does your Bloody Sisterhood dare wage war against our Esoteric Sect?"

"Esoteric Sect?"

Fang Fang had never seen Big Sister Joanna turn pale and scream like a little girl.

Bang!

The next instant, the football players lay twisted on the ground, screaming as they clutched broken legs.

Shi Ding's skin turned black-blue; he casually crushed the talisman Joanna threw, ignoring its trivial effects, and punched Joanna straight in the stomach.

Joanna vomited bile, curled up on the floor like a shrimp.

"Not bad… you survived my punch without your intestines breaking—you've clearly undergone Blood Path enhancement."

Shi Ding nodded: "If you survive, I'll make you my Bright Concubine…"

At the word "Imperial Consort Ming," Joanna's twisted face broke out in clear fear…

……

Evening.

Fang Leng dragged his weary body back home.

Today he just dismantled a secretary who used forbidden techniques to kill the boss and planned to take his place.

Simply interrogating the source of the secretary's forbidden techniques drained him of immense mental energy.

All he wanted now was a good sleep.

"Too bad… not yet!"

Fang Leng sighed—his parents were still away, his elder sister was in the hospital; though he'd sent a telegram, he wasn't sure when they'd receive it.

Even if they received it, they might not make it back in time for the funeral.

And that younger sister—another troublemaker.

Sigh… lately the academic atmosphere at Cuiting High seemed to be deteriorating. Could some strange cultist have infiltrated? Tomorrow I'll report it to the Squad Leader and clean it out properly.

He pulled out his keys, ready to unlock the door, prepare dinner for his sister, then head to the hospital to visit his elder sister.

Click.

The door opened, revealing a small living room before Fang Leng's eyes.

Then his eyebrows lifted.

He saw his elder sister bustling in the kitchen, his younger brother studying away from home sitting on the sofa, seemingly reading a newspaper.

And that troublesome younger sister, Fang Fang, stood nervously beside them like a quail.

"This… Ah Xing, you're back? But Elder Sister… isn't she in the infectious ward?"

Fang Leng felt his mind freeze.

(End of Chapter)