Chapter 46: Talisman

Li Dong felt as if he were standing inside a huge trap,

And this trap had been set up by his own closest sister herself.

"Si Si, where exactly are we going?"

Li Dong couldn't help asking again, his tone already tinged with a hint of anxiety.

This time, Li Sisi did not answer immediately; she kept walking a few steps forward, then stopped.

She stood beside a massive rock, back turned to Li Dong, motionless, like a statue.

Li Dong walked to her side and asked in a serious tone:

"Si Si, tell me the truth, what exactly happened?"

Li Sisi was silent for a moment, then slowly turned, looking at Li Dong, her eyes filled with pain and despair.

"Brother, I can't go back!"

Li Sisi's voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of sobbing.

Li Dong was startled and quickly asked:

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Li Sisi took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and said slowly:

"Brother, do you know? I... I am no longer myself..."

"What do you mean?" Li Dong, his face tense, looked at the sister he had lived with day and night.

"I... I think I have been chosen by a deity..."

Li Sisi's voice grew lower, but her tone carried intense fear,

"Yes, River God, the River God's power..."

Li Dong's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief:

"River God? What are you talking about? There's no such thing as a River God in this world."

Li Sisi gave a wry smile:

"Brother, don't you believe me? Everything I said is true; I... I saw the River God with my own eyes! It gave me power and chose me..."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Li Dong felt his mind in chaos; he could not comprehend his sister's words at all.

Li Sisi raised her hand, pointed at her own eyes, and said hoarsely:

"Brother, look at my eyes..."

Li Dong instinctively looked at Li Sisi's eyes and found that they had turned an eerie blood‑red!

His pupils suddenly contracted, as if pricked by a needle.

Those blood‑red eyes, like two ghostly flames, flickered and burned, emitting a chilling, uncanny glow.

The light seemed to carry a certain magic, stirring his mind.

Li Dong felt his brain spin, and the scenery before his eyes began to warp and distort.

Li Sisi's face shifted, sometimes clear, sometimes blurred, and finally froze on a strange, ferocious grin.

That smile, full of malice and evil aura, sent a shiver down his spine.

"Si Si... you..."

Li Dong opened his mouth to question, to shout, but found his throat blocked as if something were clogging it, unable to produce any sound.

His consciousness seemed trapped in an invisible cage, struggling yet powerless to break free.

A cold breath rose from his feet, quickly spreading through his body, freezing his blood and numbing his nerves.

He felt himself falling into a bottomless abyss—dark, cold, hopeless—completely devouring him.

Just as Li Dong was about to be utterly lost, a sudden warmth spread across his chest.

The warmth, like a ray of sunshine in winter, dispelled the chill and awakened a sliver of his lingering consciousness.

Instinctively he lowered his head and saw a ball of orange‑red light appearing on his chest.

The light was gentle and warm, like a mother's hand, softly soothing his inner fear and unease.

This... this is the talisman Mr. Jiang gave!

No wonder it's Mr. Jiang—truly ingenious. This time he saved me again!

Li Dong felt his mind gradually regaining its sanity.

The talisman's glow grew stronger, and Li Dong's awareness became increasingly clear.

He suddenly bit his tongue tip, a sharp pain shooting through, fully snapping him awake.

He stared at those blood‑red eyes before him, and the fear in his heart instantly turned to fury.

"Si Si! Wake up!"

Li Dong roared, his voice hoarse yet full of power.

He seized Li Sisi's wrist, trying to pull her away.

But Li Sisi remained motionless; she lifted her head, and with those blood‑red eyes stared fixedly at Li Dong.

"Brother, stop struggling; it's useless."

Li Sisi's voice turned cold and unfamiliar, as if from a hellish demon.

"You have already been chosen by the River God; this is your honor."

"Honor?"

Li Dong, enraged, let out a bitter laugh.

"You actually call this an honor? Look at yourself now—are you still my sister?"

"I am, of course, your sister."

A strange smile appeared on Li Sisi's face.

"It's just that now I have greater power; I can help you, help us, fulfill our wishes."

"Our wishes?"

Li Dong let out a cold laugh.

"My wish is for you to be safe and healthy, not become like this!"

"Brother, you don't understand."

Li Sisi shook her head.

"The River God's power is limitless; as long as we follow His will, we can obtain everything."

"Everything?"

Disappointment and pain filled Li Dong's eyes.

"What exactly do you want? Power? Wealth? Or…"

"What I want is to change fate!"

Li Sisi suddenly became agitated, and her voice turned sharp and grating.

"Our Li Family has been poor for generations, bullied by others; I've had enough! I will change all this, I will make others respect me!"

"So you chose to sell your own soul?"

Li Dong's voice was low and hoarse.

"Do you know what price you'll pay for doing this?"

"Price?"

A hint of madness flashed across Li Sisi's face.

"As long as I can change fate, I'm willing to pay any price!"

"You're insane!"

Li Dong roared, then lunged with force, trying to pull Li Sisi away.

Li Sisi, however, seized his wrist with a reverse grab, a massive force surged, rendering him immobile.

"Brother, don't force me!"

A flash of murderous intent flickered in Li Sisi's eyes.

"If you resist again, I won't show any mercy."

Li Dong's heart sank to the bottom of a valley.

He knew his own sister had truly been taken over by the River God.

He stared at the familiar yet strange sister before him, his heart filled with despair and anguish.

He didn't know what to do to rescue his sister from the River God's control.

Suddenly, an idea struck him; he pressed the talisman in his hand onto Li Sisi's palm.

Immediately, Li Sisi seemed to endure immense pain and couldn't help letting out a loud, harrowing scream!

The scream was heart‑rending, not even a human sound, but like a demon from hell...

Li Dong gripped Li Sisi's arm hard, angrily saying:

"Bastard, get away from my sister!"