Taboo Mage - Chapter 89 - Hit by Another Backlash

The bro chuckled, taking a big gulp from his glass, “You’re in luck. Whoever you’re looking for, as long as they’re in Shenyang, there’s no one I can’t find!”

I nearly spat out my beer; it was the first time I’d seen someone so eager to help. I couldn’t quite describe how I felt at that moment.

Seeing my skeptical look, the bro glared and pulled out his phone from his pocket, slamming it onto the table.

“This…”

“Go on! Name the person, and I’ll find them for you!”

This was the first time someone was so persistent. I swallowed, glancing at Jue Chi out of the corner of my eye. He simply held a skewer of grilled gluten skewers and gave me a calm look.

I frowned. Although the bro seemed to be boasting, what if I really lucked out?

“I’ve got this relative, actually, and we haven’t been in touch for a while. Please do your best. It’s okay if you can’t find them,” I laid the groundwork, just in case he couldn’t deliver and everyone would end up embarrassed.

“Stop stalling! Spit it out!”

“Chi Rui.”

“What?” The bro frowned, sizing me up suspiciously.

Thinking I hadn’t been clear, I leaned in and repeated, “Chi Rui.”

The bro’s expression changed slightly. After a moment of lip-pursing thought, he waved me off, “Don’t know him.”

“Oh, that’s fine. Do you know where Jixiang Street is?” As expected, I didn’t find Chi Rui’s whereabouts, and I wasn’t too disappointed.

The bro shook his head and was about to speak when another man sitting next to him butted in, “Hey! I know that place, but… why are you going to a mass grave?”

“What… what place?” I nearly spat out my beer again.

“Jixiang Street used to be a mass grave. Although it was planned to be a development zone several times after the founding of the People’s Republic, it ultimately came to nothing. Rumor has it that some homeless people who died were just buried there.” The man seemed to have finally found a topic he was good at and continued to talk endlessly.

I was stunned. The bro listened, looking more and more displeased, and finally he smacked the man on the head, growling, “Can you shut up for once? Talking too much might kill you!”

I realized things were not as simple as I had imagined. I moved my plate to the bro’s table, intending to delve deeper into the discussion.

Suddenly, the bro’s expression changed, and he waved his hand, saying he was finished eating. He quickly left, leaving the freshly served dishes behind.

I found it strange and was about to get up to chase after him when Jue Chi reached out and stopped me. I turned to look at him; he didn’t say a word, just shook his head gently.

Later that night at the hotel, I asked Jue Chi why he didn’t let me continue questioning.

Jue Chi explained that the person was obviously a local big shot in Shenyang. The moment he heard Chi Rui’s name, his expression flickered. Yet, he claimed not to know Chi Rui and left in a panic.

He definitely knows Chi Rui, and Chi Rui’s influence in Shenyang is far stronger than we previously thought.

Every word Jue Chi said felt like a needle piercing my heart.

I had originally thought that coming to Shenyang this time, I could resolve the family curse involving the Cycle of Cause and Effect. But I realized I had oversimplified the problem.

I even realized that since the moment we stepped into Shenyang, we had been under Chi Rui’s surveillance.

However, this assumption would only be confirmed when I actually faced Chi Rui.

Still, Chi Rui is not the most important issue right now. From the beginning, I knew that since we were on Chi Rui’s turf, I would become the passive party.

Being passive means being at a disadvantage. To gain the most advantage under the current circumstances, I need to turn the passive situation into an active one as much as possible.

This is also why I decided to come to Shenyang earlier than planned.

All day, Jue Chi and I discussed our plans before the 15th. Jue Chi suggested taking a wait-and-see approach, while I felt that taking initiative might be better.

We didn’t reach any conclusions, but we did agree on one thing: we should first check out the situation at Jixiang Street.

Early the next morning, I got up to prepare by going to the incense candle market for more yellow talisman paper and then planned to head to Jixiang Street in the afternoon to see the infamous mass grave.

While Jue Chi was changing clothes, I went to the bathroom.

Browsing the news and gossip on my phone, I was suddenly hit by a sharp pain that spread from the soles of my feet to my head, and then radiated through my limbs.

“Damn it! Monk!”

Clutching my temples, I fell to the floor, crying out in pain. I heard a thud at the door, and through my agony, I saw Jue Chi rushing in with a worried look, helping me up from the floor.

“What’s happening? Any signs before this?” he asked, quickly placing his right hand with three fingers on my wrist as I lay on the bed, a glass of water in hand.

I thought hard and shook my head, “No.”

Jue Chi nodded and, like performing a magic trick, pulled out a small white package from his bag. As he opened it, my eyes widened, and I shivered involuntarily.

Inside the little package were dozens of neatly arranged silver needles.

“What… what are you going to do?” I struggled to sit up despite the pain. Jue Chi held a silver needle in one hand and pressed my shoulder with the other.

“You’ve had a backlash, and we need to control the Yin Energy in your body immediately.”

Backlash? I was stunned for a moment. How could I have a backlash? Ever since that incident, I’ve never used the life amulet for anything unethical, and everything has been fine. Why would I suddenly face a backlash?

While I was dazed, Jue Chi quickly plunged a silver needle toward my temple.

“Whoa!”

I shouted as darkness swallowed my vision.

When I came to, I was still on the hotel bed, but there was an indescribable feeling throughout my body, as if something was being suppressed.

I could move my limbs freely, but something felt different.