Chapter 5: Interfering with Others’ Karma Invites Heaven’s Wrath!

Zhang Shimian and Zheng Feiyu were also shocked.

Zhang Shimian exclaimed, “Where did this kid come from? Is she trying to get herself killed?” While speaking, he pulled out a talisman and scattered its powder toward the female ghost who had transformed into a fierce spirit. He quickly moved behind Nan Yuanman, reaching out to carry her away.

Before Zhang Shimian’s hand could touch Nan Yuanman, a startling scene unfolded.

A small golden straw doll suddenly darted forward right under his eyes. Its straw hands clenched into a circle and struck heavily against the ghost’s face.

The female ghost let out a piercing scream and was violently thrown backward, crashing deep into a dark cloud of vengeful energy.

The little straw doll immediately gave chase.

Zhang Shimian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What the hell?!”

What kind of magic was this? Summoning soldiers out of beans? No, wait—it was summoning warriors from straw! What was that tiny straw doll, and why was it so powerful?

Nan Yuanman let out a slight sigh of relief, then turned to the stunned Zhang Shimian standing beside her. “Big brother, are you okay?”

He looked dazed, as if the ghost had frightened him silly.

Before Zhang Shimian could reply, Jiang Lixuan approached with a dark expression, scolding angrily, “Nan Yuanman! Are you crazy? You knew it was dangerous here and still ran in! Are you an idiot? Do you think playing hero is cool?”

Nan Yuanman frowned unhappily and shot back, “You’re the idiot! If it weren’t for me just now, you guys would be dead already!”

Jiang Lixuan sneered, “Did I ask you to save us? Did I beg for your help?”

Nan Yuanman’s eyes flashed with anger. “I didn’t save you on purpose. You were just collateral. I came to save Brother Zheng.”

“You—!” Jiang Lixuan was speechless and angrier than before.

Just as he thought, a child born of Bai Wenyin really had no manners!

Zheng Feiyu snapped out of it, watching the two glaring at each other stubbornly, neither willing to concede. He sighed helplessly, “Alright, Brother Xuan, Yuanman was just trying to save us. Stop criticizing her.”

But…

Zheng Feiyu’s expression grew complicated and fearful as he glanced toward the wailing vengeful energy. “Yuanman, you knew all along that this female ghost would come to cause trouble for the Zheng family?”

“Of course!” Nan Yuanman nodded, her chubby cheeks trembling as she spoke. “When I came to beg for food today, I saw her lying on top of Old Zheng, the old man.”

She sighed, appearing like a little adult. “I told you to leave today.”

Zhang Shimian frowned, his gaze serious as he sized up Nan Yuanman. “If you saw her, why didn’t you just deal with her?”

Ignoring her age, the power of that little straw doll she had just sent out was enough to subdue the ghost. Why let her harm others?

Instinctively, Zhang Shimian felt a hint of dislike toward Nan Yuanman.

“Why should I deal with her? This is a karmic matter between her and the Zheng family,” Nan Yuanman said earnestly, her voice sweet and childlike. “Grandpa said, interfering in someone else’s karma brings heavenly punishment.”

Zheng Feiyu was exasperated. “But I don’t even know her!”

“You don’t know her, but Old Zheng does.” Nan Yuanman blinked. “She was killed because of Old Zheng.”

Zheng Feiyu instinctively retorted, “Impossible!”

Though he rarely interacted with his grandfather, he knew the old man wasn’t a villain. His only flaw was his drinking, and when drunk, he bragged and lectured. He could never have killed someone!

Jiang Lixuan, feeling gloomy, suddenly recalled something and looked at Nan Yuanman with a complex expression. “You… have you entered the Tao path?”

Nan Yuanman glanced at him but ignored the question. “If you don’t believe me, ask Aunt Zheng when she wakes up.”

“Just ask if Old Zheng killed a girl named Zhou Ying.”

As she spoke, Nan Yuanman sensed something and turned toward the dark, vengeful cloud.

Suddenly, a piercing screech echoed from within. With a boom, the cloud exploded violently, and the straw doll was blasted away by the force.

A red silhouette streaked outward like a flowing light. “You wait! I will come back! The Zheng family must die!!”

“Damn!” Zhang Shimian’s face turned grim as he hurried after it.

The female ghost had turned into a fierce spirit—she must not be allowed to escape, or the Zheng family would be in grave danger!

As the red figure vanished, the surrounding sinister aura and vengeful energy gradually dissipated. The spirit hall, once shrouded by ghosts, returned to its original state.

Inside, candle wax and incense ash littered the floor, the white cloth covering the corpse had fallen, and the body lay near the stairs. The people guarding the vigil were unconscious on the ground.

“Auntie!” Zheng Feiyu hurried over and helped Aunt Zheng to her feet.

Nan Yuanman anxiously checked the straw doll’s condition.

The once sturdy little straw figure was now disheveled. Several straw strands stuck up from its head, one leg was missing, and it looked ragged and pitiful.

Nan Yuanman pouted, her eyes becoming wide and round like fried eggs, tears streaming down. “Little Straw, boo hoo, are you hurt? Why is your leg gone?”

Jiang Lixuan was about to ask more but stopped when he saw Nan Yuanman’s tear-filled eyes. The words caught in his throat, and his chest tightened.

He glared at the tattered straw doll in her hands and said harshly, “Why are you crying? It’s just one leg. It can be fixed.”

“It can’t be fixed,” Nan Yuanman said sadly, looking heartbroken. “Little Straw was made by Grandpa. Only he knows how to fix it.”

Grandpa was sick now and would be asleep for a long time. There was no way he could wake up to repair Little Straw’s leg.

She felt useless—not protecting Grandpa, nor protecting Little Straw.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Her lips puckered, and tears silently fell.

Unlike other children who cried loudly, Nan Yuanman’s tears were silent, like a small animal soaked by rain—deeply pitiful.

Jiang Lixuan looked at her and, for a moment, saw a reflection of Bai Wenyin crying silently long ago.

That same silent sorrow.

His chest tightened, and he felt a strange discomfort—something like pity for her.

Nan Yuanman tenderly stroked Little Straw’s head, sobbing softly. Grandpa was right.

Interfering in others’ karma invites divine retribution!

Her little straw doll had lost its leg—what was she to do now?

Jiang Lixuan opened and closed his mouth, wanting to comfort her but unable to find kind words. He clicked his tongue impatiently and said, “Stop crying! I’ll fix it!”

Nan Yuanman stopped crying and looked at him suspiciously with red eyes. “You can fix it?”

Jiang Lixuan’s face tightened. After a long pause, he said, “No, but can’t I learn?”

It’s just a straw doll—how hard could it be?

Nan Yuanman pouted and wiped her tears. “Forget it, I don’t trust you.” She could learn to fix it herself and do it properly.

This uncle didn’t like her. If he fixed it, Little Straw probably wouldn’t survive.

Jiang Lixuan’s heart twisted, and the faint tenderness he felt vanished immediately. That brat! Not a single word he liked to hear!

As the two glared at each other, Zheng Feiyu, holding Aunt Zheng up, noticed her pulse weakening.

Panicked, he glanced at Nan Yuanman. “Yuanman, come quickly! Auntie doesn’t look well.”

Nan Yuanman sniffled and went over to check. “She’s fine. Just put the little coffin I lent you in her hand. It’ll help.”

Zheng Feiyu quickly placed the small coffin in Aunt Zheng’s hand.

At that moment, Zhang Shimian returned from chasing the ghost, looking grim.

Zheng Feiyu eagerly asked, “Daoist, did you catch the ghost?”

Zhang Shimian replied, “She escaped.”

Zheng Feiyu panicked. “What do we do now?”

Before Zhang Shimian could answer, Aunt Zheng, still weak, opened her eyes and groggily responded, “What do you mean, what do we do?”

Zheng Feiyu’s heart lifted with joy. “Auntie, you’re awake! Do you know a girl named Zhou Ying? What grudge does she have with our family?”

Aunt Zheng’s face suddenly changed when she heard the name Zhou Ying, reacting fiercely. “Where did you hear that name? What grudge? Our family has no grudge with her!”