Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Second Fire Formation of Six Directions

When I returned home, Yue Qianling asked me why I was so concerned about Fang Yanan.
I told her that Fang Yanan was already corrupted by an evil charm. The person who cast the spell, if intending to activate the Soul Severing Curse, only needed the final trigger—her first day of menstruation. That was when her yang energy was at its weakest, and the yin at its strongest.
“So if you don’t know the exact date, you can’t save her?” Yue Qianling asked helplessly.
I shook my head slowly and walked out onto the balcony, looking up at the sky.
“Based on Fang Yanan’s birth chart, the Imperial Star enters her fate, and tomorrow the Imperial Star breaks her life palace—her luck will be at its lowest. If I were her enemy, tonight would be the perfect time to strike.”
“What methods do you have to save her?” Yue Qianling asked.
“The police station is full of yang energy, which can suppress evil spells for a while. The Soul Severing Curse is a dark art—if the caster approaches, their spell will be disrupted. So as long as Fang Yanan stays in the police station from tonight until dawn, she’ll be safe for this month at least.”
“Brother, but she has to actually listen to you. Judging by her attitude today, she’s already drawn a clear line between you and her. Do you really expect her to obediently stay in the station without moving?” Xiao Lianshan said, biting into a piece of cake.
I took a deep breath, anxiety etched on my face.
“There’s no other way but to follow her. Wherever she goes, I go. I’ll make sure she’s safe through tomorrow night, then figure things out.”
“You still want to go? She only tolerated you today because she was in uniform. If you go again, she might actually do something. She could easily charge you with threatening a police officer, and that alone would be enough to get you in trouble,” Yue Qianling jumped off the sofa and shouted.
“Brother, of course we want to help, but she doesn’t appreciate it. I think we should let it go. Haven’t you always said that fate is up to the heavens, and we shouldn’t force things?”
I shook my head, speaking righteously.
“Fang Yanan has been cursed. Based on her face and birth chart, she’s not destined for wealth or greatness, but neither should she have a short life. The caster is defying fate, seeking to cut her yang lifespan, which is already malicious enough. And to use the Soul Severing Curse—such evil—who can harm Fang Yanan can harm others as well. Such people cannot be allowed to remain.”
Just as Yue Qianling predicted, when Fang Yanan walked out of the police station and saw me standing at the door, her expression was extremely unpleasant.
“You again? Didn’t you get enough last time?” Fang Yanan looked at me with contempt.
“Brother… there’s a red thread on her head again!” Xiao Lianshan stared at Fang Yanan’s hair in surprise.
Fang Yanan paused, subconsciously touching her hair, and found another red thread in her palm, muttering under her breath.
“I don’t know who’s so bored, always leaving this thing on me.”

I walked over slowly, always keeping a hand’s distance from Fang Yanan—just enough so she couldn’t hit me.
“Officer Fang, whether you believe it or not, someone truly wants to harm you. Think carefully: have you made any enemies lately? Not just ordinary grudges, but someone who wants your life.”
“Qin Yanhui, I warn you, stop making alarmist statements in front of me. Do you know what crime it is to threaten an officer at the station entrance?” Fang Yanan tossed the red thread aside and spoke coldly.
“How can you not appreciate kindness? My brother genuinely wants to save your life. We’re men—why would we threaten a woman?” Xiao Lianshan couldn’t stand it and shouted angrily.
“Just mind your own business. Don’t think this is over. I’ve seen arrogant people before, but never ones as unruly as you two. I’m telling you, one day I’ll personally arrest you both!” Fang Yanan said righteously.
“Officer Fang, call it a threat or intimidation, but for your own sake, don’t go home tonight. Stay at the station—it’s safer for you.” I was out of things to say.
“Qin Yanhui!” Fang Yanan took a step forward, glaring at me. “You’re too arrogant. Do you know where you are? This is the police station! Showing off here—I think you’re tired of living.”
“Brother, stop talking to her. Let’s go. We’ve said everything we could. If she won’t listen, whether she lives or dies is none of our business,” Xiao Lianshan pulled at me.
“Officer Fang, please calm down and hear me out. My intention is—”
“There’s nothing for you to explain to me. You need to explain to the law.” Fang Yanan interrupted sternly. “I am a police officer. From the first day I joined, I knew the risks of this job. I’ve never feared threats or intimidation because I walk the righteous path. Evil cannot triumph over good. My conscience is clear; I fear nothing.”
Xiao Lianshan picked up the red string from the ground, holding it carefully.
“You’re not afraid, but do you know what this red thread is? It’s formed from corpse water. If you have a red thread on your head every day, it means you’re walking around with corpse water above you!”
“Absurd! You use these tricks to fool Yue Leiting, and he believes you, but that doesn’t mean I will. A red thread could be a prank from my colleagues. You call it corpse water—I can only say you have a vivid imagination. And now, you both have another charge: spreading feudal superstitions!”
“Brother, why doesn’t this woman ever get it? You… show her!” Xiao Lianshan stamped his foot in frustration.
I glanced at the red thread in his hand, knowing Fang Yanan had already made up her mind. No matter what I did, she’d see me as a clown. I sighed.
“I want to report Yue Leiting!”
“Brother?!”
“What did you say?” Fang Yanan’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“You want to know about Yue Leiting, right? I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear.” I lifted my head, smiling faintly.

“Good! As long as you confess, even if it’s to atone for past crimes, the police can offer protection. If you’re willing to stand up and testify against Yue Leiting, any past offenses can be considered for leniency.” Fang Yanan’s tone remained stern, but it was clear she was excited. “I’ll arrange for officers to take your statement immediately.”
“No! No other officers. This matter is too big; we’ll only speak with you!” I looked at Xiao Lianshan and turned to her, speaking seriously.
Suddenly, Xiao Lianshan understood. I had said before, as long as Fang Yanan stayed at the station tonight, she’d be safe this month. The method wasn’t important—what mattered was that she didn’t leave.
“Right, telling anyone else makes us uneasy. We’ll only talk to you.”
Fang Yanan, following my request, took us to the interrogation room. I refused to enter until I picked one myself. She held back her frustration and let me choose, and I selected the east-facing room. I nodded in satisfaction.
As soon as I sat down, I asked for water. Fang Yanan gritted her teeth and handed me a cup. I walked to the door and poured it out along the threshold, then placed the red thread she’d just removed outside the door before returning to my seat.
“Brother, what are you doing?” Xiao Lianshan whispered.
“This room faces east, which is the Li position, belonging to fire. The station is full of yang, also fire. Fang Yanan’s face is fire as well, so this is a triple fire formation. Ordinarily, stacking fire would be disastrous, but Fang Yanan has evil inside her, abundant in yin. Three fires together create the Samadhi True Flame, which can suppress her yin energy. Pouring water at the door—water is the leader of all forms, able to dissolve and block anything. The red thread, being formed from corpse water, can’t enter here.” I explained softly.
Fang Yanan ignored our whispered conversation and flipped open her notebook, speaking sternly.
“Let’s begin. Tell me everything, in detail—every single thing you know.”
…
When dawn broke, I let out a long sigh. Xiao Lianshan and I had sat through the night, aching from head to toe, racking our brains for everything we knew, telling all.
Fang Yanan’s notebook was covered in dense notes, growing more irritable as she wrote, until she noticed the smug smile on my face and realized she’d been duped. Everything we said was trivial—like how many tables were set for Yue Leiting’s birthday, the size of his villa, why his car was smashed—nothing of value at all.
Fang Yanan wanted to lash out, but all the procedures were correct. Xiao Lianshan and I cooperated, but selectively spoke only of what disinterested her.
“Officer Fang, may we leave now?” I smiled at her.
Fang Yanan slammed the notebook shut and pointed at the door, struggling to contain her emotions.
“Get out, now. I never want to see you again!”