Chapter 6: Spirit Cleansing Charm

Translator: Tim; Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

Su Jingwen returned to the private hospital and found her father, Su Jianzhong, waiting. Since her mother had fallen into a vegetative state, her father had devoted himself to his career, leaving Su Jingwen to manage their family's struggling company. He rarely visited the hospital, so his presence was unexpected.

"Hmph, if I hadn't come back, I don't know what kind of trouble you'd be causing," Su Jianzhong said, his face bleak. "Buying all those random things—and now you believe a charm will cure your mother? Are you planning to invite a Tiao Da Shen [1] next?" His disappointment was evident.

Su Jingwen realized Wang Peng had told her father about the charm. Resentment flared towards Wang Peng, but her anger at her father overshadowed it. She remained silent.

"What, speechless now? Throw that trash away immediately!" Su Jianzhong commanded.

After a moment, Su Jingwen erupted. "Dad, since Mom got sick, what have you done? You only visited once after she fell unconscious. Where have you been all these years? Have you treated Mom right? I know my own actions, and I don't need your control. Mom never criticized you for your affairs, but what about you? Have you even considered her feelings?"

Su Jianzhong’s face flushed. He raised his hand to strike her, but seeing her weary expression, he lowered it. He knew he had no right to criticize her; he had neglected his wife and daughter. He hadn't helped with the company, leaving it entirely in Su Jingwen's care.

"Okay, I can't control you," he conceded, "but I hope this is the last time you resort to superstition. You're highly educated! Don't get into a conflict with Wang Peng over some street fraud," he said helplessly.

Su Jingwen silently cursed Wang Peng. She understood her father's desire for her to be close to Wang Peng: his career advancement depended on the support of Wang Peng’s father. While Su Jianzhong was mayor, he lacked the substantial family backing needed for significant advancement. Without the Su family's support, his career was stagnant.

Su Jianzhong's thoughts mirrored this. The Wang family held considerable power, unlike the Su family, which lacked the extensive investment and unlimited potential of certain prominent capital families. Nearing fifty, he was at a career plateau and feared fading from the Su family’s influence. An alliance with the Wang family could elevate him and potentially lead to re-evaluation by family elders.

Despite understanding her father's motives, Su Jingwen remained silent. To her, Wang Peng was merely handsome but ultimately useless.

As it was time for Su Jingwen to visit her mother, Su Jianzhong hesitated, knowing his machinations were detrimental to his daughter. He considered following her but stopped at the doorway, lacking the courage to face his unconscious wife.

On the bed lay a beautiful woman in her thirties, a younger version of Su Jingwen, her eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed. The nurse quickly left after Su Jingwen entered.

Tears stung Su Jingwen’s eyes. Years had passed, and the loneliness weighed heavily. She could only weep at her mother's bedside in the dead of night.

Holding the $20,000 spirit cleansing charm, Su Jingwen felt a flicker of hope, despite its likely inauthenticity. She desperately wanted her mother to wake up.

Witnessing his daughter’s desperation, Su Jianzhong remained silent, waiting to talk after she used the charm.

Su Jingwen stepped back, raised her hand, and threw the charm towards her mother, softly uttering, "Lin." Instead of laughter, Su Jianzhong felt a surge of emotion—guilt and unease. His well-educated daughter had resorted to superstition.

Then, he saw something extraordinary. The yellow charm dissolved into white rays that streamed into his wife's body, accompanied by falling ash. The sudden chill and bright light made him question whether he was hallucinating. "What in the world?" he whispered.

Su Jingwen was equally stunned. She expected the charm to land on her mother's blanket, but it transformed into cool white rays that vanished completely, leaving only dust motes.

Goosebumps erupted on her arms. She knew many fraudulent practitioners used chemical tricks, but she was a science student; this phenomenon defied chemical explanation. Could it actually be a real charm? The possibility sent a tremor through her. If the seller’s claims were true, her mother might wake up.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Su Jingwen rushed to her mother’s side.

[1] Tiao Da Shen: someone who jumps around and invites spirits to enter their body to perform magic.