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Chapter 456 The Chen Family, Curses

Cuicheng, a border city known as the "City of Spring".

Unlike the orderly and well-organized East Capital.

This place not only boasts vibrant and exotic customs, but also exudes a gentle and poetic charm reminiscent of the Jiangnan region.

The plane landed at Cuicheng International Airport at nearly noon.

Wow, it's been so many years since I've been on vacation here, it's changed so much!

As soon as he stepped out of the VIP passage, Pan Wendi shouted exaggeratedly and opened his arms as if to embrace the entire city.

A black Bentley in a long stretch was already waiting by the roadside.

The driver quickly stepped forward and respectfully opened the car door for everyone.

"The hotel has been arranged; a penthouse suite at Cuihai Mingzhu Hotel, we guarantee you'll feel right at home!"

Pan Wendi warmly invited Fang Cheng, Lin Chuqiao, and Bai Ling to get into the car, and said with great interest:
"Once we find Uncle Fang Cheng and that professor, I'll show you around. The ancient city, snow-capped mountains, and ethnic minority bonfire parties here are much more interesting than those in Dongdu."

The vehicle drove smoothly into the city.

Along the way, Pan Wendi acted as a guide, pointing out the scenery along the route.

About half an hour later, the black Bentley slowly drove into a modern, sailboat-shaped hotel standing on the shore of Emerald Lake.

Without needing to go through the front desk, a dedicated hotel butler was already waiting in the lobby, leading the group to the VIP elevator directly to the top floor.

The butler handed out several gold-embossed room keys to everyone and informed them with a smile that lunch had been prepared in the executive lounge.

Lin Chuqiao waved her hand and said to everyone:
"Let's all go back to our rooms and rest first. See you at the restaurant in an hour."

Fang Cheng took the room key from the housekeeper, swiped it, and pushed open his room door.

The room is spacious and bright, with a simple decor that exudes understated luxury.

A glimpse of the shimmering green sea through the floor-to-ceiling windows brings a sense of relief.

He casually put down his luggage and went into the bathroom.

Warm water cascades down from the overhead showerhead, washing away the dust of the journey.

A moment later, he changed into a set of dry casual clothes and came out, walking barefoot on the soft carpet to the huge French windows.

The view outside the window is the most pride-worthy scenery of Cuicheng.

Nearby are the hotel's exquisite gardens and the bustling lakeside road.

In the distance, a vast lake shimmers in the sunlight, resembling a giant piece of jade; that is the famous Emerald Lake.

Although it is not peak tourist season, the boardwalk by the lake is still crowded with tourists.

However, Fang Cheng did not come here for a vacation.

His gaze fell on the distant lake, and his eyes gradually deepened.

The Chen family of Tiannan, a jade tycoon that has been entrenched here for over a century, wields power far beyond that of ordinary wealthy individuals.

The late patriarch Chen Hongye was not only a leading figure in the jewelry industry, but also served as the first president of the Xia Kingdom Jewelry Association, with influence extending throughout the country.

Such a family could be described as having immense power and influence in the region.

The bloodline ability they relied on to build their fortune, "Spiritual Eyes," is said in intelligence reports to be able to see through illusions and discern truth from falsehood.

To put it bluntly, it's an ability similar to "X-ray vision," especially good at seeing through the inside of raw stones, and can even be used to explore the direction of jade veins.

But this could never be the Chen family's only reliance.

A purely auxiliary ability is simply insufficient to support a family in firmly controlling the highly profitable jade industry for over a century in the complex and ethnically diverse southern Xinjiang province.

Vast amounts of wealth, without matching military protection, will only become coveted prey.

The fact that the Chen family has been able to stand strong to this day must mean that they possess a hidden, powerful force that is enough to deter all villains.

Even so, they still got infected.

If there really is a sorcerer behind this.

Even the most powerful families at the top of society were helpless against it and could only turn to the "Bridge of Helplessness" to issue a commission.

Therefore, its strength should not be underestimated.

Fang Cheng had a vague premonition.

This trip to Tiannan is probably not as simple as it seems.

To find his uncle's whereabouts, he might have to confront the enemy lurking in the shadows.

Boom, boom.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

Fang Cheng turned around and opened the door, only to see Lin Chuqiao and Bai Ling standing outside.

The two had obviously just taken a shower. Lin Chuqiao changed into an elegant cotton and linen dress, and her face, now free of makeup, looked even more beautiful and refined.

Bai Ling, on the other hand, wore a refreshing sporty outfit and had her hair tied in a high ponytail, making her look lively and pretty.

"Are you ready? Wendy probably can't wait any longer."

Lin Chuqiao looked at him with a slight smile on her lips.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the door to Pan Wendi's room across the hall slammed open, revealing him already dressed in a flashy floral shirt and beach shorts.
"Let's go, let's go eat! I'm starving, or all the good food at the restaurant will be gone!"

"Do you think we're still rushing to the cafeteria on Yong'an Island?"

Lin Chuqiao rolled her eyes at him helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but chuckle.

The group had a simple lunch at the hotel's members-only restaurant before officially starting their operation.

Fang Cheng, Lin Chuqiao, and Bai Ling planned to go to the Chen family in the afternoon to conduct an on-site investigation.

As for Pan Wendi, he originally wanted to join in the fun, but Lin Chuqiao assigned him a different task.

He was to audit a three-day academic seminar on folklore and religion at Cuicheng University, and he had to take photos and check in every day as "evidence" to report back to his aunt.

Upon hearing "attending a class" and "Mom," Pan Wendi's face immediately fell.

Faced with his cousin's unyielding gaze, he could only sigh and reluctantly accept his orders.

The hotel-booked van carrying Fang Cheng and his two companions was traveling towards the Chen family mansion.

Inside the car, Lin Chuqiao took out two walnut-sized wooden pendants, strung on red cords, from her handbag and handed one to Bailing.

The wood carving had a warm, smooth texture and featured a lifelike, closed-eyed Qilin, emitting a faint sandalwood fragrance.

"Sister Lin, what is this? It's so exquisite."

The lark held it in its hand and examined it curiously over and over again.

"I spent a whole day making this amulet in Dongdu."

Lin Chuqiao earnestly instructed, "Keep it close to your body and never take it off."

After saying that, she handed another pendant to Fang Cheng.

Seeing the doubt in Fang Cheng's eyes, Lin Chuqiao explained:
"Black magic is known for its unpredictability and is difficult to defend against. Once we enter the Chen family, it's like stepping into the black magic master's hunting ground. It's always good to be prepared."

Fang Cheng held the warm, smooth wooden talisman in his hand. It felt slightly heavy, and he could sense a faint but pure spiritual power attached to it.

So he asked, "Is this thing useful?"

Lin Chuqiao smiled sweetly:
Whether it works or not, we'll only know after trying it.

"However, even if it's just a psychological effect, it's better than nothing." "Don't underestimate the power of the mind; sometimes, a firm belief is the strongest defense."

Fang Cheng smiled slightly, and following her example, put the red rope around his neck and hid the wooden talisman inside his T-shirt.

The van drove away from the bustling city center and into a wealthy neighborhood nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

The building density here is extremely low, and each villa is nestled among lush green trees, making it quiet and private.

The Chen family mansion is located on the hillside with the best view.

It was a vast Chinese-style manor, with green tiles and white walls, flying eaves and brackets, exuding a profound historical heritage amidst the modern villa complex.

The three got out of the car. Looking at the magnificent, intricately carved gate, Bailing couldn't help but whisper in admiration:

"Wow, this house is like a palace, how much is it worth...?"

Fang Cheng stepped forward and rang the doorbell.

When I accepted the quest at the Bridge of Helplessness, the other party provided me with their contact information.

He had already made a phone call from the hotel, giving the agreed-upon code word to contact the Chen family.

The gate slowly opened, and the guard confirmed their identities before allowing them to pass.

A uniformed maid quickly came to greet them and led them through the neatly trimmed front yard into the main house.

The Chen family's living room is extremely spacious, with a high ceiling, a full set of mahogany furniture, and calligraphy and paintings by famous artists hanging on the walls, showcasing the grandeur of the mansion.

However, there were hardly any people in the huge space, not even servants, making it seem excessively empty and eerily quiet.

At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a black Tang suit with his hair neatly combed emerged from the inner room and nodded slightly to the three of them.
"Gentlemen, I apologize for not greeting you sooner. My name is Li Tiansheng, and I am the steward of your household."

His speech and manners exuded the rigor and politeness of a traditional wealthy family.

Fang Cheng nodded in response:

"Butler Li, as we arranged beforehand, we've come today to inquire about some matters with the master of the house."

"I'm so sorry."

Li Tiansheng bowed slightly, his face showing an apologetic expression:
"The old lady was chanting scriptures in the Buddhist hall. According to her rules, she would not get up until she had finished chanting a scripture."

"The second young master has received the news and is on his way from the company. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble the three of you to wait a moment."

He led the three to sit on the sofa in the living room, instructed the servants to serve fragrant tea, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then took his leave, saying he was going to check on the situation at the Buddhist hall.

After everyone left, the living room fell silent once again.

“This Li Tiansheng is a relative of the old lady of the Chen family. He has been with her for decades and is considered a confidant.”

Lin Chuqiao lowered her voice and quickly introduced the information she had gathered in addition to the intelligence data:
"The current head of the Chen family is the matriarch, Chen Li, while the head of the family, Chen Jintang, passed away two years ago."

"The eldest grandson, who was originally in charge of the family business, was in a car accident some time ago and was seriously injured and fell into a coma. He has not woken up yet."

"So now, the family business has been temporarily handed over to the second grandson, who is Chen Xu'an, whom we will meet later."

"The youngest is dead, and the oldest is seriously injured and unconscious. In the end, wouldn't the second son be the one who benefits the most?"

The lark, quick to speak her mind, couldn't help but guess:

"Could this series of events in the Chen family be related to this second young master?"

Her eyes gleamed with excitement, already setting the stage for a grand drama of a power struggle within a wealthy family.

"This is also a direction I suspect."

Lin Chuqiao nodded: "However, without evidence, everything is just speculation."

Fang Cheng didn't speak, but simply picked up his teacup and calmly surveyed the empty and oppressive hall.

After waiting for about twenty minutes, Li Tiansheng led an elderly woman with a full head of silver hair, dressed in a plain cheongsam, out of the inner hall.

The old lady was in her seventies, with a thin face and sharp eyes.

Although he was leaning on a sandalwood cane, his back remained ramrod straight, exuding an air of authority without anger.

Lin Chuqiao immediately stood up, stepped forward, and introduced herself:
"Madam, we are..."

"I know why you've come."

Chen Li interrupted Lin Chuqiao, her voice hoarse and cold, conveying a sense of unapproachability.

With the butler's gentle help, she sat down on the main sofa and looked up at the three of them:

"The information the Bridge of Helplessness gave you has already clearly explained what happened, so why are you asking this old woman?"

Clearly, several groups of people had come before them to take on the task, but all had returned empty-handed, which had worn down her patience.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng replied in a calm tone:

"Madam, the records in the documents are, after all, second-hand information that has been relayed by many people, and there are bound to be deviations and omissions."

"More than half a month has passed since the case was filed, and many overlooked details may only be recalled by those who experienced them firsthand."

“That’s right, Madam.”

Lin Chuqiao also chimed in at the opportune moment:

“We understand your grief, but that’s precisely why we want to hear the most original description from you so that we can uncover the truth and find the killer more quickly.”

Bai Ling nodded in agreement, her clear voice carrying a sincere tone:
"Madam, we sincerely want to help. Please tell us what you need to do so that your family can have peace of mind once that bad guy is caught!"

After a long silence, Chen Li's sharp gaze swept back and forth across the faces of Fang Cheng and the other two, before she finally nodded slowly.
"Ask whatever you want."

"To date, three people from your family have perished."

Fang Cheng considered for a moment, then began to ask:
“I want to know what you saw firsthand at the scene in the final moments before their accident, rather than what is described in the case file.”

“I don’t know about the others, I only saw my little grandson… Ze’er’s last night.”

When Chen Lishi mentioned her most beloved youngest grandson, a noticeable tremor finally appeared in her voice.

Fang Cheng then asked:
"According to intelligence records, Mr. Chen Shaoze seemed to have exhibited unusual behavior before the incident?"

Chen Li closed her eyes, as if lost in painful memories, and after a long while slowly spoke:
“That’s not unusual behavior… that child is being haunted by a ghost.”

“The week before the incident, Ze’er started acting strangely. He couldn’t sleep well at night and would hide in his room and cry.”

"At first, I thought it was just young people under a lot of work pressure, so I didn't pay much attention. Until that night, I was woken up by noises coming from the kitchen downstairs..."

The old woman's voice became even lower:

“I went downstairs to check and saw Ze’er… He was standing alone in front of the refrigerator, his back to me, taking out raw beef that hadn’t thawed yet, and just… he was tearing it apart and stuffing it into his mouth, his mouth full of blood…”

“I called him, but he didn’t hear me. I went over and patted him, but he didn’t react. His eyes were empty, like a puppet.”

After he finished eating the meat, he walked back to his bedroom as if in a dream and locked the door.

"The next day I asked him, but he had no recollection of it at all, only saying that he had a dream about being very hungry."

Fang Cheng listened quietly; these details were far more chilling than the cold words on the case file.

"I originally thought that Ze'er had just awakened his family's bloodline ability, and his mental burden was too heavy, and his body was exhausted. So I thought I would give him a good rest and send him to the Chen family's secret realm to recuperate in a few days."

"But who knew... that thing would take effect so quickly, in just over a week, he..."

Chen Li's voice choked up, and she could no longer speak.

Lin Chuqiao quickly stepped forward, gently patted her back, and softly comforted her:
"Madam, please accept my deepest condolences..."

Just then, a man's voice came from outside the door.

"Grandma, why are you talking about these sad things again?"

(End of this chapter)