Chapter 54: The Forbidden Folk Technique—The Shrinking Yang Spell (Part Five)

Li Chengfeng sighed deeply as he looked at Ye Wuming kneeling on the ground, his heart filled with countless emotions.

The horror of forbidden folk magic was truly beyond imagination. In just over a month, Ye Wuming had been tormented by the Shrinking Yang Curse to the point where he was neither fully man nor ghost.

What had he endured during that month?

In that time, Ye Wuming’s life had been worse than death. He had been subjected to various medical examinations every few days, yet no illness could be diagnosed.

Doctors told him that his strange condition was unique in the world—there was no second known case.

The only treatment was injections of male hormones.

Every day, Ye Wuming was injected with male hormones and took numerous drugs to boost them. Despite the many medicines, there was no improvement; his condition worsened, and even his voice changed to that of a woman’s.

This was unbearable for Ye Wuming. People looked at him with strange eyes, and he became a subject of ridicule.

One child even curiously asked his mother if the man had learned the Sunflower Manual, which was why he was neither man nor woman.

Ye Wuming wanted to cry but had no tears. Both his mind and body suffered immense blows, growing increasingly anxious. Many times, he contemplated ending it all.

Medical experts at home and abroad held more than a dozen consultations but were helpless against this illness.

Li Chengfeng furrowed his brow slightly. Had he known the Shrinking Yang Curse was so dreadful, his kind heart would never have allowed him to casually cast it on someone.

Wang Bin, standing nearby, was startled by Ye Wuming’s appearance. His face was full of confusion, not understanding what had transpired between Ye Wuming and Li Chengfeng. Yet he could guess that the man’s current state was somehow connected to Li Chengfeng.

Only now did Wang Bin realize how terrifying this old schoolmate really was—first using forbidden folk magic to shut down Shenghai Goldsmith, and then, by some unknown means, turning a normal man into something neither male nor female.

Such uncanny powers were truly astounding. Unconsciously, a deep admiration for Li Chengfeng blossomed within him.

Ye Wuming knelt on the ground, still pleading desperately, occasionally glancing at Ye Mengyao, hoping she might say a kind word on his behalf.

But Ye Mengyao’s expression was cold, unwilling to look at Ye Wuming again. Thinking of that day’s events, she could never forgive him.

If not for a twist of fate and Li Chengfeng’s Shrinking Yang Curse that robbed Ye Wuming of his manhood, she would have been violated by this beast, and the entire Ye family might have been ruined.

Out of familial respect, she had refrained from making a fuss or telling Ye Gucheng what had happened. If her father knew, he would have personally dealt with Ye Wuming.

Bringing him to Li Chengfeng now was already the greatest mercy she could show.

Li Chengfeng studied Ye Wuming’s face closely—pockmarked skin with bluish stubble, sunken cheeks, a narrow forehead, and sharp cheekbones—wearing a look both cunning and cruel.

According to the Ma Yi physiognomy, a pockmarked face with bluish stubble warns against trust; sunken cheeks indicate submissiveness; a narrow forehead suggests a narrow heart; and sharp cheekbones mark cruelty.

From his appearance alone, it was clear that even if the curse was lifted, Ye Wuming would never give up easily but would surely seek revenge.

Li Chengfeng had no desire to harm others with forbidden magic. If Ye Wuming died, he himself would face divine punishment. After some thought, he decided to lift the Shrinking Yang Curse.

If, after the curse was removed, Ye Wuming dared to come back for revenge, he would make his life a living hell.

Li Chengfeng’s lips curved into a faint smile as he said, “Ye Wuming, I can lift the curse on you, but it won’t be free.”

“I understand, I understand!” Ye Wuming’s face instantly brightened, a smile replacing his previous grief. He knew Li Chengfeng wanted money.

Though worried he might ask for an exorbitant sum, considering the curse’s severity, he was willing to pay even if it meant losing everything.

“Mr. Li, just lift the curse—whatever you ask, I’ll pay.”

Without hesitation, Li Chengfeng held up two fingers.

Ye Wuming stared at them, his earlier fears of a high price melting away into a smile. “Two million it is. I’ll transfer the money right away!”

Li Chengfeng was stunned—he had meant 2,000 yuan, but the other man’s offer was two million. In the world of the rich, two million might as well be two thousand.

Seeing Ye Wuming’s carefree attitude, the sum suddenly felt too small.

Li Chengfeng regretted not asking for two hundred million.

Still uneasy, he warned, “Ye Wuming, let me make it clear—I can lift your curse, but I can also cast spells on you at any time.”

Before he finished, Ye Wuming hurriedly said, “I understand, I understand! Mr. Li, rest assured, I won’t seek revenge—I don’t dare.”

“As long as you don’t mind, I’m willing to serve you like a beast of burden, obeying your commands.”

Li Chengfeng shook his head. Judging by his face, Ye Wuming was no good. If kept close, he might one day turn on him. With a look of disdain, he said, “Forget it. I don’t want a beast of burden like you.”

Returning to the Suirentang, Li Chengfeng retrieved a wooden tray covered with a thick layer of soil. On it sat a straw doll, with a coffin nail inserted between its legs.

Seeing the straw doll, Ye Wuming was incredulous, his facial muscles twitching. Could this doll really be the cause of his condition? It seemed impossible—too bizarre.

Under the curious gazes of Ye Mengyao, Wang Bin, Ye Wuming, and two bodyguards, Li Chengfeng formed hand seals and chanted incantations over the straw doll.

“Heavenly curse, earth curse, divine soldiers from all directions come to lift the curse; white curse, night curse, wandering spirits by day and night come to lift the curse; divine curse, ghost curse, five ghosts and Yama come to lift the curse...”

Listening to the incantations, Wang Bin and Ye Wuming felt their scalps tingle and an unsettling sensation in their minds.

After finishing the entire chant in a rapid stream, Li Chengfeng changed his hand seals, grasped the coffin nail, and shouted, “Break!”

He then pulled out the coffin nail. At that moment, the straw doll burst into flames and instantly turned to ashes.

This miraculous scene left everyone dumbfounded, as if witnessing a magic trick—they could not understand why the doll suddenly ignited.

Li Chengfeng took a deep breath and told Ye Wuming, “There, the curse I placed on you has been lifted.”

“Go home and rest for a few days, and you will fully recover.”

“Thank you, Mr. Li!” Ye Wuming still found it hard to believe. No medicine or injections—just pulling out the coffin nail from the straw doll could restore his health? It seemed preposterous.

Feeling deceived and mocked, his expression darkened but he dared not lose his temper.

Nearby, the two bodyguards were shocked when they heard Ye Wuming’s voice.

“Brother Ye, your... your voice!”

“What’s wrong with my voice?” Ye Wuming asked.

As he spoke, he was delighted to discover that his voice had returned to that of a man.