Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Aidan nodded. “One of the clients fell off the eighteenth floor and died on the spot.” William nodded and kept walking ahead. Then, he saw a shop lot covered in black smoke. “What about this one?” Aidan was surprised William knew something bad happened in that unit as well. “An electrician was electrocuted to death. How do you know someone died here? Did you see the news?” William didn’t answer. Instead, he continued walking ahead and pointed at the third building. “I assume someone died here as well?” Aidan was shocked. He stared at William as he answered, “One of the renovators jumped off the roof and died on the spot.” “I knew it.” After William circled the building a few times, he said, “Let’s go inside.” “Inside?” Aidan was a little scared. “It’s alright. I’m here.” William smiled. If you say so. Aidan gritted his teeth and walked ahead of William. The building was topped off, but it hadn’t been renovated yet. The place was filled with filth and trash. Our duo came to a dark corridor. The house was dim with no lights on. After they passed through the corridor, they entered a room, but there was no door or decoration inside. It was as big a mess as any other place here. William walked around while keeping an eye on the ground. Through his third eye, he saw a black jar buried about ten yards underground. That was the source of the black smoke, or to be precise, Killing Intent. It was harmful to humans, and prolonged exposure would stir up negative emotions, cause hallucinations, and eventually, death. He looked past the jar to see what was inside. Inside it was the corpse of an infant immersed in some liquid. The infant was probably ripped out of its mother when it was still a fetus. It was the size of a fist, and William thought he would puke. He quickly grabbed Aidan and left the house. They went into the other nine houses, and William saw the same jar buried underneath. Every jar too had the corpse of an infant inside. Curious about the prolonged silence, Aidan asked, “What’s going on, William? Tell me.” Solemnly, William said, “We’ll find out soon enough. Come with me.” Even at this distance, William saw black smoke billowing from a villa on the hill. The smoke was a few times stronger and darker than those around the houses here. When they reached the villa, William asked, “Someone died here as well, didn’t they?” Aidan nodded. “Yes. Two deaths. This is unbelievable. You got it all right.” William’s gaze penetrated the ground. He saw a gigantic jar buried about five yards underneath, and inside was the corpse of a young woman. Her limbs were cut off, leaving only her torso and head intact. Poor things. A long sigh escaped William’s lips. “I knew it. Ghost Mother’s Formation of Demise.” Part of the information he got from the jade pendant involved witchcraft. There was a particularly evil formation called Ghost Mother’s Formation of Demise. The formation required a woman to be impregnated ten times, and every time, her fetus would be ripped out and made into special corpses through dark magic. The mother would be killed in the end, and her limbs would be cut off. These victims would be immersed in a jar after that. This was a cruel formation that would take a long time to create. The formation used the link between a mother and her child to create something powerful. The terrible deaths these victims had to suffer would curse them to be the bearer of a great grudge, and this grudge would eventually turn into a powerful Killing Intent. “What formation again?” asked Aidan. “We’ll talk later, but now, we need to leave.” William grabbed Aidan and left the hill quickly. When they got back to the car, Aidan felt all his strength leave him, and he plopped down on his seat like a deflated balloon. He was as pale as a ghost, and he couldn’t even muster much strength. “What happened to me?” he asked in a trembling voice. William massaged his forehead. “You were touched by the power of Killing Intent. Relax, you’ll be fine soon.” After a pause, William said, “Someone set up a formation here. It’s not hard to lift. All we have to do is dig out the cursed items, but I need you to prepare a few things for me.” He can lift the curse? Aidan trembled with excitement. “Can you settle this?” William nodded. “You can go on with the project once I lift the formation’s curse.” He took his phone out and wrote down a list of itemsanimal horn powder, the urine of a black dog, the blood from a three-year-old rooster’s crown, inkstick, cow lashes, and more. Then, he sent that message to Aidan. Aidan felt William could settle the problem, and he trembled with excitement. “I’ll prepare everything right away.” “Calm down. Take me to the train station. I need to go home for the day. Pick me up at the same station tomorrow afternoon.” Aidan nodded and took William back to the interchange. While William was getting out of the car, Tia was at Cloudcap Manor. The manor took up a few thousand acres, and the buildings were set up near the mountain walls. This was the residence of the Lloyd Family. Tia was in a certain building, glaring at the man before her. He was about forty years old, but he still looked handsome. If he were twenty years younger, he would be even more handsome. This man was none other than Tia’s fatherTurner Lloyd. Beside him was a beautiful and elegant woman. Her age was unknown, but she looked a little like Tia. This was Tia’s motherSelina. Turner was hanging his head low, too ashamed to face Tia. Just now, the family called a meeting and took everything he had, save for his title of chairman of Lloyd Corporation. If Tia hadn’t convinced her grandfather, the family would have taken his dividends back as well. “Honestly, Dad, I don’t know where to begin.” Tia looked disappointed in her father. “How many times have I told you that those friends of yours are scammers and to stop hanging out with them?” Not wanting her daughter to keep berating Turner, Selina said, “That’s enough, Tia. Your father is as upset enough as it is. We have to find a way out of this.” Tia rolled her eyes. “What way? First Grandma said she won’t reinstate Dad unless I marry into the Young Family.” Just then, Tia’s phone rang. It was from William, and she quickly picked it up. William was on the train back. Solemnly, he asked, “Miss Lloyd, how much do you think Prosperity Villa is worth right now?” Tia mused over it. “About three billion at least, but it’s a cursed place. Nobody’s going to buy it. Why do you ask?” “Just saying, but if I can lift the curse, will your family invest in it?” This formation was not the only thing the Wrights had to deal with. They also had to cover their debt. If they wanted to make a comeback, they needed Tia’s help. Tia’s eyes shone. “You can lift the curse?” “Yes. The place will be as safe as any other soon. A bit of renovation, and it can be sold to the public, but the Wrights need money and support, both of which your family can afford.” Tia mused over her options again. “Can you represent the Wrights in this deal, then?” “No, but you can tell me what you want them to know. I’ll be sure the message reaches them.” William smiled. “If Prosperity Villa can get its curse lifted, then we’ll provide any and all assistance you may need. Three hundred million upfront, but on one condition: thirty percent project share.” “I’ll call the Wrights right away. Talk to you later.” William called Aidan. Aidan was on his way back, but when he knew the Lloyds would help out, he was delighted. “Thirty percent of the shares? Of course,” he quickly said. The Wrights were in a dire situation. He would gladly give fifty percent if Tia had asked for that. “You sure you don’t want to talk to your parents, Aidan?” “Nope. My folks will do the same thing, William.” “I see. I’ll give you Tia’s number, then. You guys hash things out.” “Thank you, mate,” said Aidan seriously. “You can thank me after tomorrow.” William then told Tia to contact Aidan to talk about the partnership. Tia didn’t call Aidan right away. Instead, she looked at Turner. “I need three hundred million, Turner.” Turner almost jumped. “But I don’t have three hundred million.” “You’re still part of the BOD. You have the right to spend any amount of money as long as it’s less than four hundred and fifty million.” Turner blinked. Oh, wait. I think she’s on to something. “Alright, what’s the deal this time?” Tia smiled. “The Wrights found themselves a competent exorcist. Prosperity Villa’s curse will be lifted soon. I need that money to buy out some of that project’s shares. I can at least triple the value of that investment in just a year.” He gritted his teeth. “Alright. You scout out the situation. I’ll deal with the money problem.” One and a half hours later, William arrived home. It was already five. He insisted on going home because he needed to treat his mother daily.