Chapter 23: A Face

As soon as he asked that question, Qi Yan’s expression shifted briefly, but he quickly returned to his usual composure. Even Yang Han was momentarily taken aback; having already acquired seven amulets himself, he was naturally somewhat familiar with such matters.

Seeing the discomfort on their faces, Wang Yudong let out an awkward laugh and explained, “Oh, it’s nothing, really. I just know these amulets originate from Thailand, and they’re very popular and esteemed in Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. There was even news about some female celebrity raising spirits through them, so I was curious and wanted to ask.”

Li Ruoke licked her lips, speaking unhurriedly, “You’re right, there are both ‘good’ and ‘yin’ amulets. Whether it’s the regular amulets or the yin ones, they’re all crafted by Thai masters. It’s nothing too mysterious, but I don’t recommend beginners go for yin amulets—they need to be enshrined, and there are many precautions. Most importantly, there’s really no need for it, is there? Heh.”

With just a few words, she brushed off the topic, clearly unwilling to discuss it further.

Qi Yan frowned, quietly left with his cocktail in hand, and stationed himself by the pool, removing himself from their conversation.

It was already half past eight in the evening, and night had completely fallen. Yet, the villa and the surrounding courtyard were brightly lit.

The more Li Ruoke spoke, the more animated she became; the group of young men and women listened with growing interest, their chatter momentarily halting the festivities.

“If we’re talking about these amulets, their history is quite long, but their use as truly effective talismans dates back two to six hundred years, to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Why have these amulets remained so enduring in Thailand and all of Southeast Asia? Well, it’s because...”

She explained tirelessly, surrounded by attentive guests. No one noticed Qi Yan, lost in thought by himself.

It wasn’t until he’d finished the entire bottle of cocktail that Qi Yan realized standing alone looked odd, and he was about to turn back to rejoin the group.

But just then, as he glanced unintentionally down at the water, he saw a pale human face floating serenely on the pool’s surface, as if someone were lying just beneath it.

Most strikingly, though the face was deathly white, its lips were vivid as blood, and utterly expressionless...

Qi Yan drew a sharp breath. Wearing slippers, he nearly slipped.

At that moment, Li Ruoke called out, “Qi Yan, what are you doing standing there alone? Come join us!”

Her call forced him to swallow his outcry. When he turned around, everyone noticed the odd look on his face.

When he looked back at the pool, the face was gone—as if it had never been there. The blue water was crystal clear to the bottom.

He kept what he’d seen entirely to himself, quietly returning to a deck chair, heart pounding.

Perhaps his recent encounter with a corpse in the water—and being forcibly dragged under—had left him with a lingering fear of pools.

Li Ruoke kept up her lively talk for over an hour, drinking and eating as she spoke. In the end, everyone present was convinced—Yang Han, with his seven amulets, included. The others eagerly placed orders on their phones then and there.

“I’ve already got a tally of what everyone wants. All the amulets will be delivered within a week,” she said happily, watching the stream of money transfers arrive on her phone. Five wealthy young people had just ordered nine amulets from her in one go, not even bargaining, as Yang Han had assured her in advance that none of them lacked for money. Li Ruoke was, of course, delighted; after costs, she’d just made several thousand yuan in profit.

With business concluded, everyone’s spirits lifted further, and they dove back into the party around the pool. Yang Han even brought out two speakers for music—thumping beats filled the air. In colorful swimsuits, with drinks, food, and beautiful company, they reveled wildly.

Li Ruoke was more delighted than ever. Having hidden her excitement before, she now pulled Qi Yan aside, grinning, “The results are even better than I expected! And this is just today’s orders—they’ll definitely help spread the word. My client base is about to level up again!”

Qi Yan, however, couldn’t share her joy. Frowning, he spoke quietly, “Now that business is done, can we take a cab home after the party?”

“No,” Li Ruoke refused. “What’s gotten into you? We agreed to stay over tonight, didn’t we? Who knows how late the party will go. Besides, leaving right after closing a deal—what would our host think?”

Qi Yan had no choice but to lean in and quietly recount what he’d seen by the pool.

Li Ruoke’s face changed dramatically, fear creeping in. “You—are you sure you didn’t see it wrong? Or maybe you’ve had too much to drink?”

“I wish I had. It was only a few seconds, but past experience tells me I don’t hallucinate, nor would a single low-alcohol cocktail leave my vision blurred!”

Had anyone else said this, Li Ruoke might have dismissed it, but coming from Qi Yan, it carried more weight.

“Is it the one you carry with you?” she asked.

Qi Yan shook his head. “No, it’s definitely not the one from my yin amulet. Actually, I’ve felt a strange unease since we first arrived, but I didn’t think much of it until now.”

As someone in the know, Li Ruoke was aware that ever since Qi Yan had been entangled with a yin amulet, his constitution had grown more sensitive to the supernatural, much like Li Lan. She herself was quite knowledgeable in such matters.

At that moment, the little Bichon Frise in her arms, which had been asleep, suddenly woke—perhaps hungry or needing the bathroom—and began barking, trembling violently as if terrified, its ears drooping.

Li Ruoke held it closer, gently soothing it.

Qi Yan, glancing at little Shirley, continued, “Are you really staying here tonight?”

Li Ruoke’s brow was furrowed tightly as she looked at the partying guests, clearly undecided.

Suppose what Qi Yan said was true and there was something unclean here—nothing had happened yet, so who could she tell? Yang Han alone would be hard to explain to; could she just say there was something wrong with his villa? That would only create problems.

Yet to leave now, based on a vague unease, would be rude and dampen the mood. Public transport here had already stopped for the night, and taxis were rare even during the day; it would be difficult to leave now.

After some thought, Li Ruoke finally said, “It’s fine, let’s not get too worked up. You just happened to see something in the water, and we don’t even know what it was. If we panic at the slightest thing, we’re just being neurotic.”

“And even if there really is something here, it isn’t necessarily hostile. Ask Li Lan—there isn’t a place without a wandering soul or two, they’re just invisible to ordinary eyes.”

Her calmness left Qi Yan with nothing more to say. After all, only he had seen that face; it would be irrational to use that as an excuse to leave. Perhaps his recent harrowing experiences had left him jittery.

Still, the sense of unease in his heart didn’t fade; it only grew stronger. The others, still partying noisily, had sensed nothing at all.

He could only hope that when the party ended tonight, all would be calm and safe.