Yu Daohan and the others followed He Jun to a villa. "This is my home."
He Jun knocked on the main door. A girl's voice came from inside, "Who is it? I'm coming."
Footsteps could be heard, and the main door was opened.
A sixteen-year-old girl peeked out, her face full of disbelief. "Sister?"
Tears welled up in He Jun's eyes. "It's me!"
He Jun's parents, hearing the commotion, also came out. He Jun's mother, Bi Chunli, emerged first, her sorrowful expression turning to excitement. "He Jun, is it really you?"
He Jun nodded and stepped aside. "It was these masters who saved me."
Bi Chunli looked at Yu Daohan and the others outside. "Thank you, masters, for saving my daughter. Please come in and have a seat."
As Bi Chunli spoke, she led Yu Daohan and the others into the house.
He Jun's father, He Dong, came out. "Xiao Jun?"
He Jun nodded, her eyes already red with tears. "It's me, Dad."
He Dong sighed, his face etched with sadness. "You shouldn't have come back."
He Jun paused, unsure what her father meant.
Bi Chunli, standing nearby, quickly tried to smooth things over. "It's a joyous occasion that our daughter has escaped death."
With that, she ushered them and He Jun inside to sit.
Dahu glanced at Yu Daohan beside him. He Dong's previous words were clearly a complaint.
Yu Daohan shook his head, signaling Dahu not to act rashly.
In the living room, Bi Chunli invited Yu Daohan and the others to sit. He Jun recounted the entire story.
He Dong and Bi Chunli both showed fear on their faces. He Dong looked at Yu Daohan. "Masters, what you mean is..."
Yu Daohan nodded. "That's right. In five years, no more girls will be born in the village. If there are no girls to sacrifice then, one living person will be sacrificed every day until all the villagers are gone."
Bi Chunli looked at He Dong, her face filled with anxiety. "Dear, if that's the case, what will happen to Ah Wen and Ah Wu?"
He Dong and Bi Chunli completely believed Yu Daohan's words. For the past three years, only one out of every twenty children born in the village was a girl. Last year, there wasn't a single girl. If this continued, it was indeed possible that no girls would be born in the village in five years.
He Dong remained silent. Ah Wen and Ah Wu were He Dong and Bi Chunli's two sons, currently attending middle school in a private school, where the tuition for just one semester was over four hundred thousand yuan.
"Masters, if that evil spirit is truly eliminated, will this wealth truly be lost?" He Dong finally asked after a long pause.
Yu Daohan nodded without speaking.
He Dong, still unwilling to give up, continued to ask, "Is there really no other way?"
Yu Daohan nodded. "No!"
"This wealth was obtained through unrighteous means. When the evil spirit dies, the wealth it gained will disappear with it."
"Then my sons..." He Dong was already despairing.
Yu Daohan shook his head helplessly. "As you sow, so shall you reap. What has been spent must eventually be repaid. There's no escaping it."
He Dong lowered his head and fell silent. Bi Chunli beside him was on the verge of tears. "Dear, Ah Wen and Ah Wu cannot die."
"I know." He Dong kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought. He took out a pack of soft Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and lit it.
He Dong took a puff and slowly exhaled. "Masters, will our sons have to live a life of hardship forever?"
Yu Daohan did not conceal anything. "That's right. Not only your sons, but even your grandchildren will have to live a life of poverty for generations."
"Dad, if the money is gone, the family can live a hard life. But if people are gone, then nothing is left," He Jun also tried to persuade him.
He Dong stopped exhaling and continued to smoke. He was tired of worrying about basic necessities every day. Not to mention, the tuition fees for Ah Wen and Ah Wu's schooling each semester were a huge expense.
Everyone watched He Dong for his decision. He Dong just kept smoking.
A cigarette slowly turned to ash and fell onto the table. He Dong took the last puff and slowly exhaled, his gaze becoming firm as he made up his mind.
"That's right. If people die, nothing remains. This evil spirit is a constant menace and must be eliminated." He Dong's eyes were unwavering. He looked at Bi Chunli beside him. "Dear, go to the safe and get out four hundred and fifty thousand yuan."
Seeing that her father had agreed, He Jun was overjoyed. This meant her sister and two younger brothers would not have to die.
Su Lai and Dahu and the others were surprised that He Dong was willing to give up such a large fortune.
It seemed that wealth was truly insignificant compared to the safety of loved ones.
Yu Daohan remained silent. He suspected things were not as simple as they seemed, and human desires could not be easily overcome.
This was something that would never change.
"Since Mr. He has agreed, we will act tomorrow night to eliminate the threat," Yu Daohan said. Although he was unsure if He Dong was truly agreeing or just pretending, since the money had been accepted, it was best to act quickly to avoid any further complications.
After chatting with the He Dong family for a while longer, Bi Chunli arranged accommodations for Yu Daohan and the others.
At five in the morning, Yu Daohan lay in bed, gazing at the night sky outside the window, unable to sleep. If the evil spirit were truly resolved, Anxiang Village could indeed escape disaster.
However, Yu Daohan had a nagging feeling that things would not go so smoothly.