Zhao Manjia hired someone to impersonate a sorcerer, and the man immediately spent money on robes and tools.
Once ready, he contacted Gu Junyi, who invited him to his company for a discussion.
The man, dressed in ordinary black sportswear, entered the room, looked Gu Junyi up and down, and said,
"Mr. Gu, rest assured, it’s just a small rat demon. Once I perform the ritual, it will be turned to ash and will never dare to trouble you and Miss Zhao again."
Gu Junyi was greatly shocked. Besides him and Zhao Manjia, no one else knew about this matter. Manjia wouldn't try to trick him, so it seemed the person before him was indeed a hidden master.
He quickly got up and bowed respectfully. The man, though panicked, maintained a calm demeanor. Only after Gu Junyi finished bowing did he step forward to help him up.
"Mr. Gu, there's no need for this. Helping to remove evil is my duty as a humble Taoist."
"It's deserved, it's deserved. Master, you are too kind. After this is done, I will surely reward you generously."
The man waved his hands, "I don't care for worldly possessions. Exorcising demons and subduing spirits also accrues virtue for me."
Gu Junyi believed him even more, "Then, Master, when can you eliminate this demon?"
"A small evil creature requires little effort. Whenever Mr. Gu is free, we can proceed."
"Alright, let's go now. The sooner it's dealt with, the more at ease I'll be. Everything is in your hands, Master."
After speaking, Gu Junyi bowed again. This time, the man did not help him up, displaying the demeanor of a celestial master.
Gu Junyi personally drove to pick up the tools prepared by the man. Zhao Manjia insisted on accompanying him, which deeply touched Gu Junyi.
The man even cast a divination for them on the spot, saying they were a match made in heaven, blessed by fortune.
Upon arriving at the villa, the man held the key to a cage. He opened it and placed Zhao Jinsi, who had fainted from hunger, on the altar.
He performed a bizarre dance, scattered some talismans, spewed flames from his mouth, and chanted incantations.
He seemed possessed, his expression contorted in pain. His exposed skin turned red, and he was sweating profusely.
With a final incantation, he produced a thick, golden bowl with blue flames burning inside its inner wall. He leaped forward and slammed the bowl onto Zhao Jinsi.
His hands trembled as he shook the bowl. Gu Junyi watched as black smoke drifted out from the gaps. When the man lifted the bowl, Zhao Jinsi's body was gone.
The man made another strange gesture with his hands and muttered words. The candles flanking the altar were suddenly extinguished by a gust of chilling wind, and the incense in the center snapped in half.
Gu Junyi was terrified and instinctively shielded Zhao Manjia behind him. Zhao Manjia felt immense joy, thinking that her brother Gu Junyi was now completely focused on her, and everything she had done was worth it.
The man waved his hands and feet a few times, then turned to bow before the enshrined statue.
"Mr. Gu, the demon has been eliminated by me. Rest assured, it will never be able to harm you and Miss Zhao again."
"Thank you, Master."
The man put away his "golden bowl." Gu Junyi, seeing nothing beneath it, was highly impressed by the man's sorcery.
It was his prior experience with Zhao Jinsi's existence that made him believe the man so easily.
The man packed his belongings, and Gu Junyi personally escorted him home.
That evening, the man appeared at Zhao Manjia's apartment.
"Miss Zhao, this is your rat."
"Thank you. Junyi has been resting poorly lately. He's been very stressed, which is why he thought this rat was strange. I had no choice but to ask you to deceive him. I hope you won't say anything."
The man quickly waved his hands, "I appreciate your good intentions. I am not an ungrateful person."
...
Zhao Jinsi woke up groggily and was startled to find herself in this unfamiliar environment. Anxiously, she cried out, wanting to escape this place quickly.
How did she get here? What would happen if Junyi couldn't find her? She battered her head against the barrier relentlessly.
Zhao Manjia was drawn by the commotion and couldn't help but laugh at Zhao Jinsi's pathetic state.
Seeing Zhao Manjia, Zhao Jinsi's eyes widened with hatred.
"Why is it you? You shameless woman. What's the point of you pestering like this? Junyi is my husband. What do you want to do to me? Junyi won't forgive you when he remembers. You're a thief!"
Zhao Manjia laughed heartily, "Sister, why are you squeaking like that? I can't understand a single word you're saying. But you look so pathetic right now."
"It's all because you stole my place. My current state is all your fault."
"Hahaha, why did you find a rat to possess? What a waste of an opportunity. You're still as foolish as ever, though this rat suits you."
Zhao Jinsi couldn't verbally attack Zhao Manjia; her words were always ignored. Listening to Zhao Manjia's sarcastic remarks, she trembled with rage, yet was utterly helpless.
Zhao Manjia smiled and recounted her love story with Gu Junyi, even showing Zhao Jinsi their sweet photos and affectionate videos one by one.
Zhao Jinsi looked at the familiar man, hearing the sweet words he spoke.
But the recipient was no longer herself, but her most detested sister, the woman who had tormented her countless times.
Her eyes turned crimson, and she resolved in her heart, biting down on the edge of the cage. She used all her strength, but couldn't even leave a tooth mark.
"Hahaha, my dear sister, this was specially made for you. You can live peacefully as a rat for the rest of your life, watching me and Junyi哥哥 live happily ever after."
Seeing Zhao Jinsi's unyielding gaze, Zhao Manjia sinisterly picked up a pair of scissors.
With a single snip, she cut off Zhao Jinsi's tail, carelessly applying a band-aid.
"Sister, enjoy your future days. I will take one thing from you every day from now on. I hope you live a long life."
She cackled and left, returning shortly with the spoiled food she had deliberately prepared earlier.
Zhao Jinsi could no longer even crawl. Zhao Manjia confidently opened the door and placed the food inside, accidentally spilling some.
She wiped her hands with a tissue, "Sister, you need to lick it clean. I don't want to clean your cage. If it's still this dirty tomorrow, I'll have to soak the cage in water."
Shui Wa: "Indeed, not a single normal person. Love-addled and mentally deranged, amplified."
Xie An Mu: "This is clearly a pervert. Watching them self-destruct is just one word: satisfying."