Chapter 267: Breaking the Curse
Zhou Fudui's words—what did they mean? Every man present understood, not just Yang Haoran, but the other four Spirit Police as well.
Yang Haoran's face showed a mix of exasperation and amusement, knowing that his actions had led to a rather significant misunderstanding.
Since he had his back to Zhou Fudui and the four others, and the madwoman's front was obscured by him, the five men had only witnessed him tearing the madwoman's clothes. They hadn't seen the actual situation.
To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Yang Haoran shifted his body, revealing the restrained madwoman to their gazes.
The madwoman's clothes had indeed been torn by Yang Haoran, but he had only ripped the fabric around her belly, exposing just that area. No other parts of her body were revealed.
“Could you perhaps not think so crudely of me? Even if I were desperate, I wouldn't stoop so low as to prey on a madwoman,” Yang Haoran said, a rather forced smile on his face, as he addressed Zhou Fudui.
The scene before them was entirely different from what he had imagined, and Zhou Fudui's face broke into an awkward smile.
“Ah, well, hehe, my apologies. Your movements just now certainly lent themselves to misinterpretation. ”
Yang Haoran shook his head with a wry smile. He didn't dwell on the matter, instead pointing to the madwoman's exposed belly.
Zhou Fudui didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer to Yang Haoran and meticulously examined the madwoman's belly.
“Filthy,” Zhou Fudui uttered a moment later, just two words.
Yang Haoran's mouth twitched, then he forced a smile. “I'm aware of that. Anything else? ”
“Anything else? Well, her waist is quite slender,” Zhou Fudui stated with a serious expression.
Yang Haoran's smile froze for a beat, then returned to normal. He continued to chuckle. “You know, I hadn't even noticed that! Her waist truly is quite slender. Aside from that, anything else? ”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fudui realized there must be some hidden secret on the madwoman's belly that he had missed. He leaned his face close to her stomach and inspected it again with his naked eye, this time even more thoroughly than before.
However, the stench emanating from the madwoman was unbearable. During his examination, he had to cover his nose with his hand.
A moment later, a surprised exclamation escaped Zhou Fudui's lips.
“Hmm, on her belly, it looks like. . . like something's drawn there? ”
As he spoke, Zhou Fudui straightened up, then looked at Yang Haoran, as if seeking confirmation. Yang Haoran, in turn, nodded at him with a smile.
There was indeed something drawn on the madwoman's belly, but her body was so incredibly filthy, with a thick layer of grime caked onto her skin, that without a very close and thorough inspection, it was impossible to discern any markings.
Receiving Yang Haoran's affirmation, Zhou Fudui knew there was something fishy about these indistinct patterns.
“Go get a basin of water! ”
Zhou Fudui ordered the other four Spirit Police. He wanted to thoroughly clean the madwoman's belly to see what was drawn on it.
“No need for such trouble,”
Yang Haoran stopped the four Spirit Police. Then, under the gaze of all five, he pressed his palm onto the madwoman's belly.
This time, no one misunderstood. All five, including Zhou Fudui, wore solemn expressions.
As Yang Haoran's palm rested on the madwoman's belly, there was no other reaction beyond her struggles intensifying.
However, as Yang Haoran forcibly injected a wisp of Spirit Power into the madwoman's body, an anomaly suddenly occurred!
The madwoman's belly erupted with a brilliant green light, and the originally indistinct patterns instantly became clear!
A crooked, twisted thing, like a pattern, yet like writing, yet like a spell, emanated a strong green light and became visible. Even the thick grime couldn't conceal it now.
The other four Spirit Police had no idea what it was, but Zhou Fudui was different. When he clearly saw the green-glowing pattern on the madwoman's belly, his expression instantly changed.
“This is. . . this is a Demon Curse! ”
Zhou Fudui's voice held undisguised astonishment. Yang Haoran, too, was somewhat surprised, though his surprise stemmed from Zhou Fudui also recognizing a Demon Curse.
The green-glowing pattern on the madwoman's belly was, indeed, a Demon Curse.
Yang Haoran recognized the Demon Curse because he had seen them more than once, so naturally, he knew what it was.
Moreover, not only did he recognize Demon Curses, but he could also read Demon Script, because he possessed a Demon Pill.
As for why Zhou Fudui also recognized Demon Curses, that piqued his curiosity.
“Zhou Fudui is indeed extraordinary, to even recognize Demon Curses,” Yang Haoran said with a smile, while observing the changes on the madwoman's belly.
Zhou Fudui chuckled and replied, “Our Spirit Police's scope of responsibility isn't limited to just ghosts; all manner of demons, monsters, and ghosts fall under our purview. Furthermore, I myself am an Exorcist, so I have a smattering of miscellaneous knowledge. ”
“So that's how it is. Then, Zhou Fudui, do you know what the Demon Curse on her belly means? ” Yang Haoran asked with a smile.
Zhou Fudui's smile turned awkward. He shook his head, then said, “I only recognize Demon Curses and Demon Script, but I can't read their meaning. Does Spirit Emissary Yang know what it means? ”
“It's the character for ‘seal’,” Yang Haoran said with a chuckle. “But as for its specific function, I'm not entirely clear. Like you, I only have a partial understanding of Demon Script and Demon Curses. ”
That Yang Haoran could actually read Demon Script and Demon Curses filled Zhou Fudui with initial surprise. Then, as if something occurred to him, his gaze towards Yang Haoran became even more astonished.
Yang Haoran was not of the demon race. For him to understand Demon Script, there were two possibilities: either he had specifically studied it, or he possessed a Demon Pill. Either possibility was enough to utterly astonish Zhou Fudui.
“Spirit Emissary Yang is truly remarkable! My admiration, my deepest admiration! ”
Zhou Fudui spoke, his face filled with awe. Yang Haoran simply smiled without a word, continuing to slowly infuse Spirit Power into the madwoman's belly.
“This Black Talisman Master must have fallen victim to the demonic race, which is why she ended up like this,” Zhou Fudui continued. “If we can break this Demon Curse, it might restore her lucidity, and we might be able to glean more useful information from her. ”
Yang Haoran nodded. “Zhou Fudui, you and I are thinking along the same lines,” he responded.
No sooner had he spoken than the Demon Curse on the madwoman's belly seemed to sense danger and suddenly began to stir restlessly.
The green light intensified by a full fold, attempting to forcibly shake Yang Haoran's palm away!
This sight didn't cause Yang Haoran the slightest panic. Instead, the smile on his face deepened, as if all of this had been within his expectations.
With a muffled *boom*, black smoke suddenly billowed from Yang Haoran's palm pressed against the madwoman's belly. At that very instant, he abruptly increased the injection of Spirit Power into her.
The Spirit Power within his body surged endlessly towards the madwoman, like a bursting dam's floodwaters. More precisely, it streamed towards the Demon Curse inside her.
Though the Demon Curse manifested on the madwoman's belly, it was actually located within her body. Yang Haoran's current action was to forcefully break this Demon Curse using sheer brute force!
Zhou Fudui, standing nearby, also discerned Yang Haoran's intention. He didn't disturb Yang Haoran, instead gesturing to the other four Spirit Police to remain vigilant. If any unexpected situation arose, they would be ready to react immediately.
As the endless stream of Spirit Power poured into the madwoman's body, her struggles not only intensified, but shrill screams even emanated from her mouth!
Yang Haoran paid no mind, as if he neither saw the madwoman's struggles nor heard her screams, continuing to forcibly channel his internal Spirit Power into her body.
The Demon Curse on her belly vibrated violently. After a few breaths, the Demon Curse shattered with a *boom*, dissipating into specks of green light.
The instant the Demon Curse vanished, the madwoman ceased her struggles, and her screams abruptly cut off!
As if realizing something, Yang Haoran grabbed Zhou Fudui beside him and leaped backward.
No sooner had the two men dodged than the madwoman retched with a "wah" sound.
Black, mushy, soft things emerged bit by bit from the madwoman's mouth. At first, it was unclear what she was vomiting, but as her violent retching continued, the substance grew longer and more voluminous.
What the madwoman was slowly spitting out turned out to be long strands of hair!
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