Yue Qingqing gestured for Old Qian to take off the bead bracelet, and Old Qian hesitated for a moment.
"Young lady, I can’t let anyone else handle this bracelet."
Yue Qingqing smiled, "Even if you give it to me, I won’t take it, just put it on the table."
The bracelet was placed on the table, its black beads somber and dignified.
Each bead was plump and round, and even those unfamiliar with such things could guess they were pricey.
The surface was coated with a layer of lustrous sheen, clearly showing Qian Zhengxin’s fondness, as he often played with and admired the beads in his hand.
Yue Qingqing tapped the table lightly, without much force.
Yet the dishes and bracelet on the table gave a slight jump.
It wasn’t until this moment that Qian Zhengxin truly believed in Yue Qingqing’s extraordinary abilities.
Yue Qingqing enveloped the entire string of beads in Spiritual Energy, an opaque milky halo surrounding the ink-black beads, invisible to the common eye.
Somewhat fidgety little creatures inside suddenly felt threatened and began to squirm restlessly.
Yue Qingqing knocked on the table again, as if signaling something; the jade amulet on her chest faintly glowed, and the Spiritual Energy condensed even more intensely.
The creatures inside became even more frantic.
Qian Zhengxin watched, eyes wide, as the beads seemed to be slowly cracked open by something inside, soon shattering on the table.
All the beads met the same fate.
Gleaming green insects crawled out, tiny as fingertip-sized but revealing densely packed mouthparts upon opening their mouths.
Their six legs moved quickly towards Yue Qingqing, as if seeking to fiercely avenge the disruption.
Yue Qingqing let out a light hum, and the Grass Ring on her wrist emitted a faint fragrant scent.
After sniffing it, the insects staggered around drunkenly and uncontrollably flipped over onto their backs.
Yue Qingqing snapped her fingers. The insects spontaneously combusted, emitting a cringing screech before turning to ashes.
Qian Zhengxin was dumbfounded, hardly believing his eyes.
"Something that could let you die silently," Yue Qingqing reminded. "They were hiding inside the beads, nurtured by your breath at all times. Now they are still in the larval stage. Once they mature, they’ll break out of the beads to bite you a few times, and the symptoms of death should be similar to a heart attack."
Yue Qingqing often chatted with Yan Sinian and had been instilled with some knowledge.
Qian Zhengxin couldn’t believe it. "How could this be? This bead, this bead is..."
It was the only gift from his son, sought from a master and blessed.
It was said to ensure safety.
Although he was not entirely convinced, since it represented his only son’s intentions, Qian Zhengxin certainly didn’t want to let him down.
He had also always followed his son’s instruction not to let others touch it, so as not to tarnish it with someone else’s breath.
But what he received was not filial piety, but murderous intent.
In an instant, Qian Zhengxin’s shoulders slumped, his whole being seeming to be drained of vitality.
"It’s impossible; he couldn’t have done this," Qian Zhengxin murmured to himself. "Everything I have is for him; why would this happen?"
If it weren’t for seeing it with his own eyes, Qian Zhengxin would never have believed it.
Seeing the old man’s expression, Yue Qingqing knew how upset he must be; probably, the string of beads had been a gift from someone very important to him.
Yue Qingqing took a sip of water and stood up, "Then I’ll be leaving."
She had to go to the library to study in the afternoon.
Qian Zhengxin, however, stopped her, "Young lady, since you can predict and calculate, can you help me figure out why he would do this?"
He simply could not fathom it. In his youth, he had been busy building his career and indeed neglected his wife and child.
But as soon as his career stabilized, he immediately brought his wife and child to his side.
For years, Qian Zhengxin prided himself on his integrity and had never done anything to wrong them. There was no reason for his son to hate him.
Moreover, he was of such an age, and all his wealth was intended for his son’s inheritance. Qian Zhengxin could not understand his son’s motive.