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"I don't understand, but that's okay. I'll explain it to you," Wei Ning said. "Actually, 'Harmful Hand' is a dark art that originates from our Zhu You sect. However, because it is too sinister, very few people practice it now. It seems that only a handful of people in Hengyang still understand it."
Guo Xiaofei replied coldly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Wei Ning continued, "The 'Harmful Hand' can kill without a trace. However, if the practitioner lacks skill, there will be a black handprint on the back of the deceased, and they will emit a foul odor after death. Since it's not something an amateur can detect when the harm is done, I overlooked it at the time. It wasn't until I accidentally discovered the handprint on Zhang Kai's back during his funeral that I connected the dots. That's when I started paying attention to you. Reflecting on these events, the only ones who could have inflicted harm are you and me, and you just happen to be from Hengyang."
"Just because I'm from Hengyang doesn't mean I've practiced 'Harmful Hand.' That's ridiculous; I've never even heard of it."
"Don't rush me; let me finish." Suddenly, Wei Ning lunged forward and grabbed Guo Xiaofei's hand, pulling out a knife from his pocket. Guo Xiaofei was instantly terrified and shouted, "What are you doing?"
"Don't move," Wei Ning said sharply, glaring at Guo Xiaofei. The intensity of Wei Ning's black and golden eyes pierced through Guo Xiaofei like daggers, causing him to tremble inexplicably and forget to struggle as he let Wei Ning hold his hand.
Wei Ning continued, "A white crescent shape appears about one-fifth down from the nail bed of a normal person's fingernail; this is called a crescent mark and serves as a window to observe the changes in a person's Yin-Yang Cycle. Everyone has one—except for one type of person." With that, Wei Ning used the knife to scrape away the black nail polish from Guo Xiaofei's fingers bit by bit. "That would be someone who has practiced 'Harmful Hand.' Because they have been cultivating this dark art for so long, their hands become 'dead hands' and will not show any signs of a Yin-Yang Cycle."
"So, someone who practices 'Harmful Hand' will not have a crescent mark."
Guo Xiaofei felt his heart sink deeper with each passing moment. He realized that Wei Ning had come prepared; the reason he hadn't approached him directly before was that he had been gathering evidence. Now that he had confronted him, it was clear that he already had ample proof.
"Because 'Harmful Hand' is such a malevolent art, those who practice it do not want others to know. Therefore, they use various methods to conceal the fact that they lack a crescent mark on their hands—such as applying nail polish."
Guo Xiaofei wanted to struggle, but Wei Ning's grip was like iron claws clamping down on him. Their gazes were like knives piercing his heart, locking away his spirit.
Indeed, the men of the Wei Family were extraordinary.
Before Guo Xiaofei began studying "Harmful Hand," his master had warned him about certain people and families in this world that should never be offended—the Chen Prefecture Wei Family firmly held such a position.
But unexpectedly, the meticulously woven plan that he had crafted for himself was laid bare in the eyes of Wei Ning.
Guo Xiaofei was on the verge of breaking down, remaining motionless as Wei Ning took action.
He knew that even if he moved, it would be futile.
Wei Ning gradually scraped away the black nail polish from Guo Xiaofei's nails, revealing his bare fingertips. Indeed, there were no crescent marks on Guo Xiaofei's hands!
Guo Xiaofei immediately felt his body go limp and collapsed onto the ground.
Wei Ning shot Guo Xiaofei a glance and said, "First of all, you know that Sun Bing has a family history of mental illness. By constantly provoking him and spreading rumors about how Sun Bing is, your goal was to isolate him."
"When you learned that Sun Bing was going to the Mortuary, you deliberately went along with it and involved Zhang Kai. At that moment, I wondered why you, who are usually so timid, responded so eagerly. It was because you had already prepared to harm us. So, you gave each of us a cigarette laced with a tranquilizer."
"After you all went to the Mortuary, I investigated thoroughly. There was nothing untoward there, so you simply administered a type of hallucinogen to them, allowing them to scare themselves, right?"
Guo Xiaofei's face grew increasingly pale, yet he remained seated on the ground without responding to Wei Ning.
Wei Ning continued, "After this incident, it was clear that Sun Bing and Zhang Kai were frightened to the point of being disoriented. Then you kept giving them more tranquilizers until they reached a breaking point. Finally, when you invited Zhang Kai out for dinner—I believe you laced his food with enough tranquilizer to completely shatter his mental state, leading to that scene we witnessed. Am I right?"
Guo Xiaofei's face turned ashen; he still did not reply, but tears streamed down his cheeks.
At this moment, Wei Ning's face also turned pale with anger as he shouted, "Guo Xiaofei, we are all roommates in the same dormitory. We have never wronged you in any way. Why would you be so cruel and scheming to put us three in danger? What have we done to deserve this from you?"
Guo Xiaofei kept his eyes tightly shut. Wei Ning stared at him intently for a long time until Guo Xiaofei suddenly spoke up, "Wei Ning, I never intended to harm you. I swear."
"I know that those who practice Harmful Hand must release their energy after a certain period, or they will suffer themselves. But why is it Sun Bing and Zhang Kai? They are our friends! Are you really unwilling to spare even your friends? Do they deserve to die? Why do you want to harm them?"
Guo Xiaofei shook his head and remained silent.
Wei Ning regretted his carelessness for not uncovering Guo Xiaofei's scheme sooner. In his eyes, Guo Xiaofei was an introverted person, timid yet sometimes dark in demeanor. Wei Ning disliked him but never imagined he could be so ruthless as to harm his own dorm mates. What had they done to offend him?
This was something Wei Ning found utterly perplexing.
Thus, Wei Ning and Guo Xiaofei remained locked in a standoff, neither willing to speak. Suddenly, Wei Ning sighed and said, "Think about it carefully. You are already an adult; you should take responsibility for your actions. As for your matters, I will keep your secrets. Just turn yourself in."
Wei Ning understood that Guo Xiaofei needed time to contemplate his future path. If Guo Xiaofei did not voluntarily confess, he would reveal everything to the police. If the police still did not believe him, he would have no choice but to resolve this grudge himself.
Regarding the deaths of Sun Bing and Zhang Kai, Wei Ning believed that his absence from the dorm allowed Guo Xiaofei the opportunity to act. If he had been there or had noticed something amiss with Sun Bing and the others earlier (since Sun Bing was afflicted by Harmful Hand and not possessed by a ghost, even with Wei Ning's Yin-Yang Eye ability, he could not see through it), things might have turned out differently. Wei Ning continued to feel a sense of guilt over this, so seeking revenge for them was also a way for him to "atone" for himself.
"Today marks your Seven Days of Mourning. I hope you can rest in peace," Wei Ning silently thought as he ignored the kneeling Guo Xiaofei and turned to leave.
As Wei Ning reached the door, he suddenly heard Guo Xiaofei's heart-wrenching scream from behind: "They called me short!"
Glossary: Harmful Hand is a local term from Hengyang, also known as "sweaty hands" or "trap hands." There are no written records of it; it is rumored to be a folk method capable of killing invisibly, similar to kung fu but closer to witchcraft. It requires chanting spells during practice, but its applications vary; it can harm without physical contact, leading to death or illness without any identifiable cause in hospitals. It is said that experts in this art can determine who cast the spell with just a bowl of water. Of course, there are also methods to cure it, resembling witchcraft. I have never seen it myself but have heard stories from my grandmother's acquaintances. My grandmother once had a loquat tree that later withered; someone learned this technique and used it maliciously, resulting in its death because those who practice Harmful Hand must release their energy after reaching a certain level; otherwise, they cannot bear it themselves.
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