In Pingtou Ward, west of Feng'an City, stood an ordinary residence.
The main hall was empty. An altar table stood against the wall directly opposite the entrance. Wisps of green smoke rose from the Incense Burner atop it, and a painted clay figure as tall as a forearm stood in the center of the table.
A Long-bearded Middle-aged Man stood rigidly beside it, while the Mustached Middle-aged Man knelt on a meditation cushion before the table.
Holding four incense sticks, he bowed reverently to the figure. Each time he kowtowed, a thin wisp of smoke flew from the Incense Burner and pierced the figure like an arrow.
Each penetration made the figure slightly shorter. In only a moment, it had shrunk by a finger's width.
The Mustached Middle-aged Man wore a smile as he prepared to continue bowing, but the clay figure suddenly erupted with an invisible force.
The Mustached Middle-aged Man instantly felt as if someone had gripped his heart. Pain shot through his chest, and his entire body stiffened.
The next moment.
Roar!
A savage roar exploded beside his ears.
Bang!
The painted clay figure exploded, and the invisible force surged.
It was as though the Mustached Middle-aged Man had been struck by a battering ram. His chest caved in, and he flipped backward before being slammed onto the ground. The bluestone floor beneath him shattered in patches like a spiderweb.
The Long-bearded Middle-aged Man's expression changed. He immediately stepped forward and fed the other man several Precious Medicine Decoctions in succession. Only after a long while did the Mustached Middle-aged Man regain consciousness and slowly open his eyes.
"Why did the Heart-Piercing Nine Arrows backfire?" The Long-bearded Middle-aged Man looked grave. "Were the sacrifices insufficient, or was the Qi Mechanism inaccurate?"
The Mustached Middle-aged Man shook his