Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Father and Mother Xie were startled by Xie Qingfeng's words. Despite their lack of fondness for their biological son, the blood ties couldn't be ignored.

They had no intention of really driving him away, especially after unknowingly bringing him back.

The Xie family, with its vast resources, could easily support not just one more, but even a dozen more children.

Yet, the affection for a child raised under their wing for eighteen years invariably held a special place in their hearts.

As Xie Qingfeng mentioned 'settling accounts,' Father Xie's anger reignited. They hadn’t even confronted him yet, and he dared to initiate?

As Father Xie prepared to retaliate, his reaction stalled upon seeing Xie Qingfeng approaching.

The disdain Father Xie harbored stemmed from Qingfeng's inferior looks and temperament compared to the foster son, coupled with his cowardly and self-deprecating demeanor, and a complete lack of grace.

But now, something about him felt inexplicably different.

Xie Qingfeng, his hair still long enough to obscure his eyes and wearing ill-fitting clothes, seemed unremarkable when his head was bowed, especially next to the fair and noble Weihuan.

Yet, as he moved, he stood tall and straight, his posture as sturdy as a pine.

His measured steps, though of the same person, were strangely captivating, exuding an inner quality that easily made one overlook his appearance, like a refreshing breeze.

The live stream viewers were divided, some condemning Xie Qingfeng as vile and despicable, while others sympathized, seeing his defiance as justifiable.

Suddenly, the barrage of comments in the live stream paused, then shifted focus overwhelmingly.

[Wow, why do I feel Xie Qingfeng's demeanor is, it’s... indescribably attractive?]

[Didn’t notice while he was standing, but his walking posture makes him look like a figure from ancient times.]

[But damn, he looks good.]

[Those steps, like they were measured, wow, such long legs, and his waist so slim, wailing, can't see his face from here, but he's totally captured the essence, hit me right in the heart.]

[Be more sensible, people. This is the classic portrayal of a vile person pushing someone down the stairs. Do you want to be taken to the staircase too?]

[Ah, what kind of demonic speech is that in front?]

Xie Qingfeng walked over to the coffee table and bent down to pick up the phone placed on it.

Xie Weihuan panicked seeing Xie Qingfeng’s actions, but then he remembered what the master had said: unless it was him, no one else could undo the effects caused by the rune.

Of course, the rune would also automatically dissipate when its time expired.

That’s why he had hurried to bring Xie’s parents back, to make this matter a foregone conclusion.

Relieved, Xie Weihuan, aware of the live broadcast, didn’t want to show his feelings and continued to stand, playing the role of a victim.

Xie Qingfeng picked up the phone, the faint black aura on it more distinct now.

He recalled from the original host’s memory how to use the phone and went back to the main screen. The wallpaper, as he expected, was there.

The wallpaper was yellow, without any pattern or picture, just a pure earthy yellow, with a scribble in vermilion ink that looked like a ghostly glyph to outsiders.

Besides that, there were also patterns etched on the back of the phone case, imperceptible unless touched.

Xie Qingfeng quietly observed, guessing that there must be a talisman paper inside the phone case as well.

All three combined to form a ghost's veil.

The person Xie Weihuan found had only average cultivation and had to use three methods to create a minor ghost's veil.

Xie Qingfeng silently clicked his tongue, recited a spell, and mobilized the surrounding spiritual energy.

Though scant, it was enough to destroy this minor spell.

He channeled the thin spiritual energy into his fingertips. A luminescence invisible to others flickered, transforming into a fierce beast that devoured the black aura covering the phone, restoring it to its original state.

Having completed this, Xie Qingfeng reconnected to the screen projection.

Putting down the phone, Xie Qingfeng looked up, his gaze meaningful as he scanned the people present: "My account here is settled. Though I am leaving, I should be able to take away the things I brought when I came a month ago, right? The Xie family, being so affluent and influential, surely wouldn’t covet even the things I brought with me?"

Xie's father, having calmed down, thought Xie Qingfeng wouldn’t dare to leave and felt triumphant until the latter part of the sentence nearly drove him mad with rage: "Get out, get out! Take your things and leave quickly!" He didn’t believe that the other party would really abandon the family’s legacy.

Xie Qingfeng walked towards the staircase, not looking back: "Oh, right. While I'm getting my things, you can enjoy another show. Remember to apologize to me when I come back down."

His inexplicable words made Xie's father think he might be out of his mind, but the next moment, a shocked exclamation of "damn" came from upstairs.

Hao Jixin and the live-stream viewers, who had been noisily chatting, fell silent as someone noticed something on the screen, causing a flurry of messages in the chat.

[Damn, damn, damn! Am I seeing things? Quick, look at the Xie family’s projection!]

Catching this message, Hao Jixin instinctively looked over.

The previously silent projection resumed playing, showing Xie Qingfeng ascending the stairs. The big screen started off just like before, with Xie Qingfeng and Xie Weihuan in a silent argument, quickly leading up to Xie Qingfeng pushing Xie Weihuan down the stairs.

But at that moment, the footage changed dramatically.

Suddenly, Xie Weihuan stopped talking and gave Xie Qingfeng a strange smile.

He pulled out several long needles from his pocket and unexpectedly stabbed them towards Xie Qingfeng’s forehead.

Xie Qingfeng, with his back to the camera, immediately raised his hand to block, but Xie Weihuan was too quick, and his attack succeeded.

A drop of blood fell from Xie Qingfeng's forehead onto Xie Weihuan's phone, and the next moment, Xie Qingfeng collapsed to the ground.

Xie Weihuan then put the silver needles away, glanced at the surveillance camera, and deliberately threw himself downstairs.

The footage abruptly stopped, leaving not only the people downstairs but also the viewers in the live stream stunned by this eerie scene.

Coming to his senses, Xie Weihuan scrambled to grab his phone, frantically fiddling with it in panic.

An eerie silence enveloped the area, broken only by the sound of Xie Qingfeng's footsteps ascending the stairs.

As Xie Qingfeng neared, Hao Jixin felt a chill down his spine, hugging the wall near the staircase: "My God, what the hell is going on? How can the same surveillance video show two different things?"

But somehow, recalling Xie Weihuan's reaction and expression in the later footage, it seemed that the latter... might be the true version.

Realizing something, Hao Jixin prepared to end the live stream: "I-I'm sorry... I didn’t mean to..." His words were incoherent, a mix of guilt and apprehension. Was he being used? Had he almost become an accomplice?

He might be naive but not stupid. Xie Weihuan inviting him over was likely a ploy to use his status as a broadcaster to scheme against Xie Qingfeng, making it public knowledge and tarnishing the latter's reputation.

Xie Qingfeng stopped his actions: "Since you're here, might as well see it through to the end. Don't you want to witness the whole process of me severing ties with the Xie family?"

Hao Jixin scratched his head: "Can I... can I really watch this?"

Xie Qingfeng: "Of course." Since he wanted to disassociate from the Xie family, this was a good opportunity.

Xie's father told him to leave, and once he stepped out of the Xie family's door, there would be no more ties or consequences.

Although the original host had returned to the Xie family for a month, due to Xie Weihuan, his household registration hadn't been transferred yet, conveniently saving him the trouble.

He had also turned eighteen, making this the perfect opportunity to cut ties with the Xie family.

Hao Jixin watched, wide-eyed, as Xie Qingfeng finished speaking and walked towards the innermost guest room on the second floor.

[Damn, damn, what the hell was that? Why were the two videos completely different?]

[The phone is Xie Weihuan's, and the surveillance was also checked by someone Xie Weihuan brought in. Just now, that Xie guy didn’t touch the phone, only pressed a few buttons. I boldly suspect! The earlier one was a fake video tampered with by Xie Weihuan, and the playback later was the real, unaltered original video!]

[Holy cow, so it wasn’t the real son who was cruel and ruthless, but Xie Weihuan, the impostor trying to completely oust the recently found real son?]

Although Hao Jixin was emotional and grew up with Xie Weihuan, his sense of justice prevailed. He couldn’t ignore his conscience to favor Xie Weihuan. His lips quivered, and he whispered almost involuntarily: "I was invited to the Xie family by Xie Weihuan..."

[Damn, conspiracy theory time, was this all a plot to use the broadcaster to utterly ruin the real son? Once defamed and driven away, Xie Weihuan, the impostor, would become the real deal over time.]

[The realization is terrifying.]

[Ah, don't go! Why let a fake stay in the Xie family?]

[Disappointed, aren't you? You eagerly hoped for your biological parents' support, but they favored a fraud, believed his schemes, and framed you. If it weren't for Xie Qingfeng's intelligence, a wicked reputation would have been firmly established.]

The original Xie Qingfeng didn't bring much when he came to the Xie family. He could have left those behind, but there were gifts in the guest room for his foster parents. He had planned to deliver them in a few days, but fate took a cruel turn.

Now as Xie Qingfeng, fulfilling the original's last wishes was naturally obligatory.

He quickly grabbed his handbag and left the room. Passing Hao Jixin, who dared not point the camera at him and turned aside, he heard an apology, "Sorry!"

After saying this, Hao Jixin didn't know what else to add.

Xie Qingfeng, observing the awkward yet obedient Hao Jixin and noticing the dark aura around his brow, took out a peace talisman he had just made in the room using the last absorbed spiritual energy and handed it over, "A thank-you gift." He paused, then added, "Carry it with you."

Hao Jixin instinctively accepted it, observing the triangular shape made from a torn piece of discarded newspaper.

Hao Jixin: ...

Isn't this gift a bit too casual?

Xie Qingfeng, without saying anything further, left downstairs with his handbag.

The live stream viewers were immensely curious.

[Ah, why are you so stingy, host? What's wrong with us looking? What thank-you gift did he give you? Why? Because you obediently continued streaming just now?]

[Let us see what he gave you?]

Hao Jixin's attention wasn't on the comments. Ignoring them, he continued streaming the disownment as promised to Xie Qingfeng.

Initially planning to carelessly place the folded newspaper triangle aside, he reconsidered, feeling it would be impolite.

Although the thank-you gift was simple, it was a gesture of goodwill. He finally placed it in his trouser pocket and continued to hold the phone steadily with both hands, earnestly assisting in the live stream.

As Xie Qingfeng descended the stairs, his parents, having recovered from their shock, instinctively stood up, their eyes filled with guilt: "Xiao, Little Feng..."