“Chapter 25”

"Chapter 25"

"Jing Xi lay silently in the water, surrounded by darkness, not immediately getting up."

"Only when he sensed no danger did he suddenly sit up, splashing water as droplets fell from his face and dark hair into the bathtub, creating ripples."

"The lack of light in the room did not affect Jing Xi, who had night vision."

"A strange environment, bizarre assortment of things, everything completely different from his memories."

"Jing Xi’s last memory was of the Taoist priest urging him to let go of all thoughts and focus on his willingness to leave the Grand Jing Dynasty. He didn't know how long he lost consciousness, but when he opened his eyes again, he found himself here."

"He lowered his head, opened his palm, looking at the jade ring in it, confirming the item was still there, then carefully stored it away."

"This was his body, intact and undamaged."

"This place was different from the Grand Jing Dynasty; he must have arrived in a different world. But Jing Xi's brows remained furrowed, the Taoist priest had spoken of one failure and three successes, and he must have achieved the last and least likely one."

"The reason he said 'must have' was because, until he found the national teacher, it was considered a failure for him."

"Just as Jing Xi was about to get up and check his surroundings, a sudden, urgent knocking came from outside: “Mianfeng? Mianfeng, are you in there? Answer me, don’t do anything foolish, we can talk about anything!”"

"Liang Chenglei's urgent voice, accompanied by the sound of knocking, came through. He was about to leave the villa complex when his phone rang. Initially, he didn't take it seriously, but fearing something might have happened to Jing Mianfeng, he found a spot to stop. When he saw the message that had come through, he was nearly scared out of his wits."

"The message was indeed from Jing Mianfeng, but it was a farewell note."

"Liang Chenglei was terrified. Without reading the whole thing, seeing just the first line [I am leaving this world] made him rush back immediately."

"Now, not hearing any response from the room, he couldn't care less about anything else and started kicking the door, throwing his body against it with all his might. After a dozen or so tries, it finally burst open with a bang."

"He quickly turned on the light, scanned the room, and swiftly headed towards the only closed door of the bathroom. Fortunately, the bathroom door wasn't locked and opened with a push."

"As the light came on, Liang Chenglei had already rushed over."

"But halfway through, he stopped abruptly, staring incredulously at the handsome man sitting emotionlessly in the bathtub: “You, who are you?!”"

"Liang Chenglei was completely dumbfounded, his first thought was whether he had mistakenly entered someone else's house in his haste, perhaps the wrong villa."

"But the next moment, he felt that the person in front of him looked extremely like Jing Mianfeng, yet he wasn't sure."

"It had been nearly three or four years since he had really looked at Jing Mianfeng's face."

"In the first two years, Jing Mianfeng would still show his face, but he was mentally unwell then, avoiding people, and even when he met Liang Chenglei, he kept his head down, not wanting anyone to touch his hair."

"Over time, as his hair grew longer, he hardly ever saw Jing Mianfeng's entire face."

"Not to mention, in the past two years, he hadn't seen Jing Mianfeng at all."

"He wasn't even clear about his physique, let alone his face."

"So... is it possible that Jing Mianfeng changed to this extent in four years?"

"Yet, looking at the dignified and indifferent man before him, with his sharp brows and eyes, and a bone structure that was one in a million, even those accustomed to the entertainment industry couldn’t help but praise his perfection."

"Especially that head of dark hair, which, far from appearing effeminate, exuded a unique beauty and an unparalleled aura, giving him a sense of regality."

"But even if the face was similar, the temperament could never possibly match the Jing Mianfeng he knew."

"Mianfeng couldn’t have such a gaze, it was completely wrong!"

"Jing Xi didn’t speak immediately. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the middle-aged man, quickly deducing from the results of the Taoist priest’s array that he must have swapped bodies and identities with someone from this world who shared his exact birthdate."

"The man before him clearly knew the original body, and though he seemed genuinely concerned, there appeared to be no immediate danger."

"Jing Xi lightly touched the jade ring on his thumb, then threw the question back, counter-asking, “And who might you be?”"

"Liang Chenglei was dumbfounded: “What, what?” Wasn’t he the one who asked first? But he instinctively followed the other’s lead, replying, “This is Jing Mianfeng’s home, are you a relative of Jing Mianfeng? How did you get in here? Where’s Mianfeng? Are you here for the inheritance again?”"

"Otherwise, why would Mianfeng, who was fine, suddenly not want to live? Was it because these people pressured him again? How did they find this place?"

"Because of the resemblance, Liang Chenglei initially thought the man was related to Jing Mianfeng, possibly a blood relative, to look so alike."

"Jing Xi read his thoughts, and in the next moment, dropped a bombshell: “I am Jing Mianfeng.”"

"He wasn’t lying; his name was Jing Xi, styled Mianfeng."

"Liang Chenglei: ???"

"He laughed in disbelief: “Do you think I’m a fool that easy to deceive? ‘I am’? Do you think you are the emperor?”"

"Only then, upon closer inspection, did he notice the clothes Jing Xi wore, his brows furrowing tightly. He had initially been focused on the man's striking face, but now he saw that Jing Xi was wearing what appeared to be royal attire in dark gold, particularly the embroidered five-clawed golden dragon on the chest."

"From a distance, he couldn’t discern the fabric, but it looked exceptionally exquisite and luxurious, captivating his gaze. The clothes, soaked in water and clinging to the figure, were heavy yet exuded an excellent texture. It was hard to see clearly, but one could tell that the figure beneath was astonishingly well-formed."

"Liang Chenglei increasingly felt it couldn't be Jing Mianfeng. In recent years, Jing Mianfeng barely ate and had become emaciated... but he wasn't sure, as he hadn’t seen Jing Mianfeng in two years."

"At this moment, Jing Xi continued, “I am the Emperor.” He not only admitted it but also revealed Jing Mianfeng’s birthdate, shocking Liang Chenglei into complete disbelief."

"The only people who knew Jing Mianfeng’s birthdate were his parents and Liang Chenglei, as it was entirely different from the one on his identity card. Now, apart from Liang Chenglei, only the deceased parents knew it."

"And Jing Mianfeng himself."

"Liang Chenglei, massaging his temples, reevaluated the man before him, who increasingly resembled Jing Mianfeng four years later, matured beyond his youthful appearance, and if he had trained to become as tall and muscular, indeed, it was like they were cast from the same mold."

"Finally, seeking confirmation, he said, “If you really are Mianfeng, turn your face to let me have a look.”"

"Jing Xi, not being that Jing Mianfeng and admitting he couldn't fool him, simply acknowledged it, but also judged what would be most advantageous for him next."

"Sensing what the other wanted, he turned his head."

"Liang Chenglei saw a not very obvious scar behind the other's ear, hidden when the hair was short, but now clearly visible with the hair pushed back."

"This was an injury Jing Mianfeng had suffered three and a half years ago. The other refused to see anyone, and since Liang Chenglei had handled everything, only he and Jing Mianfeng knew about it."

"Liang Chenglei fell silent. Looking at the person before him, then at the water spilled all over the floor, and the water in the bathtub, as well as the farewell message, he suddenly realized a possibility and inhaled sharply."

"Liang Chenglei pointed at himself, “Who am I, don’t you really recognize me anymore?”"

"Jing Xi narrowed his eyes, “Should I recognize you?”"

"Liang Chenglei asked, “Have you forgotten who you are too?”"

"Jing Xi raised an eyebrow, “How could I forget myself? I am the Emperor of the Grand Jing Dynasty.”"

"Liang Chenglei, on the verge of tears and with a headache, said, “But you don’t recognize me, what else do you know besides being the Emperor?”"

"Jing Xi responded quite quickly this time, “Find my Royal Advisor.”"

"Liang Chenglei: '...'"

"Taking a deep breath, Liang Chenglei looked at Jing Xi for a long while, then suddenly forced a smile uglier than crying: 'You change your clothes first, I’ll make a phone call.'"

"Jing Xi, with narrowed eyes, watched Liang Chenglei close the door again, deciding to continue observing and figuring out the situation that would be most advantageous for him."

"After closing the bathroom door, Liang Chenglei was trembling all over. Afraid of being heard by Jing Mianfeng, he shakily moved to the broken doorway, then took out his phone, his hands shaking as he dialed a number he hadn’t contacted in a long time - his psychologist."

"Dr. Xu answered quickly: 'Mr. Liang.'"

"Liang Chenglei’s voice was trembling: 'Dr. Xu, there’s a bit of a problem. Mianfeng’s mental state... I’m afraid it’s deteriorated, and the situation seems to be getting worse.'"

"Dr. Xu was silent for a moment: 'How bad is it?'"

"Liang Chenglei: 'I suspect... Mianfeng seems to have developed a second personality.' When saying the words 'second personality', Liang Chenglei felt like the sky was falling."

"He had thought letting Jing Mianfeng have some quiet time would help him figure things out, but who knew that his mental state would completely break down, even developing a second personality."

"The other side was shocked: 'Mr. Liang, could there be a misunderstanding? When I examined Mr. Jing previously, his mental state was poor, but it shouldn’t have led to this.'"

"Liang Chenglei wished it were so, but the reality was unbearable: 'Mianfeng just attempted suicide, sent me a farewell message. I ran back to save him, found him already sitting up, but he’s completely different, doesn’t remember anything that happened, doesn’t remember me or even his own identity, instead, he thinks he is, is…' Liang Chenglei struggled to say the word."

"Dr. Xu: 'He thinks he is what?'"

"Liang Chenglei: 'He says he’s the emperor, looking for his Royal Advisor.'"

"Dr. Xu: '...'"

"Liang Chenglei, crouching on the ground and holding his head: 'Dr. Xu, was I wrong before? If I had continued his treatment earlier, maybe he wouldn’t have developed a personality so completely opposite to his. What do I do now?'"

"Dr. Xu, silent for a long time and sensing the seriousness: 'Don’t provoke him for now, it's possible. The shock from his parents' incident four years ago left him dispirited, loathing his own mistakes. Developing a completely foreign, powerful personality for self-protection is possible. But we still need him to come to the hospital. Mr. Liang, try to bring him over, and until then, just go along with him.'"

"Liang Chenglei, finding some direction, was relieved: 'I’ll do it as soon as possible.'"

"Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jing Xi hadn’t changed his clothes but was just quietly looking at the unfamiliar yet clear mirror."

"Curiosity was there, but he didn’t show it on his face."

"Outside, Liang Chenglei was speaking with Dr. Xu, and he heard every word, not intentionally, but because of his extraordinary hearing."

"Although he didn’t understand the concept of a second personality, he had guessed most of it from the conversation."

"This was actually a good idea."

"Not only did he not have to deny his identity, but he also didn’t have to worry about being suspected due to the lack of Jing Mianfeng's memories."

"While he didn’t mind revealing his identity, he was unfamiliar with this world and, before finding the Royal Advisor, he didn’t want to attract unnecessary trouble."

"He looked down, caressing the two jade rings on his thumb, his dark phoenix eyes flashing with a hint of loneliness from not seeing anyone: Is the Royal Advisor even here…"

"Jing Xi’s attention was wholly captured by the idea of finding Xie Qingfeng. He didn't notice a faint light flashing where the two jade rings met, barely visible under the bright overhead light."

"Meanwhile, at the Zhang family’s old house, just a moment ago, two monks and three Taoist priests were dumbfounded as they watched Xie Qingfeng effortlessly subdue Daoist Cui, who five of them couldn't control."

"Especially the evil spirit forced out of Daoist Cui, it was directly trapped?"

"Regaining their senses, the five were bewildered and then shocked: 'Was, was that the evil spirit possessing Daoist Cui just now?'"

"They had seen such situations before, but this time the evil spirit was exceptionally fierce and strong, catching them off guard. Of course, even with full preparation, subduing it would have been difficult."

"But… was that even three minutes? And it was resolved just like that?"

"Most importantly, who exactly was this young man, capable of physically touching and expelling an evil spirit?"

"Elder Zhang, shielded behind the butler, also realized something, looking at Xie Qingfeng who had stood up. Particularly when he saw Xie Qingfeng's gaze, he was immensely surprised. Having lived for decades, it was the first time he deeply realized that age is not a standard to judge a person’s capabilities."

"He’s so young, yet so capable."

"Five minutes later, Xie Qingfeng was respectfully invited to the main seat in the hall, but he declined."

"He was a guest, but Elder Zhang was the host; it didn’t make sense for him to take the main seat."

"Elder Zhang had calmed down, and at his age, he didn’t expect to almost be betrayed by a friend he had trusted for over twenty years."

"The thought of having nearly lost his life just moments ago sent shivers down his spine."

"Fortunately, he had long cultivated an ability to maintain a composed demeanor, appearing fairly calm."

"The five masters now looked at him with a completely different attitude, their eyes filled with respect and awe after witnessing that scene."

"In their line of work, age wasn’t important; skill and capability were what truly mattered."

"Of course, character counted too."

"Clearly, a master who could act decisively in a crisis was trustworthy in character."

"Had it not been for the unresolved issue of the Zhang family, the five would have already surrounded him, eager to ask how he managed everything, how talismans could be used without a brush, what incantations he used to expel the evil spirit so swiftly, and whether he possessed some powerful magical tool. They were keen to learn and expand their knowledge."

"But with the employer present, they had to suppress their eagerness and excitement, struggling to stay composed."

"Though young, the master's words held truth; his master really was a reclusive expert."

"Perhaps the most composed of all was Xie Qingfeng, who, along with Hao Jixin sitting beside him and treated as an honored guest, sipped tea calmly."

"He knew it! The master was the most formidable!"

"Still, he couldn't help but shrink his neck when he sneaked a glance at Daoist Cui tied up not far away."

"The evil spirit possessing Daoist Cui had been expelled by Xie Qingfeng, but due to Cui's own wrongdoings, which allowed the spirit to linger in his body for too long, a significant amount of spiritual energy would be needed for a complete recovery."

"For such a person, Xie Qingfeng was not about to make a losing deal. For now, he simply made Daoist Cui faint, leaving the subsequent actions up to Elder Zhang’s decision."

"Elder Zhang, looking at the young man before him who was even younger than the juniors of his Zhang family, couldn’t help but soften his voice: 'May I know how to address you, sir?'"

"Xie Qingfeng replied politely: 'My surname is Xie.'"

"Elder Zhang: 'Mr. Xie, what exactly happened just now? How could Daoist Cui be possessed by an evil spirit all of a sudden? Could it be that this spirit is the reason why I can’t move my body?'"

"The others were also curious about this and sat quietly, waiting to hear the details."

"The reason Elder Zhang hadn’t made much of a fuss when inviting several experts previously was because he thought his body’s condition, though strange, wasn’t immediately dangerous, so he didn’t take it too seriously."

"Little did he know, he almost lost his life."

"Just now, the butler had quickly explained the onset of Elder Zhang’s illness."

"Elder Zhang started having problems with his body ten days ago, occasionally becoming unable to move throughout the day."

"Initially, he thought it was just a natural decline due to old age."

"He had the family doctor bring equipment for a check-up, and while his body showed no significant issues, apart from common minor ailments in the elderly, it shouldn’t have led to complete immobility."

"But as the condition persisted for a few days, Elder Zhang became anxious and invited his good friend Daoist Cui for assistance."

"Upon examination, Daoist Cui suggested that he might be afflicted by some malevolent force and needed a higher expert to intervene, even admitting that it was beyond his capability to resolve."

"Hearing even Daoist Cui couldn’t handle it and not wanting to make a big fuss, Elder Zhang sought help from several masters privately."

"Elder Zhang felt relieved at this thought and was grateful he had sought help, otherwise, this day next year might have been his memorial day."

"At his age, he had come to terms with life and death, yet he didn't wish to burden the younger members of his family."

"Thinking of this, Elder Zhang looked towards his grandson, Chang Ruihe, who was applying medicine to his arm twisted while trying to stop Daoist Cui to save him. His expression softened considerably, and then he turned back to Xie Qingfeng, eager to know the answer."

"Before responding, Xie Qingfeng's gaze landed on Chang Ruihe behind Elder Zhang. The latter, with eyes downcast and face unclear, stiffened slightly, probably aware of Xie Qingfeng’s gaze, and then gently smiled at him."

"But Xie Qingfeng didn’t smile, just quietly looked on."

"Noticing this, everyone else also looked over, and Elder Zhang, sensing something amiss, asked, 'Mr. Xie?'"

"With an expressionless face, Xie Qingfeng withdrew his gaze and counter-asked, 'Does Elder Zhang mind if family matters become public?'"

"He was considerate of his employer’s feelings; if it was a concern, he didn’t mind discussing it elsewhere."

"If not, then it would save time."

"Chang Ruihe had already lifted his head, gently twisting his bandaged arm, his expression calm. He was betting that such a young Daoist, even if skilled, was mostly aided by his master’s magical tools."

"He didn’t believe that in such a short time, the Daoist could know much more about their private affairs."

"Elder Zhang, having been in the business world for years and managing the Zhang family, caught the undertone in Xie Qingfeng’s words."

"While incredulous, his expression grew serious, and he finally looked away, no longer glancing backwards: 'I don’t mind.'"

"Xie Qingfeng raised an eyebrow, in a good mood: 'Then, I’ll answer Elder Zhang’s first question. Just now, Daoist Cui was possessed by an evil spirit. He couldn’t control it with his cultivation, leading to his loss of control and nearly harming himself and others.'"

"'As for the second question, how Daoist Cui became possessed in the first place, that would be something to ask Daoist Cui and that gentleman. The spirit was invited by them willingly.'"

"Hearing the word 'willingly', the faces of the other five masters also changed dramatically, incredulously looking at the tightly bound Daoist Cui and then at Chang Ruihe. Had they gone mad?"

"Moreover, one of them was invited by Elder Zhang, and the other was a grandson of the Zhang family. How could this be?"

"But they subconsciously chose to believe Xie Qingfeng; after all, the master’s abilities and demeanor inexplicably inspired confidence."

"Chang Ruihe’s face finally changed color, and he stood up: 'What nonsense are you spouting? Who sent you here to frame me and Daoist Cui?'"

"Xie Qingfeng paid him no mind."

"Elder Zhang, however, frowned at Chang Ruihe and said, 'Until Mr. Xie finishes speaking, you are not to interrupt.'"

"'Grandfather!' Chang Ruihe called out in a hurry."

"Elder Zhang’s face turned stern: 'Otherwise, don’t ever set foot in the Zhang house again.'"

"This statement effectively blocked any chance for Chang Ruihe to speak further. He sat down dejectedly, a sense of foreboding spreading uncontrollably within him."

"Xie Qingfeng continued: 'The third question regarding why Elder Zhang’s body can’t move, is it caused by this evil spirit? It is not, and the cause is unrelated to this spirit.'"

"As for the related reason, that would be the fourth question."

"Elder Zhang and the five masters were all stunned; the former because he hadn’t expected that his physical issue hadn’t been resolved, but instead, another crisis had been inadvertently dealt with first."

"The five masters, especially the eldest, Daoist Bai, were shining with excitement. Since Xie Qingfeng had subdued the evil spirit, Daoist Bai had been excited, but his gaze at Xie Qingfeng was different from the other masters."

"It always seemed that Daoist Bai looked at him with a measure of satisfaction."

"The other four masters were thoroughly impressed. If the disciple was this powerful, then what about the master... Surely he couldn’t just be summed up as a reclusive expert?"

"Elder Zhang sighed, his trust in Daoist Cui and Chang Ruihe shaken, but still wanting clarity: 'Mr. Xie, can this evil spirit be removed? How can Daoist Cui be awakened? Is it difficult?'"

"Xie Qingfeng naturally didn't find it difficult; to him, these were mere child's play."

"Before he could speak, Hao Jixin immediately interjected: 'Difficult! Extremely difficult! How could it not be?'"

"The other five masters echoed in agreement: 'Indeed, it’s not simple. Daoist Cui was possessed by such a powerful evil spirit, infinitely strong, likely to have already become a vicious ghost involved in human deaths. And Daoist Cui did it willingly... To thoroughly cleanse the residual Yin energy from his body will take time, and it’s not guaranteed to be completely effective.'"

"They were all upright individuals, committed to saving lives, and couldn’t fathom why Daoist Cui would willingly associate with such an evil spirit."

"They felt disdainful yet could not stand by and watch someone die."

"Hao Jixin winked at Xie Qingfeng, then coughed lightly: 'Elder Zhang, it’s difficult but not impossible. It can be cured, but it requires a lot of energy and consumes magical tools. Since Daoist Cui is unconscious now, there’s a risk he might deny it later...'"

"Elder Zhang understood: 'Don’t worry, the Zhang family will cover the costs first. When he wakes up, our lawyers will handle the collection of debts. He can’t escape it.'"

"Hao Jixin was relieved, taking advantage of such a malevolent Daoist: 'Five million, plus a piece of jade stone.'"

"Elder Zhang thought five million to save a life was reasonable: 'Agreed.' Though unsure why jade was needed, he had already instructed the butler to bring several pieces for the masters to choose from."

"Soon, the butler returned and respectfully placed them before Xie Qingfeng."

"Xie Qingfeng picked a suitable piece and got up to approach Daoist Cui, the other five masters carefully following."

"Not wanting to disturb Xie Qingfeng, they didn’t come too close, but eager not to miss anything, they watched intently and seriously, a sight somewhat amusing to others whose attention was elsewhere."

"The five masters, concerned that Xie Qingfeng’s magical tools might not completely remove the Yin energy and also worried about his wellbeing, had already prepared backup tools, ready to assist at the first sign of danger."

"To their surprise, they saw Xie Qingfeng holding the jade in one hand while drawing a talisman in the air with the other, then striking Daoist Cui’s crown through his robe. In a spot invisible to others, a wisp of black energy emerged from Daoist Cui’s forehead and was swiftly swept away by Xie Qingfeng, burning away like tangible smoke."

"Holding the remaining wisp of the evil spirit, Xie Qingfeng turned to Elder Zhang: 'Shall we keep this spirit?'"

"Elder Zhang and the others, still not fully recovered from the shock, nodded subconsciously."

"Xie Qingfeng hummed in acknowledgment, while Hao Jixin, tense yet excited, couldn’t help but shout: 'Exorcising the spirit is extra, two million.'"

"As Xie Qingfeng used the remaining spiritual energy of the jade to disperse the ghost's soul, he cast an approving glance at Hao Jixin, who immediately puffed out his chest."

"With the ghost's soul scattered, the previously swollen mass in mid-air simply vanished."

"While everyone was still looking confused, Xie Qingfeng spread open his palm with the jade now reduced to dust, brushing it into the ashtray on the nearby coffee table: 'All done, it's over, he will wake up soon. Someone untie his robe.'"

"Everyone: '?? Huh? That’s it?'"

"Was that even five minutes?"

"How was this completely different from what they had encountered before?"

"The butler, still in a daze, untied the robe, and the next moment, Daoist Cui opened his eyes, his gaze confused and complex as he looked around at the people, his face turning pale as he slowly realized what had happened and instinctively looked for Chang Ruihe."

"Seeing this, everyone understood what had happened."

"The masters were right, it seemed that the ghostly presence was indeed summoned by Daoist Cui and Chang Ruihe."

"Chang Ruihe’s shoulders slumped, realizing that all was lost."

"Overwhelmed with shame, Daoist Cui quickly confessed the truth."

"After Elder Zhang fell ill, Chang Ruihe saw it as an opportunity to impress his grandfather, conspiring with Daoist Cui to stage a life-saving drama."

"The evil spirit was summoned by Daoist Cui to make it look realistic."

"They thought that with so many masters present, they could surely control the spirit."

"What they hadn't anticipated was that the plan would succeed, but the spirit would become uncontrollably powerful, leading to this disaster."

"Chang Ruihe, now pale-faced, knelt down and apologized to everyone: 'It’s all my fault, I just wanted Grandfather to notice me more, I never intended to harm anyone... Grandfather, I’m sorry, sorry to everyone...'"

"Elder Zhang’s expression was extremely grim. Although he wasn’t particularly fond of this grandson, he was the child of his favorite daughter and had been well provided for, no less than the other grandchildren."

"Yet, this grandson chose such an unrighteous path and almost caused harm to himself and others."

"Elder Zhang waved his hand dismissively: 'Leave now, and don’t come back.' If it weren’t for the slight sentiment of kinship, he would have taken back everything given to the Chang family over the years."

"What kind of upbringing did Chang Wenxiong provide?"

"Chang Ruihe wanted to say more, but considering the presence of outsiders today, he just stood up and bowed, planning to return another day with his parents."

"As he stood up, he couldn’t help but glare at Xie Qingfeng, then swiftly averted his gaze."

"Xie Qingfeng looked back, raising an eyebrow. Glaring at him?"

"Just as Chang Ruihe was about to turn and leave, Xie Qingfeng spoke again: 'Considering Elder Zhang’s generous spending today, I’ll offer a free fortune-telling session for Mr. Chang here.'"

"Chang Ruihe, one foot already out the door, paused in confusion: '?? Who asked him to read my fortune?'"

"Elder Zhang was also taken aback, not understanding this sudden mention of fortune-telling. But the next moment, after realizing the implication of Xie Qingfeng’s words, not only he but everyone present was shocked."

"No wonder Master Xie asked first if they minded airing the family’s dirty laundry."

"Was this just dirty laundry, or was it about to scatter the ashes?"

"Xie Qingfeng’s observation was: 'I notice Mr. Chang’s features indicate he has no blood relation to Elder Zhang. He seems to have been separated from his birth mother since childhood, enjoying a harmonious relationship with his father until the age of twenty-five when the family of three reunited.'"

"Elder Zhang’s head buzzed with shock. Chang Ruihe was his youngest daughter’s only child, who, due to being premature, was frail. Mrs. Zhang didn’t have a second child and was extremely doting on this only son."

"The child had another birth mother? But if father and son had a good relationship since childhood, there was no mistake in identity. Chang Wenxiong was the father, but his youngest daughter wasn’t the birth mother..."

"Elder Zhang almost lost his breath, and the butler quickly came to his aid."

"Looking at the greatly disturbed Chang Ruihe, it was clear he likely knew all along."

"The butler felt a chill in his heart, thinking that Chang Ruihe was twenty-three, which meant in two years..."

"And what about the child back then?"

"Elder Zhang looked at Xie Qingfeng, his face aging several years in moments."

"Xie Qingfeng sighed: 'Observing Elder Zhang’s features, twenty-three years ago there was a grandson who died young. In two years... the prediction indicates the loss of a daughter in his later years.'"

"Piecing together that last conversation, the implications were enough to take one's breath away."

"Hao Jixin, in disbelief and anger, burst out: 'Damn... Could it be that when Mrs. Zhang lost her child, Chang Wenxiong had a child from an affair, and they simply brought back the mistress’s child? Then, when the child grew up, they conspired to kill Mrs. Zhang in two years…'"

"The thought was chillingly horrifying."

"Hao Jixin was quite familiar with the Zhang family, especially since Mrs. Zhang’s marriage to Chang Wenxiong required a lot of effort to gain Elder Zhang's approval."

"Over the years, for his daughter’s sake, Elder Zhang didn’t say much publicly but privately helped Chang Wenxiong’s company rise step by step."

"In reality, he was an ingrate, harboring ulterior motives from the start."

"No wonder he was in such a hurry this time. Was it because he was worried about being exposed in the future and losing benefits, so he wanted to gain favor before the exposure to maximize his gains?"

"With this in mind, bribing Daoist Cui to stage this drama seemed plausible."

"Chang Ruihe was stunned when Xie Qingfeng revealed this truth, clearly a secret only known to them for years. What was the background of this man?"

"How could he tell all this from just a glance?"

"Coming back to his senses, Chang Ruihe charged at Xie Qingfeng: 'Who are you? What nonsense are you spouting? I, I...' but he couldn’t continue as he faced Elder Zhang's heavy gaze."

"Once such a matter was exposed, with the Zhang family’s connections, it would only be a matter of time before the truth was uncovered."

"As Chang Ruihe rushed forward, he was immediately stopped by several of the masters."

"If he can’t subdue a powerful evil spirit, how can he handle me?"

"Xie Qingfeng was probably the most composed person there, accustomed to seeing more sinister human nature; such incidents no longer stirred his emotions."

"After regaining his composure, Elder Zhang took a deep breath and looked at Chang Ruihe, pressed to the ground: 'Take him away and lock him in a guest room under strict surveillance. Until the truth is revealed, he’s not to leave the Zhang residence or contact anyone. He always wanted to stay in the Zhang family mansion, right? Let him have his fill this time.'"

"Chang Ruihe tried to say something but was quickly silenced and taken away by people called by the butler."

"The butler, worried, looked at Elder Zhang: 'Master, what about...'" He was referring to Mrs. Zhang, unsure whether to inform her."

"Elder Zhang pondered for a while, then firmly shook his head: 'First, go verify the evidence. I still have matters to attend to.' His body still occasionally became immobile, and he wanted to resolve this issue first. Otherwise, if something happened to him, the Zhang family would be thrown into chaos, and who knows what else might arise."

"Master Xie said that in two years, Chang Ruihe would dare to harm his daughter, indicating that by then, he might be either dead or incapacitated, otherwise, the other party wouldn’t dare act so swiftly."

"He feared this incident might lead to more serious health issues."

"Elder Zhang looked at Xie Qingfeng: 'Mr. Xie, you said earlier that my intermittent immobility is unrelated to today’s incident. What exactly is the issue then? Can you resolve it?'"

"Xie Qingfeng didn’t answer but looked at the other five masters."

"The five masters immediately shook their heads: 'We can’t do it, really, we’re not just being polite.'"

"They understood that Xie Qingfeng wanted them to try first, unwilling to compete with them for the task."

"But what could they do? Even though they knew where Elder Zhang’s condition was unusual, he didn’t seem ill."

"Seeing they genuinely couldn’t help, Xie Qingfeng didn’t hesitate to nod affirmatively: 'I can solve it.'"

"Elder Zhang sighed with relief: 'Mr. Xie, can you help resolve this within a day or two? The price is no issue.'"

"Hao Jixin’s eyes lit up: 'How much can Elder Zhang offer?'"

"The previously agreed upon ten million."

"Seeing a possibility, Elder Zhang said: 'If it can be solved within one or two days, I’ll pay twenty million.'"

"Hao Jixin looked at Xie Qingfeng and saw a strange expression on the master’s face, but it wasn’t one of opposition, so he immediately agreed: 'No problem!'"

"Elder Zhang also felt relieved, eager to resolve this issue quickly and then deal with Chang Wenxiong, that scoundrel."

"Daring to deceive the Zhang family, this matter wouldn’t end well."

"After Elder Zhang and Hao Jixin reached an agreement, they realized Xie Qingfeng had been silent for a while. Both, in a good mood, turned to him: 'What’s the matter?'"

"Xie Qingfeng had a complex expression: '...This matter is not difficult for Elder Zhang, technically speaking, it should be resolved in half a day at most.'"

"Upon hearing this, everyone present, whether they should be silent or not, fell silent."

"Elder Zhang, regaining his composure, couldn’t help but laugh: 'That’s because Mr. Xie is skilled. It’s worth this price to have Mr. Xie come over.'"

"With that said, Xie Qingfeng didn’t add anything further."

"'Elder Zhang, where did you go on the 1st, half a month ago?' If we are to resolve this, we need to find the root cause."

"Elder Zhang was surprised: 'Half a month ago? Wasn’t it ten days ago?' His symptoms started ten days ago."

"He was sure nothing unusual happened on that date, which made the situation even more mysterious."

"If it was half a month ago..."

"Xie Qingfeng: 'On that day, you went somewhere and were exposed to Yin energy. It was not severe at first, and because of your good health, it didn’t have a serious impact initially. Hence, it only manifested after five days. If Elder Zhang was merely exposed and is already affected this much, those who have been in long-term contact with that object at its location are in a grave situation.'"

"Elder Zhang’s face changed: 'What will happen?'"

"Xie Qingfeng: 'At the least, it could lead to family ruin and loss of life, and at worst… total annihilation.'"

"Elder Zhang gasped and abruptly stood up, his expression grave: 'Mr. Xie, could I trouble you to accompany me there now? It’s not far from the old residence. Half a month ago, I met an old friend from twenty years ago by chance and was invited to his house for a gathering. If you’re referring to half a month ago, that was the only place I visited that day. My friend has been unwell and can’t meet many people, so I was the only one who went in.'"

"Now that I think about it, the villa was indeed cold and filled with a sinister atmosphere, with the curtains half-drawn."

"I assumed my friend was simply unwell, or the house had bad Feng Shui, but I never imagined it to be this serious."

"We had even planned to meet again in the future, but I haven’t contacted him these days due to my own ill health, and it’s odd that he hasn’t made any further contact either."

"Xie Qingfeng hummed in agreement, having accepted the job; he naturally had no objections to the employer’s request."

"It’s not easy here to buy a piece of jade of the same quality as those in the little emperor's treasury; they are all extremely valuable."

"It’s too expensive, so to be prepared for future dangers, it’s better to earn more money and accumulate jade."

"As the group prepared to leave, the five masters tentatively asked: 'Can we... come along to observe?'"

"This is far more valuable than countless symposiums!"

"Xie Qingfeng was indifferent, and Elder Zhang had no objections, so the five masters were overjoyed. The master indeed lived up to his name, not hiding anything, not afraid of them watching."

"If Xie Qingfeng knew their thoughts, he wouldn’t find it surprising. Even if he shared his cultivation methods, they probably couldn’t succeed."

"Talent is one aspect, but the scarcity of spiritual energy in this era plays a significant role."

"To truly cultivate, it would take a hundred years to achieve even a little success, not to mention the massive consumption of jade stones."

"Given the price of jade in this era... the cost is painfully high."

"Half an hour later, the group set off in three cars towards their destination."

"Fortunately, it wasn’t far, and an hour later, the three cars stopped in a villa area not far from the Zhang family mansion."

"This place was very tranquil, far from the city center, with a low occupancy rate, making it an excellent spot for rest and retirement."

"Elder Zhang had contacted the other party before coming, so when the cars arrived, the other party’s eldest son had already called the security to let them in."

"As the three cars headed towards villa number 6, the scenery along the way was exceptionally pleasing."

"The cars weren’t moving fast. Although it was villa number 6, being at the very end of the villa area meant passing many other standalone villas."

"As seen before, occupancy was low, but the area was well-maintained and clean, pleasing to the eye."

"Xie Qingfeng sat in the car, quietly observing the outside. As they got closer to that place, the palpitations he felt earlier when passing by a particular villa resurfaced, even a hundred times stronger than before."