Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Yin Jinhui's mind was filled with incessant curses as he ran for his life, feeling the burning sensation behind him, too scared to look back and see a sight that might weaken his legs.

Running on sheer adrenaline, he felt he had never run so fast in his life.

He couldn't believe that his lifelong best friend had tried to kill him. What was that about shielding him from misfortune? It seemed like Xie Weiwei wanted his life in exchange.

Sobbing, Yin Jinhui realized his foolishness. His father was right all along. Xie Weiwei had been deceiving him, and the talisman wasn't for exorcism but concealment, aiming for his family's heirloom.

Tears streamed down his face as he ran, lamenting that his most trusted friend wished him dead. What had he done to deserve this?

He feared his father's grief if he died, yet acknowledged his own stupidity as a burden even if he survived. He regretted not calling for help sooner.

Lost in the maze-like cave, Yin Jinhui frantically ran forward, barely seeing where he was going. Eventually, he burst out of the cave entrance, finally stopping a safe distance away, feeling miraculously alive.

Lying on the ground, catching his breath, his face smeared with tears, dirt, and dust, he noticed his phone had been ringing incessantly. Answering, he broke down: "Dad—I almost died! I'll always listen to you and mom from now on, I was so scared!"

He berated himself for his naivety, still trusting Xie Weiwei until the brink of death.

In the remote wilderness, he realized the severity of his situation – he could have been reduced to ashes or even blown up in the cave, leaving no trace.

Seeing a bomb not far away, Yin Jinhui swallowed hard, terrified and hiccupping.

On the other end, Yin Jinhui's parents were relieved to hear their son's voice but also scolded him for nearly scaring them to death with his foolishness.

In the middle of scolding his son, Yin Jinhui's father panicked upon receiving no response: "Son, why aren't you speaking? Don't scare me and your mom..."

Yin Jinhui, still shaken, stuttered, "No, it's not that." He trembled as he saw Xie Weiwei lying unconscious in a pool of blood amidst a cryptic talisman drawn with cinnabar.

His parents, alarmed at the mention of Xie Weiwei, asked anxiously, "What happened? Is he trying to harm you again?"

Yin Jinhui dazedly shook his head, "No, it's not that. He... he might be dead, just lying there motionless..."

Meanwhile, Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi leisurely returned to their apartment. Noticing the time, Xie Qingfeng knew it was about right. Just as he opened the door, his phone rang.

After changing shoes and entering the room, Xie Qingfeng answered the call. Hao Jixin's voice came through cheerfully, "Master, Yin Jinhui called me for help. He should be fine now, just terribly frightened. Yin's parents are on their way there. They asked me to join as well. Apparently, Xie Weiwei collapsed and it's unclear if he's dead or alive."

Yin's father, also scared, wanted to avoid any misunderstandings that could lead to legal troubles, especially since Xie Weiwei was known for causing harm.

Therefore, Yin's father requested Hao Jixin to contact Officer Mu from their previous encounter to ascertain the situation, and possibly apprehend Xie Weiwei.

Xie Qingfeng, as if expecting this, nodded, "He's not dead, just suffering backlash."

Xie Weiwei had previously experienced a backlash, coughing blood and taking over two months to recover. That incident wasn't malicious, so recovery was possible, albeit with weakened health.

Xie Weiwei, however, was not one to accept deteriorating health, knowing ways to extend his life and restore his condition. How could he bear it?

Xie Qingfeng had guessed the connection between Yin Jinhui's impending trouble and Xie Weiwei after reading Yin's face. He had Hao Jixin leave a phone number and provided a means of escape for Yin.

As Yin survived, Xie Weiwei's plan failed, leading to another backlash.

Xie Weiwei had already diminished his fortune through previous misdeeds, and having enjoyed 18 years of undeserved fortune due to a mix-up at birth, his fate was fragile. If Xie Weiwei had chosen to accumulate good deeds, his life would have been worry-free. However, his selfish and extreme desires led to his downfall.

Xie Qingfeng mused, "Seeking what wasn't meant to be his, the backlash was a deathly omen, a warning he ignored. Engaging again in wicked schemes, this time targeting lives, no one can save him now."

"Even if Xie Weiwei survives this time, I doubt he'll live much longer."

"Karmic retribution always catches up. One must pay the price for their actions, and this is Xie Weiwei's just desserts, undeserving of sympathy."

Hao Jixin, understanding the term 'backlash', asked, "Is it like last time? Well, he really brought it upon himself. Is he going to make it? Can he be saved?"

Xie Qingfeng replied, "It depends if he can withstand it. He likely left a life-exchanging talisman at the scene. Let Officer Mu document it, and we'll see how to proceed. With the Yin family involved, even the Xie family might not be able to protect him this time."

Hao Jixin sighed, feeling no pity for Xie Weiwei. "Yin Jinhui might be naive, but that's no excuse for Xie Weiwei to exploit his life. Otherwise, the world would be in chaos."

Jing Xi, waiting for Xie Qingfeng to hang up, asked, "Shall we go see?"

Xie Qingfeng shook his head, "No need. Hao Jixin will probably send a video. We can watch it tomorrow. Besides, Xie Weiwei is not worth our time."

Preferring meditation over such matters, Xie Qingfeng glanced at Jing Xi thoughtfully.

Jing Xi, puzzled by his gaze, asked, "What's wrong?"

Xie Qingfeng circled Jing Xi, then seriously remarked, "Emperor, have you... gained weight?"

Jing Xi was taken aback.

Xie Qingfeng mused, "The food here must be nourishing. You were much thinner in the palace. Let's enjoy a grand meal tomorrow?"

Jing Xi realized the main point was the last sentence.

Once Xie Qingfeng returned to his room, Jing Xi couldn't help but check his own arms. True, he had gained some weight. Reflecting on the past years of worry, he smiled softly, realizing Xie Qingfeng's attentiveness to even his subtle changes.

Thinking of this, Jing Xi narrowed his eyes, staring at the tightly closed door, a smirk crossing his lips, thinking that tomorrow would indeed be a good day, worthy of a grand feast.

However, Yin Jinhui on the other side was not so happy. Having barely escaped a deadly fate, he found that the main culprit who had caused his suffering was spitting blood, with life and death unknown, and he didn't dare to approach, also realizing that Xie Weihuan had even prepared for handling the situation if he really died.

When Hao Jixin arrived with Captain Mu, Boss Yin, and his wife, they saw a person without a shirt, dirty all over, hair slightly burnt, looking miserable, who suddenly rushed over with a wail, tears streaming down his dark face, making his eyes stand out even more.

His eyes were brimming with tears, looking extremely pitiful.

Hao Jixin started recording with his phone as soon as Yin Jinhui rushed over, both amazed and thinking of showing it to the master tomorrow, and also using it as evidence, in case Yin Jinhui forgets his pain once healed and refuses to work off his debt honestly. This video would then serve as a threat!

"Hahaha, let's see if he dares not to work!"

Yin Jinhui, seeing his parents, buried himself in their embrace, crying loudly. He was terrified; the night had been too harrowing. He cried his heart out, his words disjointed but somehow managing to explain the terrifying events of the night.

Having finished his story with swollen eyes, he looked up to see Hao Jixin not only lacking sympathy but also filming his ugly state and laughing at him: "Don't you have any compassion?"

Hao Jixin laughed even harder, pointing at Yin Jinhui's parents: "I think anyone seeing you like this wouldn't sympathize either. First, look at your parents... This guy is unbelievable, so blind, not just ordinarily stupid, but stupidity engraved in his bones."

Xie Weihuan had tricked him into coming here, yet he didn't become alert. Instead, when Xie Weihuan asked if he was willing to die for him, he actually said yes... Such a person, really, if not for meeting the master and having good fortune, he would have been mere cannon fodder.

Yin Jinhui, initially only busy with his complaints, suddenly realized something and looked up to see his parents, who had been comforting him, now glaring with wide eyes.

Mr. Yin and his wife were so angry they were gasping for breath. Suddenly, Mr. Yin took off his shoe and charged at Yin Jinhui: “I’ll beat you to death, you damn fool! Why don’t you go die for them? Why aren’t you dead yet, taking the fall for them? I won’t let you live if I don’t kill you today!”

Mrs. Yin, also furious and initially sympathetic, didn’t stop him this time, thinking their son must have been brain-damaged when he was three.

Meanwhile, the Xie family was waiting for Xie Weihuan to return for dinner. He had said he would be back in an hour, but now he wasn’t answering his phone.

Mr. Xie frowned, “What’s wrong with this child? Running around right after getting better. We were planning to surprise him, but he’s not back yet.”

Mrs. Xie, worried, looked at the door: “Try calling him again. What if something happened? He just recovered from an illness. What if he faints somewhere?” She looked at their elder son, who had returned from abroad and had been quiet, obviously displeased about them hiding the fact that they drove away and disowned their biological son, “Weisheng, why don’t you call your brother? He always listens to you.”

Xie Weisheng coldly glanced at his parents, "He's eighteen, not eight. If he wanted to come back, he'd have answered your calls, not mine."

Xie's mother was about to reprimand her son's attitude when Xie's father's phone rang. Seeing it was Xie Weiwei's call, he frowned and deliberately waited before answering. "What's going on? You said you'd be back soon... Who is this?"

Whatever was said on the other end turned Xie's father's expression increasingly grim. He suddenly stood up, agitated, "What did you say? Impossible! My child could never harm anyone!"

Xie's mother and Xie Weisheng looked up sharply, their brows furrowed in concern.

***

The next day, Xie Qingfeng got up early despite just starting the semester, with many Traditional Chinese Medicine courses scheduled. While washing up, he seemed to remember something, his expression freezing momentarily, but he quickly regained composure, drying his face and leaving for class.

He opened the door quietly, as if not to wake someone, but given the time, it was probably too late.

Indeed, upon opening the door, he felt a gaze fixed on him. Looking up, he saw Jing Xi at the kitchen entrance, immaculately dressed, arms crossed, smiling as if to say: "What are you avoiding?"

Xie Qingfeng coughed lightly, feigning nonchalance, "Why up so early? I have classes, and you usually don't need to wake up early. I can just grab breakfast outside."

Jing Xi, however, smiled, "It's no trouble. When I was the Crown Prince, I used to wake up much earlier, probably would have finished martial arts practice by now," pointing at the dining table, "Breakfast is ready."

Xie Qingfeng, relieved, hoped maybe Jing Xi had forgotten.

However, he soon realized that while he had a good memory, the person in front of him had an even better one. Jing Xi uncovered the breakfast, which was lavish as usual, except for the absence of two signature fried eggs.

Jing Xi quickly covered the food and pointed towards the kitchen, "Shall I ask, or will the National Master do it himself?"

Xie Qingfeng calmly glanced at the clock on the wall, "I have a class first thing in the morning; there's no time. Let's do it tomorrow morning."

Jing Xi replied, "No problem, there's an hour left. It's a five-minute walk from here to the school, ten minutes from the school gate to the lecture hall. Excluding breakfast, the National Master has half an hour."

Xie Qingfeng: "..." Fine, it's your own doing.

If the little emperor isn't afraid of being poisoned to death, why should he be?

Standing in the kitchen, Xie Qingfeng eyed the two stacks of eggs beside him. The other party was well-prepared, it seemed. He slowly rolled up his sleeves, stalling for time.

Xie Qingfeng casually remarked, "If I ruin too many, wouldn't that be wasteful? Wouldn't it be better if I just make a successful one?"

Jing Xi, unfolding an apron, insisted, "No, we agreed on a heart-shaped fried egg. I'll eat even the ones you ruin. Don't worry about waste."

Xie Qingfeng gave him a sidelong glance, holding the spatula and pan. There seemed no escape, but frying an egg was already challenging, let alone a heart-shaped one for this demanding emperor.

Jing Xi, seeing Xie Qingfeng's hands full, offered, "Your hands are occupied; shall I tie the apron for you?"

Xie Qingfeng instinctively nodded, "Okay." He spread his arms open, momentarily forgetting he could set down the items first.

By the time he realized, Jing Xi had already hung the apron around his neck. It was done; no point in protesting now. He wondered if Jing Xi did it on purpose, his movements unusually slow. He didn't mind initially, but he could distinctly feel Jing Xi's fingers trembling while tying the apron at his waist, failing several times. He turned his head, "What's wrong?"

His question seemed to startle Jing Xi, who abruptly pulled the apron tight. Xie Qingfeng thought, "...Was that intentional?" It's just a heart-shaped egg; no need to 'strangle' him for it.

Jing Xi, realizing his overreaction, coughed and loosened the apron, tying it properly this time, "Sorry, that wasn’t intentional."

Xie Qingfeng gave him a probing look, "Really?"

Jing Xi changed the subject, "Time's almost up. You're not trying to delay, are you? Surely the great National Master can fry an egg. I learned it in one go."

Xie Qingfeng could sense the challenge. Was he the type to rise to such bait?

He was.

Determined, Xie Qingfeng heated the oil in the pan, following the steps he recalled. However, the heat was too high, burning one side of the egg while leaving the other undercooked.

He quickly flipped it, glancing at Jing Xi's barely concealed amusement, "Burnt tastes good."

Jing Xi played along, "Yes, burnt is good, but I still want the heart-shaped egg."

Xie Qingfeng silently gave him a look and washed the pan to start again.

The second egg didn’t burn, but it wasn’t heart-shaped either.

The third attempt also failed, and finally Xie Qingfeng's frying skills improved, yet he still couldn’t shape a heart. Frowning, he wondered why he couldn't get the right shape. Why were his eggs turning into various shapes except for a heart?

Just then, Xie Qingfeng's phone rang. Busy wrestling with the eggs, he nodded towards Jing Xi to answer it: “It should be Hao Jixin. The phone is in the right pocket of my pants.”

Realizing Jing Xi hadn't moved, Xie Qingfeng glanced over to see him staring at his pants. Before he could speak, Jing Xi snapped out of it, turned away, and reached for the phone.

Fortunately, the phone was partially visible, sparing Jing Xi from his embarrassing imaginings. He answered, a mix of relief and regret on his face.

It was indeed Hao Jixin, brimming with excitement: “Is the Master awake? You wouldn’t believe the videos I took of Yin Jinhui yesterday. He cried so miserably, I laughed so hard. Master, do you want to see them? I’ll send them over. Also, Xie Weihuan is unconscious from vomiting blood, might not wake up. Serves him right, might even get arrested. He planned to collapse the cave and erase all evidence... What’s that sizzling sound? Is Jing Yingdi cooking breakfast?”

Jing Xi glanced at Xie Qingfeng, the competent National Master, and corrected: “Not me.”

Hao Jixin was shocked: “Then who? Could it be... the Master is cooking?”

Jing Xi hummed affirmatively, boasting modestly: “I’m waiting for a heart-shaped egg.”

Hao Jixin was amazed: “Wow! I want one too! Eating one from the Master would surely grant longevity! Master, could I have one...”

Whether the Master would oblige was unknown, but Jing Xi, unwilling to share the privilege, promptly hung up, telling Xie Qingfeng, “Too noisy, affecting your performance.” He'd waited this long for his egg; Hao Jixin could dream on.

Xie Qingfeng, focused intently, finally sighed: “Okay, how do you make a heart-shaped egg?” There had to be some trick he was missing.

Jing Xi, satisfied with his full plate of eggs, retrieved a heart-shaped mold: “Oh, I almost forgot, you can use this. It shapes the egg into a heart.”

Xie Qingfeng looked at Jing Xi, then at the mold. Was this a deliberate set-up?

Eventually, Jing Xi savored a plate of Xie Qingfeng’s personally made eggs, his mood exceptionally buoyant. However, his good spirits dissipated by noon when picking up Xie Qingfeng.

Jing Xi waited until the students cleared out but didn’t see Xie Qingfeng emerge. A bad feeling crept in; he called, but there was no answer, only a text message was possible.

[Jing: Weren’t we having a big meal? Where are you?]

Soon, a photo arrived, showcasing a table laden with sumptuous dishes, including shrimp steamed eggs, clams steamed eggs, and minced meat steamed eggs. A slender hand scooped a spoonful of the tender, quivering egg, looking delectable.

Another message followed quickly.

[Oh, right. Almost forgot. The last class ended early because the professor had to leave. I went to have a big meal with Hao Jixin. Jing Yingdi, you can eat by yourself.]

Jing Xi almost laughed seeing the familiar tone in the first two sentences. He hadn't realized before, but it seems the National Master holds a grudge. Was he still miffed about eating a few extra eggs made by his own hands?

The photo might as well have said: Eggs not cooked by oneself are always tastier.

In the restaurant's private room, after sending the message, Xie Qingfeng took another big bite of his steamed egg, feeling great. He waited for a while for a response but eventually set his phone aside, unconcerned. He had left Jing Xi with a card and pocket money; he wouldn't starve.

Soon, the phone buzzed. Xie Qingfeng glanced at it and couldn't resist checking. It was a picture from Jing Xi.

It seemed to be taken at a street food stall. Jing Xi's long legs were awkwardly folded on a low stool by the curb, half a bowl of fried rice in view, which looked quite pitiful compared to the lavish meal Xie Qingfeng had just sent.

Quickly followed another message.

[Jing: The rice is a bit dry. [Puppy dog eyes]]