Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Mr. An, suspiciously eyeing Hao Jixin, was about to speak when the butler hurried in, "Sir, the Master Bai you requested has arrived!"

Mr. An sat up straight, "Please bring him in." After saying this, he glanced at Mr. Du and his group with a self-satisfied look, "Do you know who this Master Bai is?"

Hao Jixin, hearing the surname Bai, gave Mr. An another odd look, "Who is he?" Could it really be such a coincidence?

Given the coincidence with Mr. Zhang, it seemed this Master Bai might also be from Mr. Zhang's circle.

He might even know Master Bai Dao.

Mr. An, feeling even more confident, boasted, "Recently, a highly skilled master, Master Xie, appeared in Mr. Zhang's circle. He's no ordinary person. Unlike others who require birth details or talismans, Master Xie can discern one's past and predict fate with just a glance. He recognized that the supposed grandson of the Zhang family, Chang Ruihe, was an imposter. Just a child born from an affair, switched at birth with the true, deceased Zhang heir."

Such incredible skill had become the talk of the circle; everyone wanted to meet this master.

Moreover, Master Xie could craft health talismans beneficial for well-being.

With his parents' health improving but still not in good spirits, Mr. An was eager to meet Master Xie during Mr. Zhang's birthday celebration to ask for a referral.

After reminiscing, Mr. An noticed the strange expressions on everyone except Mr. Du, but didn't think much of it, "The Master Bai we invited is young but a direct disciple of Master Bai Dao, possessing genuine teachings of his sect."

Hao Jixin waited for him to finish, then drawled, "Is that so?"

It seemed Master Bai Dao wasn't the one coming, or Mr. An's expression would have been priceless.

Was he aware that the person he was praising to the skies was right in front of him?

Xie Qingfeng hadn't expected his one-time intervention in B City to be exaggerated to this extent.

Mr. An, thinking the others were shocked and afraid of being exposed, was about to continue praising when the butler brought in a young Taoist in robes.

The young Taoist, in plain robes and looking no older than twenty, wore an air of immaturity.

He wore a serious expression, carrying a satchel with various Taoist tools, including a peach wood sword and a corner of a Bagua plate visible.

On the way, the butler briefed him about the situation, particularly emphasizing that Mr. Du had brought in frauds trying to clear their name regarding the problematic painting, urging him to expose them on the spot.

As the young Taoist solemnly stepped in and looked around, the butler introduced, "This is our Mr. An, and these are the masters invited by Mr. Du."

The young Taoist, following the butler's voice, nodded to Mr. An, then casually glanced at Hao Jixin and his companions.

As he was about to look away, his gaze suddenly snapped back.

Hao Jixin, observing the newcomer, hadn't met him before, but his formal demeanor reminded him of Bai Yuanshan.

The Taoist hadn't seen them before, and it was uncertain whether he could discern that the painting had no issues but the house itself had major problems.

Otherwise, they'd have to explain later, which would be too time-consuming.

But before Hao Jixin could move towards the master, the Taoist's abrupt movement caught his attention.

The Taoist, as if in disbelief, stared intently at Hao Jixin, repeatedly confirming he was indeed the person he thought.

Next to him were two people – one young man fond of wearing masks and hats with exceptionally handsome features was undoubtedly Master Xie, and the most obvious clue was the long-haired, strikingly attractive young man beside him!

The Taoist's hands trembled as he glanced to the side, and there they were – it really was Master Xie!

The Taoist was about to exclaim in surprise when Hao Jixin, sensing something, quickly moved over and patted the Taoist's shoulder, coughing softly and whispering, "Keep it low-key."

The Taoist immediately raised his hand in agreement: OKOK! He got it!

Hao Jixin, seeing Mr. An's bewildered expression, felt even more amused, almost bursting into laughter – as if it would be that easy for him to meet Master Xie!

Mr. An, sensing something amiss, looked from one to the other, "Do... do you all know each other?"

The Taoist exclaimed, "Yes, yes, these people are way more skilled than me. The results given by the master are absolutely accurate!"

After all, this was the Master Xie highly praised by Grandpa Bai, who had incessantly talked about him from the start to the end of the month to the point their ears nearly formed calluses!

Upon returning, Grandpa Bai, fearing they would offend or neglect Master Xie in the future, had given them a description of Hao Jixin, 'Mr. Hao', to each of them.

So, he remembered Mr. Hao's face better than his own father's.

After all, he didn't see his father as often in a year as he had seen Mr. Hao's face in a month.

Mr. An, incredulous, widened his eyes: How could this be possible?

But the young Taoist's eyes, shining with eagerness, even his overzealous action of asking Mr. Hao to add him on WeChat, gave off the impression that he was in the presence of some significant figure.

Mr. Du, realizing something, brightened up, his worries fading away. He thought to himself, how could Hao be deceiving him?

Standing up, he cleared his throat and addressed Mr. An, "Since the master you've invited also agrees with our master's conclusion, I hope you can clarify the matter on our behalf later. Since there's no problem with the painting, may we take it with us?"

As he spoke, he even took out his phone, planning to record a video as proof that there was no issue with their painting.

Mr. An, bewildered from start to finish, was about to question the young Taoist when the latter cheerfully waved his hand, "I didn’t intervene this time, so I won't charge. I'll return the deposit to you later, I must be going now!" He then hastily left before Mr. An could react.

Mr. An and the butler exchanged glances, "What's the background of this master invited by Mr. Du?"

The butler shook his head, "I don't know. But what should we do now, sir? If the painting really has no problem, could it be as that master said... about our house..." He hesitated to mention the term 'evil house'.

Mr. An, lost in thought, sat back down, "Contact the master who did the Feng Shui for our house immediately, find out what’s going on. And wait, instruct the assistant to add a few more items to the gift list. During Mr. Zhang's birthday, we must meet this Master Xie!"

If the problem indeed lies with their house, having lived here for so long... could it mean they had health issues all along?

On the other hand, Mr. Du was in high spirits, having reclaimed the painting and obtained the video. He immediately transferred the agreed-upon five million.

After confirming the receipt of the payment, Hao Jixin declined Mr. Du's invitation to dine together.

The master preferred low-profile engagements and wouldn’t enjoy dining comfortably with strangers present.

Mr. Du could only regretfully watch as the group departed.

Soon, he posted on his social media, proving that his painting had no issues. Watching the endless stream of inquiries on his phone, he breathed a sigh of relief.

This experience made him even more grateful for trusting Old Hao and inviting this master over.

Xie Qingfeng and his companions returned to the hotel just in time for dinner. They ate at a nearby restaurant before heading back to the hotel.

The matter concerning the second client was a bit tricky, scheduled for the evening, so Xie Qingfeng and his group had the afternoon free.

Having received an invitation to Mr. Zhang's birthday celebration, Xie Qingfeng knew they needed to prepare a gift.

They decided to go shopping in the afternoon.

Hao Jixin's offer to accompany Xie Qingfeng was declined, as he was a practitioner with naturally greater energy than ordinary people.

With an evening engagement planned, Hao Jixin agreed to stay back at the hotel and rest.

Thinking it over, Hao Jixin agreed.

Although Jing Xiuming couldn't cultivate, he insisted on joining them, using his martial arts background as a reason.

Xie Qingfeng, considering the approaching cooler weather post-holiday, decided it was a good time to buy seasonal clothing for them, and agreed.

Jing Xiuming didn’t expect to be included in Xie Qingfeng's plan. He tried to suppress a smile but couldn’t help the corners of his mouth lifting, “Actually, as a martial artist, I'm not afraid of the cold. It’s not necessary to buy anything for me.”

Xie Qingfeng glanced at him, “Alright then, we won’t buy anything.”

Jing Xiuming: “......”

"The National Master really, couldn't he just let me contradict him once?"

"Xie Qingfeng was just teasing him, but first, he took Jing Xi shopping for seasonal clothing."

"Besides Jing Xi needing new clothes, he needed them as well."

"The two took a taxi to the largest nearby mall, first buying clothes along with matching shoes and hats."

"Xie Qingfeng favored white, and when he let Jing Xi choose, he initially thought the latter would prefer black."

"After all, except for sacrifices or formal occasions when Jing Xi had to wear prince or new emperor's attire, he mostly dressed in black."

"Xie Qingfeng assumed Jing Xi liked black, but surprisingly, he picked quite a few white items."

"Even the styles he chose were the same as Xie Qingfeng's, just a size larger."

"Jing Xi noticed Xie Qingfeng's gaze and looked down, asking, 'Is there a problem?'"

"Xie Qingfeng, not one to keep thoughts to himself, directly asked, 'Don’t you prefer black?'"

"Jing Xi blinked slowly, then lifted his head as if recalling something painful, his voice low, 'I do like it. But initially, it was just a habit.'"

"Xie Qingfeng, puzzled, inquired, 'How so?'"

"Jing Xi looked up pitifully, sighing softly, 'Back then, when I just left the cold palace, that person... to make me grow up quickly, had me trained by the Grand General. I often had injuries.' Only black could hide the bloodstains; otherwise, I'd need to change clothes many times a day."

"A pang struck Xie Qingfeng's heart, realizing 'that person' referred to the old emperor, and these were stories he had never heard."

"He felt a mix of heartache and regret; after helping Jing Xi leave the cold palace and exposing the imperial destiny, he was confined."

After a period of seclusion, Xie Qingfeng had only heard that Jing Xiuming was doing well. In their few meetings, although Jing Xiuming was somewhat colder, he indeed seemed to be in good condition.

But Xie Qingfeng had forgotten that the imperial family was the most ruthless of all.

“I’m sorry…” Xie Qingfeng apologized instinctively, realizing that even after saving Jing Xiuming, his life might not have been easy.

Jing Xiuming stepped forward, giving a gentle hug, resting his chin on Xie Qingfeng's shoulder: “If the Master feels sorry, then my guilt is even greater. Had you not rescued me, I wouldn’t have survived that winter. From the beginning, and even after I became the emperor, you were the only family I ever acknowledged.”

Neither the old emperor who used him as a tool nor the empress who nominally made him a prince were his family.

Xie Qingfeng was not accustomed to such closeness with others, but Jing Xiuming was different. He couldn't help feeling pity and affection, patting his back gently: “Hmm.”

Jing Xiuming, with lowered eyes: “So now, in this world, you are all I have left. Please, never leave me, whatever happens.”

Xie Qingfeng wanted to say that things were different now, that Jing Xiuming should live his own life.

Yet, recalling Jing Xiuming’s hardships over the years, he softly agreed: “Okay.”

Xie Qingfeng, too, had no family left. Initially, his pity for Jing Xiuming and the desire to save him from misery mirrored his own young self.

His master had saved him; later, he saved the young emperor.

It was like a legacy, one he embraced willingly.

So, when they left the boutique, most of the clothes they bought were identical in style, just varying in color.

This way, when they both wore them, they resembled a couple's attire.

Since they bought a lot, they had the store deliver everything directly to the hotel.

Finally, the only thing left to purchase was a birthday gift for Elder Zhang.

"Knowing Jing Xi lacked nothing, Xie Qingfeng decided to choose a fine jade stone and inscribe a health charm on it with his spiritual energy."

"This effect is more convenient to carry than a talisman paper and less likely to lose its effectiveness, making it a permanent health charm."

"I believe this gift, for Elder Zhang, is more needed than something of greater monetary value."

"The two then went to the floor selling jade, randomly entering a store."

"While there was no need for an exceptionally expensive jade, it shouldn’t be of poor quality either, and it needed to be easy to carry."

"Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi looked around themselves, and after a stroll, they decided to buy a jade pendant engraved with the character for 'blessing'."

"The pendant wasn’t very large, but the quality of the jade was good and the price reasonable, around two million."

"After making his choice, Xie Qingfeng glanced around and noticed many other jade pendants of various styles, all simple but of decent quality."

"One of them had the character 'wind' engraved, which initially reminded him of his own name, but upon closer inspection, it was surrounded by a five-clawed golden dragon."

"Other pendants had different characters accompanied by various totems, including phoenixes and other mythical beasts."

"They were probably just ornaments to make them look more attractive."

"This jade with a golden dragon inexplicably made Xie Qingfeng think of the person beside him."

"It was only after Jing Xi's arrival that he learned the young emperor’s name was Jing Xi, styled Mian Feng."

"He knew the young emperor's name, but not his style name."

"Usually, people in the National Master's temple referred to him as the Prince and later as the New Emperor or His Majesty."

"This was also due to his lack of attention to these details; otherwise, he would have known just by flipping through the ritual books."

"This realization made Xie Qingfeng feel somewhat guilty; as the National Master, he knew surprisingly little about the new emperor’s reign."

"Looking at the jade pendants, Xie Qingfeng suddenly asked, 'Do you… want a jade pendant? There are quite a few here, any you like?'"

"It only dawned on him after asking that his private treasury contained many jade stones of much higher quality."

"Just as he was about to decline, Jing Xi from his side had already agreed, pointing to the jade pendant he had been looking at earlier: 'This one.'"

"Xie Qingfeng looked at the jade pendant inscribed with [Wind]: 'Then, this one it is.'"

"The salesperson at the counter didn't expect such good luck, selling two jade pendants in one go."

"Respectfully donning gloves, the salesperson took out the two pendants, placed them in exquisite boxes, issued the receipt, took the payment, and asked Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi to wait a moment."

"While waiting, three more customers entered the jade store."

"Standing near the entrance, Xie Qingfeng instinctively looked up to see who was coming."

"Upon recognizing the newcomers, Xie Qingfeng narrowed his eyes slightly, but kept his composure, his face hidden by a mask and hat. The newcomers glanced at him but quickly looked away, not recognizing him."

"'Wei Sheng, you have good taste. What gift should we choose to leave a lasting impression on Elder Zhang? Thanks to our long-term efforts, we've been granted access to the Zhang family estate by the younger generation. It would be great to meet the master praised by Elder Zhang; maybe he could help your brother wake up,' Xie's father said, his voice low and weary, but both Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi heard every word clearly with their keen hearing."

"Jing Xi hadn't paid attention to these three until he heard the name Wei Sheng, which sounded familiar."

"Upon hearing the rest, he looked up and indeed recognized Xie Wei Sheng, who had previously sought the National Master."

"His nominal older brother."

"Jing Xi frowned at the trio, leaning closer to Xie Qingfeng: 'If you don't want to see them, we can go outside first.'"

"Xie Qingfeng looked up: 'No need.' The Xie family were no different from others in his eyes and had no impact on him."

"Jing Xi understood his meaning, thinking that indeed, these three were insignificant."

"Xie's father sighed while Xie's mother, hearing her son Xie Wei Huan mentioned, teared up, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, on the verge of tears."

"Xie Wei Sheng felt irritable and ignored his father, focusing on selecting an appropriate jade to take to the Zhang family."

"He had come reluctantly, partly because his parents invoked Xie Wei Huan's life. Although he didn’t like Xie Wei Huan, having been his brother for so many years, he couldn’t just watch him die."

"Furthermore, the Xie Corporation was facing issues recently. Though not immediately apparent, he sensed their tarnished reputation causing many long-term clients to consider not renewing their contracts."

"If it were only a few, it would be manageable, but the number, as per his investigations, exceeded half."

"For a business, this was a catastrophic blow."

"He had been tirelessly working, personally visiting these old clients to win back their favor while also seeking new connections in case the former couldn't be salvaged."

"Yet, these concerns were not something he could discuss with his parents."

"Their minds were entirely focused on the hospital; bringing this up might be too much..."

"Xie Wei Sheng massaged his temples, even contemplating giving up, but he couldn't bear to watch everything fall apart."

"Xie's father spoke at length, but not receiving a response from his eldest son, he looked up to see an impatient expression, angering him: 'Do you wish for your younger brother to die? What is this attitude? We came here for whom? Isn't it for you all? If the Zhang family favors us, not only will our business climb a level, your brother’s illness could be cured, leading to family joy. Or is it because you've heard he's not your biological brother, so your heart has changed? Look at your so-called biological brother, does he care about us? He’s a…'"

"'Enough!' Xie Wei Sheng, having heard enough of this at home, could almost guess what his father would say next."

"Xie's father grew even angrier, while Xie's mother couldn't hold back her tears."

"Grinding his teeth, Xie Wei Sheng felt overwhelmed, trying not to speak, but eventually couldn't help it: 'I don't care about him? Do you only have one son? Do you know the mess he left me? Yes, you handed over the company to me, but do you understand what I’ve sacrificed to grow it? And now, all my efforts are ruined because of Xie Wei Huan’s selfishness.'"

"Frowning, Xie's father retorted, 'Don’t blame everything on him. He's lying there, having done nothing!'"

"Xie Wei Sheng scoffed, 'Done nothing? He hasn’t done anything but ruin Xie family’s reputation, turning us into a joke among our peers. He’s offended everyone we shouldn’t have. He’s trampled our trustworthiness underfoot. He’s unconscious, but when the old contracts expire, no one will sign with us because of his actions. It would be an achievement if we don’t go bankrupt.'"

"His words silenced Xie's parents, especially his father, who finally realized the gravity of the situation. Having been a hands-off manager for years, he was unaware of the company’s state, particularly since Xie Wei Huan's incident."

"Realizing the severity, he panicked, 'Is it really that bad?'"

"Xie Wei Sheng wiped his face, turning away tiredly, without responding."

"He was exhausted, and all because of a person who didn't deserve to be one, yet he couldn’t abandon him."

"At such times, he often thought, if only the brother he had embraced from the start was that distant yet reassuring person… would he not be so tired?"

Lost in thought, Wei Sheng's gaze froze as he turned to look at a figure near the exit's counter.

Especially the long-haired young man standing next to him.

But how could it be? This is B City.

The sales clerk at the counter returned, respectfully handing over a gift box to the two customers: “We welcome you both to visit again!”

Xie Qingfeng took his card after paying, acknowledging with a hum.

Jing Xiu took the two brocade boxes in his hands.

Then, the two left without casting a single glance in their direction.

Wei Sheng, instinctively, began to follow them, convinced that the voice he heard was so similar to Xie Qingfeng, his nominal younger brother.

"Wei Sheng, where are you going?" Xie's father, dropping the previous topic, called out upon noticing Wei Sheng's movements.

Halting his steps, Wei Sheng recalled the words from their last encounter and gave a bitter smile, eventually turning back to face his parents who had resumed enthusiastically selecting gifts.

It was as if the matters he had just spoken of had never been mentioned, as if they had never existed.

Wei Sheng looked at his parents, feeling a sense of vindication. What would their expressions be if they knew how accomplished the child they had abandoned had become?

Mistaking the fake for a gem, they had unhesitatingly discarded the real pearl.

This was probably their retribution.

When Xie Qingfeng and his companion returned to the hotel, it was still not dark outside, and Hao Jixin had already woken up.

Hearing the noise, he immediately opened the door, joyfully carrying a pile of items: “These are what you bought, they were delivered to my room since you weren't here.”

Once inside Xie Qingfeng's room, he couldn't help but ask: “Master, are these clothes for you, or for Jing Film Emperor?”

He had only seen the outer packaging and hadn't rummaged through without permission.

Jing Xiu glanced at him: “They're for both of us. Why, do you have any thoughts?”

Hao Jixin had been waiting for this, guessing as much: “Hehe, I do have a thought. I like several of these brands too, can I buy the same?” Wearing the same clothes as the master and Jing Film Emperor, the three of us would look so cool. It would be obvious we're a group.

Jing Xiu laughed dismissively: “No.” His hard-won couple's outfit, why add another?

Disappointed, Hao Jixin asked: “Really, I can't?” He could already picture that scene.

Jing Xiu firmly shook his head.

Hao Jixin had no choice but to abandon the idea, realizing only later when he saw the master and Jing Xiu wearing identical clothes, how glad he was not to have acted on impulse.

Otherwise, the contrast would have been too stark. Instead of a trio, it would have been a duo and a contrasting solo, with him as the background.

Hao Jixin had arranged to meet the second client at eight o'clock in the evening. The three had dinner first before heading there.

They even arrived fifteen minutes early.

The client had arranged the meeting at this time because the strange occurrences usually happened around eight o'clock.