Chapter 152: What A Precious Benefactor
Ji Ziyao quickly replied. Receiving Xuan Xia’s message at this hour, his heart that had been suspended all day finally had some resolution.
Xuan Xia looked at how Ji Ziyao scolded her thoroughly in his reply and couldn’t help but let a smile spread across the corner of her mouth.
Just as she was thinking about replying with something to soothe him, her peripheral vision caught Daoist Master Qin sitting beside her.
In that instant, spiritual light flashed in her mind, and she remembered another matter. The smile immediately froze on her face.
Daoist Master Qin seemed to sense it and turned his head.
“Daoist Master Qin.” Xuan Xia called out to him dryly.
“Hm?”
Xuan Xia said, “Can we delete our chat records?”
Daoist Master Qin looked at her with particularly sincere eyes.
But sincerity was useless; he didn’t respond.
Xuan Xia put on a polite smile and asked again in a polite tone, “Can we?”
He frowned in thought, but after a long while, he made no decision.
Instead, Qu Xingxuan in the front seat turned his head again with interest, this time with a gossip expression.
Xuan Xia glanced at Qu Xingxuan, then immediately changed her mind. “Forget it, let’s keep them. No need for me to write it a second time; they can serve as a template if needed.”
After all, it was a little essay written with true feelings that had even moved her herself.
This time, Daoist Master Qin reacted.
He said, “We can.”
Xuan Xia: “…”
“Delete the records?”
“Let’s keep them.”
Xuan Xia: “…”
When an employee has the capital to do as they please, the boss is powerless.
And still has to maintain a magnanimous smile.
–
Before arriving at Yuan Zhongshu’s home, Xuan Xia had never imagined what his family would be like.
The result solidly shocked her.
She never expected the Yuan family to own such an expensive courtyard house.
This courtyard house was very particular: three successive courtyards, main gate facing the “Xun” position, with a feng shui jar at the center of the inner courtyard, raising goldfish and two water lilies.
Xuan Xia was extremely envious; this was her first time stepping into a courtyard house.
She immediately said to Daoist Master Qin, “This courtyard feels even bigger than our Daoist temple.”
Daoist Master Qin couldn’t help but smile and agree, “Indeed.”
Xuan Xia looked at Qu Xingxuan again and felt envious of him too.
This courtyard house was currently occupied only by Yuan Zhongshu and Qu Xingxuan. Qu Xingxuan was oblivious to Xuan Xia’s gaze. He had seemed in high spirits in the car, but the moment he stepped through the door, his energy drained like it was sucked away. He yawned one after another, and his nose started twitching.
Yuan Zhongshu patted his head and said, “Go take a quick bath and then sleep.”
Qu Xingxuan grumbled a couple times but ultimately couldn’t resist and obediently went back to his room first.
Yuan Zhongshu turned to Xuan Xia again. “Niece, you weren’t injured inside, were you?”
Xuan Xia shook her head.
“Then do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? If you do, you must say so; don’t hold it in.”
Xuan Xia smiled relaxedly. “No. I’m fine.”
The ones injured were others.
Yuan Zhongshu breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Xuan Xia asked in return with concern, “What about Qu Xingxuan? Is he okay?”
Yuan Zhongshu said, “No major issues. He just stayed inside too long. A good sleep to stabilize his soul aspect, and he’ll be fine.”
“Mm.” This time, he had indeed stayed inside long enough.
Yuan Zhongshu invited them into the study room, saying he wanted them to taste some tea, and personally busied himself preparing it.
During the tea brewing, the group didn’t idle and began discussing this illusionary scenery incident.
Yuan Zhongshu spoke first. “Before getting close, I really didn’t know it was this situation. Only after approaching and looking closely did I confirm it definitely wasn’t a mountain mirage fiend.”
Daoist Master Qin agreed.
“You can tell it’s a mountain mirage fiend?” Xuan Xia detected the doubt.
Both looked over.
Yuan Zhongshu smiled slightly and said mysteriously, “Very few in the present world know this method. I happen to have inherited a bit of my sect’s secret transmission.”
Xuan Xia understood suddenly, then looked at Daoist Master Qin again.
The first person to tell her the mountain mirage fiend wasn’t a mountain mirage fiend was him, so how did he know?
Could he also have inherited a bit of his sect’s secret transmission?
His sect’s secret transmission—wasn’t that something she could learn too?
Xuan Xia’s gaze toward Daoist Master Qin grew eager.
Daoist Master Qin saw through her little thought and smiled too, saying frankly, “I just divined a hexagram and guessed.”
Divined it?
Xuan Xia felt a twinge of disappointment but turned her gaze back to Yuan Zhongshu.
“Can Qu Xingxuan tell too?” Xuan Xia thought again.
Yuan Zhongshu’s smile turned bitter as he shook his head with a sigh. “This brat—if you say his skills are lacking, he wouldn’t have dragged everyone into the mirage. But if you say he’s smart, he wouldn’t be so stupid as to get himself trapped too.”
So Qu Xingxuan could.
Xuan Xia meant nothing else; she was just envious.
Yuan Zhongshu added that Qu Xingxuan was different from ordinary people—more spiritually sensitive than most. Even without special training, he could see more clearly than average.
Hearing this, Xuan Xia felt it was better not to have heard it; she grew even more envious.
Once Yuan Zhongshu finished nagging about his disciple, Daoist Master Qin took over and asked Xuan Xia, “What was the situation inside?”
Yuan Zhongshu dropped his nagging-disciple expression and looked over too.
Not a mountain mirage fiend, yet so like one—anyone would be curious.
Plus, this concerned his disciple.
At this point, Daoist Master Qin added pointedly, “The more detailed, the better.”
Xuan Xia understood and didn’t beat around the bush, describing in detail what happened after entering the illusionary scenery to the two.
Toward the end, she naturally didn’t forget to mention her discovery too.
Upon hearing that the old man in the illusionary scenery didn’t attack the injured Ren family members, Yuan Zhongshu and Daoist Master Qin exchanged another glance.
“Niece, do you mean that old man only didn’t attack the injured, bleeding Ren family members?”
Xuan Xia said, “Right. It was like he could clearly distinguish the scent of blood. Anyway, when Qu Xingxuan and I hid behind Ren Tongli, that old man acted like he couldn’t see us.”
“And thinking about it, I feel it was Ren Tongjin’s blood that drew him out.”
Yuan Zhongshu pondered briefly. “This so-called mountain mirage fiend was also discovered by the Ren family.”
Later handed over by the Ren family to the Cui family for guarding, but the evil spirit inside didn’t attack Ren family members—yet wasn’t so lenient with Cui family members.
Was that clear?
Xuan Xia had thought of this too.
She had assumed the Ren and Cui families were in cahoots, with the Ren family currying favor with the Cui family. But in the illusionary scenery, those two Cui family fools got beaten badly.
So was the Ren family actually playing weak to eat the strong?
“Probably not.” Yuan Zhongshu shook his head, rejecting the idea. “If the Cui family were unaware, Cui Jue wouldn’t have tried every way to keep me from entering the mountain.”
“Besides, how long has this mountain been under Cui family guard?” Yuan Zhongshu didn’t believe the Cui family head wouldn’t want to see the rare mountain mirage fiend with his own eyes upon learning of it.
That was a once-in-a-lifetime mountain mirage fiend!
Yuan Zhongshu thought again. “Niece, in your view, did those two Cui family boys notice the suspicious point you discovered?”
This question was spot on.
After thinking, Xuan Xia said carefully, “I think anyone not blind would definitely have noticed by the end, even if not at first.”
Yuan Zhongshu: “…”
Daoist Master Qin: “…”
As long as not blind…
The description was apt and straightforward.
For a moment, the room fell quiet.
Everyone pondered respectively.
…
After much thought, the three really couldn’t figure out what medicine these two families were selling in their gourds.
Later, Xuan Xia’s stomach rumbled inappropriately with hunger.
She had only eaten breakfast that day.
Yuan Zhongshu set aside the mind-taxing matter, chuckling as he asked Xuan Xia, “Niece, hungry? We have leek pancake rolls and scallion pancake rolls—want some?”
“…No thanks.” She couldn’t stomach that flavor.
Unaware his family’s pancake rolls were disliked, Yuan Zhongshu mentioned them and felt hungry himself.
He turned to invite Daoist Master Qin. “Daoist Master Qin, care to try some?”
Daoist Master Qin declined too.
Not just declining, he even heart-piercingly told Yuan Zhongshu that he had already sent Li Xinze and the others to pack meals, which would arrive soon.
“You lot of benefactors.” Yuan Zhongshu shook his head.
Just as he spoke, the doorbell rang.
Daoist Master Qin said, “Should be the meals. Trouble Master Yuan to open the door.”
Yuan Zhongshu checked the monitor—it really was—and hurriedly remote-opened the door.
Soon, the study room was filled with more than just the aroma of tea.
Yuan Zhongshu looked at the dishes and couldn’t help shaking his head again, calling out, “Benefactors, truly benefactors.”
Daoist Master Qin silently handed over chopsticks. Yuan Zhongshu couldn’t hold back for a second and took them directly, enjoying the gourmet food.
Once tea and meal were fully savored, Yuan Zhongshu sipped his tea and said with a sigh, “Just wait and see—tomorrow the Cui and Ren families will surely invite you for tea.”
“And my niece here.” Yuan Zhongshu glanced at Xuan Xia. “She’ll probably officially enter the Cui and Ren families’ sights from now on.”
Daoist Master Qin looked over too, “Mm”-ed, his emotions much more subdued by comparison. “Sooner or later.”
He seemed already prepared and accepting.
Xuan Xia sipped the sweetly lingering tea, feeling that beneath Daoist Master Qin’s calm demeanor, there was a hint of helplessness?
–
After finishing the fragrant tea and saying all that needed saying, Daoist Master Qin and Xuan Xia bid farewell to Yuan Zhongshu.
Before leaving, Yuan Zhongshu asked, “How many days do you plan to stay in Yanjing this trip?”
Daoist Master Qin thought briefly. “Leave after drinking tea with both families.”
Yuan Zhongshu nodded approvingly. “Good, better to leave early.”
Daoist Master Qin nodded.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but Xuan Xia felt their exchange carried some deeper meaning.
But what exactly, she couldn’t fathom.
She felt something flashed by, yet couldn’t grasp it.
This frustrating feeling furrowed her brow as she tried hard to catch that fleeting spiritual light.
Unfortunately, she failed repeatedly.
What exactly had she forgotten?
“What’s the situation with the one the Ren family carried away now?” Daoist Master Qin suddenly asked.
Xuan Xia thought he was speaking to her and quickly gathered her thoughts.
“Ren Tongli?”
Li Xinze in the front seat turned sideways and said from behind, “They went straight home after leaving the mountain.”
Oh, so he wasn’t talking to her.
Li Xinze continued, “Don’t know the specifics yet, but the Ren family called in several Daoist physicians and mystic masters. They went in but haven’t come out.”
So-called mystic masters were mystic sect physicians who healed and saved lives.
Just with methods different from hospital ones; similar were witch doctors.
As for Daoist physicians, that was simpler.
Daoists had the five arts of mountain, medicine, destiny, physiognomy, and divination. They said nine out of ten Daoists were physicians, but those proficient in both drawing talismans and lifesaving medicine to promote the Dao were not many in mystic sects and Daoist circles nowadays, and true experts even fewer.
Calling in both to treat—looked like Ren Tongli, who was carried away, was in bad shape.
If he really was in bad shape, Xuan Xia thought he deserved it; no one to blame but himself.
But thinking again, Daoist Master Qin was still waiting for the Ren family to invite him for tea.
Could he still have good tea then?
She turned her head and suddenly asked, “Daoist Master Qin, why do the Ren and Cui families want to invite you for tea?”
“To catch up.” Daoist Master Qin answered.
“You still have friendship with them?”
But thinking again, her question was redundant.
She already knew he had friendship with the Ren family; as for the Cui family, weren’t they the mystic sect’s top now?
Plenty of people would naturally cozy up to the Cui family.
“I think you shouldn’t drink this tea. No need.”
“Hm?”
“It’ll definitely taste awful.” Xuan Xia showed undisguised disdain.
Daoist Master Qin deeply agreed.
But Daoist Master Qin also said that no matter how bad the tea, he’d still have to give face and drink a sip.
With that, Xuan Xia said no more.
Soon, the car arrived at Xuan Xia’s residential community.
Before getting out, Daoist Master Qin specially reminded her a few things, fearing she’d make a fuss like Qu Xingxuan upon returning home.
Xuan Xia listened with a helpless laugh, agreed, and casually proposed, “Come to my place as a guest tomorrow? You joined remotely last time; this time visit in person?”
“Good, then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
“I’ll contact you tomorrow afternoon.” Xuan Xia waved and said goodbye.
As it turned out, her body was much better than Qu Xingxuan’s; her soul aspect super stable.
As for what the Ren and Cui families were up to that night, she didn’t think about it at all.
–
The next day, Xuan Xia deliberately didn’t oversleep, got up early to go to the company, aiming to arrive at the same time as Ji Ziyao.
The result: she timed it right, but he timed her for a beating from Ji Ziyao.
But at the final moment, perhaps Ji Ziyao’s reason returned, knowing assault would land him in jail—even as relatives—or maybe knowing Xuan Xia was now a money tree, he ultimately dropped the violent impulse.
He switched to scolding.
He scolded so fiercely that no one dared linger within three meters of his office.
Xuan Xia meekly took it all, then reached out to him. “I know I was wrong. Can I have the contract now?”
Ji Ziyao clutched the back of his head with one hand, face still showing lingering anger.
After nearly three minutes, Ji Ziyao finally couldn’t maintain the pose. Like a small whirlwind, he spun to the desk, took out the contract, and handed it to Xuan Xia on the sofa.
Xuan Xia eagerly flipped open the contract, saw it was indeed Worldly Fireworks, and her heart felt light as if about to fly.
“Survive a great ordeal, and great fortune follows.” Xuan Xia murmured, diving headfirst into the contract.
“What did you say?” Ji Ziyao didn’t catch her mutter.
But Xuan Xia wisely stayed silent.
She quickly finished reviewing the contract; everything was fine.
Xuan Xia looked up and smiled at Ji Ziyao. “Then I’ll sign.”
Ji Ziyao, led by her smile, felt both exasperated and amused, finally couldn’t hold back a lip curl. “Sign!”
Xuan Xia picked up the pen and quickly signed her name.
As the final stroke fell, before she could put down the pen, two more were handed to her.
“Hm?”
“Endorsement contract.” Ji Ziyao reminded her.
Xuan Xia’s eyes lit up.
Good things come in pairs!
But if it was all good…
Ji Ziyao notified her she had to go to the studio shoot for the ad that afternoon.
At the same time, Qu Xingxuan messaged her: the Ren family wanted to invite her for tea, and lacking her contact, the message came through him.
No need to guess; the one who would think to contact her through Qu Xingxuan could only be Ren Tongjin.
