Chapter 154: That Old Man’s Real Sneaky
Qu Xingxuan had just agreed when he immediately followed up in a nasal voice: “Now we can confirm that this rumor is fake.”
“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have thought of it. No wonder when I saw Daoist Master Qin, I always felt something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint it at the time. Turns out it was because of this rumor.”
After a pause, he added: “My master told me a lot about Daoist Master Qin. Now I can be sure that more than half of it was deceiving me.”
As he spoke, he secretly cursed his master for being disrespectful in old age.
Xuan Xia didn’t respond to him and pondered on her own for a while.
Because she knew too much, she couldn’t be as carefree as Qu Xingxuan.
Moreover, she recalled that last night Yuan Zhongshu had asked Daoist Master Qin when he was leaving, and his tone seemed to hope he would leave as soon as possible. It wasn’t like the usual script of old friends reuniting and wanting the other to stay longer.
Thinking back like this, Xuan Xia suddenly channeled Sherlock Holmes and remembered again that Daoist Master Qin himself had vaguely mentioned to her that it was inconvenient for him to leave Ningzhou.
In that case, this might really not be a fake rumor.
“Don’t worry about whether it’s true or false yet.” She said to Qu Xingxuan: “Tell me first, did your master mention the reason?”
“The reason? It should be avoiding disaster, right?” Those were the first two words that popped into Qu Xingxuan’s mind.
Xuan Xia said: “Last time I asked about his leg condition, you said the same thing.”
“Did I?” Qu Xingxuan couldn’t remember which time that was.
He now felt that what everyone said was right—women were indeed terrifying. She could remember every word you said, even if you yourself forgot. Then at a specific time, she would bring up old accounts, leaving you completely defenseless.
“Those two aren’t conflicting anyway.” Qu Xingxuan tried to make up for it.
This wasn’t wrong either.
“Oh, alright then.”
Xuan Xia figured there was probably no answer from Qu Xingxuan, so she might as well go ask the person involved directly.
“You really care about Daoist Master Qin.” Qu Xingxuan made small talk and casually said.
“Of course.” Xuan Xia admitted generously, while countering, “Don’t you care about your master?”
“Of course I care.”
But Xuan Xia also knew that her concern was different from Qu Xingxuan’s concern for Yuan Zhongshu.
She and Daoist Master Qin were both short-lived people. She was trying to choose a different path, but she didn’t know what path Daoist Master Qin had chosen.
She couldn’t interfere with his choice, but no matter what he chose, she very much hoped that everyone would be safe and sound, living to a ripe old age.
“Then first take good care of your body. Remember to take medicine if you have a cold.”
Qu Xingxuan: “…”
“It’s just a little cold! I’ll be better by tomorrow, or the day after at the latest!”
Xuan Xia didn’t argue with him and directly switched the interface to go find Daoist Master Qin.
Although she was very concerned about whether the rumor was true, when contacting Daoist Master Qin, she held back from mentioning it first. She simply asked about the situation at the Ren Family dinner party, then asked if he had time tomorrow to visit her home. She soon received Daoist Master Qin’s affirmative answer.
The two quickly arranged for Daoist Master Qin to visit her home tomorrow afternoon.
–
The next day, Xuan Xia slept in and skipped the company class with perfect justification.
After getting up, she simply cleaned the house, had lunch, and then prepared to welcome the guest.
She waited and waited until after two o’clock when Daoist Master Qin finally arrived at the door with his two bodyguards, Li Xinze and Li Fu.
“Daoist Master Qin, you didn’t calculate an auspicious time before coming, did you?” Xuan Xia joked as she welcomed them in.
In response, she got three smiling faces.
Daoist Master Qin’s smile was the faintest, while Li Xinze, who was most familiar with Xuan Xia, had the biggest smile.
Xuan Xia was stunned. “No way, did I guess right?”
The three men’s smiles didn’t fade.
She had no choice but to compliment Daoist Master Qin: “Daoist Master Qin, you really are particular.”
Daoist Master Qin didn’t take the bait. His phoenix eyes merely glanced at the interior before saying: “The house is nice.”
The current decorations in the house had added more since the last time he saw them in the video, but the additions were all good.
They also showcased Xuan Xia’s personal style.
“Right?” Although the house wasn’t registered in her name, being complimented still put Xuan Xia in a good mood.
The tea set used to entertain the three today was exactly the one Daoist Master Qin had asked Li Xinze to bring on the day at Warm Dwelling.
This could be considered a case of the sheep paying for the wool.
Looking at the three, Xuan Xia couldn’t help thinking of Uncle Zhong, so she said to Daoist Master Qin: “Next time Daoist Master Qin gives Uncle Zhong a day off, invite him to Yanjing so I can host him too.”
“Alright.” Daoist Master Qin thought for a moment. “When you have time, contact Uncle Zhong directly and arrange it with him personally. He will definitely be very happy.”
Xuan Xia nodded, agreeing with him.
Arranging personally did show more sincerity.
After nodding, Xuan Xia casually asked as if making small talk: “Daoist Master Qin, when are you returning to the temple?”
Daoist Master Qin seemed unaware of Xuan Xia’s true intent. He thought seriously upon hearing this before answering: “Not certain yet. I should stay a few more days.”
“Ah? How did it become staying a few more days? That’s not what you told Uncle Yuan before!”
Wasn’t it agreed that he would leave after drinking tea with the Cui and Ren families?
Xuan Xia’s urgency made not only Daoist Master Qin but the other two also look at her.
Those three pairs of eyes didn’t clearly convey what they wanted to express.
Xuan Xia swept her gaze over the three and didn’t hide it: “I heard something saying you can’t leave Ningzhou. True or false?”
As for where she heard it from, there was no need to specify—both sides knew, and only Qu Xingxuan would blab about such things.
Daoist Master Qin was stunned, but only for a second or two before he returned to normal, even using a light, casual tone: “Oh, that matter.”
Xuan Xia immediately read his expression and tone—the rumor was true!
She looked at him earnestly, making Daoist Master Qin smile.
He even turned the question back on her: “What all have you heard?”
“Why can’t you leave Ningzhou?” Xuan Xia asked first, of course wanting the answer first, so she focused on what concerned her: “Does it relate to your personal safety?”
All three hadn’t expected Xuan Xia to ask so directly.
Daoist Master Qin had no choice but to explain: “Actually, it’s exaggerated.”
“The origin was just that Mr. Xuan divined for me back then. The divination said that if I don’t rush about, there will be calm waters, meaning I should live idly. Unexpectedly, when it reached others’ ears, it became that I can’t leave Ningzhou.”
At this point, Daoist Master Qin couldn’t help shaking his head with a wry smile.
Xuan Xia looked at him. Although she had always trusted what he said since letting go of her prejudices, that didn’t mean her sixth sense stopped working.
Now, her sixth sense told her he hadn’t explained the real situation.
This was probably because he knew she couldn’t verify with her great grandfather, so he deliberately said it this way!
Xuan Xia didn’t respond, and the room suddenly fell quiet.
After a while, Daoist Master Qin smiled and changed the topic, proactively asking: “Do you have time the day after tomorrow?”
Xuan Xia said flatly: “Hm?”
Daoist Master Qin said: “Since we’re here, some places should be visited.”
Since we’re here? What the heck.
Before Xuan Xia could ask where, he continued: “I heard you’ve been sending out a lot of talismans lately, even to Master Yuan’s clients.”
Xuan Xia: “…”
Now the situation reversed, and it was Xuan Xia explaining.
“That was an accident. Brother Huang is from my company. At that time, I didn’t know he was Uncle Yuan’s client. I just wanted to create some good karma.”
When did Uncle Yuan tell Daoist Master Qin about this?
Was it when she was in the Illusionary Scenery, or yesterday?
Xuan Xia thought yesterday was more likely, and didn’t know what else Uncle Yuan had said to Daoist Master Qin in their men’s private talk.
“I know. Master Yuan didn’t mean to blame you.” Daoist Master Qin said, “But thinking there might be similar situations in the future, the day after tomorrow, come with me to Qinghui Temple.”
Qinghui Temple? That was the largest Daoist temple in Yanjing City.
Xuan Xia looked at Daoist Master Qin again, thinking this was to take her to pay respects to the boss?
Or afraid she would steal Qinghui Temple’s clients?
Still, “You even have connections at Qinghui Temple?”
Daoist Master Qin smiled without answering.
Xuan Xia suddenly asked: “What about tonight? Is the Cui Family inviting you to dinner?”
“Yes.” Daoist Master Qin didn’t hide it.
Xuan Xia immediately said: “I’ll go too.”
This, Daoist Master Qin didn’t agree to.
“You don’t need to go.”
But Xuan Xia said: “You’re taking me to Qinghui Temple, but not letting me meet Old Master Cui? What if I run into them somewhere later and don’t even recognize them?”
With her saying this, Daoist Master Qin pondered briefly and couldn’t refuse her attendance anymore.
–
In the evening, at a certain five-star restaurant in Yanjing.
The Cui Family lived up to being the current number one in the Mystic Sect. They made a grand show, arranging the banquet in the best private room of the five-star restaurant.
Yuan Zhongshu and Qu Xingxuan were also attending tonight’s dinner.
Yuan Zhongshu had even contacted Daoist Master Qin before setting off, insisting everyone arrive at the same time.
Thus, when Xuan Xia and Daoist Master Qin arrived, they met Yuan Zhongshu and his disciple at the door, who had just arrived and were waiting for them.
“Uncle Yuan.” Xuan Xia greeted first.
“My niece is coming tonight too.” Yuan Zhongshu said, looking toward Daoist Master Qin.
The two men exchanged looks conveying information only they understood.
Qu Xingxuan was bold enough to speak directly: “Didn’t they say you didn’t need to come? Why do you insist on coming and making trouble for yourself?”
Yuan Zhongshu immediately gave his forehead a sharp knock.
“You and your mouth.”
After disciplining his disciple, Yuan Zhongshu put on a smile and greeted: “Let’s go, time’s just right.”
The group entered the private room together, where Cui Family members were already present.
Surprisingly, there were also Ren Family members there.
Xuan Xia recognized Ren Yongzheng, whom she had seen before.
There was another person beside him whom she didn’t recognize, but who looked very much like Ren Yongzheng.
Xuan Xia guessed this might be the Ren Family’s eldest son, the next Family Head.
He seemed to be called Ren Yongyang.
Additionally, Xuan Xia looked around and didn’t see Cui Cheng Zhi.
It was great that this one wasn’t appearing.
“You’ve arrived.” In the room, the one who spoke first was the elderly man in the host seat.
The old man had graying hair, but his hairstyle was meticulously styled and elegant. He was spirited and clearly in good health.
By the time Xuan Xia finished sizing him up, his piercing gaze had also landed on her.
He then smiled and said: “This must be Miss Xuan.”
Xuan Xia raised a smile.
Before she could speak, Yuan Zhongshu took over: “Yes, Old Master Cui has sharp eyes.”
Cui Lu, Old Master Cui narrowed his eyes in a smile but didn’t accept Yuan Zhongshu’s flattery: “What sharp eyes? There’s only one girl among you. How could I not guess?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Yuan Zhongshu showed no sign of anger.
Xuan Xia sighed inwardly: Were they going to trade barbs right from the first meeting?
This dinner didn’t look like it would be easy to digest.
Just as she thought this, the next second Old Master Cui changed his expression, and even his tone became extremely amiable: “Come, come, sit down quickly. We’ve been waiting for you for a good while.”
After everyone was seated, the first segment was introductions.
Of course, this was specially prepared for Xuan Xia.
Besides the two from the Ren Family at today’s banquet, four from the Cui Family were present.
Old Master Cui, his two sons, and the Cui Family’s eldest grandson, Cui Chenglou.
Xuan Xia had already suspected that the young man sitting next to Old Master Cui was his grandson, and sure enough, he was.
It was Cui Chenglou, currently ranked first on the performance chart!
Xuan Xia had to take a good look.
The Cui Family’s genes were clearly different from the Ren Family’s.
The two Ren brothers looked similar, but the two Cui brothers had few similarities.
Compared to Cui Cheng Zhi, Cui Chenglou looked… rather effeminate.
Not only were his facial features delicate, he also had medium-long hair tied in a small braid at the back, with a few strands of bangs hanging on both sides, making his face look small.
Although sitting, his upper body visible showed a slender build.
Xuan Xia guessed that from behind, he could easily be mistaken for a girl.
Yet such a delicate person was ranked first!
Xuan Xia suddenly really wanted to know just how capable he was.
Compared to Cui Cheng Zhi’s undeserved second place, he should have real skills, right?
It would be great to have a chance to witness it.
While Xuan Xia was wildly speculating, she didn’t miss the conversation at the table.
After Old Master Cui finished the introductions, he suddenly mentioned Xuan Xia’s great grandfather, showing a nostalgic expression.
Xuan Xia looked up in surprise: “Old Master Cui also knows my great grandfather?”
Old Master Cui smiled: “How could I not? You don’t need to address me so formally. You can call me by your great grandfather’s generation, that’s fine.”
Xuan Xia: “…”
As if she could call him that!
Call him by her great grandfather’s generation?
Wouldn’t that make her call his eldest grandson uncle? And that second-place Cui Cheng Zhi uncle too?
Bah!
Yuan Zhongshu was also inwardly saying “bah.” He thought of how he only had Xuan Xia call him “uncle,” yet this old man wanted to elevate his generation.
That wouldn’t demote him to the same generation as his grandson?
The old geezer was really sly!
Qu Xingxuan was also inwardly “bah bah bah”-ing because his generation was the lowest.
Luckily, Daoist Master Qin came to the rescue at the critical moment.
Daoist Master Qin got straight to the point: “The two from the Ren Family are here today, so I assume there’s already a result?”
With him taking the lead on the topic, everyone looked at him and naturally followed it.
Xuan Xia also looked at him. Besides being puzzled about what his “result” meant, she also marveled that he showed no difference.
He was her great grandfather’s disciple, so by her great grandfather’s generation, his seniority wasn’t low.
Still a two-in-one chapter.
