《The Girl with the Heavenly Eye: Feng Shui Destiny》


 The Rebirth of a Metaphysical Master

    Gu Qin was a revered metaphysical master in the previous era, respected by millions. She was reborn as an ordinary girl in a city thousands of years in the future.


    ¡°Anesthesia dosage is normal, the patient is unconscious. Director Chen, we can begin the surgery now.¡± In the fully sterilized operating room, several doctors in light blue surgical gowns stood, watching the various instruments. Several assistants were also on high alert. On the operating table lay a frail young girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, pale, with her upper body bare and multiple tubes and wires attached to her chest, connected to various monitoring devices.


    For a brief moment, the fluctuations on the electrocardiogram flatlined into a straight line. The assistant monitoring the machine was startled and was about to inform Director Chen when he noticed the fluctuations gradually returning. He blinked in disbelief, wondering if he had seen it wrong.


    Director Chen, holding a scalpel, began to cut along a line marked with purple ink on the left atrium. The moment the scalpel sliced through the skin, the girl on the operating table jolted, her face contorted with pain. Gu Qin felt immense pain, her head throbbed, and countless chaotic, unfamiliar memories flooded her mind. She didn''t understand why she couldn''t move. Gradually, the memories became a part of her, the pain subsided, and her emotions began to stabilize. She heard disordered voices around her.


    Director Chen was startled, and the scalpel slipped, cutting the girl''s chest, causing blood to pour out. He looked at a younger doctor beside him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the patient was unconscious? What¡¯s going on with the anesthesia?¡± The young doctor was flustered. ¡°Director, she was unconscious just moments ago. I even pricked her with a needle, and she had no reaction. What¡¯s happening?¡±


    Another doctor asked cautiously, ¡°Director, could it be that the anesthesia dosage wasn¡¯t enough?¡± The young anesthesiologist quickly denied, ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I tested it earlier. She had no reaction at all.¡± Director Chen frowned. ¡°Increase the dosage. You all know how important this surgery is. What if she wakes up while we¡¯re removing her heart? If she struggles and the heart gets damaged, the whole province¡¯s RH-negative blood type is a match with her heart. Another patient is waiting for it! Be careful! Don¡¯t mess this up!¡±


    The young anesthesiologist opened his mouth, but closed it again, giving a sympathetic glance at the girl on the operating table. He knew what he was doing was illegal, but what could he do? The conditions offered were too tempting. Even Director Chen was performing the surgery, and her father had already signed the consent form¡­


    Heart transplant surgeries were typically for patients with severe heart conditions, and donors were rare. Most heart donations came from brain-dead individuals. But this girl was still alive, being wheeled into the operating room, sedated by him, and moments ago, she even trembled and asked, ¡°Doctor, the kidney donation surgery won¡¯t be dangerous, right? But I¡¯m still so scared¡­¡± He didn¡¯t answer because the anesthesia had already been injected, and within seconds, she lost consciousness.


    Sighing, the anesthesiologist grabbed another vial of anesthesia and walked over to the girl, intending to give her a supplementary dose. But just as the needle touched her skin, he froze, staring in disbelief at the girl¡¯s dark, shiny eyes. Her gaze slowly moved from the needle to meet his, and then, in a deliberate tone, she said, ¡°What¡­ are¡­ you¡­ trying¡­ to¡­ do?¡± Her voice, hoarse from dehydration, echoed in the silent operating room. For a moment, the doctors and assistants froze, staring in shock at the girl who had opened her eyes.


    The doctors and assistants exchanged nervous glances, too stunned to approach. Gu Qin slowly sat up, frowning at the strange needle-like device still embedded in her body. Without hesitation, she yanked it out. When she saw her bare upper body, her face changed, and she shot a glare at the crowd, wrapping herself in a pale blue surgical sheet.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    She knew these people were doctors, but deep down, she couldn''t bring herself to expose her naked body in front of them. Moreover, though she now understood she had died and been reborn as a girl in the future, with memories of her past life and knowledge of this new era, everything still felt too surreal. It was hard to understand why female patients in this era were exposed to male doctors.


    The doctors finally snapped back to reality. Director Chen¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Stop her! Don¡¯t let her leave!¡± Gu Qin turned to face the shouting man, her expression tense. The young anesthesiologist, closest to her, lunged to grab her. In response, Gu Qin stabbed the syringe in her hand into his arm, pressing the plunger. The clear liquid quickly flowed into his veins.


    The young doctor¡¯s eyes widened, his expression slackened, and his body went limp, collapsing to the floor with a loud thud. Gu Qin gripped the sheet tightly and jumped off the operating table, running toward the door. Though her body was weak and her steps staggered, she could hear the panicked shouts behind her: ¡°Stop her! Don¡¯t let her leave! If she escapes, we¡¯re all done for!¡±


    Gu Qin gritted her teeth. A kidney donation surgery? She had learned from the girl¡¯s memories about what was happening and knew where her kidneys were. But why was the wound on her chest, near the heart¡¯s left atrium?


    The doctors and assistants came to the same realization: If this girl escaped, they would all be in deep trouble. Gu Qin had already reached the door, her fingers almost touching the handle, when someone grabbed her shoulder with great force and pulled her back.


    She clenched her teeth. She knew that if they caught her, her newfound life would be over. Despite her weakening strength, she fought back, kicking the person who had grabbed her in the throat. Though her kick wasn¡¯t powerful enough to kill him, it was enough to knock him unconscious.


    Director Chen was even more frantic. ¡°Quick¡­ catch her!¡± Gu Qin felt her body growing weaker as more people closed in on her. She knew if she didn¡¯t get out now, she¡¯d be doomed. Summoning the last of her strength, she ran toward the door and grasped the handle. In an instant, the door opened, but just as she pushed through, the people behind her grabbed her arm.


    She used the last of her energy to slam herself forward, sending the door flying open. She collapsed into the corridor outside the operating room, with the doctors tumbling after her. The hospital had more than twenty operating rooms in the cardiology section, and this was the largest tertiary hospital in the city. The corridor outside was filled with families waiting for their loved ones. Most of them had heart conditions, requiring bypass surgery or heart repairs.


    Hearing the commotion, the families looked toward the scene. They saw a girl in a pale blue surgical sheet on the ground, with several doctors piled on top of her. Confused, they didn¡¯t understand what was going on but were curious enough to approach. Director Chen hurried out, his face pale. Several families recognized him as the hospital¡¯s director. After all, heart conditions were chronic and required repeated visits, so it was normal to be familiar with the hospital staff.


    Someone said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Director Chen? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Could this girl be the patient? She¡¯s lucky to have the director himself performing her surgery.¡± Director Chen tried to calm himself, walking up to the girl. He apologized to the onlookers, ¡°Sorry for the commotion, everyone. This girl is a little agitated and refused to undergo the surgery. I¡¯ll have the doctors take her back to the operating room and calm her down. We won¡¯t disturb you further.¡±


    Gu Qin, feeling lightheaded, clenched her teeth and moved her fingers slightly. A faint stream of energy entered her body through her fingertips, and her mind cleared up significantly. But then, a question nagged at her: Why could she see this gentle, glowing energy?


    But now was not the time to think about that. As soon as someone grabbed her shoulder, Gu Qin flipped over, kicking everyone off her, and pushed Director Chen aside. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The onlookers were even more confused. The girl seemed full of vitality and didn¡¯t look like a heart patient at all.


    A young man, who had been playing with his phone earlier, now secretly turned on his camera to record the scene. Gu Qin, looking disheveled, her hair messy and her body dirty, clutched the fabric at her chest. With tears beginning to well up in her eyes, she looked at the surrounding patients. ¡°Please help me! I¡¯m begging you, I don¡¯t have heart disease! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. They told me it was a kidney donation surgery. They injected me with anesthesia, but it didn¡¯t work. I woke up and found they were going to perform a chest surgery on me¡­¡±

 The Fury of Jiang Shuyu

    Dean Chen and the surrounding doctors turned pale. Dean Chen quickly explained, "Miss, don''t talk nonsense. I¡¯ve already told you, this surgery is completely safe. Come with us to the operating room."


    The family members around them were confused. They would glance at Dean Chen, then at the girl, who was trembling with fear. Several family members now noticed that a large dark red patch was visible at the girl¡¯s chest, through the surgical sheet ¡ª it was blood.


    Who is lying here? Was the kidney transplant turned into a heart surgery? Is that even possible? If so, the family members¡¯ eyes on the dean became full of suspicion.


    Gu Qin stared at Dean Chen, her heart full of hatred. If this were her own body, the dean would have already crumbled, but now that she had taken over this fragile girl¡¯s body, she had no cultivation, no martial arts, and was too weak to defend herself. She could only use this girl¡¯s weakest side to seek help.


    ¡°They really told me it was a kidney transplant,¡± Gu Qin trembled, her lips pale. ¡°Look...¡± She gritted her teeth and exposed her shoulder slightly, showing the scar near her left atrium. It was a sharp, clean cut, likely made with a surgical knife that was quickly withdrawn. There were traces of purple antiseptic still visible around the wound.


    Gu Qin clenched her fist and punched the area near her left atrium, ¡°Look, my heart is fine.¡±


    Many family members changed their expressions. They were all relatives of heart disease patients and knew that a heart patient couldn¡¯t endure any rough movements or strain. Let alone hitting their chest like that. Could this girl be telling the truth? Was there nothing wrong with her heart, and yet the dean insisted on operating? Wait, she mentioned a kidney donation earlier? Could the hospital have lied to her? Was it actually a heart donation surgery? But hearts could only be donated after someone becomes a brain-dead vegetative state. Could the hospital have gotten so bold as to deceive a living person into donating their heart?


    Gu Qin¡¯s eyes turned red, and she covered her face, muttering, ¡°Dad clearly told me it was a kidney transplant, that his friend¡¯s child had kidney failure and needed a kidney. He said the compatibility test was successful and convinced me to donate a kidney, saying it wouldn''t be a problem to lose one. But now, why did he lie to me? It¡¯s clearly a heart surgery, but is it a kidney transplant or a heart transplant? But I only have one heart, and if I donate it, I¡¯ll die¡­¡±


    Several family members gasped. Could it be that this girl¡¯s father was colluding with the hospital?


    Dean Chen¡¯s face turned red. "You... stop talking nonsense! Your heart clearly has a problem!"


    Gu Qin suddenly raised her head. "Are you really sure my heart is problematic? Should I prove it with an examination? Will you finally admit that you were planning to take my heart once it''s confirmed that my heart is fine?"


    "You ungrateful girl!" Dean Chen¡¯s forehead bulged with veins.


    Gu Qin scanned the crowd and noticed a young man sneaking at the back, holding up his phone. Her expression shifted slightly as she memorized his face. She looked back at Dean Chen. "Fine, I¡¯ll ask you one last time. Are you really sure my heart is problematic?"


    Dean Chen saw that her tone had softened and nodded. He spoke with a heavy heart, ¡°Miss, your heart truly has a problem. Please come with me to the operating room. I have another surgery in the afternoon. We can¡¯t delay.¡±


    Gu Qin slowly stood up, clutching the sheet. ¡°Since you won¡¯t admit it, I won¡¯t say anything more. You insist I have heart issues, but I don¡¯t want to go into the operating room now. I know that once I go, I won¡¯t survive. I want to see my family. Don¡¯t stop me. I believe the decision to have surgery or not should be made by the patient, right?¡±


    Dean Chen was completely flustered now.


    Gu Qin¡¯s body was still very weak. The small amount of energy she had left only supported her for a little while. She slowly walked toward the end of the corridor, remembering that there should be something called an elevator there. If she could get to the elevator, she could leave this place called a hospital.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Dean Chen¡¯s face turned red, and he didn¡¯t know what to do. Dragging the girl into the operating room in front of so many people would imply that they had other intentions for her. The family members were all unsure whom to trust. Only a middle-aged woman, around forty, who had a daughter about the same age as this girl, recalled that her daughter had heart problems. Her heart softened, and she quickly took off her coat and handed it to Gu Qin. ¡°Miss, please put this on. Everything can be sorted out.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Auntie. You¡¯ll be blessed,¡± Gu Qin said with a smile.


    The woman paused for a moment, feeling strange. How did the girl know she had a daughter and that her daughter was sick? However, the words were pleasant to hear. ¡°I hope your words come true. Thank you.¡±


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t say more and took the clothes, walking step by step toward the elevator. Dean Chen and the doctors were pale, exchanging looks, not knowing what to do.


    Dean Chen turned with a grim face and returned to the operating room. The doctors followed him. The operating room door was closed, blocking the family members'' suspicious gazes.


    ¡°Fools, a bunch of idiots! Even a little girl can¡¯t be stopped!¡± Dean Chen scolded angrily. His usual polite demeanor had completely vanished. ¡°What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go to the next operating room to notify the doctors! Tell them there¡¯s a problem here. Stop the heart transplant surgery!¡±


    The doctors rushed off to the next operating room, while Dean Chen paced anxiously, ¡°Quick! Go notify the security at the front and back doors. Tell them to find a way to stop that girl! No matter what method, we must prevent her from leaving.¡±


    Gu Qin arrived at the elevator, saw a restroom sign nearby, and hesitated for a moment. She knew that the restroom was the bathroom, so she decided to change her clothes there.


    Once inside the restroom, Gu Qin couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Though she had known about the layout from memory, it still surprised her to see it firsthand. The clean, white tiles, the individual restroom stalls with no foul odors, and the water closet that could flush waste away instantly.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t use the restroom. She just changed her clothes. She put on a gray zip-up jacket with a sport design. The blood around her left atrium had mostly dried up, though there were still some stains. She didn¡¯t have time to clean up. Her body was underdeveloped for her age, and her chest was flat, so the jacket didn¡¯t reveal much, hanging loosely on her.


    She wore hospital pants on the bottom, as she had been pushed into the operating room directly from her bed. She had no shoes on her feet.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t care. After putting on the clothes, she walked out of the restroom, pressed the elevator button, and waited a while before the elevator finally arrived. It was already crowded with over ten people, making the space cramped and stuffy.


    Gu Qin¡¯s face paled slightly. She wasn¡¯t used to riding in an elevator; it was hard to breathe and her head felt dizzy.


    Finally, when the elevator reached the first floor, Gu Qin followed the crowd out into the lobby, which had marble flooring that was polished to a shine. It was so clean that you could see your reflection. Her mind was still a bit foggy. She wandered outside, arriving at the open space in front of the heart department. She stared at the tall, modern buildings surrounding her ¡ª a world completely different from her previous one, and it stunned her.


    She was lost. She had once been a revered geomancer in an ancient era, admired by millions, even having golden statues erected in her honor. Yet, that didn''t help her against the will of fate.


    In her past life, she was an orphan, raised by a master who taught her the art of geomancy.


    Geomancy consisted of five branches: Mountain, Medicine, Fate, Divination, and Physiognomy.


    The art of Mountain was about cultivating and refining one¡¯s spirit and body through meditation, martial arts, and other practices.


    Medicine was about treating illnesses through prescriptions, acupuncture, and other spiritual healing methods.


    Fate was about predicting the natural laws and cycles of life to guide people away from disaster and towards good fortune.


    Divination included fortune-telling, selecting auspicious times, and calculating political and historical events.


    Physiognomy included interpreting human and family features, as well as studying the feng shui of graves and homes.


    The most important of these was Mountain. Without practicing the art of connecting with the energies of the universe, the other branches could not be truly mastered. If one couldn¡¯t cultivate enough, they would be a half-baked practitioner.


    A geomancer¡¯s life was often filled with misfortune. Despite being able to understand the flow of energy and predict the future, their personal fate was usually riddled with flaws and hardships.


    Her master died from natural disasters or accidents, and in the end, she inherited his teachings. She became revered by millions, but ultimately, she too fell victim to the same fate.


    So now, she was here ¡ª a regular girl in this strange new era.


    But was this girl really so ordinary? Gu Qin recalled the moment she had infused her energy into the girl¡¯s body earlier. The girl had never trained in martial arts, yet she could see the energy around her and even noticed the dark energy

 A Ladys Temper

    The young man looked to be around twenty years old, tall and somewhat thin, with facial features that resembled Gu Qin''s. He was wearing a gray T-shirt on top and black slim-fit jeans on the bottom, his hairstyle was the popular Korean style with thick bangs at the front.


    Gu Qin pressed her lips together, remembering that she had an older brother, Gu Jia, who was three years older than her. However, wasn''t he supposed to be at school right now? Why was he at home?


    Gu Qin''s attire was quite strange, and Gu Jia''s gaze scanned her from head to toe, finally settling on her bare feet, his expression awkward. He spoke first, his voice cold, "Why are you back? Weren''t you in the hospital?" He then added, "What''s with this outfit? Are you running away? You didn¡¯t even have time to put on shoes?"


    Gu Qin responded with an "Mhm." She remembered that their sibling relationship was not very close. "Yes, I am running away. I came back to grab some things. Aren''t you supposed to be attending extra classes?"


    "Same as you, came back to grab something." Gu Jia was a little confused. Normally, his sister was a bit afraid of him and rarely spoke to him. Today, seeing her in such a sorry state, he jokingly asked if she was running away, and she actually responded with an "Mhm!" He was still somewhat curious, "What''s with this outfit? Dad said you were hospitalized because you weren''t feeling well."


    This younger sister of his had always been a little different. There had been several instances where she could predict things that would happen in the coming days, but her character was too weak. Gu Jia didn''t like that about her.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t respond and directly walked to the largest bedroom, which was their parents'' room. She remembered that their father¡¯s documents and such were kept in a small locked wooden box in the wardrobe.


    She opened the wardrobe, took out the small wooden box, and, with a flick of her fingers, sent a thin thread of pure, translucent Qi into the lock hole. Gu Qin''s face grew even paler. Without any cultivation, forcing the Qi in was hard to bear, and she was rushing her movements. She had to get the documents and leave quickly. If she passed out at home, her father would definitely sell her off again.


    Gu Jia, curious about how his sister got into their parents'' room, couldn''t help following her in. When he saw her opening the small box that their father usually kept documents in, he couldn¡¯t help but pull at her, "What are you doing? If any documents get lost, Dad will hit you!"


    Wait, there''s no key. How did she open this little lock? Gu Jia¡¯s attention was caught. "How did you open this lock?" Also, the door, he remembered, was locked. How did she get in?


    "No lock," Gu Qin replied without looking up, continuing to sift through the pile of documents. Sure enough, she found the file about the kidney donation, which had both her and their father¡¯s signatures. This file had been used to deceive her, but it was real, and it had been notarized, so it held legal weight.


    As for the other documents, such as those for the heart surgery, they wouldn''t be found here; only the doctor would have those. But this one was enough.


    Gu Jia glanced at the document in her hand and saw the words "kidney donation" written on it. He s*ck*d in a sharp breath, "What''s this about? Who donated a kidney? You? Weren''t you in the hospital because you weren''t feeling well?"


    Gu Qin packed the document back, locked the small box again, and placed it back in the wardrobe before walking toward the living room. "If you have questions, wait until Dad comes back. If I could, I really wouldn¡¯t want to call him Dad."


    After changing into a new set of clothes in her own room, Gu Qin went to the living room and put on a pair of flat shoes, intending to leave. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t stay at home any longer.


    Gu Jia was still standing in the living room, clearly still processing what was happening. He didn¡¯t know what his sister was talking about, but the words "kidney donation" on that document were crystal clear. The donor¡¯s name was Gu Qin, and the consent form had been signed by their father, Gu Yuanjiang.


    What on earth was going on? Wasn¡¯t his sister in the hospital for being unwell, but was she actually there to donate a kidney? To whom?


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t worried about Gu Jia telling their father because she knew that, even though their sibling relationship wasn¡¯t great, Gu Jia would never ask her too many questions or interfere with her matters, let alone secretly report her actions to their father.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Walking up to Gu Jia, Gu Qin tilted her head and asked, "Do you have any money on you?"


    Gu Jia glanced at her. Seeing her strange appearance, he wanted to say something but subconsciously shook his head. "I don¡¯t have any. I came back to ask Dad for money." But when he returned, he found that their father wasn¡¯t home. His calls went unanswered, so he had been waiting at home.


    Gu Qin searched their parents'' room again but only found a few dozen coins. The Gu family didn¡¯t keep much money at home, afraid it would be stolen if burglars came, so they only withdrew as much as they needed from the bank.


    Gu Qin knew that this was all she could do for now. She took the loose change and decided to leave. Just as she was about to head out, her phone in her pocket rang. Gu Qin knew that it was a high-tech device and could be used to communicate even from a distance.


    She pulled out her old, worn phone and glanced at it. It showed a call from her father. Gu Qin quickly shoved it back into her pocket. After ringing for a while, the call eventually disconnected. A few seconds later, Gu Jia¡¯s phone rang.


    Gu Jia took out his brand-new iPhone. Seeing that it was a call from their father, he glanced at Gu Qin before answering. Their father, Gu Yuanjiang, sounded a bit frantic. "Where are you?"


    "I¡¯m at home," Gu Jia replied.


    There was a pause on the other end. "Your sister?"


    Gu Jia glanced at Gu Qin again. "She¡¯s not home, Dad. What happened?"


    "Jia Jia, wait for me at home. If your sister comes back, make sure you stop her. Do you hear me? I¡¯m coming back right now." Gu Yuanjiang immediately instructed.


    "Dad, what happened..." Gu Jia didn¡¯t finish his sentence before the call was abruptly ended with a loud click.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t speak and turned to head for the door. Gu Jia reached out and grabbed her arm. "Gu Qin, what¡¯s going on? Did you... misunderstand something about Dad? Why don¡¯t we wait until Dad comes back and talk it over?"


    Gu Qin withdrew her arm, looked at Gu Jia, and opened her jacket collar to reveal the wound and the marks from the purple medicine inside. "The kidney donation turned into a heart donation. If I hadn¡¯t woken up on the operating table, the next time you hear about me, it will be as a tragic accident. Maybe a car crash, or I might drown in the river. And before you even see my body, it¡¯ll have been cremated."


    Gu Jia was dumbfounded. Gu Qin continued, "Dad¡¯s business has run into trouble..." Her words explained everything.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t say anything else and headed for the door. Gu Jia sat down heavily on the sofa, looking as if he had just been struck.


    Outside, the sun was unbearably hot. Gu Qin, dressed in a pale pink tracksuit with long sleeves and pants, looked out of place in the crowd, where everyone else was wearing short sleeves and skirts. Many people were sneaking glances at her, probably wondering why she was wearing long sleeves and pants in forty-degree heat.


    Some even pulled out their phones and took pictures of her, probably planning to post them online with a caption like "Check out this idiot, wearing sportswear in 40-degree heat!"


    Gu Qin ignored them. Her body was weak, and she was barely holding on. If it weren¡¯t for sheer determination, she would have passed out long ago. The urgent matter now was finding a place to stay. She remembered that hotels or inns would be a good option, and small ones were much cheaper. She could stay there for now, then call her mother to come back, pay, and figure out what to do next.


    Her mother was completely different from her cold-hearted father. Her mother was gentle and always treated her and her older brother well. But Gu Qin wasn¡¯t sure how her mother would feel once she knew the truth. It was also her own fault for being so na?ve, believing everything her father said, even keeping the kidney donation a secret from the rest of the family.


    Gu Qin hadn¡¯t gone far, just passed two streets when she entered a deep, messy alley. There were various small restaurants, hair salons, convenience stores, internet cafes, small inns, and shabby residential buildings. She walked to the deepest part of the alley, where two inns sat side by side, both with glass doors. Inside, the air conditioning was on, and you could clearly see everything inside through the glass.


    In one of the inns sat a woman in her forties with a narrow forehead, short philtrum, thin lips, and a downward curve at the corners of her mouth. A person with such a face would not be easy to get along with and likely wouldn''t agree to let her stay on credit.


    In the other inn, a teenage boy of around fifteen or sixteen was lounging around. His hair was shaved close, and he


    wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt, though his lower half was blocked by the counter. He was typing rapidly on a laptop, shouting, "Idiot, what are you standing there for? Get up and play! Stop giving away free kills!"


    Gu Qin hesitated for a moment. Should she go in, given that he wasn¡¯t wearing any clothes? But in that instant, she noticed a bag behind the boy on the counter, and suddenly, it fell from a height of over two meters and hit him on the head. The impact was so hard that it caused his head to bleed, and he slumped forward, falling unconscious on the floor.


    Gu Qin gasped, quickly coming to her senses. When she looked again, the boy was still sitting there, his back leaning against the cabinet behind him. The bag on the counter was half hanging down, taut, and clearly filled with heavy objects, possibly something like iron.


    Gu Qin¡¯s head was spinning, and her face had turned so pale that it was frightening. She bit her tongue, realizing that she had accidentally opened her "Third Eye" again. The boy had a serious blood disaster ahead of him.


    Without hesitation, Gu Qin pushed open the glass door. The boy looked up at her for a moment, then quickly shifted his gaze back to his laptop. He mumbled, "You here to rent a room? The price list¡¯s on the wall. Read it yourself. If you¡¯re sure, put the money on the table. The key¡¯s on the wall next to it."


    Gu Qin scrutinized the boy''s face. His brow was dark, and his complexion had a bluish tint, both signs indicating a serious blood disaster, likely leading to either death or severe injury.


    She directly spoke, "Big brother, you have a blood disaster."

 The Silent Argument

    The "Yintang" in metaphysics belongs to face reading and is also called the "life palace." This is the most important part when observing a person''s face. From the Yintang, one can discern the fortune, good or bad luck, and potential disasters or blessings of a person. Generally, if the Yintang appears dark, it suggests an accumulation of excessive Yin energy in the body, manifesting on the face. Yin energy is inherently harmful to the body, and the ability to attract this energy indicates that the person is likely facing a life-threatening disaster.


    In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the colors of the Yintang¡ªgreen, red, yellow, white, and black¡ªcan reveal the health status of the internal organs, such as the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.


    However, the black color in Chinese medicine refers to a dim, shadowy hue, unlike the metaphysical black. The dark black color in the center of the Yintang, which is not visible to ordinary people, can only be seen by those with high-level cultivation who can communicate with celestial energy, like master practitioners. Gu Qin, with her innate spiritual eye from her original body, can see it.


    In her previous life, Gu Qin was taken in by her master as a baby and spent her childhood learning metaphysical skills. By the age of 20, she started offering divination, Feng Shui, and burial site consultations. By the age of 30, she was famous and trusted more than the gods. Unfortunately, she could not escape her fate and died alone in a natural disaster.


    In her previous life, when Gu Qin saw someone facing disaster, she would directly tell them, ¡°Master, you have a disaster coming.¡± Back then, people believed in such things and would often panic, begging, ¡°Master, please save me.¡±


    One time, when she told a young man, "You have bloodshed ahead," the young man looked her over with suspicion, noting her pale complexion and sportswear. He suddenly recalled that mental hospital patients looked similar¡ªpale, with odd behavior and no sunlight. He wondered if she had escaped from a mental hospital.


    Annoyed, the young man asked, "Which mental hospital did you come from?"


    Mental hospital? Gu Qin thought briefly and understood it referred to a place for people with mental problems.


    She wasn¡¯t offended and continued to observe him seriously. "Your Yintang is dark, the corners of your eyes and mouth droop, your eyes are large and round, but the corners of your eyes should be slightly upturned, shouldn''t they? A person''s face is not fixed, you may have noticed this yourself. If your complexion and energy improve, good things will happen."


    The young man, still skeptical, was suddenly distracted by his teammates¡¯ yelling from his headphones, "What are you doing! You¡¯re gonna get killed and still don¡¯t know! Are you going to keep playing or what?"


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t reply and suddenly leaned forward to snatch his headphones off, saying seriously, ¡°You really do have a blood disaster ahead."


    The young man, now furious, shouted, "None of your business! What kind of lunatic are you? Go back to the mental hospital!"


    Before he could finish, Gu Qin suddenly grabbed his shoulder, lifting him off his seat and slamming him into the counter. He hit his stomach and nearly cried out in pain. As he prepared to curse, a loud crashing sound came from behind him.


    The young man turned around in fear to see the plastic chair he had been sitting on destroyed, with a pile of tools like pliers and hammers scattered on the floor. His mind went blank. Another loud crash followed, and he turned back to see Gu Qin, who had just lifted him, now collapsed on the floor, her lips turned pale.


    His legs wobbled. This... everything the girl had said was true. He really did have a blood disaster. If not for her pulling him away, those tools would have landed on his head. They were all metal, and if they hit him, he would have either died or been seriously injured.


    The young man wanted to help her up, but his legs felt too weak. He could only half-support himself against the counter when a woman in her forties rushed downstairs, asking in a panic, "Chong Chong, what happened? I heard a noise upstairs..."


    Seeing her son standing there in shock and Gu Qin lying on the floor, the woman was momentarily confused. When she saw the broken chair and the tools scattered on the ground, her face turned pale. "Chong Chong, what happened?"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The young man, Zhao Chongbin, tremblingly explained, "Mom, I almost died. If it weren¡¯t for this girl pulling me away..." He stumbled through the story, and as his mother heard it, she grew paler and started crying and cursing, "That idiot of your dad! I told him so many times not to put heavy things on top of the counter, but he just wouldn''t listen! He¡¯s asking for trouble, thank God you¡¯re fine, otherwise I¡¯d kill him!"


    Zhao Chongbin, a high school sophomore, had been helping his family with the shop during summer vacation. Most of the time, though, he just played video games.


    Pointing at Gu Qin on the ground, Zhao Chongbin said, "Mom, help the girl first. I heard that if someone helps resolve a big disaster, the disaster may fall onto them instead. Is she going to be okay?"


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, help her inside first." The woman quickly went to pick up Gu Qin, muttering, "This girl is so light. I¡¯ll carry her to room 201. You go to Dr. Wang''s clinic and get him to come over."


    Zhao Chongbin felt much better and ignored the curses from his teammates. He grabbed his coat and ran out to find the doctor.


    Dr. Wang from the nearby clinic arrived soon, checked Gu Qin, and said, "Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s just malnourished. Nothing serious. Let her sleep more. I¡¯ll give her some IV fluids."


    After the IV, the woman hurried to buy food to nourish Gu Qin.


    Gu Jia was waiting at home for news from Gu Yuanjiang, who returned covered in sweat, his face pale. As soon as he came in, he asked, "Where¡¯s your sister? Did she call you?""Dad, what happened to Gu Qin?" Gu Jia asked, looking at Gu Yuanjiang with a concerned face.Frustrated, Gu Yuanjiang slammed the door and said, "Don¡¯t ask so much! If your sister contacts you, let me know right away."Gu Jia stood up suddenly. "Dad, I saw the document!""Document? What document?" Gu Yuanjiang froze, then realized the file in his room. His face changed, and he rushed in to search through the wardrobe. After a while, he found that the organ donation notarization was gone. Gu Yuanjiang¡¯s face turned white, and he anxiously called out to Gu Jia, "Jia Jia, did you see a file in my room?"Gu Jia walked in, "Is it the organ donation file?"Gu Yuanjiang nodded. Gu Jia sneered, "Gu Qin took it.""What did you say?" Gu Yuanjiang turned around in shock, "You... didn¡¯t you say your sister never came back?""She came back and took the file," Gu Jia stared at Gu Yuanjiang. "Dad, what¡¯s this about organ donation? Gu Qin¡¯s health isn¡¯t good, and you still want her to donate a kidney?"Gu Yuanjiang exploded, "Why are you lying! I told you, I wanted her to donate a kidney because it matches with someone¡¯s, and they were waiting for it. She promised, but then she suddenly backed out before the surgery!""Dad!" Gu Jia was in pain, "That¡¯s my sister, your daughter! How can you let her donate a kidney to someone else? If it were me, would you let me donate?"Gu Yuanjiang replied quickly, "Of course not! You¡¯re a boy. How could you live with just one kidney? She¡¯s a girl. She won¡¯t need both kidneys after marriage, and donating one won¡¯t affect her. Now let¡¯s stop talking about that. Do you know where your sister went? She¡¯s so stubborn, and someone is waiting for her kidney to save their life.""Is it kidney donation or selling her heart?" Gu Jia¡¯s voice trembled, "Dad, what are you trying to do! That¡¯s her heart! Without it, she¡¯ll die! How can you be so cruel?"Gu Yuanjiang couldn¡¯t look him in the eye, his gaze evasive. "Stop saying nonsense. How could I possibly sell your sister¡¯s heart? That would be a life-or-death matter."Gu Jia almost laughed, "I saw the wound on her left atrium. Don¡¯t you dare deny it! Without parental consent, would the hospital dare to take a living person¡¯s heart?"Gu Jia couldn¡¯t stay any longer. He packed his things and left. Before he left, he asked Gu Yuanjiang for money. Since Gu Qin had none, he needed to find her.


    Gu Qin lay in bed, curled up, her brows tightly furrowed as chaotic memories surged in her dreams. She tried to wake up but couldn¡¯t, trapped in a nightmare-like state, only able to watch the images flash through her mind.


    "Dad, I had a strange dream. I dreamt that the cement warehouse collapsed, and the cement got soaked by rain."


    "Nonsense! The weather forecast says there¡¯s no rain for the next few days, and the warehouse is fine. How could it collapse from rain? Stop talking nonsense!"


    In the dream, the violent storm finally destroyed a corner of the warehouse, and rainwater flooded in...


    "Qinqin, Dad¡¯s friend¡¯s child has kidney failure and needs a transplant. That kid is so pitiful. How about you go to the hospital and see if your kidney matches?"


    "Qinqin, the kidney of Dad''s friend¡¯s child matches yours. That child is really pitiful. Why don¡¯t you donate a kidney to him? You¡¯ll be fine with just one."


    The man kept persuading her with righteousness.


    The girl finally nodded in silence.


    At the hospital, "Dad, I¡¯m scared. Can I not donate a kidney? I saw online that donating a kidney can ruin your health. I¡¯m really scared..."


    "Qinqin, don¡¯t listen to those things online. Dr. Chen already told you that donating a kidney won¡¯t affect your health. Plus, Dr. Chen will be the one doing your surgery, so it¡¯s safe."


    "Dad, I¡¯m scared. I dreamt last night that I would die on this operating table."


    "Qinqin, stop making trouble. We¡¯re about to go into the operating room. The anesthesiologist and the director are waiting outside."


    The girl was pushed towards the operating room, trembling, unable to focus on her surroundings as she was led into the internal surgical passage. She didn¡¯t realize she was being pushed into the heart surgery room.


    Gu Qin suddenly sat up in bed.

 Gu Qins Prophecy

    Gu Qin suddenly sat up from the bed, drenched in sweat, panting heavily. Everything in the nightmare felt so real, but it had actually happened before¡ªevents from the original owner''s past. The original owner must have been unwilling, believing so much in her family, only to be betrayed in the end.


    Gu Qin hunched her body, muttering to herself, "Don''t worry, I''ll get justice for you. I won''t let anyone who tried to harm you go free."


    Straightening her posture, she sat cross-legged, took several deep breaths, and closed her eyes.


    It wasn''t until she heard the sound of the door being pushed open that she opened her eyes, turned toward the door, and realized she was in a clean, white room. The room wasn''t large, with a TV on the opposite side, a red sofa beside it, two nightstands by her bed, each with a glass of water on top.


    Gu Qin knew she must have been taken in by the people at the guesthouse. After saving that young man''s life, there was no reason for them to kick her out.


    A woman of medium build entered the room, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, her hair in curls, holding a tray. When she saw Gu Qin sitting on the bed, she smiled, "Little girl, you''re awake? Are you hungry? I made some chicken soup for you, drink it quickly, and I''ll cook some chicken noodle soup for you."


    "Thank you, Auntie." Gu Qin stood up, trying to take the tray.


    The woman hurriedly said, "Oh no, don''t move, just eat it in bed. Chongchong, bring over a small table."


    Zhao Chongbin squeezed in from behind, holding a small folding table in his hands. Seeing Gu Qin looking at her, he grinned, "Sister, thank you so much earlier. If it weren''t for you, I might not have made it." He quickly set up the table in front of Gu Qin, "Don''t move, the doctor said you have low blood sugar, and you''re still very weak. You need to rest well. My mom¡¯s chicken soup is the best, she cooked it all afternoon. Hurry and drink it."


    Zhao Chongbin took the chicken soup from his mother and placed it on the small table, handing a spoon to Gu Qin, "Drink up."


    Gu Qin was indeed hungry. She thanked them and started drinking.


    The woman sat down on the nearby sofa, and the young man squatted down. The woman said, "Thank you so much, little girl. If it weren¡¯t for you, my Chongchong might..." She glanced at her son and didn''t finish the sentence. "In any case, you saved my son''s life. I heard that resolving this kind of thing might not be good for you. How about this, I give you some money, is that alright? I know no amount of money can repay a life, but this is all we have left¡ªten thousand. We¡¯ve invested the rest in another guesthouse. This ten thousand was for renovations. I know it¡¯s not much, but..."


    The woman¡¯s name was Li Lingxia, and everyone who knew her called her Zhao¡¯s wife. She had lived in Daishan City for over ten years, running a small guesthouse. Recently, she had invested the money she earned into another guesthouse, leaving only ten thousand for renovations. She knew that one life was worth more than ten thousand, especially her only son¡¯s life.


    Gu Qin finished the bowl of soup and placed the empty bowl on the small table. She looked at Aunt Zhao and said seriously, "Aunt, you don¡¯t need to give me money. I have one request."


    Li Lingxia paused, "Huh, oh, sure, what request do you have? Just tell me."


    Gu Qin said, "Can I stay here for a few days?"


    "That''s it?" Li Lingxia laughed. "You can stay as long as you want. In the future, whenever you come, Auntie won¡¯t charge you any money." When she saw Gu Qin''s bowl was empty, she added, "I¡¯ll go cook you some noodles. I¡¯ll talk to you later."


    With that, she took the empty bowl and left. The room was left with only Zhao Chongbin and Gu Qin. Their eyes met. Gu Qin blinked but said nothing. Seeing that he was still shirtless, she felt a bit uncomfortable. "Can you put on some clothes?"


    Zhao Chongbin quickly left and returned in less than a minute, wearing a T-shirt on top but still in the oversized shorts from before. He sat down on the sofa, "Sister, hello, I¡¯m Zhao Chongbin. That was my mom. Thank you again today."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Gu Qin nodded, "No need to thank me."


    Zhao Chongbin, not knowing what else to say, was just in time to be called by his mom for help, and he quickly left.


    Gu Qin sat on the bed and took out her phone from her pocket. It was a Nokia smartphone that her father had used for several years before giving it to her. There were several missed calls from her father and Gu Jia.


    Just as she was about to call her mom, Gu Jia called again. Gu Qin hesitated for a moment before answering, and Gu Jia¡¯s anxious voice came through, "Gu Qin, where are you?"


    "What happened?" Gu Qin asked, "I¡¯m outside."


    Gu Jia said, "I¡¯m coming to find you. You don¡¯t have any money on you. I asked him for a few thousand. That should be enough for you to get by for a while."


    Gu Qin said, "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m okay now. I¡¯m planning to call Mom when she¡¯s back."


    Gu Jia paused, hesitated, and said, "Gu Qin, if Mom finds out, she¡¯ll divorce Dad. Can you give Dad a chance..."


    "No," Gu Qin interrupted him, "I don¡¯t want to acknowledge him as my father. If Mom divorces him, that¡¯s fine by me." She couldn¡¯t bring these people to justice herself, as she was still underage, and even if she wanted to, she couldn¡¯t sue them. If it had been her usual way, she could have set up a feng shui trap, but now with her current skills, she couldn¡¯t even set up the simplest feng shui array.


    Setting up a feng shui trap required energy, and without any martial arts skills, she couldn¡¯t do it. A feng shui array set without energy would have no effect, at best just used for deception.


    For now, she could only let the law punish them.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t give Gu Jia a chance to speak again, hanging up the phone. She found her mom¡¯s number in the contacts and dialed.


    The phone quickly connected, and her mom¡¯s gentle voice came through, "Qinqin, what¡¯s the matter?"


    Gu Qin¡¯s chest tightened, her eyes stung. "Mom, I miss you. Can you come back?"


    Her mom laughed, "I¡¯m at Grandma¡¯s house. I¡¯ll be back in a couple of days, okay?" Her mom had ten days off, and she hadn¡¯t gone to her maternal family last year for the New Year, so she took the chance to visit now, as it was her husband¡¯s suggestion.


    "Mom, I have something to tell you." Gu Qin¡¯s voice choked up. She didn¡¯t know why she felt like crying. She inherited Gu Qin¡¯s body, her memories, and even her emotions. From the start, she had trusted her dad¡¯s words, not telling her mom about the kidney transplant. If she had told her mom, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have died on the operating table.


    Her mom¡¯s name was Cheng Yinxiang. Hearing her daughter¡¯s tone, Cheng Yinxiang became anxious, "Qinqin, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t scare Mom, tell me what happened."


    "I¡¯m fine, wait until you come back, okay? I¡¯m staying at..." Gu Qin told her the address.


    Cheng Yinxiang knew her daughter must have encountered something, "Qinqin, don¡¯t worry, Mom will come back right away. Whatever it is, Mom¡¯s here for you."


    Gu Qin instructed, "Mom, don¡¯t call Dad. Don¡¯t let him know I¡¯m staying here."


    Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s face went pale. She had always known that her husband, Gu Yuanjiang, favored sons over daughters and hadn¡¯t cared much about their younger daughter. That¡¯s why she was even more protective of her. After hearing this, she realized the problem likely had something to do with Gu Yuanjiang, and she became even more worried. She quickly said a few words and hung up, planning to return to Daishan City immediately.


    Her maternal family was in the southern province, which was a province away from Daishan City. It took about ten hours by train. Cheng Yinxiang couldn¡¯t wait, so she immediately headed to the airport, planning to take a flight back. The tickets were expensive, but she couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer, especially since her daughter didn¡¯t know what had happened.


    "Yinxiang, are you sure you¡¯re rushing back so quickly? Your second brother knows you¡¯re coming back and took a few days off. Don¡¯t you want to see him before you go?"


    Cheng Yinxiang hesitated but then said, "Forget it, there will be other times. Mom, Qinqin¡¯s in trouble, I need to go back today."


    Cheng¡¯s mother panicked, "What happened to Qinqin? That child has always been quiet and never tells you anything. If she¡¯s calling you now, it must be something serious. Alright, alright, you go back first. I¡¯ll have your second brother go to Daishan to check on you and Qinqin."


    Cheng Yinxiang immediately took the fastest flight back to Daishan City. After two more hours by taxi, she arrived at the location her daughter had mentioned. It was already past eight in the evening.


    In the meantime, Gu Qin had also been busy. Li Lingxia made her a big bowl of noodles, and she finished all of it. Then, she asked Li Lingxia if she had a camera. Zhao Chongbin immediately went back to his room to bring one. He curiously asked, "Sister, what do you need a camera for?"


    Since learning her name, Zhao Chongbin had started calling her "Sister Qin," and Gu Qin had corrected him twice, but he still insisted, so she didn¡¯t bother anymore.


    "I have a use for the camera. Can you leave for a bit?"


    After Zhao Chongbin left, Gu Qin used the camera to take a few photos of her wounds, making sure her face was visible, then went out to print the photos. Originally, Li Lingxia and Zhao Chongbin had offered to copy them, but Gu Qin insisted on doing it herself.


    There was a photo shop nearby, and after developing the photos, Gu Qin couldn¡¯t help but touch the pictures in awe. The clarity was astonishing. This era was truly shocking. Cars could drive on the ground, planes could fly in the sky, and the internet that she remembered seemed magical enough to make her marvel.

 The Broken Glass

    It was already six in the evening. During the summer, it gets dark later, and now the sky still had some light. Gu Qin had taken a nap, eaten something, and regained some strength. Moreover, she had just tried to communicate with the heaven and earth''s energy. In this era, economic and technological advancements had progressed greatly, but some things had regressed, and the amount of heaven and earth energy had decreased considerably. However, in deep mountains and forests, there should still be much more energy than in the city.


    At the moment, it was not feasible for her to go to deep mountains or forests for cultivation. After using her Heavenly Eye, absorbing the heaven and earth energy would not be harmful. The original body had not known how to communicate with heaven and earth''s energy, so the body suffered a loss of vital essence, which led to the frailty. After using the Heavenly Eye, it would take several months to recover each time.


    The unique features of this era amazed Gu Qin. Now that she had some free time, she couldn¡¯t bear to return to the inn immediately and instead took a walk nearby.


    Passing a small stall, Gu Qin stopped and looked at it with surprise.


    The stall was set up on the side of the road, selling all kinds of things¡ªsmall jade items, iron tools, copper coins, jade bracelets, ancient bowls, vases, and so on. From her memory, this should be an antique stall, but there was a dedicated antique street in Daishan. Why would this stall be placed here in this alley?


    Antique stalls, from her memory, usually sold things from past dynasties. Antiques were items left over from previous eras. Gu Qin, being from several thousand years ago, could immediately tell that there was not a single genuine item on this stall. When it came to antiques, if they were left over from previous dynasties and had lasted for a hundred or a thousand years, they would carry various forms of heaven and earth energy or yin energy.


    Gu Qin could see energy and yin energy with her Heavenly Eye, so she could easily spot that everything on this stall was fake, except for one thing. It was a small copper figurine, about the size of a thumb, with many dark, grimy spots. The little copper figurine was lying in the corner of the stall. If she hadn¡¯t used her Heavenly Eye, she would have missed it.


    This little copper figurine had evidently been nurtured by heaven and earth''s energy. It wasn¡¯t an item from ancient times, and it should have been made in the last century, but it had been nurtured by heaven and earth''s energy and had now become a magical item.


    Magical items and antiques both carried heaven and earth¡¯s energy, but they were not the same. For something to become a magical item, it needed to be a specific kind of object, like this small copper figurine, or something like jade. The range of antiques was much broader, including ancient tools and paintings. Magical items could be classified into Buddhist magical items and metaphysical magical items, but in essence, there was no difference between them. Buddhist magical items, like wooden fish, bowls, staffs, vajra bells, and vajra scepters, are the tools used in Buddhist practice. Because they had been worn by those with cultivation for a long time, they had become magical items.


    In addition, there were feng shui magical items, such as gourds, jade gourds, copper gourds, qilin, pixiu, Wen Chang towers, Bagua mirrors, dragon turtles, copper coins, and so on. These were used to arrange real feng shui setups. To properly arrange a feng shui formation, these magical items were essential.


    Magical items also included attack-type items and protective items, and this little copper figurine belonged to the protective type. Moreover, all magical items had ranks, from high to low: celestial-grade, earth-grade, mysterious-grade, and yellow-grade. These types were further divided into superior, intermediate, and inferior magical items. This little copper figurine was a low-tier yellow-grade magical item.


    In this world, most magical items were of yellow or mysterious grades, and there were few earth-grade and celestial-grade items. Gu Qin had only seen earth-grade magical items in her previous life.


    Magical items could also be cultivated by arranging formations in places rich in energy. Similarly, magical items could be nurtured by yin energy. These magical items, nurtured by yin energy, were often burial items like daggers, knives, or swords, and ordinary people or those with low cultivation couldn¡¯t control them.


    Of course, ordinary people had no idea what magical items were and wouldn¡¯t believe in them. Gu Qin crouched down and touched the small copper figurine. "Boss, how much is this?"


    The boss was a man in his thirties or forties, with a scruffy beard. When he heard someone asking about the price, he glanced at the small copper figurine. "This one? It''s a fixed price¡ªtwo thousand. I got it from a family deep in the mountains. They said it''s a family heirloom from the Tang Dynasty. Little girl, two thousand isn¡¯t expensive. Let me tell you¡­"


    "How about eighty-five?" Gu Qin interrupted before the boss could finish. She only had eighty-five yuan on her. Also, she remembered that these items were usually overpriced.


    The boss was stunned for a moment. "Little girl, this price is a bit too low, don¡¯t you think?"If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Gu Qin stood up. "Then forget it, I won¡¯t buy it." She only had eighty-five yuan, and if the man didn¡¯t agree, she wouldn¡¯t be able to buy it.


    "Hey, hey¡­" Seeing that Gu Qin was about to leave, the boss panicked. "Little girl, come on, at least raise the price a bit. How about two hundred?"


    "I only have eighty-five," Gu Qin turned to leave.


    "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll give it to you." The boss sighed. "You''re really clever, little girl. I¡¯m practically losing money, but today I¡¯m in a good mood, and since we have fate, I¡¯ll sell it to you."


    Gu Qin handed over the money and took the little copper figurine, leaving without saying another word. She really only had eighty-five yuan left.


    When she returned to the inn, Li Lingxia said, "Qinqin, I saw you buying something from that stall just now? Let me tell you, all the stuff on his stall is fake. Don¡¯t get tricked. If you want to pick up a bargain, go to the antique street. Daishan has one. This guy used to sell on the antique street, but his reputation was bad. He sold fake things, and they kicked him out. You didn¡¯t get fooled by him, did you?"


    Gu Qin knew what antiques were, but it was much harder to find a good deal now than in the 90s when there were many antiques and fewer people collected them.


    She took out the little copper figurine and showed it to Li Lingxia. "Aunt Li, don¡¯t worry, I liked it, so I bought it. It was only a few dozen yuan, not expensive."


    "Alright, then. But don¡¯t buy from him again next time."


    Gu Qin went back to her room to rest. Around eight o¡¯clock, her mother called. Gu Qin went out to meet her mother and brought her inside. Li Lingxia, who was a bit confused about Gu Qin¡¯s situation, looked at her and felt puzzled about why she was staying outside instead of going home. When she saw Gu Qin¡¯s mother arrive, her confusion deepened but she didn¡¯t ask further, giving the room to the two of them.


    "Qinqin, what happened?" Cheng Yinxiang said anxiously. "You wouldn¡¯t tell me on the phone. I¡¯m so worried."


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t hide it and told her everything that had happened. Gu Yuanjiang had asked her to donate a kidney, then went to the notary to sign papers and sent her to the operating room. When she woke up, she found herself undergoing open-chest surgery. She even opened her shirt slightly to show the wound to Cheng Yinxiang.


    From the moment Gu Qin mentioned donating the kidney, Cheng Yinxiang was trembling. When she heard that the anesthesia hadn¡¯t worked and she woke up to find herself undergoing open-chest surgery, and then saw the wound on her daughter¡¯s body, she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and began to cry. Gu Qin didn¡¯t interrupt. After Cheng Yinxiang cried, she wiped her tears, her hands trembling, but she tightly held her daughter¡¯s hand. "Don¡¯t be afraid, Qinqin. Mom will stand up for you. It¡¯s all my fault. If I had cared more about you, this wouldn¡¯t have happened."


    "Mom, it¡¯s not your fault." Gu Qin¡¯s voice was low. "It¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have been so weak. I didn¡¯t want to donate a kidney, and I definitely didn¡¯t want to donate my heart."


    "Qinqin, mom won¡¯t let them get away with it." Just as she was speaking, Gu Qin¡¯s phone rang again. It was Gu Yuanjiang. He had called more than twenty times this afternoon and sent dozens of text messages, all asking where she was and why she wasn¡¯t keeping her promise, with the other side waiting for her kidney.


    Cheng Yinxiang grabbed the phone and saw it was his call. She was about to answer, but Gu Qin hurriedly whispered, "Mom, turn on the recorder."


    Cheng Yinxiang immediately understood her daughter¡¯s intention, turned on the recorder, and then answered the call. Gu Yuanjiang¡¯s frantic voice came through. "Qinqin, where are you? Why are you so unreasonable? Others are waiting for your kidney, and you want to make them wait and die?"


    Cheng Yinxiang trembled with anger. "Gu Yuanjiang, you¡­ you scoundrel! How can you bear to make your own daughter donate her kidney? That¡¯s not donating a kidney! How did it end up being heart surgery? Tell me, who are you planning to sell Qinqin¡¯s heart to?"


    Gu Yuanjiang replied, "You¡­ How is it you, Cheng Yinxiang? What nonsense are you talking? I just asked her to donate a kidney!"


    Cheng Yinxiang was furious. "Why don¡¯t you go donate it yourself! Gu Yuanjiang, don¡¯t go too far." No matter what Cheng Yinxiang said, Gu Yuanjiang refused to admit he was planning to sell Gu Qin¡¯s heart. Cheng Yinxiang cried bitterly, "All these years, I¡¯ve never asked for anything from you. How has your family treated me? I¡¯ve said nothing. You¡¯ve been selfish all along, only thinking about yourself. You went into business and lost money. Now, you want to trade Qinqin¡¯s life for money. Gu Yuanjiang, you¡¯re not human! I¡¯m going to divorce you!"


    Gu Yuanjiang sneered. "Fine, divorce then. Who¡¯s afraid of who? Let me tell you, I¡¯ve lost over a million in goods because of the cement. If you divorce, the debts will be split between us!"


    "Fine, let¡¯s divorce!" Cheng Yinxiang agreed. Only by divorcing could Qinqin stop being mistreated by the Gu family. What¡¯s fifty thousand? She could always pay it back.


    After hanging up, Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s tears fell silently. She cried quietly, without making a sound. All these years, she had endured the Gu family¡¯s disregard for Qinqin and herself. But in the end, Gu Yuanjiang was so heartless, ready to sell Qinqin just like that.


    After Cheng Yinxiang had cried enough, she discussed it with Gu Qin. The two of them decided to rent a place. Cheng Yinxiang worked as an accountant in a company. In addition to her salary, she also had some side income, so her monthly income was around eight or nine thousand yuan. Renting a place and using the remaining money for daily expenses and to pay off debts would be barely enough.


    Cheng Yinxiang really didn¡¯t want to continue living with Gu Yuanjiang. This time, he had tried to sell her daughter¡¯s heart for his business. Even though it failed, who could guarantee he wouldn¡¯t do it again? One time was enough. She wouldn¡¯t let Qinqin be sold again.


    The next morning, Cheng Yinxiang planned to take Gu Qin and leave. She knew that Gu Qin had no money, so she went to pay the innkeeper. To her surprise, the innkeeper refused to accept her money, saying that if it weren¡¯t for Gu Qin, their child wouldn¡¯t have survived.


    Li Lingxia explained what had happened. Cheng Yinxiang thought it was because Gu Qin had seen something and saved the child¡¯s life. She knew that Gu Qin sometimes could see things that would happen in the future. Only the three of them knew about this and had never told anyone else.


    Since it was like this, Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t insist on paying, planning to leave with Gu Qin. Li Lingxia said, "Qinqin, wait a moment." She hurried back to her room and quickly returned with a red envelope. "Auntie prepared a red envelope for you. Please take it. Don¡¯t mind that it¡¯s little."

 Jiang Shuyus Tears

    After leaving the inn, Cheng Yinxiang took Gu Qin to have breakfast. Cheng Yinxiang couldn''t resist and asked her daughter what had happened earlier. If she hadn''t been careless before, her daughter wouldn''t have been harmed by Gu Yuanjiang like that. So, now, any abnormality made her worry a little.


    Gu Qin thought for a moment and then said seriously, "Mom, Zhao Chongbin''s left and right forehead bones are uneven, which is a sign of poverty. He has a dark mole on his nose, indicating an unlucky life. His chin represents late fortune, and he has a sharp chin, meaning he is decisive but impulsive. His nature is not bad, but the sharp chin shows that his later years may not be smooth. Of course, this is just superficial, and looking at someone''s face can''t tell everything. My point is that if he does more good deeds, his fate will change, and his face will change accordingly. A person''s fate can change with a single thought."


    Cheng Yinxiang listened, feeling confused, but was more surprised, "Qinqin, how do you know all this?"


    Gu Qin was silent for a moment. She wasn''t used to lying, but sometimes lies were unavoidable. "I read and researched it myself."


    "You child, aren''t you afraid of being seen as some kind of fortune teller?" Cheng Yinxiang didn''t believe in these things but didn''t blame her daughter. Her daughter had been more talkative lately, and as long as she was more open, she didn''t mind what she learned.


    Gu Qin didn''t explain everything. Typically, Feng Shui masters would advise people to do good deeds mainly because if those they helped could be kind-hearted, the merits from their good deeds would accumulate and bring blessings to them.


    Gu Qin didn''t have a bag, so she had put Li Lingxia''s red envelope in Cheng Yinxiang''s bag. After breakfast, they planned to go to the law firm to consult about the divorce. When Cheng Yinxiang had been with Gu Yuanjiang, she had nothing. Even their marital home was owned by his parents. When they came to Dae City, they had always rented. Gu Yuanjiang was a proud person who wanted to make a fortune, unwilling to work steadily. He kept trying to start businesses, most of which ended in losses. The whole family relied on Cheng Yinxiang to support them.


    This time, Gu Yuanjiang got into the cement business and claimed it would make money. He borrowed a little from relatives and friends, gathered about a million, and at first, it went well. However, the warehouse suddenly collapsed, and all the cement was soaked. He couldn''t reach the warehouse owner, as the contract clearly stated that the warehouse was not responsible for any problems. So, Gu Yuanjiang had to repay the million debt but still wanted to borrow more money to continue the cement business.


    They went to the lawyer, who explained that the debt would be split if they divorced. Cheng Yinxiang had long made up her mind. As long as she could divorce Gu Yuanjiang, she didn''t care about anything else.


    At that moment, Gu Yuanjiang called and asked where they were. Cheng Yinxiang told him the address, and less than an hour later, he arrived with Gu Jia. Gu Yuanjiang looked at Gu Qin, his face turning green, and immediately started scolding her, "What¡¯s wrong with you? You changed your mind for no reason! That child is still waiting for your kidney!"


    Gu Qin looked up at him and said, "Why don''t you get tested for compatibility? We¡¯re father and daughter, maybe mine will match. If you care about your friend''s child, go donate your kidney yourself! Why are you insisting on me?"


    "Cheng Yinxiang, that''s enough!" Cheng Yinxiang couldn''t help but push Gu Yuanjiang. "Qinqin is your daughter, not a tool for you to sell!"


    Gu Jia also said, "Dad, you''re really disappointing."


    Gu Yuanjiang glared at Gu Qin without speaking. Cheng Yinxiang said, "Hurry up and let the lawyer prepare the divorce agreement. Once we sign, we¡¯ll get the divorce."


    "Good. I¡¯ve been wanting to end this marriage too." Gu Yuanjiang sneered, took out all the debt notes from his pocket, and had the lawyer draft the agreement. The two children were both there and old enough to choose who they wanted to stay with. Gu Qin said, "I¡¯ll stay with mom."


    Gu Yuanjiang looked at Gu Jia. "Then Jia Jia will stay with me."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Gu Jia remained silent, and Cheng Yinxiang asked him, "Jia Jia, who do you want to stay with?"


    "I..." Gu Jia looked up, glancing at Gu Yuanjiang and then at Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Qin. "I want to stay with mom and my sister." He couldn''t accept this father.


    "Jia Jia!" Gu Yuanjiang didn''t expect his son to choose not to stay with him.


    Gu Jia looked at him. "I choose mom and my sister."


    Gu Yuanjiang''s face turned dark. "Suit yourself. I¡¯ll see how long you can stick with them. I won¡¯t be able to give you the latest game consoles or phones, let¡¯s see how long you can last!"


    In the end, both children chose to stay with Cheng Yinxiang. The lawyer quickly prepared the divorce agreement based on the debt notes. There was no property to divide, and the children stayed with their mother. The total debt amounted to 980,000, with the mother responsible for 450,000 of it and the father responsible for 530,000.


    Gu Yuanjiang didn¡¯t say anything, seeming to agree. They signed the agreement, went to the civil affairs bureau, and got their divorce certificate. Their marriage was officially over.


    As they were leaving, Gu Yuanjiang asked Gu Jia again. Gu Jia insisted on staying with Cheng Yinxiang. Only then did Gu Yuanjiang leave with a dark expression.


    When Gu Yuanjiang was leaving, Gu Qin suddenly moved her fingers a few times. Just as Gu Yuanjiang was going down the stairs, he seemed to trip on something, causing him to tumble down the stairs and fall hard, almost unable to get up.


    Cheng Yinxiang gritted her teeth, "It¡¯s retribution."


    Gu Qin moved her fingers again, sending a faint, invisible black energy towards Gu Yuanjiang. It quickly entered his body through the exposed skin. Gu Yuanjiang, still in pain from the fall, suddenly felt cold and couldn''t help but shiver.


    "Qinqin, let¡¯s go." Cheng Yinxiang turned around and looked at her daughter. She was shocked to see Gu Qin¡¯s face pale and panicked. "Qinqin, what¡¯s wrong with you? Why do you look so scary?"


    "Mom, I¡¯m fine." Gu Qin said, "Maybe it¡¯s just that the anesthesia hasn¡¯t worn off yet." With no cultivation, forcing Yin energy into her body made her feel unwell. Once things settled down, she would have to practice martial arts to cultivate her energy. The Yin energy that had entered Gu Yuanjiang¡¯s body would not harm him too much, but he might suffer from some minor illnesses and nightmares.


    The three of them were now going to rent a house. Cheng Yinxiang originally planned to look around nearby. The area was not far from her workplace and the children¡¯s schools, and there were markets and older apartment complexes, so the rent shouldn¡¯t be too expensive.


    Gu Jia said, "Mom, I¡¯ll search online. No need to have us run around."


    He quickly found several listings online, and Cheng Yinxiang chose the cheapest one, a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, less than 80 square meters, enough for the three of them. The rent was only 1,000 yuan per month, with a three-month deposit and one month¡¯s rent upfront, meaning they needed to pay 4,000 yuan to move in.


    After contacting the landlord and viewing the apartment, which was simply furnished but had a bed, sofa, water heater, and air conditioner, Cheng Yinxiang paid and signed the contract. They moved in, and then she let Gu Qin stay home to rest while she and Gu Jia went to Gu Yuanjiang¡¯s place to collect their things.


    By the time they were done, it was evening. Cheng Yinxiang had packed the clothes, dishes, and other household items. She also brought back some vegetables. They had a simple meal, showered, and were about to go to sleep.


    Gu Qin found a red string and put the small copper figure she had bought yesterday on it. She gave it to Cheng Yinxiang. It was meant to ward off disasters and evil spirits. Since Gu Qin didn¡¯t need it, she thought it would be better for her mother to have it. Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t ask too many questions and wore it.


    Cheng Yinxiang had five days off, and she hadn¡¯t planned to let Gu Yuanjiang and the people in the hospital who operated on Gu Qin get away. She consulted with a lawyer, who explained that just having the kidney donation certificate and the scar on the heart wouldn¡¯t help; they needed more evidence to prove it.


    Cheng Yinxiang went back and told Gu Qin, asking if anyone had seen her after she rushed out of the operating room. Could she find someone to testify? Also, Gu Qin needed to go to the hospital for an examination to prove her heart was healthy.


    Gu Qin replied, "Mom, when I rushed out of the operating room, someone filmed a video. If we can find that person, it could be evidence. They were a relative of a cardiology patient who had just had surgery and definitely wouldn¡¯t have been discharged so quickly. I¡¯ll go to the hospital and look for them."


    "Mom will go with you," Cheng Yinxiang said, not wanting her daughter to go alone.


    The family¡¯s remaining money was not much. Cheng Yinxiang had withdrawn 5,000 yuan from the bank the day before, leaving only a few hundred. If they really found that video, they would have to offer a reward. She remembered the red envelope the innkeeper had given her and quickly took it out of her bag. It was a thick stack of 100-yuan bills. After counting, there were exactly 20,000 yuan.


    Cheng Yinxiang was startled, "Qinqin, why did the innkeeper give us so much?"


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t surprised. This money wasn¡¯t much. Feng Shui masters usually didn¡¯t want to solve such calamities, because it could bring retribution on them. No amount of money could compensate for it. Two thousand was actually quite little. "Mom, take it. It¡¯s not much, and we need the money."

 The Balcony Encounter

    The temperature is high today, almost forty degrees, and Gu Qin also knows that her attire from the past few days was a bit unusual. After hesitating for a while, she wore a short-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of jeans today. Cheng Yinxiang saw her dressed this way as they left, ¡°It¡¯s so hot, why are you still wearing jeans? Don¡¯t you have skirts or shorts?¡±


    Gu Qin smiled, "Mom, I like dressing this way. Let''s go out quickly."


    Afraid of being recognized by the people at the hospital, Gu Qin also wore a baseball cap. It can block some of the sun, and it will prevent people from gathering around.


    The two went straight to the Cardiology Building at the hospital. By the time they arrived, it was already past 10, and the inpatient department had finished their rounds. The cardiology inpatient department has more than forty rooms. When they entered, there were still security guards, and after registering, they went in.


    They were lucky. After searching through several rooms, they finally found him. The young man was sitting in the room, playing with his phone. Gu Qin whispered to Cheng Yinxiang, "Mom, it¡¯s him."


    Cheng Yinxiang went in and approached the young man, ¡°Hello, young man. I have something to talk to you about. Could we go outside for a moment?¡±


    The young man looked up at her, then lowered his head to continue playing with his phone, ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡±


    Gu Qin entered the room and took off her cap. "This big brother, we need to talk to you. Can we step outside for a moment?"


    The young man clearly remembered Gu Qin, smiled, and said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. Sure, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    This place wasn¡¯t suitable for a long stay, as Dean Chen was performing surgery in the cardiology department and frequently came to check on the patients. Gu Qin put on her cap, went downstairs, and the three of them sat in the hospital¡¯s garden. Cheng Yinxiang directly stated their purpose, "Young man, we are looking for you regarding the video you filmed. The video is very important to us. Could you send it to us?"


    "Ah, Auntie, there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch, right? Don¡¯t you think? At least show some sincerity," the young man said with a smile, looking at them.


    "Yes, yes, you¡¯re right," Cheng Yinxiang hurriedly took out an envelope from her bag, which contained one thousand yuan she had prepared earlier that morning. She thought one thousand yuan should be enough to buy a video.


    The young man took the envelope, opened it, and without counting, he smiled, "Auntie, your sincerity is a bit too little, don¡¯t you think? I guess, if I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯re planning to use this video to sue the hospital for compensation, right?"


    Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s face turned red, ¡°Young man, we¡¯re not using this video to sue the hospital for money. We just want to use it to take action against the doctors who performed the surgery on my daughter. We don¡¯t intend to make money from this.¡±


    The young man didn¡¯t seem convinced.


    Gu Qin sat next to Cheng Yinxiang. "How much do you want?"


    "Ten thousand," the young man said with a smile. "This video is definitely crucial evidence. Without it, you¡¯ll surely lose the case. With it, you can take down the hospital and get more compensation, so ten thousand should be reasonable."


    "You little brother," Cheng Yinxiang was a bit angry, "We don¡¯t intend to take any money from the hospital. We just want those doctors to face the consequences."


    Gu Qin patted Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s hand, "Mom, let me talk to him. You go sit over there for a while."


    After Cheng Yinxiang left, Gu Qin said to the young man, "Big brother, leave some room for negotiation. Ten thousand is too much. We¡¯ll take the video for one thousand." In truth, she wasn¡¯t necessarily aiming to use legal action against them. At the moment, she had no money. If she had the money, ten thousand would have been reasonable, but her family was in debt, and her mom wouldn¡¯t even spend a penny on herself. She had sacrificed so much for her two children. Ten thousand was too much for her mother. In her past life, she had earned a lot of money, but other than essentials and materials for spiritual practices, she rarely spent on anything else, so she didn¡¯t feel much about money.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    If this young man insisted on ten thousand and didn¡¯t budge, Cheng Yinxiang would borrow money to buy the video. But Gu Qin didn¡¯t think it was worth it. If they did, it would put even more pressure on her mom. She inherited the feelings of her past self, so naturally, she cared for Cheng Yinxiang and didn¡¯t want her to work too hard.


    Moreover, she didn¡¯t think they had to resort to legal action. All she had to do was wait. Once her abilities were restored, it would be easy for them to face the consequences. Ten thousand yuan or waiting a little longer didn¡¯t make much of a difference.


    The young man looked at Gu Qin and smiled, "Little sister, ten thousand isn¡¯t a lot. If you win the lawsuit, the hospital will easily compensate you with a hundred thousand. But without my video, you definitely won¡¯t win, right?"


    "You¡¯re speaking the truth. Without this video, we indeed can¡¯t win. But we want this video, not for the money, just to see those people go to jail," Gu Qin said seriously.


    "Jail?" The young man laughed, "Little sister, don¡¯t be so naive. I saw what happened that day, and I believe they really wanted to take your heart. But they dared to do surgery so openly in the hospital. Clearly, the person who needed your heart has a huge background. You can¡¯t afford to offend them. Just the dean alone is someone you can¡¯t provoke. I can tell you, if you sue them for live organ transplant or attempted murder, you probably won¡¯t win. But if you sue for misdiagnosis and personal injury, the hospital might settle for around a hundred thousand."


    Gu Qin stared at him, "I¡¯ll sue them for live organ transplant and attempted murder."


    The young man laughed loudly, "Little sister, don¡¯t you understand the country¡¯s situation? Ordinary people can never provoke those with power. I advise you not to offend them. Just sue for misdiagnosis or something. At least you¡¯ll get some money."


    Gu Qin remained silent for a while, not wanting to say more. "One thousand yuan, will you sell me the video?"


    The young man smiled, "No, I told you, unless you come up with ten thousand."


    Gu Qin stared at him in silence. Her face gradually turned pale as she spoke, "In two minutes, someone will call you. It¡¯s your mother. She¡¯ll ask you to go to the hospital gate to meet someone¡ªyour mother¡¯s colleague. They are coming to visit your father, who is having heart bypass surgery. I am a Feng Shui master. One thousand yuan for the video, I¡¯ll do you a favor. If you ever encounter something you can¡¯t solve, I¡¯ll help you once."


    The young man stared at Gu Qin, a bit confused, as if he thought she might be joking. After a moment, he said, "No way. Little sister, you can¡¯t just lie to me for the video, can you? A Feng Shui master? You really believe in that? If you had such abilities, why would you need to resort to legal action?"


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t speak, just sitting there calmly.


    The young man was getting uneasy, feeling that this young girl might really be a lunatic, and she wasn¡¯t going to buy the video. Perhaps she was just playing tricks on him. He didn¡¯t want to waste time talking to her anymore. He was about to leave when his phone rang. He hesitated for a moment, then checked it. It was indeed his mother. His expression changed. He answered the call, and his mother¡¯s voice came from the phone, ¡°Tao Tao, where have you been? Aunt Wu is here. If you¡¯re downstairs, go meet her. She¡¯s here to visit your dad. Hurry up, don¡¯t keep them waiting.¡±


    Aunt Wu was his mother¡¯s colleague. When the phone call ended, the young man was still stunned. After a while, he looked at Gu Qin with a strange expression, "You¡­ You really are a Feng Shui master? How did you know my mom was going to call?"


    Gu Qin obviously saw it with her Heavenly Eye. No Feng Shui master, no matter how powerful, could have known such specific details from the divination. She didn¡¯t say anything.


    The young man thought she must be hiding something, maybe related to her teacher¡¯s instructions. "Is it because of your teacher¡¯s teachings? You¡¯re not supposed to talk about it? Fine, I won¡¯t ask."


    Realizing the situation, the young man now didn¡¯t care about the money. He took the one-thousand-yuan envelope from Gu Qin. "This is fine. Do you have an email? I¡¯ll send the video to you."


    Gu Qin gave him an email address and her phone number, "If you ever need help, just call me. I¡¯m leaving now."


    Gu Qin left quickly, taking Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s arm as they exited the hospital. The young man watched them for a long time, still feeling uneasy. How could this young girl really be a Feng Shui master? He wondered if one thousand yuan was too little. He regretted not listening to her and asking for ten thousand, though it wasn¡¯t about the money. He felt like he might have been tricked by this girl.


    "Qinqin, how did that young man agree to sell the video for just one thousand yuan?" Cheng Yinxiang also found it strange.


    Gu Qin smiled but didn¡¯t answer. She wasn¡¯t good with words and didn¡¯t want to lie. It was better to remain silent. Her original personality was always like this, and it wouldn¡¯t make anyone suspicious. Cheng Yinxiang understood she didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so she smiled and said, "As long as we got the video, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m going to the police station. Let me take you home first."


    "Mom, I¡¯ll go with you."


    This case was a public prosecution case, and they had to report it to the police and file a case for investigation. The procuratorate would initiate a public prosecution. After filing the case, they sued Dean Chen, the anesthesiologist, and the doctors in the operating room, as well as Gu Yuanjiang. The police said they needed to wait for investigation and gather evidence, and once everything was ready, it would be transferred to the procuratorate for prosecution.


    After reporting the case and submitting the evidence, Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang went back home to wait.


    About ten days later, the procuratorate called them, saying the case had been filed, and the defendants would be granted bail. The trial was scheduled for September 7, more than a month later.

 A Mothers Love

    After the prosecutor''s office sent over some materials and news, both Gu Qin and Cheng Yinqiang calmed down, just waiting for the court session. Cheng Yinqiang was still a bit worried, "Qinqin, what if we don''t win the case?" She knew that they were just ordinary people and didn''t understand much about legal matters.


    Gu Qin, who was practicing her English speaking, paused and replied to her mother, "Mom, don''t worry, let''s see what the court decides. We have all the evidence." If they lost, she wasn¡¯t worried, but she didn¡¯t say that out loud.


    The video that the young man had promised was quickly sent to her, and she had already copied it onto a USB drive.


    These days, Gu Qin had not been idle. She had just graduated from junior high and was about to report to high school on September 1. It was still summer vacation. The original owner was a disciplined person, so as soon as the vacation started, all her homework was completed. Now, Gu Qin was busy practicing martial arts and cultivating her energy. Practicing martial arts and cultivating energy was divided into external and internal techniques. External techniques focused on physical movements like punches and kicks, while internal techniques were about cultivating life energy, involving meditation to sense the energy of heaven and earth, which was a very difficult step, and many people never succeeded in feeling it.


    This kind of cultivation could only be done by calming the mind and feeling the surrounding natural energy. After feeling the energy, one would try to draw it into the body and flush the meridians.


    In her past life, Gu Qin had learned both boxing and energy cultivation from her master and had reached the realm of refining energy and transforming the spirit, but she was still far from the highest level, the Great Perfection, which was the most desired state for all metaphysical masters and cultivators. Unfortunately, throughout history, only a few people ever reached the Great Perfection.


    During these days, Gu Qin woke up at four in the morning, meditated until six, then went for a morning run. Cultivating energy was possible, but martial arts wouldn¡¯t be neglected. However, her body was too weak to begin with martial arts, so she started with strengthening her body through regular morning runs until seven, then practiced standing meditation until eight. After having breakfast prepared by her mother, she would study at home.


    The original owner''s academic performance seemed average, but Gu Qin wanted to do her best in everything. Her master had taught her that whatever she learned, she should strive to do it well, and she knew that knowledge was very important in this era. So, apart from martial arts and energy cultivation, she was focused on her studies at home.


    What Gu Qin found difficult was English, which was really hard for her, and she spent most of her time on it every day.


    She would take a half-hour nap at noon, then stand in meditation for an hour, continuing to study after. At five, she would make dinner, and by six, when her mother and brother returned, they would eat. After dinner, at seven, she would watch television for two hours.


    The rented apartment had a TV, but no set-top box, so there were only seven channels. Watching TV felt strange to her. After turning it on, no matter what was on, she would focus for two hours without changing the channel.


    Gu Jia, now in the second year of high school and about to enter his third year, was on summer vacation but had to go to tutoring during the day. He was three years older than Gu Qin, and when he was in elementary school, he didn¡¯t study well. While others studied, he was playing outside, scoring zero points in his first-grade exams and having to repeat the grade. Later, he didn¡¯t know if he had a breakthrough or suddenly figured things out, but he began studying hard, so now he was just two grades ahead of Gu Qin.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Sometimes, Gu Jia found his sister a bit strange. For example, now, she was watching a weight-loss advertisement on TV, staring at it seriously for half an hour. Gu Jia finally couldn''t help but ask, "Gu Qin, do you want to lose weight?"


    "No," Gu Qin replied without taking her eyes off the TV. "I want to gain weight." Recently, she was consuming more energy than she took in, so she had lost a bit more weight, but it seemed that her body was starting to develop, and her chest felt a bit fuller.


    Gu Jia replied, "Then why are you staring at weight-loss ads? You''ve been watching for half an hour!"


    Gu Qin had some doubts. "Losing weight is only possible by consuming low energy and exercising more. These weight-loss pills stimulate the central nervous system, reduce intake, and suppress appetite, but they usually have side effects, such as liver damage and endocrine disorders. Why would anyone buy them?"


    Gu Qin''s metaphysical studies included medicine, so she knew a lot about traditional Chinese medicine, and recently she had been learning some Western medicine. If possible, she wanted to buy a human model to study.


    Gu Jia replied, "Because they''re lazy and want to take shortcuts. But there''s no shortcut in this world."


    Gu Qin nodded thoughtfully and continued watching seriously. She didn¡¯t change the channel but just found TV interesting.


    After dinner, Gu Yuanjiang called Cheng Yinqiang. "Cheng Yinqiang, how could you be so heartless? You¡¯re even suing me? I¡¯m the father of Qinqin and Jia Jia, and Qinqin voluntarily donated her kidney. Why are you suing me?"


    Cheng Yinqiang went to the balcony with the phone so as not to disturb her daughter. She closed the door before shouting angrily, "Gu Yuanjiang, you''re a scumbag, selling your own daughter''s heart! I''m suing you! You just wait to go to jail!" Without waiting for him to react, she quickly hung up and blocked his number.


    Entering the room, Gu Qin had just turned off the TV. Cheng Yinqiang said, "Qinqin, go to bed early."


    Gu Qin replied, "Mom, can you give me a few hundred yuan? I want to buy a bicycle. It¡¯ll be more comfortable for me to ride to school, and buses aren''t very comfortable."


    Gu Qin often felt dizzy in cars and also in closed elevators. Additionally, the energy in the city was too scarce, which wasn¡¯t good for cultivating energy. So, she planned to ride a bicycle to Mount Daishan every day.


    Mount Daishan, located in Daishan City, was named after the mountain, and riding for an hour would get her there. Places with more energy were often deep in mountains or forests, and while Mount Daishan wasn''t a deep forest, it was still large and had far more energy than the city.


    Cheng Yinqiang gave her a thousand yuan. The next morning, Gu Qin went out and bought a foldable bike, a small one that was just the right size for her. However, she had forgotten one thing: the original owner didn¡¯t know how to ride a bike. So, after buying the bike, Gu Qin found a quiet spot to learn. Learning to ride a bike required courage, and after twenty minutes, she was nearly there.


    She rode the bike back home and carried it up the five floors to their apartment.


    From then on, every morning she would wake up at four, carry her bike downstairs, and ride to Mount Daishan to meditate. By seven, she would return and practice standing meditation for an hour. The rest of the time, she was still studying at home. Cheng Yinqiang was already at work, so Gu Qin was usually alone at home.


    One morning, Cheng Yinqiang went to work, and Gu Jia went to tutoring. Gu Qin continued studying English at home. Not long after, her phone rang. She took it out and saw it was Lin Xinxin calling.


    Gu Qin remembered that Lin Xinxin was the original owner''s only friend. The original owner had been introverted, while Lin Xinxin was more outgoing, and they had been desk mates. She was very considerate of the original owner. Gu Qin answered the phone, and Lin Xinxin¡¯s voice came through, "Qinqin, haven¡¯t you gotten over it yet? I¡¯m really sorry. I won¡¯t speak ill of him again. Can we be friends again?"

 The Healing Noodles

    When school was on break, Lin Xinxin had a falling out with Gu Qin, and the reason was quite simple. Gu Qin had secretly had a crush on a "school god," who was three years older than her. When she had just entered grade one of junior high, he was already in grade one of senior high. During her registration, she accidentally bumped into him and immediately fell in love at first sight. Although the original Gu Qin had a soft character, she was also quite stubborn. Once she liked someone, she liked them for real. The two schools weren¡¯t far apart, so every day after school, she would run over to the school of her crush to see him.


    Of course, due to her gentle nature, she never had the courage to confess to him, and instead, she would just wait quietly at the school gate, satisfied with just seeing him for a moment after school.


    This obsessive and unhealthy admiration lasted for two years, and she only confided in her best friend, Lin Xinxin. Lin Xinxin had been her deskmate since the first year of junior high, and the two had always been good friends.


    Gu Qin¡¯s crush was named Fu Hanru. In the "Yi Jing - Bi Gua" (The Book of Changes, Hexagram 3, line 4), it is said: ¡°Bi ru, po ru, bai ma han ru,¡± which means neat and clean. Fu Hanru indeed lived up to his name, at least on the surface. He always had clean, black hair, never dyed or permed, and wore white shirts and black casual pants. He was even more handsome, with almond-shaped eyes and thin lips. No matter where he was, he was always the most outstanding person in the crowd.


    Such a school god was liked by at least half of the girls in the school. Lin Xinxin, however, did not like him, because she felt that her friend was nearly going crazy over him. The more important reason was Fu Hanru¡¯s attitude towards her friend¡¯s pursuit.


    Gu Qin had liked him for two years, but during those two years, he had never noticed her. It was only when Gu Qin reached grade three of junior high that he suddenly noticed her. One afternoon after school, he came up to her and spoke. Gu Qin would always remember that evening, with the orange-red sunset in the sky, which made her school god look like a painting. The handsome school god walked up to her, smiled gently, showing his perfect teeth, and said, ¡°Hello, are you Gu Qin? I¡¯ve noticed you for a while now. It seems like you¡¯re always here at this time. Are you waiting for someone?¡±


    Gu Qin stammered, ¡°You... hello, I¡¯m Gu Qin. It¡¯s... it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±


    In the days that followed, Fu Hanru would occasionally talk to her, sometimes inviting her to sit at the McDonald¡¯s or KFC near the school. Most of the time, he talked about all sorts of things while she listened silently, occasionally smiling at him.


    Gu Qin thought this was what being in a relationship was like, and every day she would tell Lin Xinxin about the details of her interactions with Fu Hanru. Lin Xinxin was hesitant, but seeing her friend happy, she didn¡¯t say much. However, after a while, Lin Xinxin couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Gu Qin, you¡¯ve been waiting at his school gate for two years, and he never noticed you. Why is it that he suddenly knows you now and talks to you? If he liked you early on, he wouldn¡¯t have waited two years to speak to you, right? And if he really considered you his girlfriend, he should have introduced you to his circle of friends. Has he ever taken you to meet his friends?¡±


    Gu Qin, however, was lost in the warmth of Fu Hanru¡¯s attention, and instead of listening to Lin Xinxin, she blamed her.


    Lin Xinxin gave up and no longer dared to point out Fu Hanru¡¯s flaws. Lin Xinxin, who was straightforward, occasionally muttered a few things, but every time she did, Gu Qin would get angry, and in the end, Lin Xinxin would apologize, and they would make up.


    So another year passed, and Gu Qin graduated from grade three of junior high, planning to go to Fu Hanru¡¯s high school. Even though Fu Hanru had already graduated and was about to go to university, she still worked hard to get into his high school. During this year, Fu Hanru continued to maintain a somewhat distant relationship with her.


    When graduation arrived, Lin Xinxin could no longer hold back. She said to Gu Qin, ¡°Gu Qin, there¡¯s something I have to tell you. A few days ago, I saw your school god shopping with some girl. He was being so gentle with her, even carefully helping her walk. Gu Qin, do you think your school god is playing you?¡±Stolen story; please report.


    This sentence made Gu Qin completely angry. After returning home, she didn¡¯t speak to Lin Xinxin again. Lin Xinxin, however, was also upset, as she had genuinely wanted the best for her friend, but she hadn¡¯t expected that her friend would prioritize love over friendship. Nevertheless, the two had been friends for three years, and Lin Xinxin couldn¡¯t easily give up their friendship.


    So today, she finally called Gu Qin. After recalling everything, Gu Qin spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s make up, and you can say whatever you want about him in the future.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xinxin on the other end was stunned for a moment, not sure what her friend was thinking. Was she still angry? She cautiously said, ¡°Gu Qin, are you still mad? Don¡¯t worry, I swear I won¡¯t say anything bad about your school god again.¡±


    Gu Qin replied, ¡°It¡¯s really fine, you can say whatever you want. I don¡¯t have anything to do with him anymore.¡±


    ¡°Gu Qin, you¡¯re serious?¡± Lin Xinxin didn¡¯t understand why her friend was suddenly acting this way.


    Gu Qin subconsciously nodded, ¡°Yes, really. He¡¯s not my school god anymore.¡±


    Lin Xinxin cheered, ¡°Gu Qin, that¡¯s great! By the way, I haven¡¯t told you, I¡¯m waiting for you downstairs at your place. Hehe, let¡¯s go shopping!¡±


    Gu Qin laughed, ¡°I¡¯ve moved. Come find me at this address.¡± She then gave her the new address. Lin Xinxin quickly came over and immediately gave Gu Qin a big hug, smiling happily, ¡°Why did you move?¡±


    ¡°My parents got divorced, and I¡¯m living with my mom, so we moved,¡± Gu Qin didn¡¯t hide it.


    ¡°What? What happened?¡± Lin Xinxin asked, but before Gu Qin could answer, Lin Xinxin started talking to herself. ¡°Actually, I think it¡¯s better that your parents divorced. Didn¡¯t you tell me before that your dad was always failing in business? He had high ambitions but didn¡¯t know how to execute, and your mom was the one supporting the family. I just feel like your dad is unreliable. It¡¯s better this way. Anyway, let¡¯s not talk about this. Let¡¯s go shopping!¡± She said as she dragged Gu Qin out.


    When they went out, Lin Xinxin noticed that her friend was still wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt and jeans, and she stared at her in surprise. ¡°Gu Qin, aren¡¯t you hot? Shouldn¡¯t you go back and change your clothes first?¡±


    Gu Qin replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine like this.¡± She had just come to this era and hadn¡¯t gone out much yet, so it was nice to go out with her friend.


    The two of them went to the pedestrian street. Lin Xinxin¡¯s family wasn¡¯t particularly well-off. Her mother was the head nurse at a small hospital, and her father worked in a company. Their combined monthly salary was around fifteen thousand yuan, and they had bought a house in Daishan, paying half the down payment and still owed five thousand in monthly mortgage. Don¡¯t ask Gu Qin how she knew this; Lin Xinxin really told her everything.


    Neither of them had much money. Lin Xinxin had a little, but in a place like this, that wouldn¡¯t buy much. They weren¡¯t planning to buy anything and just wandered around.


    Gu Qin paid attention to the people and stores around her. Her family still owed over four hundred thousand yuan in debt, and she couldn¡¯t ignore it. But how could she make money? Should she go to the antique street and try to find a good deal? In this era, even finding a bargain wasn¡¯t easy. She might spend the whole day and not find anything. Should she try setting up a fortune-telling booth? But she remembered that fortune tellers on the street were always elderly and blind. How would it look if she, a young girl, sat with a bunch of old people?


    She was actually quite accurate at fortune-telling. Should she give it a try?


    Gu Qin was a little distracted, lost in her thoughts, when her phone rang again. It displayed ¡°The person you love the most is calling.¡± Goosebumps rose on her skin. Lin Xinxin also looked over in surprise and widened her eyes, ¡°Gu Qin¡­¡±


    Gu Qin had already answered the phone, saying, ¡°Hello.¡± A gentle, jade-like voice came from the other end, ¡°Gu Qin, where are you? How come you haven¡¯t sent me a text in so long?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not in any relationship. Why should I send you texts every day?¡± Gu Qin replied. ¡°Fu Hanru, let¡¯s not contact each other anymore.¡±


    Fu Hanru on the other end seemed stunned for a moment, and after a while, he lightly laughed. His pleasant voice echoed in Gu Qin¡¯s ears. ¡°Gu Qin, are you angry? Where are you? Let me find you and take you out for dinner. Didn¡¯t you mention before that you wanted to eat crayfish? I know a place with great taste. How about I take you there? But after that, you can¡¯t be mad anymore.¡±


    Gu Qin smiled a little, ¡°Fu Hanru, I really have no relationship with you. Don¡¯t call me anymore.¡±


    Fu Hanru laughed, ¡°Gu Qin, are you mad because I didn¡¯t take you to meet my friends? How about we meet and talk about it? If you want to meet them, I can take you to see them.¡±


    Gu Qin said, ¡°Fu Hanru, what do you think our relationship is?¡± Fu Hanru didn¡¯t answer, so she continued, ¡°Are we dating, or just friends? If we¡¯re just friends, I think there¡¯s no need for us to stay in contact.¡±


    ¡°Gu Qin, what¡¯s wrong with you? Where are you? Let¡¯s meet and talk.¡± Fu Hanru seemed to be a bit anxious now. His voice became heavier. ¡°Gu Qin, listen to me. Let¡¯s meet first, okay?¡±


    Gu Qin thought for a moment and agreed, then gave him the address. She wasn¡¯t interested in this school god anymore, but she thought his strange behavior two years ago when he suddenly started talking to her deserved some clarification, so she wanted to meet in person to figure it out.

 The Shooting Club

    After hanging up the phone, Gu Qin turned around and saw Lin Xinxin glaring at her with a look that seemed a bit disappointed, as if she were trying to say "I told you so." Gu Qin couldn''t help but laugh. "Alright, don''t be mad. I just called him over to explain things clearly. You were right there too, weren''t you? You''ll see soon enough. Don''t worry, he''s not my ''ideal guy'' anymore."


    Lin Xinxin remained skeptical. After all, Gu Qin had been deeply involved for three years, and she found it hard to believe that her friend could give up so quickly. It seemed more like she was playing hard to get. Lin Xinxin turned her face away and refused to talk to Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin didn''t say anything more. She knew that Lin Xinxin would understand once he arrived. They waited for about twenty minutes, and then Fu Hanru arrived. The moment Gu Qin saw him, she had to admit that he had a handsome appearance. Looking at him, she could tell that his bone structure was exceptional, which had resulted in such a good-looking face.


    He was dressed the same as usual, in a crisp white shirt. It was rare to see someone wear a shirt so clean and well-fitting. Gu Qin couldn''t help but think of her brother, Gu Jia, with his thick bangs and Korean-style outfits.


    Fu Hanru had black hair, slightly longer than a buzz cut, but still neatly styled. He was dressed in black casual trousers, and at least 1.8 meters tall. Walking through the bustling shopping street, he attracted many glances. Similarly, he immediately spotted Gu Qin in the crowd. For a moment, he was taken aback, feeling a strange emotion stir inside him. It seemed like the Gu Qin in front of him had changed.


    Her appearance hadn''t changed, but she looked slightly paler, and although her height was the same, she felt different. Fu Hanru stared at her from the crowd, and when their eyes met, he finally understood what had changed¡ªher gaze no longer held the same admiration for him.


    Fu Hanru pursed his lips and walked over. "Qinqin, has something happened?"


    "No," Gu Qin pointed to the coffee shop beside them. "Why don''t we go inside and talk?"


    Fu Hanru remembered that Gu Qin liked spicy food, especially crayfish. Since it was the season for it, he said, "It''s almost noon. Let me take you to have some crayfish nearby. You mentioned before that you wanted to go with me, right?"


    Gu Qin shook her head and entered the coffee shop she had pointed to. The three of them sat inside the coffee shop. Gu Qin sat next to Lin Xinxin, and Fu Hanru sat opposite them. Lin Xinxin glared at him, but Fu Hanru ignored her and gently asked Gu Qin, "Qinqin, what exactly happened? Tell me, I will help you resolve it."


    Gu Qin straightforwardly asked, "Fu Hanru, what do you think our relationship is?"


    Fu Hanru was taken aback by her direct question. After a moment of silence, he answered, "We''re friends."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Okay, then let''s stop seeing each other from now on. Consider today our final goodbye."


    "Qinqin," Fu Hanru frowned slightly, "Do you want to be my girlfriend? But could you wait for me for a while?"


    "I can''t," Gu Qin replied. "The reason I asked you here is to make things clear. No matter what happened before... If you think we''re just ordinary friends, then that''s what we are. From now on, I don''t want to keep in touch with you. Even if you admit that we were in a relationship today, I would still break up with you. To be clearer, I don''t want any kind of connection with you anymore."


    After Gu Qin finished speaking, she continued to stare at Fu Hanru. The scenes from her memory started to shift...


    "Hanru, I''m so scared. The doctor said my heart is failing, and if I don''t get a transplant soon, I will die in less than two years. Hanru, I don''t want to die."


    "Fengyu, don''t worry. It''ll be fine as long as we find a matching heart for the transplant." The handsome young man gently comforted the restless girl.


    "How is that possible?" The girl cried, covering her face. "You know I''m AB negative blood type, and that''s already rare enough. Let alone finding a match with another AB negative blood type. It''s impossible! Even if we find one, it has to be from a brain-dead donor, how likely is that? One in a billion?"A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Fengyu, don''t cry." The boy reassured her, "There will be a way."


    The scene shifted, and in the clean, spacious room, the girl looked at the boy with hopeful eyes, grabbing his shirt collar. "Hanru, my father found someone in Daishan who has the same blood type as me. If I get her heart, I can live on."


    "Is she a brain-dead donor?"


    The girl shook her head. "No, she''s healthy. She goes to Daishan Middle School, in the second year. My father found out that she''s been thinking about you, and for two years, she''s been waiting outside your school just to see you. Hanru, please help me, let her give me her heart. I don''t want to die. Please, help me..."


    The boy was stunned. "Fengyu, but that''s a living person. If she gives you her heart, she won''t survive."


    The girl threw everything off the nightstand, screaming, "Then let her live and let me die! Fu Hanru, are you in love with her? Why else wouldn''t you help me? We''ve grown up together, and I''m still your girlfriend. Are you hoping I die? Fine, I¡¯ll die now. Are you happy?"


    "Fengyu, calm down." The boy looked helpless. "I don''t even know her. Stop thinking like that. We¡¯ll keep looking for another suitable heart."


    "No, I can¡¯t wait! Hanru, will you help me or not?" The girl glared at the boy, her eyes red.


    Gu Qin''s head hurt, and she slumped onto the table. Her energy was depleted, and using her heavenly sight to view events from two years ago was draining, but seeing even this much was enough.


    Both Lin Xinxin and Fu Hanru were startled. Lin Xinxin quickly supported Gu Qin. "Qinqin, what''s wrong?"


    Fu Hanru also stood up in alarm and rushed to her side, reaching out to support her. Gu Qin''s face was as pale as death, and she waved her hand, pushing his hand away. "Don''t touch me. Fu Hanru, I¡¯ve made myself clear. Don''t come to me again." Even though the Fu Hanru in her memory hadn''t agreed, he had eventually gotten close to the original body and had likely agreed to the girl''s request.


    This made everything clear. Two years ago, the girl named Su Lingyu had heart failure and needed a transplant, a rare AB negative blood type. Her family background was excellent, and they had found the match in the original body. They knew that the original body had secretly admired Fu Hanru, so they had hoped Fu Hanru would approach the original and convince her to agree to the transplant.


    Gu Qin remembered that Fu Hanru had said strange things when he was with the original, asking her whether she would be willing to donate her heart if his family needed it, and the blood type matched. The original body had always thought he was joking and had said yes.


    What happened after that, Gu Qin didn''t know, but she suspected that Gu Dad had been bribed, probably by Su Lingyu''s family. Whether they knew this or not, Gu Qin didn''t plan to investigate further. The Su family and the Fu family both had powerful backgrounds, and taking them down was impossible. Moreover, there was no evidence linking them to the plot to buy her heart. So taking them down in public was out of the question, but she had other ways to deal with them. Anyone who tried to harm the original body would not get away with it. This was the only thing she could do for the original.


    Of course, Gu Qin couldn''t tell Fu Hanru that she knew everything. If she did, it would be exposed, which wouldn''t benefit her or her mother or brother. She wasn¡¯t impulsive; everything would be handled in due time.


    Gu Qin closed her eyes to absorb some energy from the environment, her complexion gradually improving. She slowly stood up and, without glancing at Fu Hanru, allowed Lin Xinxin to support her out of the coffee shop.


    Fu Hanru stood in place for a long time.


    Lin Xinxin supported Gu Qin into a taxi, and they headed back to the Gu family. Inside the taxi, Lin Xinxin was deeply concerned. "Qinqin, you really should go to the hospital. You looked so pale just now. I''m really worried about you." It was then that she fully believed Gu Qin had no feelings for Fu Hanru anymore.


    "I''m fine, don¡¯t worry," Gu Qin replied, resting her head back against the seat. Lin Xinxin didn''t dare to bother her anymore.


    When they arrived at the Gu family home, there was no one there. Lin Xinxin, not feeling at ease, decided to stay and take care of Gu Qin. She told her to rest in her room and, after closing the door, went out to buy a chicken to make soup for Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t sleep but simply rested. Her energy was still low, but after meditating and absorbing some energy for two hours, she rested for another hour. The smell of the soup soon woke her up. She got up and walked to the living room, where Lin Xinxin was adding salt to the pot. Seeing Gu Qin come out with a much healthier complexion, Lin Xinxin smiled. "Sit down and watch some TV. The chicken soup will be ready soon."


    Gu Qin knew how to cook, but Lin Xinxin''s skills were much better. They had often bought ingredients together and cooked for themselves in the past.


    The chicken soup, made with a whole hen and mushrooms, was incredibly delicious. Gu Qin had two bowls, and Lin Xinxin had one. There was still plenty left, and Gu Qin asked her to take half of it back. Some was also left for Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Jia.


    During these days, Gu Yuanjiang had also been struggling. While he was used to being served by Cheng Yinxiang, who took care of everything, now that he was alone after the divorce, he had to deal with the debts of more than 500,000 yuan. He often had to hide from debt collectors, living on instant noodles and only eating when he could. The day after the divorce, he had fallen and hurt his left leg badly, which was diagnosed as a fracture, and he had to stay in the hospital for treatment. He called Gu¡¯s mother to come take care of him, but he didn¡¯t mention the issues surrounding the heart-selling scandal. Instead, he told her that Cheng Yinxiang was on a business trip.

 Lin Xinxins Obsession

    Gu Laoma''s name is Luo Wenfen, and Gu Yuanjiang is her youngest son, so she usually dotes on him more. Gu Yuanjiang has an older brother, an older sister, and a younger sister. Luo Wenfen had been taking care of him for half a month but was starting to feel impatient. She complained to Gu Yuanjiang, "What¡¯s wrong with your wife? The man¡¯s still in the hospital, is work more important than you? Hurry up and call her back to take care of you. I¡¯ve got things to do and can¡¯t keep staying here looking after you."


    "She¡¯s on a business trip, didn¡¯t I tell you?" Gu Yuanjiang was also irritated. Things hadn''t been going well lately, and he had been feeling cold and unwell for days. He had been having nightmares and waking up in the middle of the night. He had lost a lot of weight in just a few days.


    Luo Wenfen said, "How much can she earn at work? Didn¡¯t you say your business is starting to make money? Why not just have her quit her job and stay home to take care of you and Jia Jia? Jia Jia is about to enter high school; she needs someone to look after her."


    "Enough, stop talking. I need to rest." Gu Yuanjiang was becoming more irritable. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell Luo Wenfen that his business had failed. Half of the money he invested in the business was borrowed from her.


    "Alright, alright, I won¡¯t say anymore," Luo Wenfen said, pretending to be understanding. But once she turned around, she went to the hallway and called her daughter-in-law. When the call connected, she immediately started scolding, "Cheng Yinxiang, what¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t you know your husband has broken his leg? Yuanjiang¡¯s business was starting to make money, and you¡¯re still working? I think you should just come back and take care of Yuanjiang and Jia Jia, who¡¯s about to enter high school..."


    On the other end of the phone, Cheng Yinxiang laughed a little. "Mom, didn¡¯t Gu Yuanjiang tell you that we got divorced a while ago? His business failed, and the debts were split. The two kids are now living with me," she said, then hung up the phone with a click. Luo Wenfen stood still for a moment.


    After a while, Luo Wenfen¡¯s face turned pale as she returned to the hospital room. "Yuanjiang, I just called your wife, and she said you two have already divorced. She also said your business failed. What¡¯s going on?"


    Gu Yuanjiang¡¯s face turned black. "That¡¯s right, my business failed, so we got divorced."


    Luo Wenfen scolded, "What¡¯s wrong with your wife? She¡¯s leaving just because the business failed! I¡¯m going to call her and scold her again. And the kids¡ªwhy did you let Jia Jia stay with her? Even Qin Qin doesn¡¯t have anything to do with her. Why let Jia Jia go to her..."


    "Mom, enough already." Gu Yuanjiang was feeling more and more frustrated. "Don¡¯t get involved in this. I¡¯m almost better. You go ahead and take care of my discharge paperwork."


    After hanging up the phone, Cheng Yinxiang was still a little dazed, staring out the window. She and Gu Yuanjiang had been in a love marriage. Back then, the Cheng family and the Gu family both lived in the outskirts of Daishan City. Later, Cheng¡¯s father decided to move to Liangping City in the neighboring province, and the Cheng family moved there as well.


    At that time, Gu Yuanjiang was gentle and well-mannered, and he was good to her. But after marriage, things changed. They lived with the Gu family in a large house. The whole family lived together: the married older brother, the unmarried younger sister, and the rest of them, making it a very lively household. When she married into the Gu family, she did everything, including washing her sister-in-law¡¯s clothes. If she didn¡¯t do it well, Luo Wenfen would scold her.


    Every year during the New Year, Luo Wenfen wouldn¡¯t let her return to her own family. She said that once she married into the Gu family, she was a member of the Gu family¡ªalive or dead. She could never go back to her own family during the New Year. So, for all these years, she had never returned to her own family during the New Year. She could only visit after the holiday. Even then, Luo Wenfen was dissatisfied and complained constantly.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    She felt wronged and told Gu Yuanjiang about it, but his response was no different from his mother¡¯s. He told her that since she married into the Gu family, she shouldn¡¯t keep thinking about her own family.


    Later on, she realized that Gu Yuanjiang was arrogant and had a macho mindset. Eventually, they moved out of the Gu family¡¯s large house. They built a small two-story house in the outskirts of Ningshui, though the land still belonged to the Gu family, so the house was registered under her mother-in-law¡¯s name. Gu Yuanjiang¡¯s father had long passed, and the money to build the house was saved by Cheng Yinxiang through her hard work.


    Cheng Yinxiang felt like she had been humiliated for so many years, and she couldn¡¯t continue living like this. For the sake of Qin Qin, she knew she could no longer allow herself to be bullied by the Gu family.


    Gu Qin wanted to help her family, but she couldn¡¯t do much else. She was under eighteen and couldn¡¯t get a part-time job. Even if she tried, the pay was too low. So, she decided to try her luck in another way. The next day, she went to the antique street, but none of the antique stalls had real items; everything was fake. Even the antique shops had some real items, but their prices were too high, and she couldn¡¯t make much profit by reselling them. The shop also mixed in a lot of fake items.


    It seemed there was no way to get lucky with antiques, and she didn¡¯t know any other fast ways to make money. The only option left was fortune-telling. In her previous life, her master had a great reputation, so she started with a high starting point. People knew she was his disciple, and they came to her for face reading, feng shui, and grave site consultations. Her readings were accurate, and her reputation grew. Over time, people stopped referring to her as "Master¡¯s disciple" and simply called her "Master Gu Qin."


    In her past life, she had followed her master¡¯s surname, Gu.


    Gu Qin also knew two royal tombs. One of them was discovered when her master found it during a feng shui consultation, and the other was a tomb the emperor had sought her out to find after her master passed away. Imperial tombs always had distinguishing features. These two tombs seemed to remain undiscovered, and whatever was inside must be worth a fortune. However, attempting to enter them would be illegal, and she didn¡¯t have the strength to do so yet. Therefore, she had to give up on this idea.


    It seemed her only option was to go back to her old profession and become a feng shui master.


    A feng shui master needed to be skilled at fortune-telling. Fortune-telling was essentially the art of predicting one¡¯s fate, using one¡¯s birth date and time and the five elements. In simple terms, it¡¯s about predicting the major events in a person¡¯s life¡ªwhat has already happened and what will happen in the future. Of course, it isn¡¯t as detailed as clairvoyance; it only offers a rough idea, especially about important events.


    The most famous methods for fortune-telling include the Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi) and Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology). The Four Pillars of Destiny relies on the ten heavenly stems, twelve earthly branches, and the five elements to predict one¡¯s luck and misfortune. Zi Wei Dou Shu uses constellations in combination with twelve palaces to predict a person¡¯s fate. There are other methods too, but these two are the most well-known and widely used. Gu Qin usually used the Four Pillars of Destiny.


    Furthermore, skilled feng shui masters must also be able to do face reading, palmistry, bone reading, and mole reading. As for feng shui, they must be adept at both residential and burial site feng shui. Real feng shui masters could easily use the feng shui of living or dead spaces to help or harm others.


    Finally, a feng shui master must also know divination. This evolved from the ancient art of Zhou Yi, using methods like tortoiseshells, coins, bamboo sticks, paper slips, or astrology to predict future events. Many books cover this, such as "Meihua Yishu," "Najia Duanyi," "Liuren Shenke," "Taiyi Shenshu," and "Qimen Dunjia." Some schools even include prophetic dreams, dream interpretation, and numerology in their divination practices.


    Gu Qin knew all of these, though she didn¡¯t plan to use her clairvoyant abilities frequently. For her, fortune-telling with birth dates and face reading was enough to help others.


    Gu Qin vaguely remembered there was a large bridge in Daishan City, and underneath it were many fortune-telling booths. The locals all knew where the fortune tellers gathered, though they could only be called fortune tellers and not true feng shui masters. Gu Qin, with no reputation now, had to start from scratch.

 The Sleeve Cudgel

    There are many fortune-telling stalls under the bridge in Daishan, but none of them are famous. The more well-known fortune tellers in Daishan can only be called fortune tellers, not feng shui masters. They all have their own shops, usually located in quiet alleys. Why not set up in the busy market? Gu Qin thought it might be because such locations give off an air of masterly prestige.


    Since Gu Qin decided to start small and set up a fortune-telling stall, she had the skills to read faces, analyze palmistry, fortune-tell, and cast horoscopes. So she needed to prepare her tools. For fortune-telling, all she needed were a person¡¯s birthdate and some paper and pen to calculate the chart. For divination, she preferred using the Six Lines and the Eight Trigrams, and for this, copper coins were enough¡ªthree coins in total. Ideally, the coins should be ones that have been nourished by the vitality of heaven and earth, but such coins are rare. She went to the antique market and bought three ordinary Qianlong copper coins.


    With everything prepared, Gu Qin didn¡¯t waste time. There was about a month before school started, and she hoped to make some money in this period.


    Her stall was simple. On a white piece of paper, she wrote "Feng Shui Master" in large characters, unlike other stalls that offered face reading, fortune-telling, naming, marriage advice, or even ¡°curing extramarital affairs.¡± She only had a pen, a stack of paper, and three copper coins. She had completely memorized the "I Ching" and didn¡¯t need to bring it along.


    The next morning, after returning from Daishan, Cheng Yinxiang had already gone to work, and Gu Jia had gone for extra classes. Gu Qin put everything in a small bag, carried it on her back, and rode her bike to the bridge. The location she rented was a bit far from the bridge, and it took nearly an hour to get there.


    The bridge was actually a pedestrian overpass, not in a secluded spot, but in a busy area with lots of foot traffic. Apart from fortune-tellers, there were other small stalls selling curious knick-knacks.


    After arriving, Gu Qin locked her bike at the bike rack beneath the bridge and then carried her small bag up to the overpass. There were many available spots, and she found a place to sit. She opened the bag, took out the paper with "Feng Shui Master" written on it, and spread it out.


    Sitting cross-legged in a standard meditation posture, the other stall owners quickly noticed her. They stared at her for a while, and when they saw the four large characters in front of her, they looked at each other with strange expressions. When did young girls start pretending to be yellow shamans and conning people? She was so young¡ªwho would come to her stall for fortune-telling? And on top of that, her stall had the bold title "Feng Shui Master," such arrogance.


    A young man selling small trinkets nearby couldn¡¯t help but speak up. "Little sister, are you here to tell fortunes? How much do you charge?"


    Gu Qin glanced at him and said solemnly, "Pure fortune-telling, six hundred."


    The young man chuckled. "Little sister, are you joking? Do you know how much Liu Banxian charges for his fortune-telling? He¡¯s good and accurate, and he only charges one hundred for pure fortune-telling. How dare you ask for six hundred?"


    "You''re twenty-five this year. Your mother passed away, and your father is seriously ill, not just a small illness. You have two older brothers and a younger sister. Both of your brothers are useless¡ªthey don¡¯t care for your sick father, and all the money for his treatment comes from you, but it¡¯s still far from enough. Your younger sister has a good heart, but her meager salary clearly isn¡¯t enough," Gu Qin said, glancing at the young man''s stall.


    The young man was dumbfounded, his hair standing on end. "How... How did you know?" Everything about his family situation was exactly as she described.


    Gu Qin continued, "Just from your face, I can tell all that. Now tell me, is six hundred too expensive?"


    The young man felt a chill run down his spine. This girl couldn¡¯t be just pretending¡ªshe was so young, yet so knowledgeable about fortune-telling. He had gone to Liu Banxian before, and some of what he said was right, but some of it was vague. There was no way this little girl could know so much. She couldn¡¯t have known about his family, could she? But he had never met her before.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Gu Qin then looked at the young man¡¯s stall again and sighed. "I can also tell that you''re going to lose money today, and it¡¯s going to be a big loss."


    "What do you mean?" The young man was confused.


    Just then, a customer walked up and squatted down in front of his stall, picking up a rusty iron vessel that looked like an antique wine container. The thing was so dirty, covered with mud, and he had been selling it for half a month without anyone even glancing at it. But now, a customer was showing interest. He didn¡¯t care to respond to Gu Qin and immediately greeted the customer. "If you want it, you can take it for one hundred."


    The customer hesitated. "It¡¯s so dirty. I¡¯ll give you fifty."


    The young man refused to lower the price. "One hundred¡­"


    "One hundred is too much. I was just thinking it might make a nice retro vase for flowers. My daughter likes retro stuff¡­" The customer was still hesitating. Gu Qin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. "Don¡¯t sell this thing."


    Both the customer and the young man looked at Gu Qin. The young man hesitated. "Little girl, what do you mean by that?"


    The customer was getting impatient. "Just sell it or not? If you want one hundred, forget it. I won¡¯t buy."


    Gu Qin pointed at the rusty vessel. "You should clean it up. Don¡¯t use a brush¡ªjust wash off the mud. Then take it to the antique stores on the antique street."


    "Ah? What?" The young man¡¯s jaw dropped, his ears ringing in disbelief.


    Gu Qin said, "This should be a bronze wine vessel, something like a bronze goblet. It looks like an ancient bronze piece with taotie patterns, and its value should be around a million." She had noticed its faint aura when she first arrived and recognized it as an item from the Zhou Shang period. She had been planning to check out the antique street to find bargains, and she had studied some materials online about ancient bronzes.


    The young man stared at Gu Qin for a long time before reacting. "Little¡­ little girl, you¡¯re lying, right?"


    Gu Qin replied, "You can go and try it. Remember, don¡¯t sell it for less than a million, or you¡¯ll regret it."


    The young man stared at her for a long time, then finally packed up his things and decided to go and try it. His father¡¯s cancer was costing a lot, and the local hospital only provided minimal insurance, which wasn¡¯t enough. They had borrowed over two hundred thousand from relatives and sold their old house for another twenty, but it still wasn¡¯t enough. His father was still undergoing chemotherapy, and although the doctors said the situation was improving, they would need expensive foreign medication for maintenance, costing thousands each month. If this object turned out to be valuable, it could help with the medical bills and the debts.


    When the young man left, many of the other stall owners on the bridge cast curious glances at Gu Qin. They had all heard what she had said just now. This little girl certainly knew how to fool people, and one of them couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "Little girl, you¡¯re quite the con artist. Aren¡¯t you afraid that guy will come back and beat you up?"


    Gu Qin remained serious. "I¡¯m not conning anyone." With that, she didn¡¯t want to talk to them any longer. She crossed her legs, placed her hands on her knees, and closed her eyes.


    The young man who had just left was named Fan Cheng. He hurried home, threw the item into his room, and quickly washed off the mud. The patina revealed traces of rust, and when he saw the piece clean, he still didn¡¯t recognize it as an antique, having no knowledge of antiques. He had only kept it for a few years after picking it up from a junkyard, but now he thought, if it was really worth that much, he could cover his father¡¯s medical expenses and debts.


    After a few minutes of hesitation, Fan Cheng finally decided to take it to the antique street. If it was really an antique, his father¡¯s medical bills and their debts could be solved.


    He went straight to the largest antique store, "Zhenbao Zhai," where there was an old man and a young man lounging in a rattan chair.


    Fan Cheng put the item on the counter and asked the old man, "Do you buy this?"


    The old man glanced at him, then at the bronze vessel, surprised for a moment before saying nonchalantly, "This is a replica of a bronze goblet from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, made very well. The shape is a wide flared mouth, thin body, with taotie patterns. It¡¯s quite a decent reproduction. If you¡¯re selling, I¡¯ll give you one thousand yuan for it."


    Is it really a bronze goblet? Fan Cheng bit his lip. The little girl was right, but how come this man said it was a fake? He thought about that mysterious little girl and felt that this old man was


    probably trying to deceive him. He had no knowledge of these things, so he said directly, "Give me one million, and it¡¯s yours."


    The young man lying in the rattan chair finally lifted his head and glanced at Fan Cheng without saying a word. The old man smiled and said, "You¡¯re a young man, and you¡¯re asking for one million for this? One thousand yuan is already a good offer. If you don¡¯t believe me, go ask around, no one will pay you more than that. Five hundred would be a good price."

 The Auction Night

    The old man noticed Fan Cheng staring at him without speaking and asked, "Young man, are you selling this item or not? I¡¯ll give you ten thousand, which is already a generous offer. If you don¡¯t believe me, go ask next door.""This item¡¯s market price is around one million, old man. Don¡¯t try to fool me," Fan Cheng was certain he wouldn¡¯t easily believe the old man in front of him. The little girl had told him that this was a bronze item, and the old man also said it was, but claimed it was a replica. Either way, he was more inclined to trust the little girl.The old man laughed, "You know about this? I¡¯ve been in the antique street for twenty years, and I¡¯ve never been wrong."Fan Cheng smiled, "Well, forget it then. Since you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll ask around. If no one offers a reasonable price, I¡¯ll just keep it as a collection. Someday, I¡¯ll find the right person." With that, he quickly wrapped up the bronze vessel and was about to leave.The old man grew a bit anxious. Most people he encountered were easy to deceive, and he could tell that this young man didn¡¯t know anything about antiques. How could he be so sure that this item was genuine? And to top it off, he had also guessed the price perfectly. If it was bought for one million, he wouldn¡¯t be losing anything, and could even sell it for around one hundred twenty thousand at an auction, or even up to one hundred fifty thousand. He could make a profit, but he was reluctant to let go. How could someone who knew nothing about antiques be so hard to fool?"Hey, hey, wait a moment, young man," the old man finally called out. He could tell that the young man wasn¡¯t joking.Fan Cheng turned back, "So, are you buying it or not?"The old man sighed, "Alright, come here, let¡¯s have a proper discussion."Fan Cheng said, "If you don¡¯t give me a reasonable price, there¡¯s no point in talking."The old man laughed bitterly, "You¡¯re a tough one, huh? Fine, come here. I¡¯ll definitely give you a fair price."Fan Cheng felt a bit uneasy, but seeing that the old man had softened, he knew the item was indeed genuine, just like the little girl had said.Fan Cheng placed the item back on the counter, and the old man carefully examined it, using a magnifying glass to inspect it. In his heart, he thought, "Not bad, perfect condition, no damage. This is indeed a genuine item worth the price." Of course, he knew that in business, you couldn¡¯t be too honest.The old man said, "Young man, you probably don¡¯t understand antiques, right? Can you tell me why you¡¯re so sure this item is worth one million?""Someone told me that this bronze vessel with taotie patterns is genuine," Fan Cheng replied, not hiding anything.The old man was curious, "Did your family tell you this?"Fan Cheng shook his head, "It was a stranger."The old man was even more puzzled. In this day and age, there were people like that¡ªmeeting a priceless antique and not trying to deceive anyone, but instead telling the young man the true value and letting him sell it? He found it strange. Then, Fan Cheng continued, "She¡¯s a very good person. We met only once. This item was almost bought by someone else, but she told me not to sell it.""Old man, are you buying it or not?" Fan Cheng asked again."Alright, alright, I¡¯ll buy it. One million, I¡¯ll give you that," the old man said, wondering how he could lower the price a bit.Fan Cheng repeated, "I told you, this item is worth one million. If you offer less, I won¡¯t sell it."The old man sighed, "Alright, one million it is. But who is this wise person who told you this price? I really don¡¯t have any profit from this. What¡¯s your bank account number? I¡¯ll transfer the money directly."Fan Cheng provided his account number, and the old man began the transfer. When Fan Cheng heard the message notification on his phone and saw the six zeros, his heart started racing. The money had been transferred. Fan Cheng was about to leave.The old man hurriedly called out to him, "Young man, who is this kind person? Can you introduce me to them? Anyone who can recognize that this item is genuine and knows it¡¯s worth one million must be highly skilled, and they seem like a good person. I¡¯d love to make their acquaintance."Fan Cheng shook his head, "I don¡¯t really know her. I just know she¡¯s a¡­ fortune teller." He remembered the large characters written on the stall. "She¡¯s a feng shui master, and she sets up a stall at the Wufu Overpass.""Ah," the old man was stunned for a moment. He knew the Wufu Overpass well, it was a gathering place for fortune tellers, but they were mostly old, blind men who just fooled people. He was left speechless. Could it be that this young man had been deceiving him from the start? A kind person telling him that this item was genuine and worth one million, and it turned out to be from a feng shui master, a little girl? Who was he fooling? The old man felt ridiculous, realizing he had been duped by a young man.The young man in the rattan chair didn¡¯t care at all, just flipped over and continued sleeping. The old man sighed, thinking that the shop might not last much longer if the young master didn¡¯t care.After leaving, Fan Cheng was still full of excitement, his head in a daze. The little girl had warned him about the financial loss. If it weren¡¯t for her, he would have sold the item to the customer who offered fifty yuan. He had been trying to sell it for half a month, and no one had shown interest. At the time, fifty yuan seemed like a good deal. If it weren¡¯t for the little girl¡¯s reminder, he would have lost a fortune.He wasn¡¯t a dishonest person. Since the little girl had helped him out, even though she hadn¡¯t asked for any payment, he decided to give her something in return. He calculated his expenses: twenty thousand to pay back relatives, twenty thousand for his father¡¯s chemotherapy, and another twenty thousand for a house for his father to retire in. The remaining forty thousand would cover his father¡¯s medication, and with that, he and his sister could manage for two more years. The doctor had said that after two years, his father¡¯s condition might stabilize, and they wouldn¡¯t need expensive medication anymore. He could keep ninety thousand, and the remaining ten thousand would be given to the little girl as a reward.Fan Cheng was so excited that he immediately went to the bank, withdrew ten thousand yuan, and took a taxi to the Wufu Overpass. The little girl was still there, her stall unchanged. She was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed. As soon as Fan Cheng arrived, she opened her eyes."Did you sell it?" she asked."I did," Fan Cheng nodded excitedly. "Just like you said, it sold for exactly one million." He then pulled out a thick stack of money wrapped in a black bag and said, "Sister, thank you so much. If it weren¡¯t for you, my father¡¯s illness, and me and my sister, we were about to give up. You saved my father¡¯s life. I really don¡¯t know how to thank you."He handed her ten thousand yuan.Gu Qin took five thousand and returned the other five thousand to Fan Cheng. "Five percent is enough. Do more good deeds. I¡¯ll help you avert a calamity, and the karmic retribution will fall on me. If you do more good deeds, the consequences will be lighter for me."Fan Cheng was stunned. Seeing Gu Qin¡¯s serious expression, he didn¡¯t think she was joking. He quickly nodded, "Master, I understand." From the little girl to now calling her "Master," Fan Cheng completely believed that this young girl was a remarkable feng shui master."Master, I¡¯ll leave now," he said. Suddenly, he felt a bit uneasy. He hadn¡¯t thought about it before, but now that he noticed, she was just a young girl, and she had put five thousand yuan into her small bag in front of so many people. What if someone took notice?"Master, would you like me to go with you and put the money in a bank account? It¡¯s too crowded here, and if someone notices, it could be a problem."Gu Qin thought for a moment. "Then you can help me deposit it into an account," she said. She didn¡¯t have a card yet, but she remembered Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s card number.Fan Cheng went to the bank, and after finishing his errands, he headed straight to the hospital.After Fan Cheng left, Gu Qin looked at the sky. It was still early, and although it was cloudy, there wasn¡¯t much sunlight. She continued to sit cross-legged with her eyes closed.Everyone walking by the Wufu Overpass could see a young girl sitting in front of a feng shui stall with her legs crossed. It looked odd to them. There was a temple nearby, so many people knew that the Wufu Overpass was home to many fortune tellers, but they had never seen such a young girl. Some young people thought it was amusing and even took a few photos ofThe genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Gu Qin with their phones.These photos later appeared in a popular forum under the entertainment section. A post titled "[Entertainment Gossip] Cute Girl Pretends to Be a Feng Shui Master. Today''s Scammers Are So Unprofessional" was uploaded with Gu Qin¡¯s picture.Such posts didn¡¯t attract much attention on the forum. Most people were more interested in other gossip. The post quickly sank to the second page with only a few comments on Gu Qin¡¯s appearance."Her features aren¡¯t bad, though her clothes are a bit old-fashioned. I¡¯d give her an eight.""How can she be cute? She¡¯s probably just a little girl with her eyes closed. Maybe her eyes are small and slanted when she opens them. She only deserves four points.""How could her eyes be slanted? You can see the double eyelid fold in the photo above. That¡¯s a natural double eyelid.""Maybe she got eyelid surgery.""Didn¡¯t see any scarring from surgery. Honestly, this photo is pretty clear. Couldn¡¯t it be a publicity stunt?"In the end, the post got only a few replies and faded away.Gu Qin, of course, didn¡¯t know about this. She stayed for another two hours, but no one came to ask her for a reading. On the other hand, the other fortune-tellers at the bridge had quite a few customers.After two hours, she stood up, and the other vendors couldn¡¯t help but comment, "This little girl is so strange, all mystical and cryptic. Who knows if she really has any skills or if she¡¯s just playing a scam."Another vendor said, "She¡¯s definitely a scam. A young girl like that can¡¯t possibly know anything. Liu Banxian has been around for years before he started gaining any reputation, but this girl is trying to take shortcuts."After all, the situation seemed too coincidental. Fan Cheng had only been there for half a month, and Gu Qin had come in and immediately figured out everything about the antique and its value. They just couldn¡¯t believe she wasn¡¯t working with Fan Cheng. If she truly had the knowledge, why not just quietly take the antique for herself? Why would she tell him about it so openly? They didn¡¯t believe that this girl had real abilities.Gu Qin didn¡¯t mind what they thought. If she had true skills, time would tell. She went back home and cooked some noodles, ate them, then studied for her afternoon lessons. At five o¡¯clock, she prepared dinner, fried three dishes, and heard a knock on the door. She opened it, only to be stunned when she saw who was standing outside.

 The Mysterious Mr. Qin

    The person standing outside the door was Gu Qin''s grandmother, Luo Wenfen. As soon as Gu Qin remembered her, several words came to mind: favoritism toward sons, mistreatment of her mother, unreasonable fussing. Gu Qin fell silent for a moment before calling out, "Grandma."


    Behind Luo Wenfen were a few people whom Gu Qin didn¡¯t recognize, so she didn¡¯t greet them. Luo Wenfen glanced into the room and asked, "Where¡¯s your mom?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Mom¡¯s at work. Is there something you need, Grandma?"


    Luo Wenfen squeezed past Gu Qin into the room, and the people behind her followed suit. Gu Qin closed the door and followed them inside. Luo Wenfen looked around at the tidy house, but her thoughts quickly turned to her son, who had just been discharged from the hospital a few days ago. He was now alone at home, and the house was in a mess, which annoyed her. She couldn¡¯t help but start lecturing Gu Qin, "What¡¯s your mom thinking? Yuanjiang¡¯s business failed, and she rushed to get a divorce? Is this the kind of person your mom is? Has she found someone else? She secretly rented a place, and I had to ask around for two or three days before I found you. What¡¯s going on with your mom?"


    Gu Qin asked, "Does Grandma not know the specific reason for Mom and Dad''s divorce?"


    Luo Wenfen shouted, "What other reason could there be? Your mom couldn¡¯t stand the hardships, seeing your dad drowning in debt, so she just divorced him, didn¡¯t she?"


    "Did Dad tell you that?" Gu Qin asked. When Luo Wenfen fell silent, Gu Qin understood that her dad only told her that they divorced, but didn¡¯t explain why. She continued, "There is a reason for their divorce. Even though they divorced, the debt was split evenly, so Grandma, please don¡¯t make assumptions."


    Luo Wenfen didn¡¯t know the full details. When she asked her son, he never shared much, and when pushed, he just got angry. So she speculated wildly, and then, with the relatives coming to collect debts, she searched for Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s whereabouts and brought them over. Seeing her granddaughter acting differently from before, Luo Wenfen got anxious and said, "What other reason could there be? Your mom couldn¡¯t handle the hardships, and that¡¯s why she divorced."


    Gu Qin smiled, "Dad¡¯s business failed, and he even pressured me to donate a kidney and sell my heart to pay off the debt. Mom said that he would even sell his own daughter for money, so she divorced him. Don¡¯t worry, Grandma, Mom and Dad split the debt, and they made sure not to take anything from the Gu family. The house back home was built with Mom¡¯s savings over ten years, and she didn¡¯t intend to fight for it. Mom and Dad spent all these years together without enjoying life. She worked hard her whole life. If Dad hadn¡¯t gone too far, she wouldn¡¯t have divorced him, so please don¡¯t blame Mom."


    Luo Wenfen was dumbfounded. There were these details, and now her relatives behind her were hearing it too. If this got out, it would tarnish Yuanjiang¡¯s reputation. "You little girl, what nonsense are you talking? How could your dad be that kind of person?" She turned to look at the relatives behind her, who seemed to be half-convinced, and she grew even more anxious.


    Gu Qin nodded, "Dad is exactly that kind of person."


    "You little brat!" Luo Wenfen was furious. She raised her hand to slap Gu Qin, but Gu Qin stepped aside slightly, moved her fingers a little, and murmured a few words. The voice was so soft that no one heard it.


    Luo Wenfen felt dizzy and blacked out just before her slap landed. By the time she regained her senses, she was lying on the floor. It took her a few seconds to snap back to reality, and when her vision cleared, she realized the relatives had already helped her sit on the sofa. Her head was pounding, and when she touched her forehead, she found a large bump forming.


    What happened? Luo Wenfen thought she might have fallen ill. She had always been in good health, even working in the garden without any issues. How could she suddenly faint?Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Little did she know that her granddaughter was responsible for what had happened. Over the past 20 days, Gu Qin had been diligently practicing at Daishan and had now learned to guide her Qi into her body. The body was responding to the cultivation quickly. In her past life, it had taken her three months to do so.


    When Qi enters the body, one gains the ability to perform simple magical techniques. What Gu Qin did was draw out Luo Wenfen¡¯s Yang energy. In the human body, Yin and Yang energy are balanced, and if Yang energy is lost, the body will face problems. Gu Qin¡¯s current cultivation was still limited, so she could only perform simple spells, which meant she could only temporarily extract the Yang energy from Luo Wenfen. Therefore, fainting was a normal consequence.


    Qi, however, is not the same as Yin or Yang energy. The human body has Yin and Yang energies, but not Qi. Qi is a spiritual energy from nature, and to guide Qi into the body, one must cultivate.


    Luo Wenfen, still concerned about her health, was startled when the living room door opened. Gu Jia entered, wearing a backpack. Upon seeing Luo Wenfen, he simply called out, "Grandma."


    Luo Wenfen, who favored her son¡¯s son more, felt wronged when she saw Gu Jia. "Jia Jia, what¡¯s going on with your mom? Your mom clearly divorced your dad because she couldn¡¯t stand his business failure, and now this little girl is insulting your dad, saying he wanted to sell her heart."


    Gu Jia remained silent as he threw his backpack on the sofa. Luo Wenfen grew anxious, "Jia Jia, your dad¡¯s been so good to you. If you wanted a new phone or a new laptop, he¡¯d buy it without a second thought. And now, you¡¯re letting your sister slander your dad?"


    Gu Jia finally raised his head and glanced at Luo Wenfen, "Dad gave me the money to buy things, but it was all Mom¡¯s salary. What Gu Qin said is all true."


    Luo Wenfen was stunned.


    The door made a sound as Cheng Yinxiang returned home. Luo Wenfen immediately stood up. Cheng Yinxiang wasn¡¯t surprised and asked Gu Qin and Gu Jia to go back to their rooms. As Gu Qin passed by, she whispered in Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s ear, "Mom, if someone comes to collect the debt later, there¡¯s 50,000 yuan in your card, which I earned today. You can use it in an emergency."


    Cheng Yinxiang opened her mouth as if to ask something, but seeing Luo Wenfen still there, she could only nod.


    After Gu Qin returned to her room, about ten minutes later, she heard Cheng Yinxiang leave the house. She was probably going to withdraw money nearby.


    Half an hour later, Cheng Yinxiang came back and entered Gu Qin¡¯s room. "Qin Qin, how did you get this 50,000 yuan?"


    "Mom, I went out and set up a stall today," Gu Qin didn¡¯t hide anything and told her everything that had happened. Cheng Yinxiang was stunned. She had thought the 20,000 yuan reward was just a coincidence. She never imagined her daughter really knew fortune-telling and considered herself a feng shui master.


    "Qin Qin, who did you learn this from? Isn¡¯t this just a scam?" Such mysterious things, few people would believe them.


    Gu Qin responded seriously, "Mom, I can¡¯t tell you who I learned this from. But this is not a scam. Maybe some people are frauds, but I won¡¯t deceive anyone."


    Cheng Yinxiang wanted to say something but didn¡¯t know where to begin. In the end, she sighed and said, "I¡¯m not going to force you to do anything, but I hope you stay safe. I won¡¯t interfere with what you want to do, but you need to remember, you¡¯re still a student, so focus on your studies. Got it?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "I study every day, and I review my lessons in the afternoon at home. Don¡¯t worry, Mom." After a pause, she asked, "Mom, is everything settled with Grandma?"


    Cheng Yinxiang nodded, "I¡¯ve clarified everything with Grandma. The debt is divided fairly, and it¡¯s clearly written in the contract. I will repay what¡¯s owed, but I won¡¯t take responsibility for any debt that isn¡¯t listed. Your grandmother got scared and won¡¯t cause any more trouble, especially since it would harm her son¡¯s reputation. I¡¯ve completely cut ties with her."


    The mother and daughter continued talking before going out for dinner. Looking at the food on the table, Cheng Yinxiang felt a bit sorry for Gu Qin. "Qin Qin, you¡¯ve been so busy every day and still have to review your lessons. You don¡¯t need to cook anymore. I¡¯ll do it when I get home."


    Gu Qin smiled, "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll have it ready in a bit."


    During dinner, Gu Jia didn¡¯t say a word. Ever since their parents¡¯ divorce, he had become more silent, speaking little to either Cheng Yinxiang or Gu Qin. Gu Qin understood that her brother was struggling to accept their dad¡¯s heartlessness. Though Dad had never been reliable, he had been good to Gu Jia, and it was normal for Gu Jia to have difficulty moving past that.


    The next day, Gu Qin followed her usual routine: two hours of cultivation at Daishan, returning home by 7 am,


    then practicing standing for an hour before having breakfast and heading to Wufu Bridge. For the next few days, no one visited her stall.


    Unbeknownst to Gu Qin, someone had taken notice.

 The Yin Sha Energy

    Since Zhao Chongshan was saved by Gu Qin, he had become much more sensible. He no longer played games all the time and even helped his mother, Zhao Lingxia, manage their inn. During the day, he would review his studies. After the incident, he had really opened his eyes. Spending all day playing games was a waste of life. He had narrowly escaped death, so now he needed to accomplish something meaningful. Being young, he decided to focus on his studies first, and he wasn¡¯t stupid.


    He graduated from high school this year. Previously, he hadn¡¯t taken his studies seriously and applied for a university without thinking. He hadn¡¯t planned to go, wanting instead to repeat a year and take the university entrance exam again next year to get into a better university. His family supported this decision. However, he still took an hour or two every day to browse the internet, mostly to read the news or check out forums.


    In his free time, he liked to browse the Tianya forum. He usually just looked around randomly at posts, whether about economics, international news, entertainment gossip, or ghost stories. Today, while randomly scrolling, he saw a post titled "Cute Girl Pretends to Be a Feng Shui Master to Tell Fortunes on the Street, the New Generation of Scammers Are So Unprofessional."


    Normally, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered reading such posts, but since Qin Mei was also a cute girl and had some connection to fortune-telling, he couldn¡¯t resist clicking on it. The first post had a photo of a young girl, and Zhao Chongshan smiled, "Hey, this girl looks a lot like Qin Mei. She¡¯s even posing in the same way... Wait, holy sh*t, that¡¯s Qin Mei!"


    Zhao Chongshan immediately sat up straight, staring at the computer. When he saw that the replies were mocking Gu Qin, with the original poster questioning why Qin Mei was pretending to be a so-called "diviner," he became furious. His fingers flew over the keyboard, and soon he typed a long response.


    The child from the Zhao family: "Who said this cute girl is a scammer? I¡¯ll tell you right now, this girl really has skills. If it weren¡¯t for her, I would¡¯ve died once already. She came to stay at our inn, and she immediately noticed I had a blood disaster. I, just like all of you, thought she was crazy at first. But if it weren¡¯t for her pulling me out of danger, I would¡¯ve been hit by a bag of iron objects falling from above!"


    Swimming Fish: "Quit exaggerating. This must be a publicity stunt. You¡¯re okay to promote a celebrity, but promoting a scammer like this? Are you trying to scam people on the internet too? Go ahead and take your cute girl back, but if you¡¯re trying to scam people, at least find an old man or something."


    The child from the Zhao family: "What publicity stunt? I¡¯m not here to hype anyone. Believe it or not, whatever, but putting this girl¡¯s photo up here like that isn¡¯t right. Go ahead and apply to delete the post! She doesn¡¯t need any publicity; she really has the skills, and one day she¡¯ll be famous. Poster, come out and delete this post!"


    Swimming Fish: "Oh, so now you want to delete the post? Come on, tell us what your relationship with this girl is. Are you a hired commenter? There are so many fools online who believe in these so-called diviners for everything..."


    Zhao Chongshan grew even angrier. He didn¡¯t mind if people insulted him, but he couldn¡¯t stand anyone badmouthing Qin Mei. He couldn¡¯t help but argue, and the thread was soon filled with pointless back-and-forths, with occasional comments from bystanders being ignored.


    Finally, a bystander, unable to bear it any longer, suggested that posts about feng shui masters should be moved to the ghost stories section.


    So the thread was moved to the ghost stories section, and Zhao Chongshan couldn¡¯t resist bookmarking it. From then on, whenever he saw anyone slandering Gu Qin, he would argue with them, causing the thread to frequently get bumped back to the top.


    Gu Qin, of course, had no idea about any of this. She wasn¡¯t very familiar with the internet. Though she found it fascinating, she only used it occasionally to look up information on her brother¡¯s laptop when she needed it.


    Fast forward to August 20th, with just ten days left before school started. Over the past few days, Gu Qin¡¯s stall hadn¡¯t had any business, and many people who passed by would make fun of her. She didn¡¯t take it to heart, as she understood the situation. Most people didn¡¯t believe in this sort of thing, and even more so when it was a young girl like her.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    That morning, after returning from Daishan, Gu Qin went to Wufu Bridge. She took out her items from her backpack and set them up in front of her, with large characters reading "Feng Shui Master" displayed prominently. Half an hour later, no customers had arrived. Just when she was about to give up, an old man walked by. He was around fifty years old, dressed in a gray robe, and Gu Qin recognized him as Liu Bansian from the other side of the bridge.


    Liu Bansian wasn¡¯t blind, but he had a slight limp. When he approached Gu Qin, he said, "Little girl, sitting here is useless. If you want to make money, you need to have the skills. Even if you do have the skills, your face is too young, and no one will come to you for fortune-telling. You¡¯re charging so much, right? You should just pack up and go home."


    Gu Qin glanced at him and sat cross-legged, replying, "No need for you to worry, Bansian."


    Liu Bansian was a bit annoyed. He thought Gu Qin was a scammer, but seeing that she had been sitting there for over twenty days without making a single sale, he felt a bit sorry for her. He continued, "Well, whatever. I¡¯m just telling you this for your own good. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you."


    Just then, a young man appeared, about twenty years old, with thick brows and big eyes, but with dark circles under his eyes from staying up late. He was accompanied by a girl wearing a flowing dress and a short skirt. The young man walked up and said, "I¡¯m here to get my fortune told."


    Gu Qin replied, "Six hundred per person, regardless of what it is¡ªdestiny, handwriting, or fortune-telling."


    The young man smiled and said, "Little girl, are you really not scamming people?"


    The young man, named Jiang Cheng, had been arguing with Zhao Chongshan online for several days. He had seen the thread with Gu Qin¡¯s photo, so when he recognized the place as Wufu Bridge in Daishan, he decided to visit and expose her. He was from a real estate family in Daishan, a well-known developer who had made money during the peak of the real estate boom. Now, he was a recent university graduate, bored and spending most of his time gaming and browsing forums.


    Jiang Cheng was eager to expose Gu Qin. His girlfriend, Jiaojiao, whispered to him, "Chengzi, if you want a fortune told, let¡¯s go to the other guy in front. I heard Liu Bansian is really good. This little girl looks like a scammer."


    Jiang Cheng smiled but didn¡¯t respond to her. He kept his eyes on Gu Qin.


    Liu Bansian had also been watching Gu Qin. He thought it was tough for such a young girl to scam people. When he saw that a customer was approaching, he couldn¡¯t resist walking over to watch.


    Gu Qin looked at Jiang Cheng¡¯s face and said, "Your parents are both healthy, and you have an older sister. You suffered some hardship in your childhood, but later your family prospered. However..." Gu Qin paused. "There is a red mark on your temples. Your parents may have some legal troubles."


    When Gu Qin finished her first sentence, Jiang Cheng was momentarily stunned. What she said about his family was quite accurate, but he thought it was just a lucky guess. However, when she mentioned "legal troubles," he immediately understood what that meant. He was enraged, "What do you mean by that? Are you cursing my family?"


    Liu Bansian couldn¡¯t help but glance at Jiang Cheng¡¯s forehead. He, too, knew about the red mark and understood its significance. It meant legal troubles, but usually, only skilled practitioners could identify such details. Was this girl really as capable as she seemed, or was she just bluffing?


    Jiaojiao looked closely at Jiang Cheng¡¯s forehead, confused, "What temples? I don¡¯t see anything."


    Gu Qin pointed at Jiang Cheng¡¯s forehead, saying, "These are your temples. I¡¯m offering this free face reading. Would you like to have me predict something or tell you your future?"


    Jiang Cheng was silent for a while before responding, "Fine, tell me about my family. When will these legal troubles happen? If you''re wrong, I¡¯ll bring people to smash your stall!"


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t say much more. She took out three copper coins and prepared to use the ancient method of divination called "Six Lines of the I Ching," which dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. This method involves tossing three coins, six times, to form a hexagram, and then interpreting it using the I Ching and the Chinese calendar.


    Normally, practitioners would use a piece of paper and a pen to record the hexagram and refer to the I Ching for interpretation, but Gu Qin didn¡¯t need paper or books. She had mastered the method in her past


    life, and the hexagram appeared directly in her mind after the tosses.


    Liu Bansian stared in amazement, watching her. He was curious because she didn¡¯t even use paper or the I Ching. "Little girl, is that how you do it?"


    Gu Qin, seeing Liu Bansian¡¯s questioning expression, didn¡¯t bother to lie. There was no need to keep it a secret, as this was all simple for her. "No need to worry, Bansian. I¡¯ve memorized the hexagrams. I don¡¯t need paper or books."


    Liu Bansian sneered inwardly. The girl certainly knew how to boast. She was no different from a scammer.


    Gu Qin soon quieted her mind and focused. She tossed the copper coins six times, remembered each result, and formed a conclusion in her mind. Finally, she put the coins away and looked at Jiang Cheng. "The hexagram shows that your father will face legal troubles in twenty days, and it will be related to business you¡¯ve done together." As for the specifics, that couldn¡¯t be determined by divination, only through her Heavenly Eye.


    Divination only gave a rough prediction. To see the most intricate details, the Heavenly Eye would be necessary, but Gu Qin wasn¡¯t going to use it on Jiang Cheng, because it was clear to her that he wasn¡¯t sincere. Why he was here, she didn¡¯t know, but it definitely wasn¡¯t for fortune-telling.

 The Elevator Incident

    Liu Bansian was stunned. How could she come to a conclusion so quickly? When he used copper coins for divination, he would never do it in such an open place like this bridge. He would go back to his residence, wash his hands, light incense, and be solemn in his thoughts before starting. Then he would toss the three copper coins on a tortoise shell, record the results, think for a minute, toss again, record the results six times, and then refer to the I Ching to interpret the hexagram, comparing it with the celestial stems and earthly branches. Sometimes the results were accurate, but more often they were not.


    This little girl finished her divination in just two minutes. How could anyone believe it? Normally, it would take him at least half an hour. Was she really capable, or was she just fooling people? But if she was scamming, why risk ruining her reputation? Then again, she had no reputation to ruin in the first place...


    Liu Bansian felt conflicted, unsure whether this girl was really skilled or just a con artist.


    Jiang Cheng, after receiving the result, was silent for a while. He didn¡¯t know whether to believe it. His father¡¯s business was big¡ªhe wasn¡¯t exactly unscrupulous, but he had often been involved in murky dealings, like bribing high officials. If someone exposed it, it could lead to legal trouble, and he couldn¡¯t be sure if this girl was accurate or just lucky.


    Gu Qin could tell from Jiang Cheng¡¯s face that he wasn¡¯t a bad person, and his family wasn¡¯t involved in any major crimes. She only read the faces of those without malice. She said, "No situation shows its result immediately. There¡¯s always a process before things become clear. If you want to trust me, you can come to me, but my fee is high."


    Jiaojiao couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. "Chengzi, don¡¯t believe her. How could a young girl like her predict something that will happen twenty days later? She¡¯s just trying to scam you for money."


    Jiang Cheng was still unsure. This girl made it all seem too easy. He didn¡¯t speak but reached into his pocket, pulled out a thousand yuan, and handed it to Gu Qin. She returned four hundred to him. "It¡¯s six hundred as agreed, no more."


    Jiang Cheng took the four hundred and gave Gu Qin another glance before walking off with his girlfriend.


    Once they were gone, Liu Bansian couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "Little girl, I told you, when you¡¯re reading fortunes, at least make it look like you know what you¡¯re doing. How could anyone believe you when you finish in just two minutes?"


    Gu Qin smiled. "I didn¡¯t fool anyone. If they don¡¯t believe me, there¡¯s nothing I can do." She looked at Liu Bansian¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little. "Be careful today, Bansian. You¡¯re going to have an accident. It won¡¯t be serious, but you¡¯ll still feel some pain."


    "You little brat," Liu Bansian said, getting up and grumbling, "I was trying to give you some advice, and you¡¯re giving me a reading now?"


    "If you don¡¯t believe it, it¡¯s fine," Gu Qin shrugged, a helpless look on her face.


    There were no more customers for the rest of the day. Gu Qin had been setting up her stall on the bridge for a month, but she had only earned 56,000 yuan. Honestly, she was a little discouraged. This era was so different. In her past life, even if you were young, saying you were a Feng Shui master would earn you respect. Now, she was just laughed at.


    She was about to pack up and go home. Tomorrow was the first day of school. The acceptance letter said she had to report on August 21st. Afterward, the students would be assigned to classes and dorms. Military training would start on the 22nd and last for half a month, ending on September 6th. Coincidentally, September 6th was the date of the court hearing, and she would need to ask for leave that day.


    Gu Qin had some vague memories of military training¡ªmarching, drill exercises, and rifle shooting. She was curious about those things. She wasn¡¯t worried. The month-long training would make her physically stronger, and all the drills wouldn¡¯t be difficult for her. She was more interested in military boxing and shooting. She had trained in martial arts in her past life and had reached the stage of refining her strength. She was quite skilled, but now, she was starting from scratch again. She had only recently started practicing martial arts, and though she was already fairly skilled, she hadn¡¯t even mastered basic strength yet.


    Shooting was something she had never done. In her era, only cold weapons existed¡ªguns were a whole different category with much more power. She was really curious about them.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Since she hadn¡¯t prepared her things yet, she decided to pack up early today. Before noon, Gu Qin packed her stuff and headed home. When she passed by Liu Bansian, he smiled and asked, "Little girl, why are you leaving so early today?"


    "Tomorrow I have to report for school," Gu Qin smiled, looking excited.


    Liu Bansian was taken aback. "You¡¯re still a student?"


    Gu Qin nodded and walked down from the bridge, carrying her bag. Just before leaving, she couldn¡¯t resist calling out, "Bansian, be careful on your way back today. You really do have an accident coming."


    Liu Bansian laughed. "You little girl." He still didn¡¯t fully believe Gu Qin.


    Once she got home, Gu Qin started preparing for school. She felt a bit lost, not really knowing how to pack. She had been accepted into Daishan No. 1 High School, the best school in Daishan. In the past, Fu Hanru had attended this school. Gu Qin¡¯s own score barely met the cutoff for admission, so she got into Class 17. The class had around seventy students, and both she and Lin Xinxin were assigned to that class.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t live on campus. Since she lived in Daishan City, it would be inconvenient for her to board. Lin Xinxin had called to say she was also a day student, so Gu Qin wouldn¡¯t need to worry about dorm assignments. The next day, she just had to prepare for military training.


    She didn¡¯t know exactly what to bring for the training. She had checked online, but the advice was all over the place. Fortunately, when Cheng Yinxiang came home that night, she brought a lot of things with her, and Gu Jia gave her some pointers. "I remember when I was in high school, we didn¡¯t need to bring bedding or anything. We went straight to the Daishan Training Base, which is outside the city. Just bring toiletries. The bedding there is uncomfortable, so be sure to bring anti-itch medicine, insect repellent, and some sunscreen. It¡¯s been really hot, and standing in formation will make you burn."


    Cheng Yinxiang was still concerned about her daughter. "I bought all that for you. Just pack it up now. You have to gather at school at eight tomorrow. I also packed some food for you in case the meals aren¡¯t good. If you¡¯re really struggling, I can talk to the teachers for you." She had always been worried about her daughter¡¯s health.


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No, Mom, I want to go through military training." She was actually looking forward to it.


    Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t insist. She went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Gu Qin didn¡¯t make much money, mostly cooking vegetables, but meat dishes weren¡¯t her strength. Whenever there were meat dishes, Cheng Yinxiang would cook them.


    The family of three had a pleasant dinner, while Liu Bansian was not so lucky. He never expected that the little girl really had some skill. He had an accident that day.


    Liu Bansian had been setting up his stall on the bridge every day, moving to the shaded area when the sun was too strong, and always returning home by six in the evening. He had been doing this for several years and had gained some reputation. He made a decent income, usually earning one or two thousand yuan a day. That day, he was thinking of going to his favorite distillery for some drinks. He wasn¡¯t used to bottled liquor, so he always went to a little distillery in an alley.


    Unfortunately, just as he entered the alley, a battery-powered car with faulty brakes crashed into him, throwing him several meters. His head hit the ground, and he had to go to the hospital to get checked. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, just some skin abrasions. Sitting in the hospital while getting bandaged, Liu Bansian couldn¡¯t help but mumble to himself, "That little girl really is a master." Then he slapped his thigh. "D*mn it! I¡¯ve spent my whole life looking for a true master, and I finally meet one, only to let her go!"


    This little girl was so skilled in divination. She wasn¡¯t scamming anyone¡ªshe was genuinely capable. The way she could see the red marks on the temples of a young man indicated fate. Only a true master who had reached the level of refining energy could see such things. He had spent his whole life trying to refine his energy but hadn¡¯t gotten anywhere. Yet this girl had already reached that stage. How impressive! How could they have missed this?


    He regretted letting her go.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng went home, still unsure about the fortune-telling, but he couldn''t stop thinking about it. He didn¡¯t dare tell his father, who would


    disapprove of fortune-telling, believing it would only make things worse. But he couldn''t resist looking up the post again. The last reply was from Zhao''s son: "If you don¡¯t believe it, that¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t care to say much, but don¡¯t blame me later."


    After hesitating, Jiang Cheng still replied, "I saw the girl today. She seemed to know what she was doing, but I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s just lucky. She said something would happen in twenty days. I don¡¯t know if I should believe it."


    Moments later, Zhao¡¯s son replied, "I suggest you believe her. Go see her again and try to resolve it. You¡¯ll regret it if you don¡¯t."


    Jiang Cheng didn¡¯t reply. He stared at his computer screen for a long time.


    The next morning, Gu Qin woke up at four o''clock, riding her bike to Daishan''s mountains to meditate for two hours. Cultivating in the mountains was much more effective than in the bustling city, so she preferred to go farther out.


    She returned by 7:30 AM, still with half an hour to get to Daishan No. 1 High School. She had already known the route from her past life, where she had walked it every day. It was a short trip.


    In less than half an hour, she was at the school, where she met Lin Xinxin in Class 17. Since there were no assigned seats yet, Lin Xinxin saved a spot for her. As they sat down, the two chatted softly.


    Before long, the homeroom teacher, a middle-aged woman in her forties with short, messy hair, came in. After introducing herself, she informed the class that military training would start immediately, and they would be boarding a bus to the training site.


    The class of seventy students was loud and chaotic as they gathered outside, ready to leave.

 The Chandeliers Fall

    The homeroom teacher was also feeling quite troubled, shouting out instructions to the students. Most of the male students were excited, talking about the possibility of shooting at the range, while the female students were disinterested and gloomy. With such a hot sun, they worried about getting completely sunburned during the two weeks of military training.


    Lin Xinxin was very enthusiastic, holding Gu Qin''s arm, excitedly saying, "Qin Qin, I heard there will be shooting! I''ve never tried it, but I actually wanted to attend a military academy when I go to college. I wonder if my parents would agree." Lin Xinxin''s dream was different from most, as she had always been interested in the military. When she was young, her dream was to hold a submachine gun to protect her country. Many girls were surprised by her dream.


    The original Gu Qin was also surprised at her friend''s desire to join the military, thinking it would be too tough and tiring, but Gu Qin thought it was great. In her previous life, she admired soldiers greatly for their heroism and sacrifice, giving their lives for their country. In the last half month, she started selectively watching military TV shows and movies, gaining more respect for soldiers. However, she had no plans to join the military herself. She needed to practice her cultivation, and soldiers had to follow strict discipline. They had to follow strict schedules, and the idea of running up and down the mountains was not suitable for her.


    Lin Xinxin was still excitedly talking when several green trucks drove up to the school gate, their bodies covered in military green tarps. They stopped quickly at the gate, making the students even more excited. The first truck had a soldier in a military uniform with one star and one stripe. He jumped down from the truck with a serious face, "Get on the truck quickly, don''t waste any time!"


    The students eagerly boarded the trucks, each one holding about thirty people. Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin got on the last truck. Gu Qin''s body was in good shape after practicing for the past few days, so she easily jumped onto the truck.


    The soldier with one star and one stripe, who had boarded last, sat straight and stern, and the students on the truck immediately became quiet. It took about an hour and a half before they arrived at the Daishan training base, a place where soldiers trained for dramas. It was temporarily vacant, so students from Daishan City would come here for military training.


    After getting off the truck, the soldier said, "I will be your instructor from now on. From this moment on, you are no longer students of No. 1 High School, but my soldiers. I will treat you as new recruits." He led them to the dormitory, where they were divided into separate male and female dormitories. They were given no time to talk and, after putting down their things, followed the officer to the parade ground, where students from other classes were already standing at attention.


    The officer introduced himself briefly and told them to call him Instructor Yang. He briefly outlined their schedule, which included starting training at 6:30 AM, breakfast at 7:30, a half-hour rest afterward, followed by more training. Lunch would be at noon, and they would continue after 2:00 PM. After dinner at 6:00 PM, they would have a summary of the day¡¯s tasks, and they could return to the dormitory by 8:00 PM.


    This meant about seven or eight hours of training every day, and even the boys were no longer excited. They''d never had such intense training before. By the end of the day, their clothes were soaked with sweat and salt, and several girls fainted. Lin Xinxin persevered, and Gu Qin realized she truly liked the military. Although she had nearly given up several times, the instructor allowed two-minute breaks for those who couldn''t keep up.


    For Gu Qin, this level of exercise was not difficult. When she trained with her master, she would practice for at least six hours a day. Even during this month, her daily exercise was substantial. So, the standing post, marching, running, and walking at attention were no challenge for her. In the past, when training martial arts with her master, she would tie sandbags to her hands and feet. This body was initially too weak to handle that, so she had to train for a few months before her body could withstand the sandbags.


    By the end of the day, she quickly took a shower, went to bed, and fell asleep. Gu Qin¡¯s biological clock was precise, and she woke up at 4:00 AM to go outside and meditate on the playground. The energy of the sun and moon outside was far better than the dormitory. She returned to the dormitory around 6:00 AM, just as the others were waking up.


    The second day¡¯s training was similar to the first, and on the third day, there was a five-kilometer light-load cross-country run. Most of the students couldn¡¯t keep up, and many girls cried when they returned to their dorms. Lin Xinxin never complained to Gu Qin, showing her true determination.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Meanwhile, Gu Qin was unaware of what was happening outside and didn''t know someone was anxiously looking for her. For Jiang Cheng, the past few days had been full of anxiety. On the 22nd, he noticed the atmosphere at home was tense and asked his father, but was told nothing was wrong. On the 23rd, he found out what had been happening, from his eldest sister.


    These days, he had been staying up late playing games, waking up around noon. When the maid called him for meals, he ignored her. This led to a frustrated visit from his older sister. She barged into his room, threw his blanket off, kicked him a few times, and dragged him out of bed. Shocked, Jiang Cheng sat on the floor in his boxers, asking, "What¡¯s going on?"


    Jiang Cheng''s older sister, Jiang Ni, was a fiery-tempered beauty.


    She snapped, "What¡¯s going on? You still have the nerve to ask? All you do is play games and sleep. Do you think you¡¯ll die if you don¡¯t play? Do you know how busy and worried Dad has been these past few days? You¡¯re the only son of the Jiang family. Can¡¯t you act like a man and help Dad?" With that, she kicked him a few more times.


    Jiang Cheng felt a bad premonition, "What happened to Dad?"


    Jiang Ni threw some clothes at him, "Put this on, and come downstairs to hear the whole story."


    Downstairs, Jiang Cheng finally learned what had happened. His father was a real estate developer and contractor. He had bought land and hired a construction team to build buildings. Two weeks ago, he had bid on a large piece of land on the mountainside of Daishan, intending to build luxury villas. However, since construction started, things had gone wrong. It began with minor injuries, but recently, serious accidents had happened, including workers suffering broken arms and legs. A few days ago, a worker fell from a building, and although it wasn¡¯t high, the worker tragically impaled himself on a steel rod, dying on the spot. Today, another worker had fallen into a cement pit and died before anyone could rescue him.


    "That worker''s family was compensated, so we kept it quiet, and the incident didn¡¯t make the papers. But this morning, another worker fell into a cement pit and died..." Jiang Ni continued, "This just doesn¡¯t seem normal."


    "Why didn¡¯t Dad tell me?" Jiang Cheng felt a chill in his heart, suddenly thinking of that girl from Wufu Bridge.


    Jiang Ni glanced at him, "You only care about playing games. What do you expect Dad to tell you? Are you planning to solve the problem?"


    Jiang Cheng hesitated, "Actually, a few days ago, I went to have my fortune told..." He told his sister about his experience with the girl at Wufu Bridge. Jiang Ni was silent for a moment before saying, "I also think something¡¯s off. Dad¡¯s business has indeed encountered some trouble, but if it¡¯s not dealt with properly, accidents like this are bound to happen. But Dad doesn¡¯t believe in this kind of thing."


    Jiang Cheng shook his head, "I¡¯m not sure, but after this incident, I really feel like that girl isn¡¯t just fooling around. She might actually be a capable person!"


    "Obviously!" Jiang Ni slapped him on the head, "If what you¡¯re saying is true, that girl is definitely no fraud. If she really has that kind of power, I believe in her. Dad doesn¡¯t, but I do. Can you take me to her? I want to ask her to see what¡¯s going on."


    Without hesitation, Jiang Cheng agreed and immediately took his sister to the Wufu Bridge. However, when they arrived, the girl was nowhere to be found! They quickly asked people nearby, and Liu Bansian, an old fortune-teller, recognized Jiang Cheng, "Are you looking for that young girl? She¡¯s gone to school. She won¡¯t be coming out to set up her stall anymore. We were all fools, huh? She really is a powerful person. Who knows if we¡¯ll have the chance to meet her again."


    Jiang Cheng froze. He had never even gotten her phone number when he didn¡¯t believe in her at the time.


    "You idiot!" Jiang Ni couldn¡¯t hold back her frustration.


    Suddenly, Jiang Cheng remembered something, "Wait, I know how to find her! I found out about that girl from a post online. The person who wrote it seemed familiar with her and mentioned that she saved his life. After reading that, I got into a discussion with him. I think that person must have her contact information."


    "Then what are you waiting for? Go get in touch with him!"


    Liu Bansian, hearing that there was a way to contact her, quickly said, "Hey, young man, leave me your contact info. Let me know if you ever find her."


    The two exchanged phone numbers, and Jiang Cheng rushed back to the computer. However, the person he was trying to reach wasn¡¯t online. He sent a private message, leaving his phone number. Both waited anxiously, and finally, that evening, a strange number called. When Jiang Cheng answered, the voice on the other end chuckled twice, "Now you believe, huh?"


    Knowing they were asking for help, Jiang Cheng¡¯s tone softened considerably. The person on the other end explained, "Qin Qin should be in military training now. She¡¯s in high school, at the Daishan training base. I¡¯ll give you her phone number, so you can get in touch with her."


    Jiang Cheng then asked for the girl¡¯s full name, and after receiving it, the call ended.


    Jiang Ni immediately made a decision, "I have some contacts in the army. The military training at Daishan is fully closed, and it¡¯s hard to get leave. The instructors usually don¡¯t agree. I¡¯ll make arrangements and go directly tomorrow morning to find her."


    The next morning, the two drove directly to the Daishan training base.

 The Hidden Weapon

    It was the 24th, the fourth day of military training. Gu Qin had just finished running a 5-kilometer light cross-country course, sweating profusely, but her breathing wasn¡¯t heavy. As she stood on the playground stretching, Instructor Yang walked over with a blank expression. "You¡¯re Gu Qin, right? Someone¡¯s looking for you outside."


    Gu Qin nodded and followed Instructor Yang to the base gate. Along the way, Instructor Yang was somewhat dissatisfied. Every year during military training, there would be students like this who, in order to avoid training, have someone contact the higher-ups to directly ask for leave. He really disliked students like this. However, he couldn¡¯t figure it out. Over the past few days, this young girl had been performing excellently¡ªno, she was exceptional¡ªbetter than when he was a new recruit. After a whole day of training, she never even seemed to be out of breath. The training didn¡¯t seem particularly hard for her, so why did she still want to ask for leave?


    When they reached the base gate, Gu Qin saw a young man squatting at the entrance, looking eagerly at her. It was the same person who had asked her to read his fortune at the Wufu Bridge last time. There was also a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair standing beside him. The woman was dressed in a skirt suit and high heels, exuding a strong aura.


    When Jiang Cheng saw Gu Qin, he rushed to the gate. "Master, guru, last time I was blind and didn¡¯t recognize you. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against me..."


    Jiang Ni rolled her eyes and pulled Jiang Cheng aside, directly introducing herself through the iron gate. "I¡¯m Jiang Ni, and this is my younger brother, Jiang Cheng. I heard everything from him about what happened at the bridge last time. Today, we¡¯ve come to ask if you could do us a favor, guru. What do you think?"


    Instructor Yang froze for a moment. What was going on? Why was this student calling her "guru" and "master"?


    When Gu Qin saw Jiang Ni, she couldn¡¯t help but take a breath. "Where have you been these past few days?" The beautiful woman had a strong, heavy aura of yin energy, not the kind that came from a personal disaster but something she had picked up somewhere. "You must have been having quite a few misfortunes these days, right?"


    Jiang Ni¡¯s eyes brightened. "Guru, you¡¯re truly impressive. I¡¯ve been having minor accidents, like bruises and bumps."


    Gu Qin said, "If you had stayed any longer, it wouldn¡¯t have been just minor mishaps." Jiang Ni¡¯s face paled, and she became even more convinced that this young girl was no ordinary person.


    At the side, Instructor Yang couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. "Gu Qin, you¡¯re a student, how can you believe in such things?" He had thought she was a good student, but it turned out she was a little charlatan? What was going on?


    "Sorry, Instructor Yang, I need to ask for leave to go out for a bit." Gu Qin felt that something wasn¡¯t simple. When she looked at the young man before, she saw that his father had a criminal injury, but the woman beside him carried an unusual aura, which made her think that his father¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t coincidental either.


    Jiang Ni hurriedly said, "Guru, I¡¯ve already asked for leave for you. Here¡¯s the leave slip, just have your instructor sign it." She pulled out a note and handed it to Instructor Yang. Instructor Yang glared at Jiang Ni, but Jiang Ni smiled. "Why are you glaring at me? Do you want to call your major? Your major should have already told you this morning."


    Instructor Yang expressionlessly glanced at Jiang Ni, then swiftly took the leave slip and pen, signing it before turning and heading back to the field.


    Jiang Ni watched Instructor Yang¡¯s straight back, raising an eyebrow.


    After Gu Qin left, the three of them got into the car. Jiang Ni was still a bit unclear about what Gu Qin had said earlier, but she knew not to be ashamed to ask, so she asked, "Guru, what did you mean by what you said just now?"


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t used to being called "guru." In her past life, "guru" was a term of respect, but now it seemed more like a term for a charlatan. She thought for a moment and said, "Why don¡¯t you stop calling me ¡®guru¡¯? You can call me anything. There¡¯s heavy yin energy on you. It doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re facing a personal disaster, but more like you¡¯ve picked it up from somewhere. Take me to the places you frequent and let me have a look."


    "Then, should I call you Miss Gu?" Jiang Ni asked. She had been busy going between home and the construction site these days. "These past few days, I¡¯ve been at home and on the construction site. Could it be that there¡¯s something unclean at home? Should we go back to check first?" She had heard that if the feng shui at home was bad, everything would go wrong.Stolen story; please report.


    Gu Qin glanced at Jiang Cheng. "He probably stays at home all the time, right? He doesn¡¯t have any issues, so it¡¯s probably not your home¡¯s problem. Just take me to the construction site."


    The three of them went directly to the construction site, located in the mountainous area of Dai Mountain on the outskirts. Nowadays, the rich avoided the pollution of the city and yearned for natural environments, so Jiang¡¯s father came up with the idea of building a single-family villa on the side of Dai Mountain. He had researched, and many similar villas in other cities were selling very well, with many of them being sold before they were even completed. Jiang¡¯s father¡¯s project had been under construction for just over half a month, and half of the villas had already been sold out, all to wealthy people from Dai Mountain.


    After the incidents a few days ago, the workers had become scared, thinking the place was haunted, and many of them didn¡¯t dare to come to work. Jiang Ni was very worried. If this project couldn¡¯t be completed on time, they would have to compensate those who had already signed contracts for the villas.


    If the project collapsed, it wouldn¡¯t ruin the Jiang family completely, but it would take a huge toll on their wealth.


    The road to Dai Mountain was already built, and the car drove to the construction site. The whole area covered about a thousand acres, a very large site, though it was just a small portion of Dai Mountain. Once they entered the site, Gu Qin frowned. This place had been set with a feng shui formation, a kind of evil yin energy formation. Anyone staying here for long would absorb the yin energy, and sudden death wasn¡¯t surprising. Moreover, this place had already seen death. "Has anyone died here unexpectedly?"


    "Guru¡­ Miss Gu, you¡¯re absolutely right," Jiang Cheng said, fully convinced now. "Miss Gu, what¡¯s going on here?"


    Gu Qin said, "Someone set up a feng shui formation here, and it hasn¡¯t been long, about half a month. If it goes on longer, this place will turn into a place of death, and it won¡¯t just be unexpected deaths. I need to find the core of the formation. The site is too large, I¡¯ll need to go to the mountain top to see where the core is. Are there still some workers here? Get them to leave quickly, and no one should come back until we sort this out."


    Jiang Ni hurriedly called one of her subordinates, who was a manager at the site, and he came over right away. She told him to inform all the workers to go home and wait for further notice.


    With the workers evacuated, Gu Qin needed to climb to a higher position to use her "tian yan" (divine vision) to see where the core of the formation was.


    A feng shui formation, when used well, could gather wealth and ensure safety. However, when it was manipulated by someone with ill intent, it could become a dangerous formation, causing minor disasters at best, or leading to destruction at worst. Feng shui formations are not fixed, and there are many types in the world. It¡¯s impossible for anyone to master every single one, but no matter what kind of formation, it always requires a core.


    The core of the formation is the place where the item needed to set the formation is placed. This construction site was very large, and a typical feng shui master would find it hard to locate the core. It would require someone with higher cultivation. However, for Gu Qin, it wasn¡¯t difficult, as she had "tian yan."


    Once they reached the top of the mountain, they couldn¡¯t drive anymore, as there was no road. They had to walk, and it took them an hour to reach the summit. Jiang Ni and Jiang Cheng were both drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, their clothes soaked through. Gu Qin was fine. She had worn a camouflage long-sleeve shirt and camouflage pants when she came out of the base, and only had some sweat on her forehead.


    Jiang Cheng couldn¡¯t help but complain, "It¡¯s so hot. The construction site is much cooler."


    Gu Qin turned to look at him. "That¡¯s not coolness, that¡¯s yin energy. Staying in it can make you sick. Did you offend anyone? Ordinary feng shui masters wouldn¡¯t set up this kind of formation. The karmic retribution is too heavy."


    Jiang Ni shook her head. "Although our family, the Jiang family, has become rich these years, we¡¯ve always adhered to the principle of making money through harmony. We don¡¯t have any enemies. We shouldn¡¯t have offended anyone."


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t speak anymore. After reaching the mountain top, she used her divine vision to check the surroundings and soon found the four cores of the formation. The yin energy at these four spots was extremely intense. It was likely a "Four Yin Formation." Gu Qin briefly explained the formation to them. "This is a Four Yin Killing Formation, which can gather large amounts of yin energy in a short time. Everything in this world relies on a balance of yin and yang. If there¡¯s only yin energy and no yang energy, it¡¯s bad for humans. Scientifically speaking, staying in an area full of yin energy can make people feel unwell, dizzy, and prone to accidents."


    "Miss Gu, what should we do?" Jiang Ni was completely puzzled as to who might have set up this formation.


    Gu Qin started heading down the mountain. "We¡¯ll head down first. Now that we know where the cores are, it¡¯s much easier."


    As they descended the mountain, Jiang Cheng couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Miss Gu, are we going to perform a ritual to break the formation?"


    Gu Qin glanced at him but didn¡¯t say anything. She asked Jiang Ni for paper and a pen and wrote down what she needed. "Whoever can, quickly go get these items. Also, I¡¯d like to meet your father. He has a criminal injury, and now there¡¯s a deadly formation on the construction site. This can¡¯t be a coincidence. Someone¡¯s definitely targeting your family. What do you think?" Jiang¡¯s father was the key. She wanted to use her divine vision to see what was going on.


    Before the two siblings could respond, a black car suddenly drove up the road in the distance and quickly stopped near the construction site. A man in his fifties got out of the car. When he saw the expressions of his children, he walked up and said, "Ni Ni, I heard from Manager Wang that you sent all the workers home? What¡¯s going on?"

 The Final Bid

    This man is Jiang Jianguo, the father of Jiang Ni and Jiang Cheng. He has courage and a relatively good heart. Unlike many ruthless real estate developers, he hasn¡¯t committed any truly evil acts and has donated quite a bit to charity. His business principles are similar, so he¡¯s considered a "nice guy" in the real estate industry, with few people targeting him. Before Jiang Ni could say anything, Jiang Jianguo continued, "You¡¯ve driven all the workers away. Who''s going to come to work now? The construction site keeps having accidents, and some people are too scared to come. I was planning to have the manager go find more workers, so why did you send them all away?"


    Jiang Jianguo was quite troubled, unsure of why this project was turning out to be so troublesome. Before Jiang Ni could speak, he noticed the person next to her, Gu Qin. "Who¡¯s this?" he asked, seeing her still dressed in camouflage, looking like a student just finishing military training.


    Jiang Ni kicked Jiang Cheng lightly, "Go buy something. I¡¯ll talk to Dad." Jiang Cheng had no objection, obediently heading to the car to buy what was needed.


    "What are you buying?" Jiang Jianguo still looked confused.


    Jiang Ni pointed at Gu Qin, "Dad, this is Miss Gu, a skilled person I invited to look over the site. The accidents here are caused by a harmful formation. Miss Gu can help remove this harmful formation, so I sent Chengcheng to buy the necessary items."


    Jiang Jianguo stared at Gu Qin in surprise. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this was some kind of scam. After all, in the media, such experts were usually elderly men with long white beards. How could such a young woman be doing this? Was she tricking his sharp daughter?


    When Jiang Jianguo arrived, Gu Qin had already assessed his face and could tell he had a criminal tendency and was being targeted by others, which meant everything happening now was a setup. Seizing the opportunity when Jiang Jianguo was lost in thought, Gu Qin used her divine sight to look at him, and the scene gradually changed.


    "Old Jiang, didn¡¯t you send gifts to that person too? It¡¯s over now. I¡¯ve heard that many who sent gifts to that person are being arrested, all real estate developers from Daishan. What are you going to do?" On the sofa in the living room sat a woman in her forties, likely Jiang Ni and Jiang Cheng¡¯s mother.


    Jiang Jianguo held his head in his hands, his hair now half gray, "I did, what could I do? The project collapsed, and to transfer it out or re-bid for land, I needed connections. How could I know that this newly appointed person would fall so quickly?"


    The door suddenly opened, and several people from the prosecution entered. "Jiang Jianguo, you are suspected of bribery. Please come with us."


    Handcuffed and taken away, Jiang Jianguo¡¯s wife cried in panic.


    Gu Qin withdrew her gaze, feeling a bit anxious. Her divine sight only revealed what was happening to the individual directly. To see the larger situation wasn¡¯t easy. Clearly, this was not just about targeting the Jiang family. From Jiang Jianguo¡¯s own words, it was clear that many real estate developers from Daishan were falling victim. The newly appointed official accepting bribes so openly was strange, and based on Jiang Jianguo¡¯s face, it seemed like a setup.


    With so many developers being arrested, there would definitely be big changes in Daishan¡¯s real estate sector. Gu Qin could no longer focus on anything else. She took out three copper coins from her pocket, which she always carried with her, infused with energy, and could later be used as talismans.


    She used a method of divination, a form of hexagram reading, to check the future of Daishan''s real estate industry. After just two minutes, she got the result. Daishan¡¯s real estate industry would undergo significant changes, and the beneficiary would be one person, although she couldn¡¯t tell who. This was a limitation of divination; while it gave answers, it couldn¡¯t provide the specifics of how things would unfold. Using divine sight to explore it was also impossible, as her current cultivation level wasn¡¯t enough to use it without being in direct contact with the person involved.


    Jiang Ni and Jiang Jianguo were both confused by Gu Qin¡¯s actions. Jiang Ni asked, "Miss Gu, what¡¯s going on?"


    Gu Qin replied, "This situation isn¡¯t a coincidence. Someone has set up a trap. They used a four-fold evil formation to destroy the feng shui here. If this evil formation isn¡¯t removed, the project won¡¯t be completed. Mr. Jiang, think about what will happen next. Let me be direct: if this formation isn¡¯t removed, within twenty days, you¡¯ll be facing charges of bribery."


    Jiang Jianguo¡¯s face turned pale. He knew all too well what would happen if the project didn¡¯t finish. He had invested too much in it. If it couldn¡¯t be completed due to frequent accidents, it would have to be sold, and it would be hard to sell. He would have to resort to shady dealings. If the project failed, he¡¯d need to bribe someone again, and if exposed, it could lead to imprisonment.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    But this new official, he wasn¡¯t sure if they would even accept bribes...


    Just as he was thinking, Gu Qin spoke again, "You likely bribed a new official. I¡¯m not sure who, but Mr. Jiang, you can check if any new officials have been appointed in Daishan recently. I just divined that Daishan¡¯s real estate sector will undergo big changes, and many developers, like you, will face issues. The one who will profit from this will be a single person. This person will monopolize Daishan¡¯s real estate. To put it blunt, someone is targeting all of you developers. The new official might be part of the scheme. Are there any new real estate companies in Daishan recently?"


    Jiang Jianguo¡¯s head buzzed. He instinctively shook his head. "I haven¡¯t heard of any." What this young woman said seemed logical. Could it really be that someone had intentionally set them up? Was Daishan¡¯s real estate industry really about to face massive changes?


    Jiang Ni grew anxious, "Miss Gu, is what you¡¯re saying true? Can our Jiang family avoid this?"


    Gu Qin replied, "The result I divined shows that because the feng shui here hasn¡¯t been tampered with yet, the consequences haven¡¯t occurred. But once the formation is removed, the project won¡¯t face further issues, and you won¡¯t need to bribe anyone. Do you understand, Miss Jiang?"


    Jiang Ni nodded repeatedly, understanding that Gu Qin meant that the divination showed the Jiang family¡¯s impending trouble was linked to the evil formation. Once it was removed, the project would be fine, and her father wouldn¡¯t need to resort to bribery, thus avoiding trouble.


    Jiang Jianguo was still in a daze. Although he thought what this girl was saying made sense, the idea of an evil formation still sounded unconvincing. However, the accidents on the construction site were indeed strange. Perhaps he should wait and see?


    Since Jiang Jianguo didn¡¯t speak, Jiang Ni understood that her father was temporarily giving in. It seemed like they had no other choice.


    Gu Qin then explained the four-fold evil formation to them. "This formation isn¡¯t very malicious, it¡¯s a relatively simple and ordinary type of evil magic. If it were more malevolent, the feng shui here would have been completely ruined. Clearly, the person who set it up didn¡¯t want to destroy the feng shui, so they used the four-fold formation to gather negative energy and cause frequent accidents. Once the formation is removed, there won¡¯t be any further issues. Of course, if the formation isn¡¯t removed and you let workers return, at least two people will die. Soon, the project will be completely ruined."


    The Jiang family was filled with dread. Jiang Ni¡¯s focus seemed unusual. "Miss Gu, you said this is a normal formation. Does that mean anyone can set up a formation?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "Of course not. You must be someone with training, and the formation needs to be set up according to specific mantras, directions, and timing."


    Jiang Ni didn¡¯t understand what "being trained" meant and didn¡¯t ask further. She just said to Jiang Jianguo, "Dad, it looks like the person benefiting from this evil formation is connected to Miss Gu¡¯s mention of the future beneficiary. They must be the ones who hired someone to set up the formation."


    Jiang Jianguo didn¡¯t reply.


    Two hours later, Jiang Cheng returned, having bought everything Gu Qin needed. The materials were simple: ink, cinnabar, and a small iron shovel. Gu Qin didn¡¯t speak further and found four flat stones, mixing the ink and cinnabar.


    This ink was special, used specifically for drawing talismans, not ordinary ink.


    Talismans were the basics of metaphysics, but drawing them was not easy. Most beginners couldn¡¯t create them. It required much practice. Gu Qin didn¡¯t need to practice, having drawn countless talismans in her past life. She could even create advanced ones.


    There are many types of talismans: low, medium, and high levels. The materials used to carry the talisman also vary. For example, peach wood, cypress, jujube wood, stone, bricks, yellow paper, cloth, and silk can all be used. The methods of use differ based on the material.


    Gu Qin used her index and middle fingers of the right hand, dipped in cinnabar ink, and quickly began drawing on the stone. After finishing, she made a hand gesture, chanted a mantra softly, and tapped the stone with her fingers, saying, "Complete." The stone instantly dried, leaving everyone stunned.


    Jiang Cheng couldn''t help but touch the stone, saying in awe, "Wow, that¡¯s incredible..."


    Gu Qin followed the same method to make the other three stones. "Now, let¡¯s remove the items from the formation and place these stones to form a simple gathering array."


    The three watched in silent awe. Gu Qin led them to the formation¡¯s core and used the small iron shovel to dig up the topsoil. After digging about a meter deep, they found the object. It was a stone talisman identical to the one Gu Qin had drawn earlier.


    "Miss Gu, how is this the same as the one you drew?" Jiang Cheng asked, unable to contain his curiosity.


    Gu Qin replied, "While both are talismans, they¡¯re different. What I drew is a spirit talisman, while this is a Yin talisman, used to trap negative entities."


    As Jiang Cheng reached out to touch the talisman, Gu Qin slapped his hand away, saying with a stern look, "Are you trying to get killed? This object is dangerous for anyone without cultivation."


    Jiang Cheng quickly pulled back his hand, embarrassed. Meanwhile, Jiang Jianguo stood in stunned silence, realizing that the evil formation was real, and everything Gu Qin had said was true.


    Gu Qin continued to destroy the talismans at the other three points of the formation, removing the objects inside and placing them into her pocket.


    For the gathering formation, she went off to arrange it herself. The formation was large, but it wouldn¡¯t last long. She wasn¡¯t setting it up to gather spiritual energy but to harmonize the yin and yang energies at the site and restore its feng shui.


    Once she finished and returned to the site, the Jiang family was still waiting. They greeted her eagerly. "Miss Gu, is it done?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "It¡¯s done. Tomorrow, the workers can return. There won¡¯t be any more issues."

 The Subdued Cudgel

    It was already completely dark by now, almost 8:30, and Gu Qin had been busy since noon.


    This time, Gu Qin''s task seemed easy, but it was not. The person who set up the Yin Sha array should have a cultivation level similar to hers, just entering the early stage of refining essence into qi. The Yin symbols he drew were also low-level talismans. Otherwise, with mid-level or high-level talismans, they could gather Yin energy without needing objects from the dead. Although they claimed their cultivation levels were equal, Gu Qin was still superior. She had the Heavenly Eye, which made her cultivation easier than others, and she had over twenty years of experience from her past life. Even though she was in the early stage of refining essence into qi, her strength was already comparable to that of others in the later stages.


    However, both breaking and setting up arrays consumed one''s vital energy, and setting up an array was even harder. It required the coordination of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams. Simply put, the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams form the framework and positions for setting up arrays. There were too many variables involved. In metaphysical terms, this relates to five arts, but within that, there are countless interconnected aspects. Furthermore, this array was slightly different from a feng shui array.


    Jiang Ni couldn''t help but ask, "Miss Gu, what if that person comes back to set up the array on the construction site?"


    Gu Qin was quite sure this time. "Even if he comes, he won¡¯t dare to set up the Sha array again." This was a battle of techniques between two practitioners. The poisonous methods the other person used would injure him if she broke his array. Even if he wasn¡¯t injured, trying to set up a Yin Sha array in this Gathering Spirit Array would be quite difficult.


    The three members of the Jiang family were a bit stunned. Before, when they had come to the construction site, it always felt cold and eerie. Now, it felt much more comfortable, and the cold, sinister energy was gone. Gu Qin said, "As for the payment, it''s two million. You can pay me after twenty days. I''ll give you my bank account number then." She had an ID card but hadn''t yet opened a bank account. Two million was actually a small amount; she was starting from scratch, with no reputation yet.


    Jiang Ni was not polite. "Thank you, Miss Gu, for trusting us. We will definitely pay you the reward in twenty days. Are you going back to the base now, or do you want to have dinner first?"


    Gu Qin glanced at the sky. "I still have some things to bury on the mountain. I''ll go back to the base later."


    Jiang Ni immediately decided, "Then I''ll accompany you, and we can have dinner after you come down. I''ll send you back to the base then." Jiang Cheng also followed up, "I''ll wait here too." Finally, Jiang Dad went back first. When he was leaving, Gu Qin suddenly said, "Mr. Jiang, if you know any real estate developers who need my help, you can come find me."


    Jiang Dad responded with a few "ohs," and his attitude towards Gu Qin could be described as respectful.


    After Jiang Dad left, Gu Qin went to the place where she usually cultivated and buried the things from the black paper. This place was a piece of auspicious land she had selected in Mount Dai. Now the matter was completely resolved. By the time she came down the mountain, it was already past ten o''clock. The three of them had dinner together, and then they sent Gu Qin back to the base.


    Jiang Ni and Jiang Cheng were both astonished by everything they had seen today. On the way back, Jiang Cheng couldn''t help but ask, "Sis, do you think Miss Gu is worried that we might renege on the payment?"


    "You''re stupid!" Jiang Ni almost wanted to hit her brother again. "After what you saw today, do you think we would dare to renege on the payment?"


    Jiang Cheng fell silent.


    The next morning, Gu Qin resumed training, but Instructor Yang seemed to be somewhat targeting her. He said that she had taken a leave of absence yesterday and had to make up for the training she missed. Most of the classmates didn¡¯t recognize her, though some were from the same school. Some were gloating, while others were defending Gu Qin. Lin Xinxin was one of those defending her. Gu Qin stopped her and whispered in her ear, "Don¡¯t confront the instructor head-on. This little bit of training is nothing to me."


    Lin Xinxin was still furious but ultimately listened to Gu Qin¡¯s advice and didn¡¯t directly confront the instructor. So, when all the other classmates were resting, Gu Qin was still training. By the time it was almost dinner, she had finished running ten kilometers of light-load cross-country. Instructor Yang had been following her the whole time, and when he saw that she completed the ten kilometers without changing her expression, he silently thought to himself, "What a good seedling."


    It was a pity that this good seedling¡¯s aspirations didn¡¯t lie in joining the military.


    As Gu Qin had expected, the array she broke had serious consequences. On the top floor of a high-rise building in Dai City, a woman suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. In an instant, she knew her array had been broken. She quickly sat cross-legged, placing her palms upward on her knees and making a series of hand gestures to steady her mind.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Two hours later, the woman slowly opened her eyes, her face still pale. She was very beautiful, though her age was hard to determine. She had dark red, large curly hair, pale skin, and bright red lips. She wore a black long dress, and her aura was somewhat gloomy. She appeared to be in her thirties, but her eyes revealed a sense of maturity.


    The woman was somewhat frightened. When she came to Dai Mountain, she had investigated thoroughly, knowing that there were no high-level practitioners there. But how could someone break her array? The woman walked to the bedside and made a phone call. Soon, a middle-aged man wearing glasses entered. He was dressed in a suit, slightly plump, with small eyes and thick eyebrows. Upon entering, he immediately said, "What is it, Miss Yan?"


    The woman walked to the large window and looked at the view of the city as the lights began to shine, the streets busy with traffic. "The array has been broken. Go investigate where the problem lies."


    The middle-aged man was stunned. "Wha... What? How could Miss Yan''s array be broken?"


    The woman turned around and glared at the man, "Are you questioning me? Go investigate immediately. If there is someone with superior skills in Dai City, and if they interfere with this matter, you won¡¯t be able to monopolize the real estate market here."


    "If there is truly a high-level practitioner, then there¡¯s no other way?" The man seemed anxious. The woman, Miss Yan, was introduced to him by his older brother, and he only knew her as Yan Zhen. He didn¡¯t have any other information about her. His older brother had helped her rise to her current position and later introduced her to him. He had only met her a month ago. Unlike his older brother, this man had a greater desire for money. He had been doing well in Dai City but was still unsatisfied and wanted more. The first step was naturally to control the real estate market. If he could monopolize Dai City¡¯s real estate industry, he would be able to solidify his position in the city.


    Things had been progressing smoothly, and Miss Yan had been helping him. As expected, all the real estate developers had been experiencing problems. They just needed to wait for the net to close, but unexpectedly, a powerful practitioner had appeared out of nowhere.


    "If there really is such a practitioner, there¡¯s no other way. Go check where the issue lies," Yan Zhen said.


    The middle-aged man immediately began investigating the problem.


    The Jiang family returned the next day, telling the workers to go back to the construction site. However, half of the workers refused, saying the site was cursed and they were afraid of accidents. Jiang Jianguo did not force them and allowed the others to continue working. These workers were actually quite worried but knew that Jiang Boss was a good person who never delayed payments and always treated them well. When nothing happened after a day of work, they were relieved.


    This had a huge impact on Jiang Cheng. Seeing that the workers had no problems, he quickly apologized on the online post. The son of Old Zhao replied quickly, "Now you see how awesome our sister is, huh?"


    Jiang Cheng sneered. "Forget it, still trying to get connected with her, huh?"


    The son of Old Zhao didn¡¯t respond for a while. Jiang Cheng closed the post, opened the game interface, hesitated for a long time, then closed the game and picked up an economics book.


    Two or three days later, the rest of the workers realized nothing had happened on the construction site and some wanted to return. Jiang Jianguo did not stop them and allowed them to come back. As a result, the workers were all very grateful to Jiang Boss and worked even harder.


    The middle-aged man with glasses quickly figured out what had happened. He had sent people to every real estate company, including the Jiang family''s site. Within a day, he figured out that the problem originated with the Jiang family. A few days ago, there had been frequent accidents on the Jiang family''s construction site, which was clearly the work of Miss Yan. However, the day before yesterday, Miss Jiang had brought someone with her, and the later events were unclear because Miss Jiang had instructed everyone to leave. The man didn¡¯t even see who Miss Jiang brought with her, only knowing that the person was small in stature.


    The middle-aged man quickly informed Yan Zhen, and the two of them went to the Jiang family¡¯s construction site to investigate. Yan Zhen brought a compass, and when they arrived, she checked the compass and her face turned pale. "Forget about the Jiang family. There is someone with superior skills protecting them. You can¡¯t mess with them. This matter is over."


    The compass showed a strong presence of spiritual energy. This... what kind of expert was this? Such a huge effort to restore the Yin-Yang energy on the construction site by setting up a Gathering Spirit Array. She couldn¡¯t compete with this person.


    Although somewhat disappointed, the middle-aged man knew it was hopeless. He nodded, "As you say, Miss Yan. Miss Yan, should we go back now, or...? How about my daughter''s heart condition? There was originally a young girl who matched her blood type, and they were on the operating table, but that girl was too clever and escaped, suing the hospital. Should we act now?"


    Yan Zhen looked at the compass and replied, "Let¡¯s put that aside for now. I¡¯ve been injured and can¡¯t use my arts for the moment. The magic I used to save your daughter will allow her to live for another six months. It¡¯s not urgent."


    "Thank you, Miss Yan," the middle-aged man, Su Guangzhi, said.


    Gu Qin was naturally unaware of these developments. She was still focused on her military training. By now, it was already August 28th, the eighth day of military training, and they had started heavy-load cross-country runs. The classmates were all complaining.


    The events of the past few days had a huge impact on Jiang Jianguo. He now believed that there were truly practitioners with superior skills in the world. Even though he hadn''t believed it before, witnessing everything with his own eyes was too shocking. He planned to introduce Gu Qin to an old friend. Jiang Jianguo had several good friends in Dai City, one of whom was also involved in the real estate business. Their businesses didn¡¯t conflict. He dealt with residential properties, while his friend was in charge of large commercial malls and hotels. Lately, his friend¡¯s businesses had been facing frequent problems as well.

 The Morning After

    Jiang Jianguo''s old friend is Li Yongsheng, and the Li Group holds a significant position in Daishan. Recently, Li Yongsheng has been working on a large-scale project, which, once completed, will turn into a large entertainment venue, shopping mall, and hotel. If finished, it will become Daishan''s largest business building.It took two calls for Li Yongsheng to answer, and his voice was filled with exhaustion. "Old Jiang, what¡¯s up? I¡¯ve been so busy these days I can¡¯t even catch a break."Jiang Jianguo replied, "Old Li, what¡¯s going on? I heard from Miss Gu that there¡¯s something bigger than just your own issue, seems like all real estate developers in Daishan are involved, and I have a feeling something bad is about to happen to you too."Li Yongsheng sighed, "Don¡¯t even mention it, things have been so unlucky lately, there¡¯ve been so many issues at home. My son..." His voice choked slightly. "He got into a car accident and is still unconscious in the hospital. Plus, there have been problems at the construction site..."Jiang Jianguo felt a chill run through him. His own family''s issues were only related to the construction project, but Old Li¡¯s problems seemed more serious. "Old Li, have you ever thought that maybe something¡¯s wrong with the feng shui?"Li Yongsheng, having been through a lot, wiped his tears. "Old Jiang, I know you don¡¯t believe in this, and honestly, neither do I. But I have a feeling something¡¯s wrong. I hired two feng shui masters, spent quite a lot, and they even spent a day or two at my house, but it didn¡¯t work at all.""Old Li," Jiang Jianguo sighed, "I didn¡¯t believe in it either, but now I do. The world is vast, and there are some truly incredible feng shui masters. Let me tell you, I had issues with my own project, too. At first, it was just some small accidents on the construction site, but more than a week ago, two people died. Afterward, my son and daughter found someone, and if I had believed earlier, I would¡¯ve let Nini bring them here right away."Li Yongsheng, nearly at his breaking point, felt that this was his last hope and almost cried with relief. "Old Jiang, I really appreciate it."Jiang Mi made a call to someone in the military and asked Gu Qin to take a leave again. On the morning of the 29th, they went to the base to pick up Gu Qin. Yang, the instructor, was visibly upset, leading Gu Qin out without saying a word and signed off on her release. However, when Gu Qin walked out the gate, he said, "You¡¯ll need to make up for the training you missed when you return."Gu Qin turned back with a smile. "No problem, thank you, Instructor Yang."As they got into Jiang Mi¡¯s car, she couldn¡¯t help but express her disdain for Instructor Yang. "How could he make things difficult for a young girl? Military training is pretty intense. How are you going to make up for it?"Jiang Cheng, sitting in the back, remained silent. Today, he insisted on coming along, and Jiang Mi had no way of stopping him."It¡¯s fine," Gu Qin didn¡¯t mind, "Ms. Jiang, please go ahead and tell me about the situation."Jiang Mi turned the steering wheel toward the city and explained the situation to Gu Qin, "Uncle Li, Li Yongsheng, is a long-time friend of my dad. He¡¯s in real estate in Daishan, and his family has been going through a lot lately. At first, everything was going wrong with the construction site¡ªsteel, cement, and sand were being stolen. Then, recently, their family members started getting sick, and Uncle Li¡¯s son got into a car accident and is now in critical care in the hospital. The construction site has had more accidents, including a cement truck that flipped into a lake nearby..."Gu Qin, after hearing this, realized this situation was different from the Jiang family¡¯s. The problem wasn¡¯t with the construction site; it seemed to be with Li¡¯s family¡¯s residential and ancestral properties. "Is Li Yongsheng still living with his siblings or has everyone split up?""No, his siblings all moved away years ago, none of them live in Daishan anymore. Uncle Li now lives with Aunt Li and his son and daughter-in-law. Speaking of which, his daughter-in-law had problems too. She¡¯s been married for several years and finally got pregnant, three months along, and the doctor said everything looked stable. But then, about half a month ago, she suddenly miscarried..."Gu Qin asked, "What about Li Yongsheng¡¯s other siblings? Have they had problems too?"Jiang Mi was surprised, "How did you know they¡¯ve been having problems? Uncle Li¡¯s siblings have had bad luck too, just like him¡ªsome are sick, others have had accidents. But why does this seem different from our family¡¯s situation?"Gu Qin nodded. "It¡¯s indeed different. Your family¡¯s issue is with the construction site, while Li¡¯s family has been dealing with a string of personal misfortunes. It¡¯s either the residence or the ancestral tomb. If all of Li¡¯s siblings are not living together, but they¡¯re still having problems, it¡¯s clearly the ancestral tomb that¡¯s the issue. If the house had a problem, it would only disturb Li¡¯s immediate family. Let¡¯s go check the ancestral tomb."Jiang Mi didn¡¯t have time to be amazed and quickly called Jiang Jianguo. He contacted Li Yongsheng, and they waited by the roadside for him. Half an hour later, Li Yongsheng arrived, driving a car with Jiang Jianguo. Jiang Mi followed behind, intending to introduce Gu Qin to Uncle Li once they arrived. So, Li Yongsheng still didn¡¯t know that the so-called "master" his old friend had spoken of was a young girl.The Li family¡¯s ancestral home was in a small town in the neighboring city, Feng City, which was about four or five hours away by car. By the time they arrived, it was already 2 PM. They went straight to the Li family¡¯s hometown, intending to have a meal first before checking out the ancestral tomb.As soon as Jiang Mi, Jiang Cheng, and Gu Qin got out of the car, Li Yongsheng was still looking around at the car. "Old Jiang, where¡¯s the master? I don¡¯t see anyone."Jiang Mi and Jiang Cheng couldn¡¯t hold back their laughter, and Jiang Jianguo looked embarrassed. "Old Li, sorry, I didn¡¯t introduce her earlier. This is Miss Gu, the master I told you about."Li Yongsheng was stunned for a moment, then awkwardly rubbed his hands. "Well, Miss Gu, I... I¡¯m sorry."Gu Qin smiled. "It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s have a meal first, and then we¡¯ll go check the mountain."They had their meal and immediately headed up the mountain. Along the way, Li Yongsheng couldn¡¯t help but think to himself¡ªcould this young girl really have the ability? He had always believed in feng shui masters and would hire one before every construction project. But all the masters he knew were middle-aged men who had achieved something in their careers. But since Old Jiang said this young girl was quite capable, he decided to give it a try.Soon, they arrived at the Li family¡¯s ancestral tomb. Gu Qin took a look around. The mountain was not large, but it was vibrant and lively, with a well-positioned and beautiful feng shui location. In front of it was a large natural lake, and the Li family¡¯s ancestral tomb was situated right at the core of this favorable spot.Choosing an ancestral tomb, called "dotting the hole," involves selecting the spot of good feng shui, known as the "hole," and the surrounding environment, known as the "field." The key is to find a location where energy is gathered. Gu Qin, having helped many people with this in her past life, immediately saw that the hole for Li¡¯s ancestral tomb was a good spot. But after opening her spiritual eye, she realized that the problem was the surrounding energy. The feng shui had been disturbed, and there was a heavy presence of negative energy, similar to what had been affecting Jiang¡¯s construction site.Gu Qin didn¡¯t speak. She had brought some tools with her, including a small spade from last time, and went to work. When she dug about one meter down, she touched something soft. Carefully, she uncovered the dirt and revealed a dead black cat, which had a red string tied around it, and its belly was slightly swollen.Everyone behind her turned pale. Li Yongsheng trembled and asked, "What... what is this? Why is there a dead cat under our ancestral tomb?"Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

 The Hotel Room

    Gu Qin threw the small iron shovel aside, stood up, and asked Li Yongsheng, "Uncle Li, what kind of house do you live in in Daishan now?"Li Yongsheng didn''t expect Gu Qin to ask this and was a bit surprised. "It''s a commercial property, a 16-story building, about a hundred square meters. Master, what''s going on?" The Li family had a good background and bought the commercial property a few years ago. They hadn''t thought about moving to a bigger place. Li Yongsheng, born in a poor family, felt that large houses were too empty and uncomfortable.Gu Qin immediately guessed that the Li family''s ancestral grave was the problem. If Li Yongsheng lived in a commercial property like this, it would be hard to destroy the Li family''s feng shui. Some simple feng shui tricks could be set up around the house, but it would be difficult to cause problems for the Li family in the short term. The only way to effectively do this was to disturb the Li family''s ancestral grave, which was the quickest and most vicious method. It could cause the Li family to collapse in a short time.The person behind this was the same one who set up the hidden curse, using cruel methods without caring about others'' lives. Gu Qin suspected that this person didn''t rely on just one method to bring down these property developers, like what happened to the Jiang family, where the project had problems, or the Li family, where family members would die unexpectedly. Eventually, the Li family''s completed projects would be sold off, and if the person had connections, they could acquire the projects at a very low price.Such a malicious person, Gu Qin frowned. Did they not fear the karmic retribution?Gu Qin said, "I can''t explain the feng shui issues to you in detail, but if you were living in a villa, the person could move the earth around the villa to create a curse that would destroy your entire family of four. But since you''re living in this kind of building, it''s harder to set up a powerful evil curse. He can only disturb your ancestral grave. This is the fastest and most ruthless method, but it will harm all your descendants, including everyone in the Li family. That person likely wants your family to fall apart. As for the reason, Jiang boss should have explained it to you, right?"Li Yongsheng nodded. Gu Qin pointed at the black cat. "This is the black cat curse. Find a pregnant black cat, tie it with a red string soaked in longevity lamp oil, and wrap the string around its neck. This is used to lock its soul, then bury it alive at the dragon''s mouth position of the grave. Good grave positions are on the dragon vein, which has a mouth, body, and tail. Destroying one part will ruin the feng shui. The black cat will have a lot of resentment, and your Li family will naturally face trouble. Did the pets at home die at first? Then things started going wrong, and your family experienced misfortunes?"Li Yongsheng was on the verge of tears. "Yes, at first, the goldfish and turtles we kept died within a year. We bought new ones, and they died the next day. After we stopped keeping them, things started going wrong. Master, please save my family, I beg you." He was about to kneel.Gu Qin quickly helped him up, very serious. "Don''t kneel to me, that will shorten my life. Since you''ve come, I''ll definitely help you. Also, if you don''t mind, just call me Miss Gu."Li Yongsheng stood up, wiped his eyes, and said, "Thank you, Miss Gu."Gu Qin said, "Now I need to break the curse. Please stay back a bit, it might take some time, and remember not to disturb me."The others quickly moved back about ten meters, not daring to say a word. Gu Qin sat cross-legged, focused her energy, formed hand seals, and chanted a spell. Invisible energy surged around her, and Gu Qin quickly recited the incantation...An hour later, Gu Qin still hadn''t moved. From a distance, Jiang Cheng seemed to want to say something but was stopped when Jiang Ni glared at him.As time passed, the sky gradually darkened. Gu Qin had been sitting there for over three hours. The others began to worry but didn''t dare approach. However, suddenly, they saw her move and slowly stand up.The group hurried over, and Li Yongsheng immediately asked, "Miss Gu, is it done?"Gu Qin nodded. Her body was a bit weak, and her face was pale. Breaking the curse was simple¡ªremoving the resentment from the black cat was enough¡ªbut it was difficult to do. She had to use her energy and chant to calm the black cat''s resentment. Supporting her energy for over three hours was at her limit, but fortunately, she had successfully broken the curse.They all looked at the black cat in the pit, only to realize that the red string had disappeared, and the black cat''s body had rotted. They were all stunned, as just a few hours ago, the black cat''s body had been intact.Gu Qin said, "This black cat has been buried for almost 20 days. According to the current weather, it should have already decayed. It was preserved because of the soul-locking string and its resentment. Now that the curse is broken, everything will naturally return to dust, except for the black cat''s resentment."Jiang Ni noticed that Gu Qin''s voice sounded exhausted, and her face was slightly pale. She quickly stepped forward to support her. "Miss Gu, are you alright?"Gu Qin shook her head. "I''m fine, don''t worry. The curse is broken, and there won''t be any more problems. I also used my energy to strengthen the feng shui of the grave. It will recover in a few days. Fortunately, the curse didn''t last long, so the feng shui wasn''t completely destroyed."Li Yongsheng was extremely moved. "Thank you, Miss Gu, thank you so much." Now, he completely believed that the young woman in front of him was a true expert. She was on a whole different level from anyone he had hired before, and what he saw tonight was something he had never encountered before.Li Yongsheng finally understood. "Miss Gu, with such amazing abilities, have you considered opening a club?"Gu Qin looked at him. "A club?"Li Yongsheng smiled. "Yes, if Miss Gu opens a club, people who need this kind of help can go to you directly. It would save everyone from not being able to find you, right?"Gu Qin was a little tempted. Li Yongsheng hurriedly said, "You don''t need to worry about the location. My project will be completed in a year, and the top floor will be given to you to turn into a club. You don''t even have to worry about the decoration; I have connections and can get it done for you."Was he offering the top floor of the newly built Da Xia building as a reward? This reward was no small matter, practically shocking. If the Da Xia building was completed, it would be the tallest building in Daishan, with over 50 floors. Though Daishan was a third-tier city and couldn''t compare to first-tier cities, it would still be the tallest building in Daishan, combining entertainment and business. Each floor had a usable area of about 2,500 square meters, and the price per floor would be at least several million.The Jiang family fell silent, remembering Gu Qin''s demand of two million. They silently decided to give her a villa once the one on the mountainside in Daishan was built. Ignoring such a talented person would be foolish. Besides, the help she provided was invaluable, and even if they gave her this, it would hardly compare to what she had done for them.Gu Qin was not very familiar with Li Yongsheng''s business, but she silently estimated that the top floor of the Da Xia building, with a floor space of a few hundred square meters, would be worth several million according to the current property prices in Daishan. Although it would be higher than her current asking price, she could offer Li Yongsheng free feng shui consultation in the future.Gu Qin nodded. "Then thank you, Uncle Li.""You calling me Uncle Li is an honor," Li Yongsheng said. He understood that building a relationship with such a powerful person meant a lot. Even if he only gave half of the top floor, it would still be worth it.Once the matter was settled, Gu Qin moved the black cat to another place and buried it before heading back to Daishan. On the way back, Gu Qin asked Li Yongsheng, "Uncle Li, the issue with the ancestral grave is resolved, but your son''s situation is beyond saving."Li Yongsheng sighed and felt a pang of pain. He and his wife had only one son, and he had been born late, more than thirty years old. Now, he was still in the intensive care unit, and it was hard to accept that this had happened.By the time they got back, it was already midnight. The group went for a meal, but the base was closed. After eating, Gu Qin went to a hotel under Li Yongsheng''s name. Li Yongsheng gave her a card, saying she could stay at any of his hotels for free.After Gu Qin had removed the black cat curse from Li Yongsheng''s ancestral grave, Yan Zhen felt it immediately. Her face turned a little pale, and she almost collapsed. She sat down and took several hours to adjust her breath before finally stabilizing. She was even more frightened now. Who was this person? Another of the formations she had set up had been broken.The next morning, Gu Qin woke up at 4:00 AM as usual to practice. At 6:00, she returned to the base, and the training began. She immediately made up for the training she had missed the day before. Instructor Yang had gotten used to it and didn''t make things difficult for her. After completing the training, he let her go to eat.During breakfast, Lin Xinxin couldn''t help but ask, "Qinqin, you took two days off. Don''t you know what the other girls in class are saying? They think you''re skipping training and complaining about you. I just want to tear their mouths apart. Didn''t they see that after you came back, you worked twice as hard?"Gu Qin smiled. "I went to earn some money." Now she could pay off the family debts¡ªtwo million, and with one and a half million left, she could buy a nice commercial property in Daishan. Her mom wouldn''t have to work so hard anymore.Lin Xinxin widened her eyes. "Earn money? What kind of money?"Gu Qin smiled but didn''t answer. For the next few days, no one came to her for help, and she focused on the military training. After all, she had only helped the Jiang and Li families. As for other real estate developers, she was powerless. Her heavenly eye was still limited in power, and she couldn''t predict the future out of thin air. Divination was only an auxiliary ability. Finding the real mastermind behind all this wasn''t possible.As for Li Yongsheng and Jiang Jianguo, they weren''t unaware of the need to find someone. But Daishan had many real estate developers, and they needed time to investigate. Moreover, not every project encountered problems. They originally thought of asking other developers for help, but they had no ties with them, so who would believe them? They didn''t want to stir up unnecessary trouble.Time passed quickly, and the military training was almost over. Only two days remained. The instructors had been teaching them boxing, and Gu Qin was very interested. She had already started practicing the martial arts from her previous life, including a set of boxing techniques, so she was quite serious in learning the techniques the instructor taught.In the afternoon, Instructor Yang said, "There¡¯s only one day left of training. We''ve been practicing this boxing for about four to five days. I¡¯m going to bring someone out for a sparring match to summarize everything."The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

 The Internal Struggle

    According to the students'' understanding of Instructor Yang during this time, "pair practice" just means picking someone to come out and get beaten up. They witnessed how ruthless Instructor Yang could be and immediately became like turtles pulling their heads into their shells. Instructor Yang''s gaze landed on Gu Qin¡¯s face, noticing that she still seemed a bit excited. With a blank expression, he pointed at her, "You come out."The students sympathetically glanced at Gu Qin.Gu Qin was still quite eager. She had never fought anyone in her life and had only been practicing boxing for a short time, not sure if her skills had become rusty. She stepped forward, facing Instructor Yang, cupped her hands in greeting, slightly spread her legs, bent her knees into a half-squat stance, and raised her fists into a defensive position.Instructor Yang paused. This student had such a standard stance and such solid lower body posture. Could she be someone who had been practicing for a long time? Instructor Yang found it a bit interesting. Wasn¡¯t she only about 15? Even if she started practicing martial arts from a young age, it hadn¡¯t been long. Most of those years must have been spent doing stances. Instructor Yang didn¡¯t underestimate her, adjusted his stance, and gestured for her to make the first move.As he beckoned her forward, Gu Qin had already quickly lifted her foot and kicked toward him. Instructor Yang raised his hand to block, and Gu Qin retracted her leg and threw a straight punch at his face. Instructor Yang dodged by tilting his head, and Gu Qin smiled, suddenly wrapping her arm around his and spinning around his body in midair, throwing an elbow strike and punch, both narrowly missing as Instructor Yang dodged. Her half-squat stance wasn¡¯t steady enough, after all. She had only been practicing for a little over a month and was no match for her past decades of practice.The students watched in amazement as the two fought, seeing how agile Gu Qin was and how fast her movements were. Occasionally, Instructor Yang would even look somewhat flustered in dodging. They had no idea how long the fight went on, but after a few minutes, Gu Qin swiftly turned her body, feinted a kick, and followed it with a real punch. This time, her speed was so fast that her punch landed squarely on Instructor Yang¡¯s chest, knocking him back several steps. Everyone stared in shock.Gu Qin withdrew her hand, cupped her fists, and smiled, "Instructor, I humbly accept your defeat." Her boxing skills were proficient, but her body still wasn¡¯t quite coordinated enough. If her speed hadn¡¯t been faster, she probably would have lost.Instructor Yang smiled bitterly. "Gu Qin, you¡¯re very impressive. Have you studied before?"Gu Qin nodded but didn¡¯t elaborate. Instructor Yang said, "You all should learn from Gu Qin. She always finishes her training first, and her boxing is impressive. If any of you are interested in boxing in the future, you can ask Gu Qin to guide you."Gu Qin touched her nose. She wasn¡¯t really interested in teaching boxing.That evening, during dinner, Lin Xinxin was still in shock. The little lamb who always needed her protection had suddenly transformed into... a super powerful female boxer. It was so shocking. After the shock, Lin Xinxin became excited and kept asking Gu Qin about who taught her boxing. Gu Qin couldn¡¯t dodge the question, so she lied, "My master doesn¡¯t allow me to talk about it.""Ah, ah, Qin Qin, does your master allow you to teach others?" Lin Xinxin looked at her pitifully. "I want to learn boxing from you. But if your master doesn¡¯t allow it, then... I still want to learn.""I can teach you, but this is very hard work. Can you handle it?" Her master hadn¡¯t explicitly said she couldn¡¯t teach others.Lin Xinxin immediately nodded, "I can, I can! Qin Qin, don¡¯t worry! No matter how hard or tiring it is, I¡¯ll learn! You¡¯re the best, come on, have a chicken leg to replenish your energy¡­"The last day of shooting training, everyone got ten bullets. Gu Qin, having never touched a firearm before, was a bit in awe, gently caressing the gun for two minutes before listening to Instructor Yang¡¯s guidance. She then went to the shooting range, raised the gun, aimed, and fired."Eh, it¡¯s quite difficult." Gu Qin raised the gun again and fired¡ªanother shot. Instructor Yang noticed her and walked over. "Have you never handled a gun before?"Gu Qin nodded. Instructor Yang took the gun from her and aimed at the target. "Focus on the target, eyes, sight, target¡ªthree points in a line. Shooting should be quick, stable, and decisive. The most important thing is to keep your hand steady." Bang! The bullet hit the center of the target."Thanks, Instructor." Gu Qin aimed again, steadied her hand, and fired¡ªa bang¡ªthis time hitting the seven-ring. Instructor Yang was stunned. "Not bad." She had never touched a gun before, but after some simple guidance, she could still hit the target¡ªsuch talent was impressive.Gu Qin didn¡¯t speak and continued aiming. Bang¡ªthis time she hit the center of the target again. Instructor Yang widened his eyes. Gu Qin kept going, and all her remaining shots hit the ten-ring. Instructor Yang¡¯s breathing became somewhat ragged. This was no ordinary talent; she was a prodigy.He glanced at Gu Qin and hurried over to check the target. Besides a few earlier shots, the rest were all in the ten-ring. He looked at her again and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Would you be interested in joining the military?""No," Gu Qin shook her head. She admired and respected soldiers, and the military was an exciting place, but she was too free-spirited, and she still needed to practice. Joining the military probably wouldn¡¯t work out for her.Instructor Yang seemed to want to persuade her further, but Gu Qin said, "My mom says to focus on my studies."Instructor Yang almost laughed. She was obviously some sort of little mystic, and yet she played the role so convincingly. But since she wasn¡¯t interested, he couldn¡¯t force her. He still felt a bit regretful. "How about this: give me your phone number. If you¡¯re ever interested in boxing again, we can spar sometime."Gu Qin generously gave him her phone number.The next day, everyone took the bus back to school. The students were all excited to leave that dreadful place! This trip had left everyone sunburned, except for Gu Qin. Her skin remained pale, as she practiced every day, and the energy she cultivated helped cleanse her body, preventing any tan.Back at school on the first day, the teachers mostly just talked about things to pay attention to and miscellaneous matters, so the whole day was wasted. The next day, there was a two-day break. That evening, everyone went home. When Gu Qin got home, Cheng Yinxiang had already prepared a table full of her favorite dishes. She wasn¡¯t picky¡ªshe liked everything.Half an hour later, Gu Jia came home. He was in his third year of high school and had to work hard, so he came home pretty late. He knew Gu Qin was coming back today, and when he saw her, he couldn¡¯t help but tease, "Did you go to military training or hide somewhere? You¡¯re still not sunburned? You didn¡¯t really skip military training, did you?""I can¡¯t get sunburned. Nothing I can do about it," Gu Qin smiled and said.Cheng Yinxiang laughed and said, "Alright, stop teasing your sister. Wash your hands and come eat."After dinner, Gu Qin watched TV for an hour as usual. Cheng Yinxiang sat with her daughter and asked about her military training¡ªwhether it was tiring and so on. Gu Qin answered everything. At last, remembering the payment from the Jiang family still hadn¡¯t been given, Gu Qin said, "Mom, can you give me my ID card tomorrow? I need to open a bank account." Even though she wasn¡¯t yet of legal age, she could open a bank account with just her ID."Alright, I¡¯ll give it to you tomorrow." Cheng Yinxiang agreed, thinking her daughter should have a bank card and learn to manage finances.What Gu Qin didn¡¯t know was that at that very moment, someone was investigating her information. Su Guangzhi had found out that the Li family was fine, and he was so angry he nearly vomited. The Li and Jiang families had a huge influence in the real estate business in Daishan. After learning that the Li family had hired a master to move the ancestral tombs and break Miss Yan¡¯s formation, he reported to Yan Zhen. Yan Zhen then took out a divination tool, the Taiyi Liu Ren, to try and figure out more about this mysterious person.Su Guangzhi had only learned that a master had helped the Jiang and Li families, but he didn¡¯t even know whether the master was male or female, so he had no choice but to ask Yan Zhen to divine this person¡¯s information.The Taiyi Liu Ren is a divination tool used in ancient Chinese methods, involving the observation of the positions of the Big Dipper and other stars. Yan Zhen wanted to divine Gu Qin¡¯s information, but when the result came out, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. The divination was all mixed up? It couldn¡¯t be! She was a practitioner of refining essence into energy, how could she get the divination wrong?She quickly did another calculation, but still, the result was full of chaotic symbols. Yan Zhen couldn¡¯t help but feel a trace of unease. It seemed that Gu Qin was more than just an ordinary person.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

 The Call Home

    Gu Qin did not speak and directly extended her hand to feel Li Qi''s pulse. There was only one doctor, and seeing that the patient''s family didn''t stop her, it was useless to get angry. The doctor said to Li Boss, "You just let her make a fool of herself. Really, I can understand your feelings, but this is a hospital, and things should be done according to the hospital''s rules. What does a young girl like her know?"


    Gu Qin ignored the doctor''s incessant talking and carefully checked Li Qi''s pulse. The pulse was very faint, but in the practice of metaphysical medicine, as long as there was breath in a person, life could still be sustained. Gu Qin planned to try acupuncture and Qi to help.


    Li Yongsheng asked cautiously, "Miss Gu, how is my son? Can he be treated?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "It''s worth trying."


    "Ridiculous, ridiculous!" The doctor was so angry his face turned green, "You little girl, what do you plan to do for treatment? I saw you just took the pulse, right? That means you''re using traditional Chinese medicine, but our hospital also has skilled Chinese medicine doctors. Both Western and Chinese medicine have been tried for this patient''s condition, and the senior Chinese doctors have said it won''t work. Chinese medicine can''t treat it."


    Gu Qin knew very well that Chinese medicine couldn''t treat it; she didn''t plan on using it. Instead, she intended to use acupuncture to stimulate the brain and then transmit her Qi to help repair the brain. Qi is the vital essence of a person, and the universe is born from Qi, as it is the origin of everything. In philosophical terms, Qi is the fundamental material that constitutes all things, so one can see how important Qi is for the human body.


    Of course, Gu Qin couldn''t explain this to everyone. Ordinary people wouldn''t understand what Qi was, and they would think it was too abstract and unreal. She knew the doctor definitely wouldn''t believe in this, so she didn¡¯t plan to argue with him, as long as she had the patient¡¯s family on her side.


    Gu Qin said to Li Yongsheng, "Li Uncle, my suggestion is to send Li Da-ge to a rehabilitation center and find an expert in neurology, a retired senior doctor to take care of him. I will come every morning to treat him for two hours..."


    The doctor, ignored, became even angrier, "You little girl, what do you know?"


    "Doctor," Gu Qin suddenly spoke, "Can you cure Li Da-ge? Didn''t you just say that the family should give up on the patient? Since you''re planning to give up on him, why not let me try? What are you afraid of? Afraid that if I succeed, it will slap you in the face?"


    The doctor¡¯s face flushed red, "You... You little girl, how can you be so ungrateful?"


    Gu Qin knew this doctor was stubborn and would not accept anything beyond his understanding. Such people only believe in themselves, and anything beyond their imagination would be rejected. She couldn''t be bothered to argue further and turned to look at Li Yongsheng. Parents in this world are most concerned about their children. Since the hospital had given up, they wouldn''t. They would try everything as long as there was even the slightest possibility.


    Li Yongsheng immediately decided, "I''ll contact the rehabilitation center and the doctors right now."


    Actually, Gu Qin could treat Li Qi in the hospital, but the hospital''s director was Li''s father-in-law, the one who had once tried to harvest her heart. If she treated the patient here, it would be reported, and the director would surely recognize her. This person was capable of things like transplanting a living person''s heart, so it was possible that he would use some underhanded means to harm Li Qi if he found out she was involved.


    For this reason, Gu Qin decided it was better to send the patient to the rehabilitation center and have an expert there help with the care.


    The doctor was now so angry he couldn''t speak. Gu Qin said, "Li Uncle, I''ll go prepare some things. Once you arrange for Li Da-ge to be sent over, give me the address, and I''ll start his treatment tomorrow morning."


    Gu Qin left the hospital, fearing the doctor might report the situation. If Director Chen came, she didn¡¯t want to see him right now. After the court session tomorrow, she would see the trial result. If the law didn''t punish them, she would deal with it in her own way.


    After leaving the hospital, Gu Qin went to the bank and transferred a million to Cheng Yinxiang''s account. The family debts could now be cleared, and the remaining money was for her mother. That evening, Gu Qin received a call from Li Yongsheng, telling her that Li Qi had been sent to the rehabilitation center and everything was arranged, so Gu Qin could go directly.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Gu Qin had already bought acupuncture tools, and the trial was at 9 AM the next day, so there was enough time. She wasn''t in a hurry and, as usual, went to practice first, only leaving at six to head to the rehabilitation center.


    Li Qi¡¯s mother, named L¨¹ Xiumiao, had endured a lot with Li Yongsheng to build their family and raise their son, Li Qi. Now that their child was in trouble, she couldn''t leave his side for a moment and was living at the rehabilitation center to care for him. When she saw Gu Qin, L¨¹ Xiumiao hurriedly stood up, "Miss Gu, you''re here? Will you start treating my son now?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "The treatment won''t show immediate results. I''ll come every day for two hours. During the treatment, no one can enter; otherwise, I will be distracted. This treatment must not have the slightest distraction, otherwise, it could directly endanger Li Da-ge¡¯s life. Li Aunt, are you still willing to let me treat him?"


    Her words were straightforward. Treating with Qi wasn¡¯t easy. Qi could repair various organs, but it was difficult to control. If she didn¡¯t have the third eye, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to see Qi, let alone control it. Without the third eye, one would have to reach at least the stage of refining Qi into spirit to see and control Qi. So with her current cultivation, she had to be extremely careful and couldn¡¯t afford any distractions.


    L¨¹ Xiumiao covered her mouth and started crying. After a while, she wiped her tears and nodded, her eyes red, "As long as there¡¯s even a bit of hope, I won¡¯t give up. No matter the result, thank you, Miss Gu. I... I¡¯ll leave now so I won¡¯t disturb you."


    Gu Qin locked the door, disinfected the silver needles, and inserted them one by one into Li Qi. Her right palm rested on his lower abdomen, over the dantian.


    In her previous life, Gu Qin''s cultivation had only reached the late stage of refining Qi into spirit, so she had never used Qi to save someone. This was the first time. At first, she used a very faint stream of Qi to enter Li Qi''s body, traveling through the meridians to reach the brain. His brain was severely damaged, and the Qi finally stayed in the brain, slowly nurturing the brainstem. Gu Qin needed to continuously and slowly transmit more Qi into Li Qi¡¯s body.


    Two hours later, her face turned pale, and she was covered in sweat. She had never been so exhausted even during training at the base. She sat and meditated for ten minutes to recover before leaving. She didn¡¯t want to delay any further, as she still needed to shower and head to court.


    When she came out of the room, L¨¹ Xiumiao was startled, "Miss Gu, are you alright?"


    Gu Qin shook her head, "Where¡¯s the shower? I¡¯ll wash up first; I still have something to do. I¡¯ll come earlier tomorrow."


    She quickly took a shower, intending to wear her sweat-soaked clothes to court. Just then, there was a knock on the door outside the bathroom. "Miss Gu, are you in there? My daughter-in-law has come with a set of clothes. I saw yours are wet with sweat. Why don¡¯t you wear my daughter-in-law¡¯s clothes first? I¡¯ll bring them back later."


    "Thank you, Li Aunt." Gu Qin didn¡¯t refuse. The clothes were a simple sleeveless white dress. After a moment''s hesitation, Gu Qin decided to wear it and went out. She thought it was appropriate, as she wouldn¡¯t always wear such clothes in the future.


    The court was not far, and Gu Qin managed to arrive before the session began.


    Cheng Yinxiang was waiting for her outside. They entered together and sat down in the front row on the plaintiff''s side. The defendants, Gu Yuanjiang, Director Chen, anesthesiologists, and other doctors and medical assistants, were present. Many relatives of the Gu family had come too. Luo Wenfen, who was recovering, was glaring at Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Qin.


    The prosecutor, Gao Yi, stood up when the judge gave the signal to speak. He bowed slightly and said, "Plaintiff Cheng Yinxiang accuses the defendants on the bench, Gu Yuanjiang, Chen Zonggui, Ma Zhonghu, and others, of attempting to murder the plaintiff''s daughter, Gu Qin, by illegally harvesting her heart for an illegal heart transplant. The plaintiff¡¯s father, as the defendant, initially tricked his daughter into agreeing to donate a kidney. After the plaintiff agreed, she entered the operating room but was actually undergoing heart transplant surgery. Here are the plaintiff¡¯s electrocardiograms, photos of her wounds, the kidney donation document, and a video taken outside the operating room, all proving that the plaintiff had no heart disease, proving that the defendants intentionally and maliciously carried out the live heart transplant and are guilty of malpractice."


    The defense lawyer, a tall and slim man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looked sharp. This was Yu, the lawyer who Gu Yuanjiang claimed had never lost a case. He stood up, adjusted his glasses, and said, "My client is not guilty of murder. My client merely misdiagnosed the plaintiff. From the electrocardiogram, it is clear that the plaintiff had heart issues. However, we do apologize because the doctor mixed up the medical records of another heart disease patient with Miss Gu''s. This is why the surgery was performed, and the surgery form even has the signature of the plaintiff''s father."


    Gao Yi replied, "The defendant is not mistaken. Please look at these pieces of evidence, and the donation form signed by the plaintiff¡¯s father is even more impossible. The matching result on the kidney donation document clearly shows that Gu Qin had no heart disease. Otherwise, the matching wouldn''t have passed. This proves that the document signed by the plaintiff''s father is fake, fabricated. Or is the kidney donation document also forged by the defendant Gu Yuanjiang to trick his daughter into the operating room?"


    Yu lawyer adjusted his glasses, "The kidney donation document is naturally real. We have witnesses..."


    Indeed, the kidney donation document was real. A young man in his teens was brought to the court by his father, both of them were very emotional. They started accusing Gu Qin, asking why she had agreed to donate her kidney and then changed her mind, giving them hope and then letting them down.


    Gu Qin frowned. She had always thought the donation form was fabricated by bribed people, but it seemed to be real? However, she had never seen these two people before. Their clothing was good


    , and their demeanor was also rather strange. Gu Qin¡¯s face turned pale, and she suddenly remembered something from her past. Would they be¡­

 The Rib Soup

    In court, the neighbors had already seen the evidence, and although there was no direct proof to confirm that Gu Yuanjiang sold his daughter''s heart or that the hospital performed a live heart transplant, the related evidence presented was enough to prove that Gu Qin''s heart was healthy and did not require surgery. No matter how eloquent the lawyer was, they all felt something was off. A coincidence was one thing, but so many coincidences? Haha...


    Everyone had their own judgment, but one could easily imagine the outcome in today''s world, where you couldn''t use the internet and public opinion to fight against someone more powerful than yourself.


    On the way back, Cheng Yinxiang was somewhat dazed, her face pale. "Qin Qin, why can''t those bad people be punished? Why doesn''t Heaven punish them?"


    Gu Qin patted Cheng Yinxiang''s back. "Mom, don''t worry, there will be retribution. They will definitely get their comeuppance." She didn¡¯t care what the outcome was. If they created evil karma, let them have it. As long as those people received the punishment they deserved, she was fine with it.


    Cheng Yinxiang almost cried but held it back, not wanting her daughter to worry. Gu Qin smiled. "Mom, really, don''t worry. They will definitely have retribution, and I¡¯m fine now. In the future, our family of three will live better and better. Oh, by the way, Mom, I transferred a million to your card. Use it to pay off the debts, and spend the rest however you like. When I''m making more money, I¡¯ll give you more."


    "What... what?" Cheng Yinxiang was stunned, her eyes red as she looked at Gu Qin. "One million? Qin Qin, where did you get so much money? Don''t tell me it''s from giving someone a fortune..." She glanced at the taxi driver in front and stopped her words, "Qin Qin, I don¡¯t care about the debts. We can pay them back slowly. I just want you to be safe. I¡¯m really worried about you doing things like this."


    Gu Qin was silent. She wasn¡¯t good at speaking, and fortune-telling and feng shui were part of her daily life. She hadn¡¯t thought about hiding this from Cheng Yinxiang because it was hard to keep secrets. They couldn¡¯t rent forever, so it was better to be open from the start. She didn¡¯t think being a feng shui master was anything special, but her mother clearly didn¡¯t want her to do this. She couldn¡¯t argue and could only stay silent.


    "Qin Qin..." Cheng Yinxiang looked at her daughter and, afraid she would revert to her introverted self, didn¡¯t dare push further. "Alright, alright, Mom isn¡¯t mad at you. Mom... Mom just wants you to be safe. Understand?"


    Seeing that Gu Qin remained silent, Cheng Yinxiang coaxed, "Alright, alright, tell me how you made so much money? One million, that¡¯s too... when did giving someone a fortune become worth a million?"


    Gu Qin briefly explained the situation, saying that there had been frequent accidents at a construction site, and she had helped resolve the issues. The boss gave her a million to thank her. She kept some things to herself, like how Boss Jiang and Boss Li also gave her a villa and the top floor of a building. She didn¡¯t want to shock her mom, but she would slowly help her mom accept her profession. After all, it would take a year to finish the two construction projects, and she planned to tell her about the villa and the building later. As for buying a house, she wasn¡¯t planning on that for now.


    The taxi driver couldn¡¯t help but glance back, thinking to himself, "Now even young girls are bragging. One million? Seriously?"


    After they got home, Cheng Yinxiang started feeling unwell, with a heavy head. Since it was the weekend, she didn¡¯t need to go to work and just stayed in bed to rest. Gu Qin made dinner. When Gu Jia came home, he saw Gu Qin busy in the kitchen and dropped his schoolbag on the sofa. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, "So, how did it go? Did you win?"


    "No," Gu Qin replied in a muffled voice. "Go wash your hands and eat. Mom¡¯s not feeling well. She might have caught a cold. Let¡¯s eat first, and I¡¯ll make her ginger soup later."


    Gu Jia didn¡¯t say anything. He felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, Gu Yuanjiang was his father, so it was hard for him to accept that his dad might go to prison. But if his dad didn¡¯t go to prison, no one would stand up for his sister¡¯s suffering. No matter what the outcome, Gu Jia was sad. After a long silence, he said, "What about a civil lawsuit? We still owe tens of thousands. If we get some money from them, Mom will feel better."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "For now, no civil lawsuit," Gu Qin said. "I don¡¯t want their money. I just want them to get the punishment they deserve."


    "Punishment?" Gu Jia chuckled. "You still believe in that? Haven¡¯t you heard that good people don¡¯t live long, but harm lasts for generations?"


    Gu Qin turned and looked at Gu Jia seriously. "They will get retribution. If I say so, then they will."


    Seeing that his sister seemed off, Gu Jia didn¡¯t want to upset her. "Alright, alright, if you say they will, they will."


    Gu Qin continued with her work. Gu Jia watched her thin back, feeling a mix of emotions. "You guys made a mistake from the start. If you had exposed this online, built up public pressure, even if the evidence wasn¡¯t enough, they wouldn¡¯t have gotten away with it."


    "Online?" Gu Qin straightened up. She recalled that many things were exposed by the media on the internet, and there were benefits and drawbacks to that. Some bad people were punished due to online pressure. But there were also many false accusations, and the internet lacked a real-name system, so no one knew who was behind the screen. It had its pros and cons, and some people just used it to maliciously attack others without any moral compass.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t familiar with this aspect. She hadn¡¯t considered using the internet at the beginning because, even though the internet had power, cases like hers, without public relations behind them, were unlikely to gain much attention. Even if there was high attention, if it didn¡¯t work, it didn¡¯t work. Some people could always find legal loopholes to avoid responsibility. For example, in her case, there was no direct evidence to prove her father¡¯s involvement in the live heart transplant, so even if it were blown up online, it wouldn¡¯t help.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time something like this happened online. She remembered a similar case: a teenage boy threw a two-year-old child off a building more than twenty floors high. There was no direct evidence to prove the boy did it, only an elevator video showing him attacking the child. The boy¡¯s father claimed his son didn¡¯t know how to express emotions, and that hitting the child was his way of showing affection. In the end, because the boy was a minor and there was no direct evidence, the case was dismissed, and even the compensation hadn¡¯t been fully paid a year later. It was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye what had happened, just like her case. Even though the evidence was right in front of them, it wasn¡¯t enough to force them to admit it.


    Gu Jia saw that Gu Qin was lost in thought and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Gu Qin, what if I post a video online?"


    "Forget it." Gu Qin replied calmly. "What¡¯s the use of a video? There¡¯s no evidence that they tried to transplant my heart." She had given up on using legal means to punish them and wanted to make them suffer in a different way.


    After dinner, Gu Qin watched TV while thinking of a plan. She didn¡¯t know much about the people involved but knew their names. In order to set up a trap, she needed to gather more information about them. She didn¡¯t know anyone in this area, but both the Jiang and Li families were influential, so maybe they could help investigate these people. Since the Li family was in disarray, she could only turn to the Jiang family.


    Jiang Ni was outgoing and had many connections. Gu Qin immediately called her, hearing loud music in the background. Jiang Ni¡¯s voice soon became clearer as she walked away from the noise. "Gu, what¡¯s up?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Sister Jiang, it¡¯s Gu Qin. I need your help with something."


    The music grew quieter. Jiang Ni walked further away, and her voice became clear. "Gu, just tell me what you need."


    Gu Qin listed the names of the people involved. "Sister Jiang, these are the people¡ª the hospital director, the anesthetist, the doctor, and some assistants. Can you help me investigate them? Once I get the details, I¡¯ll take action."


    "Alright," Jiang Ni said without asking too many questions. "I know some people. I¡¯ll get it done soon."


    "Thank you, Sister Jiang."


    After hanging up, Gu Qin went to check on Cheng Yinxiang, who was already fast asleep. Gu Qin then went to her room to rest.


    The next morning, Gu Qin woke up early to treat Li Qi at the rehabilitation center, then went to school for the early self-study session. Gu Qin was very diligent in her studies. After the session, she went out for breakfast when Lin Xinxin came over, asking, "Qin Qin, you said you would teach me boxing. How about we go to the artificial lake after class? It¡¯s quiet there, and not many people go."


    Gu Qin smiled. "You don¡¯t start


    training until later, but we can go now. I¡¯ll help you with some exercises, and you can watch."


    "Alright!" Lin Xinxin grinned, happy to have the chance to watch and learn.


    The two went to the artificial lake after class. Lin Xinxin brought a mat and Gu Qin began showing her some basic moves, teaching her the correct posture and stance. As they trained, they talked.


    "Qin Qin," Lin Xinxin suddenly asked, "Do you think we¡¯ll win this fight? I mean... with your dad, the case..."


    Gu Qin looked at Lin Xinxin and smiled faintly. "It¡¯s hard to say. But whether I win or not, I¡¯ve learned a lot from this."


    Lin Xinxin nodded. "It¡¯s good to learn something, but I just hope you can get what you deserve."


    "Don¡¯t worry," Gu Qin said, "I¡¯ll make sure they pay for what they did."

 The Old Injury

    Gu Qin spent half a month setting up the formation. During this time, she had to cultivate, treat Li Qi, go to school, and revise her lessons after school. She was so busy that she hardly had time to rest. If her guess was correct, the White Tiger''s Raising Head Evil in Dean Chen''s place should have gradually started to take effect.


    Gu Qin planned to go to Xu Junze''s house tomorrow night to set up the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams formation, but unexpectedly, Xu Junze found her before the next evening, during the midday. The security room outside called her, saying someone was looking for her.


    She never calculated her own fate, so she didn''t know who was looking for her. It was only when she saw the person that she recognized him. Surprised, she asked, "You¡¯re looking for me? To apologize?" She remembered this person as the anesthesiologist from the surgery. His face didn¡¯t suggest malice, and his nature seemed gentle. She guessed that he probably came to apologize because he couldn¡¯t live with his conscience after what happened. Gu Qin deduced that this person had been forced into collusion with those people, but so what? The real Gu Qin had already died because of them. Death could not be reversed. She was not the true Gu Qin. Even though she inherited her memories and emotions, what did it matter?


    People die, and they must take responsibility. Apologies meant nothing.


    "Miss Gu, I am here to apologize. I am really sorry about what happened at the hospital. I¡­ I know that saying this doesn''t help, but I still wanted to say sorry, so I came to apologize to you." Xu Junze said uneasily. "Miss Gu, the person behind this is named Su, and he has quite a bit of power. He has relatives in the neighboring province working in government. You won¡¯t win a lawsuit against him."


    "So what?" Gu Qin replied coldly. "Even if I can''t win, it doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore. Karma will catch up with them."


    Xu Junze hurriedly explained, "Miss Gu, I¡­ I didn''t mean to say that. I had my own reasons for being involved in this, and I know that this isn¡¯t an excuse for what happened to you. I¡¯m not asking for your forgiveness¡­"


    "Then what are you here for? Are you planning to expose them?"


    "No¡­ No." Xu Junze was getting more uncomfortable. "I just came to apologize, and if you¡¯re willing, I will compensate you. I earn about ten thousand a month, and I can give you six thousand each month as compensation, for the next ten years." After deducting living expenses and his sister¡¯s tuition, he would have almost no savings left.


    Gu Qin was amused by this, "Do you think money can buy a life? I won¡¯t take your money, and I don¡¯t want to say more. You reap what you sow. You¡¯ve made your bed, so lie in it." With that, she turned around and left for school. An apology couldn''t erase the fact that Gu Qin had died. She would still set up the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams formation.


    Xu Junze murmured, "I know you won¡¯t forgive me. If you won¡¯t accept the compensation, I will donate the money to poor students and those in impoverished areas. I¡¯m sorry."


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t say much more. She decided to wait until he did it before she made her judgment. Later that night, she went near Xu Junze''s house and placed the hair she had gotten from Jiang Ni onto the Yin side of the Bagua mirror, setting up the formation before returning home. Unexpectedly, she bumped into Gu Jia, who was sitting on the sofa with a sullen face.


    Gu Qin looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and was about to pretend to quietly return to her room.


    "Stop right there!" Gu Jia shouted. "Where have you been? I haven¡¯t seen you a few times at night. Gu Qin, what have you been doing?"


    "It¡¯s nothing, I just went out for a walk," Gu Qin naturally couldn''t tell him the truth.


    Gu Jia was furious. "In the middle of the night, where are you walking? Don¡¯t you know how dangerous it is for a young girl to be out at this hour? Gu Qin, have you forgotten your lesson? Even your own father is worse than a beast. Last time, you were lucky, but what if the people behind this haven¡¯t given up and are still watching you? Do you know how dangerous it is for you to go out like this?"


    The live heart transplant must have been arranged by someone paying off those doctors, and they didn¡¯t even know who that person was. But considering the number of people he could buy off, the person behind it had considerable influence. Also, Gu Qin had type B RH-negative blood, and only a few people could match her heart. It would be very difficult for that person to find another matching heart, so they might try to target her again.


    "Where exactly did you go?" Gu Jia asked.


    Gu Qin looked at him. "I just went out for a bit, don¡¯t ask anymore. I won¡¯t tell you the truth!"


    Gu Jia stood up, looking down at Gu Qin. "I¡¯m your brother, and I have to take care of you!"


    Gu Qin sneered. "Then why didn¡¯t you dare to go to court? In your heart, is your sister more important or that scum of a man? Or were you afraid that the scum would be convicted, so you didn¡¯t dare to go? Actually, I bet you were relieved when you heard the result."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Gu Jia''s face turned pale. Before he could speak, Gu Qin coldly continued, "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. You¡¯ve replaced your phone again, haven¡¯t you? This new model costs over eight thousand for the low-end version. Mom didn¡¯t give you any money for it. You must have gotten it from that scum, right? He went bankrupt, and how could he afford a phone? I heard he even managed to pay off his debt, and still had money to buy you a new phone. You know he¡¯s a failure, so where did he get that money? Isn¡¯t it the money he got from selling me? And you¡¯re using it to buy a phone. What right do you have to lecture me?"


    "I¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­" Gu Jia became flustered. "I didn¡¯t know¡­"


    He didn¡¯t know that their father had already paid off the debt. The other students were all using new phones, and he didn¡¯t dare to ask his mother for the money, so he turned to his father. Without asking any questions, his father gave him a thousand yuan, and he went straight to buy a new phone. He never questioned where the money came from.


    Gu Qin seemed to guess his thoughts. "Don¡¯t use Grandma as an excuse. You know full well how stingy she is. Even if she liked you and that scum, she¡¯s never given you more than a thousand yuan."


    With that, she didn¡¯t want to say anything more to him and went back to her room to lie down.


    "Gu Qin! Stop! It¡¯s not like that¡­" Gu Jia¡¯s tone became panicked, wanting to explain, but there was nothing to explain. He had always enjoyed the favor his father gave him and never cared about his sister¡¯s feelings.


    Gu Qin returned to her room, and Gu Jia stood there with a pale face. Cheng Yinxiang woke up from the noise and came out to see Gu Jia standing in the living room. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Jia Jia, what are you doing here? Did you argue with your sister? Jia Jia, you¡¯re the older brother, you should give in to your sister."


    "Mom, I know¡­" Gu Jia mumbled, lowering his head.


    Lying in bed, Gu Qin tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She didn¡¯t know what happened earlier, but she had an overwhelming surge of anger that she needed to vent. From childhood, Gu Jia was the one most favored by the relatives of that scum. They always prioritized boys over girls. Ultimately, she was still influenced by some of the emotions of the original Gu Qin. The original soul had dissipated, but Gu Qin inherited her fate, including her character, emotions, and obsessions.


    The Gu family¡¯s preference for boys meant that Gu Jia got all the new things, while she could only use what was left behind by him. Sometimes, even those things couldn¡¯t be used, like the old, worn-out phone that had once been used by that scum. Cheng Yinxiang also gave her money to buy a new phone, but she couldn¡¯t bear to take it. Both the men in the family recklessly spent her hard-earned wages, never understanding how hard her mother worked.


    This was the obsession deep in Gu Qin¡¯s heart, the resentment she carried.


    Because of this, Gu Qin couldn¡¯t sleep well and sneaked out at 3 AM to cultivate. Her family naturally didn¡¯t know she went to cultivate. Every morning when Cheng Yinxiang woke up, she would see Gu Qin returning on her bicycle. Gu Qin only said she went out to exercise, and Cheng Yinxiang wouldn¡¯t stop her. Occasionally, when she went out, Gu Qin wasn¡¯t back yet.


    After descending from Daishan, Gu Qin went directly to the rehabilitation center. Li Yongsheng, L¨¹ Xiuniao, and Li''s daughter-in-law were all there, looking like they were waiting for someone. When they saw her, they were all excited. L¨¹ Xiuniao hurried forward and grabbed her hand excitedly. "Miss Gu, I really


    don¡¯t know how to thank you. The doctor¡­ the doctor checked yesterday afternoon and said¡­ said my son has shown some autonomous response in his brainstem¡­"


    She started crying with gratitude. "Miss Gu, I really don¡¯t know what to say. The doctors at Daishan Hospital told us to give up, saying my son¡¯s brainstem had almost no autonomous response. If it wasn¡¯t for you¡­"


    Gu Qin supported her. "Auntie, don¡¯t cry. This is good news. It¡¯s only been half a month, and we¡¯re already seeing results. I will continue treating Li Dage. One day, he will wake up."


    "Thank you, Miss Gu, thank you!" L¨¹ Xiuniao wiped her tears, again and again.


    After two hours of treatment, Gu Qin was covered in sweat. She realized that after using her energy to treat others, she was becoming more sensitive in controlling her energy, and her cultivation had increased a little.


    During this time, Chen Zonggui had been feeling uncomfortable, as if something was pressing on his chest and making it hard to breathe. He was so startled that he thought he had some illness, so he had a full-body checkup at the hospital, but everything seemed fine. However, the discomfort didn¡¯t go away. In fact, it only worsened. The most troubling part was that when he asked his family, they also felt unwell, as if they couldn¡¯t catch their breath. He thought it was just the stress, but a few days later, trouble came to his home. His eldest son went abroad, and his youngest son, still in high school, got into a fight at school. He was hit on the head and had a concussion. Chen Zonggui was furious and went to confront the other family. But the school had installed a surveillance camera, proving that his son was the one who started the fight. It was said that after school, his son had been teasing a female student, who became angry and called her older brother. Initially, the older brother tried to reason with his son, but his son struck first, and in the end, his son was hospitalized, while the other party wasn¡¯t harmed at all. Chen Zonggui was furious and embarrassed, but his wife cried and wanted to sue the other family. Chen Zonggui snapped, "Are you trying to make a scene? Don¡¯t you know how much trouble we¡¯ve been in lately? If you make a fuss, it will ruin everything, and even my position as dean could be in danger! What reason does your son have to sue? He¡¯s the one who provoked them. If you don¡¯t care about your reputation, go ahead and sue!" His wife, feeling wronged, left to visit their son. But as soon as she left, something even worse happened. She was hit by a car, but the driver was not at fault. She seemed to be in a daze and ran right in front of the car. The collision sent her flying several meters, and she was rushed to the hospital. There was internal bleeding, and she was immediately sent into surgery. When Chen Zonggui got the news, he was shocked. Why was everything happening so suddenly? He hurriedly left his mansion to drive to the hospital, but his mind was in turmoil. In his anxiety, he ran several red lights. When he reached a bridge, he lost control of the car, which crashed into the railing. The seatbelt, usually firm, snapped, sending him flying out of the car, his back hitting a rock that had been broken by the car. The pain in his back was unbearable, and everything went black as he lost consciousness. In that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the words of the girl outside the courthouse, who had asked him, "Dean Chen, aren¡¯t you afraid of retribution?"

 The Disciples Worry

    Frequent incidents happened in the family. First, it was the youngest son, then his wife, and on the same day, they both had a car accident. Retribution? Could there really be such a thing in this world? It was only when Chen Zonggui lost consciousness that he finally felt scared.


    When he woke up, he was already lying in Daishan Hospital. His subordinates from the hospital were all standing around him with solemn faces. Chen Zonggui was still somewhat dazed. "Wha... what happened?" He suddenly remembered the car accident, and his face turned pale. "What happened to me?"


    Why did his lower body feel like it had no sensation? He pinched his thigh hard with his hand, but felt nothing. Still no sensation. What exactly was going on? Chen Zonggui''s face gradually turned pale. "W... what''s happening to me?"


    One of them, the vice president of Daishan Hospital, said, "Old Chen, don''t move around. You were in a car accident. You didn¡¯t have any internal injuries, but... your spine was hurt, and your lower body has temporarily lost sensation." The words were delivered somewhat delicately, as spinal injuries were almost as serious as brain injuries. It was irreversible. Western medicine couldn¡¯t help, and they had even invited an elderly traditional Chinese medicine doctor who confirmed that recovery was impossible. All the doctors found it strange, as when the hospital received the dean, his head was heavily injured, bleeding profusely, but his brain had little damage. Typically, when people are thrown from a car, the head takes the brunt of the damage, causing cranial injuries, but Dean Chen had only injured his spine, which led to his paralysis.


    "What... what?" Chen Zonggui''s head buzzed. As a doctor himself, he understood that the lack of sensation meant paralysis of his lower body, and it was irreversible. He was paralyzed. How could this happen to him? Before he could regain his senses, the vice president continued, "Don¡¯t worry, dean. Our hospital will invite experts from the United States for your treatment. Also, your wife has already had surgery and is no longer in danger. Your son has no serious issues and will be discharged soon if there are no complications in his brain."


    The doctors present were all bewildered. How could such a series of misfortunes strike the dean''s family so suddenly?


    Three days later, after a detailed consultation, the experts from the United States regretfully told Chen Zonggui that his lower body would remain paralyzed with no chance of recovery.


    The accident would inevitably make the news because Chen Zonggui was the dean of Daishan Hospital, with a well-known reputation. The media reported his spinal injury and paralysis, and they also covered the series of misfortunes affecting his family recently.


    Gu Qin¡¯s family didn¡¯t subscribe to newspapers, and she wasn¡¯t fond of browsing the internet, so she had no knowledge of this incident. It wasn¡¯t until the next day when Gu Jia saw the news online. He had been wanting to apologize to Gu Qin for some time but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. When he saw the report about Dean Chen, he froze. Could this really be retribution?


    So Gu Jia decided to use this event to apologize to Gu Qin. That evening, after returning from school, he saw Gu Qin sitting at her desk reviewing her work. He walked over and showed her a report about Dean Chen on his phone. "Look at this."


    Gu Qin glanced at the content on the phone, quickly finished reading, and then lowered her head to continue working. Gu Jia hesitated. "Don¡¯t you have anything to say?"


    "Say what?" Gu Qin looked up. "I just said they would get their retribution, and now it¡¯s here."


    Gu Jia opened his mouth, not knowing how to respond. He didn¡¯t really believe in retribution and thought it was just coincidence. However, today, he wasn¡¯t here just to talk about this. He sat down in front of her and said, "Gu Qin, I¡¯m sorry."


    When they were younger, Gu Jia used to call her "little sister," but now, they both addressed each other by their full names.


    "I¡¯m not angry." Gu Qin didn¡¯t even look up, her pen scribbling on the paper. It was almost time for the monthly exams, and she had to push herself harder. She had already been studying during the summer and, with the memories of the original Gu Qin, the subjects weren¡¯t too difficult for her. Moreover, she genuinely wasn¡¯t angry; after a good sleep, all the resentment faded away.


    "Do you want to use a new phone?" Gu Jia tried to please her. "I just got a new phone; it¡¯s still almost brand new, and I haven¡¯t sold it yet. I¡¯ll give it to you if you want."


    "No need." Gu Qin didn¡¯t think it was necessary. A phone was just for making and receiving calls, something she rarely used. Besides, she was at least worth several million, wasn¡¯t she? Did she really need a phone?The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Oh, come on." Gu Jia laughed. "I¡¯ll go get it for you." He thought she might still be angry.


    Gu Qin was speechless. Gu Jia quickly brought the phone to her. The two siblings played around for a while, but Gu Qin couldn¡¯t get the hang of using the phone and was about to just put the SIM card back in her old phone. Gu Jia stopped her, "No, don¡¯t do that! I¡¯ll cut the card for you." Eventually, he helped her set everything up, downloading several apps, such as games, QQ, WeChat, and others. Unfortunately, Gu Qin didn¡¯t know how to use any of them.


    Later that evening, Gu Qin went out again. She planned to remove the White Tiger Raising Head Evil from the Chen family. Dean Chen had received his due punishment, but the evil still remained, and if it wasn¡¯t removed, his family would meet with misfortune. Living like this was even more painful than dying. Moreover, the misfortune had already affected his family, and even though they were bad, it wasn¡¯t her original self¡¯s responsibility. A small punishment was enough, and she didn¡¯t want to make things worse for his family.


    Of course, Gu Qin wouldn¡¯t let Chen Zonggui off lightly. After removing the White Tiger Raising Head Evil, she buried a talisman with Chen Zonggui¡¯s birthdate near his family¡¯s villa. This spot was specifically chosen by Gu Qin, and while moving the earth there could cause minor issues, she made sure that the talisman would only affect Chen Zonggui and not harm anyone else. It would only bring bad luck to him.


    A few days after she buried the talisman, Chen Zonggui¡¯s son¡¯s concussion improved, and there were no further complications in his brain. He was almost ready to be discharged, but he had a deep scar on his forehead that would leave a permanent mark.


    Chen Zonggui¡¯s wife¡¯s injuries were more severe. After surgery, she would need to stay in the hospital for half a month, and she would experience chronic pain in her chest and abdomen as a result of the trauma.


    Jiang Ni almost immediately learned of the incidents at the Chen family, starting with the youngest son, then his wife, and finally Dean Chen. It was clear that Gu Qin had interfered with the Chen family¡¯s feng shui. Jiang Ni was shocked, but more than that, she felt admiration for Gu Qin, a bit of excitement and a sense of luck to be involved in such events.


    A couple of days later, Cheng Yinxiang also heard about it and couldn¡¯t help but clap her hands in approval. After dinner, Gu Jia told them he was going to a classmate¡¯s house to review, and then he left. Both Jiang Ni and Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t think much of it.


    A while later, Gu Qin had finished her study and was about to sleep when the phone rang. The name on the screen clearly said "Hospital Video Guy."


    Gu Qin thought for a moment, then answered the call. "Hello?"


    On the other end, it was Feng Tao¡¯s voice. "Hey, it¡¯s me. You remember me, right? The guy you bought the hospital video from a couple of months ago?"


    Gu Qin lay back on her bed, widening her eyes. "I remember. What¡¯s up?"


    Feng Tao asked, "How¡¯s the case going? Did you win? I saw the news about Dean Chen¡¯s car accident."


    "Didn¡¯t win," Gu Qin said without elaborating.


    Feng Tao chuckled. "Why so naive? You should¡¯ve used public pressure. If it were me, I would¡¯ve just uploaded the video online to stir things up. Don¡¯t you get it? Want me to help?"


    "No need." She had already solved it herself, so why would she want them to end up in jail?


    "I¡¯ll help you!" Feng Tao insisted.


    "Really, no need!" Gu Qin was starting to feel that he was too familiar, "I promised to help you once. Have you thought of what you want me to do?"


    Feng Tao paused for a moment, then laughed. "What could I want? My dad¡¯s surgery was successful. Anyway, I¡¯ll upload the video for you. No need to thank me!"


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t pay much attention to what Feng Tao said. Whether the video was uploaded online or not didn¡¯t matter to her.


    Feng Tao had always cared about Gu Qin¡¯s situation because she was the one who had bought the video from him. He wanted to follow up, and when he saw that Dean Chen was hospitalized, he couldn¡¯t help but call to ask. Hearing the result, he felt a bit indignant. After hanging up, he uploaded the video from before, but he made sure to


    blur Gu Qin¡¯s face.


    He was quite familiar with online trends, so he knew how to craft a catchy headline. He emphasized the topics of "live organ transplant" and "retribution," and soon, the post had thousands of clicks and many replies.


    After the Chen family¡¯s troubles, other families began to experience small problems. However, none of them were as serious as the Chen family¡¯s. At first, it was just a series of minor annoyances, like physical discomfort. Xu Junze was no exception, feeling cold and unwell at home. He couldn¡¯t shake a cold for several days. Strangely, only he was affected, and when he asked his sister, she seemed fine. She had had a cold a few days ago, but now she was perfectly fine. He didn¡¯t dare let her stay with him, so he sent her to stay at school.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t know about Feng Tao¡¯s help because she was too busy preparing for something to deal with the Su family. According to the information, the Su family had always been in business, and about half a year ago, their eldest son entered politics and was doing well. He had already reached the second-highest position in the neighboring city. Reaching the top spot was difficult, and while the city¡¯s top position was still held by someone who had recently moved from the capital, the Su family¡¯s eldest son was determined to rise to the top. However, reaching the second position in just six months was still an impressive achievement.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t plan to target the entire Su family. The idea to move against them had come from Su Lingyu and her father, so she would only target them. Su Lingyu had a heart condition and wouldn¡¯t live long. The remaining target was her father, Su Guangzhi.


    The Su family lived in a villa not far from the Chen family, in the same neighborhood. Gu Qin also planned to set up the White Tiger Raising Head Evil, but she realized that the Su family, especially Su Lingyu and her father, were the ones responsible for the death of her original self. She had planned to strike them, but after discovering some things, she decided to temporarily hold off on her actions against the Su family.

 The Forbidden Touch

    When Fu Hanru learned that Su Lingyu''s health had improved somewhat, he went to visit her. The two had been childhood sweethearts, and when they were young, Lingyu was chubby and adorable, always following him around, calling him "Brother Fu" and saying she would marry him when she grew up. He loved that soft little girl back then and assumed that as she grew, she would still be the same.


    But as she grew, Su family pampered her, and Lingyu developed a bit of a temper. Because he liked her, he indulged her. However, she became sick, and over time, she changed¡ªbecoming irritable, short-tempered, and unreasonable. Two years later, he was getting exhausted. She was always paranoid, suspecting him when he was late.


    Later, a match for her heart appeared, and when he learned from Lingyu that it was a living person¡¯s heart, he was stunned. The heart belonged to a girl who secretly admired him. He was shocked that Lingyu actually wanted a living person¡¯s heart. She insisted that if the girl didn¡¯t die, then the heart couldn¡¯t be used. Lingyu threw a tantrum, and he finally compromised, agreeing to get close to that girl and persuade her to donate her heart.


    Donate her heart? Fu Hanru almost wanted to laugh. It was not just donating a heart; it was essentially donating a life. Yet, he had agreed. Over the year he spent with the girl, he never promised her anything, but she was always happy. He tested her countless times, asking if she would donate her heart if her family needed it. She cheerfully said she would, but he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to say the words.


    They had argued many times over this issue. He didn¡¯t want the girl¡¯s heart to be transplanted to Lingyu. Eventually, he visited Lingyu less frequently and never mentioned the heart transplant to the girl again. One day, the girl suddenly called him and told him not to see her anymore. He insisted they meet, and when they did, she was resolute. He was disappointed, and after returning, he felt guilty and never tried to contact the girl again, nor did he visit Lingyu.


    So, when he received a call from Lingyu, he was puzzled. Her voice sounded upbeat. "Brother Fu, come visit me, I¡¯m feeling much better."


    Lingyu was at the Su family¡¯s home, and Fu Hanru went to see her. That¡¯s when he learned that a lot had happened in the past three months. The Su family had met a skilled person who had temporarily helped Lingyu keep her life, and in a few years, they would slowly find a new heart source. He was quite surprised; it seemed like an odd thing, but it was good news. A few years were enough time to find a suitable heart.


    Su Lingyu smiled and linked her arm through Fu Hanru¡¯s. "Brother Fu, take me out to play."


    So Fu Hanru took her shopping. While they were shopping, Su Lingyu acted coquettishly, "Brother Fu, let¡¯s go visit Gu Qin. I owe her a thank you. If she hadn¡¯t run away from the hospital, I would be using her heart right now. Honestly, I didn¡¯t want her heart, though. She¡¯s so ugly and thin. If I had used her heart, I might end up looking like her."


    Fu Hanru froze, pulling his hand away from hers. "Lingyu, what are you talking about? What do you mean she ran away from the hospital?"


    Su Lingyu chuckled, her face blooming with a sweet smile. "Didn¡¯t Brother Fu know? Three months ago, my dad made a deal with her family. If they agreed to give me her heart, my dad would give them a huge sum of money, enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. But something went wrong during the surgery, and she ran away from the operating table. Luckily, she did. I really didn¡¯t want her heart."


    Fu Hanru¡¯s face darkened as he glared at her. "Su Lingyu, how can you be so detestable?"


    "Detestable?" Su Lingyu laughed mischievously. "Brother Fu, have you fallen for that thin little girl? What¡¯s so good about her? Just because you spent over a year with her, you like her now? That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t want her heart to be transplanted into me?"


    Fu Hanru¡¯s face was expressionless, but Su Lingyu linked her arm with his again. "Brother Fu, let¡¯s go thank Gu Qin."


    Fu Hanru shook her hand off. "Lingyu, enough. I¡¯m taking you home now. Since you don¡¯t need her heart anymore, we have no further business with Gu Qin. Don¡¯t go bothering her again."


    Su Lingyu smiled sweetly but said nothing. After a while, she smiled even more, her eyes narrowing. "Brother Fu, what are you worried about? Are you afraid I¡¯ll eat her? I was just joking. I really don¡¯t want to see her. Well, Brother Fu, go ahead and leave. I¡¯ve got someone else to accompany me shopping."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    After Fu Hanru left, Su Lingyu smiled at his retreating figure, but her eyes held no trace of amusement. Once he was gone, she called her driver to take her to Daishan No.1 High School.


    Later in the afternoon, when school was about to end, Lin Xinxin came to find Gu Qin. "Qin Qin, let¡¯s go shopping after school. Tomorrow is the monthly exam, so let¡¯s relax and reward ourselves before the first major exam of our high school years!"


    Gu Qin smiled. "Where do you want to go?"


    Lin Xinxin swallowed and her eyes lit up. "I heard there¡¯s a self-service seafood restaurant on Baiyu Road. It¡¯s supposed to be really good. Let¡¯s go there!"


    "I¡¯ll treat you," Gu Qin said, propping her chin up with a smile. "I¡¯ve got money. You¡¯ve always treated me, so today I¡¯ll treat you."


    "Oh, no need! Save your money for yourself," Lin Xinxin refused. "Your dad¡¯s situation has put your family in debt. If you have any extra money, save it. You can help lighten the burden for Aunt Cheng."


    Gu Qin smiled. "The debt¡¯s almost settled. I¡¯ll pay it off next month."


    "Eh? Where did you get the money?" Lin Xinxin was somewhat familiar with Gu Qin¡¯s family situation.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t answer directly, just smiled and said, "Are you eating or not?"


    Lin Xinxin nodded eagerly. "Of course!"


    As the two were chatting, their homeroom teacher came by. "Gu Qin, someone is looking for you."


    Lin Xinxin went with Gu Qin outside, where they saw a well-dressed middle-aged man. When the man saw Gu Qin, he stepped forward and said, "Miss Gu, our young lady is waiting for you at the caf¨¦ next door."


    They walked to the caf¨¦, and the middle-aged man pointed to a seat. "Miss Gu, that¡¯s where our young lady is sitting."


    When Lin Xinxin saw Su Lingyu, she widened her eyes and whispered in Gu Qin¡¯s ear, "Qin Qin, I know her. She¡¯s Fu Hanru¡¯s girlfriend. I saw Fu Hanru with her last time. What does she want with you?"


    What else could she want but trouble? But Gu Qin was puzzled. Su Lingyu¡¯s heart condition had been quite severe, and she should have still been in the hospital. Had she found another heart source? But even if she had, it was impossible for her to be bouncing around so soon after the surgery.


    When Gu Qin sat down opposite Su Lingyu, she finally understood the situation. She gasped, but kept her face neutral. Su Lingyu¡¯s body was surrounded by a heavy aura of death, and dark energy seemed to be swirling around her. Gu Qin quickly used her "heavenly sight"¡ª


    In the dimly lit room, a Seven-Star Lamp life-sustaining formation was set up. Su Lingyu sat in the center of the formation, with Su Guangzhi standing anxiously beside her. A woman with long, flowing hair was also seated in the formation, holding a yellowwood gourd in front of her. With her left hand, she formed seals, chanting incantations, while her right hand made gestures, channeling a stream of dark energy into seven of Su Lingyu¡¯s acupoints.


    Gu Qin immediately understood what was going on and withdrew her "heavenly sight." Her face turned pale. Su Lingyu hadn¡¯t received a heart transplant¡ªshe had been given an extension of life, and the woman with long hair had performed the ritual.


    This made sense. She had been wondering who was behind the real estate boom in Daishan City, and now she knew it was related to the Su family. She had suspected that Su Guangzhi¡¯s brother could rise so quickly in a mere six months because someone was backing him.


    Gu Qin hadn¡¯t paid much attention to finance news, but if she had, she would have noticed that the Su family had a major influence on the local real estate market recently.


    The life-extending ritual wasn¡¯t a joke. There were two types: one was legitimate and required the consent of both parties, but it was extremely difficult. The other was an evil practice, forcibly taking someone else¡¯s life to extend another¡¯s.


    Given the heavy aura of dark energy around Su Lingyu, it was clear she had taken someone¡¯s life against their will. Even if the practitioner wanted to steal life energy, it wasn¡¯t an easy task. This method often involved trapping the victim¡¯s soul in a yellowwood gourd, and with Su Lingyu¡¯s


    overwhelming dark energy, it was clear the person who died was extremely unwilling.


    Life and death were determined by fate, and life extension was a form of defying fate. Usually, this kind of ritual could only extend life for about half a year. Su Lingyu¡¯s time was likely half a year, and even if she received a heart transplant after that, her body would always be affected by this dark energy.


    Gu Qin now understood the situation. She didn¡¯t recognize the woman in the formation, but judging by the energy she was emitting, this woman¡¯s cultivation level was at least at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, while Gu Qin herself was still at the early stage. Fortunately, the Su family hadn¡¯t set up any other formations yet, or she might not have been able to deal with this woman.


    For now, the focus was on dealing with that long-haired woman.


    "Hello, Miss Gu," Su Lingyu said, pointing to a list on the table. "Would you like something to drink?"


    Seeing that Gu Qin was silent, she smiled. "I guess you don¡¯t recognize me, huh? I¡¯m Fu Hanru¡¯s girlfriend."


    "Hello," Gu Qin nodded. "I know. What¡¯s the matter?"


    Su Lingyu was a little surprised by Gu Qin¡¯s nonchalant response. "Aren¡¯t you the one who stole my boyfriend?" she said with a grin.


    "Stole your boyfriend?" Gu Qin laughed. "Miss Su, you¡¯re joking. Fu Hanru and I are just ordinary friends. We¡¯re not even friends anymore. It was Fu Hanru who came to me first, never the other way around. If anyone should be concerned, it¡¯s you¡ªmaybe you should keep better control over your boyfriend?"


    Gu Qin¡¯s response was calm, almost too calm. The original Gu Qin had never actively approached Fu Hanru because she cared too much and was afraid of being rejected. Every time, it had always been Fu Hanru who reached out to her first.

 The Night of Pain

    Su Lingyu never expected Gu Qin to be so sharp-tongued. According to the information she had gathered, Gu Qin was supposed to be soft and easy to bully, but what was this? Lin Xinxin nodded and followed Gu Qin''s lead, saying, "Exactly, you should manage your own boyfriend and tell him not to harass our Qin Qin."


    Su Lingyu''s temper flared. She had always been sharp-tongued with outsiders. "So you¡¯re the one who stole my boyfriend and now you¡¯re trying to act innocent? Do you have no shame? Believe it or not, I¡¯ll report this to the school!"


    Before Gu Qin could say anything, Lin Xinxin scoffed and said, "You still think you¡¯re in elementary school? Always running to the teacher or parents. You¡¯ll need evidence to claim we stole your boyfriend. Besides, that kind of boyfriend is only valuable to you, don¡¯t think for a second that Qin Qin cares about him."


    Gu Qin didn''t speak up; her mind was occupied with other thoughts. She had no interest in engaging in a petty verbal fight. Su Lingyu and that woman still had no idea that she wasn¡¯t the same Gu Qin as before but a feng shui master now. This was her trump card, and she certainly wasn¡¯t going to reveal it now. The real question was, how should she deal with that woman?


    "Who do you think you are? Do you think you have the right to interrupt when I¡¯m speaking?" Su Lingyu sneered.


    "I¡¯m a person, and you are nothing but trash. Your whole family is trash," Lin Xinxin said, linking arms with Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her friend¡¯s words. She had to thank Su Lingyu for this moment; otherwise, she might have overlooked something crucial. If she had acted rashly against the Su family, it would have only harmed herself.


    Su Lingyu, enraged by this public humiliation, scowled. She had come here to humiliate Gu Qin, who she thought was weak and meek, but now even Gu Qin was standing her ground. She had never experienced this kind of frustration before. The thought crossed her mind¡ªwas Gu Qin just too proud to admit that she had feelings for Fu Hanru? She probably wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the truth if she knew that Fu Hanru had only approached her for her heart.


    Su Lingyu grinned at Gu Qin. "Do you know why Brother Fu is close to you?" Before Gu Qin could ask, she continued, "It¡¯s because of me. My heart is failing, and I need a transplant. You¡¯re B-type Rh negative, just like me. Your heart is a perfect match for mine, and I need it. That¡¯s why I asked him to get close to you, to use his feelings to convince you to donate your heart to me."


    "Is that so?" Gu Qin lowered her head slightly. Su Lingyu thought she was feeling uncomfortable, and her excitement grew. "Of course, didn¡¯t he ever ask you if you would donate your heart if a family member needed it?"


    Gu Qin remained silent, her head bowed. Su Lingyu grew even more excited. "I¡¯ve known Fu Hanru since we were children, and he¡¯s always loved me. It¡¯s a pity that I found a way to save my life, so he stopped approaching you. Don¡¯t think he fell in love with you over the past year. If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to talk to him at all. He doesn¡¯t even care about girls like you. Every time he interacts with you, he has to cleanse himself afterward, which shows how much he despises you..."


    She knew Gu Qin had escaped from the operating room, but she was smart enough not to mention it, as doing so would be illegal. She also assumed that Gu Qin didn¡¯t know she had been brought to the operating room for a heart transplant.


    Su Lingyu kept rambling on, but Lin Xinxin was shaking with rage, her mind buzzing. So that was it¡ªthey had been getting close to Gu Qin just for her heart. How shameless! Furious, Lin Xinxin lost her composure. Before Gu Qin could react, she jumped up, leaned over the table, and slapped Su Lingyu across the face.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The slap echoed loudly, and everyone froze. Su Lingyu covered her cheek, stunned. "You... you dare hit me?"


    "I slapped you because you¡¯re a b**ch," Lin Xinxin gritted her teeth. "Shameless, treating human lives like nothing! Who do you think you are? You better watch out or you might get hit by a car on your way out!"


    Gu Qin watched her friend defend her, feeling soft in her heart. She pulled Lin Xinxin up. "Let¡¯s go back to school. This woman might have heart problems; if we keep provoking her, she might faint, and I don¡¯t want you to get hurt for her."


    Lin Xinxin refused to leave, still wanting to beat Su Lingyu. In the end, Gu Qin had to drag her out of the place. When the driver entered, the two had already disappeared. Su Lingyu, her face twisted with rage, spat, "You¡¯ll pay for this!"


    Back at school, Lin Xinxin was still fuming. "Qin Qin, why did you stop me? I wanted to hit that b**ch! How could she be so shameless? And Fu Hanru¡ªhe¡¯s no better!"


    "Alright, calm down," Gu Qin said. "I can tell from her face that she has a short life..." Su Lingyu¡¯s face showed signs of an early death¡ªher forehead collapsed, her brow connected, her eyes were vacant, and her energy was scattered. Her face was shaped like a jujube pit¡ªnarrow at the ends and wide in the middle, with no flesh. These were all signs of a short life. Furthermore, her violent temper and wicked nature meant that she had likely committed many wrongs, and she might meet an untimely death.


    "Are you kidding me?" Lin Xinxin laughed at her words. "As long as you¡¯re not angry, it¡¯s fine. I was just so mad earlier. Luckily, you¡¯re no longer involved with that scum."


    Neither of them took the matter seriously, and after that, Gu Qin called Cheng Yinxiang, telling her she would eat out and didn¡¯t need her to cook. The two headed to the self-service seafood restaurant on Baiyu Road. In her past life, Gu Qin didn¡¯t care much about food, but now she had developed an appetite for delicious things, becoming more like a normal girl. She no longer had the rigid personality she once did.


    After Su Lingyu was slapped, she was furious and took it out on the driver. When she returned to the Su family home, she cried to Su Guangzhi. Su Guangzhi, who had been disappointed in life and only had this one daughter, usually spoiled her. Hearing that his daughter had been slapped made him furious, and he immediately planned to teach Lin Xinxin a lesson. Su Lingyu wasn¡¯t happy about this, saying, "Dad, why not punish Gu Qin too?"


    Su Guangzhi replied, "You can¡¯t touch her yet; you still need her heart. Let me handle Lin Xinxin first and calm down, okay? I¡¯ll consult Master Yan and see if he has any way to deal with this."


    "My heart is fine now, right?" Su Lingyu still thought her heart was healed. "Master Yan can¡¯t be this useless, can he? If he can¡¯t even cure my heart, why would we need to transplant?"


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense," Su Guangzhi said, clearly afraid of Master Yan. "Master Yan is very skilled and has helped you extend your life. You can¡¯t afford to offend someone like him. Be careful what you say, and don¡¯t let Master Yan hear it. Ah, and that Gu Yuanjiang¡ªwhat a useless person. He promised us that thing, and now his daughter ran away. Thankfully, she doesn¡¯t know we¡¯re the ones after her heart."


    Su Lingyu frowned. "Dad, I told Gu Qin that Fu Hanru got close to her because of her heart. She probably knows by now."


    "Don¡¯t worry, my dear, don¡¯t be scared," Su Guangzhi reassured her. "I¡¯ll go talk to Master Yan. Since Gu Qin already knows, we need to resolve this quickly."


    Su Guangzhi then went to find Master Yan, who had been recovering from an injury recently. Master Yan was finally feeling better and listened as Su Guangzhi explained the situation, asking if there was any way to deal with Lin Xinxin while also resolving Gu Qin''s issue.


    "I¡¯ll take care of your daughter¡¯s situation in the next few days," Master Yan said. "Just give me Gu Qin¡¯s details and her birthdate. I¡¯ll do some divination to figure out the best way to handle her." Master Yan planned to solve this quickly so she could leave the area¡ªafter all, there was an unknown high-level expert in Daishan, and she didn¡¯t want to get involved in any conflicts with someone from the feng shui world. If it weren¡¯t for the benefits she had received from Su Guangzhi¡¯s brother, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered helping this fool.


    Su Guangzhi immediately sent someone to gather all the information about Gu Qin and her family. As for Lin Xinxin, Su Guangzhi had no intention of letting her off easy. However, he didn¡¯t have time to deal with her right now, so he decided to have someone teach her a lesson first.


    It would take another two or three days for Gu Qin¡¯s information to be gathered, but as for Lin Xinxin, Su Guangzhi immediately hired a few thugs to punish her


    .


    By the time Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin finished their meal and left at 8 pm, Lin Xinxin, holding her stomach, walked out of the seafood restaurant. "Qin Qin, that was amazing! The self-service was worth every penny!"

 The Morning Light

    Everyone''s facial features are not fixed, and the saying "the face reflects the heart" is not just a phrase. It is indeed possible to tell if someone is good or bad, whether they are fortunate or doomed, by their facial features. Lin Xinxin''s eyebrows are thick, with sharp, knife-like brows, clearly defined, showing that she is determined, impulsive, but also loyal. Her earlobes are fleshy, symbolizing fortune and longevity, and her philtrum is long, which suggests she will bring prosperity to her husband and children. Anyone who marries her will be fortunate. However, at this moment, her face had changed slightly. Changes in a person''s facial features usually do not refer to appearance alone, but to subtle abnormalities. At that moment, Lin Xinxin''s glabella had a slight blueish tinge, which is a sign of impending disaster.


    Gu Qin quickly calculated with her fingers. This wasn''t difficult; it was similar to the method used in the three-coin divination, where one combines the hexagram with the I Ching to reach a conclusion. The divination results showed that this situation was related to what had happened a few hours ago. Although she didn''t know the specific details, Gu Qin was able to deduce them. Lin Xinxin had slapped Su Lingyu, and Su Lingyu, being quick-tempered, would definitely not let that go. She might even hire people to teach Lin Xinxin a lesson.


    Lin Xinxin had just started learning the basics of boxing and hadn''t even practiced the stance yet. If she were surrounded, she would be at a disadvantage, especially since she was just stepping in to help Gu Qin. This was clearly trouble coming from nowhere.


    Lin Xinxin was unaware of the trouble she was in. As they talked on the way home, she said to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, why don''t you stay at our house tonight? Otherwise, you¡¯ll be back so late, and I won''t feel at ease."


    "No need. I''ll just grab the materials and head back," Gu Qin replied. "I have to wake up early tomorrow for training and then go to the rehab center to treat Brother Li Qi."


    As they approached Lin Xinxin''s newly purchased apartment, which was part of a recently completed residential area, they noticed the area was quiet, with few residents. By the time they were a few hundred meters away from the complex, a group of people suddenly jumped out from the bushes and blocked their path.


    Lin Xinxin was startled. "What do you want?"


    The group of men slowly surrounded them, grinning. "Are you two scared of the night? Do you want us to keep you company?"


    What kind of nonsense was this? Gu Qin''s face darkened, and without saying a word, she stopped her bike and launched a powerful kick. The man who had spoken was sent flying three to four meters away.


    Lin Xinxin stared at Gu Qin in shock.


    The rest of the men were taken aback that this seemingly frail girl was so strong, and they all rushed toward her at once.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t even bother to take them seriously. These people barely had any skills. Within half a minute, they were all lying on the ground, howling in pain. Gu Qin¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t fatal, but they would definitely be bedridden for at least half a month.


    Lin Xinxin gazed at her in admiration. "Qin Qin, you''re amazing!"


    Gu Qin said, "Xinxin, don''t you find it strange? Why are they causing us trouble?" She kicked one of the young men in the thigh, causing him to scream in pain, his body trembling. Gu Qin asked, "Did Su family send you to harass us?"


    The man didn¡¯t dare resist. This girl¡¯s strikes were so vicious that he was on the verge of losing consciousness. His mind was clearer than ever as the pain surged through his body. He hesitated, then finally nodded. "Y-yes... Boss Su sent us to teach a lesson to a girl named Lin Xinxin."


    Lin Xinxin spat on the ground. "That Su family b**ch, since she can¡¯t beat me openly, she resorts to these underhanded tactics. Shameless!"


    Gu Qin kicked the man again. "Get out."


    The group of men crawled away, and Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin went upstairs to grab the materials before leaving. Gu Qin reminded her, "Wait for me tomorrow, we¡¯ll go to school together. Don¡¯t go alone these next few days. The Su family is vicious, and I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t let it go."


    Lin Xinxin was still preoccupied with Gu Qin''s boxing skills. "When will you teach me how to box? That way, I won¡¯t be scared of them."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Gu Qin replied, "At least practice the stances for a year. I''ll teach you some simple boxing techniques next year, but don¡¯t neglect the stances; they are really important."


    On the way back, Gu Qin was thinking about how to deal with the Su family¡¯s female practitioner. She needed to take care of them as soon as possible.


    The next day, after treating Li Qi, Gu Qin went to Lin Xinxin''s house and they went to school together. It was the day of the monthly exams. Gu Qin wasn¡¯t nervous, and after finishing the exams, she sent Lin Xinxin home. Afterward, she went to buy a lot of talismans, cinnabar, and ink, intending to make some talismans. She was now on her own and lacked any magical weapons to defend herself. Her cultivation level was not high enough to face opponents head-on, so she needed to use talismans.


    The past few days had been hectic for Gu Qin, as she had drawn many talismans, including exorcism talismans, peace talismans, attack talismans, gathering talismans, and even yin-gathering talismans, among others.


    Meanwhile, the Su family was busy too. Three days later, they sent Gu Qin''s information, including her birth date, to Yan Zhen. Yan Zhen, still thinking about other matters, stood in front of the large window, distracted. She muttered, "You can leave the things here. I''ll look at them later."


    After Su Guangzhi left, Yan Zhen stood by the window for half an hour before returning to her desk and pulling out the materials. She glanced at them, and in the photo, Gu Qin appeared ordinary, slightly thin, with an unremarkable face. The back of the photo contained her birth date and time. Yan Zhen calculated her fate, and after half an hour, her expression grew increasingly serious as she examined the result.


    She gasped.


    Gu Qin¡¯s fate was easy to predict up until she was about sixteen, but from that point onward, everything became chaotic and unclear. What was going on? Yan Zhen thought back to the divination she had done for the Jiang family and the Chen family recently, which had also been similarly chaotic.


    Suddenly, something clicked in her mind. She quickly pulled out the rest of the documents and started examining them carefully. The materials contained all the information about Gu Qin, including her escape from the operating room, her lawsuit against the hospital, her parents¡¯ divorce, the division of debts, and the fact that Gu Qin''s mother was left with more than four hundred thousand in debt. However, mysteriously, Gu Qin¡¯s account had an additional two million.


    Two million, from the Jiang family. Yan Zhen¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. How could Gu Qin know the Jiang family? And why was this amount transferred after the Jiang family¡¯s formation array was broken by a higher-level practitioner? Was Gu Qin involved in breaking the formation? But how could that be? She was only sixteen, and even if she was a practitioner, she was still a beginner. Such powerful spiritual energy could not be generated by someone of her level.


    Was it possible that Gu Qin had a powerful mentor behind her? Yan Zhen refused to believe that a sixteen-year-old girl could set up such an array or defeat her own formation. She was certain that there was someone powerful backing Gu Qin.


    Yan Zhen threw the documents aside and gazed out the window, feeling frustrated. She had come to Daishan to help Su Guangzhi because of his older brother, Su Wenzhi, who had given her a rare attacking artifact. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have helped the Su family. Her temperament was unpredictable, but once she promised something, she would see it through. Since she had helped Su Guangzhi get a foothold in Daishan, she had done her part.


    However, she wasn¡¯t willing to face off with a practitioner who was more powerful than her. She had only just recovered from her injuries after the formation was broken. She wouldn¡¯t engage in a direct confrontation with Gu Qin. She quickly made a decision. Initially, she had agreed to help Su Wenzhi''s brother stabilize his position, but now that the Su family had almost acquired all the companies, Su Guangzhi had already established his position in Daishan.


    Even his daughter had been given another six months to live. As for the rest, Yan Zhen wouldn''t interfere.


    She called Su Guangzhi and said directly, "What you asked me to do is almost finished. I¡¯ve helped you acquire the companies you wanted, and I can¡¯t help you further. In a few days, I¡¯ll be leaving."


    Su Guangzhi was stunned. "Master Yan, what about my daughter¡¯s heart?"


    Yan Zhen sneered. "Your daughter has a heart condition. I¡¯ve already helped her extend her life for six months. Just find a suitable donor heart and replace it. Don¡¯t ask me for more help."


    "But... but didn¡¯t Master Yan promise?" Su Guangzhi was anxious.


    "Promise?" Yan Zhen cold


    ly replied, "I only promised to help you stabilize your position in Daishan. If it weren¡¯t for your older brother, I wouldn¡¯t have even bothered to help your daughter. If she¡¯s still alive now, it¡¯s because I helped extend her life for six months. Find a matching heart for her, and I can¡¯t do more. I¡¯m not a doctor."


    "No, Master Yan." Su Guangzhi said, "We¡¯ve already found a matching heart. It¡¯s Gu Qin¡¯s. You saw the documents in your room, right? Just help us catch her, and we¡¯ll take care of the rest."


    Yan Zhen fell silent for a moment. After some time, she spoke again, "If I were you, I wouldn''t make any more moves against Gu Qin."


    Su Guangzhi was confused. "Master Yan, what do you mean? I don¡¯t understand."


    Yan Zhen slowly said, "Gu Qin has someone powerful behind her. Haven¡¯t you noticed that all the doctors at the hospital who were involved with her are now in trouble? Chen Zonggui, the chief surgeon, is the worst off¡ªhe¡¯ll be bedridden for the rest of his life. The others are all either sick or suffering misfortune. Don¡¯t you get it?" She paused, then continued, "Gu Qin has someone powerful behind her. You can¡¯t afford to offend her."

 The Unexpected Visitor

    Su Guangzhi was dumbfounded. "No... no way, Master Yan, are you sure? We''ve investigated before, and Gu Qin is just an ordinary young girl, her family¡¯s conditions are poor, and her father is a scoundrel. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have sold his daughter¡¯s heart to us."


    Yan Zhen frowned. "Being poor doesn''t mean she has no one behind her. Some feng shui masters are eccentric and prefer to keep their existence a secret. The incidents involving the Jiang and Chen families were likely caused by someone behind Gu Qin. Maybe the Gu family owes a lot of money, and that person helped the Chen and Jiang families to make money to settle their debts."


    Su Guangzhi still couldn¡¯t believe it. "If Gu Qin really has someone backing her, then why would this expert help her? There must be a reason, right?"


    Yan Zhen replied, "I don¡¯t know. I only know that Gu Qin must not be touched. Maybe that person is her master, which would explain why they help her. Let¡¯s leave this matter here. Your family¡¯s issues haven¡¯t been discovered by her yet. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be next in line for retaliation."


    Su Guangzhi''s face paled. He remembered that his daughter had told him she had already revealed everything to Gu Qin. Could it be that Gu Qin now knew that they were behind it all? "This is bad, Master Yan, my daughter told Gu Qin everything a few days ago... I¡¯m afraid that person might already know it was us!"


    Yan Zhen scoffed. "Then that¡¯s your bad luck. If that person decides to take action against you, then prepare to die."


    Su Guangzhi quickly begged, "Master, please help us! If you leave, what will we do?"


    Yan Zhen remained silent as she got up and returned to her room. However, an hour later, she received a call from Su Wenzhi, who was pleading, "Master Yan, please help my brother. If you don''t, he and my niece will only wait for death."


    In the end, Yan Zhen agreed to visit the Gu family. If there was no hope, she wouldn¡¯t take action. To be safe, she brought protective talismans and offensive magical tools.


    She could draw the low-level talismans herself, while the intermediate talismans had been brought from her sect when she left. The offensive weapon, a curved dagger, had been given to her by Su Wenzhi. When she first got it, the weapon was filled with ominous energy, and it took her quite a bit of effort to tame it. The dagger wasn¡¯t large¡ªonly about half the length of an arm¡ªand was considered a medium-grade weapon of the yellow rank, which wasn¡¯t particularly strong but still hard to come by.


    Yan Zhen planned to visit the Gu family at night.


    Su Guangzhi was overjoyed upon hearing that Yan Zhen planned to visit and thanked her profusely.


    After returning to his room, his subordinates reported, ¡°Boss, the people you asked Qiangzi to teach a lesson to¡ªthe girl who had been bullying your daughter¡ªwell, Qiangzi and his crew failed. They were beaten up and are now in the hospital. If I hadn¡¯t gone to check on Qiangzi today, he would have kept it a secret from me.¡±


    "Forget about that for now." Su Guangzhi was more concerned about the situation with the Gu family. However, he recalled that his daughter had mentioned Gu Qin was close to Lin Xinxin, and quickly asked, "What happened to Qiangzi? How could a girl be so hard to deal with?"


    The subordinate replied, ¡°Qiangzi said that there was a thin, small girl with Lin Xinxin, and she was unexpectedly skilled in hand-to-hand combat. She took down Qiangzi and his crew in just a few moves.¡±


    A thin, small girl? It had to be Gu Qin. Su Guangzhi knew from the investigation that Lin Xinxin and Gu Qin were close friends. It was normal for them to go home together. He sighed, "Let''s not deal with this for now. You can go."


    Su Guangzhi still trusted Master Yan¡¯s words, but he couldn¡¯t understand how the ordinary Gu family had suddenly turned out to be associated with a master.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    In the meantime, Gu Qin had been drawing many talismans. Drawing these talismans consumed her inner energy, so over the past two days, she had been resting between sessions. Most of the talismans she drew were intermediate-level, thanks to her previous life¡¯s experience and her current abilities with the Heavenly Eye. However, she couldn¡¯t yet draw higher-level talismans.


    Talismans were divided into low, medium, and high grades. She had managed to draw fifty or so low-grade medium talismans and five medium-grade talismans, some for defense and others for offense.


    That evening, before school ended, Gu Qin took out three copper coins and began to divinate. She was divining about the events of the night. Divination wasn¡¯t her personal thing; sometimes she would divine for herself, though in her past life, it always worked out. But now, since she had become Gu Qin, the results were chaotic. Therefore, she no longer used it for her personal matters.


    For example, she wanted to know if someone would come to visit her family in the next few days. The divination clearly showed that someone would indeed come. She asked again, and the divination confirmed that the visitor would arrive at midnight.


    Then, she divined who would come. The result was chaos, but she figured it meant that the visitor would come because of her, and it was most likely the woman who had helped Su Lingyu extend her life.


    Gu Qin felt a bit nervous. She wasn¡¯t sure why this woman was coming, but since it was related to the Su family, it was probably to take her heart. Perhaps she intended to help Su Lingyu get revenge. Either way, Gu Qin wasn¡¯t in a position to confront this woman head-on. From the time she had helped Su Lingyu, she had seen that the woman was at the mid-stage of the Qi Refining stage. Gu Qin, who was at the early stage of Qi Refining, had no magical tools and was at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation.


    "Qinqin, what are you doing?" Lin Xinxin, who liked to stay with Gu Qin after school, had been watching her handle the copper coins for a while and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Gu Qin turned and smiled. "I¡¯m divining." Lin Xinxin hadn¡¯t known that Gu Qin could do divination. Gu Qin had never intended to hide it, but most people no longer believed in this stuff.


    "Divination?" Lin Xinxin¡¯s eyes widened. "Qinqin, you can do divination? I didn¡¯t know that. Did your master teach you? How long have you been learning? Are you any good? Maybe you could do a divination for me."


    Gu Qin glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Then she whispered in Lin Xinxin¡¯s ear, "Quiet, if the classmates hear, they¡¯ll report me to the teacher for superstition. I¡¯ll do one for you, though, to see if I¡¯m any good."


    Lin Xinxin wasn¡¯t really interested in divination but was more curious about Gu Qin¡¯s master. Could she be a feng shui master?


    Gu Qin smiled. "What do you want me to divinate?"


    Lin Xinxin thought for a moment. "How about you predict what time school will end?"


    Their school had both boarding and day students. They were day students, so they left at 5:30 p.m. The boarding students stayed for an extra hour of study.


    Gu Qin smiled and scattered the copper coins on the desk. After making six throws and getting the divination result, she said, "It won¡¯t be delayed today. We¡¯ll get out on time."


    Lin Xinxin didn¡¯t believe it. "Qinqin, that can¡¯t be true. You know Ms. Zhu loves to delay class. Recently, we¡¯re probably getting our test results, so she¡¯ll probably delay even more."


    Gu Qin smiled. "I¡¯m sure Ms. Zhu won¡¯t be here today. The class will be taken over by Ms. Liu, our history teacher. I divined twice. The first divination showed we¡¯ll get out on time, so I thought it was strange and did a second divination. It shows Ms. Zhu swapped classes with Ms. Liu."


    Lin Xinxin remained skeptical. Could she really predict something that hadn¡¯t happened yet? Just then, the bell rang, and Ms. Liu walked in with a textbook, and Lin Xinxin¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    After school, Lin Xinxin was excited. She didn¡¯t want Gu Qin to teach her divination¡ªshe was more interested in martial arts.


    After sending Lin Xinxin home, Gu Qin returned to her own place. Her mother, Cheng Yinxiang, had already returned and prepared dinner.


    "Qinqin, come eat, and then do your homework."


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t in a hurry anymore. She could only deal with whatever came. After a quick glance around, she asked, "Mom, where¡¯s my brother? He isn¡¯t eating dinner again?"


    "Yeah, he said he was studying at a classmate¡¯s house and would eat outside," Cheng Yinxiang said as she set the dishes down.


    After dinner, Gu Qin did her homework and then watched some TV. By 10:30, her mother had already fallen asleep.


    Gu Qin quietly turned off the TV, closed her door, and slipped out. She left the house and sat near the flower bed in the community.


    The apartment complex was old, without an elevator, and only had a


    few lights on at night. The wind felt cold, and the trees around the apartment complex swayed gently. Gu Qin took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.


    Just then, she felt a chill, and she looked up.


    A tall woman dressed in black appeared from the shadows, her long hair falling loosely around her shoulders. It was Yan Zhen.


    "Are you Gu Qin?" Yan Zhen¡¯s voice was cold, and her eyes were full of scrutiny as she stared at the girl standing before her.

 The Confession

    Gu Qin opened her Heavenly Eye when the woman said she was leaving. If the woman were telling the truth, Gu Qin would see her future events and thus see her departure. If it were a lie, she would also be able to tell. Through her Heavenly Eye, the woman indeed left by plane.


    Gu Qin retracted her Heavenly Eye. She knew the woman wasn''t there to see her master but rather to meet her. Gu Qin could guess that the woman had probably investigated her and found out about the connections between Jiang''s family, Li''s family, and herself from bank accounts. The woman might think these matters were unrelated to her, given her young age, and thus unlikely to have been orchestrated by someone so young.


    The woman might have harbored some hope today, or perhaps still intended to help Su¡¯s family against her. However, upon seeing the Bagua Dizzying Soul Array, she changed her mind. Although the Bagua Dizzying Soul Array wasn¡¯t difficult to set up, it required significant skill to do so in a short time. This indicated her cultivation was quite profound. Without her Heavenly Eye and past experience, she wouldn''t have been able to set up the array within an hour.


    If not for these experiences, Gu Qin wouldn¡¯t have believed that a girl in her teens could create a Gathering Spirit Array, a White Tiger Rising, predict so many things, and set up the Bagua Dizzying Soul Array in such a short time. If she were Yan Zhen, combining her previous information, she would have thought that Gu Qin had a very low-profile master.


    Now that the woman has left, there''s no need to confront her; only the Su family remains.


    First, Gu Qin had to clean up the mess. She moved all the stones back to their original positions, and by the time she returned to her room, it was already one o''clock in the morning. After sleeping for two hours and getting up to practice, she felt rejuvenated since practice could restore human vitality without causing fatigue. At five o''clock, she went back to the rehabilitation center. Li Qi''s injuries wouldn''t heal quickly, and she planned to say his recovery was slow due to her low cultivation level.


    Su Guangzhi turned pale after receiving Yan Zhen''s text message. He stood there in shock for a while before tremblingly calling Yan Zhen. The phone call indicated that the line was off. Su Guangzhi tried calling for an hour and continued the next day, even using another number, but it was always switched off. He collapsed on the sofa, knowing Yan Zhen had left and wouldn¡¯t return.


    Could there really be a powerful figure behind Gu Qin? But without Yan Zhen, this couldn¡¯t have happened. What should he do? Should he go and apologize to Gu Qin for forgiveness? He believed Yan Zhen''s words, that Gu Qin truly couldn¡¯t be provoked anymore.


    Su Lingyu, due to her heart condition, had taken a leave of absence. Since Yan Zhen extended her life, she felt much better, able to walk, eat, drink, run, and jump. However, when she learned from her father that her heart hadn''t recovered but was merely extended by six months, she was saddened. The thought of needing Gu Qin¡¯s heart made her feel nauseous.


    However, there was no other option. Among Rh-negative blood types, only her heart matched with Gu Qin¡¯s, ensuring a low rejection rate of around ninety percent. Even though other hearts might be compatible, the rejection rate was too high. Professional heart specialists confirmed this compatibility. She didn¡¯t want to die, and with only six months left, she was unwilling to accept her fate. She loved Fu Hanru and couldn¡¯t bear the thought of him being with anyone else.


    Lingyu approached her father to discuss the heart issue. Her father told her they needed to apologize to Gu Qin, as her heart was no longer usable. He assured her they would find another match and would start searching immediately.


    Lingyu was furious and refused to apologize. She believed Gu Qin¡¯s family had no influential figures. She accused her father of blindly following Yan Zhen¡¯s advice and planned to confront her directly.


    Her father warned her not to disrespect Yan Zhen, explaining that there were powerful figures in the world she didn¡¯t know about. He insisted they must apologize to Gu Qin, believing it would resolve the situation.


    Lingyu decided to take matters into her own hands. She sought help from a small gang called Jiu Tou, offering them twenty million yuan. They discussed a plan to obtain Gu Qin¡¯s heart, involving legal custody changes and accidents.


    On the day of the monthly exam results, the class was shocked when Gu Qin ranked first. The teacher encouraged everyone to learn from her dedication and hard work.


    After school, Lin Xinxin confronted Gu Qin, asking how she achieved such high scores. Gu Qin explained her diligent summer preparation.


    Later that evening, Gu Qin received news that her mother had been in a car accident. Rushing to the hospital, she found her mother uninjured but shaken. Gu Qin used her Heavenly Eye to investigate and discovered the incident was premeditated.


    She found a protective amulet saved her mother, and decided to investigate further. Gu Qin called her brother to watch over their mother and asked Jiang Ni to locate Su Lingyu.


    At the bar where Su Lingyu was, Gu Qin confronted her, accusing her of orchestrating the accident. Lingyu denied any involvement, but Gu Qin remained suspicious and determined to uncover the truth.


    The news of the Su family''s car accident reached Gu Qin in the newspaper that very day. She was quite saddened by it but did not think it had anything to do with her. When the teacher informed her that a stranger was looking for her at the school gate, Gu Qin went out and asked the man who he was and why he was looking for her when she saw him. From his appearance, she could tell that he was an upright person, somewhat rigid, and likely worked as a police officer.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Zhong Haoyan showed Gu Qin his badge, saying, "I am Zhong Haoyan, in charge of the Su family car accident case. There is some evidence indicating that this matter has something to do with Miss Gu. Therefore, I have come to ask you a few questions."


    Gu Qin did not believe that any evidence could show that. However, given the connections between the Su family and the hospital, and several others, it was not strange for someone to find her. But all she did was set up a feng shui array, so what if they found her?


    Gu Qin said, "I read about the Su family''s car accident in the newspaper. It is indeed regrettable, but this incident has nothing to do with me. Captain Zhong, are you sure you have the right person?"


    Zhong Haoyan pursed his lips and said, "Miss Gu, can you give me some time? I have a few questions to ask you."


    Gu Qin shrugged. "Sure."


    They sat down at a nearby cafe. Gu Qin said, "Captain Zhong, feel free to ask me anything."


    Captain Zhong said, "Miss Su said before she died that..."


    "Here''s the bag. This is actually a wild bee nest. It''s very good for health. But I don''t think it''s appropriate to give it to Grandma."


    The two sisters hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Yuanjiang and Yinxiang have already divorced. Why are you taking Quanquan''s things?"


    Ro Wenfen had always been quite biased towards boys. Even her two daughters were made to do more work when they were young, so their personalities grew up to be rather good-natured and reasonable. Unlike her two sons, who were spoiled and had bad tempers. Seeing her daughter-in-law almost forcibly grabbing the bag, she quickly stepped in to stop her.


    He Xiaolan pushed the two of them aside and complained to Ro Wenfen, "Mom, look at them. I''m only thinking about your well-being. If this really is a wild bee nest, it''s incredibly nourishing. Your body will be much better if you eat it. Didn''t you say just the other day that your waist has been hurting?"


    Ro Wenfen, of course, knew how valuable this was. She rolled her eyes at her two daughters and without hesitation reached out to grab the bag, just like He Xiaolan. Gu Quanquan pursed her lips and sent a surge of hidden force through the bag, causing both women to stagger back several steps. Fortunately, her two aunts managed to catch them. The three looked at each other in confusion, completely unaware of what had happened.


    Gu Quanquan lifted the bag and smiled, "This is actually a wild bee nest. It''s very good for health. But I don''t think it''s appropriate to give it to Grandma."


    The man''s anxious voice came through the phone, "Master? I''m the one who saw your post online earlier..."


    Outside, Qwen took the call, stepping out to the stairwell where she could speak freely. Her teacher did not stop her, understanding that Qwen was a well-behaved and high-achieving student who only occasionally daydreamed in class, thus requiring less supervision.


    "Hello, this is Qwen speaking," she answered.


    "Master, my child has been crying and sick for days. He hasn''t eaten or drunk anything and has become very thin. I am his father and have tried everything¡ªconsulting many so-called masters, but nothing works. Can you help me?" the man asked anxiously.


    Qwen replied calmly, "I understand your situation. Please tell me more about your home environment and any recent changes. This will help me provide better assistance."


    She listened carefully as the man described his family''s living conditions and recent events. After gathering enough information, Qwen provided guidance on how to improve their living environment and offered some remedies.


    "Thank you so much, Master. I will follow your advice immediately," the man said gratefully.


    "You''re welcome. If there are any further issues, feel free to contact me again. Take care," Qwen concluded before hanging up.


    After returning to class, Qwen sent a message back to Jiang Cheng, confirming that she had received the call and would handle the situation.


    The person said in the post, "Can you save my child?"


    Gu Qin said, "Sure, take your time." Since she was in this line of work, there was no need to refuse a customer.


    This person already knew that the online master was a young woman, so hearing such a young voice didn''t surprise him. He quickly recounted his situation: "My child has been crying and restless day and night recently. I''ve consulted many masters, but none of them have helped. Also, my wife and I have had some bad luck lately. Master, what could be going on?"


    Gu Qin couldn''t diagnose without seeing the person or their home. She couldn''t ask them to bring the child over either, as she wasn''t sure if it was an issue with the house''s feng shui. So, she decided to go in person, "Give me your exact address. I''ll come over right now."


    "Thank you, thank you, Master," the man on the phone expressed his gratitude.


    Gu Qin had to leave immediately for Yun City, so she had to ask her homeroom teacher, Zhu Xia, for leave. Zhu Xia kindly asked, "What do you need to do, Gu Qin?"


    Gu Qin replied, "I have something to attend to, Teacher Zhu. Can you approve my leave for two or three days? But I won''t fall behind on my studies."


    "Okay," Zhu Xia smiled.


    After the homeroom teacher agreed, some classmates were unhappy. A tall girl stood up and pointed at Gu Qin, saying, "Teacher, this is unfair! Why did you approve her leave without even a reason? My boyfriend got hurt, why don''t you approve my leave?"


    Zhu Xia frowned, "Zhou Ruyi, stop being silly! Sit down and get back to class. If your grades were as good as Gu Qin''s, I''d let you go out and play every day. Your grades aren''t good enough; you came in second-to-last, and in the last monthly exam, you moved up one spot to become dead last."


    The class laughed loudly, but Zhou Ruyi didn''t feel embarrassed at all, "Teacher, this is still unfair."


    Gu Qin looked amused at the girl. Although her name was Zhou Ruyi, she had nothing in common with her name¡ªshe was bold and straightforward, almost like a boy.


    Gu Qin didn''t bother much more and rushed to the station, taking a bus to Yun City. The man she had spoken to on the phone was already waiting at the station. As soon as she arrived, he called her and they met quickly. He was a man in his thirties named Chen Yi, sturdy-looking, not very tall, and chubby. When he saw Gu Qin, he was stunned again; she was indeed too young. He hadn''t seen the photo in the post, as it had been deleted.


    When Gu Qin saw him, she couldn''t help but furrow her brows slightly. There was a faint aura of yin around him, indicating that maybe it wasn''t just the house''s feng shui causing issues.


    Chen Yi said, "You''re Master Gu, right? Thank you so much."


    Gu Qin replied, "Let''s go to your place first and take a look." If the whole family was having problems, it might be related to the house''s feng shui.


    Chen Yi nodded and led Gu Qin back home. His wife was inside trying to soothe the child. Before they entered, they heard a baby crying loudly from the elevator. Many residents were annoyed. When they stepped out of the elevator, they saw a couple standing outside their door, yelling, "What''s wrong with your family? The child has been crying for days! Are they sick? Take them to see a doctor if they are! This is affecting everyone''s sleep!"


    Chen Yi hurried over and apologized, "Sorry, really sorry. The child was scared. We''ve already consulted someone. Please forgive us."


    The couple muttered a few words before leaving.


    As soon as Gu Qin entered, she knew it wasn''t due to any external feng shui arrangements. Otherwise, she would have noticed it instantly. So, it must be an internal issue. However, the yin aura around Chen Yi clearly indicated that it wasn''t just a simple feng shui arrangement problem. It could be some natural sha.


    Natural feng shui sha occurs due to the house''s layout or due to sharp angles facing the house, forming a natural sha, rather than being deliberately arranged. For example, missing corner sha, where the best room shape is round at the top and square at the bottom. Missing the northwest corner or northeast corner is unfavorable for men''s career and health, and also detrimental to descendants. Missing the southeast or southwest corners is unfavorable for the female head of the household.


    Sha such as heavenly cut, where the house faces a narrow gap between two tall buildings, leads to illness, weakness, and possibly blood-related disasters. Flying blade sha, where the house faces a wall corner of a tall building, results in poor health for those living inside. There were several types of such feng shui sha, but without entering the room to observe the terrain, Gu Qin couldn''t determine the exact cause. It could be these feng shui sha or something else.


    Following Chen Yi into the room, his wife was holding a two-year-old child at the door. Chen Yi''s wife was also short, fair, and plump, looking kind. These two looked honest from their appearances, so it couldn''t be due to offending someone. The child was still crying, eyes swollen, and face yellow. Not only that, but the child and Chen Yi''s wife were both surrounded by a faint yin aura.


    Gu Qin was puzzled. If it was a feng shui issue, it wouldn''t affect three people. It seemed like they had picked up something.

 The Seniors Kiss

    Chen Yi''s wife was startled when she saw Gu Qin and stammered, "Da... Da Yi, is this the master?"


    Chen Yi nodded. He had high hopes. The previous masters and priests were old, yet they had done nothing. Chen Yi said, "Master, can you tell us what''s happening? Is the child possessed by something? We hired a priest to exorcise the child, but it didn''t help. Another master came and said the house''s feng shui was off. They rearranged mirrors, bedside tables, but nothing worked."


    Gu Qin had already walked in and looked around. The feng shui arrangements were fine. From the window, she saw nothing blocking the view. There was no piercing sha, sharp angle sha, or reflecting sha.


    Chen Yi and his wife exchanged worried glances. This young girl, could she really do it?


    Gu Qin went to the kitchen and looked out the window. Nothing was amiss.


    Chen Yi followed her, asking, "Master, can you tell what''s wrong? Is it the feng shui of our house?"


    "No," Gu Qin replied. "There''s nothing wrong with the feng shui arrangements. How long have you lived here? If it started just a few days ago after living here for years, it''s not about the house. I''ve checked the surroundings, no one has set up any feng shui arrays. Did you go anywhere recently, like temples or cemeteries?" She then walked to the bedroom and asked, "Can I open the bedroom door?"


    "Sure, sure," Chen Yi opened the bedroom door. "Master, we haven''t gone anywhere recently. It''s the same as usual. I go to work, my wife stays home with the child, and we buy groceries in the morning."


    Gu Qin knew the problem was in the bedroom as soon as she entered. The feng shui of the house itself was fine, but the issue was with the bedroom. Specifically, it was with the items at the head of the bed. There was a small bag at the head of the bed, and although she didn''t know what was inside, she could see a lot of yin energy surrounding the bag. Whatever was in the bag, it certainly wasn''t from a good source.


    This referred to something that wasn''t stolen or robbed, but rather something that carried heavy yin energy, likely from a grave. It was unclear how it ended up in Chen Yi''s home.


    Gu Qin pointed at the bag and asked, "Where did this bag come from?"


    Chen Yi was taken aback, "It... it was picked up by my wife a few days ago. Master, it''s this thing that''s causing trouble." Chen Yi suddenly remembered, "Yes, after my wife picked up this thing, things at home started going wrong. Our child cried, we couldn''t sleep well, and we kept having little accidents." He tried to reach for the bag.


    Gu Qin stopped him, "Don''t touch it. I''ll take it. Contact with this thing isn''t good for your health."


    Chen Yi''s wife paled, "I never thought this thing would cause trouble. That day, I was buying groceries and saw it next to a trash bin at the market. Da Yi likes collecting ancient coins, so I picked it up. After the child played with it, it was left at the head of the bed..."


    Gu Qin took the bag and dumped its contents into her palm. There were eight ancient coins. Coins could be used to counteract sha, but they could also be used to create sha. These coins were used to create sha, as they were covered in yin energy.


    She didn''t know the origin of the coins, but they were likely from a grave, perhaps grave goods. They carried heavy yin energy, which made ordinary people sick and unlucky. For children, the effects were even worse. The yin energy made them feel cold and uncomfortable, leading to crying.


    Gu Qin turned to the couple and said, "It''s because of these coins. They are grave goods, likely discovered by someone who found them odd and discarded them. You picked them up, and fortunately, you only kept them for a few days. If you had kept them longer, your family''s misfortune wouldn''t have been limited to just this much."


    The couple was shocked. Gu Qin continued, "The child isn''t seriously ill, but the yin energy does affect them. Do you have any shops nearby that sell talisman paper, cinnabar, and writing materials?" Seeing their confusion, she clarified, "Do you have any incense shops nearby? Buy some talisman paper, cinnabar, and writing materials for me."


    "Yes, yes," Chen Yi nodded eagerly. "Master, I''ll go right away." He hurried out the door.


    Before handling the coins, the child was still crying. Gu Qin gently touched the child''s forehead, transferring a bit of her qi to the child, who immediately stopped crying and fell asleep in their mother''s arms.


    Chen Yi''s wife stared in disbelief at the child and then at Gu Qin. Her shock was evident, "Master, thank you so much. You''re amazing. The other masters and priests couldn''t do what you did with just a gentle touch."


    Gu Qin said, "These coins can''t stay in your home. They have no collectible value and won''t fetch much money. But they''re useful to me. Would you be willing to part with them?"


    Before she finished, Chen Yi''s wife quickly said, "Master, you can have them. If not for you, we don''t know what could have happened to our family."


    Gu Qin didn''t hesitate and put the coins back in the bag. They indeed had no collectible value, worth only a few dollars if not for the heavy yin energy.


    Chen Yi returned quickly with the items. Gu Qin drew three calming talismans and placed one on the child, "Don''t remove the talisman until the symbols fade. Then throw it away. Keep the other two talismans on you."


    "Thank you, Master, thank you," Chen Yi was immensely grateful. Once he returned, the child stopped crying, and upon hearing his wife''s explanation, he realized this young girl, despite her age, truly had ability.


    "I''ll leave now," Gu Qin planned to depart.


    Chen Yi said urgently, "Master, your payment¡ª"


    "No need," Gu Qin smiled. "Consider the coins as payment."


    "That''s not right," he quickly returned to the room and packed a red envelope, handing it to Gu Qin, "No matter what, this is our sincere thanks. The coins can''t be considered payment. If not for you taking the coins, we wouldn''t know how to dispose of them. Throwing them away might lead others to pick them up. We should thank you instead."


    Gu Qin accepted the envelope, "Thank you, then. I''ll leave now."


    Chen Yi said, "Master, it''s already past five. There are no buses back to Daisan. If you don''t mind, why not stay at our place tonight? My wife cooks quite well. Stay for dinner."


    Since there were no buses, and if Gu Qin took a taxi, she would arrive around ten PM. She thought about it, not wanting to stay, mainly because she feared Cheng Yinxiang worrying. Her mother didn''t approve of her doing such things, and if she knew, she would worry all night.


    "No, I''m afraid my mother will worry. I''ll take a taxi back," Gu Qin smiled. "Don''t trouble yourselves."  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    This impressive master suddenly said she was worried about her mother, leaving both Chen Yi and his wife momentarily stunned. Only then did they realize she was just a teenage girl, probably still in high school.


    Chen Yi said quickly, "Then my company car is right here. I''ll drive you back to Daisan City."


    Gu Qin shook her head, "No, you can''t drive long distances. Your own yin energy hasn''t dispersed, and you haven''t rested properly. Driving long distances could be dangerous. I''ll find a taxi myself."


    Chen Yi had no choice but to send Gu Qin downstairs and then find a taxi to return to Daisan. As they descended in the elevator, Chen Yi was still concerned, "Master, please forgive me for asking, but you''re only a teenager. It''s unsafe for you to take a private car alone. Why not let me drive you back? It''s also a chance for me to return home by car."


    Gu Qin laughed, "Don''t worry, nothing will happen." Her abilities were far beyond what ordinary people could handle.


    Just as they exited the building, Gu Qin sensed something unusual. Chen Yi also looked up and exclaimed, "Today''s sunset is really beautiful, red like blood. It looks strange."


    Gu Qin looked up and gasped, her expression changing. The sky showed signs of disaster, foretelling calamities. Natural disasters were natural phenomena, while human-made disasters were intentional. She could only see the signs but not the specifics.


    Seeing Gu Qin staring at the sunset, Chen Yi didn''t understand, "Master, what''s wrong? Such a sunset is rare. But it looks strange, and after watching for a while, it makes one uneasy."


    The crowd around was filled with fear, amazement, and a few others. There were still five thugs left, continuing to slash at the people. Qwen made a hand gesture, guiding yin energy to their legs, causing them to stagger. Another two thugs charged at her, and she could not attend to both sides simultaneously, so she focused on dealing with the immediate threat. One of the thugs swung his knife towards Qwen''s head. She dodged nimbly, grabbed his left wrist with one hand, and slashed his right wrist with the other, causing the knife to fall to the ground.


    Qwen squeezed the thug''s left wrist hard, breaking it. While he was screaming in pain, she crushed the tendons in his right wrist. This series of attacks and subduing actions seemed slow but actually took only a few seconds. Another thug''s expression changed as he stabbed his knife towards Qwen. Qwen used the subdued thug to block the attack, and the knife pierced through the thug''s abdomen. The attacking thug was stunned, his face turning pale, and shouted something, which Qwen did not understand¡ªit was probably the name of the injured thug.


    This happened very quickly. The crowd watching the young girl''s impressive skills felt a mix of shame and excitement, and a few men immediately picked up anything they could use¡ªlike suitcases¡ªand charged at the approaching thugs, swinging their suitcases. The thugs'' knives got stuck in the suitcases, and the crowd rushed forward to pin them down...


    One success led to another. With their own strength, a few people managed to subdue a thug. This boosted everyone''s courage, and soon they managed to restrain the remaining four thugs. However, some people were still injured while restraining the last four thugs, with cuts to their arms.


    Qwen had already subdued the last thug using the same method, crushing his tendons. When she crushed the tendons of these thugs, she infused them with yin energy, ensuring that even if they received medical treatment, they would never be able to use their hands again.


    From start to finish, this entire incident took only a few minutes, but the crowd felt as if they had experienced an eternity. Only now did they realize what had happened, looking at the subdued thugs with disbelief, mixed with excitement, and admiration and respect for Qwen.


    This violent attack still resulted in injuries to several people. Qwen, who possessed medical skills, went to the most severely injured person, a middle-aged man whose family had gathered around him, crying and kneeling beside him. There were two elderly people with white hair and a teenage boy.


    Qwen knelt beside the man, placing her hand on his pulse, "Please don''t cry. I have some medical knowledge, and perhaps I can help."


    The middle-aged man was the most seriously injured. He was the first to react and was cut on his waist, bleeding profusely. His son hastily removed his shirt to cover the wound, but the blood continued to flow uncontrollably. His parents were pale and trembling, and the child was also terrified. However, as a young person, he had more resilience and had already started calling for help.


    The surrounding crowd had also reacted, with many having called for help early on.


    Qwen examined the man''s pulse; it was weak. She quickly tore open the clothing around the wound, revealing a gruesome sight. Blood was spurting out uncontrollably. Qwen pressed on specific points near the wound, slowing the bleeding visibly. The child had just finished calling for help and knelt beside his father, noticing the bleeding had slowed. He couldn''t help but ask, "What... What''s happening?"


    Although he was a child, about thirteen or fourteen years old, he knew such severe wounds could not stop bleeding so quickly, nor could he determine if internal organs like the spleen or kidneys were damaged.


    Qwen remained silent, pressing nearby acupoints to temporarily stop the bleeding, then covering the surface of the wound with her hand, slowly transferring her qi into it. The man''s injuries were severe, and without her intervention, he would not survive until the ambulance arrived. By protecting his internal organs with qi, she could buy time until proper medical attention was available.


    The boy understood that Qwen was saving his father and felt a mix of gratitude and warmth, "Thank you, thank you."


    He did not know who Qwen was, but he realized that without her intervention, many more would have been injured or killed. It was precisely because of this slightly older girl''s bravery that others found the courage to fight back. Her methods were unique, and he did not understand how she stopped the bleeding.


    Qwen stood up, "The bleeding has stopped for now, but he has internal injuries and needs surgery. Do not move him under any circumstances. Wait for the doctors to assess his condition. Remember, do not move him."


    She used her Heavenly Eye and qi to temporarily close the wounds internally, but it could only last for a short time, and he needed professional medical care.


    Qwen attended to the other injured individuals, including one who was cut on the neck, fortunately not affecting major arteries, though the blood flow was alarming. She temporarily applied pressure to acupoints to stop the bleeding, but this was only temporary and required immediate medical attention.


    At this point, everyone had come to their senses. Many had clearly seen what had happened and realized these were thugs, typical anti-social personalities with no empathy for others. They saw killing as casually as slaughtering chickens. Without the girl''s fearless resistance at the beginning, many more would have been killed or injured.


    Some looked at Qwen with grateful eyes, others finally called for help, sent messages of safety, or recorded videos. Some wanted to take photos of Qwen. She glanced over softly, "Sir, could you please not take my photo? And please do not post it online." She did not want to be seen as a hero or have her photos and videos posted online for people to criticize freely. She knew that while there would be praise, there would also be criticism.


    The bell rang not long after class ended and Gu Qin''s phone rang. It was Lin Xinxin calling. Gu Qin answered and told her she was waiting for her at the school gate. In less than two minutes, Lin Xinxin rushed out. The distance and speed didn''t affect her at all; she didn''t even pant. Almost all of it was due to the morning running and standing postures that Gu Qin had taught her, which gradually improved her chronic ailments.


    Lin Xinxin came over and exclaimed to Gu Qin, "You nearly scared me to death. Luckily, you''re fine. Did you see the news about the Southwest Bus Station? It was terrifying. They said several thugs rushed into the station to slash people, but no one died. Several were injured because a girl in her teens resisted those thugs. Gu Qin, I admire her so much; she''s our idol, probably around our age. By the way, Gu Qin, you said you were at the station, did you see it?"


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "Let''s go eat first, then we''ll go to my place. I have some wild honey there, and I''ll give you a bottle."


    Seeing that her friend was really fine, Lin Xinxin nodded and continued talking about the incident at the bus station, "Gu Qin, did you see that girl? She was said to be very powerful. Oh, right, you were at the station... As I think about it, she was around our age, a young girl, and you also have great martial arts skills... Gu Qin, don''t tell me that girl at the station was you?"


    Gu Qin nodded and replied, "It was indeed me."


    Seeing that Gu Qin wasn''t joking, and knowing her well enough, Lin Xinxin realized it must be true. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Gu Qin. After a moment, she became nervous and pulled Gu Qin urgently, somewhat agitated, "Gu Qin, how could you be so daring? If your mom finds out, she''ll definitely scold you. You''re really bold. Fortunately, you''re okay."


    After realizing that the girl who fought the thugs was her friend, Lin Xinxin was both excited and worried. After all, they were ruthless anti-social figures.


    Gu Qin said, "Don''t worry, I''m really fine. They can''t hurt me."

 The Exs Return

    Don''t underestimate the initial stage of refining essence into qi. Even if one has just begun to feel the entry of primordial energy into the cultivation phase, it is already formidable.


    The girl who could control primordial energy and yin energy was much stronger than ordinary people. Even if someone had a gun, it would take them some time to hurt her.


    Seeing that Gu Qin was really fine, Lin Xinxin couldn''t help but ask about what happened at the station. Gu Qin simply recounted the events, naturally omitting the part where she foresaw a major calamity at the station and went to the bus station as a result. After hearing the entire story, Lin Xinxin fell silent for a long while. Finally, she looked up at Gu Qin with a serious expression and said, "Qin Qin, you''re amazing. I''m proud of you."


    If this situation were to happen to her, she would probably first try to escape. She felt ashamed and indignant, but also made a silent vow to learn martial arts from Gu Qin so that she could bravely face such situations in the future.


    As they walked out of the school, a heavy motorcycle whizzed past them. Lin Xinxin turned around and frowned, "Who''s riding so fast at the school gate?"


    Gu Qin also turned to look and saw the motorcycle stop at the school gate. A boy with curly hair wearing a jacket got off. He was about 170 centimeters tall and looked somewhat fierce. A beautiful girl with long straight hair came out of the school. She wasn''t very tall, but she was cute and sweet. She softly said, "Brother Wu, didn''t you say you wouldn''t come to pick me up?"


    The boy, who looked like a thug, hugged the sweet girl''s waist and laughed, "Tang Tang, how about we go to a bar today?"


    "No, Brother Wu. I still have homework to do tonight," the girl seemed reluctant to go to the bar and tried to pull away his hands.


    Gu Qin¡¯s hearing was much better than an average person''s. Even though they were more than a hundred meters apart, she heard the boy call the girl Tang Tang. Tang Tang? Gu Qin remembered that her eldest brother had a girlfriend whose name was also Tang Tang. Was it just a coincidence?


    She turned her head and asked Lin Xinxin, "Xinxin, do you know what the beauty is called?"


    Lin Xinxin looked back and smiled, "Only you don¡¯t know. She''s our school''s beauty queen, a senior from Grade 12. Her name is Mo Tangtang, but everyone calls her Tang Tang. This seems to be her boyfriend; he often comes to our school to see her."


    Gu Qin thought for a moment, then turned back to use her Heavenly Eye to look at Mo Tangtang. The scene gradually changed¡ª


    "Big Brother Jia, I want to buy this. Can you buy it for me?" On the street illuminated by the first lights of evening, Mo Tangtang held Gu Jia¡¯s arm and pointed to a hairpin on a small stall, pouting. "Big Brother Qin, this hairpin is so cute."


    Gu Jia smiled, "As long as Tang Tang likes it, I''ll buy it for you."


    Mo Tangtang stood on tiptoe and kissed Gu Jia, "Big Brother Jia, I love you the most."


    Her gaze toward him was focused, not seeming to be pretending.


    Gu Qin couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer; goosebumps covered her body. She retracted her Heavenly Eye, deciding not to get involved. Big Brother was already eighteen. She realized that Big Brother¡¯s personality was rather selfish, after all, the upbringing and character shaped by Gu Yuanjiang over the past decade had a deep impact on him. Many of his current behaviors were quite selfish.


    Gu Qin knew that directly telling him would have no effect. Instead, she thought it better to let him experience things himself. With more experiences, his mindset would change.


    Gu Jia wasn''t likable right now, but he was her family. When Gu Yuanjiang wanted to sell her heart, he stood by her side. Gu Qin felt that was enough. As for the rest, as long as he distanced himself from Gu Yuanjiang, he would gradually change. It couldn''t be denied that parents had the greatest influence on their children. Fortunately, she became Gu Qin. Fortunately, her mother divorced. Fortunately, she stayed away from Gu Yuanjiang.


    Since Gu Qin had no intention of interfering, she also didn''t care how many boyfriends Mo Tangtang had. She returned home with Lin Xinxin. They had dinner at the Gu family home, where only the three of them ate, as Gu Jia was not there.


    The incident at Yun City Bus Station was significant. Cheng Yinxiang also learned about it and discussed it with the two children during dinner. She praised the brave girl who resisted the thugs. However, she then reminded them, "If you encounter something like this, if you have the ability, you should definitely help. That girl had skills and could fight, so she could help. If you encounter bad people, remember not to act recklessly, okay? Safety first."


    Both nodded without objection.


    After dinner, Gu Qin gave a bottle of honey to Lin Xinxin and told her it was rare wild honey. She advised her to mix a spoonful with warm water every day and it would treat many chronic diseases.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    After sending Lin Xinxin off, Gu Qin took the eight copper coins she had obtained in Yun City. These coins were stained with blood and had heavier yin energy, which required wrapping them in talismans to prevent the yin energy from leaking out. Gu Qin had no intention of discarding these coins or dispelling the yin energy on them. They could be used for arrays or as weapons later, as long as they were wrapped in talismans and wouldn''t affect her family.


    When news of the riot in Yun City spread, it shocked the entire nation. There was shock over the event itself and the fact that a young girl could resist the rioters. Regardless, the incident caused a stir both in news reports and online.


    Chen Yi from Yun City couldn''t quite believe what was happening when he learned about the riot and the girl who resisted many of the rioters. He recalled Gu Qin asking him if he knew about any large construction equipment in the southwest part of Yun City. Why did the station erupt into violence the next day? And why did Gu Qin seem so concerned when she saw the blood-red sunset, even going up to the rooftop to observe the stars? He knew about the divination technique called stargazing. Could it be that Gu Qin knew something big was going to happen in the southwest part of the city and insisted on leaving the new south bus station?


    It must be that girl, Gu Master, Chen Yi sighed, feeling both relieved and excited. Of course, he had no intention of spreading this information, not even to his wife.


    At the same time, a divine thread appeared online, exactly the post Gu Qin had replied to before, predicting that there would be a major disaster in Yun City on October 24th. Now it had come true. Below the thread were countless comments like "worship and bookmark" and many private messages to Gu Qin asking if she could provide fortune-telling services or predictions. Naturally, there were also those who insulted her. But Gu Qin hadn''t logged onto the forum since the incident, so she had no idea that tens of thousands of people had messaged her.


    In the initial days following the riot, the incident was widely discussed. After returning from Yun City, Gu Qin no longer paid attention to it, and neither did Lin Xinxin. They didn''t discuss it in public either. Gu Qin had told Lin Xinxin that her information wouldn''t be leaked to the police, so the incident couldn''t be shared with others. She didn''t want anyone to know it was her.


    That day after school, Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin had just left the school gate when they saw Gu Jia waiting there.


    Gu Jia, except for his outfit that Gu Qin didn''t like, actually had very good looks. Both Gu Yuanjiang and Cheng Yinxiang had attractive appearances, and their siblings had inherited their good looks. Gu Qin''s development had been delayed due to unintentional use of her Heavenly Eye, but in recent months, as she practiced, she grew taller, her skin whitened, and her figure started to develop. She was different from the skinny girl she used to be.


    However, many girls liked guys like Gu Jia, and they were looking out for him at the school gate. Gu Jia spotted Gu Qin immediately, waved, and walked over. "Gu Qin, finish school and go home quickly, don''t worry your mom."


    "You?" Gu Qin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Coming to find your girlfriend?"


    Gu Jia smiled, "My girlfriend is also in your school, she''s a senior from Grade 12. She''s the school beauty queen, called Mo Tangtang. Do you know her?"


    "Cough, cough, cough..." Lin Xinxin choked on her saliva. As middle school friends, she knew Gu Jia well. She stared at Gu Jia in surprise, "Brother Jia, who did you say your girlfriend is?"


    "Mo Tangtang, do you know her, Xinxin?"


    "No..." Lin Xinxin, seeing Gu Qin was not surprised, didn''t know whether to tell the truth, "Nothing..."


    Gu Qin smiled, "Xinxin, you don''t need to hide it for him. I''ve told him, but he doesn''t believe me. If he doesn''t believe me, let him see for himself."


    "Don''t talk nonsense," Gu Jia still didn''t believe her. Seeing Mo Tangtang coming out of the school, he ignored the two and walked towards her, saying to Gu Qin, "Remember to go home early."


    Mo Tangtang, seeing no one else around, breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing Gu Jia''s reminder, she became curious and asked, "Why?"


    "This is my sister, in the same school as you, but she''s only in Grade 1," Gu Jia explained, "She''s your senior."


    Mo Tangtang''s face changed slightly, glancing at Gu Qin, who looked calm. Assuming she didn''t know about her other boyfriend, she felt relieved. Suddenly, the sound of a heavy motorcycle echoed nearby. Mo Tangtang''s face darkened as she saw Five Brother ride up.


    Five Brother was twenty years old, not a student anymore. He had dropped out after high school and was considered a small-time thug in Dai Mountain. He had been dating Mo Tangtang for two years. Five Brother used to attend the same school as Mo Tangtang, but he graduated before she started high school. Thus, those who knew Mo Tangtang were aware of her relationship with Five Brother, except Gu Jia.


    As Five Brother stopped his motorcycle in front of her, Mo Tangtang struggled to free herself from his grip. Remembering what her sister had said, Gu Jia suddenly understood what was happening and his face turned pale.


    Five Brother''s face also darkened as he pointed at Gu Jia and asked Mo Tangtang, "Who is he!"


    Gu Jia responded coldly, "Who is he?"


    Mo Tangtang almost cried, pushing Gu Jia, "Brother Jia, leave first. We can talk tomorrow."


    "No way!" Five Brother jumped off his motorcycle, realizing what was happening. He grabbed Gu Jia by the collar and was about to hit him. Mo Tangtang screamed, "Five Brother, let him go, don''t hit him."


    "Then tell me who he is!" Five Brother''s forehead veins bulged. He pushed Mo Tangtang to the ground and shouted, "You sl*t, you''re cheating on me!"


    Mo Tangtang''s sweet image vanished as she lay on the ground crying, "I told you I wanted to break up with you. Did you think I didn''t know? How many girlfriends do you have outside? I told you I wanted to break up, but you kept pursuing me. Brother Jia is my boyfriend, I like him." She genuinely liked Gu Jia because he was better-looking and treated her well.


    Five Brother was furious and lunged at Gu Jia. They began fighting. Although Gu Jia was tall and strong, he rarely exercised and spent most of his time at home playing games. He was no match for Five Brother and received several punches.


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but sigh. If this happened elsewhere, she wouldn''t interfere, but this was at the school gate, and Gu Jia was a student. Losing this fight would bring shame to him and her. Gu Qin made a hand gesture and whispered a spell. Suddenly, Five Brother felt weak, and just as Gu Jia''s punch landed on his nose, he collapsed.


    From then on, it was nearly one-sided as Gu Jia continued to beat Five Brother. Once he saw that Five Brother had no fight left, he stopped and coldly said to Mo Tangtang, who was crying on the side, "We''re breaking up. I didn''t know you had another boyfriend. Mo Tangtang, this is really unfair!"


    Without looking back, he left.


    Mo Tangtang chased after him. Five Brother lay on the ground, regaining his strength after a while. Feeling humiliated, he decided to leave. Riding his motorcycle, he disappeared. The commotion ended.


    Lin Xinxin sympathetically glanced at Gu Qin, "Poor Brother Jia, ending up with such a woman, cheating on him."


    Gu Qin touched her nose without saying anything. Later that night, Gu Jia finally came home for dinner, his face bruised. Cheng Yinxiang asked, "Jia Jia, what happened to your face?"


    Gu Jia glanced at Gu Qin, "Don''t worry, Mom. I accidentally bumped into something."


    After dinner, Gu Qin finished her homework and sat in the living room playing with three copper coins, her divination tools. The coins were worn from frequent handling and absorbed some primordial energy, slowly turning into magical artifacts. Gu Jia sat next to Gu Qin, watching Cheng Yinxiang in the room, and said in a low voice, "Don''t tell Mom. I''ve broken up with her. Luckily, I didn''t give her the honey."


    The honey helped with his throat inflammation and gave him more energy.


    Gu Qin responded with an "Uh-huh" and continued playing with the coins. After a while, she glanced at Gu Jia''s face and noticed that the blackness on his forehead was darker than before. She knew this trouble wasn''t over yet, as the man was a socialite who would likely retaliate against Gu Jia.


    "Brother, be careful. Your forehead is darkening. Something bad will happen soon," Gu Qin warned him.


    Gu Jia snorted, "Do you know how to read fortunes?"


    "Still don''t believe me?" Gu Qin smiled, "Didn''t I tell you she had a boyfriend and that you would have a minor misfortune? Didn''t everything come true?"


    Gu Jia didn''t believe his sister could read fortunes, "That''s because you''re in the same school and naturally knew she had a boyfriend."


    Feeling embarrassed after being caught in a lie by his sister, Gu Jia went to his room, sullen.

 The Lu Family Secret

    The riot at the bus station lasted for nearly ten days before it calmed down. Many people praised the girl who fought the thugs, but some wanted to know who she was. No photos or videos of her surfaced for a long time. Eventually, a short video appeared online, showing the girl fighting two thugs at the station entrance. She was agile and managed to subdue both thugs within seconds.


    The video was blurry, making it impossible to identify the girl. Despite this, the video was quickly removed by administrators but was backed up by many users. After that, no further videos or photos emerged. This video confirmed the official statement that a girl had indeed fought the thugs, reducing skepticism and increasing praise.


    Of course, Gu Qin remained unaware of these developments. It was November 5th, and several days had passed since Gu Jia broke up with Mo Tangtang. Five Brother hadn''t retaliated yet, and Gu Jia thought the matter was settled. He had truly broken up with Mo Tangtang, but he teased her a bit for breaking her promise. Little did he know¡ª


    Just after school, as they crossed the road, Gu Jia was stopped by Five Brother. Gu Jia sneered, "I¡¯ve already broken up with her. What do you want?"


    "You slept with her, what does breaking up mean?" Five Brother replied casually, with his friends laughing.


    Gu Jia said, "Who slept with her! Don''t make things up. Friend, I didn''t know she had a boyfriend. Considering this was a misunderstanding, and we met through conflict, why not become friends? Let''s put this behind us."


    Gu Jia wasn''t foolish. He knew he couldn''t win against six attackers. He needed to avoid a direct confrontation.


    Five Brother laughed, "Who says we won''t fight? I heard you have a younger sister at school. If you arrange for her to hang out with us, this can be forgotten. What do you think?" Five Brother grinned, "Sugar said your sister is pretty."


    "What did you say?" Gu Jia lost his temper. Without thinking, he threw his bag at the guy and charged at him.


    Facing six attackers, Gu Jia had no chance. Soon, he was beaten until he was curled up on the ground, unable to fight back.


    Gu Jia was in excruciating pain, unable to move. He curled up, covering his head. His body ached, and his mind buzzed. He couldn''t help but recall Gu Qin''s warning about a blood curse. A blood curse, he thought bitterly. This certainly qualified as one, but he still didn''t believe it. He didn''t believe that Gu Qin could predict his misfortune just by looking at his face. It was easy to deduce that Mo Tangtang had a boyfriend, a socialite who would seek revenge.


    He thought back to when Gu Qin had warned him about the impending trouble. Gu Jia''s mind was a jumble of thoughts. He remembered being beaten when he tried to protect her from bullies. Then, he thought about the video of the girl fighting the thugs at the station. If he had those skills, maybe he could protect his family...


    Suddenly, it started raining heavily. Five Brother and his gang stopped beating Gu Jia and sneered, "You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s raining. We¡¯ll let you go this time. But remember, you took advantage of my girlfriend. If you don''t let your sister hang out with us, this isn''t over!"


    Let his sister hang out with them? Gu Jia''s head was foggy, but he couldn''t help but laugh sarcastically. He looked up, gritting his teeth in pain, "If you dare touch my sister, I''ll kill you."


    "Ha, wait and see. I¡¯ll see if I touch your sister or not. Not only will I touch her, but I''ll touch her a lot. If she''s pretty, I''ll make her sleep with us. Hahaha." With that, they left.


    Gu Jia returned home in the rain.


    Guang Qin was so shocked that she couldn''t say anything. She had never known that her sister, who had lived with her for more than ten years, could be so skilled in martial arts. How could such a timid and introverted person learn kung fu? What on earth was going on? He was still lost in thought almost until they reached home. Watching his sister park the bicycle in the parking shed and walk upstairs with him, he finally grabbed her arm just before they entered their apartment, his expression complicated. "How... how did you learn kung fu?"


    Guang Qin gave the same explanation she had given to Cheng Yinxiang, "I learned it from my master, and also divination. Didn¡¯t you disbelieve when I predicted your future?"


    "From your master?" Guang Jia¡¯s face turned strange. "It takes several years to learn kung fu like this. Did you start learning from your master a few years ago?"


    Guang Qin nodded. "I started very early." She didn¡¯t want to say any more.


    "Who is your master? Why didn¡¯t I know about it?"


    As soon as Li Yongsheng said this, the hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone couldn''t help but take a look at Gu Qin, a young girl being a geomancer? Most of them were in the real estate business or related industries and naturally believed in feng shui, but the girl was so young that it made them doubt her identity.


    Someone couldn''t help but burst out laughing. Out of respect for Li Yongsheng, they still greeted Gu Qin, "Master Gu, hello. Do you have a business card? Could you give me one? Who knows if I might need your help in the future."


    Gu Qin smiled, "Sorry, I don''t have a business card." She hadn''t paid attention to such things.


    The man: "...", then suddenly regained his senses, took out a business card from his pocket, and said with a chuckle, "It''s alright, it''s alright. It was my mistake. Here is my card."


    Gu Qin took the business card. Despite their disbelief, they all gave her their business cards out of respect. Gu Qin collected them all and put them in her small bag. Since the hall had central heating, she had taken off her coat and was now wearing a white dress, holding a glass of juice and sitting on the sofa beside Jiang Ni.


    Jiang Cheng came over, not daring to sit next to Gu Qin but standing opposite her, "Master Gu, you''ve come?" He spoke with a hint of reverence. The shock Gu Qin had given him was immense, making him realize that there were truly such extraordinary people in the world. Even though she was younger than him, he could only feel admiration.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but laugh, "Don''t call me Master anymore. My sister calls me by my nickname, and it''s fine if you do too."


    Jiang Cheng relaxed slightly and sat down beside the two. The others also came over. Among them was a voluptuous woman with long curly hair, who was Jiang Cheng''s girlfriend. She had met Gu Qin before on Wufu Bridge, but back then, Gu Qin was thin, short, and dark-skinned. Now, Gu Qin was taller, more developed, and dressed elegantly in a white dress, making her unrecognizable.


    Gu Qin remembered her.


    Jiang Cheng''s girlfriend grabbed his arm and pouted, "Brother Cheng, who''s this little girl? I noticed her earlier, quite a stir."


    One of the young men was particularly striking, with fair skin and handsome features, tall and holding a Swiss Army knife in his left hand while his right arm was around a demure girl with long straight hair.


    Jiang Cheng felt uncomfortable and pulled his arm away, frowning slightly, "Sit properly, steady yourself. Don''t lean on me like that."


    Jiang Ni couldn''t help but smile seeing her brother''s reaction. In fact, he seemed to be quite afraid of Gu Qin, more so than in front of elders. But he played around a lot, and it was good that he had someone he feared.


    The girlfriend pouted, "Brother Cheng, what''s wrong with you? You usually love it when I cling to you."


    Gu Qin stared at him blankly, feeling a bit amused at how intimidated he was by her. Seeing Gu Qin staring at him, Jiang Cheng became even more embarrassed and pushed her away, "Alright, there are many people here. Don''t act like this, it''s inappropriate."


    The girlfriend, noticing his gaze focused on the girl, felt unhappy and thought he had developed feelings for her, saying in a melancholic tone, "Brother Cheng, what are you doing? Have you fallen for this little girl?"


    Jiang Cheng turned pale, "What nonsense are you talking about? Don''t you recognize Master Gu? She''s a geomancer."


    The girlfriend, although scared of Jiang Ni, pouted and remained silent.


    Jiang Cheng apologized to Gu Qin, who replied, "It''s nothing, Brother Cheng, no need to apologize."


    The young man playing with the Swiss Army knife finally showed some change in his indifferent expression. He sat down on the sofa opposite Gu Qin. When he saw Gu Qin, she was looking at him, and when he realized her face, he couldn''t help but pause.


    Gu Qin came today to establish herself as a geomancer. If she wanted to make a name for herself, she needed clients and connections. She didn''t have any grand ambitions; she just wanted to be a good student and a good geomancer, known in Daishan. She enjoyed divining and arranging feng shui, but beyond that, she didn''t think much about the future.


    Since today was an opportunity to make a name for herself, she had come. Clearly, the young man in front of her had something to ask.


    Before he could speak, Gu Qin said, "Are you here to ask about your parents?"


    The young man was startled, then his eyes gradually brightened. After his parents'' disappearance, he had hoped that a geomancer might know something about them. He had consulted several, but none had been helpful. He hadn''t expected to meet a young geomancer here.


    Perhaps due to desperation, he still hoped that this young geomancer might know something. He sat down, wanting to ask if his parents were still alive.


    Gu Qin continued, "I''m sorry, I understand you might want to know if your parents have a chance to survive, but I''m sorry, your parents have already passed away."


    The crowd was shocked, looking at Gu Qin in astonishment. They knew about the young man''s family situation. Hearing Gu Qin say this, they were surprised, wondering if she really had the ability or had heard about the family''s story.


    If she had heard, she would know that the young man always asked geomancers about his parents. Because of their disappearance, the family''s antique shop was poorly managed, leaving it to the old steward.


    Everyone was curious about what Gu Qin would say. She said, "I''m very sorry, but I know you might want to ask if there''s still hope for your parents to survive, but I''m sorry, your parents have already passed away."


    The crowd was completely silent, looking at Gu Qin in shock. They were friends of the young man and had advised him to give up, but every time he was reminded that his parents might be dead, he would go mad, sometimes pushing people away or even hitting them. This girl was indeed brave.


    The young man''s face turned pale, his mouth trembling. His hands were shaking as well, "You''re saying my parents are dead?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "Perhaps you won''t believe it, but one can see something from a person''s face. The position of the sun and moon angles on the face represents the parents. Your sun and moon angles are dark, indicating that your parents have passed away. Your year angle is also black, indicating that your parents died recently. From your face, I can tell that your parents died in an accident. Please accept this fact."


    The crowd around them had gathered closer, including Li Yongsheng''s family.


    Li Yongsheng''s family knew about the young man''s family situation. They invited him because he was familiar with Li Qi. Unexpectedly, the young man was obsessed with asking geomancers about his parents. Li Yongsheng believed in Gu Qin''s abilities and thought she had figured it out without prior knowledge.


    Several young people were surrounded by elders who wanted to see if Gu Qin truly had the ability.


    The young man''s body trembled slightly. He used his hand to cover his forehead, leaning forward. The demure girl hesitated but eventually placed her hand on his back to calm him. Suddenly, the young man lifted his head, his eyes filled with anger, "Get away, don''t touch me!"


    The beautiful girl couldn''t bear being scolded in front of everyone and ran away crying.


    In the hall, everyone felt uneasy. The young man covered his eyes, his hands shaking. After a while, he loosened his grip, his eyes red. He asked, "Do you know where my parents'' bodies are?"


    The young man''s parents were very close. They owned a large antique shop on the antique street, doing well in business. The shop was managed by an old steward. The parents were loving and often went on trips together. Six months ago, they planned to climb Mount K2. They often went to dangerous places, and the son tried to persuade them but failed. Unfortunately, they never returned. Everyone understood what that meant, but the son refused to accept it.


    He blamed himself repeatedly, wondering if he could have stopped them. He knew deep down that they were likely gone, having sent people to search but finding nothing.


    Mount K2, second only to Mount Everest, is a challenging peak. The couple loved adventure, having traveled to tropical rainforests, Mount Everest, the Tibetan Plateau, ancient paths, the Three Gorges, and Changbai Mountain. However, they met their fate on Mount K2.


    Such adventurous travel was indeed dangerous, but they enjoyed the thrill. Every two to three years, they would go on these trips, and even brought their son along. Recently, however, the son was busy taking over the family business, and they went more frequently.


    In May, they went to Mount K2 with a team. By June, the weather was ideal for climbing. However, they lost contact with their teammates, and while the other climbers returned safely, the couple did not. Their teammates informed the son of the tragic news.


    Gu Qin pondered, putting away the coins. Someone asked, "Master Gu, have you figured it out?"


    The young man also looked closely at her. Gu Qin shook her head, "Not yet, it''s just a start."


    She decided to try another method. Though using the Heavenly Eye required visualizing the person, she could do it in dreams. With her low cultivation, she might still manage.


    Gu Qin closed her eyes, reciting incantations, calming her mind. She imagined the events and location of the couple''s death. In her mind, she saw Mount K2 clearly, focusing on one particular peak. Gu Qin noted its appearance.


    Vaguely, she saw a couple in thick down jackets climbing the mountain. Only the two of them. The woman''s safety rope was faulty, but she didn''t notice and kept climbing. By the time she realized, it was too late¡ªthe rope snapped, and she fell. The man, hearing the noise, turned and saw the situation. Realizing the danger, he untied his harness and fell after her. Both landed in a crevice on the mountain, lifeless, blood seeping out, but their hands were still tightly clasped.


    Gu Qin couldn''t hold on anymore, opening her eyes abruptly and spitting out blood. Using the Heavenly Eye was indeed taxing. Originally, using the Heavenly Eye required bed rest for two to three months. With her low cultivation, seeing events from half a year ago without a specific person was extremely difficult, causing internal injuries.


    Her sudden bleeding startled everyone. Jiang Ni quickly supported her, "Qin Qin, are you okay? Quick, Jiang Cheng, help me get her to the hospital."


    Jiang Cheng fetched paper and pen. Gu Qin, though shaken, said, "Ni Jie, it''s fine, I''m not seriously hurt. Bring me paper and pen, quickly."


    Jiang Cheng hurried to fetch the items. Gu Qin quickly drew the mountain peak''s appearance based on what she saw, marking the southeast position and the approximate landing area. She pointed to the circle, "Your parents'' bodies are in this crevice on the southeast side of the mountain, halfway down. Look carefully for the crevice."


    This revelation stunned everyone. Gu Qin''s sudden bleeding shocked even the Li and Jiang families, who knew her abilities but were still alarmed. They had no idea she had used the Heavenly Eye so forcefully.


    The cracks, and you could find your parents'' bodies. But now it''s already November, with heavy snow blocking the mountains, so it''s impossible to find them. We can only wait until spring to go look for them."


    Many people couldn''t help but take a sharp breath. For a while, they didn''t know whether to believe what this young girl had said. If they had heard about the Ji family''s situation before, it might have been possible that they were just repeating something they had heard outside. But now? Could she really calculate the exact location of the Ji family''s parents? Was she really that amazing? Seeing her confident demeanor, many people couldn''t help but believe her to some extent. However, there were also those who thought she was a fraud. After all, they couldn''t enter the mountain right now, and finding anyone would be impossible until spring, which was three to four months away. Who knew what might happen during that time? If someone found them in the meantime, it would be difficult to locate them if they had indeed fallen into a mountain crack.

 Encounter

    Ji Ziyu gave Gu Qin a deep look for a long time. Finally, he picked up the paper, smoothed it out, and put it neatly in his pocket. "Thank you. I''ll have two million yuan transferred to your account right away."


    "Brother Ziyu." Jiaojiao couldn''t help but interject. "Who knows if what she says is true or just made up? If you give her the money now, what if she''s lying? After all, it will still be several months before we can go into the mountains. Two million yuan isn''t a small amount. What if she runs away after getting the money?"


    Jiaojiao''s memory kept lingering on the thin girl at the Five Blessings Bridge. She always felt that the girl didn''t have real abilities, otherwise why would she be working at the bridge?


    Moreover, two million yuan was certainly not a small sum for an ordinary person. She thought that if this girl could actually do something, she wouldn''t need to go to the bridge to predict fortunes.


    Jiang Ni frowned and looked at Jiaojiao. "Jiaojiao, enough! If you dare to insult Qin Qin again, I swear I''ll throw you out!"


    After the incident, the son was devastated, neglecting his business and relying on the old steward. Only recently had he started coming out again.


    The Li and Jiang families weren''t worried about Gu Qin''s ability; they knew her skills. Others, however, didn''t believe her, thinking that hiring dozens of people to search for their parents'' bodies hadn''t worked, so how could a geomancer find them?


    Most people watched with curiosity, wanting to see if Gu Qin was genuine.


    Gu Qin said, "If you really want to know, I can help you, but there will be a fee. Are you willing?"


    The young man nodded, his composure returning, "As long as you can find my parents'' bodies, I''ll pay whatever you ask."


    Gu Qin nodded, "Two million yuan."


    She didn''t need to exert much effort; she just needed to provide the location. The crowd thought she was asking for too much, but the Li and Jiang families knew her true worth. Finding the location was worth the money, and the price wasn''t unreasonable.


    Jiang Cheng''s girlfriend looked at Gu Qin in surprise, thinking this was a way to make money. She wondered how Gu Qin had become close to the Jiang siblings.


    Gu Qin had three coins with her, taking them out from her small bag. She used the six divination methods, thinking about the location of the parents'' bodies. Two minutes later, she determined the location was southeast of the mountain. However, this area was vast.


    Even a skilled geomancer could only determine the general direction, just like the incident at Yun City Bus Station, where she could only pinpoint the southwest area but not the exact location.


    Gu Qin had the Heavenly Eye, which could help her see more details if she visited the southeast part of Mount K2. However, it was snow-covered and inaccessible. Besides, her school required parental consent, and her mother would definitely not allow her to go.


    She then turned to Ji Ziyu. "If you''re worried, I''ll vouch for her."


    Ji Ziyu rubbed his forehead. "No need. I trust Master Gu. Thank you."


    "Ni Jie," Jiaojiao said, somewhat aggrieved. "I just don''t want Brother Ziyu to be scammed."


    "Shut up!" Jiang Ni was getting impatient. "Guards... " Before she could call for security, Jiaojiao quickly said to Gu Qin, "Master Gu, I''m sorry, I was wrong. I was just being mouthy. I won''t do it again."


    She didn''t want to be thrown out. Turning to Jiang Ni, she pleaded, "Ni Jie, see, I''ve apologized to Master Gu. I promise I won''t be mouthy anymore. Please don''t throw me out. I really know I was wrong."


    Jiang Ni kept a stern face without saying anything. The crowd watched the drama unfold and felt satisfied. Even if they didn''t find anyone, they didn''t think much of it, considering how dangerous the place was. Finding someone would be a miracle.


    Jiang Cheng hadn''t spoken the whole time, only looking at his phone. Now he placed it on the table, pointing at the picture. "Look, this is the mountain peak drawn by Qin Qin. It''s this one, part of the Qiaogori Peak ridge. So I believe what Qin Qin said is true."


    After saying that, he finally glared at Jiaojiao, who didn''t dare speak.


    Li Yongsheng also spoke up. "Qin Qin saved my family''s life. As for what kind of grace, I can only say that we fell during the real estate turmoil. Therefore, I trust her. As for the outcome, we''ll know in three to four months. Alright, tonight is our Li family banquet. Everyone, eat well, drink well, and enjoy yourselves. Come on, let''s go over there. Let the young people be together."


    When the crowd dispersed, leaving only a few young people, Ji Ziyu had been sitting on the sofa the whole time, not moving. His pale face showed no focus as he stared into the distance.


    There were still quite a few young people interested in Gu Qin. A pretty girl in a red evening gown sat next to Gu Qin and smiled. "Master, you really can predict the future?"


    Gu Qin nodded. Jiang Ni glanced at the girl and warned, "Jiang Hongmei, don''t let Qin Qin tell you those silly things."


    The pretty girl immediately changed her expression. "Jiang Ni, my name is Jiang Shuyu. Can''t you remember it?"


    Jiang Ni smiled. "I''ve called you Jiang Hongmei for nearly twenty years. Only recently did you change your name. How could anyone remember?"


    "How could anyone forget?" Jiang Shuyu was annoyed. "Why can''t you remember? Do you think I deliberately call you by your old name? I changed my name because I didn''t like it before. Are you saying you''re doing it on purpose?"This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The Jiang family and the Jiang family were acquainted since childhood. They were almost fated to meet. They were neighbors when they were young. Later, the Jiang family started doing real estate and gradually became wealthy, and the Jiang family began doing supermarkets and eventually large shopping malls, also becoming prosperous. They were childhood friends, playing together until they grew up. However, there were always some disagreements between them, and they often ended up arguing.


    Jiang Shuyu''s original name was Jiang Hongmei. There were many students named Hongmei in school, and she didn''t mind at first. But as she grew older and became wealthier, she felt the name was too rustic, so she changed it two years ago.


    Jiang Ni smiled. "There''s nothing we can do. Others haven''t known you for long, but I''ve known you since childhood. I''ve called you Jiang Hongmei for twenty years. It''s not something that can be changed in a year or two, right?"


    Jiang Shuyu was furious. Her ladylike demeanor vanished, and she was on the verge of arguing with Jiang Ni.


    Ji Ziyu frowned and got up to leave. Jiang Shuyu wanted to follow, but Jiang Ni said, "He''s in a bad mood. If I were you, I wouldn''t bother him right now. Going over would only make him angry."


    Jiang Shuyu, rarely losing her temper, didn''t argue back. She sipped her juice occasionally, then noticed Gu Qin beside her. She perked up again, but seeing Ji Ziyu walk away, she whispered in Gu Qin''s ear, "Master Gu, can you look at my fortune and see if there''s a chance for me and Brother Ji?"


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but laugh. "I can''t see any signs of red phoenix stars moving, so it seems unlikely. However, I see that you should be careful on your way back today, as you might encounter some minor misfortune. It''s not serious, though."


    Jiang Shuyu was deeply disappointed, not paying attention to the latter part. Even if she heard it, she didn''t take it seriously. She didn''t really believe in Gu Qin''s ability to predict the future or feng shui. Because of this disbelief, even hearing about the lack of red phoenix star movement didn''t matter to her. Thinking about it, she took two glasses of wine and chased after Ji Ziyu.


    Jiang Ni chuckled. "Just wait and see how she cries later."


    Jiang Ni wasn''t wrong. In less than two minutes, Jiang Shuyu came out crying and sat down next to Jiang Ni without saying a word.


    Seeing Ji Ziyu''s previous state, Gu Qin felt a bit sorry and went out with two glasses of juice. Jiang Shuyu stopped crying and wiped her tears, asking Jiang Ni, "Doesn''t Master Gu fear being scolded?"


    Jiang Ni smiled. "Qin Qin probably went out to talk about the Ji family''s parents. You''re not as smart as her, always thinking about love. If I were you, I''d leave right now instead of staying here."


    "Don''t meddle," Jiang Shuyu frowned.


    Gu Qin went out with the two glasses of juice, feeling unwell herself. But leaving now wouldn''t look good, so she had to endure it. The balcony had a large swimming pool and many rest areas. Ji Ziyu was sitting there, looking at the pool. When Gu Qin approached, he turned around with obvious impatience, as if ready to scold whoever came. But when he saw it was Gu Qin, his expression returned to its usual blankness.


    Gu Qin sat down next to him and handed him a glass of juice. "Have some juice."


    Ji Ziyu didn''t take it, and his impatience grew. Gu Qin said, "Don''t you want to know what happened to your parents?"


    "Do you know?" Ji Ziyu turned sharply, his handsome face contorted. He stared intently at her. "What... what happened to them?"


    Gu Qin handed him the juice again, and Ji Ziyu finally took it and drank a sip. "Don''t be upset. Although it sounds heartless, I believe your parents were happy in their last moments."


    "What happened to them? Their teammates said they got lost and were never seen again," Ji Ziyu clenched the cup tightly.


    Gu Qin didn''t hide it. "Your mother''s climbing gear failed, and she fell. Your father didn''t hesitate and untied himself, falling with her. They died together. While you may think they were cruel, if your father had lived alone in this world, it would have been the greatest harm to him. Without any hesitation, he chose to follow your mother because you had grown up and become capable and responsible. He trusted you completely, so he made that choice."


    Ji Ziyu dropped the cup, shattering it on the ground. His entire body began to tremble. He supported his head with his hands, his shoulders shaking.


    After a long silence, Gu Qin said, "Although it''s hard to hear, they would be very sad to see you like this. In their eyes, a capable and responsible son is all they hoped for. Lastly, I want to tell you that when love is deep, wanting to die together is not just talk. If there are true lovers, this is the happiest ending. Your parents died with each other, without fear or worry. You should be happy for them. In this world, emotions are mixed with too many things and are fleeting, but theirs was great."


    Gu Qin quietly left.


    When she returned to Jiang Ni, her face was ashen. "Qin Qin, are you okay? Do you want to leave?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "I''m fine, just a bit tired. I''ll be okay after resting for a few days." She closed her eyes and leaned slightly on the sofa, using internal energy to heal her injuries.


    She rested for two hours. By the time the banquet was over and most people had left, Ji Ziyu came in, intending to ask for her account number. Jiang Ni shook her head, telling him not to disturb her. Then she waved her phone, indicating she would send him the account information.


    Ji Ziyu looked at Gu Qin one last time before leaving, his demeanor noticeably different.


    As soon as he left, Jiang Shuyu followed. Jiang Ni shook her head silently without saying a word.


    Once the banquet was over, Gu Qin woke up, surprised to see everyone gone. Only Jiang Ni and Jiang Cheng remained. Gu Qin straightened up and laughed. "Why didn''t you wake me up?"


    Jiang Ni was concerned. "Qin Qin, are you really okay? You were coughing blood earlier. Did you get injured inside?"


    She knew that when Gu Qin helped Ji Ziyu find the location of his parents, she must have used some other technique. No matter how magical feng shui was, predicting the future could only tell you the general direction, not specifics. Therefore, she concluded that Gu Qin had used another technique, which caused her injury.


    "No worries, Ni Jie. I just used a technique improperly, but it''s not serious. I''ll be fine after a few days of rest," Gu Qin replied, looking outside. The lights were still on, and the clock in the hall pointed to eleven. It was almost midnight. "Ni Jie, Cheng Ge, let''s go home."


    Jiang Ni saw Gu Qin''s improved complexion and felt relieved. She told Jiang Cheng to go home first and accompanied Gu Qin.


    Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Jia had already gone to sleep. Knowing Gu Qin was attending the banquet, they waited up. When Gu Qin entered, Cheng Yinxiang noticed the sound and got up, turning on the light. Seeing Gu Qin looking uncomfortable, she hurriedly sat down next to her and felt her forehead. "Qin Qin, what''s wrong? Did you drink too much? Are you not feeling well? I told you not to drink. Those cocktails and fruit wines have strong aftereffects. Sit and rest for a while. I''ll make you some soup to warm your stomach."


    Gu Qin was just feeling unwell, but using the Heavenly Eye had only caused mild internal injuries. She held Cheng Yinxiang''s hand and smiled. "Mom, I''m fine. Just a bit sleepy. I just want to sit for a while before going to bed. Don''t worry about me. Go to sleep."


    "Are you hungry?" Cheng Yinxiang, not detecting any alcohol smell, assumed her daughter was hungry. Ignoring Gu Qin''s objections, she prepared a bowl of noodles with two poached eggs and handed it to her. "Here, eat quickly and go to bed."


    Gu Qin actually wanted to cry. In her previous life, she had never experienced maternal love. In this life, becoming Gu Qin and receiving such affection felt somewhat guilty, but she couldn''t resist the warmth.


    Cheng Yinxiang was a bit tired. She patted Gu Qin''s shoulder. "I''ll go to sleep first. Put the bowl in the sink when you finish. I''ll wash it tomorrow."


    Gu Qin ate the noodles and went to bed.


    ************************************************ her cultivation, and her injuries were gradually healing. Originally, she planned to ask a teacher for extra lessons, but on Friday morning, Lin Xinxin found her and said, "Qin Qin, I saved up a thousand yuan and wanted to go to the shooting club. Could you accompany me tomorrow?"


    Since the military training, Lin Xinxin had been obsessed with shooting. However, during the training, her scores were poor; she missed several targets, and the few shots she hit were only two or three rings.


    Lin Xinxin continued, "Qin Qin, you did so well in shooting. Can you teach me?"


    Thinking about this, Gu Qin felt a bit guilty. During the military training, she had used her qi to control the gun and relied on her keen senses due to her cultivation. Otherwise, her performance would have been quite poor. She was interested in guns, but using qi seemed more convenient. At that time, she needed to control her qi to treat Li Qi. Now, she was very proficient in controlling her qi.


    "Qin Qin, please come with me," Lin Xinxin persisted.


    Gu Qin could only nod and said, "But I''m afraid I can''t teach you how to shoot. Even I was surprised by my own performance during the military training. Teaching you would be impossible. The shooting club probably has instructors who can guide you."


    Lin Xinxin had no objections. On Saturday morning, Lin Xinxin found Gu Qin and they went to the shooting club together. It was quite far, located in a less central area.


    The shooting club offered various activities, including outdoor paintball and indoor target shooting, which were divided into low-end, mid-range, and high-end options. Lin Xinxin chose the low-end option. The cost alone was not cheap, and the equipment was mechanical, unlike the real guns used during military training.


    The cost of ammunition for these low-end mechanical guns was around ten yuan per shot. With a thousand yuan, Lin Xinxin could only afford about a hundred shots, which was certainly beyond the reach of most ordinary families.


    After paying, Gu Qin also handed over a thousand yuan, received the gun and bullets, and went to the shooting range. There was a dedicated instructor, but essentially, the instructor only provided verbal guidance on how to shoot, emphasizing things like keeping a straight line of sight.


    Lin Xinxin became increasingly engaged in shooting, and although she missed the first shot, the subsequent ones were better, though her scores were still around five or six rings.


    Gu Qin tried as well. Without using qi, her scores were around eight or nine rings. She was still adjusting to it, and she was more skilled at darts.


    Soon, Gu Qin found her rhythm. Even without using qi, she was hitting the nine or ten ring marks almost every time, and later on, she was hitting the bullseye consistently. Lin Xinxin was very envious and kept asking her for tips.

 Scandal

    Ji Ziyu had recovered his personality after the banquet and began to interact with friends again. His friends were delighted by his change. He started helping the old butler manage the antique shop at home.


    Today, he had some free time and decided to visit the shooting club alone. Before his parents'' incident, he enjoyed shooting and liked playing paintball with his friends. When he arrived, the club manager greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Ji, it''s been a while. Same room as before?"


    Ji Ziyu was about to nod when he heard a girl''s loud voice from outside the shooting range, "Qin Qin, you''re amazing! How did you do that? Can you teach me?"


    Qin Qin? Ji Ziyu couldn''t help but walk to the window and look outside. In the large shooting range, two girls were shooting targets. One of them was familiar to him¡ªGu Master, whom he remembered as Gu Qin. The other girl, around the same age, was listening intently as Gu Qin explained, "Focus, keep calm. It¡¯s simple once you¡¯re calm and focused."


    The girl nodded, raised the gun steadily, and aimed at the target. Though she didn¡¯t miss, her score was not ideal. She looked disappointed. Ji Ziyu couldn''t help but chuckle and told the manager, "Hold on, I¡¯ll be right back. I ran into an acquaintance."


    As soon as he approached, Gu Qin heard the commotion and turned around, surprised to see him, "Mr. Ji."


    Ji Ziyu smiled. His smile was handsome, no longer expressionless. He walked closer and said, "Master Gu, what a coincidence. You enjoy shooting too?"


    Gu Qin pointed at Lin Xinxin, "No, I¡¯m here with my friend. She really enjoys this."


    Ji Ziyu turned to Lin Xinxin, extended his hand, and said, "Hello, I¡¯m Ji Ziyu, a friend of Master Gu."


    Lin Xinxin snapped out of her daze and said, "Hello, I¡¯m Lin Xinxin, a friend of Qin Qin." But she was still puzzled. What did Master Gu mean?


    Ji Ziyu said, "Meeting both of you today is a stroke of luck. There¡¯s a shooting range inside where you can use real guns. Would you like to try?"


    Lin Xinxin was excited but knew it would be expensive. Seeing her conflicted expression, Gu Qin nodded. They all went inside, and Ji Ziyu paid for everything. He said, "You helped me a lot, so don¡¯t worry. If you don¡¯t mind, I can show you how to shoot."


    Lin Xinxin said gratefully, "Thank you, Mr. Ji."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Ji Ziyu smiled and said, "Just call me Brother Ji. No need to be so formal."


    Seeing Ji Ziyu, Gu Qin realized how much he had changed since the banquet. Clearly, his parents'' situation had affected him deeply. Fortunately, he had recovered.


    Since someone else was treating, Gu Qin didn¡¯t object and continued shooting. This time, it was with real guns. Ji Ziyu was guiding Lin Xinxin, teaching her step-by-step.


    From initially missing shots to achieving seven or eight rings, and eventually hitting nine or ten rings consistently, Lin Xinxin became more confident. Ji Ziyu was impressed and told Gu Qin, "Master Gu, your friend has real talent."


    Gu Qin smiled and watched Lin Xinxin, "Xinxin is great. She likes soldiers and might join the army after high school."


    Lin Xinxin was focused on shooting and didn¡¯t hear their conversation.


    After a while, only Lin Xinxin was left in the shooting range. They went to the lounge to rest. Ji Ziyu had already transferred two million yuan to Gu Qin¡¯s account through Jiang Ni¡¯s account. Gu Qin thanked him now.


    Ji Ziyu said seriously, "Actually, I should thank you. After spring, I will send people to find my parents¡¯ remains. I¡¯ve come to terms with it. Just like you said, if my father chose to follow my mother, he must have trusted me. And you were right, it would have been more painful for him to live alone. They stayed together until the end, so thank you for letting me know."


    Regarding why Lin Xinxin could see her parents'' final moments, Ji Ziyu wisely didn¡¯t ask further.


    Lin Xinxin played happily and only felt tired by late afternoon, deciding to head back then. Ji Ziyu was also returning to the city and offered to drive them. Gu Qin and Ji Ziyu mostly talked in the lounge. They got along well, and Ji Ziyu was eloquent and witty, making their conversation enjoyable.


    Finally, Ji Ziyu said, "Our group of friends all like Master Gu. You mentioned Jiang Shuyu would face some minor misfortune. She actually got hurt when she fell near her doorstep, hitting her head. Now everyone is shocked and wants to add you as a friend, but they don¡¯t know your number."


    They were talking about a chat app, and Gu Qin hadn¡¯t downloaded it. Ji Ziyu helped her download it, added her as a friend, and invited her to their group chat, which had about ten members.


    These were mostly second-generation rich kids who often stayed up late drinking and gambling. Their parents'' wealth was enough for them to spend lavishly for generations. From childhood, they knew they had money and didn¡¯t have to beg their parents for everything. They had plenty of pocket money and could get whatever they wanted. This upbringing resulted in a privileged and sheltered lifestyle, often unaware of life¡¯s hardships.


    Most of them didn¡¯t need to study hard, as they attended the best schools, many thanks to their family¡¯s connections. Most of them indulged in entertainment, although there were exceptions. Some second-generation rich kids were genuinely diligent, but not in their circle. This group tended to be more playful, with some finding success while others wallowed in excess.


    Speaking of most of them indulging in excess, by afternoon, they woke up, showered, ate, and met up. Someone noticed a new member in their chat group, named ''Qing.''


    Someone asked, "Who¡¯s this? Why is there a new member in the group?"


    Many were online, and Jiang Ni recognized the name. She checked the profile and confirmed it was Gu Qin. She said, "This is Master Gu."


    The group exploded, "Wow, is this the Master Gu who predicted Jiang Shuyu would have a head injury?"


    Jiang Ni confirmed, and the group was intrigued. Since everyone witnessed Jiang Shuyu¡¯s accident, they believed Gu Qin had some real skills. Many started asking questions, wanting predictions. Jiang Ni said, "She¡¯s busy with studies and doesn¡¯t play much on her phone. So even if she¡¯s in the group, you might not see her often."


    Many were disappointed, "In this day and age, there are still young people who don¡¯t play on their phones?" This Master Gu lived up to her title, being very traditional.


    Ji Ziyu saw the group chat after dropping Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin off and chuckled at Gu Qin¡¯s lack of engagement in the group.


    On their way back, Ji Ziyu gave Lin Xinxin a VIP card and told her she could use the room anytime. He also mentioned his shares in the club, assuring her not to worry about the bills. He simply wanted to nurture her talent.


    Lin Xinxin thought about it and accepted the card, thanking Ji Ziyu sincerely. She knew she needed this. Her path was clear: she wanted to join the army and become a sniper in a special forces unit. It was a difficult dream, but she was determined to achieve it.

 Exam

    Most of these second-generation rich kids spent their nights at entertainment venues, drinking and gambling, while the more homebody types played video games all night. Their parents¡¯ wealth was enough for them to live extravagantly for lifetimes. They knew they had money and didn¡¯t have to beg for things like other children. They had ample pocket money and could get anything they wanted. This upbringing led to a spoiled and sheltered lifestyle, often unaware of life¡¯s hardships.


    Not all of them were bad, but they were generally pampered and didn¡¯t understand the struggles of the world. As a result, most didn¡¯t need to study too hard. Schools were top-notch, often secured through family connections. Most of them indulged in entertainment, although there were exceptions. Some second-generation rich kids were genuinely diligent, but not in their circle. They were more inclined towards playfulness, with some finding success while others wallowed in excess.


    Speaking of most of them wallowing in excess, by afternoon, they woke up, took showers, ate, and gathered. Someone noticed a new member in their chat group named ''Qing.''


    Someone asked, "Who''s this? Why is there a new member in the group?"


    Many were online, and Jiang Ni recognized the name. She checked the profile and confirmed it was Gu Qin. She said, "This is Master Gu."


    The group erupted, "Wow, is this the Master Gu who predicted Jiang Shuyu would have a head injury?"


    Jiang Ni confirmed, and the group was intrigued. Since everyone witnessed Jiang Shuyu¡¯s accident, they believed Gu Qin had some real skills. Many started asking questions, wanting predictions. Jiang Ni said, "She¡¯s busy with studies and doesn¡¯t play much on her phone. So even if she¡¯s in the group, you might not see her often."


    Many were disappointed, "In this day and age, there are still young people who don¡¯t play on their phones?" This Master Gu lived up to her title, being very traditional.


    Ji Ziyu saw the group chat after dropping Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin off and chuckled at Gu Qin¡¯s lack of engagement in the group.


    The old butler saw Ji Ziyu¡¯s smile and felt a surge of excitement. The young master was finally recovering.


    Ji Ziyu asked, "Did you receive anything today, Uncle Xing?"


    Uncle Xing nodded and smiled, "Yes, Young Master, take a look at this jade..."


    The antique shop was a passion of Ji Ziyu¡¯s parents. Although Ji Ziyu wasn¡¯t particularly knowledgeable about antiques, he was willing to learn from Uncle Xing.


    On the way, Lin Xinxin remained silent, rarely asking questions. Gu Qin sensed her friend¡¯s thoughts. However, truthfully, Lin Xinxin¡¯s constitution wasn¡¯t great, worse than Gu Qin¡¯s. Gu Qin trained extensively and gradually improved her constitution through cultivation. Lin Xinxin didn¡¯t practice cultivation and couldn¡¯t introduce qi into her body, so improving her constitution required medicinal means.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t the same as meridian cleansing. It involved using the medicinal properties of herbs to stimulate inherent human potential, requiring substantial physical activity to enhance the constitution. They had dinner outside, and during the meal, Gu Qin asked Lin Xinxin, "Xinxin, are you really serious about joining the military?"


    Lin Xinxin solemnly nodded, "Qin Qin, even though I¡¯m usually impulsive and carefree, I¡¯m serious about joining the military. I¡¯ll work hard."


    "Xinxin, your constitution isn¡¯t great. If you trust me, I can help you."


    "Qin Qin..." Lin Xinxin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, "Qin Qin, you¡¯re too kind."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Gu Qin shared her plan with her, "Besides using medicinal baths to enhance your potential, you must engage in significant physical activity. One hour of jogging and one hour of standing postures won¡¯t suffice. You need to wake up at four every morning, run with weights for two hours, and stand postures for two hours. The weight will increase gradually. This will affect your morning self-study and daily studies. Similarly, you need to exercise in the evening for one hour each of running and standing postures. That¡¯s six hours of training daily, reducing your sleep and study time. Are you willing?"


    Before Lin Xinxin could speak, Gu Qin continued, "I don¡¯t demand excellent academic performance, but you must pass all subjects. Studying is essential."


    Lin Xinxin knew effort brought rewards. Despite the increased workload, she believed she could persevere. She nodded firmly, "Qin Qin, I can handle it."


    Gu Qin nodded. With two and a half years left until graduation, if she could persist, she would be prepared. If she succeeded, she would become an outstanding recruit, perhaps even surpassing many veterans.


    "At first, you won¡¯t be able to handle this much training. Start with four hours and increase to six hours after a month. I¡¯ll give you a medicinal bath every other day," Gu Qin outlined her plan, "I can¡¯t supervise you, so it¡¯s up to you to stay committed."


    The next day, Sunday, Gu Qin found some Chinese medicine and herbs, some of which weren¡¯t available in stores and had to be collected from Mount Tai. On Monday morning, she brought them to Lin Xinxin and taught her how to prepare and use them. The medicinal baths would continue for a year or two, but frequency would decrease later.


    When the first class bell rang, Lin Xinxin finally arrived. She was trembling, drenched in sweat, despite it being November. Gu Qin wasn¡¯t surprised; two hours of weighted training followed by two hours of standing postures were intense. She was impressed Lin Xinxin made it to school.


    Lin Xinxin collapsed onto her desk, too exhausted to talk to Gu Qin. A classmate was alarmed and asked what happened. Lin Xinxin lied, panting, "Ran...ran from home."


    The classmate exclaimed, "Lin Xinxin, you¡¯re crazy! It¡¯s so far from home, why did you run? Missed the bus? Couldn¡¯t afford a taxi?"


    Lin Xinxin didn¡¯t have the energy to argue and lay motionless on her desk, but she managed to sit up when the teacher arrived.


    Gu Qin admired Lin Xinxin¡¯s determination. Persistence for two weeks would make the routine manageable, and the benefits would be immense.


    After school, Gu Qin gave Lin Xinxin the herbs and instructions for preparing them.


    The methods for the herbal bath were all written down and handed over to her.


    In the previous few days, it was indeed the hardest to persevere, but after the herbal bath, Lin Xinxin felt that she had more energy and was much more comfortable. Therefore, she managed to stick to her exercise routine in the following days. When she felt exhausted from exercising, she would take a herbal bath and feel refreshed again. After half a month of such persistence, Lin Xinxin felt as if everything about her had changed. Previously, she had slight myopia, but now her vision seemed clearer. Before, she always heard a buzzing sound in her ears, but now even her hearing had improved; she could hear people talking from far away.


    Gu Qin had considered using the herbal bath on Gu Jia as well, but given Gu Jia''s age, it also required accompanying exercise. He was already exhausted after running for half an hour every morning, and starting with at least four hours of exercise was simply a dream. Even if he used the herbal bath, it wouldn''t have much effect. It was better to wait until he was more determined and physically stronger before mentioning it to him.


    Gu Qin became increasingly busy. She practiced, exercised, and studied every day. After two weeks, her internal injuries had mostly healed. Almost every Sunday of these two weeks, she spent time with her English teacher to get help with her studies. This proved very beneficial as her English grades improved significantly.


    By the third monthly exam, she ranked among the top ten students in the grade, finally gaining the attention of all the teachers. Teacher Zhu Xia hadn''t been wrong; the homeroom teacher of Class One found her and directly called her to the office.


    The homeroom teacher of Class One was a middle-aged man who was somewhat overweight, bald, and wore glasses. He said, "Student Gu Qin, hello. Let me introduce myself first. I am the homeroom teacher of Class One. We understand your situation. You are a very ambitious student. There was a mistake during the class division; your current grades are sufficient for you to enter Class One. The faculty and resources in Class One are certainly different. If you wish, you can start tomorrow. I will handle all the formalities."


    Actually, Gu Qin''s English score wasn''t particularly high this time. The total score for English was 150, and she scored slightly over 110. The top ten students typically scored above 145. Moreover, the scores of the top ten were very close, with differences usually only one or two points. If Gu Qin''s English score could improve a bit more, she would likely be the top scorer in the grade. No wonder the homeroom teacher of Class One wanted to move her to their class.


    Gu Qin shook her head. "Thank you for your kind offer, but I''m quite comfortable in Class Seventeen and don''t plan to switch classes for now."


    This teacher felt quite regretful and couldn''t help but persuade her further. "Student Gu Qin, think carefully. The gap between Class One and Class Seventeen is significant. Our school, Dai Shan High School, is the best in Dai Shan. But if you say you''re in Class Seventeen instead of Class One, wouldn''t it sound less impressive? At the New Year''s gathering, when relatives ask which class you''re in, isn''t it better to say you''re in Class One?"


    The teacher was right. Saying Class One would definitely make a better impression than Class Seventeen. However, Gu Qin still didn''t plan to change her class. "Teacher, I''m sorry, but I don''t intend to switch classes in Grade One. I apologize."


    "Ah, then let it be." The homeroom teacher of Class One had no choice. He had never encountered such a student. In the past, there were similar cases, but those students weren''t as remarkable as Gu Qin. They could only advance by hundreds of ranks, whereas Gu Qin advanced by thousands of ranks, moving from the bottom of the class to the top. She might even become the top scorer in the final exams.


    If the top scorer in the final exams was from Class Seventeen, it would be quite comical. But since the student refused to transfer, it would be unwise to force it.


    As December approached, the weather became colder. Dai Shan wasn''t in the far north, but it could reach several degrees below zero during winter. It was still early December, and January and February would be the coldest months. Most people were wearing sweaters and coats, while Lin Xinxin came to class almost every morning in just a shirt, putting on her sweater and coat later. Her grades remained stable, staying in the middle of the class, and even improved slightly.

 Paper Ball

    Lin Xinxin''s actions caused some gossip in the class. Some speculated that her family was having financial difficulties and couldn''t afford the bus fare. Lin Xinxin couldn''t stand it and confronted them. "What do you know? It¡¯s none of your business whether I run to school or not. Why do you care so much? I like sports, is that a problem?"


    The person spreading rumors was the class monitor, Fu Wenwen, a petite girl about 1.5 meters tall. Lin Xinxin had grown taller in the past month, reaching 1.65 meters, making her look imposing when standing over Fu Wenwen.


    Fu Wenwen blushed and asked, "Lin Xinxin, what''s your attitude? I''m the class monitor."


    Lin Xinxin sneered, "So what if you''re the class monitor? Everyone knows you took the position because Gu Qin didn¡¯t want it."


    This matter was known to everyone in the class. When the teacher asked Gu Qin if she wanted to be the class monitor, she declined, saying she was too busy. A classmate overheard and spread the word. Fu Wenwen cried in front of everyone, and the teacher intervened, saying it wasn''t true and made the rumor-spreader apologize. However, the teacher didn''t like Fu Wenwen anymore, thinking she was overly sensitive and prone to crying.


    Teachers nowadays face challenges, as parents often blame them for any issues. Recently, a student from another school eloped due to a relationship and jumped out of a window, claiming the teacher had harassed her. The parents demanded 2 million yuan in compensation. This incident spread widely, leading to outrage against the teacher. Eventually, the school principal intervened, showing surveillance footage that proved the teacher innocent.


    Due to this incident, teachers are more cautious about their interactions with students. Zhu Xia dared not remove Fu Wenwen as class monitor easily, appointing her temporarily at the beginning of the semester. She planned to hold democratic elections later, but Fu Wenwen insisted on keeping the position. Later, Zhu Xia considered Gu Qin as a potential class monitor but gave up after Fu Wenwen spread the word. Now, Lin Xinxin brought up this issue, and Fu Wenwen''s face turned red. "The teacher said it wasn''t true. Lin Xinxin, why do you accuse me without evidence?"


    Lin Xinxin replied with a cold laugh, "Huh."


    Fu Wenwen burst into tears, and her deskmate couldn''t bear it. "Fu Wenwen, stop being unreasonable. This is a school, not your home. Stop crying whenever something doesn''t go your way. If you want to be a princess, go back home. Don''t make us pay for your glass heart."


    Fu Wenwen''s deskmate was Zhou Wanru, a tall girl with long legs who had complained about Gu Qin being allowed to miss school while her boyfriend couldn''t. Zhou Wanru was straightforward and disliked studying.


    Fu Wenwen cried even louder, and Zhou Wanru was furious.


    Gu Qin lazily watched the scene from her desk. She rarely saw such drama and didn''t care much about student disputes, considering them childish. She had good relations with classmates, including Zhou Wanru, who occasionally asked her to tell fortunes. Gu Qin agreed once but refused afterward, saying she wouldn''t tell fortunes for those who weren''t sincere.


    After crying, Fu Wenwen wiped her tears and decided to get back at Lin Xinxin. "Lin Xinxin, you said you run every morning to exercise. The sports meet is also for exercise and to bring glory to the class. Will you sign up?"


    Lin Xinxin knew Fu Wenwen was retaliating. She smirked, "Sure, you can sign me up."


    Fu Wenwen then went to Gu Qin. "Gu Qin, you should sign up too. Everyone likes you, and this is a chance to bring honor to the class."


    Gu Qin yawned. "Whatever you want."


    Fu Wenwen then went to Zhou Wanru. "Zhou Wanru, you should sign up too."


    Zhou Wanru raised her eyebrows. "Fu Wenwen, are you crazy? This is personal revenge. I won''t sign up. If you want to participate, do it yourself."


    Fu Wenwen argued, "Zhou Wanru, you can''t be so selfish. This is for the class honor."


    Zhou Wanru laughed coldly. "How touching. Why don''t you participate for the class honor? Are you participating? Let me repeat, I won''t participate. Go away and don''t disturb me."


    Fu Wenwen glared at Zhou Wanru, infuriated, and signed up both Lin Xinxin and Gu Qin for multiple events, leaving Zhou Wanru with a few. She arranged the schedule so that their events wouldn''t overlap.


    When Zhu Xia saw the list, she praised the students and especially Zhou Wanru for her spirit. Zhou Wanru immediately protested. "Teacher! I didn''t sign up. Was this done by Fu Wenwen? I told her this morning."


    Zhu Xia was surprised and asked Fu Wenwen what happened. Fu Wenwen confidently said, "Teacher, you said if no one volunteered, we should just write down names."


    Zhou Wanru said, "Teacher, she did this to retaliate. Look at the events she signed us up for. She has a grudge against Lin Xinxin and is acting petty. Such behavior is unfit for a class monitor. Teacher, you said the class monitor would be elected democratically. I disagree with Fu Wenwen and nominate Chen Gang."


    Chen Gang was a male student known for his integrity and strength. Zhou Wanru asked, "Who agrees with electing Chen Gang as class monitor?"


    Sixty out of seventy students raised their hands. Only a few were still dozing off, including Chen Gang himself and two of Fu Wenwen''s friends.


    Zhu Xia was surprised by the strong opposition to Fu Wenwen. "Since the class prefers Chen Gang, we''ll hold a democratic election. Who agrees with Fu Wenwen?"


    Only Fu Wenwen''s two friends raised their hands.


    Zhu Xia said to Fu Wenwen, "Fu Wenwen, as you see, I can''t keep you as class monitor. Chen Gang will take over. But you''ll have another chance next year."


    Fu Wenwen cried, and Zhu Xia was frustrated. Finally, she sternly said, "Please calm down, Fu Wenwen. Your crying is disturbing other students."


    Fu Wenwen stopped crying but harbored resentment toward Zhou Wanru, Lin Xinxin, and Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin was innocent in this matter.


    Soon came the sports meet. Most participants were selected by teachers.


    First was the relay race. Zhou Wanru ran the first leg, another student the second, Lin Xinxin the third, and Gu Qin the last. Zhou Wanru put in great effort and shouted encouragement. Lin Xinxin was faster than the first two runners and quickly surpassed others. Gu Qin looked relaxed but was the fastest.


    Class Seventeen won the relay race, beating Class One by three seconds.


    Lin Xinxin and Gu Qin won first place in all individual events¡ª200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, high jump, long jump, shot put, discus, javelin, and rope skipping. This shocked the teachers and students of Class One. Fu Wenwen was stunned. She signed them up to make things difficult for them, but they excelled.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Zhu Xia was thrilled. Lin Xinxin skipped morning study sessions, which annoyed her. However, realizing Lin Xinxin was exercising, she realized she might have athletic talent.


    Class Seventeen won twelve first places, nearly sweeping all female events.


    For the 100m sprint, only Fu Wenwen participated.


    Zhou Wanru smirked. "She targeted you two so much, signing you up for so many events. Let''s see how she does in her one event."


    Gu Qin looked at Fu Wenwen. "Last place. She might have a minor accident. Her forehead is slightly dark, and her eyes and mouth corners are drooping. These are signs of misfortune. She''ll see some blood, but it won''t be serious."


    Zhou Wanru was skeptical. "Really?"


    The gun fired, and the runners started. Fu Wenwen stumbled and fell forward, hitting her nose. Blood gushed out, and she cried.


    The sudden incident shocked everyone. Zhou Wanru was amazed. Gu Qin''s predictions were accurate, proving her fortune-telling abilities.


    Fu Wenwen angrily confronted Gu Qin. "Why are you cursing me? Why did you curse me to fall during the race?"


    Her friend awkwardly explained, "Wenwen, she predicted your condition, not cursed you."


    Fu Wenwen cried, blaming Gu Qin. "You cursed me. I wouldn''t have fallen if you hadn''t cursed me."


    Gu Qin laughed. "If I could curse people, I''d curse the rioters to death. Why would I waste my ability on you?"


    Fu Wenwen could only cry and was taken to the infirmary by her friend.


    The moment Wenwen''s nose stopped bleeding, her friend had already gone to the playground, while she was left alone on the bed in the infirmary, becoming increasingly desperate. The black aura above her forehead grew darker and denser until she found herself walking up to the rooftop of the administration building without realizing it. The administration building wasn''t very tall, just six stories high. If someone jumped from that height, they would certainly suffer severe injuries.


    Wenwen stood on the rooftop, even climbing onto the steps of the balcony. With just a slight jump, she would die, and those people would feel guilty for the rest of their lives. A teacher passing by noticed this situation and was so frightened that his legs went weak. He shouted, "Student, what are you doing? Come down quickly! Be careful or something bad might happen." Then he immediately called the principal and other teachers.


    Finally, the principal and many teachers arrived. The news spread across the school grounds: "Did you hear? There''s a student on the administration building roof, seemingly planning to jump."


    "Really? How scary, how could someone think of jumping like that?"


    Many students rushed over to see. Zhou Ruyu and Gu Qin were still chatting on the grass when they heard the news. Zhou Ruyu joked, "You think it might be Wenwen?" She said it casually, never expecting it to actually be Wenwen.


    Gu Qin frowned and used her Heavenly Eye to look. Since the incident was recent and close, using the Heavenly Eye didn''t harm her. To her surprise, she really saw Wenwen standing on the rooftop. Her expression changed, and she immediately got up and went over. "It''s really Wenwen."


    Zhou Ruyu and Lin Xinxin were shocked, their faces turning pale. Zhou Ruyu said, "Really? No way. What happened to her? Did she get into a conflict with us? Or did my words upset her? My God, she has such a fragile heart. Why does she even come out if she can''t handle it? She should just stay at home."


    "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore. We should go check on her," Gu Qin said with a serious expression. Almost a life was at stake, and she didn''t look too good either. She didn''t like Wenwen because of her fragile heart, but mainly because she considered her own life so worthless, often contemplating suicide.


    She had seen Wenwen''s face before and believed she wouldn''t have this disaster. This meant the disaster occurred after her words, so Wenwen indeed contemplated suicide because of her. The three of them stopped talking and hurried to the administration building. On the rooftop, there was indeed a person standing by the railing. Those with better vision could tell it was Wenwen.


    Although Gu Qin disliked Wenwen, she didn''t want to see her commit suicide. Wenwen was somewhat problematic, with a fragile heart, but she wasn''t evil. Gu Qin had seen her multiple times taking leftover food from the school to feed stray cats by the lake. In Gu Qin''s view, Wenwen''s character was just overly dramatic and spoiled, but human life is precious. Some lessons should be learned, but it shouldn''t lead to death.


    Seeing more and more people gather below, Wenwen felt the cold wind on the rooftop, which made her much clearer-headed. She was actually afraid of heights. With a clearer mind, she became more timid, thinking of her parents. She had no siblings, and she couldn''t bear the thought of dying now. Just as she was about to step down, the door behind her opened, and two teachers'' voices echoed, "Student, if you have any issues, tell us. We''ll help you."


    Wenwen was startled by the sudden voice. She had almost decided to come down, but then her leg trembled, causing her to lose balance and fall off the rooftop.


    At this moment, Wenwen thought about many things: her parents'' expectations, their love for her, how they would grieve if she died, and the conflicts with Gu Qin. She realized that the matters between them weren''t significant. Gu Qin hadn''t targeted her at all. Why had she become so obsessed with these trivial matters? Life was beautiful, and she hadn''t lived enough. She wanted to live, not die.


    The sensation of falling, the rise in blood pressure, and the brief blankness made Wenwen regret her decision deeply. If only she could live well.


    Gu Qin, Lin Xinxin, and Zhou Ruyu had already reached the ground. Many teachers and students gathered, most curious, pointing and talking about the rooftop. The principal and teachers were worried about the school''s reputation. As Wenwen''s homeroom teacher, Zhu Xia was so scared that her face turned pale, and her hands shook uncontrollably. She knew that if anything happened to Wenwen, the parents would definitely blame her.


    Zhou Ruyu couldn''t help but sigh, "How could Wenwen be so foolish? Life is so precious. Was it because of our argument the other day? If it was, I''ll apologize to her. I won''t bother her anymore. It''s not worth losing a life over."


    Lin Xinxin was also very sad, "If we had known earlier, we would have let her say whatever she wanted... Wait, we shouldn''t talk about this now."


    As Wenwen fell, the sense of weightlessness, the rising blood pressure, and the brief blankness made her regret her decision immensely. If she could, she wanted to live well.


    Gu Qin, Lin Xinxin, and Zhou Ruyu had already reached the ground. Many teachers and students gathered, mostly out of curiosity, pointing and discussing the rooftop. The principal and teachers were worried about the school''s reputation. As Wenwen''s homeroom teacher, Zhu Xia was so scared that her face turned pale, and her hands shook uncontrollably. She knew that if anything happened to Wenwen, the parents would definitely blame her.


    Zhou Ruyu couldn''t help but sigh, "How could Wenwen be so foolish? Life is so precious. Was it because of our argument the other day? If it was, I''ll apologize to her. I won''t bother her anymore. It''s not worth losing a life over."


    Lin Xinxin was also very sad, "If we had known earlier, we would have let her say whatever she wanted... Wait, we shouldn''t talk about this now."


    As Wenwen fell, the sensation of weightlessness, the rising blood pressure, and the brief blankness made her regret her decision immensely. If she could, she wanted to live well.


    As Wenwen was falling, she thought of many things: her parents'' expectations, their love for her, how they would grieve if she died, and the conflicts with Gu Qin. She realized that the matters between them weren''t significant. Gu Qin hadn''t targeted her at all. Why had she become so obsessed with these trivial matters? Life was beautiful, and she hadn''t lived enough. She wanted to live, not die.


    Just before she hit the ground, Wenwen closed her eyes, expecting pain. But when she opened them, she found herself lying face-down on the concrete ground. What was happening? She had fallen from the sixth floor, yet nothing seemed wrong. No pain. Was this what death was like?


    The crowd around her screamed in terror as they watched her fall. They expected to see a bloody mess, but instead, she landed without injury. What was going on?


    Wenwen also wondered what was happening. When she looked at the terrified faces of her classmates, she realized she was fine. She tried moving her limbs, finding no pain. She stood up, still in disbelief. She had fallen from the sixth floor and was completely fine. She remembered feeling something soft before hitting the ground.


    So, Wenwen was still confused. The crowd was equally stunned. Many stared blankly as she stood up, checked her arms and legs, and walked towards them.


    Teachers had already reacted. Zhu Xia approached Wenwen, her voice trembling, "Are you okay?"


    Lin Xinxin and Zhou Ruyu were stunned, "This is amazing. What happened?"


    Wenwen shook her head, still pale, "I''m fine."


    Zhu Xia wanted to scold Wenwen but held back, considering the circumstances. "Go with me to the office. Call your parents and go to the hospital for a checkup."


    Teachers and the principal took Wenwen to the office. The sports day had ended, and students returned to their classrooms. Everyone was discussing Wenwen''s incident. Gu Qin, exhausted from using her energy, lay on the table waiting for her energy to recover. Zhou Ruyu sat in front of her, talking to her, but Gu Qin responded weakly.


    Zhou Ruyu thought Gu Qin was shaken by the incident and didn''t press further.

 Bias

    Wenwen remained silent in the office. Her parents were called and arrived quickly. Teachers and the principal were still puzzled. A psychology teacher spoke with Wenwen and learned the reason for her attempt to jump.


    Jia Xia told the principal, "Gu Qin is a good student..."


    The principal said, "Jia Xia, your classmate is planning to jump, and you still think she''s a good student? Regardless of who''s right or wrong, since it was caused by her, she must come here to clarify the situation."


    Jia Xia remained silent and fetched Gu Qin. When Gu Qin arrived, she wasn''t surprised and remained calm. "Teacher, Principal, what do you need?"


    The principal, a middle-aged man in his fifties, recognized Gu Qin as the student whose grades had improved dramatically. He treated her kindly, "Gu Qin, we called you here to ask some questions. Wenwen said you cursed her during her run, which led to her injury, and you said hurtful words. That''s why she decided to jump from the sixth floor."


    Gu Qin replied, "Principal, I didn''t curse her. I only saw from her face that she had trouble and mentioned it to my friends. She fell during her run. Do you believe in curses? If curses worked, the world would be chaotic. I only know a little about physiognomy. Wenwen falsely accused me. Is it unreasonable to respond to false accusations? I merely said if I could curse, I''d curse those bullies to death instead of wasting my energy on her. Is that inappropriate?"


    Jia Xia explained that Wenwen hadn''t intended to quarrel with Gu Qin. After the scare, she recounted the incident to the teacher, not targeting Gu Qin.


    The principal was speechless. Gu Qin continued, "I only saw trouble from her face. Physiognomy is part of traditional Chinese culture. Few believe in it now. Your family might be having some problems recently."


    The principal was taken aback. Gu Qin added, "Your face shows signs of your parents being unwell, and your child''s health isn''t great. Am I right?"


    The principal nodded, unsure. His parents had been sick lately, and his grandson was ill too. Gu Qin observed, "Your house in the suburbs recently underwent construction. That might be causing the problems."


    The principal nodded. Gu Qin suggested, "There are three major feng shui disasters: Tai Sui, San Sha, and Wu Huang Zhen Guan Sha. These disasters change positions annually. Construction during these periods can cause misfortune."


    Just then, a couple''s voices were heard, "Our Wenwen? What happened? Don''t scare us!"


    The principal paused and whispered to Gu Qin, "If you believe in it, I can have you visit my old house to check."


    The principal was stunned. Instead of getting answers, he learned about feng shui. He considered visiting his old house later.


    The principal welcomed Wenwen''s parents, who were concerned. Wenwen''s father asked, "Wenwen, what happened?"


    Wenwen apologized to Gu Qin, who remained silent. Her parents decided to take her to the hospital. Before leaving, Wenwen asked to speak to Gu Qin.


    The teacher fetched Gu Qin, who agreed to go. In the medical room, Wenwen apologized, "Gu Qin, I''m sorry..."


    Gu Qin stood silently, waiting for her to continue. Wenwen trembled, recalling the events.


    This time, everyone who had harmed the original body, except for Fu Hanru, even the father of the original body, Gu Qin gave them minor punishments. The main culprit behind the original body''s death was the father, along with the father and daughter from the Su family. The father and daughter from the Su family and the dean had already reaped their own consequences, and so had the dean. There was only Gu Yuanjiang left.


    Gu Qin had once said that if she completely destroyed Gu Yuanjiang, not only would it create negative karma for the original body, but also for herself. Therefore, she did not plan to let Gu Yuanjiang die. Although she truly disliked Gu Yuanjiang and wished he were dead, there was no way around it. Someone who could sell his own daughter''s heart was undoubtedly a person with serious moral issues, and such people were the ones Gu Qin despised the most.


    However, he couldn''t die. Gu Qin also didn''t want to cripple him like Chen Zonggui, because with Luo Wenfen''s personality, she would surely just hand the helpless Gu Yuanjiang over to Cheng Yinxiang, which would ultimately become a burden on them. So, Gu Qin planned to give Gu Yuanjiang a trouble caused by romantic entanglements  .


    "¡°  trouble caused by romantic entanglements can be good or bad. Good¡±  trouble caused by romantic entanglements is when someone has healthy romantic interactions, while bad trouble caused by romantic entanglements or  trouble caused by romantic entanglements  refers to disputes or disasters arising from romantic relationships. Gu Qin intended to give Gu Yuanjiang a bad trouble caused by romantic entanglements , so that he wouldn''t have the time or energy to harass them anymore.


    She had drawn the ¡°  trouble caused by romantic entanglements influence romantic relationships long ago, but there had been some changes in Gu Yuanjiang''s situation. Previously, Gu Yuanjiang had always rented houses, but two months ago, he sold his old house and gathered some money with Luo Wenfen to buy an 80-square-meter two-bedroom apartment in Dai Mountain. It cost about 6,000 yuan per square meter, with half as a down payment and the rest for renovation. Therefore, Gu Qin hadn''t gone there until now.


    It was heard that Gu Yuanjiang had finished renovating his new home and had chosen a lucky day to move in. All of Gu Yuanjiang''s relatives attended the celebration. Gu Qin knew about this because Luo Wenfen called her and Gu Jia, telling them that their father had bought a house and seemed quite proud of it. She then told them that if they followed their father, they wouldn''t have to keep renting houses anymore.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    When Gu Qin received the call, she didn''t hang up immediately but instead asked for the address. Luo Wenfen didn''t suspect anything and thought Gu Qin was interested in the new house, so she happily provided the address before hanging up.


    Gu Jia, upon receiving the call, showed little interest and didn''t say she would attend. In fact, Gu Jia was increasingly dissatisfied with the Gu family and therefore did not go.


    Today was Sunday, and Gu Qin decided to handle the matter as soon as possible. The ¡°  trouble caused by romantic entanglements needed several months to take effect, and by July, the villa in Dai Mountain would be ready for occupancy. If Gu Yuanjiang still didn''t have a girlfriend by then, he would certainly come to bother them. Therefore, the sooner the better.


    Gu Qin knew that Gu Yuanjiang had been running engineering projects recently, seemingly planning to become a contractor in real estate. He was often out, so he was usually not at home during the day. On Saturday morning, Gu Qin went to Gu Yuanjiang''s house. The neighborhood wasn''t a new one.


    As soon as Gu Qin arrived at the bottom of the building, she felt something was off. When she got out of the car, she felt a chill that wasn''t just from the cold weather. She couldn''t help but open her Heavenly Eye and noticed that the first three floors of the building seemed to be shrouded in a great deal of Yin energy. What''s going on?


    Before they could walk in, Gu Qin heard a loud bang from behind them. They turned around and saw two cars had collided right at the entrance. One of those cars belonged to Jiang Ni, who had given it to a valet to park. Unexpectedly, the valet backed into another car, and the person who got out of the car was none other than Ji Ziyu.


    Ji Ziyu looked over and determined that the valet was fully responsible. The valet''s face turned white; he clearly recognized Ji Ziyu. He approached and said, "Young Master Ji..."


    Since it was Jiang Ni''s car that was hit, there was no way around it. Jiang Ni and Gu Qin could only turn back. Ji Ziyu seemed a bit frustrated, rubbing his forehead, and looked up just in time to see them. Jiang Ni smiled and said, "Brother Ziyu, sorry, you got hit by my car."


    Ji Ziyu recognized the car as Jiang Ni''s. Both their cars were not cheap, and with the valet being fully responsible, even if both cars were insured, the compensation would still be insufficient. The valet would have to pay a portion of the damages. This was more than enough for the valet.


    The valet''s face was pale, and another valet came over. Someone couldn''t help but whisper, "Xiao Tong is our hotel''s best valet, how did this happen? It''s really strange. There have been accidents all over the hotel these past few days, and there''s always blood involved. The supervisor fell down the stairs and broke his head. And our manager, one day he was fine, then suddenly the chandelier in the lobby fell and hit him. Fortunately, no one died, but the manager''s condition is quite serious, and he''s still in the hospital."


    Gu Qin listened to these words and turned to look at the building again, opening her Heavenly Eye. There were no arrays or evil spells around, and if there truly were arrays causing the Yin energy, it wouldn''t just affect the first three floors. It would affect the entire building. She was temporarily unsure of what was happening.


    Ji Ziyu seemed to have hit his forehead too, but fortunately, there was no bleeding, just a bruise on his temple. Jiang Ni was also helpless. They both had urgent matters and couldn''t handle the situation themselves, so they called the insurance company to handle it. They walked into the building together.


    The valet didn''t know what to do and approached nervously, "Miss Jiang, Young Master Ji..."


    Jiang Ni waved her hand, "It''s okay, don''t blame him." They wouldn''t make things difficult for the valet over such a small matter.


    The three of them went up to the second floor by elevator. Jiang Ni laughed and said, "Brother Ziyu, your head okay? Should I ask the valet to bring some ice for you?"


    Ji Ziyu rubbed his forehead, "No need, it''s nothing." Just as he said that, the elevator suddenly shook, stopped, and the lights flickered twice before turning off. The entire elevator went dark.


    Jiang Ni coughed and couldn''t help grabbing Gu Qin''s arm. "Qin Qin, stay close to me, I''m scared of the dark." She wasn''t afraid of snakes, insects, or mice, but she was terrified of the darkness and sealed spaces.


    Ji Ziyu had already taken out his phone and turned on the flashlight, instantly illuminating the elevator. Ji Ziyu seemed familiar with the hotel and called someone to come over. Soon, they heard footsteps and the voices of the valet and repairman, "Master, what''s wrong with the elevator? It''s broken down more than ten times in the last couple of days. How can you fix it?"


    The three people in the elevator felt something was off. Jiang Ni and Ji Ziyu couldn''t help but recall the valet''s words earlier. The hotel was having accidents? After the construction site incident, Jiang Ni was more sensitive to such events and asked Gu Qin in a low voice, "Qin Qin, is something wrong? Is the hotel''s feng shui messed up?"


    This hotel was the largest five-star hotel in Dai Mountain, rarely experiencing such incidents. The management was sound, and the facilities were excellent, which made business good. They had never heard of such incidents before, but they seemed to start recently. So, Jiang Ni thought maybe the feng shui was the problem.


    Gu Qin nodded but didn''t say much. She didn''t know the details yet.


    Jiang Ni''s hair stood on end. "Qin Qin, could it be like the construction site? Has someone tampered with the hotel''s feng shui?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No, don''t worry." More than that, she couldn''t say anything. It wasn''t because of a feng shui arrangement. With such intense Yin energy, if it were a feng shui arrangement, the whole building would be affected, not just the first three floors.


    The repairman quickly opened the elevator door, which was stuck halfway. They had to climb up to get out. Jiang Ni was about to climb up when Gu Qin suddenly pulled her back, and the elevator suddenly dropped.


    Jiang Ni couldn''t help but scream as she felt herself plummeting. Ji Ziyu wasn''t faring any better. His forehead, which had already been hit earlier, collided with the elevator wall due to the sudden drop, causing him to groan in pain.


    This moment was extremely fast. Gu Qin only managed to pull them closer and immediately used a large amount of yuan qi to protect them. Since the elevator was moving upwards to the second floor, neither of them expected it to suddenly drop. In an instant, the elevator fell to the bottom. Luckily, the floors weren''t high, and the others didn''t feel much harm.


    Even at a lower height, an elevator falling suddenly could cause some injuries. Gu Qin protected them with yuan qi, so they were fine, but she consumed a lot of yuan qi, making her face pale.


    Finally, the elevator stopped moving. Voices from above could be heard¡ªthe valets'' screams and the chaotic footsteps, probably looking for help or calling the police.


    Jiang Ni was even more frightened. If not for Gu Qin pulling her, she would have climbed out halfway. The sudden drop of the elevator made her unable to imagine what might have happened next.


    Gu Qin also found it strange. Before entering the hotel, she hadn''t seen any disaster signs on Jiang Ni''s face. It must have happened after entering the hotel and being exposed to the intense Yin energy. Being in such a place could lead to unexpected disasters, especially since the incident happened within two minutes after entering the hotel, making it a sudden event, so Jiang Ni''s face didn''t show any signs.


    But there was another possibility: this incident might have something to do with her, so it wouldn''t appear on Jiang Ni''s face. If it was related to her, the Heavenly Machine wouldn''t reveal it. This meant the Yin energy was actually targeting her. Gu Qin was completely puzzled. The hotel looked fine from the outside, but inside, something felt off.


    The elevator finally reached the bottom, and several people opened the elevator shaft door, allowing them to exit.


    Afterwards, Jiang Ni''s legs were still trembling. Two valets supported her as she walked out. Ji Ziyu was better; although he was a bit dazed, his legs were still steady.


    The deputy manager came over and apologized repeatedly. Behind them, the valets whispered, "How eerie. The elevator has been malfunctioning frequently, but never as frightening as today. Why did it suddenly fall? Is there something wrong with the hotel?"


    "Unlikely?" Another valet said, "Everything was fine until a couple of days ago when they mentioned holding a charity auction here. Ever since the items started arriving, everything has gone wrong. Ah..."


    Gu Qin''s heart skipped a beat, but she didn''t ask further.


    All three were fine, and the deputy manager asked if they needed to go to the hospital. Jiang Ni shook her head, "We''ll just sit here for a while and go up later." She was too weak to stand, and without Gu Qin pulling her, she might have been seriously injured.


    They sat in the hall for a while until Jiang Ni regained her composure. They avoided the elevator and took the stairs up to the second floor.


    The second-floor hall was arranged like an auction venue, with red carpets laid out. They sat according to their invitation cards. Gu Qin and Jiang Ni were seated next to each other, and Ji Ziyu was behind them. After sitting down, Ji Ziyu asked, "Aini, are you okay?"

 Accusation

    The incident was terrifying. He was worried about Jiang Ni''s reaction.


    Jiang Ni''s face was still pale, "Don''t worry, I''m fine." She was just a bit shaken.


    Due to the limited time, Gu Qin didn''t have the chance to perform any incantations or seals.


    The complexion of Gu Qin also turned slightly pale as she had used a large amount of yuanqi to protect three people. She couldn¡¯t afford to pay attention to these details now. She flipped through the catalog that she had received earlier. It detailed the items that would be auctioned tonight. As she flipped through it, the first few pages were filled with jewelry and accessories, along with some antiques and calligraphy pieces. When she reached the last few pages, she saw something.


    It was a weapon, long and edgeless, with four sides, about forty centimeters in length, made of bronze, resembling a hard whip. The body of the weapon had no joints, and the tip had no point. It was an ancient weapon.


    Gu Qin¡¯s face paled further. If her guess was correct, this might be the reason for the weapon. It should be a burial item from a certain tomb, but she didn¡¯t know why it had appeared here. However, the yin (evil) aura was too strong; ordinary burial items wouldn¡¯t have such a heavy yin aura. Was it really because of this weapon?


    A cudgel was an ancient weapon. Typically, it was about four feet long and used by men. But this cudgel was much smaller, almost like a miniature version, not quite suitable for men. It was called a "sleeve cudgel," much smaller than usual cudgels.


    Gu Qin flipped through the remaining pages and found that most of the other items were still jewelry, accessories, and antiques like vases and small stools made of pear wood. Only this weapon stood out. She suspected that it was the weapon causing trouble.


    Of course, without seeing the actual object, she couldn¡¯t be sure if it was truly the weapon''s fault. If it was, she probably wouldn''t be able to subdue it easily.


    This could also be considered a type of magic tool, an attack magic tool. If the evil aura was indeed due to this weapon, then at the very least, it would be a mid-level magic tool. If it was a mid-level magic tool, her current cultivation level wouldn''t allow her to subdue it.


    Deciding to investigate further, Gu Qin told Jiang Ni that she needed to use the restroom and left. The corridor split into two directions: the left led to the restroom, so she went right, following the yin aura until she reached the end. There, she saw many people bustling about, including a male host reading off a list. Since she followed the yin aura, this must be where the aura was strongest. She could see what was inside just by pushing open the door.


    A staff member noticed her and, recognizing her as a guest in a formal dress, said kindly, "Miss, this is backstage. You''ve taken a wrong turn. If you''re looking for the restroom, just go straight ahead and turn at the end of the corridor."


    Curious, Gu Qin pointed at the room and asked, "What''s in there?"


    The staff member smiled, "That''s where today''s auction items are stored." This staff member felt safe telling Gu Qin because she looked like a high school student and there were several security guards around.


    Gu Qin was now certain that the problem was related to one of the auction items. After thinking for a moment, she said directly, "Hello, I¡¯ve seen the auction catalog. There''s something I really like. Is it possible to buy it privately? Can I talk to your manager about it?"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The staff member was taken aback, "I''m sorry, Miss. We don''t have that rule. You know, this is a charity auction. Why don''t you wait until the auction begins in the main hall? Don''t worry, the prices won''t be outrageous. This is a charity event, so no one will try to inflate prices."


    Gu Qin pursed her lips and decided not to argue further. She thanked them and planned to return. She thought it wouldn''t make much difference to wait a little longer...


    Just as she took a few steps back, her hair stood on end. She sensed something and immediately stepped back. Just as she moved, something fell in front of her with a loud thud. She looked down and saw that it was a chandelier. If she hadn''t moved, it would have hit her head.


    The staff members nearby were startled and rushed over when they heard the sound. Seeing the chandelier, they turned pale. They thought it was lucky that the young girl had avoided it. They mentioned that the hotel manager wasn''t so fortunate and had been hit by a chandelier, and he was still in the hospital.


    One of the staff members muttered, "How strange, things keep happening. Is something following us? Before we came to the hotel, accidents kept happening..."


    Another staff member nudged him, "Stop talking."


    Gu Qin became even more convinced that one of the auction items was causing trouble. She wondered why it had happened twice since she arrived. She felt like the yin aura was targeting her. Could the item already have a consciousness? Her face paled even more. If her guess was correct and the magic tool had a certain degree of consciousness, then it would at least be a heaven-level magic tool, which she wouldn''t be able to subdue.


    If it was a mid-level magic tool, she might have a chance of subduing it using her Heavenly Eye to communicate with the natural qi. But if it was a heaven-level magic tool, she wouldn''t stand a chance.


    This consciousness wasn''t human consciousness. Instead, it meant that the heaven-level magic tool could distinguish between auspicious and evil qi and would instinctively attack those who carried auspicious qi. Since she practiced orthodox cultivation, she naturally possessed yuanqi, making her a target.


    Similarly, the hotel manager might have been carrying some auspicious qi or object, which made him a target. Besides actively attacking, the evil qi would also cause harm to those around it, like the previous minor car accident.


    Gu Qin quickly returned to her seat. She was worried and restless, fearing that the evil aura might attack her again and harm those around her. Fortunately, nothing else happened until the auction began.


    The male host briefly introduced the purpose of the charity auction, and soon the bidding started. The first item was a piece of jewelry, starting at one hundred thousand yuan. Women in the audience quickly began to bid, and it eventually sold for two hundred thousand yuan.


    The auction continued. Gu Qin heard faint sounds behind her, indicating someone had entered. She glanced back and saw a tall man and a shorter, somewhat overweight man sitting a few rows behind her.


    Gu Qin didn''t pay much attention and turned back to watch the auction items. It was only the second item, and the order matched the catalog. Gu Qin remembered that the sleeve cudgel was listed as the twenty-second item.


    Behind her, a middle-aged man spoke, "Mr. Qin, I''m truly sorry for dragging you to Mount Dai and this auction. I heard there was a small stool made of pear wood here, and I wanted to collect it..."


    "Old Master Xie, please don''t blame yourself. I came to Mount Dai for business anyway. Old Master Xie shouldn''t feel guilty," a younger man replied softly, his voice smooth and warm, like jade.


    This young man continued, "And coming here, I discovered a big surprise. I should thank you for that."


    The young man''s voice was gentle and pleasant. Gu Qin couldn''t help but want to look back and see his appearance, but she restrained herself.


    The auction continued slowly, and the conversation behind her stopped. If not for her cultivation, she wouldn''t have heard the man''s words.


    The auction items were being bought one by one. Jiang Ni was feeling better and was now focused on the items on the stage. She didn''t like any of the jewelry but had her eye on a painting, which was a gift from Jiang Jianguo.


    The painting wasn''t an original work by an ancient calligrapher or painter but a modern master''s imitation. This master specialized in imitating works by a famous ancient calligrapher and painter, creating replicas that were nearly indistinguishable from the originals.


    However, this master rarely produced such works, having only created twenty pieces in his lifetime. These works were extremely valuable, though not as much as the originals. The price was still considerable, and it had significant collection value. It was donated by the CEO of Bai Ya Company, and all proceeds would go to charity.


    The starting bid for the painting was one million yuan. Gu Qin wasn''t familiar with art auctions, so she could only watch. If it were an antique, she could help judge whether it was genuine based on the presence of yuanqi. But this was an imitation, and she knew nothing about it.


    Gu Qin was anxious, as there were ten more items before the sleeve cudgel. She feared something else might happen, but nothing did.


    The price of the painting rose to three million yuan, continuing to climb. Finally, it was sold to Jiang Ni for five million three hundred thousand yuan. Next was a small stool made of pear wood. Those interested in collecting pear wood were interested in this item.


    The middle-aged man who had spoken earlier continued to bid, eventually purchasing the pear wood stool for three million yuan. Gu Qin heard the young man''s voice again, "Congratulations, Old Master Xie."


    The middle-aged man, referred to as Old Master Xie, laughed, "Mr. Qin, do you have anything else you''re interested in?"


    "There is one," the young man replied gently, with a hint of a smile in his voice.

 Drama

    "May I ask what Mr. Qin is interested in?" Old Master Xie asked.


    The young man seemed to point at something in the catalog and said with a smile, "It''s this one."


    Old Master Xie also laughed, "I guessed that you''d be interested in this."


    Gu Qin overheard their entire conversation, feeling a growing sense of unease. She didn''t know who this young man was or if he was a cultivator. But if he was a regular person, she should be able to tell. If he was a cultivator, she should be able to sense it with her Heavenly Eye.


    As the auction continued, the sleeve cudgel was nearing its turn. The host introduced it, "This next item is a sleeve cudgel, a weapon. Ancient people liked such cold weapons, and this one is made of bronze, making it a valuable antique. For this charity auction, the starting price is fifty thousand yuan."


    A beautiful woman in a cheongsam brought out the tray with the sleeve cudgel. As soon as it appeared, Gu Qin''s expression changed. Sure enough, it was this item. The yin aura was frightening. Even in her past life, she had never seen such an intense yin aura. Most importantly, the moment the sleeve cudgel appeared, Gu Qin felt a hostile aura directed at her. Instantly, the yin aura surged toward her.


    In this world, there were many types of qi, including yang qi, yin qi, evil qi, auspicious qi, and dragon qi. Yang qi was gentle, appearing like white mist. Yin qi was grayish mist. Evil qi was black. Auspicious qi was tinged with a golden glow, while dragon qi was dazzling white. The yin aura was a combination of black evil qi and gray yin qi.


    The sleeve cudgel was almost entirely evil qi, with less yin qi. This indicated that the yin qi had gradually transformed into evil qi. The concentration of yin qi was very high, and prolonged exposure could lead to illness or misfortune.


    Gu Qin prepared to defend against the attack of the yin qi, chanting spells and forming hand seals. But before the yin qi could attack, it suddenly changed direction and returned to the sleeve cudgel. Gu Qin''s movements were too late. The yin qi was now calm, and she didn''t need to do anything further. Attacking it now would only hurt innocent people.


    Many people were interested in the antique, and Gu Qin raised her paddle.


    The host smiled, "Miss, you bid fifty-five thousand yuan. Does anyone else wish to raise the bid?"


    An older man bid sixty thousand yuan.


    The host continued, "Bid sixty thousand yuan by Mr. Thirty-Seven. Does anyone else wish to raise the bid?"


    Gu Qin was surprised. This man was also after the sleeve cudgel. She raised her paddle.


    "Miss Nine bids eighty thousand yuan..."


    Three people were now bidding: Miss Nine (Gu Qin), Mr. Eighteen (the young man), and Mr. Thirty-Seven (the older man).


    The price climbed to two million yuan. A bronze antique valued at one hundred and fifty thousand yuan was already considered expensive. Beyond that, it lost its collection value. Gu Qin believed Mr. Thirty-Seven was a regular person. Even if he bought the item, it would be a curse. He likely didn''t know it was an attack magic tool. Bronze antiques were common in antique markets, so why specifically this sleeve cudgel?


    Gu Qin raised her paddle again. "Miss Nine bids two hundred and ten thousand yuan..."


    "Mr. Thirty-Seven bids two hundred and twenty thousand yuan..."


    "Mr. Eighteen bids two hundred and fifty thousand yuan."


    Gu Qin clenched her teeth and raised her paddle again. "Miss Nine bids two hundred and sixty thousand yuan..."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    The price soared to three million yuan. Jiang Ni rarely saw Gu Qin so determined about an item and whispered, "Qin Qin, just bid. If money is short, I''ll cover it."


    Gu Qin had two cards. With the price reaching three million yuan, she had to use the six million yuan set aside for the charity fund. She raised her paddle again. "Miss Nine bids three million and ten thousand yuan..."


    "Mr. Thirty-Seven bids three million and twenty thousand yuan..."


    "Mr. Eighteen bids three million and fifty thousand yuan."


    Gu Qin gritted her teeth and raised her paddle again. "Miss Nine bids three million and sixty thousand yuan..."


    The price finally broke five million yuan. Ji Ziyu and Jiang Ni couldn''t help but glance back at the young man bidding against Gu Qin. He was handsome, dressed in casual western attire, exuding an air of confidence and poise.


    Noticing their gaze, the young man smiled warmly and nodded. Jiang Ni and Ji Ziyu nodded back, acknowledging him. Turning back, they exchanged glances, both sensing that this young man was no ordinary person. But neither had ever seen him in Mount Dai.


    Ji Ziyu whispered to Gu Qin, "Don''t worry. We''re here. Just focus on bidding."


    When the price reached six million yuan, Gu Qin couldn''t resist turning back to glance at the young man. She was still curious. This time, she clearly saw his face¡ªhandsome, fair-skinned. Their eyes met.


    When Qin Xian''s gaze met that of the girl, he felt his heart, which had been calm for years, quicken slightly. His chest felt itchy, a sensation he couldn''t describe.


    Gu Qin clearly sensed that the man froze momentarily upon meeting her gaze. She opened her Heavenly Eye and couldn''t read him. She couldn''t tell if he was a regular person or a cultivator like her.


    She turned back and continued bidding. "Miss Nine bids six million and ten thousand yuan."


    No one else raised their paddles. The host exclaimed excitedly, "Six million and ten thousand yuan for the first time, six million and ten thousand yuan for the second time..."


    Xie Heping glanced curiously at the young man beside him. "Mr. Qin, why aren''t you bidding anymore?"


    Qin Xian, looking at the back of the girl in the second row, smiled warmly. "No need to bid anymore."


    Finally, Gu Qin won the sleeve cudgel for six million and ten thousand yuan, using up all her charity funds. Originally, she had planned to discuss the charity foundation with Cheng Yixiang later. Now, she realized it wasn''t necessary. After paying, she had only one million and nine hundred thousand yuan left. This was far from enough for charitable donations. She would have to save more.


    Gu Qin knew that relying solely on savings for charity was insufficient unless she started a business. But she wasn''t sure what kind of business she could run, even if she offered fortune-telling and feng shui services.


    The auction for the remaining items proceeded quickly. The host said some good-luck words, and the charity auction was a success. Then everyone moved to the third-floor banquet hall.


    Gu Qin was concerned about the sleeve cudgel and feared it might harm others. She told Jiang Ni and Ji Ziyu, "Sister Jiang, Mr. Ji, I have some matters to attend to. I''ll leave first."


    They nodded without pressing further. Gu Qin turned and left, completing the transaction and leaving the hotel.


    Gu Qin had left her coat at the hotel. At the lobby, she put on her down jacket and boots. She dared not take the sleeve cudgel home, fearing it might harm her family.


    Oddly, while in the venue, the weapon had attacked her. Now, it was calmer. She decided to go to her usual training spot to subdue the weapon. Even if it was a heaven-level magic tool, she wanted to give it a try, as such attack magic tools were rare.


    Her current cultivation level was definitely insufficient. She had many talismans at home, drawn recently. Many were intermediate spirit-concentrating talismans. She might try some of these, but she knew her own cultivation level alone wouldn''t be enough to subdue it.


    Gu Qin knew her limitations. She couldn''t read the magic tool, but she knew it had developed a consciousness. That meant it was beyond her current cultivation level and required external assistance. She quietly returned home, changed into winter clothes, and prepared to deal with the sleeve cudgel.


    After returning from the auction, Xie Heping had become an old friend of Tian Yinhua, the principal of Daishan No.1 Middle School. He came to Daishan precisely for this auction, and he happened to know the CEO of Baiya, which is why he got two invitation tickets.


    As for Mr. Qin, Xie Heping didn''t really know his identity; he only knew that he was a friend of Old Master Mu.


    Old Master Mu had a very noble and sensitive identity. He was much older than his age suggested, probably over eighty years old. He had dedicated half his life to the country, and now that everyone could live in peace, Old Master Mu had contributed significantly.


    With the country stable and peaceful, Old Master Mu gradually had more free time. Even though his position was high, there were fewer things for him to manage daily. He developed other interests, such as collecting antiques, rather than gardening or keeping birds.


    Xie Heping was a top expert in antique authentication, having helped Old Master Mu authenticate many antiques. Their friendship grew over time, and Mr. Qin was introduced through Old Master Mu. Xie Heping often saw this young man around Old Master Mu and knew he wasn''t related to Old Master Mu but didn''t know his exact identity.


    When Xie Heping returned, Old Master Mu asked him to bring a few people along, saying they were there to protect him. Xie Heping was initially confused but brought Mr. Qin along. However, he realized that Mr. Qin was likely not there to protect him but for other reasons.


    Xie Heping wasn''t naive. When Old Master Mu said he was being burdened, Xie Heping understood it was related to Old Master Mu''s enemies. Old Master Mu had many enemies, and several years ago, he was attacked and severely injured, only narrowly surviving. This meant Mr. Qin''s presence was linked to these enemies.


    Xie Heping knew Old Master Mu''s identity and understood the risks involved with his position. Those who interacted with him would also be affected.


    That evening, Xie Heping took the invitation ticket and asked Mr. Qin if he wanted to join, and surprisingly, Mr. Qin agreed. On the way, some unexpected incidents occurred, where someone tried to attack him, but those nearby quickly resolved the situation. Xie Heping knew those people were there to protect him and recognized them as knowing Mr. Qin. They exchanged a few words and then left.


    So when they arrived at the auction, they were late. Although Xie Heping didn''t know much about Mr. Qin, he seemed easy to get along with and appeared decisive. Xie Heping noticed Mr. Qin was very interested in the sleeve whip and determined to get it, but he unexpectedly gave up at the last moment.


    The young woman turned back, and Xie Heping could see she was almost ready to give up too. Mr. Qin must have noticed too, but he still gave up inexplicably.


    After the auction, they were supposed to go to the third-floor banquet hall, but Mr. Qin told Xie Heping, "Old Master Xie, I won''t be going up. I have other matters. The danger has been taken care of. Wish you a pleasant trip."


    Then Mr. Qin left. Xie Heping didn''t even know his name, just that he was surnamed Qin.

 Proof

    Gu Qin carried her bag to Daishan, but on the way, she felt a strange sensation, as if someone was following her. She looked around and even used her Heavenly Eye, but saw nothing. It was completely dark, but it didn''t affect Gu Qin. She quickly reached the foot of Daishan. These paths had little effect on her qi.


    Gu Qin''s cultivation had entered the stage of refining essence into qi, which was relatively simple for her due to her past experience. She could quickly enter this stage, but later stages were more challenging. The qi in modern times was much less than in her previous era, making cultivation increasingly difficult.


    Similarly, there were fewer cultivators in this era. She had only seen one before, the woman who helped the Su family, and hadn''t seen her again.


    Today at the auction, the man named Mr. Qin was somewhat mysterious to Gu Qin.


    She went straight to Daishan, heading for her usual cultivation spot, which was also the place with the densest qi on the mountain. As soon as she stepped in, the qi whip inside her bag started to stir. Previously, Gu Qin had sealed the qi whip with several layers of talismans. If not for the talismans, the negative qi would have already attacked her.


    At the location, Gu Qin placed the qi whip on the auspicious spot without hesitation. She then took out cinnabar, brushes, and ink to draw an array on the ground. She sat cross-legged in front of the qi whip, which became even more agitated. It was an evil object that thrived on negative qi. If exposed to positive qi, it would feel uncomfortable.


    Gu Qin directly struck the talisman onto the qi whip, and after a few strikes, the qi whip emitted a buzzing sound, its body vibrating. Gu Qin didn''t dare to be distracted and continued striking with talismans. Though she had drawn many talismans, it was unlikely to subdue the qi whip easily. It wouldn''t be considered earth-grade or heaven-grade if it were that simple.


    The buzzing sound grew louder as Gu Qin bit her teeth and struck the talismans harder. The negative qi seemed to be trying to break free, but the talismans held it back. Gu Qin couldn''t use all the talismans at once and continued drawing talismans with her qi.


    For a while, neither side gave in. This negative object, having gained self-awareness, was hard to subdue. Gu Qin refused to give up. Half an hour passed, and she had used half of her talismans. Her qi still had some strength left.


    However, the negative qi on the qi whip grew more violent. Gu Qin bit her finger, letting blood drip onto the qi whip. To subdue such a weapon required one''s essence and blood. Initially, she was hesitant to feed it blood, as it might contain strong negative qi. But without feeding it, she couldn''t subdue it. Now, seeing it tired, she hurriedly dripped her blood onto it.


    Sure enough, the qi whip stirred violently, emitting a buzzing sound that made Gu Qin''s ears ring. She felt dizzy as the negative qi began entering her body. The negative qi''s resentment filled her mind, and she struggled to maintain her focus. She bit her tongue to stabilize herself and continued drawing talismans with her qi.


    One, two, five... Gu Qin felt increasingly exhausted. Despite her early cultivation level, her qi was comparable to higher levels due to her unique abilities. But she still had limits. She had already cast dozens of talismans.


    Gu Qin gritted her teeth and continued, drawing talismans with her qi. The buzzing grew louder, and her hallucinations worsened. Negative spirits surrounded her, their mouths wide open, ready to bite her...


    Almost unconsciously, Gu Qin continued casting talismans at the qi whip.


    Just as Gu Qin was about to lose her strength, she heard light footsteps behind her. Her face changed, annoyed at her own carelessness. She realized someone had been following her since the journey. Was this person a fellow practitioner? She cursed herself for being careless, knowing she had no defense against an attack.


    But the person behind her didn''t harm her. Instead, they sat down behind her, their voice gentle like jade. "Calm yourself, continue. I''ll help you. Don''t worry."


    Gu Qin froze for a moment, recognizing the voice as Mr. Qin from the auction. Why was he following her? Did he follow her all along? At this point, she focused on continuing her task. She felt a surge of qi from behind, replenishing her energy.


    Gu Qin knew it was not the time to ask questions and continued casting talismans.


    Time passed, and it was 2 AM. She had started at around 8 PM and lasted until 10 PM. Now, four hours had passed, and the qi whip seemed to calm down.


    Mr. Qin''s voice sounded again, "Feed it your blood, then continue..."


    Gu Qin bit her finger, dripping blood onto the qi whip. It buzzed again, and the negative qi stirred. Gu Qin continued until it calmed, then fed it more blood and continued subduing it.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    This process continued until dawn. When she fed it blood again, it finally stopped moving. Gu Qin heard a faint buzzing sound in her mind, no longer menacing but gentle. She sensed the qi whip''s affectionate intent and felt the negative qi dissipate entirely.


    Gu Qin sighed with relief, elated. She had finally subdued it. Exhausted, she collected the qi whip and stood up, followed by Mr. Qin.


    Gu Qin turned to face him, noticing he was tall, her chin barely reaching his jaw. She disliked looking up and stepped back slightly. "No need for thanks, sir. Thank you for your help today."


    "Subdued it well," Mr. Qin''s voice sounded tired. "Let''s head down the mountain."


    Gu Qin nodded and they descended. She had many questions but didn''t want to disturb him. She wondered who he was and why he helped her. She never believed in random kindness; there had to be a reason¡ªlike kinship, friendship, or money. She didn''t know him and had only met him at the auction. Why help her?


    They walked in silence. Gu Qin noticed Mr. Qin was walking slowly and didn''t want to rush him. They slowly descended the mountain. By the time they reached the city, it was already bright. She saw his pale face and realized he was injured.


    "Are you hurt? Your face looks terrible," Gu Qin said, embarrassed.


    Mr. Qin shook his head. "I''m fine. Let''s hurry back to the city. I''m quite hungry."


    Gu Qin understood and decided to invite him for breakfast after asking about his help.


    Both were exhausted. They found a bus to the city center. Gu Qin paid for their seats. It was early, so the bus was nearly empty. They sat in the back, with Gu Qin inside and Mr. Qin outside.


    Mr. Qin wore casualbusiness suit, neat even after a night on the mountain. His hair was slightly disheveled, falling over his forehead. He was handsome, more so than Ji Ziyu, standing around 190 cm tall. His figure was proportionate, tall and slender, with a handsome face and pale skin. Passengers, both men and women, couldn''t help but look at him.


    He closed his eyes, resting. A few young women occasionally glanced back, eventually sitting closer to him. One long-haired girl blushed and said, "Excuse me..."


    The girl''s gaze fell on Mr. Qin. Gu Qin remained silent, too tired to speak. Mr. Qin opened his eyes, "Yes?"


    Her face reddened further. "Sir, can I have your phone number?"


    "I''m sorry," Mr. Qin smiled gently. "I don''t have a phone."


    Her face turned white, then red. Mr. Qin didn''t comfort her, and the girls returned to their seats. He glanced at the sleeping girl next to him.


    The bus soon reached the city center. Gu Qin woke up and prepared to leave. Mr. Qin followed, "Let me treat you to breakfast."


    They entered a nearby breakfast shop. Gu Qin asked, "What would you like?"


    Mr. Qin looked at the menu. "Steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk."


    Gu Qin ordered soup noodles for herself and six steamed buns, two fried dough sticks, and a cup of soy milk for Mr. Qin. He ate politely but finished quickly.


    His face remained pale. Gu Qin hesitated. "Sir, thank you for yesterday. Is there anything you need? I''ll try my best to fulfill it."


    "Rest," Mr. Qin said.


    "Rest?" Gu Qin nodded. "There''s a hotel nearby. Let''s go there. I''ll book a room for you and leave."


    Mr. Qin nodded. They went to a hotel. Gu Qin asked, "Sir, aren''t you from Daishan?"


    Yesterday, he bid millions at the auction and seemed to be a fellow practitioner. If he were from Daishan, Jiang Ni and Ji Ziyu should know him, but they didn''t.


    Mr. Qin nodded. "No, I''m not from Daishan. I''m here for other reasons."


    Gu Qin was even more suspicious. Why did he help her? Last night, he suddenly stopped bidding. Could he have been raising the price deliberately? But it didn''t seem like it. Gu Qin couldn''t understand what kind of person Mr. Qin was. She led him to a nearby hotel, booked a room, and let him in.


    They stood in the room. It was spacious, with a large bed. Gu Qin said, "Rest, I''ll leave."


    Mr. Qin nodded. His face grew paler, and Gu Qin noticed beads of sweat on his forehead. His lips were pale, and he sat on the edge of the bed. His hair was damp, covering his black eyes.


    Gu Qin knelt down. "Sir, are you okay?"


    Mr. Qin didn''t respond. Gu Qin realized he had closed his eyes. She pushed him gently, and he collapsed onto the bed.


    Gu Qin was startled. She didn''t understand what was happening. He was clearly stronger, having sustained her for hours. What was wrong now? She stayed, unsure of what to do. After a few hours, her qi recovered. She touched his wrist, intending to transfer her qi to him. But as soon as she transferred a little, she felt a strong negative qi surge towards her, far more intense than the qi whip''s.


    Before the negative qi could enter her, Mr. Qin suddenly opened his eyes, pushing her away. "Don''t touch me. Go back. If you don''t mind, leave your number. I''ll call you when I wake up." He closed his eyes again.


    Gu Qin blinked, bewildered. Why would transferring qi cause negative qi to attack her? She couldn''t understand.


    Xu Qin finally decided to stay in the room and accompany Mr. Qin. She had never seen Mr. Qin in such a condition before. He was also                                         ancultivate one''s moral character person, and a orthodox practitioner of Daoism, not a Warcraft. If he were a Warcraft, she would have been able to tell at a glance. But why did Mr. Qin''s body contain such heavy yin qi?


    Her own vitality  certainly could not save him, and Mr. Qin himself had said not to touch him. Xu Qin did not touch him; instead, she sat beside him watching.


    He must have been in great pain. Although he had fainted, sweat continued to pour from his forehead, soaking his clothes. His eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his right hand clenched into a fist over his chest. His body was slightly arched.


    Seeing his appearance, Xu Qin felt a bit guilty. At the auction, he seemed fine, but after subduing the  Sleeve mace for her, he became like this. It looked as if he had become like this because of helping her.


    Xu Qin hesitated for a moment, then went forward and took off his suit jacket. It was quite cold outside, and he only wore a shirt underneath, which was soaked with sweat. The room had the heating on, and it gradually became warm. Xu Qin, disregarding any sense of propriety between men and women, helped him take off his shirt, then went to the bathroom to get a towel to wipe off his sweat.


    Mr. Qin looked slender, but without his clothes, his physique was quite noticeable. He was slim. If it were in her previous life, Xu Qin would never have dared to undress a man. However, coming to this era, she gradually accepted the local customs.


    She felt something was wrong. Mr. Qin still pressed his right fist against his chest. She couldn''t help but open her  Eye In The Sky and saw a gasp. Extremely dense  yin qi seemed to be breaking out from his body. These  yin qi were all concentrated in his chest area. In simpler terms, they were trying to break out from his chest.


    Xu Qin was stunned. This was the first time she encountered such a situation. For now, she could only wipe off his sweat and cover him with a blanket.


    Apart from that, she could not do much. Xu Qin sat on the sofa. After such a night, she was also tired and fell asleep sitting there. When she woke up, it was almost dark, and it was already past four in the afternoon.


    Mr. Qin had not woken up yet, but he seemed to be better. His complexion had recovered somewhat. Xu Qin thought they had only eaten breakfast, and lunch was not yet eaten. She planned to ask the hotel to send some food. However, since she did not go home last night, she was afraid Cheng Yinxiang would worry. So, she went out to make a call, but to avoid disturbing him, she went to the corridor.


    As soon as she called, Cheng Yinxiang answered, "Hello, is it Qu Qu? Why haven''t you come back yet? Is nothing wrong?"


    Xu Qin replied, "Mom, I''m fine, don''t worry. I might be late tonight. I''ll eat outside and won''t be going home for dinner."


    Cheng Yinxiang felt uneasy, "Qu Qu, don''t get into any danger. Mom worries about you."


    "Mom, I know. Please rest assured, everything is fine. I''m just eating outside, and I''ll be back after I finish eating."


    Cheng Yinxiang sighed with relief, "That''s good. Come back early after eating."

 Defense

    Mr. Qin woke up and sat up on the bed, still bare-chested. He felt sticky and uncomfortable. For a moment, he was confused, not fully understanding what had happened. Recalling the last memory, he rubbed his forehead and then lifted the blanket to get out of bed.


    He found that his lower half of the pants was still intact, wrinkled from sleeping. He couldn''t help but laugh. She only dared to remove his upper body clothes, but not his lower half.


    Mr. Qin took out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. The other side quickly picked up, "Master?"


    Mr. Qin hummed, "Xiao Xi, bring me a set of clothes. I am at the Lijia Hotel..." He then provided the specific address and room number.


    The voice on the phone sounded like a teenager, still in his voice-changing period, with a hoarse and dry voice. The teenager hesitated and asked, "Master, did something happen to you?"


    Mr. Qin replied, "Nothing, just hurry and bring the clothes."


    "Okay, Master, I will be there in ten minutes."


    Just as he hung up, Xu Qin came in. At this moment, he was still bare-chested. Seeing the girl enter, he felt a softness in his heart and smiled, "I thought you left."


    "No, I was outside making a call to my family," Xu Qin shook her head. "It''s my fault that you''re in this state. I saw that you seemed injured. Was it because you helped me?"


    Xu Qin was unsure how to express her gratitude for the great favor Mr. Qin had done for her. She didn''t understand why he helped her in the first place.


    Mr. Qin smiled, "It''s just an old injury. It has nothing to do with you. Don''t worry about it. By the way, let me introduce myself. My name is Qin Xian Sheng. I apologize for the incident at the auction. Can I ask your name?"


    Xu Qin replied gently, "My name is Xu Qin. Is Mr. Qin feeling better now? The hotel will deliver some food soon. After we eat, I will leave. But regarding Mr. Qin''s kindness..."


    She paused for a moment, "Mr. Qin has done me a great favor, and I don''t know how to thank you. If there''s anything you need, please let me know."


    Just then, there was a knock on the door. Xu Qin thought it was the food delivery and hurried to open it. Instead, she found a stranger standing outside. The young man was about her age, not tall, with a clear face and a slim figure, holding a paper bag in his hand. The young man was also surprised to see Xu Qin and took two steps back, looking at the door, "This is Master''s room, isn''t it?"


    Xu Qin was stunned, "May I ask who you''re looking for?"


    The young man was also stunned, "I... I''m looking for my master."


    Qin Xian Sheng heard the voice and walked over, saying, "Xiao Xi, come in."


    Both Xu Qin and Xiao Xi understood the situation, but Xiao Xi was still quite shocked. How did his master''s room end up with a girl? She seemed to be around the same age as him, probably in her teens. Didn''t his master never accept female disciples? No, his master had only taken three disciples, and he said he wouldn''t take any more after taking Xiao Xi.


    After entering, Xiao Xi realized something was wrong with his master. His face was pale white, and he panicked, grabbing his master''s wrist. Feeling the complete depletion of his master''s internal energy, Xiao Xi''s face changed, "Master... you..."


    "I''m fine, Xiao Xi, don''t worry." Qin Xian Sheng said while heading to the bathroom with the clothes, "Wait here for a moment, I''ll be out soon." He felt uncomfortable due to the stickiness and needed to clean up.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    This young man was named Bamboo Creek, a disciple of Qin Xian Sheng. Seeing his master go to the bathroom, he and the girl were left alone in the room. The girl sat on the sofa with her head down, deep in thought. Bamboo Creek couldn''t help but ask, "What''s wrong with my master?"


    Xu Qin looked up, "What?"


    Bamboo Creek paced around the room, looking agitated, "Why does my master have no internal energy left?"


    "Sorry." Xu Qin said, "It''s because of me. Master Qin used a lot of his internal energy to help me."


    Bamboo Creek was surprised, "How long have you known each other? How did you meet? Why have I never seen you before?" He had never seen his master angry or furious. His master always seemed calm and refined, even towards acquaintances, he wouldn''t risk his old injuries to help others. The only time his master had helped someone was years ago when helping Old Mu, but that was because the Mu family had done him a favor. After that, his master had suffered greatly from the  yin qi for nearly half a month, experiencing the pain of being consumed by it daily. Now, seeing his master''s condition, it seemed he had just experienced the pain of the  yin qi again.


    Xu Qin replied, "We met yesterday. I''m sorry. Is it because you helped me that your old injury flared up? I don''t know what kind of old injury it is. Can I do anything to help?"


    Bamboo Creek was extremely frustrated, kneeling down and pulling his hair, "What did you say? Yesterday you met? Why did my master risk his old injury to help you?"


    Xu Qin confirmed that Qin Xian Sheng''s old injury was related to her, "I met Master Qin yesterday. I''m sorry. Is it because you helped me that your old injury flared up? I don''t know what kind of old injury it is. Can I do anything to help?"


    Bamboo Creek was really frustrated, kneeling down and pulling his hair, "What did you say? You just met? Why did my master risk his old injury to help you?"


    Xu Qin confirmed Qin Xian Sheng''s old injury was related to her, "I met Master Qin yesterday. I''m sorry. Is it because you helped me that your old injury flared up? I don''t know what kind of old injury it is. Can I do anything to help?"


    Just as she spoke, Qin Xian Sheng emerged from the bathroom, dressed in casual clothes¡ªa light wool sweater and casual pants. Despite his simple attire, he looked stylish and handsome.


    Bamboo Creek jumped up, "Master, are you okay?"


    Qin Xian Sheng shook his head, "I''m fine, Xiao Xi, go back."


    Bamboo Creek was actually more curious about Xu Qin''s identity but didn''t dare to ask. He glanced at her and said, "Master, Uncle Xie''s matter is settled. Should we go back?"


    "No, take the others back first." Qin Xian Sheng slowly sat on the sofa, "I have some things to do here, so I''ll stay for a while."


    "Master!" Bamboo Creek was anxious, "Your old injury flares up, and it takes at least half a month to recover. We should go back to recuperate. What if something happens here? I can''t leave you alone."


    Qin Xian Sheng''s face was still not well, but he said gently, "Xiao Xi, listen to me and take the others back first."


    In the end, Bamboo Creek did not dare to disobey his master''s orders and left the hotel. However, he did not take the others away from Dai Mountain. Instead, he notified them to go back and stayed near the hotel to watch over.


    After Bamboo Creek left, the room was left with Xu Qin and Qin Xian Sheng. Xu Qin felt very apologetic, "Thank you, Master Qin. Your disciple said your old injury flared up because you used up your internal energy to help me."


    Xu Qin did not believe that it was not related to her. She knew that Qin Xian Sheng''s old injury was triggered by helping her.


    There was a knock on the door. Xu Qin opened it and found that it was the hotel delivering food. She asked them to push the food inside, "It''s all light food. Do you eat this kind of food?"


    She ordered two sets of meals, two glasses of milk, and some fruits. Qin Xian Sheng nodded, "I usually eat light food."


    They ate, and Qin Xian Sheng said, "I may have to stay in Dai Mountain for some time. Can I have your phone number, A Qin? It would be convenient for future contact. If I feel better, perhaps you could show me around the scenic spots in Dai Mountain."


    Xu Qin nodded and gave him her phone number, then asked if he needed anything else. She was still worried about him and hesitated, "Master Qin, can you manage alone here?"


    "It''s fine, go back first. If there''s anything, I''ll call you." Qin Xian Sheng sat on the sofa.


    Xu Qin eventually went back. As soon as she left, Bamboo Creek came up. Xu Qin remembered his aura and saw him rushing into the hotel. She felt relieved knowing that someone was with Qin Xian Sheng.


    When she got home, it was already past five. Gu Jia was attending extra classes, and Cheng Yinxiang was cooking dinner. Seeing her daughter safe, she felt relieved, "Qu Qu, you''re back? Did you eat? If you didn''t, I''ll make more rice."


    Xu Qin smiled, "Mom, I''ve eaten. Do you need help?"


    Cheng Yinxiang laughed, "No, go watch TV."


    Xu Qin went back to her room, put away her things, and considered making a leather case for the  Sleeve mace, which was now her weapon. Weapons were essential for a feng shui practitioner. After finding some leather scraps, she made a simple case for the  Sleeve mace, making it easier to carry. After finishing the case, she started reviewing her lessons, as there was a monthly exam tomorrow.


    Just as she opened her book, Jiang Ni''s call came in, "Qu Qu, are you back? Was there anything wrong yesterday?"


    Xu Qin smiled, "Jiang Ni, don''t worry, everything is fine."


    Jiang Ni sighed with relief, "That''s good. By the way, Qu Qu, thank you for yesterday."


    Xu Qin felt embarrassed but did not speak, referring to the incident in the elevator. It was all because of her that the  Sleeve macewas aimed at Jiang Ni. She did not say anything, and Jiang Ni thanked her a few times, asking if she was free to go out. Xu Qin smiled, "Jiang Ni, I can''t go out. I have a monthly exam tomorrow and need to study tonight."


    Jiang Ni almost forgot and ended the call. Xu Qin continued studying. After reviewing, she used Gu Jia''s laptop to search online for information about inner . However, the results were mostly novels and irrelevant encyclopedias, and she gave up after searching for over an hour.


    Before going to sleep, Xu Qin took out a rib from the refrigerator, boiled it, and put it in a clay pot to stew. Chicken soup was a  stimulating food, not suitable for Qin Xian Sheng, so she decided to make rib soup. After all, he was sick because of her, and it was only right to bring him some food.


    Cheng Yinxiang heard her daughter in the kitchen and came to check, "Qu Qu, why are you making rib soup?"


    Xu Qin was washing ginger, "Mom, a friend is sick, so I''m making some rib soup for him. Go rest, I''ll finish soon."


    The clay pot would simmer overnight until the ribs were tender. Xu Qin set the timer for four hours and went to sleep.

 Plan

    Bamboo Creek waited until Xu Qin left the hotel before going to his master''s room. He knocked on the door, and after a while, heard his master''s voice, "Xiao Xi? Come in, the door is unlocked."


    Bamboo Creek pushed the door and entered. His master was meditating on the sofa. When he entered, his master opened his eyes, "Why didn''t you listen?"


    "I was worried about you," Bamboo Creek said, his eyes flickering, "Master, let me stay in Dai Mountain too. I won''t let you stay alone here. Even if you tell me to leave, I won''t go."


    Qin Xian Sheng did not respond for a while and then said, "If so, go next door and book a room. Stay here for now."


    Bamboo Creek nodded but hesitated, "Master, can I ask, is it because of that girl that you''re staying? Who is she? I heard she said you used up your internal energy to help her..."


    Seeing his master close his eyes, his voice grew softer, "Who is she?"


    Qin Xian Sheng opened his eyes and said seriously, "Xiao Xi, don''t ask too many questions. You''ll know in time."


    Bamboo Creek lowered his head and did not ask further. Later that night, Bamboo Creek did not leave his master''s room. When his master went to sleep, he shook his head, "Xiao Xi, go to sleep."


    Bamboo Creek knew his master could not sleep for several days. He nodded and did not insist. However, in the middle of the night, he was startled awake to find his master lying on the sofa, his face as white as paper, his fists tightly pressing his chest.


    Bamboo Creek hurriedly got up and knelt beside his master, feeling helpless as he watched his master being consumed by the  an atmosphere of austere gloominess. Tears welled up in his eyes, "Master, why did you do this? Just a few meetings with that girl, why did you help her? I don''t understand why you used up your internal energy to help her, leaving yourself vulnerable to the  an atmosphere of austere gloominess. Master, why don''t you think of yourself? Years ago, it was unavoidable with the Mu family, but now... you could have avoided it..."


    Qin Xian Sheng managed to control the  an atmosphere of austere gloominess by morning. Bamboo Creek''s eyes were red, but he did not dare to say much. He asked, "Master, what do you want to eat? I''ll go buy it."


    Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Bamboo Creek opened it and found Xu Qin standing outside.


    Xu Qin held an insulated food container and smiled, "I made some rib soup. Would Master Qin like to have some?"


    Bamboo Creek said gloomily, "Come in."


    She wondered how it related to Qin Xiansheng''s situation. She clicked on the post and took a look. She knew this was not a true account but rather a fictional story. It had few views, only two pages long, mostly narrated by the author. Since there were not many clicks or replies, the author said they would stop writing if no one read it. Therefore, Gu Qin judged that this author was writing fiction.


    She carefully read through the post. The author claimed that they had been learning from their master in feng shui since childhood but had been used as a vessel for containing evil spirits.


    The post only had an opening, and Gu Qin couldn''t know what happened afterward. Although Gu Qin hadn''t heard her master talk about such things, she knew that stories like this weren''t uncommon. This was likely using a human body to refine a yin beast, but even if it were possible, many conditions would need to be met, making it almost impossible. She had never heard her master mention such things, but she knew that the world was full of wonders. Initially, she didn''t connect Qin Xiansheng''s situation with these stories.


    Because this matter was too dangerous and unlikely to succeed, usually, if one could truly seal a fierce beast''s soul in a human body, the person acting as the vessel would not be able to withstand the growing yin qi and would suffer until death. At first, she thought his illness was from an injury sustained during a magical duel, and she did not consider the possibility of refining a yin beast.


    Even now, after considering this possibility, she still couldn''t confirm exactly what was happening with Qin Xiansheng''s yin qi. Unfortunately, with her current cultivation level, she couldn''t help him. In either case, without reaching the late stage of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness, it would be impossible to completely cleanse the yin qi from his body.


    Gu Qin closed the post and was about to go to sleep when she received a text message on her phone. It said, "Are you asleep?" It was from Qin Xiansheng, whom she had noted as Mr. Qin.


    This was the fifth day since he left that night. Gu Qin didn''t expect him to send a text at this hour, so she replied, "I was planning to sleep. How is Mr. Qin''s old ailment?"


    Qin Xiansheng quickly replied, "Much better, don''t worry. Go to sleep now. Good night."


    "Good night," Gu Qin replied and then placed her phone on the table before going to bed.


    Gu Qin currently had only around one million yuan, which was far from enough for charity or business ventures. She knew little about these areas, and no feng shui business had come her way recently, leaving her with dwindling resources. Unexpectedly, two days later, Jiang Ni called her, saying a friend wanted her help.


    They agreed on a time, and Gu Qin went to meet her after school. She was surprised to find they were meeting at a bar, specifically a private room. Inside, besides Jiang Ni, there was another girl about the same age crying loudly.


    Jiang Ni looked at Gu Qin and said, "She''s been crying all afternoon. I couldn''t bring her to a quiet place, so we came here."


    "It''s fine," Gu Qin said as she sat next to Jiang Ni.


    The girl, named Lu Xiaoman, was indeed a friend of Jiang Ni''s and part of their social circle. Gu Qin didn¡¯t know her because she hadn¡¯t attended Li Family¡¯s banquet. However, she was in their friend group chat and had repeatedly called out to Gu Qin for help, but Gu Qin ignored her. Finally, she learned that Master Gu hadn¡¯t spoken in the group since joining. That''s why she asked Jiang Ni to introduce them.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Lu Xiaoman wiped her tears and said, "Master, can you help me? I don''t want to break up with my boyfriend. I want to be with him and get married."


    Jiang Ni rolled her eyes. She thought Lu Xiaoman wanted Gu Qin to arrange some feng shui to give her ex a hard time, not to help her win him back. "Lu Xiaoman, are you crazy? I thought you wanted to teach him a lesson, but instead..."


    Lu Xiaoman started crying again. "We''ve been together for three years, and I really love him. Master, please help me."


    Even Gu Qin sighed. Such a man with obvious issues¡ªwhy did she like him? A soft-hearted girl, just like her previous self. While she could make them reunite, she wasn''t going to help. Even if they did get back together, it would be a doomed relationship.


    "You think about it clearly. If he''s willing to treat our three years of affection so lightly, do you still want to marry him? He doesn''t love you. My methods can make you two stay together, but will you be happy with that? You''ll be entangled for life, and he won''t love you. Is that what you want?"


    Lu Xiaoman stared blankly at Gu Qin. "I see your point. I have a great destiny waiting for me. I want to know if I should change my fate."


    Some destinies were easy to change with a single decision.


    Lu Xiaoman remained silent, while Jiang Ni scolded her, "Lu Xiaoman, wake up! Do you want to waste your life on this man? Such a man doesn''t deserve to hold your shoes!"


    Lu Xiaoman was silent, her eyes still red but no longer shedding tears. She sat quietly, thinking.


    Jiang Ni continued, "Why must you fixate on this scoundrel? Your family has wealth, while his is poor. Even if you were to marry, your life would be filled with problems. He lacks ambition and even prefers someone poorer than him. Such a man doesn''t deserve you."


    Gu Qin remained silent, observing Lu Xiaoman. From Jiang Ni''s words, she understood Lu Xiaoman was from a wealthy family, probably worth hundreds of millions. But she dressed simply, without luxury brands. Clearly, she didn''t care about such things.


    If Lu Xiaoman insisted on being with him, Gu Qin could easily make them reunite by revealing Lu Xiaoman''s wealth.


    Lu Xiaoman looked conflicted, but she thought about their years together...


    Jiang Ni laughed coldly, "Do you still remember your feelings? You''ve always been the devoted one. He''s been distant, treating you as nothing more than a toy. Only you still see him as precious."


    Jiang Ni then dragged Gu Qin to leave, "Forget it. If you want to cry, go ahead. I''m done with you. We''re leaving."


    Lu Xiaoman panicked, "Don''t leave me here alone..."


    Jiang Ni glared, "Then will you stop crying?"


    Lu Xiaoman shook her head. Jiang Ni said, "Let''s go then. We''ve been here for hours. The noise is driving me crazy."


    As they left, Lu Xiaoman followed, seeming undecided. When they reached the door, she stopped Gu Qin, "Master Gu..."


    Before she could finish, Gu Qin interrupted, "Have you really thought it through? Making him change his mind is easy, but are you ready to marry him? Face his problems? Even if he changes now, he''ll revert. Once you''re married, it''ll be too late..."


    Just then, several men walked by. The tallest one, wearing glasses, stopped and looked at Lu Xiaoman, surprised, "Xiaoman?"


    Lu Xiaoman looked up, her face reddening, "Senior..."


    The man smiled, "It''s been two years. We haven''t talked much since you graduated. Can I get your number?"


    Lu Xiaoman gave him her number. He wrote it down and called her, confirming she received it before hanging up. "My company is having a gathering. Would you like to join us?"


    Lu Xiaoman declined, "No, thank you."


    Gu Qin watched them, surprised. If they were destined to be together, it was clear now. Their red phoenix stars were already moving, indicating their fate was intertwined.


    The man left with his friends, glancing back at Lu Xiaoman.


    They exited the bar. Jiang Ni said, "I''ll take you home first, then drop Gu Qin off."


    Lu Xiaoman declined, "No, I drove my father''s car. I can drive myself. Please take Gu Qin home."


    Jiang Ni nodded, "Alright, be careful on your way home."


    As they left, Gu Qin saw the senior outside the bar, looking for someone. When he saw Lu Xiaoman, he smiled. Before they parted, Gu Qin turned to Lu Xiaoman, "Actually, making your ex change his mind is very easy. Just tell him you''re from the Lu family."


    Lu Xiaoman widened her eyes, surprised. She never thought of that. Her ex didn''t know about her wealth. He believed she had saved money for gifts, not knowing she used her family''s card.


    Jiang Ni was puzzled, "Why did you tell her that? Now she might go to him..."


    Gu Qin reassured her, "Don''t worry. I have my reasons. Since she met her destined match, there''s no need to force it. Tell her to think it through, to let go of her past."


    Jiang Ni trusted Gu Qin, watching as the senior approached Lu Xiaoman.


    The senior was Lu Xiaoman''s former senior from university, a successful entrepreneur. He had liked her since school but never acted on it. When he saw her in the bar, he felt happy and decided to approach her.


    He offered to drive her home. Lu Xiaoman, dazed, accepted. He kissed her forehead and confessed, "I''ve liked you since school. Seeing you single now, I can''t let this chance pass. Will you accept me?"


    Lu Xiaoman couldn''t speak. She returned home, her mind filled with his confession and kiss. She dreamed of him that night.


    The next morning, Lu Xiaoman thought about Gu Qin''s words. Was it love or just resentment?


    For the next few days, Lu Xiaoman stayed home. The senior messaged her regularly, always appropriately. One evening, he invited her to dinner. She agreed.


    At the mall, Lu Xiaoman bought new clothes. Her father''s card allowed her to indulge. She left the mall, only to bump into her ex with his new girlfriend.


    Her ex stared at her, furious. "So soon after breaking up, you already found someone else? Buying all these designer clothes? Are you being kept?"


    Lu Xiaoman was angry. "These are my own money. I have my father''s card."


    His new girlfriend mocked her. "Where did you get the money? Saving for months for a gift? You¡¯re letting old men keep you, right?"


    Lu Xiaoman snapped, "I have my father''s card. I don¡¯t need him. What does he have? Relying on women?"


    The girlfriend sneered, "How about your father? And what about you?"


    A friend of the girlfriend finally spoke, "You¡¯re from the Lu family, aren¡¯t you? I met you at a visit to the Lu residence. You... How could he not know?"


    The girlfriend''s expression changed. "What nonsense? She isn¡¯t from the Lu family."


    The friend laughed, "You saw her at the Lu residence. She¡¯s definitely from there."


    The next day, Gu Qin still went to school as usual, only arriving at the scheduled time. The final exams at No. 1 High School were quite strict. The exam seating arrangements were reorganized; students from over ten classes were mixed up and seated randomly in each classroom. Each class had students from different classes in the same room. After all, No. 1 High School ranked students based on their grades, so they took the exams very seriously.


    The seating arrangements were made long before the exams started, with students entering the classrooms according to their assigned numbers. Gu Qin was arranged to take her exam in Class One. Although she wasn''t familiar with the environment, it was just an ordinary exam, and she didn''t feel nervous at all. Gu Qin''s name was quite well-known at No. 1 High School. Almost everyone knew her name.


    Firstly, because she, as a student from Class Seventeen, consistently ranked among the top few students in monthly exams.


    Secondly, because she had once given a reading lesson to the teachers in the office, which was widely known.


    The words Long said spread, and half of the school knew that Class 17 in No. 1 Middle School had a charlatan. Because there were name tags on the desks in the classroom, almost all the students in Class 1 also knew in advance that Gu Qin had been assigned to their class for the exam. Gu Qin arrived right on time; when she entered the classroom, most of the students were already there. She found her desk and sat down, and many students around her secretly watched her.


    Gu Qin didn''t show much expression; she was still thinking about breaking through the initial stage of refining essence into qi. Within a few minutes, the teacher came in. The invigilators were two teachers, one male and one female, standing one in front and one behind. The students'' desks were arranged separately.


    The papers were quickly distributed. In the morning, they took the Chinese exam. Gu Qin wrote her name on the paper and started answering the questions.


    The next day in the morning, they had math, followed by physics and chemistry in the afternoon.


    On the third day in the morning, they had English, and in the afternoon, history and politics. After that, the exams were basically over, and they could go on holiday.


    These days, her English review wasn''t in vain; she answered the questions very quickly, almost without thinking. In half an hour, she had almost finished the paper, except for the essay. While she was going through the essay in her mind, just as she was about to start writing, there was some commotion in front of her. Gu Qin turned back to look.


    There were about seventy students in the classroom, mixed from seventeen classes. Gu Qin did not know the students from other classes, nor did she know which class the student in front of her belonged to. She only saw him looking back at her with an unusual expression. Gu Qin frowned slightly and felt a bit displeased. At this moment, the student in front of her looked nervous, deceitful, and cunning, with a greenish tint around his mouth. This male student was indeed like this, and his unusual expression indicated that he was feeling guilty and planning something bad.


    Gu Qin observed him discreetly. He kept looking at the two teachers and herself, clearly indicating that what he was planning was related to her. What could happen during an exam? Probably trying to frame her for cheating? Gu Qin couldn''t figure out how he would do that.


    Sure enough, when he saw that the two teachers'' attention was elsewhere, he immediately threw a paper ball towards Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin was quite speechless. She secretly made a gesture, and the paper ball didn''t even reach her desk before it returned along its original path. The student was dumbfounded. Just then, the female teacher walked over and noticed the paper ball on his desk. If not for Gu Qin''s intervention, the paper ball would have fallen on her desk, and the teacher would have seen it...

 Scheme

    The teacher said, "Student, what is the paper ball on your desk for? Are you cheating?"


    The student''s face flushed red, his mind dizzy, unable to understand why the paper ball hadn''t been thrown and instead came back to him.


    "Student, what is your name? Stand up," said the teacher while picking up the paper ball from the student''s desk and opening it to see. It contained the answers to the English exam questions.


    The student stood up, blushing. She looked at the teacher''s hand holding the note and stuttered, "It... it was Gu Qin who threw it to me."


    The teacher shouted, "Who is Gu Qin?"


    Gu Qin raised her hand. The teacher frowned at her, "Is it you who threw the note to this student? Do you realize that this counts as cheating?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Teacher, I don''t even know this student. Why would I throw a note to him? And please take a look at the handwriting on the note, compare it with my handwriting or the handwriting of this student. Who actually wrote the note?"


    Gu Qin had practiced calligraphy in her previous life, so even without regular practice, her handwriting was very beautiful, though lacking in strength, making it more aesthetically pleasing than strong. Still, her handwriting was easy to recognize.


    Gu Qin guessed the intention of this student: he probably wanted to create a scene where she cheated. After all, everyone knew that her English grades were the worst among the students. This male student likely intended to exploit her weakness by writing the answers and throwing them to her, hoping to be caught by the teacher. Then he could say that she forced him to write the answers, forcing him to throw them to her. In this way, the male student would become the victim, and she would be the cheater. However, she thought this student was quite foolish; her grades were already pretty good, and she didn''t need to cheat. Her English scores had improved every month, and she had done quite well on the last monthly exam. Moreover, this was such a low-quality method with no logic.


    Even if she said this, would anyone believe her? Gu Qin knew that regardless of whether anyone believed her, if enough people spread the word, she would truly become the cheater who threatened her classmates. Rumors wouldn''t care about her innocence.


    At this moment, the student must have panicked and said it was her. He didn''t think about the fact that the handwriting on the note was his own, how could it be hers? If the male student hadn''t panicked and said she forced him, perhaps he could have caused trouble for her.


    Indeed, when the teacher compared the handwriting, it was clearly not the student''s handwriting. Looking at Gu Qin, the female teacher recalled that this was the student who talked about feng shui in the principal''s office. He was heard to have excellent grades, but cheating? The female teacher looked at the male student, "Student, isn''t this note not written in your handwriting?"


    The student panicked, realizing he had said the wrong thing, "Teacher, no, I''m mistaken. It was Gu Qin who threatened me, asking for the answers during the exam. I just wrote them down, but I hadn''t given them yet."


    Gu Qin laughed at him, "Student, you really lack shame. I don''t even know you, yet you claim I threatened you. Besides, can your grades match mine? Let''s see these answers." Gu Qin glanced at the teacher''s hand holding the answer sheet and couldn''t help but laugh softly, "Your answers have three wrong multiple-choice questions, and there are other grammatical errors too. Do you want me to continue pointing them out? Teacher, my grades don''t require cheating. I don''t know why this student used such a low-level method to frame me. Teacher, please look at my answers and the answers on the note. I don''t want to point out any more mistakes. Do you think I cheated just to make mistakes and lose points? Teacher, you can check my test paper yourself."


    This teacher was originally an English teacher. After looking at the paper, it was indeed so. Gu Qin''s handwriting was beautiful, and her answers were neat, with no errors in the multiple-choice or other questions, but the answers on the note had several errors.


    This female teacher couldn''t help but smile, looking at the male student and saying, "You say you''re so big, accusing a girl of threatening you. Now you''re holding a note full of errors to accuse her of copying yours. I checked her test paper, and Gu Qin''s answers are correct. All she has left is the essay. How do you explain this?"


    The male student lowered his head, and the surrounding students couldn''t help but mock him. A student from Class 17 sneered, "This student is from Class 1. Our Gu Qin got second place in the grade last month. Would she need to copy yours? I think it''s because Class 1 is afraid that Gu Qin will surpass their first place. So they used this low method to frame Gu Qin. Teacher, this student is too much, we shouldn''t let him off easily."


    Another male teacher came down and said seriously, "We don''t know the details yet. We can''t jump to conclusions. I suggest both of you go to the office and clarify the matter."


    The female teacher couldn''t help but frown, "Teacher Wang, it''s obvious that this male student is framing Gu Qin. You can see Gu Qin''s test paper; her answers are completely correct. Does she need to cheat? Does she need the answers from this male student? If we go to the principal''s office now, Gu Qin won''t finish her essay, and she''ll lose a lot of points. If her essay is delayed, she might not get into the top rankings. Last month, Gu Qin got second place in the grade. This time, she might get first. If her essay is delayed, she might not even get into the top fifty. These rankings concern not only the students but also the teachers."


    The male teacher said seriously, "This concerns two students. An incident like this definitely needs to be clarified in the office. Both of you, come with me to the office."This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The female teacher was unhappy, "Teacher Wang, this is during the exam period. Clearly, Gu Qin has nothing to do with this. Why send her to the office?"


    Gu Qin remembered that this male teacher seemed to be from Class 1, clearly favoring the students from his class. Even if he wasn''t biased, sending both of them would mean Gu Qin wouldn''t have time to complete her essay. No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn''t be able to get first place. She suspected that this male teacher might be deliberately targeting her. Regardless of whether the male student copied or framed her, he would receive punishment. By dragging her into it, the first place would surely go to Class 1.


    It wasn''t that Gu Qin was dark-minded; the competition among teachers in No. 1 Middle School was also intense. After all, end-of-term exam results were tied to the bonuses of the teachers, which were substantial.


    Gu Qin naturally didn''t want to be bullied like this. She looked directly at the male teacher, "Teacher, I heard that the first place affects the teachers'' bonuses. I want to say that there''s an 80% chance I''ll get first place this time. So I wonder if this student is deliberately working with the teacher to frame me. After all, it''s me who will be affected. If I don''t get first place, it will still be Class 1 getting it, and only the teachers from Class 1 will get the bonuses."


    This male teacher was from Class 1, although not the homeroom teacher. If the first place went to Class 1, his bonus would also be substantial. However, he never thought about designing such a conspiracy with the students. He was just protecting his own class''s students. Unavoidably, he had just considered that if Gu Qin''s essay wasn''t completed, Class 1 would definitely get first place. When Gu Qin bluntly pointed this out, he was naturally displeased.


    The male teacher said sternly, "Gu Qin, you''re framing someone!"


    Gu Qin smiled, "Am I framing someone? Then why, with such clear evidence, do you still want me to go to the office? This way, my essay definitely won''t be completed, and I''ll lose dozens of points. There''s no chance of first place anymore. Teacher, you''re from Class 1. Didn''t you consider using this opportunity to push me out of first place?"


    The students present suddenly understood and thought Gu Qin''s words made sense, unlike the clumsy framing by this male student.


    The male teacher was furious. Eventually, the female teacher had to call the vice-principal. The vice-principal was a woman in her fifties known for her strictness. After hearing about the situation and seeing the handwriting on the note, she looked at Gu Qin''s paper and realized the truth.


    The vice-principal''s face darkened, "Teacher Wang, why did you insist on sending two students to the office when the result was so obvious? This only makes the falsely accused student subject to suspicion and prevents her from completing her test paper smoothly. How can we rank the students? Your actions are too extreme."


    Facing the vice-principal, Teacher Wang dared not speak. The vice-principal looked at the male student and said, "Student, what you did is wrong. You will be reprimanded for this. For now, let''s just handle it like this. Wait until all the exams are over before dealing with it further. Don''t affect the exam. Everyone, continue."


    Seeing the vice-principal leave, Gu Qin said, "Principal, I hope you can give me justice and publicly address this matter in front of all the students. Make him apologize to me. Otherwise, if these malicious people spread rumors behind my back, it could turn false into true. Therefore, I hope you will give me justice in front of all the students."


    The vice-principal knew that rumors were powerful. Even if Gu Qin hadn''t cheated, if many people spread the word, eventually everyone would believe she had cheated. This would be unfair to Gu Qin. The vice-principal thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, I will give you justice."


    The male student''s face had already turned pale. Gu Qin naturally didn''t pity him. If he hadn''t schemed against her, he wouldn''t have gotten himself into this situation. This was truly a case of losing the chicken for the sake of the rice.


    Gu Qin was curious about why this male student had framed her. She opened her Heavenly Eye to see¡ª


    The scene shifted to Class 1, where a pretty female student sighed, "What if I get beaten by Class 17''s Gu Qin? The homeroom teacher will definitely be disappointed, and my parents won''t be happy either."


    "Don''t worry, Zhenyan. Who knows what Class 17''s Gu Qin is capable of? In No. 1 Middle School, rankings are based on grades. Being assigned to Class 17 means her ranking was probably after a thousand. Who knows how she climbed up the ranks? She was previously so poor in grades, suddenly doing so well, maybe she cheated."


    Zhenyan frowned, "Don''t say such nonsense. Every time, the grades are mixed and marked by teachers from different classes. Cheating is impossible. Forget it, I was just sighing. If she''s really better than me, I have no complaints."


    The male student who had framed Gu Qin hesitated and approached Zhenyan, "Zhenyan, you will definitely be the first."


    Zhenyan pouted, "How can you guarantee it? They say her English is poor, but her English grades have been improving with each monthly exam. Last month, her English score was close to mine, just one point less. If her English improves, she might get first place."


    The male student assured her, "Zhenyan, you can rest assured, she won''t get first place. I promise."


    Zhenyan sighed and remained silent.


    Gu Qin closed her Heavenly Eye and roughly understood why this male student had framed her. It seemed to be for the sake of Class 1''s female student, whom Gu Qin remembered as Class 1''s top student, Chu Zhenyan, who was also the top scorer in the college entrance exam from Mount Dai.


    Gu Qin knew this male student liked Chu Zhenyan, but this kind of liking was cheap and ugly. Just to secure her first place, he casually framed and slandered others.


    Gu Qin didn''t plan to deal with this matter further. As long as she could get justice, the exams would soon be over. She felt her English score was fine. She finished the exams in the afternoon, then returned to her respective class. The teacher informed everyone not to leave, as there would be a meeting for all students. Gu Qin knew it was about her incident.


    Teacher Zhu Xia had also heard about the incident and came to comfort Gu Qin, "Don''t worry, the principal will definitely give you justice. The students from Class 1 are too much."


    In fact, Zhu Xia even suspected that it might be a Class 1 teacher who had the student do this, especially since Gu Qin had a high chance of getting first place. It wouldn''t just be about bonuses then, but also about reputation.


    Ten minutes later, all the students gathered on the playground. The homeroom teachers, teachers, and the vice-principal were all present.


    The vice-principal spoke on stage, announcing the incident and explaining everything. Then she said seriously, "Such behavior is very serious. Framing and slandering others because they perform well is shameful. This incident will be recorded as a major offense. The student involved must come up and apologize to Gu Qin!"


    Since the incident hadn''t spread yet, the vice-principal announced it first, so everyone now knew what happened. They certainly wouldn''t spread it further. The students from Class 1 felt very embarrassed. Finally, the male student went up and publicly apologized to Gu Qin, bowing his head and saying sorry three times before leaving.


    The vice-principal then gave a speech, emphasizing that such behavior was disgraceful and would not be tolerated. If such incidents happened again, the consequences would be more severe.


    After the speech, all the students returned to their classrooms. The teachers arranged the return-to-school time, and the students were dismissed after being told about the vacation and when to pick up their report cards.


    Outside the school gate, Lin Xinxin went home with Gu Qin. On the way, Lin Xinxin angrily cursed the male student from Class 1 and finally came up with a wild theory that it might be a Class 1 teacher who instructed the student to do this. Gu Qin sighed and didn''t clarify anything.


    During the walk, Lin Xinxin told Gu Qin about her recent training and mentioned that she had visited the shooting club every Sunday to practice shooting, saying she had met Ji Ziyu several times, describing him as gentle and kind.


    Gu Qin had already started teaching Lin Xinxin martial arts. She planned to focus on training her during the winter break, so she would be extremely busy this winter.


    After returning home, Gu Qin put her room back in order, lay on the bed for a while, and thought about how rare it was for her to have such free time. She didn''t go out for dinner until Cheng Yinxiang called her, as Gu Jia was preparing for the college entrance exam and was busier, taking extra classes daily. However, Gu Jia had maintained a one-hour morning run for a month, and Gu Qin planned to train her during the winter break.


    After dinner, Gu Qin didn''t have to study. She watched TV for a while before deciding to sleep. Just as she lay down, her phone rang. Without surprise, it was Qin Xiansheng. He almost always accurately estimated her bedtime and sent messages to chat with her, ensuring she wouldn''t be disturbed.

 Threat

    She opened her phone and saw: Mr. Qin: "How did your final exams go? How did you do?"


    Gu Qin: "Not bad."


    Mr. Qin: "Aqin will definitely get first place. What reward do you want?"


    Gu Qin thought carefully: "Nothing in particular."


    Then she realized it didn''t make sense. She wasn''t that close to Qin Xiansheng, so why would he offer her a reward?


    Before she could ponder further, another message from Mr. Qin came: "What are your plans for the winter break?"


    Gu Qin: "Training."


    Mr. Qin, far away in Beijing, couldn''t help but smile, "Train well. I hope you''ll be even more impressive when we meet next time."


    Gu Qin: "Thank you."


    Mr. Qin: "How is the sleeve whip working?"


    Gu Qin: "I haven''t used it yet. There hasn''t been much need for it in this peaceful era."


    Mr. Qin: "Have you thought about naming it? It will be your weapon from now on, growing with you, eventually developing its own consciousness. It will be your most loyal companion. Give it a name to make it feel more at home."


    Gu Qin paused, realizing she hadn''t thought about this before. Now that he mentioned it, she also wanted to name the sleeve whip. But what should she call it? She asked Mr. Qin, "Mr. Qin, what name do you think suits it?"


    Mr. Qin thought for a moment and replied: "How about calling it ''Liu Guang''? Its speed in attacking is very fast, and ''Liu Guang'' sounds fitting.


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but laugh and said, "Then let''s call it Liu Guang. Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Mr. Qin replied with a pat-on-the-head emoji: "Then get some rest early."


    Gu Qin: "Good night."


    Three days later, she was returning to school. Gu Qin didn''t plan on cultivating and breaking through during these three days. She intended to go to Mount Tai after the three days were over. After retrieving her grades from school, she indeed ranked first in her grade. The school held another assembly, where all the students attended. The principal praised her on stage and then asked her to speak to the students about how she went from being at the bottom of the class to becoming the top student.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t mince words and shared her study methods briefly. Finally, she said, "I¡¯m just an ordinary student like everyone else, not a genius. Everything is the result of my daily efforts, and there¡¯s no shortcut. If you¡¯re willing to work hard, your results won¡¯t be worse than mine."


    After speaking, applause filled the auditorium. The loudest clapping came from Class Seventeen. In fact, the students in Class Seventeen admired her very much, and her popularity in Class Seventeen was very high. Even the students from Grade Two and Three remembered this fair-skinned and lively-featured junior.


    After the assembly, they returned to their respective classes. The homeroom teacher reiterated the vacation time and the start date for school, which finally marked the end of the break.


    When she got home, Gu Qin spent the first three days finishing all her homework. Only then did she plan to focus on cultivation. However, she didn''t expect that after Cheng Yinxiang returned home that night, her expression wasn''t good. She sat on the sofa without saying a word. Gu Qin looked at her face and guessed what had happened.


    The nose is called the wealth palace. The wealth palace should ideally not have moles, spots, or pimples. When such imperfections appear on the tip of the nose, it often leads to unexpected financial losses. Cheng Yinxiang''s wealth palace appeared dull, indicating a potential loss.


    Cheng Yinxiang rarely carried anything when commuting to work, sometimes carrying only a few dozen yuan to buy groceries. Such small amounts would not show up as significant issues in the wealth palace even if lost or stolen. Therefore, the issue must involve a larger sum.


    Looking at Cheng Yinxiang''s career palace, located in the forehead above the temples, between the hairline and the eyebrows, known as the official residence or fortune palace. This area reflects one''s career prospects or academic performance. Factors related to career, such as promotions, demotions, job position levels, relationships with superiors and colleagues, can all be seen in the career palace.


    Cheng Yinxiang''s career palace was also dim, indicating problems in her career. As an accountant, both her wealth and career palaces showed symptoms, and her complexion was very poor. Gu Qin sat next to her and noticed that her body was trembling. Being an accountant, something serious must have happened to scare her like this, likely involving company finances.


    Cheng Yinxiang was honest and never misappropriated public funds. So, the problem must have been with the accounts she handled.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Gu Qin held her hand and asked, "Mom, what happened?"


    Cheng Yinxiang''s hands trembled uncontrollably. "Nothing... nothing. What do you want to eat tonight? Mom will cook for you."


    Gu Qin comforted her, "Mom, don¡¯t worry. Tell us what happened. We¡¯re a family, and we can solve anything together."


    Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t want her daughter to worry, so she shook her head quickly. "It¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go make dinner for you." She hurriedly got up and went into the kitchen. Gu Qin followed, opened her third eye, and immediately understood what had happened.


    She entered the kitchen and asked, "Mom, is there a problem with the company¡¯s finances?"


    Cheng Yinxiang froze for a moment, then turned around and asked, "Qin Qin, how did you know?"


    "Mom, you forgot I can read fortunes?" Gu Qin smiled. "Of course, I calculated it. Mom, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s only twenty thousand yuan, and it¡¯s a misunderstanding. There will be a way to resolve it."


    At this point, Cheng Yinxiang couldn¡¯t help but feel distressed. She had never been accused of taking twenty thousand yuan without reason. She worked hard every month and made extra money, but this mistake cost twenty thousand yuan. And it wasn¡¯t even her fault; she was being wronged.


    She told Gu Qin everything. "Yesterday, someone brought twenty thousand yuan in cash to the company to pay the bill. I was about to take it to the bank, but our manager said he needed the money urgently and took it. My colleague was sitting beside me, and she saw it too. I asked him to sign, but he left in a hurry and said he¡¯d sign tomorrow. I thought it was fine since my colleague could vouch for it. But today, when I asked him to sign, he denied ever taking the money. When I asked my colleague, she also denied it. They claimed the manager never took the money. The worst part is, the company¡¯s surveillance cameras were broken..."


    Gu Qin naturally saw this through her third eye. She saw Cheng Yinxiang arguing with a middle-aged man, Manager Liu, "Manager Liu, it was you who took that money yesterday. You said you needed it urgently, so I gave it to you. Fangjie was sitting beside me, and she saw it too. I even asked you to sign. You said you¡¯d sign tomorrow. Ask Fangjie!"


    When she called Fangjie, she said, "Accountant Cheng, are you mistaken? I was indeed sitting beside you, but I didn¡¯t see Manager Liu take any money from you."


    Cheng Yinxiang was stunned and stammered, "Manager Liu, Fangjie, how could you do this? It was around 3:00 PM yesterday..."


    Both of them denied it.


    Cheng Yinxiang instinctively grabbed Gu Qin¡¯s arm. "Finally, we reported it to the police, but they couldn¡¯t do anything because the surveillance was out. The boss wants me to compensate for the money."


    Gu Qin naturally believed Cheng Yinxiang. She knew Manager Liu was wronging her, but she didn¡¯t understand why. Cheng Yinxiang had been working at the company for many years. Why would they treat her this way? Fangjie also denied seeing anything, suggesting she might have been bribed to lie.


    Gu Qin checked her third eye and saw that the person who delivered the money used a red bag. Manager Liu took the bag along with the money.


    Gu Qin turned off the gas and helped Cheng Yinxiang sit down in the living room. She recounted the sequence of events, "Mom, don¡¯t you find this strange? I know companies rarely deal in cash anymore. Most transactions are done via bank transfers. Why would such a large amount of cash suddenly be delivered to the office? Has this ever happened before?"


    Cheng Yinxiang replied, "Yes, it has happened before, but rarely. Once, another company had this amount and was close to us, so they delivered it directly. This time, the other company was far away, but the person said they were passing by and decided to deliver the cash instead of transferring it online. But then..."


    Gu Qin said, "Mom, I think this isn¡¯t simple. Someone seems to be setting you up. From the moment the money was delivered, things have been suspicious. How could the surveillance be broken at the same time? Either someone is behind this, or they are working together to embezzle the money. Even though we¡¯ve reported it to the police, I don¡¯t think it will help much. Let me see if I can find someone to help."


    Her connections were mainly the Jiang family and Li family. She first called Jiang Ni and briefly explained the situation. Jiang Ni said, "Qin Qin, don¡¯t worry. Based on what you¡¯ve said, this isn¡¯t simple. Either two people conspired to take the money or someone is targeting Auntie. Brother Li has friends in the police force, and I can ask him to look into it. I think this shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Although Auntie¡¯s company doesn¡¯t have surveillance, there are cameras everywhere on the streets. If we can find some evidence, we can prove Auntie¡¯s innocence."


    Gu Qin replied, "Thank you, Sister Jiang. I¡¯ll call Brother Li."


    Brother Li was Li Qi, the son of Li Yongsheng. Gu Qin had saved his life using her vital energy, and he had fully recovered. He was now helping Li Yongsheng manage the company.


    She called Li Qi, and he answered almost immediately. "Master Gu?"


    Gu Qin said, "Brother Li, it¡¯s me. I need your help with something." She explained the situation, and Li Qi responded, "Don¡¯t worry. I know someone in the bureau who manages that area. There is indeed an incident. I¡¯ll talk to him. He¡¯ll investigate, check nearby surveillance for clues, and I¡¯ll update you."


    Gu Qin hung up and said, "Mom, don¡¯t worry. Brother Li¡¯s friend manages that area. They¡¯ll help."


    They both knew the difference between having connections in the bureau and not. Without connections, the case was nearly impossible to solve. With connections, they would take it seriously and investigate thoroughly. Li Qi¡¯s friend was likely an official, making it easier to handle.


    Soon, the police contacted Cheng Yinxiang and requested a new statement. Cheng Yinxiang became more anxious, but Gu Qin reassured her, "Mom, it¡¯s fine. They¡¯re taking this seriously now. Before, they probably didn¡¯t even record your statement properly. Now they¡¯re recording it officially, so they¡¯ll investigate thoroughly. Mom, everything will be resolved."


    It was already past five o''clock, and they still had to go to the police station to give statements. Clearly, they were taking the matter seriously. Gu Qin accompanied Cheng Yinxiang to the police station.


    When they arrived, Manager Liu and Fangjie were already there, looking impatient. "What¡¯s going on? We were told there was nothing to investigate, and now we have to give statements? Clearly, the company¡¯s accountant is the one who took the money. Why are they blaming us? Didn¡¯t they say we should just pay the money?"


    Cheng Yinxiang angrily confronted Manager Liu, "Manager Liu, how can you say that? You took the money, and you won¡¯t admit it..." She pointed at the other woman, "Fangjie, I always considered you a friend, but I didn¡¯t expect you to do this to me. You were sitting right beside me, and you saw Manager Liu take the money. How could you do this?"


    Manager Liu, a forty-something balding man, was somewhat portly but tall and strong. Seeing Cheng Yinxiang with a girl, he didn¡¯t back down. He stood up and pointed at Cheng Yinxiang, yelling, "You¡¯re framing me! You filthy b*tch, you better fix the company¡¯s books, or it won¡¯t matter if you report it."


    A young policeman intervened, "What are you doing? A grown man pointing at a woman and shouting? Have some shame. Besides, the case isn¡¯t clear yet. You can¡¯t just shout here."


    Manager Liu glared at Cheng Yinxiang silently. Gu Qin frowned. This man disrespected Cheng Yinxiang, and she wouldn¡¯t let him off easily. She flicked her fingers, casting a yin spell, and a cold aura wrapped around Manager Liu¡¯s wrist.


    Manager Liu felt a sharp pain in his wrist, as if someone was squeezing his tendons. He screamed, "Ouch, ouch, my wrist hurts!"


    This scream startled everyone in the police station. The young policeman rushed over, saw nothing on his wrist, and scolded, "Enough, that trick won¡¯t work. Just give your statement, and you can leave."


    Seeing him still lying on the floor screaming, the policeman grew frustrated, "Get up and give your statement. Otherwise, I¡¯ll charge you with obstructing justice and lock you up."


    Cheng Yinxiang stood silently, watching. The policeman told her to follow the female officer inside to give her statement. The female officer was kind and assured her, "Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find out what happened. If they framed you, justice will be served."


    "Thank you," Cheng Yinxiang said gratefully.


    The female officer nodded and asked for her name, age, gender...


    Cheng Yinxiang answered honestly. Gu Qin suddenly recalled entering the police station once before due to the riot at the station. She hadn¡¯t expected to enter again with her mother.


    "Narrate the incident..."


    "Yesterday afternoon at 2:30, another company delivered a cash payment of 200,000 yuan. I gave them the receipt, and around 3:30, Manager Liu came over. My colleague Fangjie was there. Manager Liu said he needed the money urgently, so I gave it to him. I wanted him to sign, but he was in a hurry and said he''d sign the next day. Fangjie was there and said she would vouch for it. But today, when I asked Manager Liu to sign, he denied ever taking the money."


    Cheng Yinxiang, who was soft-spoken, became emotional as she spoke. Her eyes welled up, and the female officer sympathized, believing her story. Such incidents were common, but many lacked evidence, leading to compensation.

 Delay

    Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s company was small, with both cashier and accountant duties handled by her. Initially, the boss didn¡¯t allow her to handle money, but after years of error-free work, he trusted her and allowed her to manage finances. Unfortunately, the first mistake was a big one.


    Manager Liu seemed to be related to the boss, and he often took money and signed later. The boss was aware of this.


    Thus, when this incident occurred, the boss subconsciously assumed Manager Liu was innocent because he was a relative. The twenty thousand yuan was a considerable sum, and under pressure, the boss reported it to the police. Upon hearing that the investigation might not yield results, he asked Cheng Yinxiang to compensate.


    After finishing her statement, she came out, and the other two...


    Liu Manager''s face was so pale it was scary. Earlier, his wrist had been hurting badly and only after a while did the pain subside, but he still felt that his wrist was icy cold, as if something strange was happening to him.


    When Cheng Yinxiang came out, he glared at her again. Just as he finished glaring, his wrist suddenly started to hurt again. The pain was unbearable, and Liu Manager, without caring about his appearance, lay on the ground screaming loudly.


    The young policeman, feeling extremely angry, approached to kick him but then thought better of it and stopped, squatting down to push him, "What are you pretending for? Get up quickly! You can leave now."


    "It hurts so much, it hurts!" Liu Manager was completely confused about what was going on.


    Gu Qin opened her Heavenly Eye to look at the rolling Liu Manager on the ground. After seeing this, she couldn''t help but frown. She had initially thought Liu Manager and Fang Jie had swallowed the money together, but now it seemed it wasn¡¯t like that. She was certain now that someone had made Liu Manager do this, though she didn''t know who. All she heard was Liu Manager talking on the phone, "Cui Sister, is this okay? Why are you doing this to Cheng Yinxiang? Okay, okay, I won''t ask anymore. If you tell me to do it, I''ll definitely do it. There''s a company that owes us twenty thousand yuan, I''ll talk to them and have them bring cash to the company. Don''t worry, it will be fine..."


    So Gu Qin couldn''t see who the woman on the phone was; she only knew Liu Manager called her Cui Sister.


    Gu Qin released her fingers, and Liu Manager¡¯s screaming gradually subsided. His complexion took a while to return to normal, and his wrist was still trembling. The intense pain made him fear that the moment he stood up, the pain would return.


    The female police officer looked disdainfully at Liu Manager and said to Cheng Yinxiang, "You can go back now. If there are any developments, we¡¯ll notify you."


    Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Qin left first. When they left, Gu Qin glanced at Liu Manager.


    Given what happened, Cheng Yinxiang certainly couldn''t go to work. She decided to stay home first, planning to decide what to do next after the police cleared things up. However, she felt that even if she could prove her innocence, she wouldn''t be able to continue working in the company because people would still gossip about her. In these past few days, Cheng Yinxiang had been preoccupied, fearing they might not find enough evidence.


    Gu Qin didn''t plan to take action yet. As someone from this era, she knew that the law comes first. Therefore, no matter what happened, she would rely on evidence and let the police and the law handle it first. If that didn''t work, she would take matters into her own hands and solve it with her own methods.


    In the past two days, Gu Jia had been studying day and night, completely unaware of what had happened at home. Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang didn''t plan to tell him either. Telling him wouldn''t change anything and would only distract him from his studies. He was approaching the college entrance exam, so his studies were paramount.


    Two days later, the police called to say they had some progress and wanted to inform them, asking them to come to the station.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Gu Qin accompanied Cheng Yinxiang to the police station. This time, the chief himself received the two of them. Seeing Gu Qin, the chief smiled and said, "So you''re Gu Qin? Li Qi told me about you. If it weren''t for you, the Li family wouldn''t exist. I know you''re a feng shui master, and I believe in this. But today, we won''t discuss this topic. We called you here to talk about the case."


    Cheng Yinxiang hadn''t expected the chief to personally handle the case. Hearing what the chief said, she was even more surprised and felt proud of her daughter. She began to think that perhaps feng shui deserved respect too, if done well.


    Gu Qin nodded and said, "Thank you, Chief. I didn''t expect Li Brother''s acquaintance to be you."


    The chief laughed and said, "It''s my honor to meet someone like you."


    After some conversation, the chief showed Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang some materials. "I reviewed the case. Liu Manager claimed he didn''t enter Ms. Cheng''s office in the afternoon around three o''clock. So if we can find evidence that he entered the office, everything will be clearer. Although the company''s surveillance was broken, we asked other employees and no one noticed whether Liu Manager entered Ms. Cheng''s office or not. We then checked nearby surveillance and surprisingly found some progress. Ms. Cheng''s office faces a major street, where there are many surveillance cameras. After checking one by one, we actually found footage. Ms. Cheng''s office happens to be opposite a large entertainment complex, which has many surveillance cameras, and one of them captured the scene outside Ms. Cheng''s office."


    Cheng Yinxiang finally showed a smile, the first in many days. Gu Qin also smiled and said, "Thank you, Chief."


    The chief smiled and said, "Thanks to the large windows in Ms. Cheng''s office and her sitting by the window, we were able to see it. Let me show you the footage."


    The chief played the footage, and indeed, it showed Liu Manager entering Ms. Cheng''s office around three o''clock in the afternoon. Although the image was blurry, he could be recognized. They saw Liu Manager take a red bag from Ms. Cheng. Cheng Yinxiang pointed excitedly at the bag, "That bag, it''s the one containing the twenty thousand yuan..."


    The chief smiled and said, "But he might not admit it, so we checked other surveillance footage. We saw the person who paid the debt to your company holding this red bag. Now he can''t deny it anymore. So don''t worry, the evidence is solid, and he can''t escape responsibility. Now I''ll have someone call him over. Also, how do you want to handle this? You can sue him for compensation for reputation damage."


    Cheng Yinxiang said angrily, "As long as he returns the money and apologizes to me at the company, that''s enough."


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "We''ll follow Mom''s wishes."


    Gu Qin understood that in such cases, as long as the money was returned, nothing else mattered. Cheng Yinxiang could only sue for reputation damage, and if the company didn''t pursue the matter, Liu Manager would face no consequences.


    Most importantly, this wasn''t over. Liu Manager was behind someone.


    Gu Qin asked, "Chief, if someone instructed Liu Manager to do this, would that be considered a crime?"


    The chief said, "Actually, this case is quite simple. As long as he returns the money and the company doesn''t pursue him, he won''t even have to go to jail. If someone instructed him, he certainly wouldn''t admit it. Even if he says someone ordered him, there needs to be evidence, right? Honestly, even if someone did instruct him, the sentence would be minimal since it involves company funds. As long as the company doesn''t pursue the matter, there''s nothing else to do."


    Gu Qin understood that even if Liu Manager was instructed by someone, they couldn''t do much about it. Since it involved company funds, legal punishment was unlikely, and at most, they could file a civil lawsuit for damages.


    Gu Qin nodded, indicating she understood.


    Finally, the chief had the police call Liu Manager and Fang Jie over. After questioning them, they initially refused to admit anything, but once they saw the surveillance footage, they gave up. With such clear evidence, further denial was impossible.


    In the end, Liu Manager admitted he acted out of greed, and Fang Jie confessed to being bribed with twenty thousand yuan. The matter escalated to the company CEO, who was also present and looked displeased. He scolded Liu Manager harshly, demanding he return the twenty thousand yuan and write an apology letter to Ms. Cheng before apologizing publicly at the company.


    Cheng Yinxiang was satisfied with this outcome, but Gu Qin was still thinking about the next steps. She needed to identify the person behind Liu Manager and understand why Cheng Yinxiang was targeted.


    After leaving the police station, the CEO, Liu Manager, and Fang Jie all came out. The CEO looked furious, and Liu Manager, despite his tall stature, couldn''t help but hunch over. He said to the CEO, "Boss, I was just momentarily tempted. Give me another chance, please."


    The CEO sneered and said, "I trusted you to be the manager, but who would have thought you''d do something like this. Listen, return the money and apologize to Ms. Cheng, and you can leave the company. Forget about any relationship. No matter what, I can''t keep someone like you in the company. I''m leaving now. You both should go back to the company too."


    The CEO drove away, leaving only them at the police station. Cheng Yinxiang said to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, I''m going to the company first. You go home. Don''t worry, everything''s fine now."


    "Fine my *ss!" Liu Manager, enraged, pointed at Cheng Yinxiang and said, "You think this means nothing to me? I''ll make sure you pay for this. I have plenty of ways to get back at you." He looked menacing, but Cheng Yinxiang, being a weak woman, pulled Gu Qin back and shielded her. She said to Liu Manager, "Don''t act tough. This is the police station. If you dare hit me, you''ll be going to jail."


    Liu Manager was truly infuriated and tried to punch Cheng Yinxiang, but before he could strike, he suddenly froze. The same eerie feeling he experienced earlier returned, but instead of wrist pain, he felt his whole body wasn''t his own.


    He turned around, stiffly walking towards the street. The police station faced a major road, and after walking five or six meters, he would reach it. Cars passed by quickly, and there were no traffic lights or speed bumps, so the traffic was fast. In the cold weather, Liu Manager was drenched in sweat, confused and unable to control his body, even unable to speak.


    Cheng Yinxiang and Fang Jie were puzzled. This man, who moments ago looked ready to attack, suddenly froze and started walking towards the road, getting closer and closer to the speeding cars.


    Liu Manager''s forehead was covered in sweat, his lips turning blue. As he got closer to the road, cars whizzed by, and he was nearly terrified out of his wits.


    He kept walking forward, and a car almost brushed past him.


    Fang Jie was dumbfounded, "What''s wrong with him?"

 Office

    Cheng Yinxiang shook her head, "I don''t know."


    Seeing him still walking, Fang Jie finally ran over and tried to pull him, but he couldn''t budge, and Liu Manager kept walking.


    Gu Qin let go, and Liu Manager realized he could move again. His voice returned, and he screamed, falling to the ground and crawling away. Once he felt safe from the road, he collapsed, tears and snot smeared on his face, "I couldn''t control my body just now..."


    Fang Jie was bewildered, "Manager Liu, are you okay? Did you get possessed? Why did this happen at the police station?"


    Liu Manager''s teeth chattered, and he couldn''t speak.


    Gu Qin''s use of qi and yin energy was far more proficient than those in the late stage of qi transformation, thanks to her Heavenly Eye and thirty years of experience.


    Cheng Yinxiang didn''t care about Liu Manager''s condition and said to Gu Qin, "Then, Qin Qin, you go home first. I''ll go to the company."


    Gu Qin nodded and watched Cheng Yinxiang take a taxi to the company. Instead of going home herself, she stayed and observed for a while. Liu Manager regained some strength after about ten minutes and no longer dared to be defiant. Fang Jie helped him into a car and they returned to the company.


    Gu Qin thought for a moment and didn''t go home but followed Cheng Yinxiang to the company. She still didn''t know who Cui Sister was or why Cheng Yinxiang was targeted. To find out who Cui Sister was, she needed to question Liu Manager.


    She went to Cheng Yinxiang''s company and stood in a blind spot for a while. Soon, Fang Jie came down first, carrying a paper box, seemingly dismissed. Then Liu Manager came down, dejectedly carrying a bag with his personal items.


    Although Liu Manager held a managerial position, he hadn''t worked at the company for long and couldn''t afford a car. His house wasn''t far from the company, so he usually took taxis, which he could expense. Today, after the incident, his mind was muddled, and he walked slowly with the bag.


    Gu Qin followed slowly behind him. After walking several blocks, Liu Manager suddenly remembered something and took out his phone to call someone. The call connected quickly, and Liu Manager shouted, "Cui Sister, you told me to target Cheng Yinxiang. Now look what happened. Her innocence was proven, and I''m in trouble. What do I do now? Do you want to compensate me?"


    "What? It has nothing to do with me? Cui Sister, don''t deny it. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have stolen twenty thousand yuan. I earn ten thousand a month easily without the risk of being accused of embezzlement and slandering a colleague. I don''t care, you must give me twenty thousand, or I''ll report you for ordering me to do this."


    The person on the phone said something, making Liu Manager furious. He raised his phone to smash it but ultimately couldn''t bring himself to do it. He cursed, "B*tch, you talked so sweet when giving orders, but now you deny it. F*cking b*tch, if you don''t give me twenty thousand, you won''t have a good life."


    The person on the phone had hung up, and Liu Manager put the phone back in his pocket. He carried his bag into an alley, where the streets were filled with small shops, internet cafes, and residential areas. After walking for a few minutes, he reached a residential area and entered it.


    Gu Qin followed closely.


    There was a security guard at the entrance, but he was sleeping in the security booth. Gu Qin followed him inside.


    Once inside the residential area, it felt like a different world. There was no one around, and Liu Manager slowly climbed the stairs. Gu Qin followed, no longer hiding her presence. Liu Manager heard footsteps behind him and turned around, startled to see a familiar girl.


    "Oh, you''re Cheng Yinxiang''s daughter. Come, come, follow Uncle home and tell me what you need," he said with a false smile, his eyes wandering lewdly over her.


    Gu Qin laughed coldly, thinking she had been too lenient with this man. She moved quickly, appearing in front of him.


    Liu Manager only saw a blur before a girl appeared right in front of him. She kicked him, sending him flying into the wall, and then pressed down on him, placing a strange weapon that resembled a dagger on his throat.


    He could feel the coldness of the weapon, similar to the eerie feeling he had at the police station, causing him to shiver.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Gu Qin coldly asked, "Who is Cui Sister?"


    Liu Manager was shocked, "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    Gu Qin thrust the weapon toward his throat. Liu Manager felt a sharp pain and thought he was about to be stabbed. She said, "Try to scream, and I''ll push this deeper into your neck artery. You''ll bleed to death or suffocate in less than a minute. Want to try?"


    Liu Manager''s face turned red, and he dared not scream. He felt the girl was serious. How could a teenager be so calm, tracking and threatening him?


    Gu Qin asked, "Tell me who Cui Sister is, and I''ll spare your life."


    Liu Manager bravely said, "What if I report you?"


    Gu Qin replied, "There are no cameras here. Who would believe you?"


    Seeing Liu Manager panting heavily, she added, "Tell me Cui Sister''s name and address, and this will be over. Otherwise, you''ll see what happens."


    Gu Qin pushed the weapon slightly, making Liu Manager struggle to breathe. He thought she had pierced his throat.


    Liu Manager, his face flushed, managed to say, "C-Cui Hui, works at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. You-Mom''s thing was her idea, I don''t know why."


    Gu Qin withdrew the weapon and stood over him. "If you ever harm my mother again, I won''t be so forgiving. And..." Her gaze fell on his groin. Liu Manager lay on the ground, legs spread, revealing his groin. Gu Qin moved her wrist, and the weapon pointed straight at his groin...


    Liu Manager was terrified when he saw Gu Qin''s gaze fall on his groin. When he saw the weapon aimed at his groin, he was so scared he wet himself...


    But the expected pain didn''t come. Gu Qin said, "If you ever have bad intentions again, it won''t be so easy." She bent slightly, pulled the weapon from his groin, and left.


    It took Liu Manager more than ten minutes to regain his senses. He felt the weapon had almost grazed him, leaving a cool sensation. Looking down, he saw a small hole in the ground, created by the weapon. It had barely missed his groin. Thinking about it, he couldn''t imagine what would have happened if it had hit. Not only would he never dare to harass a girl again, but...


    He wondered if he could still be humane, and then he remembered that the young girl had used some strange weapon to pierce his throat, making him feel pain and the sensation of something foreign in his throat. He even touched it and found no wound at all; there was not even a scratch. So what happened just now? He was very certain about the feeling of something piercing his throat...


    Since Gu Qin asked him face-to-face, she naturally did not want to cause trouble for herself. Although she used Liuguang to press against Manager Liu''s throat, she did not actually hurt him. The sensation Manager Liu felt was not from her using the Yin Sha Qi on Liuguang; the Yin Sha Qi on Liuguang was extremely ominous and had already entered his body. This Yin Sha Qi was different from the usual Yin Qi she used to discipline people¡ªonce it dispersed, everything would be fine.


    Entering the body with Yin Sha Qi would require a serious illness as punishment. This could also be considered a lesson for this man.


    Not only did the Yin Sha Qi enter his body through his throat, but when she aimed at his groin earlier, the Yin Sha Qi had already wrapped around it. In the future, whether he could still be a man would be a question.


    Thinking of his disgusting gaze just now, Gu Qin felt that she had been merciful in not castrating him.


    Gu Qin returned home quickly. When she got back, Cheng Yinxiang had not yet returned. Gu Qin thought for a moment and called Jiang Ni, "Sister Jiang, can you help me look up someone? The Administration for Industry and Commerce¡¯s Cui Hui. I just need to know about her family situation¡ªhow many people live in her household."


    Honestly, she couldn''t think of who Cui Jie could be or why she would target Cheng Yinxiang. They had no connection at all. So she suspected that this matter might be related to herself, perhaps because of the cheating incident at school.


    After all, neither she nor Cheng Yinxiang knew this person. She didn''t think someone would attack a stranger without reason. Cheng Yinxiang was honest and wouldn¡¯t offend anyone. It must be either her mother or herself who offended them. Gu Jia shouldn''t be the one, as his appearance seemed normal recently.


    Jiang Ni didn''t ask much, "Okay, once I have the information, I''ll send it directly to your phone."


    Jiang Ni was quick. By four in the afternoon, she sent Gu Qin the information on Cui Hui. Before Gu Qin could read it, Cheng Yinxiang came back. Her complexion had improved slightly, but she looked somewhat dispirited. Gu Qin asked, "Mom, what''s wrong? Didn''t you solve the problem at work?"


    Cheng Yinxiang sighed, "I''m just wondering whether I should continue working at the company. After all, the boss said some harsh things before. Even if the truth comes out now, there will always be doubts later. Working there will be awkward for everyone. I''m thinking maybe I should quit and find a new job."


    If it were that simple, quitting and finding a new job wouldn''t be difficult, but it was challenging for Cheng Yinxiang. She only had a high school education and became an accountant later. At forty-one or forty-two years old, finding a job would be hard. Employers might not want her due to her age, and even if they hired her, they might not trust her. Overall, it was quite troublesome.


    Gu Qin thought for a moment, "Mom, have you ever thought about starting a business? Why do you have to work for others? You could try starting a small business. I happen to have some connections that might help."


    She wasn''t saying that working for others was bad, but with connections and capital, why not give it a try? After all, even working for others required pleasing others. Cheng Yinxiang''s personality was too honest and straightforward, which wouldn''t get her far in a job. Being honest had its advantages and disadvantages in business, but she believed she could manage.


    "Qin Qin, I''ve never thought about starting my own business. Do you think it suits me?" Cheng Yinxiang had never considered starting her own business. She only had fifty thousand yuan in her account, which was her daughter''s money, and she didn''t want to touch it.


    Gu Qin seemed to anticipate her thoughts and sat down next to her mother, "Mom, listen to me. In the future, I will help people with feng shui and accumulate my own network. You can start learning how to run a business. Don''t worry about the money. You have fifty thousand, and I have two million. That''s enough for startup funds. Let''s start with a small business first. What do you think, Mom?"


    In today''s world, having connections alone isn''t enough; you need power and influence. Power was unlikely, but influence could be achieved through hard work. With her own influence, such incidents wouldn''t happen again. She knew that Cui Jie dared to act against Cheng Yinxiang because the Gu family lacked power and influence.


    Cheng Yinxiang was somewhat tempted but still worried. What if it failed? These were all the hard-earned money of Qin Qin, and losing it would be heartbreaking.


    After some persuasion, Cheng Yinxiang finally said, "Alright, let''s give it a try. I''ll use the fifty thousand in my account to start a small business. Don''t touch your money. It''s hard-earned money. You''ll need it for school, dating, marriage... You''ll need more money. Nowadays, things are different from before. Women need dowries to feel secure. When you marry, this money can be used to buy a house as your dowry, so your husband won''t look down on you."


    Gu Qin wanted to laugh. She had never thought about such matters. In her previous life, she lived alone and never thought about romantic relationships. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to find someone, but finding a compatible person was difficult. And she found it hard to fall in love with someone, so she would let things take their course. Now, being young, she thought she could wait until she was thirty to talk about it. For now, focusing on studies and household affairs was more important.


    She understood Cheng Yinxiang''s concerns. No matter what era, a daughter''s marriage was a significant event. Things were better now, but in her time, women over sixteen who hadn''t married or engaged would be ostracized. However, in her previous life, no one dared say anything at thirty, especially since she was a geomancer and no one dared offend her.

 Panic

    Starting a business wasn''t easy, even with both of them willing. Nevertheless, since Cheng Yinxiang decided to start a business, she planned to resign from her job. Cheng Yinxiang was worried about failing, so she decided to take on some freelance work every day. This way, she could earn two to three thousand yuan monthly, enough for living expenses.


    Cheng Yinxiang went to write her resignation letter. Gu Qin sat on the sofa and read the information on Cui Hui. Cui Hui was the head of the Administration for Industry and Commerce''s inspection group, not a high position but with some real power. Many people would be willing to befriend her. Cui Hui''s husband was named Yu Feng, and their son was named Yu Jie. Yu Jie was the student who accused her of cheating during the final exams.


    Gu Qin never imagined that the issue was related to the exam incident. She found it amusing that Yu Jie, at such a young age, could falsely accuse someone. Clearly, he had poor character, and his parents didn''t educate him properly. Instead, they sought trouble with the person he accused, revealing that they weren''t good parents.


    Gu Qin felt that this was a minor issue. If Yu Jie apologized, the matter should be resolved. But now, because of this incident, Cui Hui was retaliating against Cheng Yinxiang, which was despicable. If their family had power and influence, the Yu family wouldn''t dare treat them like this. It was simply because they were poor and vulnerable.


    After sitting on the sofa for a while, Cheng Yinxiang finished writing her resignation letter and saw her daughter still sitting there. She smiled and asked, "Qin Qin, is something bothering you?"


    "No, Mom," Gu Qin replied with a smile. "What would you like for dinner tonight? Mom, I want to eat the salted shrimp you make. Let''s go to the market and buy some ingredients together. You can teach me how to cook. Mom, your cooking is delicious, but mine is terrible."


    Gu Qin''s cooking was not terrible, just average. Cheng Yinxiang''s cooking was truly excellent, with color, aroma, and taste. Some talents were innate, and no matter how much one learned, it wouldn''t change. Gu Qin was not particularly skilled at cooking. She followed Cheng Yinxiang''s instructions each time, but the results were never quite right.


    Cheng Yinxiang laughed, "Alright, Qin Qin, let''s go to the market together and cook together."


    For her daughter''s cooking skills, Cheng Yinxiang didn''t demand much. As long as she could cook, that was good enough. If her daughter could find a man who loved and cherished her, not making her cook, Cheng Yinxiang would be even more relieved. However, she still believed that women should learn some things.


    They went to the market together, and Cheng Yinxiang bought a lot of ingredients. After returning home, Gu Qin helped and prepared a full table of dishes.


    When Gu Jia came back home around dinnertime, seeing so many dishes, he couldn''t help but smile and ask, "Mom, is it a special occasion? Why are there so many dishes?"


    "Go wash your hands first," Cheng Yinxiang smiled. "I have something to tell you at dinner."


    Gu Jia washed his hands and sat down at the table. Cheng Yinxiang said with a smile, "Today, Qin Qin and I made a decision. I plan to quit my job and start a business."


    Gu Jia laughed, "That''s great. Mom, whatever you decide, I support you. But why do you suddenly want to start a business? Did you have any specific ideas?"


    "Not yet. I just wanted to tell you two first. I need to do some market research before deciding." Cheng Yinxiang was also worried since she had never run a business before. Even if she wanted to do well, she needed to investigate first.


    Gu Qin didn''t plan to reveal their plans of starting a business immediately. They would start with small businesses, and it would be inconvenient to bother others.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    After dinner, the Gu family went to review their lessons. Gu Qin knocked on Gu Jia''s door, and Gu Jia said, "Qin Qin? Come in."


    Gu Qin entered, and Gu Jia was busy flipping through materials and solving problems. Without looking up, he asked, "Qin Qin, what''s up?"


    Gu Qin said, "Brother, have you thought about using the winter break to improve your physical fitness?"


    Gu Jia finally looked up, "Why are you asking me this, Qin Qin?"


    Gu Qin rubbed her nose, "Master taught me a method, but it''s very hard. It can improve a person''s constitution. You''re eighteen or nineteen now, although it''s late, but if you stick to it, the results will be noticeable."


    Actually, if possible, Gu Qin would also like to improve Cheng Yinxiang''s constitution, but she was too old for this method. Only dietary therapy would work, such as eating foods rich in primordial energy, like honey. Speaking of honey, almost all of it was consumed. Gu Qin planned to get a beehive when the weather warmed up.


    "Qin Qin, is this true?" Gu Jia pushed aside his book and decided to hear her out.


    Gu Qin said, "I''m just asking for your opinion first. If you''re willing, we can try. But I''m telling you upfront, you must stick to it. One hour of jogging in the morning won''t work. You need at least four hours of exercise daily, including weight training. It will be exhausting, Brother. Can you handle it? Forget it, think it over. If you think you can, come find me. Besides this summer, if you''re busy during the semester, you must do at least three hours of exercise daily. And once you start, you must continue for two years. It will be long, but improving your constitution will bring many benefits."


    Improving the constitution indeed brought many benefits. Not only in terms of martial arts, but lifespan would increase by decades. However, the younger, the better the effect.


    Gu Jia thought for a moment, "Alright, give me a day to consider it."


    He was afraid he wouldn''t be able to stick with it. Even one hour of jogging in the morning left him exhausted. But since starting to jog, he felt much better and more relaxed.


    Gu Qin nodded. If her brother didn''t want to, she wouldn''t force him. Returning to her room, Gu Qin thought about Cui Hui. Knowing she was Yu Jie''s mother, Gu Qin certainly wouldn''t let her off easily. Because of her son''s mistake, she used her power to retaliate against Cheng Yinxiang.


    She believed that Cui Hui''s plot to frame Cheng Yinxiang had further implications. It wasn''t just about the current situation. If the scheme succeeded and no evidence was found, Cheng Yinxiang would become a public figure smeared for misappropriation of public funds and false accusations. Rumors would spread, and her reputation would be ruined. So, Cui Hui''s retaliation was ultimately aimed at her.


    Since Cui Hui enjoyed abusing her power, Gu Qin intended to stop her from doing so. For now, she didn''t plan to use feng shui to deal with Cui Hui. She would start with legal means. People with power and a tendency to abuse it usually had some skeletons in their closet. With evidence, she could report them directly.


    So, she still needed to approach Manager Liu. Cui Hui''s instructions to Manager Liu were a major taboo for a public servant. If she could get Cui Hui to admit it, she wouldn''t need to find other evidence to make her suffer.


    With modern technology, she didn''t need to intervene. If she could convince Manager Liu to call Cui Hui and record the conversation, implicating her in the scheme, it would be easier to handle.


    So, she still needed to visit Manager Liu. If possible, she really didn''t want to.


    After finishing her homework, Gu Qin watched TV and planned to sleep at nine. Just as she entered her room, her phone rang. She knew it was Qin Xiansheng. These days, he always messaged her before bedtime. Recently, she had been in a bad mood, so she didn''t chat much, just saying goodnight and going to bed. He never insisted on chatting.


    Qin Xiansheng: "Are you feeling better?"


    Gu Qin: "Much better. Mr. Qin, are you busy during the day? It seems you always message me right before I go to bed."


    Qin Xiansheng: "I came back for some matters, which are now resolved. I have nothing to do during the day. I was worried about you, so I messaged you right before you went to sleep. You seemed down the last couple of days. Did something happen at home?"


    Gu Qin: "Yes, but it''s resolved. I just feel that people with power and influence can bully ordinary people. So, I want to become powerful or at least wealthy."


    Qin Xiansheng couldn''t help but chuckle and replied, "A renowned geomancer like yourself, bullied? That doesn''t seem right."


    Gu Qin: "Of course, I have no reputation now. Being bullied is normal. But I believe in following laws and regulations. If something can''t be resolved legally, I''ll handle it myself."


    Qin Xiansheng: "That''s understandable. It''s a legal world, but don''t worry too much. There are many cases of bullying and lawlessness. So, even if you use geomancy against them, you shouldn''t feel guilty because you''re right. I believe Ah Qin wouldn''t misuse geomancy and that you have your own sense of justice. So, Ah Qin, don''t worry. Whatever you do, I''ll support you."


    Gu Qin felt a bit comforted, "Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your encouragement. I feel much better now. By the way, how''s your injury?"


    Qin Xiansheng: "It''s already healed. Don''t worry about it. Go to sleep early. You''re still young. Don''t tire yourself out during the winter break. Relax a bit. Good night."


    Gu Qin: "Good night."


    Qin Xiansheng: "Good night."


    Gu Qin turned off her phone and went to sleep. She fell asleep quickly, usually within a few minutes. But if there was noise, she would wake up instantly.


    The next morning, she went to Daitian Mountain. She hardly rode her bicycle anymore and instead ran to Daitian Mountain with a ten-kilogram sandbag. Her martial arts skills weren''t yet top-notch, mainly due to lack of training. She started with a five-kilogram sandbag and now carried ten kilograms, planning to gradually increase the load. Running to Daitian Mountain allowed her to train and cultivate simultaneously.


    She returned at nine o''clock precisely. Cheng Yinxiang had submitted her resignation letter to the company. Gu Jia had officially finished his tutoring classes today. In half a month, the New Year would arrive. This was Gu Qin''s first New Year here.


    When she returned, Gu Jia had already finished his morning run. He had been running for some time and wasn''t too tired, though he still sweated. He was wiping his hair with a towel when he heard Gu Qin return and said, "Qin Qin, I''ve thought about it. I want to try the method you mentioned. Four hours sounds tough, but I''ll push through."

 The Truth Revealed

    Gu Qin felt that after Gu Jia and Gu Yuanjiang separated, Gu Jia had changed significantly. He was less selfish and cared less about appearances. Previously, he had permed hair, thick bangs, leather jackets, and skinny jeans. Now, he looked more normal, with shorter hair and no bangs, making him appear much more energetic and confident. His clothing choices had also become more casual.


    Gu Jia looked much better than before. Gu Qin knew many schoolgirls wrote him love letters, and he would often find them in his bag. Before, he would read them, but now he didn''t even look at them, tearing them up and throwing them away.


    If it were the old Gu Jia, she wouldn''t have believed him. But now, she thought he could give it a try. She said, "Alright, let''s start tomorrow."


    She had prepared plenty of medicinal herbs and given some to Lin Xinxin, who soaked in them every other day. Now, she would soak every two to three days, eventually reducing it to once a week.


    Today, Gu Qin needed to meet Manager Liu again. In the morning, she carefully packed the medicinal herbs into bags and arranged a detailed training schedule for Gu Jia. After lunch, she put on a down jacket and went out. It had started snowing outside, and the sky had been gloomy when she returned in the morning. The snow was light, but the forecast predicted heavier snow that would last several days. Gu Qin didn''t want to delay and took a taxi to Manager Liu''s house.


    When she entered the residential area, the security guard was sleeping with an electric heater on. Gu Qin walked straight in.


    Last time, she remembered Manager Liu stopping at the third floor to take out his keys. She assumed he lived on the third floor. The third floor had two apartments facing each other, and Gu Qin recalled Manager Liu stopping in front of the apartment on the outside.


    She approached and knocked on the door, which opened quickly. Manager Liu looked pale, with pale lips, appearing weak. But when he saw Gu Qin, he nearly jumped and tried to slam the door shut. Gu Qin stopped him and smiled, "Manager Liu, don''t close the door. I have something to discuss with you."


    Manager Liu was almost in tears, his tall and strong figure now weakened. He whispered, "Little Miss, what else do you want? Didn''t I already tell you about Cui Jie''s identity?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "Indeed, but I''m here for another matter. I want Manager Liu to help me with something."


    "No, no," Manager Liu shook his head vigorously. "This matter is over. I don''t want to get involved anymore." He didn''t realize that both sides were dangerous¡ªone with power and the other vulnerable.


    The young woman is also very scary, with powerful martial arts skills, and doesn''t soften her hand when stabbing people.


    Gu Qin said, "That won''t do. This matter must be helped by Manager Liu."


    Manager Liu saw that this little girl didn''t seem to be joking and was almost crying. "Little Miss, what exactly is the matter?"


    Gu Qin pointed at the room. "Let''s go inside and talk."


    Manager Liu didn''t dare to stop her and stepped aside to let Gu Qin in. When Gu Qin entered, she discovered that the room had the heater on, and even though Manager Liu was wearing thick cotton clothes, he was still shivering violently and curling up. Gu Qin knew this was due to the invasion of yin energy, which made him feel cold no matter how high the heater was set or how thick the clothes were worn.


    Gu Qin sat down and directly explained her intentions to Manager Liu. "I came here to ask Manager Liu for help. Could you please call Cui Hui again, record the call, and get her to say something?"


    Manager Liu naturally understood what "getting her to say something" meant. He only needed to get her to admit to framing Cheng Yinxiang. Manager Liu found it difficult and said, "Little sister, it¡¯s not easy to get her to talk. We¡¯ve almost fallen out over this matter, and she doesn¡¯t answer my calls anymore."


    Gu Qin replied, "Sending a text message would work too."


    This left Manager Liu speechless. Gu Qin continued, "It¡¯s not asking for your help for free. I¡¯ll pay you."


    Manager Liu¡¯s eyes lit up. "Then how much are you willing to pay?"


    Gu Qin thought for a moment. "If Manager Liu helps me with this, I¡¯ll give you five thousand as compensation." Too much would be inappropriate, as it was just about talking; too little wouldn¡¯t motivate him, and she didn¡¯t want to spend too much on this.


    However, Manager Liu wasn¡¯t very willing with five thousand. "Little sister, five thousand is really too little, isn¡¯t it?"


    Gu Qin looked at him coldly. "Five thousand is enough. If Manager Liu agrees, I can help cure your illness. Your illness is something doctors can¡¯t treat, and you have nightmares at night."


    Manager Liu looked at Gu Qin in surprise. How did she know about his illness? Ever since he was frightened by this little girl, he noticed his body wasn¡¯t right, feeling extremely cold, like having the chills. He went to the hospital for a check-up, but nothing showed up. No matter how high the heater was set or how thick the clothes he wore, he still felt cold. There was no other choice but to turn up the heat and wear more layers.


    After thinking for a while, Manager Liu said, "If you can really cure my illness, I don¡¯t care if you don¡¯t charge me anything." He didn¡¯t want money as much as he wanted to be cured, even though he doubted whether this little girl could do it.


    This kind of cold was truly yin-cold, chilling to the bone, and he had nightmares every night, dreaming of falling into a cold abyss. It was almost impossible to sleep, and whenever he woke up, he would dream again. Last night, he barely slept for two hours. He had no other options, so early in the morning, he even sought out a fortune-teller who gave him a charm, which he burned and drank, but it had no effect. He ended up spending the whole morning in diarrhea. Finally, he decided to trust this little girl once.


    Gu Qin nodded. "Alright, you make the call first. As long as we get the recording, I¡¯ll help cure your illness."


    Manager Liu thought about it and decided to trust this little girl. He took out his phone, dialed Cui Hui¡¯s number, and turned on the recording and speakerphone. After several rings, Cui Hui finally answered...


    ~~~


    Cui Hui had been quite frustrated lately. She was a team leader at the bureau with some real power, so many people flattered her. Over the years, she had developed an arrogant personality. A few days ago, she noticed her son acting strangely. She only had one son, Yu Jie, whom she doted on. Seeing him looking listless, not eating, and losing weight, she asked him what was wrong.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Yu Jie wouldn¡¯t tell her, so she called his best friend and asked about any issues at school. At first, the friend was hesitant but eventually admitted it was about a girl in class. The friend assured her that Yu Jie wasn¡¯t doing it on purpose, just confused, and suggested she talk to him and not pressure him.


    Cui Hui angrily hung up, not believing a word. Yu Jie was usually well-behaved at home, and while his grades weren¡¯t great, he was in Class One, a key class. She couldn¡¯t believe he would accuse her like that. She investigated the Gu family and learned they were poor, renting a house, with a daughter who got into high school with a low score and a son who failed to get into high school.


    She was heartbroken about her son¡¯s situation but didn¡¯t want to forgive Gu Xin. She told her husband Yu Feng about it, but he advised her to drop it. The friend mentioned that Gu Xin was genuinely smart, and Yu Jie¡¯s answers were incorrect.


    Cui Hui refused to let it go and arranged for Manager Liu to damage the company¡¯s surveillance system. She demanded 200,000 yuan from him, which he couldn¡¯t pay.


    Unexpectedly, Manager Liu called her again today, demanding compensation. She was annoyed but agreed to pay 20,000 yuan. When Manager Liu asked about her conflict with Cheng Yinxiang, she hung up, unaware that the call was recorded.


    After hanging up, Manager Liu listened to the recording and heard Cui Hui admitting to framing Cheng Yinxiang. He laughed at Gu Qin and said, ¡°Little sister, we¡¯re good now, right?¡±


    Seeing that Cui Hui had taken the bait, Gu Qin sighed in relief and told Manager Liu, ¡°Send the recording to my phone, and I¡¯ll help cure your illness.¡±


    Manager Liu was still skeptical but put his phone in his pocket. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d cure me first?¡±


    Gu Qin replied, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll go buy some things and be back soon.¡± She couldn¡¯t remove the yin energy without a cover. Silver needles would work; they were a traditional Chinese medicine technique that often worked where Western medicine failed. Using acupuncture would make Manager Liu believe her more.


    She bought a set of silver needles and returned to Manager Liu¡¯s house half an hour later. Manager Liu had already wrapped himself in a blanket but was still shaking.


    Gu Qin disinfected the needles and had Manager Liu remove his shirt. She inserted the needles into specific acupoints. Acupuncture didn¡¯t cure yin energy, but it made Manager Liu more trusting. He obediently removed his shirt and let her insert the needles.


    Gu Qin inserted the needles in his back and slowly extracted the yin energy. There wasn¡¯t much yin energy in his body, so she quickly removed it. She didn¡¯t plan to deal with the remaining energy, hoping to teach him a lesson.


    Afterward, she washed her hands. ¡°After half an hour, you can remove the needles.¡±


    Manager Liu felt better and realized the little girl had genuine skills. He was surprised and asked, ¡°Little sister, do you know why Cui Hui targeted your mother?¡±


    Gu Qin replied, ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much. Once I have the recording, this will be over.¡±


    Manager Liu was an ordinary citizen. Although Cui Hui ordered him to frame Cheng Yinxiang, as long as the public funds were repaid and there was no further investigation, nothing serious would happen. But the impact on Cui Hui was different. During the strict crackdown period, civil servants needed to be upright, with positive values and integrity. Cui Hui¡¯s misuse of authority would lead to suspension and investigation.


    Cui Hui had no powerful connections, and as a team leader, such misconduct would likely result in severe punishment.


    Half an hour later, Gu Qin removed the needles from Manager Liu¡¯s back. He felt much better, slightly warm, and no longer felt cold. However, he still felt discomfort in his lower body, but it was embarrassing to mention to the little girl. Gu Qin had almost castrated him before, so mentioning this would make her think he had bad intentions.


    Manager Liu sent the recording to Gu Qin. She opened the audio file on her phone and heard Cui Hui¡¯s clear admission.


    Leaving Manager Liu¡¯s house, Gu Qin searched online for a whistleblowing website. She knew sending it from home would leave a PI address. Since she wasn¡¯t proficient with computers, she called Jiang Cheng for help. He ran to a internet cafe to upload the recording.


    Gu Qin couldn¡¯t predict the outcome but waited for it. After calling Jiang Cheng, Cheng Yinxiang returned home with a box of office supplies, indicating she had resigned. Gu Xin offered a towel to wipe off the snow and suggested waiting until after the New Year to start market research. Cheng Yinxiang agreed, knowing they had to prepare for the holidays.


    Gu Xin planned to focus on cultivation and was close to advancing to the middle stage of refining essence into qi. She prepared a training schedule for Gu Jia and left home, claiming to stay at Lin Xinxin¡¯s place for a few days. In reality, she went to Mount Dai to meditate for three days.


    Returning home, she found Gu Jia practicing standing meditation. Despite limited space, he continued diligently. Gu Xin noted his sweat and trembling, understanding the initial challenges.


    ~~~


    Cui Hui felt unlucky recently. Her son was depressed, and her attempt to frame Cheng Yinxiang was exposed. A superior questioned her behavior and played the recording. With no way to deny it, she faced investigation and suspension. The unit was in chaos, and rumors spread. She was also accused of accepting a bribe of 40,000 yuan, leading to a heavier punishment. She was suspended, fined, and expelled, facing a six-month suspended sentence.


    Jiang Cheng informed Gu Xin about the verdict, suggesting he could help further but decided against it, as the current outcome was lenient enough. Gu Xin thanked him, and Jiang Cheng insisted it was an honor to assist.


    Gu Xin stated she didn¡¯t need further assistance. Cui Hui¡¯s punishment was sufficient, as she was already suspended and expelled. Gu Xin had other matters to attend to and thanked Jiang Cheng again.


    Jiang Cheng smiled and said, "Don¡¯t be so formal, Master Gu. Helping you is an honor."


    "Brother Jiang, no need to be so formal," Gu Xin chuckled.


    The woman in the seat outside suddenly freed her arm, stuffed the red envelopes back into Cheng Yinxiang''s hands, and placed the child in the middle of the aisle before kneeling down with a thump in front of Cheng Yinxiang. "Big sister, please forgive me, I didn''t mean to do it. I had no choice. My child is sick, my husband died from a work-related injury, and they won''t give us compensation. I had to borrow money just to come back home. I have nothing left. Even buying breakfast for the child feels like a luxury. I really had no other way. Big sister, please forgive me once. I promise I will never do this again. Please, please forgive me." She continued to bang her head on the ground, her forehead turning red and swelling up.


    Cheng Yinxiang was stunned, not knowing how to react. Before she could say anything, the woman continued to bang her head repeatedly. "Big sister, please forgive me this time. I beg you. I really don¡¯t want to do this. I truly had no other options. I know I did wrong, but I swear I will never do it again. Please, please forgive me. I just wanted to buy some food for the child. I got carried away..."


    Qwen has translated the provided Chinese text into English as requested.


    The passengers who were watching the scene became somewhat uncomfortable. "sister, just let her go. I feel sorry for her, she¡¯s a woman with a child and her husband is in trouble. Who wants this kind of situation?"


    Cheng Yinxiang opened her mouth but seeing the woman''s tearful face, she softened. "Then... then, let it be."


    There was a commotion in the carriage. The child lying on the ground remained unconscious, still in deep sleep. Gu Qin frowned and watched as the woman tried to sit back down with the child. She stood up and approached them, feeling the child''s pulse. "What illness does your child have? Why hasn''t he woken up despite all the noise?"


    Strange, the pulse seemed normal. The child appeared healthy. Why wouldn¡¯t he wake up despite all the commotion?


    The woman panicked, snatching the child away. "My child is sick and uncomfortable. He has been crying all night, so he is sleeping deeply today."


    Some passengers, feeling that Gu Qin¡¯s tone was cold, thought she was heartless. They began to rebuke her from a moral high ground. "What¡¯s wrong with you, girl? How can you be so cold-hearted? It¡¯s normal for a sick child to be sleepy. You¡¯re not even related to him! If you want more money, we can contribute some! Can¡¯t you just let them go?"


    The woman hugged the child and cried. "Thank you, thank you. There are still good people in this world." And she sobbed loudly.


    Seeing her pitiful appearance, people felt even more uneasy. Someone even took out money from their wallets, handing it to the woman. "Sister, these are all the money I have left. Take it and use it. Don¡¯t worry about the child either. There are still good people in the world, many charity organizations can help if the child¡¯s condition is serious."


    Gu Qin couldn¡¯t help but sneer. "I checked the child¡¯s pulse. The pulse is normal, there is no illness. Why are you lying?"


    The woman panicked, looked at Gu Qin, and knelt down. "Girl, I beg you, I know I¡¯m wrong. This lady is your mother, isn¡¯t she? I shouldn¡¯t have stolen her money..."


    She slapped herself, "Slap, slap, slap," hard enough that her face quickly turned red.


    Surrounding passengers became angry. "What¡¯s wrong with you, girl? Why are you pursuing her? Didn¡¯t she say it wasn¡¯t intentional?"


    Cheng Yinxiang saw things escalating and stood up, patting Gu Qin¡¯s shoulder. "Qin Qin, forget it, forget it."


    Gu Qin looked down at the woman¡¯s face. The woman¡¯s children palace in her physiognomy was dim, indicating she had children but they died young. Her calm voice echoed, "Your children palace has a horizontal line, and the color is dark, indicating you have lost a child. So why do you claim this child is yours?"


    Gu Qin suddenly recalled some news articles about kidnappers. After checking the child¡¯s pulse, she found it strange and carefully observed the woman¡¯s face. Clearly, the woman had lost a child and was living alone. How could she have a son?

 Conspiracy

    Surrounding passengers looked at each other, unsure what was happening.


    Gu Qin squatted down, looking directly into the woman¡¯s eyes. "Where did the child come from? Are you a kidnapper?"


    "No, no, I¡¯m not a kidnapper," the woman shouted, panicking. "This is my relative¡¯s child..."


    Gu Qin laughed. "You said this child was yours, that your husband died, and you didn¡¯t have money to buy food for the child. Now you say the child is your relative¡¯s? If it¡¯s a relative¡¯s child, why is it with you? Tell me, are you a kidnapper?"


    Passengers calmed down. Most had children themselves and were enraged by kidnappers. They were now suspicious of the woman¡¯s story. Some mothers couldn¡¯t bear it and offered money, but no one wanted to intervene further.


    Gu Qin demanded, "Tell me, are you a kidnapper?"


    "No, no, I¡¯m not," the woman panicked. She was indeed a kidnapper. She had taken the child yesterday and planned to sell it after the New Year. She often used sedatives to keep children quiet during transportation. This time, however, she got caught stealing money.


    Previously, she managed to escape by pretending to be desperate and receiving sympathy donations. But this time, she was caught.


    Surrounding passengers questioned her. "Why do you keep changing your story? What relative would bring a child and travel during the New Year?"


    More suspicious passengers emerged. A mother couldn¡¯t stand it. "Kidnappers are too much. We¡¯d rather err on the side of caution. Driver, stop at the nearest police station and take her there. If she¡¯s innocent, the police won¡¯t mistreat her. But if she¡¯s a kidnapper, we¡¯ll save a family."


    The woman panicked, kneeling and crying. "I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I confess. This child isn¡¯t mine; it¡¯s my husband¡¯s with another woman. I lost my own child and can¡¯t bear another. My husband hid it from me. I wanted to take the child back. I know I¡¯m wrong. I¡¯ll return the child. I¡¯ll divorce them. Please let me go."


    Gu Qin admired the woman¡¯s quick thinking. People hated kidnappers and mistresses, and the woman knew how to manipulate emotions. But now, no one believed her.


    Gu Qin squatted down, placing her hand on the child¡¯s wrist. Slowly, her energy flowed into the child, and the child finally woke up, looking around confused. Seeing strangers, he started crying. "I want my mommy, I want my mommy..."


    People¡¯s hearts softened hearing the child cry. The woman panicked, trying to give the child water. The child pushed her away and continued crying. Gu Qin gently asked, "Child, is she your mommy?"


    The child, around three years old, shook his head. "No, she¡¯s not my mom. I want my mom, I want my mom..."


    Gu Qin continued softly, "Do you recognize this person?"


    The child shook his head, crying. "No, I don¡¯t know her. She gave me candy, but I didn¡¯t eat it. Then she carried me away..."


    Passengers¡¯ expressions changed. Gu Qin knew a child couldn¡¯t identify the truth about their parents. She asked directly, "Do you remember your parents¡¯ names or their phone numbers?"


    The child nodded, wiping his tears. "Yes, I remember. Mommy said bad people are everywhere, so I must remember the number..."


    The woman panicked, trying to force water on the child. Two passengers restrained her. "Hold her down first, then let the child call his mother. That will clarify if she¡¯s a kidnapper."


    The child stuttered the number. A passenger dialed it. On the first ring, someone picked up. "Hello, hello, who are you? Is this my baby? Baby? Baby..."


    The woman on the phone burst into tears. "Baby, where are you? Baby, come back..."


    The passenger put the call on speaker. "Hello, we¡¯re on a bus to Liangping City in Southern Province. There¡¯s a woman with a child. This child should be your baby. But she says you¡¯re her husband¡¯s mistress and that she can¡¯t have children, so he had a child with someone else..."


    The kidnapper shrank into a ball, the child still crying in Gu Qin¡¯s arms. Cheng Yinxiang, seeing the child¡¯s plight, took out a bread from her bag. The child sobbed, staring at the bread but shaking his head. "No, I don¡¯t eat strangers¡¯ food."


    The child¡¯s mother taught him well, but the kidnapper was cunning. Gu Qin took the bread, offering it gently. "Listen, your mother is talking on the phone. She can hear you. You¡¯re hungry, eat the bread."


    The mother heard the child¡¯s voice and cried. "Baby, baby, it¡¯s me, mommy..."


    The father¡¯s excited voice came through. "That¡¯s our baby¡¯s voice. Baby is ours. I don¡¯t have a mistress. We¡¯ve been married for six or seven years. Yesterday was the twenty-ninth, and we were busy. We left the baby with my sister. She took him shopping, and he disappeared. We¡¯ve reported it to the police. We live in Anqing County. You can contact the local police station. Baby is ours. That woman is a kidnapper. Please help us..."


    Anqing County is near the national highway, close to Daisan City. The kidnapper took the child from Anqing County to the bus.


    Passengers felt heartbroken. The caller told the parents to feed the child. The parents cried, making the child cry too. Finally, they agreed to let the child eat something.


    The child ate, and his parents stayed on the phone. Passengers didn¡¯t mind the cost. They all hated kidnappers, and some kicked the woman. Soon, many passengers beat her.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The driver knew this was urgent and stopped at a nearby city police station. An old policeman was surprised but listened to the passengers'' story. He arrested the woman and kept the child safe, promising to contact the parents.


    Passengers apologized to Gu Qin, who suggested the police look into the matter further. "Uncle, this kidnapper seems experienced. She was calm when caught. This might involve a gang. Please investigate thoroughly."


    Passengers agreed. The old policeman called his superiors, who decided to interrogate the woman immediately. They would recall everyone, cancel the New Year celebration, and solve the case.


    Parents called the passenger who made the initial call, learned about the police station, and contacted them. The old policeman handcuffed the woman, searched her belongings, and waited for the captain.


    Gu Qin used her heavenly eye to see the woman¡¯s past. She saw the woman calling someone named "Brother Lei," saying she caught a small fish, and planned to return on New Year¡¯s Eve. She mentioned contacting a big fish and feeding the child water. Gu Qin saw the woman taking a two-year-old child to Liangping City, entering an old apartment building, and meeting a man named Brother Lei. They discussed finding more children.


    Gu Qin continued watching, seeing seven children in the apartment, all sleeping. The man asked someone to guard the door, warning about waking children. Gu Qin saw the kidnappers preparing for another operation.


    Passengers felt anxious but waited for the police. Gu Qin watched the kidnapper¡¯s interactions, learning more about the gang¡¯s plans.


    Gu Qin still heard that there was another kidnapper who had not found Xiaoyuer and therefore did not wait for him. They planned to sell Xiaoyuer the next morning in another place. From their conversation, she also learned that a child could be sold for between 20,000 to 100,000 yuan, with boys being more popular. Therefore, they were currently only looking for boys.


    Gu Qin used her Heavenly Eye to check the calendar date, which was from last July. It had been several months since then, so it was highly likely that they were still in Liangping City at this hideout.


    After retracting her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin rubbed her temples, feeling slightly tired after prolonged use. She didn''t have time to attend to other matters and told the old policeman, "Uncle, can I borrow some paper and a pen?"


    Most passengers were about to leave, but Gu Qin said, "Please wait a moment, I''ll finish writing soon."


    They didn''t know what she was writing but were gentle towards her because of her role in catching the kidnapper. The old policeman brought paper and a pen, and just then, the police captain arrived. He was a man in his forties, tall and imposing in his uniform, looking very upright. After questioning the old policeman and the passengers, he took the kidnapper into the interrogation room for questioning.


    Gu Qin no longer paid attention to this matter. She wrote down the information she saw through her Heavenly Eye on a nearby table. Although she knew the details, she couldn''t write them all down clearly. She only wrote the approximate number of people¡ªtwenty or less¡ªand the exact location of the hideout in Liangping City. Then, she folded the paper and handed it to the old policeman, saying, "Uncle, please give this paper to your captain when he comes out. Remember, give it to him immediately."


    The old policeman nodded. Suddenly remembering that the passengers mentioned the kidnapper was caught by the girl, he thought if the family wanted to thank her later, he should leave her contact information. "Hey, little girl, can you leave your phone number?"


    Gu Qin thought for a moment and left her phone number. Everyone then got back on the bus and headed to Liangping City.


    This delay took half an hour, and they had to take a detour, adding another half hour to their journey. By the time they reached Liangping City, it might be around two o''clock in the afternoon. However, the journey wasn''t as dull as before, as many people started chatting with Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang. Gu Jia spoke less, still shocked by his sister''s bravery. He looked at Gu Qin with admiration and awe several times.


    Many passengers asked how Gu Qin figured it out, and she said she did it by reading faces. She claimed she saw from the kidnapper''s face that she had no children, which made her suspicious.


    In this era, people had different opinions about fortune-telling and face-reading. Some believed it, others didn''t. Hearing Gu Qin''s explanation, they couldn''t help but ask her to read their faces. Gu Qin examined several people and accurately described their situations, leaving them stunned and convinced of her abilities.


    ***


    Previously, where they stopped to hand over the kidnapper was a small county called Bai An Bei. The police captain there was Wang Kelin, around forty years old, honest and warm-hearted. Upon hearing the news, he rushed to the station, interrogated the situation, and sent the kidnapper to the interrogation room. Such kidnappers would have their belongings confiscated to prevent them from sending messages, and their phones were taken away early.


    Wang Kelin pressed the kidnapper into the interrogation room and began questioning: "Name, age, gender."


    The kidnapper remained silent. Wang Kelin shouted, "Speak up! Don''t think you can get away with silence. Are you acting alone or as part of a gang?"


    The kidnapper remained silent. Wang Kelin grew impatient. He had learned from outside sources that this bus was heading to Liangping City. If it was a gang operation, missing the deadline would make the group suspicious, and calling would reveal something was wrong. If there was a hideout, they might quickly relocate.


    This case was difficult. The kidnapper refused to speak. Wang Kelin tried to persuade her: "If you cooperate, your sentence might be reduced. Do you know how much time you''re facing?"


    The kidnapper looked at Wang Kelin, "Don''t scare me. I won''t say anything. I''m just doing this for the first time. Whatever happens is fine."


    Wang Kelin grew anxious, seeing the woman''s stubbornness. He realized she must be part of a larger group, likely with an eighty percent chance. Frustrated and powerless, he locked her in the interrogation room and went to search her phone for clues. His colleagues asked, "Captain, did she say anything?"


    Wang Kelin shook his head, "She''s not talking. Claims it''s her first time."


    The old policeman cursed, "This monster, it can''t be her first offense. Passengers said she was calm during the theft, didn''t panic, and even used sympathy to beg for mercy..."


    Suddenly remembering something, the old policeman took out a folded piece of white paper from his pocket, "Captain, this is from a passenger on the bus. She wants you to give it to you when you come out."


    Wang Kelin already knew about the brave girl from the passengers. She claimed to be a feng shui master who could read faces and predict things. He opened the paper and saw a neat handwriting:


    "Captain, I am a feng shui master who knows divination and other techniques. What I will say may sound unbelievable, but please take it seriously. They are likely working in a gang, with ten to twenty members. Their hideout is in Liangping City, specifically at No. 607, Xilan Bay, Third Floor, Furian Street. If you believe me, act quickly. This person is heading to the hideout, which will arrive around one o''clock. If they don''t see anyone by then, they will transfer immediately. These are likely their last batch of children. Please act quickly."


    Wang Kelin, despite the cold weather, broke out in a cold sweat after reading the note. The old policeman noticed his change in expression, "Captain, what does it say? Your face is pale."


    Wang Kelin didn''t respond. He didn''t know whether to believe such claims. How could someone be so accurate? He believed in feng shui but not to this extent. The information was too specific, almost impossible without informants. Yet, he couldn''t ignore it. If the girl was right, the gang would suspect something and move immediately, putting more children at risk...


    Wang Kelin was conflicted. Finally, he re-entered the interrogation room and sat down in front of the kidnapper. He stared at her closely and said, "We have crucial information. You are part of a gang..."


    The kidnapper showed no emotion, thinking the police were trying to deceive her. When Wang Kelin continued, "Your gang has ten to twenty members. The hideout is in Liangping City, specifically at No. 607, Xilan Bay, Third Floor..."


    Wang Kelin watched her go from indifferent to panicked and tense. He knew the information was correct; the girl was right.


    He no longer hesitated. Checking the clock, it was 10:30 AM. With two and a half hours until 1 PM, he called his superior, explaining the situation briefly, without mentioning it came from the girl. His superior contacted the Liangping City police, who immediately took action.


    By noon, the police surrounded the hideout. They knocked on the door, but the kidnappers were cautious. Eventually, they blasted the door open and entered, finding several sleeping children...


    ***


    Gu Qin, Gu Jia, and Cheng Yinxiang arrived in Liangping City around two PM. The streets weren''t crowded as most people were home for the New Year. Shops were closed, but hotels were open due to the busy holiday season. Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s family had dinner at night, so they went straight to her neighborhood.


    Cheng Yinxiang lived in the city center, in a decent condition. She had two older brothers, and her second brother was adopted from a friend of her father. Her father was a veteran who adopted the child when his family died in a car accident. The child, named Lu Qingrong, knew he wasn''t a biological member of the family but was treated well. As he grew, he learned the truth and received the inheritance from his birth family.


    Lu Qingrong was now in his forties, tall, and handsome. He greeted Cheng Yinxiang warmly, inviting her and the children inside. Gu Qin and Gu Jia, meeting their uncle for the first time, greeted him politely.


    Everyone gathered in the living room, including Cheng Yinxiang''s parents and siblings. Cheng Yinxiang''s mother was surprised and excited to see her daughter. Cheng Yinxiang explained she was back for the holidays. Her parents noticed her improved appearance and wondered why.


    It was late afternoon, and they started preparing for dinner. Cheng Yinxiang helped in the kitchen, while the children joined in making dumplings. Gu Qin enjoyed the warmth and company, eating beef balls her grandmother had prepared.


    Cheng Yinxiang''s second brother, Lu Qingrong, was divorced and childless. The kitchen soon filled with delicious smells. Gu Qin and Gu Jia ate the beef balls eagerly. Cheng Yinxiang''s siblings, Cheng Chu Chu and Cheng Yue Guang, were curious about their cousins and chatted with them.


    The entire family was curious about Cheng Yinxiang''s return. She avoided explaining her divorce, saying she brought the children home for the holidays. Her parents noticed her improved health and wondered what had changed.

 Final

    The doorbell rang again. Lu Qingrong opened the door, surprised to find policemen.


    The police, not just one but several, had come to Lu Qingrong''s door, and Gu Qin never expected them to show up on New Year''s Eve.


    The middle-aged man at the front was quite gentle in his tone, "Hello, we''re from the Liangping Police Bureau. We need to talk to a comrade named Gu Qin about a case. Is Gu Qin here?"


    This voice wasn''t too quiet; everyone inside heard it. Gu Qin wasn''t surprised; she roughly knew why they were there. She stood up and walked to the living room entrance, where she saw the policemen. "I''m Gu Qin."


    The middle-aged man smiled. "It would be a bit of trouble for Comrade Gu Qin to accompany us back to the police bureau for some case-related investigation. Don''t worry; it''s just a matter of cooperation."


    Gu Qin nodded and took her coat, preparing to go with them. Lu Qingrong, who didn''t feel at ease, pulled Gu Qin behind him and suspiciously looked at the policemen. "Today is New Year''s Eve, and my niece is just an ordinary high school student. What kind of case could she assist you with?" Lu Qingrong thought his niece was just a child, and he didn''t trust these people.


    The middle-aged man laughed. "Is this Comrade Gu Qin''s parent? Don''t worry, it''s related to a human trafficking ring case, so we need to take Gu Qin back for assistance."


    Everyone in the living room was stunned. They didn''t understand what was going on. Only Gu Jia knew what was happening, but he always thought the case was already solved. Why would they come for his sister again?


    Gu Qin told Lu Qingrong, "Uncle, don''t worry, it''s nothing serious. I met a human trafficker today, and it¡¯s related to this case. So they want me to help with the investigation. You all stay here, I''ll be back soon." The police were from the Liangping city bureau, which had taken over the case from the Bai''anpo bureau. The Bai''anpo bureau captain must have contacted his superiors after reading her note, leading to the transfer of the case. Seeing the relaxed expressions of the police, she assumed they had already dismantled the trafficking ring.


    Gu Qin knew that she would be called in for questioning. The information she provided was too specific, and she couldn¡¯t stand idly by while children were sold. Besides, heaven had given her the gift of foresight and a second chance, and she couldn''t ignore such matters. Helping these children meant the difference between happiness and despair for many families.


    She couldn''t handle the situation alone or take risks by directly intervening; only the police could save the trafficked children. Gu Qin said to Lu Qingrong, "Uncle, don''t worry, everything''s fine." She then prepared to go with the police. Lu Qingrong, who didn''t feel comfortable, decided to accompany her. He figured he might be able to look out for her if anything happened.


    Seeing the Cheng family eagerly waiting at the door, Lu Qingrong sternly said, "Go inside, I''ll go with Gu Qin."


    Cheng Yinxiang came out of the kitchen, initially thinking something serious had happened. After learning it was related to human trafficking, she didn''t pay much attention, assuming her daughter was assisting with the case.


    After the police left with Gu Qin, the family in the living room exchanged puzzled looks. Cheng Mother worriedly asked, "Yinxiang, what''s going on? How did we get involved with human traffickers?"


    Yinxiang explained the events in the car and mentioned her daughter''s fortune-telling abilities. She felt it was better to tell the truth now that they would interact more. She admitted to the divorce with Gu Yuanjiang, which shocked the family. Cheng Mother, however, wasn''t surprised and found it somewhat relieving.


    Cheng Yinxiang sighed and revealed the truth: "Mom, Dad, I got divorced from Gu Yuanjiang."


    This revelation left the family stunned. Cheng Mother, who had always opposed the marriage, was relieved. Cheng Yinxiang explained the details of the divorce, and the family eventually accepted it.


    Gu Qin went to the police station with Lu Qingrong. The police chief leading her was Huang Kun, a middle-aged man from the Liangping police force. The Liangping police station was larger than the Bai''anpo station and had more officers involved in arresting the traffickers. Only Huang Kun knew about Gu Qin''s involvement, as the case needed thorough investigation.


    Huang Kun questioned how Gu Qin knew the location of the traffickers without providing any evidence. Wang Kelin, the Bai''anpo captain, explained that Gu Qin had given him a note with the details, and he had acted on it.


    Huang Kun was skeptical but intrigued. He asked Gu Qin how she knew about the traffickers. Gu Qin replied that she was a feng shui master and had used her abilities to find their hideout.


    Huang Kun and the young officer were stunned. Lu Qingrong was equally amazed, having never known his niece had such abilities. Huang Kun recorded Gu Qin''s statement, asking her about the events on the car and her predictions.


    Ten minutes later, Huang Kun''s phone rang. His wife was crying, saying their son had been scalded by hot water. Gu Qin had predicted this, and Huang Kun was shocked. She provided a herbal remedy to treat the burn, which Huang Kun passed on to his wife.


    The young officer also received a call from his girlfriend, as predicted. This further convinced Huang Kun of Gu Qin''s abilities.


    After recording her statement, Huang Kun thanked Gu Qin for her cooperation. He promised to send a banner to her school. Gu Qin declined, not wanting to become famous.


    Huang Kun offered to take them home, but Lu Qingrong had already arranged transportation.


    Huang Kun wished them a happy New Year and asked if Gu Qin could provide her contact number for future cases. He admired her abilities and hoped she could assist them in solving difficult cases in the future.


    Gu Qin agreed to leave her contact number. Huang Kun was excited about the possibility of working with her in the future. Gu Qin felt lucky to have helped solve the case and hoped her actions could make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by human trafficking.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    What are you busy with?


    After leaving his phone number, Gu Qin left with Lu Qingrong. Indeed, there was a car waiting for them outside, and the two of them got in and headed towards the Cheng family''s place.


    Throughout the journey, Lu Qingrong remained silent. He had been thinking about many things during this time. There was surprise at his little niece, and he also recalled past events. He had known since childhood that he wasn''t from the Cheng family; the Cheng parents had never hidden this fact from him.


    At first, he merely regarded Cheng Yinxiang as a sister, but without realizing it, things changed. In his teens, he developed feelings for her, but she liked someone else. He watched helplessly as she married another man and later never even told her about his feelings. Later on, he himself got married, but perhaps because his wife thought he was too poor, they divorced. That year, she returned to her family home, and after drinking heavily, he couldn''t resist confessing his love to her, only to receive a slap in return. He then woke up, though this incident was witnessed by the Cheng family members, and he never mentioned it again.


    Thinking back on these memories, Lu Qingrong couldn''t help but sigh. The feelings of youth were the purest, unadulterated by any impurities. He genuinely loved Cheng Yinxiang, and those youthful feelings were the most heart-stirring. Actually, his previous marriage was arranged by others, and he felt quite desperate at the time, so he married. After the divorce, he started doing business, and in recent years, he hadn''t considered finding another woman. Not that he didn''t want to, but he felt that if it wasn''t the one he truly loved, settling for less would be worse than not having anyone at all.


    After achieving success in his career, many women showed interest in him, but it meant nothing to him. So, he had been single all these years. As for Cheng Yinxiang, he dared not think about her anymore; perhaps this was how it would be for the rest of his life.


    He had no children, and he couldn''t help but turn to look at Gu Qin. He wanted to treat Jiajia and Qin Qin as his own children, but he feared the Gu family wouldn''t approve. Well, everything should happen naturally.


    Gu Qin didn''t say much along the way. Uncle Er knew, and there was no need to hide anything from the other side. The relatives on this side were different from the Gu family''s relatives.


    When they returned to the Cheng family home, it was almost six o''clock. The Cheng family wasn''t too worried. Seeing Gu Qin and Lu Qingrong return, they laughed and said, "Good, good, you''re back. It''s time to eat. Today is New Year''s Eve, everyone, Happy New Year."


    Gu Qin went into the kitchen to help serve the dishes, while Lu Qingrong helped set the table. Cheng Yin Hua smiled and said, "How did it go? Wasn''t there any trouble at the police station? We know what happened on the way here; you identified a human trafficker and saved a child in the car." She couldn''t help but admire, "Qin Qin is really brave."


    Lu Qingrong chuckled. How could she just be brave? It was astonishing. They probably didn''t know what Gu Qin had done. Using techniques to see through the gang''s hideout and the leader''s notebook was simply amazing. These extraordinary things only seemed magical when heard about, but now that they were happening right in front of them, they were truly shocking.


    For now, Lu Qingrong didn''t plan to reveal this matter. First, they would have dinner. Just as he finished setting the table, Cheng Yin Hua leaned over and whispered, "Qing Rong, I have good news for you. Cheng Xiang has divorced..."


    With a loud ''crash,'' Lu Qingrong accidentally broke a porcelain bowl. Cheng Yin Xiang, who was carrying a plate of food out of the kitchen, smiled and said, "What happened? Broken bowls mean peace and safety... it''s a good thing..." She placed the plate on the table and prepared to pick up the broken pieces.


    Lu Qingrong finally regained his senses and pulled Cheng Yin Xiang''s wrist. "Don''t pick them up, I''ll get a broom. Be careful not to hurt yourself."


    Cheng Yin Xiang quickly withdrew her hand and laughed, "I forgot my manners. Brother Er, sit down first. I''ll go to the kitchen and get a broom to sweep it up."


    "I''ll do it," Lu Qingrong said, already hurrying to the kitchen. The adults understood each other, but the children didn''t know what was going on. Cheng Chu Chu and Cheng Yue Guang were asking Gu Qin questions nonstop. They were young and admired heroes, and Gu Qin was their hero.


    They had already heard the story of the car incident from Gu Jia a couple of times, but they still weren''t satisfied. They wanted to hear it again from Gu Qin''s mouth. Gu Qin told it in more detail, and by the time she finished, the food was all served.


    Mother Cheng laughed and said, "Alright, you two. Your cousin will be staying here for a few days, so there will be plenty of time later."


    The whole family had a lively dinner. After dinner, they cleaned up and sat down to watch the Spring Festival Gala. This was a tradition in China, where families gathered happily to eat and watch the show. Father Cheng and Mother Cheng couldn''t stop smiling, their eyes always falling on Cheng Yin Xiang. They were open-minded elders, and considering Gu Yuan Jiang''s character, it was better for their daughter to be away from him. They noticed that after the divorce, their daughter looked better, younger, and they were very happy about it.


    Mother Cheng smiled and said, "Xiang Xiang, how long do you plan to stay with Gu Qin and Jia Jia? Stay for a few more days. It''s fine if they go back after school starts."


    Cheng Yin Xiang replied, "Jia Jia is taking the college entrance exam this year, and he needs to start school on the ninth. Qin Qin''s school starts on the fifteenth. I plan to go back when Jia Jia starts school."


    "Alright, stay for a few more days," Mother Cheng smiled. "There are plenty of rooms here, enough for all of you to stay."


    This house was given to them by their parents when they exchanged their old homes during the demolition. The parents had two apartments in the city center, and after the exchange, they received two new ones. One was under their names, intended to be given to their daughter after they passed away, and the other was given to their eldest son.


    The parents lived close to their eldest son in the same neighborhood. Their house was large, four bedrooms and two living rooms, but usually empty with just the two of them living there. Now that their daughter and grandchildren were back, there was plenty of space. Lu Qingrong had a house in Liang Ping, but it was far from the city center and was a villa. He didn''t want to go back there and, knowing Cheng Yin Xiang had divorced, he had no intention of leaving. This was a rare opportunity, and he wasn''t going to let it slip away.


    As they watched the gala, they chatted. The younger people weren''t interested in the show. Cheng Chu Chu was playing on her tablet, browsing forums. Soon, she found a post: "Today is New Year''s Eve, and this morning on the way home, I encountered a group of human traffickers. It was incredibly dangerous, almost getting fooled."


    Such posts, even with ordinary titles, attracted many views. Cheng Chu Chu saw that the post already had thousands of clicks and numerous replies. Some praised the girl who exposed the traffickers, saying she was a good person, while others criticized the passengers for moralizing and not helping. Some asked if the poster had taken a photo of the girl who exposed the traffickers. The poster responded that they didn''t have a photo and wouldn''t upload one, as it would be a violation of privacy.


    Many praised the positive energy, but a few trolls commented that human traffickers did good by getting rid of troublesome kids. Everyone started criticizing these trolls, and the conversation veered off-topic.


    Gu Qin felt helpless. Such trolls were everywhere. She hadn''t expected such incidents to spread online so quickly. But it was normal in the internet age. Since her photo wasn''t posted, it didn''t matter.


    At eleven, Cheng Yin Xiang and her aunt went to cook dumplings. They ate a few and were ready by midnight. At twelve, the sound of cheers came from the TV, but outside was quiet due to the ban on fireworks. The elderly slept easily, but even slight noise would wake them.


    Mother Cheng couldn''t help but laugh, "This is the first year we''ve banned fireworks. We can finally sleep well tonight."


    After the gala ended, Cheng Yin Hua took his family home. Cheng Yin Xiang helped her mother clean up. Lu Qingrong often visited his parents-in-law and had a fixed room. He went to prepare his room and brought toiletries for Gu Qin and Gu Jia. Each room had two bathrooms, so both went to wash up.


    Cheng Yin Xiang prepared the bed and went to sit in the living room. Her parents were already asleep, and she felt awkward. Lu Qingrong said, "Yin Xiang, come and sit."


    She sat down, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Erge, how have you been? How''s your business?"


    Lu Qingrong stared intently at her. "I''m doing well. What about you?"


    Cheng Yin Xiang felt nervous. His gaze was too intense. "I''m also doing well. Erge, why haven''t you remarried?"


    "Don''t call me Erge," Lu Qingrong said self-deprecatingly. "I''m not surnamed Cheng. You can call me Qing Rong or Uncle Lu."


    "Uncle Lu," Cheng Yin Xiang smiled bitterly. "It''s been so long, how can I change?"


    Lu Qingrong decided not to beat around the bush. They were both older now and didn''t want to waste time. "Yin Xiang, I heard you divorced."


    Cheng Yin Xiang''s expression stiffened, nodding after a moment.


    Lu Qingrong said softly, "Yin Xiang, I''ve waited for you all these years. Are you willing now?"


    Cheng Yin Xiang froze. "Uncle Lu, I haven''t thought about these things. You know, our children are grown up now. All I want is to take care of them."


    "But they need their own lives, and so do you. Yin Xiang, we''re not teenagers anymore. We''re over forty, and we''ve lived half our lives. I don''t want to waste any more time. Yin Xiang, I''ll pursue you properly. From now on, I won''t let you go."


    He held her hand tightly.


    Cheng Yin Xiang recoiled as if she''d been burned. She hurriedly stood up. "Uncle Lu, it''s late. I should go to sleep."


    She went into the room.


    The Cheng family had four rooms, but one was converted into a storage room. Gu Qin and Cheng Yin Xiang shared one room, and Gu Jia and Lu Qingrong shared another. After washing up, Gu Qin entered the room to find Cheng Yin Xiang blushing, even her ears red. She looked puzzled. "Mom, why are you blushing?"


    "Oh?" Cheng Yin Xiang touched her face. "Maybe the heater is too high."

 Test

    Gu Qin didn''t pay much attention. She was low on emotional intelligence and didn''t care much about such matters. Even her cousins sensed something between Lu Qingrong and her aunt, but she didn''t notice. She judged relationships based on physiognomy, and since there was no change in Cheng Yin Xiang''s appearance, she remained oblivious.


    "Mom, you should go wash up. It''s time to sleep," Gu Qin said, already lying in bed.


    Cheng Yin Xiang hesitated. "Is Uncle Lu still out there?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No, he probably went to his room."


    Cheng Yin Xiang went out.


    The next morning, Gu Qin woke up at her usual time, meditated on the bed until six, and then went for a morning run. As she went out, her grandparents were already up in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Cheng Yin Xiang and Lu Qingrong were helping in the kitchen, and Gu Jia had just woken up and was putting on sandbags.


    Gu Qin said, "Brother, I''ll join you."


    She exercised every day but didn''t wear sandbags. Gu Jia needed them for his training, especially now that he was in a crucial phase. He planned to exercise for four hours a day once he returned.


    They met Cheng Yin Hua''s family outside. Seeing their energetic morning routine, Cheng Yin Hua was surprised. "Jia Jia, Qin Qin, what are you doing out so early?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Brother and I are going for a morning run. Uncle, if we''re not back when it''s time to eat, don''t wait for us."


    After they left, Cheng Yin Hua was still processing the scene. Looking at his own children, he sighed. He had to yell at them to get up in the morning, but Gu Qin and Jia Jia were already up and running. No wonder he felt these two kids were special; not many could stick to a morning routine.


    Cheng Yin Hua couldn''t help but nag his children. "Look at Qin Qin and Jia Jia, they''re up early for a morning run. You should try it too. It''s good for your health..."


    Cheng Chu Chu frowned. "Dad, spare us. We''re too tired, we don''t want to get up..."


    Cheng Yin Hua''s wife, Zhang Wanru, had a fiery personality and was quite strict. Hearing her husband, she glared at the kids. "Learn from your cousins. Go help in the kitchen now."


    This time, Gu Qin went running with Gu Jia. Gu Jia was still struggling with the weight, sweating profusely, while Gu Qin found it easy, carrying ten kilograms like it was nothing. After an hour and a half, Gu Jia was drenched in sweat, realizing how difficult it was. He had gotten used to three hours of daily exercise, except for the standing meditation which was tough.


    After their run, they returned around eight, just in time for breakfast. Breakfast was plentiful, and Gu Jia rushed to the balcony to practice standing meditation. Everyone was shocked. Zhang Wanru said to Cheng Yin Xiang, "Xiang Xiang, what is Jia Jia doing? He''s already been running, now he''s doing squats on the balcony? Is he planning to join the military? He''s taking the college entrance exam soon, isn''t he?"


    Cheng Yin Xiang laughed. "Not really. Qin Qin designed his exercise regimen, with three to four hours of running and standing meditation. He''s willing, so I don''t mind."


    The Cheng family admired Gu Jia. Such a rigorous routine was impressive. Only Gu Jia was willing to do it, so they didn''t comment further. However, Cheng Chu Chu and Cheng Yue Guang couldn''t help but check on Gu Jia, admiring his dedication.


    Around ten, Gu Jia finished his training and showered before coming out. On New Year''s Day, they didn''t visit relatives. Cheng Yin Hua and his wife went to greet relatives early, while Cheng Chu Chu and Cheng Yue Guang stayed behind with Gu Qin and Gu Jia.


    Cheng Chu Chu was pestering Lu Qingrong. The Cheng family wasn''t wealthy but comfortable. They lived in the city center, and both parents worked, providing a decent lifestyle. They owned a house but weren''t rich. Their children, Cheng Chu Chu, who was twenty-one and in her third year of university, and Cheng Yue Guang, nineteen and a year younger than Gu Jia, were strict about their expenses. They used old laptops and phones and received a monthly allowance of fifteen hundred yuan.


    Lu Qingrong interacted more with the children, who were fond of him. Sometimes, he gave them gifts. Recently, Cheng Chu Chu''s phone broke, and she asked her parents for a new one. They planned to buy her a phone worth about a thousand yuan.


    Seeing their parents leave, Cheng Chu Chu started pleading with Lu Qingrong. "Uncle, my phone is broken. Dad says he''ll give me a thousand yuan to buy a new one, but the one I want costs three thousand. What should I do?"


    Lu Qingrong smiled. "Call me Uncle Lu from now on. I''m not part of the Cheng family; I''m from the Lu family. Call me Uncle Lu."


    "Oh~" Cheng Chu Chu dragged out the word, looking at her aunt, smiling. "Uncle Lu, we understand."


    The Cheng parents couldn''t help but smile. They hoped their daughter would marry this responsible man they had known since childhood, far better than Gu Yuan Jiang. Cheng Yin Xiang understood Lu Qingrong''s meaning. Gu Qin was confused. "Cousin calls you Uncle Lu, and you''re older than Mom. Shouldn''t we call you Uncle Lu too?"


    "Yes," Lu Qingrong smiled, his gaze at Gu Qin warm and affectionate.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Lu Qingrong returned to his room and brought out four thick red envelopes, giving one to each child. "It''s New Year''s Day, so here''s a gift."


    Cheng Chu Chu grabbed her envelope and hugged Lu Qingrong, laughing. "Uncle Lu, you''re so nice. I support whatever you do. What a pity such a good man hasn''t been taken!"


    She glanced at Cheng Yin Xiang, whose ears turned red. She then pulled Gu Qin up. "Cousin, let''s go to the bank. I need to deposit money for my phone."


    Gu Qin had nothing else to do and followed Cheng Chu Chu to the bank. There was one nearby, and they walked for ten minutes. Despite the holiday, banks were closed until the third day, but they could use ATMs.


    Cheng Chu Chu happily took out the money from the envelope. Lu Qingrong was generous, giving each child a thick envelope with ten thousand yuan. Cheng Chu Chu deposited two thousand and explained to Gu Qin, "I need to save two thousand for the phone. The rest is for my parents..."


    Gu Qin liked this cousin. Seeing her serious about saving money, she smiled. After depositing, Cheng Chu Chu bought a phone online and paid. Pulling Gu Qin out of the bank, she said excitedly, "Qin Qin, it''s great! I should get the phone by the fifteenth. Too bad it''s the New Year, and delivery services are on break..."


    Cheng Chu Chu was happy, imagining getting a new phone in two weeks.


    On New Year''s Day, all shops were closed, so they had nowhere to go but walk back slowly. Before reaching home, Gu Qin''s phone rang. It was Huang Kun from Liangping Police Station. Gu Qin answered, and Huang Kun''s voice came through.


    Qin asked, "Do you have any information about the parents?"


    Kun replied, "Yes, because these gangs mainly kidnap boys, and in general families value boys highly, the parents immediately reported it to the police and registered their DNA in the gene bank. As long as we find the children and check their genes, we can contact the parents right away."


    This matter has also been reported to higher authorities. The higher-ups attach great importance to this case, or rather, they value Qin''s abilities greatly. After all, having such a capable person who hasn''t been recruited by the capital is considered quite fortunate. Therefore, their intention is to build a good relationship with Qin so that she can help with cases in the future. The more cases in Liangping City are solved, the better their achievements will be, which will be beneficial for promotions in the future.


    That''s why Kun called Qin, hoping to strengthen their relationship and ask her to take a look at previous unsolved cases.


    Usually, such cases wouldn''t be made public unless they were solved, even the witnesses wouldn''t be informed. But Kun didn''t hide anything from Qin, "The previous few children have already found their families, and they''ve all come back today to pick up their children. Captain Wang of Bai Anpo Police Station said that the child in the car yesterday has also returned home. The parents even asked for your phone number, possibly to call and thank you."


    Qin smiled, "Thank you, Captain Kun, for letting me know these things." Knowing that the kidnapped children would return to their parents made her feel much better. This feeling was truly wonderful; her role wasn''t just about predicting fortunes and arranging feng shui, but she could do much more. Although the rescued children were only a tiny fraction of those kidnapped, she wouldn''t stand idly by if she encountered such situations.


    After hanging up, Qin felt much better. Before Cheng Chuchu could ask who it was, Qin''s phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number. Qin answered, and the voice on the other end was that of the father of the child kidnapped yesterday.


    The father was still very excited, "You, you''re the girl who saved my son yesterday on the bus, thank you so much. I heard everything that happened. If not for you, my son might have... My wife and I want to come and thank you, do you know where you live?"


    Qin smiled, "It''s unnecessary. It''s too cold outside. How is your son doing now?"


    "Zizai is fine," the man insisted, "Please let us come and thank you, sister. I don''t know how to thank you. Let my wife and I come and thank you, otherwise, we won''t feel at ease."


    This man insisted on thanking Qin, so she reluctantly gave him her address, "But I''m also out visiting during the New Year, so I''ll probably be back around the eighth or ninth day."


    "Okay, okay, I understand. Thank you, sister, really grateful..." After the man thanked her, his wife took over and thanked her too. They talked for ten minutes. Cheng Chuchu laughed beside her. Just as Qin hung up, her phone rang again.


    Cheng Chuchu finally laughed, "Cousin, you get so many calls."


    This time Lin Xinxin answered. When Qin connected, Xinxin shouted loudly, "Qin Qin, Happy New Year!"


    Qin replied, "Happy New Year to you too!"


    Xinxin talked non-stop with Qin, and when they hung up, they had already returned to the Cheng family home. Everyone was watching TV at home. On New Year''s Day, apart from greeting each other, there wasn''t much else to do. At noon, Cheng Yinhua and his wife went to relatives'' homes for dinner, leaving them alone. There were leftovers from yesterday, and after reheating some dishes, they cooked two more vegetables. They still had some meat dishes left, but eating the leftovers wouldn''t be good. Cheng Chuchu packed them and took them to the back of the neighborhood, and Qin went with her. She always put the leftovers in the forest behind the neighborhood to feed stray cats and dogs.


    When she arrived, within ten minutes, several stray cats and a dog came out. Cheng Chuchu placed a disposable plastic bowl on the ground and smiled, "Eat quickly, eat quickly." Clearly, she did this often.


    After the stray cats and dogs finished eating, Cheng Chuchu cleaned up the remaining garbage and threw it in the trash bin before returning with Qin. Qin couldn''t help but admire her, "What a nice girl."


    After staying at the Cheng family for two days, Qin finally noticed her mother''s unusual behavior. She seemed absent-minded. On the second night of the New Year, Qin couldn''t help but ask Cheng Yinxiang, "Mom, you seem absent-minded during the day. Is something wrong?" However, her mother''s face didn''t show any signs of trouble.


    Yinxiang couldn''t hold it in anymore and asked her daughter, "Qin Qin, if I were to find someone, what do you think?"


    Find someone? Qin finally understood why her mother had been absent-minded recently. But who was the person her mother liked? Oddly enough, she saw no signs of romance on her mother''s face. Qin examined her mother''s face again but found nothing.


    Qin said, "Mom, I thought something big had happened. If someone treats you well, Jiajia and I would be happy. Besides, you''re only in your forties, and you have the rest of your life ahead. But who is it that you like? If they are not a good person, it won''t work. We need to choose carefully."


    Seeing that her daughter wasn''t opposed, Yinxiang felt relieved and smiled, "My child, I asked your opinion first. I haven''t decided yet."


    Qin said, "Mom, if the person is good, then don''t worry about it. Jiajia and I are grown up and don''t need you to worry about us. Focus on your own happiness."


    After serious consideration, Yinxiang slowly began to warm up to the idea. Qing Rong was indeed a great person. She even felt unworthy of him. In her youth, she didn''t realize his feelings for her. After marriage and having children, he drunkenly hugged her and confessed his love. That day, she was so scared that she slapped him. Afterward, she visited her parents less frequently and tried to avoid him.


    Now thinking about it, Yinxiang couldn''t help but sigh. But now she realized what her daughter said¡ªher life still had many years ahead. She wanted her own happiness, and he could provide it. Why not give it a try?


    That night, Yinxiang finally made up her mind. The next morning, when Qin saw her mother''s face, she exclaimed and couldn''t help but laugh, "Mom, you have a chance at love."


    Love signs naturally appear on one''s face. A one-sided pursuit doesn''t count as a love sign. Only when you have feelings does the love sign appear. This indicated that Yinxiang had feelings for the person pursuing her.


    Actually, when she became Qin, there was a significant difference in Yinxiang''s face compared to before. When she first met Yinxiang, her face was full of suffering. She was entangled with Yuanjiang Gu and wasn''t planning to divorce. But becoming Qin gradually changed the fate of several people, including Yinxiang''s, which appeared in her face.


    If she hadn''t become Qin, Yinxiang''s fate could be easily predicted. The original body would have had its heart successfully replaced and would have been cremated before Yinxiang returned home. A simple excuse like a car accident or something else could have sufficed. Even suicide could have been used. The original body would have disappeared, and no one would know about Yuanjiang Gu''s crimes. Naturally, Yinxiang wouldn''t have known either, and she wouldn''t have had the courage to divorce Yuanjiang Gu, leading to a lifetime of hardship.


    Thinking about this, Qin couldn''t help but hold Yinxiang''s hand and smile, "Mom, you look beautiful now. Don''t worry, whatever decision you make, Jiajia and I will support you. But who is it that you like?" She still couldn''t figure it out.


    Yinxiang felt embarrassed to tell her daughter and smiled, "Wait and see. If it works out, I''ll tell you."


    Qin didn''t press further. After finishing the meal, she helped clean the dishes. She saw Yinxiang calling Uncle Lu to the balcony, thinking she was asking him business questions, so she didn''t pay attention. But when they came out, Qin was stunned. Their faces...


    She suddenly realized who her mother''s love interest was. It was Uncle Lu. No wonder, she thought, Uncle Lu''s gaze toward her mother was abnormal. Qin suddenly understood. After realizing this, she started to be happy for her mother. Lu Qingrong was a great person, and his face showed it. His eyes were clear and focused, not evasive. His nose was straight and well-shaped, indicating honesty and kindness. According to the saying, a straight nose means a pure heart and no evil intentions. A well-shaped nose tip means he wouldn''t harm others. All these signs indicated that Lu Qingrong was a loyal and kind person.

 struggle

    Since Yinxiang''s love interest was him, Qin naturally didn''t oppose it.


    Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong''s relationship was noticed by both sets of parents. Seeing them together, they knew what was happening.


    Though not officially announced, everyone present knew what was going on. It wouldn''t be long before they had a wedding.


    Before Qin could finish being happy, her phone rang. It was Kun. Qin asked, "Captain Kun, why are you calling at this hour?"


    "Qin Qin, I''m calling to invite you to the police station."


    Kun said apologetically, "I actually want you to help with a case. This case is difficult and unique. I hope you can help."


    Qin got up and went to the balcony, "Is something happening?"


    "Some things," Kun said. "There''s a series of cases that have been ongoing for five months. This is the sixth month. Can you come to the police station? I''ll explain it in detail."


    Qin nodded, "Sure, I''ll go right now. But I can''t guarantee I''ll be able to help. If I can, I''ll do my best. If not, please don''t blame me."


    Kun said, "Of course, having you here is enough."


    After informing her family, Qin went to the police station. Lu Qingrong, not wanting a girl to go alone, drove her there. Upon arriving, she saw many people inside, all busy. Qin felt they worked hard, especially during the New Year when no one should be working.


    Kun smiled and said, "Qin, come quick, follow me inside."


    Qin couldn''t help but ask, "Captain, why don''t you take a break during the New Year?"


    Kun smiled, "We were supposed to take a break, but the human trafficking case was just solved, and there are still many things to do. We''ll hold a press conference later. This isn''t a small matter; we need to give the public an explanation, but we''ll wait until they are sentenced before making it public."


    Qin joked, "Please don''t mention me."


    Kun also joked, "No way, if we say a young girl solved the case, people will criticize us to death. Some believe in these things, but others don''t. If we announce it, it will cause chaos."


    Nowadays, animals aren''t allowed to become spirits, and such fantastical things only happen on TV. In real life, they wouldn''t dare promote these ideas publicly.


    Qin understood these were jokes. However, realistically, such cases couldn''t be exposed to the public in any country. The impact would be too significant. Of course, it wouldn''t be like in novels where the person would be dissected. This was almost impossible. People with such special abilities would likely be protected by the state and serve the nation, provided they weren''t traitors.


    Kun wanted Qin to help with a current ongoing case. The suspect was likely male. Before solving the case, any male could be a suspect. This case was significant, so Kun took it seriously and wouldn''t involve Lu Qingrong.


    Lu Qingrong nodded, understanding, and waited in the front.


    Many policemen looked at Lu Qingrong, not out of interest in him but in curiosity about the young woman with him. This case had been circulating in the police station, and the way it was solved was too easy. They had never solved a case so simply. Usually, tracking down such large-scale human trafficking gangs took months. This time, it was done in a day. They naturally knew something was off.


    As police officers, they understood such situations. Kun couldn''t keep it hidden and told them, warning them not to scare the young girl. A young policeman brought water to Lu Qingrong and asked about Qin''s situation. It was their first encounter with such a gifted person, so it was natural to be curious.


    "Uncle, is the girl following Captain Kun your daughter? Having such a talented daughter is truly a blessing," the young policeman asked curiously.


    Lu Qingrong remained silent, not revealing any information about Qin.


    Following Kun into his office, Kun took out a stack of case files and laid them out in front of Qin, "This is the latest case that occurred over the past few months. All victims are female, and the attacks happen every twenty-fifth of the month..."If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Kun looked slightly embarrassed and glanced at Qin, "Before the attack, each victim was sexually assaulted, and the method was very familiar. They were killed with a single cut to the throat, showing great skill. Unless one is very familiar with human anatomy, no clues were left behind..."


    As Kun explained, Qin understood the case. Qin wasn''t bothered by Kun''s embarrassment. To her, it was just about the case, the victims, and the perpetrator. She didn''t pay attention to other details.


    The case wasn''t fully reported due to its sensitive nature. All incidents occurred in Liangping City, starting with the first case in September. The media only reported one victim being sexually assaulted and murdered, advising citizens to be cautious. The exact location was in Liangping City, but no further details were disclosed. This led to controversy online, with some blaming the victims, suggesting they deserved it for wearing revealing clothes or being out late. Most of these comments came from perverted men, while women opposed these views. Eventually, forum moderators closed these threads to give the deceased some peace.


    In October, November, December, and January, one female victim was sexually assaulted and killed each month on the twenty-fifth. The bodies showed signs of sexual assault and a single cut to the throat, with blood and clothing neatly arranged. The wounds were even stitched, and the bodies were disposed of randomly in secluded areas, making it impossible to trace any leads. Furthermore, the bodies were cleaned, leaving no traces at the crime scene, making it difficult to find the primary crime location.


    Given the victims were all females, attacked on the twenty-fifth of each month, killed with a cut to the throat, and cleaned up, the police concluded this was a serial murder case.


    The killer was very calm, intelligent, and twisted, showing great skill in cleaning up the crime scenes and leaving no traces. Solving such a case indicated extreme intelligence and coldness.


    February 17th was the New Year, and today was the second day of the New Year, February 19th. With only six days left until the next attack, if the pattern continued, another victim would likely occur this month.


    Qin carefully reviewed the case. All victims were young, ranging from sixteen to twenty-six years old, all virgins, and attractive. The records showed they had never dated, were honest, and thus vulnerable to scams. These girls ranged from students to white-collar workers, with no apparent connection.


    Kun said, "Initially, we focused on the twenty-fifth as a clue, thinking it was the killer''s birthday. We checked birthdays on the twenty-fifth, but there were too many, making it impossible to narrow down. The twenty-fifth couldn''t be used as a clue. This case had no leads, making it extremely difficult. For five months, we made no progress. As the twenty-fifth approached, we had no leads. After solving the human trafficking case, I didn''t dare rest and started investigating this case. Finally, I had no choice but to ask you for help."


    Qin nodded, "Honestly, the killer is very skilled. Looking at these case files, there''s no useful information. There are no leads, and the killer''s methods are unique. The bodies were handled specially, with no fingerprints left. By the way, what about the bodies?"


    Kun said, "Honestly, the bodies have been cremated. Initially, we wanted to preserve them for evidence, but the families didn''t want the deceased to be disturbed. We inspected the bodies multiple times, and the autopsy results were consistent. Whether cremated or not, it made no difference."


    Without the bodies, Qin couldn''t help but chuckle. Her Heavenly Eye ability wasn''t fake. The Heavenly Eye was powerful, and with enough cultivation, supernatural abilities were no problem. However, her cultivation wasn''t high enough, limiting the power of her Heavenly Eye.


    Her Heavenly Eye ability was limited. Without the bodies, she couldn''t imagine the connection between the bodies and the killer. There needed to be a link point, like with Zizi Yu''s case. At least his parents'' bodies were still in the world, providing a connection. Using her Heavenly Eye forcefully, she might have seen something.


    Now, without the bodies and with them cremated, the last connection to the world was severed. To put it bluntly, using terms from metaphysics, humans have yin and yang aspects. The body is yang, and the soul is yin, forming a person. When a person dies, the soul usually stays in the world for seven days. Even if the soul is unwilling, it will go to the underworld after seven days, leaving only the body in the world.


    Of course, there were some special cases.


    Some people die with such great resentment that they become earthbound spirits, commonly known as encountering ghosts. Because of the great resentment, they refuse to leave the place of death and thus become earthbound spirits. However, the situation is different now. These deceased died very peacefully, so it''s impossible for them to become earthbound spirits. Moreover, earthbound spirits are only bound to the first crime scene, but the police find the second scenes.


    If the corpse remains in the mortal world, it will be the last trace proving your connection to the world between heaven and earth. But if there is no trace left, you will completely disappear from the world, and nothing will remain. Nothing will remain, not even the ability to see through the heavenly eye.


    The reason Ji Ziyu can see his parents'' situation is simply because their bodies still exist in this world, leaving clues behind.


    But now, even the corpses have been cremated. How can one see anything? The spirits reside in the netherworld, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter the netherworld without permission. If discovered, the punishment is severe. After entering the netherworld, the spirits quickly enter the six paths of reincarnation, leaving no trace even in the netherworld. How can one investigate?


    The scenes on TV where mediums can call back deceased spirits to the mortal world are all fake. Once a spirit enters the netherworld, it is extremely difficult to return to the mortal world.


    However, there are indeed mediums who can go to the netherworld and call back spirits. But Gu Qin does not possess this ability. She is a orthodox practitioner of Taoism. Going to the netherworld with her current cultivation level would be like climbing to the sky, and she might instead be devoured by yin energy.


    Gu Qin can indeed use divination to obtain some information, but it has its limitations. For example, she can calculate the approximate location or other details of the perpetrator, but using it to solve the case is quite difficult. She took out three coins and planned to perform a divination. Finally, she concluded that the perpetrator was a man around thirty years old.


    Gu Qin then calculated whether there would be another murder case this month, which showed yes. When she further divined the victim''s identity, she concluded that it was a student, and the specific location of the murder was in the north.


    Gu Qin found this strange, but she could only tell Huang Kun, "I''m sorry, since there are no corpses left, it is difficult for me to see the perpetrator''s condition. I can only tell you that the perpetrator is likely a man around thirty years old. There will also be a murder case this month, and the specific location is in the north. It''s hard to get more detailed information."


    Huang Kun said, "Actually, there is something odd. During autopsy, none of the victims had any traces of sedatives or drugs in their bodies, yet they died very peacefully without any struggle. This is quite strange. Generally, no matter if someone is asleep or awake, having their throat sl*t would cause a violent reaction because it takes about a minute before one dies, and during that time, they would definitely struggle. But these corpses did not show any signs of struggle."


    "Then the perpetrator''s method was very skilled, and the cuts were made with medical-grade blades. We suspected it might be a doctor or someone who had studied medicine. We investigated in this direction. In Daishan, there were a few doctors who had birthdays on the 25th. After careful investigation, two of them were professors, and during the incident, they both had classes. There were a few younger ones, aged between twenty to forty, but they had alibis, mostly being in surgery or at the hospital. So we ruled them out. Up until now, we haven''t found any useful leads."


    Huang Kun couldn''t help but sigh, "Apart from all the victims being virgins, there are no other clues. Their ages and birthdays vary, and we don''t know what purpose or criteria the perpetrator used to choose the victims."


    Gu Qin was flipping through the victims'' files, laying five sets of data on the table. She included their discovery postures, birth dates, and so on. After looking at them for a while, she suddenly exclaimed, "Something''s off!"


    Huang Kun perked up, "Student Gu, did you find something?"

 must be real

    When he heard that he couldn''t get detailed information about the perpetrator, he felt somewhat disappointed. Although he already knew from Gu Qin''s words that her methods required seeing the person or the body, he still hoped for something more when she started flipping coins.


    But the results were too vague, and without detailed information, they couldn''t identify the perpetrator. Huang Kun thought, in a vast world, the perpetrator wouldn''t have ''perpetrator'' written on their face. Just when they were about to give up, they wondered if Gu Qin needed to see the sixth victim to identify the perpetrator. He didn''t want another victim, but if that was the only way, he had no choice. Now hearing Gu Qin''s doubt, he felt a glimmer of hope.


    Gu Qin didn''t say anything but carefully examined the victims'' birth dates. After calculating, her expression gradually turned serious. She then studied the victims'' photos closely, spending over ten minutes doing so.


    Huang Kun dared not interrupt her, knowing she must have seen something. Did she find the perpetrator?


    After more than ten minutes, Gu Qin said solemnly, "This perpetrator is beyond your reach. They are not an ordinary person, but someone like me, someone skilled in the occult. But unlike me, they use the occult for harm. Have you heard of the Five Arts of Divination? The occult includes many things, not just fortune-telling and feng shui. It also involves medicine and cultivation. Some occult practitioners learn orthodox cultivation, while others use other methods to rapidly increase their cultivation. When I first entered, I only saw the case''s progression. It wasn''t until I looked at these victims'' birth dates that I realized something was off. Though their ages and birth dates differ, I noticed that their birth times were all in the yin hours."


    Huang Kun was stunned. This meant the case was not committed by an ordinary person but by someone with cultivation. Although he didn''t fully understand what cultivation meant, he had a vague idea from TV shows that people with cultivation had abilities akin to immortals.


    He didn''t have time to ask about this now, only focusing on the case. He asked urgently, "Student Gu, is it really someone with cultivation?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "Very likely. Ask me, were the victims killed around noon, around twelve o''clock?"


    The victims were found at the second scene, and the estimated time of death was between ten in the morning and one in the afternoon. If her guess was correct, the victims were killed precisely at noon.


    Huang Kun nodded, "Yes, thinking about it, each victim''s death time seems to be around noon."


    "That''s right. At noon, yin and yang energies alternate, and this is the moment when yin energy is strongest. It''s the most yin time of the day." Gu Qin sat down next to him and carefully reviewed the victims'' photos. Then she picked up a pen and paper and wrote down several hours, handing the paper to Huang Kun. "Call the families of the five victims and ask if they were born during these hours. If they were born during these hours and their birth dates match, their birth dates should be very yin."


    Huang Kun, for the first time dealing with such matters, felt his hair stand on end. He didn''t say much and took the note from Gu Qin, then called the families of the victims based on the names and specific hours.


    Since he had been handling the case, the families knew his number. When he called, they answered immediately. He called the family of the first victim, the daughter of September, whose death had struck the family hard. Over the phone, the family sounded excited, "Captain Huang, is there any progress?"


    Huang Kun replied solemnly, "Sorry, we don''t have any progress yet, but we''ll keep working on it..." Before he could finish, the caller was already crying, "It''s been almost half a year, and there''s still no progress? How do you police handle cases? We cooperated fully, answering all your questions, and now it''s been half a year..."


    Huang Kun sighed internally, "Madam, please don''t worry. Actually, there are some clues. I''m calling to ask if your daughter was born at midnight."


    The caller finally stopped crying, "Captain, why are you asking this? My child was indeed born at that time. She cried loudly when she was born..."


    Thinking of her daughter''s usual gentle demeanor, she began to cry again. She asked if there were any clues. Huang Kun couldn''t reveal anything and told her they had some leads and would continue investigating, then hung up.


    Gu Qin sympathetically glanced at him. Being a policeman was tough; she wondered why so many people online criticized the police, government, and military. Except for the poor, everyone else was criticized.


    Huang Kun called the families of the other four victims, and sure enough, they matched Gu Qin''s calculations. After hanging up, Gu Qin said, "Since everything matches, these birth dates combined with the time of death suggest very yin birth charts. Almost certainly, this case was not committed by an ordinary person. As for why the 25th was chosen, I suspect it might be related to the perpetrator''s personal time concept or chosen randomly. The date may not have any special significance."


    "As for why there were no sedatives or drugs detected in their bodies, the reason is simpler. Someone with cultivation can induce deep unconsciousness without any drugs. Also, look at their faces. They are too calm, and when something is out of the ordinary, there''s always something strange. No matter how you look at it, the faces of other victims would never be like theirs."


    Huang Kun checked, and indeed, there was something wrong. Their expressions were too calm, unlike those of other victims. He felt even more uneasy. He had encountered many murder cases, but this one was different. Even reviewing the case scared him.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Huang Kun was at a loss. If the perpetrator was not an ordinary person, how could they solve the case? Should he tell his superiors that the perpetrator was not an ordinary person? But superiors only cared about solving the case, regardless of whether the perpetrator was ordinary or not.


    Gu Qin stood up and looked at him, "Captain Huang, I''m sorry, I can''t help much. With so many women born in the yin hours in Daishan, it''s unfeasible. I can only guess that it was done by someone with cultivation, possibly for some form of cultivation, but I''m not sure. According to the divination, there will be another case this month..."


    Huang Kun couldn''t help but sigh, "I know. Then... If another case occurs, can you recognize the perpetrator?"


    Gu Qin paused and nodded, "Yes, if something happens, call me immediately. I''ll go to the scene. By the way, tell me the locations where the five victims were found. We should try something, perhaps the sixth victim can be spared."


    Huang Kun said, "Let''s go together."


    Gu Qin nodded, and they left the office. Lu Qingrong was sitting outside drinking tea. Seeing Gu Qin, he stood up, assuming they were going back.


    Gu Qin said, "Uncle Lu, Huang Captain and I have some things to discuss. Why don''t you go home? Your daughter rarely comes back, so you should spend more time with her. Don''t worry about me; I''ll be fine."


    Huang Kun added, "I need to take Gu Student out to investigate the case. Don''t worry, I''ll protect her and take her home later."


    Gu Qin smiled, "I don''t need protection, just don''t protect me."


    Lu Qingrong saw that his niece was capable and that he wouldn''t be of much help. Plus, the case was sensitive and needed confidentiality. Huang Kun probably wanted to avoid him, so he didn''t insist and left after reminding Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin went with Huang Kun to the initial discovery site of the victims. They started with the first victim, found at a recycling station. A sanitation worker found the body early in the morning, thinking the woman was drunk. Upon turning her over, the worker found her stiff and pale, scaring him badly and prompting him to call the police.


    The recycling station was in a remote area, far from the city center, with some greenery around. The nearest residential area was a bit of a walk away.


    Gu Qin opened her third eye and saw nothing unusual, no earthbound spirits either. The soul had long dispersed.


    They checked the other four sites, with similar results. Gu Qin couldn''t help but sigh. Now, she was truly helpless. She couldn''t check every young woman; there were at least a million unmarried women in Liangping City, making it impossible. Besides, her current cultivation level couldn''t handle frequent use of her third eye.


    Back at the police station, it was noon. Huang Kun invited Gu Qin to eat, along with a young officer who had a girlfriend trouble last New Year. The young officer was following Huang Kun''s lead.


    During the meal, they didn''t discuss the case, but the atmosphere was low. After eating, Huang Kun sent Gu Qin home and returned to the station to work on the case. The human trafficking case was almost wrapped up, waiting for the children to be rescued before releasing a press statement. Due to the serial r*p* and murder case, all colleagues had to work overtime. The higher-ups valued the case, and if another case occurred, it might not be kept secret. Already, some posts on forums had been noticed, but they were deleted quickly. If another case happened, the public would surely notice.


    The young officer named Shi Shaojun brought Huang Kun tea, noticing the case files on his desk. He asked, "Captain, can even Gu Student not solve this case?"


    Huang Kun nodded and shook his head, "Not exactly. This girl identified something unique about the case. The case is peculiar. Without seeing the bodies, we can''t identify the perpetrator. But she predicted a sixth case this month in northern Liangping City. We need more clues unless the sixth victim appears, then she might know who the perpetrator is."


    Shi Shaojun said, "Captain, does that mean we need another victim to solve it? Is there no other way?"


    "There is no other way," Huang Kun sighed. "If there were, she wouldn''t have given up. And she said the perpetrator is someone with cultivation."


    Shi Shaojun was stunned. He was young and read novels often, knowing that cultivation meant supernatural abilities. Was this possible in real life?


    Shi Shaojun asked, "Captain, what should we do now? Report to superiors?"


    Huang Kun shook his head, "No, reporting won''t help. We''d just get scolded. Superiors don''t care if the perpetrator is ordinary or not. We have to investigate regardless."


    Of course, they had to continue investigating even if the perpetrator was a celestial being.


    But they had no evidence. How could they investigate without evidence?


    The police were troubled, and so was Gu Qin. This feeling of helplessness was not pleasant. Knowing innocent lives would be lost soon but being unable to do anything was frustrating. Her cultivation was limited, and her third eye was simple.


    Back at Cheng''s house, Gu Qin was in a bad mood. Sitting on the sofa, everyone was there. Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang were playing on their phones, while Gu Jia was busy studying in her room. The TV was on quietly, not to disturb her.


    Soon, Cheng Chuchu''s phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and laughed, then answered. Her phone was slightly broken, and the sound was loud. A young girl''s voice came through, "Chuchu, check the Liangping City forum. There''s a post saying there''s a serial killer case. Five victims in five months! Scary stuff. The poster says the post will be deleted soon, so hurry and check it."


    Cheng Chuchu''s eyes sparkled, "Okay, I''ll check it out first."


    This girl was likely Cheng Chuchu''s friend. After hanging up, Cheng Chuchu logged into the local forum and found the post mentioned by her friend. It was prominent, with many replies, so it was easy to find. The title was "Be Careful, Ladies, Serial Killer Case in Liangping City¡ªFive Victims."


    Young people loved such posts, especially those about local incidents. It sparked discussion.


    Clicking into the post, it described a series of murders starting in September in Liangping City. All victims were female virgins, sexually assaulted, sl*t throats, and disposed of with meticulous care. Each murder happened on the 25th of the month, with the bodies found the next day. Cheng Chuchu was shocked by the terrifying details and the numerous replies, some claiming to be relatives of the victims, confirming the truth.


    Saying that he was a relative of a police officer, this case was a major one for the bureau. The bureau didn''t take a holiday even during the New Year, all because of this case. And it was said that there would be a special broadcast reporting a major solved case soon, finally bringing some positive energy.


    There were several informants, so the matter should be true. Seeing his sister''s pale face, Cheng Yueguang couldn''t help but say, "If you''re scared, just don''t watch. It''s okay to look at it, but don''t take it too seriously."


    Cheng Chuchu shook her head and passed the post to her brother and Gu Qin, saying, "You guys take a look. I feel this post is true. There really was a female r*p*-murder case in September, and she was indeed killed on the 25th."


    Gu Qin didn''t need to look to know it was true; she had just come from the police station, and the police definitely didn''t want the case to spread. She remained silent for a moment before glancing at Cheng Chuchu, feeling relieved when she saw nothing wrong with her.


    The victim of this case wasn''t born on an extremely yin day, only an ordinary yin hour. An extremely yin birth occurs on an extremely yin year, month, day, and hour. Such women generally have poor health and are prone to encountering evil spirits. If someone truly wanted to use yin energy to supplement yang energy, then a woman born on such an extremely yin day would be the best choice.


    Gu Qin couldn''t calm down at this moment and went back to her room to divinate and think of other methods. Her master had taught her orthodox Taoism and sorcery, but not any heterodox methods. Otherwise, if she knew some, she might have found a way to identify the killer.


    Outside, Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang were already discussing whether the case was real. Unexpectedly, within a few minutes, the post had been deleted. Chuchu said, "See? It must have been removed by someone from the relevant department. This thing must be real; otherwise, why delete it? Isn''t that like trying to cover up the truth?"


    Cheng Yueguang actually also suspected the case was true, but he was afraid his sister would be scared, so he tried to comfort her. Finally, seeing she didn''t believe him, he couldn''t help but say, "Then be careful. Don''t go out for a few days."


    Cheng Chuchu sighed, "But I promised to go play with Xiang Jinyu tomorrow. What should I do?"


    Cheng Yueguang knew that Xiang Jinyu was the girl who had called his sister earlier, so he said, "I''ll take you there tomorrow. Anyway, it''s only the 21st today, not the 25th yet. Be careful, I''ll take you."


    Just as they were talking, Cheng Chuchu''s phone rang¡ªit was Xiang Jinyu calling, "Chuchu, did you see the post? It''s so scary. What if the police don''t catch the person, will Liangping City be dangerous in the future? Will we ever let girls go out alone again?"


    Cheng Chuchu smiled, "Don''t worry, it will definitely be solved. You know, these serial murder cases always get attention from higher-ups. Don''t worry, maybe it''ll be solved in a couple of days."


    Xiang Jinyu had a similar personality to Cheng Chuchu. They chatted for a while, and their mood improved. Neither of them took the matter too seriously since it hadn''t happened to them.

 expedite

    Xiang Jinyu and Cheng Chuchu chatted for quite a while before she said, "Chuchu, the high school class reunion is coming up. They didn''t have your number, so they asked me to call and ask if you''re going. But they heard that Shao Rui has returned from abroad. If you don''t want to go, you don''t have to. I can stay home with you."


    Cheng Chuchu was taken aback, then laughed, "Why not go? So what if he''s there? After all, he''s the one who was in the wrong first."


    Shao Rui could be considered Cheng Chuchu''s ex-boyfriend. At the time, they were both in high school. He confessed to her when they were seniors, and she had dated him for two months. However, she discovered that he was still seeing another girl named Ruan Ting, who was her close friend and roommate.


    It was a clich¨¦ story: Ruan Ting was her good friend and shared many secrets with her. Cheng Chuchu had genuinely liked Shao Rui and told her friends about their relationship, but she never expected her friend to steal her boyfriend. One day, she caught them kissing in a small forest behind the school.


    Cheng Chuchu was not one to take things lying down. She confronted them immediately. Shao Rui was somewhat flustered and apologized, claiming he didn''t know what happened and that he liked Cheng Chuchu. Ruan Ting laughed and said, "Chuchu, you were always talking about how great he was. I couldn''t resist him. Don''t blame him; men are like that. You two only held hands and went shopping. He''s just a normal man, isn''t he?"


    Cheng Chuchu was furious. She slapped both of them and told Ruan Ting, "Take him if you want. I don''t care. Just be careful, he might cheat on you!" She left without looking back.


    Shao Rui continued to apologize every day, even after he left for overseas. He wrote to Cheng Chuchu, asking for forgiveness and promising to return someday...


    Now, three years later, Cheng Chuchu had long forgotten about him. She was now a junior in college, and Shao Rui''s return was unexpected.


    Cheng Yueguang sighed when he heard her say she would go. "I just told you it''s dangerous outside. Why would you still go out?"


    Cheng Chuchu smiled, "It''s a high school class reunion, and I''m going with Jinyu."


    "Alright, I''ll take you," Cheng Yueguang insisted.


    Cheng Chuchu asked Gu Qin if she wanted to go, but Gu Qin was hesitant. Cheng Chuchu persuaded her, "You''ll be bored at home anyway. Grandpa and Grandma are visiting relatives, Uncle Lu and Auntie are going out, and my cousin is studying. You''ll be the only one at home. Come with me; it''s fine to bring a guest."


    Finally, she dragged Gu Qin along, thinking there was no better way to pass the time.


    Cheng Yueguang took them there. He didn''t want to join the reunion and claimed he was meeting some classmates. He dropped them off at the venue and left.


    Although most shops were closed for the holiday, entertainment venues were still open. They went to a large entertainment complex in Liangping City, which had hotels, restaurants, KTVs, supermarkets, and cinemas. As they entered, Cheng Chuchu''s phone rang¡ªit was Xiang Jinyu telling her to meet them upstairs in the restaurant for dinner before going to the KTV or bar.


    Cheng Chuchu led Gu Qin upstairs to the second floor. Many of their high school classmates were there, about ten or so, in a room called Plum Garden. When they entered, they saw Xiang Jinyu and Shao Rui. Xiang Jinyu was her good friend, and Shao Rui was the standout among them. Three years had passed, and he looked even more handsome and tall.


    Ruan Ting was also there. Cheng Chuchu felt a bit nauseous seeing them together. She waved at Xiang Jinyu and went over. Xiang Jinyu was a delicate girl with black hair, waving Cheng Chuchu over. "Chuchu, come sit here."


    Cheng Chuchu turned to introduce Gu Qin to her friend, but Gu Qin was staring at Ruan Ting. Cheng Chuchu asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Gu Qin took a deep breath and turned to Cheng Chuchu. "Nothing, let''s go sit down." She noticed something odd when they entered. Ruan Ting, seated directly opposite the entrance, had a dark aura around her forehead, very dense. Opening her third eye, she saw that Ruan Ting had not only a bad omen but also a heavy death aura, indicating impending death.


    She wanted to continue observing but was interrupted by Cheng Chuchu. Ruan Ting had been sitting with Shao Rui, and Cheng Chuchu introduced everyone, including Gu Qin. "This is my cousin. She came to spend the New Year with us and thought it would be fun to join us."


    Gu Qin smiled and greeted everyone. They found her appearance and demeanor likable, and they welcomed her warmly.


    When everyone was seated, the server brought food. The girls drank beverages while the boys drank liquor. They were just starting to eat when Gu Qin decided to stop staring at Ruan Ting. She planned to check on her later.


    Gu Qin ate without being picky, enjoying the decent food. After eating half full, Cheng Chuchu poured her a drink. Gu Qin felt someone watching them and looked up to see a handsome man across the table staring at Cheng Chuchu.


    Xiang Jinyu whispered in her ear about the history between Cheng Chuchu and the man. Gu Qin understood and realized the man was still fixated on Cheng Chuchu. Such a man was not worth it¡ªmany teenagers experienced bodily changes during adolescence but didn''t act in such a despicable manner.


    Ruan Ting had been waiting for Shao Rui for years. She sat next to him at the reunion, despite his cold demeanor. Seeing him only looking at Cheng Chuchu, she felt hurt and leaned in to whisper, "Shao Rui, won''t you look at me? I really like you. Can''t you consider me at all?"


    She had only kissed him in the past, nothing more. She truly loved him and had never forgotten him. She hadn''t dated anyone else in those years, and she had even gone to see him off when he left for overseas. Despite countless attempts to contact him, he had always been indifferent. Now, seeing him so focused on Cheng Chuchu, she felt heartache and resentment.


    Shao Rui looked at her, "Ruan Ting, I apologize for what happened back then. We''re not kids anymore. My mistake was mine. I was bewitched back then, but I''ve always only had eyes for Chuchu. Please stop wasting your efforts; I won''t like you."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Ruan Ting felt deeply hurt and couldn''t hold back her tears. "Excuse me, I need to step out for a moment. I''ll be right back."


    Gu Qin didn''t want to waste her abilities on trivial matters. She asked Xiang Jinyu, "What''s the relationship between this girl and him?"


    Xiang Jinyu explained honestly. Gu Qin understood but still wanted to see what would happen to Ruan Ting. With such a heavy death aura, she might die soon. As a feng shui master, she usually helped people unless they were wicked. Besides, this was close to the 25th, and she wondered if Ruan Ting was connected to the case.


    Actually, regardless of gender, she could tell if someone was still a virgin through her third eye. A person with intact virtue would emit a different kind of vitality. Thus, she was certain Ruan Ting wasn''t promiscuous. What if Ruan Ting became the sixth victim?


    Gu Qin stood up and said, "I''ll excuse myself for a moment. I need to use the restroom."


    Cheng Chuchu offered to go with her, but Gu Qin smiled, "No need, do you think I''ll get lost?"


    In the restroom, Gu Qin heard sobs from an adjacent stall¡ªit was Ruan Ting. Gu Qin listened to her crying but felt no sympathy. Knowing the man was her friend''s ex-boyfriend, why did she have to snatch him away? No matter what she said about being swept away by feelings, she didn''t believe in such excuses. Any emotion must be based on morality. Snatching a friend''s boyfriend was immoral, so there were no excuses. She felt contempt for Ruan Ting but still wanted to see what would happen to her.


    After ten minutes, Ruan Ting emerged. Seeing Gu Qin standing by the sink, she paused, recognizing her as Cheng Chuchu''s cousin. She nodded slightly and began washing her hands and fixing her appearance.


    Gu Qin observed her in the mirror, opening her third eye. Finally, she understood what was happening and felt her expression darken.


    Through her third eye, Gu Qin saw Ruan Ting being taken to a villa where she was sexually assaulted. Ruan Ting appeared to be a willing participant, but her expression was confused, as if she had been bewitched. She saw Ruan Ting being washed clean and placed in a bathtub, her throat sl*t, and blood flowing. Even unconscious, she gradually turned pale, lifeless. The attacker collected some of her blood in a small black bottle, stitched her wounds, cleaned her, dressed her, and placed her in the car''s trunk.


    Gu Qin finally withdrew her third eye, her expression grim. She was now certain the attacker was an evil cultivator. In the vision, the attacker appeared clearly¡ªa young man of average height, wearing glasses, with a somewhat gloomy demeanor.


    Gu Qin had never seen this person before, but she was glad to have a lead. The sixth victim likely wouldn''t appear now. She wasn''t entirely sure, though, as she didn''t know the attacker''s cultivation level. Ordinary police probably couldn''t handle it, so she might need to intervene herself.


    The vision indicated the attack would occur on the 25th, leaving only a few days. She needed to warn Huang Kun and investigate the man''s identity before taking action.


    Ruan Ting seemed to notice Gu Qin staring at her and asked, "Why are you always looking at me?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "Nothing, stop crying and go back."


    Ruan Ting mistook her concern and cried again, "I''m sorry. You''re Chuchu''s cousin, right? I''m really sorry. I didn''t mean to... I just..."


    Before she could finish, Gu Qin interrupted her, "You don''t need to explain. You made a mistake, and any excuses are invalid. Any emotion must be based on ethics and morals. Taking a friend''s boyfriend is immoral. Stop making excuses. It''s wrong. Alright, I won''t say more. I''ll go back now. Oh, and be careful these days. Have you heard about the serial killer cases in Liangping City? Be careful, don''t go out alone at night, and don''t be deceived by men."


    Gu Qin knew people didn''t believe much in fortune-telling, so she didn''t mention blood omens directly. Instead, she gave subtle hints.


    Ruan Ting clearly didn''t like hearing this and her face turned white. She watched Gu Qin leave the restroom, stood for a while, then angrily followed her out.


    Gu Qin returned to the table and quietly asked Cheng Chuchu about Ruan Ting''s address and birthday.


    Cheng Chuchu was curious, "Cousin, why are you asking this?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Just tell me first, and I''ll explain later."


    Cheng Chuchu remembered Ruan Ting''s birthday. They had known each other since childhood and often celebrated together. Chuchu provided Ruan Ting''s address and birthday.


    Gu Qin calculated the date and asked, "Was she born at noon exactly?"


    Cheng Chuchu nodded, "Yes, she mentioned it. Her mother said it was a rare occurrence to give birth at exactly twelve o''clock. She remembered it clearly and mentioned it several times."


    Such a combination of extremely yin elements meant Ruan Ting likely had poor health. Gu Qin asked, "Did she have health issues since childhood?" Given her birth date, it was no wonder she was frail. She noticed Ruan Ting was thin and looked unwell, suggesting she had chronic sleep issues.


    This world has many yin people, both male and female, old and young. They live like ordinary people in their daily lives, only appearing when needed.


    The others were stunned for a moment; Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang knew that Gu Xin had some abilities, but Xiang Jingyu did not know this and was curious to ask, but seeing Gu Xin''s expression, she realized the matter was important and now was not the time for idle chatter.


    Gu Xin continued, "I used my divination skills and found out that Ruan Ting will be the sixth victim. This case is not simple; the murderer is not an ordinary person but someone with cultivation. He chooses girls whose birth dates have the strongest yin energy, and Ruan Ting''s yin energy is the strongest among them. Furthermore, he needs her to be a virgin. So, Ruan Ting is likely being targeted by the murderer right now."


    Everyone was completely dumbfounded; they never imagined the murder case was so complicated. Cheng Chuchu stammered, "S-so you''re saying all of this is true?"


    Gu Xin nodded, "If we don''t find him before he kills again, Ruan Ting will become the sixth victim. Chuchu, do you want to save her?"


    Cheng Chuchu had no hesitation and quickly nodded, "Although I dislike her now, honestly, if it weren''t for her, I wouldn¡¯t have known what kind of person Shao Rui is. In fact, these past few years, I haven''t blamed her anymore, and I don''t want her to be a victim. Sister, how can we help her? Should we find the murderer together?"


    Gu Xin couldn''t help but smile, "I just want you to bring her here so I can see exactly what¡¯s going on."


    Cheng Chuchu hesitated, "Sister, can you really predict someone''s past and future?" This ability seemed too terrifying.


    Gu Xin said, "It''s just a form of divination." She didn''t explain further.


    Cheng Chuchu didn''t press any further, "Sister, what do you need us to do?"


    Gu Xin looked outside; it was almost midnight. She said, "I need you to invite Ruan Ting over and find a shop selling incense, candles, and paper offerings. I need to buy some things. It¡¯s the third day of the month, so I¡¯m not sure if the shops will be open."


    Xiang Jingyu suddenly said, "I know a place that''s usually open twenty-four hours. There¡¯s an old lady who runs the shop. I think she¡¯ll be open during the New Year."


    Gu Xin naturally saw the excitement in the young people, but now was just about preparation, and having their help would expedite matters. She immediately said, "Then let¡¯s go buy the items now."


    "What about Ruan Ting?" Cheng Chuchu was still worried, not out of concern for her friend, but because she felt responsible for another stranger becoming the sixth victim.


    Gu Xin thought for a moment, "It would be best if we could call her now and have her come over. We won¡¯t go to the Cheng family house tonight; it¡¯s already past midnight, and returning would disturb Grandpa and Grandma. Let¡¯s buy the items first, then call Ruan Ting and arrange to meet at a nearby hotel. We probably won¡¯t be going back home tonight."


    Tonight would definitely be busy until morning. The Cheng couple had light sleepers, so working from home wasn¡¯t an option. They¡¯d need to book a room at a nearby hotel.


    Gu Xin sent a text to Gu Jia, informing him she wouldn¡¯t be returning home tonight and would be staying out with Cheng Chuchu and the others.


    Gu Jia had no objections to his sister¡¯s activities, believing she could handle any situation. He had seen her discipline others and knew she had feng shui skills and other abilities, making her hard to hurt. Therefore, he wasn¡¯t overly concerned about her being out late.


    Gu Jia informed Cheng Yinxiang, who was still worried and wanted to call Gu Xin. Gu Jia whispered, "Gu Xin doesn¡¯t call because she doesn¡¯t want to wake Grandpa and Grandma. Mom, don¡¯t call either. Go to sleep. Gu Xin knows her limits."

 The Cold Palace Rebirth

    Cheng Yinxiang felt reassured and went to bed.


    Xiang Jingyu gave directions, and Cheng Yueguang drove towards the shop. On the way, Gu Xin asked Cheng Chuchu to call Ruan Ting. Xiang Jingyu spoke up, "Chuchu, let me call her instead. She must be in a bad mood after talking to Shao Rui. I saw her crying after he walked away. She must have confessed something to him, and he rejected her. Shao Rui has been asking us for your contact details for years, and despite our reluctance, he truly cares for you. Without her, she might hate you now."


    Cheng Chuchu snorted, "Such a man, I wonder what she ever saw in him. Even if he were given to me, I wouldn¡¯t want him."


    Xiang Jingyu added, "So, she probably won¡¯t answer your call. I¡¯ll try calling her and see if we can meet at the Oriental Hotel."


    There were no objections, so Xiang Jingyu called Ruan Ting twice before she answered, sounding exhausted, "Jingyu, is there something wrong?"


    Xiang Jingyu was nervous and stuttered, "Ruan Ting, are you free? I need to talk to you about something important. Can you come to the Oriental Hotel?"


    "Can''t we discuss this over the phone?" Ruan Ting replied listlessly.


    "No, it''s very important and can''t be explained over the phone. Please come to the Oriental Hotel. If that''s not possible, I can come to your place," Xiang Jingyu insisted.


    "I''ll come. It should take about forty minutes," Ruan Ting agreed.


    "Alright, we''ll wait for you. I''ll send you the room number via text," Xiang Jingyu replied and hung up.


    Cheng Yueguang called the Oriental Hotel and booked a room, then drove towards the incense shop. They soon arrived at a narrow alley. Xiang Jingyu said urgently, "It''s in here. We''ll see it soon."


    The car turned into the alley, heading deeper. The alley was dimly lit with old-style street lamps. It housed old-fashioned tailor shops, incense shops, funeral parlors, small internet cafes, and convenience stores, all closed except one shop emitting a faint glow.


    Xiang Jingyu pointed and said in a trembling voice, "That¡¯s the place. Once, a friend told me she lived here, and I visited her at night and discovered this incense shop. An old woman sat at the entrance, and I was startled."


    As they approached the shop, they didn''t notice the old woman sitting by the door. Only when they turned around did they see her, which startled Xiang Jingyu.


    Inside the incense shop, an old woman sat on a rocking chair, gently swaying. The shop''s lighting was dim, and the others didn''t notice her at first. Cheng Chuchu murmured, "Where are the people?"


    Gu Xin tugged her sleeve, gesturing her to look ahead. Cheng Chuchu noticed and involuntarily shuddered. She had seen the old woman earlier but hadn¡¯t noticed her. Seeing the guests, the old woman stood and slowly walked over, "What can I get for you, dear guests?" Her voice was raspy and low, sending chills down their spines in the dark.


    Gu Xin felt something was amiss and used her divine eye to see what was happening. She realized the old woman wasn¡¯t human; rather, she was a yin person, someone who could traverse the underworld. Such individuals had no qi but only yin energy, and they lacked cultivation. Simply put, she was a guide for the dead to the underworld.


    There were many yin people in the world, both male and female, young and old. They led ordinary lives but appeared when needed.


    The world is full of strange and extraordinary people, but most of them are ordinary people who just don''t know it. There are also the yellow immortals and snake immortals in the north; they are all real, but there aren''t many of these people either.


    Gu Qin knew that her identity wouldn''t cause her to say anything rash. She said, "Grandma, I need talisman paper, cinnabar, brushes, and ink."


    The old woman slowly wandered inside and soon brought back what Gu Qin needed. Gu Qin paid and they left. Chu Chu was still trembling with fear after getting into the car. "It''s so scary. The old woman gave me such a strange feeling."


    Gu Qin didn''t tell them about it. Yin people have no cultivation and can only move in the netherworld without harming anyone. There''s no need for them to know; knowing would only make them worry.


    Soon, Chu Chu became curious about what Gu Qin was going to use those things for. Gu Qin replied, "For drawing talismans."


    They all looked at each other, already quite shaken by today''s events. Cheng Yueguang drove quickly to Dongfang Hotel. They parked the car in the parking lot and went to room 2021.


    The others were waiting for Ruan Ting, who hadn''t arrived by one o''clock. Xiang Jingyu couldn''t help but call her. Ruan Ting sounded normal but said she had been delayed by something on the way and would be there soon.


    Gu Qin didn''t have time to attend to anything else. She prepared the cinnabar ink in the hotel and started drawing talismans. Drawing talismans requires concentration, so the three of them didn''t dare to disturb her. They watched as Gu Qin drew swiftly, almost completing each stroke in one go. When the talisman was finished, they seemed to see a golden light flash across it, though it might have been an illusion.


    Gu Qin first drew several disaster-warding talismans for the three of them. "Just keep these in your pockets. They can ward off disasters."


    In addition, Gu Qin drew spirit-summoning talismans, yin-summoning talismans, attack spells, and various protective talismans. By nearly two o''clock, Ruan Ting finally arrived. Seeing four people in the room, she was taken aback and asked, "What are you guys doing?"Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Xiang Jingyu didn''t know how to explain it and could only pull her in and sit down. "Come over and sit down. We have something to talk to you about."


    Gu Qin opened her third eye when Ruan Ting entered and saw Ruan Ting walking down a neon-lit street, crying and disoriented. She then saw Ruan Ting approach a man lying on the ground in a green belt.


    Ruan Ting thought for a moment and couldn''t resist checking on him. "Sir, are you alright?"


    The man groaned in pain, his face showing discomfort. He had delicate features, wore glasses with gold frames, and was dressed neatly in casual attire, with a wool sweater underneath and a coat on top.


    Ruan Ting asked again, "Sir, what happened?"


    The man seemed to regain consciousness, still in pain. "I''m having an episode. Can you help me get to a nearby hotel?"


    Ruan Ting looked around. "There are no hotels nearby. What should I do? Should I take you to the hospital?"


    The man replied, "No, it''s an old problem. If there''s no hotel, just leave me alone. I''ll recover after resting for a night."


    Ruan Ting wasn''t usually someone who would easily show compassion, but somehow she softened. "I happen to live nearby. Why don''t you stay at my place for the night? But I have some things to do later, so I''ll have to leave after taking you there."


    The man nodded, his face pale. "You''re a kind person. Thank you. I''ll leave early tomorrow morning."


    Ruan Ting helped the man to her home. Her family was well-off, and her parents had bought her a house. She lived alone, visiting her parents once a week. After helping the man to the guest room, she repeatedly asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, but seeing his insistence, she hurriedly went back to the hotel.


    Gu Qin closed her third eye, her expression serious. This had already lasted twenty minutes. Xiang Jingyu and the others thought Gu Qin was using her abilities to look at Ruan Ting''s fate, so they helped delay the conversation. Ruan Ting became increasingly impatient. "What exactly did you want to talk to me about?"


    Gu Qin suddenly said, "Nothing important. I just wanted to advise you that Shao Rui doesn''t have feelings for you. Why bother clinging to him? He''s always liked my cousin."


    Ruan Ting was furious and stood up abruptly. "What do you mean? You called me here to humiliate me!"


    Cheng Chuchu sneered. "We''re trying to advise you. That man isn''t worth it. A good man wouldn''t do what he did. I suggest you give up on him."


    Ruan Ting was furious and left the room.


    Gu Qin sighed, realizing this situation was more complicated than expected.


    Cheng Chuchu quickly asked, "Cousin, how did it go?"


    Gu Qin replied, "She brought the murderer home last night."


    They were all stunned. Xiang Jingyu worriedly asked, "What do we do now? Is Tingting in danger?"


    Gu Qin reassured them. "Don''t worry. As long as we don''t alert him, nothing will happen. Ruan Ting isn''t a soft-hearted person, so bringing a stranger home is unusual. She must be under his spell. It takes a few days to fully influence someone, so she''ll be fine for the next couple of days. This person always strikes on the 25th, so this case will be resolved. You don''t need to worry anymore. I''ll discuss with the police what to do next. Remember not to mention this outside, understood?"


    They all nodded. They wouldn''t mention it outside anyway.


    Cheng Yueguang booked another room and slept in the neighboring room, while Cheng Chuchu and Xiang Jingyu stayed in this room.


    Gu Qin continued to work. She had used a lot of her energy and didn''t know the man''s cultivation level. She couldn''t confront him directly at Ruan Ting''s place. She had to wait until tomorrow to discuss with Huang Kun and figure out the man''s identity. Regardless of whether he was a cultivator or not, he needed a regular human identity.


    If the man''s cultivation level was higher than hers, revealing herself would immediately expose her as a cultivator. Even though she had Liulang, she couldn''t rely on it entirely. Her energy hadn''t recovered yet, so she had to make temporary plans.


    The next morning, Gu Qin let Cheng Chuchu and the others return home. She warned them not to contact Ruan Ting for now, even if Ruan Ting reached out first. Just anger her away and avoid meeting her face-to-face. They didn''t need to worry about this matter for now.


    After Cheng Chuchu and the others left, Gu Qin went straight to the police station. The officers hadn''t slept all night, their eyes bloodshot. Huang Kun perked up when he saw Gu Qin. "Student Gu, did you find any clues?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Didn''t you send someone to follow Ruan Ting? Did you notice her bringing a man home?"


    Huang Kun and the officers looked at each other. "Last night, we sent someone to guard Ruan Ting''s house. She lives separately from her parents in Ming''an Neighborhood, in an apartment on the eighth floor. They watched all night, but she didn''t return until three in the morning..."


    Three in the morning was when they left Dongfang Hotel. Clearly, they didn''t see the man. Gu Qin explained, "Around one in the morning, Ruan Ting brought a man home. He''s the murderer. He''s staying at Ruan Ting''s place. She picked him up on the street. He claimed he''d leave early the next morning, but I don''t know if he did. He''s very cautious. He must have used some concealment technique when they returned. Check the surveillance footage from last night. Ruan Ting found him on Xiangfeng Road. Without a doubt, the footage will be blank."


    Huang Kun quickly ordered the surveillance to be checked. Sure enough, the footage from that period was missing. Huang Kun cursed under his breath and told Gu Qin, "Previously, we couldn''t find any evidence from the surveillance for all five victims. From work to home, nothing was found. It seems this murderer visited each victim''s home. Student Gu, we know where the murderer is now. Should we act?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Not yet. You definitely can''t handle him. I didn''t sleep well last night and haven''t recovered. It''s not the right time to act. Also, you need evidence to arrest him. My word won''t count as evidence. This murderer collects the victims'' blood after each crime. You must find the murderer''s whereabouts and identity, and search his house for the victims'' blood to get the evidence. Of course, charging him is just a formality. If we can kill him, it would be best."


    Evidence is needed to appease the public. Otherwise, there would be endless online discussions about how the police kill without evidence, and the online mob would easily incite public opinion.


    Huang Kun understood Gu Qin''s point. "Student Gu, rest assured. We''ve been searching all night. If he has an identity, we''ll find it. A colleague has already gone to the identity verification department. We should know the results by noon."


    Gu Qin replied, "Alright. Notify me when you have the results. I''ll go back to rest now."


    When Gu Qin returned, Mother Cheng had just finished breakfast. "Qin Qin, did you go for a morning run? If you''re tired, you can reduce it to half an hour a day. You''re still growing, so you shouldn''t exert too much." Mother Cheng assumed Gu Qin had gone running.


    Those who knew the truth didn''t reveal it. Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang weren''t around, both sleeping at home. Gu Qin rested in her room.


    Since Ruan Ting returned home last night, she had been furious. When she heard noise, the man came out of the guest room and saw Ruan Ting crying in the living room. He sat beside her and asked softly, "What''s wrong?"


    His voice was gentle, his gaze tender. Ruan Ting, for some reason, recounted everything. "They bullied me too much. I didn''t mean to steal her boyfriend. Why treat me like this? They called me here to humiliate me. I just confessed last night. If he doesn''t like me, why can''t he just let me have him? Why embarrass me like that? It''s too much."


    The man didn''t sense anything odd. Since he chose Ruan Ting, he naturally learned about her situation. Girls fighting over boys was common, and he comforted her gently, "You''re wonderful, better than any girl. Don''t be sad. That man doesn''t deserve you. You deserve someone better."


    Seeing Ruan Ting''s red eyes, he smiled. "Sorry, maybe I scared you. But from the first moment, I felt drawn to you. Stop crying. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a new day. Maybe in a couple of days, you''ll forget him and find someone better."


    Ruan Ting felt dizzy, her heart less troubled. She slept well, even dreaming peacefully, which never happened before.


    The next morning, Ruan Ting saw a table filled with breakfast: fragrant millet porridge, tender fried eggs, warm milk, and light side dishes. Next to the table was a note from the man, "I made this without knowing what you like. I''ve left. Thank you for letting me stay."


    Ruan Ting, aside from her father, had never had breakfast made for her by a man. She stood there, dazed, looking for him downstairs but finding no trace. She felt disappointed.


    At nearly two in the afternoon, Huang Kun called Gu Qin, sounding urgent. "Student Gu, we''ve identified the murderer. Do you want to come over?"


    Gu Qin naturally agreed. She went to the police station and to Huang Kun''s office. Huang Kun showed her the information they had gathered. "We identified the murderer based on his facial features. We quickly narrowed it down to one person: Song Langtian, a medical teacher at the university. He studied medicine and lost his parents when he was young. He was adopted for a few years, but those records are missing. When he reappeared, he was fifteen and in high school. His grades were excellent, and he later attended a prestigious medical university. After graduation, he didn''t work in a hospital but became a teacher instead. He has little clinical experience but great knowledge. At twenty-five, he dated a girlfriend, and at twenty-nine, she left him... When the five victims were killed, there was no evidence of him being at the university. Those days, he took time off. His girlfriend''s birthday is on the 25th, and she currently lives abroad and hasn''t returned this year. Everyone says he''s a good person, works nine to five, and goes home every night."


    Huang Kun, having barely slept for days, was still energized. "We found his address, Student Gu. What should we do? Should we search his house tonight?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "Not yet. It''s better to act at night. It''s already three in the afternoon. I need to prepare several things, and a few hours won''t be enough. We''ll act tomorrow night. It''s the 23rd, so we have one day. He won''t act prematurely as long as we don''t expose him. We must confront him eventually, but let everyone rest first. I need to prepare."

 The Emperors Deception

    Gu Qin added, "He''s cautious. Sending more people to watch Ruan Ting won''t help. Everyone says he works from nine to five, so he won''t visit her during the day. No matter how he tries to hide, someone will see him. He can only manipulate some surveillance equipment, not become invisible. So, he''ll only approach Ruan Ting at night when it''s easier to hide. He must get close to her to influence her mind. Therefore, I deduce he visits Ruan Ting every night before dawn, then leaves before it gets light. We can only act at night."


    Huang Kun nodded and asked, "What do you think we should do, Student Gu?"


    Gu Qin replied, "So, we''ll act tomorrow night. We don''t need too many people. Around midnight, send a plainclothes female officer to knock on the door. He''ll only appear at night, so he won''t answer the door. Once Ruan Ting opens it, pull her out, and the rest is up to you. If you can''t help much, just search Song Langtian''s house for the victims'' blood."


    Huang Kun trusted Gu Qin completely. He immediately called back the people watching Ruan Ting and instructed everyone to rest properly and report back at seven the next morning.


    After leaving, Gu Qin bought some soybeans, took them home, and used talismans to nurture them. She concealed her energy and left Liulang at home. She then went to Song Langtian''s neighborhood to observe, but the high population flow made it unsuitable for setting up a formation, as it could harm innocent people. Gu Qin gave up on setting up a formation near the neighborhood.


    She returned home, rested, and retrieved Liulang from under the bed. Liulang buzzed slightly, seemingly displeased. Gu Qin stroked it and said, "I''m going out on business, so I can''t bring you. But you''ll need to help tomorrow night. Be good."


    As long as the man hadn''t reached the stage of refining qi and transforming spirit, her preparations and Liulang would give her a chance. She believed the man probably wasn''t highly cultivated. The woman she encountered earlier was older and had only reached the middle stage of refining essence into qi.


    Whether it was orthodox cultivation or demonic practice, both were difficult.


    After dinner, Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang secretly slipped into Gu Qin''s room. Cheng Chuchu whispered, "Cousin, how''s your preparation going? Do you need any help?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No, you don''t need to help. Let the police handle it. Just stay at home and relax. Understand?"


    Both nodded. They weren''t reckless and wouldn''t interfere without Gu Qin''s permission.


    They chatted for a while before Gu Qin went to sleep.


    The next day, Gu Qin continued to rest and only went to the police station at seven in the evening. Huang Kun gathered his team of about fifteen officers, all of whom were involved in the investigation and knew Gu Qin''s abilities. Only Shi Shaojun knew Song Langtian was different from a typical criminal. Huang Kun didn''t inform the others, as it might cause fear and hesitation.


    Huang Kun originally didn''t plan to let Shi Shaojun join, but Shi insisted, saying he wasn''t afraid and wouldn''t hold anyone back. Huang Kun relented.


    Huang Kun briefed the team. "We''ve identified the suspect in the serial murder case. Gu Qin provided the crucial clue. We''re going to apprehend the suspect tonight. Be careful and don''t let him escape."


    Everyone realized the case was solved thanks to Gu Qin''s efforts. Huang Kun seemed overly cautious, but with fifteen people, it was unlikely the suspect could escape.


    The team was well-rested and eager to solve the case. They hoped to end the year with two major cases solved, earning commendations and bonuses.


    This time, Huang Kun didn''t bring too many people, about fifteen in total. Gu Qin believed more people wouldn''t help much, as thorough preparations had been made.


    At half past eleven, Huang Kun led the team directly to Ruan Ting''s residence.


    Gu Qin and the others arrived at Ruan Ting''s residence around 12:30 AM. They took the elevator to the eighth floor. Gu Qin reined in her aura, and even the Flowing Light was wrapped in a Concealment Talisman.


    When they reached the eighth floor, a plainclothes female police officer knocked on the door. Ruan Ting saw it was an unfamiliar person, a thin and petite girl who seemed quite anxious. Thinking she had some matter of urgency, Ruan Ting opened the door to inquire. But before she could ask anything, the petite girl suddenly grabbed her.


    The girl had immense strength, pulling Ruan Ting out the door and dragging her back several steps. Ruan Ting couldn''t help but scream, finally getting a clear look at the situation. She was stunned. What was going on? Why were there so many policemen, and¡ªshe couldn''t help but widen her eyes and stare at Gu Qin. Wasn¡¯t she Chu Chu¡¯s cousin? Why was she here with the police?


    Ruan Ting was puzzled. Before she could react, the policemen rushed inside. Gu Qin said to the petite girl, "Let''s take her away first." Then she quickly entered the room.


    Ruan Ting abruptly broke free from the petite girl and rushed inside. She looked flustered. "What''s going on? What are you doing?"


    The plainclothes female police officer immediately followed and tried to restrain Ruan Ting, attempting to pull her out. But Ruan Ting struggled fiercely. "Let me go! This is my home. Why are you illegally entering my residence?"


    Huang Kun kicked open the guest bedroom door. Inside sat a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined. Seeing these people, he didn''t panic but slowly stood up and walked into the living room. The surrounding policemen already had their guns drawn, pointing at him. "Lean against the wall and raise your hands!"


    Ruan Ting was even more bewildered. "What¡­ what¡¯s happening? What¡¯s going on?"


    Song Langtian showed no sign of panic. Instead, he smiled faintly. "How rare, I thought I was being so discreet. How did you find me? And how did you know I was here?" He had been very careful, so he never imagined the police would come knocking one day.


    He glanced at Ruan Ting behind everyone else and sighed inwardly. "Such a pity, you really are lucky."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Ruan Ting met his gaze, understanding that he was talking about her. But she didn¡¯t understand his words. "What did you say?"


    Gu Qin turned to look at her. "Don¡¯t you understand? He said you narrowly escaped death." Then she turned to the female police officer. "Hurry and take her away. Quickly."


    Song Langtian finally noticed Gu Qin among the police officers. He looked at her, his expression changing.


    Ruan Ting was nearly driven mad by now, her mind a jumbled mess. She couldn¡¯t figure out why she had escaped death. Could this man be a murderer? But how could that be possible? Ruan Ting¡¯s mind was in chaos, unable to think clearly.


    As the female police officer pulled her, Ruan Ting instinctively clung to the doorknob, wanting to ask if he would really harm her.


    Song Langtian was entirely focused on Gu Qin. His expression turned serious as he muttered, "Concealment Talismans? You have Concealment Talismans on you, right? They should also have them. Otherwise, how could I not hear such a commotion? You¡¯re also a cultivator, hmm, at the middle stage of Essence Condensation. Just newly entered, right? How can you compete with me? And these policemen, I advise you all to leave quickly."


    Gu Qin activated her Heavenly Eye and naturally saw that he was at the late stage of Essence Condensation. However, he was likely just entering the late stage after engaging in Yin-Yang cultivation with several victims. Since he was only at the early stage of the late Essence Condensation, Gu Qin felt relieved. Even if they fought, she wasn¡¯t necessarily at a disadvantage.


    Huang Kun and the other policemen were extremely nervous. Huang Kun raised his gun, aiming at Song Langtian. "Raise your hands or I¡¯ll shoot."


    Song Langtian¡¯s gaze slowly shifted from Gu Qin to Huang Kun, then he sneered. "Just the two of you?" He took two steps forward. Huang Kun was tense and involuntarily pulled the trigger, firing a gunshot. The bullet shot towards Song Langtian.


    Gu Qin inwardly cursed. With his late-stage Essence Condensation cultivation, bullets wouldn¡¯t hurt him. To him, bullets were like toys. Sure enough, when the bullet approached, Song Langtian swiftly formed a talisman, and with a wave of his hand, the bullet curved and headed towards Huang Kun.


    This happened in a second. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t see the trajectory of the bullet. Gu Qin acted without hesitation. Her control over yin-soul qi was already proficient, and she didn¡¯t need to form a talisman. She simply raised her hand, and the bullet grazed Huang Kun¡¯s arm, embedding itself in the door behind him.


    Only when the door made a loud noise did everyone realize something had happened. Turning to look at the door, they saw the bullet hole, their pupils contracting. Although they couldn¡¯t see the bullet¡¯s path, they knew what had happened¡ªthe bullet fired at Song Langtian had instead hit the door behind Huang Kun. They saw Song Langtian¡¯s fingers move rapidly, then Gu Qin¡¯s hand waved, and they heard the sound of the bullet hitting the door.


    To them, it was unbelievable¡ªhow could a bullet change its trajectory? They knew Gu Qin¡¯s abilities and understood that if not for her intervention, the bullet might have gone through Huang Kun. Most of them didn¡¯t know the perpetrator was someone like Gu Qin, and now they realized, becoming even more tense as they aimed their guns at him.


    Gu Qin said, "Stop shooting. All of you, leave."


    Here, she was worried about their safety. Huang Kun also realized they were only adding to Gu Qin¡¯s burden. As an efficient leader, he quickly put away his gun. "Withdraw!" They had other tasks.


    Most colleagues put away their guns, but Shi Shaojun still held his gun on Song Langtian, anxiously asking Huang Kun, "Captain, what about Gu Qin?"


    Huang Kun shouted, "Withdraw!"


    Shi Shaojun finally put away his gun and followed his colleagues downstairs. At the door, he couldn¡¯t help but look back. A slender girl stood in the center of the living room, illuminated by the bright light from the chandelier, giving her an almost surreal appearance. Although worried, he knew they were useless here and reluctantly followed down the stairs.


    Ruan Ting was already stunned. She clearly understood the implications of these unreal events¡ªthis man wasn¡¯t ordinary, nor was Chu Chu¡¯s cousin. The police coming here meant this man might indeed be a murderer...


    All the police quickly withdrew downstairs. The gunshot had already woken up many residents, who turned on their lights and looked outside.


    There were streetlights downstairs, so many people saw the police in uniform. Someone asked, "What¡¯s going on? Why are the police here? Did you hear a gunshot? Has something happened?"


    "I don¡¯t know..."


    "Hey, downstairs police officers, what¡¯s going on? Is there a criminal in the neighborhood?"


    Huang Kun didn¡¯t answer, telling the female police officer, "Take her to the police station to give a statement. We¡¯ll go to Song Langtian¡¯s house to see if we can find any evidence."


    The female police officer took Ruan Ting back to the police station, while Huang Kun led the team to Song Langtian¡¯s residence.


    Inside the room, Gu Qin and Song Langtian faced off. After seeing Gu Qin¡¯s actions, Song Langtian¡¯s expression finally changed. "You don¡¯t need to form talismans to control essence energy?" And she controlled it so skillfully, not at all like someone just entering the middle stage of Essence Condensation. Who was this girl? He had never heard of such a figure in the realm of esoteric practices.


    Gu Qin naturally wouldn¡¯t answer his question. She asked, "There are many ways to cultivate as a demon cultivator. Why did you harm them so much? You didn¡¯t need to target ordinary people."


    She was right; there were many ways for demon cultivators to advance. They could use rituals with yin-biased women for dual cultivation, or even use the cultivation methods of their fellow practitioners. There was no need to target ordinary people.


    This was a common consensus among cultivators¡ªthey would never harm ordinary people. This person could find yin-biased women for dual cultivation, without needing to kill.


    Song Langtian smiled but didn¡¯t answer Gu Qin¡¯s question. Instead, he looked at her with a smile. "With such talent, if you agree to dual cultivate with me, I won¡¯t harm anyone else."


    Gu Qin¡¯s face darkened. She raised her hand, sending an inner force strike towards him. Song Langtian barely dodged by tilting his body. Realizing her anger, he said, "You¡¯re upset? Why? Dual cultivation is like cultivation for cultivators. With your talent, why not experience it yourself? My suggestion isn¡¯t meant to belittle you, but rather a sincere proposal. If you agree, I¡¯ll stop harming these ordinary people."


    Gu Qin laughed coldly. "Unfortunately, I dislike such cultivation methods." Since reasoning was futile, she attacked with a talisman. Song Langtian, who hadn¡¯t expected such an attack, humphed. "Since you refuse, I¡¯ll make you experience dual cultivation after I subdue you. You¡¯ll willingly agree then."


    Song Langtian had no lecherous thoughts. He merely believed that if he could find a talented person with decent cultivation, he wouldn¡¯t need to engage in dual cultivation with ordinary women.


    Song Langtian didn¡¯t take Gu Qin seriously. He was at the late stage of Essence Condensation, while she was only at the middle stage. How could she compare? Although both were at the Essence Condensation stage, there was a vast difference between the middle and late stages. Gu Qin¡¯s essence energy was at least half of his. He could wear her down over time.


    Song Langtian wasn¡¯t prepared and couldn¡¯t match Gu Qin¡¯s talismans. He drew talismans in mid-air and aimed them at her. Gu Qin felt relieved. This person underestimated her. That was good. He wanted to wear her down, depleting her essence energy. Drawing talismans in mid-air consumed much more essence energy than using cinnabar ink. Now, she didn¡¯t have to worry.


    They engaged in combat. Gu Qin had prepared many talismans, which she launched at Song Langtian. The small room restricted their movements, but Song Langtian was hit several times, his face turning pale. Gu Qin was agile, combining physical training with cultivation. Her external strength techniques were excellent, focusing on speed and power. She had mastered the realm of hidden strength through internal and external cultivation. She easily dodged his attacks and closed the distance between them.


    When they were close, Gu Qin struck him with a palm. Song Langtian couldn¡¯t dodge and was hit in the chest, stumbling backward several steps.


    Seeing Gu Qin¡¯s combat skills, Song Langtian realized his cultivation couldn¡¯t fully manifest in the cramped space. His expression darkened as he retreated into the guest bedroom and then onto the balcony, jumping down.


    Gu Qin wouldn¡¯t let him escape. She instantly followed, jumping down from the balcony. For ordinary people, an eighth-floor balcony was deadly, but for them, it was nothing. Song Langtian didn¡¯t engage in a fight in the neighborhood, escaping toward the outskirts. He didn¡¯t want to become entertainment for ordinary people.


    Song Langtian ran north toward a construction site. It was the holiday season, and the workers were on leave, leaving the area deserted.


    Song Langtian didn¡¯t plan to flee but wanted a spacious place to fight. Arriving at an empty field, he stopped, glaring at Gu Qin. "If you insist on dying, don¡¯t blame me!"


    He had no offensive tools, relying solely on his cultivation to fight Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin had prepared many offensive talismans. These talismans would turn into essence energy attacks upon striking Song Langtian.


    Gu Qin used these talismans and controlled essence energy, making Song Langtian struggle. After an hour, his essence energy was nearly depleted. Drawing talismans in mid-air consumed a lot of essence energy.


    Gu Qin¡¯s talismans were gone, and she was drawing talismans in mid-air like Song Langtian. However, her talismans were more advanced. When they hit Song Langtian, he merely paled slightly. In contrast, Song Langtian¡¯s forehead was sweating, and his lips were pale.


    Song Langtian was shocked. This girl was at the middle stage of Essence Condensation, yet her essence energy hadn¡¯t depleted. He was nearly exhausted. He regretted underestimating her. Fighting her further meant certain death tonight. Life was more important.


    He struck Gu Qin with a palm, but she didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, she countered with a palm, sending a hidden force strike. When their palms collided, Song Langtian was pushed back a few steps, tasting blood. He swallowed the blood and sneered, "All your preparations amount to nothing."


    Then, he sent another talisman at Gu Qin, who dodged. Seizing the opportunity, Song Langtian fled.


    Gu Qin snorted. "Too late to run!" She waved her fingers, releasing something from her palm. In the dim light, it looked like beans jumping around, surrounding Song Langtian.


    One bean hit him, turning to powder, but his face paled, and he groaned.


    Gu Qin threw more beans, which surrounded Song Langtian, preventing his escape.


    Thinking Gu Qin used some hidden weapon, Song Langtian was shocked when he saw the jumping beans. He stared at Gu Qin in horror. "You¡¯re at the middle stage of Essence Condensation, how can you summon soldiers from beans?"

 Chiyings Vow

    Summoning soldiers from beans was a difficult technique. Even at the late stage of Essence Condensation, it was impossible. To control beans required immense essence energy or yin-soul qi. Without that control, the beans couldn¡¯t move.


    The most powerful version could turn beans into human forms, achievable only at the Void Return Realm. Initial techniques required reaching the Spirit Formation stage to control essence energy or yin-soul qi proficiently, using it to control beans.


    This girl, at the early stage of Spirit Formation, controlled essence energy to such a terrifying degree. He thought her cultivation was superior because of diligent practice, but it was far beyond that¡ªit was terrifying.


    Gu Qin had reached the Spirit Formation stage in her previous life and could barely summon soldiers from beans. This life, with her Heavenly Eye and refined control over essence energy and yin-soul qi, summoning soldiers from beans was effortless.


    Gu Qin ignored Song Langtian¡¯s shock. He wouldn¡¯t dare charge recklessly, knowing his essence energy was nearly depleted and possibly injured.


    Each bean carried a small amount of essence energy, but collectively, they could control his movements and injure him. Attempting to break free would result in injury.


    Song Langtian didn¡¯t attempt to break free. He swept with his palm, dispersing the bean soldiers instantly.


    Song Langtian frowned. Although these bean soldiers were not very powerful, if he forcefully broke out, his internal injuries would worsen. If the girl opposite still had a considerable amount of energy left in her body, she would surely take advantage of his worsening condition to deliver a fatal blow.


    Song Langtian did not want to take risks, but if he continued to tangle with these bean soldiers, the energy within him would be completely depleted, making it even more difficult for him to escape later.


    Gu Qin saw Song Langtian''s gloomy expression and whispered, "If you surrender and accept legal punishment, I will spare your life."


    Song Langtian looked up and sneered, "Do you think ordinary people are worthy to punish me?"


    "Don''t forget, you''re just an ordinary person too. Your parents, relatives, and friends are all ordinary people. Even when you were young, you were just an ordinary child. Why do you look down on others?"


    Song Langtian sneered again and did not respond. He was about to raise his palm to shatter the bean soldiers when suddenly his whole body stiffened. He could not move at all. What was happening? The cold sensation on his body was due to yin sha qi (cold evil energy). When did this girl use yin sha qi to secretly control his movements? He looked up at Gu Qin¡ª


    Gu Qin naturally took action while he was distracted dealing with the bean soldiers, using yin sha qi to control his movements. She naturally would not miss this opportunity. The Flowing Light, which had been suppressing its aura, had already been drawn out. Without the aura suppression talisman restraining its energy, the Flowing Light wanted to show off, causing its yin sha qi to surge. Gu Qin already held it and was about to stab Song Langtian''s chest.


    The last bit of Song Langtian''s gaze was fixed on the sharp tip of the Flowing Light, directly aiming at him. The yin sha qi on it was so strong that even he could sense it, making him almost unable to bear it. At the moment of his death, Song Langtian thought, why, why does she have such a powerful attack weapon...


    The Flowing Light pierced into his chest, and Song Langtian fell straight to the ground. As he fell, Gu Qin withdrew the energy around her, and the surrounding bean soldiers immediately fell to the ground, rolling into the wasteland beside them.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The Flowing Light still stuck in Song Langtian''s chest. Gu Qin took a deep breath and slowly squatted down, reaching out to check his breathing, which was already gone. She pulled out the Flowing Light from his chest and sat down beside him, disregarding any decorum.


    The Flowing Light buzzed, seemingly protesting that it had been restrained until now. Gu Qin couldn''t help but laugh, "What are you protesting for? If I had taken it out earlier, he would have been more cautious. My cultivation level is far lower than his. If he became more alert, I might have had no chance of winning. And given how powerful you are, he would have become greedy and tried to seize you, using all his strength against me. Now is perfect timing. His energy is almost depleted, and I used yin sha qi to control him without him noticing. That''s why I used you to finish him off."


    The Flowing Light gradually quieted down. Gu Qin wiped the blood off it, put it away, and took out her phone to call Huang Kun. It was already four o''clock in the morning. Huang Kun answered quickly, "Student Gu?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "He''s dead. We''re currently at the construction site in the northern part of the city. Come over here. By the way, have you collected evidence from his house?"


    Huang Kun breathed a sigh of relief, "Don''t worry, Student Gu. We''ve already been to his house and collected blood samples from five victims. So the charges are definitely solid. Even if he''s dead, it doesn''t matter. You should rest first; we''ll come right away!"


    Since they had found the evidence, Gu Qin felt relieved. After hanging up, she couldn''t resist using her Heavenly Eye to look at Song Langtian and was curious about his past.


    Naturally, she couldn''t start from his childhood, but she picked some important events to observe, such as where he went after being adopted by relatives, why he broke up with his girlfriend, how he practiced before, and why he killed people.


    As a child, Song Langtian was also an ordinary kid. His parents died in a car accident. Finally, an old man came and told him he was his relative, taking him away. The old man wore strange black Tang suit, with many wrinkles on his face, looking somewhat frightening. He took Song Langtian to a secluded mountain village surrounded by mountains. The old man seemed to adopt many children like Song Langtian, teaching them cultivation and some esoteric knowledge. As the children grew up, they received education in the small village.


    Song Langtian studied in a nearby town until he was fifteen, then returned to Liangping City to inherit his parents'' estate and start school. During this time, he occasionally saw the old man.


    At the age of fifteen, Song Langtian started finding women with matching birth dates to cultivate through absorbing their yin energy. He would first bewitch their minds and then let them willingly come to him. At that time, he did not harm those girls. When some girls weakened, he would let them go and find another one.


    When he graduated from university, he dated a girlfriend. They were deeply in love, but his girlfriend had a strong yang aura, unsuitable for his cultivation method. So although he dated her, he continued to cultivate by absorbing the yin energy from other girls. When he was twenty-nine, he planned to marry his girlfriend. However, she discovered his secret and thought he was cheating. She was heartbroken and wanted to break up. He disagreed, but no explanation worked. Eventually, he confessed truthfully, but his girlfriend looked at him as if he was crazy.


    When he demonstrated his power by destroying a table, she was stunned but could not accept his actions for cultivation. In the end, she decided to break up. He disagreed but didn''t expect her to disappear when he returned home from work.


    Afterwards, his personality changed, becoming darker. In September last year, he directly murdered the girls during his cultivation. As for why he chose Ma Family''s villa, it was because the daughter of the Ma family was once an object of his cultivation. He was familiar with the Ma family, who had emigrated abroad, so he chose their house for his first crime.


    Regarding why he kept the victims'' blood, Gu Qin saw from the Heavenly Eye that he collected their blood for the old man before, under voluntary conditions. Gu Qin didn''t know who the old man was or why he needed the blood. The old man rarely visited Song Langtian, sometimes only once every two years.


    The blood samples of the five victims left at Song Langtian''s house clearly indicated that the old man hadn''t come yet, otherwise the evidence wouldn''t have lasted until now.


    Gu Qin stopped observing after getting a general idea. By now, dawn was breaking, and the sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance. Gu Qin turned on her phone flashlight, and they quickly found her and saw the body next to her.


    Huang Kun helped Gu Qin stand up, "Student Gu, how about you come with us to the police station for something to eat?"


    Gu Qin didn''t refuse. A few young policemen carried Song Langtian''s body to the police car, and the group left the construction site.


    Back at the police station, the officers got busy. Huang Kun called his superiors, reporting the situation truthfully. This case was delicate, so better to let the higher-ups decide how to report it.


    Gu Qin sat in the warm lobby. The plainclothes female officer brought her a cup of instant noodles and apologized, "Student Gu, this is all we have right now. Would you like to eat it?"


    Gu Qin accepted it with a smile, "Thank you."


    The young female officer sat next to Gu Qin, admiring her, "Student Gu, you''re amazing."


    "Overpraising," Gu Qin couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    The young female officer chatted enthusiastically with Gu Qin, "The girl who came back to give testimony is still inside, sleeping. She was very emotional when she first arrived, accusing you of framing her and revealing the grudges between you and her cousin. But after our team leader showed her the evidence from the victim''s families and the evidence we found at the suspect''s house, she finally shut up."


    Gu Qin slurped her noodles, swallowing a mouthful before speaking to the young officer, "She was just shocked and confused. She''ll recover soon."


    The young officer kept talking, and when she saw Gu Qin finish eating, she immediately threw the trash in the bin and asked if Gu Qin wanted more. Gu Qin was indeed hungry and ate another bowl before feeling full.

 The Fire of Betrayal

    On Huang Kun''s side, his superiors gave instructions to have Gu Qin give a simple statement. Then Huang Kun told Gu Qin, "Superiors instructed us to add a few shots to the body, saying the suspect escaped and was shot during capture. With the evidence now available, the case is considered solved. However, you still need to give a statement, probably for the higher-ups to see, since this case is significant and has already caught their attention."


    Gu Qin nodded, not concerned, "Then there shouldn''t be any problems. I''ll head back now."


    Huang Kun suddenly stood up, bowed deeply to Gu Qin, and said solemnly, "Student Gu, thank you. On behalf of the victims'' families and the rescued children, I say thank you."


    At that moment, Gu Qin felt all her efforts were worth it. Even though Ruan Ting had doubted her, she didn''t mind. This moment made her feel that helping was worthwhile.


    Huang Kun straightened up and accompanied Gu Qin outside, mentioning the previous human trafficking cases, "Many children have already been rescued. Don''t worry, the remaining children nearby will also be saved. Within half a month, all the children will reunite with their families."


    Just as they reached the lobby, Ruan Ting walked out of another room, naturally encountering Gu Qin. She opened her mouth but said nothing.


    Huang Kun escorted Gu Qin outside the police station. The sky was already cool, and the figures of sanitation workers could be seen. Huang Kun offered, "I can drive you home."


    Gu Qin shook her head, "No, I want to take a bus home. It''s rare to relax a bit."


    Huang Kun understood her meaning and nodded, "Okay, see you later."


    Gu Qin smiled, "See you later."


    Because of this incident, Gu Qin had been tense for two or three days. Now, she was finally relaxed and walked out of the police station slowly, planning to walk along the road and take a bus home. As soon as she stepped out, Ruan Ting followed closely behind.


    Gu Qin turned her head and asked, "Is there anything?"


    Ruan Ting opened her mouth but closed it again, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Did you know everything that happened on the day Xiangyu called me to the Oriental Hotel? Did you know I would be the sixth victim, and that someone would target me?"


    Gu Qin thought for a moment and didn''t hide it, "I noticed something ominous during dinner, then learned you were the sixth victim. Since I didn''t know the suspect''s situation or when you would meet them, I called you to the hotel. Once you were there, I knew more about the suspect, so I called you to the hotel not to humiliate you, but to learn more about the suspect."


    Ruan Ting lowered her head, then asked after a while, "Then, why didn''t you tell me at the hotel?"


    Gu Qin replied, "By then, you had already met the suspect. Telling you would risk them discovering something and attacking you prematurely."


    Ruan Ting fell silent, following Gu Qin for a while before whispering, "Thank you."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Gu Qin said, "You''re welcome."


    At the bus stop, Ruan Ting finally parted ways with her. Gu Qin waited for the bus and boarded it.


    When she returned home at seven thirty, the Cheng family had already woken up. Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong were preparing dinner in the kitchen, creating a warm atmosphere. Gu Qin couldn''t help smiling. Her grandparents thought she had gone for morning exercise and asked with a smile, "Jiajia? He didn''t come back with you this morning, did he?"


    Gu Qin replied, "He''ll be back for dinner later."


    When Jia returned for breakfast, the whole family ate together. Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang couldn''t help pulling Gu Qin aside to ask questions. Gu Qin smiled, "Don''t worry, it''s all resolved. The murderer is dead, so there''s nothing to fear anymore."


    Seeing her look tired, they didn''t press further. Chuchu said, "Rest well first."


    This time, Gu Qin slept for a long time, waking up the next morning. The Cheng family was worried sick, but Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang stopped them from waking her up, saying she was just tired and needed more sleep.


    Cheng Yinxiang was also worried and asked what Gu Qin had done during the past nights. Gu Qin briefly explained the situation, omitting the fact that the murderer was also a cultivator. Otherwise, her mother would be extremely worried. Indeed, after hearing this, Cheng Yinxiang felt reassured. She knew Gu Qin''s abilities and that ordinary people were no match for her, but she still felt concerned. "Why did you have to go catch the murderer at night? It would have been better during the day. Day and night reversals are bad for your health."


    Gu Qin pouted, "Mom, don''t worry. It''s over now. The murderer is caught, and the families of the victims can finally rest easy. I did something good."


    Cheng Yinxiang sighed, "You''re a girl. I actually prefer you to have an easier life, without so much responsibility."


    Lu Qingrong watched the mother and daughter, feeling a softness in his heart.


    In the next two days, Gu Qin wasn''t idle. She helped Huang Kun solve several old, unsolved cases. Many of these cases had suspects in hiding, which was relatively easier for Gu Qin. Knowing the birth dates of the suspects, she could calculate their locations and use her Heavenly Eye to pinpoint them.


    These days, Gu Qin helped solve numerous cases. On the seventh day of the lunar month, Cheng Yinxiang finally decided to take the two kids back home. Originally, they planned to take a train or bus, but Lu Qingrong smiled and offered, "I''ll drive you back."


    Gu Qin knew their relationship and wasn''t surprised, thinking they would eventually get together. Accompanying them back was normal, so she nodded, "Thank you, Uncle Lu."


    Cheng Yinxiang also said, "It''s fine, traveling back and forth takes a day, too troublesome."


    Gu Qin glanced at Cheng Yinxiang, who blushed.


    Lu Qingrong laughed, "Alright, pack your things, and I''ll drive you back."


    In the end, Lu Qingrong drove them back. By the time they arrived at home, it was already two in the afternoon. Cheng Yinxiang didn''t have time to cook and went to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Lu Qingrong stayed for a while, as it was inconvenient to leave the same day. The house was cramped but could accommodate them.


    While Lu Qingrong parked the car, Cheng Yinxiang was upstairs tidying the rooms. Gu Qin was also organizing her room. Cheng Jia sat on the sofa drinking water and asked his mother, "Mom, when are you going to get married with Uncle Lu?"


    Cheng Yinxiang nervously ran out, "What nonsense are you talking about?"


    Cheng Jia smiled, "I can see it at home. I don''t oppose it. I think Uncle Lu is great. Mom, if you think it''s right, just get it done quickly."


    Gu Qin slowly walked out, "Mom, I agree too. Uncle Lu is very nice."


    Cheng Yinxiang felt both moved and embarrassed. When Lu Qingrong came upstairs, she didn''t know how to face him and hurriedly returned to her room to continue tidying up.


    Lu Qingrong stayed at Gu''s house for two days. Cheng Jia, busy with tutoring and exercise, trained for four hours daily. Despite the hardship, he persisted. Gu Qin felt pleased, seeing that after half a year, Cheng Jia was changing. He was no longer the selfish Cheng Jia, but someone who could stick to something and care for his family, no longer obsessed with brands and appearances.


    Usually, it was just Lu Qingrong, Gu Qin, and Cheng Yinxiang at home. Cheng Yinxiang felt awkward urging Lu Qingrong to leave, so she hadn''t investigated the market to find business opportunities. With Lu Qingrong around, she couldn''t go either. Gu Qin had more free time, besides exercising and cultivating, she completed her studies. She could watch TV, surf the internet, and explore online. She enjoyed browsing news and searching for information but rarely read forum posts.


    However, she occasionally visited forums. Once, she replied to a post about the Yunshi bus station incident, registering under the ID "Qing Gu." She advised Yunshi residents to avoid crowded areas in the southwest. Initially, few responded, thinking she was exaggerating. After the incident, the post gained millions of views and tens of thousands of replies, all praising her as a deity. People @ her, and her inbox flooded with messages asking her how she predicted the event. There were also requests for fortune-telling, relationship advice, and missing persons.


    Gu Qin was amused but concerned about the authenticity of these requests. She deleted the messages and shut down the post, deciding to focus on news instead.


    Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong continued their conversation outside. Lu Qingrong said, "Yinxiang, we''re not getting any younger. The children don''t oppose it. Let''s get a marriage certificate first. We can have a wedding when you''re ready."


    He feared time would slip away, and only what he held onto was real. He had missed too much and didn''t want to miss anymore.


    Moreover¡ªYinxiang''s appearance was striking. Her skin was fair, with few wrinkles and faded spots. Her hair was thick and black, her complexion rosy. She didn''t look like a woman in her forties. Such a graceful woman, regardless of age, was captivating.

 A Second Chance

    Whenever, he would be very popular and many people would pursue him. He didn''t want to give others this opportunity.


    Cheng Yinxiang was still somewhat hesitant. Although she knew Lu Qingrong''s character, they hadn''t seen each other for over ten years, and they had only spent a few days together.


    Lu Qingrong sensed her hesitation and said gently, "Yinxiang, we''re not young anymore. We''re older now, and our children are grown up too. They don''t oppose it either. I''ve liked you for over twenty years. Why can''t you give me a chance? And in this life, I won''t marry anyone else besides you. Even if you don''t agree, I''ll remain single until old age."


    Although his words had some coercive undertones, Cheng Yinxiang was always cautious. Without some pressure, she wouldn''t agree.


    "Brother Lu, I..." Cheng Yinxiang hesitated. "I just feel that we haven''t spent enough time together." Moreover, she planned to start a business in the future. Lu Qingrong was wealthy, and if they got married, he would definitely help her. She didn''t want to owe him too much.


    After some persuasion from Lu Qingrong, and even a heartfelt confession, Cheng Yinxiang was still hesitant. Lu Qingrong was at a loss and finally leaned forward, pressing his hands on the armrests of the sofa, covering her body and kissing her deeply.


    Cheng Yinxiang was stunned, pushing him hard. "Brother Lu, you''re crazy! Qianqian is still resting in the room."


    The difference in strength made it impossible for Cheng Yinxiang to move him. Lu Qingrong laughed softly. "If you agree to go get our marriage certificate, I''ll get up." Then he leaned down and kissed her again.


    Cheng Yinxiang felt ashamed and angry, fearing that her daughter in the room would be alarmed. Finally, she surrendered. "I agree. Get up quickly. If Qianqian sees us, my face will be ruined." She had thought it through. She would first get the marriage certificate. After all, in this life, she wouldn''t have feelings for any other man. She still had some feelings for Lu Qingrong. He was right; they were no longer young, and there was no time to waste. They couldn''t learn the ways of young people in love.


    The next morning at breakfast, Cheng Yinxiang announced with a blushing face to her two children, "I plan to get the marriage certificate with Uncle Lu."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Congratulations Mom, congratulations Uncle Lu."


    Gu Jia clapped his hands. "Congratulations Mom, congratulations Uncle Lu."


    Lu Qingrong was eager to do so. It was already the ninth day of the month, and the Civil Affairs Bureau was open. After Cheng Yinxiang divorced Gu Yuanjiang, she moved her household registration back to Liangping City. Lu Qingrong was also a resident of Liangping City. They needed to return there to get their marriage certificate. Immediately after announcing this good news to the children, Lu Qingrong took Cheng Yinxiang back to Liangping City.Stolen story; please report.


    They would need to return the next day. Gu Jia had to attend extra classes at school in the afternoon, so Gu Qin ate alone at noon. She cooked some noodles and then reviewed her lessons for an hour before going online.


    Gu Qin felt she had changed a lot. She used to be so conservative, but now she accepted things from this new era. She gradually accepted the internet as well.


    She browsed the news online and logged into the forum account to check the forum. When she logged in, several people had @-mentioned her. The post¡¯s influence remained strong even months later, with people still @-mentioning her daily.


    Gu Qin quickly scanned them. Most were asking her for blessings. She deleted those directly. Only one message remained, from an ID named ''Mommy, I Miss You So Much, NiuNiu.'' The message read: "Hello, Master Qing, are you there? My name is Xu Meixuan. I learned about you from a post in Yun City called ''Sunset.'' My husband''s name is Lei Hongyun, and I have a daughter nicknamed NiuNiu. She was kidnapped when she was two years old. I have no choice but to seek your help. I believe you are so capable that you can predict disasters in Yun City¡¯s southwest location. Can you please help me find NiuNiu? Master Gu, please, I beg you. I miss NiuNiu every moment. Please, Master, please help me. I am suffering so much, almost going crazy. Whenever I have free time, my mind is filled with thoughts of NiuNiu. Master, please, please help me. You can ask for whatever payment you like..."


    Gu Qin vaguely remembered deleting a similar ID message yesterday. She didn¡¯t pay much attention at the time, but today, recalling the incident with Zizai, she realized how desperate this mother must be. Her child had been missing for two years, surely close to madness.


    She decided to contact this mother. After fumbling for a few minutes, she replied, "Give me your phone number, and I¡¯ll call you."


    Xu Meixuan had been monitoring the computer closely for two years. She regretted and grieved constantly, spending tens of thousands of yuan on various fortune-tellers, most of whom were frauds. Many claimed to have information about her daughter but demanded payments. Despite knowing they were scams, she couldn¡¯t resist sending money.


    She clung to hope, especially after seeing the predictions made by a person named Qinggu in a post titled "Sunset" from Yun City. She had been trying to contact Qinggu for months without success. She noticed that Qinggu had registered the account only on the day of the disaster in Yun City. Clearly, the account was created to warn people about the disaster. She knew Qinggu didn¡¯t frequent the forum often.


    On the forum, everyone could see the last login time of each user. Xu Meixuan had been monitoring this closely, but Qinggu¡¯s last login time was always the day before the accident at the bus station.


    Despite this, Xu Meixuan didn¡¯t give up. This was her last hope. She left messages for Qinggu almost every few days, checking Qinggu¡¯s last login time daily. Until last night, when she saw Qinggu¡¯s login time finally change to tonight at eight o''clock.


    Xu Meixuan stared at the time, tears welling up in her eyes. She covered her eyes with her hands, tears streaming through her fingers.


    Her husband, Lei Hongyun, came in. "Meixuan, it¡¯s late, go to sleep."


    Xu Meixuan looked up, grabbing her husband¡¯s hand. "Husband, do you know? Master Qing is online. She logged in at eight o''clock. There¡¯s hope. We might find NiuNiu..."


    Lei Hongyun frowned, sitting beside her. "Meixuan, let it go. NiuNiu has been missing for two years. We probably won¡¯t find her. The chances of finding abducted children in our country are less than one percent. Let¡¯s have another child, okay? And this Qinggu is definitely a scammer. You¡¯ve tried so many fortune-tellers, haven¡¯t you?"


    Xu Meixuan pushed Lei Hongyun away, standing up excitedly. "What are you saying? What do you mean by giving up? Having another child? Lei Hongyun, you have no heart! NiuNiu is my flesh and blood. You don¡¯t care, but I do. I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t have another child. I¡¯ll only ever have NiuNiu. Also, Master Qing is different from those fortune-tellers. She predicted the disaster at the bus station in Yun City. She must be able to find where NiuNiu is..."


    Xu Meixuan didn¡¯t say another word to him, sitting at the computer and leaving a message for Qinggu.


    Lei Hongyun stood behind his wife, feeling conflicted, finally sighing.


    After leaving the message, Xu Meixuan couldn¡¯t sleep, waiting for Qinggu¡¯s response. She stayed awake all night, but there was no reply. Finally, she fell asleep for two hours and woke up again, sitting back at the computer. This time, Qinggu replied, asking for her phone number.


    Xu Meixuan sent her number immediately. Lei Hongyun was concerned about her and stayed home from work. Seeing her again at the computer, he sighed, "Meixuan, try to get some sleep. You can¡¯t keep doing this."


    Xu Meixuan didn¡¯t respond, staring intently at the computer.


    Gu Qin was browsing information related to metaphysics when she heard a notification from the forum backend. Checking it, she found that the mother of NiuNiu had responded quickly. It had only been a few minutes since she replied, yet the mother had immediately sent her phone number. It seemed she had been monitoring the computer closely.


    The love of parents for their children knows no bounds.

 The Palace Selection

    Qin immediately fell silent when she saw the photo of the old woman. One could see from the photo that the elderly lady''s eyes were evasive; she had something to hide and had committed a wrongdoing in the past.


    Gu Qin did another divination, and the final oracle also pointed to Xu Meixuan''s mother-in-law. It was clear that the incident involving NiuNiu being taken away was related to her mother-in-law. In fact, it wasn''t that NiuNiu was taken away; she was sold by her own grandmother.


    From this, one could understand the father''s attitude. During the first year, he believed his daughter had been kidnapped and searched for her frantically. After a year, he likely found out the truth, but what could he do? His mother was his mother. Perhaps he accepted it and followed his mother''s advice, which led to his attitude changing over the next year, persuading his wife to give up as well.


    Gu Qin waited until the next day before calling Xu Meixuan. Xu Meixuan answered quickly, "Master Qing, is it true that you have news about NiuNiu?"


    Gu Qin said, "NiuNiu''s mother, NiuNiu wasn''t kidnapped; she was sold. It should be your mother-in-law. You can ask her about it."


    Xu Meixuan''s mind went blank. She couldn''t stand on her feet, her legs grew weak, and she collapsed onto the sofa next to her. Her daughter was sold! When the incident happened, she had always felt something was off. Although child traffickers were common, no one in their area had ever heard of a kidnapping. Why was it so coincidental that her mother-in-law, who never took NiuNiu there, just happened to go that day? Furthermore, there were no surveillance cameras in that place, making everything seem too convenient.


    She knew her mother-in-law favored boys and treated her son like a precious gem. She often taught her to take care of men, stating that men were heaven, earth, and everything for women. Fortunately, they didn''t live together, and she endured it.


    Later, when she became pregnant, her mother-in-law didn''t come to take care of her. When she gave birth, her mother-in-law came, but after seeing she had given birth to a girl, she left the next day. When her mother got sick and needed care, she had to beg her mother-in-law to come, paying her 3,000 yuan monthly. She thought, even if it was her grandmother, she would still care for her. But how could someone be so heartless?


    Xu Meixuan burst into tears. Gu Qin sighed and hung up, hoping that the old lady still had some humanity and would tell NiuNiu''s mother where she was sold.


    Xu Meixuan cried uncontrollably. Her husband hadn''t gone to work yet and rushed into the room upon hearing her cries. "Wife, wife, what''s wrong with you? Don''t scare me. Are you feeling unwell?"


    Xu Meixuan grabbed something nearby and hit her husband, crying, "How can you be so heartless? How can you be so heartless? Did you know all along that NiuNiu wasn''t kidnapped but sold by your mother? How can your mother be so cruel? She is also your daughter. Because we can''t have a second child due to our work unit policy, she sold NiuNiu. Is she human?"


    Lei Hongyun froze, standing there as Xu Meixuan hit him, his mind struggling to comprehend why his wife knew and how she knew.


    Xu Meixuan stood up, ran to the living room, and went directly to her mother-in-law''s room, kicking open the door and pulling her awake...


    Lei Hongyun''s mother was named Dong Lihua. Growing up poor, she was not given a formal name. As she was born when the pear blossoms were blooming, they called her Lihua.


    Dong Lihua was startled awake and saw her daughter-in-law staring at her fiercely. "Meixuan, what''s wrong with you? Have you lost all manners?"


    Xu Meixuan wanted to kill her but held back, grabbing Dong Lihua''s clothes. "Tell me, did you sell NiuNiu? Where did you sell her?"


    Dong Lihua was shocked but refused to admit it. "What nonsense are you talking about? Who sold NiuNiu? Even though I hoped you would have a son, NiuNiu is still my granddaughter and my son''s flesh and blood. How could I be so cruel?"


    "You still won''t admit it!" Xu Meixuan snapped, choking the last bit of her patience. She grabbed Dong Lihua''s neck. "Where did you sell NiuNiu? Give her back to me! Why are you so cruel..."


    Lei Hongyun finally woke up, rushing into the room, seeing the scene, his blood boiling. He turned red-eyed, pulling Xu Meixuan away. "Are you crazy? You dare hit your mother!"


    Xu Meixuan cried, "Give me back NiuNiu! Give me back NiuNiu!"


    Suddenly, she remembered something, running to the wardrobe, pulling it open, and finding a small wooden box. The box was locked, but it was poorly made. Xu Meixuan lifted the box high and smashed it on the ground.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Dong Lihua''s face changed, shouting to Lei Hongyun, "Stop her!"


    Lei Hongyun also realized something was wrong too late. The wooden box shattered, revealing a savings book. Xu Meixuan wiped her tears and began flipping through it. With little strength left, Lei Hongyun dared not approach to snatch it. Her expression was too fierce.


    Xu Meixuan quickly found what she was looking for: three days after NiuNiu disappeared, 30,000 yuan appeared in the savings book. Dong Lihua had no job and received social security from her son and daughter-in-law. She had no income and only stayed in the city for two months, receiving only 5,000 yuan. The source of the 30,000 yuan was obvious.


    Xu Meixuan screamed, throwing the book down and collapsing on the bed, hitting Dong Lihua wildly. "Give me back NiuNiu! Give me back NiuNiu!"


    Her cries alerted neighbors, many coming to knock on the door, but no one dared to open it.


    Lei Hongyun also cried, hugging Xu Meixuan, kneeling before Dong Lihua. "Mom, please tell us where NiuNiu is. I can''t take it anymore. Mom, please..."


    Dong Lihua stubbornly refused. "I didn''t sell NiuNiu. I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    Xu Meixuan tried to attack again. Lei Hongyun pulled her back. She picked up the savings book, throwing it at Dong Lihua. "If you didn''t sell NiuNiu, how did 30,000 yuan appear in your account on the day NiuNiu disappeared? Tell me!"


    Her voice choked with tears. "Where did you sell NiuNiu? Please, please..."


    Dong Lihua insisted she didn''t sell NiuNiu. Xu Meixuan rushed out, picking up the phone, shaking as she dialed 110. A cheerful female voice answered, "This is the police station. What can we help you with?"


    Xu Meixuan quickly said, "I''m Xu Meixuan. I want to report a case. My mother-in-law sold my child..."


    She provided her address. "Police, please come quickly. If my mother-in-law and husband try to hurt me, I can''t fight them. Please hurry."


    Dong Lihua came out of the bedroom, holding a wooden stick. "What kind of daughter-in-law are you? Daring to call the police on your own mother? Hongyun, get the phone!"


    Xu Meixuan put the phone on speaker. The policewoman heard Dong Lihua''s words and warned Xu Meixuan, "If they try to hurt you, run outside. We''ll handle it from here."


    Dong Lihua''s face darkened.


    Xu Meixuan saw Dong Lihua looking for something to hit her and noticed Lei Hongyun standing there, stunned. She knew confronting them now would be disadvantageous. Since things were already out in the open, she decided to divorce anyway. Lei Hongyun knew NiuNiu was sold by his mother but still urged her to let it go and have another child. Such a heartless man, she wouldn''t stay with him anymore.


    Now wasn''t the time for rash actions. Xu Meixuan recalled the online story of a daughter-in-law killed by her mother-in-law and shuddered. Before Dong Lihua could charge at her, she dashed out the front door.


    It was early morning, people eating breakfast and going to work. The commotion at the Lei family home caught the attention of neighbors. Seeing Xu Meixuan, they were alarmed and asked, "Meixuan, what''s going on?"


    Xu Meixuan cried, "My mother-in-law sold NiuNiu. She sold NiuNiu."


    Neighbors looked at each other. "No, that can''t be right. She''s your husband''s daughter and your mother-in-law''s granddaughter. How could she be so cruel? Is there a misunderstanding?"


    Xu Meixuan shook her head vigorously. "No, no. I checked her savings book. Three days after NiuNiu disappeared, 30,000 yuan appeared. She has no job and no income. How could she have that money? My husband admitted it was my mother-in-law who sold NiuNiu."


    Neighbors were stunned but believed her. Someone began discussing, "We''ve seen her favoring neighborhood boys and saying they want a boy. Could it be true? Meixuan and her husband aren''t allowed a second child. Unless NiuNiu was gone..."


    Neighbors'' faces paled. They had heard of such cases but never thought it would happen so close to home. Some were mothers-in-law themselves, and many had daughters-in-law with daughters. Most only felt pity, not cruelty, much less selling their granddaughters. This was monstrous.


    Dong Lihua charged out with a wooden stick. "I''ll beat you for spreading lies! I''ll beat you!"


    Neighbors stopped her. Xu Meixuan took the chance to run out. She called her cousin and cousins, who arrived quickly. They were big men and gave Xu Meixuan confidence. She explained the situation. Her cousin, impulsive, wanted to attack. Her cousin stopped him, "Focus on NiuNiu first. We won''t let them off easily."


    They trusted Xu Meixuan''s words. The 30,000 yuan was too coincidental.


    Police arrived quickly. Xu Meixuan explained everything. They arrested Dong Lihua and Lei Hongyun and took them to the police station.


    Xu Meixuan''s brothers accompanied her to the station. Dong Lihua denied selling NiuNiu. Lei Hongyun also denied it.


    Xu Meixuan wanted to attack Lei Hongyun. "Hongyun, you''re despicable. Even knowing your own daughter was sold, you helped your mother. You admitted it at home. Please, return NiuNiu to me!"


    She broke down crying. Police investigated the 30,000 yuan, traced to Dong Lihua depositing it herself, breaking the trail. Without her admission, they couldn''t find NiuNiu.


    Xu Meixuan was desperate. She remembered Master Qing. "If we find NiuNiu, can we charge them?"


    Police nodded. "Finding NiuNiu will definitely help. But with NiuNiu missing for two years, it''s difficult. Prepare yourself."


    Xu Meixuan insisted, "NiuNiu is there. Master Qing won''t lie."


    Police sighed, thinking Xu Meixuan was delusional. If divination could find missing children, all would be found.


    Xu Meixuan called Master Qing, explaining everything. Master Qing agreed to help. Xu Meixuan''s brothers overheard and asked her. She told them about Master Qing''s abilities.


    Master Qing used divination and saw NiuNiu''s location. Opening her third eye, she saw a well-decorated apartment with a thin girl kneeling. A woman in a fur coat scolded her.


    "NiuNiu, where are you?" Xu Meixuan''s mind exploded. She thanked Master Qing and rushed back to the police station.


    Police were skeptical but followed the lead. The address was in another province. They contacted local police and told Xu Meixuan to wait.


    The officer asked how she got the information. Xu Meixuan hesitated, "I consulted a master."


    The officer sighed, advising her to prepare for disappointment.


    Xu Meixuan was resolute. "NiuNiu is there. Master Qing wouldn''t lie."


    The officer sighed, thinking she was obsessed.


    Local police arrived at the address, a well-dressed woman opening the door. "What do you want?"


    Police said, "We received a report. Your residence is connected to a child trafficking case. Please come with us."


    The woman panicked. "That''s a mistake. We bought a child legally, with a signed agreement."


    Police realized the situation and took everyone to the station.


    Back at the station, DNA confirmed the girl was NiuNiu. The woman showed signed documents from NiuNiu''s family.


    At home, Dong Lihua...


    The worried mother said to her son, "Hongyun, what should we do? What if they find out it was me? Your daughter-in-law actually dared to report her own mother-in-law. She''s just disobedient; she deserves a beating. Are you even a man? Can''t you control your own wife?"


    Lei Hongyun''s face turned pale. In a hoarse voice, he said, "If you had told Meixuan where Niuniu was when she came looking for her, this wouldn''t have escalated to this point. It''s all because of you and your preference for boys over girls. Niuniu is my child too. Why were you so heartless back then, hiding from me and giving the child to Meixuan?"


    At first, Lei Hongyun also thought that the child had been truly abducted. Later, Dong Lihua, seeing how distressed he was, secretly told him about Niuniu.


    When Lei Hongyun found out, he was furious at first. Eventually, Dong Lihua threatened to commit suicide if he didn''t comply, forcing him to agree to give up Niuniu and persuade Meixuan to have another child.


    Yesterday, in the police station, he had no choice but to give false testimony because his mother, Dong Lihua, was involved. He couldn''t let her go to jail.


    Dong Lihua was still very worried. "I saw your wife outside talking on the phone. She said she found a fortune teller. Could the fortune teller have figured out where Niuniu is? I had to sign something back then..."


    Lei Hongyun finally snapped. "Shut up!"

 The Pawns Ambition

    The next day, the police came again and arrested both Dong Lihua and Lei Hongyun for selling their biological children.


    With evidence provided by Niuniu''s adoptive mother and Dong Lihua¡¯s signature, there was no denying the charges against her. They just needed Xu Meixuan to file a lawsuit. While in the police station, Dong Lihua took all the blame, saying she had forced her son to give a false testimony.


    With Dong Lihua''s confession, the police could not arrest Lei Hongyun, as the signatures on the evidence were not hers.


    Xu Meixuan insisted on suing Dong Lihua.


    This matter eventually alarmed Meixuan''s mother. In the past two days, Meixuan had been staying at her cousin''s house. When her mother arrived, she hugged her and cried, scolding her, "I am your family. When something like this happens, you should have told me."


    Meixuan started crying too.


    Her cousin sighed and comforted them, "Aunt, sister, stop crying. Tomorrow, Niuniu will be returned. This is good news. We should be happy."


    Thinking about Niuniu being returned the next day, Meixuan wiped away her tears. "I won''t cry anymore. Tomorrow, I''ll see Niuniu. I want to be happy."


    Meixuan''s mother was also very happy. Finally, she asked the most practical question, "Meixuan, what do you plan to do after Niuniu comes back?"


    Meixuan had no hesitation. "I will divorce him. The marriage home was bought with money from both families. If he gives me the money, I can take Niuniu and live separately."


    Meixuan''s mother sighed, "I agree with the divorce. After the divorce, move back in with me. We can raise Niuniu together."


    "Mom, thank you." Meixuan hugged her mother.


    Finally, Meixuan''s mother asked about the details of the case. How did she find out that Dong Lihua sold Niuniu only after two years? Meixuan explained everything, and her mother was stunned. She sighed, "There are still such strange people in the world. I heard that there''s a fortune teller who''s quite accurate in our hometown, but surely not as amazing as this master. Meixuan, have you contacted the master? How do you plan to thank her? I have a few thousand yuan left. Should we give it all to the master?"


    Meixuan''s cousin chimed in, "I''ll contribute ten thousand. Let''s gather a hundred thousand yuan. Such masters have real skills, and we shouldn''t offend them. Giving more money means we can ask for help in the future."


    Meixuan nodded, "I have a few thousand yuan too."


    That night, Meixuan messaged Gu Qin, thanking her for helping find Niuniu and offering to pay. Gu Qin didn''t refuse and gave her an account number, "Just give some, don''t worry about it. Do more good deeds in the future; it benefits both of us."


    Although Gu Qin said that, Meixuan couldn''t just give a small amount. Finally, she gathered one hundred thousand yuan and transferred it to Gu Qin''s account. Gu Qin didn''t care about the amount. She knew this was likely all Meixuan could afford and planned to use it entirely for charity. She recently saw a news story about a remote mountainous area where children had difficulty going to school due to a large river with only ropes to cross. So, she wanted to donate to build a bridge there to make it easier for the children to go to school.


    This matter had already passed several days, and by the time Niuniu returned to Meixuan, it was the fourteenth day of the month. Tomorrow would be the Lantern Festival, the first festival after the New Year.


    Meixuan was shocked when she received Niuniu from the police station. Two-year-old Niuniu had been chubby and bright-eyed, calling her "Mom" sweetly. But now, she seemed to have grown little, was very thin, with yellow hair, wearing ill-fitting clothes, and had a dull expression.


    Meixuan couldn''t hold back and hugged Niuniu, crying. Niuniu didn''t remember her biological mother and started crying when Meixuan hugged her, though she didn''t cry for her mom.


    The police officers felt sad. "This old woman is really hateful, selling her own granddaughter and causing the child to be separated from her mother for two years. If she had a decent family, things would be better, but according to the girl, the woman often beat her. We didn''t dare to tell Meixuan for fear she might get upset."


    Meixuan''s mother felt something was wrong, pulled her away, and comforted Niuniu, "Niuniu, don''t cry. I''m your grandma. You got lost before, but now we''re together. Don''t be afraid, we won''t separate again. Do you want to come home with us?"


    The little girl continued to cry, saying, "I hurt, I hurt."


    Meixuan''s mother changed color. "Where does it hurt?"


    A female officer couldn''t hold back and told Meixuan''s mother, "This girl''s adoptive mother treated her badly. At first, she was okay, but after having her own child, she started beating and abusing her. There are still injuries on her body. Handle her gently."


    Meixuan looked like she was about to collapse, almost fainting. Meixuan''s mother took the child into a room, undressed her, and saw bruises and marks from a belt or something similar. Meixuan''s mother fainted immediately.


    Finally, the police called an ambulance to take the three of them to the hospital. Many of the female officers couldn''t help but cry.


    After the examination, Niuniu had external injuries but severe malnutrition. The doctor watched the young woman cry and didn''t understand the situation, so he didn''t speak much, just prescribed some ointment for the injuries and advised Meixuan to give Niuniu more milk. Since the child was young, it would be easy to recover, and it wouldn''t affect her future.


    Finally, Meixuan brought Niuniu back to her mother''s house. Her path ahead was long, and even now, she had many things to do. She needed to divorce Lei Hongyun, sue Dong Lihua for selling Niuniu, sue Niuniu''s adoptive mother for abuse, and give Niuniu the greatest care and love to help her accept her again and forget the painful past.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Meixuan would be very busy.


    Gu Qin was also quite busy these days. She donated twenty thousand yuan to a poor mountainous area, hoping to help them. This donation was transparent, with actual amounts displayed in the news, so there was no room for deception. This was why Gu Qin dared to donate.


    Cheng Yinxiang had returned from Liangping City. Lu Qingrong sent her back and left, saying he had some business to attend to and was planning to move his business to Daishan City. Thus, he would be busy for the next one or two months.


    The baby that Gu Qin had saved on the car a few days ago came to visit her during the New Year. The family brought many gifts, making Gu Qin feel a bit overwhelmed. The father said, "Thank you so much, Gu Student. Our family had some matters, so we came to visit you today. We really appreciate what you did for our baby."


    Gu Qin replied, "You''re too kind. You traveled so far just to visit me. It wasn¡¯t necessary."


    "Of course, of course." The parents insisted, thanking her repeatedly and eventually giving Gu Qin a large red envelope containing fifty thousand yuan. Part of this was from the twenty thousand Gu Qin had donated earlier. They even made the baby bow to Gu Qin, which made her laugh and cry.


    On the Lantern Festival, Gu Qin was almost ready to return to school. She spent the holiday at home and would leave for school tomorrow. Cheng Yinxiang made tangyuan for breakfast. When Gu Qin opened the door and saw who was outside, she blinked twice, thinking she had seen wrong.


    Outside stood a tall, handsome man wearing a black coat, his hair slightly messy, looking somewhat weary. His eyes were bright and gentle. When he saw Gu Qin open the door, he smiled.


    "Why are you here?" Gu Qin laughed. "I thought I was seeing things. Didn''t you say you had a mission?"


    Standing outside was Qin Xiansheng, whom Gu Qin hadn''t heard from in nearly half a month. His sudden appearance surprised her.


    Qin Xiansheng wore a pair of wool gloves, which he removed and stuffed into his pocket. He gently touched Gu Qin''s hair and smiled, "You''ve grown taller."


    Gu Qin nodded, smiling. "I grew two centimeters. I hope I can grow even taller."


    The original body was very petite. She remembered that when she became Gu Qin, she might have been around 155 cm. Now she was 160 cm, and with proper nutrition, she might grow another five centimeters. However, since she was already fifteen or sixteen, growing much taller was unlikely, and by eighteen, she might reach 165 cm at best.


    Qin Xiansheng''s dark, bright eyes gazed at her. Gu Qin felt odd under his gaze and touched her cheek, asking, "Do you want to come in for a while?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Sure."


    It was still early, around eight in the morning. Gu Qin had just returned from the mountain and had cooked some tangyuan. Seeing Qin Xiansheng looking weary, she asked, "Would you like to eat some?"


    Qin Xiansheng nodded. "Bother Gu Qin."


    Gu Qin cooked another dozen tangyuan. Tangyuan was sweet and could be cloying, so she didn''t cook too many. She also cut some bread, fried it with a little oil and salt, and brought it out along with some pickles and stir-fried carrot strips.


    Gu Qin finished eating and left a few tangyuan, feeling too sweet to finish. Qin Xiansheng didn''t hesitate and ate them all. He ate quickly but politely, chewing without making noise. Gu Qin sat opposite him, admiring how attractive he looked even while eating.


    She didn''t have any other thoughts; she simply found him handsome and appreciated his appearance.


    Qin Xiansheng was genuinely hungry. He finished the tangyuan, the fried bread slices, and even the leftover tangyuan in Gu Qin''s bowl. Only later did Gu Qin realize he had eaten everything.


    After finishing his meal, Qin Xiansheng cleaned the table and washed the dishes in the kitchen. Despite the narrow space, he didn''t seem uncomfortable. After coming out of the kitchen, he sat down next to Gu Qin. "You look thinner after the New Year."


    Gu Qin didn''t think she had lost weight, but she had been busy with things at her grandmother''s house, which might have caused her to lose weight. She ate a lot but exercised and practiced cultivation, so she hardly gained weight and found it difficult to gain weight.


    "Why did you come now?" Gu Qin smiled. "It''s still the Lantern Festival. Aren''t you supposed to be with your family?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "No need. I thought I should visit you here in Daishan. Are your parents at home?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "My mom wants to start a business and went to the market to investigate. She might come back tonight."


    Qin Xiansheng hummed, looking somewhat tired. Gu Qin sensed he was exhausted and suggested, "Why don''t you rest for a bit?"


    Qin Xiansheng had completed his mission and rushed straight to Daishan to see her. Now that he had seen her, he felt tired. "Can I use your room for a while? I want to rest."


    Gu Qin generously offered her room. Qin Xiansheng fell asleep almost immediately. Gu Qin didn''t disturb him and left the room, closing the door behind her. She didn''t harbor any special feelings for Qin Xiansheng; she just felt it was rare to meet a fellow professional and appreciated his help. Given their familiarity, letting him rest at her place was fine. She considered him a friend.


    Qin Xiansheng woke up four hours later. He woke up when he heard cooking sounds in the kitchen. Opening the door, he saw Gu Qin in an apron cooking, with a pot of thick-smelling soup simmering on the stove.


    Gu Qin turned and smiled, "Wash your hands; dinner is ready."


    Since Qin Xiansheng had come, Gu Qin couldn''t just prepare a simple meal. She had gone out and bought many ingredients, including braised ribs, boiled shrimp, stir-fried vegetables, potato shreds, cucumber slices, and stir-fried pork. Her cooking skills were average, but the food was edible.


    Qin Xiansheng leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Gu Qin. His heart raced, something that hadn''t happened in years, if ever. He held back a sigh, reminding himself that the little girl he liked was still too young. He needed to wait, slowly progressing, not to scare her. Their current relationship was perfect, and he shouldn''t push it further.


    Gu Qin noticed Qin Xiansheng standing still and urged him to wash his hands. He walked over and washed them before helping her bring the dishes to the table. It was just the two of them for lunch. After washing her hands, Gu Qin joined Qin Xiansheng at the table and said, "Let''s eat."


    Qin Xiansheng''s heart raced, but he tried to appear composed, moving his gaze from Gu Qin to the food. He had tasted many exquisite dishes prepared by renowned chefs, but none compared to the food Gu Qin made. He could cook well himself, but rarely did so.


    Qin Xiansheng ate slowly but steadily, and the dishes gradually diminished. Gu Qin felt embarrassed. "You came all this way, and I served such ordinary food. I apologize."


    Qin Xiansheng looked up, serious. "No, the food is delicious. Nothing compares to this."


    Gu Qin assumed he was being polite and didn''t press the issue, smiling at him. "Eat up."


    By the end, Qin Xiansheng had finished all the dishes and a bowl of braised ribs. Gu Qin was surprised; he really did find her cooking delicious.


    Qin Xiansheng volunteered to clean up and tidy the kitchen. By then, it was past one in the afternoon. He told Gu Qin, "I came in a hurry and didn''t bring clothes. Would you mind going shopping with me?"


    Gu Qin had nothing else planned for the afternoon and agreed to accompany Qin Xiansheng. Spring was approaching, but it was still chilly. Qin Xiansheng bought new clothes for Gu Qin inside and out, and they returned home. They spent the evening chatting and watching TV.


    As evening approached, Qin Xiansheng stood up to leave. "I''ll go now. I''ll visit properly the day after tomorrow and give Aunt my regards."


    Gu Qin asked, "Do you have somewhere to stay?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Don''t worry, I have a place. Goodbye."


    Gu Qin escorted him downstairs and said, "Goodbye, Mr. Qin."


    The difference between "Mr. Qin" and "Qin Xiansheng" was merely one character, but Qin Xiansheng heard her call him "Mr." every time and said warmly, "We''re pretty close friends. How about you call me Xiansheng instead of Mr.? It feels too formal."


    Gu Qin nodded. "Xiansheng, goodbye."


    After Qin Xiansheng left, he went to a nearby hotel and made a call. His voice was gentle. "Arrange a house for me in Daishan City as soon as possible, preferably ready to move into within a few days. Also, buy me a car for commuting."


    A man''s respectful voice answered, "Yes, Boss."


    The tasks Qin Xiansheng assigned were completed quickly. The next day, a bespectacled, refined man handed him the keys to the house and car. He informed Qin Xiansheng, "Boss, the car is brand new, and the house is a second-hand one, recently renovated. It belonged to a young couple who haven''t moved in yet. It''s practically a new house. They divorced, and I bought it."


    Qin Xiansheng nodded and went to inspect the house. It was indeed well-renovated and appeared to have been cleaned. He scanned the room and said, "Replace everything inside. Remove all the paintings on the walls. Keep the rooms simple and clean. Buy some clothes for me. From now on, whenever I have free time, I''ll stay here."


    The refined man, Wang Lin, was Qin Xiansheng''s personal assistant. He rarely used Wang Lin, who knew that Qin Xiansheng had a company and often helped with its affairs. Besides, Qin Xiansheng had a mysterious identity. Wang Lin didn''t ask questions. As Qin Xiansheng''s personal assistant, he didn''t fully understand why Qin Xiansheng would come to Daishan, a small city, or even...


    The long-term residence.


    He couldn''t ask the reason, only following Mr. Qin''s instructions.


    The house couldn''t be lived in now, and Qin Xiansheng returned to the hotel, planning to stay for a few days first.


    On the seventeenth day, Qin Xiansheng indeed came very early in the morning as expected. Gu Qin had been waiting at home all along today, knowing he would come early in the morning, and Cheng Yinxiang also didn''t leave until around eight o''clock. So they were definitely going to meet. When Cheng Yinxiang opened the door and saw the tall and handsome Mr. Qin standing outside with gifts, she was somewhat stunned.


    She asked, "Sir, who are you looking for?"


    Qin Xiansheng replied gently, "Auntie, hello. I''m a friend of Ahqin. There were things to handle during the New Year, so I didn''t come to visit until now. Please forgive me."


    "Oh, oh, Ahqin''s friend." Cheng Yinxiang regained her senses and hurriedly stepped aside. "Come in and sit down quickly." She felt a bit strange; her daughter was still a high school student, but this man looked like he was in his twenties. When did her daughter know him? But since her daughter was a feng shui master, perhaps he was one of her clients.

 A Delicate Performance

    Qin Xiansheng followed Cheng Yinxiang into the room. Gu Qin was just serving breakfast, a fragrant bowl of millet porridge. Gu Jia hadn''t left yet and was helping to serve the dishes. Seeing Qin Xiansheng, he was momentarily stunned, not knowing who this person was.


    Gu Qin introduced him to everyone, "This is Qin Xiansheng, my friend, and we are in the same profession."


    Qin Xiansheng placed the gift on the table and said gently, "I am Ahqin''s friend. Auntie, Jiajia, hello."


    Gu Jia nodded and greeted him warmly, calling him Brother Qin.


    Cheng Yinxiang didn''t expect this person to be Ahqin''s colleague. She glanced at him suspiciously, wondering if he was Ahqin''s master. After all, she had never seen another feng shui master like Ahqin. However, this young man seemed too young, appearing to be in his twenties. Ahqin''s master wouldn''t be so young, no matter how she looked at it.


    Gu Qin asked Qin Xiansheng, "Have you eaten? Do you need an extra set of chopsticks?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled and nodded. Gu Qin added an extra set of chopsticks and sat down with Gu Jiaren to have breakfast together. Cheng Yinxiang was quite curious about Qin Xiansheng, feeling that his gaze toward her daughter was a bit odd. How could it be? Too gentle. Every time he looked at Ahqin, his gaze was too gentle, but when he looked at her and Jiajia, although he was smiling, his expression was different.


    After breakfast, Gu Jia went to school, and Cheng Yinxiang also needed to go out. She looked at Qin Xiansheng hesitantly, then asked, "Mr. Qin, how long do you plan to stay? Why don''t I stay here to keep you company? If you''re having lunch here, I can go buy some groceries."


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Auntie, there''s no need to trouble yourself. Auntie, go about your own business. I''ll talk to Ahqin and leave soon."


    Cheng Yinxiang eventually left. She had been busy these days and might return very late tonight. She gave Ahqin some instructions and apologized to Qin Xiansheng before leaving. Only Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng were left in the room.


    They chatted for a while, and then Gu Qin mentioned what happened at her grandmother''s house. "When I went back to my grandmother''s house, I helped the police solve a case. The suspect was somewhat unusual, likely someone from the realm of the occult, but not a proper practitioner. Instead, he practiced something akin to the female method of yin-yang cultivation. Xiansheng, are there still many people in this world or era who practice such arts?"


    Qin Xiansheng listened in silence, recalling some past events. He told Gu Qin, "If you encounter something like this again, tell me. I will help you. Don''t deal with it alone. That person''s cultivation level should not be underestimated."


    Gu Qin nodded and smiled. "It''s at the later stage of refining essence and qi. But you forgot? I have Liuguang."


    Qin Xiansheng couldn''t help but stroke her hair gently, smiling. "Indeed, I almost forgot. You have Liuguang." Liuguang was a Tier 2 magical weapon, naturally capable of dealing with someone at the later stage of refining essence and qi.


    Seeing that Qin Xiansheng didn''t seem to understand Song Langtian''s situation either, Gu Qin didn''t say much more. They talked for a while longer, and Qin Xiansheng forced himself to get up and leave.


    Gu Qin had to start school the next day. In the afternoon, with no interruptions, she reviewed her lessons and spent some time online before resting.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The next day, she went to school early. Today was the first day of school, and when she arrived at the classroom, many students were already there. Lin Xinxin arrived shortly after her, with some sweat on her head, indicating she had been persistently exercising. Lin Xinxin''s exercise routine was even more intense than Gu Jia''s, as she planned to join the military, whereas Gu Jia simply wanted to change her physique.


    Lin Xinxin immediately started whispering to Gu Qin about her winter vacation experiences. They chatted quietly together.


    As more classmates arrived, their homeroom teacher, Zhu Xia, entered the room with a radiant face and a smile. She seemed excited. Zhu Xia said, "There''s a piece of good news the school will announce later. If we start the meeting now, please line up and go to the school hall."


    Gu Qin wasn''t too focused on what the good news was, but she followed the other students to the school hall. All classes had gathered, and it was a bit noisy. The homeroom teachers began to organize the students.


    Soon, the principal and vice-principal arrived. Both looked excited. Once the class formations were organized, Principal Tian Yinhua took the microphone and spoke. "Today is the first day of school for the senior and junior high school students. As usual, we''ll hold a school assembly. Usually, you''d probably fall asleep listening to me, so..."


    The students laughed. Tian Yinhua''s expression turned serious. "Actually, there''s another matter I need to inform you about."


    As the principal''s serious demeanor settled in, the students gradually stopped laughing. Tian Yinhua continued, "A few days ago, two parents came to the school and presented us with a banner, saying that a student from our school had helped them by retrieving their child who had been kidnapped..."


    Hearing this, Gu Qin couldn''t help but feel a jolt. She thought, "Oh no, please don''t let it be me. I''ve already attracted enough attention at school." Sure enough, Tian Yinhua continued, "The student who performed this act of bravery is Gu Qin from Class 17. During her winter break, she..."


    The principal vividly recounted Gu Qin''s rescue of Zai Zai. Gu Qin blushed slightly as the students murmured among themselves, glancing over at their class. Lin Xinxin wasn''t surprised; Gu Qin''s actions now were typical of her, but her previous weakness made her seem strong and kind.


    The principal spoke at length, then seemed to want Gu Qin to speak up. Gu Qin shook her head vigorously. Seeing her gesture, the principal didn''t insist further. "Since Gu Qin doesn''t like being in the spotlight, we won''t ask her to speak. However, the banner is for her, so it will be hung in Class 17."


    The students clapped, with Class 17 cheering particularly loudly. Afterward, the principal concluded the assembly.


    Back in the classroom, the homeroom teacher was still excited and praised Gu Qin once more before beginning the lesson on the semester''s tasks.


    After school, Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin returned home together. Gu Qin walked slowly, arriving home just as Gu Jia got back. Cheng Yinxiang hadn''t returned yet. Gu Qin went to the kitchen to cook dinner, with Gu Jia helping by washing vegetables and such.


    Seeing Gu Qin working diligently, Gu Jia couldn''t help but ask, "Qin Qin, who was that man who visited yesterday?"


    Gu Qin didn''t turn around. "Consider him a colleague, also someone in the realm of the occult, and a friend who has done me a significant favor. Why are you asking?"


    Gu Jia couldn''t help but sigh. The man''s gaze toward his sister was clearly inappropriate, though she didn''t seem to notice. This man must like her and be pursuing her, but she was completely oblivious. He intended to warn her, as she was too young to start dating. Moreover, this man was quite impressive.


    "Qin Qin, can''t you see?" Gu Jia asked.


    Gu Qin finally turned to look at him. "See what?"


    Gu Jia washed vegetables while saying, "That man likes you. His gaze is noticeably different. Have you met him only a few times? Is he trustworthy? What does his family do?"


    Does he like me? Gu Qin finally snapped out of it, her eyes gradually clearing. She hadn''t realized that Qin Xiansheng liked her. Having experienced two lifetimes without any emotional entanglements, she was rather slow in this area, but she never imagined hearing such words from Gu Jia.


    She wasn''t very adept at relationships, but she believed Gu Jia''s words. Recalling their first meeting, the auction of Liuguang, where they were the last ones remaining, he initially didn''t intend to give up bidding. As a fellow practitioner, he should have known how precious Liuguang was, yet after seeing her, he paused for a moment and then withdrew from the auction.


    And they didn''t even know each other, yet he followed her up the mountain and helped her subdue Liuguang.


    Recalling these events, they indeed seemed odd unless he liked her, making sense of his actions.


    Moreover, it seems like he fell for her at first sight. Gu Qin raised an eyebrow, feeling neither repulsed nor annoyed, but rather calm.

 The Empress Dowagers Favor

    Even knowing that Qin Xiansheng liked her, Gu Qin had no reaction and certainly wouldn''t say anything. Naturally, mutual affection was best, but she had no feelings for him now. Considering her age, she thought sixteen was too young for romance, at least until she was eighteen. Of course, she would only consider dating if she genuinely liked someone, which seemed unlikely given her nature. In her past life, many noble sons and princes pursued her, promising a bright future, but she remained unmoved.


    Her destiny chart indicated that she was hard to love, so it was difficult for her to develop feelings easily. From a scientific perspective, the attraction between them might be due to certain chemicals in the brain, such as phenylethylamine, which triggers love. Some people fall in love at first sight, others over time.


    From a superstitious viewpoint, her destiny chart exerted a strong pull on Qin Xiansheng.


    Since she had no intention of revealing the truth, she decided to maintain their friendship for now. If she developed feelings for him in the future, they could be together. She would let things take their natural course. Her criteria for a partner weren''t strict¡ªshe just wanted someone decent-looking who treated her well and with whom she felt a connection.


    Gu Qin wasn''t overly concerned about this matter and continued with her routine. As they cooked, Gu Jia asked, "Qin Qin, what are you going to do about it?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Nothing, just like this."


    Gu Jia stared at her. "He likes you, and if you don''t like him back, you should tell him clearly. Besides, you''re only sixteen, and you shouldn''t be dating yet."


    Gu Qin rolled her eyes. "Who was talking about dating earlier? Besides, he hasn''t confessed to me. If I tell him and it turns out he''s just being nice, what then? And I think he''s okay, so let''s just see. Maybe I''ll end up liking him."


    She set herself a deadline of two to three years. Knowing her nature, she believed that falling in love at first sight was impossible for her; it would have to be through a gradual process.


    "That won''t do!" Gu Jia became anxious. "You can''t compare yourself to me. I''m a guy and can''t lose anything. You''re a girl and need to be more reserved. You''re too young to be involved in a relationship."


    "When have I not been reserved?" Gu Qin asked. "Why can''t I compare myself to you? Does it matter if I''m a girl or a boy? Isn''t it normal to be together if we''re both interested? Okay, bro, help me wash and cut the vegetables. Let''s not talk about this anymore. Right now, I don''t have feelings for him, so stop bringing it up. What if I end up liking him?"


    Gu Jia didn''t dare say anything else and washed the vegetables in silence.


    Cheng Yinxiang returned home around seven, looking tired. She washed her hands and ate dinner. At the dinner table, she told the children, "Qin Qin, Jiajia, I''ve decided on a business venture. Your Uncle Lu reminded me of this idea, and after running around, I believe it could be profitable."


    Gu Qin swallowed her food before asking, "Mom, what business are you thinking of?"


    Cheng Yinxiang said, "I want to start a cosmetics business, but with foreign brands. Uncle Lu says he can help. He knows someone who plans to set up a counter in a large department store. The profit margin is high, but it''s complicated with various tariffs, domestic approvals, and business licenses. The most challenging part is the tariffs, but Uncle Lu says he has a way to make them cheaper. Rest assured, everything will be legitimate. We''ll need to transfer goods through other places before bringing them into the country, which will save a lot of money. He''ll handle the logistics, while I''ll take care of the domestic approvals, business licenses, and counters. What do you two think?"


    Cheng Yinxiang mentioned the brand name of the cosmetics.


    Gu Qin thought it was a good idea. "This brand is considered mid-to-high-end, and many people are keen on it. Although Daishan is a third-tier city, we haven''t seen this brand''s counter yet. Mom, starting this business would be great."


    The cosmetics business promised substantial profits if she could find a cheap import channel and negotiate lower tariffs. Regardless of the industry, competition was fierce. Gu Qin wanted to start a big business, but it wasn''t feasible. Whether real estate or entertainment, Daishan was saturated, and funding was limited. She had to start small.


    The cosmetics business required roughly 1.5 million yuan, and Gu Qin had about two million yuan saved. She didn''t need the money and planned to transfer it all to Cheng Yinxiang to manage the venture.


    Gu Jia nodded in agreement. "Nowadays, girls are very enthusiastic about skincare and makeup, and they''re willing to spend money on it. They won''t use substandard products, and they''re skeptical about domestic brands. Since Daishan lacks this brand''s counter, many buy online, but there are too many fake products. A classmate recently bought a foreign cosmetic online, and her face was ruined."


    Cheng Yinxiang was startled. Gu Qin explained, "Don''t worry, Mom. It was a fake product. Ninety-nine point nine percent of online purchases are fake. A genuine counter selling cosmetics would definitely be successful." Then she asked Gu Jia, "How is your classmate doing?"


    Gu Jia sighed. "It happened just a couple of days ago. Her face is almost ruined. The doctor said that even if she recovers, there might be some scarring, which could affect her college entrance exam."


    Gu Qin suggested, "Why don''t we invite them over? How is your classmate''s family financially? If they can afford it, I''ll charge five thousand dollars. I''m short on funds, so I need to save some. If they can afford it, I''ll charge more; if not, less. I''m quite skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, and helping her would be a good deed. Ruining a girl''s appearance is a lifelong issue, but it depends on her character. How is your classmate''s character?"


    "She''s decent. She''s a bit vain but generally nice. She ruined her face for her boyfriend, who found her unattractive because she didn''t dress up. She only used makeup to look better. She bought a foreign brand online, but it was a fake. After using it, she developed acne, fearing her boyfriend would reject her. Her parents run a business and often return home late. One night, they discovered her face was almost ruined and asked what had happened."


    Gu Qin thought the girl was careless for staying with such a boyfriend.


    Gu Jia continued, "Her parents took her to the hospital and confronted her boyfriend. This incident spread throughout the school. When her mother went to the school, she cried, indicating the severity of her condition. Classmates who visited her at the hospital said that it would be nearly impossible to avoid scars."


    Gu Jia looked at Gu Qin. "With a price tag of five thousand dollars, if you can heal her face, her parents will surely agree. They run a business and don''t mind spending a bit. Besides, she''s their only daughter."


    Gu Jia didn''t think it was wrong for his sister to charge money. As a feng shui master, charging was normal. "Qin Qin, how do you know how to treat this?"


    Gu Qin hummed in agreement. "I learned from my master. In the realm of the occult, we learn five skills: mountains, medicine, destiny, divination, and physiognomy. Knowing medical techniques is normal. Help me contact your classmate. If they''re willing, they can come over the day after tomorrow.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The topic then shifted from Cheng Yinxiang''s business to Gu Qian''s ointment. Cheng Yinxiang asked, "Qin Qin, your ointment is so effective, why don''t you apply for a patent? That way, you could produce this ointment specifically."


    Gu Qian replied, "It''s not that simple. It''s hard to break into the market. Although the recipe isn''t expensive, how many bottles do I need to sell to make 50,000 yuan? This is fine as it is; gradually, with more fame, others will buy it too." What she didn''t say was that while her ointment was indeed better than some on the market, it wasn''t a cure-all. If Gu Jia''s classmate''s injuries were severe, she would have to infuse it with qi during the brewing process, making it incomparable to a regular ointment.


    Hearing that her classmate''s condition was quite serious, Gu Qian knew she would need to use the qi-infused ointment.


    After dinner, Gu Qian gave her bank card to Cheng Yinxiang and asked her to transfer money herself. Cheng Yinxiang originally planned to do a deal worth no more than 500,000 yuan, but now she had to take her daughter''s money first to cover an emergency.


    Gu Qian went out again to buy medicinal ingredients for the ointment and brewed it in the evening. While brewing, she slowly infused it with qi. Once cooled, she poured it into a small glass bottle. She then chanted incantations and sealed the bottle with her palm, emitting a faint golden light. This was known as a hand seal, a fundamental method in Daoism where certain parts of the palm or fingers are pressed or held in specific positions to summon spirits or enhance effects.


    Although the ointment contained qi, which was beneficial but prone to dispersing, the hand seal helped maintain its potency. Without it, the ointment wouldn''t be worth 50,000 yuan.


    The next day, Gu Jia went to school and got Dang Jia''s contact information from a female classmate. He found Dang Jia''s friend and asked for the number. The shy girl blushed and whispered the number to Gu Jia.


    Seeing Gu Jia write down Dang Jia''s number, the girl couldn''t help asking, "Jia, what are you going to do with Dang Jia''s number?"


    Gu Jia said, "I know someone who can treat the injury on her face."


    The girl exclaimed, "Really? Jia, you''re not lying, right?"


    Gu Jia smiled, "Why would I lie? It''s a bit expensive, but my sister learned medicine from her master, so she knows how to handle this."


    The girl asked, "How much does it cost?"


    "50,000 yuan," Gu Jia replied. "It''s expensive, but the effect is guaranteed. Her face won''t scar anymore. And we only charge if it heals."


    The girl was surprised, thinking 50,000 yuan was too much. But Gu Jia explained that if the injury was severe, it was worth it. He also mentioned seeing Gu Qian infuse qi into the ointment, understanding it was related to something more significant.


    The girl remained silent, and Gu Jia called Dang Jia. Dang Jia answered, "Hello."


    Gu Jia leaned against the wall, "Dang Jia, it''s me, Gu Jia. I heard about your injury. Are you okay?"


    Dang Jia, mistaking the call for her boyfriend, was initially disappointed. When he asked about her face, she started crying.


    Gu Jia was taken aback and tried to calm her down, "Hey, don''t cry. I haven''t said anything yet... Hey, stop crying!"


    Dang Jia cried even harder. She had been in a relationship and bought fake cosmetics online, leading to severe skin issues. After her parents discovered her condition, they took her to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with acquired facial skin aging syndrome, a rare condition with no effective treatment currently available. They suggested plastic surgery as the only option.


    Dang Jia felt desperate and hopeless. Her parents, concerned, accompanied her to the hospital. When they saw her crying after receiving Gu Jia''s call, they assumed it was the ex-boyfriend and angrily confronted him.


    Gu Jia explained, "Uncle, I''m not her boyfriend. I''m just her classmate. I heard about her condition and my sister can treat it. If you agree, we''ll charge 50,000 yuan after the treatment."


    Dang''s father was skeptical, "A sixteen-year-old girl? How can she treat such a serious condition?"


    Gu Jia said, "She can, and she charges 50,000 yuan. We treat first, then pay. If it doesn''t work, there''s no charge."


    Dang Jia decided to try, and her parents reluctantly agreed. They took her to see Gu Qian the next evening. Gu Qian reassessed the situation and increased the price to 100,000 yuan due to the severity of the condition.


    Dang Jia''s parents were still unsure but eventually agreed. Over the next ten days, Gu Qian treated Dang Jia using acupuncture and her special ointment. Dang Jia noticed improvements within five days, and her parents were amazed.


    Dang Jia was grateful and followed all instructions. Gu Qian advised her to focus on her studies, emphasizing the importance of her future and health. Dang Jia decided to leave her ex-boyfriend and focus on herself.


    Dang''s parents watched their daughter recover and were relieved.


    The mother of Deng was truly angry and shot him a glance, "Lao Deng, do you want to go back on your word and not give the money? Can''t you see that the girl really has skills? Don''t take any more chances and think wrongly. The truth is that our daughter''s wounds were indeed healed by this young girl. Don''t ruin this good relationship for a bit of money. I''ve been chatting with the girl''s mother these days, and I heard that this girl is actually a feng shui master. Do you know what a feng shui practitioner is? If she can do such things, her expertise in feng shui must be profound. It''s said that a truly powerful feng shui master can easily disrupt the feng shui at home with just a wave of their hand. Our family runs a business, so we can''t afford to offend such people."


    Deng father frowned slightly, "I didn''t say I wouldn''t give it, I just had some doubts about the doctor''s diagnosis."


    The mother of Deng snorted, "Can one hospital make a mistake? Can two hospitals also make a mistake? We''ve taken Jiayi to several hospitals, haven''t we? Calculate it yourself. Could it be that everyone made a mistake?"


    Deng father finally did not speak. On the eighth day of treating Deng Jiayi, the mother of Deng brought the cash of 100,000 yuan to Gu''s house and gave it to Gu Qian. Gu Qian thanked her and accepted it. After treating Deng Jiayi with acupuncture, Gu Qian said, "Come again after tomorrow for two days, then remember to apply the ointment every day. Apply it for twenty days, and all the scars will be gone. By then, there won''t be a single scar left on her face."


    Deng Jiayi sat up from the bed and solemnly thanked Gu Qian, "Qianqian, thank you."


    Gu Qian smiled, "Don''t be polite. In the future, don''t be so foolish."


    Two days later, Deng Jiayi''s acupuncture treatment ended. The originally wrinkled areas on her face had become smooth, although the color was still somewhat red. As long as she applied the ointment for another twenty days, the red marks would fade away. She sighed in relief, as did the parents of Deng.


    Twenty days passed quickly. Cheng Yinxiang had been busy with the cosmetics counter for a month. This process took at least two to three months. Gu Qian was still the same. Qin Xiansheng came very punctually every day, arriving when Gu Qian finished school in the evening. During this month, Cheng Yinxiang was out working, so Gu Qian cooked dinner every night. Qin Xiansheng helped out, but he rarely ate here. Most of the time, he would leave after helping Gu Qian finish her work.


    February 28th was the start of the new semester. A month had already passed, and it was now April. The weather had completely warmed up. Dai Mountain was considered part of the southern region, and spring usually started to warm up early. Now most people were wearing light jackets.


    In these past few days, Gu Qian had just completed her monthly exams.


    Deng Jiayi''s injuries had healed, so she naturally returned to school. Her classmates were amazed to see that her face was completely healed, not only from the injury but also her skin looked even fairer than before. The saying ''one white covers three uglinesses'' was no exaggeration. With her skin now smooth and fair, Deng Jiayi looked much better.


    Gu Qian also gave her a few dietary therapy recipes and a recipe for homemade toner, all natural and good for the skin without causing damage.


    The previous injuries of Deng Jiayi spread throughout No. 2 High School. Now that she had no trace of injury, everyone was curious about how it happened. She did not hide it and told everyone that it was Gu Jia''s younger sister who treated her. Therefore, soon all the students in No. 2 High School knew that Gu Jia''s younger sister was very capable and skilled at treating scars.


    Some girls even came over asking if Gu Jia would sell those ointments. They thought Deng Jiayi''s skin became so fair because of the ointment, but they were scolded by Gu Jia and sent away. When she went back, she told her sister, Gu Qian, who laughed, "It''s not the ointment''s effect, it''s just the acupuncture''s effect." Yuan Qi plus acupuncture stimulation helps skin regeneration, so how could the skin not improve?


    The next day, some female students came to ask, and Gu Jia directly refused. Unexpectedly, the female students did not give up and asked if Gu Jia could let her sister perform acupuncture, regardless of the cost. It seemed that girls had no resistance to their appearance. Of course, Gu Jia refused, and this time he rejected them directly.

 The Emperors Gaze

    The banquet was merely a formality, a time to socialize. Gu Qian knew only a few people, mostly young ones, so she sat down with Qin Xiansheng after taking some food and drink.


    Gu Qian ate a few bites, and nearby people continued to watch and scrutinize her. Seeing her focused on eating, Qin Xiansheng went to fetch a cup of warm water.


    The woman looked at Gu Qin with increasing wariness. "Who are you? What do you want with my husband?"


    "Granny, I have something to discuss with Manager Liu," Gu Qin ignored the probing look of the woman. "Can you please let him come out for a moment?" This woman, with her downturned and tightly closed lips, a nose with a bump, and the whites of her eyes showing, clearly indicated that she was difficult to get along with and had a suspicious and petty personality.


    The woman''s eyes suddenly turned fierce. "What do you want with our old Liu? I''ve never heard him mention you. Tell me, what''s your relationship with our old Liu?" As she spoke, she actually tried to grab Gu Qin¡¯s clothes.


    Gu Qin naturally wouldn¡¯t let her grab her clothes. She slightly shifted her steps, causing the woman to stumble and almost fall herself. Regaining her balance, the woman immediately began to curse loudly. "You little sl*t, where are you from? Are you old Liu''s mistress? You shameless thing, at such a young age, not learning anything good but seducing people! Are you still a student? Which school do you go to? I''m telling you, tomorrow I''ll tell your teacher about this, so all your classmates will know what kind of person you are!"


    "Madam," Gu Qin''s tone also turned bad, "you''re mistaken. I came to see Manager Liu about Cui Hui from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. Once you tell Manager Liu, he''ll know everything."


    "You''re full of it! What has the Bureau of Industry and Commerce got to do with this? I think you¡¯re just old Liu''s mistress!" It wasn''t hard for the woman to suspect someone like this. Manager Liu hadn''t touched her for months. Whenever she asked him, he said he was tired and had no energy. Although they didn¡¯t have much before, there were at least a few times a month. Now, after three or four months, he didn¡¯t even touch her anymore, making her suspicious that someone else might be involved. Seeing such a young and beautiful girl come to find her husband, she went crazy.


    Gu Qin¡¯s face darkened. "Clean up your mouth. I don¡¯t fancy your man."


    "Do you dare tell me to clean up my mouth!" The woman completely exploded, shouting loudly, "You little sl*t, let me tell you, you dare to do but you dare not..." Before she could finish, she suddenly felt a chill all over her body, as if her throat was being choked. She couldn¡¯t speak, no matter how hard she tried.


    Gu Qin coldly said, "Clean up your mouth. I am a geomancer, and I came to ask Manager Liu some questions." With that, she released her fingers, removing the yin qi that had wrapped around the woman''s throat.


    The woman coughed twice, discovering she could speak again. She covered her throat and coughed, then pointed at Gu Qin and started cursing again, "You little... " But before she could finish, she found she couldn¡¯t speak again. She looked at Gu Qin in fear and realized something was wrong.


    Looking at the woman''s darkened uterus color, Gu Qin said, "You have a son, right? Your son has been having bad luck recently, hasn''t he? And he''s sick too, right? He often has nightmares, doesn''t he?" After saying this, she released the woman¡¯s fingers, and the yin qi gradually dissipated, allowing the woman to speak again. Surprised, the woman asked, "How did you know?"


    Gu Qin remained silent, looking past the woman to see Manager Liu in his pajamas, not yet fully awake. He started scolding without even seeing who was at the door. "Old woman, why are you yelling outside early in the morning? Don''t you know how annoying it is? I can''t sleep!"


    The woman turned back, still not believing Gu Qin¡¯s words. She thought maybe this girl really was an old Liu''s mistress and that old Liu had told her about their family matters, possibly to cheat them out of money. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. "You shameless thing, now your mistress comes to find you. I''ll beat you to death..."


    Without thinking, she charged towards Manager Liu, colliding with him and knocking them both down. Manager Liu, startled, quickly got up and ran to the door. "Little girl, why did you come?"


    Gu Qin looked at him. "Did Cui Hui find out that I had you record something?"


    "This..." Manager Liu broke into a cold sweat. "No, nothing happened."


    Gu Qin didn''t even bother using her third eye on him. From his appearance, she could tell he was lying, avoiding eye contact and shifting his eyes while speaking. Gu Qin continued, "I¡¯ll give you one last chance to tell me the truth. If you do, I won¡¯t cause you trouble."


    Manager Liu hesitated, "Are you serious, little girl? If I tell you everything, you won¡¯t cause me trouble?"


    Gu Qin nodded. Manager Liu sighed and noticed a neighbor coming downstairs, pointing to the room. "Little girl, come inside and talk." He went in first, followed by Gu Qin. The woman, realizing this girl was indeed here for something important, stayed quiet. Seeing passersby peering into the room, she slammed the door shut.


    Manager Liu sat on the sofa. "I had no choice. After giving you the recording, you reported it, and Cui Hui found out immediately. She knew it was me who recorded it. At first, I refused. But recently, I wanted to open a shop, and I couldn''t get the business license. They kept delaying, saying I was unqualified. Later, I found out Cui Hui was behind it. Even though she was fired, she still had connections. There was nothing I could do. Finally, I had to tell her it was you who had the recording..."


    Seeing Gu Qin''s silent expression, Manager Liu thought she was angry and scared. Remembering her ruthless behavior, he didn¡¯t dare provoke her further. "Little girl, I¡¯m telling the truth. I had no choice but to tell her. Please don¡¯t be mad at me."


    Gu Qin shook her head. "Forget it, I understand." Just as she was about to leave, a teenager came out of the room. He was tall with average looks, single-lidded eyes, somewhat resembling Manager Liu, clearly his son. The teenager looked exhausted, pale, with dark shadows under his eyes, rubbing his eyes as if he hadn¡¯t slept.


    Gu Qin looked at the teenager and said to Manager Liu and the woman, "If you can''t solve your son''s problems, you can find me. I am a geomancer and can help, but I charge a high fee." Saying this, she prepared to leave.


    The woman''s face alternated between green and white, staring at Gu Qin, feeling embarrassed to ask for help. However, Manager Liu quickly stopped Gu Qin. "Master, can you tell us what you see? We are desperate. Our son has been having nightmares lately, waking up drenched in sweat every night."Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The woman finally came over, apologizing softly. "Little girl, I was wrong earlier. I apologize. Can you help us if you see anything?"


    The couple had no other options. Their only son was in high school, and despite average grades, they were very protective. They never disciplined him harshly. Recently, he fell ill, and hospitals couldn¡¯t diagnose anything. Every night, he had nightmares. They asked him, but he was too frightened to say anything.


    Manager Liu knew Gu Qin was a geomancer and had abilities, but he was afraid to seek her help after revealing the recording to Cui Hui. Unexpectedly, she came to him and identified his son''s issues.


    Desperate, Manager Liu nearly knelt down, while the teenager stood there, looking unwell.


    Seeing his parents about to kneel, the teenager shouted, "I have nothing wrong with me. Let her go. Don¡¯t beg her. I¡¯m fine, no one needs to look at me."


    Gu Qin was reluctant to press further, not out of compassion for the teenager, but because of the situation behind him. She said, "Though you weren''t directly involved, you were a witness. Keeping it hidden was wrong, and you deserved what happened."


    The teenager¡¯s face changed drastically, terrified. "What do you know? How did you find out? Leave my things alone, they have nothing to do with me..."


    Seeing their son scared, Manager Liu and the woman were bewildered. Manager Liu knelt down, pleading. "Master, I¡¯m sorry. Please help my son. What¡¯s wrong with him?"


    The woman was frantic, pulling the teenager towards Gu Qin. "Master, please help my son. I¡¯m sorry for my earlier behavior. Please help him. What¡¯s wrong with him?"


    "It¡¯s his problem. If he doesn¡¯t want to talk, I can¡¯t help him. Ask him yourself," Gu Qin watched as the teenager¡¯s face grew paler and paler...


    Manager Liu was desperate, grabbing his son¡¯s collar. "Tell me what happened. Did you get into trouble outside? This girl mentioned something following your son."


    "No, no, nothing happened," the teenager pushed his father away, his face pale, rushing into the room.


    Manager Liu and the woman looked at each other, unsure what to do. Gu Qin said, "He can come to me if he changes his mind. I warned you, it costs ten thousand. Even if he turns himself in to the police, it won¡¯t end there. That thing is following him. Few in Daishan City can handle it."


    She left, leaving the couple pale and fearful. They looked at each other, panic and fear evident in their eyes. What did the master mean about self-surrender? What had their son done?


    After leaving the Liu family, Gu Qin went straight to Cui Hui. When Cui Hui was dismissed from her job, her husband Yu Feng told her to rest at home, but she couldn¡¯t let go of the grudge against Manager Liu. She asked him about the recording, and he eventually admitted it when he needed help with his business license.


    Cui Hui used her connections to make things difficult for Manager Liu, hoping to get revenge. When she learned about Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s business license, she used similar tactics to delay it.


    Cui Hui never expected Gu Qin to come to her. "Little girl, who are you looking for?"


    Gu Qin observed Cui Hui''s face, noticing she was clever but not deceitful. She stated her purpose directly. "Aunt Cui, hello, I¡¯m Gu Qin, Yu Jie¡¯s classmate."


    Cui Hui knew Gu Qin was the one who framed her son. Her face darkened. "What do you want? Framing my son wasn¡¯t enough? Making him lose face in front of the whole school wasn¡¯t enough?"


    Gu Qin calmly said, "Aunt Cui, you misunderstand. Yu Jie framed me to win over a girl in our class. I was the top student in the grade. Do you think I needed to copy your son? I know you favor your child, but there are limits. He should apologize to me, and he deserves punishment for his actions. Isn¡¯t it excessive to take it out on my family?"


    Cui Hui¡¯s face turned black, her anger making her shake. Before she could speak, Gu Qin continued, "You framed my mother, and I have evidence. You lost your job, and I thought we were even. But you still targeted my mother¡¯s business license. Is that fair?"


    Cui Hui was furious. "I¡¯ve already been fired. How could I interfere with her business license?"


    Gu Qin smiled. "Aunt Cui, are you denying it?"


    Cui Hui snapped, "I swear it wasn¡¯t me! You little brat, at such a young age, you¡¯re so malicious. My son¡¯s frame-up of your mother wasn¡¯t serious, but you framed me and recorded me. How could you be so wicked at such a young age?"


    "Your wickedness is yours," Gu Qin¡¯s face darkened. "Your son did something wrong, and you took it out on my mother. If not for the evidence, she would have been accused of embezzlement. Who is wicked, Aunt Cui? To make it clear, the police solved the case quickly because the chief personally intervened. Otherwise, why would they care about a twenty-thousand-yuan embezzlement case?"


    Seeing Cui Hui¡¯s face turn pale, Gu Qin continued, "I don¡¯t like to push people to the brink. If you want revenge, take it out on me. Why involve my mother? I could have avoided this, but today I came to lay everything out. Either you stop bothering my mother¡¯s business license, and we move on, or I¡¯ll find someone else to get it done. In that case, you owe me, and I¡¯ll use your son¡¯s reputation to repay the debt."


    Cui Hui glared at Gu Qin, confused. Gu Qin said, "I have the recording. If you don¡¯t want it online, I can delete it. But if you continue to hassle my family, I¡¯ll upload the recording to the school forum and expose your bribery scandal. What do you think?"


    Cui Hui was taken aback. "Aunt Cui, don¡¯t blame me. I thought our dispute was minor, but you got involved and slandered my mother. We don¡¯t have deep-seated hatred. Why go to such lengths? Let¡¯s settle this. If you stop hassling my mother¡¯s business license, we¡¯re even."


    She didn¡¯t plan to ruin Cui Hui with a feng shui setup. She just wanted the license for Cheng Yinxiang. "Alright, alright, clever little girl. I agree. I¡¯ll talk to my colleagues and ensure no more trouble for your family. This is settled."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Thank you, Aunt Cui."


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t want to use feng shui to resolve things if she could avoid it. She just wanted Cui Hui to stop targeting her family. Seeing Cui Hui concede, Gu Qin was content to leave it at that. Just as she was about to leave, Cui Hui said urgently, "Can you delete the recording?"


    Gu Qin turned back. "Instead of asking me to delete the recording, why don¡¯t you ask Manager Liu to delete it? As long as you stop troubling my family, I guarantee the recording won¡¯t be leaked. You need some pressure to prevent any future tricks."


    Cui Hui replied, "You can trust me. I¡¯ll make sure the recording stays deleted. But I can¡¯t guarantee what Manager Liu will do. He¡¯s a real scoundrel."


    Gu Qin felt Cui Hui was foolish. She had leverage over both Cui Hui and Manager Liu, but instead of using it, she just wanted the business license issue resolved. "You better hope Manager Liu didn¡¯t keep a backup. He¡¯s a real scoundrel and will retaliate if he gets the chance."


    Cui Hui realized her mistake. She needed to focus on getting Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s business license first, then deal with Manager Liu.


    Gu Qin first went home, while Cheng Yinxiang was resting in the room. She had lost quite a bit of weight recently, which made Gu Qin feel concerned. At noon, she reheated the dishes that Brother Qin prepared yesterday and stir-fried some green vegetables before calling Cheng Yinxiang to come and eat.


    "Qin Qin, how is the business license going?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Mom, don''t worry. I''ve talked to Cui Hui. She knows she was wrong and said the business license will be ready in a couple of days. No one will cause trouble anymore."


    Cheng Yinxiang sighed with relief but then worried again, "Qin Qin, did you threaten them or anything?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "Mom, how could I do that? I just told her that if they still target us, I''ll post the recording on the school forum for everyone to see what kind of person Yu Jie''s mom is. She won''t make things difficult for us anymore."


    "You kids..."


    Parents everywhere care deeply about their children, but Gu Qin felt that sometimes this care can be misplaced. Some parents only protect their children without considering whether it''s their child''s fault. Such parents are seriously misguided and even criminal because they give their children the wrong example, potentially ruining their lives.


    For instance, with Yu Jie''s situation, he slandered her, and she made him apologize in front of all the students. Although this might seem harsh, if his parents had guided him correctly, he would have recognized his mistake and used this experience as a valuable lesson rather than wallowing in self-pity.


    Therefore, Gu Qin believed that parents have a significant influence on their children.


    After lunch, the two of them went straight to Yile Mall. On the way, Gu Qin called Mr. Lu Xiao Man''s father. Mr. Lu answered quickly, "Hello, are you Master Gu? It''s an honor... As it turns out, Mr. Lu knew about Gu Qin''s phone number from his daughter and kept it.


    "Mr. Lu, hello," Gu Qin greeted, helping Cheng Yinxiang onto the bus. They found seats at the back, with Gu Qin sitting by the window. She continued talking to Mr. Lu, "Mr. Lu, it''s me, Gu Qin. Just call me by my name. I''m not a master, and Xiao Man and I are friends."


    Even though they were friends, Xiao Man always addressed her as "Master" when they met, as did Jiang Ni''s friends. They used to joke around, but after Ji Ziyu''s parents'' funeral, they became more reserved around her.

 The First Conspiracy

    Mr. Lu laughed heartily, "No, no, you are a master. How can we address you casually?" After learning about the young woman''s abilities, they understood that someone like her was beyond their reach, even if she came from humble beginnings. They could only respect and honor her, never offending her.


    This was their first interaction, so he didn''t know her personality well enough to call her by her name. Mr. Lu insisted, and Gu Qin relented, letting him continue to address her formally. She explained her purpose, and Mr. Lu chuckled, "Then, Master Gu, go to Yile Mall first. I''ll come over shortly to handle the matter personally."


    "Thank you, Mr. Lu," Gu Qin responded.


    "Master Gu is too formal. You''ve helped my daughter so much; this is nothing."


    After hanging up, Gu Qin reassured her worried mother, "Mom, it''s almost settled. Mr. Lu will personally go to Yile Mall soon. We should be able to resolve the counter issue today, and the business license should be nearly ready. In another half month, these cosmetics should be on the counters."


    Cheng Yinxiang sighed with relief, "Thank goodness you''re here to help. Otherwise, Mom would have been... This day and age, starting a business requires so many connections."


    Lu Qingrong had been busy lately, trying to move the business from Liangping City to Daishan. It had taken nearly two months, and he only returned to stay with Cheng Yinxiang for a day or two occasionally. However, he should be mostly done by the end of this month.


    The bus gradually filled up with people. The rental location was quite far from Yile Mall, and it took an hour and a half to get there. Gu Qin thought about buying a vehicle for commuting once the counter was set up. "Mom, why don''t we buy a car for convenience? A car around ten thousand yuan should be fine. It would save you a lot of trouble going to Yile Mall."


    "For now, let''s wait and see," Cheng Yinxiang hesitated. Setting up the counter required at least 1.5 million yuan. When they started, Gu Qin had two million in her account, and Cheng Yinxiang had fifty thousand. Now, they had a hundred thousand left. Cheng Yinxiang hadn''t spent it yet, feeling guilty about using her daughter''s money. She planned to consider buying a car after the business became profitable.


    Gu Qin tried to persuade her, but seeing her mother''s reluctance, she gave up and decided to ask Brother Qin to help her pick out a car later. It didn''t need to be expensive; a car around ten thousand yuan would suffice.


    The bus stopped at a station, and many people got on, making the bus very crowded. Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang sat in the rear seats. An older woman in her forties and a young woman in her twenties got on. The older woman was dressed simply, while the younger woman was fashionable and wore perfume.


    Gu Qin glanced at the older woman, who had a shrewd face, and decided not to offer her a seat. She lowered her head, but the older woman reached out and tugged at her sleeve, speaking in dialect, "Girl, I''m not feeling well. Can you please give me your seat?"


    Out of respect for elders, Gu Qin nodded and stood up, giving the seat to the woman, who thanked her.


    "You''re welcome," Gu Qin replied.


    Cheng Yinxiang, fearing her daughter was tired, wanted to give her seat to Gu Qin. Gu Qin noticed her hesitation and said, "Mom, sit down. I''m fine. We''re almost at the stop."


    Cheng Yinxiang sat by the window, and they couldn''t talk easily. Gu Qin began to think about other matters.


    Soon, she heard the woman say to her mother, "Sister, my daughter isn''t feeling well. Can you please give her your seat?"


    Gu Qin looked up and saw the woman talking to Cheng Yinxiang, asking her to give up her seat for the younger woman. Cheng Yinxiang, being soft-hearted, was about to comply when Gu Qin suddenly asked, "Auntie, where does your daughter feel unwell?"


    The younger woman glanced at Gu Qin and said, "I feel dizzy."


    "Yes, yes, my daughter feels dizzy," the woman quickly added, "Sister, can you please give your seat to my daughter?"


    Seeing Cheng Yinxiang rise, Gu Qin coldly said, "Mom, you''ve been working hard lately, getting up early and staying up late. You''ve lost ten pounds. If you have a seat, sit down. It''s okay for young girls to stand, right?"


    Cheng Yinxiang, seeing her daughter''s concern, sighed inwardly and sat down, knowing her daughter cared for her. The woman seemed displeased and glared at Gu Qin, "Girl, I thought you were sensible, but now you''re being disrespectful. My daughter isn''t feeling well, why can''t you give her your seat?"


    Gu Qin looked at the woman, "Where does your daughter feel unwell? My mom is about your age. Why doesn''t she stand up instead?"


    The woman was caught off guard, "I don''t feel well either."


    Gu Qin snorted and remained silent. There are always people who take advantage of your kindness and demand more.


    The younger woman''s face also turned red, "I''m pregnant. Why can''t you give me your seat?"Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Gu Qin examined the younger woman, "Pregnant and wearing heavy makeup? Wearing perfume? And your hair smells like it''s freshly styled? Also, wearing high heels? Let me check your pulse..." After touching her wrist, she said, "Your pulse is flat, not slippery. Where''s the pregnancy? Trying to take a seat by lying? Even if you are pregnant, your mother should be worried about you, not mine."


    The younger woman''s face flushed, speechless.


    Her mother grew angry, "How dare you speak to my daughter like that? What lack of manners!"


    Gu Qin snapped, "Shut up! You know best about your own manners. You already have a seat, and if you''re worried about your lazy daughter, let her sit. Why should my mother give up her seat for you? My mother is about your age, and I care about her. No way!"


    The woman was furious, turning to Cheng Yinxiang, "You young woman, look at yourself, in your thirties with a grown daughter. Must have gotten pregnant young. If you had any manners, you wouldn''t have had a child so young. Teach your daughter better. Don''t let her follow your example, having a baby at such a young age."


    Cheng Yinxiang appeared much younger than forty, looking at least ten years younger.


    Cheng Yinxiang''s face darkened, "My daughter kindly offered you a seat, and now you''re speaking rudely. Do you have any shame?"


    Onlookers gathered around, observing the scene. They felt the woman and her daughter were unreasonable. The younger woman''s heavy makeup and high heels didn''t look like she was pregnant. Gu Qin had even checked her pulse and found she wasn''t pregnant.


    The woman cursed loudly, "You''re shameless, having a baby young, lacking manners, setting a bad example..."


    Gu Qin was fed up with such people. They''d complain no matter what you did. She released a thin thread of yin qi around the woman''s throat. The woman suddenly felt a pain in her throat and tried to grab it, but found nothing. Her voice choked, and her face turned red. She was terrified.


    The younger woman noticed her mother''s distress and grabbed her arm, "Mom, what''s wrong? Why aren''t you talking?"


    The woman struggled to speak but couldn''t, almost crying.


    At the next stop, Cheng Yinxiang stood to leave with her daughter, but the younger woman pulled her back, "It must be you two who made my mom sick. I don''t care, you have to take responsibility and send her to the hospital."


    Gu Qin, eager to deal with the mall matter, didn''t want to argue further. She released the yin qi, and the woman gasped, regaining her voice, "You two can''t just walk away! You made me ill with your behavior!"


    "Are you sick? I doubt it. You''re just trying to extort us," Gu Qin countered, "If you want compensation, we can go to the police."


    Onlookers agreed, "Too much! The girl offered her seat, but you weren''t satisfied and tried to make her mother give up her seat. That''s extortion. We can all testify if you go to the police."


    The woman and her daughter were furious but hesitant. They didn''t understand what happened. Everyone on the bus criticized them, and they couldn''t argue back. They watched as Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang left the bus.


    As they exited, Gu Qin turned and warned, "Don''t let them push the driver. They''ll cause trouble. They''ll pull at the driver, causing an accident."


    The woman stared at her, "Are you crazy?" Why would she say something like that?


    Gu Qin replied, "I''m a feng shui master. I can tell you have a disaster today. Be careful, and you''ll be fine." With that, she led Cheng Yinxiang away.


    They walked into the mall, a multi-story building with several floors of commercial space. The first four floors belonged to Mr. Lu. The first floor was for dining, the second for large department stores, the third for cosmetics and luxury goods, and the fourth for clothing. The upper floors included hotels and entertainment venues. The top floor was likely Mr. Lu''s company.


    Cheng Yinxiang had visited before but was always stopped on the top floor. This time, they went directly to the top floor. The receptionist, a pretty girl in her twenties, greeted them politely, "Hello, may I help you?"


    "We''re here to see Mr. Lu. We contacted him earlier," Gu Qin replied.


    The girl smiled, "Sure, please wait a moment. Mr. Lu mentioned he''d be in touch. Would you like to wait in the VIP lounge?"


    "No, thank you. We''ll wait here for Mr. Lu," Gu Qin said, pointing to the waiting area.


    "Very well. Please have a seat. I''ll bring you some coffee," the girl offered.


    "Thank you."


    Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang sat down. The girl brought them coffee and left. Ten minutes passed, and Mr. Lu hadn''t arrived. Gu Qin''s phone rang. It was Mr. Lu, sounding anxious, "Master Gu, traffic is terrible. Are you there yet?"


    "Mr. Lu, don''t worry. Drive safely. We''re here and resting," Gu Qin reassured.


    "Good, good. Please wait a little longer. I''ll be there soon."


    With traffic delaying Mr. Lu, they waited. Unexpectedly, a middle-aged man emerged from an office, recognizing Cheng Yinxiang and frowned, approaching them, "Why are you here again? Didn''t I tell you we have no more spaces for your shop? Come back again, and you''ll find none available."


    Cheng Yinxiang replied, "Manager Shi, you misunderstood. I''m here to see Mr. Lu."


    "Mr. Lu?" Manager Shi sneered, "He won''t see you. This isn''t his office. He rarely comes here. Your waiting is pointless."


    Gu Qin frowned. Thinking about her mother''s struggles, she intervened, "We have an appointment with Mr. Lu. He''ll be here shortly. It''s no trouble for you, Manager Shi."


    Manager Shi''s face darkened, thinking they were causing trouble, "Mr. Lu doesn''t see just anyone. If you cause a fuss, I''ll call security."


    The receptionist, noticing the tension, whispered to Manager Shi, "Manager Shi, Mr. Lu just called..."


    Manager Shi''s expression changed, and he couldn''t target Gu Qin and Cheng Yinxiang anymore. He turned back to his office, still not fully believing it. He personally called Boss Lu, who immediately said, "They''ve arrived, right? I''m stuck in traffic. Take good care of them, and I''ll handle this matter myself later. Just make sure to treat them well, especially the young girl; don''t offend her."


    Manager Shi was sweating coldly and quickly went out, showing great respect. "Since you two are guests of Boss Lu, why don''t you wait in the VIP room? We apologize for any previous misconduct. There are too many people asking about renting spaces here every day. Please forgive us for our poor attitude."


    Gu Qin shook her head. "It''s fine. We''re comfortable sitting here. Manager Shi can go back to work now."


    After Manager Shi left, Gu Qin looked at him again with a cold gaze. The reason wasn''t because of his previous disrespect but something else. Manager Shi had a scar on his fish tail and the evil gate area, which appeared dark and black. It was clear that Manager Shi had been unfaithful and had a mistress outside. The scar on that area was slightly dark and dull, indicating a destructive love affair or  trouble caused by romantic entanglements. If not resolved soon, there could be bloodshed.


    Father Lu arrived half an hour later, drenched in sweat. He hurriedly reached out to shake hands with Gu Qin. "Master Gu, hello, hello. Sorry for the delay."


    Gu Qin smiled. "I should thank Mr. Lu. No need to be so formal, Mr. Lu."


    "Then Master Gu, shall we go down and take a look? If you like any shop, I''ll find a way to clear it."


    Gu Qin replied, "Little Man mentioned some tenants who weren''t following the contract. Could you show me which ones they are? I''ll choose from among them."


    "No problem," Father Lu smiled. "We were planning to terminate contracts with them anyway. They breached the contract first, damaging the reputation of the mall and market."


    Gu Qin wanted to come in person to check the feng shui around the shops. Each shop''s feng shui is different, and the surroundings and layout have a significant impact. Sometimes, even though the business is the same, changing the location can dramatically improve business performance due to feng shui.


    Selecting a shop based on feng shui wasn''t difficult for Gu Qin. She could tell at a glance.


    Father Lu showed them several shops on the third floor that were planned to terminate contracts. Gu Qin finally chose one. This shop faced south, avoiding summer sun and winter winds. The upper floor had glass windows, and sunlight could reach the bottom. There were no obstructions at the main entrance, and the interior was spacious. Since it was a large mall, the feng shui was relatively easy to judge. As long as the location wasn''t too far or extreme, business would generally do well.


    If it were an outdoor shop on the ground floor, there would be more considerations. It should face south, have no obstructions at the entrance, and avoid buildings like toilets, chimneys, funeral parlors, and hospitals. The surroundings also needed attention.


    After choosing the shop, Gu Qin informed Father Lu. He nodded. "Alright, I''ll have them terminate the contract soon. Within three days, the transfer will be complete. I''ll call you then."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Lu."


    Father Lu laughed. "If Master Gu has time, you can come up for tea."


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No, I have other things to do. My mother and I will go back now."


    "Alright, do you want me to send you back?" Father Lu didn''t insist.


    "No trouble, Mr. Lu. Please go back to your work. By the way, I met Manager Shi upstairs. Based on his facial features, he has a  trouble caused by romantic entanglements  . If he wants to resolve it, he can find me."

 A Fragile Alliance

    If Manager Shi indeed had¡±  trouble caused by romantic entanglements  and only harmed himself, Gu Qin wouldn''t intervene. However, she noticed that the¡±  trouble caused by romantic entanglements not only affected him but also his wife, so she wanted to help. Of course, if he didn''t believe her, she couldn''t force it.


    Father Lu was stunned. "You mean Manager Shi? Alright, I''ll ask him later. If he wants to contact you, I''ll give you my number."


    Gu Qin didn''t waste time and left with Cheng Yinxiang. The incident on the bus made Cheng Yinxiang nervous, and she didn''t mind spending money to take a taxi home.


    Father Lu found Manager Shi and told him about the situation. Manager Shi was surprised and recalled the calmness of the young girl, unsure whether to believe it. Father Lu said, "Old Shi, you probably don''t know Master Gu. She really has abilities. If you have any problems, remember to find her. She said you have¡±  trouble caused by romantic entanglements  , and you definitely do."


    Later, Father Lu added, "If you need to contact Master Gu, just call me. I''ll give you her number."


    The next day, the Administration for Industry and Commerce called Cheng Yinxiang early in the morning to pick up her business license. Unexpectedly, it was processed so quickly. So, Cheng Yinxiang went out early. Gu Qin called Qin Xiansheng, "Brother Qin, are you busy today?"


    Qin Xiansheng replied warmly, "Not busy. What do you need, Gu Qin?"


    Gu Qin smiled. "Can you pick me up? I want to buy a car."


    Qin Xiansheng didn''t ask further and drove over. When Gu Qin saw his black car parked on the roadside, she knocked on the window, and Qin Xiansheng opened the passenger door for her.


    Qin Xiansheng asked, "Why buy a car now?"


    Gu Qin relaxed and leaned back in the seat. "My mom will be busy at the mall every day. Taking the bus isn''t ideal. So, I decided to buy a car first. Then, Mom won''t have any objections, and I can pressure her to learn how to drive."


    Qin Xiansheng agreed. "Buying a car makes sense. What kind of car and price range? I could gift you one."


    "No, Brother Qin, I can''t accept your gift. I don''t know much about cars. Can you help me pick one? The price range is between 150,000 and 200,000."


    Qin Xiansheng recommended a few brands within that price range. Gu Qin checked her phone and picked a silver-gray model. "This one."


    Qin Xiansheng looked at the model. "This car should be available at the Daishan dealership. We can go pick it up now, and they can deliver it to the neighborhood."


    Gu Qin nodded. She didn''t know how to drive but thought about learning. Qin Xiansheng seemed to read her mind. "Do you want to learn to drive? I can teach you. Once you learn, you can get your license without going through the hassle of a driving school. It saves time and is more efficient."


    Gu Qin agreed. "Okay, Brother Qin. Pick me up far from the school. I''ll find you. That way, classmates won''t gossip."


    Qin Xiansheng naturally agreed. "Understood. I''ll wait for you in a nearby parking lot at 5:30 PM."


    Gu Qin stared at him, seeing her reflection in his eyes, feeling her heart race. It was only two o''clock in the afternoon, and no one was home. To ease her unusual impulse, she coughed lightly. "Brother Qin, we''re now lovers. I don''t know much about your family. Do you have any siblings?"


    She had glimpsed some details from his face, like his parents passing away. Asking this was to understand more about him, such as how he dealt with the yin sha energy after subduing the Liuguang.


    Qin Xiansheng held her hand tightly, leaned back on the sofa, and pulled her into his lap. He gently recounted his past. "I grew up poor and was the youngest of nine. After I was born, things didn''t go well for the family. A fortune-teller said I didn''t get along with them. Later, when the family was struggling, they sold me to my master. He was a master of feng shui and taught me various things. I was five when I was sold to him. He taught me until I was eight..."


    Gu Qin felt a chill. She guessed what happened next might be related to the yin sha energy inside him. His voice remained calm, but Gu Qin felt cold. "When I was eight, he brought a white tiger cub. I took care of it. Six months later, he made me kill the cub. I refused, but he controlled me with magic and made me kill it... The memories are cold, but I can''t forget..."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Gu Qin touched his chest where the yin sha energy was sealed. "Brother Qin, stop. Don''t worry, I''ll find a way to help you."


    "Alright," Qin Xiansheng smiled. "I trust you."


    That evening, Qin Xiansheng stayed for dinner. Mother Cheng returned at five with a smile. At dinner, Gu Qin told Mother Cheng about buying the car. Mother Cheng exclaimed, "What are you doing, buying a car when I don''t need one..."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Mom, you can use it too. I plan to learn how to drive."


    "Really bought one?" Brother Gu was excited. "Where is it? What brand?"


    Brother Gu wanted to see it but was reminded by Gu Qin that he couldn''t drive yet. "Brother Gu, don''t rush. Eat first. Besides, you have to pass the driving test."


    Brother Gu agreed and planned to register for the test the next day. "By the way, Gu Qin, you''re not eighteen yet. Can you get a license?"


    Gu Qin was surprised. "Oh, I forgot. No problem. Learn to drive first. We can get the license later."


    Mother Cheng frowned. "Don''t cause trouble. Let Brother Qin be your driver."


    Qin Xiansheng smiled warmly.


    After dinner, Brother Gu went downstairs to see the car. Seeing its brand and configuration, he was stunned. Qin Xiansheng left, and Brother Gu joined Gu Qin upstairs. "Gu Qin, did you buy the car or did he?"


    "It''s mine. I used the money I earned from feng shui consultations. I know you''re worried, but I won''t accept such expensive gifts from him."


    Brother Gu sighed in relief. "Good. Be careful, Gu Qin. You''re still young. Don''t be deceived."


    "Don''t talk nonsense," Gu Qin scolded. "Are you going to register for the driving test? Do you have time? You already exercise for three or four hours daily. It''s June, and you have the college entrance exam. Why not wait until after the exam?"


    "Right," Brother Gu agreed. "I''ll wait until after the exam. But I''ll register now."


    "How much does registration cost? I''ll pay for it."


    Brother Gu hesitated. "I feel useless. Now, you and Mom have to support me."


    "Don''t say that," Gu Qin smiled. "I earn money from feng shui. Focus on the exam. Once you graduate, work hard. You''ll support us."


    Brother Gu knew he had no choice but to focus on his studies and training. "Alright, I''ll do my best."


    She also reported Cheng Yinxiang''s name.


    Cheng Yinxiang indeed had no money left; she only had a few thousand yuan on her, which might not even be enough for the registration fee. Originally, Lu Qingrong had left her a card, and she was considering whether to withdraw some money for an emergency, but after hearing that Qu Quan had already asked Gu Jia to pay the money, she put the card back. Even though the two of them were now married, she still felt a bit embarrassed using his money.


    Early in the morning, Gu Qin ate breakfast and went straight to Mount Dai. After finishing there, she went to school at the designated time.


    During class break, Lin Xinxin came over holding her phone and showed Gu Qin a post. "Qu Quan, look, something happened in our Mount Dai city. It seems like it involved a student from No. 3 High School. This thing is really strange."


    Gu Qin glanced at the screen. The post title read ''A male student from No. 3 High School drowns while playing with classmates near a reservoir: What is the real story?'' The post was filled with heated discussions about the incident that occurred the previous Friday afternoon when school ended. There were no eyewitnesses, so no one knew exactly what had happened.


    Gu Qin thought for a moment, took the phone, and read through it from start to finish. The post stated that several students from No. 3 High School planned to go to a countryside resort for a couple of days after school on Friday. They left right after school at three o''clock and drove to the countryside resort. Nearby was a reservoir, and since many city students rarely saw such a place, they became curious and wanted to catch fish. The owner of the resort tried to stop them, warning them that there was a water ghost in the reservoir. The students ignored him, saying they were only going to fish and wouldn''t go into the water.


    The owner continued to discourage them, but the students said they would not go, only to secretly go behind his back. Eventually, something happened, but no one knew exactly how. All they knew was that several students said the boy disobeyed orders and went down to catch fish.


    The police investigated, and several students insisted that the boy himself went down to catch fish and suddenly sank. They thought he was joking and didn''t pay attention until two minutes later when they realized something was wrong and rushed to find help from villagers.


    The villagers arrived too late. They immediately began searching and found the body within two hours, as it was already dark. The boy was found drowned, his body bloated and pale. Villagers gathered and discussed how there were water ghosts in the lake, and these students should have listened. The resort owner scolded the students and finally called the police. When the police arrived, all the students insisted that the boy had gone down to catch fish by himself...


    It seemed the matter was resolved, given that the villagers testified that there were water ghosts in the lake, and every year several people drowned, often with marks around their ankles indicating they had been dragged underwater by a water ghost. The boy¡¯s ankles were indeed bruised, which scared the other students.


    After reading the post, Gu Qin found no credible witnesses. Everyone was speculating, and most believed the boy drowned because of a water ghost or water otter. Some did not believe in such things, but no one knew the truth.


    Gu Qin snorted coldly, returned the phone to Lin Xinxin, and Lin Xinxin looked worried. "Qu Quan, do you think there really are water ghosts in that reservoir?"


    "Yes," Gu Qin nodded. "According to the post, it could be water ghosts or water otters. Water ghosts are actually vengeful spirits of those who died in the water and cannot leave. They can indeed drag people under, but not everyone. I haven¡¯t seen the reservoir myself, so I can''t say for sure if it''s a ghost or a water otter. Water otters are aquatic animals, and they will pull people under if they encounter them."


    Lin Xinxin shuddered and hugged herself. "Qu Quan, are there really ghosts in this world?"


    "Of course there are," Gu Qin replied absentmindedly, thinking about something else. "Actually, calling them ghosts isn''t quite right. These things aren''t visible to everyone; you need the right energy fields or low luck to see them. In any case, you don''t have to worry; you definitely won''t see them."


    Lin Xinxin was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn''t leave. With no one sitting next to Gu Qin, she sat down and continued talking. "Qu Quan, do you think the male student in the post really drowned because of a water ghost or water otter? I feel like it''s not quite believable. Poor guy, he just wanted to have fun on a Sunday and ended up losing his life."


    "Who says he lost his life by accident? Maybe someone pushed him," Gu Qin replied and then stopped talking.


    In the end, the boy''s death was indeed due to human actions, albeit an accident. This incident was also related to Manager Liu''s son. On Saturday morning, when she visited Manager Liu, she noticed that the atmosphere in his home was off. There was a heavy presence of yin energy, and she heard dripping sounds coming from inside the room. When Manager Liu''s son emerged from the room, she couldn''t help but gasp. She realized there was a ghost following Manager Liu''s son. Despite his ordinary appearance and lack of apparent wrongdoing, there was a ghost following him. Out of curiosity, she used her third eye to investigate and was infuriated by what she discovered. However, since the incident wasn''t directly related to Manager Liu''s son, she decided to help them at the time.


    Unexpectedly, Manager Liu''s family hadn''t sought her out yet, and she felt sorry for the deceased boy''s parents who still didn''t know the truth.


    Manager Liu''s family had been struggling recently. Ever since that girl left, they noticed unusual occurrences, such as hearing dripping sounds at night, despite the water taps being shut off. His son woke up from nightmares shouting, "It wasn''t me, it wasn''t me! You can''t come after me, ah, ghost..."

 The Poisoned Chalice

    The couple rushed in and turned on the light, only to find their son asleep, curled up on the bed, sweating profusely. His face was pale, and his lips were cracked. Even when he opened his eyes, fear remained in his gaze.


    "Son, are you okay?" Manager Liu was frantic. "What trouble did you get into? Tell us, how can your body take this? If it gets worse, we''ll find that master again to help you."


    His wife was close to tears. "Son, we''re suffering seeing you like this. Please tell us what happened."


    The teenager remained silent, sitting on the bed, and when he noticed the wet patch on the bedsheet resembling a human form, his face turned even paler. He started trembling and asked his father, "Dad, have you noticed the wet spot on the bedsheet looks like a person lying there?"


    Both parents turned pale and stared at the bedsheet. Sure enough, the wet spot resembled a person lying there. They also noticed water stains in the son''s room.


    All three were terrified. They had mopped the floor dry before bed and used a dry mop, so where did the water come from?


    His wife was close to tears and grabbed her son''s arm. "Son, what happened? Tell us, there must be a way to solve this."


    "There''s nothing, nothing. Get out of here, don''t bother us, get out!" The teenager suddenly lashed out, pushing his parents out.


    The couple stood outside crying, recalling that their son had gone to the countryside resort with friends on Friday, resulting in a tragedy. One of their classmates drowned in the reservoir while fishing. The police had questioned them, but it was clear the drowning was accidental, and they weren''t held responsible. Could the nightmares be related to this incident? And the constant dripping sound at night, along with the water stains in the son''s room, were driving the couple to the brink of collapse.


    To make matters worse, the same thing happened on Sunday night. Dripping sounds throughout the night and another nightmare, leading to more water stains on the floor. The teenager finally broke down and cried, "I didn''t do it, why are you haunting me? I didn''t push you, I wanted to save you..."


    Even Manager Liu, a grown man, couldn''t hold back his tears. "Son, is this related to your classmate''s drowning? Are you hiding something? Do you know he''s haunting you? Please tell the truth. If you do, we''ll find that master to help you, alright?"


    The teenager sobbed, "Dad, it''s not my fault, I never thought it would turn out like this..." He then recounted the events.


    The teenager''s name was Liu Li. A few days earlier, he and his friends agreed to go to the countryside resort after school on Friday. One of them, Zhao Changming, who had a car, drove them there. Six of them went, including a girl, Zhao Changming''s girlfriend, who was the school beauty. The rest were single.


    The drowned student was named Sun Haiyang. He seemed to have a crush on the school beauty, but it was just a mild attraction, knowing she was his friend''s girlfriend, he wouldn''t do anything.


    Sun Haiyang was handsome, Zhao Changming was wealthy, and he was average-looking with a short stature.


    At the resort, Zhao Changming suggested visiting the nearby reservoir, mentioning that his father often came here to fish. They had nothing else to do and were interested, so they agreed.


    The resort owner kept trying to dissuade them, warning about water ghosts in the reservoir. Eventually, they reluctantly promised but secretly went anyway. They initially intended to just look around, but Zhao Changming needed to use the restroom and ran off.


    Unexpectedly, the school beauty went over to talk to Sun Haiyang, acting coyly. Zhao Changming, returning from the woods, saw this and his face turned sour. He went over and pulled the school beauty away, who explained herself. Zhao Changming then confronted Sun Haiyang, accusing him of flirting with his girlfriend.


    Sun Haiyang denied it, saying she came to him herself. An argument ensued, and Zhao Changming lost control, pushing Sun Haiyang into the reservoir.


    At first, everyone assumed Sun Haiyang would swim back up since he was a good swimmer. But he struggled and sank instead. Liu Li panicked and tried to jump in to save him, but Zhao Changming stopped him. "What are you doing? He''s just pretending, he''ll come up soon. Why did we bring him here? He tried to seduce my girlfriend."


    Liu Li hesitated, "Zhao, it wasn''t Sun Haiyang''s fault, it was your girlfriend who came to him."


    Zhao Changming glared at him. "Are you still my brother? Don''t mention this anymore."


    Liu Li fell silent. After about two minutes, Sun Haiyang still hadn''t resurfaced. They all panicked. "Zhao, what''s happening? Why hasn''t Sun Haiyang come up?"Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Zhao Changming was scared too but refused to accept it. "Don''t panic, he''s probably just pretending..."


    Another minute passed, and they realized something was terribly wrong. The lake was completely still. They panicked and rushed to call for help. On the way, Zhao Changming finally reacted, turning pale and telling the others, "Everyone, remember, it was Sun Haiyang who wanted to catch fish. Don''t let anyone know otherwise."


    Sun Li watched him, feeling pity. Zhao Changming kicked him. "Sun Li, what are you looking at me for? It''s not my fault. If he hadn''t flirted with my girlfriend, would I have pushed him? If you dare to let anyone know, don''t blame me."


    Zhao Changming''s family was wealthy and influential. They couldn''t afford to cause trouble. When they called for help and the police arrived, they all claimed Sun Haiyang had fallen into the water while trying to catch fish. They never expected it would lead to his death.


    When villagers recovered the body, they noticed bruises on Sun Haiyang''s ankles, confirming their story. They reported the incident to the parents, but Zhao Changming''s family was powerful, so no compensation was paid. He thought the matter was settled, but he felt guilty. Yet, he couldn''t speak up, knowing Zhao''s family would retaliate if he did.


    He thought the worst consequence would be his own guilt, but strange things started happening after he returned home on Friday. He heard dripping sounds at night, and a cold presence surrounded him. He even saw Sun Haiyang''s pale face...


    Manager Liu and his wife were pale as paper, staring at each other, unsure of what to do.


    Finally, Manager Liu spoke, his voice hoarse. "Maybe we should find that master to resolve the issues in the house first."


    Manager Liu''s wife nodded.


    Liu Li lowered his head without speaking, his eyes dark.


    ~~


    During lunch break, Lin Xinxin continued discussing the matter with Gu Qin, who had little interest. Soon after, Manager Liu called, explaining his situation. Gu Qin asked, "Did your son turn himself in?"


    Sweat poured down Manager Liu''s forehead. The girl had looked at his son once and said he should turn himself in. He now realized she knew everything and understood what had happened.


    Unable to speak, he stammered.


    Gu Qin said bluntly, "Let me be clear. Unless your son turns himself in, I can''t help. Only if he goes to the police can I help him. Understand?"


    Manager Liu pleaded, "Master Gu, this has nothing to do with my son. He didn''t kill the classmate."


    Gu Qin replied, "Then there''s nothing I can do. Unless your son turns himself in, I can''t help. I''m hanging up now."


    Manager Liu was desperate. His wife tugged at his sleeve. "How did it go? Did the master agree?"


    Manager Liu wiped his face. "No, she said he needs to turn himself in."


    "Turn himself in?" Manager Liu''s wife was furious. "This has nothing to do with my son. Why should he turn himself in?"


    Manager Liu sighed. "She wants him to go to the police station and identify the one who pushed him. What should we do? If he identifies him, they won''t let us off easily."


    Manager Liu''s wife was equally upset. "Why should my son go to the police? She knows everything, why doesn''t she go? I don''t believe there''s no one else in Mount Dai who can help. Old Liu, let''s find someone else, we don''t need her help anyway, she charges ten thousand yuan for a job she hasn''t even done."


    They had no choice but to seek help elsewhere. Manager Liu was reluctant to offend the Zhao family, so they started looking for other masters. They heard about a powerful fortune-teller named Liu Banshan at Wufu Bridge. They went to find him that afternoon.


    Lucky for Manager Liu, Liu Banshan was still at his stall. Since Gu Qin''s guidance, although he hadn''t fully mastered the art, he had gained insights, changing his aura to seem more spiritual.


    Manager Liu felt hopeful and told Liu Banshan about the situation, omitting key details. Liu Banshan had dealt with similar cases and knew how to handle them. This business would keep him busy for months; he usually charged between two to three thousand yuan.


    Liu Li had been too frightened to attend school, so he had taken a few days off. His mother was accompanying him at home. When Liu Banshan arrived, he sensed the problem and recognized the presence of a ghost. He brought out a peachwood sword and other items.


    Everyone had different methods for dealing with ghosts. Liu Banshan had his own approach. He set up the scene with a bowl of rice, a talisman, three incense sticks, yellow paper, a peachwood sword, and a talisman, using typical Taoist exorcism techniques.


    Half an hour later, Liu Banshan''s face paled, and he broke out in a sweat. He put away the peachwood sword and waved his hand. "This won''t work. This thing is too fierce, or rather, its resentment is too great. It didn''t harm me, so it doesn''t have ill intentions. How did you bring this thing here?"


    Manager Liu and his wife turned pale. "Master Liu, is there no way? Please think of something. We''re all surnamed Liu; maybe we were related hundreds of years ago. My Liu family only has this one son. Please help us."


    Liu Banshan shook his head. "It''s impossible. I don''t lie, and I can''t do this. I won''t take your money either. If I can''t do it, I can''t. But I can recommend someone else. That master truly has the skills, and this would be easy for her."


    Manager Liu and his wife were overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, Master Liu, thank you."


    Liu Banshan said, "She''s a young girl. Don''t underestimate her age; she''s quite capable. No one in Mount Dai can match her. I won''t give you her name."


    Telling you guys, just call her Master Gu then."


    Manager Liu and his wife looked at each other in dismay. Manager Liu said with a wry smile, "Master Liu Banxian, the Master Gu you mentioned, is she probably a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl? Fair-skinned, quite pretty?"


    "Are you guys acquainted?" Master Liu Banxian laughed. "In that case, what are you worried about? I only know of one Master Gu in Daishan, there''s no second one. So we must be talking about the same person. Let me make it clearer: if I can''t solve this matter, even if you find someone else, you''ll still be deceived. Only Master Gu can help you resolve this issue."


    After Master Liu Banxian left, Manager Liu and his wife were on the verge of tears, at a loss for what to do. They still didn''t believe what Master Liu Banxian had said, nor did they want their son to turn himself in. They consulted several other fortune-tellers who charged quite a bit¡ªone asking for ten thousand yuan¡ªand found no effect. Things went back to normal at night.

 The Hidden Dagger

    Manager Liu didn''t seek out Gu Qin; Gu Qin also didn''t feel anything was amiss. Every day, he continued doing what he usually did. At 5:30 PM, Qin Xiansheng would come to pick him up. They practiced driving in less crowded areas. Gu Qin was smart and learned quickly; basic operations were easy to understand, and he picked them up fast. After half an hour, he was almost proficient, needing only more practice.


    At his age, he couldn''t get a driver''s license, but Gu Qin wasn''t in a hurry. He could wait until he was old enough. Cheng Yinxiang''s store preparations were nearly complete, and she had started learning how to drive as well. Gu Jia was busy reviewing his lessons, so he had no time for now.


    Two days later, on Wednesday, Liu Lide was nearly at his breaking point. His black eyes were frightening, his lips cracked, and he had lost considerable weight in just a few days. His eye sockets appeared sunken. Manager Liu and his wife were also showing signs of stress; they had mouth ulcers, and both looked haggard. Manager Liu''s wife was close to collapsing. "Old Liu, what should we do? We''ve spent forty thousand yuan already, hired two people, but nothing has worked. We can''t sleep at night, and the noise is getting louder. What should we do?"


    Manager Liu gritted his teeth. "Let''s just listen to the master''s advice and have our son confess. After that thing is taken away, we''ll take our son back to our hometown. That way, Zhao wouldn''t be able to bother us anymore. The countryside is fine too. Although it''s just a county town, it has schools. Our son''s studies are important now. In a few years, once this matter is resolved, we can go to another city if we want."


    Their house was rented, but the problem was the store. Manager Liu had opened his store just half a month ago, making modest profits, which was not bad for a new business.


    Manager Liu''s wife was silent.


    Manager Liu continued, "I plan to transfer the store in the next couple of days. Once it''s transferred, I''ll have our son go to the police station."


    What else could they do? Manager Liu''s wife sighed and reluctantly agreed.


    Over the next few days, Manager Liu focused on transferring the store. The location was good, and within two days, the store was sold without a loss. This relieved Manager Liu, as the money would be enough for their life in the countryside after settling their son''s issue. They would give ten thousand yuan to Master Gu and use the rest for their living expenses.


    By Saturday, everything was settled. Early that morning, Manager Liu took Liu Lide to the police station. A female officer asked, "Is there something wrong?"


    Manager Liu hesitated but still said, "Hello, I''m here to have my son turn himself in."


    The female officer looked at them in surprise and immediately went inside to call someone. After entering, a police officer recorded their statements, knowing it was related to the drowning case from the Third Middle School. The police took the matter seriously and had Liu Lide recount the entire incident.


    When Liu Lide finished, the police asked, "Why didn''t you say this earlier? Don''t you know the case is closed?"


    Liu Lide raised his head, his eyes deep-set and weary. "I couldn''t bear it. I had nightmares every night, dreaming that Sun Haiyang was looking for me."


    The police knew the teenager had been suffering greatly and sighed inwardly. Given that the drowned teenager had died because of such a reason, they felt it was unfortunate. Since the case was reopened due to the confession, the police immediately began investigating again.


    When Manager Liu left, the police told them, "This case will be reopened. Until it''s resolved, you can''t leave Daishan. Do you understand?"


    Manager Liu nodded.


    Back home, Manager Liu immediately called Gu Qin. Receiving another call from Manager Liu, Gu Qin was not surprised. Hearing that he had gone to the police station to re-record his statement, he said, "I''ll come over tomorrow morning to help you."


    The next morning, Gu Qin brought a few talismans and went straight to Manager Liu''s house. When he saw Liu Lide, he couldn''t help raising an eyebrow. The teenager seemed to have suffered greatly. It was true that the matter had nothing to do with him, but he had even wanted to save him, which was why Gu Qin was willing to help him.


    Manager Liu was stunned when he saw Gu Qin arrive without any items. "Master Gu, don''t you need anything? I found a Liu Banxian before, who needed a setup, a peachwood sword, vermilion, and so on."


    Gu Qin held up the talisman in his hand. "This is enough. Different lineages have different methods. There''s nothing strange about that."


    Manager Liu laughed awkwardly. "Then, how does Master Gu plan to proceed?"


    Gu Qin pointed at Liu Lide. "Just let him follow me into the room."


    Gu Qin led Liu Lide into his room and closed the door, blocking the anxious and curious looks of Manager Liu and his wife outside.


    Inside the room, Gu Qin pointed to a chair. "Sit here. You don''t need to worry about anything else."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    After Liu Lide sat down, Gu Qin began setting up the array, chanting spells, and performing exorcisms. He set up the array, enhanced it with talismans, and Liu Lide watched him nervously.


    Once the array was set up, Gu Qin sat in the center, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and chanted spells. Thirty minutes later, he opened his eyes, and the talismans around the array had turned to dust. Liu Lide watched as the yellow talismans slowly faded and turned to ashes...


    Sending off a ghost wasn''t difficult, especially since the ghost''s wishes were fulfilled. Gu Qin didn''t exert much effort.


    Gu Qin opened his eyes and looked around. "It''s done. It''s over. He''s already gone."


    "He... where did he go?" Liu Lide finally couldn''t help asking. "I''m really sorry for what happened before. I never meant to hide it."


    Gu Qin replied, "He can''t hear anymore. Now that you''ve reported the killer, he can rest in peace. You don''t need to blame yourself anymore."


    Outside the room, Manager Liu and his wife were extremely anxious. Seeing Gu Qin come out, they rushed forward. "Master Gu, how did it go?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Everything is fine." He looked at Manager Liu. "Manager Liu, I''ve helped you resolve the matter. If you give me the payment, I can leave."


    Manager Liu hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes. I''ll go get it..." Just as he was about to enter the room to get the money, his wife pulled him back and looked at Gu Qin. "Master Gu, it''s not that we don''t want to pay, but the last two people came and tried, each charging twenty thousand yuan, but things didn''t improve at night. We''re really worried. You''re asking for quite a sum..."


    Gu Qin looked at her. "So what do you mean?"


    Manager Liu''s wife smiled. "How about waiting a few days to see if everything is really okay, then I''ll give you the money, okay?"


    Gu Qin stared at her. Manager Liu''s wife felt uncomfortable under her gaze. "Master Gu, we''re not doubting you, right? The last two people also promised to solve it, but look what happened..."


    Manager Liu remained silent.


    Gu Qin smiled. "So when do you plan to pay?"


    This was the first time she encountered someone trying to cheat a feng shui master. She wanted to see what this woman was thinking.


    Manager Liu''s wife thought for a moment. "Wait for three or four days. If it''s really fine, I''ll definitely have Old Liu send you the money. Or how about you leave your bank account number, and we''ll transfer it directly?"


    Liu Lide suddenly spoke from the side. "Mom, just give the money."


    Manager Liu''s wife glared at her son. "Adults are talking. Children shouldn''t butt in!" Then she looked at Gu Qin and smiled. "Master Gu, is this alright?"


    Seeing the woman''s evasive eyes, Gu Qin immediately saw through her intentions. She wanted to avoid paying the ten thousand yuan. She had agreed to help partly for that money, intending to give it to the deceased student''s family. She knew the woman''s character and hadn''t expected her to actually try to cheat her.


    Gu Qin smiled and nodded. "Sure, no problem. I agree, but since you''ve transferred the store and your son has dropped out of school, how would I find you if you left? I''ll put a spell on your husband. Once you pay, I''ll remove it. Otherwise, you won''t be able to run away."


    As she spoke, she performed a hand gesture in front of everyone and quickly tapped several points on Manager Liu''s body. Manager Liu immediately felt a cold sensation seeping into the points touched by Gu Qin, and his body started to chill, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. Soon his face turned white, and his teeth chattered.


    Manager Liu''s wife hadn''t expected Gu Qin to perform the spell so quickly, and before she could react, her husband''s face turned ashen, and his body trembled. She was stunned. "What did you do to my husband!"


    Gu Qin smiled. "Didn''t I explain clearly? Once you pay the money, I''ll remove the spell from your husband. Sorry, I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll be leaving now." With that, she left without further ado.


    Manager Liu was still lucid. He suddenly recalled how, when dealing with Cheng Yinxiang, he had inexplicably felt cold, which Gu Qin had later cured. He had thought he was possessed, but now he realized it was simply a spell cast by Gu Qin. Why had he suddenly been foolish enough to listen to his wife''s words, causing him to suffer such torment?


    Manager Liu''s wife panicked and tried to grab Gu Qin, but Gu Qin seemed to have eyes on her back and avoided her grasp effortlessly.


    Manager Liu finally panicked. "M-Master Gu, we''re wrong. We''ll go get the money right now."


    Gu Qin looked back at him. "No delays?"


    "No, no delays." Seeing his wife still dazed, Manager Liu, enraged, wanted to kick her but found he had no strength. Instead, he cursed, "Hurry up, go get the ten thousand yuan from the bedside."


    Manager Liu''s wife, as if seeing a ghost, immediately dropped any ill intentions and hurriedly retrieved the money.


    ***


    Manager Liu''s wife did not dare delay. She went to retrieve the ten thousand yuan and handed it over to Gu Qin. Gu Qin placed it in her backpack. Feeling the coldness in Manager Liu''s body gradually dissipate, he sighed with relief.


    Gu Qin sneered. "Remember this: Don''t be so greedy as to think you can keep this money. I originally intended to give it to the deceased''s family. If you''re greedy for this money too, beware of retribution. As the saying goes, ''What goes around comes around.'' Good deeds lead to good outcomes, evil deeds lead to evil outcomes, misfortune turns to fortune, fate is determined by heaven, and destiny is shaped by oneself. Consider your actions carefully."


    She looked at Liu Lide. "Where does your classmate live?"


    Liu Lide provided an address, and Gu Qin left.


    After Gu Qin left, Manager Liu and his wife looked at each other. Manager Liu couldn''t hold it in any longer. "You foolish woman, now you''ve offended her."


    Manager Liu''s wife retorted angrily, "And what about you? Didn''t you also want to keep the money? Don''t just blame me."


    Liu Lide sighed. "Dad, Mom, stop arguing. This master really has skills. These past few days, I always felt cold, but now I don''t. And when she was performing the ritual in the room, I saw the talismans on the ground turn to ashes."


    Manager Liu and his wife entered the room and saw the ashes on the floor, their faces turning grim. Finally, they sighed and went out to tell Liu Lide, "Your school has already been suspended. For the next few days, stay at home. The case is being reopened, and your classmate might not forgive you. Stay safe."


    Liu Lide nodded. "Dad, I understand."


    After leaving Manager Liu''s house, Gu Qin did not return home immediately but went to Sun Haiyang''s house. The Sun family had been devastated by their son''s death. Sun Haiyang had a younger sister, aged eleven or twelve. Both parents had fallen ill due to their son''s death. Their son''s body was still kept in the coffin at home, and they refused to deal with it, believing that their son would not have gone swimming. Moreover, only their son had gone into the water when they went to the reservoir. If it was about catching fish, why was it only their son?


    They suspected something was amiss, but the other classmates insisted that Sun Haiyang had gone in on his own. Upon retrieval, there were two blue marks on his bare feet, and everyone said he was dragged underwater by a water spirit. The police concluded the case without any compensation, and the parents were not seeking compensation¡ªthey just wanted to know what truly happened and hoped their son could rest in peace.


    Gu Qin knocked on the door, and after some time, a young girl, pale and with dark circles under her eyes, opened it. She looked very tired. The girl asked, "Who are you?"


    Gu Qin did not speak much but took out the hundred thousand yuan from her bag and handed it to the girl. "This is compensation from your classmates. Also, don''t worry about your brother. Someone has confessed, and the police will give you justice."


    The girl looked at the hundred thousand yuan, stunned. "Who are you? Why are you giving us a hundred thousand yuan? What do you mean by the police giving justice to my brother? Someone confessed?"


    The girl became agitated and grabbed Gu Qin. "Sister, what exactly do you mean? Does this mean my brother didn''t drown while fishing? Was he killed by someone?"


    The girl cried out in agitation. Gu Qin sighed. "Your brother''s death was an accident, but it was also caused by someone. He was pushed into the reservoir by someone. One of the classmates has confessed, so the police will give you justice."


    Gu Qin walked a few steps into the room and placed the hundred thousand yuan on the table. "This is compensation from Liu Li, one of the students who confessed. Your brother was pushed into the water by Zhao Changming."


    "It was Zhao Changming," the girl cried. "Ever since my brother''s incident, his family has been the most arrogant. He even said my brother was hitting on his girlfriend."


    Gu Qin walked out of the room. "Go inside quickly. The police will give you justice. Can you use the internet? Posting the truth online will create some public pressure and make Zhao''s family more cautious."


    The girl clung to Gu Qin, her eyes red. "Sister, can you tell me the truth?"


    Gu Qin recounted the events, and the girl thanked her earnestly. Hesitating, she asked, "Sister, are you my brother''s classmate?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "I am not your brother''s classmate. I am just a fortune-teller. After your brother''s incident, his ghost followed Liu Li to his home. He has already passed on..."

 The Empresss Shadow

    Seeing the girl''s hesitation, Gu Qin added, "Don''t think you can see your brother. The living and the dead cannot meet. Take care of your parents and don''t let them grieve. I must leave now."


    After Gu Qin left, the girl returned to her room and cried for a while, then hid the hundred thousand yuan in her room. She then opened her computer and posted a thread on the largest forum online.


    The incident had only occurred a few days ago, so the post quickly drew attention and replies. The police department also launched an investigation, and the Zhao family was in a frenzy.


    After resolving this matter, Gu Qin had other tasks to attend to. Sun Haiyang''s death was indeed related to something in the reservoir. She planned to investigate it and, if it was a ghost causing trouble, she would also capture it. This would be a merit deed, preventing accidents at the reservoir.


    Gu Qin planned to visit the reservoir on Saturday, as she still had classes to attend. Over the past two days, Sun Haiyang''s case had become increasingly heated. Online discussions were rampant, with many hoping for justice for the perpetrator. However, there were also a few trolls, possibly paid by the Zhao family, but these voices were largely drowned out by angry netizens.


    Without any surprises, Zhao Changming, despite being a minor, would likely receive some punishment due to public pressure. With increased attention on the case, courts and police would naturally take it seriously.


    Apart from this troubling matter, there was also good news. The massive child trafficking case in Liangping City had been resolved, with major offenders apprehended. The ringleader received the death penalty, and others received sentences ranging from twenty to thirty years. Discussions about the case were widespread, with most praising the police. Some netizens hoped for detailed accounts of how the case was solved, noting it was rare to hear of such a large-scale bust.


    Thus, there were also some controversies.


    The young man is indeed very brave, but he doesn''t know the limits of heaven and earth. In the past, there have been Taoist priests who came here too, but in the end, they all failed. Young lady, why don''t you persuade your boyfriend? I see him heading straight for the center of the reservoir where it''s at least dozens of meters deep. No one has dared to go to the middle of the reservoir to play in these years. This reservoir used to be a large lake, and it was later turned into a reservoir.


    "Don''t worry, Grandpa." Gu Qin looked at the ripples in the middle of the reservoir. "He''s very capable and will find a way to subdue it." She was only worried that the Yin Beast inside him might take advantage of this opportunity to run rampant.


    Grandpa


    Heaving a sigh, he said, "Forget it, don¡¯t listen if you don¡¯t want to. By the way, do you want to hear the story about this reservoir?" Without waiting for Gu Qin''s reply, the old man started talking on his own. "If we talk about this reservoir, no, it used to be a big lake. The big lake had a name too; it was called Dragon Dwelling Lake. Our village wasn''t called Anju Village either; it was called Dragon Dwelling Village, named after the lake. That¡¯s because there¡¯s a legend that says a dragon lived in Dragon Dwelling Lake. It¡¯s said that some villagers saw a dragon swimming in the lake many years ago, probably over a hundred years ago. After the reforms, it was forbidden for animals to become spirits, fearing superstitions. So our village changed its name to Anju Village, and the lake was turned into a reservoir. Nowadays, few people even know the lake¡¯s original name."


    Gu Qin felt a stir in her heart and turned to look at the old man. "Grandpa, is there really a dragon?" As a practitioner of Xuanxue (esoteric arts), she naturally knew that dragons truly existed in the world, not just dragons but various other spirit creatures as well. She asked this question to gather more information about the dragon in the reservoir.


    The old man nodded affirmatively, paused as if recalling something, then sighed softly. "Young people like you probably don¡¯t believe this, but there really are dragons in this world. I saw one with my own eyes when I was young. Alas, nobody would believe me. It happened right here in this reservoir. Although I didn¡¯t see it clearly, I saw a long, large, vaguely green thing moving underwater. This was when I was five or six years old, and I remember it very clearly."


    The old man grew excited, his face turning red. "I saw the dragon sucking water. First, there was a whirlwind in the lake, lifting up a water column slowly, higher and higher. Eventually, I could faintly see a green thing twisting inside the water column and swimming upwards. Later, the water column rose higher and higher... I could faintly see the green thing leaving the water column and flipping around in the clouds..." The old man became so emotional that tears welled up in his eyes.


    Gu Qin listened attentively. The old man¡¯s eyes shone as he gazed at the reservoir, reliving those incredible moments from his past. "Back then, this place wasn¡¯t like it is now. There was an abandoned straw hut nearby where I took shelter. The thunder grew louder outside, and the rain fell like buckets pouring down. It was still around four or five in the afternoon, yet the sky was completely dark. As a teenager, it was the first time I experienced such weather, and it scared me senseless. I hid behind the door of the straw hut and watched through a crack, witnessing something unforgettable..."


    The old man continued, his excitement palpable. "I saw the dragon sucking up water. First, there was a whirlwind in the lake, lifting a water column slowly, higher and higher. Eventually, I could faintly see a green thing twisting inside the water column and swimming upwards. Then the water column rose higher and higher... I could faintly see the green thing leaving the water column and flipping around in the clouds..." The old man grew so emotional that tears streamed down his face.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Gu Qin remained silent, thinking how fortunate the old man was, having encountered a genuine good deed in his previous life, which brought him such blessings in this one. He must be a true kind-hearted person, deserving of such good fortune. As for the transformation of a green dragon into a dragon, it was indeed real. Dragon tornadoes did exist, but they weren¡¯t common. Scientifically, these were intense vortex phenomena caused by temperature differences and water vapor, typically occurring during summer thunderstorms. Some dragon tornadoes were natural weather phenomena, while others weren¡¯t.


    She knew that what the old man witnessed was indeed a green dragon transforming. Dragons were aquatic creatures that evolved over millions of years, starting as serpents called hui, which turned into jiaos after five hundred years, and then into dragons after a thousand years. Dragons further developed into jiao-long after five hundred years and ying-long after another thousand years. These transformations were similar to the cultivation process of practitioners in Xuanxue.


    Gu Qin pondered over the old man¡¯s words, concluding that the green dragon likely transformed into a jiao-long. The transformation of a jiao into a dragon was extremely difficult and required the creature to be benevolent. If the jiao acted maliciously, the heavenly punishment during its transformation would prevent it from growing further, leading to its destruction. The green dragon in the Dragon Dwelling Lake had never done evil deeds, which allowed it to transform successfully.


    Gu Qin reflected on the old man¡¯s experience, believing he had great fortune. At eighty years old, he could live for decades more, surrounded by loving descendants and living a peaceful life.


    The old man continued, "It was strange. Over the years, many girls played in the lake, but only boys ended up in trouble..." Gu Qin considered that perhaps the woman had suffered mistreatment by men in the past. However, regardless of what she had endured, she shouldn¡¯t harm others now.


    Qin Xiansheng had indeed followed the creature to the bottom of the lake. The deeper they went, the darker it became. The creature was well-acquainted with the environment, making it difficult to subdue.


    Another virtual talisman was cast, causing the creature to emit a shrill cry. Qin Xiansheng remained unaffected, his expression calm. Even in the water, he continued to chant incantations without interruption. Forming the incantation, he struck the creature, rendering it immobile.


    Qin Xiansheng immobilized the creature using a binding spell before approaching. The creature was a pale-faced woman dressed in a red robe, her face slightly blue. Qin Xiansheng had no sympathy for such beings and usually broke their souls, preventing them from reincarnation.


    The woman sensed Qin Xiansheng¡¯s coldness and cried out, "No, don¡¯t..."


    Qin Xiansheng stood motionless, continuing his incantation. The woman pleaded, "Don¡¯t let me scatter my soul, please. I won¡¯t harm anyone anymore."


    "Your past misdeeds won¡¯t lessen just because you beg now. Since you¡¯ve killed so many people, you should know your fate," Qin Xiansheng replied coldly.


    "I hate them!" the woman screamed. "Those stinking men killed my husband and refused to compensate me. They humiliated me. I hate them, and I wish they all died! Why don¡¯t you die instead?" The woman struggled fiercely, her pain increasing with each movement.


    Qin Xiansheng paused, then said coldly, "If that¡¯s the case, help me fulfill one last wish. Tell me who harmed you, and I¡¯ll settle things for you. How about that?"


    The woman stopped abruptly, staring at Qin Xiansheng with a terrifying, pale face. "Are you serious?"


    Qin Xiansheng replied, "Of course. Do you agree? I¡¯m willing to help you now. Will you surrender?"


    The woman hesitated, then her mind cleared. Was he lying? For years, she had been alone in the water, feeling lonely and cold, but her hope of revenge kept her going. She hated men and killed only men, hoping to leave this place and seek revenge. Her son used to swim in the lake, but now he was older and no longer came. She missed them.


    Her hatred and desire to see her children kept her going, but now she had nothing left. Her only choice was to trust this man and accept her fate. But she wanted more. If not for this man, she could soon leave this place...


    Suddenly, the woman struggled again. "Indeed, this is your own doing!"


    Qin Xiansheng responded calmly, "No, I¡¯m willing to help you if you tell me everything. If they suffer, I will consider it."


    The woman stopped struggling, realizing she had no choice. She recounted her story, revealing the names of those who had wronged her and the details of the incident. Qin Xiansheng said, "This information is insufficient. If you¡¯re willing, I can search your soul for a clearer picture. Are you willing?"


    The woman hesitated but eventually agreed. "Please spare me. I don¡¯t want to be scattered. I¡¯m willing to go to the underworld and reincarnate."


    "No, you harmed too many people. You¡¯ll face the same fate in the underworld," Qin Xiansheng replied firmly. He chanted incantations, formed seals, and touched her forehead, revealing her experiences.


    The woman¡¯s pale, twisted face showed her agony as she was unable to move. Once it was over, Qin Xiansheng used his qi to draw talismans, striking her chest ten times. With a final scream, her soul shattered completely.


    Qin Xiansheng looked at her coldly. Such a person who caused countless deaths deserved no better fate than destruction.


    Gu Qin noticed ripples in the center of the reservoir and saw Qin Xiansheng emerge. His muscular chest emerged from the water. She waved, "Xiansheng."


    Qin Xiansheng¡¯s stern features softened into a gentle smile. He swam toward the shore.


    The old man exclaimed, "Oh, young lady, your boyfriend is quite capable. He wasn¡¯t taken by the water ghost."


    Gu Qin smiled back, "He solved the water ghost problem. This reservoir won¡¯t have any more accidents."


    The old man approached Qin Xiansheng, "Young man, did you really get rid of that water ghost?" It seemed too easy. He thought they would need to set up an altar or bring talismans or a peachwood sword.


    Qin Xiansheng nodded. "Rest assured, it¡¯s taken care of. But it¡¯s deep here, so it¡¯s best to keep people away."


    Gu Qin worried, "I should have brought extra clothes. Your clothes are all wet now."


    Qin Xiansheng touched her hair gently. "Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll head back soon."


    Gu Qin nodded and glanced at the water, sensing something amiss. She frowned, unsure of what it was but feeling there was still something in the water. She walked to the edge and used her Heavenly Eye to scan the water. She saw a faint golden aura.


    Gu Qin took a breath, wondering if she had seen it wrong. She closed her Heavenly Eye, but the golden light appeared again when she opened it. Her mind buzzed, remembering the old man¡¯s stories about the Dragon Dwelling Lake and the green dragon.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Qin Xiansheng noticed her unease and looked at the lake. "Did you notice something?"


    Gu Qin murmured, "It feels like there¡¯s still something in the water."


    Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t ask further and looked at the lake.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t dare speak the truth. The faint golden aura represented dragon qi, rare in this world. Whether it was yuanqi, yinqi, shaqi, or dragon qi, they all had colors. Yangqi appeared as a gentle white mist, yinqi as a grayish fog, shaqi as black, and jiqi as a faint gold. Dragon qi was bright white or a soft gold.


    The golden light in the water was faint, hidden under the strong yinqi. Only after the yinqi dispersed did she notice it. She suspected there was something below the surface.


    It couldn¡¯t be a dragon, but perhaps a remnant from the green dragon¡¯s transformation. If her guess was correct, this could be very helpful for Ji Xiongdi.


    Qin Xiansheng also sensed something. Though he lacked the Heavenly Eye, he could feel the faint energy. Two exchanged glances.


    Gu Qin whispered, "Xiansheng, I¡¯ll go down and check. There¡¯s something else."


    Qin Xiansheng replied, "Let me go."


    Gu Qin glanced at the old man, hesitant. If her guess was right, they couldn¡¯t let others know. Even though the old man was kind-hearted, he might inadvertently spread the word, causing trouble.


    Just then, an elderly woman with white hair approached slowly, leaning on a cane. The old man noticed and hurried over. "Old lady, why are you here? Your legs aren¡¯t good, and the path isn¡¯t safe. What if you fall?"


    The old woman, probably in her eighties, smiled kindly. "It¡¯s noon. Aren¡¯t you going home for lunch? Your food will get cold. I came to make sure you go back."


    "Alright, I was just about to leave. Let¡¯s go together," the old man said, guiding her away.

 The Emperors Lies

    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng watched as they left. Once they were gone, Qin Xiansheng looked back.


    Gu Qin pulled his hand. "Xiansheng, I¡¯ll go down to check. Wait for me."


    Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t want her to go but relented. She took off her shoes, socks, and coat, waving before diving into the water towards the faint golden light.


    Not even her feet sank into the mud. She slowly moved towards the pale golden light, which was covered in mud. Gu Qin sent a void talisman to strike the mud beneath her feet, dispersing it and making the pale golden light clearer. She leaned down and felt around in the mud with her hands. Soon, she touched a smooth, cold bead.


    Gu Qin was delighted; she hadn''t expected her guess to be correct. She had actually found a dragon stone here.


    This dragon stone should have been left behind by the green python when it transformed into a dragon. It could also be considered a magical weapon. Similarly, it was a rare treasure that could make countless cultivators go mad, and it could also help Brother Ji.


    These days, she had searched online extensively and carefully recalled what her master had told her and the knowledge he had imparted. She knew that there were many ways to cultivate yin beasts, and the most powerful and vicious ones were those cultivated using human bodies as hosts. Because the yin beast must live with its host for some time, it develops feelings for the host. When the host kills it, the yin beast harbors resentment and will quickly devour the host.


    When the yin beast emerges from the host''s body, the host is already dead. In most cases, before the yin beast can fully form, the host cannot bear the pain and dies. Even after the yin beast forms, if it wants to emerge, the host only has one path: death. The situation with Big Brother Qin was almost unheard of, as he grew together with the yin beast. Therefore, it was almost impossible for Big Brother Qin to safely rid himself of the yin beast.


    However, with a heaven-defying treasure, things would be different. At least, there was a glimmer of hope. Heaven-defying treasures were extremely rare; they were often something one could only hope to find once in a lifetime. Gu Qin hadn''t expected to find such luck herself.


    Good deeds indeed bring rewards. If she hadn''t intended to help solve the thing in the reservoir, how could she have stumbled upon such a heaven-defying treasure? It was almost like finding a treasure for free.


    The dragon stone wasn''t large, about the size of her thumb, with a smooth, cool feel. Gu Qin didn''t pay attention to anything else at this moment and clutched the dragon stone as she swam toward the shore.


    She soon emerged from the water. Qin Xiansheng, who was waiting on the shore, breathed a sigh of relief. Gu Qin also let out a breath of relief. She hadn''t expected to find such a heaven-defying treasure so easily. Usually, such treasures were guarded by other spiritual beings, as animals were more sensitive than humans. But she hadn''t encountered any guardian here.


    But thinking about it, she realized that this was left behind by the green python when it transformed into a dragon. At that time, the lake was full of the green python, leaving no room for other spiritual beings. A mountain couldn''t accommodate two tigers. Moreover, the transformation had only happened a few decades ago. The creatures in the lake had yet to develop any spiritual qualities, so they wouldn''t recognize such a heaven-defying treasure. If it were in a deep forest, it might have been discovered long ago by a spiritually awakened animal.


    After a while, Gu Qin swam to the shore and, without delay, pulled Qin Xiansheng toward the car park, "Big Brother Qin, we need to leave these places quickly."


    Qin Xiansheng could feel the object in her hand and didn''t ask further questions. He first took his clothes to dry her hair and body before holding her hand and getting into the car to drive back to the city.


    After leaving the village, Gu Qin finally opened her palm to look at the object in her hand. It looked like a smooth stone, milky white, emitting a faint glow. Even after being submerged in mud for years, it remained glossy and unsoiled.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    If she hadn''t opened her third eye, Gu Qin could still sense the fluctuations coming from the dragon stone. This thing needed to be used quickly. She held it up for Qin Xiansheng to see, "Big Brother Qin, look at what I found in the water."


    Actually, Gu Qin had hesitated a bit before diving in. Without opening her third eye, her cultivation level wouldn''t have allowed her to find it. And if she did open her third eye, how would she explain it to Qin Xiansheng? Even if Qin Xiansheng had gone in, he might not have found it either. So, after a moment''s hesitation, she decided to dive in. After all, finding such a treasure was a rare opportunity, and she wouldn''t let it go.


    They hadn''t spent much time together, and she was reluctant to reveal her secrets to him. However, she could tell that Qin Xiansheng was a good person. If he were greedy, he wouldn''t have helped her subdue the Liuming.


    So, after a brief hesitation, she dived in without a second thought.


    Qin Xiansheng glanced at the dragon stone and was surprised but didn''t ask further, "Gu Qin, thank you." He knew that she had dived in to find the dragon stone for him. With such a heaven-defying treasure, his chances of expelling the yin beast from his body greatly increased.


    Gu Qin smiled, "Big Brother Qin, you once helped me subdue Liuming, and I promised to help you get rid of the yin beast. Now, with this treasure, our chances are much higher. Big Brother Qin, let''s try it when we get back."


    A dragon stone was essentially an item to enhance cultivation. To expel the yin beast from Qin Xiansheng''s body, they needed to use it.


    Qin Xiansheng turned his head to look at her, his heart surging with emotion.


    The car soon returned to the city. Qin Xiansheng brought Gu Qin to his residence, which was closer than going back to her home, where it would take another half hour to drive. His place was a newly built neighborhood, bought by his assistant a couple of years ago. The space was quite spacious, and he lived alone, so he had redecorated it. There was only one main bedroom, and no guest rooms. The rest of the space was converted into a gym, with a minimalist design featuring black, gray, and white colors.


    Simple and elegant, though somewhat dull, it suited him well.


    Qin Xiansheng led Gu Qin into the main bedroom. He was also wet and changed into a pair of pants in the bathroom before coming out, tossing his dirty clothes into a basket. He then said to Gu Qin, "Go wash yourself with hot water first, and I''ll go buy you some new clothes."


    Gu Qin nodded obediently. Her hair was still damp, and the lake water was very dirty, sticking to her skin uncomfortably.


    Qin Xiansheng handed her two clean towels and bath towels, "I''ll be outside."


    After he left, Gu Qin went into the bathroom, stripped off her wet clothes, and threw them in the basket. She washed herself thoroughly. She searched the bathroom and found only one bottle of shower gel and one bottle of shampoo, both ordinary brands. The bathroom seemed empty.


    Gu Qin smiled, washed herself, wrapped herself in the towel, and came out. The towel was big enough to cover her completely. She sat in the room waiting for Qin Xiansheng.


    Ten minutes later, she heard the sound of the door opening. Gu Qin ran barefoot to the living room. Seeing her like this, Qin Xiansheng couldn''t help but smile slightly and handed her a bag, "Quickly go change in the room. I''ll wait outside for you."


    Gu Qin went back to change into the clothes. The set included simple sportswear and conservative cotton underwear, which were a bit small. Gu Qin''s chest had developed rapidly recently, and she was now the size of two buns. He probably hadn''t bought such items for anyone before, so they were a bit tight. Gu Qin laughed, put on the slightly ill-fitting underwear, and then the sportswear.


    The sportswear fit perfectly. When she came out, she found Qin Xiansheng sitting on the couch in the living room. He was sitting casually, his long legs crossed, gazing out the window. He turned his head when he heard her come out.


    Gu Qin walked over, "Big Brother Qin, you haven''t washed yet. Go take a shower first."


    Qin Xiansheng grunted in agreement and went to take a shower. He came out wearing casual clothes and went to the kitchen, "It''s already two o''clock. I''ll cook something to eat." He usually cooked for himself, and the refrigerator had plenty of ingredients. With Gu Qin here, he steamed rice, stir-fried broccoli, made tomato beef stew, and pan-fried fish. All simple home dishes, which he completed in half an hour.


    By the time they finished eating and washing the dishes, it was three o''clock. They sat in the living room. Gu Qin took out the dragon stone from her pocket and handed it to him, "Big Brother Qin, this is for you."


    Qin Xiansheng didn''t refuse. He really needed this treasure and held the slightly cold dragon stone in his palm.


    Gu Qin asked, "Big Brother Qin, when do you plan to start? How about tomorrow? We shouldn''t delay. Tomorrow is Monday, and I can take two days off from school. I''ll tell my mom, and we can find a suitable place. I''ll protect you while you force the yin beast out of your body."


    "Alright," his voice was soft. "Let''s do it tomorrow."


    That night, Gu Qin went home for dinner. Qin Xiansheng didn''t go to the Gu family''s house, saying he had some preparatory work to do. After dinner, the four of them sat in the living room watching TV. Gu Qin took the opportunity to say, "Mom, I have something to do these two days and need to take leave from school. I might not be back tonight. I''m telling you beforehand."


    Cheng Yinxiang asked, "What is it?"


    Gu Qin hesitated, "It''s related to feng shui, helping someone with feng shui."


    "Going to another place to help with feng shui?" Gu Jia said softly, "Are you going with Qin Xiansheng? You two, being a young man and woman..."


    "Gu Jia!" Cheng Yinxiang got angry, "What inappropriate words are you saying? Can you talk to your sister like that?"


    Gu Jia sighed, "I just wanted to remind her. She''s a young girl now, and dating isn''t always good."


    Gu Qin muttered, "Big Brother, don''t talk nonsense. Qin Xiansheng isn''t that kind of person, and this time it''s really important."


    Cheng Yinxiang nodded, "Alright, be careful on the road. I''ve noticed that Xiao Qin is a considerate person, and our daughter is decisive. I don''t worry about that anymore."


    That night, Gu Qin called her homeroom teacher and requested leave for the next day. The teacher readily agreed, asking her to submit the leave slip the following Wednesday. Given Gu Qin''s excellent grades and frequent absences, the teacher was happy to accommodate her.

 The Courts Whispers

    The next morning, Gu Qin planned to meet Qin Xiansheng. Unexpectedly, she saw his car parked outside the neighborhood as she was leaving. Qin Xiansheng opened the car door, "Gu Qin, get in."


    Gu Qin got into the car. Qin Xiansheng gave her a small paper box, "Eat breakfast. You haven''t eaten yet. Eat first, then we''ll talk."


    Gu Qin nodded and opened the box. Inside were several buns. Qin Xiansheng also handed her a bag, "This is soy milk. I made it fresh this morning. Finish eating and then we''ll discuss other matters."


    The buns were filled with bean paste and vegetable mushrooms. Both were delicious. The bean paste was smooth and sweet, while the vegetable mushrooms were savory. They must have been prepared by him.


    After eating the buns and drinking the soy milk, Gu Qin said, "Big Brother Qin, let''s go to Mount Dai. I know a place that would be suitable."


    Since they planned to force the yin beast out, they couldn''t choose a busy area. Only Mount Dai would do.


    Qin Xiansheng nodded, agreeing with her. He drove directly to Mount Dai, knowing exactly where she meant. He had subdued Liuming there before.


    Mount Dai was vast, with lush trees. They stopped the car at the foot of the mountain and quickly walked into the forest.


    Their pace was quick, and they reached their destination in ten minutes.


    Qin Xiansheng had brought a bag. He took out several items and drew a formation on the ground using vermilion, talismans, and a rope. These were all prepared the previous night. He quickly drew the formation using his qi and mixed vermilion.


    As the formation was complete, a faint golden light flashed. Qin Xiansheng held the dragon stone in the center of the formation and sat down, while Gu Qin sat outside the formation to guard against any disturbances.


    After sitting down, Qin Xiansheng didn''t start immediately. He pointed to the rope on the ground, "Gu Qin, as soon as the yin beast appears, use this restraining rope to bind it."


    Gu Qin nodded. The restraining rope wasn''t particularly rare; it was just a specially made rope infused with qi. Demonic creatures naturally feared pure qi, hence the name.


    Since Qin Xiansheng suggested binding the yin beast alive, it would be more difficult. Gu Qin didn''t say much. Qin Xiansheng sat in the center of the formation, holding the dragon stone. His hands were placed on his knees, one forming a seal, the other making a gesture, and he began chanting incantations.


    Suddenly, the negative energy inside his body surged, and his entire body stiffened. At the same time, the dragon stone on the ground began to tremble violently, and a golden light shone brightly.


    Gu Qin knew that rushing now wouldn''t help and could only keep a close watch on the surroundings.


    The negative energy inside Qin Xiansheng''s body seemed ready to burst out. Even the Liuming on Gu Qin''s body sensed something and became restless. The Liuming, formed from negative energy, loved such energies. If it could reach the level of a celestial-grade weapon, it could absorb the negative energy from the yin beast, ensuring its demise.


    Qin Xiansheng''s method was to weaken the negative energy within the yin beast and then force it out. Gu Qin didn''t dare use Liuming recklessly, fearing it might hurt him.


    For now, nothing was visible within the formation. Gu Qin''s third eye could only see the surge of negative energy around Qin Xiansheng, with no abnormalities yet.


    Time passed slowly. Qin Xiansheng remained motionless, the negative energy becoming increasingly agitated.


    An hour passed, then two hours. By afternoon, sweat dripped from Qin Xiansheng''s forehead. It was an incredibly painful process, and Gu Qin''s heart was pounding.


    The longer the time passed, the weaker the negative energy seemed to become. But it would regain strength and struggle fiercely again. Whenever it struggled intensely, the dragon stone would emit a bright golden light, as if the negative energy feared the light.


    A faint golden light from the dragon stone slowly flowed into Qin Xiansheng''s body.


    As the sky darkened, Qin Xiansheng frowned, and the golden light from the dragon stone gradually dimmed. Gu Qin gritted her teeth and pulled out Liuming, planting it in the ground and sitting in front of it. Liuming seemed to sense something and became slightly excited, its body vibrating slightly. Gu Qin warned softly, "This time, we''re helping someone. Be cautious when absorbing the negative energy. Don''t hurt anyone, and don''t absorb too much, as the creature shouldn''t die."The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    At this point, the yin beast had only half its power, and Liuming was sufficient to handle it.


    Liuming hummed in response.


    Gu Qin closed her eyes, forming seals with her fingers, and whispered, "Go!" Liuming shook violently, and the negative energy from Qin Xiansheng''s body surged toward it.


    Gu Qin controlled Liuming, feeling the effects of the negative energy. As the negative energy entered her body, illusions appeared, and she bit her tongue, dispelling the visions.


    Liuming began absorbing the negative energy from Qin Xiansheng''s body. Gu Qin quickly formed seals and gestures, her fingers moving swiftly. The negative energy, sensing the threat, grew enraged and tried to escape from Qin Xiansheng''s body. However, having struggled for nearly a day, its power had significantly weakened, and it could no longer resist Liuming.


    In mere seconds, its fury subsided, and it retreated into Qin Xiansheng''s body.


    Qin Xiansheng then started pushing the yin beast out of his body. The yin beast struggled again.


    Gu Qin knew it would take some time. The yin beast wouldn''t be subdued easily.


    For a while, everything was silent. Both of them formed seals and gestures, and Liuming hummed joyfully. Time passed, and the negative energy within the yin beast gradually weakened. Qin Xiansheng''s fingers moved faster and faster, but the yin beast refused to leave, even risking its own destruction to cling to Qin Xiansheng.


    Gu Qin clenched her teeth, channeling her qi into her hands and placing them on Qin Xiansheng''s shoulders. Her qi slowly entered his body, making the yin beast even more uncomfortable. Despite this, it refused to leave.


    Qin Xiansheng chanted softly, and Gu Qin couldn''t understand much, but she could tell the yin beast was suffering immensely. Finally, it erupted from Qin Xiansheng''s body, revealing itself as a white tiger before them.


    Gu Qin shouted, "Die!" She struck the white tiger with a palm, sending it flying to the ground. The tiger, unable to withstand her blow, lay motionless, no longer a fierce predator.


    Qin Xiansheng was pale, but he stood up, swaying slightly before regaining his balance. He approached the white tiger and looked at it lying on the ground, expressionless.


    Gu Qin rushed to support him, "Big Brother Qin, are you alright?"


    Qin Xiansheng was pale but shook his head, "I''m fine. Let''s go back."


    He took out a small jade gourd from his pocket, aimed it at the white tiger, and chanted a spell. The white tiger instantly turned into negative energy and was s*ck*d into the gourd.


    After cleaning up, Qin Xiansheng carried the bag, and Gu Qin supported him as they slowly descended the mountain.


    By now, it was nearly dark. It took only ten minutes to climb up, but it took an hour to descend. Qin Xiansheng was in no condition to drive, so Gu Qin took the wheel. She helped Qin Xiansheng sit in the back seat, put everything away, and then drove carefully.


    Though she didn''t have a driver''s license, she had learned to drive from Qin Xiansheng a few days ago and was now proficient enough to handle the road. Still, as a novice, she was cautious and didn''t drive too fast, especially since there was an injured passenger.


    Fortunately, there were no traffic police checking for licenses on the road, and they arrived at Qin Xiansheng''s residence in two hours.


    He had been sleeping in the car for two hours and was still pale when they arrived. Gu Qin supported him as they walked slowly into the house.


    "Man, Gu Qin supported Qin Xiansheng and helped him up the stairs, back to the room, helped him lie down on the bed, then helped him take off his outer clothes and shoes, letting him rest for a while.


    This time, both of them managed to escape unscathed, which was quite rare. Looking back, they really owed it to the Dragon Stone. The stone''s spiritual energy had been exhausted and had turned into powder.


    Gu Qin knew that Qin Xiansheng wasn''t seriously injured, but he had depleted too much of his vital energy. He would recover after a few days of rest. Moreover, they had eliminated a major threat, so both of their hearts felt relieved.


    They hadn''t eaten all day. Qin Xiansheng could only lie down now. Gu Qin first went to wash up and then cooked some noodles in the kitchen. Qin Xiansheng had fallen asleep, so he couldn''t eat anyway. She didn''t feel comfortable going home, so she spent the night on the living room sofa.


    The next morning, Qin Xiansheng was still unconscious. Gu Qin made some food for herself and stayed with him all day, but he remained unconscious. Gu Qin didn''t dare touch the jade gourd, as it still contained the Yin Beast White Tiger. She could only wait until Qin Xiansheng woke up.


    That night, Gu Qin slept on the living room sofa again. In the morning, she left a note for Qin Xiansheng and went straight to school, first finding her homeroom teacher to sign the leave slip.


    Throughout the day, Gu Qin was very anxious, constantly checking her phone to see if Qin Xiansheng had sent her a message. But there was no news by evening. Gu Qin didn''t want to go home, so she called Cheng Yinxiang. Cheng Yinxiang answered quickly: "Qin Qin? Why didn''t you come back last night? Did you attend classes today? Will you be back tonight? I made your favorite dishes."


    Gu Qin replied, "Mom, I might not be able to come back for two days. While helping someone with feng shui, Qin Xiansheng got injured. I need to stay at his place for a couple of days to make sure he''s okay."


    Cheng Yinxiang was shocked. "Oh, is Qin Xiansheng alright? Which hospital is he in? Your Uncle Lu and I will also go visit him."


    Gu Qin said, "Mom, he''s not in the hospital. He''s at Qin Xiansheng''s house. The injury can''t be treated in the hospital; he needs to recover on his own. Okay, I''ll hang up now. I''m going over."


    "Qin Qin, wait," Cheng Yinxiang said urgently. "Give me Qin Xiansheng''s address. Your Uncle Lu and I will visit him in the next two days."


    Gu Qin hung up and sent Qin Xiansheng''s address to Cheng Yinxiang.


    There were plenty of ingredients at home, so Gu Qin didn''t buy much. She bought two pork bones, planning to make soup for Qin Xiansheng when he woke up. She waited for a week, and by the following Monday, Qin Xiansheng still hadn''t woken up, though his complexion had improved.


    In the past few days, Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong came to visit. Both were shocked to see Qin Xiansheng. Cheng Yinxiang worried, "Qin Qin, what happened to Qin Xiansheng? His face looks so terrible. Is he really fine? Shouldn''t we take him to the hospital? It''s been days since he ate or drank anything. Can he endure it?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "Mom, don''t worry. There''s nothing the hospital can do. He needs to recover on his own."


    After that, Cheng Yinxiang brought soup every day for Gu Qin to bring to Qin Xiansheng, hoping he would wake up soon enough to drink it.


    By Monday, Gu Qin rushed to Qin Xiansheng''s house after school, even skipping dinner with Lin Xinxin. When she returned home, she heard movement coming from the bathroom. She ran to the bedroom and found that the bed was empty, with the bathroom door half open. She saw a tall man washing himself, his long legs dripping water onto the black tiles.


    She quickly averted her gaze and closed the bathroom door. She went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. The bone soup Cheng Yinxiang had brought earlier was still in the fridge. Gu Qin heated it up and quickly steamed rice and prepared some dishes.


    As she prepared the ingredients, Gu Qin heard movement in the living room. She put down the spatula and ran out. She saw Qin Xiansheng standing in the living room, wrapped only in a towel around his waist.


    He was tall, with long limbs, a muscular chest, and strong abdomen. The towel barely covered his thighs. His broad shoulders and narrow hips were exposed. Water dripped from his wet hair, which looked disheveled. He looked at Gu Qin, his eyes no longer gentle or cold, but filled with amusement.


    Gu Qin was surprised to see him like this. She thought Qin Xiansheng would know she was here, given the commotion. But this time...


    "Qin Xiansheng," Gu Qin looked into his eyes, puzzled. "Why didn''t you go back to put on some clothes?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled, but his smile lacked its usual warmth. His eyes curved slightly, but his lips didn''t move. Instead of going back to his room, he approached Gu Qin, leaned in, and hugged her tightly. "Qin Qin."


    Gu Qin stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, smiling. "Qin Xiansheng, stop fooling around. I need to cook. You''ve been sleeping for a week. Aren''t you hungry?"


    "Hungry..." His voice was low and hoarse. "But there are other things I want more."


    His warm breath tickled Gu Qin''s ear, and his lips brushed lightly against her earlobe. Her ears turned red, and she tried to push him away, but he held her tightly. She reached out and hugged his slender waist, resting her head on his bare chest. "Qin Xiansheng, I''m glad you''re awake. I was so worried about you these past few days."

 The Concubines Gambit

    "I woke up." Qin Xiansheng''s embrace tightened. "I''m sorry for worrying you."


    Gu Qin noticed his body was a bit warm and was about to say something when Qin Xiansheng suddenly bent down, lifting her and carrying her to the bed. Gu Qin laughed softly and wrapped her arms around his neck. Now, her eyes were higher than his.


    Gu Qin lowered her head, looking at his handsome face. "Qin Xiansheng, stop fooling around. I need to cook. You haven''t eaten for days. Are you still strong enough?"


    "Strength?" Qin Xiansheng chuckled. "Hmm, do you want to see for yourself?" He carried Gu Qin into the room and placed her on the bed, pressing his body against hers.


    Gu Qin was stunned. "Qin Xiansheng, what are you doing?"


    "Qin Qin." Qin Xiansheng''s eyes darkened. "I like you very much. I want to be intimate with you." His face drew closer, his amber eyes deeply gazing into hers, his reflection the only thing in his eyes. His lips, pale from the recent injuries, were almost touching hers.


    Gu Qin wasn''t particularly flustered, but she found Qin Xiansheng''s sudden change strange. Before, his eyes were always full of her, but he always restrained himself. Now, he seemed overly passionate, with something else changing that she couldn''t pinpoint.


    Just before their lips touched, Gu Qin pushed him away. "Qin Xiansheng, stop fooling around."


    "Not fooling around," he said, holding her hands above her head with one hand. His lips kissed her forehead, then moved to her nose. "Qin Qin, I don''t want to wait two years. I want to kiss you."


    Gu Qin covered her mouth with her palm, and his lips moved to her hand, burning her skin. She muffled her voice. "Qin Xiansheng!"


    Qin Xiansheng slowly raised his head, his eyes still hazy with desire. Hearing her call his name, he gradually regained clarity. His lips pursed, and he spoke sternly. "I told you before, I''m the ninth in my family. You can call me Qin Nine or Qin Xiansheng."


    Gu Qin stared at him, confused and somewhat unsettled by their intimate moment. Her eyelids trembled, and her lashes fluttered.


    Qin Xiansheng sighed, feeling a softening of his heart. He kissed her eyes gently, then stood up and moved away from her. Standing there in just a towel, he looked at Gu Qin. Gu Qin let out a sigh of relief and sat up. "Qin Xiansheng, quickly get dressed. I need to finish cooking. We can eat soon."


    Qin Xiansheng watched her for a long time before finally nodding reluctantly and opening the wardrobe, picking out some clothes.


    Gu Qin went back to the kitchen to start cooking, still puzzled by Qin Xiansheng''s sudden change.


    Half an hour later, Gu Qin finished cooking and brought the dishes to the dining table. Qin Xiansheng was sitting casually on the living room sofa, his legs crossed. Gu Qin glanced at him, noticing how relaxed he looked, unlike his usual upright posture.


    Seeing Gu Qin''s dishes ready, Qin Xiansheng got up and helped carry the dishes to the table.


    Gu Qin cooked two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, along with the soup Cheng Yinxiang had brought in the morning. Gu Qin had eaten enough rice, leaving the rest for Qin Xiansheng.


    After eating, Qin Xiansheng took the dishes to the kitchen to wash them. When he returned to the living room, Gu Qin said, "Qin Xiansheng, I''ll head back now. If you need anything, just send me a text."


    Qin Xiansheng nodded. Without saying more, he sat on the sofa, leaning back comfortably. He pulled Gu Qin into his embrace and kissed her forehead. "Why don''t I drop you off later? It''s still early."


    Gu Qin, for some reason, felt the urge to avoid Qin Xiansheng. "No, I''ll go back now."


    Qin Xiansheng made a sound of agreement, then lifted her effortlessly, placing her across his lap. He looked directly into her eyes. "Qin Qin, are you avoiding me? Don''t you like me anymore?"


    Gu Qin knew she liked him. At first, her feelings weren''t intense, but after spending time together, she grew to like him more. She didn''t have time to be coy. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Qin Xiansheng, I like you. If I didn''t, I wouldn''t agree to be with you. But I''m not used to this side of you yet."


    Qin Xiansheng stiffened. "What''s different about me? Am I not still the same person? My appearance hasn''t changed, and I still like you. I just don''t want to suppress my feelings. Since I like you, I want to be closer to you."


    He didn''t understand why his personality had changed. He had always acted according to his whims, never suppressing his desires. This was the first time he had feelings for someone. Compared to before, he was less restrained and more passionate.


    In his era, girls married at thirteen or fourteen, so he didn''t see anything wrong with being intimate with someone he liked.


    Gu Qin looked at him. "No matter what, I''ll still like you. Not just because of your appearance or personality. As long as it''s you, I''ll like you. But I''m not used to this new side of you."


    Qin Xiansheng frowned, seeing her earnest expression. He eventually gave in and kissed her forehead, reluctantly saying, "Alright, for now, I''ll listen to you. If you want to go back, I''ll drive you back."


    Qin Xiansheng took the car keys and held Gu Qin''s hand, leading her downstairs and driving her home.


    When he returned alone to the empty house, he leaned back on the sofa, his hand covering his eyes. After a long while, he sat up straight and walked around the house, returning to his room to take out the small jade gourd.


    Looking at the jade gourd in his hand, Qin Xiansheng chuckled and stepped out to the living room, sitting down. He examined the gourd for a moment before opening it. The Yin Beast White Tiger inside was still bound by the demon rope, but it looked more spirited than before, struggling and growling at Qin Xiansheng.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Qin Xiansheng chuckled and made a gesture, causing the White Tiger to tremble in pain. Sitting up straight, he said calmly, "I''m not as lenient as before. If I had dealt with you earlier, I would have destroyed you. But since you''re here, I''ll spare your life. If you behave, you might achieve great cultivation. But if you resist, I won''t mind dealing with you. What will you choose?"


    The White Tiger roared defiantly. Qin Xiansheng snorted. "Stubborn! Let''s see how you fare."


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "So what if you''re fierce? You''re just a sick cat now. Don''t worry, I don''t have much interest in you. I kept you for Gu Qin. If you protect her well, I''ll help you achieve true form and great enlightenment. Besides, you should know by now that the old man who sent you to me wanted you to become a Yin Beast. I was just unlucky, chosen to be your carrier. None of us had it easy, but now we''re all better off. Why not be happy?"


    The White Tiger continued to roar defiantly. Qin Xiansheng rubbed his temples. "Roar all you want. What if outsiders hear you?"


    Qin Xiansheng sighed. "I was too indecisive before. If I had killed you, why won''t you submit now?"


    Qin Xiansheng was getting frustrated with the still roaring White Tiger. That year, he was young and good-natured, believing he had found a good master. He never imagined his master was a villain, using him as a host for the Yin Beast.


    He was lucky. During the initial possession, he suffered greatly, but he found a divine treasure that helped him survive. His personality changed, becoming distrustful and cold to everyone, acting only on his desires.


    As he grew older, his cultivation increased. He injured the old man during his breakthrough attempt, and the old man fled. Qin Xiansheng wandered alone, building a sect. He did whatever he pleased, regardless of right or wrong. He became famous, known as the Ninth Lord, feared by all.


    Eventually, he grew tired of that life and fell into a deep sleep. The gentle, cultured version of himself returned, but he was still the same person, cold and calculating. He helped many people, but he also had a softer heart, helping others.


    He thought he would live a peaceful life as that gentle person forever. But when he expelled the White Tiger recently, his other personality emerged.


    Two personalities, one person. He knew they were the same person but didn''t fully accept the other''s personality. It was too restrained, living a life of suppression. And it didn''t even help Mu Lao.


    Mu Lao''s family had once shown him kindness when he was destitute and injured. Later, he helped them with feng shui, making them powerful. When Mu Lao joined the military, he helped him through dangerous times.


    That other personality agreed to help, helping Mu Lao become a renowned general. Mu Lao had been injured many times, and the other personality healed him. Recently, when Mu Lao was gravely injured, that personality risked his life to save him and even took on a leadership role in a mysterious institution for the sake of the country.


    Qin Xiansheng found that other personality foolish, always doing thankless tasks.


    Thinking about these memories, Qin Xiansheng sighed. The other personality had lived quietly for years, capable of making significant changes in the world. But now, waking up, he had no interest in those matters. His interest lay in Gu Qin.


    Two personalities, one person. Their preferences were naturally the same. Since the other personality was smitten with Gu Qin, he didn''t need to say anything. But his nature was different. If he liked someone, he wouldn''t wait two years. However...


    Qin Xiansheng stood up and kicked the White Tiger, feeling influenced by the girl. If it were before, he wouldn''t have softened at the sight of someone he liked. But honestly, he hadn''t met anyone who captured his heart in decades.


    Lost in thought, the White Tiger growled softly, snapping Qin Xiansheng back to reality. He looked down at the White Tiger, frowning as he considered what to do with it.


    "Why not just give you a mark? If you show any resistance, you''ll self-destruct?" Qin Xiansheng muttered to himself. He thought for a moment, then knelt down, patting the White Tiger''s head and chanting a spell..."


    The White Tiger struggled fiercely, baring its fangs and roaring at Qin Xiansheng, already a Yin Beast with its own...


    The tiger was naturally unwilling to let this person mark him, saying it''s a mark, it means unilateral control over it. If I had known earlier, I would have submitted.


    The White Tiger also felt somewhat frustrated. Originally, it hated Qin Xiansheng immensely, but over these years, it had opened its divine intelligence and realized that the blame for what happened back then did not lie with him; it was just unwilling to bow its head.


    The White Tiger closed its mouth, lowered its body, and lay on the ground with all four limbs touching the ground.


    "Hmm?" Qin Xiansheng continued talking to himself, "Are you willing to submit now? But it''s too late." He continued his hand movements.


    This incantation was quite long, and the spell was also lengthy, taking him nearly ten minutes. Finally, he formed a seal and slapped the White Tiger''s forehead with one palm. The White Tiger roared in a voice full of reluctance.


    There was no way to change anything now. The mark had already been made. If it harbored any other thoughts, it would certainly be consumed by its own yin-spiritual qi.


    Qin Xiansheng¡¯s injuries had just healed, and at this moment, after completing these actions, his face looked somewhat unwell again. He didn''t care about the White Tiger anymore and left it tied up with the demon-restraint rope, returning to his room to sleep.


    Only the White Tiger remained, roaring in dissatisfaction in the living room.


    Gu Qin went back home after eating dinner, sat in the living room and chatted with Cheng Yinxiang and the others for a while. In the past few days, Cheng Yinxiang''s cosmetics counter in the mall had started renovation and was almost complete. All the necessary documents from the health bureau had been issued, and once the renovation was done, they could start putting cosmetics on the shelves.


    Cheng Yinxiang asked about Qin Xiansheng''s condition. Gu Qin replied, "Mom, don''t worry, Brother Qin has woken up." But there was something odd about him; naturally, she didn''t dare say the latter part out loud.


    "It''s good he woke up," Cheng Yinxiang sighed with relief. "I stewed a pot of soup tonight. Should I bring it to him tomorrow morning?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Alright."


    While sleeping that night, Gu Qin thought about Brother Qin. She felt he was strange but couldn''t put her finger on it. However, his aura and presence were undoubtedly still Brother Qin''s.


    The next morning, Gu Qin didn¡¯t go to Mount Tai to practice. After having breakfast at home, she directly brought the soup to Brother Qin¡¯s house.


    She had the key to his house and entered directly. In the center of the living room was the White Tiger, still bound by the demon-restraint rope, lying on the ground. Hearing the door open, the White Tiger lifted its head and then lay down dejectedly again. Gu Qin raised an eyebrow. Why had it been released? It seemed to be tamed? How did it happen?


    Looking around, she saw no one else in the room. Was he still resting? Gu Qin placed the food box on the table in the living room and went to check the bedroom. The bedroom door opened easily, revealing a large figure lying on the bed, unclothed. His strong back, lean waist, narrow hips, and powerful legs.


    Gu Qin quickly glanced away, her face turning red, and hurriedly stepped back, closing the door. She coughed, but there was no sound inside. Gu Qin called out from the door, "Brother Qin, why haven''t you gotten up yet?"


    Inside, there seemed to be some movement. Qin Xiansheng groaned and turned over. Gradually, his voice became clearer, "Qin Qin, you''re here?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Brother Qin, get up. I brought you soup. Eat something light in the morning and have soup for lunch and dinner. I need to go to school first."


    "No, wait for me. I have something to tell you," Qin Xiansheng quickly got up and dressed, picking clothes from the wardrobe. Leaving the room, Gu Qin found him sitting on the sofa in the living room, looking at the White Tiger.


    The White Tiger heard the noise and knew Qin Xiansheng had come out, so it lowered its head dejectedly.


    Gu Qin pointed at the White Tiger. "Brother Qin, what''s wrong with it? It seems much calmer now."


    Qin Xiansheng sat next to Gu Qin on the sofa. "I put a mark on it, so it''s naturally more obedient. By the way, take the White Tiger with you."


    "Me?" Gu Qin looked at him. "Brother Qin, this is your yin beast. What do I need it for? Although its cultivation has decreased, it will still be very powerful when it recovers."


    "No." Qin Xiansheng leaned lazily against the sofa. "I don''t like it. If it follows me, I might kill it."


    Gu Qin sighed. "Brother Qin, speak properly. It can understand you. Besides, this White Tiger is yours. I won''t take it."


    "I want it to hear that," Qin Xiansheng gently stroked her smooth hair. "Let it know that if you don''t take it, it only has one path¡ªdeath."


    The White Tiger lifted its head, its blue eyes fixed intently on Qin Xiansheng. Gu Qin felt that the White Tiger must hate Qin Xiansheng deeply.


    Gu Qin did not want the White Tiger, but Qin Xiansheng insisted. Seeing Gu Qin didn''t want it, he actually raised his hand to strike it. She quickly grabbed Qin Xiansheng''s hand. "Brother Qin! Wait, how about this: I''ll keep it for now and see later?"


    Qin Xiansheng nodded and kissed her cheek. "Then take it today. I''ll send you to school first."


    "No, Brother Qin, you haven''t eaten yet. Go eat first, I can walk to school. It''s still early."


    Without hesitation, Qin Xiansheng took Gu Qin''s hand. "I''ll send you. We''ll eat on the way. As we pass the White Tiger, he untied the demon-restraint rope. Seeing the White Tiger didn''t move, Qin Xiansheng kicked it. "Get up, follow Qin Qin to school. Your responsibility is to protect my wife from now on."


    Gu Qin felt somewhat helpless, thinking that Brother Qin had truly changed his personality.


    The White Tiger glared at Qin Xiansheng but eventually got up and followed them.


    The White Tiger had been raised for many years and was quite large, even larger than a typical adult white tiger. Standing on all fours, it reached Gu Qin''s chest, looking quite intimidating. Gu Qin felt relieved that it was a yin beast, which most people couldn''t see, otherwise it would be troublesome.


    Actually, a yin beast was merely a form of negative energy, so it was invisible and intangible to outsiders. Even if someone bumped into it, they wouldn''t feel anything unless the yin beast chose to reveal itself by letting some of its negative energy enter the person''s mind, causing them to hallucinate and see it.


    Qin Xiansheng sent Gu Qin to school. He originally planned to drop her off at the school gate, but Gu Qin was worried about being seen by classmates, as rumors could spread. There were too many people who spoke without thinking these days.

 The Empresss Rise

    Eventually, Qin Xiansheng compromised and dropped her off near a parking lot before leaving.


    Going to school with a yin beast still made Gu Qin feel uncomfortable. She kept glancing back at it. The White Tiger, being curious about everything, followed closely behind, often almost getting lost. Gu Qin had to call it back several times. She was still unfamiliar with the White Tiger and feared it might cause trouble if it wandered off.


    Just as they arrived at the school gate, they saw many students running towards the teaching building, as if something had happened.


    At this moment, the White Tiger was following Gu Qin. Seeing everyone running toward the teaching building, it wanted to follow too. Running a short distance, it suddenly remembered Gu Qin and decided that she was its owner, and whatever treatment it received would depend on her. For now, it needed to listen.


    The White Tiger turned to look at Gu Qin. Gu Qin sighed. "Don''t run too fast, I''m coming too."


    Gu Qin judged that something serious had happened in the teaching building. Since classes hadn''t started yet, students shouldn''t be rushing over. She didn''t plan to use her spiritual sight to investigate and walked leisurely toward the teaching building with the White Tiger.


    Two steps in, Lin Xinxin''s voice came from behind. "Qin Qin, wait for me!"


    Turning around, she saw Lin Xinxin carrying a heavy sandbag running toward the school. She trained for four to five hours every day, and her mornings usually involved carrying a sandbag and backpack. She was now quite accustomed to it, and the weight didn''t bother her much.


    Lin Xinxin quickly caught up and linked arms with Gu Qin, heading toward the teaching building. Boarding students had just finished breakfast in the cafeteria and were rushing toward the teaching building. Lin Xinxin asked curiously, "Qin Qin, what are they doing?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "I''m not sure, but it seems something happened in the teaching building."


    "Huh, what could happen so early in the morning?" Lin Xinxin wondered, grabbing a passing girl. "Zhou Yan, what are you guys doing? Why are you all running toward the teaching building?"


    Zhou Yan was a student from Class 15. Lin Xinxin was outgoing and friendly, so she had many friends at school.


    Zhou Yan whispered mysteriously, "They say two boys from Class 1 got into a fight and got injured. One of them even used a knife! It''s said to be over Zhu Zhenyan."


    Zhu Zhenyan was not only the class beauty of Grade 1 Class 1 but also ranked among the school beauties. She was not only beautiful but also academically excellent. With fair skin and straight black hair, she looked pure. Previously, she was always the top student in the entire grade, but ever since Gu Qin''s grades improved, she had consistently ranked second.


    Gu Qin remembered that Yu Jie had planned to frame her during the final exams because of Zhu Zhenyan.


    Such a beautiful and academically excellent girl naturally attracted many male students. It wasn''t unusual for boys to fight over her, but using a knife was abnormal.


    Upon hearing about the injuries, Gu Qin''s expression turned serious, and her pace quickened. Lin Xinxin hurriedly followed but found it difficult to keep up with Gu Qin''s brisk steps.


    Gu Qin soon arrived at the teaching building. This building housed Grade 1 classrooms. There were many people gathered outside Class 1, all staring into the classroom. There were too many people, and the sounds of girls'' screams and cries filled the air.


    Gu Qin''s face changed, realizing the situation was serious. Many students were busy calling 120 and 110.


    Pushing through the crowd, she found it hard to squeeze in. She made a hand gesture, and the people around her parted automatically, allowing her to enter. Lin Xinxin followed. Inside the classroom, chaos reigned. Many students crowded around the injured, and Gu Qin could see blood oozing from the floor. The bleeding was severe.


    She heard students panickedly discussing, "How can we stop the bleeding? Why hasn''t the ambulance arrived yet..."


    "Move!" Gu Qin shouted, pushing aside the students surrounding the injured. Some students were unhappy. "What are you pushing for?"


    "Move!" Gu Qin shouted again, finally reaching the injured. She frowned, then immediately knelt down to examine the wound.


    The injured student was Yu Jie, who had been stabbed in the abdomen. The wound was deep, and blood was gushing out. Another student was trying to help with the wound.


    Gu Qin examined the wound and found the other student''s method correct, but the injury was too severe to stop the bleeding without medical equipment.


    Yu Jie was already disoriented, leaning weakly in another student''s arms. That student was terrified and shaking.


    Kneeling down, Gu Qin whispered, "Let me see." She quickly tore the clothes around the wound, which was alarming but not life-threatening due to non-critical organs.


    In general, even without hitting vital organs, a stab in the abdomen could be fatal due to excessive bleeding. Without medical intervention, survival was unlikely, as ambulances usually took around ten minutes to arrive, making it hard to survive that long.


    Gu Qin considered this the least severe case, as the vital organs were spared. She placed her hand on the wound and quickly pressed several points nearby, channeling her energy to heal the wound...


    The student helping Yu Jie was surprised. "What are you doing? If we don''t stop the bleeding soon, he won''t make it." He looked back at the classroom door. "Why hasn''t the ambulance arrived yet..."


    Gu Qin didn''t look up. "Stopping the bleeding. Your method works for minor wounds, but his injury is too deep. Without rapid hemostasis, he won''t last until medical help arrives."This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The student looked at her. "But you have no tools to stop the bleeding. Just pressing won''t work..."


    "Do you know Chinese medicine?" Gu Qin looked up. "The points I''m pressing can temporarily stop the bleeding in this situation. Your method is useful, but not suitable now. Do your parents know medicine?"


    "Acupuncture points?" The student looked at Gu Qin in surprise and nodded. "My parents are doctors, and I''ve learned some. So I know how to handle wounds, but this injury is too severe. Are these points really so magical?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Chinese medicine is profound. Don''t underestimate it." The points she pressed could indeed stop the bleeding temporarily, thanks to her energy.


    The teacher and principal heard about the incident and rushed over quickly. When they arrived, Yu Jie''s bleeding had already stopped.


    Students witnessed Gu Qin''s efforts and discussed her use of acupuncture points. Gu Qin was well-known at school, and many recognized her, whispering among themselves.


    The homeroom teacher was a woman, still eating in the dormitory when a student told her about Yu Jie and Zhang Zian fighting, with Yu Jie stabbed. The teacher was terrified and stumbled multiple times on the way to the classroom, meeting the principal along the way. They both rushed over.


    Reaching the classroom door, they saw blood everywhere and were nearly shocked to death. Such incidents would affect the school, and no principal or teacher wanted such events.


    Once inside, hearing the students'' discussions and learning that Gu Qin had helped stop the bleeding, they relaxed. Hearing the exaggerated stories, the principal and teacher grew increasingly curious about this student. Within a year, her academic performance had soared, and she knew feng shui and healing techniques. Truly miraculous.


    Seeing no immediate danger, Gu Qin stood up, noticing the crowd''s admiration. "Disperse, crowding around isn''t good for the injured, and it will delay the ambulance."


    Tian Yinhua quickly added, "Everyone return to your classes! Don''t gather here!"


    With the principal''s words, students dispersed, returning to their classrooms to spread the news about Gu Qin''s miraculous bleeding-stopping technique.


    After everyone dispersed, Tian Yinhua asked, "Is the injured student alright now?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Principal, don''t worry. He''s safe now. The ambulance will take him to the hospital. I''ll return to class now. Don''t let me disturb you."


    Tian Yinhua replied, "Go back to class quickly." They indeed had many matters to attend to.


    After Gu Qin left, she returned to the classroom with Lin Xinxin. The principal and teachers questioned the students about what had happened in Class 1. The homeroom teacher also called Yu Jie''s parents, who were terrified and rushed to the school.


    The principal noticed that Zhang Zian, who had injured Yu Jie, was no longer in the classroom. Asking a few students, one said, "Principal, I saw him run away when there were many people."


    High school students couldn''t run far; they would return home. The principal had the homeroom teacher call Zhang Zian''s parents. Looking at Zhu Zhenyan, he didn''t speak.


    The incident began because of Zhu Zhenyan. Yu Jie and Zhang Zian both liked her and pursued her, but she neither refused nor agreed, enjoying the attention. Today, the two boys argued over something trivial, and Zhang Zian even brought a fruit knife to school. It seemed to be the same knife he used to cut fruits for Zhu Zhenyan.


    Zhu Zhenyan was also terrified, sitting motionless and trembling. The homeroom teacher angrily glanced at her, knowing she was popular among male students. She had heard rumors and wanted to talk to her, but Zhu Zhenyan hadn''t committed to anyone, and the teacher lacked the authority to intervene. Now, an accident had occurred.


    The ambulance arrived shortly, and medical staff helped lift Yu Jie onto the ambulance. The principal and homeroom teacher surely accompanied him.


    Doctors were already examining the patient''s wound. Seeing such a deep wound had stopped bleeding, they exclaimed, "This wound is deep, though it didn''t hit vital organs. Usually, such a deep wound wouldn''t stop bleeding. How did you stop it without medical equipment?"


    Tian Yinhua was still a bit concerned and asked the doctor, "Doctor, is the student''s condition serious?"


    The doctor responded, "Not too serious. Although the blood loss was significant, it has been stopped. Once we reach the hospital, it won''t be a major issue. But I think without stopping the bleeding first, he might not have survived our arrival."


    Hearing this, the principal and homeroom teacher broke out in cold sweat. They exchanged a glance, feeling awestruck. Initially, Yu Jie had framed Gu Qin, but now this student had saved him without holding a grudge. Such character was rare for someone of his age.


    The doctor couldn''t help asking, "How did you stop the bleeding? It doesn''t seem like any special method was used, yet the bleeding stopped."


    The principal wiped his face. "Our principal has a friend who knows traditional Chinese medicine. Supposedly, pressing certain acupoints stopped the bleeding."


    "A student?" The doctor showed respect. "A high schooler, barely in their teens, able to do this? Truly impressive. Our hospital''s veteran TCM practitioner might not have this skill. Would you consider bringing this student to our hospital for further training?"


    Tian Yinhua smiled. "We''ll consider it. Thank you, doctor."


    The doctor also said to the principal, "A classmate of his called me? In the future, please invite her to our hospital for outpatient treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine."


    The principal smiled bitterly and said, "Doctor, she''s only in high school, just 16 or 17 years old. It''s impossible for her to work at the hospital. I think we should forget about it. But when I go back, I''ll suggest it to her. If she''s willing to help out sometimes, we can get in touch with you."


    The doctor nodded and said, "Alright, thank you then."


    This doctor worked at the No. 1 People''s Hospital in Daishan County. The hospital was very busy, with many patients. Both its equipment and medical staff were considered top-notch.


    They arrived at the hospital quickly. The principal and the homeroom teacher followed the ambulance and rushed toward the operating room.


    When they reached the operating room, the principal paid the deposit first, and Yu Jie was immediately taken inside.


    In less than half an hour, Yu Jie''s parents arrived. They looked extremely anxious. The woman''s face was pale, and her legs were weak. If not for the middle-aged man supporting her, she would have collapsed. The principal and the homeroom teacher hurried over and asked, "Are you Yu Jie''s parents?"


    "I... my son..." The woman trembled so much that she couldn''t speak coherently, her eyes red, almost on the verge of breaking down.


    Yu Feng asked urgently, "How is my son? He was fine at school, how could he be injured?"


    The principal replied, "Don''t worry, Yu Jie has already been sent to the operating room. The doctors say he will be fine because the bleeding was stopped in time. He is currently undergoing surgery. As for why Yu Jie was injured, that''s a long story..."


    Yu Feng said impatiently, "Then tell me the short version. The homeroom teacher said my son was stabbed at school. Why was he stabbed? What''s going on at your school?"


    The homeroom teacher quickly explained the situation. By the end, Cui Hui was yelling at Chu Zhenyan, crying and cursing.


    Yu Feng remained relatively calm and asked in detail. After hearing the whole story, he learned that a classmate had helped stop Yu Jie''s bleeding, without which he might not have made it to the ambulance.


    Upon hearing this, their faces turned even paler. Cui Hui was nearly overwhelmed. Yu Feng asked, "Do you know the name of that student? He did such a great thing; we need to thank him."


    The homeroom teacher said, "It''s a girl named Gu Qin. She''s very capable and knows Traditional Chinese Medicine."


    Gu Qin? Cui Hui stopped crying and grabbed the homeroom teacher''s arm. "Did you say the student who saved my son is named Gu Qin? Gu, Gu... what?" Her head buzzed, unable to believe what she had heard.


    "She''s named Gu Qin," the homeroom teacher said. "She''s a student from Grade 17, Class 1. Although she''s in Grade 17, her grades are excellent, always ranking first in her grade. She''s a very nice girl." A good student with good grades, beautiful but well-behaved, and knowledgeable in Traditional Chinese Medicine¡ªany teacher would like such a student. Even as the homeroom teacher of Class 1, she couldn''t help but like this student.


    "Gu Qin, really named Gu Qin?" Cui Hui''s face turned even paler. "How many students named Gu Qin are there in your school?" It''s a first-year student. Could it really be so coincidental?


    The homeroom teacher replied, "Her name is distinctive. There''s only one student named Gu Qin in the entire high school. Is there something special about her?"


    Cui Hui was silent for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I don''t know her. My face feels hot. How could I not know her? Back then, it was because Gu Qin embarrassed my son in front of all the classmates that I angrily retaliated against her mother. Later, when Gu Qin''s mother was doing business, I made things difficult for her with the business license. Now, she has saved my son without holding any grudges. How can I still claim to know her?"


    Yu Feng noticed Cui Hui''s unusual behavior and didn''t ask further. They both went to inquire about Yu Jie''s condition from the doctor.


    Soon after, the principal received a call and had to leave. The police had gone to the school, and the principal needed to handle some matters there, leaving the homeroom teacher behind.


    Yu Feng pulled Cui Hui aside and whispered, "Do you know the student who saved our son?"


    Cui Hui remained silent. Yu Feng knew his wife had offended many people over the years due to her pride. He couldn''t understand how she could know a high school student. Yu Feng asked several times before Cui Hui told him about the conflict between her and Gu Qin.


    Yu Feng sighed. "Wife, you''re really confused. What happened to our son was his own fault. This student is always ranked first in her grade. How could she possibly copy him? I heard our son say he liked Chu Zhenyan. This time, it was because Chu Zhenyan had an argument with another boy that he got hurt. I heard Chu Zhenyan was also ranked first in her grade before. I guess this girl must have said something to our son, which led to his actions. I don''t like Chu Zhenyan; she seems cunning. As for this Gu student, she must be good. Just knowing she saved our son without holding a grudge shows that. Since everything has passed, we should bring some gifts and apologize to her in a couple of days. I think this Gu student isn''t petty."


    Cui Hui nodded. "I agree with you. I realize I was wrong too. Oh, I was mistaken about her. Once our son wakes up, I''ll go and apologize and thank her."


    By afternoon, Yu Jie''s surgery was successful. He no longer had life-threatening injuries, though he was still quite weak. When the doctor came out, they immediately surrounded him and asked many questions. The doctor said, "Fortunately, the bleeding was stopped in time. Otherwise, this boy might not have survived."


    Hearing this, Cui Hui felt even more regret.


    After their son woke up, they visited him. Yu Jie wasn''t very talkative and kept sleeping. Cui Hui hurried back home to prepare food for him. The doctor said he could only eat light liquid food for now.


    After school, Lin Xinxin and Gu Qin left the classroom to go home. As they exited the classroom, Gu Qin glanced back. Bai Hu immediately followed. That day, Bai Hu had been quite obedient, lying quietly in the back of the classroom and following Gu Qin wherever she went.


    Lin Xinxin hand in hand Gu Qin''s arm and asked, "Qin Qin, why did you look back?"

 The Emperors Heart

    Gu Qin smiled. "Nothing, let''s go."


    Lin Xinxin nodded. "Qin Qin, we haven''t gone shopping in a while. Do you want to go?"


    Gu Qin was a bit concerned about Bai Hu but saw it was curious about its surroundings. She softened and agreed. "Okay, let''s go shopping first, then eat outside."


    As they left the school gate, many students secretly glanced at Gu Qin. She had become famous throughout the school.


    Gu Qin remained calm, but Lin Xinxin was annoyed. "Why do they look at us like they''re watching monkeys? It''s so annoying."


    Gu Qin laughed. "Xinxin, do you think I''m a monkey?"


    "No, no," Lin Xinxin said helplessly. "I find them annoying. You''re very impressive, but they''ve been looking at you all day. Seventeen Class has been busy today."


    Once they left the school grounds, fewer students were watching them. As they walked, they heard a pleasant male voice calling out, "Qin Qin."


    Gu Qin turned around and saw Qin Xiansheng. He was tall and handsome, with a good figure. Many people secretly admired him.


    Lin Xinxin admired him and whispered to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, who is he? He''s so handsome."


    Gu Qin said, "He''s my boyfriend."


    "Boyfriend!" Lin Xinxin''s eyes widened. "Qin Qin, you''re only sixteen, how could you have a boyfriend?"


    Gu Qin said, "What''s the harm? We''re just dating for now."


    Gu Qin pulled Lin Xinxin over and introduced her to Qin Xiansheng. Then she said, "Brother Qin, you don''t need to send me home today. I still want to go shopping and eating with Xinxin."


    Qin Xiansheng hummed and glanced at Bai Hu. "Is it still well-behaved?"


    Bai Hu bared its teeth at Qin Xiansheng.


    Gu Qin nodded but didn''t explain too much. "Brother Qin, you can go back now."


    Qin Xiansheng was reluctant. He wanted to spend time alone with Gu Qin but softened when he saw her eyes. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, I''ll go back first. But call me when you''re done, and I''ll pick you up." Saying this, he kissed Gu Qin on the forehead despite others being present.


    Qin Xiansheng left after dropping off Lin Xinxin. Gu Qin and Lin Xinxin went shopping and ate outside. Bai Hu followed them curiously, looking around with interest. This white tiger had a tragic past, having been killed by Qin Xiansheng''s master when it was young. It had lived in darkness within Qin Xiansheng for a long time, filled with hatred. Now that it was free, Gu Qin didn''t want to restrict it too much.


    At nine-thirty, after finishing shopping and eating, Gu Qin called Qin Xiansheng. He arrived soon after. They went to his place. Qin Xiansheng dropped Lin Xinxin off first, then brought Gu Qin back.


    With Bai Hu, they entered the house. Bai Hu was still wary of Qin Xiansheng and stayed close to Gu Qin, unwilling to approach him closely.


    In the living room, Qin Xiansheng asked Gu Qin, "Are you full? I made your favorite spicy crayfish and seafood. Want to try some more?" Knowing Gu Qin cared a lot about food, he prepared dishes he knew she liked. Though they shared the same personality, he didn''t enjoy cooking himself.


    Gu Qin was already full but didn''t want to disappoint him. She smiled and said, "Sure, Brother Qin, let''s have some more."


    Qin Xiansheng nodded and reheated the dishes. They both ate a little. His cooking was as good as ever, and Gu Qin ate until she was full.


    Seeing it was already ten-thirty, Gu Qin hurried to leave. "Brother Qin, it''s late, I need to go back."


    "I''ll take you." Though he wanted to keep her, he knew she wouldn''t stay.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Qin Xiansheng drove Gu Qin back home. On the way, they chatted. Gu Qin suggested, "Brother Qin, let''s give Bai Hu a name. Calling him White Tiger all the time doesn''t sound right."


    Qin Xiansheng glanced at the smaller Bai Hu in the rearview mirror. "If you want to name him, go ahead."


    Gu Qin looked at him eagerly. "Brother Qin, what do you think his name should be?"


    Qin Xiansheng glanced again. "White fur... How about calling him Xiao Bai?"


    Bai Hu finally looked up at him, baring its teeth, clearly unhappy with the name.


    "Xiao Bai? That doesn''t sound right." Gu Qin felt it was inappropriate to call a majestic white tiger ''Little White.'' She looked at Bai Hu. "How about calling him General?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "If you like it, call him General. But I think any name would do, no need for such a grand name."


    Bai Hu snorted, clearly displeased with Qin Xiansheng.


    Gu Qin ignored it and decided, "Let''s call him General." She turned to Bai Hu. "From now on, I''ll call you General."


    After dropping Gu Qin off, Qin Xiansheng was reluctant to leave. He hugged her for a long time before watching her go upstairs.


    Bai Hu could change its size freely. Gu Qin made it smaller, making it less noticeable.


    Before going to bed, Jiang Ni called. Gu Qin went to the balcony to answer. "Sister Jiang."


    Jiang Ni laughed. "Qin Qin, it''s been a while since we talked. I called to tell you the villa at the foot of the mountain in Daishan is finished. The one you wanted was completed a few months ago. We''ve been decorating it for the last two months. I''ve hired a construction team to finish it. Do you want to come and see the decorations?"


    "Already decorated?" Gu Qin asked. "Sister Jiang, you''ve been too kind. Should I pay for the decoration costs?"


    "Qin Qin, you''re joking. What relationship do we have? It''s impolite to ask for payment." Jiang Ni laughed. "But the surrounding areas and courtyard still need trees planted, fake mountains placed, and ponds dug. These are related to feng shui, and we don''t know how to do them. If you have time, please come and see how to arrange them. Then I''ll have people do it."


    Gu Qin understood. "Okay, I''ll come this Sunday. Then I''ll check the feng shui for the whole villa area for you."


    Jiang Ni said, "That''s great. Thank you, Qin Qin. I''ll pick you up on Sunday?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Okay, let''s talk then."


    After hanging up, Gu Qin lay in bed. She knew Jiang Ni had called to ask her to help with the villa area''s feng shui. She had already given Jiang Ni a valuable villa worth at least twenty million yuan as compensation for helping solve a problem. She naturally wanted to help them more.


    The next morning, Gu Qin heard from her classmates that someone had visited Yu Jie in the hospital the previous night. He was no longer in danger but had deep wounds and needed to stay in the hospital for some time. Zhang Zian, who stabbed Yu Jie, was too young to be detained for long. Criminal charges were unlikely, and civil compensation seemed the most likely outcome.


    Zhang Zian wouldn''t be able to attend classes for a few days. As for the main culprit, Chu Zhenyan, she was despised by the students of No. 1 High School. You may be pretty and have good grades, but using two boys to provoke a fight and injuring them seriously is despicable. Look at Gu Qin. Her grades are better than yours, her appearance is more beautiful, yet she can still forgive those who slandered her.


    Gu Qin''s appearance was indeed very beautiful. She usually dressed simply, mostly wearing school uniforms, and always tied her hair in a ponytail.


    In a short time, admiration for Gu Qin spread through the school. She received dozens of love letters from male students of No. 1 High School. Every morning, she would find several letters in her desk drawer. At first, she read them, but they were mostly expressions of admiration and desire to be friends or in a relationship. Eventually, she stopped reading them and threw them away directly.


    Lin Xinxin found this hilarious and teased Gu Qin, "If these boys knew you had a boyfriend, they''d be heartbroken. But I think none of the boys in our school can compare to your boyfriend."


    Lin Xinxin had also received a few love letters this year, but she rejected them. One reason was that she wasn''t interested, and another was that she preferred mature men.


    The homeroom teacher eventually found out about this and was both amused and exasperated. However, seeing that Gu Qin wasn''t interested in relationships, she felt relieved. The homeroom teacher believed that teenagers were too young for early romance, regardless of their academic performance. Impulsiveness during adolescence was detrimental.


    Homeroom Teacher Zhu Xia took advantage of a free moment to remind Gu Qin about this and mentioned the doctor''s request. The dean of the No. 1 People''s Hospital in Daishan had heard about Gu Qin and insisted that the principal introduce her to him. The hospital was called Daishan No. 1 Hospital, and the dean was an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who had also studied Western medicine. He wanted to meet Gu Qin to see her skills.


    After returning, the principal informed the homeroom teacher, who then told Gu Qin. Gu Qin agreed and gave the dean''s contact information to the homeroom teacher. She promised to call him when she had time.


    On Saturday, Gu Qin called Jiang Ni and arranged for her to pick her up early to visit the villa at the foot of the mountain.


    The villa she requested was small, but the yard was surprisingly large, at least three to four times the size of the house. Currently, the yard was empty.


    Gu Qin suggested some arrangements for the villa''s surroundings based on the feng shui. Jiang Ni quickly noted them down and assured Gu Qin that she would handle the yard herself. They also checked the feng shui of other villas, finding no major issues. The area around Daishan was rich in energy, beneficial to residents'' health. For the yard''s feng shui, Gu Qin provided detailed advice, which Jiang Ni recorded.


    Even though the villas weren''t on sale yet, many were already reserved. They would likely sell out quickly once available.


    After finishing the feng shui consultation, Gu Qin toured her villa. The interior was elegantly simple, which she liked. However, the house still had a strong smell due to new materials, which could cause health problems if inhaled.


    Jiang Ni also said, "The house is newly decorated. It''s not suitable for living yet. Open all windows and doors to ventilate."


    Gu Qin nodded and planned to set up a protective array to speed up the dissipation of harmful substances. Without it, the house might not be livable for half a year.


    A few days later, Gu Qin set up an array to cleanse the villa of harmful substances.

 The Final Betrayal

    On Saturday and Sunday, Gu Qin finished handling the villa. On Monday, she had to return to school and didn''t have time to call the hospital''s dean. She called him that evening after school.


    The phone was answered quickly by an older-sounding voice. "Hello, who is this?"


    Gu Qin walked out of the school gate. "Hello, this is Gu Qin. Your principal said you wanted to meet me, but I had something on Saturday, so I''m calling now."


    The genius is calling the old man here, you don''t mind, right?¡±


    "Oh oh, it''s Student Gu," the dean was also somewhat excited when he heard it was Gu Qin. He had already learned about Gu Qin''s name from the principal of No. 1 High School, and having waited for several days without any news, he thought the classmate didn''t want to meet him. "Hello, hello, I thought Student Gu didn''t want to see this old man. Hahaha, I have time today. If Student Gu is willing, I''ll invite you for a meal and tea?"


    "Good, then thank you, Dean."


    The two agreed on a specific meeting place, which was a tea restaurant in the city center. It mainly served Cantonese cuisine, and there were quite a few people eating dinner there. The principal of No. 1 Hospital was named He Dechang, who enjoyed the light taste of Cantonese dishes and often reserved a private room there.


    Gu Qin was just about to call a taxi when she heard Qin Xiansheng''s voice next to her, "Qin Qin, I''m here."


    She turned around and saw that Qin Xiansheng''s black car was parked by the roadside. She got into the car, and the ordinary-sized white tiger general followed suit. Gu Qin fastened her seatbelt and said, "Brother Qin, I need to go to Jixiangju Tea Restaurant. I made an appointment with the dean of No. 1 Hospital there. Could you drive me there?"


    "Sure." Qin Xiansheng hadn''t seen Gu Qin for two days since he was busy with the villa matters.


    The car headed towards Jixiangju Tea Restaurant. On the way, Qin Xiansheng''s phone rang once. He took it out and glanced at it, but did not answer, simply turning it off. A few minutes later, his phone rang again. Mr. Qin frowned slightly and finally answered, his voice somewhat impatient. "Speak, what''s up!"


    On the other end of the line was the disciple Zhuxi, who said, "Master, it''s me, Zhuxi. Where are you? Our sect can''t find you now. There''s a mission, and they couldn''t contact you, so they asked me to reach out."


    "I won''t deal with these things anymore. I''m not interested. Manage the sect temporarily for now. Don''t call me unless it''s urgent," Qin Xiansheng said and hung up immediately.


    Gu Qin looked at him curiously. "Brother Qin, aren''t you going to handle sect matters?" Since Brother Qin changed after the White Tiger left him, she couldn''t help but ask, "Brother Qin, why do I feel like you''re different from before?"


    Qin Xiansheng stiffened slightly. "How am I different? Am I still me?"


    "It''s hard to say. You''re the same person, and your aura is the same, but I feel like your personality has changed a bit," Gu Qin said doubtfully. "Big brother, are you hiding something from me?"


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    A change in someone''s personality always has a reason, either because of some event or situation. Qin Xiansheng seemed fine before, so it''s unlikely that his personality would change suddenly.


    "Qin Qin," Qin Xiansheng stopped the car by the roadside and turned to look at Gu Qin, his expression gentle. "You are the one I love. In this life, I only love you. So, if there''s anything, I won''t lie to you. As for me, no matter what kind of personality I have, I will always be your Brother Qin. Remember, in this world, I would never deceive anyone, nor hurt anyone. If you''re really curious about why I am like this, I''ll tell you when we get home tonight, okay?"


    In this world, there must be someone worth giving everything for, someone who willingly submits to her, and someone who doesn''t want to deceive her even a little.


    Gu Qin reached out and held his hand. "Then tell me when we get home tonight, Brother Qin."


    "Okay." Qin Xiansheng leaned forward and kissed her forehead before starting the car and driving forward.


    They arrived at Jixiangju soon. After introducing themselves, they were led upstairs to a private room. An elderly man was waiting inside. He looked to be in his sixties with some gray hair. Seeing Gu Qin, he was taken aback; he never expected such a skilled classmate to be such a beautiful young girl. His second glance fell on the man behind Gu Qin. He noticed the man''s powerful aura and was unsure of their relationship.


    Gu Qin introduced them, "You must be Dean He. This is my boyfriend, Qin Xiansheng."


    Dean He was stunned again. The girl was still a high school student, and she was already dating. He didn''t have the right to intervene and quickly recovered, "Good, good. Please sit, Miss Gu, Mr. Qin."


    After sitting down, Qin Xiansheng took the menu and handed it to Gu Qin. "Qin Qin, take a look and see what you''d like to eat."


    Gu Qin replied, "I don''t know much about these, Brother Qin. Why don''t you pick something? Or let Dean He choose, since he''s more familiar with the place."


    Ultimately, Dean He ordered some signature dishes. During the meal, Gu Qin chatted with Dean He about traditional Chinese medicine. Dean He found out that Gu Qin indeed knew a lot about TCM, not just in terms of techniques but also various prescriptions, acupuncture, acupoints, etc.


    Dean He explained his intentions, "Miss Gu, actually, I wanted to ask for your help. You know TCM is profound but not many people understand it, and a lot of knowledge has been buried. I hope you could occasionally teach the hospital''s TCM practitioners and also consider part-time teaching at my newly established TCM college. Although I know you don''t need money, I would pay you if you agree. What do you think?"


    Regardless of whether a person is good or bad, they each have their own lives and professions. Good doctors benefit society, while bad ones might have excellent skills but cause negative effects. That''s the difference between Dean He and Chen Zonggui.


    As the dean of No. 1 Hospital in Mount Dai, Dean He was upright and dedicated his life to the medical profession. In contrast, Chen Zonggui, as the dean of Mount Dai Hospital, used his position for personal gain, breaking laws and showing poor character.


    Gu Qin could tell from Dean He''s appearance that he genuinely cared about the future of TCM. She found it difficult to refuse his request. Her master once told her, "Qin, what I taught you¡ªmountains, medicine, fate, divination, and physiognomy¡ªhas no hierarchy or sequence. Regardless of which one, I hope you use them for good and righteousness. Medicine heals the sick with compassion. If someone is in trouble, would you treat them?"


    Gu Qin responded, "As long as they''re not evil, I''ll help regardless of past grievances. But for those truly evil, I won''t alter their fate or heal them. Is that right, Master?"


    Her master replied, "That''s correct. Evil people should be avoided in our profession. Doing good and being righteous is easier said than done. I hope you remember to uphold these principles no matter what difficulties you face."


    After becoming a modern urban girl, Gu Qin helped anyone who wasn''t evil, let alone Dean He''s request, which was beneficial to society and could accumulate merit.


    Gu Qin nodded, "If Dean He isn''t too demanding, I''ll set aside time every week."


    Dean He was delighted, "Of course not. Thank you, Miss Gu."


    They discussed compensation and the times Gu Qin would teach at the hospital and college. Every Friday from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, she would give a lecture to students at the TCM hospital. On Saturdays, she would spend three to four hours at the hospital interacting with TCM practitioners. On Sundays, she would see patients at the hospital.


    On Fridays, Gu Qin didn''t have classes, so she would inform her homeroom teacher and leave early.


    However, since Gu Qin didn''t have a medical license, she could only share her knowledge at the TCM hospital instead of practicing officially. For that, she needed to obtain a medical license first.


    Dean He explained this to Gu Qin, and she decided to sign up for the licensing exam and return to practice.


    Their conversation was lively, and Qin Xiansheng listened silently, thinking his wife was too soft-hearted. He didn''t stop her because whatever she did, he supported.


    The food was soon served, featuring famous Cantonese dishes: boiled shrimp, roast goose, old soup, steamed crab, garlic ribs, Lo Han vegetarian dish, and steamed rice noodle rolls. Gu Qin enjoyed how the dishes were prepared using the simplest methods to create such delicious flavors.


    After all, she was human and had preferences. Food was one of them.


    Gu Qin ate attentively, thoroughly enjoying the boiled shrimp and steamed crab. Qin Xiansheng peeled the crab meat for her and asked, "Do you like these dishes?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "The taste is great."

 The Cold Palaces Secret

    Qin Xiansheng thought to himself, "I must cook more for her in the future. Seeing her happy makes me feel like my heart is melting."


    Dean He observed the tall and handsome man beside him. He had lived almost his entire life and was quite perceptive. This man clearly cared deeply for Miss Gu. Meeting someone with such genuine feelings was worth it, even though she was a bit young. Talking with her, he found her words measured, reflecting her approach to relationships.


    After dinner, Gu Qin parted ways with Dean He and went back to Qin Xiansheng''s house. Baihu had gone out to hunt, as it consumed yin energy and needed to find sustenance itself.


    There were various energies in the world, including primordial energy and yin energy. Baihu could find sustenance easily, although yin energy was scarce unless encountering extremely fierce things. "Hunting" essentially meant absorbing yin energy. When they returned to Qin''s home, Qin Xiansheng brought out a pot of light tea for Gu Qin to drink, then held her hand.


    "Qin Qin, you want to know why I changed so much, right?"


    Gu Qin hesitated but nodded, "Brother Qin, are you willing to tell me?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled, kissed her forehead, and said, "Actually, the reason is simple. I have dual personalities. One of them is another personality of mine. In short, I have two personalities, but it doesn''t matter, does it? In front of you, I will always love and protect you, your Brother Qin."


    Dual personality? Gu Qin naturally recalled the information about dual personalities in her mind. It referred to a person having two distinct and separate personalities, with the primary personality being the original and the secondary one being the split-off personality. It was a form of mental disorder or dissociative psychological disorder.


    Essentially, it was considered a type of mental illness...


    Gu Qin knew that significant events usually caused a split in personality. Qin Xiansheng, having encountered such an incident under his master''s tutelage, developing a second personality was normal. However, which one was the original and which was the secondary? Gu Qin didn''t think much of it. Knowing the situation was enough, and as long as he didn''t hide anything from her, she was fine.


    "Brother Qin, are you the original personality or the secondary one?"


    Qin Xiansheng pondered for a moment but reluctantly admitted, "The secondary one."


    Gu Qin said, "Okay," and checked her phone, noticing it was getting late. "Well, Brother Qin, it''s getting late, so I should go."


    The topic shifted too abruptly, and Qin Xiansheng was still processing it. "Qin Qin, don''t you want to say anything?"


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Gu Qin smiled, "Brother Qin, I understand what''s going on. Besides, no matter how many personalities you have, you''re still you. You''ve said you''d only be nice to me, isn''t that enough?"


    She wasn''t too concerned about it. As long as it was Qin Xiansheng, nothing else mattered. She wasn''t worried about it being a dual personality as long as he remained Qin Xiansheng, with only a different personality, which didn''t change anything else.


    Seeing she truly wasn''t bothered, Qin Xiansheng relaxed. He didn''t mind anyway; it was still the same person, just two personalities, both of whom loved her.


    When Gu Qin returned home, it was nearly ten o''clock. There were shoes outside, indicating visitors. Gu Qin usually didn''t interfere with household matters, so she didn''t know about the visitors. Entering the house, she found it was Cui Hui with her husband and son coming to apologize and express gratitude.


    Gu Qin''s expression remained calm. She changed her shoes and entered. Cui Hui appeared awkward, "Miss Gu, hello. I came to apologize and thank you for saving my son. My previous behavior was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize and thank you."


    Cheng Yinxiang, who had already learned that Cui Hui was the one who had previously wronged them, gave her a cold look but allowed her to stay due to her sincere apologies. Cheng Yinxiang was also curious about Gu Qin''s deeds at school and listened to Cui Hui''s recounting.


    Cheng Yinxiang was quite surprised. She knew Gu Qin was skilled in TCM and had treated a classmate''s face before. The classmate''s father had thanked Gu Qin profusely and almost knelt down. Now, seeing Gu Qin could stop bleeding with acupoint techniques, Cheng Yinxiang felt proud of her daughter.


    Gu Qin said, "You don''t need to apologize. We''ve settled our differences, and saving someone is my responsibility. My master taught me that a doctor''s duty is to save lives, not let personal emotions affect professional conduct."


    Cui Hui insisted, "No matter what, I still need to apologize and thank you, Miss Gu. Thank you."


    Yu Jie, who had just been discharged from the hospital, insisted on coming despite his parents'' attempts to stop him. Looking at Gu Qin, he said, "Gu Qin, thank you for saving me. I was wrong for accusing you of cheating. I apologize and hope you forgive me."


    Gu Qin didn''t hold grudges over trivial matters. "Don''t apologize to me. You''ve already apologized at school, and I forgave you long ago. You should rest since your injury hasn''t fully healed."


    They stayed for a few hours, apologizing and thanking Gu Qin, and left after she forgave them.


    Yu Jie''s injuries would take at least a month to fully heal.


    These days, Qin Xiansheng was very attached to Gu Qin, even more so than usual.


    He picked her up from and dropped her off at school, made breakfast for her in the morning, and prepared various Cantonese dim sum for her.


    Due to the medical license requirement, Gu Qin hadn''t assisted at No. 1 Hospital or taught at the TCM college. Without a license, practicing was illegal. She preferred to follow the law.


    Exams were coming up soon, so she focused on her studies and brushed up on TCM knowledge. It was a written test, and she had never participated before. Theoretical and practical knowledge differed, but she didn''t read books. Instead, she practiced past exam papers online, making minimal mistakes and finishing her preparation within a month.


    By mid-May, the villas on the hillside of Mount Dai were completed and on sale. Within half a month, only a few were left. Most were sold out. Mount Dai had many wealthy people who weren''t concerned about the price. Modern living conditions were poor, while the hillside offered a better environment. The villas designed by the Jiang family were innovative. While the hillside was developed, the rest of Mount Dai remained untouched, preserving the natural scenery and fragrances.


    In an increasingly technologically advanced era, nature suffered. Many illnesses were linked to environmental factors. Wealthy people valued their health and were willing to spend a fortune for a better living environment.


    Apart from Gu Qin''s villa, the other villas on the hillside hadn''t been fully renovated. Only the courtyards, ponds, hills, and plants were ready. They assured clients that feng shui experts had reviewed the layouts and advised against major changes. These clients were wealthy locals who knew Gu Qin''s reputation and trusted her advice.


    The villa sales were so successful that by mid-June, they were sold out. The Jiang family threw a celebration, inviting Gu Qin, who attended and received numerous business cards.


    In the past two months, many people had sought her feng shui expertise. Most issues were minor, related to household ailments and feng shui arrangements. With minor adjustments, they improved. Despite this, she earned millions in these two months, as her clients were wealthy and paid generously for her insights.


    Gu Qin realized how easy it was to make money after becoming well-known, even if her fame was limited to Mount Dai''s wealthy community. She deposited half of her earnings into her personal bank account and the other half into her charitable account.


    The case of Sun Haiying''s drowning in Longju Lake was widely discussed online, drawing public criticism toward Zhao Changming. Zhao''s family was in turmoil and unable to confront Sun''s family or Manager Sun''s family.


    The case was nearing its trial...

 The Empresss Triumph

    Actually, no matter what happened, it wasn''t perfect. Even if Zhao Changming received his due punishment and served several years in prison, so what? Sun Haiyang was already dead; when a person dies, the light goes out, and the family is heartbroken. Whether they can get through this is uncertain. Xu Meixuan was also the same; even though she found her child, the wound in her heart wouldn''t lessen any bit. The trust she had in her husband and mother-in-law for several years turned out to be nothing but wolves in sheep''s clothing.


    With these news, the busy Gu Qin could only find some solace.


    The licensing examination for a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner does not have a fixed date. She had just registered recently, and the exam would start in a few days. It was almost June 10th, and Gu Jia would take the college entrance exam on June 24th.


    The TCM practitioner qualification exam is divided into two levels: Practitioner and Assistant Practitioner. Gu Qin was taking the Practitioner level exam. This exam was quite complicated. One needed either a recognized degree from a TCM university or to have studied under a master. Gu Qin said she had a master, but it had to be recognized by the state. There was no choice but to ask He Dechang for help. He was a well-known TCM practitioner, and Gu Qin nominally became his disciple. However, there were some issues with her age. Even with a master, one still needed a high school education and a year of internship in a medical institution.


    Gu Qin did not meet these requirements, but TCM practitioners were more lenient. Actually, exceptions could be made. If someone had real talent and an outstanding student, they could be allowed to take the exam.


    This was also thanks to He Dechang''s help. Otherwise, Gu Qin would not have been able to take the exam. Those veteran TCM doctors and examiners were not easy to fool. Anyway, after He Dechang said something, they agreed to let Gu Qin take the exam as an exception.


    The exam was on the 13th, and the location was in Beijing. So, Gu Qin had to go to Beijing. Qin Xiansheng also knew about this and accompanied her. He had been in Beijing before and was familiar with the city.


    Gu Qin planned to go directly by plane the next day. Originally, she intended to take the train, which would take about ten hours. She never thought of flying. To her, air travel was too scary. In her time, how could she have imagined such a mode of transportation that could fly in the sky? Therefore, when she first became Gu Qin, she was very resistant to flying.


    Apart from airplanes, she also disliked elevators and living on higher floors, feeling scared looking down, commonly known as acrophobia.


    However, Qin Xiansheng, knowing that she was going to Beijing for the exam, booked a first-class ticket for her. He told her that flying was fast and not tiring, and they could go sightseeing in Beijing early.


    In the evening, Gu Qin packed her things. The exam lasted for two days, and she might stay a few days longer. By the time she returned, it would definitely be the 20th. She only brought a few clothes, as it was getting warmer, and she only needed two skirts for changing. Other than that, she brought items needed for the exam. She didn''t bring much, just a small suitcase.


    Cheng Yinxiang was still a bit worried, "Qin Qin, will you be okay alone? Do you want me to accompany you? I can leave the cosmetics shop to the employees."


    The cosmetics shop had already opened and was doing well. It was very busy every day, closing at eight or nine in the evening.


    Gu Qin replied, "Mom, really, you don''t need to come. Brother Qin is accompanying me. He''s from Beijing and knows the place well. Don''t worry. If you have time, you can go check the villa on Mount Dai. The Jiang family gave me a villa as a reward. It was recently renovated, with furniture and everything. I''ve aired it out for some time. You can go see what else is missing, like pots and pans. If you''re still not sure, you can hire someone to test the formaldehyde levels. Once everything is fine, you can move in on a good day."


    Mount Dai''s villa? Cheng Yinxiang was stunned. Everyone in Mount Dai City knew about this villa. It was described in a few words: expensive, beautiful environment, area for the wealthy. She knew her daughter had helped the Jiang family, but she didn''t expect them to give such a villa as a reward. Didn''t they say they gave two million yuan? Before Cheng Yinxiang could ask, Lu Qingrong laughed, "Wife, you underestimate Qin Qin. Now she''s a famous feng shui master in Mount Dai. She charges hundreds of thousands for consultations. The Jiang family gave her the villa as a reward because she helped them a lot. Moreover, her fame is such that the feng shui of the villa was checked by her. That''s why the villa area sold out within a month. It has something to do with Qin Qin. They should give her the villa."


    Lu Qingrong''s business had also moved to Mount Dai. Initially, starting was difficult. He had heard about Qin Qin''s reputation in the business world and knew people respected her greatly. He had heard many stories about her, but he handled his business matters himself and never talked about his relationship with Qin Qin to outsiders.


    Cheng Yinxiang was still in a daze. Even if she spent over a million yuan on her business, a villa worth millions was still too much for her. She might never earn that much in her lifetime. Fortunately, she knew her daughter was different now and didn''t say much. She repeatedly reminded her to be careful in Beijing, bring enough money, and call home if anything happened. She kept talking until it was late at night, then let her go to sleep.


    The flight was at ten in the morning the next day. Gu Qin got up, packed her things, went to Brother Qin''s house for breakfast, and had dim sum for the first two months, now trying other cuisines.


    At ten, she boarded the plane on time. Sitting in the airplane, she felt fine, except for some discomfort during takeoff. Once it flew, it was much more comfortable than trains or cars. However, looking at the clouds outside made her dizzy, so she didn''t dare look out the window and slept the whole way with an eye mask.


    Upon arriving in Beijing, Gu Qin was somewhat impressed. Compared to Beijing, Mount Dai seemed like a small town. She wasn''t criticizing her hometown; it was just a feeling.


    For the first time in Beijing, Gu Qin didn''t know her way around. Qin Xiansheng first took a car to take her to a hotel near the exam venue. They booked two rooms next to each other. The flight took only about an hour, and it was lunchtime. Qin Xiansheng took her to eat roast duck and some famous Beijing snacks.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Gu Qin had a good appetite and followed Qin Xiansheng hand in hand, exploring and eating all afternoon. She consumed a lot while cultivating, so eating more didn''t lead to fat accumulation.


    The exam started on the 13th. Gu Qin had reviewed enough and wasn''t in a hurry. She spent two days in Beijing with Qin Xiansheng.


    On the 13th, she went to the exam venue early. Gu Qin was probably the youngest candidate. The ages ranged from twenty to fifty or sixty.


    Gu Qin looked like a young girl, so she attracted attention when entering the exam room. Before the exam started, there was a fingerprint check to verify identity. Large exams or the college entrance exam now used fingerprints to prevent impersonation.


    After sitting down, a girl in her twenties nearby looked at her several times and finally couldn''t help asking, "Little sister, how old are you?"


    Gu Qin didn''t respond. She knew she entered the exam room using some connections. Even if there were special cases, outsiders didn''t know. If it spread, it would only say she used privileges. Seeing she was silent, the girl didn''t ask further.


    The Practitioner exam lasted two days. The first day was a written test, with a total of six hundred questions. This day tested theoretical knowledge. The next day would be practical experience, where candidates had to personally undergo tests, such as pulse diagnosis and acupuncture points.


    The first day''s exam was divided into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each lasting two and a half hours. Time was not tight, and the questions were multiple-choice. Gu Qin did them very quickly. She knew the knowledge too well, like other aspects of divination, fate, no, physiognomy, which had deeply imprinted in her mind and become part of her life and body. She would never forget them. Plus, she had reviewed for one or two months, so within half an hour, she had completed all the questions.


    The exam was very strict, as it involved human lives. Each exam room had several invigilators. Their ages ranged from thirty to fifty or sixty. There were four invigilators in Gu Qin''s room, two elderly men, a forty-something man, and a woman in her thirties.


    Their eyes often fell on Gu Qin. When they saw her submit her paper after half an hour, they were shocked. The oldest elder said sternly, "Young lady, this is a TCM Practitioner exam, not a joke. You finished in just half an hour? Don''t you want to check your answers?"


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "Teacher, I checked once and found no mistakes. These questions are simple. I have been studying TCM since childhood, and it''s part of my brain. I can''t forget it, so half an hour is enough."


    The elder snorted, disliking Gu Qin''s arrogance, "How old are you, daring to say such things? We have studied our whole lives and don''t dare say such things. We don''t dare claim that we can answer all these questions correctly, let alone say that these knowledge points have become part of our brains. At your young age, you are so arrogant. I think you don''t have the qualifications to be a doctor."


    Gu Qin sensed that the elder was deliberately targeting her. She didn''t know this elder, only He Dean did. Considering her special circumstances for taking the exam, it might be due to He Dean''s relationship that the elder targeted her. The elder looked old, probably an experienced TCM doctor. Gu Qin respected teachers and elders, so she didn''t get angry and said calmly, "Teacher, don''t be upset. What I said is true. When the results come out, Teacher will know. Why make things difficult for me now and delay everyone''s exam?"


    The elder looked at the other candidates, who indeed looked up at them. The elder pursed his lips and remained silent. The woman in her thirties hurriedly said, "Okay, you can go out first. The teacher isn''t targeting you intentionally. We just don''t like overly arrogant candidates. Even if you''re really smart, you should take the exam seriously. Half an hour..."


    The woman shook her head.


    Gu Qin didn''t speak and went back to her seat to pack up and left.


    The woman whispered to comfort the elder, "Teacher, don''t be upset. I don''t know what Old Master He did. He''s usually a humble person, but he took such a disciple. She doesn''t meet the conditions, yet insists on taking the exam as an exception. We thought a young girl would at least be cautious about the exam, but instead, she treats it like a joke. Teacher, don''t worry. If this girl fails the exam, she won''t pass, and we can''t let her harm others. The physician license involves life and death..."


    This elder and He Dean were both renowned figures in the TCM community, considered great masters. They were both accomplished and famous for their treatment methods. They weren''t necessarily rivals but had some pride and arrogance. However, they were decent people without ill intentions, maintaining a superficial harmony. Recently, He Dean said he had taken on a disciple years ago, who had graduated and wanted to take the exam. Due to age restrictions, he hoped for an exception.


    This elder naturally disagreed, thinking He Dean''s disciple was too young. However, He Dean knew his own medical skills and that he couldn''t match this girl. If she could obtain the license earlier, it would benefit the public. So, he insisted. He Dean was a respected figure in the TCM community, and most people agreed, except this elder. After being persuaded, he thought if this young disciple truly had the ability, she could obtain the license sooner. If not, he wouldn''t let her pass.


    They originally expected a boy, but it turned out to be a girl. In this era, there were more male TCM practitioners. For a young girl, the elder was dissatisfied. Later, seeing her finish the exam in half an hour, he became even more dissatisfied. He thought even if she was a true genius, she shouldn''t be so arrogant at such a young age. How could she practice TCM? But he never imagined that Gu Qin''s abilities were above these great masters. So, what if she was a bit arrogant? Moreover, Gu Qin wasn''t arrogant; she felt that spending the remaining two hours idly in the exam room would attract more attention. She didn''t expect to be misunderstood.


    Gu Qin didn''t care. After leaving the exam room, Qin Xiansheng was waiting outside. He had found a black car again, which he had been using to take her around for food and entertainment. Seeing Gu Qin leave so early, Qin Xiansheng didn''t seem surprised. He helped her fasten her seatbelt and asked, "Where do you want to go play?"


    Gu Qin shook her head, "I don''t want to go out anymore. We can just walk around. It''s time to rest back at the hotel. We''ll go back to the hotel after lunch and return to the exam hall at two o''clock."


    Qin Xiansheng took Gu Qin around, bought a lot of local specialties, had lunch, and rested back at the hotel. At two, they returned to the exam hall. She came out after half an hour again, and this time, the elder just hummed and didn''t say anything.


    The second day was the practical exam, much harder. Gu Qin had no sense of urgency and even ate street food with Qin Xiansheng at night, returning to the hotel to wash up and sleep at nine.


    The exam venue for the second day was different but still close. Gu Qin arrived early. The exam was conducted by teachers who asked questions on the spot. In previous years, models were given, and candidates had to locate specific acupuncture points. Or they had to diagnose a person''s condition by observing, listening, and asking questions.


    Entering the exam room, the same invigilators were present. Each candidate had a desk. When called, they went up and listened to the teacher''s instructions. This exam was scored on the spot. Even if your written exam score was high, you still had to pass this part.


    There was no significant difference between this exam and the previous one. Invigilators called candidates to perform acupuncture. Many candidates were eliminated in this section, as it was difficult to locate the points accurately, especially in front of these invigilators.


    Candidates were called by their numbers. Gu Qin should be in the middle position. The candidates called before her were nervous. The invigilators told them the points and asked them to start. Several candidates hesitated and couldn''t insert the needles. Some even inserted them incorrectly, taking a long time to find the correct points. Only a man in his thirties performed well.


    When it was Gu Qin''s turn, the elder suddenly said, "I''ll test this student myself." He wanted to test Gu Qin in person. After sitting down, he casually named several points on the arm, relatively obscure points rarely used, which wouldn''t harm the body but could help clear the arm''s meridians.


    However, accurate insertion was necessary. Incorrect insertion could be harmful. Gu Qin suspected the elder was targeting her, as others used models. Even so, many students were nervous. Performing on a real person was even more nerve-wracking. But Gu Qin was Gu Qin. Her understanding of acupuncture points was profound. She had no sense of urgency.


    Gu Qin didn''t hesitate, picking up several needles and inserting them casually. The elder named five points, and Gu Qin picked up five needles, inserting them casually within two seconds. All five needles were accurately placed on the elder''s arm. The other candidates might not have noticed, but the veteran invigilators knew that Gu Qin had hit all the points correctly.


    Hitting the points was normal, but if she lacked the skill, she wouldn''t have been recommended by Old Master He. With ten points, she acted without hesitation, completing them within less than two seconds, perfectly aligned and neither too light nor too heavy.


    The elder was stunned, his gaze complex. He always thought this girl was clever but realized she had genuine skills. This technique was something he couldn''t achieve in his lifetime, even with his experience. Although he was fast, he couldn''t match her speed. He initially thought the girl was arrogant but now realized she truly deserved it.


    But this technique, even her master He Dechang might not be able to achieve. How did she manage it?


    The woman in her thirties asked,

 The Emperors Fall

    "Master?" Liu Fengzhu turned her head to look at Lao Liu, her expression somewhat puzzled. The master didn''t say he would introduce this girl from the exam to Ziyue, so why was she here? Could it be the strong aura man next to her? But why was he also here? Did they know each other?


    Seeing his disciple''s confusion, Lao Liu waved them over. "Come over here, let me introduce you. This is the geomancy master I found for you, Miss Gu Qin. She may be young, but she truly has the skills. Fengzhu, sit down with Ziyue first and let Master Gu take a look at what''s going on." Then he turned to Gu Qin and said, "Master Gu, this is my disciple, Liu Fengzhu, and her boyfriend Bai Ziyue."


    Gu Qian nodded and took out the gifts from her hands. Among them, she handed the gift for Gu Jia to him. "I brought you a gift, go ahead and open it. By the way, you have your college entrance exam tomorrow. Tonight I will draw a talisman for you that can help you calm your mind."


    As soon as the examination hall, many students would get nervous, and quite a few would make mistakes due to tension during the exam or even get questions wrong. Gu Jia, whose academic performance wasn''t particularly good, had only started working hard in the last few months. Although he looked relaxed, Gu Qin could still tell from his facial features that he was quite concerned about this exam.


    After finishing the talisman, she wrapped it up and told him to keep it in his pocket during the exams over the next few days, making sure not to lose it. This talisman was drawn with vital energy and had a definite calming effect.


    The next morning, Cheng Yinxiang woke up first and prepared breakfast for Gu Jia, reminding him to check everything he needed to bring. She also asked if he had brought the talisman Gu Qin had given him. Cheng Yinxiang trusted her daughter''s words.


    Gu Jia said helplessly, "Mom, don¡¯t worry so much. I¡¯ve checked everything three times already today, and the talisman is definitely with me. Don¡¯t be nervous; I¡¯m not nervous at all."


    Cheng Yinxiang couldn¡¯t help being nervous. Children were parents'' debts. Seeing Gu Jia eat, Lu Qingrong and Cheng Yinxiang accompanied him to the examination venue.


    Gu Qin still had classes to attend. She had taken a leave of absence for ten days when she went to Beijing, and now the final exams were approaching. The summer vacation began in early July. There were also household matters to take care of.


    Back at school, the teachers didn¡¯t ask her much, just telling her to study well and prepare for the final exams.


    Gu Jia was taking the college entrance exam. It was strange; he had been very nervous yesterday but felt completely calm this morning. He felt very peaceful and performed well on the exam. After three days, he felt satisfied and believed he did better than expected.


    After finishing his exams, Gu Jia had nothing else to do except wait for the results. Gu Qin¡¯s final exams were also coming up.


    That night, after the exams, Liu Fengzhu called her. When she answered, the person on the other end was crying bitterly. "Master Gu, please save Ziyue. Please, please!"


    Gu Qin asked, "Did he turn himself in?"


    Liu Fengzhu couldn¡¯t speak and finally begged Gu Qin, "Master Gu, as long as you help him, once he recovers, he will certainly mend his ways. Please, please."


    Gu Qin laughed coldly, "If it weren¡¯t for your master, I wouldn¡¯t have met you. Your face reading didn¡¯t show you as an evil person, so I told you about him. But I never thought you¡¯d be so stubborn. He killed someone, how can he mend his ways? Not turning himself in and doing more good deeds? Can the dead come back to life? In these few days, you must have felt uncomfortable; the vengeful spirit has affected you. If you continue to associate with him, over time, too much yin energy will enter your body and cause problems."


    Liu Fengzhu was not bad; she hated what happened, but watching him die was something she couldn¡¯t bear to do. Turning himself in? The Bai family couldn¡¯t afford the disgrace, nor could she. She really didn¡¯t know what to do. By then, Bai Ziyue had become emaciated, and the pain had increased to three hours a day. Seeing him suffer like this, she finally sought Gu Qin¡¯s help.


    She guessed Gu Qin wouldn¡¯t agree, but this was her only hope. Bai Ziyue¡¯s situation was known to the Bai family, who were angry but couldn¡¯t watch their eldest son die. They even hired a Miao shaman to look into it. That person said he couldn¡¯t solve the problem and left. The poison was one of the most lethal types of Miao poison, requiring a very experienced elder or powerful figure to handle. It was likely Bai Ziyue¡¯s family had provided it.


    Given the nature of the poison, the Miao shaman dared not offend Gu Qin. He told the Bai family there was no cure. The Miao wouldn¡¯t help, and they couldn¡¯t find anyone else. However, Liu Fengzhu knew Gu Qin was skilled in mysticism, possibly trained by another master besides Master He. She hoped Gu Qin could get that man to help.


    Gu Qin hung up without giving her a chance. She didn¡¯t want to deal with such stubborn people. The yin energy might make her confused and lead to misfortune, but it wouldn¡¯t be severe. The vengeful spirit didn¡¯t intend to take her life.


    After hanging up, Gu Qin stopped thinking about it. She refused to help. Bai Ziyue deserved whatever came his way, even if he turned himself in. She had seen his fate from his face reading: he wouldn¡¯t live past a month, and he lacked benefactors, meaning he faced a fatal destiny.


    A few days later, Gu Qin¡¯s exam results came out, as did Gu Jia¡¯s. Though not among the top in the province, he could still attend a prestigious university. His score was enough, and he applied to a university in Beijing, which he would now be able to attend.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Gu Jia was happy, and Cheng Yinxiang was even happier. Since Gu Jia did well, they would hold a banquet, a custom in Daishan City. Anyone who passed an exam would have a celebration.


    Cheng Yinxiang planned to hold a banquet, especially since her daughter did well, becoming the top student in her grade. After considering the guest list, she asked Gu Jia if they should invite Gu Yuanjiang. Gu Jia declined, saying only his maternal grandparents and two aunts¡¯ families should be invited.


    Cheng Yinxiang agreed. They set a date and sent out invitations. Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Qin were busy moving into a new villa. During Gu Qin¡¯s trip to Beijing, they visited the villa, which was fully furnished except for kitchenware and bedding.


    Lu Qingrong owned a house in Daishan but stayed with Cheng Yinxiang. They moved into the villa together. Lu Qingrong had one car, and Gu Qin had another, which was sufficient.


    Gu Qin chose a propitious day to move in. Moving into a new home required inviting friends and relatives, and the villa was surrounded by a beautiful environment. She set up a geomantic array inside for the health of her family.


    The banquet for Gu Jia¡¯s exam results was on July 10th, and the villa move-in was on July 7th. On July 5th, Gu Jia¡¯s maternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins arrived. The Cheng family was glad to see their daughter living in a villa and leading a better life.


    The villa was surrounded by a beautiful environment. Gu Qin set up a geomantic array inside to benefit her family''s health.


    On July 7th, the move-in celebration was held with family and close friends. On July 10th, a banquet was held at a five-star hotel. Only those with invitations could enter. The guest list included the two aunts¡¯ families, who were surprised by the venue but remained silent.


    Inside, everyone sat down, and the dishes were pre-ordered. Cheng Yinxiang spoke briefly and revealed her relationship with Lu Qingrong. She hadn¡¯t held a wedding ceremony yet but decided to announce their relationship.


    The two aunts were shocked but realized that with Gu Yuanjiang married, their hopes of reuniting with him and Cheng Yinxiang were dashed. They wished Cheng Yinxiang well.


    Cheng Yinxiang continued speaking, but outside, a commotion began. Waiters tried to stop a group entering, including Gu Yuanjiang, Luo Wenfen, and others. Gu Qin let them in, warning them not to cause trouble.


    Seeing Gu Qin¡¯s stern demeanor, they refrained from arguing and instead attacked Cheng Yinxiang. Luo Wenfen accused her of hiding important news. Cheng Yinxiang explained calmly.


    Gu Yuanjiang mocked her, calling her a woman who quickly found a new lover. Cheng Yinxiang ignored him and asked Lu Qingrong to remove them. Lu Qingrong¡¯s imposing presence intimidated them.


    Back at the villa, Cheng Yinxiang was still upset. Gu Qin comforted her, saying Gu Yuanjiang would face his own punishment. She mentioned his ¡°Tao of Love¡± curse would lead to imprisonment. Cheng Yinxiang felt relieved, knowing her former husband would face justice.


    Gu Jia¡¯s maternal grandparents stayed in Daishan for a few more days. Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong saw them off. The medical license exam results came in, and Gu Qin scored perfectly.


    With her summer break officially starting, Gu Qin completed all her assignments. Besides cultivation, she had little to do. However, with her medical license, she became busy teaching at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and seeing patients at the First Hospital.


    Her classes were once a week, but during summer, they became twice a week. At the hospital, she saw patients every three days.


    By July 20th, Gu Qin went to the TCM Hospital for the first time to teach supplementary classes. He Laoshi took her there. On the way, He Laoshi sighed, worrying about the young girl lecturing older students.


    At the school, He Laoshi introduced Gu Qin to the students. Despite their disbelief, Gu Qin patiently explained the material. Her clear explanations impressed the students, who soon trusted her expertise.


    After a week of teaching, Gu Qin¡¯s classes were held once a week, but she also worked at the hospital. She attended the First Hospital in the mornings, where she mostly treated minor ailments.


    In late July, Liu Ying called, informing Gu Qin that Bai Ziyue had died, claiming it was due to illness. His apprentice had been in a car accident but was recovering.


    Gu Qin assured Liu Ying that her apprentice would recover and that Bai Ziyue¡¯s death was his own doing.


    Afterwards, Gu Qin focused on her teaching and hospital work. Time flew by, and before she knew it, August was almost over.


    Jia was going to the capital city to attend university and needed to arrive in advance. Upon arrival, she would also undergo military training. During this summer vacation, Gu Jia had not stopped exercising, and even after arriving in the capital, she would continue to persist. She brought medicine with her, and after using it up, Gu Qin would mail more to her.


    The next day, Gu Jia went to the capital. Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong accompanied her there, but Gu Qin did not go along. She still had to go to the hospital early in the morning. Now, she was quite familiar with the doctors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department, and everyone liked this little girl very much, finding her intriguing.


    The TCM department wasn''t particularly busy on a regular day. The patients who came were mostly suffering from chronic diseases like rhinitis or gastrointestinal issues. Diseases such as cancer were typically treated by Western medicine because TCM had no specific remedies for cancer, although some online remedies could only provide auxiliary prevention and could not actually cure it.


    Even if there were terminal patients, no one could cure them, so the TCM department wasn''t overly busy.


    That morning, several patients came to grab their prescriptions. Gu Qin wasn''t busy and sat there sending messages to Qin Xiansheng. Qin Xiansheng asked her what she wanted to eat at noon, and he would prepare it for her.


    Gu Qin reported what she wanted to eat and chatted with him for a while. After a while, the TCM building suddenly became bustling. Gu Qin went out to see what was happening and saw that someone had brought a patient over on a stretcher from the TCM department. Old He was also following.


    The man lying on the stretcher looked tall and robust but pale. He was unconscious, covered in blood, which was somewhat frightening.


    Many of the TCM practitioners gathered around. "Director He, why did you bring the person here? Isn''t this a stab wound?"


    He Dechang nodded, somewhat anxious. "Yes, it''s a stab wound, and he has a blood disorder, with coagulation problems. The bleeding won''t stop, and we can''t suture the wound. We must first stop the bleeding."


    Those present knew what was going on. This was a coagulation dysfunction where the wound couldn''t stop bleeding due to congenital or acquired deficiencies in clotting factors, damaged blood vessels, or poor platelet function. The man''s condition was severe, making it difficult to stop the bleeding.


    The TCM practitioners felt puzzled. Director He didn''t explain further but looked around. "Where is Doctor Gu? Quickly have her come and help handle the patient. The patient has lost too much blood; if we don''t stop the bleeding soon, they will die. First, stop the bleeding, then proceed with surgery."


    One of the doctors hesitated. "Director, isn''t that a bit unlikely?"


    Gu Qin already knew what was happening when she heard He Lao''s voice. She immediately went back to get her silver needles. Hearing He Lao''s voice, she quickly came over. "Please disperse the crowd first, I need to examine the wound."


    Tearing open the patient''s clothes, Gu Qin clearly saw the injury on his waist and abdomen. The wound wasn''t deep, but due to the coagulation disorder, the bleeding wouldn''t stop, causing excessive blood loss. Although Gu Qin was proficient in TCM, she had also studied Western medicine and knew that the worst thing for this symptom was bleeding, especially for such a large wound, even if it wasn''t deep.


    Without much talking, Gu Qin took out her silver needles and began to treat the patient. The man looked to be in his thirties, quite muscular, not looking like an intellectual type, with tattoos. A young woman in her twenties was crying sadly beside him. As Gu Qin was about to insert the needles, the man seemed to wake up. Seeing the silver needles in Gu Qin''s hand, he glared at her. "What are you doing?"


    Gu Qin replied, "You''re injured, and we need to use needles. Do you want to bleed to death?"


    The man grunted and closed his eyes without saying anything. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes again. "Can you stop crying? I''m not dead yet! If you keep crying, I might die!"


    The young woman''s wailing turned into sobs. "I''m worried about you. Didn''t you say you weren''t going to associate with them anymore and wanted to quit? How can I be reassured if you keep getting hurt like this? Your body is already problematic, and now you''ve been stabbed so badly. How can you stay in this line of work?"


    The man snorted without answering. Gu Qin''s silver needles were already being inserted. Acupuncture requires precise points and force. If either is off, there''s no effect. This is why many TCM practitioners can hit the acupoints but achieve no results¡ªtheir force is incorrect.


    After Gu Qin finished inserting the needles, the man''s bleeding gradually stopped. She then used her qi to protect the wound. Although the man had a rough demeanor, his face suggested he was loyal and cared deeply for others. That''s why Gu Qin was willing to save him. Even as a doctor, Gu Qin would never treat just anyone. She would help those who were not evil, even if they had conflicts with her, but she would never help those who were truly wicked.

 The Empresss Reign

    After the patient''s bleeding stopped, the young woman almost knelt down in front of Gu Qin. She was the man''s wife, worrying constantly about her husband''s dangerous line of work. Usually, minor injuries were no big deal, but this time, he was stabbed, and his body was already weak. They thought he was doomed. When the doctors couldn''t stop the bleeding, she was terrified. Eventually, the director came and said to send the patient to the TCM department first. She was surprised that the TCM department could stop bleeding. Seeing the director call a young girl, she was disappointed, but the girl really had the skills. With a few needles, the bleeding stopped. It was much easier to handle after that. The young woman thanked Gu Qin profusely and got her phone number, promising to visit and thank her once her husband recovered.


    After the patient was taken away, the TCM doctors gathered around. An older TCM practitioner couldn''t help but exclaim, "Qin Qin, how did you manage to stop the bleeding?" Stopping bleeding through acupoints is very difficult, and even Director He might not be able to do it.


    Gu Qin smiled. "It depends on the acupoint and force. Even if you know the acupoint, without proper control, you can''t stop the bleeding. If you want to learn, I''ll teach you slowly later." She learned this skill from her master for nearly ten years.


    Gu Qin was willing to teach them. Nowadays, traditional Chinese medicine had declined, and many things had been lost. Traditional Chinese medicine was one of the most profound aspects of Chinese culture.


    In the following days, Gu Qin taught them, sat in clinics, and gave lectures at the hospital.


    A few days later, Gu Qin sat in clinic in the morning and had lunch at the hospital canteen before planning to return home. She lived in a villa area, and Qin Xiansheng picked her up every day. In these months, he hadn''t had any incidents.


    This past week, no one was home. Uncle Lu and her mother were busy, and her brother had gone to school. When she and Qin Xiansheng returned to the villa, they found a large man sitting at the security booth of the villa complex. Dai Shan Villa Complex required a card to enter, and the security guard remembered all the residents.


    The security guard recognized Gu Qin, knowing that a tall and handsome man often dropped her off, recognizing the license plate. Seeing the car arrive, the guard immediately came out. "Miss Gu, this man is looking for you. I told him you hadn''t come back yet, but he insisted on waiting here. Do you recognize him?"


    Gu Qin actually recognized the man. He was the man she had saved in the hospital a few days ago, who had been stabbed in the abdomen and couldn''t stop bleeding until she stopped it with acupuncture before surgery.


    The man was quite muscular, about 180 cm tall, with a somewhat rough appearance. Seeing Gu Qin, he immediately walked over. "Doctor Gu, hello."


    Gu Qin nodded and smiled. "You recovered quickly. It''s only been a short while, and you''re already running around."


    The man chuckled. "Just a small injury. It''s my wife who''s worried. But I know my situation is special. If it weren''t for Doctor Gu, I might have died this time. I''m here to thank you. I finally found you. My name is Chen Qiu."


    Gu Qin smiled warmly. "You''re fine, that''s good. But working in your field is indeed risky. Sometimes, it''s better to leave the field."


    No matter how strictly enforced, there are always rules in the world. There is light and darkness, good and evil. One cannot judge a person''s character solely by their profession. Even though Chen Qiu''s line of work was not ideal, he himself was not a bad person.


    Chen Qiu laughed. "I''ll be more careful in the future. I''m just a rough guy. What else can I do? If I were to become a gentleman, I wouldn''t be able to do it. This time, Doctor Gu saved my life, and my life belongs to Doctor Gu. If you ever need anything, just let me know."


    Gu Qin smiled. "It''s nothing big. Go home and rest properly. You need more rest for your injury. Otherwise, you''ll have lingering effects."


    Chen Qiu said, "It''s nothing serious. I can move around a few days after the operation. My wife is afraid and insists I stay in bed."


    Gu Qin invited Chen Qiu inside to sit, but he declined. "Doctor Gu, please go back. If there''s anything you need, just tell me."


    Chen Qiu left behind several gifts, all local specialties, which Gu Qin accepted.


    Gu Qin kept Chen Qiu''s contact information. She had an idea that she would need people for various tasks in the future. Chen Qiu was reliable, well-informed, and would be useful.


    A few days later, it was almost time for school to start. Gu Qin had just returned home when two people arrived. They looked like a middle-aged couple, around thirty years old. The man seemed kind, and the woman had a good temperament. Gu Qin didn''t recognize them but guessed they were acquaintances since Cheng Yinxiang was chatting happily with them, and the woman called Cheng Yinxiang her cousin.


    Seeing Gu Qin return, Cheng Yinxiang hurriedly introduced them. "We haven''t seen each other for over ten years, this is my youngest daughter, Gu Qin." Then to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, this is your cousin''s aunt, my cousin''s daughter, who is my cousin''s daughter. You can call her Aunt. And this is Uncle."


    The woman smiled. "Qin Qin has grown up so much? I only saw her once when she was little. Time flies, doesn''t it?"


    Gu Qin smiled. "Aunt, hello."


    "Good, good." The woman took a box from her bag and handed it to Gu Qin. "There''s nothing much to give you, but I recently went to Myanmar and found some jade stones. We made a bracelet from one of them, which suits young girls like you."


    Gu Qin didn''t refuse and accepted it. "Thank you, Aunt."


    The woman sighed. "The girl is becoming more beautiful every day. Look at Qin Qin, how many boys will pursue her in the future?"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Cheng Yinxiang smiled. "This child is quite independent. We don''t need to worry about her. By the way, how''s your company doing? I heard you started one."


    The woman smiled bitterly. "It''s a small company, just a literary website. It''s tough with stiff competition."


    Cheng Yinxiang asked, "Literary website?"


    Gu Qin explained. "It''s an online platform for novels. People can read novels online. This is a legal website for publishing literature. What''s the name of your literary website?"


    The woman smiled. "Jinjiang Literary City. We started it as a hobby and later turned it into a formal website."


    Gu Qin had heard of Jinjiang Literary City. She explained that her classmate Lin Xinxin liked reading novels on this site. She often complained that the site was poorly designed and had technical issues, leading to fewer readers and even acquisition by another company.


    Cheng Yinxiang, not understanding the internet, listened confusedly. Gu Qin and her cousin talked about the website issues.


    Gu Qin remembered her cousin and cousin''s husband were managers at the website. She had heard Lin Xinxin complain about it. Her cousin was called Bingxin, and her cousin''s husband was named Guan Sanlai.


    Cheng Yinxiang went to the kitchen to cook, and Gu Qin stayed to chat with her cousin and cousin''s husband. They discussed the website and other matters, finding common ground.


    After a while, Gu Qin observed her cousin''s face and saw she was fortunate, with only minor troubles in life. She smiled and said, "Actually, I can read faces and palms. Would you like me to look at yours?"


    Her cousin smiled. "Qin Qin, you can do that? Let me see."


    Gu Qin examined her cousin''s palm and explained. "Palmistry is just a part of physiognomy. Every aspect has innate and acquired components, and both form and color vary. The hand contains the principles of Yin and Yang and the secrets of the five elements. It can encompass everything within it. To read a palm, focus on the lines and symbols on the palm and analyze the positions."


    "Mm, based on your palm, your life has been pretty good. You had a near drowning incident when you were young, right? Someone saved you, and you haven''t faced major disasters since. Overall, your life has been smooth, but your palm suggests a minor injury involving bleeding in the next two days. Be careful."


    Gu Qin''s cousin was surprised. "Qin Qin, you really saw from my palm that I almost drowned as a child?" It was true. When she was about ten years old, she almost drowned while playing in the river with classmates, and someone rescued her.


    Cheng Yinxiang came out and smiled. "Qin Qin knows some physiognomy. I didn''t tell her that. She must have seen it from your palm."


    Her cousin was amazed. "Qin Qin, can you predict any disasters for me?"


    Gu Qin said, "Maybe tomorrow, but I can''t see clearly from the palm. However, the injury will be on your leg. Be careful tomorrow."


    Her cousin laughed. When Lu Qingrong returned, she learned that Cheng Yinxiang was divorced. She recognized Gu Yuanjiang and quietly told Cheng Yinxiang that she had made the right decision. Lu Qingrong was a good person and worth cherishing.


    Her cousin and cousin''s husband were leaving early the next morning for Beijing. Although they were not originally from Beijing, their company was there, so they settled in Beijing. Before leaving, her cousin invited Gu Qin to visit Beijing. Gu Qin smiled. "I might have holidays after classes start. I''ll visit Beijing and check the company''s feng shui for you. It will flourish."


    Her cousin smiled. "Thanks for the good wishes. Call me when you arrive in Beijing, and I''ll pick you up at the airport."


    The two flew to Beijing. After an hour, they arrived and went to the company. Just outside the airport, a small construction site nearby caused trouble. Her cousin didn''t notice and her skirt caught on a piece of steel, cutting her leg deeply and causing significant bleeding.


    Her cousin groaned. Her cousin''s husband quickly knelt down. "How did you get such a deep cut? Don''t move, let me help you sit down."


    There was a lot of bleeding. Soon, blood flowed down her leg. Her cousin''s husband helped her sit down and wiped the blood with paper towels. "Be more careful next time."


    Her cousin frowned. "Qin Qin was right. She said I would have a minor disaster involving bleeding today. It happened."


    Her cousin''s husband hesitated. "Do you really believe in this stuff?"


    "Some things are credible, some aren''t. It depends on the person. If you meet a high-level practitioner, they are truly skilled. Qin Qin is quite talented. Sister didn''t tell her anything, but what she said was accurate. She predicted many major events in my life."


    Her cousin''s husband said, "Okay, let''s go to the clinic and get the wound treated. It needs to be handled properly. Qin Qin can wait until we get back. She seems to have real abilities."


    They went to a nearby clinic, got the wound bandaged, and then returned home.


    A few days later, Gu Qin started school. High school grade two was reorganized based on grades, and since she was the top student, she was placed in Class One of Grade Two. On the first day of school, she went to report to her new class. There would be a few days off before the official start on September 2nd. Gu Qin planned to use this time to visit Gu Jia in Beijing with Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong.


    Originally, Qin Xiansheng had said he would accompany them, but the day before departure, he called. "Qin Qin, I won''t be joining you in Beijing tomorrow. I have something to take care of elsewhere."


    Gu Qin was puzzled. Qin Xiansheng had never mentioned having any tasks in the months they had been together. "Brother Qin, do you have a mission?"


    "No," Qin Xiansheng chuckled. "Don''t worry, it''s just something else. I''ll be back soon. Enjoy your trip to Beijing. Listen to me, don''t ask too much."


    Gu Qin replied, "Okay, take care. Don''t be reckless if there''s danger. Should I bring Baihu?"


    She sensed he was dealing with something serious, but he didn''t want to talk about it. Perhaps bringing Baihu would be better.


    Qin Xiansheng''s low laugh echoed through the phone. "No need. Take Baihu with you to Beijing. It''s not a big deal. Don''t worry, just wait for me to return."


    Gu Qin said, "Alright then, I''ll leave tomorrow."


    The two of them chatted for a while and hung up the phone. Gu Qin was still somewhat uneasy and unable to calm down. She decided to do a divination for Qin Xiansheng. It was strange that his life chart was also unreadable, just like hers, making it impossible to predict anything. As for her own life chart, Gu Qin should know what it meant. After all, she wasn''t the real Gu Qin; the girl she was impersonating had already passed away. Thus, her life chart couldn¡¯t be accurately predicted.


    But what about Qin Xiansheng¡¯s life chart? Why was it also uninterpretable?


    Looking at the chaotic divination results, Gu Qin put away the coins, feeling helpless. The next morning, the three of them took a flight to Beijing. Just before takeoff, Gu Qin received a text message from Qin Xiansheng: "Qin Qin, have a safe trip. I¡¯m also going out, see you when I return."


    Gu Qin replied and turned off her phone. She felt uneasy on the plane, and Cheng Yinxiang noticed, "Qin Qin, what¡¯s wrong? Is there something on your mind?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No, I''m just a bit airsick. It will be fine after we land. Don¡¯t worry."


    After exiting the airport, Cheng Yinxiang called her cousin first. Soon they connected, and her cousin and her partner came to pick them up at the airport. They invited the three to stay at their place for two days.


    Gu Qin had four days left until school started, so Cheng Yinxiang planned to visit her cousin first.


    When her cousin saw Gu Qin, she smiled and said, "Qin Qin, the divination you did for me last time was accurate. I got hurt right after getting off the plane. Look, my leg is still wounded, and I don¡¯t know if it will scar."


    Gu Qin said, "Don¡¯t worry, Auntie. When we get back, I¡¯ll buy some Chinese medicine to make an ointment. Apply it every day, and it won¡¯t scar."


    They talked as they returned to their accommodation. Houses in Beijing were expensive. Her cousin and her husband settled in Beijing. Real estate prices in Beijing were astronomical; even decent houses were now worth trillions of yuan per square meter, with school district homes costing over ten thousand yuan per square meter. They bought their house early, when prices weren¡¯t as high, and it was a hundred square meters, which was still quite nice.


    The house was decorated simply and elegantly. They ate lunch at a hotel nearby. After lunch, Gu Qin went to check out their company office and planned to help arrange the feng shui. On the way, she said, "Feng shui can only be an aid; success still depends on oneself. I heard the literature city often gets attacked by hackers due to poor server quality. Auntie, I¡¯m not very knowledgeable about this, but I think changing servers and hiring professional talent would be more effective than relying on feng shui."


    Her cousin laughed bitterly. "We know that too. If we could change servers, we would have done it long ago. It''s strange though; the literature city is profitable, but whatever money we earn gets used up quickly. For example, each month we might have some profit, but some unexpected event always happens, using up that money. This has been going on for years, and we haven¡¯t saved much. Changing servers isn¡¯t easy."


    Gu Qin found this odd and asked, "Has this been happening for years? Have you moved the company location?"


    Her cousin shook her head. "No, we¡¯ve always been in this office on the seventh floor. It has been like this for years. Every little bit of profit gets used up, and the company usually faces some trouble."


    "Uncle and Auntie," Gu Qin said, "Based on what you''re saying, it seems the company''s feng shui is off. I''m not talking about the office''s feng shui, but some natural formation causing a negative influence. Let''s not discuss it further. I''ll look into it when we reach the office. If it can be resolved, I''ll help resolve it."


    They arrived at the building where the company was located. Gu Qin privately observed it and found no issues with the building itself. The office had good lighting and no obvious feng shui problems. She went to the window facing the street and looked outside¡­ Her aunt and uncle stood nervously behind her. Her aunt whispered to Cheng Yinxiang, "Qin Qin really knows feng shui? Is there a problem with my office''s feng shui?"


    Cheng Yinxiang said, "Don¡¯t worry. If there is a problem, Qin Qin will definitely fix it."


    Her aunt nodded but remained nervous.

 The Courts New Order

    Gu Qin then went to the small window on the west side of the office and exclaimed. She turned to her aunt and uncle and said, "There is indeed a feng shui problem, but don''t worry. It''s not the office''s feng shui, but rather the office is hit by a feng shui killer. This refers to negative influences caused by natural surroundings, not man-made. Your office is exactly hit by this. Look, those roads far away intersect like scissors. The opening of these ''scissors'' is directed at this window. That¡¯s why you can''t save money over the years. This brings financial loss. Fortunately, it¡¯s not aimed at the large window, or you would have lost even more. And if it faced directly, it wouldn¡¯t just bring financial loss but physical harm as well¡­"


    Her aunt and uncle listened in shock. Finally, her aunt asked, "Qin Qin, is there any way to solve this?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "Yes, there is. The problem isn¡¯t big. You don¡¯t need to move. The surrounding feng shui is okay. It¡¯s just your office hitting this feng shui killer. With proper arrangement, there won¡¯t be any issues. It¡¯s actually simple. Seal this window or place a screen in front of it. Also, place a large crystal ball in the office. I¡¯ll go with you to buy these things later. We need to charge them with energy first. This office is rented, so we can¡¯t just seal the window."


    Her aunt and uncle understood and nodded.


    Gu Qin looked around again and found no other feng shui problems. She then accompanied her aunt and uncle to buy a screen and a large crystal ball. The screen was made of jade fragments, as jade gathers more energy than other materials. After charging them with energy, the effects would be better. They bought the screen and crystal ball and returned home.


    Cheng Jia, who was resting today, joined them. He hadn¡¯t seen his aunt and uncle since childhood and didn¡¯t remember them well.


    That night, her aunt and uncle treated them to dinner at a hotel. Gu Qin missed Cheng Jia and considered him family. During dinner, she asked him about school matters. Cheng Jia smiled, "Don¡¯t rush, you¡¯ll be in college in two years. University is different from high school. Besides military training, you¡¯ll have more opportunities to interact with society..."


    Lu Qingrong nodded. "Jia Jia is right. Starting university means you begin to integrate into society. Smart people use these years wisely. Jia Jia, don¡¯t waste this opportunity."


    Cheng Jia nodded. "I remember."


    Gu Qin asked him many questions, and he mentioned being in the student council, keeping him busy.


    After dinner, her aunt and uncle took them to a hotel to rest. Gu Qin stayed at her aunt¡¯s place to charge the screen and crystal ball with energy, which was inconvenient at the hotel. She spent the night without sleep, charging them with energy.


    In the morning, they had breakfast together. Gu Qin said, "Auntie, Uncle, the screen and crystal ball are charged. Take them to the office and place them as I instructed. Just make sure no one moves them. If there are any feng shui issues in the future, come to me."


    Her aunt said, "Thank you so much, Qin Qin. Without you, we wouldn¡¯t have known what was happening. No wonder we¡¯ve struggled for years. Qin Qin, wait¡­ Here." Her aunt got up and handed a box to Gu Qin. "This is from me. I don¡¯t have much, but this is an jade bracelet. Girls look good in jade. Please don¡¯t reject it."


    Gu Qin said, "Auntie, you don¡¯t have to. You already gave me a jade bracelet."


    Her aunt insisted, "It¡¯s from me. Take it."


    Finally, Gu Qin accepted the box. Her aunt and uncle took her back to the hotel. Gu Qin planned to visit some tourist spots with her family, but her aunt and uncle had other things to do and couldn¡¯t accompany them.


    Gu Qin went to the hotel, where Cheng Yinxiang and Cheng Jia had already eaten. Cheng Jia stayed at the hotel last night and didn¡¯t return to school. They went out and toured the city for a day, having dinner together afterward. Cheng Jia needed to return to school the next day, and Gu Qin would return the day after.


    While staying at the hotel, Cheng Yinxiang kept advising Cheng Jia to be careful at school. She told him he was now an adult and shouldn¡¯t act rashly. Cheng Jia nodded, smiling.


    Around nine o''clock, Cheng Yinxiang said, "Jia Jia, it''s nine. You should go back to school. It might be too late to enter the dormitory."


    Cheng Jia smiled. "Mom, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not far from here. It takes only fifteen minutes to walk back. The dorm closes at ten thirty. I¡¯ll go back before ten. You¡¯ve come a long way, and I want to spend more time with you."


    "You child¡­" Cheng Yinxiang was pleased. "Jia Jia is finally growing up. I¡¯m so happy."


    Gu Qin watched her family warmly. Around nine thirty, Cheng Yinxiang insisted Cheng Jia leave. Gu Qin also got up to see him off. Just as they stepped out of the room, her expression changed. "Brother, wait."


    "What is it, Qin Qin?" Cheng Jia looked confused.


    Gu Qin frowned slightly. Earlier in the room, everything seemed fine, but as soon as they stepped out, she noticed Cheng Jia¡¯s forehead was dark, indicating a major disaster.


    Such a situation usually indicated external interference. If it were his own destiny, it wouldn¡¯t suddenly appear. Unless someone deliberately sought trouble. Gu Qin wondered if Cheng Jia had offended someone. If someone decided to cause trouble, the disaster would manifest immediately, showing up in his face.


    "Brother, have you offended anyone recently?" she asked.


    "Offended someone?" Cheng Jia was puzzled. "I¡¯ve mostly been at school and haven¡¯t had any conflicts."


    Cheng Yinxiang noticed her daughter¡¯s unease and remembered her ability to read faces. "Qin Qin, is something wrong with your brother?"If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t hide it. "Earlier, he was fine, but now his forehead is dark. It¡¯s strange. If it were his own destiny, it wouldn¡¯t suddenly appear. I suspect someone is seeking revenge. Did he offend anyone recently?"


    Cheng Jia shook his head. "Recently, I¡¯ve mostly been in military training or at school. I rarely went out and didn¡¯t have any conflicts. Mom, could it be something else?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "It must be because someone is seeking revenge. If it were his own destiny, it wouldn¡¯t suddenly appear. Let me check."


    Cheng Yinxiang was still confused. "Check? What do you mean?"


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t explain further and opened her third eye to see¡ªAfter school, Cheng Jia invited some classmates for dinner. As they walked out of the school gate, a black car approached, and several tall men jumped out, knocking Cheng Jia unconscious and dragging him into the car. They drove away quickly.


    Gu Qin continued watching. After the car left, the men inside didn¡¯t speak much. The driver quickly shifted gears and drove off. Within seconds, Cheng Jia¡¯s classmates realized what happened. They saw the car¡¯s license plate was obscured and couldn¡¯t identify it. They were stunned, and by the time they reacted, the car was out of sight. They hurriedly called the police.


    Gu Qin focused on the car. The men inside were strong, serious, and well-trained. Some had buzz cuts, and one was bald. Even sitting in the car, they held themselves straight. From their actions, Gu Qin could tell they were highly trained professionals. Otherwise, Cheng Jia wouldn¡¯t have been defenseless. Despite practicing for months and learning a few moves, Cheng Jia was no match for trained fighters.


    These men were skilled and appeared to have military training.


    Gu Qin frowned. Who would send trained individuals to attack her brother? Cheng Jia didn¡¯t have enemies, and her mother and Lu Bo wouldn¡¯t resort to such extreme measures. Could it be related to her?


    She continued observing. There were four men in the car. One shorter man hesitated and said to the bald man, "Brother, are we really going to cripple this boy? We have no grudge against him. Isn¡¯t it excessive for money?"


    Another thin man with a slight feminine appearance sneered, "Four, we¡¯re mercenaries now, not soldiers. We follow our employer¡¯s orders. Since we¡¯ve taken a deposit, this boy must be crippled."


    The shorter man frowned. "Three, I understand, but I feel we¡¯re overdoing it. He¡¯s young, barely twenty. Crippling him is worse than killing him. He¡¯d suffer for life."


    The thin man sneered. "Are you suggesting we kill him?"


    "No, that¡¯s not what I meant!" The shorter man was frustrated. "Don¡¯t misunderstand me. This is immoral."


    The thin man sneered and didn¡¯t respond. Another plain-looking man with double eyelids said, "Three, Four, stop arguing. Once we join this line of work, we must follow the employer¡¯s orders."


    The bald man, who had been silent and serious, agreed. "Enough, stop arguing."


    The car headed towards a remote area. Gu Qin skipped to the end and saw them drive into the mountains. Cheng Jia woke up and wasn¡¯t panicked but remained calm. "What are you doing? We have no grudge."


    The men didn¡¯t respond. The bald man finally said, "We have no grudge with you, but unfortunately, we¡¯re hired."


    Cheng Jia looked up. "Are you going to kill me?"


    "No, cripple you," the thin man smiled, approaching Cheng Jia and looking down at him. Cheng Jia remained calm. He moved his limbs subtly, assessing the situation. They probably underestimated him, thinking he wouldn¡¯t fight back. Cheng Jia clenched his fists and struck the man in front of him.


    The thin man was caught off guard but reacted quickly. Seeing the punch coming, he lifted his arm and blocked it. Cheng Jia¡¯s punch was fast, and the man realized Cheng Jia was skilled, becoming cautious.


    Cheng Jia¡¯s punch hit the man, pushing him back several steps.


    The ordinary-looking man with double eyelids brightened. "This kid knows kung fu. Who taught him?"


    Cheng Jia took advantage of the moment and prepared a defensive stance. He ignored the question and asked again, "Who hired you? I have no grudges with anyone."


    Gu Qin understood the situation. Cheng Jia¡¯s incident in Beijing must involve people from Beijing. Since her family hadn¡¯t visited Beijing, and Qin Xiansheng hadn¡¯t returned, it must be related to Bai family¡¯s unresolved issues. They might have harbored resentment against the Bai family.


    Gu Qin continued watching through her third eye¡ªThe thin man glanced at the bald man. The bald man was surprised, "You know kung fu?"


    Cheng Jia remained calm. "Who are you? If you don¡¯t answer, let¡¯s fight."


    The bald man didn¡¯t respond and looked at the thin man. The thin man sneered, "Fine, if you can¡¯t do it, I will." He charged at Cheng Jia.


    Cheng Jia¡¯s training was too short. He struggled after a few moves and was pushed back. The shorter man felt regret and whispered to the bald man, "Brother, are you sure about this? This boy is innocent."


    "Who am I?" Gu Qin leaned on Gu Jia¡¯s arm and discreetly transferred some primordial energy to him before coldly looking at the four men. "You kidnapped my brother and now you ask who I am? Has my brother offended any of you? If not, why did you kidnap him and want to cripple his legs?"


    The men were momentarily silent.


    Gu Qin looked at Lu Chuan and said, "Who hired you?"


    "This matter cannot be disclosed to the lady," Lu Chuan replied. "If what the lady says is true, then we deeply apologize for any offense caused."


    Gu Qin remained silent, using her Heavenly Eye to see Lu Chuan and an old man in his fifties or sixties in an office discussing the plan to cripple Gu Jia. The old man''s facial features resembled Bai Ziyue¡¯s father, so she knew it was him. Moreover, Lu Chuan called him ''Old Man Bai,'' confirming that he was from the Bai family.


    Gu Qin disliked the Bai family the most. Bai Ziyue¡¯s death was his own doing, and she had nothing to do with it; she simply didn''t save him. But the Bai family blamed her for his death and now wanted to harm her family members.


    "Is it the Bai family who hired you?" Gu Qin asked. "That old man from the Bai family is truly laughable. His son''s death was self-inflicted, yet he blames me and hires you to harm my family members."


    All four men were stunned. They hadn¡¯t revealed anything, yet this young girl seemed to know about Old Man Bai. Lu Chuan remained silent, while Gu Qin continued, "Only the Bai family could have hired you. That old man from the Bai family is truly ridiculous. He blames me for his son¡¯s death, which was entirely his own fault, and now he has hired you to harm my family."


    Lu Chuan''s eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t speak. The other three men exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to say next.


    The White family''s current head is Bai Zhonghai. Bai Zheyue is considered the smartest and most favored among the several brothers in the Bai family, but now this incident has occurred. Bai Zhonghai will surely blame Gu Qin for all the mistakes, and he won''t easily let go of the Gu family either. To avoid trouble from the Bai family, the Bai family must be thoroughly brought down.


    What Gu Qin needs to do is actually quite simple: just use feng shui to ruin the Bai family''s fortune. The Bai family has made a lot of money over the years, including a considerable amount from illegitimate business deals. Therefore, she had this idea. Once the Bai family''s fortune declines, their company will naturally face issues, and they will need to sell shares of the company. With her manipulating behind the scenes, she should be able to take over the company. However, she is not very familiar with this area and plans to consult Uncle Lu or Brother Qin later.


    However, Brother Qin hasn''t called for several days, and his phone is also turned off. She doesn''t know what happened and feels somewhat uneasy in her heart.


    Gu Qin only managed to buy everything on the second day. All she needed to do was set up a few formations at the Bai family¡¯s place. These were all formations to disperse wealth, and they wouldn¡¯t harm anyone. She went to buy elephant wind chimes, which have both the effect of gathering and dispersing wealth in feng shui. The elephants with their trunks drooping are used to absorb yin wealth or so-called side wealth, or sudden wealth, similar to how a Pi Xiu attracts wealth. While the formations for dispersing wealth show the elephant¡¯s head and trunk raised high, suggesting the release of wealth.


    That day, while in class, the teacher came in and found Gu Qin, "Gu Qin, there are two people looking for you outside. They say they are your grandmother and your aunt. Do you want to go see them?"


    Gu Qin nodded and asked the teacher where they were before she intended to go. The teacher said with a headache, "They are now in the office. Let me take you there."


    The teacher led Gu Qin to the office. Inside the office, which was shared by several teachers, they could hear Luo Wenfen complaining to the office teacher, "My son is her ex-husband, yet she''s so heartless, not willing to help at all. I have no choice but to come look for my granddaughter and ask her to plead with her mother..."


    The teachers in the office sighed and began to sympathize with Luo Wenfen.


    Gu Qin inwardly sneered, knowing that Luo Wenfen had definitely not told the full story, like how her son had committed murder... Gu Qin didn''t show any emotion on her face, entering the office with a gentle demeanor and asking, "Grandma, why did you come?"


    Luo Wenfen cried, "Qin Qin, you finally came. Let me tell you, your mom has such a hard heart..."


    Gu Qin was puzzled, "Grandma, what exactly happened?"


    Luo Wenfen wailed, "Your father is facing some trouble now and needs money to solve it. But your mom is so heartless, holding onto so much money and refusing to give even a cent. When your parents weren''t divorced, your father was always so good to you..."


    "Grandma, did something get mixed up?" Gu Qin interrupted directly, "What did Dad do that required so much money? Also, Mom and Dad are already divorced, and Dad wasn¡¯t nice to either of us. Did Grandma forget about the past? Didn¡¯t Dad even plan to sell my heart to get money for his business? Has Grandma forgotten all of this?"


    It turns out that this was the situation, and there were such hidden circumstances? The surrounding teachers all understood now. After all, everyone knew about Gu Qin''s character and knew she wouldn''t lie. If so, these words must be true. If it really was like this, then the old lady would be too much.


    Gu Qin continued, "Mother once mentioned this matter to me. Mother told me that Father had killed someone. Grandma, how should we handle this? How can money solve such a thing? Besides, now everyone has their own new families. The money Mother used to open her store was actually provided by Uncle Lu. So asking Mother for money is making things difficult for her, isn''t it?"

 Empresss Legacy

    Murder? The surrounding teachers widened their eyes. They never thought that the old lady had been hiding this matter and said it was because of Gu Qin and her classmates. It turned out that her current wife had committed murder, and it was still shameless enough to ask for money from her ex-wife. That was truly shameless.


    Luo Wenfen stopped crying and glared at Gu Qin, panting heavily. She probably didn''t expect that her words would be exposed in front of so many people, and for a moment, she didn''t know how to retort. Gu Da''s wife reacted quickly, "Qin Qin, what''s wrong with you, child? No matter what, he is your father. He gave birth to you and raised you. Now he is in trouble, why not help him?"


    Gu Qin looked up at her, "Auntie, the one who gave birth to me and raised me is my mother. Ever since I was young, he never cared for me. He even tried to kill me for money. Now, I am just a student. How can I help him? Does he still want my life to exchange for money?"


    "I... I didn''t mean that. Please tell your mother these matters. These money might not mean much to you, right?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Auntie, I cannot help with this. You should know that when my mother divorced, she even took on forty thousand yuan of his debt. We struggled to repay this money, and now, the money has nothing to do with us. It was all earned by Uncle Lu. If you really want it, you might as well ask him."


    One of the teachers also chimed in, "Yes, Gu Qin is still a child. What can she do? Asking her won''t solve anything. This is an adult matter. I think you should leave and don''t affect the child''s studies."


    "Yes, yes, you should leave."


    Seeing the disdain in the surrounding people''s eyes, Luo Wenfen and Gu Da''s wife couldn''t stay any longer and left in disgrace.


    Luo Wenfen and Gu Da''s wife probably realized that Gu Qin wasn''t easy to deal with, and now they had no choice but to seek Cheng Yinxiang. However, when they went to her place, she directly called the security guards. Gu Qin remained unresponsive, so Luo Wenfen had no choice but to go door-to-door borrowing money from relatives.


    Two days later, seeing that Luo Wenfen and others didn''t come anymore, Cheng Yinxiang heaved a sigh of relief. Lu Qingrong also called Gu Qin and said that the loan was a bit difficult to arrange. Gu Qin replied, "Uncle Lu, could you tell me more about it?"


    Lu Qingrong said, "I''m not originally from Beijing and have little business here. The loan amount is quite large, and without anyone to guarantee it, it''s very hard. I''ve met several times, but some people didn''t even see me after talking a few sentences. These days, I''ve been investigating what the bank manager likes..."


    Gu Qin nodded, "Uncle Lu, I''ll go to Beijing too."


    Lu Qingrong said, "Alright, you come over then." He alone had limited connections with Lu Chuan and others. Gu Qin was a feng shui master and could help a lot. If the bank manager had any requests for her abilities, then the matter would be easier to handle.


    That night, Gu Qin told Cheng Yinxiang, "Mom, I''ll go to Beijing tomorrow. I''m a feng shui master, and Uncle Lu''s company might need some help."


    Cheng Yinxiang didn''t understand much but knew something, "Is the company''s matter difficult? Uncle Lu has been there for several days, and now he needs you to go."


    "Mom, don''t worry, everything will be fine. I''ll go take a look. Uncle Lu knows his limits."


    "Then, won''t it affect your studies?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "As long as my grades don''t drop, the teacher will approve the leave. Mom, don''t worry."


    The next morning, Gu Qin bought a plane ticket to go to Beijing. Just before boarding, she called Big Brother Qin again, but as usual, his phone was off.


    ***


    Gu Qin hung up the phone, her brows furrowed tightly. She stood there staring at her phone for a while before putting it back into her bag. Boarding time was approaching, so she passed through security and boarded the plane. Two hours later, she arrived in Beijing. As soon as she stepped out, the heat wave hit her. Gu Qin wasn''t sensitive to temperature changes, and she felt refreshed as she walked out.


    Outside, Gu Qin first called Lu Qingrong, who answered quickly, "Hello, Qin Qin? Have you arrived? I''m waiting outside. Yes, I see you. Alright, hang up..."


    Gu Qin saw Lu Qingrong and the four others, Lu Chuan, Tang Ying, and the rest. She waved to them and dragged her luggage over.


    Lu Qingrong took her luggage, "Let''s go eat first. I''ll explain the details later."


    They ate lunch first, and after eating, Gu Qin checked into a nearby hotel. Lu Qingrong and the others followed. Lu Qingrong briefly explained the situation to Gu Qin. He had visited several bank managers, but some refused to meet him, and those who did barely spoke to him before refusing him outright.


    Without connections, getting such a large loan was nearly impossible. Lu Qingrong had run around for days but made no progress. He had investigated each family''s affairs to find something they might value.


    Gu Qin asked, "Uncle Lu, what are the situations in these people''s homes?" If they had requests, it would be easier to handle.


    Lu Qingrong said, "I have some information here. Take a look."


    He pulled out a file from his briefcase and handed it to Gu Qin. It contained information about several bank managers, including their family conditions and recent events.


    While Gu Qin read, Lu Qingrong said, "Each of them has some issues, but they''re not major. However, two cases are quite unusual." Everyone knew that these bank managers'' families were wealthy and had seen everything. Ordinary things wouldn''t move them, but even the most powerful had problems they couldn''t solve.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    This was why Lu Qingrong and Gu Qin came¡ªother approaches wouldn''t work, so they had to try something else. Owed favors could be harder to repay.


    Lu Qingrong pointed at two names in the document, "These two are Zhao Shuxin and Ren Yi. Recently, both families have had bad luck. Zhao Shuxin''s family seemed to have fixed their issues with a feng shui expert. Their problem was mainly recurring illnesses, which might be due to feng shui issues. Ren Yi''s family had much more severe issues. His family members were sick with serious diseases, and he himself faced continuous misfortunes. He had a car accident recently, but fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. He sought help from experts, but it didn''t work."


    Gu Qin''s eyes fell on Ren Yi''s name and continued reading. The document even included Ren Yi''s birth date and time. Gu Qin smiled, "Uncle Lu even got his birth date and time..."


    Lu Qingrong laughed, "No, these materials were collected by Chuanzi and the others. I didn''t help much."


    Gu Qin looked up at Lu Chuan, "Thank you, Big Brother Lu."


    Lu Chuan said, "Miss Gu, you''re exaggerating. We''re just following your lead."


    Gu Qin asked about their current situations, and Tang Ying kept wanting to speak but hesitated. Gu Qin smiled at him, "Big Brother Tang, feel free to speak your mind."


    Tang Ying coughed, "Miss Gu, I think getting the loan will be extremely difficult. Can''t we consider other options? I heard that Uncle Lu wanted to buy Bai Family''s assets while they were in chaos. The Bai Family is quite influential in Beijing. Even if they fall, there will be plenty of people ready to acquire them. Why would it be our turn? Moreover..."


    Tang Ying looked at Gu Qin, "Moreover, I heard that Bai Family fell because of a high-level feng shui expert. That expert wouldn''t let a prize slip away..."


    Lu Qingrong hadn''t told them that Gu Qin was behind the Bai Family''s downfall, so they didn''t know about the connection. When Lu Qingrong told them a few days ago about acquiring the Bai Family, they were shocked and wondered if they would offend the high-level expert.


    Gu Qin said, "Don''t worry about that. I didn''t tell you earlier because I was responsible for the Bai Family''s downfall. It wasn''t out of heartlessness; the Bai Family was only a threat to me and my family. If they hadn''t targeted my brother, today''s troubles wouldn''t exist."


    Lu Chuan, Tang Ying, and the others were stunned. Gu Qin had mentioned taking down the Bai Family before, but they never imagined she had such power. The Bai Family''s downfall was already known in Beijing, attributed to a feng shui expert''s curse. Despite Bai Family hiring experts, they couldn''t solve the problem. This young girl had done it. They thought she was just good at martial arts but never guessed she was a feng shui master.


    They had heard of famous feng shui masters, all in their forties or older. Only this young girl... They still doubted, wondering if she had a mentor.


    Gu Qin didn''t speak, just looked at Ren Yi''s birth date and time, calculating in her mind. Soon, she determined that Ren Yi would face a crisis this year. If no one helped, Ren Yi''s family would likely collapse. Birth dates and times could reveal a person''s fate and personality.


    Ren Yi was relatively upright and decent.


    Seeing Gu Qin silent, Lu Qingrong couldn''t help asking, "Qin Qin, what did you find out?"


    "Yes," Gu Qin said, "Ren president''s troubles are significant. Without help, his family will definitely be finished this time. And it seems he has offended a villain, meaning someone is deliberately targeting him."


    "Then?" Lu Qingrong asked, "Can you help, Qin Qin?"


    Gu Qin nodded, put the documents away, and said, "Yes. Uncle Lu, why don''t you schedule a meeting with Ren president? If you can''t get one, tell him a feng shui master can help."


    "Alright," Lu Qingrong said, "I''ll arrange it. Qin Qin, you just rest after arriving. I''ll update you."


    Lu Qingrong left with Lu Chuan and the others, still in shock by the revelation of a teenage feng shui master. Tang Ying finally asked Lu Qingrong, "Boss Lu, does Miss Gu really have that ability?"


    Lu Qingrong nodded, "She does." Initially, he didn''t believe it, but the events at Mount Dai had convinced him that Gu Qin was extraordinary.


    "But she''s just a teenager."


    "It doesn''t matter how old she is. It''s about her insight," Lu Qingrong couldn''t explain further, only feeling that Gu Qin had a good grasp of feng shui.


    Gu Qin stayed alone in the hotel, took a shower, and thought about Ren Yi''s case. The documents showed sudden troubles, and from Ren Yi''s birth date, she saw he had offended a villain. This could only happen if the family''s feng shui was affected, but she couldn''t pinpoint where exactly. It could be in their home or ancestral graves.


    This couldn''t be rushed; she had to wait until Lu Qingrong arranged the meeting with Ren Yi. Gu Qin rested in the hotel.


    In the afternoon, Lu Qingrong went to see Ren Yi. Without Ren Yi''s private number, he could only make an appointment at his office. The secretary was diligent and asked if Lu Qingrong had an appointment. If not, she would need to check with Ren Yi, possibly scheduling it for several days later.


    Lu Qingrong didn''t want to wait that long. For business matters, appointments could be scheduled far in advance and might not even be possible. Ren Yi might not see him either. Among the bank managers, he had never met Ren Yi. Seeing this, he said, "I''m here for another reason. Could you tell Ren president I know a feng shui master who can help him?"


    The secretary was surprised but didn''t dare decide on her own. She went inside and told Ren Yi, "Sir, someone just called saying they know a feng shui master. Should I set up a meeting?"


    Ren Yi had been troubled by his family''s recent issues. He had consulted two reputable feng shui masters, but they couldn''t help. He had received calls from several self-proclaimed feng shui experts, but they ended up discussing work matters. Without hesitation, Ren Yi refused, "No meetings!"


    The secretary nodded and was about to leave when Ren Yi hesitated and called her back, "Wait, transfer the call."


    After the secretary transferred the call, Ren Yi asked, "Do you know a feng shui master?"


    Lu Qingrong replied, "Yes, I do. Would you like to meet her?"


    Ren Yi asked, "Who is this master? Do they have a name?"


    The two feng shui masters he hired in Beijing were fairly well-known, and they couldn''t help. Ren Yi was skeptical.


    "Ren president, you''ll see when you meet her. Perhaps she can help. But I''m not hiding anything. If she helps you, I have some business matters to discuss with you."


    Hearing this, Ren Yi realized Lu Qingrong needed something from him. Irritated by his recent troubles, he snapped, "What kind of trick is this? Using such matters to deceive people?"


    Lu Qingrong said, "If you''d like, I can take you to meet this master. If she can help, give me a chance."


    Ren Yi was angry but held his temper. "In that case, I don''t need it."


    Lu Qingrong didn''t mind, saying gently, "Ren president, if you change your mind, feel free to call me. If you need help, I can introduce this master to you. I can assure you that if anyone can solve your family''s issues, this master is one of them." With that, he hung up without giving Ren Yi a chance to respond.


    Ren Yi stared at his phone, speechless and feeling a sense of loss.


    Lu Qingrong wasn''t worried. He knew Ren Yi would eventually seek help. He informed Gu Qin, who said, "We shouldn''t rush. He''s the one in a hurry. Let him come to us."


    Throughout the day, Ren Yi felt distracted at work. Near quitting time, he received a call from his wife, who sounded anxious, "Husband, come home quickly. Something happened at home. Dad broke his leg..."


    "What happened?" Ren Yi was also anxious, standing up abruptly. "How did Dad break his leg?"


    He felt uneasy, thinking the recent incidents might be due to some curse, perhaps someone targeting him intentionally.


    He hadn''t believed in feng shui before, but frequent mishaps made him reconsider. His family suggested consulting a feng shui master, but after seeking help from two experts, nothing changed. His family continued to have problems, and he began to suspect something.


    Regretting not seeking help earlier, his wife continued, "Hurry back. We''ll go see Dad. What''s going on? Why are we having one problem after another? Maybe we should find someone to look into it. Those two experts said our family''s situation was strange but couldn''t figure it out."


    Ren Yi thought for a moment, "Don''t worry. I''ll be right there. First, I''ll check on Dad. I''ll find someone to look into this."


    Ren Yi hurried back home. On the way, he encountered a minor issue but arrived home quickly. He picked up his wife and children to visit his father, who was in the hospital awaiting surgery. His mother was already there, tears streaming down her face, "Yi, you''re here. Go see your father."


    Ren Yi entered and saw his father lying in bed, seriously injured. He was unconscious, and the doctor explained the situation and the upcoming surgery. Ren Yi left and asked his mother, "Mom, what happened? Dad was fine, how did he break his leg?"


    His mother wiped her tears, "In the afternoon, your dad returned from playing chess. He said he didn''t know why he suddenly decided to take a shortcut. There was a construction site with a big pit near the road. Your dad slipped and fell into it..."


    His wife added, "Mom, Dad usually doesn''t take that path..."


    His mother said, "I asked your dad, and he said he didn''t know why. It was like he was possessed."


    Ren Yi thought for a moment, "Mom, don''t worry. I''ll find someone to look into this. Stay with Dad. I''ll make a call."


    He dialed the number he had saved. Desperate, he thought these incidents were too bizarre. He had to try, and if this person could help, he would give him a chance.


    It was late, and Lu Qingrong was talking to Gu Qin about her mother''s condition. The phone rang, and Lu Qingrong looked at it, "Qin Qin, it''s Ren president."


    Gu Qin reached for the phone, "Uncle Lu, let me take it."


    Lu Qingrong handed the phone to Gu Qin, who answered, "Hello, Mr. Ren, this is Gu Qin."


    The young girl''s voice surprised Ren Yi, thinking he had dialed the wrong number. Then he remembered she knew his surname, so he asked cautiously, "Who are you?"


    Gu Qin replied, "I''m a feng shui master who can help with your family''s issues. Did you call because something happened at home?"


    "How did you know..." Ren Yi was startled but conflicted. The girl''s voice was too young.


    "Alright, let me tell you about it. It seems to be around ten or so years old. Could it just be that his voice sounds young?" The master asked daringly, "May I ask, Master, how did you know? And may I also ask, how old are you?"

 Redemption

    Gu Qin said, "What does age have to do with this? Or does Mr. Ren think that because I''m young, I can''t possibly have real skills and am just deceiving you? I''m in high school this year, my age is indeed not very old. Mr. Ren''s family situation is already quite urgent. If it isn''t handled quickly, someone might die. Talking on the phone won''t help much. Now, I''ll go find Mr. Ren and take a look at his situation, shall I?"


    Ren Yi, though still suspicious, could not say anything more and simply nodded, "Alright then. I''m currently at the hospital. My father just broke his leg."


    After hanging up, Lu Qingrong had already stood up, "Let''s go. I''ll drive you there."


    It took them over an hour to reach the hospital. The doctors were preparing Mr. Ren for surgery tonight. When they arrived at the hospital, it was Ren Yi who met them. Seeing Gu Qin, Ren Yi was genuinely taken aback. At over forty years old and having reached the position of bank president, he should have been good at concealing his emotions. However, seeing Gu Qin now, he couldn''t help but show his astonishment.


    Gu Qin was very composed and extended her hand, "Mr. Ren, hello."


    Ren Yi shook her hand, "Master, hello."


    Gu Qin said, "Let''s go see Mr. Ren''s father first." After all, they had come to the hospital to visit the patient.


    Entering the ward, the doctor was still examining Mr. Ren. He was in pain, groaning and sweating profusely. Gu Qin took a look and didn''t offer any help; his injury wasn''t too severe, and after surgery and rest, he would recover.


    Gu Qin did not disturb the doctor and put down the fruit basket before stepping out. Ren Yi and his wife followed. Gu Qin noticed that they both had a faint aura of gloom on their faces. Ren Yi''s forehead had a darker aura compared to his wife, who seemed better.


    Gu Qin observed Ren Yi and suddenly exclaimed, "Mr. Ren, could you please show me what you''re wearing around your neck?"


    Ren Yi pulled out a golden thread from around his neck, revealing an jade pendant. He took it off and handed it to Gu Qin, "Master, why are you looking at this?"


    Gu Qin accepted the jade pendant and noticed many fine cracks on it. She returned the pendant to Ren Yi and asked, "Did you have this pendant on during the car accident two days ago?"


    Ren Yi replied, "Yes, the jade pendant was on me during the car accident two days ago. These cracks appeared then. I thought maybe it got damaged..."


    Gu Qin''s expression became more serious, "Mr. Ren, if not for this pendant protecting you, the accident could have either taken your life or caused you serious injuries. This pendant must have been given to you by someone else, as you cannot buy such things."


    Ren Yi''s face turned pale, "This jade pendant was indeed given to me by someone else, several years ago. I helped an elderly man on the road, and he looked at my face and offered me something. I didn''t want it, but he put the jade pendant in my hand. At first, it was rough, and I thought it was worthless, so I kept it. The old man told me to wear it every day, as it might save my life."


    "I didn''t take it seriously at first, but after I got home, I found a string and wore it. Surprisingly, the pendant became smoother over time..."


    Ren Yi looked at Gu Qin and asked, "Master, was it really this pendant that saved my life?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "This pendant is a talisman that can protect against one disaster. The old man probably saw that you would have a calamity in a few years and gave you the pendant. You should thank him; if he hadn''t given you this pendant, you wouldn''t have waited for me to arrive."


    Ren Yi was speechless for a moment. Gu Qin continued, "This talisman has lost its effect, but since you''ve worn it for so long, you can keep it. Just don''t expect it to protect you anymore."


    Ren Yi naturally wouldn''t throw away the pendant. He asked, "Master, can you tell us what''s going on with our family''s problems?"


    Gu Qin didn''t hide that she had calculated their birth dates and said directly, "I''ve already calculated your birth charts, and you will face a crisis this year due to being targeted by small enemies. In other words, the issues you''re facing now are related to your own relationships. Someone doesn''t want you to have an easy life, possibly hiring a geomancer to set up some kind of formation or tamper with your ancestral graves, leading to these problems."


    Ren Yi''s wife, who had been standing beside them, had always doubted Gu Qin''s abilities. Now, she believed somewhat and asked Ren Yi angrily, "Who is this person? How despicable!"


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    Ren Yi had worked diligently all these years and never offended anyone. He had no idea who could be behind this.


    Gu Qin said, "Let''s focus on solving the problem first. Have you lived with the elders? If not, and your family members have been frequently encountering misfortune, it might be related to your ancestral graves. Only by tampering with the graves would it affect everyone."


    Ren Yi and his wife exchanged glances, hardly believing it. Ren Yi''s mother, however, believed more in this. She told Ren Yi, "Ayi, your sister has also been having bad luck recently. I think what the master said is correct. You two don''t believe in this, but we old folks have heard stories like this. There was a family whose fortune changed after moving their ancestral graves. People got sick, accidents happened, and eventually, the whole family fell apart."


    "The village passed by a Taoist priest who saw the location of their graves and became worried. He asked if the family was still intact. Later, it was heard that only a few remained. The Taoist sighed and said the grave site was wrong. He thought it had been moved recently and asked if it was possible to save a few lives. The Taoist went to the family and told them the graves were problematic. Eventually, the Taoist helped move the graves, and the family gradually recovered, though they never returned to their former glory. So, choosing a good burial site is crucial, and those who are half-hearted are the most harmful."


    Ren Yi and his wife had never heard their mother mention these things. Ren Yi asked, "Mom, why didn''t they move the graves back to their original location?"


    Ren Yi''s mother shook her head, "How would I know? I only knew the Taoist helped move the graves and left."


    Gu Qin said, "A good spot cannot be moved casually. Once disturbed, the spiritual energy will dissipate, making it useless to move it back."


    Ren Yi''s mother said, "Master, can you please check our family graves?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Tomorrow. I''ll come early tomorrow morning and take a look."


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "Mr. Ren, don''t worry about it. We can go now."


    Ren Yi''s son, Ren Bo, who was in his late teens, was peeling fruit and said, "Dad, Grandpa''s leg is like this, and you didn''t even tell me. If Auntie hadn''t called me this morning, I wouldn''t have known."


    The woman with a bandage on her forehead was likely Ren Bo''s aunt, Ren Yi''s sister, who had also experienced some misfortune recently.


    Ren Yi''s wife said, "We didn''t want to distract you from your studies."


    Ren Yi''s mother added, "Go back to school. You''re in your senior year, and you need to focus. Your grandpa has us to take care of him."


    Ren Yi was awake and smiling at his grandson. Gu Qin looked at Ren Bo and said, "You can go back to school now. Your grandpa is fine."


    Ren Bo finished peeling the fruit and cut it into pieces, placing it on a plate for Ren Yi, "Grandpa, eat some."


    The woman in her thirties said, "Dad, if you feel unwell, let us know. Today, your brother and sister-in-law are going back to our hometown."


    Ren Bo asked, "Dad, why are you going back to the hometown?"


    Ren Yi replied, "To check the ancestral graves."


    Ren Bo, who was quite clever, guessed immediately and asked Ren Yi, "Dad, are you still believing in this? Did you get someone to check again, saying it''s because of the ancestral graves? Dad, I''m telling you, this is all superstition..."


    Gu Qin and Lu Qingrong were standing outside the door when they heard Ren Bo. Gu Qin knocked on the door, and Ren Yi, about to speak, opened it and said, "Master, you''re here. Are we leaving now?"


    Ren Bo looked at Gu Qin, surprised by her young appearance, and stayed silent, pulling Ren Yi aside, "Dad, I have something to say."


    Ren Yi felt troubled, knowing his son didn''t believe in this. He himself was half-believing it.


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "Mr. Ren, perhaps explain it to him first. We can leave after that."


    Ren Bo glanced at Gu Qin but remained silent.


    Ren Yi had no choice but to take his son to the hospital corridor. Ren Bo said, "Dad, this is superstition! Even if there is such a person, can a girl your age really handle it? She must be a fraud. Why are you doing this? Let''s just let her go. If you believe in this, find a proper master, not just anyone."


    In the empty corridor, Ren Bo''s voice was loud enough for others to hear. Gu Qin didn''t mind. Being young was a fact, and misunderstanding was normal. She needed to prove herself by doing the job well.


    Ren Yi''s mother apologized, "Master, I''m truly sorry. My grandson doesn''t believe in this. He''s not targeting you. Young people nowadays are like this."


    Gu Qin said, "Grandma, it''s okay. I don''t mind."


    Ren Yi also felt troubled, "Ren Bo, let''s not argue about this. We agreed to bring her, so let''s go."


    Ren Bo remained silent, knowing he shouldn''t target the young girl. They entered the ward, and Gu Qin glanced at Ren Bo, who looked back at her. Ren Bo couldn''t help but say, "Dad, I''ll follow you back to the hometown. I''ve already taken a leave, so I can make up the classes later."


    Gu Qin smiled, "You won''t be able to go."


    Ren Bo was stunned, "Why?"


    Gu Qin said, "You''ll receive a call, so you won''t be able to go."


    Ren Bo asked, "What are you talking about?"


    Ren Yi and his family looked at Gu Qin, and Ren Yi''s wife said, "Ren Bo, stop arguing. Go back to school, and we''ll take the master back to the hometown."


    Ren Bo insisted, "No, I''ll follow you."


    Just then, Ren Bo''s phone rang. Everyone was stunned and looked at Gu Qin. The shock was evident.


    Ren Bo was also surprised, hesitated, and stepped out to answer the call. A moment later, he came back, looking conflicted, and said to Ren Yi, "Dad, I won''t go. I have some things to do at school."


    Ren Yi''s family was even more amazed, and their faith in Gu Qin increased. Ren Yi said, "Alright, if you have things to do, go back to school."


    Ren Bo looked at Gu Qin one last time and left. As soon as he was gone, Ren Yi''s wife asked, "Master, how did you know someone would call my son?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "I saw it."


    She didn''t elaborate further and asked, "Shall we leave now?"


    Ren Yi''s wife wanted to ask who had called her son, but seeing Gu Qin''s unwillingness to elaborate, she refrained.


    The group then headed to Ren Yi''s hometown.


    Ren Yi''s hometown was not far from Beijing, located in a nearby town. The journey took about three to four hours. Lu Qingrong and Gu Qin followed behind in another car. This was Lu Qingrong''s first time witnessing Gu Qin''s abilities, and just by looking at Ren Bo, she knew he would receive a call. Could it really be seen through facial features?


    Of course not. Gu Qin used her Heavenly Eye to see this. No matter how powerful the mystical arts were, they couldn''t predict future events through a person''s face. But because of the Heavenly Eye, she could see these things.


    On the way, Gu Qin closed her eyes to rest. She didn''t know what would happen until they arrived at their destination. She brought tools like Joss paper, vermilion, and a shovel.


    After four hours, they arrived at a small town. They went straight to the Ren family''s ancestral graves, which were on a mountain. As she ascended the mountain, Gu Qin looked around. The area had good feng shui; unless the graves were placed in specific spots, there would generally be no issues. Anywhere else would be fine for burial.


    Ren Yi noticed Gu Qin looking around and asked, "Master, have you found anything?"


    Gu Qin replied, "The place has good feng shui. The surroundings are beautiful, making it a good place for retirement. For now, I can''t see much. Let''s check the graves first."


    There were clear signs of human interference, but not too much. The spiritual energy was stronger than elsewhere, confirming it was a good place for retirement.


    Ren Yi believed that the issue was most likely due to tampered ancestral graves, although there were other possibilities. However, it couldn''t be a problem with the family''s feng shui, as that wouldn''t affect multiple family members.


    They continued walking into the mountains for about half an hour until Ren Yi pointed to a grave, "Master, it''s right there."


    The tombstone was large, and the surrounding area was clean, showing that it was regularly maintained.


    Gu Qin looked around and noticed a small hill to the east of the tomb. As she approached, she saw that the west side of the tomb was well-placed, and the spot was excellent, benefiting future generations.


    She circled the tomb and noticed several places where the soil had clearly been disturbed, even though it had been covered.

 Final Victory

    The ground around the graves showed several areas with different soil colors, indicating signs of digging. Opening her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin saw a layer of black, malevolent qi covering the ancestral graves. With one glance, she knew the graves had been tampered with, disrupting the spiritual energy and setting up an array that gathered negative energy. Ancestral graves represent the family''s fate, so gathering negative energy would inevitably affect the family.


    Gu Qin looked at Ren Yi, "Director Ren, the graves have indeed been tampered with. You can take a closer look at these areas. Although they have been covered, they still appear different from the surroundings."


    Ren Yi examined the areas Gu Qin indicated and saw the differences. His face paled, and his hands trembled, "Who could be so vicious?"


    He turned and asked Gu Qin, "Master, is it because something bad was buried here, affecting the feng shui of the graves, causing my family''s misfortune?"


    Gu Qin nodded. Ren Yi, infuriated, tried to dig with his bare hands to see what was buried, but Gu Qin stopped him, "Director Ren, don''t touch it randomly. Let me handle it. You just watch."


    Ren Yi, his face pale, stepped back, "Thank you, Master."


    Gu Qin brought a small shovel and began digging. The disturbed areas were typical of a Five Vengeful Array, which gathers negative energy. Although the specific artifacts used varied, they were all designed to gather negative energy, including certain talismans.


    Gu Qin did not use her Heavenly Eye to see what was buried but dug slowly. After about half a meter, she sensed something hard underneath. Gently sweeping the dirt away, she revealed a black iron-like object. Turning to the stunned group, she said, "Don''t touch it. I''ll dig up the other areas first."


    Ren Yi and his wife nodded, looking at Gu Qin with even greater admiration. Lu Qingrong was also deeply moved; witnessing such events firsthand was more impactful than hearing about them.


    Gu Qin remained silent, digging up the other areas and revealing similar black objects. After about fifteen minutes, Gu Qin had uncovered five locations, all containing the same items. Observing them, she noted that one of the Five Vengeful Array positions was slightly off, suggesting the array''s center was not perfectly aligned. Otherwise, Ren Yi''s family might have faced fatal consequences sooner. This was a fortunate turn of events.


    Given the slight misalignment, Gu Qin deduced that the person setting the array was not highly skilled.


    Seeing five areas dug up, Ren Yi was surprised and asked, "Master, what exactly is buried under the graves? Just these few items can disrupt the feng shui?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Absolutely." She knelt down to sweep the dirt off the object, "This is a Five Vengeful Array, designed to gather negative energy and disrupt the positive energy around the graves. The misalignment in one of the array points saved your family from a worse fate."


    Ren Yi and his wife exchanged a glance, both breaking out in cold sweat.


    Gu Qin paused, staring at the object in the pit. It appeared to be an iron-like item, possibly nurtured in an extremely yin environment, as it exuded a strong aura of negative energy.


    Gu Qin warned the others, "After I break


    "Listen to me. All of you, don''t come up here. Retreat ten feet back and no matter how long it takes, don''t disturb me, do you understand?"


    The others nodded repeatedly. Lu Qingrong said, "Qin Qin, be careful."


    Gu Qin nodded, watching as they retreated quite a distance before she took out the vermilion talisman and set up the array formation. After setting up the array, she sat cross-legged in the center and casually sent five talismans flying, hitting the five array points of the Five Evil Array. In the distance, everyone heard a buzzing sound that made their ears ring.


    The five people stood far away and couldn''t see the situation around the Five Evil Array clearly; they could only see Gu Qin sitting in the middle with her eyes closed. After a while, another five talismans were sent out. This went on for about ten minutes, and by then, she had already thrown out seven sets of talismans. The pile of talismans beside her was almost depleted.


    When the last few talismans were sent out, all three of them grew anxious, nervously waiting. However, Gu Qin remained calm. Her cultivation wasn''t as high as theirs, but the initial struggle from the five evil artifacts had weakened significantly. By now, they were barely moving at all.


    With no more talismans left, Gu Qin used her qi to completely silence the evil artifacts. She continued to cultivate and dissipate the surrounding negative energy. The location of the ancestral graves was good, but the surrounding spiritual energy had been damaged. Once the negative energy was cleared, there wouldn''t be much of an issue.


    She sat there for three hours until the negative energy around the ancestral graves was gone. Slowly opening her eyes, Lu Qingrong breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her awake. At first, he could still see some movements from Gu Qin, but after half an hour, she stopped moving and just sat there cross-legged. He had been somewhat alarmed by this.


    Gu Qin got up, picked up the items from the five pits with her outerwear, and gathered them into a bundle. She told Ren Yi, "It''s fine now. There''s no major problem with the ancestral graves. I''ve dispelled the negative energy around them, so it won''t have a significant impact. But there is still some damage that needs time to heal. During this period, your family might experience some minor misfortunes, like catching colds or wind chills."Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Ren Yi sighed with relief and thanked her. Seeing her pale face, he asked worriedly, "Master, are you alright?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "No problem, it has no effect. Let''s go down the mountain now."


    Lu Qingrong pointed to the items in Gu Qin''s hands and said, "Qin Qin, is this all because of these things? What do you plan to do with them?"


    "Destroy them," Gu Qin replied. These items were evil, and keeping them would serve no purpose. Besides, she intended to teach the person who set up the Five Evil Array in Ren Yi''s family a lesson. Only by destroying these items could she counteract the person responsible.


    Ren Yi approached and expressed his gratitude again. "Truly, many thanks to Master."


    Only now did he truly believe in the existence of such people and the wonders of mysticism.


    They all began walking down the mountain. When they reached the foot of the mountain, Gu Qin said, "Wait for me at the car. I''ll join you after I destroy these items."


    The others went down first, and Gu Qin sat cross-legged under a large tree, placing the five evil artifacts on the ground. She used her qi to shatter everything and destroy the items. In a civilian house in the capital, a man in his forties suddenly vomited blood, his face filled with fear. "Who... How is this possible..." He vomited again, his face turning deathly pale, eyes closed, and fell lifelessly to the ground, only his nostrils showing faint signs of breathing.


    Seeing the items destroyed, Gu Qin sneered inwardly. If the person responsible had personally raised these evil artifacts in a place of evil, he wouldn''t live much longer. After burying the items, she went down the mountain to meet the others. They returned to the capital by evening.


    Ren Yi went to the hospital first, where his father''s condition had stabilized. His aunt and mother were taking care of him. Seeing their return, his mother asked, "Ayi, what happened?"


    Ren Yi recounted the events. Hearing that something had been buried beneath the ancestral graves, his mother''s face turned pale. "Who would do such a thing? Such heartlessness, desecrating the ancestral graves..."


    "Don''t worry, Mom," Ren Yi said. "The master has taken care of it. There''s nothing to worry about."


    His mother thanked Gu Qin again.


    Ren Yi said, "Everyone hasn''t eaten yet. Mom, let''s take the master and others out for dinner."


    His mother and aunt had already eaten, so Ren Yi took Gu Qin, Lu Qingrong, and his wife out for dinner. At the table, Gu Qin didn''t mention the loan issue. She simply said, "This seems to be the work of someone close to Director Ren. Perhaps Director Ren offended someone or it could be related to his workplace. Until we find out who did this, Director Ren won''t be able to rest easy."


    Gu Qin''s thinking was simple: the more she did, the easier the loan would become, and the more favors she owed, the bigger help Ren Yi could provide.


    Ren Yi naturally felt that this matter was somehow connected to himself. With only one sister, who was also honest and married to a decent family, and his own business not being very big, he couldn''t think of anyone who would target them. It must be his position that caused trouble. He had been a bank director for some years, always diligent and conscientious. He wondered if it was due to some past clients or perhaps someone wanted to climb the ranks and saw him as an obstacle. He really couldn''t be sure. Ever since coming back, he had been pondering this question. Now, hearing the master bring it up, he asked, "Master, is there a way to find out who did this?"


    "Of course," Gu Qin nodded. "But it will take two or three days. I need to rest for two days too. If Director Ren wants to find out who did this, I can help you in three days. Actually, finding out now wouldn''t be difficult, but if Director Ren thinks this can be easily resolved, he might underestimate the effort involved."


    Earlier, Gu Qin had indeed expended some energy dealing with the ancestral graves, so resting for a couple of days was normal.


    Hearing this, Ren Yi remembered how pale Gu Qin looked after handling the ancestral graves, realizing she had spent considerable energy. He was immensely grateful and thought that if they could provide reasonable materials for the loan, helping them wouldn''t be impossible.


    They didn''t discuss the matter further and started chatting about other topics. Near the end of the meal, Gu Qin suddenly remembered something and said to Ren Yi''s wife, "Auntie, there''s something I want to talk to you about."


    Ren Yi''s wife looked up in surprise. "Master, what do you want to say?"


    "It''s about your son. This morning at the hospital, Auntie asked who called your son. Your father was still in surgery and didn''t want them to worry too much, so I didn''t tell you. The person who called your son should have been his girlfriend. I observed your son''s face and noticed he has a fate of love entanglement. Your son has an intelligent appearance, with his ears higher than his brows and a broad forehead. He''s very smart and excels academically. Your son is probably a junior in high school this year."


    Ren Yi''s wife paled and quickly responded, "Master is right. My son is indeed a junior in high school." How could her son, who had only been in school for a few days, already have a girlfriend? And what kind of love entanglement?


    Gu Qin had seen signs of a love entanglement in Ren Yi''s son earlier that morning, but it was still in its early stages. She hadn''t mentioned it then because her grandfather was undergoing surgery and she didn''t want to worry them.


    In the morning, she knew it was Ren Yi''s son''s girlfriend calling because she had opened her third eye. She had known about the impending love entanglement and opened her third eye to investigate. Through her third eye, she saw a beautiful girl crying in a bar, asking Ren Yi''s son to come save her from harassment.


    Gu Qin didn''t look any further. She knew that the love entanglement was likely caused by this girl. Despite her boyfriend''s grandfather being hospitalized, she insisted on having him come to the bar. Gu Qin concluded that the girl was selfish, but Ren Yi''s son also had his faults.


    Gu Qin didn''t comment on this but focused on solving Ren Yi''s son''s problems. "I''ll handle your son''s matters. Your son is intelligent and should easily get into a top university. However, I noticed a dark aura around his official career. This love entanglement might affect his studies. Please don''t confront him about this; he''s young and might become more stubborn if you do. Just be patient."


    She explained that the official career area above the nose reflected future academic performance. Ren Yi''s son was smart and in his final year of high school, likely to get into a good university. However, the official career area was currently dark, indicating academic issues, possibly even expulsion or suspension.


    "He''s already facing a love entanglement, which will certainly affect his studies."


    "Thank you so much, Master," Ren Yi''s wife said repeatedly. Initially, she wanted to call her son immediately to ask if he had a girlfriend. Now, hearing the master''s words, she calmed down. Even though she and her husband were highly educated, they would still lose their composure if faced with their son''s predicament.


    Ren Yi was surprised to learn that his usually well-behaved son had a girlfriend, especially during his grandfather''s surgery. Hearing the master''s words, his face darkened even more.


    Gu Qin continued, "Don''t rush. I''ll gather some information first. Your son''s love entanglement has some time before it fully manifests. There''s no immediate problem, so don''t worry."


    "Thank you, Master Gu," Ren Yi said.


    After eating, Gu Qin and Lu Qingrong returned to the hotel. Lu Chuan and the others were staying at the hotel too. Gu Qin asked them to investigate Ren Yi''s son''s girlfriend, as she had only seen glimpses through her third eye. As for why Ren Yi''s son ended up with this girl, Gu Qin didn''t know yet. She had only glanced at him briefly in the morning, noting his intelligent appearance, which suggested a love entanglement.


    Whether this entanglement was due to his fate or the influence of the ancestral graves, it didn''t matter. The outcome was the same¡ªRen Yi''s son had a love entanglement. Even if the ancestral graves'' issue was resolved, the entanglement would persist because Ren Yi''s son had already met the girl.


    Ren Yi and his wife went to the hospital to check on their parents, planning to stay overnight to allow Ren Yi''s mother and aunt to rest.


    By nine o''clock, they returned home. Ren Yi''s son, Ren Bo, didn''t stay overnight and came home every day. By nine-thirty, he still hadn''t returned. Ren Yi and his wife showered and packed some things before sitting on the sofa. Ren Yi''s wife couldn''t help but ask, "Husband, where did you find this master? She''s so young, and does she really have such great abilities?"


    Ren Yi replied, "Today''s events at the ancestral graves and the prediction at the hospital about Ren Bo getting a phone call¡ªshe was right. Ren Bo never came home this late before. See, she was right, Ren Bo has a girlfriend. I overheard part of his phone call. He told the person his grandfather was in surgery and couldn''t come, but I don''t know what the other person said. Eventually, he agreed to go..."


    Ren Yi was genuinely angry. His son was a senior in high school, and dating would surely affect his studies. Moreover, this girlfriend wasn''t a good match. She insisted on meeting him despite his grandfather''s surgery. He considered her selfish and believed that if she were a sensible girl, they could have discussed priorities and allowed him to focus on his studies first.


    Ren Yi''s wife checked the clock on the wall. It was now nearly ten-forty, and their son still hadn''t returned.


    She asked, "Husband, since the master is so capable, should we wait and see what she suggests instead of confronting our son, to avoid rebellion?"

 The Turning Point of Fate

    Ren Yi silently nodded. They talked for a while, and at ten-thirty, Ren Bo still hadn''t returned. Ren Yi''s wife became restless and decided to call him. Just as she pulled out her phone, they heard the door open. Ren Bo walked in.


    Ren Bo was startled to see his parents sitting on the sofa and cautiously asked, "Dad, Mom, why haven''t you gone to bed yet?"


    Ren Yi frowned without saying anything. Ren Yi''s wife tried to calm herself and smiled. "Bo, why are you back so late? We''re going to the hospital to look after Grandpa, so we waited for you."


    Relieved, Ren Bo smiled. "Mom, it''s okay. I was just hanging out with friends. I''ll go with you to see Grandpa later."


    Ren Yi snorted. "It''s already this late. You should rest. Go to bed." He grabbed his wife''s hand and they left with their things.


    Once his parents left, Ren Bo exhaled in relief but felt a bit sad. Because of his girlfriend, he hadn''t spent much time with his grandfather and even left during his surgery. He felt guilty but didn''t dwell on it for long. His phone rang, and he took it out to see the caller ID. The sadness vanished, replaced by joy, and he answered quickly...


    Lu Chuan was efficient and had tracked Ren Bo by the next morning. By noon, he had photos of Ren Bo dining with a girl. He took several pictures of the girl and investigated her background. The girl came from a modest family and had no notable features. That evening, the information was delivered to Gu Qin.


    The girl''s background was straightforward, and Gu Qin skimmed through the details in two minutes.


    The girl was named Wang Qin. She wasn''t from Beijing but from a nearby small city. She came to Beijing for college and was a sophomore this year. Her family wasn''t wealthy, but she was their only child. Although not spoiled, her parents tried to fulfill her wishes.


    In her freshman year, Wang Qin was still relatively simple, but soon she dated a rich second-generation heir. At first, he treated her well and lavished her with expensive gifts. However, within two or three months, he grew tired of her and gradually distanced himself. She suffered greatly, constantly pestering him. Frustrated, he avoided her.


    After a couple of months, she finally stopped pursuing him, but his extravagant habits persisted. Every month, he demanded large sums of money, causing financial strain.


    Living luxuriously was easy, but returning to simplicity was hard. Eventually, Wang Qin''s family couldn''t keep up. Her monthly expenses exceeded 10,000 yuan, while her parents'' combined income was around 10,000 yuan.


    Her allowance decreased, eventually fixed at 3,000 yuan a month, which was insufficient. One day, she stole 1,000 yuan from a roommate. This triggered a series of thefts. She was caught, warned by the school, and her parents had to beg for leniency. The roommates refused to live with her, and her reputation spread across campus.


    Due to this, she became self-destructive, neglecting her studies and frequenting bars. She met Ren Bo at a bar.


    That day, Ren Bo was tricked into going to a bar. Wang Qin was drunk and harassed by some thugs. Though self-destructive, she resisted. Ren Bo, a high-achieving student, stepped in to help, though he was beaten up.


    Wang Qin and Ren Bo met and exchanged numbers. She invited him for a meal, which he accepted. Wang Qin dressed up and behaved politely, appearing sophisticated. Over the next two weeks, they exchanged messages, leading to their relationship.


    Ren Bo''s family was wealthy, but his parents were strict, limiting his spending. Wang Qin learned about their relationship and confronted Ren Bo''s ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend, feeling jealous, invited Wang Qin out. She reluctantly agreed, receiving gifts from him.


    Ren Bo took Wang Qin out for meals and shopping, but her ex-boyfriend''s jealousy led to a confrontation.


    The master asked Ren Bo, "Who is the third person sitting on your left?"


    Ren Yi''s face turned pale and his hands began to tremble, "Master, could it really be him? But he has been my good friend for many years. When our family faced difficulties and needed a lot of money, we borrowed from many people, and in the end, it was Zhou Xing who helped me..." There were times when one was at a low point. More than ten years ago, he was just a small bank employee. He had encountered an emergency and needed several hundred thousand yuan. That amount then was equivalent to a few million now. He borrowed from many friends, but in the end, it was Zhou Xing who lent him the money. So, over these years, he always considered Zhou Xing as his best friend. He had always treated Zhou Xing sincerely, and even as he climbed higher, he never forgot about Zhou Xing. If not for Zhou Xing''s support, Zhou Xing would not have reached his current position. He never imagined that the one who would want to harm him would be his best friend.


    Ren Yi''s face turned pale, and his hands began to tremble, "Master, could there be a mistake?" He still found it hard to believe.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The master said, "Director Ren, it is indeed him. However, this is what I deduced using divination techniques; there is no evidence. Even if you reported it to the police, there would be nothing they could do. Therefore, you must think carefully about how to proceed. This will be entirely your own matter from now on, and it will have nothing more to do with me."


    She had already assisted Ren Yi with the issues regarding his ancestors'' graves, and the person who cast the spell suffered internal injuries. As for the mastermind, Zhou Xing, she did not plan to intervene further. It was now up to Ren Yi to handle his own affairs, depending on how he chose to deal with it.


    How to solve it? Of course, reporting to the police is useless. One can only be more cautious in the future or gather some other evidence.


    After a long while, Ren Yi finally nodded. "Thank you, Master."


    Gu Qin did not ask much about the bank loan issue. She believed that Ren Yi''s mind had already loosened up a bit. She also prepared some documents for Uncle Lu and planned to let him tell Ren Yi that Bai Jia''s matter was done by her. As for Bai Jia''s company, she was determined to get it. Moreover, with Uncle Lu''s experience in the business world for so many years, as long as he was given an opportunity and with these materials, he could persuade Ren Yi to agree to this amount of money.


    Gu Qin left first, and Ren Yi stayed in his office for a long time. After an hour, he finally called Lu Qingrong and made an appointment to talk in the afternoon.


    Gu Qin didn''t manage the bank loan anymore. She wasn''t familiar with management, so she entrusted it to Uncle Lu. Besides, she had her own matters to attend to. She calculated that she needed to visit the old man. From Zhou Xing, she knew that the old man was seriously injured and where he lived. She wanted to ask who had trained him.


    She had a vague feeling deep down, feeling that this old man seemed somewhat similar to Song Langtian. It wasn''t just their appearance; it was more about the aura that gave her a similar feeling. Song Langtian was dead, and she was very sure. She had killed Song Langtian herself.


    Song Langtian was the mastermind behind a case she helped solve during the Spring Festival when she visited her maternal grandparents'' home in Liangping City, Nan Province. During that Spring Festival, she helped solve a major child trafficking case in Liangping City, which led her to meet the local police bureau. At that time, they had an unsolved case, so the police asked Gu Qin for help. Every month, Liangping City had one r*p* and murder case, and the last victim was somehow related to her cousin''s friend. Thus, Gu Qin helped find the murderer, Song Langtian, who had reached the late stage of the Refining Essence and Transforming Qi cultivation level.


    She remembered that Song Langtian''s master was a strange old man. Using her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin had seen the old man''s appearance. He looked rather odd. This time, the old man behind Zhou Xing was not Song Langtian''s teacher. This old man''s cultivation was not good; otherwise, he wouldn''t have been easily found by Gu Qin and destroyed by the Yin Sha artifact, suffering severe internal injuries. It was clear that his cultivation was even worse than Song Langtian''s.


    Song Langtian had good talent. With the old man''s guidance for a few years, he could reach the late stage of Refining Essence and Transforming Qi. This old man was not as capable. Gu Qin felt there were some similarities between them, some aura that resembled each other. She suspected that they had the same master. Therefore, Gu Qin wanted to find this old man to see.


    Gu Qin was still a student and needed to go back to school. She couldn''t stay in Beijing for too long. So, she went directly to find the old man. The old man was staying in a civilian house to recuperate from his injuries. Calling it recuperation was almost the same as waiting to die. His cultivation was too weak to withstand such backlash. Such injuries were useless even if taken to the hospital. Zhou Xing originally intended to take the old man to the hospital, but the old man refused and asked Zhou Xing to buy some herbs to make a medicinal bath.


    However, the medicinal bath did nothing for him. Unless he had divine medicine, he would only wait to die.


    Gu Qin took over an hour on the bus to find the old man''s residence. When she reached the stairwell, she smelled the medicinal scent. Upon reaching the floor with the strongest medicinal aroma, Gu Qin entered the room directly. She wore a Concealment Talisman, and the old man was severely injured, so he was still lying in bed without noticing anyone entering.


    Gu Qin didn''t plan to kill the old man because he would die soon anyway. Now, she just wanted to find some clues from him. After entering the room, she gently moved her fingers and silently chanted a few words. The old man, whose body was emaciated, gradually relaxed and fell into a deep sleep. Only then did Gu Qin open her Heavenly Eye and look at him.


    About ten minutes later, Gu Qin frowned and quietly left the room. She stood in the stairwell for a while before descending. Her guess was correct. This old man and Song Langtian had the same master. However, she didn''t learn much about that master from the old man.


    Descending the stairs, Gu Qin looked back at the fifth floor and sighed. She vaguely felt that this old man was not simple.


    In the world of metaphysics, there are also distinctions between good and evil. Gu Qin''s master taught her all the goodness, values, and humanity. Even when dealing with people, she always adhered to this belief and never harmed others. But this old man was completely opposite. There were many bad people in the world, and Gu Qin naturally couldn''t become a saint and eliminate everyone. However, she sensed that she would probably have some connection with this old man in the future.


    The old man''s cultivation was beyond her comprehension. Gu Qin only had a vague feeling about it. As for why she had this feeling, she couldn''t quite figure it out. She didn''t want to dwell on things she couldn''t understand and decided to pay more attention in the future.


    Once she let it go, Gu Qin no longer hesitated. She found a place to wander around, bought gifts for her family, and returned to the hotel by evening. No one was at the hotel, and Lu Qingrong was not there either. Gu Qin guessed he was still talking with Ren Yi about the loan.


    After eating something at the hotel, she called Lu Chuan and told him she would return to Daisan City the next day. She also informed him that if anything happened, they should contact Lu Qingrong, and they should temporarily work under him.


    After hanging up, Gu Qin lowered her head and flipped through her phone. There were still text messages from Big Brother Qin. They were all sent before he left, and she hadn''t deleted them. Reading them made her heart soften, and finally, she dialed the familiar number. The system''s female voice said, "The number you dialed is turned off." Gu Qin couldn''t help but sigh, and her anxiety grew heavier.


    Lu Qingrong didn''t come back until late at night. They stayed in neighboring rooms, so Gu Qin heard the noise. The next morning, Lu Qingrong knocked on her door, filled with joy. Before he could say anything, Gu Qin smiled and said, "Uncle Lu, has Director Ren agreed?"


    Lu Qingrong laughed. "Of course, he has agreed to the loan. But there are still many things ahead, and we might have to stay in Beijing for a while. Once the loan is secured, everything else will be easier. So, Qianqian, you should hurry back to school."


    "Okay, Uncle Lu. I''ll go back tomorrow."


    There was no room for negotiation regarding Bai Jia''s affairs. Bai Jia''s stocks had fallen to their lowest point, and no one dared to acquire them because Bai Jia''s issues in Beijing were widely known. Most of those involved in business naturally believed in feng shui. Furthermore, Bai Jia''s troubles started immediately after their feng shui was set, making no one dare to disbelieve. The several feng shui masters Bai Jia hired concluded that it was nearly impossible to undo the feng shui curse, clearly indicating that the person who set the curse was highly skilled. Bai Jia had offended a high-level practitioner.


    Ren Yi naturally understood what was happening from the mouth of Bai Jia. He realized that Bai Jia was cursed because of offending Gu Qin. He sighed inwardly. Over these days of interacting with Gu Qin, he roughly understood what kind of person she was. If her bottom line wasn''t crossed, she wouldn''t have acted against Bai Jia like this. Ren Yi also gained new insights into Gu Qin. This young girl was very protective of her family, and her abilities at such a young age were truly astonishing.


    Gu Qin returned in the afternoon. The flight was quick, and she arrived at five o''clock. She had called Cheng Yinxiang earlier to pick her up at the airport. They had dinner together at home. Gu Qin didn''t tell Cheng Yinxiang much, only saying that the loan issue was resolved and asking her not to worry. She also mentioned that Lu Qingrong would be delayed in returning.


    Cheng Yinxiang was reassured that there was no major problem. The next day, Gu Qin returned to school. Lu Qingrong would call her periodically to update her on the latest developments. In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and Qin Xiansheng had been gone for nearly a month without sending any news to Gu Qin.

 Awakening of the Yin Beast

    Lu Qingrong''s progress on his side was also smooth. Acquiring a company was no easy task, and a series of preparations were required beforehand. Lu Qingrong''s previous business ventures naturally couldn''t compare to Bai Jia''s. He directly used his own company to participate in the acquisition. However, he was clear-headed: starting a business was difficult, and even if he acquired Bai Jia''s company, there would likely be a hard battle ahead. Making a profit right away would certainly be challenging.


    But Lu Qingrong was clear-minded. Once the company began to turn a profit, he would transfer fifty percent of the shares to Gu Qin''s name, ten percent to Gu Jia and Cheng Yinxiang, and keep thirty percent for himself.


    It was already nearing October, and Gu Qin had been back for more than half a month. She had just taken her monthly exams two days ago, and the results came out today. Gu Qin ranked first in her grade. Yizhong High School divided classes based on grades, and this was the first division since the start of the semester. Gu Qin was not in the same class as her good friend Lin Xinxin. Lin Xinxin aimed for military school and followed Gu Qin''s advice, which she practiced daily without affecting her studies. Lin Xinxin''s grades improved, and she was placed in Class Five. Lin Xinxin still visited Gu Qin during breaks.


    Gu Qin ranked first in her grade, Zhu Zhanyan ranked third. Speaking of Zhu Zhanyan, she had always considered Gu Qin as a rival. This girl caused a big stir at school. Yu Jie and another male classmate liked her, but she kept both of them hanging. Eventually, the male classmate stabbed Yu Jie, who was saved by Gu Qin''s immediate first aid. The stabbing male classmate paid a lot of compensation and transferred schools. Only Zhu Zhanyan continued her studies as if nothing happened. However, due to the incident, her popularity declined, and many friends distanced themselves from her. Gu Qin, on the other hand, gained many friends, despite being new in Class One.


    Zhu Zhanyan''s grades were impressive. She had been the top student before Gu Qin surpassed her. Initially, she might have been resentful, but after witnessing Gu Qin''s actions, she no longer dared to provoke her. Instead, she directed all her anger towards Qian Shanshan, feeling that Shanshan had stolen her second-place position.


    There was a physical education class in the afternoon. After running eight hundred meters, the teacher allowed free activities. Some students loved basketball, so the boys formed one group, and the girls another, and they started playing. Gu Qin interacted well with her classmates, so a few girls invited her to play basketball, and she joined.


    They needed two more players, and soon Zhu Zhanyan came over. "I''ll join too. Shanshan, you should play as well. We used to be on the basketball team in junior high."


    Shanshan waved her hand. "I''m rusty. It''s been a while since I played."


    Zhu Zhanyan said, "Shanshan, don''t spoil the fun. There aren''t many girls in the class, and fewer who can play basketball. You''ve played before, so just join in. It''s not a competition, right?"


    Shanshan hesitated but eventually agreed and got up to join the game.


    Gu Qin stood not far from them. When Shanshan approached, she raised an eyebrow and grabbed Shanshan''s arm. Shanshan looked at her. "Qianqian, what''s wrong?"


    "Nothing," Gu Qin said, her gaze falling on Shanshan''s forehead. A faint layer of gray-black energy swirled around it, indicating disaster. The blackness was significant, signaling blood-related calamity.


    Earlier that morning, Shanshan''s forehead didn''t have this dark aura, which appeared during the physical education class. Gu Qin couldn''t help but glance at Zhu Zhanyan.


    "Qianqian, what''s wrong?" Shanshan asked again.


    Gu Qin released her arm, lowering her voice. "Nothing, be careful later."


    Shanshan was startled. Knowing that Gu Qin was nicknamed the school''s little fortune-teller, she understood that something was amiss. Just as she was about to ask again, Zhu Zhanyan impatiently said, "Hurry up, class is almost over."


    They joined the game. Originally, Gu Qin and Shanshan were on the same team, but Gu Qin disagreed. "I''ll join the other team."


    The captain redistributed the players. Gu Qin was on Team One, Shanshan on Team Two, and Zhu Zhanyan was also on Team One.


    Being on different teams, Gu Qin could better watch over Shanshan and prevent any mishaps.


    The ball first went to Team Two''s player, and Team One started defending. Gu Qin closely watched Shanshan, always near her, even when the ball wasn''t in her hands. None of them were basketball experts, just playing casually. The ball quickly reached Shanshan, and Gu Qin didn''t move forward but stayed close to her.


    As Shanshan held the ball, Zhu Zhanyan rushed to snatch it from her. Shanshan had played basketball for a while, and even though she was now rusty, she could still dribble for a short distance. However, she nearly lost the ball multiple times to Zhu Zhanyan.


    Seeing Shanshan approach the mid-court line to shoot a three-pointer, Zhu Zhanyan''s expression darkened. She was furious, especially remembering how Shanshan had taken second place from her. As Shanshan lifted her arm to shoot, Zhu Zhanyan, consumed by jealousy, shut her eyes and charged at Shanshan with full force.


    With all her strength, Zhu Zhanyan collided with Shanshan. If Shanshan was in that posture, she would likely break her arm and hit her head on the concrete...


    Zhu Zhanyan was close to Shanshan, and Gu Qin was just to her left. Seeing Zhu Zhanyan charge with full force, Gu Qin barely moved. She was already close to Shanshan, so even if Zhu Zhanyan used all her strength, she could intercept her.


    Shanshan jumped, but suddenly felt a strong force pushing her from behind. She was startled, realizing someone had collided with her forcefully, causing her to fall forward. Shanshan clenched her teeth, suppressing her fear. She thought she would fall, but unexpectedly, a gentle force gripped her arm. Though light, it stopped her from falling further and pulled her aside. Shanshan saw someone crash to the ground in front of her¡ªpresumably the one who pushed her.


    Shanshan regained her balance and realized it was Gu Qin who had grabbed her arm. It was Gu Qin who had pulled her just in time to avoid injury.


    Zhu Zhanyan didn''t expect that her collision wouldn''t knock Shanshan down but would send her flying instead. She had used all her strength, but Shanshan was suddenly pulled away, making it impossible for her to stop. Only when pain shot through her forehead did she regain consciousness. Liquid dripped into her eyes, and a faint metallic taste filled her nostrils. Touching her forehead, she felt the sticky blood on her fingertips.


    Several girls couldn''t help but scream. The teacher, hearing the commotion, rushed over and saw Zhu Zhanyan on the ground, stunned. "What happened?"


    Multiple students witnessed Zhu Zhanyan colliding with Shanshan. One student explained, "Teacher, Zhu Zhanyan tried to bump into Shanshan, but Shanshan was pulled away by Gu Qin, and she fell herself."


    Zhu Zhanyan''s face paled, trying to defend herself. "I... I didn''t mean to..."


    "We all saw it," another student chimed in.


    "I..." Zhu Zhanyan was flustered. "I didn''t mean to hurt her. I just wanted to grab the ball."You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "To grab the ball?" Gu Qin interjected. "Does grabbing the ball require such force? Look where you landed."


    Zhu Zhanyan had been thrown a few meters away, clearly showing the impact of her collision. It was obvious she used excessive force, not just to grab the ball.


    After Gu Qin''s explanation, the other students'' gazes toward Zhu Zhanyan changed. They weren''t fools and saw that Zhu Zhanyan had indeed used all her strength to collide with Shanshan.


    Seeing blood on Zhu Zhanyan''s forehead, the teacher didn''t scold her but said, "Alright, have two students take her to the infirmary to treat her wound."


    No one volunteered to help, so the teacher pointed to two students. "You two, help her to the infirmary."


    Reluctantly, the two students helped Zhu Zhanyan to the infirmary. Zhu Zhanyan''s face burned with embarrassment, and she couldn''t help but shed tears.


    Gu Qin watched as Zhu Zhanyan was taken away by her classmates. After they were out of sight, her classmates asked Shanshan, "Shanshan, are you okay?"


    Shanshan was still shaken. "I''m fine, thank you, Qianqian. If not for you pulling me, I don''t know what state I''d be in now."


    Even with the collision, Zhu Zhanyan was still badly injured. If not for Gu Qin pulling her, she would have been even more severely injured, possibly fracturing bones.


    Shanshan turned to thank Gu Qin again. "Qianqian, really, thank you. If not for you, I''d probably be in the hospital right now."


    Gu Qin said, "Be more careful next time. Stay away from her."


    Gu Qin knew that Zhu Zhanyan had a problematic mindset. Initially, she didn''t care as long as Zhu Zhanyan didn''t provoke her. However, Zhu Zhanyan, who dared not provoke her, targeted other students with better grades. Gu Qin didn''t like her and found her annoying. Helping Shanshan was just a minor effort.


    Shanshan sighed. "I never imagined she would be such a person. Because my grades were better than hers, she resorted to such tactics."


    Surrounding classmates began to gossip, saying that Zhu Zhanyan was indeed too extreme. They commented that although she looked beautiful, her thoughts were wicked. Someone couldn''t help but say, "She isn''t beautiful at all. She doesn''t even have half of Qianqian''s beauty."


    Gu Qin had changed significantly since she first arrived. Back then, she was skinny and malnourished, barely able to describe her as such. Now, her skin was fair and rosy. Although she wasn''t tall, her figure was proportionate. Her hair was smooth and shiny, and her features were lively. In just a year, the ugly duckling had transformed into a swan.


    Not long after, the PE teacher came over, telling everyone to rest since class was almost over.


    This couple is just an ordinary pair in Yunman City. The husband''s name is Liu Guoqiang, and his wife''s name is Shen Xiaoxia. They have a son named Liu Wei who is in his first year of college. Little did they know that an unexpected disaster would plunge their originally fairly happy family into hardship.


    A year ago, Liu Wei was constantly running a fever, experiencing joint pain, and bleeding. After going to the hospital for a checkup, it turned out he had leukemia. The treatment required a large sum of money.


    That day morning, Gu Qin returned from her cultivation as usual and went to the kitchen to help Ling Dang with cooking. When Ling Dang entered the kitchen, she glanced around and was stunned for a moment. Then she grabbed Gu Qin''s hand, her mouth slightly open. "You..."


    Ling Dang looked at her blankly. "What?" Perhaps because of their previous conversation where she had asked Gu Qin about her relationship with Qin Xiansheng, she now knew the girl¡¯s name was Gu Qin. She also thought that her previous inquiries seemed somewhat awkward, so she had been avoiding Gu Qin in recent days.


    Usually, when Gu Qin helped her cook, they didn''t speak much; each did their own tasks. Why did she suddenly grab her hand today?


    Gu Qin''s gaze fell on Ling Dang''s forehead, on both sides of the hairline, where there was a faint black aura. The two spots on either side of the forehead, like horns, were called the Sun and Moon Corners, also known as¡ª


    ¡ªRiyue Jiao. These areas can indicate certain health conditions or spiritual imbalances in some traditions.


    Gu Qin said, "Your forehead... There is a dark aura on your Riyue Jiao. Are you feeling unwell recently?"


    Ling Dang felt even more puzzled. "No, I don¡¯t feel unwell. Why do you ask?"


    Gu Qin replied, "These areas often reflect internal energy or emotional states. You should be careful. If you feel any discomfort, let me know."


    Ling Dang nodded, still not fully understanding but grateful for Gu Qin¡¯s concern. She let go of her hand and continued with her work, while Gu Qin prepared the ingredients for breakfast.


    Over the following days, Gu Qin focused on helping Ling Dang take care of Qin Xiansheng and preparing meals. The atmosphere between Gu Qin and Ling Dang remained somewhat tense, but they gradually resumed their usual routines. Qin Xiansheng¡¯s wounds were healing well, and his inner energy was recovering.


    After a few more days, they decided it was time to return. Gu Qin made sure everything was prepared, and they all gathered downstairs to say goodbye to the elderly woman who had been kind enough to provide shelter.


    The old lady smiled warmly at them. "Take care of yourselves, children. And remember, the mountains always watch over you."


    With heartfelt thanks and goodbyes, they set out on their journey back, hoping that this unexpected encounter would bring better days ahead for everyone involved.


    The bell pendant did not have this black aura on its two corners the other day. It seems that your parents have encountered some dangerous situation recently, which could lead to them getting hurt, and this is now reflected in the bell''s appearance. She said, "Dingding, where have your parents gone?"


    "What''s wrong?" Dingding was startled. "Why do you ask?"


    Gu Qin replied, "There is black aura on my forehead''s sun and moon horns, which indicates that something must have happened to your parents."


    Dingding exclaimed in shock, "Ah! My parents went out, and I don''t know where they''ve gone. How did you know? Are you also a fengshui master like Brother Qin?"


    Gu Qin nodded but didn''t say much more. He calculated with his fingers and said, "Your parents haven''t been harmed yet, but we need to find them as soon as possible, otherwise it might be hard to guarantee their safety..." Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and in no time, Dingding''s grandmother rushed in. Seeing Gu Qin, she wasn''t surprised and only said to Dingding, "Dingding, your parents may be in trouble. Grandma has to go out for a bit, so stay at home and wait for me."


    At first, Dingding didn''t fully believe what Gu Qin had said. She thought he was too young and didn''t trust fengshui masters. She only believed in Miao people''s gu poison. However, she hadn''t learned much; her parents and grandmother knew more about it. She could only cast simple gu poisons, like making someone have diarrhea or a minor illness if they bullied her at school.


    Grandmother was one of the most powerful people in the village. Her words were generally trusted, and she could predict some things, which was an ancient gu technique known only to her in the village. Now that Grandmother had said so, it seemed her parents truly faced danger. Dingding became anxious and asked, "Grandma, what happened to my parents?"


    Grandmother shook her head with a troubled look. "I''m not sure, but I must go out. Dingding, stay here. If I don''t return, remember to take the small wooden box from my room. The key is yours, it''s something I left for you..."


    "Grandma," Dingding was flustered, "Grandma, I want to go with you."


    Grandmother nodded and said, "Then thank you."


    Dingding was stunned, "Grandma! She''s younger than me. Why let her come along?"


    "It''s decided then," Grandmother said firmly. "Dingding, you can''t help in any way. Come, let''s go."


    This matter couldn''t be delayed. Gu Qin quickly informed Qin Xiansheng, who still knew her abilities. He only said, "This time, General isn''t here. Be careful. Liuguang can help, but it''s too fierce. Don''t summon Liuguang unless there''s a good chance of winning. Others might covet it. Be careful, I''ll wait for you here."


    Gu Qin didn''t say anything more, just bent down to kiss Qin Xiansheng''s eyes, "Brother Qin, wait for me to return."


    After bidding farewell to Brother Qin, Gu Qin followed Grandmother out of the small village, heading towards the mountains. Along the way, Grandmother held a compass-like object made of wood, which looked like a map with a wriggling red line, actually a worm used in gu techniques. Gu Qin didn''t inquire further and just followed her.


    They walked for about an hour before exiting the mountains. This should have been another hidden mountain path, one outsiders couldn''t easily find without guidance. Gu Qin memorized the route, recognizing it as a maze array.


    Outside the mountains, Grandmother silently followed the red line, turning left and right until they reached a bus stop at the foot of the mountain. The place was very remote, with only a bus available. They were lucky to catch one after waiting for ten minutes. They boarded and the bus slowly drove forward.


    The bus traveled for over half an hour, still far from the city center, likely reaching a small county near Yunman City. This county was away from the city''s pollution, retaining some ancient city atmosphere. There were green brick roads, old houses, and a slower pace of life. After getting off, they found many tourists around. Such an ancient county suited tourism well, and the tourists'' pace was slow.


    Grandmother and Gu Qin quickly headed into the county. They moved fast, and Gu Qin remained silent. After about ten minutes, they stopped in front of a rustic inn. Gu Qin glanced at Grandmother and softly asked, "Is it here?"


    Grandmother nodded. They entered the inn, where the owner, a woman in her thirties, greeted them politely, "Are you checking in?"


    Grandmother replied, "We''re looking for someone. We know which room they''re in, so no need to show us upstairs."

 Secret of the Feng Shui Array

    This was a small inn run by a private owner. The manager nodded and let them go upstairs without asking questions. They went up to the third floor, and Grandmother led Gu Qin to room 302. Grandmother looked at Gu Qin, who nodded, and she knocked on the door. A sultry voice answered, "Who is it?"


    "Room cleaning service," Gu Qin replied.


    "Alright, no need for cleaning," the woman inside rejected.


    Hearing this, Gu Qin paused, recognizing the woman''s voice. She opened her Heavenly Eye and saw a beautiful woman sitting at the dressing table, using ancient cosmetics. Gu Qin knew this woman, who had once helped save the life of Su Jia''s daughter by transferring her heart. She didn''t know the woman''s name but remembered meeting her briefly when she was setting up a maze array in her neighborhood.


    Unexpectedly, they met again here.


    Gu Qin searched the room, finding it was a suite. Inside, there was another small room where she saw a couple unconscious on the bed, about forty years old, resembling Dingding''s parents. Gu Qin closed her Heavenly Eye as Grandmother tried to knock again. Gu Qin grabbed the door handle, sending qi through the lock, and the door clicked open.


    They entered, and the woman named Yan Zhen turned, startled. Gu Qin had been concealing her qi, so Yan Zhen hadn''t noticed anything unusual. Thinking it was a maid, she was surprised to see them. Seeing the old woman and the girl, her expression froze.


    Yan Zhen asked, "You... I remember you. We met before in Daisan City. Why are you here?"


    Gu Qin raised an eyebrow, "I hope we never meet again."


    Yan Zhen smiled seductively, "Are you here with your master?"


    "Guess," Gu Qin replied with a smile. Yan Zhen had been at the early stage of Essence Transformation, but now seemed stuck. Gu Qin had long surpassed that stage, and with Liuguang and Heavenly Eye, she believed she had a fighting chance against Yan Zhen.


    Yan Zhen was slightly fearful. These two had no discernible qi, and she was already at the mid-stage of Essence Transformation. She was hesitant because she couldn''t sense their qi. She guessed they were either ordinary people or much stronger than her.


    Inside, Grandmother checked the couple''s pulse, finding them barely alive. Outside, Yan Zhen smiled at Gu Qin, "What a coincidence, meeting you again."


    Gu Qin responded, "I wish we hadn''t."


    Yan Zhen said, "Arrogant girl." Then, she attacked, palm striking Gu Qin. Gu Qin dodged, countering with a forceful strike.


    Yan Zhen was shocked, realizing Gu Qin was stronger than she thought. Gu Qin''s strength was beyond her comprehension, having reached the stage of Essence Transformation. Yan Zhen, still in the early stages, was outmatched.


    Yan Zhen quickly changed tactics, using a dark spell to gather yin energy. Gu Qin''s Heavenly Eye allowed her to see the yin energy. She realized Yan Zhen practiced unorthodox techniques.


    She didn''t want to prolong the fight and summoned Liuguang, which easily devoured the yin energy. Yan Zhen was astonished, realizing Gu Qin''s weapon was extraordinary. Gu Qin swiftly approached, thrusting Liuguang at Yan Zhen, who narrowly escaped, rolling away.


    Yan Zhen threw a golden talisman, but Gu Qin deflected it with a barrier. Yan Zhen''s face changed, realizing Gu Qin was formidable. She regretted underestimating her.


    Yan Zhen pleaded, "Miss Gu, perhaps we have misunderstood each other. There''s no real enmity between us. Why fight to the death?" She glanced at the inner room, "If it''s about them, I can apologize and release them. They''re fine, just injured. I have medicine to help them recover."


    Gu Qin remained silent, opening her Heavenly Eye to observe Yan Zhen. Yan Zhen continued, "We''re both practitioners. Perhaps we can become friends. Let''s resolve this misunderstanding."


    Gu Qin lowered her gaze, her eyes turning cold. Yan Zhen thought she was softening, standing cautiously. Yan Zhen patted Gu Qin''s arm, smiling, "Since the misunderstanding is cleared..."


    Her words were cut short. Stunned, she looked down at her chest, where Gu Qin''s weapon pierced her. She murmured, "Why..."


    Gu Qin checked Yan Zhen''s breath. She was dead.


    Indeed, she thought, it was inevitable for someone who had been stabbed in the heart by such a heavily cursed flow of light to not die.


    Gu Qin indeed did not particularly like killing, but after opening her Heavenly Eye and looking at the woman, she realized that this woman held grudges easily and seemed to have some connection with Brother Qin. She was from Qin¡¯s sect, having taken something and escaped. Gu Qin only saw a few fragments, so she wasn¡¯t entirely sure what had happened. Moreover, she saw an old man¡¯s figure through the woman, dressed in black clothes with his face wrapped in a black cloth, making it impossible to see his features. This old man appeared to have given something to Yan Zhen.


    What was more important was that Yan Zhen had already seen the Flowing Light, which was considered a heaven-grade magical tool. No one could be without desire. For cultivators, the Flowing Light was already an excellent magical tool; anyone who practiced would be tempted by it. She also couldn''t let Yan Zhen live if she wanted to continue thinking about the Flowing Light or leak information about it.


    The person was dealt with, but the body was a problem. Gu Qin was hesitating when the old lady had already walked out of the room. Seeing the woman lying on the ground, she was somewhat surprised. She didn¡¯t expect this little girl to have such great abilities.


    Seeing that the little girl was still hesitant, the old lady said, "Don''t worry, I have some chemicals that can dissolve bodies. Just melt the body." Then, looking at the body on the ground, she couldn¡¯t help but hum, "This person who has committed many evil deeds, dissolving her body is actually a mercy. Such people should be fed to the worms."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Grandma, there''s no need," Gu Qin thought for a moment and said, "This person must have committed many crimes before. We just need to get Uncle and Auntie to testify and report directly to the police station."


    The old lady had no objections. Gu Qin then called the police, who arrived quickly. Afterward, they returned to the police station for statements and other procedures.


    Yan Zhen had been active in Yunman during this period, and each time she caught someone, it was from here. Once Gu Qin reported the case, the police became very busy. There had been several missing persons in nearby counties each month, and their bodies were found later. They showed no visible wounds externally, but upon detailed autopsy, small injuries at the heart were discovered. After further dissection and expert examination, it was determined that the victims had their hearts removed for their blood.


    This case had caused unrest for months, with no breakthroughs found. Unexpectedly, someone reported it today. With the parents'' testimony and Gu Qin''s self-defense, the matter was almost settled.


    Despite encountering some minor issues, the police asked how Gu Qin and her group found the victim and the criminal, and it was the old lady who solved the issue. Since this was within Yunnan Province, everyone knew a bit about the abilities of the Miao people, so they didn¡¯t pursue it further. The matter was resolved.


    The old lady brought her son, daughter-in-law, and Gu Qin back to the small town. Ling Dang finally breathed a sigh of relief seeing her parents and grandmother return safely. Gu Qin nodded and went upstairs. When Qin Xian Sheng saw her return, he smiled and said, "Everything''s resolved?"


    Gu Qin nodded and sat next to him, saying, "It''s all resolved, Brother Qin. I killed someone."


    Qin Xian Sheng replied, "Qin Qin, some people deserve to be killed. You''re not someone who can''t distinguish right from wrong. I believe this person deserved to be killed."


    He never felt that killing was wrong. Having lived for so long, laws had little constraint on him. Similarly, he wasn¡¯t a person who killed innocents randomly. Those who died by his hand were at least deserving.


    Gu Qin briefly recounted the events, telling Qin Xian Sheng about her previous encounters with Yan Zhen, and finally expressed her doubt, "Brother Qin, I feel like this woman has some connection to you."


    She only mentioned her feeling, not revealing that she saw it through her Heavenly Eye. Her Heavenly Eye was too special, and even for those closest to her, she didn¡¯t want to casually reveal such things.


    "Can you describe what she looks like?" Qin Xian Sheng asked as he straightened up.


    Gu Qin described Yan Zhen''s appearance. Qin Xian Sheng rarely frowned but did so now, "I do recognize her. Speaking of our connection, it isn¡¯t significant. It¡¯s more that Ninth Brother Qin has a deeper connection with her. She was once Ninth Brother¡¯s apprentice. Back then, Ninth Brother was quite showy and well-known. This woman is named Yan Zhen, with no father or mother. She was picked up by Ninth Brother as a child and trained as an apprentice. Her talent wasn¡¯t great, so even though she worked hard, her progress was slow."


    Gu Qin listened quietly.


    Qin Xian Sheng continued, "Following Ninth Brother for over a decade, she grew up with a skewed heart, fond of petty tricks. Ninth Brother was naturally carefree and didn¡¯t pay much attention. Unexpectedly, she developed feelings for Ninth Brother. Ninth Brother rejected her bluntly. Later, after two years, she stole something from the sect and ran away. It was a somewhat sinister magical tool that Ninth Brother had acquired unintentionally and kept in the sect. He never expected her to take this tool and run away. Ninth Brother was somewhat angry, thinking he had raised her for over a decade only for her to run off with something. However, Ninth Brother didn¡¯t intend to hunt her down. He felt that regardless of the future, she had nothing to do with him anymore."


    Gu Qin knew that Qin Xian Sheng had lived for a long time, and his cultivation only allowed his appearance to remain youthful. Yan Zhen¡¯s cultivation was similar to hers, not enough to maintain her youth. Yan Zhen must be quite old, yet why did she still look around thirty?


    Perhaps guessing her thoughts, Qin Xian Sheng added, "Based on your description, this woman appears relatively young. Her cultivation isn¡¯t high, so she might have practiced some techniques to maintain her appearance. The sinister magical tool she stole was likely one that could keep her appearance youthful but would disturb her mind and incline her towards evil. Based on what you¡¯ve told me, she seems to have been practicing some evil arts by taking others¡¯ heart blood, probably doing many wicked deeds over the years. So, Qin Qin, you made the right choice."


    "If so, shouldn¡¯t that sinister magical tool still be on her? If it falls into the wrong hands, wouldn¡¯t it harm others? Brother Qin, tomorrow I¡¯ll go to the police station to check. If the item is still with her, I will destroy it. This kind of sinister magical tool is harmful if left in the world."


    At dinner, Ling Dang formally apologized and thanked Gu Qin. Ling Dang¡¯s parents also came to thank Gu Qin. The next day, Gu Qin went to the place where Yan Zhen¡¯s body was stored but didn¡¯t find the magical tool on her. Originally planning to use her Heavenly Eye to check, she heard footsteps outside and had to leave first.


    The police soon announced the case, of course, not going into too much detail. They simply said they found the culprit after a long investigation. They didn¡¯t mention anything about evil magic or the Miao people. Since the founding of the People''s Republic of China, animals weren¡¯t allowed to become spirits, and practices involving heart blood to create sinister magical tools were strictly prohibited.


    Once announced, Yan Zhen¡¯s body was sent for cremation according to procedure. Gu Qin found it difficult to locate the magical tool. This matter had to be put aside for now.


    Ling Dang had already gone back to school. Qin Xian Sheng stayed at Ling Dang¡¯s house for a few more days until his health recovered enough to return to Mount Dai with Gu Qin.


    Afterward, Gu Qin was busy studying and practicing cultivation, needing to provide feng shui consultations for clients daily. Her days were busy. Qin Xian Sheng, upon learning that Gu Qin had handled the Bai family in Beijing and acquired their company, returned to Beijing to assist. He had his own companies there and could help Lu Qing Rong.


    With Qin Xian Sheng in Beijing, Gu Qin didn¡¯t have to worry. He had connections and expertise in feng shui and other matters, far more useful than she would be there.


    Though they weren¡¯t together, they spoke daily.


    In two months, the weather turned extremely cold. Soon, Gu Qin would have final exams and winter break. The class was busy preparing for the exams, and Gu Qin joined in.


    Previously, Qian Shan Shan and Zhu Zhen Yan had some conflicts. Zhu Zhen Yan, unable to provoke Gu Qin, transferred her anger to Qian Shan Shan, pushing her during physical education class. If not for Gu Qin pulling her back, Qian Shan Shan might have been seriously injured. Because of this, students disliked Zhu Zhen Yan even more. Over these two months, Zhu Zhen Yan acted low-key but was often bothered by classmates, making her life difficult.


    Gu Qin, on the contrary, was well-liked by all, whether top students or underachievers.


    Two days later, after the final exams, the holiday began. Students had a three-day break before returning to school for grades and other matters.


    During these three days, Gu Qin continued her practice and provided feng shui consultations. Three days later, she returned to class to collect her grades. As expected, she ranked first again. The teacher gave instructions for the winter break and then dismissed the class, announcing the start of the break on February 16th.


    Before leaving, Gu Qin glanced at Zhu Zhen Yan without saying much. Leaving the classroom, a few classmates walked towards the school gate. Some students gathered around Gu Qin, including Qian Shan Shan, who Holding Gu Quilt''s arm, he said, "Quilt, what did you see Zhu Zhenyan do just now?¡±


    Gu Qin replied, ¡°I noticed her face changed. This winter, her family might not have a peaceful time.¡±


    Everyone at First High School knew that Gu Qin was a minor clairvoyant, and after numerous events, they believed her face-reading skills were accurate.


    Qian Shan Shan pouted, ¡°That¡¯s her own fault. She¡¯s full of malice.¡±


    Since the girl had ill intentions, Gu Qin didn¡¯t plan to tell her anything.


    Back home, Yin Cheng Xiang prepared a delicious meal. Gu Jia would return from Beijing in two days, and Yin Cheng Xiang was happy, chatting with Gu Qin about Gu Jia¡¯s situation in Beijing.


    Compared to before, Gu Jia had changed significantly. Previously, he was playful, vain, and irresponsible, but now he was the opposite¡ªresponsible and mature. Even in Beijing, he would call his mother and sister regularly.


    Two days later, Gu Jia returned from Beijing, and Yin Cheng Xiang was overjoyed. As she aged, she cherished family moments more, believing that health and happiness together were the greatest joys.


    Gu Jia had grown taller and stronger after six months of training, reaching a height of possibly 185 cm and a robust physique.


    About twenty days remained until the New Year. Lu Qing Rong was too busy this year. His company in Beijing was still in its early stages, so he couldn¡¯t return to Mount Dai for the New Year. After considering for two days, Yin Cheng Xiang suggested they go to Beijing for the New Year. Both children agreed since they didn¡¯t want to visit relatives and feared Luo Wen Fen might come crying.


    Gu Qin had earned some money, donating part to charity and saving the rest. She planned to buy an apartment in Beijing. Gu Jia would study there for a few years and might live there permanently. Given Lu Qing Rong¡¯s frequent absence due to his company in Beijing, owning an apartment was better than renting.


    Yin Cheng Xiang agreed, and Gu Qin had saved some money. Together, they decided to buy an apartment in Beijing, with Yin Cheng Xiang paying the down payment and repaying the mortgage slowly.


    Gu Qin intended to pay in full. Beijing¡¯s property prices were high, and Lu Qing Rong¡¯s company was in the city center. She planned to buy an apartment near the city center, which would cost over ten million yuan per square meter. A villa was out of consideration; she aimed for an apartment around 100 square meters, totaling over ten million yuan.


    Seeing Gu Qin about to speak, Yin Cheng Xiang quickly said, ¡°Qin Qin, I¡¯m your mother. Please listen to me this time.¡±


    Feeling guilty about relying on her daughter, Yin Cheng Xiang was touched.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t argue further and agreed.


    Yin Cheng Xiang informed Lu Qing Rong, who also approved.


    Since they planned to go to Beijing for the New Year, they packed their belongings and rested. That night, Gu Qin talked on the phone with Qin Xian Sheng for over an hour. Just as she hung up, a new number rang in.

 Black Panthers Revenge

    These days, people frequently called her, asking about her ability to read faces and feng shui. Because of this, she specifically instructed her acquaintances not to give out her number, suggesting they seek her services through her company or secretary.


    She had a feng shui shop on the top floor of a building gifted by the Li family. Due to her studies, she couldn¡¯t be there every day, so she hired a recent graduate as a secretary. Anyone needing her services could contact her secretary.


    Dai Shan¡¯s average salary was low, typically around 3,000 to 4,000 yuan. A fresh graduate usually started at around 2,000 yuan. Gu Qin posted job listings online, offering a starting salary of 4,000 yuan plus benefits like social security and housing fund, making it attractive. Many applied, and she chose based on face reading, seeking someone with a good nature and correct values.


    After several days, she met Lu Jia, a recent graduate from an ordinary university, not a prestigious one. Gu Qin found her face reading promising and took her in.


    Lu Jia initially applied out of curiosity. Few people believed in feng shui, and most interviewers were skeptical. Surprisingly, Gu Qin hired her immediately without questions.


    Lu Jia¡¯s job was relaxed, mainly waiting in the shop and helping with appointments. The work was easy, and she soon learned that her boss was both the owner and a renowned feng shui master. Clients treated her respectfully.


    Lu Jia was initially skeptical but grateful for the job. After a few days, she learned about her boss¡¯s face reading abilities when Gu Qin helped her with her mother¡¯s health issues.


    Lu Jia lived in an old residential area. Gu Qin observed the neighborhood¡¯s feng shui and asked Lu Jia how long they¡¯d lived there. Lu Jia explained they bought the apartment two years ago because it was cheap. Gu Qin suggested they visit her mother¡¯s bedroom.


    Upon entering, Gu Qin noticed the bedroom door directly faced the toilet, creating a "dirty mouth" feng shui problem. Since the toilet lacked sunlight, the feng shui was worse. Lu Jia¡¯s mother had been sick since moving in.


    Gu Qin advised Lu Jia to hang a wooden animal head charm above the toilet, which she did. The next day, Lu Jia¡¯s mother improved.


    Lu Jia was amazed and grateful. Gu Qin didn¡¯t reveal that the charm was made of peach wood and infused with energy overnight.


    Lu Jia became a believer and started reading feng shui books in her free time. She also stopped giving out Gu Qin¡¯s number, referring clients to the shop instead.


    Because of the incident, Lu Jia trusted Gu Qin completely and followed her advice.


    Gu Qin answered the call, and a man''s voice came from the other end, "Hello, hello, is this Miss Gu?"


    Gu Qin thought for a moment. She seemed to recall hearing that voice before but couldn''t quite remember. She asked, "Yes, who is this?"


    The man on the other end laughed, "Miss Gu probably doesn''t remember me. Didn''t you go to Yunman? It was late at night, and no driver dared to take you. Later, I asked for a thousand yuan, and you took the ride. Then you gave me two thousand more and told me about your family situation, even giving me a phone number for a charity organization. At first, I didn''t believe it..."


    Before he could finish, Gu Qin knew who he was¡ªthe taxi driver she met when looking for Brother Qin in the small village of Yunman. She had seen his family''s difficulties and given him a charity organization''s contact number. From his words, it sounded like his family''s situation had improved.


    Liu Guoqiang had called the charity organization the next day after getting the number from Gu Qin. After verifying the information, they transferred the money for surgery into his account within a week. His wife and he then believed it was real. They were busy with their son Liu Wei''s treatment for the past two months. After the surgery, Liu Wei was stable, and the hospital said that as long as he was well taken care of, there wouldn''t be any major issues.


    Liu Guoqiang wanted to thank Gu Qin personally, but since he only knew her name and not her number, he had to call the charity company. They eventually gave him her number, and he immediately called her.


    Gu Qin understood the situation and said, "I didn''t do much; it was just a coincidence. I gave you a number, Uncle, so don''t worry too much."


    Liu Guoqiang insisted, "No matter what, I should thank Miss Gu. If not for you, my son might have lost his life."


    Gu Qin replied, "Uncle, don''t worry. Your son is fine now. Just keep doing good deeds and accumulating good karma, and you''ll be blessed."


    "That''s right, that''s right," Liu Guoqiang nodded repeatedly.


    Liu Guoqiang said he wanted to come over to personally thank her, but Gu Qin said it wasn''t necessary. She mentioned she was going to Beijing soon and didn''t have much time. So, Liu Guoqiang hung up.


    After that, Liu Guoqiang told many people about the miraculous encounter. However, few believed him. Nevertheless, he followed Gu Qin''s advice and tried to do more good deeds. Even his wife and son did the same, perhaps because their son had narrowly escaped death. His wife and son also started believing in cause and effect, doing more good deeds.


    This was later. After hanging up, Gu Qin booked a flight. In the afternoon, she packed her things and left with Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Jia for Beijing the next morning.


    Lu Qingrong and Qin Xiansheng had received their messages the previous day and knew they would be coming today. They went to the airport early. Lu Qingrong had been staying in hotels, and after picking them up, they went to a hotel for a meal, booking several rooms. At dinner, Cheng Yinxiang expressed her desire to buy a house in Beijing.


    Everyone agreed. Qin Xiansheng owned many properties in Beijing and originally planned to transfer one to Gu Qin. Seeing her signal, he didn''t say much more.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    They decided that Gu Qin, Cheng Yinxiang, and Gu Jia would look for a house while Lu Qingrong and Qin Xiansheng would handle company matters. The company had many problems, and without Qin Xiansheng''s help, it would have been much worse. They hoped the company would stabilize by the end of the year.


    After a few days, they found a second-ring apartment in a newly built neighborhood. The location was excellent, with nearby hospitals, schools, supermarkets, malls, and banks. The price was around 80,000 yuan per square meter, but through Qin Xiansheng''s connections, they got it for 40,000 yuan per square meter. Cheng Yinxiang was surprised, telling Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, this is almost half-price."


    Gu Qin knew Qin Xiansheng must have helped the real estate developer, otherwise, they wouldn''t get such a good deal. The person receiving them seemed to be the CEO, a middle-aged man who looked kind and chubby.


    They signed the agreement the same day, completing all the procedures. Since it was still a bare apartment, they needed to decorate it themselves. The total area was over 120 square meters, with three bedrooms and two living rooms. The full payment was 4.8 million yuan, which was shocking.


    The down payment was over one million yuan, nearly all of Cheng Yinxiang''s current funds. Gu Qin would cover the decoration costs. The apartment came with a balcony and a garage.


    After buying the house, the three of them were busy buying materials, choosing environmentally friendly options. They hired a decorator recommended by Qin Xiansheng, who charged very little. If they accelerated the process, the house could be ready in about half a month.


    For the next half-month, they stayed in a hotel. Gu Qin occasionally discussed company affairs with Lu Qingrong and learned some economic knowledge.


    More than half a month passed, and the house was already decorated. Although it was environmentally friendly, it still required some time to settle. Gu Qin planned to set up a small array to speed up the dissipation of harmful substances. During these days, they were busy selecting furniture, and within a few days, everything was arranged inside the house. With Gu Qin''s array, the harmful substances in the house were almost gone.


    They moved in before the New Year, but they hadn''t prepared New Year''s goods. They ate their New Year''s Eve dinner at a five-star hotel in Beijing, arranged by Lu Qingrong.


    They tidied up slightly in the afternoon and left at five o''clock. Traffic was heavy in Beijing during the New Year, so they had to leave two hours early for a thirty-minute drive.


    Indeed, the traffic was terrible, and they arrived at the hotel around seven o''clock. They parked the car, and the four of them entered the hotel''s private room. Qin Xiansheng had been waiting in the room. Before the New Year, Qin Xiansheng was busy, rarely managing the sect''s affairs, and many people sought his help. He had been staying in Mount Dai for the past year, so he had many things to deal with.


    It was a close family gathering, so they didn''t follow formal dining etiquette. Lu Qingrong felt much lighter with Qin Xiansheng''s help and said the company would soon stabilize after the New Year.


    As they finished eating, a commotion outside could be heard. A young man''s voice said, "Why, are you afraid that the Bai family can''t afford to pay and won''t let us in?"


    The lobby manager apologized, "Young Master Bai, it''s not that. All the private rooms are occupied. Only the main hall has a few tables left. Would you mind...?"


    "What? Now that our Bai family is in trouble, you think the main hall is fit for us? I mind! Are you underestimating me? When our Bai family rises again, I''ll make sure you regret it!" The young man yelled angrily, "D*mn it, I don''t believe there''s no room left!"


    He kicked open the door of the private room. This was exactly the room Gu Qin had reserved. Everyone in the room stared at the intruder, a young man in his twenties with long hair covering one eye, looking gloomy.


    "Who are you?" Gu Qin asked, her dark eyes fixed on the young man.


    Before the young man could speak, the lobby manager came in and bowed, apologizing to the guests, "Please forgive us, this guest did not mean to offend..."


    The young man sneered, "What if I meant to offend? This private room is mine, and you need to leave!"


    The lobby manager was sweating profusely. This young man was Bai San, the third son of the Bai family who had recently gone bankrupt. The Bai family''s troubles were widely known in Beijing. Before the fall, the Bai family was well-known, and the service industry treated them with respect.


    This was Bai San, the third son of the Bai family. Despite the family''s fall, they still called him "young master," though with a hint of mockery.


    Rumors said the Bai family offended a feng shui master, but no one knew who it was.


    Investigating wasn''t difficult. Lu Qingrong''s acquisition of the Bai family''s company led to Qin Qingrong, revealing Gu Qin''s actions in Daishan City. The Bai family naturally investigated and traced it back to Gu Qin. They also recalled Gu Qin''s involvement with Bai Ziyue, the eldest son of the Bai family.


    Bai Ziyue''s fate was his own doing, and Gu Qin couldn''t be blamed. However, the Bai family blamed Gu Qin for his death and tried to harm Gu Jia, Gu Qin''s sister. Gu Qin thwarted their plans and even recruited the four men who kidnapped Gu Jia.


    Though the Bai family had lost most of its assets, they still had enough to live comfortably. But that was all.


    The current head of the Bai family was Bai Ziyue''s father. After the incident, he strictly instructed his sons not to cause trouble. However, old habits die hard, and the youngest son, Bai San, was harder to control.


    Bai San kicked open the door of Gu Qin''s private room. Clearly, he was angry and had been waiting to retaliate.


    Qin Xiansheng wanted to pull Gu Qin behind him, but she waved him off, indicating she was fine.


    Three security guards dragged Bai San out, and the lobby manager continued to apologize. Gu Qin waved everyone away.


    No one took the incident seriously. Gu Qin didn''t want to go too far unless absolutely necessary. She had a soft spot for Bai San and could only do so much.


    After dinner, Qin Xiansheng planned to watch a movie with Gu Qin, hoping to experience some romantic moments. The rest of the family knew about their relationship and didn''t interfere. Others had their own tasks, and Gu Jia planned to spend the New Year with classmates.


    Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin went to the parking lot. As they entered, they sensed someone else''s breathing, hurried and anxious, hiding behind a pillar. Before they could react, the person emerged from behind the pillar, brandishing a wooden stick.


    It was Bai San. Clearly, he was enraged and had been waiting for them to retaliate.


    Qin Xiansheng tried to pull Gu Qin back, but she gestured that she was fine and didn''t move.


    Qin Xiansheng usually listened to Gu Qin. For something trivial, if she wanted to handle it, he would comply.


    Bai San had no martial arts skills and was easily kicked away by Gu Qin, flying four or five meters away. Without using internal energy, Bai San only suffered minor injuries but struggled to stand up.


    Gu Qin didn''t want to waste more time on Bai San and left with Qin Xiansheng.


    Bai San lay on the ground for a while before recovering, glaring at where they left. Finally, he got up and went home.


    Back at the Bai family, they had all eaten their New Year''s Eve dinner and returned. Seeing Bai San''s disheveled state, Bai Fu frowned, "What happened? I couldn''t find you when I called for dinner. Don''t you know the Bai family''s situation? Why did you cause trouble?"


    Bai Fu had been trying to rebuild the Bai family, facing many challenges. He knew his third son''s temper and feared he would cause more trouble.


    Bai Fu had already traced the case back to the Gu family but found it hard to believe a teenager could have such power. He suspected the Gu family had help from the feng shui community and thus refrained from further mischief, considering himself unlucky.


    Bai Fu had been in business for years and knew the power of the feng shui community. Some were frauds, but others had genuine abilities. Such people were untouchable, so he considered the Bai family unlucky and secretly grateful that the Gu family''s allies didn''t go further.


    Bai San remained silent, and Bai Er quietly advised him, asking what happened.


    Bai San usually listened to Bai Er, who had fought for him in childhood. Bai San recounted the incident.


    "You fool!" Bai Fu was furious, wanting to hit Bai San, but Bai Mu and Bai Er stopped him. "I''m working hard, and you''re causing trouble! Who would book a New Year''s Eve dinner at a high-end place? Use your brain!"


    "I didn''t know!" Bai San sat on the sofa, still feeling aggrieved.


    Bai Er asked, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "There was a tall man following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. There were many sects, and the Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"

 Chains

    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s frown deepened.


    Bai Fu and Bai Er went to the study. Bai Er told Bai Fu his suspicions, "Father, I suspect the man is him."


    "Who?" Bai Fu was confused.


    Bai San, "Do you know the Nine Doors?"


    Nine Doors was not a place but a sect in the feng shui community. Many sects existed, and Nine Doors was relatively famous. Founded about a hundred years ago, it was not significant compared to older sects. The oldest sects had histories spanning thousands of years.


    The Nine Doors was small but feared due to its leader, rumored to be surnamed Qin. Few knew his real name, but many remembered the legendary Ninth Lord. Over the years, he had faded from public view.


    Businesspeople like the Bai family knew about the Nine Doors and its leader, Qin Shifu, but he was mysterious and rarely seen in Beijing. Even when the Bai family was prominent, they never met Qin Shifu.


    However, there were occasional encounters. Bai Er once dined with a few third-generation elites in Beijing''s red circles. Outside a hotel, they saw an elderly man and a young man, both exuding strong presence.


    Bai Fu was furious, scolding Bai San, but Bai Er interrupted, asking Bai San, "San, was there anyone else with the Gu girl?"


    Bai San thought, "A tall man was following us in the parking lot. He looked decent."


    "What did he look like?" Bai Er asked.


    "I didn''t pay attention. Why would I stare at a man?" Bai San was vague.


    Bai Er frowned, "San, think carefully."


    Bai San recalled and described Qin Xiansheng. Bai Er''s f


    Mu Lao rarely appeared in public these days. If one thought about it carefully, it really should be Mu Lao. It was said that Qin from the Nine Gates was very familiar with Mu Lao, and people feared that this young man might indeed be Qin. However, he looked really young.


    Mu Lao was someone whom perhaps no one in Huaxia knew about. He had spent half his life fighting for Huaxia, and without his contributions, Huaxia would not have been as prosperous as it is today. Mu Lao was also the only old general in Huaxia.


    The fact that Mu Lao had close ties with Qin from the Nine Gates was not widely known. Hearing such a secret, several people couldn''t help but turn back to look at the hotel again.


    Bai Ziheng was not surprised; instead, he felt somewhat shocked. He never expected Qin from the Nine Gates to be such a young man, and thus he remembered him.


    Just now, when his third brother mentioned it, Bai Ziheng felt that this person seemed somewhat like Qin.


    Bai''s father had heard of the Nine Gates'' name and became somewhat anxious, asking his son, "Do you think that Qin from the Nine Gates behind Gu''s family is your friend?"


    Bai Ziheng nodded, "It seems very likely."


    Bai''s father also gave up on any lingering hope and sighed, "Let''s take this as a lesson. I just hope that this matter doesn''t bring us any trouble. Tell your third brother later to be more careful. Our Bai family no longer has the capital to be arrogant in Beijing. If he still doesn''t know better, I''ll send him to the army!"


    The Bai family was nervous for a few days, but nothing happened. The Bai family knew that the Gu family probably wouldn''t harm them, and they breathed a sigh of relief. They were even more cautious and careful in their future life in Beijing.


    Gu Qin indeed wasn''t concerned about this matter. As long as the Bai family didn''t harm her family, she didn''t care.


    After spending several days together in Beijing during the New Year, the two were inseparable every day. They experienced all kinds of romantic activities¡ªshopping, eating, watching movies, and so on. Soon, it was already the 15th day of the first lunar month, and Gu Qin needed to return to school.


    Since her son and husband were in Beijing, Cheng Yinxiang naturally followed her back to Daishan.


    After returning, Cheng Yinxiang was still busy managing her business. Gu Qin went to school, and if there was any business at the shop, Xiao Mi Lu Jia would call her. She would also handle it during her free time after school or on weekends.


    She had rules for giving feng shui consultations and handling matters: she would see one person per day and rest on Sundays.


    Even so, people who wanted to consult her feng shui had to book an appointment for a month ahead.


    Gu Qin''s reputation in Daishan was growing larger, although it was limited to Daishan. After all, she only operated in Daishan City.


    Days passed, winter turned to spring, and before they knew it, over a year had gone by. Most of the time, Lu Qingrong was busy in Beijing. Cheng Yinxiang didn''t feel at ease leaving her daughter alone in Beijing, so she stayed in Daishan most of the time, though she would visit Beijing for a few days each month.


    Qin Xiansheng also had a company in Beijing. Before, he didn''t like to manage the company''s affairs and left them to his disciple Zhuxi and the trusted members of the Nine Gates. But since Lu Qingrong started managing the company, Qin Xiansheng often helped out. Now, both companies were thriving.

 Cycle of Karma

    Busy with the company and the Nine Gates, Qin Xiansheng didn''t neglect Gu Qin. They talked on the phone every day and visited Daishan once a month for a week.


    In recent months, he had come less often because Gu Qin was busy preparing for the college entrance exam. She wasn''t worried about failing but felt that it wasn''t right to take special treatment while all her classmates were studying hard for the exam. She attended night classes and dared not ask for leave.


    About ten days before the exam, Cheng Yinxiang would stay up late waiting for Gu Qin to return home and made various soups for her.


    For parents, the college entrance exam is very important. Gu Qin drank a bowl of soup every evening, but fortunately, she continued her cultivation, so she didn''t gain weight despite drinking so much soup. Her cultivation had progressed rapidly in the past year and a half, reaching the late stage of Qi Transformation and Spirit Formation. Advancing further was difficult, and she hadn''t made much progress in the past six months.


    The late stage of Qi Transformation and Spirit Formation meant that she was almost invulnerable to blades and guns.


    Finally, the day of the exam arrived. Early in the morning, Cheng Yinxiang prepared breakfast and woke Gu Qin up to get ready. She didn''t say much, just spoke reassuringly. After breakfast, Cheng Yinxiang took her to school. Seeing her mother''s anxiety, Gu Qin smiled and said, "Mom, don''t worry. You know my grades. I''m sure I can get into Beijing University."


    Beijing University was the best university in Beijing, and Gu Qin felt quite confident.


    Cheng Yinxiang was still worried, knowing that many students performed poorly during the actual exam despite good grades. She didn''t want to say it directly, so she just nodded and said, "I know, my daughter will do well. What do you want to eat? I''ll buy some ingredients later."


    Gu Qin named a few dishes and hugged her mother before entering the examination room. Just as she walked a few steps, her phone received a text message. It was from Qin Xiansheng with only two words: "Good luck." Gu Qin sent a smiley face emoji back and then closed her phone with a smile.


    After two days of exams, most students looked exhausted. They had fought hard for months, but the exam period was nerve-wracking, so looking tired was natural. Gu Qin looked better, smiling as soon as she exited the exam hall, relieved to finally have a break.


    After the exam, Gu Qin didn''t rush back but waited outside the school for her friends. In the past year and a half, she had made many friends, but only a few could be considered close friends.


    Her closest friends were Lin Xinxin, Qian Shanshan, and Zhou Wanru. Lin Xinxin had good grades and moved to Class Seven. Qian Shanshan was in Class One and had become friends with Gu Qin after being saved once. Zhou Wanru was a struggling student in the last class. Despite transferring to Class One, they maintained their friendship.


    Soon, the three came out. Lin Xinxin and Qian Shanshan were smiling, while Zhou Wanru looked gloomy.


    Qian Shanshan and Gu Qin consistently ranked first and second in the grade, so they were sure to get into Beijing University. Lin Xinxin aimed for military school, which was also achievable. Only Zhou Wanru struggled, still in the last class and unlikely to do well in the exam.


    Zhou Wanru said dejectedly, "It''s over. I feel like I won''t see you guys anymore. You''re definitely going to Beijing."


    Lin Xinxin rolled her eyes at her, "Who told you not to study hard?"


    "I want to," Zhou Wanru said, near tears. "But you know, whenever I see books, I get a headache. Getting into No. 1 Middle School was through connections; it wasn''t easy for me."


    Gu Qin observed their faces and smiled, "Don''t worry. Everyone has their own path. Xinxin and Shanshan''s prospects look good. As for Wanru, things will be bumpy, but she''ll be fine after graduation."


    The four celebrated by playing for a day and even went to a bar.


    Half a month later, the results came out. The total score for the Gaokao in Daishan was 650. Gu Qin scored 648, nearly shocking everyone at No. 1 Middle School. She lost only two points, while Qian Shanshan scored 639. Gu Qin performed exceptionally well, mainly due to her calm attitude toward the exam.


    When filling out her application, she naturally chose Beijing University. Qian Shanshan also applied to Beijing University, and Lin Xinxin got into a military school in Beijing. They would meet again in Beijing. Zhou Wanru, however, couldn''t get into Beijing and applied to a second-tier university in another city, making it harder to meet up.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    With Gu Qin moving to Beijing, Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Qin became busy. Cheng Yinxiang planned to sell the shop in Daishan and explore business opportunities in Beijing. Gu Qin supported her, as the shop in Daishan brought in a steady income of around 100,000 yuan a month.


    Gu Qin kept her feng shui shop open, and Lu Jia continued to work there. She hadn''t decided whether to open a shop in Beijing yet.


    By mid-August, everything was settled. Gu Qin''s acceptance letter had arrived, and they packed their belongings and moved to Beijing. The next day, they arrived in Beijing.


    The whole family was happy to be together, and after dinner, Lu Qingrong didn''t rush to work and accompanied Cheng Yinxiang to explore the city.


    Cheng Yinxiang shared her ideas with Lu Qingrong, "Qingrong, Gu Qin will study in Beijing, and I plan to sell the shop in Daishan. I might not be idle in Beijing, so I''m thinking of doing something."


    Lu Qingrong supported her idea and suggested, "I agree. Perhaps something related to your original line of work would be suitable. How about opening a beauty salon?"


    He referred to a high-end beauty salon where wealthy women in Beijing could relax and enjoy beauty treatments. Such places were popular in Beijing, with plenty of customers. Given the abundance of wealthy women in Beijing and their increasing interest in leisure and appearance, such beauty salons rarely failed to make money unless they had a terrible reputation or deceived consumers.


    After explaining his idea to Cheng Yinxiang, she hesitated, "Qingrong, this investment might be significant. I''m worried..."


    Lu Qingrong smiled, "Don''t worry. You can discuss it with Gu Qin. She might have unique insights."


    Cheng Yinxiang was tempted and discussed it with Gu Qin when she returned. Gu Qin was excited, "Mom, I think it''s a good idea. Although the initial investment is large, it will be profitable."


    Gu Qin believed in this venture. The surrounding mountains in Beijing were rich in spiritual energy, with many herbs and honey. She knew about Chinese medicinal baths and could apply that knowledge in the beauty salon. She could also set up a spirit-gathering array, which would enhance the mood and health of the customers. With her help, there would be no shortage of customers.


    Moreover, she had discussed many ideas with Brother Qin and was ready to live a carefree life. She planned to open a feng shui shop in Beijing to take on small jobs. University life would be much more relaxed than high school.


    However, starting a business required preparation, research, and planning.


    Cheng Yinxiang agreed with the idea and started working on it immediately. Gu Qin had nothing else to do and helped her mother.


    These preparations took considerable time. By the time school started, Cheng Yinxiang was still busy, and Gu Qin focused on settling in at school. Class and dormitory assignments were made. Even if students didn''t live on campus, they were assigned four-person dorms with private bathrooms, hot water, air conditioning, and other amenities.


    Today, Lu Qingrong and Cheng Yinxiang drove Gu Qin to school. Beijing University covered 470 hectares, making it the largest university in China. Its campus was beautiful, with architecture, gardens, environmental art, greenery, lakes, and even a vast ginkgo forest. This was one of the most distinctive features of Beijing University, especially in autumn when the entire area was golden.


    Because of this scenery, countless visitors came to Beijing University to see the ginkgo trees in autumn.


    Lu Qingrong parked the car inside the campus, finding a spot after some effort. They went to check the dorm assignment and helped Gu Qin carry her belongings to the dorm.


    Inside the dorm, two students were already there. A girl with long curly hair was playing with her phone while her parents helped arrange her bed. Seeing Gu Qin and her parents, the parents stood up and greeted them warmly, "Hello, hello. This is our daughter, Yang Ting. From now on, you''ll be sharing a dorm with her. Please take care of each other."


    Yang Ting''s father was plump and tall, appearing kind. Her mother was also well-dressed and looked wealthy, similar to her father in appearance.


    Lu Qingrong shook hands with Yang Ting''s father, "Hello, this is my daughter, Gu Qin. She''ll be sharing a dorm with your daughter. I hope the children get along."


    Another girl with long hair, down to her waist, greeted everyone cheerfully, "Uncle, Aunt, Yang Ting, Gu Qin, hello. We''ll be living together now. Please take care of each other." She glanced at the parents and sighed, "I envy you. My parents are too busy, and I came to school alone."


    Yang Ting''s mother comforted her.


    Cheng Yinxiang greeted them warmly and prepared to help Gu Qin set up her bed. Gu Qin stopped her, "Mom, it''s okay. I can do it myself." She quickly unpacked and arranged everything within a short time.


    Seeing how efficient Gu Qin was, Yang Ting''s parents praised her, "Your daughter is so sensible. Look at our daughter, Yang Ting. She''s spoiled. Without us, who knows if she''d even eat properly."


    Yang Ting finally looked up and complained, "Parents, stop. I''m not a child. I won''t starve. It''s almost lunchtime. Let''s go eat first. After eating, you can go back home. I''ll be fine by myself."


    Just then, the dorm door opened, and a girl with shoulder-length hair walked in. Gu Qin couldn''t help laughing, "Shanshan, you''re here too."


    The newcomer was none other than Gu Qin''s friend Qian Shanshan, who had also been admitted to Beijing University. They were even placed in the same dorm.


    Qian Shanshan was delighted, "Qin Qin, it''s you. That''s great."


    Neither set of parents had expected such a coincidence. They knew their daughters had a friend but rarely met. Thus, they had never met each other.


    Now that they had met, they decided to have lunch together. Once the girls finished their tasks, the parents went out to a restaurant.


    All three sets of parents were easy to get along with, and the dinner conversation flowed smoothly. The girls, being of similar age, had many topics to discuss. Before long, they were chatting and laughing freely.


    The parents also chatted about lighter topics. After dinner, the parents reluctantly left, and the four girls returned to the dorm. They still needed to report to their classes in the afternoon. All four were in the same class. They held a brief class meeting in the afternoon, and the next day was the opening ceremony.


    That evening, the four girls went out for dinner again. Fresh from university life, they weren''t eager to return to school. Beijing University''s surroundings were bustling with various snacks, clothing stores, and entertainment venues. They enjoyed shopping and returned to the dorm just before curfew.


    Beijing University''s curfew was at 11 PM. Upon returning to the dorm, Qian Shanshan and Zhang Xiaowen bought many items¡ªshower supplies, clothes, etc., while Gu Qin bought a jade pendant, a bluish-green stone-like pendant.


    Yang Ting didn''t buy anything but ate non-stop, never stopping.


    Gu Qin and the others tried to persuade her to stop eating, but Yang Ting ignored them. Looking pitifully at the three, she said, "At home, my parents were strict, and I never got to eat street food. I just want to indulge once."


    Unable to persuade her, they let her continue. When passing a pharmacy, Zhang Xiaowen bought some stomach medicine and diarrhea medication.


    Back in the dorm, within half an hour, Yang Ting started vomiting and having diarrhea. Gu Qin rummaged through her bag and found a box of pills, handing one to Yang Ting, "Take this home-made pill. It will help."


    Zhang Xiaowen also came with a cup of warm water and the medications she had bought. Concerned, she asked, "Qin Qin, where did these pills come from? Maybe we should use these instead."


    Yang Ting, pale-faced, looked at the pills and finally took Zhang Xiaowen''s tablet, swallowing it with the warm water. Then, looking at Gu Qin, she said apologetically, "Qin Qin, I think Western medicine works faster, but thank you anyway."


    The pill in Gu Qin''s hand emitted a faint herbal scent, clearly made from traditional Chinese medicine.


    Gu Qin paid no mind, putting the pill away. Qian Shanshan opened her mouth but remained silent, sighing inwardly. Few outsiders knew about Gu Qin''s abilities, but her friends knew how skilled she was in feng shui and traditional Chinese medicine. She was a professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Daishan Hospital and treated patients weekly. Many people sought her medical advice, and she knew her pills were far more effective than those from the pharmacy.

 Light in the Darkness

    Yet, she didn''t want to boast about her friend.


    "I will just have to go to the hospital like this, and the school will definitely find out, and then inform my parents. They might do something crazy, maybe my mom would even move to Beijing with me, and I don''t want that," Zhang Xiaowen said.


    "Ah." Zhang Xiaowen couldn''t think of anything else.


    Everyone was also tired, so they washed up and went to bed. But after less than half an hour, they heard Yang Ting''s pained moans from her bed. The others had no desire to sleep either, so they turned on the light and found Yang Ting''s face becoming increasingly pale, with cold sweat all over her forehead and her body curled up like a shrimp.


    Zhang Xiaowen made a quick decision, "Tingting, this won''t do, we need to take you to the hospital now."


    Gu Qin immediately fetched some medicine pills and asked Qian Shanshan to bring a cup of warm water. She helped Yang Ting sit up, put the medicine into her mouth, and used the warm water from Qian Shanshan to help her swallow it. Zhang Xiaowen hadn''t even managed to stop her when she worriedly said, "Qin Qin, you can''t just take any medicine, right?"


    Qian Shanshan looked at Zhang Xiaowen, "Don''t worry, taking her to the hospital wouldn''t be as good as letting Qin Qin treat her."


    Gu Qin said, "Shanshan, go get the cloth bag in my luggage." It contained a set of silver needles.


    Qian Shanshan put down the cup and found the cloth bag in the luggage box, then brought over a chair carefully. She opened the cloth bag to reveal the silver needles inside. Gu Qin was still taking Yang Ting''s pulse before she inserted the silver needles into several acupoints and infused some energy into these points.


    Zhang Xiaowen stood beside her, hesitating to speak.


    About ten minutes later, Gu Qin removed the silver needles from Yang Ting and disinfected them. Yang Ting''s complexion improved significantly, no longer sweating coldly, and seemed to have fallen asleep.


    "We should also go to sleep now; there''s the opening ceremony tomorrow," Gu Qin said. Qian Shanshan nodded in agreement, washed up, and prepared to sleep too.


    Only Zhang Xiaowen stared at Gu Qin for a long time before exclaiming, "Qin Qin, how did you learn traditional Chinese medicine? You''re amazing! Is your family involved in traditional Chinese medicine?"


    "More or less..." Gu Qin nodded. "Let''s get some rest."


    The next morning at six-thirty, the four girls in the dormitory were all awake. There was no choice; they needed to attend a class meeting at seven, eat breakfast, and the opening ceremony started at eight-thirty. Their alarm clocks were set for six-thirty. Yang Ting rubbed her curly hair with bleary eyes, only then remembering what happened last night. She recalled Gu Qin giving her medicine and acupuncture, which didn''t hurt but felt very comfortable, and then she fell asleep.


    She had never slept so soundly before. Yang Ting usually had poor sleep quality and often had nightmares, but last night she didn''t dream at all and slept well through the night.


    Feeling refreshed, she greeted her roommates cheerfully and excitedly spoke to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, thank you so much yesterday. If not for you, my parents might have come to Beijing. You don''t know, when I got accepted into Beijing University, my parents weren''t happy at first because they thought it was too far away. My mom even wanted to come to Beijing with me, but eventually, my grandparents persuaded them, and they gave up on that idea."


    Yang Ting was truly overwhelmed. Her parents spoiled her, but this was too much.


    As they chatted, they got ready for the day. Gu Qin simply used facial cleanser and applied moisturizer, rarely wearing makeup. Seeing this, Yang Ting envied her, "Qin Qin, your skin is so beautiful." Though she was also pretty, she often wore makeup, and her skin wasn''t as good without it. Unlike Gu Qin, whose skin was flawless, almost poreless, like a peeled egg.


    "You should wear less makeup. To have good skin, I''ll give you something to drink every day, and it will make your skin fair and bright," Gu Qin said.


    "Really?" Yang Ting''s eyes lit up. "Then I thank you in advance, Qin Qin."


    By the time they spoke, it was already seven o''clock. The four girls went to their class, attended a thirty-minute class meeting, ate breakfast at the cafeteria, and headed to the hall for the opening ceremony.


    Gu Qin, being the top scorer in the college entrance exam, was expected to speak at the ceremony. She talked about study experiences and introduced herself, leaving a strong impression not because she was the top scorer, but due to her appearance.


    After the principal''s speech, it was customary to let provincial top scorers speak. After three years of practice, her appearance was truly fair and beautiful. When she stepped onto the stage, there were murmurs below, and many boys started clapping even before she began speaking.


    The boys admired her, while the girls were envious, and some were jealous.


    Gu Qin wasn''t shy. She picked up the microphone and started speaking. The applause continued, but she secretly infused a bit of energy into her voice, making it clear and audible to everyone.


    The applause finally stopped. Gu Qin confidently shared what she wanted to say, keeping it brief yet coherent, introducing herself and leaving a lasting impression on everyone.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Afterward, many boys kept looking at her.


    The opening ceremony lasted until eleven, and they had the afternoon off. The next day was Sunday, so they had two and a half days off before classes resumed on Monday.


    During these days, Gu Qin was busy. She even went back to Mount Tai to handle business at her feng shui shop, which had been accumulating for a week. She took care of everything during this break.


    On Monday, when she returned to school, she found university courses easier to adapt to. There were fewer classes, and most students joined clubs. Beijing University had more than fifty clubs.


    It was entirely based on personal preference, with no coercion. However, freshmen were often recruited by clubs.


    Right after class, the four girls went to the cafeteria for dinner and returned to the dormitory. An upperclassman came over.


    Zhang Xiaowen said, "Tingting, Qin Qin, Shanshan, this is our senior Xu Hui, the vice president of the drama club and also a fellow townsman of mine. I''ve joined the drama club, and Senior Xu came to ask if you''d like to join too."


    "Drama club?" Yang Ting asked, "Is it fun?"


    Xu Hui sat next to Yang Ting, "Of course it''s fun. We can rehearse plays and sometimes perform. Our drama club currently has over 150 members."


    Turning to Gu Qin and Qian Shanshan, "Do you two want to join the club?"


    Gu Qin shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, but I want to join the occult studies club."


    Hearing it was an occult studies club, Xu Hui couldn''t help shaking her head, "I advise you not to join this club. It''s a small group, and the people there aren''t easy to get along with."


    Gu Qin still shook her head, "No, thank you. I''m quite interested in occult studies and have decided to join the occult studies club."


    The person in charge of the occult studies club was Du Fei, who had always been fascinated by occult studies. Her parents had forbidden her from delving into these topics when she was young. Later, her parents saw how passionate she was and realized that arguing wouldn''t change anything. Instead, they feared she might become rebellious and decided to allow her to explore these interests, thinking it was better than letting her engage in other activities.


    Du Fei founded the occult studies club with her friends and a few others who shared her interest. Last year, there were no new members joining the club, and she didn''t expect anyone to join this year, especially someone who seemed to understand occult studies.


    Du Fei was amazed. She had practiced divination with coins for years, and each time it took a while to get the result. Initially, she didn''t believe Gu Qin could predict the exact outcome, but when she confirmed it was the F¨´ gu¨¤ ( Compound divinatory symbols), she realized Gu Qin was no ordinary person.


    Gu Qin handed over the form, "Do I need to fill out anything else?"


    Du Fei checked the name on the form and remembered it, then looked up, "No, you can enter your information into the club''s website later."


    Gu Qin nodded. Du Fei asked, "Are you a freshman?"


    "Yes, I''m interested in occult studies, and I didn''t expect Beijing University to have an occult studies club."


    Du Fei smiled, "Actually, it didn''t exist before. I formed it myself a couple of years ago." Then she couldn''t help asking, "How did you know it was the F¨´ gu¨¤?"


    "It comes with practice."


    Du Fei sighed, "You''re impressive. I''ve studied for years, but I''m still inconsistent."


    "Divination requires tranquility. This tranquility isn''t just about mental peace but a certain state of mind, similar to entering a meditative state in Buddhism. Only when you reach this state can divination be effective..."


    Gu Qin explained the concept simply to Du Fei. It was essentially practice makes perfect. With more practice, one could quickly enter the right state during divination. Of course, unless one could achieve the state of transforming essence into qi, achieving this state every time was still challenging.


    Du Fei listened intently. As they chatted, time flew by, and soon an hour had passed. Gu Qin needed to go to class and said, "We can talk again next time. I have to go to class now."


    Du Fei personally escorted her to the door. After Gu Qin left, she realized she hadn''t asked for her phone number. She looked at the contact information Gu Qin filled out and noted down her number.


    Du Fei was already obsessed with occult studies. She had no one around her who understood these things, and finding someone like Gu Qin was a rare opportunity. She called Gu Qin, who was heading to the cafeteria for dinner, and arranged to meet there.


    Qian Shanshan, Yang Ting, and Zhang Xiaowen were all there. Du Fei joined them without hesitation, ordering a few dishes and sitting across from Gu Qin. Gu Qin introduced her friends to Du Fei, and they became acquainted.


    After dinner, Qin Xiansheng called, asking Gu Qin to meet him at the school gate. Qian Shanshan and Yang Ting also wanted to go out, so they all went to the school gate. There was a black sports car parked there, and Qin Xiansheng got out and walked toward her.


    Among her friends, only Qian Shanshan knew Qin Xiansheng. The others felt a bit nervous seeing him approach, intimidated by his imposing presence. Instinctively, they held onto Gu Qin''s hand, momentarily stunned.


    Gu Qin introduced, "This is my boyfriend, Qin Xiansheng," then introduced him to her friends.


    They finally met. Yang Ting and Du Fei were excited, examining Qin Xiansheng closely, while Zhang Xiaowen showed a hint of concern, whispering to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, you''re only nineteen. Are you sure you''re not being taken advantage of?"


    Gu Qin''s expression softened slightly, but she remained gentle, "I have good judgment. Don''t worry, Xiaowen. Where do you want to go? I''ll ask Brother Qin to drive you."


    Yang Ting finally snapped out of it, "Let''s go to the pedestrian street ahead." It wasn''t far, but it would take at least ten minutes to walk there.


    They got into the car, and Zhang Xiaowen glanced at the black sports car, her eyes flashing, wondering what she was thinking. Along the way, Yang Ting and Du Fei chattered non-stop, Qian Shanshan listened gently, and Zhang Xiaowen appeared distracted, lost in thought.


    They arrived at the place within minutes. The three girls got out and waved goodbye to Gu Qin.


    In the car, they hadn''t seen each other for some time, and Gu Qin missed him. She kissed him lightly on the lips, softly saying, "Brother Qin, I miss you."


    Qin Xiansheng''s usually gentle eyes darkened, staring at her full, moist lips for a moment before he restrained himself and held her hand, "I miss you too. Did you eat at the cafeteria? I was thinking of taking you to eat crayfish."


    Gu Qin had a preference for spicy and seafood flavors. Crayfish was particularly popular during this season, with its aroma filling the streets.


    Gu Qin''s eyes widened, "I want to eat!"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled, squeezing her hand, "Alright, let''s go."


    He didn''t take her to any random restaurant but drove for over an hour, turning down various alleys, and found a bustling place.


    The ground floor was packed, with many people waiting outside. But the owner recognized Qin Xiansheng and led them upstairs, saying, "Mr. Qin reserved a spot for you."


    Qin Xiansheng thanked him.


    In the private room, Qin Xiansheng ordered a large bowl of crayfish and a few cold dishes. It was the perfect meal for a hot summer day.


    The crayfish arrived quickly, each larger than Gu Qin''s palm, smelling incredibly fresh. Gu Qin''s appetite was whetted, and she ate nearly half of them. After dinner, they went to see the latest movie, and it was almost eleven when they had free time.


    Qin Xiansheng asked, "Do we go back to the dorm or home?" Home referred to Gu Qin''s house in Beijing.

 Cracks in the Array

    "Let''s go home. The dorm will be closing soon, and we won''t be able to get in anyway. I''ll call Shanshan to tell her." Just as she took out her phone, Qian Shanshan called. Gu Qin answered, "Hello, Shanshan, are you coming back to the dorm tonight?"


    Gu Qin replied, "I''m out with Brother Qin right now and won''t be returning to the dorm tonight. I''ll stay at home. You should get some rest early too."


    "Okay, alright."


    They hung up without further conversation. Gu Qin turned to Qin Xiansheng, "Brother Qin, let''s go back."


    Qin Xiansheng drove Gu Qin back.


    Back in the dorm, Qian Shanshan hung up the phone. Yang Ting had just taken off her face mask and asked, "Qin Qin isn''t coming back?"


    Qian Shanshan nodded, "Qin Qin is staying at home tonight."


    Yang Ting didn''t ask much more, but she remembered something and was excited, "Qin Qin''s boyfriend is really handsome and has a strong presence. I was a bit scared earlier."


    She spoke admiringly of Qin Xiansheng, but there was no trace of admiration in her eyes; it was merely admiration.


    Qian Shanshan put her phone away and laughed, "Qin Qin and Mr. Qin have a great relationship. They''ve been dating for two years. I''ve only met Mr. Qin a few times before, and he''s quite steady."


    Zhang Xiaowen finished getting ready and joined them, curious, "Qin Qin isn''t coming back to sleep?"


    She hesitated and said, "Qin Qin is so young and is already... "


    "Don''t say nonsense!" Qian Shansheng interrupted sharply. "Qin Qin is going home to sleep. Don''t think such things. Mr. Qin and Qin Qin are both very considerate."


    In modern society, men and women...


    She couldn''t believe that Anna would commit suicide...


    Anna? The student who committed suicide at the medical school a few days ago, I didn''t expect Feng Tao to actually be her boyfriend.


    Three years ago, Feng Tao had just graduated from high school and was admitted to Beijing Medical University. He dated a girlfriend named Jo Anna, who was one year younger than him and a sophomore.


    "I am Anna''s boyfriend. These past two days, I haven''t been able to sleep. Everyone is blaming me." Gu Qian did not interrupt, she quietly listened. "I don''t know what happened. I''ve been with Anna for two years. I met her when I first came to the medical school. She was beautiful, confident, and outgoing. I pursued her, and eventually we got together. We rarely argued, but there was an argument a few days ago. But how could she commit suicide..."


    As if recalling something, Feng Tao''s face showed pain. He covered his eyes, and in his mind, he saw Anna lying on the ground below the teaching building, a pool of blood beneath her.


    "Why would she commit suicide..." Feng Tao''s voice choked up.


    Gu Qian remained silent, letting him vent his emotions. A few minutes later, Feng Tao stopped sobbing, wiped his red eyes, and continued. "The day before yesterday was Sunday. I had made plans with Anna to watch a movie, but then I had an experiment with a professor, so I couldn''t go. I sent her a text message to explain. That day, Anna was very angry. She sent a very cold text message, saying that I didn''t keep my promises, that this always happened, and that she was very disappointed in me..."


    Expecting this movie, I definitely wanted to see the premiere. Later, I got annoyed and asked Anna why she couldn''t be more understanding, knowing that I was busy with an experiment. Then... then I sent her a text saying that if she couldn''t handle it, we should break up. Anna only replied with a few words, saying I would regret it.


    But I really didn''t mean to break up; I was just very frustrated at the time. I even replied to her while my professor wasn''t looking. I didn''t realize Anna wouldn''t usually act like this. How could she react like this? Over and over again, Feng Tao recalled that day, wishing he had comforted Anna, thinking that if he had, Anna might not have committed suicide and wouldn''t be in this state now.


    Gu Qin also found this matter strange. Anna, who was described as cheerful and ambitious, wouldn''t commit suicide just because of an argument. She said, "Are the texts on your phone still there? Can I take a look?"


    Feng Tao handed his phone to Gu Qin. "After Anna''s incident, her family took her phone, and they found those texts. They all say I forced Anna to commit suicide and have been causing trouble at school. Anna''s younger brother even posted these text contents online, and now everyone is blaming me. I know it''s my fault; I shouldn''t have argued with Anna. Everything I''m facing now is what I deserve, but... how could Anna commit suicide? I can''t believe she would do that, yet the facts are right in front of me."


    Gu Qin opened the phone and found the messages. All the previous texts were still there, including the sweet ones between lovers, occasional minor arguments, and typical girlfriend behavior. But when Anna found out Feng Tao couldn''t go see the movie with her, she suddenly became angry. Her replies to Feng Tao were all irrational and extreme, until finally, Feng Tao couldn''t bear it anymore and said, "If you can''t handle it, then break up."


    Anna replied, "You will regret it."


    After reading the texts, Gu Qin returned the phone to Feng Tao. The texts showed that their argument happened around six in the evening. It was reported that Anna went to the teaching building at eight o''clock that night. That Sunday, most students were on holiday, so there were very few people on campus. Anna climbed up to the third floor and jumped down.


    The third floor wasn''t high enough to be fatal, but she hit her head, causing massive bleeding. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, she was already brain dead. She passed away completely at midnight.


    Hearing Feng Tao''s explanation and seeing the texts, Gu Qin felt that something was off. She asked, "So, did you come to me because you think this is suspicious? Do you think it wasn''t suicide?"


    Feng Tao''s mind was in chaos after two days of being blamed by everyone, even his roommates avoiding him. He didn''t come to Gu Qin to defend himself but to find out what truly happened. "I just feel that something is strange about this. Anna wouldn''t commit suicide. I don''t know what exactly happened, but I just can''t believe Anna would do that. I hope you can help me..."Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    He wasn''t sure how Gu Qin could help him, and his words were somewhat incoherent.


    Gu Qin nodded. "Thank you for helping with the video matter before. I promised to help you once. Let''s go see Anna''s body first."


    Feng Tao was shocked and remembered Gu Qin''s abilities. "Master Gu, can you tell what happened just by looking at the body?"


    "Let''s take a look first," Gu Qin said. "Do you suspect it wasn''t suicide?"


    Feng Tao shook his head. "I don''t know. I wonder if it was an accident or something else. Anna wouldn''t commit suicide. She was such a cheerful person. I just feel that something is strange about this. Now, everyone at school says I wronged Anna and that I want to break up with her because I''ve found someone else. I don''t understand. We only had a normal argument between couples. Why did things escalate to this point?"


    He was misunderstood by everyone, and rumors grew more and more outrageous. Anna''s younger brother posted the text content online, accusing Feng Tao of being unfaithful, which led to more people blaming him. The situation was getting out of control.


    A waiter brought in the dishes, and Gu Qin asked him to leave. "Did you report this to the police? Did they investigate?"


    "Yes," Feng Tao said with a bitter smile. "The police sealed the scene and concluded that Anna committed suicide. I was detained overnight in the police station." The police couldn''t arrest someone based on a few text messages. Since it was confirmed as suicide, they had no choice but to release him.


    "Alright, let''s eat first. Afterward, we''ll go see Anna."


    They ate quickly and left for the hospital. Anna had signed up for organ donation, and all usable organs had been removed. Her body was still preserved in the hospital, and she might be cremated the next day.


    It took them over an hour to get to the First Hospital. They went straight to the morgue, where the body was still frozen.


    At the entrance of the morgue, they met Anna''s parents and younger brother, all looking exhausted and distressed. When they saw Feng Tao, they attacked him, especially Anna''s younger brother. Feng Tao didn''t retaliate, standing there and letting the boy punch him.


    Anna''s younger brother, Jo Anya, looked around seventeen or eighteen, likely still in high school. He punched hard, and Feng Tao didn''t fight back. Gu Qin couldn''t stand it anymore.


    She grabbed Jo Anya''s arm. "Enough."


    Jo Anya''s eyes were red with anger. "Who are you? Are you the girl who cheated on my sister? My sister was killed by you and your kind...!"


    Struggling to free himself from Gu Qin''s grip, he found it impossible.


    Gu Qin frowned. "Nonsense!"


    Feng Tao spoke up. "Anyang, you''re mistaken. This is Master Gu, here to see Anna."


    "You''re lying! Don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to. You''re just trying to apologize to my sister for killing her. I won''t let you see her."


    "Anyang, you''re mistaken," Feng Tao said hoarsely. "I know you won''t believe me now, but this is Master Gu. I think there''s something odd about Anna''s death, so I brought her here to investigate."


    Anna''s mother couldn''t hold back either. She slapped Feng Tao. "How dare you! When we knew you were Anna''s boyfriend, we treated you well. You''re heartless, and now you want to make things worse for Anna. How can you be so cruel?"


    The Jo family had gone to extremes, and Gu Qin understood their pain. Losing their beloved daughter and sister was unbearable.


    Gu Qin said again, "I came to investigate Anna''s death. If you truly want her death to remain a mystery, keep making trouble."


    Jo Anya sneered. "Are you a cop? The police have already investigated and concluded that Anna committed suicide because of you."


    "I''m a geomancer," Gu Qin said. "You should know Anna''s personality best. Even if you think Feng Tao did something to her, do you really believe Anna would commit suicide? Feng Tao believes Anna wouldn''t do that, but you, as her family, don''t trust her. Do you really think she''d commit suicide over a small argument?"


    This question stumped the Jo family, but Jo Anya still retorted, "No matter what, I don''t believe you. The texts prove that Anna committed suicide because of an argument with Feng Tao."


    Gu Qin asked, "Since you''ve read the texts, why do you claim Anna committed suicide because Feng Tao was unfaithful?"


    Jo Anya angrily said, "That''s what everyone says online!"


    "That''s absurd!" Gu Qin scoffed. "Those are just rumors. You don''t even have evidence. How can you believe everything online? To determine the truth, let me see Anna''s body first."


    "You..." Jo Anya was about to vent his anger, but when he looked into Gu Qin''s eyes, he froze. His body went cold and he couldn''t move.


    Anna''s parents were similarly immobilized.


    Gu Qin moved her fingers, then turned to Feng Tao. "Let''s go inside first." She walked into the morgue.


    Seeing Jo Anya and his parents suddenly unable to move, Feng Tao was confused but followed Gu Qin inside.


    Once Gu Qin entered, Jo Anya and his parents regained their ability to move. They looked at each other in confusion, Anna''s mother pale-faced, muttering, "What just happened? Why couldn''t we move?"


    Feng Tao found Anna''s body in the freezer and opened it. His eyes turned red with grief. Gu Qin glanced at him and said, "Why don''t you wait outside? I''ll be done soon."


    "No, I want to stay with Anna..." Feng Tao''s voice was hoarse, and his hands trembled as he held the freezer.


    Gu Qin didn''t insist and used her Heavenly Eye to examine Anna''s body. Her cultivation allowed her to see through the corpse without a soul.


    Anna was eagerly awaiting the movie premiere and had planned to see it with Feng Tao on Sunday evening. On that day, she texted him, but he had to assist his professor with an experiment. She was upset but understood the circumstances. As medical students, they often had to help with experiments, and she knew their future careers would be even busier. She tried to calm herself and decided to watch the movie alone.


    Walking back to the dormitory, she noticed a black-clad man bump into her. He apologized hurriedly and left. Looking at the man''s back, Anna checked their past messages and compared them with Feng Tao''s recent indifferent responses. She couldn''t help feeling neglected and resentful. She texted him, "Are you not as concerned about me as before? You''re so dismissive. I''ve been looking forward to this movie for a year, and now you say you''re busy? No matter what, you must come tonight!"


    After waiting for ten minutes, Feng Tao''s reply finally came: "Na Na, stop fussing. I''m still in the lab."


    "Fussing? You''re calling me fussy? You''ve never minded before. You''re a jerk! We''ve been together for two years, and now you''re fussy?" Anna waited for a response, but none came. Frustrated, she called him, but there was no answer. Soon after, a text arrived: "Na Na, be good. We''ll go to the movies another time."


    Anna lost control of her temper and sent a series of angry texts. Finally, she saw Feng Tao''s reply: "If you can''t handle it, break up."


    Losing all reason, she wanted Feng Tao to regret his actions.


    Gu Qin observed through her Heavenly Eye that Anna returned to her dorm and sat silently for a long time, ignoring her roommate''s questions. Once alone, she went to the old teaching building.


    Climbing to the third floor, she stood on the balcony for several minutes, hesitating. She reached into her pocket, seemingly looking for her phone, intending to scare Feng Tao. Before she could pull out her phone, a black-clad man appeared behind her, pushed her, and she fell.


    In that instant, Gu Qin saw the man move his finger, causing Anna to fall headfirst.


    The man quickly disappeared...


    Closing her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin''s mind was in turmoil. She needed to sort out her thoughts. Feng Tao, looking at Anna''s body, was filled with sorrow. Gu Qin sighed, realizing the impact this event had on him. He seemed to be someone who married late, around forty, and this incident had greatly affected him. She couldn''t help but notice the depth of his feelings for Anna.


    Feng Tao sensed Gu Qin''s gaze and asked, "Master Gu, did you discover anything?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "She was pushed."


    The Jo family heard this and were stunned.


    "How could someone push Anna down? She was friendly and had many friends. Who would want to harm her?" Feng Tao''s mind was in disarray.


    Jo Anya shouted, "You''re lying! The police already investigated and concluded she committed suicide. You think we''ll believe your lies?"


    Jo Dad calmed down and asked, "You say someone harmed Anna? What''s going on? My daughter never made enemies. Who would want to hurt her? Or are you just trying to fool us?"


    Gu Qin looked at Jo Dad for a moment and said, "In less than a minute, your older brother will call asking about Anna. They''ll arrive in Beijing tomorrow morning."


    The Jo family was skeptical but hesitant due to Gu Qin''s serious demeanor.


    Jo Mom said, "Don''t try to deceive us!"


    Just then, the phone rang. In the quiet morgue, the sound was eerie. Everyone was stunned. Feng Tao believed Gu Qin''s abilities, recalling her accurate predictions before.


    The phone rang several times. Jo Dad looked at Gu Qin and finally answered. Seeing the caller''s name, his face changed. When he answered, his brother''s voice came through: "Second Brother, are you still in Beijing? Oh, is Anna still there? We''re coming to see her tomorrow morning. We''ll be there by noon. Take care..."


    Jo Dad remained silent, mouth agape. His brother continued, "Second Brother, are you okay? I know you''re sad, but we''re all upset. How could something like this happen to our good child? We''ll make sure Feng Tao pays when we get there..."


    After hanging up, the Jo family stared at Gu Qin in shock.


    Gu Qin said, "As a geomancer, predicting such things isn''t difficult. So now you can believe what I said. Anna was indeed pushed, not a suicide. We need to find out the reasons, and I need to check Anna''s body."


    The Jo family cooperated and stepped aside. Gu Qin uncovered Anna''s body, already showing signs of post-mortem lividity. There was nothing unusual on the front, but turning her over revealed a bruise on her left shoulder, the size of a palm, fading in color.


    Gu Qin frowned. The black-clad man was indeed a cultivator. He had left a mark on Anna''s shoulder when he bumped into her, causing her to become agitated and lose control. The smallest grievance was magnified, leading her to the tragic end.

 Root of Hatred

    Through her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin saw that Anna intended to scare Feng Tao but was pushed by the black-clad man, dying with unfinished business.


    "Come take a look," Gu Qin said.


    Everyone gathered around. Gu Qin pointed to the bruise on Anna''s back. "This is the mark the man left on Anna. It causes agitation and loss of control. A small grievance is magnified, and Anna couldn''t control her emotions. She climbed to the third floor intending to scare Feng Tao, not to commit suicide. She was pushed."


    Jo Mom broke down crying. "Why would anyone harm our Na Na? She never made enemies."


    Suddenly remembering something, she glared at Feng Tao, eyes red with rage. "Was it you? Did you offend someone, and they took revenge on Na Na?"


    "Na''s head," Gu Qin said.


    Feng Tao smiled bitterly.


    Gu Qin said, "This has nothing to do with him at all." As for why that person had attacked Na, she had some guesses and her eyes darkened with gloom.


    Qiao Dad calmed down and asked, "Master, do you know why that person attacked Na?"


    Gu Qin asked, "What blood type does Na have?"


    Qiao Dad replied, "Rh-negative A."


    Rh-negative was the same as panda blood. She herself had panda blood, and it was because of these blood types that there had been such a disaster back then. She hadn''t expected Qiao Anna to also die because of this. Gu Qin''s face turned cold. She understood now why that person had made Anna land head-first ¡ª they were afraid of damaging her internal organs.


    What a cruel person, willing to harm others'' lives for their own body. Thinking of her own experience, she couldn''t control her emotions.


    Feng Tao thought of something and his face changed color. "Could it be that the person wanted Na''s organs?"


    The Qiao family recalled that Anna had signed an organ donation agreement, but they never imagined it would be for this reason.


    "Let''s go out and talk," Gu Qin said, arranging Anna''s remains and placing her in the ice coffin.


    After leaving the morgue, the three went to a small forest in the hospital to rest for a while. It wasn''t until then that Qiao Anya reacted, still not fully believing it. He couldn''t help but say, "Everything you said is just speculation; there''s no evidence. You said my sister''s bruise on her shoulder was intentional, but the police said it could have been from her falling or hitting something. They checked it and found it to be just a regular bruise."


    Gu Qin didn''t say much more, moved her fingers a few times, and slapped Qiao Anya on the back.


    "What are you doing!" Qiao Anya glared at Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin said, "Lift your shirt and let''s see."


    Qiao Dad lifted Qiao Anya''s shirt, and sure enough, there was a purplish bruise where Gu Qin had slapped him.


    Qiao Anya suddenly felt restless and his small dissatisfaction grew into anger. He blamed his mother, Qiao Mom, in his heart. If it weren''t for his mother agreeing to let his sister come to Beijing Medical University, wouldn''t this tragedy have been avoided?


    These were just fleeting thoughts in his heart. Now, he couldn''t bear it anymore and shouted at Qiao Mom, "If it weren''t for you letting my sister come to Beijing Medical University, she wouldn''t have died!"


    Qiao Mom was stunned. "Anya, what''s wrong with you?"


    "I hate you! Because of you, my sister died. If my sister had gone to another school, none of this would have happened..." Qiao Anya''s eyes were red.


    Gu Qin used a hand gesture to guide her primordial energy into Qiao Anya''s body, instantly waking him up. Realizing what had happened, his face turned pale. How could he have suddenly lost control of his temper?


    Gu Qin asked, "Do you believe me now? For cultivators like us, these things aren''t difficult. This mark is a kind of talisman. Incantations don''t have to be written on paper; stones, peach wood, and even human bodies can be used."


    Only after Qiao Anya remained silent did Qiao Dad and Qiao Mom fully believe Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin continued, "The only thing I can be certain of is that someone planned everything because Anna had panda blood. First, they convinced Anna to sign the organ donation form beforehand, then they had someone place a mark on her. When Anna lost control, they pushed her down the stairs. You can check who received Anna''s organs; perhaps there might be some clues."


    Qiao Mom said with a pale face, "The organs were donated long ago, and the hospital won''t give any information about the recipients."


    Gu Qin said, "Then you should report it to the police." This matter must be reported to the police. "I''ll definitely help if I can."


    "But the police won''t believe it."


    This matter was indeed difficult. There was no evidence, and the bruises on Anna''s shoulder couldn''t be used as evidence since the examination results showed them to be normal bruises. Gu Qin couldn''t use metaphysics to make people believe her either. The investigation required evidence, and without evidence, it was useless.


    "How about this: first, show some evidence to prove that Anna was cheerful and would never consider suicide, preferably with a psychological evaluation. Then, report it to the police."


    That was the only way now.


    Gu Qin added, "It''s getting late, and I should head back now." She looked up at Feng Tao. "If there''s any progress, let me know. If you need help, tell me. I can only tell you so much; the rest you''ll have to find evidence for yourselves. I can''t go to the police and claim I can see the murderer; that can''t be used as evidence."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Feng Tao nodded. "I understand. Thank you."


    After Gu Qin left, Feng Tao followed the Qiao family back to the hotel. The Qiao family apologized to Feng Tao. Now, they just wanted to know who had killed Na. According to Master Gu''s words, the person who pushed Na down was likely not the mastermind but merely someone hired to harm Na.


    The Qiao family wasn''t from Beijing but from a nearby city, two hours away by car.


    In the past few days, they had all been staying at a hotel. Following Feng Tao back to the hotel, they discussed what to do next. Qiao Dad stayed in Beijing to investigate the recipients of Anna''s organs, while Qiao Mom returned to the neighboring city to gather information, including Anna''s health records and psychological assessments.


    Qin Xiansheng came to pick up Gu Qin. On the way back, she briefly explained the situation. Qin Xiansheng said, "If it''s not a guess, that person likely has some power behind them. This matter with the Qiao family could be troublesome, even reporting it to the police might not help."


    Gu Qin said, "There will always be a way." If reporting it to the police didn''t work, they could try other methods, just like before. No matter what, she was determined to handle this matter.


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Whatever you decide."


    Back at Gu''s house, she asked about the renovation status. The next morning, Gu Qin returned to school. Feng Tao hadn''t called her, so she called him during a break to tell him to use public pressure to get the police to accept the case if they refused to take it.


    The power of the internet was significant now.


    Feng Tao acknowledged this.


    On Wednesday, the Qiao family went to the police station to request a reopening of the case. The police stated that the case had already been concluded, and various checks indicated suicide, so they were no longer accepting the case.


    The police weren''t intentionally making things difficult for the Qiao family. They simply had many cases to solve and couldn''t waste time on a single family''s grievances.


    When the police refused to reopen the case, Feng Tao called Gu Qin. Gu Qin asked if they had obtained Anna''s medical reports and psychological evaluations. Since there wasn''t enough evidence yet, she suggested investigating who had persuaded Anna to donate her organs.


    Feng Tao remembered something. "Nana mentioned it once. When they went out for dinner shortly after starting school, Professor Liu suddenly brought up organ donation. He said he had signed an organ donation agreement, so he could contribute to society after death. Nana saw Professor Liu signing the document, and later, when he casually asked her if she wanted to sign one too, to accumulate good karma."


    "Nana said she didn''t think much of it. She felt it was fine to do something good after death, so she signed it."


    Gu Qin said, "So Professor Liu was involved in this. You now have another lead to investigate. Gather more evidence before posting online. Also, go to the school and look for surveillance footage to see if there''s any footage of Nana colliding with the man or following him to the old teaching building."


    Over the next two days, Feng Tao and the Qiao family gathered evidence. Feng Tao confronted Professor Liu about persuading Anna to donate organs and whether anyone had instructed him to do so. Professor Liu became agitated. "What kind of talk is this? What do you mean by someone instructing me? I just felt it was a good thing. In case of an accident, one could contribute to society."


    Feng Tao said, "I have Nana''s assessment reports. She couldn''t have committed suicide. Why did she sign the organ donation agreement and then something happened? I suspect someone wanted Nana''s organs and had you bring up the donation agreement."


    Professor Liu became furious. "Rubbish! What''s wrong with you students? I told you, everyone is sad about your girlfriend''s death. She was my student too, and I didn''t want anything to happen to her. You''re just stirring up trouble!"


    Feng Tao said, "Since you won''t admit it, I''ll find other evidence."


    After Feng Tao left, Professor Liu stood there pale-faced for a long time.


    Meanwhile, the Qiao family began investigating who received Anna''s organs. This wasn''t difficult. Money could move mountains, and even if hospital officials were reluctant to disclose information, the Qiao family could buy it with money.


    When Anna landed, her head hit the ground first, shattering her brain, but her internal organs remained intact. Two kidneys, liver, and heart were all undamaged. Only two kidneys and part of the liver were donated, and the rest weren''t suitable for transplant.


    Two kidneys were donated to a man named Fei Jianguo, and part of the liver to Chen Hua.


    Fei Jianguo was a well-known official in Beijing, often seen on TV. Chen Hua, on the other hand, was an ordinary person who had sold his house to pay for the surgery.


    This clearly pointed to Fei Jianguo as the person behind the scheme. Fei Jianguo had both kidneys fail and received Anna''s kidneys in a transplant operation recently.


    Feng Tao knew that kidney transplants require matching, even if the blood type matched. Therefore, Anna must have undergone a compatibility test before her death. Although Anna never mentioned this, if there were any related documents, Feng Tao could find them through the Qiao family. The Qiao family started searching for Anna''s belongings.


    Anna''s belongings were in her dorm room, untouched since her death. Qiao Mom didn''t want to see her daughter''s belongings and had left them untouched.


    At the dorm, Anna''s belongings were still neatly arranged. The other students greeted Qiao Mom and advised her to take care.


    Qiao Mom said with red eyes, "I just want to look at Anna''s things. I haven''t dared to come before. Don''t worry about it; I''ll tidy up here."


    The students had no objections. Qiao Mom began sorting through Anna''s belongings and eventually found a compatibility agreement in a small box. It was just a routine check, revealing nothing significant. After tidying up, Qiao Mom took Anna''s belongings home.


    The Qiao family knew they couldn''t act rashly. With the police unwilling to reopen the case, they needed to gather enough suspicions to post online and gain public attention.


    By Friday, a thread appeared on several forums titled "Who Killed You, Qiao Anna from Beijing Medical University?"


    Anna''s case hadn''t cooled down, and the sudden appearance of this thread sparked interest. It clearly listed several points:


    1. Anna''s medical and psychological reports, showing she had excellent mental health and wouldn''t commit suicide.


    2. The organ donation agreement signed shortly before Anna''s death, along with a recording of Feng Tao''s conversation with Professor Liu, who sounded agitated.


    3. Anna''s compatibility report.


    4. Information about the organ recipients: Fei Jianguo and an ordinary person, with brief descriptions of both.


    5. Surveillance footage from the school, showing the black man colliding with Anna and touching her shoulder. Footage also showed Anna and the black-clad man walking towards the old teaching building, though it couldn''t confirm the perpetrator.


    The thread included Anna''s autopsy report, showing her brain was severely damaged while her organs were intact. Photos of the bruise on Anna''s shoulder were also included, stating that a metaphysical master had confirmed it wasn''t from a collision but from a curse.


    Although the thread didn''t directly accuse anyone, all evidence pointed to Fei Jianguo. Many forum users speculated that Fei Jianguo had hired someone knowledgeable in metaphysics to harm Anna.


    A prominent forum user, known for their expertise in metaphysics, commented on Anna''s shoulder bruise, confirming it was a curse. This user was well-respected for accurately predicting situations based on zodiac signs. They also analyzed the video clip of the black-clad man touching Anna''s shoulder, increasing belief in the theory.


    Within two days, the thread garnered 50,000 replies and millions of views, drawing media attention.


    The case gained momentum, and the evidence made it highly suspicious. The police couldn''t dismiss the case as closed. Higher authorities became involved, pressuring the police department, which reopened the investigation.


    Subsequent posts detailed the ongoing developments in the case. Gu Qin followed the thread closely. The expert on the forum was not her, but an amateur enthusiast in metaphysics. Gu Qin reviewed his posts and found that the person had some skills.


    The first witness in the case was the black-clad man. Police were now pursuing him and offering a reward of ten thousand yuan for information leading to his capture.


    The black-clad man had disappeared, and ten days passed without any leads.


    Every case had a limited period of public interest. If the case wasn''t resolved soon, it would lose its momentum, and the police might not find the suspect, turning it into a cold case. As for Fei Jianguo, he was investigated but denied all accusations, claiming it was all slander. He was still recovering from surgery in the hospital, and the police could neither detain nor hold him without further evidence or witnesses.


    Feng Tao and the Qiao family sought Gu Qin''s help to locate the man.


    Gu Qin agreed without hesitation. Using the Six Divinations to divine the location, she determined the black-clad man was still in Beijing, roughly in the eastern part of the city. Activating her Heavenly Eye, she saw the black-clad man sitting cross-legged in an old, dilapidated building, his face slightly green, motionless, seemingly meditating. She used her Heavenly Eye to observe the surroundings.


    Returning to her senses, Gu Qin¡¯s face paled slightly. Using the Heavenly Eye still consumed considerable energy.


    Seeing her condition, Feng Tao asked, ¡°Master, are you alright?¡±


    Gu Qin shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve located his position. He¡¯s in a village within the Fifth Ring Road, in a lane called Ping An Alley. Let¡¯s go to the police station to file a report, and then we can lead them there. That man is a cultivator, so even the police might not be able to handle him.¡±


    Even if they captured the black-clad man, he could deny involvement and there would be no way to prove it. But Gu Qin had a method to make him confess.


    Gu Qin did not accompany Feng Tao and the Qiao family to the police station. They wouldn¡¯t be of much help and she didn¡¯t want to complicate matters by being recognized. Acknowledging this, Feng Tao and the Qiao family stayed behind to wait for news.


    Gu Qin went to the police station and directly stated that she knew the suspect''s location. The police, not wanting to risk missing anything, immediately took her statement. She claimed she had accidentally overheard and followed the suspect, discovering his hideout.


    She provided the address, and the police thanked her, asking her to return. Gu Qin suggested, ¡°The area has many narrow alleys. I¡¯m afraid you might not be familiar with the layout and could lose track of him. Allow me to lead you there?¡±


    After some consideration, the officers agreed. Along the way, they warned Gu Qin not to confront any danger directly and to run instead.


    Gu Qin acknowledged this.


    After a two-hour drive, they arrived at the village within the Fifth Ring Road. Gu Qin led the officers to the correct alley, navigating through the narrow streets. As a cultivator, she concealed her aura so the suspect wouldn¡¯t detect her presence.


    Entering the rundown neighborhood, they reached the floor where the suspect lived. The hallway was dim, and the officers cautiously placed their hands on their guns, moving quietly. At the fifth floor, the officers glanced at Gu Qin, whispering, ¡°Little girl, stay here. We¡¯ll handle it from here, in case you get hurt.¡±


    Gu Qin considered for a moment. ¡°How about I follow behind you?¡±


    She didn¡¯t trust the officers.


    One older officer earnestly advised, ¡°Little girl, we¡¯re doing this for your safety. This suspect isn¡¯t easy to deal with.¡±


    Despite their advice, she insisted. The officers, somewhat annoyed, allowed her to follow but at a distance.

 Bonds of Destiny

    The suspect lived on the seventh floor. They ascended two floors quietly, all feeling tense. The older officer prepared to knock on the door when Gu Qin stopped him. He glared at her, displeased, but she gestured to the lock and herself, indicating she could open it without alerting him.


    Clearly, the officers didn¡¯t understand, so Gu Qin didn¡¯t explain further. She approached the door, infused her primordial energy into the lock, and it opened silently. She gently pulled the door open, and the officers behind her were stunned.


    Gu Qin turned to them, gesturing for them to enter quickly.


    The officers entered first, and Gu Qin followed. From her angle, she could see the room without being noticed. Inside, the suspect was indeed there, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Upon hearing the noise, he opened his eyes and saw the police in uniform.


    Detective Wu had a feeling that this girl was no ordinary person. He felt that she might be able to help somehow. It was just an instinctive feeling that with her around, everything would be fine.


    They soon arrived at the hospital. The less injured person was taken into the operating room by the doctors, and Xiao Yao was also sent there. The hospital''s experts were already waiting in the operating room. Once the patient arrived, they immediately began various examinations and discussed treatment plans. Ultimately, surgery was necessary; otherwise, he might not survive half an hour. However, the success rate of the surgery was very low, below five percent.


    Captain Wu stayed with the professors. Upon hearing these plans, he asked, "Professor, what is the success rate of the surgery?"


    One of the professors replied, "Captain Wu, the success rate of the surgery is extremely low, probably even less than five percent."


    Captain Wu''s heart sank. "Professor, does that mean..."


    The professor sighed. "We don''t know the exact situation, but it''s almost a miracle that this patient has survived this long. His injuries are severe. Honestly speaking, the surgery may not make much difference. We say there''s a five percent chance, but in reality, his internal organs are almost completely damaged. This kind of situation is extremely rare, and Western medicine can''t guarantee anything. Perhaps we should consider consulting a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner."


    In their hearts, these experts had already given up. The patient''s injuries were too severe. Upon examination, it was found that his internal organs were nearly shattered. Under normal circumstances, such injuries would have caused death long ago. They found it miraculous that he had survived this long.


    That evening, when she went back, Cheng Yinxiang told Lu Qingrong about her pregnancy. It was clear that Lu Qingrong was very excited.


    I thought about it but still said, "Do Qin Qin and the others know? Do you want this child? If Qin Qin agrees and Jia Jia doesn''t object, and you want to have the baby, then go ahead. If they disagree, then don''t."


    Lu Qingrong treated the two children very well, which was also the most grateful part of Cheng Yinxiang towards him. She immediately made her decision, "Don''t worry, Qin Qin agreed, and Jia Jia probably won''t oppose either. I''ll call Jia Jia later. My current physical condition is good, and I feel like I can take care of the baby well. Qingrong, I want to have this baby."


    "Thank you, wife," Lu Qingrong hugged Cheng Yinxiang.


    Before the couple could tell Gu Jia, Gu Qin told him first. Gu Jia was quite happy when he heard and said he would come back to visit everyone the next day.


    After Cheng Yinxiang became pregnant, Gu Qin found some high-quality jade to set up an array at home so that both the mother and the fetus could receive nourishment from the spiritual energy, making the child''s constitution stronger after birth.


    Gu Qin was very happy about Cheng Yinxiang''s pregnancy. She specially brought a bottle of honey and jam to school. The previous ones had been eaten by several roommates and Du Fei. They had been asking for more, but she hadn''t been willing to give them any. She had given some to relatives and friends last time, and the rest had been taken to a club. There were only a few bottles left at home, and this time she was happy, so she brought two bottles to school.


    Yang Ting was delighted to see the items and immediately drank the honey water. "Qin Qin, why are you being so generous today? Didn''t you say there wasn''t much stock left at home?"


    Gu Qin smiled. "There must be something worth celebrating. We won''t eat in the cafeteria tonight. I''ll treat everyone to dinner."


    "What''s the good news?"


    Gu Qin replied, "You''ll find out later."


    Seeing she didn''t want to say more, Yang Ting and Qian Shan Shan didn''t ask further. After class, she called Du Fei and the four of them waited at the school gate. Soon, Du Fei arrived and they found a decent restaurant nearby, even reserving a private room.


    Since they were all near the school, the prices were affordable, around three hundred yuan for the meal. However, there was some unpleasantness during the dinner. Gu Qin didn''t want to reveal what the good news was, and the others didn''t ask too much. Zhang Xiaowen kept pressing for details until Qian Shan Shan interrupted her.


    On the way back, Zhang Xiaowen looked rather unhappy and called her boyfriend right after returning to the dormitory.


    No one in the dorm had met her boyfriend yet, but they knew he was an upperclassman who had just started dating Zhang Xiaowen a few days ago. They seemed quite close, talking on the phone for hours every night.


    Zhang Xiaowen was calling her boyfriend outside the dormitory. The dorm was near the stairs, and she was calling from the stairwell. Her voice was low, so no one else could hear her. Gu Qin could hear her crying and complaining to her boyfriend about how her roommates were targeting her.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but sigh. Everyone had their little thoughts, but if someone had questionable character, it was another matter. Zhang Xiaowen appeared nice on the surface, soft-spoken, but she had a dark heart, easily holding grudges without remembering kindness.


    She knew Zhang Xiaowen was dissatisfied with them and feared something might happen. But the situation came faster than expected. About half a month later, after dinner, when they returned to the dorm, Yang Ting was looking for her notebook to play games, but it was missing. She searched the entire dorm but couldn''t find it. Finally, she remembered to check under her pillow where her wallet was. The wallet and a few thousand yuan inside, along with a new iPad and a bracelet worth around a hundred thousand yuan, were all gone. Yang Ting''s family was wealthy, and she liked bracelets, bringing a couple from home to switch between them. Usually, nothing happened, but today something went wrong.


    "Oh no, we''ve been robbed! All my stuff is gone!" Yang Ting shouted.


    Everyone checked their belongings, and Qian Shan Shan and Zhang Xiaowen¡¯s laptops were also missing. Qian Shan Shan''s backpack had a thousand yuan stolen, along with two small pieces of jewelry. Only Gu Qin didn''t lose anything.


    Gu Qin knew what had happened and remained silent.


    Zhang Xiaowen was quite anxious. "What happened? How did we get robbed? Our things are gone. Qin Qin, did you lose anything?"


    Gu Qin shook her head, her expression cold. "No, I didn''t lose anything."


    Yang Ting''s laptop was the most expensive, around thirty to forty thousand yuan. Qian Shan Shan¡¯s laptop was worth around ten thousand yuan, and Zhang Xiaowen¡¯s was around five to six thousand yuan. Gu Qin¡¯s was also around two thousand yuan, not because she wouldn¡¯t return it, but because she rarely used the laptop, using it only occasionally for research. She didn¡¯t play games or anything.


    Currently, Yang Ting lost the most, with Qian Shan Shan¡¯s two pieces of jewelry totaling around ten thousand yuan.


    Qian Shan Shan frowned. "Everything was fine before. Why did our dorm suddenly get robbed? Is it just us or other dorms too? Let me ask around."


    In less than two minutes, Qian Shan Shan came back. "Only our dorm got robbed."


    Zhang Xiaowen glanced at Gu Qin. "This morning, you were the last one to leave the dorm. Did you lock the door when you went to class? And why did you not lose anything?"


    "I locked it," Gu Qin replied reluctantly, rubbing her temples. "So, do you suspect I didn¡¯t lock the door, or do you think I stole the items?"


    "I didn''t say that," Zhang Xiaowen said angrily. "You were the last one to leave the dorm, and things were stolen. Don''t you think you''re responsible?"


    "Hey, hey, stop arguing," Yang Ting said, exasperated.


    Zhang Xiaowen looked at Gu Qin again. "Even if you can prove that Qian Shan Shan left with you, what did you do during your lunch break? Besides, only your stuff wasn¡¯t stolen... Today, Qian Shan Shan, Yang Ting, and I were together the whole time, but you were gone at lunch."


    Qian Shan Shan widened her eyes, suddenly finding it amusing. "Zhang Xiaowen, are you accusing Gu Qin of stealing these things?"


    Gu Qin looked up, smiling faintly. "So, are you simply doubting me, or trying to frame me?"


    "You¡¯re the poorest in the dorm. Plus, everyone was together all day, except for you. Your things weren¡¯t stolen, and the door was locked without any signs of forced entry. Who else could it be but you?"


    "Haha," Qian Shan Shan couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "Zhang Xiaowen, are you out of your mind? How did you conclude that Gu Qin is the poorest in the dorm? Even if she is, does that mean she would steal?"


    In fact, Yang Ting¡¯s clothes were all high-end brands, each piece costing tens of thousands of yuan. Qian Shan Shan¡¯s family also did business, so she could afford expensive clothes too. Zhang Xiaowen had a couple of brand-name clothes as well, but Gu Qin had never worn any branded clothes.


    Yang Ting couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "Zhang Xiaowen, are you stupid?" Yang Ting¡¯s family was rich, and she was familiar with high-end brands. She could tell that Gu Qin¡¯s clothes were not branded but were more valuable. The fabric and craftsmanship were top-notch, indicating Gu Qin had a personal designer.


    Zhang Xiaowen¡¯s eyes turned red. "I know you¡¯re all friends with her, so you¡¯re helping her. I¡¯m going to report this to the counselor."


    Before she could go, the counselor arrived. A neighboring dorm had seen the commotion and called the counselor. After understanding the situation, the counselor said, "Let''s all calm down and get some rest. I¡¯ll look into this."


    Qian Shan Shan said, "Counselor, we should report this to the police to prevent false accusations."


    Zhang Xiaowen was almost in tears. "Qian Shan Shan, don¡¯t overdo it. The door wasn¡¯t broken, so it must be an inside job. Who else could it be but you?"


    Qian Shan Shan chuckled sarcastically. "If there was an inside job, it would be you, not Gu Qin."


    Yang Ting nodded in agreement, realizing it wasn¡¯t right. "Maybe we should report it to the police."


    The counselor frowned. "I¡¯ll handle it. Just go back to your rooms."


    "Zhang Xiaowen," Gu Qin suddenly spoke. "Did you forget that I can read faces? Your parents are businessmen, and your family is doing well? Look at your face, the color of your sun and moon angles is dull. Your mother must be sick and bedridden. Your father is a construction worker, working hard every day, and his health isn¡¯t great."


    Zhang Xiaowen¡¯s face changed dramatically. "You¡¯re saying nonsense! I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about. You¡¯re completely wrong. My parents are healthy and run a business. They own a mall in our area."


    "Maybe we should report it to the police," Gu Qin said, feeling frustrated. "I don¡¯t want to keep tangle.The police know this guy. Just now you directly called the police, so he''s definitely biased towards you. Now you two just randomly take out some stuff and smear us. It''s just because we don''t understand these things.


    "Young lady," Wu Zhenshan sneered, "at such a young age, not learning good things, with such dirty thoughts. Since you don''t admit it, there will be evidence later."


    Gu Qin had long known that it was Zhang Xiaowen and Tao Jian who did it. Zhang Xiaowen particularly disliked her, and she had never targeted Zhang Xiaowen. She treated all roommates equally. From the beginning of their four-person dormitory, she could see that Zhang Xiaowen had some prejudice against her.


    After Wu Zhenshan finished speaking, his phone rang. He answered it, "Hello, Captain Wu, the surveillance footage you asked me to find has been located. I''ll send it to you."


    Wu Zhenshan, who had solved many cases, found this case simple. After reviewing the files of those involved, he knew who stole the items. On one hand, he had people back at the station compare fingerprints, while others checked the school''s nearby surveillance to see the thief carrying stolen goods to sell them off.


    Sure enough, they found evidence. The surveillance footage showed Tao Jian leaving the school with a large bag and heading to a nearby pawnshop.


    Seeing the video on the phone, Zhang Xiaowen and Tao Jian were completely dumbfounded. They couldn''t refute it anymore. They had only gone to pawn the items that afternoon, so the owner would surely recognize him. If they refused to admit it now, they would be humiliated when taken to identify them.


    "There''s nothing more to say. Come with me to the police station," said Wu Zhenshan. He wanted to solve this case on-site to clear Gu Qin''s name. Such matters cannot be taken lightly. If everyone were to be taken to the police station, rumors might spread. Resolving it here could prevent rumors from spreading.


    The truth came to light, and the surrounding female students looked at the two with disdain.


    Tao Jian suddenly shouted, "This isn''t my fault; it was Zhang Xiaowen who made me do it. We''ve been dating for only a month, and she''s been complaining about how her roommate Gu Qin targets her and gets the other roommates to ostracize her. A few days ago, she suddenly told me she wanted to get revenge on Gu Qin and came up with this idea."


    "You''re lying!" Zhang Xiaowen trembled with anger.


    Wu Zhenshan said, "Is that true?" He had already investigated more than that. Seeing Tao Jian remained silent, he continued, "Then what about your gambling debts? And Zhang Xiaowen''s credit card? You owe tens of thousands in gambling debts, and she owes tens of thousands on her credit card as well. Both of you lack money, so you two conspired to come up with this plan to frame Gu Qin because you thought she was poor."


    Both of them felt ashamed after being exposed.


    The neighboring roommate was puzzled, "Didn''t Zhang Xiaowen say her family is in business and quite wealthy? How can she have tens of thousands in credit card debt and steal from others to repay it?"


    "Who knows? Maybe she''s pretending."


    Gu Qin, however, knew that Zhang Xiaowen''s family wasn''t in business at all. Her mother was bedridden due to illness, and her father worked on construction sites. The whole family relied on her father''s salary. Although Zhang Xiaowen excelled academically, she was also heavy-hearted and favored material wealth, always wanting the best of everything and often using her boyfriend''s money.


    This time, she started dating a handsome man who loved gambling. In a month, he hadn¡¯t bought her much. She wanted to break up but couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it.


    Zhang Xiaowen had feelings for Tao Jian and knew about his gambling problem. She tried to persuade him several times, but he wouldn¡¯t listen. Two days ago, he suddenly approached her, asking to borrow money.


    Zhang Xiaowen was furious, "Where do I get the money? Are you going to gamble again? How much do you owe?"


    "Don''t you have a business at home?" Tao Jian was somewhat impatient, "It''s just over forty thousand. Your family must have that much, right?"


    Zhang Xiaowen bit her lip, "I get ten thousand yuan monthly for living expenses and spend lavishly. Where can I save any money? My credit card still has tens of thousands unpaid."


    Tao Jian frowned, "Your parents are your only child. With your family''s business, they shouldn''t be short of money. Why won''t they help you pay off your credit card?"


    "My parents think I spend too much and refuse to help even though they know about my credit card debt. They say it''s to teach me a lesson."


    "So what now?" Tao Jian didn''t dare let his family know about his gambling losses.


    Zhang Xiaowen pursed her lips, "I have no idea, but... "


    "But what?" Tao Jian asked.

 Interweaving of Yin and Yang

    Zhang Xiaowen glanced at him, "Our dorm mates Yang Ting and Qian Shanshan are quite rich. Yang Ting¡¯s laptop costs tens of thousands, and I noticed she has a bracelet that seems valuable... " She was almost out of options. She knew her family''s financial situation. They weren''t as wealthy as she claimed. Her parents were ordinary workers, her mother bedridden, and she owed tens of thousands on her credit card. Her family was already in debt to support her education and couldn''t help her repay the debt. If she didn''t repay, she would be sued, and everyone would know her family''s situation.


    Tao Jian was tempted, "Isn''t there a security auntie? Can we get in?"


    "This isn''t a problem," Zhang Xiaowen said. "The security auntie naps in the morning. When we go to class, you can sneak in. I¡¯ve thought it through; Gu Qin will be the last one to leave the dorm. Since she¡¯s poor, this incident is perfect for framing her."


    Both were desperate due to debt and carefully planned their scheme. They were inexperienced and never considered that the crime would be easy to uncover.


    Now that the matter was uncovered, Zhang Xiaowen broke down in tears, "It''s all Tao Jian''s doing. It has nothing to do with me."


    "You filthy b¡ª," Tao Jian roared, kicking her to the ground, "D*mn it, it was you who suggested stealing from Yang Ting and Qian Shanshan. You said we could split the proceeds, and since Gu Qin is poor, she''s the perfect scapegoat."


    Wu Zhenshan couldn''t stand it anymore, "Enough, both of you come with me to the police station." He then addressed Yang Ting and Qian Shanshan, "Don''t worry. Since we know who stole the items, we can recover them. Once we get them back, I¡¯ll return them to you."


    "Thank you, Officer."


    After taking them away, the onlookers dispersed, and Gu Qin left with Qin Xiansheng. Qin Xiansheng didn''t say much about the incident. Given Gu Qin''s ability to handle the situation well, he felt reassured and stayed at Gu¡¯s house for a while to discuss business with Lu Qingrong.


    Gu Qin spent some time chatting with Cheng Yinxiang, asking if she felt any discomfort during pregnancy.


    Cheng Yinxiang smiled, "No discomfort at all. Actually, I feel better than before I got pregnant. Back when I was pregnant with you and Jiajia, I used to vomit a lot, but now I don''t have any reactions."


    Being nourished by spiritual energy, naturally, she didn''t experience any pregnancy sickness.


    The next day at school, Zhang Xiaowen''s story spread, and everyone knew what happened. They also learned about Gu Qin''s influential boyfriend, but no one said anything unkind.


    Wu Zhenshan handled the case efficiently and recovered all the stolen items by noon. Tao Jian, fearing further consequences, kept the money in his bank account and didn''t spend it.


    The school administration was alarmed by the theft and decided to expel the two students. They were still at the police station and couldn''t leave anytime soon. The school administration notified their parents.


    That afternoon, the parents arrived at the school. Tao Jian''s family was average, and he never pretended to be wealthy. Zhang Xiaowen, however, dressed luxuriously and claimed her family was in business. But when her father, covered in dirt, arrived at the school, everyone was shocked.


    Her father, working on a construction site, rushed to the school upon receiving the call. He didn''t know what had happened and kept asking.


    The principal explained the situation, and Zhang Xiaowen''s father was stunned. He begged for leniency, claiming his daughter was just confused and needed another chance. He even knelt down.


    The school leaders had already made their decision and couldn''t change it. The principal sighed inwardly, wondering how a father who cared so much for his daughter could allow such behavior. Hearing she was vain and pretended to be wealthy, the principal saw her father and realized...


    Zhang Xiaowen''s father pleaded for a long time, knowing expulsion was inevitable. The principal added that she might even face jail time unless the victims forgave her.


    Zhang Xiaowen''s father sought forgiveness from Gu Qin, Yang Ting, and Qian Shanshan. Seeing the elderly man, Yang Ting and Qian Shanshan were moved. As Zhang Xiaowen''s father tried to kneel, Gu Qin stopped him, "Uncle, we won''t hold Zhang Xiaowen responsible. We just hope she won''t repeat such actions."


    Not out of sympathy for Zhang Xiaowen, but for the father, hoping their compassion wouldn''t be wasted.


    Without pursuit, the police didn''t record the case. Once the items were recovered, they released the individuals. Zhang Xiaowen''s father took her back to their hometown, and the school didn''t assign new students to the empty dormitory.


    The incident faded from memory quickly. Gu Qin focused on other matters, and her fortune-telling shop, without help from acquaintances, had no customers. She wasn''t worried, as she earned enough from her business in Mount Dai to support charitable efforts and keep some for emergencies.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    On Sunday, with nothing urgent in Mount Dai, Gu Qin had free time. Around afternoon, Wu Zhenshan called her.


    Gu Qin picked up, "Captain Wu."


    Wu Zhenshan chuckled, "Student Gu, I need your help with something."


    "What is it, Captain Wu?"


    Their experiences brought them closer, and they considered each other friends.


    "I know you''re skilled in feng shui and have a fortune-telling shop in Mount Dai. This matter is for a friend of a friend who needs help. I thought of you."


    Gu Qin laughed, "Sure, have them contact me directly."


    "Alright, I''ll let them reach out to you."


    Within ten minutes, a stranger called. The voice belonged to a man around thirty years old. He immediately said, "Master, please help me."


    Gu Qin replied, "Are you in Beijing? Come over whenever."


    "Alright, I''ll come right now."


    Gu Qin usually left her shop unattended when it was quiet. She hired a recent graduate to watch over it. She quickly went to her shop and waited. Less than half an hour later, the man called her, and she asked him to come upstairs.


    The young attendant was a considerate fellow. Seeing a customer, he brought two cups of coffee.


    When Gu Qin first saw the man, she frowned. He appeared to be around thirty-five, wearing a high-end custom suit, suggesting he was successful in business.


    Gu Qin frowned, examining his face closely, her expression growing increasingly serious...


    The man was also surprised when he saw Gu Qin. Such a young girl, was she reliable? Hesitating slightly, he stepped forward and said, "Master, I seek your assistance. For years, my wife and I have been unable to conceive. Medical tests show we¡¯re both healthy, but it''s been years, and my wife remains childless. I suspect it''s a matter of feng shui, so I consulted several masters, but nothing changed. I heard you''re very skilled, so I came to inquire."


    Gu Qin, who had opened her third eye, smirked, "It''s karma. You''ll never have children."


    The man''s face turned pale. "Master, what do you mean?"


    Gu Qin replied, "Do you really not know what you''ve done? Don''t ask, it''s all karma."


    Impossible! The man''s face turned white. Impossible, it was over ten years ago, and no one knew about it. Even the police couldn''t find out, how could this young girl know?


    Seeing his reaction, Gu Qin coldly said, "Do you want children? Have you forgotten how your daughter died?"


    Daughter... The man¡¯s face turned ashen, his teeth chattering. He clenched his fists, feeling the nails dig into his skin without noticing. He was shocked and terrified. How did this young girl know about his daughter? That his daughter had...


    Impossible, it had to be a guess. No one knew about it. Even the feng shui master he consulted said he had a karmic debt with children, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. He thought no master could possibly know such things, especially not about his daughter who had died.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t just reading faces or predicting fortunes. She opened her third eye and saw the whole story clearly.


    This man was Ma Yihao. Ten years ago, he had a daughter. When she was three, he was twenty-one, having married his ex-wife at eighteen. They lived in a small, remote town far from Beijing.


    His daughter was born, and they constantly fought. His ex-wife divorced him and left, taking no responsibility. A year later, he found a girlfriend, but having a child was a burden. He often lashed out at the child when in a bad mood.


    At first, he just slapped her. Later, seeing her cry, he hit harder, punching and kicking her. He avoided hitting her face, fearing discovery. Neighbors, hearing her cries, sympathized and advised him gently. But he grew more violent, even muffling her mouth.


    Later, his girlfriend moved in. Initially, she advised him, but soon she joined in beating the child. They feared neighbors would hear, so they muffled her and hit her.


    When the girl was three, she wasn¡¯t sent to kindergarten. Whenever they were unhappy, they beat her. She sometimes bled from her nose and mouth, and they left her untreated. One day, they locked her in the house while they went out. Returning, they found her in bed, having soiled herself. Recently, they had beaten her, and she hadn¡¯t moved. Seeing her soiled, they became angry and beat her again. Eventually, she stopped reacting. Realizing she was dead, they panicked and buried her secretly in a cave, far from the village.


    Returning home, they pretended she was missing, saying she ran away and never returned. They buried her in secret, but the guilt haunted them. When the police searched, they hid the truth, fearing arrest.


    Ma Yihao and his girlfriend, fearing exposure, buried the child in a remote cave. When they returned, they acted distraught, reporting her missing. The villagers helped search, but she was never found.


    Years passed, and Ma Yihao¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t conceive. Seeking help, they visited many feng shui masters. None could explain the issue, but one mentioned a karmic debt with children. Ma Yihao dismissed it, believing no one could know his past.


    But Gu Qin, opening her third eye, saw everything.


    "Daughter, daughter..." The man''s face paled, his teeth chattering. His hands clenched, nails digging into his flesh, unnoticed. He was shocked and terrified. How did this young girl know about his daughter? And that his daughter had...


    Impossible, it had to be a guess. No one knew about it. Even the feng shui master he consulted said he had a karmic debt with children, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. He thought no master could possibly know such things, especially not about his daughter who had died.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t just reading faces or predicting fortunes. She opened her third eye and saw the whole story clearly.


    This man was Ma Yihao. Ten years ago, he had a daughter. When she was three, he was twenty-one, having married his ex-wife at eighteen. They lived in a small, remote town far from Beijing.


    His daughter was born, and they constantly fought. His ex-wife divorced him and left, taking no responsibility. A year later, he found a girlfriend, but having a child was a burden. He often lashed out at the child when in a bad mood.


    At first, he just slapped her. Later, seeing her cry, he hit harder, punching and kicking her. He avoided hitting her face, fearing discovery. Neighbors, hearing her cries, sympathized and advised him gently. But he grew more violent, even muffling her mouth.


    Later, his girlfriend moved in. Initially, she advised him, but soon she joined in beating the child. They feared neighbors would hear, so they muffled her and hit her.


    When the girl was three, she wasn¡¯t sent to kindergarten. Whenever they were unhappy, they beat her. She sometimes bled from her nose and mouth, and they left her untreated. One day, they locked her in the house while they went out. Returning, they found her in bed, having soiled herself. Recently, they had beaten her, and she hadn¡¯t moved. Seeing her soiled, they became angry and beat her again. Eventually, she stopped reacting. Realizing she was dead, they panicked and buried her secretly in a cave, far from the village.


    Returning home, they pretended she was missing, saying she ran away and never returned. The villagers helped search, but she was never found.


    Years passed, and Ma Yihao¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t conceive. Seeking help, they visited many feng shui masters. None could explain the issue, but one mentioned a karmic debt with children. Ma Yihao dismissed it, believing no one could know his past.


    But Gu Qin, opening her third eye, saw everything.


    "Daughter, daughter..." The man''s face paled, his teeth chattering. His hands clenched, nails digging into his flesh, unnoticed. He was shocked and terrified. How did this young girl know about his daughter? And that his daughter had...


    Impossible, it had to be a guess. No one knew about it. Even the feng shui master he consulted said he had a karmic debt with children, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. He thought no master could possibly know such things, especially not about his daughter who had died.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t just reading faces or predicting fortunes. She opened her third eye and saw the whole story clearly.


    This man was Ma Yihao. Ten years ago, he had a daughter. When she was three, he was twenty-one, having married his ex-wife at eighteen. They lived in a small, remote town far from Beijing.


    His daughter was born, and they constantly fought. His ex-wife divorced him and left, taking no responsibility. A year later, he found a girlfriend, but having a child was a burden. He often lashed out at the child when in a bad mood.


    At first, he just slapped her. Later, seeing her cry, he hit harder, punching and kicking her. He avoided hitting her face, fearing discovery. Neighbors, hearing her cries, sympathized and advised him gently. But he grew more violent, even muffling her mouth.


    Later, his girlfriend moved in. Initially, she advised him, but soon she joined in beating the child. They feared neighbors would hear, so they muffled her and hit her.

 Redemption of the Soul

    When the girl was three, she wasn¡¯t sent to kindergarten. Whenever they were unhappy, they beat her. She sometimes bled from her nose and mouth, and they left her untreated. One day, they locked her in the house while they went out. Returning, they found her in bed, having soiled herself. Recently, they had beaten her, and she hadn¡¯t moved. Seeing her soiled, they became angry and beat her again. Eventually, she stopped reacting. Realizing she was dead, they panicked and buried her secretly in a cave, far from the village.


    Returning home, they pretended she was missing, saying she ran away and never returned. The villagers helped search, but she was never found.


    Years passed, and Ma Yihao¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t conceive. Seeking help, they visited many feng shui masters. None could explain the issue, but one mentioned a karmic debt with children. Ma Yihao dismissed it, believing no one could know his past.


    But Gu Qin, opening her third eye, saw everything.


    "Daughter, daughter..." The man''s face paled, his teeth chattering. His hands clenched, nails digging into his flesh, unnoticed. He was shocked and terrified. How did this young girl know about his daughter? And that his daughter had...


    Impossible, it had to be a guess. No one knew about it. Even the feng shui master he consulted said he had a karmic debt with children, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. He thought no master could possibly know such things, especially not about his daughter who had died.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t just reading faces or predicting fortunes. She opened her third eye and saw the whole story clearly.


    This man was Ma Yihao. Ten years ago, he had a daughter. When she was three, he was twenty-one, having married his ex-wife at eighteen. They lived in a small, remote town far from Beijing.


    His daughter was born, and they constantly fought. His ex-wife divorced him and left, taking no responsibility. A year later, he found a girlfriend, but having a child was a burden. He often lashed out at the child when in a bad mood.


    At first, he just slapped her. Later, seeing her cry, he hit harder, punching and kicking her. He avoided hitting her face, fearing discovery. Neighbors, hearing her cries, sympathized and advised him gently. But he grew more violent, even muffling her mouth.


    Later, his girlfriend moved in. Initially, she advised him, but soon she joined in beating the child. They feared neighbors would hear, so they muffled her and hit her.


    When the girl was three, she wasn¡¯t sent to kindergarten. Whenever they were unhappy, they beat her. She sometimes bled from her nose and mouth, and they left her untreated. One day, they locked her in the house while they went out. Returning, they found her in bed, having soiled herself. Recently, they had beaten her, and she hadn¡¯t moved. Seeing her soiled, they became angry and beat her again. Eventually, she stopped reacting. Realizing she was dead, they panicked and buried her secretly in a cave, far from the village.


    Returning home, they pretended she was missing, saying she ran away and never returned. The villagers helped search, but she was never found.


    Years passed, and Ma Yihao¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t conceive. Seeking help, they visited many feng shui masters. None could explain the issue, but one mentioned a karmic debt with children. Ma Yihao dismissed it, believing no one could know his past.


    But Gu Qin, opening her third eye, saw everything.


    "Daughter, daughter..." The man''s face paled, his teeth chattering. His hands clenched, nails digging into his flesh, unnoticed. He was shocked and terrified. How did this young girl know about his daughter? And that his daughter had...


    Impossible, it had to be a guess. No one knew about it. Even the feng shui master he consulted said he had a karmic debt with children, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. He thought no master could possibly know such things, especially not about his daughter who had died.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t just reading faces or predicting fortunes. She opened her third eye and saw the whole story clearly.


    This man was Ma Yihao. Ten years ago, he had a daughter. When she was three, he was twenty-one, having married his ex-wife at eighteen. They lived in a small, remote town far from Beijing.


    His daughter was born, and they constantly fought. His ex-wife divorced him and left, taking no responsibility. A year later, he found a girlfriend, but having a child was a burden. He often lashed out at the child when in a bad mood.


    At first, he just slapped her. Later, seeing her cry, he hit harder, punching and kicking her. He avoided hitting her face, fearing discovery. Neighbors, hearing her cries, sympathized and advised him gently. But he grew more violent, even muffling her mouth.


    Later, his girlfriend moved in. Initially, she advised him, but soon she joined in beating the child. They feared neighbors would hear, so they muffled her and hit her.


    When the girl was three, she wasn¡¯t sent to kindergarten. Whenever they were unhappy, they beat her. She sometimes bled from her nose and mouth, and they left her untreated. One day, they locked her in the house while they went out. Returning, they found her in bed, having soiled herself. Recently, they had beaten her, and she hadn¡¯t moved. Seeing her soiled, they became angry and beat her again. Eventually, she stopped reacting. Realizing she was dead, they panicked and buried her secretly in a cave, far from the village.


    Returning home, they pretended she was missing, saying she ran away and never returned. The villagers helped search, but she was never found.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Years passed, and Ma Yihao¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t conceive. Seeking help, they visited many feng shui masters. None could explain the issue, but one mentioned a karmic debt with children. Ma Yihao dismissed it, believing no one could know his past.


    But Gu Qin, opening her third eye, saw everything.


    "Daughter, daughter..." The man''s face paled, his teeth chattering. His hands clenched, nails digging into his flesh, unnoticed. He was shocked and terrified. How did this young girl know about his daughter? And that his daughter had...


    Impossible, it had to be a guess. No one knew about it. Even the feng shui master he consulted said he had a karmic debt with children, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. He thought no master could possibly know such things, especially not about his daughter who had died.


    Gu Qin wasn¡¯t just reading faces or predicting fortunes. She opened her third eye and saw the whole story clearly.


    This man was Ma Yihao. Ten years ago, he had a daughter. When she was three, he was twenty-one, having married his ex-wife at eighteen. They lived in a small, remote town far from Beijing.


    His daughter was born, and they constantly fought. His ex-wife divorced him and left, taking no responsibility. A year later, he found a girlfriend, but having a child was a burden. He often lashed out at the child when in a bad mood.


    At first, he just slapped her. Later, seeing her cry, he hit harder, punching and kicking her. He avoided hitting her face, fearing discovery. Neighbors, hearing her cries, sympathized and advised him gently. But he grew more violent, even muffling her mouth.


    Later, his girlfriend moved in. Initially, she advised him, but soon she joined in beating the child. They feared neighbors would hear, so they muffled her and hit her.


    When the girl was three, she wasn¡¯t sent to kindergarten. Whenever they were unhappy, they beat her. She sometimes bled from her nose and mouth, and they left her untreated. One day, they locked her in the house while they went out. Returning, they found her in bed, having soiled herself. Recently, they had beaten her, and she hadn¡¯t moved. Seeing her soiled, they became angry and beat her again. Eventually, she stopped reacting. Realizing she was dead, they panicked and buried her secretly in a cave, far from the village.


    Returning home,


    The matter has been brought to Bai''s attention. The Bai family once fell apart due to a momentary lapse of judgment. They were uncertain whether it was Gu Qin who had done this, but recently they investigated and found out about her actions in Dai Mountain. Now,


    The matter has come to the attention of the Bai family. The Bai clan had once fallen apart due to a momentary lapse of judgment. Initially, they were unsure if it was Gu Qin who had done this, but in recent days, after investigating and discovering her actions in Dai Mountain, they now


    The matter has come to the attention of the Bai family. The Bai clan had once fallen apart due to a momentary lapse of judgment. Initially, they were unsure if it was Gu Qin who had done this, but in recent days, after investigating and discovering her actions in Dai Mountain, they now know for sure.


    Due to this incident, Gu Qin''s shop has gained some fame. After all, Ma Yihao was someone with some influence in Beijing, and suddenly something like this happened. Many people couldn''t help but investigate and, upon finding out that it was related to Gu Qin, hurriedly looked into her background. Now, many people in Beijing probably know about Gu Qin and her feng shui shop, as well as her actions in Dai Mountain.


    Truly capable feng shui practitioners are few. The businessmen and high society in Beijing occasionally encounter problems they can''t solve and love to seek out feng shui masters. Even if they now know that Gu Qin is truly capable and can see through Ma Yihao''s deeply hidden secrets, how could she not be highly skilled?


    But with such great skills, they dare not seek her out. Why? Because each of them has done something slightly wrong and is afraid that this master might expose them.


    This is their overthinking. In this world, who hasn''t had a fleeting thought or made a mistake? As long as it''s not a heinous crime, Gu Qin simply doesn''t care.


    This matter is known even to Bai. The Bai family once disintegrated due to a momentary lapse of judgment. Previously, they were perhaps hesitant about whether it was Gu Qin who did this, but until recently, when they investigated and discovered her deeds in Dai Mountain, they now


    know for sure.


    The matter added to it made it almost certain that Bai Jia was the one who did it back then, with no mysterious master or teacher behind her.


    Bai Father, knowing about this matter recently, wanted to restart his business and planned to take Bai Lao San to apologize to Gu Qin, as Bai Lao San had offended the girl during the New Year¡¯s celebration. He feared that if they started their business again, she might cause them trouble once more.


    Bai Father led Bai Ziyi to Gu Qin¡¯s shop. There were no customers at the moment, so no appointment was needed.


    When someone came, Gu Qin showed no surprise.


    Bai Ziyi had been instructed many times by Bai Father at home to apologize sincerely when he came. This young lady was not someone they could provoke; she could easily take their lives without anyone knowing.


    Although Bai Ziyi didn¡¯t take it seriously in his heart, he had been severely impacted over the past few days. Previously, people would call him "Third Young Master" everywhere, but now no one paid him any attention when he went out. Once, he got beaten up on the street, and since then, he had become much more obedient.


    Bai Father stepped forward and said, ¡°Master should know why we have come today. We have come here today just to apologize to you. I was wrong before, having bad intentions. Now I realize my mistake and hope you can give us another chance.¡±


    Gu Qin replied, ¡°Mr. Bai, please sit down.¡±


    Bai Father and Bai Ziyi sat down. Gu Qin continued, ¡°Since Mr. Bai has come, I will be honest with you. As long as your future actions do not involve me or my family, I will not interfere.¡± This statement clearly told Bai Father that the reason for dealing with the Bai family was because Bai Jia had been harmed.


    Bai Father roughly understood this, sighed inwardly, and felt relieved that nothing serious had happened to Gu Jia.


    After a few words, Bai Ziyi also thanked Gu Qin for the incident at the hotel during the New Year. Gu Qin stated she would not pursue the matter, and Bai Father felt completely reassured.


    When they left, Bai Father truly had no intention of seeking revenge or reclaiming the Bai family. The disparity in strength was too great, and such power was insurmountable. No matter how high you climbed, there was no way to surpass it.


    Gu Qin had anticipated that after Ma Yihao¡¯s case, initially, no one would seek her help. Even Daisan was affected. She took the opportunity to relax, as she was never worried about having no business.


    On Sundays when there was no business, Gu Qin would go to the club to check on things, wanting to make Cheng Yixiang''s work easier. The club was doing very well.


    All the gold cards had been sold out, and even some people offered higher prices to buy them, but Cheng Yixiang refused. Given the limited capacity of the club, the number of gold card holders was naturally restricted.


    The work at the club wasn''t heavy. After guests arrived, they would drink some honey water or fruit wine, prepare for the herbal bath, and rest in the lounge half an hour later. Most guests stayed at the club to sleep for a while; those short on time would rest for half an hour, while those with leisure would stay for the afternoon.


    The club operated based on time and herbal baths. Each consumption was certainly not cheap, even more expensive than top-tier beauty clubs outside, yet no one complained about the price. People saw the results: they genuinely looked better, their fatigue disappeared, their spirits improved, and their skin condition became better.


    This kind of word-of-mouth spread rapidly, bringing in even more customers who couldn''t book appointments.


    Cheng Yixiang was the boss and didn''t need to do much. She would check in daily and attend meetings. She was now pregnant, and Lu Qingrong had found her a secretary to handle all the club''s affairs, leaving her worry-free.


    A few days later, Wu Zhengshan informed Gu Qin that Ma Yihao''s case would be heard in court at the end of October, and she would be required to testify.


    Gu Qin acknowledged this. Soon, the court date arrived, and Qin Xiansheng accompanied her.


    Gu Qin was no stranger to court proceedings; she had previously sued the hospital and Gu Dejiang, though she lost that time.


    All evidence was present, and the trial was quite fair. However, Ma Yihao''s lawyer seemed competent, repeatedly rebutting points and even arguing that the video footage could not be used as evidence, claiming the person recording it intentionally manipulated Ma Yihao''s words.


    The police''s lawyer asked about the remains found on the mountain, the blanket wrapped around them, and the fractures on the bones.


    Defense counsel argued that perhaps others were responsible or that villagers accidentally killed the child and buried them in a cave.


    The judge said, "Please provide evidence. Any speculative assumptions are invalid."


    Then, both lawyers engaged in further debate. Eventually, the police''s lawyer asked Ma Yihao if he remembered what time the child left to play.


    Ma Yihao replied it was around ten in the morning.


    Lawyer: "Did the child return at noon?"


    Ma Yihao: "No."


    Lawyer: "If the child did not return at noon, as the father, why were you not worried? Why did you only report the child missing at night?"


    Ma Yihao: "My wife and I were out on business at noon, so I didn''t notice."


    Lawyer: "You only have one child. When the child went out in the morning and did not return home, why did you not look for the child when you knew something was wrong?"


    Ma Yihao: "We thought the child was at a neighbor''s house."


    Lawyer: "Why did you think the child was at a neighbor''s house? Is it common for you to leave the child with neighbors? Does the child often visit neighbors?"


    Ma Yihao hesitated, "Yes, the child often visits neighbors, so we thought the child was at a neighbor''s house."

 Black Panthers Submission

    The lawyer asked, "Are you sure the child often goes to the neighbor''s house?"


    Ma Yihao nodded.


    He had already called several villagers to testify. When they were brought up, Ma Yihao was stunned. The lawyer asked a few questions, and the neighbors honestly answered, revealing that Xiaonizi had never visited the neighbors, rarely going out, and not playing with other children in the village.


    The lawyer questioned Ma Yihao, who changed his testimony, saying he had made a mistake due to the long time elapsed. The lawyer defended him, and he calmed down.


    But when the lawyer asked more questions, Ma Yihao appeared restless again. Suddenly, he erupted, "Didn''t I answer many times? Why keep asking? Her mother left the child with me and left. How could I teach a child at twenty-one?"


    Lawyer: "Have you ever hit the child?"


    Ma Yihao became increasingly agitated, "It was accidental, not intentional. She was naughty, so I hit her."


    Lawyer: "Did you kill the child?"


    Ma Yihao: "I didn''t mean to, not intentionally. I didn''t want to kill her..."


    Ma Yihao abruptly stopped, his face pale. Why did his emotions suddenly become uncontrollable? He felt annoyed and blurted out everything.


    At this point, no defense was useful. The trial proceeded simply. A few jurors deliberated, and the verdict was reached.


    Ma Yihao was found guilty of murder and sentenced to fifteen years. His wife received a thirteen-year sentence.


    This was a highly satisfying outcome. As they left the courthouse, Gu Qin looked up at the sky and couldn''t help but chuckle. Fifteen years, neither too much nor too little. However, she would ensure he wouldn''t live that long, with the yin-sa qi inside him causing him excruciating torment.


    News of Ma Yihao''s conviction quickly spread online, with most people cheering. Occasionally, a few dissenters would argue that they could treat their own children however they wished. Netizens responded by asking, "How come your parents didn''t beat you to death?" The thread eventually deviated entirely, becoming a platform for everyone to criticize these dissenters.


    Gu Qin read through the comments and merely laughed it off.


    Throughout the entire process, Gu Qin never mentioned this matter to her family. Cheng Yixiang was pregnant and couldn''t hear such things. Qin Xiansheng was aware and accompanied her to court, but he didn''t intervene much. It was all handled by Gu Qin herself.


    By November, the weather gradually turned cooler. Wearing a light jacket, Gu Qin''s life remained unchanged. The case involving Joanna had concluded, with Feijian Guo and the involved parties all punished. Qin Brother''s senior or junior (whichever) lost all cultivation and was reduced to an ordinary person, spending the rest of his life in prison. Xiao Yao from the police station had fully recovered from his injuries, astonishing the professors and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners at the hospital. They frequently invited Gu Qin to treat critically ill patients at the hospital.


    Gu Qin never refused. Saving a life was equivalent to building seven levels of a pagoda. If they weren''t evil people, she was willing to save them, but her time and energy were limited.


    Only a few people knew about Gu Qin''s ability to heal using qi. These included a few old professors and TCM practitioners at the hospital, along with a handful of doctors who had witnessed her healing Xiao Yao. They were strictly warned not to reveal this secret. Otherwise, too many people would seek her help, and she wouldn''t be able to manage.


    Despite their concerns, they kept this secret. Some were genuinely worried, while others had ulterior motives, thinking who could guarantee that no one in their family would get sick. If someone got seriously ill in the future and sought help from Gu Qin, they might not be able to find her.


    However, despite their reservations, a doctor soon approached her.


    This doctor had observed a patient being treated by Gu Qin, initially skeptical. The patient was supposed to die within days, but after two weeks, the patient woke up and eventually recovered after another month.


    The doctor was Jiang Changlin, around forty years old, married to someone close to his age, with a ten-year-old son. This situation had nothing to do with Jiang''s family; it was about his sister-in-law''s brother.


    Jiang''s wife was named Wang An, and her brother was Wang Xin. The Wang family had good conditions earlier, but Wang Xin''s high-interest lending business failed due to crackdowns. His gambling losses nearly depleted the family''s wealth, leading to chaos. The sick person was Wang Xin.


    He had lung cancer, advanced stage, and it was spreading uncontrollably. Doctors recommended palliative care.


    Wang Xin was being treated at Jiang''s hospital, and Jiang also advised against continuing treatment. Wang An, his sister, cried and blamed Jiang, saying a big hospital couldn''t cure two patients.


    Wang An was good to her brother. After his business failure, she helped him financially. Jiang knew this but hadn''t spoken much about it.


    Recently, Wang An became more distressed upon learning that her brother could only wait to die. She yelled at Jiang and moved their son to her parents'' home.


    Wang An was strict but good at household management. Jiang returned home to find everything clean and meals prepared. Without Wang An, he couldn''t bear the empty house and missed his son.


    Finally, Jiang couldn''t hold back and called Wang An, "An, come back. I know someone who can treat your brother."


    Wang An didn''t believe him, "Jiang, don''t fool me. You just want me to come back to cook and clean. I won''t come back until my brother gets better. I''ll stay at my parents'' house to take care of him..."


    She started crying.


    "An, it''s true," Jiang said, "I''m not lying. There''s someone who can treat your brother. Come back, and I''ll tell you more."


    Wang An told her parents about this and said, "He''s trying to trick me back. The hospital chief said cancer can''t be cured."


    Her mother seized this opportunity, "An, why don''t you go back and see? Maybe Jiang knows some miraculous TCM practitioner who can cure cancer with herbs."


    Wang An thought for a moment, "Okay, Mom, I''ll go back and see what''s going on."


    Back home, Wang An asked Jiang, who explained, "Don''t tell anyone. Two months ago, our hospital admitted a critically ill patient. They saved him."


    Wang An was surprised, "You''re lying. How could someone with internal organs shattered still be saved?"


    Jiang said, "Not shattered, but severely injured. He was barely alive, and they stabilized him immediately. Otherwise, he would have died."


    "This doesn''t make sense. Who could be that skilled? Could it be your hospital?"If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Not our hospital. It was a young girl who used qi to treat him. She healed him in about two months, and he recovered completely."


    Wang An didn''t believe him and scolded Jiang. Jiang was frustrated, "I''m not lying. Sometimes she treats patients for free, sometimes charges millions. But every time, the patient recovers."


    "Really?" Wang An was still skeptical. Qi, wasn''t that qigong? It had been exposed many times as a scam.


    "Yes, I''m not lying. I have her contact. Why don''t we ask her?"


    "Okay..."


    The next day, Jiang called Gu Qin. He got her number from a professor by secretly checking his phone.


    Gu Qin answered, "Hello, is this Miss Gu? This is Jiang Changlin..." After Jiang explained the situation, Gu Qin said, "Alright, I''ll come and check the situation."


    She usually checked on requests like this.


    Jiang was delighted and told Wang An the news.


    Wang An asked a few questions and learned Gu Qin would come the next day. She went straight to her parents'' house, where Wang Xin was seriously ill, in severe pain, and unable to get out of bed.


    Gu Qin arrived early the next day as agreed. She knew the requester was a doctor from the hospital, Jiang Changlin, and the patient was his younger brother-in-law.


    At the Wang family home, Gu Qin rang the doorbell, and it was opened by a thin middle-aged man wearing glasses¡ªJiang Changlin.


    "Miss Gu, you''ve arrived," Jiang Changlin greeted her respectfully, "Please come in."


    After inviting her in, he asked if she wanted water. Gu Qin declined and asked, "Where is the patient? I''d like to see him first." She pointed to the room on the left, which exuded a heavy, oppressive aura.


    Wang An, looking at the young girl in front of her, doubted her abilities and became irritable, pulling Jiang Changlin aside to whisper, "Such a young girl, isn''t she a fraud?" Without seeing it firsthand, she found it hard to believe.


    The Wang family members were also skeptical.


    Jiang Changlin whispered, "Stop it. Just wait and see. You won''t believe me anyway."


    Jiang walked beside Gu Qin and said, "Excuse me," before opening the door. The room smelled unpleasant, though the windows were open. Various medicines and the scent of the patient filled the air. The patient, a man in his thirties, was emaciated and lying in bed, barely conscious.


    Gu Qin approached and took his pulse. She said, "The patient has been sick for about two years, and it worsened six months ago. You probably noticed it then. If discovered earlier, Western medicine could have controlled it, but now it''s too late."


    Jiang Changlin asked, "Miss Gu, you can...?"


    "Yes," Gu Qin interrupted, looking at him, "I can treat him and guarantee he will recover within half a year. But I need five million yuan for medical expenses. Can you afford it?"


    "What?" Wang An exploded, "You young girl, how dare you...?" Jiang Changlin tried to pull her back, but he couldn''t stop her. "How dare you, a young girl, demand five million yuan? Why don''t you just rob us!"


    Gu Qin said, "I don''t cheat people. Five million yuan can cure him." Her fees varied; some people paid nothing, some paid whatever she asked, and others paid tens of thousands to millions. Essentially, she charged based on the patient''s karma. This patient had done many bad deeds, including breaking legs to collect debts and indulging in drinking, gambling, and promiscuity.


    Therefore, she charged. Five million yuan would nearly bankrupt the Wang family. Wang Xin had made money from high-interest loans but lost it all. He had bought a house worth around five million yuan, so unless they sold it, they couldn''t raise five million.


    She gave them a simple choice: use all their savings to save him or keep their remaining assets and let him die.


    She donated all the money she earned from treating these patients to those in need.


    Jiang Changlin hesitated, "Miss Gu, isn''t this too expensive?"


    Gu Qin said, "Is five million yuan for a life too expensive? This is your brother-in-law. Whether you choose to save him is up to you."


    Jiang Changlin was silent. Wang An''s mother hesitated, "Girl, if you can save my son with five million yuan, I''ll give it to you. I have no other options. If my son dies, I might as well die too. Let''s try trusting you once."


    Wang An was doubtful, "Mom, aren''t you afraid it''s a scam?"


    Wang An''s mother whispered, "An, I have no other choice. If she can''t save him, we won''t pay."


    Wang An hesitated but ultimately agreed, as long as it could save her brother.


    Wang An''s mother was about to discuss with Gu Qin when the door opened, and a woman in her thirties entered.


    Jian Guqin was taken aback and asked Wang Ma, "Mom, what''s this?"


    Wang Ma pulled the woman aside to speak in a low voice. After a while, the woman became agitated. "No, Mom. Who knows if she¡¯s a scammer? What if it¡¯s a scam? Five million, where do we get five million?"


    "Isn''t this house worth five million?" Wang Ma whispered.


    "I disagree," the woman insisted.


    At this point, Wang An couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. "What right do you have to disagree? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking. You¡¯re just hoping that once my brother dies, you can get half the house, right? Let me tell you, forget it. We¡¯re definitely selling this house. My brother¡¯s illness is definitely going to be treated. This house was bought by my brother."


    The woman sneered. "But it¡¯s still marital property, so I should get half of it."


    This woman was Wang Xin¡¯s wife. Their relationship had issues, which naturally made her unwilling to sell the house to save her brother-in-law.


    Wang An said, "Ha, you really are dreaming. My brother isn¡¯t dead yet. We all agree to sell the house to save him. On what grounds do you disagree? If you disagree, then leave."


    The woman said, "I¡¯m just worried about being scammed."


    Wang An said, "They said they would only charge after curing him. So what if you¡¯re worried about being scammed? Aren¡¯t you just hoping my brother will die so you can get the house? Stop using the excuse of being afraid of scams."


    The woman insisted that she was worried about encountering a scammer, but Wang An countered that there was nothing to fear since they would only be charged after treatment. Eventually, the woman had no choice but to agree.


    Gu Qin remained silent throughout the entire conversation. After they finished arguing, she let Wang Ma take her to a room. Considering Wang Yin''s condition, he wouldn''t last more than a month. She didn¡¯t say much, removed the patient¡¯s clothes, took out some silver needles, and inserted them into specific acupoints, gradually transferring her energy into his body to eliminate cancer cells and repair damaged cells.


    About an hour and a half later, Gu Qin stood up, slightly sweating. When she came out of the room, she saw everyone gathered in the living room.


    Wang Ma stood up excitedly when she saw Gu Qin come out. "Little girl, how is my son?"


    Gu Qin replied, "This is the first treatment. I¡¯ll come every week or every two weeks, and it will take about six months. I also have some prescriptions here¡ªChinese medicine formulas and dietary therapy formulas¡ªthat must be followed strictly."


    Seeing their hopeful looks, Gu Qin added, "These formulas are only auxiliary. Without proper treatment, they won¡¯t help at all. So there¡¯s no need to spread this information around. Each cancer patient¡¯s situation is different, so these formulas are only suitable for him. There¡¯s nothing else to worry about. Once the patient wakes up, you can push him outside to get some sun and engage in light exercise. Lying down all the time isn¡¯t good."


    Wang Ma nodded repeatedly. After Gu Qin left, she went into the room to check on her son and noticed that his complexion seemed better.


    After a while, Wang Yin woke up and saw everyone gathered around him. He asked, "Why are you all in here?"


    Wang Ma explained what had happened and asked if he felt any better. Wang Yin realized that he did feel less pain and more comfortable, but he wondered if it was possible to cure late-stage cancer. "Mom, could this person be a scammer?"


    Wang Ma said, "Don¡¯t worry. They said they would only charge after curing him, but it¡¯s five million... sigh."


    Wang Yin finally regained some spirit. "Mom, if this person can really cure me, even if it costs more than five million, I¡¯d give it."


    However, he still had doubts about whether such a person truly existed. Could someone really heal cancer patients with energy?


    Gu Qin had just returned when she welcomed her first customer to the feng shui shop. Since the incident with Ma Yihao, her shop in Beijing hadn¡¯t seen any customers, likely due to fear.


    The customer was a middle-aged man in his forties, looking haggard. He greeted Gu Qin as Master and introduced himself. The man owned a construction materials business. Although not a true tycoon in Beijing, he was doing well enough, owning several properties and making a profit of a few million each year.


    Despite his business dealings, he wasn¡¯t entirely honest, occasionally needing help from people in the underworld. But this didn¡¯t make him a bad person; he was kind to his family and friends and often did good deeds.


    His name was Chen Zhonglian, and he came to see Gu Qin because his family members kept falling ill.


    Gu Qin asked, "You said your family members are sick? Have they been to the hospital?"


    Chen Zhonglian nodded. "Yes, I¡¯ve taken my two sisters and daughter to the hospital. My elder sister has breast cancer, my younger sister has pneumonia, and my daughter recently had heart problems. My elder sister¡¯s daughter has been suffering from severe colds that won¡¯t go away." He sighed, "They¡¯re all receiving treatment, but I still feel uneasy. It feels too strange, so I couldn¡¯t help but ask. Master, is this because of our family¡¯s feng shui?"


    Gu Qin asked, "All females? Are the males in the family fine? Do you all live together or separately?"


    Chen Zhonglian shook his head. "We live separately. The men in the family are fine. All the females are sick, so I find it strange..."


    "It does seem strange," Gu Qin said. "I suspect you¡¯re right. It¡¯s probably due to the family¡¯s feng shui, specifically the ancestral graves. Since you all live separately, it can¡¯t be a problem with the home¡¯s feng shui. Given that all the affected females are related to the Chen family, the only plausible explanation is a problem with the ancestral graves."

 Feng Shui Masters Choice

    She had encountered a similar case in her previous life. A wealthy family suffered from serious illnesses among their related females, and some even died. Upon investigation, it turned out that the family¡¯s ancestral graves had been disturbed due to a landslide caused by heavy rain, altering the graves¡¯ feng shui.


    Gu Qin spent considerable effort fixing that issue, but unfortunately, those who had passed away could not be brought back to life.


    She believed Chen Zhonglian¡¯s situation was similar.


    Gu Qin asked, "Do you know if your ancestral graves have been moved recently, or if anything near them has been disturbed?"


    Chen Zhonglian shook his head. "The ancestral graves are in my hometown. We rarely visit except during Qingming Festival and Chinese New Year."


    Gu Qin said, "Then let¡¯s go check the graves."


    "Okay."


    The Chen family¡¯s ancestral graves were in a remote town, over a thousand kilometers from Beijing. They took a flight and then a car to reach the town. It was already five o''clock when they arrived. Gu Qin suggested, "Let¡¯s go up the mountain first."


    Chen Zhonglian led Gu Qin up the mountain. Halfway up, they could see the distant mountains. The area was hilly, with sparse vegetation. As they walked halfway, they could see scattered graves. Chen Zhonglian exclaimed, "Master, it seems like this mountain has been disturbed."


    Even without Chen¡¯s comment, Gu Qin could tell that the mountain had been developed. New houses had been built around it, and a road had been cut through the mountain. Gu Qin said, "Let¡¯s go check it out."


    After walking for half an hour, they reached the Chen family¡¯s ancestral graves. Gu Qin found a spot and looked around.


    "The Book of Burial" states: "Qi rides on qi, and stops where water is." "Qi dissipates with wind and stops where water is. Ancient people gathered qi to prevent its dissipation and guided it to stop, hence the concept of feng shui. In feng shui, obtaining water is the most important, and hiding wind is secondary.


    In tomb feng shui, after burial, the true qi combines with the qi of the grave site to form positive qi, creating a channel for yin and yang energies. This indirectly affects and influences the fortune of living relatives. In essence, humans are the result of parental essence and blood, thus embodying both yin and yang. Even after death, the body may vanish, but the yin and yang energies persist. These energies can influence the living. Therefore, when choosing a burial site, one typically seeks a location with positive qi to protect the living.


    Tomb feng shui and residential feng shui share many principles. Favorable locations are those surrounded by mountains, with water flowing around, and situated at the confluence of main and tributary streams. Such places are considered auspicious for both homes and ancestral graves.


    From where Gu Qin stood, she could see a large lake a few kilometers away. Behind the graves, the mountains surrounded them, and the front was open with no obstructions, offering a clear view of the lake. The lake was clean and full of vitality, making it an excellent place for a burial site. However, a road had suddenly appeared between the graves and the lake.


    Gu Qin asked, "Mr. Chen, was this road built recently?"


    Chen Zhonglian nodded. "It was built recently. I didn¡¯t see it when I came back a few months ago."


    Gu Qin frowned. "Building a road isn¡¯t inherently bad, but using black asphalt is problematic. Black represents darkness and impurity, affecting the female graves and, consequently, the female descendants."


    "Is it because of this road, Master?" Chen Zhonglian asked. They were in a small place where roads weren¡¯t built to high standards. This road was constructed to make it easier for villagers to leave the village, using cheaper materials like dirt and asphalt.


    Gu Qin said, "Indeed, it¡¯s because of this road. Your ancestral graves are in the best location on this site, so any changes affect you the most. The use of black asphalt, representing darkness and impurity, affects the women. That¡¯s the problem."


    Chen Zhonglian anxiously asked, "What should we do now, Master?"


    Gu Qin said, "It¡¯s simple. Cover the road with cement and plant a few evergreen trees around your ancestral graves. That should solve the problem."


    "Will that be enough, Master?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "That should be sufficient. You¡¯ll have to pay for the road work, and I¡¯ll pick the trees. It¡¯s getting late today, so I¡¯ll choose the trees tomorrow morning, and you can focus on the road work. Also, I¡¯ll give you a few jade pendants to wear until the road work is completed."


    "Thank you so much, Master."


    Chen Zhonglian breathed a sigh of relief. "Master, shall we go back to town for dinner and rest?"


    Back in town, they ate at a hotel and rested.


    That night, after Gu Qin finished washing up, Qin Xiansheng called. Gu Qin lay on the bed, sinking into the soft cotton sheets. "Brother Qin..."


    "Mm, Quanquan." Qin Xiansheng¡¯s voice was unusually gentle. "How did things go?"


    Gu Qin smiled. "Nothing major. There¡¯s a new road nearby with black asphalt, which isn¡¯t good. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll buy some evergreen trees and plant them around the graves."


    "That¡¯s good. Once everything is sorted out, I¡¯ll take you to meet someone."


    "Okay." Gu Qin didn¡¯t ask further. "Brother Qin, how¡¯s Mom doing?"Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Gu Qin called her mother almost every day, always thinking about the baby in her mother¡¯s womb.


    "Auntie is doing well," Qin Xiansheng said warmly. "Your brother is home today, and I¡¯m at your place. Would you like to talk to them?"


    "Sure, Brother Qin, please give the phone to Mom."


    When Cheng Yinxiang answered, Gu Qin gave instructions and asked about the baby. After talking to Gu Jia, the phone was handed back to Qin Xiansheng. Gu Qin chatted with him for over half an hour before hanging up.


    She slept well that night. The next morning, Chen Zhonglian came to pick her up for breakfast and gave her the address of the flower market. It wasn¡¯t far from there, and they could find various plants and trees.


    Chen Zhonglian rushed to contact the construction team and local officials to discuss the road issue. He planned to tell them he wanted to improve the road to benefit the village. Naturally, the officials supported this initiative enthusiastically.


    At the flower market, Gu Qin quickly found a vendor selling saplings and chose several evergreen trees. Due to her profession, she preferred trees with strong spiritual energy. Despite their similar appearance, she could tell the difference. After selecting five trees, she headed to the Chen family¡¯s ancestral graves.


    Without using a compass or conducting thorough investigations, she used her spiritual vision to find the optimal spots and planted the trees. She paid attention to the distance between the trees and the graves to avoid the roots damaging the gravesite.


    Chen Zhonglian managed the road project and returned to Beijing the next day with Gu Qin. She gave him five jade pendants she had prepared. These pendants had been worn by her for a long time and could ward off negative energy.


    Gu Qin handed them to Chen Zhonglian. "Have everyone wear these and continue medical treatment. They will recover."


    The following Sunday, R Linxin visited. She was studying at a military academy in Beijing and met with Gu Qin every one or two months. This time, Gu Qin brought along Qian Shanshan, Yang Ting, and Du Fei. They were all lively and quickly became friends.


    Gu Qin was usually quiet with strangers but was more relaxed with her friends. They drank three bottles of red wine, and Gu Qin consumed quite a bit. Her cultivation allowed her to expel alcohol easily, but she enjoyed the company and let herself get tipsy.


    They drank at a bar and then went to KTV, singing and dancing for over an hour. Lin Xin had to return to school, and Gu Qin gave her a bottle of honey and fruit wine to take back.


    Yang Ting and Qian Shanshan returned to school, while Du Fei went home. Qin Xiansheng picked up Gu Qin and drove her friends back before taking her home.


    Upon arriving at the Gu residence, Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong were already asleep. Hearing the noise, Cheng Yinxiang came out, noticing Gu Qin¡¯s flushed face. "This child, why are you drunk? I¡¯ll make some sobering soup."


    "No need," Qin Xiansheng said. "You go rest. I¡¯ll handle it."


    Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t treat him as a stranger, familiar with where everything was stored. "Alright, you handle it. Why did she drink again?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Lin Xin came over, and they had a gathering."


    "Ah, that girl came. Alright, I¡¯ll go back to bed. If it gets too late, you can sleep in the guest room."


    Qin Xiansheng nodded.


    Gu Qin was only slightly dizzy, feeling no other discomfort. She let Cheng Yinxiang go back to bed, and Qin Xiansheng carried her to the bedroom. He removed her shoes and coat. "Rest for a while, and I¡¯ll make some sobering soup."


    "I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m not drunk," Gu Qin protested.


    "Having some will make you feel better."


    Qin Xiansheng went to the kitchen to prepare the soup and brought it to Gu Qin. After drinking the soup, Gu Qin asked, "Brother Qin, are you staying here tonight?"


    Qin Xiansheng hummed. "I¡¯ll stay for a bit, then move to the guest room. Do you want to freshen up first?"


    "Then wait for me, Brother Qin."


    Gu Qin got up, found her pajamas, and went to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, she emerged with wet hair. Qin Xiansheng had already found a hairdryer and sat her down on a single sofa, drying her hair.


    Gu Qin¡¯s hair was long and smooth. As he dried her hair, she asked, "Brother Qin, you mentioned meeting someone earlier?"


    Qin Xiansheng rubbed her hair. "Mm, I¡¯ll pick you up after class on Monday and we¡¯ll go directly."


    Gu Qin knew he was an orphan and had few relatives and friends. The fact that he spoke about this person so seriously meant that this individual was very important.


    "Do I need to prepare anything?"


    Qin Xiansheng.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "It''s not necessary. If you''re willing, just bring some honey, fruit wine, or jam."


    Gu Qin guessed that the person Qin Brother was going to introduce her to had a high status. She felt that giving gifts was inappropriate; if they were too valuable, the person might not accept them. The various health supplements she could buy outside weren''t as good as her homemade honey, fruit wine, and jams. She decided in her heart to bring two bottles of each.


    After drying her hair, Qin Xiansheng asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook some midnight snacks?"


    Gu Qin shook her head. "I''m not hungry."


    "Then rest," Qin Xiansheng put away the hairdryer, tidied up the room a bit, saw Gu Qin already lying on the bed, went over to cover her with the quilt, and said softly, "Rest well. I''ll be staying next door." He then bent down and kissed her forehead lightly.


    As he stood up to leave, Gu Qin reached out and grabbed his hand. "Qin Brother, stay with me for a while." Her voice was soft, almost like a plea.


    Gu Qin rarely acted this way around him. Their relationship was always very formal, and she had long passed the age of being coddled. It was rare for her to act so tenderly.


    Qin Xiansheng paused, looked back at her, and saw the lingering flush on her cheeks from drinking. With a sigh, he turned back to sit beside her on the bed. "Alright, I''ll stay with you until you fall asleep."


    "Okay." Gu Qin snuggled closer to him. Seeing him stiffen slightly, she smiled. "Qin Brother, why don''t you lie down too? We can still talk."


    "Okay..." His voice carried a hint of resignation. He couldn''t refuse any of her requests. He took off his coat, revealing a soft sweater underneath, but kept his pants on. He lay down sideways next to her, facing her, their bodies barely an arm''s length apart, close enough to feel each other''s breath.


    Looking at his face so close, Gu Qin couldn''t help but think how strange emotions were, making them so intimate. Even without blood ties, this feeling made her feel safe.


    "Go to sleep soon," Qin Xiansheng leaned in and kissed her lips lightly.


    "Mm." Gu Qin responded naturally, returning the kiss. She wasn''t very familiar with these things, and they hadn''t been overly intimate before. Their kisses were always gentle, mostly just touching foreheads, cheeks, or the corners of their lips. Usually, when Qin Xiansheng kissed her lips, she didn''t react much, but this time, perhaps because of his tender gaze filled with affection, she felt something.


    Gu Qin was inexperienced and unsure how to kiss her lover properly. She pouted and touched his lips lightly, feeling it was wrong, hesitated, then extended her small tongue to lick his lips.


    Qin Xiansheng''s expression darkened instantly. Instinctively, he held her soft, delicate body close and captured her tongue.


    Gu Qin was startled. In her previous life, she had never known anything about intimacy until she learned some knowledge from TV in this lifetime. Being kissed by Qin Xiansheng, she was somewhat bewildered and unsure how to respond.


    Qin Xiansheng deepened the kiss, sucking on her tongue, his tongue exploring forcefully into her mouth. Gu Qin''s breathing was filled with his familiar scent, a faint woody aroma, causing her breath to become erratic. This kiss was both prolonged and intense, leaving her instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, her mind starting to feel dizzy.


    This intimate closeness was something Qin Xiansheng had resisted for years, but now he couldn''t hold back. He kissed her repeatedly, passionately, his fingers lingering on her waist. Although he didn''t do anything too bold, sometimes she could sense his other changes, but he only kissed and caressed her, not taking it further.


    Qin Xiansheng took a cold shower after returning to the guest room and lay in bed, unable to fall asleep immediately. He loved her so much that he wanted to be even more intimate, but three years ago, she was too young. He waited for her to grow up, and now that she was finally old enough, he still didn''t dare to take any excessive actions for fear of scaring her.


    He even wanted to propose to her, to make their engagement official first, but he hesitated several times that night, unable to say the words. Because he loved her so much, he had many concerns. He feared that if he didn''t resolve the matter with his master, he wouldn''t dare to make any commitments.


    His master was formidable. Back then, even Qin Nine had only managed to injure him severely and allow him to escape, resulting in Qin Nine''s near death. No one knew whether Qin Nine would reappear. As for this second personality, he didn''t reject it. To him, it was all one person, just with different personalities that complemented each other.


    Qin Xiansheng spent the whole night awake and got up at six in the morning to freshen up and prepare breakfast. He made congee with added glutinous rice, which was fragrant and soft, egg pancakes, soy milk, and stir-fried green vegetables.


    When Gu Qin woke up at seven, she smelled the rich aroma of congee and the fresh scent of egg pancakes. She happily got up, washed herself, and came to the living room where Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong were already preparing to eat.


    Cheng Yinxiang was three months pregnant, her belly slightly protruding, and her skin looked even better. No one would guess she was already in her forties.


    "Qin Qin, come quickly and eat. Call Xian Sheng too. He''s still in the kitchen. He knows you like cheong fun, so he made some special for you," Cheng Yinxiang said.


    Gu Qin ran out of the kitchen, where Qin Xiansheng had already placed the cheong fun on a plate. "It''s ready. Take it out to eat. I''ll heat a glass of milk for you."


    Gu Qin took the plate, kissed his cheek lightly, and ran out, making Qin Xiansheng chuckle softly.


    After breakfast, Qin Xiansheng dropped Gu Qin off at school. On the way, Gu Qin couldn''t help but remind him, "Qin Brother, I need to visit someone tonight. The gift box isn''t ready yet. Could you go and buy one for me? At least wrap it properly." Otherwise, carrying a few bottles would seem disrespectful.


    "Sure, I remember," he replied.


    At the school, Qin Xiansheng gave her a kiss and left.


    In the afternoon, after class, Qin Xiansheng picked up Gu Qin again. "Let''s go directly."


    "Is everything prepared?" Gu Qin asked. "Do I need to dress more formally? Am I too casual?" She wore a loose sweater and jeans, which seemed too ordinary.


    "Everything is ready," Qin Xiansheng glanced at her and smiled. "It''s fine. The person we''re meeting is like family to me. You don''t need to dress too formally." He himself was dressed casually too.


    "That''s good."


    They drove towards the city center, arriving at a neighborhood after about an hour. This neighborhood was almost universally recognized. It was very close to the Imperial Square and was a large villa area in the crowded urban area of Beijing. The land value was unimaginable, and it was called the Red Neighborhood.

 Gears of Fate

    The Red Neighborhood, as its name suggests, was where the first, second, and third generations of political figures lived. "Red" referred to government officials. To live here meant one was part of the first generation of political figures, not just any ordinary official. Any person here could cause a significant change in the political landscape.


    Gu Qin figured out who Qin Xiansheng was bringing her to meet based on the rumors she had heard about him being close to a war hero who was once a leader of the country and now enjoys a high status due to his title.


    Access to the neighborhood required a pass, even for visitors, who needed to be let in by the residents.


    Qin Xiansheng had a pass and led Gu Qin inside after swiping it. Strangers entering needed identity checks, scans, and other security measures, which were very strict.


    Gu Qin also underwent these checks and scans before being allowed in. Even the gifts she brought were inspected before she was permitted entry.


    The neighborhood housed only a few dozen households, each with their own security guards. Qin Xiansheng walked with Gu Qin for about ten minutes until they arrived at a villa. The villa was not very large, a three-story house in traditional Chinese style. The front courtyard was about two hundred square meters, complete with a small fountain.


    The neighborhood had nice architecture with plenty of greenery and an artificial lake planted with ornamental lotuses.


    The main entrance of the villa was a pair of large iron gates. Qin Xiansheng pressed the doorbell, and a guard came out quickly. "Mr. Qin, you''ve arrived. Old Master Mu is waiting for you inside."


    After opening the gate, Qin Xiansheng led Gu Qin in. The guard, a young man in his twenties, was very curious about Gu Qin, constantly looking at her, likely wondering about her relationship with Qin Xiansheng.


    During their walk to the main hall, the guard chatted with Qin Xiansheng, saying, "Old Master Mu has missed you a lot. He talks about you all the time, wondering why you haven''t visited him yet."


    Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Today, I specially brought my girlfriend to see him."


    Girlfriend? The guard was stunned and looked at Gu Qin again. How old could this girl be? Is she really Qin Xiansheng''s girlfriend? Oh no, Xiao Yue is coming back...


    Gu Qin was quite good at reading people''s expressions. The guard''s face first showed surprise, then a hint of pity. Was something about to happen?


    Inside the main hall, there was an elderly man quietly sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Upon hearing the commotion, he turned and saw Qin Xiansheng and the girl beside him.


    The old man''s gaze fell on Gu Qin. Gu Qin also sized him up. The old man looked to be in his seventies or eighties, his face marked with the signs of time, his hair gray, but his posture straight. Despite his age, he exuded strength, his expression firm, his lips pursed, giving an impression of sternness.


    Qin Xiansheng greeted him, calling him Old Master Mu. The old man was much older than Qin Xiansheng. Gu Qin had always known that Qin Xiansheng was not from this era, at least from the last century. She hadn''t asked too much about his exact age, as age didn''t matter much to cultivators like them once they reached a certain level of cultivation.


    Qin Xiansheng looked like he was in his late twenties or early thirties, meaning he had already achieved the realm of Refining Spirit Returning Void by that age, a remarkable talent.


    Indeed, Qin Xiansheng was much older than Old Master Mu. When Qin Xiansheng escaped from his master, he was nearly dead, but was saved and taken care of by an elder of the Mu family. The Mu family owed him a debt, and after the elder passed away, Qin Xiansheng continued to look after the younger members of the Mu family. Old Master Mu was the eldest grandson of the elder who saved him.


    Old Master Mu lost his parents early and was raised by the elder of the Mu family. Qin Xiansheng essentially grew up alongside him.


    When he was young, Old Master Mu called him Uncle Qin, but as he grew older and realized Qin Xiansheng was no ordinary person, calling him uncle didn''t fit, so he simply called him by his name. They became more like friends. As Old Master Mu grew older and his status rose, eventually reaching the pinnacle, Qin Xiansheng addressed him as Old Master Mu, mainly to avoid unnecessary gossip.


    As for Qin Xiansheng''s identity and age, Old Master Mu never told anyone else, and his family believed Qin Xiansheng was a feng shui master, an old friend of Old Master Mu.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Gu Qin followed suit and called him Old Master Mu.


    Old Master Mu''s gaze returned to Qin Xiansheng. His stern face softened into a smile. "Sit down, it''s been a while since we last met."


    "The past few days have been busy," Qin Xiansheng sat opposite Old Master Mu, and Gu Qin followed suit. "Old Master Mu, this is my girlfriend."


    Gu Qin placed the gift box on the table. "I found some things on the mountain and brought them especially for you to try. If you like them, Old Brother Qin can bring more next time."


    Upon hearing it was from the mountain, Old Master Mu assumed it was wild game and asked the guard to take it to the kitchen.


    Old Master Mu''s gaze fell on Gu Qin again, and after a long moment, he sighed. "I understand."


    Qin Xiansheng briefly introduced Gu Qin''s background to Old Master Mu, telling him that she was roughly on par with him in terms of status. Old Master Mu understood that Gu Qin was also a feng shui practitioner.


    Old Master Mu smiled. "Alright, I understand. Qinqin looks like a little girl. How old are you? Not twenty yet? Why don''t you call me Grandpa?"


    Qin Xiansheng couldn''t help but laugh. "That won''t do. If Qinqin calls you Grandpa, what will I call you? The family tree will get mixed up."


    Old Master Mu burst into laughter.


    They chatted for a while, and Old Master Mu said, "Stay for dinner. Everyone is coming back today, and it''s been a long time since we''ve all seen each other. Chen Auntie has prepared a table full of good dishes. Let Qinqin taste them. If she likes Auntie Chen''s cooking, she can come often to keep me company when you''re not around."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Old Master, rest assured, I''ll come with Qin Brother often."


    Just then, the guard brought out hot water. He placed a cup in front of Old Master Mu first, then gave cups to Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin. "Old Master, this is the honey and fruit wine that Miss Gu brought. Auntie Chen smelled it and said it was delicious, so I brewed some honey water."


    Old Master Mu tasted it and nodded. "Good." The honey was indeed excellent, making his stomach feel comfortable. Its pure sweetness was unlike any sweetener, and Old Master Mu had rarely tasted such quality honey.


    Dinner was almost ready, and the doorbell rang. The guard opened the door and brought in a group of people¡ªmen, women, old, and young¡ªabout a dozen in total.


    Gu Qin glanced over them, not paying too much attention to anyone specific. These should be Old Master Mu''s children and grandchildren.


    They all greeted Qin Xiansheng and noticed Gu Qin, looking puzzled. They couldn''t figure out who this girl was. Qin Xiansheng timely introduced her, "This is my girlfriend."


    Girlfriend? The entire Mu family was stunned and turned to look at the girl sitting next to Qin Xiansheng.


    She looked to be in her twenties, very pretty, with long curly hair, wearing designer clothes, and a seductive appearance, a rare beauty.


    The beautiful girl froze when she heard that Gu Qin was Qin Xiansheng''s girlfriend. She stared at Gu Qin in disbelief and then glared at Qin Xiansheng. "Brother Qin, you said this girl is your what?"


    Oh, Gu Qin realized. This beauty must have feelings for Qin Brother. Considering her age, she was either Old Master Mu''s granddaughter or great-granddaughter.


    "Xiaoyue, Qinqin is my girlfriend," Qin Xiansheng said gently. He had known for years that Xiaoyue had feelings for him, and he mostly avoided her, seeing her rarely. However, as she was Old Master Mu''s granddaughter, they would gather during holidays. He was clear that he had never given her any hope.


    Xiaoyue had boldly confessed to him before, but he had politely declined. Bringing Gu Qin here was not to use her to make Xiaoyue give up, as she was the only one in his heart. He would never use her, nor would he let her be used. He brought Gu Qin here because he regarded Old Master Mu as family, wanting to introduce his girlfriend to him.


    As for Xiaoyue, she would never be a threat to his relationship with Gu Qin.


    "Xiaoyue!" Old Master Mu frowned. "Stop causing trouble."


    "Grandfather!" Xiaoyue''s eyes reddened. "Why? You know how I feel about Brother Qin. What''s so good about this girl? Has she even grown up? Where does she qualify to be with Brother Qin?"


    Xiaoyue was Old Master Mu''s granddaughter. Old Master Mu had four sons and one daughter. His daughter married into the Kong family, and they had only one child, Xiaoyue. She was treated like a precious treasure, which made her somewhat spoiled and wilful.


    Old Master Mu''s four sons were also married and had children. The eldest son had one son and one daughter, while the other three sons each had one son. The eldest son''s granddaughter and Xiaoyue were quite different in age, and the former was relatively mature and sensible. Therefore, regardless of whether it was the Mu family or the Kong family, Xiaoyue, as the youngest descendant, received more affection and pampering.


    Everyone knew Xiaoyue had feelings for Qin Xiansheng. Although they hadn''t seen him actively interact with her, they believed, given Old Master Mu''s influence, that they would eventually end up together. Now, with Qin Xiansheng suddenly introducing a new girlfriend, everyone was quite surprised.


    "Xiaoyue, listen to your grandfather and stop causing trouble," a woman in a white suit advised. She appeared to be in her forties, with wrinkles around her eyes, but her skin and figure were well-maintained. She was likely Xiaoyue''s mother.


    Mu Lao said to everyone, "Alright, sit down, dinner will be ready soon. You all haven''t been back in a long time, and it''s rare to have such a gathering."


    Everyone sat down casually on the sofa. Mu Jinger, the eldest son, was over fifty and worked in politics. His wife, Xu Lian, was also involved in politics. Xu Lian was also over fifty but looked great with good health, wearing a simple light blue sportswear.


    She sat next to Gu Qin and asked, "Qin Qin, how old are you this year?"


    Gu Qin smiled and replied, "Auntie, I''m in my first year of university this year."


    Xu Lian nodded approvingly and said, "Good child, come visit us more often with Xian Sheng. Xian Sheng is like family to us."


    "Auntie, I will."


    They chatted for a while. Xu Lian didn''t pry too much into other matters; she only asked about Gu Qin''s studies, future plans, and how she got along with friends at school.


    After a while, the guard Xiao Ma brought out honey water. Everyone took a sip. Xu Lian couldn''t help asking Xiao Ma, "Xiao Ma, where did this honey come from? It''s quite good."


    Xiao Ma laughed and said, "This is what Miss Gu brought."

 Whispers in the Darkness

    Mu Lao also said, "Good things are hard to come by. There isn''t much of this honey, so I feel a bit sorry to drink it."


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "Grandpa Mu, tomorrow I''ll get Qin Ge to send some more over."


    Mu Lao smiled and said, "Then I won''t be polite."


    "Haha..." Kong Xiaoyue seemed to sneer coldly. "Honey is nothing special. Grandpa, if you really like it, I have a friend whose relative raises bees in the mountains. I''ll ask my friend to bring you more."


    Xu Lian smiled and said, "Xiaoyue this child is indeed... But come to think of it, this honey seems different from those raised by mountain beekeepers. It tastes even better. Qin Qin, where did you get this?"


    "Auntie, these are wild honeys from the mountains. Since there''s not much left, I thought I''d bring some to Grandpa Mu to try."


    "Ah, from the mountains, no wonder it tastes so good." Hearing how rare it was, Xu Lian didn''t dare ask for any. People like her had tasted all sorts of good things; truly good things could be identified at first taste. She realized that the honey was a rare delicacy and that there wasn''t much left, making it awkward to ask.


    Gu Qin smiled and said, "Since there''s not much left, if I run into more, I''ll bring some for Auntie and everyone else too."


    "That, thank you in advance." This drink made her feel refreshed and energized.


    Soon, it was time for dinner. Everyone sat around the table, and the dishes were plentiful enough for everyone. After tasting the food, Gu Qin knew Mu Lao wasn''t wrong; Chef Chen was truly skilled. Her cooking was better than any restaurant''s.


    Seeing Gu Qin''s eyes light up, Xu Lian smiled and said, "Chef Chen''s ancestors were imperial chefs in the palace, so she has excellent cooking skills. In Beijing, few can match her, and even fewer can taste her food."


    Gu Qin sighed and said, "After eating Chef Chen''s food, how can one eat outside meals?"


    Chef Chen was also at the table. "If you like, you can come every day, and I''ll cook for you."


    Chef Chen was quite old, looking about sixty or seventy. Despite her age, she had an air of dignity, with her white hair neatly combed.


    Mu Lao''s wife passed away over twenty years ago. He hadn''t remarried until recently when his health declined. A friend recommended Chef Chen to help with the cooking. Chef Chen lost her husband when she was young and never remarried.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    After dinner, Gu Qin stayed to chat with Mu Lao, while his children and grandchildren had other things to attend to and left first.


    Those who stayed included Xu Lian and her daughter, as well as Kong Xiaoyue and her parents.


    Among Mu Lao''s grandchildren, the oldest was Xu Lian''s son, Mu Rong, who was thirty-three and unmarried. Even his daughter, Mu Chan, was thirty-one. Kong Xiaoyue was the youngest and still in college.


    Xu Lian stayed because Gu Qin was a guest and her husband had left. As for Kong Xiaoyue''s family, their reasons were unclear.


    Around ten o''clock at night, Mu Lao was about to rest, and Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng planned to leave.


    Xu Lian and her children, along with the Kong family, also said their goodbyes and left together.


    On the way out, Xu Lian gave Gu Qin her contact information, saying they should stay in touch. Outside the gate, Kong Xiaoyue tried to approach Gu Qin, but her parents stopped her. Eventually, she came over and stood in front of Gu Qin, saying, "Don''t get cocky. Qin Ge will definitely be mine."


    Qin Xiansheng frowned and said, "Kong Xiaoyue, I remember clearly that I rejected you. I thought you understood. Now it seems I don¡¯t understand anything. Since rejecting you, you haven''t bothered me much. Occasionally, you send ordinary greetings, which I don''t reply to. To me, you''re just a stranger."


    Looking at him, Gu Qin burst out laughing. She held Qin Xiansheng''s arm and looked up slightly. "Miss Kong, earlier I didn''t say much out of respect for Grandpa Mu. Your constant harassment doesn''t make you look good. Besides, you don''t seem to love Qin Ge as much as you claim, otherwise, why would you be dating two guys at once? By the way, be careful. Your romantic luck might turn into bad luck."


    The Mu family had high status, and their granddaughters could be quite domineering. At least Mu Lao''s other grandchildren were polite.


    Kong Xiaoyue''s face changed. "What nonsense are you talking!"


    Gu Qin chuckled again. "You''re quite naive. Have you forgotten who Qin Ge is? I can see everything about you just by looking at your face. You''re practically transparent to him. Do you still want to keep harassing him?"


    Kong Xiaoyue''s face turned red, then white, then green. "Yes, he told you?"


    Gu Qin smiled brilliantly. "Forgot to tell you, I''m also a Feng Shui master."


    Kong Xiaoyue''s face became genuinely embarrassed. She never expected a Feng Shui master to be able to see through someone just by looking at them. Although she knew Qin Xiansheng was a Feng Shui master, she thought he was just like TV characters who did house Feng Shui. She believed these masters needed birth dates, palm readings, and charts to predict things.


    Kong Xiaoyue left in a huff, followed by her stunned parents.


    Xu Lian and Mu Rong, Mu Chan, also witnessed the scene. Seeing Kong Xiaoyue leave in a huff, they couldn''t help but laugh.


    Xu Lian was surprised. "Qin Qin, you''re also a Feng Shui master? Be careful, Xiaoyue is a bit domineering and might cause trouble. If she does, let me know, and I''ll support you."


    Gu Qin smiled with her eyes curved. "Thank you, Auntie. I appreciate it."


    On the way back, Gu Qin said with a smile, "Xian Sheng, don''t you see Kong Xiaoyue''s impending romantic disaster?"


    "I do," Qin Xiansheng said with a sigh. "But I thought it had nothing to do with me, so I didn''t say anything. Back then, Mu family elders only asked me to take care of Mu Lao. I''ve never meddled in their affairs, especially in such messy situations."


    Qin Xiansheng explained to Gu Qin about the Mu family elders'' help, how they saved him, and how they helped Mu Guodou become powerful. He mentioned his role in helping Mu Guodou build an army and lead the country.


    Qin Xiansheng concluded, "These years, although I''ve helped him a lot, he''s mostly relied on himself. His leadership, intelligence, and resilience are remarkable. Without him, our country wouldn''t have so many people living in peace. Therefore, I admire him."


    Gu Qin understood why Qin Xiansheng risked his life several times to save Mu Guodou. She knew he respected Mu Guodou deeply.


    "Therefore, for some of the Mu family''s younger generation''s actions, I refuse to intervene directly, though I won''t allow anything too harsh," Qin Xiansheng said. "But today, I realize that my refusal isn''t enough. Qin Qin, I''m sorry. I didn''t expect her to trouble you. Don''t worry, it won''t happen again."


    Gu Qin replied, "Xian Sheng, I understand. Do you think I would be taken advantage of?"


    Gu Qin wouldn''t bully the weak, but she wouldn''t let others bully her either.


    "Qin Qin, it won''t happen again. For those who shouldn''t stay or for those I shouldn''t show mercy to, I''ll deal with them decisively."

 Souls Destination

    After this incident, Gu Qin visited Mu Lao regularly. Every time she went, Mu Lao would often be reading the newspaper, and she could see his joy in his eyes when she and Qin Xiansheng arrived.


    From then on, Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng fixed their visits to Sunday afternoons to play chess with Mu Lao and spend dinner together.


    Half a month passed quickly. On Friday, after school, Gu Qin went to treat Wang Yin, having done it only a couple of times. She noticed his condition improved significantly and left after giving him some instructions.


    She called Cheng Yinxiang and learned that Cheng Yinxiang had returned home. Then, she and Qin Xiansheng went home for dinner.


    At home, Gu Jia, who was in his third year of university and planning to intern at Lu Qingrong''s company during the winter break, was also there. Over the years, Gu Jia had been taking medicinal baths and exercising, so he was in great shape. An ordinary person could beat him ten to one, and even most martial artists couldn''t match him.


    However, Gu Jia started learning late and might find it difficult to develop internal strength, so Gu Qin left it to fate without pushing him too hard.


    Lu Qingrong prepared dinner. Since Cheng Yinxiang wanted to get pregnant, he wouldn''t let her into the kitchen or do household chores. He picked her up and dropped her off on time and called her several times a day.


    "Qin Qin, Xian Sheng, go wash your hands and come to dinner."


    Gu Qin led Qin Xiansheng to the bathroom and helped bring dishes to the table. The whole family sat down.


    Gu Qin lovingly prepared honey water for Cheng Yinxiang and was about to speak when she paused.


    Cheng Yinxiang noticed her daughter''s daze and smiled. "Qin Qin, what¡¯s wrong?"


    Gu Qin lowered her head. "Mom, it''s nothing, let''s eat."


    Back at her seat, Gu Qin exchanged a glance with Qin Xiansheng. Qin Xiansheng saw the faint black aura on Cheng Yinxiang''s forehead and sensed something amiss.


    Cheng Yinxiang was facing a minor calamity.


    Qin Xiansheng didn''t have the ability to see through the future, but he could sense Cheng Yinxiang''s impending misfortune. Gu Qin, however, could see the details clearly.


    After dinner, the family watched TV. Gu Qin sat beside Cheng Yinxiang and pouted, "Mom, do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"


    Cheng Yinxiang replied, "I¡¯m going to the club."


    "Can we stay at home instead?" Gu Qin pouted. "I want to spend more time with you."


    "That¡¯s not possible. Tomorrow is the beginning of the month, and I have a meeting," Cheng Yinxiang smiled. "Qin Qin, what¡¯s with you today? You¡¯re being unusually clingy."


    Gu Qin smiled and didn¡¯t say more.


    When sending Qin Xiansheng off, she went upstairs without much comment. Qin Xiansheng suggested he pick her up the next day to accompany Cheng Yinxiang. Gu Qin agreed silently.


    Later, Qin Xiansheng remained standing in the stairwell, sighing inwardly. He knew Gu Qin was keeping something from him but didn¡¯t press for details.


    The next morning, Gu Qin woke up early and finished her practice just in time for breakfast. Qin Xiansheng called, mentioning he had some business to attend to and would meet them at the club later. Gu Qin acknowledged.


    As Cheng Yinxiang prepared to leave, Gu Qin said, "Mom, I have nothing planned today. Can I go with you to the club?"


    Gu Qin occasionally visited the club, so Cheng Yinxiang didn¡¯t mind and nodded, allowing Lu Qingrong to drop them off.


    During the ride, Gu Qin remained silent.


    Lu Qingrong¡¯s office and the club were in the same building. After dropping them off, he returned to his office downstairs.


    By eight-thirty, club employees arrived for work, and at nine, there was a meeting. Gu Qin had nothing to do and played with her phone while waiting.


    The meeting ended at nine-thirty, and the club resumed regular operations. Around eleven, the club became busier, with peak hours from eleven to five.


    Cheng Yinxiang, as the boss, had little to do and mostly rested in her office. Gu Qin kept her company.


    Around eleven-thirty, Cheng Yinxiang¡¯s secretary entered the office. "Sis Cheng, someone wants to see you."


    Gu Qin glanced at the secretary and said calmly, "Why disturb the boss for trivial matters? What are you here for?"


    She admitted feeling somewhat angry with the secretary due to what she saw with her Heavenly Eye. However, she knew the blame wasn¡¯t on the secretary.


    The secretary replied, "Miss, that lady surnamed Mu is someone we can''t offend."


    Xu Lian, the secretary''s superior, was a prominent figure on television and a true Red Second Generation. The secretary couldn¡¯t stop her.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Gu Qin sighed. "Alright, I understand. You can go now."


    Cheng Yinxiang was confused and asked Gu Qin, "Who is this Mu lady?"


    Gu Qin answered, "Mu Jingjuan."


    Cheng Yinxiang immediately recognized the name. Mu Jingjuan was a frequent television personality and a significant official. She wondered why Mu Jingjuan would suddenly show up.


    Given Mu Jingjuan¡¯s status, Cheng Yinxiang had no choice but to meet her. Gu Qin accompanied her. "Mom, I¡¯ll go with you."


    Mu Jingjuan was Mu Lao¡¯s youngest daughter and Kong Xiaoyue¡¯s mother.


    Outside the office, in the reception area, they saw Mu Jingjuan and Kong Xiaoyue sitting.


    Kong Xiaoyue didn¡¯t expect to see Gu Qin there. Her face darkened. After leaving Mu Lao¡¯s place, Gu Qin¡¯s words had humiliated her greatly. She cried bitterly afterward, and despite her parents¡¯ attempts to console her, she remained upset. They even questioned her about whether Gu Qin¡¯s claims were true, and she denied them fiercely.


    But the truth eventually came out. She had dated two men simultaneously. One was indifferent, knowing her status, while the other genuinely loved her. The latter, driven by jealousy, assaulted her publicly, leaving her bruised and battered. He was arrested, and the incident made her hate Gu Qin even more.


    Kong Xiaoyue was shocked that someone dared to hit her. Being the daughter of a prominent family, she felt humiliated by the public beating. She blamed Gu Qin for her predicament, despite it having nothing to do with her. She investigated Gu Qin and found out she was from a regular business family, making her even more dismissive.


    Even knowing Gu Qin was a Feng Shui master, Kong Xiaoyue felt untouchable due to her influential grandfather. Thus, she sought revenge, bringing her mother along to ensure she wouldn¡¯t be stopped.


    Mu Jingjuan, fearing her daughter¡¯s impulsiveness, accompanied her.


    At the bottom, Mu Jingjuan also felt somewhat resentful towards Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng, thinking that since they had seen that Xiao Yue was facing a love entanglement, they should have helped out more.


    When Kong Xiaoyue saw Gu Qin, she was quite surprised. She did not directly approach Gu Qin but knew that seeking anything from her would be futile. So, she went to Gu Qin''s mother instead. One reason was to check if there were any irregularities in the club and cause trouble for it; the other reason was that Kong Xiaoyue wanted to warn Gu Qin''s mother to keep an eye on her daughter and prevent her from seducing other men.


    In this world, there are some princess-syndrome women who believe that the whole world should revolve around them, that all men should like them and cater to them. They think that indifference is just another way of attracting attention. To her, Qin Xiansheng''s coldness towards her was merely a form of rejection.


    Mu Jingjuan was quite surprised to see Gu Qin there as well. She felt somewhat uneasy, honestly admitting that she was somewhat afraid of this young girl, though she couldn''t say why. Now, seeing that the young girl''s expression was gloomy, she regretted letting her daughter come even more.


    Cheng Yinxiang greeted her, "Ms. Mu, welcome. May I ask what brings you here today?"


    Mu Jingjuan smiled, "I heard that the beauty treatments here are very effective, so I came to take a look. My friend often comes here for beauty treatments, but without a membership, it''s hard to get in."


    Cheng Yinxiang smiled, "That''s true. The gold card has priority reservations. Now, the daily appointments for gold card members are already full. If you want to come, I can make a space for a gold card..."


    Before she could finish, Kong Xiaoyue beside her sneered, "Who wants to come to your shabby club for beauty treatments?"


    Cheng Yinxiang''s smile faded, and Mu Jingjuan''s face stiffened. She glared at her daughter. Kong Xiaoyue''s mind was already filled with anger and jealousy, which couldn''t be stopped. She pointed at Gu Qin and shouted at Cheng Yinxiang, "Look at the kind of daughter you raised! Such a young age and already knows how to steal other people''s boyfriends. It must be something you taught her. Indeed, coming from a small household, she does nothing but disgraceful things..."


    "Shut up!" Cheng Yinxiang interrupted Kong Xiaoyue, "A little girl pointing at her elders like that, who taught you? Have you no manners? As for my daughter, I know her best. If you''re talking about the man she ''stole,'' I just want to say, you''re the one trying to break up others'' relationships."


    No matter how much power or influence the other party had, she wasn''t the submissive daughter-in-law of the Gu family anymore. She was Cheng Yinxiang, and even if her daughter didn''t need her protection, she still wanted to fulfill her responsibilities as a mother and trust her daughter.


    Mu Jingjuan''s face turned red, with more shame than anger. Kong Xiaoyue was infuriated by Cheng Yinxiang''s words, "It''s because of your daughter that my boyfriend broke up with me. If not for her, Brother Qin would have been with me, and I wouldn''t have ended up with someone else..."


    Gu Qin roughly understood the type of person Kong Xiaoyue was and felt very contemptuous towards her.


    Seeing Kong Xiaoyue getting more agitated, Gu Qin slightly turned her body to shield half of Cheng Yinxiang''s body. She said, "Kong Xiaoyue, you''re really pitiful. No wonder Brother Qin doesn''t like you. Do you feel good being hit? You''ve probably lost all your face. Who can you blame for this? Blame yourself, for being greedy, having a fragile heart, and acting like a princess, thinking that the whole world should cater to you and all men should like you? In my eyes, you''re..."


    Kong Xiaoyue''s face flushed red. Before Gu Qin could finish her sentence, she covered her ears and screamed.


    After screaming, she stepped forward and raised her palm to slap Gu Qin. Before her hand could land, Gu Qin grabbed her wrist and slapped her face instead. Kong Xiaoyue''s body swayed to the side, and her gaze fell on Cheng Yinxiang''s slightly protruding belly. Her expression changed, and a fierce aura filled her eyes. Without hesitation, she pushed Cheng Yinxiang.


    Gu Qin''s eyes flashed with a sharp light. Before Kong Xiaoyue''s hands could touch Cheng Yinxiang, she quickly grabbed her left hand and struck Kong Xiaoyue''s face.


    A clear slap echoed through the hall. Everyone froze, and Mu Jingjuan stared wide-eyed at Gu Qin.


    Kong Xiaoyue only felt a pain on her face, followed by numbness, and half of her face lost sensation. From the outside, her face turned red, and five finger marks clearly appeared. Soon after, half of her face began to swell visibly, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.


    Gu Qin grabbed Kong Xiaoyue''s collar and said slowly, "You should be grateful. You didn''t harm my mother. If your hands had touched her, I assure you, it wouldn''t have been just one slap. I would have taken your life."


    Kong Xiaoyue''s ears rang, unable to hear Gu Qin''s words, but she saw the genuine killing intent in her eyes, making her shiver and feel fear. Finally, she burst into tears.


    "You!" Mu Jingjuan exclaimed angrily, "How dare you hit someone!"


    Gu Qin sneered, "Ms. Mu, you should be grateful. If she had harmed my mother, it wouldn''t have been just a slap."


    "She was the one who pushed her away! Why did you still hit her?" Seeing her daughter''s face swollen like a pig''s head, Mu Jingjuan lost her composure.


    "Ms. Mu, this place doesn''t welcome you. Please leave with your daughter," Gu Qin said, unwilling to argue further. She had other things to do in the afternoon. Looking back, she saw Cheng Yinxiang''s forehead black qi gradually dissipating and breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Fine, very fine." Mu Jingjuan was shaking with rage, looking at the surrounding guests and employees, and finally left in a hurry with Kong Xiaoyue.


    Seeing them leave in a huff, Gu Qin snorted. If not for Grandfather Mu''s face, she wouldn''t have spared Kong Xiaoyue so easily.


    Moreover, Mu Jingjuan was a capable woman in politics, apart from being overly indulgent towards Kong Xiaoyue. This world had a large framework, and figures like Mu Gusuperintend and direct, Mu Jingchang, and Mu Jingjuan were the support points of this framework. A good support point was hard to find, so she showed leniency.


    Yesterday, Gu Qin saw from the Heavenly Eye that when Kong Xiaoyue pushed Cheng Yinxiang, it caused a miscarriage, and Cheng Yinxiang had to stay in the hospital for several days. This was why Gu Qin insisted on coming along today.


    As for Kong Xiaoyue, Gu Qin believed Grandfather Mu would make the right decision.


    Turning to see Cheng Yinxiang still in a daze, Gu Qin supported her into the office, "Mom, are you okay?"


    Cheng Yinxiang shook her head, "I''m fine, but why is this girl so malicious, wanting to harm others over a disagreement?"


    Gu Qin snorted, "She wasn''t properly educated."


    After comforting Cheng Yinxiang, Qin Xiansheng arrived. He had learned about what happened from the staff outside and looked grim. He entered the office and, seeing both women inside, took out a jade box and handed it to Cheng Yinxiang, "Auntie, this is for you."


    "Huh?" Cheng Yinxiang was stunned, not expecting Qin Xiansheng to suddenly give a gift, "Xiansheng, what''s this?"


    Qin Xiansheng opened the box to reveal a small jade pendant. The jade was a rare red jadeite, carved into the shape of a phoenix, emitting a lustrous glow.


    Cheng Yinxiang recognized the jade''s value, as did Gu Qin. It was a high-quality protective talisman, far superior to the small gourd amulet she had found on a street stall when she first arrived in this world. This was at least a Tier-2 talisman.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Auntie, this is a protective talisman. Yesterday, I saw that you had a small calamity today, so I specifically went back to find this. Once you wear this, ordinary people won''t be able to harm you."


    Not just ordinary people, even cultivators would have difficulty harming her. However, all treasures had auras, and this protective talisman was no exception. Qin Xiansheng had already sealed its aura, so only someone with higher cultivation could tell it was a protective talisman.


    Gu Qin naturally knew about the seal. She looked up and said, "Brother Qin, thank you."


    Cheng Yinxiang said, "Qin Qin, this is too valuable..."


    Gu Qin turned around, "Mom, please accept it. If you don''t, I won''t be able to concentrate on my studies."


    Qin Xiansheng added, "Auntie, please accept it. We have no use for this, but it will keep you safe and allow Qin Qin to rest easy."


    Cheng Yinxiang could only accept the gift. Gu Qin helped her put it on before pulling Qin Xiansheng downstairs for lunch. At the restaurant, Gu Qin thanked him again, "Brother Qin, thank you."


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Don''t thank me. This incident was partly my fault. If I had used harsher methods to make her give up, perhaps she wouldn''t have come after you or your mother. Qin Qin, don''t worry, I''ll handle this."


    Gu Qin nodded, "I believe you, Brother Qin. I won''t interfere further. Just let me know when you have news."


    After lunch, Gu Qin went about her business, while Qin Xiansheng went to Mu Manor to speak with Grandfather Mu. That night, Grandfather Mu called a family meeting and summoned all the younger generation of the Mu family.


    Kong Xiaoyue originally didn''t want to go. Grandfather Mu called Mu Jingjuan, "You can show her the consequences of not coming."


    "No, I won''t go," Kong Xiaoyue cried, lying on the bed, "I can''t go out like this! They''ll laugh at me."

 Roar of the Yin Beast

    Mu Jingjuan sighed, "Your grandfather has spoken. If you don''t go, we can''t protect you either. Xiaoyue, listen to me. You know your grandfather''s temper. Go now to soothe him. Once he calms down, this matter will be over. If you don''t go, your grandfather might do something drastic."


    She was the youngest daughter of Mu Gu superintend and direct, even if she was the most favored. She still feared her stern father. The younger generation hadn''t seen him lose his temper, but they had.


    After much persuasion, Mu Jingjuan finally convinced Kong Xiaoyue to go to the old Mu residence.


    All the Mu family members gathered, unsure of what had happened. When Kong Xiaoyue returned with half her face swollen, they realized something had happened.


    Everyone gathered in the living room. Grandfather Mu sat in the central redwood chair. Before he could say anything, Kong Xiaoyue burst into tears and ran to him, crying, "Grandpa, you must help me."


    "Kneel down," Grandfather Mu''s voice was unusually cold.


    Kong Xiaoyue looked up, her eyes misty with tears, "Grandpa?"


    "I said kneel down!"


    "Grandpa..." Tears streamed down her face, "Look at how Gu Qin beat me up. You''re asking me to kneel? What did I do wrong? Grandpa, why do you believe a stranger''s words over mine?"


    "Even before I mentioned anything, you brought up Gu Qin. Clearly, you''re guilty. Let me give you a chance to explain. Where were you this morning?" Grandfather Mu''s tone was calm, but his eyes were frighteningly cold.


    Kong Xiaoyue gritted her teeth, "Grandpa, this morning my mom and I just wanted to go to Gu Qin''s beauty salon for a treatment. We didn''t expect..."


    "Xiaoyue!" Mu Jingjuan interrupted, "Tell the truth! Your grandfather doesn''t tolerate lies. Lying will only make your punishment worse."


    "Mom! Why won''t you let me speak!" Kong Xiaoyue angrily said, "They started it by saying mean things about me, so I wanted to teach them a lesson. But before I could act, Gu Qin hit me. Look at my face, you have to make them pay for this!"


    "So you tried to push a pregnant woman?" Bang! Grandfather Mu slammed his hand on the table, "Descendants of Mu Gu superintend and direct actually bully a pregnant woman and try to use their power to oppress others."


    "Dad..." Mu Jingjuan panicked, "Xiaoyue didn''t mean it. She''s just young and doesn''t understand."


    Grandfather Mu roared, "Qin Qin is young, but she''s twenty-something. This isn''t a lack of understanding but arrogance. She''s been spoiled by you! Not getting someone''s affection, she goes after their loved ones. She deserves to be beaten! Beat her harder next time. This matter isn''t over. We''ll deal with her according to family law and send her abroad tomorrow."


    "Dad!" Mu Jingjuan was desperate, "Xiaoyue knows she''s wrong. Give her another chance."


    She was worried about her daughter alone overseas, unfamiliar with the environment, and the thought of her suffering made her anxious.


    Grandfather Mu said, "No discussion, send her away tomorrow." He was furious. When Qin Xiansheng visited earlier and briefly mentioned the incident, he sent people to investigate. After hearing the details, his anger intensified. Recalling Qin Xiansheng''s cold demeanor, he wished he could kill his granddaughter.


    He wasn''t afraid Qin Xiansheng would stop helping the Mu family, but he truly felt he had wronged him and Qin Qin.


    "I won''t go! Why should I go?" Kong Xiaoyue covered her face and threw a tantrum, "She beat me like this, and you still protect her. Are you even my real grandma? If you really cared about me, you would have made Qin Xiansheng marry me."


    "Haha..." Grandfather Mu laughed in frustration, "What abilities do you have to want to marry Qin Xiansheng? You''re not worthy of him. Xiao Ma! Bring my whip!"


    Hearing this, Mu Jingjuan''s face turned pale, "Dad, don''t! Xiaoyue is just young and doesn''t understand. I''ll discipline her."


    Xu Lian calmly said, "Sister, your words are wrong. Don''t forget what kind of family we are. Do you realize how much disaster a child''s mischief can bring? Besides, everything is Xiaoyue''s own doing. Qin Xiansheng has already rejected her, but he only refrained from making things too ugly out of respect for our Mu family. Do you really think Qin Xiansheng is weak? Or that Gu Qin is easy to bully? Do you know about the Bai family?"


    Mu Jingjuan seemed to understand something, her face showing shock, "You... you mean..."


    "As you suspect," Xu Lian said, "The fall of the Bai family was due to Gu Qin. The reason is simple: the Bai family harmed Gu Jia, who is Gu Qin''s brother. Guess what would have happened to Xiaoyue if not for Dad? Honestly, a slap is a light punishment. If she wanted to, making Xiaoyue disappear would be easy."


    The Mu family would definitely investigate Gu Qin, as Qin Xiansheng was preparing to marry her. After the investigation, they discovered that this young girl was not ordinary. They didn''t share the same world as the Mu family.


    "How... how is that possible?" Mu Jingjuan''s face turned deathly pale, "She... she wouldn''t dare harm our Xiaoyue..."


    "Stop it," Xu Lian interrupted, "Sister, haven''t you realized yet? Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng aren''t ordinary people. They''ve moved beyond our world. Understand? If Xiaoyue continues to act foolishly, your family, the Kong family, will suffer a fate worse than the Bai family. Gu Qin hates anyone who harms her family. Be glad Xiaoyue didn''t push the person down. Otherwise, you''d be in big trouble. Now, advise Xiaoyue to go abroad for a few years to change her ways. Otherwise, it will be your family that suffers."


    As an outsider, even if something major happened, the Kong family would bear the brunt.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Finally, Kong Minglang, the head of the Kong family and Xiaoyue''s father, stood up, "Jingjuan, enough. Let''s follow Father''s decision. Send Xiaoyue abroad for a few years. Also, I think Father''s family law is justified."


    Previously, Grandfather Mu''s family law involved a whip, but fearing Kong Xiaoyue couldn''t handle it, he used a ruler instead. Each hand received fifty strikes, causing severe swelling. Kong Xiaoyue cried uncontrollably and had to be forcibly held down to complete the punishment.


    Mu Jingjuan, despite her worry, dared not object. Afterward, she immediately took her daughter to the hospital, while Kong Minglang arranged for her to go abroad. A few days later, Kong Xiaoyue was sent overseas.


    The matter did not end there. Kong Xiaoyue''s life overseas was miserable. She was extremely unlucky, losing her wallet upon arrival, which contained her passport, ID, bank cards, and address slip. It took her a day to reach the hotel, and that night, she began having nightmares. Ghosts tormented her in her dreams, waking her up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. This continued until dawn.


    She thought it was just an adjustment issue, but the next night, she had similar nightmares. These dreams felt so real that she woke up terrified.


    Her days were not easy. She was constantly unlucky¡ªstepping into a sewer grate, chipping her tooth, and nightly nightmares. No matter how many times she called Mu Jingjuan and Kong Minglang, they told her she couldn''t return unless Grandfather Mu gave his permission.


    ~~~


    When Gu Qin learned that Kong Xiaoyue had gone abroad, she was not surprised. This was the best outcome. Not only did it serve as a warning, but it also prevented potential disasters in the future. Sending Kong Xiaoyue abroad was also to seek forgiveness and protect the Kong and Mu families.


    Although Xu Lian mentioned that Kong Xiaoyue belonged to the Kong family, she was also a Mu family grandchild. Any trouble she caused would inevitably involve the Mu family.


    On the first day of Kong Xiaoyue''s departure, when Qin Xiansheng drove Gu Qin to school, he was silent. Gu Qin asked with a smile, "Brother Qin, what are you thinking about?"


    "Nothing," Qin Xiansheng turned and smiled at her, "Just thinking about taking a trip somewhere during your vacation."


    Gu Qin''s eyes lit up. She had been busy and hadn''t had the chance to enjoy the world properly. Maybe they could travel during the winter break? "Brother Qin, where should we go?"


    Qin Xiansheng replied, "I''ll pick a few places and let you choose."


    Gu Qin kissed his cheek, "Okay, then I''ll go to class now." She opened the car door and jumped out.


    As the snow began falling in late December, the temperature in the capital city dropped to several degrees below zero. Everyone wore thick down jackets. In this month, Gu Qin''s shop in the capital only had one customer, who came because there was some issue with the feng shui at home, which Gu Qin fixed for them.


    It seemed that the events involving Ma Yihao had made others wary, and they were reluctant to seek Gu Qin''s help for feng shui matters. Gu Qin herself didn''t care much about these things, as she was busy picking travel destinations for the upcoming Spring Festival. She chose several places, but she had her eye on a place in the north called Changbai Mountain, which was a border mountain between the country and its neighbor. The area covered around seventy square kilometers.


    Changbai Mountain had a temperate continental monsoon climate, with distinct temperature changes. This place was likely even colder than the capital. Qin Xiansheng couldn''t help but smile when he saw Changbai Mountain. He heard Gu Qin pointing to the picture of Changbai Mountain and saying, "Big Brother Qin, this is great. Not many people go there in winter. They say it gets sealed off. There are abundant resources, and a variety of flora and fauna. We might even find something good there. Let''s go there for our Spring Festival trip."


    This travel plan referred only to Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng; Cheng Yinxiang was pregnant and unsuitable for long journeys, especially to the harsh winter conditions of Changbai Mountain. Qin Xiansheng nodded and said, "Alright, if you confirm it, we''ll go there a little over a month from now. I''ll get everything ready."


    "Alright, Big Brother Qin, prepare everything." School hadn''t yet broken for the winter holiday, which would start in early January, making it the perfect time to go.


    A few days later, Chen Zhonglian came to thank Gu Qin. His family members'' illnesses had been controlled, and several had been cured. He mentioned that since the road back home had been repaired with cement a month ago, his family members had gradually recovered. He also returned the protective jade pendants that Gu Qin had given him, saying, "Keep these as mementos. They''re no longer useful."


    Gu Qin received more than five million yuan from this matter, kept a small portion for herself, and donated the rest to charity. Her own charity company, the Gu Foundation, had invested a large part of its initial earnings into it. The foundation had only recently been established, and Qin Xiansheng had helped set it up. The company was registered under Gu Qin''s name.


    The foundation was still very small and not widely known. It provided assistance to anyone in need after proper approval and verification. It also bought supplies for natural disasters and other crises.


    By the end of January, school exams ended, and the holidays began. Gu Qin visited Wang Yin''s house. Over the past three months, she had treated Wang Yin about five times, and the results were excellent. The family even took Wang Yin to the hospital for a check-up, where they found that the cancer cells had stopped spreading, and some of the previously spread cancer cells had died. This happened at a hospital in the capital, and everyone knew it was due to Gu Qin''s treatment.


    Wang Yin''s family was overjoyed that his condition was under control and improving, although Wang Yin''s wife, Zhao Lisi, looked somewhat troubled but didn''t dare show it.


    Back home, Wang Yin was in high spirits and specially asked Wang Mama to cook some good dishes. Wang Yin was very happy that his brother''s condition was starting to improve and forgot any resentment towards Gu Qin. She genuinely cared for her brother and thought that if his illness improved, losing the house wouldn''t matter so much, as money could be earned again.


    At dinner, seeing that the Wang family was in good spirits, Zhao Lisi hesitated and said, "Husband, what do you think about selling the house to pay the girl after you recover?"


    Wang Yin asked, "Do you mean otherwise? Or do you think saving my life isn''t worth the house?"


    "I don''t mean that," seeing her mother-in-law and sister-in-law''s faces turn green, Zhao Lisi quickly said, "I just think, once you recover, where will we live if we sell the house? I know you want to rent, but how can we afford it? Our son is about to finish primary school. Without a house, how can we manage? It''s not fair to us or the child."


    Wang Yan laughed coldly, "If you''re really worried, let our son stay with us after the house is sold. Zhao Lisi, just say it directly: you don''t want me to sell the house to save my brother''s life, right?"


    Zhao Lisi shook her head, "That''s not what I meant. I''m thinking, can we talk to the girl and offer half the price for the house? That way, we can still buy a smaller apartment. This way, our son won''t be looked down upon by his classmates."


    Wang Mama seemed somewhat tempted. Wang Yan continued laughing, "Before, I despised that girl, thinking she was a fraud. Now that my brother''s condition is improving, I realize she''s not ordinary. She can heal with qi, and she''s like an immortal we see on TV. She can kill you without you noticing. Mom, are you sure you want to offend someone like that? Do you think she wanted five million yuan for nothing?"


    Wang Mama exclaimed, feeling her daughter was right.


    Wang Yan continued, "She clearly knows we have only this house left. Her intention is clear: she wants to save lives by using all her assets or keep her assets and let people die. Clearly, this girl has a hard heart. So, Zhao Lisi, I advise you to forget about it. She won''t agree, and you''ll end up offending her."


    Wang Yin agreed, "My sister is right. Don''t have any bad intentions. I''ll tell you one last time: houses can be rebuilt, but don''t offend people."


    Zhao Lisi remained silent, still angry after eating and went online to post, ''D*mn, a black-hearted doctor. She cured my husband''s cancer and demanded five million yuan, making us lose everything.''


    The post drew several responses:


    User A: "OP, what disease does your husband have? Cancer treatments are expensive. It''s understandable. If you don''t want to pay, don''t go to the doctor."


    OP: "My husband has stomach cancer that spread to his liver. She said he needs to sell the house to pay her."


    User B: "OP, are you kidding? Cancer that has spread to the liver, even gods can''t save him. Which hospital doctor said that? Name and shame them."


    OP: "Not a hospital doctor, just a fraud."


    User A: "OP, are you crazy? First you say a black-hearted doctor, then a fraud. Ignore them."


    OP: "But she said she could cure my husband with qi, demanding the house."


    User B: "Qi? Who believes in that nonsense? OP, are you looking for attention?"


    OP: "No, she treated my husband for three months. His cancer spread, but now the cancer in his liver is gone, and the cancer in his stomach is under control. I just think her fees are too high. Where will we live after selling the house?"


    User C: "Everyone, ignore this. OP is probably a scammer. Post complaints but claim the doctor cured cancer. It''s impossible. OP is either a scammer trying to get people to ask about the doctor or hoping someone will believe her. Even if someone did cure cancer, selling a house for a life is reasonable. OP, you''re just here to scam people."


    "Agreed."


    Most comments were negative, calling OP a liar, angering Zhao Lisi, who was about to delete the post. Before doing so, she received a private message from a new user asking for details about the doctor. Offering ten thousand yuan, Zhao Lisi gave the information and received the money.


    A few hours later, Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng arrived at Changbai Mountain, having traveled a thousand kilometers. They had planned to hike deeper into the mountains, finding an oddity in a snow-covered slope: a man buried under the snow, with only a leg exposed. Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng dug him out, discovering he was a young man in his twenties, with ice covering his face and body.


    Gu Qin checked his pulse and found it faint. She summoned her qi to help him. Qin Xiansheng examined the man and noticed a special birthmark on his neck, recognizing him as his fellow disciple.


    "Ah?" Gu Qin was stunned, "Big Brother Qin, did your master take another apprentice?"


    Qin Xiansheng replied, "Let''s get him inside the tent first before I explain."


    They brought the man into the tent, and Qin Xiansheng heated water. Afterward, he fed the man some warm water. Gu Qin asked, "Big Brother Qin, what''s your disciple''s name?"


    Qin Xiansheng shook his head, "I never knew his name. I rarely interacted with him. He often followed me around, but I ignored him because I was in pain."


    Half an hour later, the man woke up. Seeing Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng, he was surprised. His eyes lit up when he saw Gu Qin, "I remember you. From the flower market, the pine tree! Sister, do you remember me?"

 Trial of Fate

    Gu Qin replied, "Who are you calling sister?"


    The man grinned, "It''s such a coincidence. I remember you. And you, Brother, you seem familiar. Have we met before?"


    Qin Xiansheng remained silent, as did Gu Qin.


    The man stared at Qin Xiansheng, suddenly realizing, "You''re my senior brother! Are you my senior brother?"


    Seeing the man about to lunge forward, Qin Xiansheng held him back, "Stay calm and speak properly."


    "You are my senior brother!" the man said excitedly, "I''m sure I remember. Although it''s been a long time, I still recall the day you left. Master was furious and sealed a demon inside me..."


    Thinking of the torment he endured after his master sealed the demon inside him, he wondered how he had managed to survive all these years.


    Gu Qin said, "It''s already dark, let''s go inside and talk."


    The three of them entered the tent and sat cross-legged. The man asked clearly that Qin Xiansheng was indeed his senior brother, then told them about his experiences over the years. His name was Wan Qiy¨¢n, and he wasn''t an orphan. His father was not kind to him. That year, he was taken home by his master, who told him that he had a senior brother named Qin Xiansheng who was sick and should not be disturbed.


    After becoming his master''s disciple, the master first taught him how to read. He was smart and learned quickly, so the master gave him a copy of the I Ching for him to study. Most of the time, when the master was away, he would stay at home reading. His senior brother would also go out occasionally, sitting silently in the courtyard, pale-faced and silent.


    When he had free time or grew tired from reading, he would go find his senior brother to chat, even though his senior brother never responded. He could talk to himself for half a day until his senior brother returned to the room.


    Later, one day, his senior brother disappeared, and his master was seriously injured when he came back. The master''s face looked terrible. One day, the master suddenly called him into the room where he set up some formations. He didn''t know much about these formations, but he just followed the master''s instructions and sat down.


    Then he seemed to lose consciousness. When he woke up, his whole body was in pain, indescribable pain. He felt like he was awakened by the pain, as if his body was being burned by flames. He screamed countless times, feeling like he would die from the pain. But he didn''t want to die. He was a burden to his family; his father hated him, drank, and beat him every day. From a young age, his father would hit him. Growing up in such an environment, he longed to live more than anything else.


    Despite all the beatings, he still believed that living was a beautiful thing. So no matter how much pain he endured, he held on. When he woke up again, it was the next day. At that time, he still didn''t understand what had happened. When he asked his master, the master said he was sick and would take good care of him, telling him not to worry.


    At that time, he really thought he was sick. Otherwise, why would his whole body hurt? As time passed, he realized something was wrong. There seemed to be something different inside his body.


    As he grew older, he felt pain in his body several times a month. Gradually, he understood what was happening inside him. There was a monster inside him, an invisible yin beast. He finally understood what the formation his master had made him sit in was for, and why his senior brother''s pale face and daily silence were the way they were. He also understood why his master was seriously injured when he left to help his senior brother.


    From then on, he became increasingly silent. One day, he left while his master was away. Over the years, he traveled everywhere, using the I Ching he carried with him to learn many things. He had never considered getting rid of the yin beast inside him because he couldn''t find a way.


    Gu Qin listened quietly and felt that this person had extraordinary talent, almost as good as Qin Xiansheng, both considered self-taught. Their master only wanted to use them. She wondered how he had managed to survive over the years.


    Opening her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin looked into the past and future. After a few seconds, she frowned. Strange, she couldn''t see through this person either. Just like with Big Brother Qin. She might have guessed some of Big Brother Qin''s situation, as she couldn''t see her own fate, and thus couldn''t see the fate of those closely connected to her. Unsurprisingly, Big Brother Qin would be the closest person to her in the future, so she couldn''t see his future. But why couldn''t she see this person''s past and future?


    Wan Qiy¨¢n carefully observed Qin Xiansheng for a while and exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Brother, you, your yin beast?"


    Qin Xiansheng nodded, "The yin beast inside me has left."


    "Senior Brother, how did you do it?" Wan Qiy¨¢n was somewhat excited. He had suffered greatly from the yin beast inside him and wished he could get rid of it immediately.


    Qin Xiansheng didn''t hide it, "I once had a chance encounter with a dragon stone, which allowed me to succeed."


    Dragon stone, Wan Qiy¨¢n lowered his head. Such a celestial treasure was not easy to obtain. How much luck was needed to come across one? He sighed, "Forget it, anyway, so many years have passed, it''s not urgent. To be honest, I came to Changbai Mountain after hearing that there might be celestial treasures here. However, most of these treasures require luck, so I just wanted to give it a try."


    Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin exchanged glances. They hadn''t heard this news. Gu Qin¡¯s circle consisted mostly of family and school, and Qin Xiansheng rarely interacted with other occult sects, so it was natural they wouldn¡¯t know.


    Wan Qiy¨¢n continued, "When I entered Changbai Mountain, the yin beast inside me flared up, and I passed out. Luckily, I met Senior Brothers and Sister, or I would have frozen to death. By the way, Senior Brother, why are you here?"


    Gu Qin replied, "We came for a tour."


    Wan Qiy¨¢n asked, "What about you two now?"


    Gu Qin, "Continue deeper into the mountain, but it''s late, we should rest soon."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    There was only room for a double tent, and Gu Qin didn¡¯t want to squeeze in. She suggested, "Let¡¯s do this: since you¡¯re injured, you can rest in the tent. My Senior Brother and I will sleep by the fire."


    They gathered more firewood, fortunately without snowfall. Otherwise, they would have been forced to sleep in the icy snow.


    Wan Qiy¨¢n was indeed uncomfortable. Every time the yin beast flared up, it caused immense pain, and it took a couple of days to recover. Therefore, he thanked them and entered the tent to rest.


    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng spent the night by the fire. Wan Qiy¨¢n slept comfortably in the tent. Qin Xiansheng reflected on his interactions with this junior brother. They hadn''t had much contact back then, and he couldn''t recall anything significant.


    Both Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng felt that Wan Qiy¨¢n probably had no connection with the person they suspected. They believed no one would be loyal to someone who sealed a yin beast inside them. However, Wan Qiy¨¢n¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be taken entirely at face value. Meeting someone like this was too coincidental.


    Early the next morning, Qin Xiansheng boiled some water over the fire, ate some compressed biscuits, drank the hot water, and shared some with Wan Qiy¨¢n. "We don¡¯t have much food. This mountain is full of wild game. We can catch and roast them. Your injuries are almost healed, so we¡¯ll part ways here."


    Wan Qiy¨¢n was stunned, "Senior Brother, we¡¯ve just met. I have so much to tell you."


    His tone was somewhat aggrieved. It was hard for him to meet a fellow sufferer, only to have his senior brother not believe him.


    Gu Qin remained silent, letting Qin Xiansheng handle it.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "We¡¯re here for a tour, not to seek celestial treasures. Our routes are different, so it¡¯s better we split up."


    Wan Qiy¨¢n sighed, "Alright, I understand. Thank you very much, Senior Brother and Miss Gu. I hope we meet again."


    Without further ado, Wan Qiy¨¢n left, carrying his backpack.


    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t think it was improper. They weren¡¯t close, and given their suspicions, it was safer to be cautious. They packed their belongings and continued their journey. They wouldn¡¯t specifically look for celestial treasures, as these required luck. Just like the dragon stone, seeking them deliberately didn¡¯t guarantee success. Better to leave it to fate.


    This Changbai Mountain was rich in ginseng, but few people came here now. Many had sought wild ginseng before it was protected, depleting the outer areas. Few dared enter the inner mountains.


    Gu Qin found ginseng easily. Opening her Heavenly Eye, she located places with dense spiritual energy. Wild ginseng, the older it got, accumulated more spiritual energy. While not as valuable as celestial treasures, thousand-year-old wild ginseng was rare.


    She found two spots. One ginseng had such dense spiritual energy, it must have been thousands of years old. She examined it without digging, sensing its consciousness. This ginseng was almost a spirit.


    In various travelogues and mythological novels, it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration that ginseng could develop consciousness. Wild ginseng over a thousand years old gradually gained awareness. This wasn¡¯t like mythical running ginseng babies. It had just begun to form consciousness, opening its spiritual channels. With continued growth in a place rich in spiritual energy, it would slowly evolve into a human form, a process taking tens of thousands of years and extremely difficult.


    This ginseng was almost conscious. Gu Qin didn¡¯t want to disturb it and kept it safe. Moving to another spot with dense spiritual energy, she found a ginseng several hundred years old, without consciousness. She dug it out, careful to keep the roots intact.


    She cleaned the dirt off the ginseng, wrapped it carefully, and put it in her bag. This exceptional ginseng was valuable, whether for ordinary people or cultivators like them.


    That night, Gu Qin didn¡¯t say much. She trusted Qin Xiansheng to guess she had a Heavenly Eye. Since he guessed, there was no need to explain. Their trust and understanding were sufficient.


    The next day, they continued their journey. They had no specific route, going wherever the path led. Gu Qin was here for breakthroughs, needing trials and opportunities. This couldn¡¯t be rushed.


    After two more days, Gu Qin found another ginseng, a few hundred years old. Changbai Mountain was truly the home of ginseng.


    Two were enough. One for her family¡¯s health, and another could be dried and passed down as a family heirloom.


    Gu Qin decided to stop searching. However, what was Wan Qiy¨¢n talking about regarding celestial treasures? Her Heavenly Eye should have detected something. But it wasn¡¯t infallible unless within a certain distance.


    Days passed, and she still felt nothing. She began to feel anxious. Stuck in the late stage of Qi Transformation for a year, she couldn¡¯t break through.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Don¡¯t rush. Let things happen naturally. The more anxious you are, the harder it becomes."


    Gu Qin sighed, "I¡¯m too impatient."


    "Good, rest early. Tomorrow we¡¯ll explore more. If not, we¡¯ll return. It¡¯s almost New Year, and they must miss you."


    They went to bed early and woke up before dawn. Just as they planned to eat and continue, they heard cries for help in the distance. They listened closely and heard people running. They exchanged glances. Gu Qin said, "Let¡¯s check it out."


    Even if they didn¡¯t go, they saw what was happening. A large group of people ran toward them, shouting, "Quick, run! D*mn it, can¡¯t shake it off."


    The group noticed Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng and waved from afar, "Friends, run! Something¡¯s coming!"


    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t have time to pack. Gu Qin stuffed the small bag with the ginseng into her coat and followed the crowd. Entering the group, an elderly man shouted, "Didn¡¯t we tell you to run? Why are you here?"


    The old man, with a frightened face, glanced back as if avoiding something terrifying.


    "What¡¯s happening?" Qin Xiansheng asked.


    The old man said, "Let¡¯s retreat first, then we¡¯ll discuss."


    Gu Qin¡¯s expression turned serious. With her Heavenly Eye, she saw what was chasing them. It wasn¡¯t alive but had intense yin and evil qi. The entity hadn¡¯t fully appeared yet and was far away but was definitely pursuing them. Its exact nature was unclear for the moment.


    She scanned the group, seeing men, women, elders, and children. The oldest was the old man, and the youngest seemed younger than Gu Qin. About thirty people in total. Notably, she recognized Wan Qiy¨¢n.


    Wan Qiy¨¢n noticed them too and ran up, "Senior Brother, Miss Gu, what a coincidence."


    Qin Xiansheng asked, "What happened?"


    Wan Qiy¨¢n shrugged, "After parting from you, I kept moving, hoping to find the treasure. Instead, I met this group who seemed to be chased by something. We¡¯ve been running for two days, and it attacked several people, killing about ten. We couldn¡¯t fight it together, so we fled."


    Gu Qin noticed these people weren¡¯t ordinary. They were likely practitioners like them, though she didn¡¯t know their sects.


    "What exactly is it?" Gu Qin asked.


    Wan Qiy¨¢n said, "I guess it¡¯s some kind of yin evil creature. No one has seen it clearly. What¡¯s clear is that it¡¯s very powerful, too powerful. We can only escape."


    Gu Qin sensed the danger. Even with her and Qin Xiansheng and Wan Qiy¨¢n working together, they might not be able to defeat it.


    They managed to shake it off after a day, but it was temporary. Even cultivators had physical limits. Exhausted, they collapsed on the ground.


    Among them, Qin Xiansheng, Wan Qiy¨¢n, Gu Qin, the old man, and another middle-aged man and woman had the highest cultivation levels. The others were mostly in the early stages of Qi Transformation, hence their focus on escaping.


    Most lay exhausted on the snow, a few sitting cross-legged. All lost their belongings. Everyone was tired and hungry.


    Qin Xiansheng finally asked what happened. The old man explained, "We heard Changbai Mountain had celestial treasures and brought our sect members to search. Instead, we encountered this thing. We didn¡¯t see what it was, and many died in the first confrontation. We¡¯ve been running ever since."


    They introduced themselves. Gu Qin learned the old man was from the ''Xuanmen'' sect, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the field of occultism. He was an elder from Xuanmen, leading a group for training. Another man belonged to the ''Liu Shantang'' sect, and a woman from the ''Yimen'' sect.


    Yimen was likely focused on divination, studying the I Ching.


    Liu Shantang was unfamiliar to Gu Qin, but Yimen was less known. Xuanmen was more famous, an ancient sect.


    Liu Shantang and Yimen brought about ten people each, losing several in the process. Only a few remained, while Xuanmen had around twenty.


    Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin briefly introduced themselves. The sects were surprised Qin Xiansheng was from Jumen, a mysterious sect little known to other sects, including the ancient Xuanmen.


    Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t mention Gu Qin, saying they were tourists.


    These people didn¡¯t sense her cultivation and assumed she was a regular person, not paying much attention to her.


    Gu Qin asked, "Elder Lu, how did you learn about the celestial treasure? It seems odd."


    The sects all came after hearing about the treasures, only to encounter something dangerous instead.


    Elder Lu, the old man from Xuanmen, said, "We''re all practitioners. The elders of several sects divined that there would be celestial treasures here, so we gathered to search. No one informed us directly."


    Gu Qin frowned. Could there really be a celestial treasure? She felt someone intentionally lured these practitioners here. She and Qin Xiansheng were merely coincidental.


    Opening her Heavenly Eye, Elder Lu didn¡¯t lie. The others also confirmed through divination and star observation. Was it all coincidence?


    Elder Lu instructed two nearby to hunt for game for dinner. They roasted the meat and shared it. Elder Lu said, "It seems the celestial treasure is beyond our reach. Continuing to pursue it might cost us all. Let¡¯s rest tonight and return tomorrow."


    Liu Shantang¡¯s Huang Qi said, "We¡¯ve come so far, Elder Lu. You said it guards the treasure. Shouldn¡¯t we try again?"


    Huang Qi, the elder of Liu Shantang, had a plain appearance, unremarkable among the crowd.


    The Yimen elder, the highest-cultivated woman, hesitated but didn¡¯t speak.


    Elder Lu snorted, "We faced it once and lost many. Escaping for days, do you think we can defeat it? If you wish, you can lead Liu Shantang. We won¡¯t go."


    "This¡­" Huang Qi sighed, "Elder Lu, we need to work together to stand a chance. Going alone is suicide."


    Elder Lu, "Going together is still suicide."


    Silence fell. No one spoke. Elder Lu looked at Qin Xiansheng. As the leader of Jumen, Qin Xiansheng had the highest cultivation. Elder Lu asked, "Master Qin, what¡¯s your plan?"


    Qin Xiansheng said, "We¡¯re just here for a tour. This has nothing to do with us. We have no interest in the treasure. We¡¯ll leave as soon as it¡¯s light."

 Awakening of the Black Panther

    Unmarried wife, everyone¡¯s eyes fell on Gu Qin. Some young women couldn¡¯t help but envy and feel jealous. Hearing about Master Qin, they knew he was mysterious. Now seeing he was a handsome man, they couldn¡¯t help but admire him.


    Where would one know that such a man also had an fiancee, feeling envious and jealous is quite normal.


    These followers were all considered the most talented from their respective sects, with cultivation levels among the highest in their generation. Gu Qin appeared younger than them, but her cultivation level could not be probed. They did not think that Gu Qin''s cultivation was higher than theirs; they would only consider her an ordinary person.


    Gu Qin was beautiful, with a face that lacked any aggressive features, appearing gentle and delicate. There were many beautiful women in this world, and among the sect''s disciples, Lu Yueyue was exceptionally beautiful, with unparalleled beauty. She was the youngest disciple of the Sect, around eighteen or nineteen years old, about the same age as Gu Qin. The sect''s masters, senior sisters, senior brothers, elders, and sect leader all doted on her, making her somewhat spoiled. Looking at Gu Qin, she asked Qin Xiansheng, "Sect Leader Qin, with your high cultivation, why must you choose someone without any cultivation as your fianc¨¦e? She is not worthy of you, and as her appearance ages, you remain unchanged. There are many fine women in this world."


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but lift the corner of her mouth slightly.


    Qin Xiansheng looked at Lu Yueyue, his gentle gaze turning stern as he coldly said, "Shut up." His aura grew even stronger, causing everyone to fall silent instantly.


    Lu Yueyue''s face turned ugly, glaring at Gu Qin. Qin Xiansheng was someone she dared not provoke, but she wasn''t afraid of this person who knew nothing.


    Master L¨¹ scolded, "Yueyue, do not be impolite!" Then he turned to apologize to Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin.


    Mosi Yan smiled from the side, "Enough, it''s late, let''s rest. In case that thing comes back, we should have the energy to run away."


    Everyone dispersed and stopped discussing. After a while, two disciples from the Mystic Sect returned with some game. Everyone gathered to cook and eat before resting.


    When they left, they had left behind their tents and other belongings. The two of them could only endure the night in the snow. Different sects formed small groups, and Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng were a bit distant from the others. Mosi Yan looked around and ran over to Gu Qin''s group.


    Mosi Yan looked at Gu Qin with a pitiful expression, "Since you''re Senior Brother''s fianc¨¦e, I''ll call you Sister-in-law. Sister-in-law, I want to stay with you. I don''t know them and don''t want to be alone. I''ll sleep here tonight too."


    Gu Qin said, "It''s up to you. It''s not like it''s our territory." Sleep wherever you want.


    Mosi Yan squatted beside them, watching the two of them. They couldn''t chat much, and Gu Qin fell asleep in Qin Xiansheng''s arms. Qin Xiansheng leaned against an ancient tree, closing his eyes.


    "Senior Brother..." Mosi Yan said with a thick skin, "I don''t expect to find those treasures anymore. Can I go with you tomorrow?"


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Sure."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother." Mosi Yan beamed with joy.


    It seemed that everyone had been exhausted these few days. The disciples from the other three sects slept deeply. They had already been tired for several days, and the elders didn''t want anyone to stand guard. The three of them took turns keeping watch. By the end of the third watch, dawn broke on the horizon. Huang Qi was the last one to take the watch, but he was already exhausted from the escape. Even the short rest he had taken earlier was not enough, and he started to feel drowsy while on watch.


    It was Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin who noticed something amiss. They both opened their eyes and looked into the distance, their faces serious.


    Qin Xiansheng got up and went to the center, "Wake up quickly, that thing is coming!"


    Gu Qin had already opened her Heavenly Eye and saw the giant creature through the layers of ancient trees. Her eyes widened, and she couldn''t help but gasp. It was a dragon, an yin beast similar to the White Tiger General. However, it was extremely rare for a dragon to become an yin beast.


    Yin beasts could be cultivated within human bodies, like Qin Xiansheng, or they could become yin beasts when their bodies died with great resentment and memories of their past lives.


    Regardless of which way it happened, it was extremely rare.


    Gu Qin wasn''t sure if this dragon belonged to the former or latter category, but no matter which, it was very difficult for it to recognize a master like General, although it wasn''t impossible. After all, General had recognized her and Qin Xiansheng as masters.


    She also couldn''t be certain whether this yin beast had a master or was truly just guarding the treasure. She couldn''t see through the yin beast''s past, and its aura was extremely fierce. With a decaying body, it was difficult to discern its history, and she didn''t have enough time to use hand seals to focus on observing the yin beast''s past.


    She knew this yin beast was incredibly strong, and they might not be able to defeat it together. This was the first time Gu Qin encountered such a powerful being in this life and her previous one.


    "Let''s go!" Gu Qin rushed to Qin Xiansheng, "There''s no need to confront it head-on, let''s leave!"


    "Is that thing coming?" Master L¨¹ asked, his face serious.


    Qin Xiansheng nodded, "Hurry and wake everyone up to leave."


    Master L¨¹ and Huang Qi, along with the female elder from Yi Sect, woke up the people from each sect. Perhaps they were too exhausted, and they needed to be called multiple times before waking up, looking confused, "Elders, what''s going on?"Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Quickly leave, that thing is chasing us," even they could sense that it was close by.


    Everyone''s faces changed dramatically, panicking to leave.


    Gu Qin, Qin Xiansheng, and Mosi Yan looked up and saw the approaching creature, their faces grim. "Too late." The thing had arrived.


    Most people couldn''t see it, and even the elders needed to use hand seals to form arrays to see what it was. By now, the creature was right in front of them. The three elders used hand seals to form arrays, while Gu Qin, Qin Xiansheng, and Mosi Yan moved towards the yin beast.


    From the start, Gu Qin didn''t hold back. She drew her Liuguang sword and leaped forward, stabbing directly.


    Her speed was incredibly fast, and everyone only saw a fleeting shadow and a flash of golden light. They heard a clanging sound, as if something had hit a hard object.


    Gu Qin put all her strength into the stab. The yin beast''s scales were extremely thick, but Liuguang was no ordinary weapon. With her full force, the sword pierced through the scales and struck the yin beast.


    A sharp sound reverberated through everyone''s ears, making them feel a buzzing sensation. It was hard to tell what kind of sound it was, almost like a dragon''s roar.


    The yin beast attacked, swinging its tail with full force, barely missing Gu Qin. Before it could hit her, Qin Xiansheng pushed her away. He slapped a talisman onto the yin beast. Mosi Yan also joined the fight, engaging the yin beast.


    Seeing this, the three elders also gave it their all.


    Only the disciples from different sects couldn''t see where the yin beast was, their faces filled with confusion. Without knowing its position, they couldn''t help much and could only wait. Seeing Gu Qin take action, they were shocked. They thought this ordinary-looking girl was actually more powerful than them.


    "Something''s wrong, look at Gu Qin''s movements. So fast, and she can draw talismans in mid-air. Even our elders can''t match her speed," someone exclaimed, full of admiration and envy.


    Lu Yueyue snorted, "So what? She might be a hundred-year-old old woman. Of course, her cultivation is high. When we reach her age, our cultivation will be even higher."


    "She doesn''t look like it," someone whispered, "She seems to be around the same age as you."


    Lu Yueyue snapped, "Shut up!"


    The battle raged on. The yin beast, after being stabbed by Gu Qin and hit by Qin Xiansheng and Mosi Yan, was furious. Its large eyes glowed menacingly, and its yin qi surged. It swung its tail towards the three of them.


    They dodged nimbly, with the help of the three elders, managing to keep the yin beast at bay.


    Liuguang could absorb yin qi. Seeing how tenacious the yin beast was, Gu Qin clenched her teeth and slammed Liuguang into the ground, forming hand seals...


    "Stop!" Qin Xiansheng stepped forward to stop her, "This yin beast is too powerful. Using Liuguang to absorb its yin qi is impossible. If it stops midway, Liuguang will be damaged."


    Gu Qin slapped a virtual talisman, "Brother Qin, we have to try. We''ve only managed to keep it at bay so far, while the yin beast hasn''t used its full strength. The longer we fight, the less energy we have, and the smaller our chances of winning."


    "I''ll do it," Qin Xiansheng said, seeing she was determined, "Distract it, and I''ll set up the array to aid Liuguang."


    Gu Qin, due to her Heavenly Eye, had abundant energy, several times more than the others. She could continuously draw talismans in mid-air, making her the best at suppressing the yin beast. She agreed and warned, "Brother Qin, be careful."


    With that, Gu Qin focused on distracting the yin beast, running toward its back and delivering a palm strike. She sent talismans flying to divert its attention. As expected, the yin beast abandoned Qin Xiansheng to chase after Gu Qin. Gu Qin dodged, avoiding engagement, aiming to keep the yin beast occupied while Qin Xiansheng set up the array.


    Qin Xiansheng formed the hand seals, completing the array in thirty seconds. He slapped Liuguang into the ground, and immediately, the surrounding yin qi intensified. The yin beast''s yin qi surged towards Liuguang...


    The others watched in awe. Someone murmured, "What cultivation does Gu Qin have? I saw her cast dozens of talismans in a row, drawing them in mid-air. It''s unbelievable."


    Lu Yueyue''s eyes were fixed on Liuguang. Excitedly, she said, "Did you see that? That''s a weapon, a weapon of attack. It must be of high quality. I can feel how powerful it is, similar to that invisible thing."


    They could only sense the yin qi, not see it. Liuguang was a tangible object, visible, but they couldn''t see its surrounding yin qi, only sense it.


    Someone said, "Sister, that thing is beyond our reach."


    Despite their interest in the weapon, they understood that they couldn''t control it, and there was no desire to steal it.


    Lu Yueyue sighed longingly, "If only I could have such a weapon someday when my cultivation improves."


    Others rolled their eyes. Weapons were rare, especially high-quality attack weapons, even more so. Like those treasures, they required good fortune to encounter.


    Liuguang absorbed the yin qi from the yin beast, infuriating it further. Wanting to destroy the source, it was held back by the others, especially the petite human, who repeatedly struck it, causing burning pain. Filled with rage, it abandoned the others and focused on the petite human.


    Roars echoed, with some experiencing ringing ears, others choking and spitting blood. Even Gu Qin felt her ears ringing and her head dizzy.


    The yin beast seemed enraged by Gu Qin''s actions, attacking only her fiercely. It appeared even stronger than before, moving faster. Gu Qin found it harder to dodge. Qin Xiansheng struggled to manage the array, leaving them to engage the yin beast.


    Gradually, the yin qi from the yin beast was absorbed by Liuguang, causing Liuguang to act erratically. The yin beast became more agitated, roaring at Gu Qin. Just as she was hit by the roar, her mind buzzed, and her movements slowed.


    Seizing the opportunity, the yin beast''s long tail swung towards her. Qin Xiansheng, farthest away, saw this and stopped the array, rushing towards her... but he was too late.


    Gu Qin sensed yin qi surging towards her face. Instinctively, she tried to dodge, but another body collided with hers. "Be careful..." It was Mosi Yan''s voice. They were hit by the yin beast''s tail, but she felt no pain, protected tightly by Mosi Yan. They were thrown several meters away, hearing a splat. Turning, she saw Mosi Yan spitting blood, a strong scent of blood filling the air.


    Gu Qin didn''t have time to check on him, only placing her hand over his chest to transfer energy to protect his heart.


    Seeing the yin beast charging again, Gu Qin briefly protected Mosi Yan''s heart before rushing towards it, deliberately drawing it away to avoid hurting him further.


    Gu Qin charged at the yin beast, stimulated by its attacks. She fought fiercely, striking it with talismans, causing it to roar again, though weaker than before.


    Qin Xiansheng joined her, relieved she was unharmed, abandoning the array to help.


    Without the array''s support, Liuguang continued absorbing the yin qi, albeit slower.


    Perhaps Liuguang had absorbed too much yin qi earlier, and the yin beast began to falter. Roaring, it turned and fled.


    Gu Qin and the others didn''t pursue, knowing they couldn''t do anything more. It was better to leave.


    The three elders nearly collapsed, their energy depleted. If they had continued fighting, they would have collapsed from exhaustion. Now, they were struggling to regain control, supported by their respective sect members.


    The other sect members, affected by the roars, had suffered internal injuries. Their brief recovery was incomplete.


    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng hurried to Mosi Yan''s side, checking his breathing, relieved he was alive.


    "He''s fine," Gu Qin sighed.


    Qin Xiansheng explained, "He''s similar to me. These yin qi won''t harm him much, just some internal injuries."


    They were distracted, not noticing Liuguang.


    Liuguang remained still, surrounded by dense yin qi.


    Lu Yueyue, however, noticed Liuguang. Greed clouded her vision. She walked closer, reaching out...


    Before her finger touched Liuguang, she screamed and was thrown back several meters.


    Everyone turned to see Lu Yueyue lying on the ground, bleeding from her nose and mouth.


    Qin Xiansheng knew what happened and frowned, "Idiot!" He walked towards Liuguang, taking it and putting it away. He couldn''t show it to Gu Qin in front of everyone, as Liuguang was a high-grade attack weapon, tempting enough for others to try stealing it.


    If word got out, others might come for Liuguang, and they would only seek him out.


    This time, he had to reveal Liuguang, as it was crucial in driving away the yin beast.


    After securing Liuguang, Qin Xiansheng ignored Lu Yueyue and returned to Gu Qin, "Let''s go down the mountain. Although he''s fine, we should rest soon."


    Master L¨¹ heard Lu Yueyue''s groans and rushed to her side, checking her breath, weak and her face pale. He cursed inwardly, "Idiot," but had to plead with Qin Xiansheng, "Sect Leader Qin, please save Yueyue. She''s young and didn''t mean to take your things, just curious..."


    Qin Xiansheng replied coldly, "Curious? Even with low cultivation, she could feel the power of the weapon yet still touched it. How can I believe she had no greed? Sorry, I won''t save her."


    "Sect Leader Qin," Master L¨¹ hesitated, "Even if she had greed, she has been punished. I''ll teach her better. Please save her life."


    Qin Xiansheng lowered his eyelids, "No. If you''re wise, you wouldn''t waste time begging me but find another way to save her."


    His tone was emotionless, offering no sympathy.


    Master L¨¹ grew angry, "Sect Leader Qin, I wouldn''t beg if my energy wasn''t depleted."


    Qin Xiansheng replied coldly, "If we hadn''t helped against the yin beast, do you think you''d still be standing here lecturing me?"


    Master L¨¹ was speechless, realizing Qin Xiansheng wouldn''t save her. Sighing, he turned away.


    Lu Yueyue''s condition worsened. Master L¨¹ sought help from the other two sect elders, hoping they could temporarily stabilize her heart. Alone, he couldn''t manage. The other two elders, having some connection with Master L¨¹, couldn''t refuse, forming an array to stabilize Lu Yueyue.


    Qin Xiansheng paid no heed, telling Gu Qin, "I''ll carry him. Let''s leave now."


    Gu Qin nodded. She didn''t comment on Lu Yueyue''s situation, as she wouldn''t save her anyway. Such a personality would eventually resent them.


    Qin Xiansheng carried Mosi Yan, and the three headed down the mountain.


    Their energy depleted, they moved slowly, reaching the foot of the mountain by evening. They found the hired vehicle there and drove to the city. Along the way, Mosi Yan remained unconscious.


    In the city, they couldn''t take him to the hospital, as it would be useless. They checked into a hotel, waiting for Mosi Yan to wake up.


    Mosi Yan, hit by the yin beast''s tail, suffered internal injuries besides the yin qi entering his body. He needed rest.

 Collapse of the Feng Shui Array

    Gu Qin watched the unconscious, pale-faced man lying on the bed. She retrieved the ginseng she had found in the mountains, slicing thin pieces for him to s*ck on. It would replenish him and provide spiritual energy.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Let''s wait. I''ll go buy some food, you watch over him."


    After buying food, they ate and rested. Qin Xiansheng stayed in the same room as Mosi Yan for easier care, while Gu Qin stayed in the adjacent room.


    The next morning, Mosi Yan woke up in agony. The yin qi inside him stirred, causing intense pain, making him sweat profusely and tremble uncontrollably, biting his lips to stifle cries.


    Gu Qin worriedly asked, "Why is the yin beast stirring now?"


    Xian Sheng placed his hand on Wan Suiyan''s wrist, transferring his primordial energy, "The yin beast''s yin qi entered his body yesterday, awakening the yin beast again. This time, it might not be easy to bear." Every time the yin beast wreaked havoc inside them, they could only endure it. If they couldn''t bear it, the outcome would be death.


    Qin Xian Sheng continued, "The two of us will take turns helping him."


    Gu Qin nodded.


    Primordial energy was continuously transferred into Wan Suiyan''s body. After several hours, Qin Xian Sheng began to feel exhausted and handed over to Gu Qin, who placed her hand on his heart pulse, slowly transferring the energy.


    It wasn''t until evening that Wan Suiyan stopped struggling and fell into a peaceful sleep.


    The next morning, Wan Suiyan woke up and saw the two of them sitting nearby on the sofa. He struggled to sit up and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother and Sister-in-law."


    "I should be the one thanking you. If not for you, I''d be the one lying in bed," Gu Qin walked over and asked, "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"


    Wan Suiyan replied, "I''d like something light. Sister-in-law, could you buy some for me?" His appearance looked pitiful, and Gu Qin couldn''t help but sigh and turned to leave.


    She bought some clear porridge and small dishes and returned. Wan Suiyan ate everything clean. Qin Xian Sheng said, "You''re almost recovered. My wife and I are going back tomorrow. What about you?"


    Wan Suiyan smiled bitterly, "To be honest, these years, I''ve been traveling all over without a fixed place to stay. If you don''t mind, I''d like to go back with you to Jiumen."


    Qin Xian Sheng was silent for a moment before saying, "Alright, then you can come back with me tomorrow."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother," Wan Suiyan said. "I know what you''re worried about¡ªis it because I''m in contact with my master? I laughed at myself. After he treated me like that, I haven''t seen him since I ran away. As for when I escaped, I didn''t have your ability to hurt him. More importantly, it was because of him that I survived. At that time, I was young, and my father often beat me. That time, he nearly killed me, breaking several bones, with blood pouring from my nose and eyes. It was Master who found me and took me back."


    He paused and continued, "Regardless of his intentions, he saved me. So, these past years, I''ve avoided him, fearing I might be unable to resist the urge to strike back. After enduring so much over a hundred years, I''ve paid back every bit of the debt."


    Gu Qin saw genuine pain in his expression and believed his words, reducing her doubts.


    After listening, Qin Xian Sheng did not comment much, only saying, "Tomorrow, when we return to Jiumen, just say I''m your senior brother. Stay there and recover."


    "Okay," Wan Suiyan said, feeling tired and went back to sleep.


    Gu Qin booked tickets for the next morning. Two days later, it would be New Year''s Eve, and they would arrive right on time.


    Just as she finished booking the tickets, Cheng Yinxiang called. Seeing Gu Qin answer, she panicked and said, "Finally, you picked up. Where have you been? Why couldn''t I reach you? You scared me."


    Gu Qin smiled, "Mom, Qin Brother and I went into the mountains and found some good things. Don''t worry, we''ll be back tomorrow. Have Uncle Lu book the hotel first; we''ll have the New Year''s dinner soon."


    "Good, good. As long as you''re fine, I''m relieved. Your Uncle Lu has already reserved the restaurant."


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    They chatted for a bit and hung up. Gu Qin turned to Qin Xian Sheng and said, "Mom invited you to have New Year''s Eve dinner with us."


    Qin Xian Sheng said warmly, "Alright, let''s have lunch with Uncle and Aunt, and you can join me for dinner at Jiumen."


    Gu Qin nodded.


    The next morning, the three of them boarded the plane back to Beijing.


    Wan Suiyan and Qin Xian Sheng went to Jiumen and didn''t show up for two days. On New Year''s Eve, he came with gifts. The family went to the hotel for New Year''s dinner. Coincidentally, they met old acquaintances, the Bai family.


    Bai Father brought his family out for New Year''s dinner and greeted Gu Qing when he saw her, "Miss Gu, it''s fate. We meet again."


    Gu Qing smiled, "Mr. Bai, hello."


    The two younger sons of the Bai family also came forward to greet her respectfully. The youngest son, Bai Lao San, was now truly frightened after being educated by his father and second brother. He knew this girl was truly dangerous and someone he could not afford to offend.


    The Bai family had started doing business again and was now more honest. They had won a bid for a piece of land and secured a bank loan. Over the years, the Bai family in Beijing had never been idle; even if they were down on their luck, they always had a few true friends willing to help. Therefore, it wasn''t difficult for them to rise again.


    This piece of land could make them a lot of money. It was just a transition. With Bai Father''s eye for opportunity, the Bai family''s revival was not far off. However, Bai Father was well aware that even if the Bai family rose again, he still dared not offend this girl.


    After a few words, Bai Father led his two sons back to their private room. On the way back, Bai Father couldn''t help but scold Bai Third Young Master, "Remember, this is our lucky break. We got this piece of land to rise again. Don''t mess around and offend people, especially Miss Gu."


    Bai Third Young Master was impatient, "Alright, alright, I get it. I''m not stupid. Besides, it wasn''t me who offended her. It was Dad. When Dad tried to deal with her brother, that''s how our Bai family ended up like this."


    Bai Father was speechless and didn''t speak anymore.


    Gu Qing had dinner with her family and, in the afternoon, went with Qin Xian Sheng to Jiumen. This was Gu Qing''s first time visiting Jiumen, and there weren''t many people there.


    Qin Xian Sheng was the head of Jiumen and had three apprentices. His eldest and second apprentices had been traveling for many years and hadn''t returned. His youngest apprentice was someone Qin Xian Sheng had taken in a few years ago. Gu Qing had met him a few times and remembered his name¡ªZhu Xi.


    The rest of the members of Jiumen were either disciples of his eldest or second apprentices or those who had joined due to certain fates.


    Apart from these people, Jiumen hadn''t recruited anyone for at least a few years.


    Jiumen was located in a large courtyard house in Beijing. This courtyard house was big enough to accommodate thirty people.


    This was Qin Xian Sheng''s first time bringing someone to Jiumen, so everyone was familiar with Gu Qing. Zhu Xi had always known that his master favored Gu Qing and had mentioned her frequently within the sect. Therefore, it wasn''t surprising that others knew of her.


    As soon as they arrived, Zhu Xi called her ''Shifu Niang,'' and others followed suit with various respectful titles.


    The New Year''s dinner was very lively, with a big group of people, setting up three tables. Qin Xian Sheng rarely showed such a warm smile.


    After the dinner, Qin Xian Sheng took her to see Old Mu. Gu Qing gave Mu Lao a small box containing the dried ginseng slices she had processed.


    She had cut one of the ginseng roots into thin slices to dry, while the other was naturally air-dried. She didn''t dare give Cheng Yinxiang the ginseng slices yet, as they were too nourishing. With her current cultivation, she didn''t need such strong tonics. However, Lu Qingrong could benefit from a very thin slice, which could be used to make tea. She only needed a little, about one or two slices a month.


    Cutting the ginseng into very thin slices yielded hundreds of pieces, paper-thin. She gave Old Mu about a dozen slices, which she could see would be very beneficial to his health.


    Though the amount seemed small, it was enough for Old Mu to last a year. Gu Qing put the slices in a small glass bottle with a wooden stopper and delivered it to Mu Lao.


    Mu Lao did not refuse and pulled out the stopper, sniffing it, then turned to Gu Qing and said, "Qin Qin, this is a precious thing. This ginseng must be at least a hundred years old."


    Gu Qing smiled, "It''s probably five or six hundred years old. I stumbled upon it by chance, and it''s not much. I brought some for Mu Lao. This ginseng is very nourishing. Use it twice a week to stew soup."


    "Then I won''t be polite," Mu Lao chuckled.


    Just then, Mu Jing Juan returned, her eyes red. Seeing Gu Qing there, she paused for a moment before sitting down beside Mu Lao on the sofa, "Dad, Xiao Yue has realized her mistake. Please let her come back. This child says she''s not doing well abroad and keeps having nightmares and bad luck. She''s been in the hospital several times this month. Dad, please let Xiao Yue come back."


    Mu Lao''s face darkened, "It''s New Year''s Day, do you really want to ruin everyone''s mood?"


    Mu Jing Juan covered her eyes and sobbed for a moment, "Dad, I didn''t mean to. You said today is a day for reunion. Only Xiao Yue is alone abroad. How can I, as a mother, not be concerned?"


    Xu Lian brought a cup of tea to Mu Jing Juan, "You know your father is firm in his decisions. Moreover, those who make mistakes should be punished. Don''t worry, disciplining her now is better than letting her cause bigger problems later, isn''t it?"


    Mu Jing Juan was speechless and could no longer bring up her daughter''s situation.


    After drinking tea and watching TV with Mu Lao, they returned home. On the way, Gu Qing asked Qin Xian Sheng, "Brother Qin, why does Kong Xiaoyue keep having nightmares?"


    Qin Xian Sheng said gently, "I placed something on her, but don''t worry. It won''t kill her. She will definitely suffer some consequences."


    After seeing Mu Lao''s face, he spared her life, but the suffering was quite severe, especially the mental torment.


    ***


    Regarding Kong Xiaoyue, Gu Qing''s view was similar to Xu Lian''s. She thought that Xiaoyue should suffer a little to prevent future disasters.


    Kong Xiaoyue indeed had a tough time abroad. Nightly nightmares were the worst torture, along with other misfortunes. She lost about twenty pounds, became emaciated, with sunken eyes and a pale, sallow complexion.


    During the New Year, being alone abroad was heartbreaking. She couldn''t help but call her family, pleading with Mu Jing Juan to convince her grandfather to let her return. Mu Jing Juan promised to mention it during the New Year''s dinner, telling her to wait for a call later.


    When Mu Jing Juan called at ten o''clock, Xiaoyue anxiously answered, "Mom, how did it go?"


    Mu Jing Juan sighed, "Xiaoyue, your grandpa disagrees..."


    "How could this be?" Xiaoyue''s mind buzzed. "Mom, I''ve already realized my mistake. Why won''t Grandpa let me come back? Mom..."


    "Xiaoyue," Mu Jing Juan''s voice choked. "You know your grandpa''s temper. He said three years... I estimate it''ll be less than three years before he lets you come back."


    Seeing her daughter''s condition on video, Mu Jing Juan felt immense heartache and wanted to go abroad to be with her. But her position made it impossible, requiring approval from her superior.


    "Mom..." Xiaoyue screamed and burst into tears. "I can''t take it anymore. I have nightmares every night, Mom, I''ll call Grandpa and beg him..."


    "Xiaoyue, you know your grandpa''s temper. I''ve begged several times. If you beg again, he might keep you out for two more years... Forget it, Xiaoyue. I''ll find someone to go with you and get through these three years."


    "Mom, I don''t want to, I just want to come back to China, Mom..." Xiaoyue cried more desperately.


    Mu Jing Juan tried to comfort her for a long time before hanging up, feeling heartbroken by her daughter''s cries.


    Xiaoyue stared blankly at her phone, "Mom, I know I was wrong, Grandpa, I know I was wrong, I won''t do it again, I promise, I''m sorry..."


    But no one heard her plea.


    After the New Year, Mu Jing Juan indeed hired someone to accompany Xiaoyue, offering a generous salary. Several people applied, and she chose someone close to her daughter''s age. The visa process was smooth, and the girl arrived within days.


    When she saw Xiaoyue, the girl was shocked. The photos showed a beautiful girl, but the real Xiaoyue was frightening, her face pale, with deep dark circles under her eyes. She asked, "Miss Kong, are you okay?"

 Souls Struggle

    Xiaoyue looked up blankly and shook her head.


    The girl introduced herself and told Xiaoyue, "Mrs. Mu is very worried about you and hired me to accompany you. Miss Kong, I can cook and do household chores. Don''t worry, I''ll take care of everything."


    Xiaoyue nodded numbly. She had tried having others sleep with her, but they still had nightmares. Even the person accompanying her had nightmares. They thought it was coincidence, but the nightmares persisted. The person eventually couldn''t take it and left.


    Xiaoyue clung to a glimmer of hope that this new girl wouldn''t have nightmares and could stay with her. But the next morning, the girl looked haggard and fearful.


    "Did you have a nightmare?" Xiaoyue asked.


    The girl quickly shook her head, "No, no, Miss Kong, don''t worry."


    Xiaoyue scoffed but said nothing.


    A few days later, the girl couldn''t handle it anymore. The nightmares were too real, filled with demons and horrors. Within days, she had lost weight and looked terrible. She called Mu Jing Juan, "Mrs. Mu, I''m sorry, I can''t do this. I''m having nightmares too. I''ll be back soon, I''m sorry."


    Mu Jing Juan held the phone in silence, finally sighing.


    A few days later, the girl returned to China. Xiaoyue stared blankly at the empty room.


    Mu Jing Juan was at a loss. Her daughter had told her that everyone who stayed with her had nightmares, but she didn''t believe it until now. What could she do?


    However, Mu Jing Juan suddenly realized that her daughter had offended Gu Qing, and Gu Qing was a feng shui master. Only a feng shui master could do this. Was it possible that Gu Qing had placed some kind of curse on her?


    Thinking of this possibility, Mu Jing Juan was anxious and immediately went to Cheng Yinxiang''s beauty salon, where she found Gu Qing.


    Since school hadn''t started after the New Year, Gu Qing often spent time at the salon with Cheng Yinxiang after finishing her own affairs.


    When Mu Jing Juan arrived, Gu Qing raised an eyebrow, "Madam Mu, is there something you need to discuss?"


    Mu Jing Juan glanced at Gu Qing, "I have something I''d like to discuss privately. Can we talk?"


    Gu Qing nodded and told Cheng Yinxiang, "Mom, take a rest. I''ll join you shortly." They went to a meeting room. Gu Qing asked, "Madam Mu, is this about your daughter? Do you think her frequent bad luck and nightmares are due to my actions?"


    Mu Jing Juan, convinced by Gu Qing''s words, did not directly answer and said, "Miss Gu, Xiao Yue has realized her mistakes. Could you please forgive her? I don''t ask for her to come back, just that she doesn''t have nightmares every night. Miss Gu, please."


    Gu Qing smiled, "Madam Mu, you''re mistaken. I never touched your daughter. If I had, I wouldn''t have let her off so easily. This was done by Qin Brother. You can ask him."


    Mu Jing Juan was stunned, silent, unsure whether to believe Gu Qing. She suddenly recalled investigating Gu Qing and learned about Bai Family''s downfall due to offending Gu Jia, which Gu Qing had orchestrated. This showed Gu Qing''s protection for her family.


    She shivered. If Gu Qing had acted, Xiaoyue would have suffered more than just nightmares. Could it really be Qin Xian Sheng?


    Thinking it was Qin Xian Sheng, Mu Jing Juan felt relieved. She had known him for years and believed he would be reasonable.


    Mu Jing Juan left and sought out Qin Xian Sheng, explaining her request and Xiaoyue''s remorse.


    Qin Xian Sheng''s face was cold, "This is her deserved punishment. I won''t undo it. Madam Mu, honestly, if not for my respect for Mu Lao, I wouldn''t have been so lenient. Don''t come to me about this again."


    "Xian Sheng..." Mu Jing Juan pleaded, "Can''t you do anything? Just stop her from having nightmares every night. She looks awful."


    Qin Xian Sheng replied, "If she wants to stop having nightmares, she needs to change her ways. She needs to turn towards goodness."


    "What do you mean?" Mu Jing Juan was confused.


    Qin Xian Sheng explained, "She was arrogant and reckless, committing minor evils repeatedly. If she sincerely repents and turns towards goodness, these symptoms will improve."


    "But she knows she''s wrong and has sincerely repented. Why..."


    "To truly be good, to genuinely help others, Madam Mu, do you understand?"


    Qin Xian Sheng''s approach was harsh. He was forcing Xiaoyue to genuinely repent. If she didn''t, the nightmares would continue.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Mu Jing Juan remained silent, knowing there was no other way. She could only hope Xiaoyue would truly change.


    After the conversation, Mu Jing Juan called Xiaoyue, relaying Qin Xian Sheng''s words. Xiaoyue was silent for a long time before speaking softly, "Mom, I understand. I''ll hang up now."


    Mu Jing Juan sighed, hoping her daughter would truly change.


    Meanwhile, Gu Qing resumed her studies. University courses were busy, unlike high school where understanding textbook knowledge was sufficient. In university, she experienced a mini-society and learned many practical skills. Being from another era and needing to learn many new things, she rarely missed classes.


    She attended every class she could.


    After school started, Gu Qing occasionally stayed in the dormitory but mostly went home. Cheng Yinxiang was pregnant and due in three months. Gu Qing wanted to spend more time with her mother.


    On the first day of school, teachers had a meeting in the morning, and students had free time in the afternoon, with classes starting officially the next day.


    Returning to the dormitory, Qian Shan Shan said she was going to withdraw money and buy something, asking everyone to accompany her. Since Zhang Xiaowen had gone back, the dormitory was quieter.


    Dufei was here at this time as well. Upon hearing that they were going to withdraw money, she said she wanted to go with them. The four of them went out the door. There were quite a few banks near the school, and Qianshan''s money was all stored in the state-owned bank. The road they took had the state-owned bank at one end, the Construction Bank in the middle, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank closest.


    The state-owned bank was at the end of the alley, while the Industrial and Commercial Bank was the closest, and the Construction Bank was in between.


    It was raining today, and since it was near a school, there weren''t many students out. They were all staying in their dorms either sleeping or playing on their computers.


    Gu Qin and the others went to the state-owned bank with their umbrellas. Just after walking into the alley for a few minutes, Gu Qin suddenly changed her expression. She grabbed the other three girls urgently, "Wait..."


    The others turned around, "Qin Qin, what¡¯s wrong?"


    Gu Qin looked around, her expression becoming more and more serious, "Something bad is about to happen here. We can¡¯t go any further."


    "What¡¯s going on?" Qianshan also changed her expression. She knew about Gu Qin''s extraordinary abilities. If Gu Qin said something bad would happen, then it definitely would.


    "A strong Yin Qi. Something big will happen here soon. Go back first," Gu Qin now saw a thick layer of Yin Qi spreading in the alley. Unlike YinQi, which usually formed from intense resentment after someone or some creature died, Yin Qi was much simpler. It appeared immediately around a person right after death.


    With so much Yin Qi, it was clear that many people had died here.


    "Yin Qi? Qin Qin, can you see Yin Qi?" Dufei was surprised. She thought Gu Qin could only read faces or tell fortunes. To be able to see Yin Qi meant she must be a very powerful practitioner of esoteric arts.


    "Now I can''t explain too much. Hurry back to school, quickly!" After saying this, Gu Qin opened her Heavenly Eye and observed for a moment. She then understood what was happening. "Hurry up, get moving!"


    "Qin Qin, don¡¯t we need to help you? You¡¯re alone..." Yang Ting hesitated.


    Gu Qin turned around, "No, you won''t be able to help here. In fact, you''ll just distract me. Go back to the dormitory immediately. I''ll tell you everything when I return. Hurry, go!"


    Dufei and Yang Ting were still hesitant, but Qianshan already pulled the two of them back, "Let''s go, we''re heading back."


    The three of them turned and walked back towards the school. On the way, Dufei couldn''t help asking, "What exactly happened?"


    Qianshan looked serious, "Although I don''t know what it is, it must be something serious or dangerous. Qin Qin mentioned Yin Qi. Do you think something terrible might happen here, like many people dying?"


    All three shivered involuntarily and looked up at the drizzling rain.


    Gu Qin watched them leave before raising her head and heading towards the Construction Bank. She moved quickly, covering several kilometers in less than half a minute.


    Just now, she saw through her Heavenly Eye that something was happening inside the Construction Bank. There were robbers, and many people would die.


    When she arrived at the Construction Bank''s entrance, she found the main doors closed, and a woman was loitering outside, muttering, "What¡¯s going on? Why is the bank closed during the day? This is strange. They say they are renovating, but why so suddenly? I haven''t heard anything about a renovation."


    Gu Qin looked up and saw a notice posted on the bank''s iron door stating that it was undergoing renovations and would be closed for the day.


    The woman muttered a few more things and left. Seeing Gu Qin standing there, she said, "Little girl, are you here for business too? There''s another one down the alley to the left. Would you like to come with me?"


    Gu Qin shook her head, "No, I''m just here to withdraw some money." She then approached an ATM.


    Seeing this, the woman didn''t say anything and left.


    Once the woman was gone, Gu Qin checked the surroundings. The ATM was connected to the bank, and the door was pulled down, being a roller shutter door. Gu Qin used a technique, sending a thread of primordial energy through the lock hole, and a slight click was heard.


    Gu Qin walked over, pulled open the roller shutter door, and saw what was happening inside.


    The people inside turned their heads at the sound and were surprised to see a young girl pulling open the roller shutter door.


    Gu Qin glanced around and immediately understood the situation. There were seven robbers, and all sixteen bank staff members were kneeling in the hall with their hands tied.


    One of the robbers, a small man with ordinary looks, shouted at another dark-faced man, "How did you close the door? How did someone get in?"


    The dark-faced man was stunned, "Boss, I closed the door."


    All of them had half their faces covered, only showing their eyes.


    The small man said, "Bad luck for her. Come over and grab her. This is rare. Someone actually tried to enter the bank even though it''s closed."


    Gu Qin remained silent. The robbers thought she was too scared to speak. Only when the dark-faced man came closer did she react, shouting, "What are you doing?"


    The small man laughed wickedly, "Don''t be afraid, little sister. We''re just robbing the place. Just follow our orders, and you''ll be safe. We wouldn''t want such a pretty girl to die..."


    He stopped mid-sentence as he saw the small girl kick the dark-faced man flying five or six meters away. The dark-faced man crashed into the counter, spitting blood and falling unconscious.


    "You...you...who are you?" The small man was terrified, pointing his gun at Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin smiled, "Guess who I am?" Before he could answer, she instantly appeared beside him and punched him, sending him flying several meters. Although he wasn''t knocked unconscious, he couldn''t move due to her blocking his meridians.


    In reality, she had simply blocked his meridians, making him immobile.


    The other robbers realized the girl wasn''t an ordinary person and started shooting at her. Four of them rushed towards her.


    Gu Qin dodged the bullets skillfully and quickly subdued the four attackers, leaving them unable to move.


    Only one robber remained, a tall man about 1.8 meters tall. From his exposed forehead and arms, he looked very pale, with bright eyes and a good-looking face. Seeing that he couldn''t hit Gu Qin, he grabbed a bank employee and held them in front of him, saying sternly, "Don''t come closer. Let us go, and we won''t hurt anyone."


    "Will not hurt anyone?" Gu Qin snorted. She didn''t believe them. She had seen through her Heavenly Eye how vicious these people were.


    "Yes, we won''t hurt anyone. We won''t take the money either. Just let us go, and I''ll release the hostage," the man said calmly, seemingly confident that the girl would back down if she saw a hostage.


    The hostage was a girl, crying silently out of fear.


    Gu Qin didn''t respond and simply used her finger to bind the man''s leg with YinQi, making him immobile. He glared at her, clearly realizing the strange phenomenon was related to her.


    Gu Qin stepped forward and kicked him, knocking him down. With that, all seven robbers were subdued.


    A few were still unconscious. Gu Qin found ropes and tied them together, then removed their masks. The other six looked ordinary, but the tallest man was handsome, almost like a model.


    Only the tallest man was bound by YinQi, and the small man was paralyzed but could still talk. The rest were either unconscious or injured.


    Gu Qin then freed the other hostages and told them to call the police. The survivors were relieved and grateful to Gu Qin. The manager called the police, and they were expected to arrive within three to four minutes.


    The small man was their leader and never imagined they would be caught by a girl. He glared at Gu Qin, "Don''t get too happy. We''ll all die anyway. Let''s all go down together."


    Gu Qin raised an eyebrow, "Who are you hiding explosives with?"


    "What are you talking about? There are no explosives," the small man was shocked but denied it. Since they were caught, they might as well take everyone down with them.


    Gu Qin clenched her teeth and slapped him. She then walked to the counter and found a black bag hidden in a corner. Only the robbers were shocked to see her pull it out.


    Gu Qin carried the bag to the robbers and sneered, "Is this it?"


    These robbers were ruthless, not only robbing but also planting explosives in the bank. The explosives were extremely powerful. Once they got the money and left, the explosives would detonate within minutes, killing countless people, including bank employees and nearby residents or office workers.

 Truth in the Darkness

    The branch manager had already called the police. Seeing the strange situation and the black bag in Gu Qin''s hand, he asked, "What is this?"


    "Bomb," Gu Qin replied calmly.


    The branch manager''s face paled. He had never experienced such a situation and didn''t know what to do. After a while, he stuttered, "Do I need to tell the police about this again?"


    Gu Qin nodded. She then opened the black bag, revealing the bomb with a small screen displaying numbers. Even though she had never seen a timed bomb, she knew from TV what it was.


    The timer showed five minutes remaining.


    Five minutes. The robbers had already taken the money. If she hadn''t arrived, they would have left. The bank staff would have reported the robbery, and the police would have arrived within three to four minutes, giving them less than a minute to search. With only a few seconds left, the bomb would have exploded, causing countless casualties.


    These robbers were meticulous, clearly not valuing human lives and wanting to cause more deaths.


    The small man and the tall man, both calculating, were shocked by this unexpected turn of events.


    The other bank employees were pale upon seeing the bomb. Some wanted to leave but were stopped by the branch manager, "What are you doing? This girl just saved us. Don''t you want to help?"


    No one responded. They were ordinary people who had never dealt with such things.


    The branch manager called the police again, explaining the situation. When the police heard about the bomb, they sent a specialist. Hearing there were only five minutes left, the police were stunned. Finally, they sent a young officer who had some knowledge of explosives.


    No one dared open the bank''s doors, fearing customers might arrive.


    The small man stared at Gu Qin and laughed, "Since we''re all going to die, it''s fine to take everyone down with us. I''ll tell you, this bomb isn''t easy to disarm. It was made by Wu Wu, a versatile talent. No one except him can find the right wires."


    Gu Qin knew about this kind of bomb from TV, understanding that cutting one of several wires would stop the circuit, rendering the bomb useless. Cutting the wrong wire would trigger the explosion.


    She examined the bundle of wires carefully. The small man was somewhat pleased, thinking she couldn''t guess correctly, "See, now you understand how dangerous this bomb is. If you release us now, we can take the bomb and leave, ensuring no one else gets hurt."


    The tall man, named Wu Wu, said, "Girl, you don''t need to die with us. Release us, and we''ll take the bomb and leave. No one else will be harmed. This bomb can''t be disassembled safely. Once you remove the casing, the wires will activate and explode. Only I know which wire is correct..."


    Gu Qin thought, only he knows? That makes things easier.


    However, she had her Heavenly Eye, which could easily see through the bomb. Through the Heavenly Eye, she examined the circuit, which she understood well from her years of study. She pointed to one of the wires and asked, "Is it this one?"


    Wu Wu was alarmed. Only he knew which wire was correct, and even the others didn''t know. Was she guessing?


    Wu Wu shook his head, "Stop guessing. All wrong. You can''t guess right with so many wires. Everyone will die."


    Gu Qin smiled, "Oh? Really wrong?"


    Wu Wu nodded.


    The small man added, "Only Wu Wu knows. Girl, make a deal. Release us, and we''ll take the bomb and leave. Wu Wu will handle it. No one dies, how about that?" Seeing Gu Qin didn''t respond, he looked at the other bank employees, "What do you think? Shouldn''t you convince this girl? Only four minutes left. Do you want to die with us, or let us take the bomb and leave?"


    Some hesitated, seeming tempted.


    Gu Qin used her Heavenly Eye to look at Wu Wu. She had chosen the right wire. She didn''t want to waste time arguing and turned to the branch manager, "Give me a pair of scissors."


    The branch manager was stunned, "This...this..."


    "Quickly! Do you think I''d risk my life for fun?" Gu Qin asked.


    The branch manager, determined, ran back to his office and brought a pair of scissors to Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin held the scissors and cut the selected wire...


    The small man was stunned, "Are you crazy? Do you really want everyone to die?"


    Wu Wu didn''t dare speak, his mind racing. How did she know for sure which wire it was?


    "Manager..." A bank employee couldn''t help but speak, tongue-tied, "Really no need to wait for the police to handle this?"


    Waiting for the police would take another two to three minutes, leaving only one minute for them to figure out the wires, which would be difficult. Finding the right wire would take at least half an hour, but they had no intention of leaving survivors. Unfortunately, they met Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin didn''t have time to let them think. She cut the wire with a snap, causing the other employees to scream and close their eyes. After a few seconds, the explosion and pain didn''t come. Opening their eyes, they saw the digital display on the bomb had stopped, indicating the right wire had been cut.


    Everyone blinked, feeling a sense of survival.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    The branch manager also breathed a sigh of relief but couldn''t help looking at Gu Qin several times. He wondered how a young girl could be so capable, subduing robbers and defusing bombs. But how did she know there were robbers in the bank? Strange indeed.


    The police arrived a few minutes later, along with a bomb squad. They anxiously asked where the bomb was.


    The branch manager pointed to the ground. The officers examined the wires, finding them already severed. Confused, they asked, "What happened? Who cut the wires?"


    Other police officers then handcuffed the robbers.


    The situation was chaotic, and the police took the robbers, Gu Qin, and the bank witnesses back to the station for questioning.


    These robbers, who had planned to kill many, had committed numerous crimes. Gu Qin saw from Wu Wu that they had committed several major cases involving human lives. Usually, Wu Wu would devise detailed plans, and the small man would lead the operation.


    Wu Wu was a highly educated individual, skilled in various fields but with antisocial tendencies, cold-hearted and indifferent to human life, enjoying violence.


    The police station was not under Wu Zhengshan''s jurisdiction. Wu Zhengshan belonged to the Major Crimes Unit, and such cases were beyond the scope of local police. They needed to transfer the case to the Major Crimes Unit. Gu Qin knew Wu Zhengshan, and seeing her there wasn''t surprising; she seemed accustomed to dealing with major cases.


    Wu Zhengshan greeted Gu Qin and reviewed the initial statements. He then said, "The case has been transferred to the Major Crimes Unit. Thank you, brothers."


    Local police knew Wu Zhengshan.


    They then transferred the case to the Major Crimes Unit. During the journey, Wu Zhengshan asked Gu Qin what happened. Gu Qin recounted the story, adding with a wry smile, "The police officer taking my statement earlier had a strange look."


    Wu Zhengshan laughed, "They haven''t dealt with such supernatural matters before. It''s normal they don''t believe. You''ll have to give your statement again once we''re back. Anyway, I thank you sincerely. Otherwise, how many more lives would have been lost?"


    He admired and thanked Gu Qin greatly, especially appreciating her compassion and willingness to save lives.


    "Sure." Gu Qin recalled something, her expression turning serious, "They have committed more than just this case. Captain Wu, you should investigate thoroughly."


    Even without other cases, sentencing these criminals would be complex, with lifetime imprisonment and the ringleader facing execution.


    Wu Zhengshan''s expression also became serious, "Understood."


    At the Major Crimes Unit, Gu Qin cooperated with the questioning. Most people there knew her, and the questioning was gentle. They asked if she was hungry or thirsty, making Gu Qin feel both amused and frustrated.


    By dinner time, Gu Qin finally had a break. Wu Zhengshan originally intended to treat her to dinner, but Gu Qin declined, "Not today. Another time. My roommates are worried sick, having called multiple times. I should go back and tell them."


    Wu Zhengshan agreed, "Go ahead."


    When Gu Qin returned to school, the others were still in the dorm. Seeing her return, they sighed with relief. Yang Ting said, "Qin Qin, you scared us to death. We couldn''t reach you by phone. What happened?"


    Gu Qin briefly explained the situation. The others were dumbfounded. Dufei was excited, "Qin Qin, you can really see Yin Qi?"


    "Indeed," Gu Qin nodded, "I saw the heavy Yin Qi and calculated using my fingers, knowing the bank would be in trouble. So I rushed over."


    This thing, apart from a few close friends knowing, others did not know. Wu Zhengshan also would not publicize it externally. The bank staff seemed to be quite wary of Gu Qin as well, rarely talking about this matter. Therefore, this incident did not spread, and very few people knew that the bank had experienced such a disaster yesterday afternoon.


    Gu Qin did not manage this matter either. She resumed her studies, and at the beginning of the semester, she was quite busy. Apart from her studies, she occasionally went to Dai Mountain, helped with clinics on Sundays, and went to treat Wang Xin every ten days or so. After several months of treatment, half of the cancer in Wang Xin''s body had disappeared. This was still Gu Qin slowing down; otherwise, his recovery speed would have been faster.


    According to this speed, he could be completely cured in two to three months. As for what she feared about the Wang family reneging on their promise, she was not afraid at all and believed that the Wang family would not be foolish enough to offend her.


    In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Wu Zhengshan contacted Gu Qin twice more, informing her about the progress of the bank case. This was considered a major case, and it would definitely be announced to the public in the future, but it would only be made public after the case was prosecuted.


    Gu Qin expressed understanding.


    On this Sunday, Gu Qin took some time off to go to the hospital, saying there was a critically ill patient who needed her help.


    The hospital had already called Gu Qin, and this patient had external injuries from a car accident. A piece of metal had pierced her lung. If they were to remove it directly, the lung would hemorrhage before they could save her. So, they hoped Gu Qin could come and assist with the diagnosis.


    Gu Qin went straight to the hospital after receiving the call. Such injuries could be treated without causing pulmonary hemorrhage if the sharp object was removed without causing bleeding in the lungs. The surgery could rescue the patient. She just needed to use silver needles to seal several acupoints, without having to use her inner energy to save the person.


    During this period, most of the patients the hospital sought out Gu Qin to treat only needed her to exert some effort to seal acupoints, with the rest being treated by Western medicine or surgery. She used her inner energy to save a few, and those people were all good-hearted.


    Soon, she arrived at the hospital. The patient was lying in the operating room, and many experts and professors were still formulating a plan. Gu Qin went to check the wound. The patient was a middle-aged woman in her forties, her clothes soaked through with blood. The situation was somewhat dangerous. If they did not operate soon, she might not survive much longer.


    Gu Qin approached the patient. Although the patient was unconscious, she seemed to be muttering a name faintly.


    "Meimei?" Gu Qin turned and asked, "Who is Meimei?"


    The dean came over and said, "That''s the patient''s daughter. They were both in the same car when the accident happened. The daughter was sitting in the passenger seat. At the moment of the crash, the patient turned right, protecting her daughter, while getting seriously injured herself. Her daughter was also injured, but not severely, and is still being treated."


    Gu Qin nodded and carefully examined the patient. Suddenly, she noticed something amiss. The patient''s complexion was not right. The dean continued, "They are quite lucky. It was reported that the scene was very grim. The entire car was dented from being hit by a large truck. It was said that even the traffic police who went to the scene thought it was a miracle that no one died. The whole car was wrecked."


    Gu Qin opened her Heavenly Eye and saw what had happened at the moment of the accident.


    The patient was discussing where to eat dinner with her daughter, asking if her daughter wanted to go to her favorite French restaurant.


    The daughter was a teenage girl around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a sweet smile, asking her mother, "Mom, will you go with me tonight?"


    The patient nodded, and her daughter smiled. Suddenly, something unexpected happened. The patient realized she couldn''t stop the car. The brakes weren''t working. She was shocked and looked at her daughter, her mind racing. She wasn''t sure if the brake failure was intentional or due to a vehicle malfunction. But she knew that they were on a highway overpass, and a sharp turn was coming up. The car was not slowing down. If the car crashed off the bridge, her daughter would be the first to suffer. Unless...


    Unless she crashed into the oncoming truck, perhaps her daughter could be saved.


    As the curve grew closer, the patient gritted her teeth, turned the wheel, and crashed into the oncoming truck. For a moment, she heard her daughter''s scream...


    Gu Qin closed her Heavenly Eye, feeling uneasy. No matter which choice she made, there was a chance they could both die, but she chose the path that would minimize the harm to her daughter. The love of a mother in this world is great and worthy of respect.


    Moreover, this accident was not simple. The patient''s face showed signs of a small person causing trouble, indicating the accident was intentional.


    But now was not the time to think about this. First, they needed to save the person.


    Gu Qin took out some silver needles and inserted them near the wound, then transferred some of her inner energy into the woman''s body, fearing she might not hold on during the operation. Seeing the patient''s breathing strengthen, she turned and said, "The bleeding has stopped, and I''ve sealed the nearby acupoints. Now we can proceed with the surgery. I''ll be right here. Once the sutures are done, I''ll remove the needles." In fact, she was concerned. Even with the acupoints sealed, the patient''s chances of survival were only fifty percent, and she needed to ensure the patient''s life.


    Just as they were preparing for surgery, a doctor came in, "Dean, a man claiming to be the patient''s husband has come to the hospital."


    The Dean said, "Quickly let him in. There are still many things to sign, and he''s here just in time."


    The doctor quickly brought the man in. He was about the same age as the patient, standing at about 175 cm, with a refined appearance. In his forties, he still maintained a good appearance, dressed neatly in a suit with a black coat, looking anxious.


    When he entered and saw the patient lying on the operating table, his eyes turned red.


    The doctor explained the situation and asked him to sign the agreement. The man glanced at the agreement and asked the Dean, "Dean, what''s the success rate of the surgery?"


    The Dean looked at Gu Qin. If she were involved, the success rate would certainly be one hundred percent. But since Gu Qin didn''t speak, he said, "The surgery has a fifty percent success rate."


    The man frowned, "Fifty percent? No, I need to transfer her to another hospital. I want to transfer her to San Hospital, where there are foreign main surgeons, and the success rate is at least seventy to eighty percent."


    The Dean was stunned, "Sir, please calm down. We understand your concern for the patient, but given her condition, even delaying a few minutes could be fatal. Transferring her now would actually harm her."


    "Why should I believe you!" The man suddenly erupted, his refined face showing a hint of ferocity. "The patient isn''t your relative. With only a fifty percent chance, what if it fails? If it fails, my daughter will lose her mother. I demand that she be transferred!"


    The Dean became anxious, "What''s wrong with you? We''ve already told you that transferring her now is impossible. If you move her, she might die before reaching the hospital."


    The man tugged at his tie, "No wonder there are so many medical disputes nowadays. It''s because of doctors like you, who lack a sense of social responsibility. You only care about making money. Fifty percent is not enough..."


    His eyes began to water, "What if it fails? What if it fails?"


    Gu Qin had opened her Heavenly Eye as soon as the man entered and saw what was happening. She knew it was going to be like this. She smirked, "Transferring her now gives her less than a one percent chance of survival. Are you really so unwilling to see your wife live? Or do you secretly wish for her to die?"


    The man''s face changed dramatically, glaring at Gu Qin, "You, how dare you say such things."

 Destiny

    Gu Qin raised an eyebrow, "Oh, the doctors have clearly told you that transferring her now gives her less than a one percent chance of survival. Why insist on transferring her? It''s hard not to suspect something."


    "I don''t!" The man shouted. "Alright, alright, I agree."


    The doctor brought the agreement over for him to sign. Then he said, "Alright, you can wait outside now."


    The man replied, "Can''t I stay here with my wife?"


    Gu Qin suddenly said, "No need. Your daughter is also hurt and is in the next room. Why don''t you go see her first?"


    The man had no choice but to leave.


    The Dean and the professors started preparing for the surgery. Gu Qin stepped aside, not interfering. Just as the doctor was about to proceed, Gu Qin said, "Wait, I have something to say."


    Everyone thought she had something to tell them, but instead, she walked to the patient and whispered something in her ear. The patient''s fingers moved abruptly, and her heart monitor showed a rapid increase in heartbeat.


    Gu Qin stepped back, "Alright, Dean, you can start now."


    No one asked any further questions. Time was precious, and they needed to operate immediately.


    The surgery lasted four hours and was successful. The patient would only need to stay in the hospital for a while to recover. When they wheeled the patient to the ward, she was still unconscious. Gu Qin transferred some of her inner energy to the patient.


    At the ward, Gu Qin stayed to wait until the patient woke up. Not long after, the patient''s husband returned, looking flustered and sweating profusely. When he entered, Gu Qin sneered but remained silent.


    The man asked, "Is my wife okay?"


    The nurse replied, "Sir, rest assured. Your wife is fine and will be able to leave after some rest."


    The man''s sweat seemed to increase, and he was speechless for a long time. Finally, he was called away by the doctor to get medication.


    A few minutes later, the patient woke up. Her gaze shifted from confusion to clarity and finally settled on Gu Qin. She hesitated, "You... Were you the one who spoke to me earlier?"


    Even in her daze, she remembered a young girl whispering to her, telling her to hold on and not die on the operating table.


    Gu Qin nodded, "Yes, I was the one who spoke to you."


    She told her that the car accident was not an accident but intentional, and to protect her family, she must survive.


    "What did you mean by that?" The woman''s face was pale with fear.


    Gu Qin replied, "It means exactly what it says. You drove the car and should know that the brakes failed. The car had just undergone maintenance, so how could the brakes fail? It must have been intentional. Think about recent events in your family."


    The woman''s name was Bao Lan Chu. The Bao family was wealthy. Bao Lan Chu fell in love with Liang Jun when she was young. Liang Jun came from a mountain village. His family managed to send him to college, and after graduation, he stayed in the city to work. They attended the same school, and Bao Lan Chu, known for her generous personality, pursued Liang Jun.


    Not long after, Liang Jun agreed, and they became inseparable. They married a year later and had a daughter named Liang Mei the following year.


    Liang Jun''s mother wanted them to have another child, but Bao Lan Chu firmly told her that she would only have one daughter, Liang Mei. This infuriated her mother-in-law, who returned to her hometown.


    Although the Bao family was relatively small compared to true tycoons, to Liang Jun''s family, they were very wealthy.


    Decades ago, the Bao family had substantial assets. When they got married, the Bao family gave a generous dowry, including several properties and shops. Years later, as real estate flourished, these shops were renovated and left intact. Bao Lan Chu rented them out and opened a store on the commercial street, doing well with an annual income of millions.


    Millions in pure profit were not much to true tycoons, but to ordinary people, millions were a lot. To Liang Jun''s mother, this was also true. Otherwise, she would have pressured her to have a second child long ago.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Despite this, Liang Jun''s mother often slandered Bao Lan Chu in their village, which Bao Lan Chu knew but ignored, thinking they did not live together anyway.


    After graduation, Liang Jun stayed at the university and became a professor, earning a decent salary. For the first few years of their marriage, they were happy. But in recent years, their relationship had cooled. In fact, in recent years, they had even lost their sexual relationship.


    With their relationship becoming cold, Liang Jun maintained his routine, returning home on time to spend time with their daughter or cook dinner. Bao Lan Chu did not think too much of it.


    Now lying in the hospital, she realized she had no enemies and her business was not in conflict with neighboring shops. The only possibility was someone close to her, Liang Jun.


    Actually, she had noticed Liang Jun acting strangely recently. He had been fiddling with his phone, which had a password. He was often out late and back early, giving no indication of anything unusual. With her busy schedule, she did not pay much attention. Could it be possible...?


    Bao Lan Chu quickly dismissed the thought. They had been married for decades, and he would never do such a thing to her.


    Gu Qin saw the change in her expression and understood her thoughts. She sighed, "Be cautious of your spouse. Have someone investigate him, and if you need any help, you can find me." Saying this, she handed Bao Lan Chu her business card. "I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll leave now. Goodbye."


    Bao Lan Chu stared at the gold-embossed business card with five names: Fengshui Master Gu Qin and a phone number at the bottom right corner.


    Hearing familiar footsteps, Bao Lan Chu quickly hid the card under her pillow. As Liang Jun walked in, she closed her eyes. She felt him walk around her for a moment, then quietly leave. Hearing his footsteps fade, Bao Lan Chu opened her eyes.


    Her wounds were still painful, but her heart ached even more. She found her phone, scrolled to a number, and sent a message: "Help me investigate Liang Jun''s recent movements."


    "Okay," came the quick reply.


    This person was a detective. She had hired them for business investigations in the past and kept their number in her phone.


    Bao Lan Chu breathed a sigh of relief, deleted the message, and fell asleep.


    Gu Qin left the room. The Dean was waiting for her and followed her to the restroom to wash her hands. They headed to the lobby together. "Thank you today. Would you like to let me treat you to dinner?" the Dean asked.


    Gu Qin replied, "Uncle, it''s not necessary. I have other things to do."


    The Dean said, "Alright, Uncle won''t be so formal."


    Upon reaching the lobby, they saw a crowd gathered. The Dean frowned and approached, hearing a male voice angrily shouting, "No way! Without an explanation, you can''t leave. How can you be a doctor? Not only do you charge so much, but now you won''t even properly examine the patient."


    Another voice responded, "This patient''s family member, please calm down. We''re not refusing to examine the patient. We need to do some basic tests. I''ve reviewed the previous medical records, but we still need to perform a routine examination. Without checking, I can''t make a proper diagnosis."


    "Are you stupid? The records are clear, why do you need to check again? Isn''t it just to cheat us out of money?"


    The doctor replied helplessly, "Those records are from a month ago. Even if you go back to the original hospital, they would need to recheck. Moreover, the patient has a tumor. Without an examination, we won''t know if it has worsened and cannot determine a treatment plan..."


    This sounded like a typical case of a patient''s family member causing trouble. The Dean wanted to step in and mediate, but Gu Qin noticed the crowd and felt a strange sensation. She realized that if she did not intervene, a tragedy might occur.


    Gu Qin followed the Dean into the crowd. Before the Dean could speak, the crowd suddenly burst into exclamations. Looking up, they saw the patient''s family member pull out a knife and stab the doctor. Gu Qin was startled. She flicked her finger, and a wisp of yin energy wrapped around the knife-wielding hand, stopping the movement. She rushed forward and kicked the attacker several meters away.


    The attacker was a regular person, and Gu Qin did not use her inner strength. Even a normal kick was enough to make the man groan in pain for a long time before he struggled to his feet. He charged at her again, disregarding his own safety. From their conversation, Gu Qin deduced that the family member had brought the patient to the hospital, presented old medical records, and demanded immediate treatment without further checks. The doctor explained that previous records were insufficient and needed verification. The family member refused, believing the doctor was trying to cheat them.


    Seeing the attacker charging at her, Gu Qin did not dodge. She used a grappling technique to subdue him and slapped him, "Doctors are treating you, not owing you anything. How dare you stab them? Who spoiled you like this!"


    Gu Qin had seen numerous news stories about patients or family members harming or injuring doctors. It was shocking how some people cheered such acts, even if doctors had poor attitudes. Gu Qin did not expect to encounter such a situation herself.


    Usually, when she treated patients at the hospital, she wore a white coat. Now, she was still wearing it. The attacker was stunned, taking a long time to react before crying out, "There''s no justice in the world! The doctor hit me! Call a journalist! The doctor hit me!"


    Gu Qin laughed and, without hesitation, slapped him again, "I''m hitting precisely people like you who don''t value doctors'' lives. Thinking you could stab someone, what if I hadn''t been here? Would you have killed him?"


    The Dean''s face darkened. Relations between doctors and patients were already tense, and he dreaded encounters with irrational patients and family members. He never expected to run into one today.


    The Dean approached and said to Gu Qin, "Qin Qin, you go back first. We''ll handle this."


    Gu Qin tightened the attacker''s wrist, making him emit a loud cry and collapse to the ground. She turned to the Dean and said, "Report it to the police first. What if he attacks again after I leave?"


    The Dean reported the incident, and Gu Qin left, leaving behind a crowd of bewildered people and grateful doctors.


    Gu Qin did not pay much attention to the incident. Later that night, the Dean called her, saying everything was fine. The police had questioned the attacker and released him because he had not harmed anyone. However, the attacker threatened to have Gu Qin arrested, but when the police heard her name, they remained silent and sent him away.


    Gu Qin said, "Dean, have the doctor be careful. The attacker harbors ill intent and might not give up easily."


    The Dean sighed, "I know. The doctor has already been given a leave, and he was scared."


    After hanging up, Gu Qin mentioned the incident to her family. Cheng Yinxiang frowned, "What''s wrong with people these days? So much hostility. Doctors haven''t done anything wrong, yet they...


    It seems there was a cut-off in the last sentence.


    "Wanting to kill someone right away."


    Lu Qingrong said, "Such incidents are not uncommon; there have been several reports online. The hearts of people nowadays are truly... " He shook his head.


    Gu Qin didn''t expect this matter to end up involving her. Someone had posted the incident on the largest forum online with a sensational title: ''No wonder doctor-patient relations are tense. I saw a doctor beating someone at the hospital a few days ago.''


    The main post didn''t contain details of the incident, but it attracted many onlookers.


    Passerby A: "Is the poster mistaken? Aren''t patients usually the ones who attack doctors? Where do doctors dare to hit patients?"


    Passerby B: "+10086"


    Passerby C: "Poster, can you hurry up? It''s been half a day and you haven''t provided any substantial information."


    Then, the poster uploaded several photos showing a young female doctor slapping a man in his thirties. They also posted multiple angles of the photos. Below the photos, the poster explained, "I saw this the other day when I went to the hospital. The lobby was quite lively, so I went in to take a look. There was a female doctor pulling this person''s collar and hitting him. There were many people around, but no one dared to step forward to help. Afterward, I asked others, and it seemed that the person being hit was a patient''s family member. They got into an argument because they were upset, and then this female doctor started hitting them."


    Unexpectedly, the comments below began to deviate from the topic. "This female doctor is really beautiful, 360 degrees without any flaws."


    "Indeed, this female doctor is so beautiful. Poster, where did you encounter her? I want to go too."


    Fortunately, there were still some rational people who corrected the comments. "What does it matter if this female doctor is beautiful? Have you noticed her age? I guess she''s under twenty. How could someone under twenty become a doctor in a hospital? She must have used connections. Ha ha, she''s a privileged person."


    Once privilege was mentioned, everyone''s opinion of the female doctor in the photo changed from admiration to condemnation.


    Gu Qin rarely browsed such posts, so she was unaware of the online discussions about her.

 Fury of the Yin Beast

    Two days later, the post became even more popular, exposing Gu Qin''s ordinary background. It was revealed that she was a freshman at Peking University, nineteen years old, from a wealthy family, and her parents owned a company. In the end, they concluded that her admission to Peking University was due to backdoor connections.


    The post also mixed in negative comments, accusing Gu Qin of having improper behavior at university and stealing things.


    In the end, the post portrayed Gu Qin as utterly worthless, like trash.


    This matter was eventually discovered by students at school and spread.


    In the morning, Gu Qin went to school and was pulled aside by Qian Shanshan and the others. They directly showed her the post on her phone. "Qin, what''s going on? Is someone framing you? And look, they''re saying you stole something. I feel like that reply is from Zhang Xiaowen. Remember, she stole something before and tried to frame you. Could it be that Zhang Xiaowen is behind this post?"


    They knew that Gu Qin understood traditional Chinese medicine and occasionally worked at hospitals. They believed she wouldn''t hit someone without reason, and they all suspected who might have posted this.


    Gu Qin briefly explained the situation, "It should be a patient''s family member who is upset and posted this. My mental fortitude is strong, and I don''t care about this. It won''t affect me. Moreover, this post probably wasn''t posted by Zhang Xiaowen, but that reply likely was. Forget it, we shouldn''t worry about it."


    Shanshan worried, "But I''m afraid someone will come to the school to cause trouble."


    Gu Qin said, "Don''t worry. These are just internet trolls; they only cause trouble online."


    They couldn''t do anything to Gu Qin, but they were just talking online. Of course, not many people at the school believed these rumors. After all, Gu Qin was once the top scorer in the college entrance exam and had spoken at the school assembly. Some people couldn''t help but defend her, saying she was the top scorer in Daisan City and had entered the school based on her academic performance. They urged people not to spread false information and clarified that the theft incident involved another student in their dormitory, who had already been expelled.


    Some people called the female doctor in the photo a hero, and the comment section was filled with mockery.


    A commenter laughed, "Hahahaha, calling her a hero. Why don''t you say she''s a queen?"


    "Hahahaha, a hero, hahahaha..."


    Others demanded evidence from those defending Gu Qin, telling them to shut up if they had no proof.


    This matter caused a stir, with many people online viciously criticizing Gu Qin. The post seemed to have hired water army to increase its popularity.


    Fortunately, this matter mainly caused trouble at night, and most people who didn''t often use the internet were unaware of it. Mostly, only young people knew about it. Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong were unaware of it.


    After a day, news about a bank robbery case solved by the police diverted most attention.


    Unexpectedly, a short video was suddenly uploaded to the post.


    It was a video from the bank showing a girl subduing seven robbers. The video was relatively clear, and the girl''s face was clearly visible¡ªit was the same female doctor who had slapped someone. The post owner wrote, "I''ve always said she''s a heroine. Due to the case, I couldn''t release the video earlier. Now, please open your eyes and see for yourself. This female doctor, who has been blackened for hundreds of pages, is the kind of person who subdues robbers alone. If not for her, we would have died. I don''t believe she hit someone without reason. While it''s possible she hit someone, I believe it was deserved. I hope someone who knows the truth will help clarify."


    This short video exploded, especially after the police released details of the bank robbery. Those who had previously attacked the female doctor were thoroughly discredited.


    "See, you internet trolls, this female doctor is the heroine from the bank robbery. Oh my god, she''s amazing. One person against seven, so cool. I can''t resist, I''m turning gay, my husband is so handsome!"


    Below were a series of comments saying "My husband is so handsome."


    Later, someone posted Gu Qin''s high school entrance exam scores and news about her being the top scorer.


    "Haha, now you''re getting slapped back, right? This female doctor, whom you accused of buying the school, buying hospital connections, doing evil, and hitting people, is actually a scholar and a martial artist with a good heart and acts bravely. I refuse to believe someone like this would hit someone without reason. The truth is not what the poster claims."


    "Agreed, I don''t believe a brave girl like her would hit someone without reason. I just want to know the truth."


    "Agreed, +10086."


    The poster continued to resist, "Who knows if this video is real or fake? With today''s technology, it could be faked."


    Immediately, a screenshot of a recent tweet from the Beijing Police was posted.


    Beijing Police: Thank you to the brave girl. We appreciate it.


    Below was a short video, which was the same video posted by the floor owner.


    With the police confirming it, the poster was left speechless. The comment section, however, was filled with excitement, with people calling out "My husband is so handsome."


    A few hours later, someone came forward with the truth.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "I never expected this matter to get so much attention. I know about the female doctor hitting someone. That day, there were many people watching in the hospital. Since I rarely go online, I didn''t notice until today. Let me recount what happened. I was asking for information at the hospital service desk when I heard a commotion. I went over and saw a patient''s family member arguing with a doctor. It was a male doctor. I listened for a while and understood the situation. The patient''s family member had transferred the patient to Beijing Hospital and showed the doctor an old medical record. The doctor told them the record was from a month ago and needed a new check-up."


    "The family member refused, insisting that previous tests had been done elsewhere and questioning why they needed a new check-up, accusing the doctor of trying to make money. The doctor explained that they needed to determine if the tumor had worsened. Although I''m not a medical expert, I believe the doctor was right. Using a month-old record to treat someone? Besides, tumors can vary greatly, and without a new check-up, just giving medication could make things worse."


    There was widespread agreement, urging the poster to continue.


    "The family member kept accusing the doctor of trying to make money. No matter how the doctor explained, the family member wouldn''t listen. I can guarantee that the doctor showed no impatience or bad behavior towards the family member. From start to finish, the doctor spoke kindly. Unexpectedly, the family member pulled out a knife and lunged at the doctor. The female doctor stopped them, kicking them away. When the family member got up again, the female doctor slapped them. Finally, the family member was subdued, and the female doctor called the police. That''s what happened. It wasn''t like the poster said, where the female doctor hit someone without reason. Surely others witnessed this too. I saw someone filming it with a phone. Ask around; maybe someone has footage..."


    "D*mn, the real story is like this. What was the poster thinking? Too bad, the patient''s family member deserved a beating. What did the doctor do to them? Pulling out a knife? Luckily, they were stopped. Otherwise, there would be another news story about a patient''s family member killing a doctor."


    "Right, nowadays, even if the doctor was rude, you can''t stab them. Hit them hard! Such people deserve it."


    While some condemned the poster, there were still a couple of trolls trying to whitewash the patient''s family member. However, they were quickly drowned out by calls for the female doctor to be their "husband."


    Someone asked if Gu Qin had a Weibo account.


    Gu Qin didn''t have one. She rarely used trendy communication apps, mostly relying on phones and text messages to communicate.


    Unexpectedly, the matter wasn''t over. Someone posted a video from a few years ago of an incident at Yun City bus station. The event had been quite sensational, with a group of masked men attacking the station. At the time, someone acted bravely, taking on a dozen masked attackers. No one died in the incident, but there were injuries.


    The video was unclear, but the figure was recognizable as a girl.


    The poster wrote, "Do you remember the Yun City bus station riot? I was there, very close. I almost got cut by those masked men. I remember the face of the girl who took on a dozen attackers. I''m grateful to her, and I''ve never forgotten her face. It''s the same as the female doctor in the post. I still have the video from that day, and the girl in the Yun City incident looks similar to the girl in the bank video. So, I''m sure the girl from Yun City is the same as the female doctor in the post."


    "D*mn!"


    "D*mn! Who is this girl? So impressive, I declare my love for her."


    "My husband is so handsome, oh my god, I''m totally gay."


    The comment section was filled with declarations of love and admiration.


    Some tech-savvy individuals analyzed the two videos and confirmed they were the same person.


    Finally, the comment section exploded with people declaring their love for Gu Qin or attempting to reveal her personal information. However, shortly after, posters organized to remove her personal information.


    "Even if you admire her, don''t put her private information in the post. It''s her privacy, and she has helped so many people without revealing herself. Clearly, she doesn''t want her life disturbed. Don''t expose her information, and delete the previous posts."


    "Agreed. We can quietly admire our husband. My husband is so handsome, but he''s too old-fashioned, not even having a Weibo account. Can''t even declare love."


    Everyone agreed, and soon, the administrator deleted all personal information about Gu Qin from the post.


    Due to this post, Gu Qin became a national idol and "husband." However, no one revealed her other identity as a feng shui master. Those who investigated her background found out she was a student and business owner, but not her feng shui identity.


    Those who knew about her feng shui identity were unlikely to expose it. Ordinary people couldn''t find out about it either.


    The post revealed:


    Gu Qin is a scholar currently studying at Peking University as a freshman. She is nineteen years old, comes from a family that runs a business, and is wealthy. She knows martial arts.


    Gu Qin followed the post and couldn''t help laughing when she saw everyone calling her a goddess and "husband."


    Qian Shanshan whispered to her friends, "See, the innocent remain innocent. Our Qin Qin is so awesome. But!" Shanshan looked up at Gu Qin, feeling wronged, "You know, the nationwide sensation of the Yun City riot, the heroic act, that was you, and you never told us?"


    Gu Qin smiled but didn¡¯t speak.


    Soon, classmates approached Gu Qin, and the classroom door was crowded with people from other classes. It was normal, given the internet buzz and the curiosity. Gu Qin was used to it.


    Even Qin Xiansheng knew about it and picked her up from school every evening.


    Gu Jia also knew about it and was furious when he found out she was involved in the Yun City riot. Thinking back to their conversation, she pretended to be clueless, which made him frustrated.


    Because of this, Gu Jia heard many discussions about Gu Qin everywhere at school. He didn''t like this feeling, although most people admired her, a few perverts remained.


    For example, his roommate Dong Lei, who had some money and drove luxury cars. The entire dorm knew about this online incident. His other two roommates admired Gu Qin, but Dong Lei talked about her like he did his girlfriends, "Hey, that girl Gu Qin is so hot. I plan to make a move."


    Roommate A: "Isn''t that inappropriate?"


    Roommate B: "Yeah, Dong Lei, isn''t that inappropriate?"


    Dong Lei replied, "What''s inappropriate? Even if she''s powerful, she''s still a woman! Women are naturally supposed to depend on men. Having a girlfriend like her would be quite prestigious. Hey, let''s bet. How long will it take me to win her over?"


    The other two didn''t respond, their eyes filled with disdain. For them, Gu Qin was an unattainable goddess, and they only admired her, never with Dong Lei¡¯s twisted thoughts.


    Seeing their silence, Dong Lei laughed, "Women are all like that. When pursuing them, they play hard to get. Hehe, once they¡¯re in bed..."


    Before he finished, Gu Jia punched him in the head, causing him to fall silent. Gu Jia, who had been using medicinal baths to improve his physique and exercised daily, delivered a heavy blow, leaving Dong Lei dazed.


    After recovering, Dong Lei lunged at Gu Jia. They fought, but Gu Jia dominated the fight. Only after a while did the other two intervene, "Hey, Gu Jia, stop!"


    As they pulled Gu Jia away, he glared coldly at Dong Lei, who was beaten to a pulp. Gu Jia specifically targeted his face, making the two roommates laugh. Lying on the ground, Dong Lei glared at Gu Jia, "You dare hit me?"


    Gu Jia looked down at him, "Gu Qin is my sister. If I hear you insult her again, it won''t just be a beating."


    Dong Lei and the two roommates stared in shock.


    Caught red-handed for lewd remarks about his sister, Dong Lei''s face flushed with embarrassment. Without a word, he dared not complain.


    The next day, Gu Jia went home and, seeing everyone gathered, ate dinner quickly and pulled Gu Qin into the study. Gu Qin sighed, "Brother, what''s wrong?"


    Gu Jia frowned, "Do you know you''ve become famous?"


    Gu Qin nodded, "Brother is worried about me, right? I didn''t expect this to get out. But don''t worry too much. I''m not a celebrity, so I won''t be pursued by paparazzi every day or appear on TV every day. This is just a temporary trend. Soon, it''ll die down."


    Gu Jia looked at his sister for a long time and finally sighed, "I know you have abilities, but you don''t understand how many people have twisted minds. I just don''t want you to become a topic of gossip."


    Gu Qin hugged his hand, "Don''t worry."


    That impulsive young man had finally grown into a mature man.


    They hadn''t chatted in a while. After a long time in the study, Gu Qin''s words comforted Gu Jia, and he felt better.


    Gu Qin''s fame reached even the hospitalized Bao Lanchu. She had been in the hospital for nearly ten days. The detective agency had delivered the information she wanted a few days ago. She never expected her ex-husband to turn out this way.


    The documents clearly stated that her husband Liang Jun had cheated six months ago with a colleague, a divorced teacher in his thirties, with a taste for luxury. They met frequently on campus, which is why she hadn''t noticed.


    From this, Bao Lanchu roughly understood what had happened.


    Over the years, Liang Jun had developed a habit of spending lavishly, buying expensive brands. His monthly salary was insufficient, and he regularly withdrew one to two million yuan from his family. If she found out about his infidelity, he would be stripped of everything. How could he adapt? This explained why he had orchestrated the car accident.


    However¡ªBao Lanchu''s expression darkened. He wanted her dead so she wouldn''t contest the inheritance, but why did he target Mi Mi? Mi Mi was his daughter. That morning, he watched Mi Mi get into her car without a word. Truly, what a cruel heart.


    Since that was the case, she would have no choice but to retaliate.


    The detective agency was indeed efficient, even finding their chat records on various platforms.


    It''s not hard to see from the chat records that Liang Jun really likes and dotes on this woman.


    The woman always softly urges him to divorce, but he keeps saying it will be soon and tells her not to worry. They haven''t brought up any other topics.


    Now that Bao Lanchu has found no concrete evidence proving the car accident was intentional, she continues to have a detective agency help find evidence. Unexpectedly, they actually found evidence of Liang Jun bribing an employee at the 4S store, including the 200,000 yuan he transferred into the employee¡¯s account.


    After that, things become easier. Bao Lanchu also secretly had the scrapped car inspected, confirming that someone had tampered with it. With everything in place, she just needs to wait until she is discharged to file a lawsuit.


    She was injured quite badly and needs at least ten more days to be discharged. She can only wait quietly.


    During this time, Liang Jun has been very attentive, taking leave to take care of her, bringing soup every day. No one would suspect that he is a heartless beast.

 Liberation of the Soul

    Gu Qin didn''t pay attention to Mo Yuanmin''s little thoughts. Lin Xinxin was her first friend in this world, and no matter what happened to her, she would do everything in her power to help her. She had once divined for Lin Xinxin and found out about a small misfortune that wasn''t life-threatening, which is why she hadn''t paid too much attention to it.


    Even if she didn''t intervene, Lin Xinxin should still be able to return alive, but she would definitely suffer quite a bit. Since she didn''t want her friend to go through this, she naturally decided to step in.


    She called Qin Xiansheng and briefly explained the situation. Both of them had business to attend to in the country of Nis, so they could travel together.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "I''ll arrange the tickets. We''ll depart tomorrow morning. We need to find your friend as soon as possible."


    After hanging up, Gu Qin messaged Mo Yuanmin to inform him that they would set off the next day.


    Mo Yuanmin offered to book the tickets, but Gu Qin declined, saying she needed to rest early to have energy for the trip. Mo Yuanmin couldn''t insist any further.


    Tomorrow was Saturday, so there was no school. Worried about not having enough time, Gu Qin also informed her homeroom teacher and took a week off. This matter couldn''t be kept from her family either. Cheng Yinxiang was heavily pregnant, and Gu Qin didn''t want to worry her. So, she told her mother that she would be traveling to Nis with Qin Xiansheng to handle some matters.


    Cheng Yinxiang was uneasy. "What kind of matters? Why go to that country? I..." She disliked Nis because she didn''t like the idea of going to a country that had once invaded her own nation. In her mind, going to Nis was not a good thing.


    "Mom, don''t worry," Gu Qin sat beside her. "It''s Qin Brother''s business. Lin Xinxin happens to be there on some business as well, so I''m going along to see her. It''s just like a trip."


    Cheng Yinxiang knew it was important business and didn''t try to stop her. "Alright, if anything happens, give us a call anytime."


    The next morning, Qin Xiansheng came to pick up Gu Qin, and they went to the airport. They were surprised to find another person in the car¡ªWasai Yan.


    Gu Qin turned to look at him. "Why are you here too?"


    Wasai Yan smiled broadly. "I have nothing to do, so I thought I''d follow my senior brother to Nis. He needs to deal with company matters, and I might be able to help you with something."


    Since he had already come along, Gu Qin couldn''t refuse. The three of them went to the airport and boarded the plane.


    By the time they arrived at the Nis airport, it had been more than three hours. They ate something after getting off the plane. Qin Xiansheng went to handle his company''s affairs, while Gu Qin went to the building where the cultural relics auction took place. Qin Xiansheng told her before leaving, "If you can''t solve it, don''t force it. Give me a call. Once I finish my business here, I''ll rush over. My junior brother will accompany you."


    "Alright, Qin Brother, take care too."


    They split up, with Qin Xiansheng heading to the company and Gu Qin going to the building where the cultural relics were auctioned. She actually didn''t expect Lin Xinxin and the others to be there; she just wanted to check for clues.


    This building was huge, with the top floor being the auction hall, while other floors were rented for offices or various entertainment and leisure hotels. As soon as Gu Qin arrived, she opened her third eye, and the entire building appeared transparent to her.


    With this view, she indeed discovered something suspicious. There was a secret passage beneath the building leading two kilometers away to another building named Mingguang. If they could dig such a tunnel, it meant these people weren''t ordinary, and likely had some connection with the owner of the building.


    Checking the two buildings should reveal some conclusions.


    When she came, Mo Yuanmin had given her a pass and a phone number, telling her to contact him if she needed help. Gu Qin dialed the number, and a female voice answered, "Miss Gu, hello."


    The person clearly knew Gu Qin''s identity, indicating she had been briefed beforehand.


    Gu Qin didn''t waste time and got straight to the point. "Can you check who the owners of the building where my friends disappeared and the other building two kilometers away, named Mingguang, are? Or who was responsible for the project during its construction?"


    "Sure, Miss Gu, please wait a moment."


    Throughout the journey, Wasai Yan didn''t say much. Now seeing Gu Qin asking about the other building, even though he was curious, he didn''t ask further.


    They rested for a while on the first floor, and twenty minutes later, the woman sent over the information. The message was quite detailed, showing both buildings were related to a company named Xiwu Shangshi. Further details revealed that Xiwu Shangshi was a large family business spanning globally, and very famous in Nis.


    Xiwu Shangshi, Gu Qin chuckled. What a coincidence. This wasn''t the same company that used underhanded methods to get Qin Xiansheng''s company to sign a contract. Rumor had it that they had yinshi (yin practitioners). No wonder they could kidnap people without a trace. This matter must be related to the yinshi of the Xiwu family.


    "We should head to the Xiwu family."


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The Xiwu family didn''t reside in the city but on the outskirts, in a villa on the mountainside. The mountain was mostly developed, with a large area of villas occupied by the Xiwu family. This family was quite influential in Nis.


    The current chairman of Xiwu Shangshi was the patriarch of the Xiwu family, Xiwu Zhengyi, who had been the leader of the Xiwu family and chairman of Xiwu Shangshi for over twenty years. He was considered quite capable. He was not a yinshi himself.


    Yinshi were not common in Nis, and becoming one was extremely difficult.


    Currently, she didn''t know how many yinshi the Xiwu family had, only that she would find out when they arrived.


    On the way, Gu Qin called Qin Xiansheng to inform him that they would also head to the Xiwu family.


    An hour later, the car stopped at the foot of the mountain, where they saw a large cluster of villas and a black sedan nearby.


    Qin Xiansheng had yet to enter to find someone and was waiting outside after receiving Gu Qin''s call. Seeing them arrive, he stepped out of the car.


    Gu Qin and Wasai Yan walked over, and Qin Xiansheng asked, "Is the information accurate?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "It shouldn''t be wrong. This matter is related to the Xiwu family. Qin Brother, let''s go in."


    Qin Xiansheng approached and rang the doorbell. Soon, a butler came out to inquire, and Qin Xiansheng informed him of their identities and purpose. The butler went inside to report to the family head.


    Ten minutes later, the butler led the three into the villa and introduced them to the vice-chairman of Xiwu Shangshi. Currently, the vice-chairman was Xiwu Zhengyi''s eldest son, Xiwu Tengan, who greeted them warmly and invited them in, speaking in Nis language that Gu Qin couldn''t understand.


    Qin Xiansheng spoke in Nis language, and Wasai Yan translated for Gu Qin.


    Qin Xiansheng stated his identity and explained his purpose, expressing that he hoped the contract forced upon his company by the Xiwu family could be nullified, as he had no intention of doing business with them.


    Xiwu Tengan looked displeased but didn''t immediately lose his temper. He claimed the contract was valid and denied using any illegal methods.


    Qin Xiansheng said, "Mr. Tengan, you should know very well what I mean. I hope the contract becomes invalid. Otherwise, I will use necessary means to terminate it."


    Xiwu Tengan sneered. "Let''s see what you can do to make me terminate the contract."


    Gu Qin observed the surroundings. Besides the four of them, there were three other people in the room: a young man in his twenties who looked somewhat similar to Xiwu Tengan, probably his son.


    The other two were a man and a woman. The man was around the same age as Tengan, in his forties, and the woman was younger. These two were yinshi. Honestly, Gu Qin didn''t take them seriously.


    Gu Qin whispered something to Wasai Yan, who nodded and spoke up, "Mr. Tengan, my sister-in-law asked me to inquire if you''ve seen the Chinese delegation that recently auctioned cultural relics?"


    Xiwu Tengan''s face changed slightly. "Who is this gentleman, and I don''t understand what he means."


    Wasai Yan chuckled. "I think Mr. Tengan understands very well. I suggest you listen to my brother-in-law and destroy the contract. Listen to my sister-in-law and release the people. That way, this matter can be settled. Otherwise, Mr. Tengan, you can test what the consequences will be."


    "Brother and sister-in-law?" Xiwu Tengan frowned. Who were these three people? Qin Xiansheng''s identity he knew¡ªhe was the chairman of a Chinese company. Back then, they had used some tricks to get the companies to sign contracts, and he had assumed Qin Xiansheng was an ordinary businessman, perhaps even a playboy who didn''t care about the company and left it to someone else. Such a person wouldn''t pose much threat to the Xiwu family.


    But now, brother and sister-in-law? Could these three be descendants of ancient martial arts families from China? Even so, what did martial arts matter? Even if Chinese martial arts were powerful, against their yinshi, they were doomed to fail.


    Thinking of this, Xiwu Tengan felt more confident and laughed. "I don''t understand what this gentleman means."


    Gu Qin said something, and Wasai Yan translated, "My sister-in-law says, ''Release them quickly. Don''t keep talking. You''ll regret it.''"


    Actually, Gu Qin''s words were more peaceful, hoping Tengan would release them. But Wasai Yan didn''t want to waste any more time.


    After these words, Qin Xiansheng glanced at him but didn''t say anything.


    Hearing this, Xiwu Tengan''s face turned ugly, and he sneered. "Do you think you can do anything here in the territory of the Xiwu family?"


    Gu Qin asked Wasai Yan, "What did he say?"


    Wasai Yan translated, "He told us to leave."


    It was almost the same meaning.


    Gu Qin said, "Oh." She looked at Qin Xiansheng and smiled. "Brother Qin, shall I handle it?"


    Qin Xiansheng sighed. "Fine, whatever you say." Mainly, there wasn''t much danger here, so if she wanted to play, let her.


    Gu Qin gave Xiwu Tengan a bright smile and raised her finger slightly. Suddenly, Xiwu Tengan and the other three couldn''t move.


    Xiwu Tengan''s face changed dramatically, his heart filled with terror. What trick was this? Who were they? Why couldn''t they move?


    In an instant, Gu Qin was beside Xiwu Tengan, and the two yinshi could only watch helplessly, their hearts pounding in fear, unable to react.


    Gu Qin grabbed Xiwu Tengan''s neck. "Now, are you convinced? Will you release the people and destroy the contract?" Even if he refused to speak, she knew where Lin Xinxin was, having already scanned the area with her third eye. The three members of the security team and the Chinese staff were indeed in the basement of this villa, though...


    Gu Qin''s expression turned cold. The three security team members were injured, clearly beaten. She tightened her grip, and Xiwu Tengan''s face instantly turned purple.


    Wasai Yan translated.


    "I... I..." Xiwu Tengan struggled to squeeze out a few words. "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    Wasai Yan translated, and Gu Qin chanted a spell, summoning yin qi into Xiwu Tengan''s body. He froze, his body becoming unbearably cold, as if the coldness came from his bones, causing indescribable pain, and he let out unconscious screams.


    "My father!" The young man, about twenty years old, hurriedly shouted. "What are you doing! Why aren''t you helping him?" He noticed the two yinshi were also frozen and unable to move.


    The young man panicked. Although he could speak, he couldn''t move, and there was nothing he could do.


    Gu Qin said, "Release them! If you don''t, blood will be shed."


    Wasai Yan translated truthfully, and Xiwu Tengan finally couldn''t bear it, shouting, "I will... I will... Release them, save me..."


    This pain was unbearable, worse than being pierced by thousands of arrows.


    Gu Qin left a trace of yin qi in his body and chanted another spell. Xiwu Tengan could move again, though his body was still very cold, much better than before.


    He looked at Gu Qin in horror, his expression changing, and finally turned to the young man. "Gui Zi, go, bring them up."


    Xiwu Gui Zi understood his father''s intentions and nodded. Realizing he could move, he sighed with relief and went past the screen to the outside.


    Gu Qin laughed softly, waving her hand. A nearby coral tree exploded with a bang. She hadn''t touched the tree, standing two meters away. She said, "If you have any other ideas, let your son meet the same fate as this tree. Understand?"


    Wasai Yan translated, and everyone''s faces turned sour. Xiwu Gui Zi originally wanted to call for help, but seeing the explosion and hearing Wasai Yan''s words, he hesitated. However, the situation was serious, and he had to notify his grandfather.


    Qin Xiansheng, Gu Qin, and Wasai Yan found seats and sat down. Xiwu Tengan could move, but the two yinshi remained motionless. Seeing them sit down, Xiwu Tengan didn''t dare make a move.


    Xiwu Gui Zi hurriedly called his grandfather and informed him of the situation, emphasizing that these three were formidable.


    His grandfather, Xiwu Zhengyi, promised to come immediately and asked him to keep them occupied. He was currently at the company and would need an hour to return. Xiwu Gui Zi could only continue delaying.


    Seeing them sitting there, he cautiously approached. "I''ve already called them. They will bring the people here shortly, and the contract will be destroyed as well."


    Gu Qin said, "Bring them where?"


    Wasai Yan translated, and Xiwu Gui Zi hurriedly said, "They weren''t brought to our family compound. They are elsewhere. Please wait a moment."


    Gu Qin snorted. "You have a basement, right? Do you really want me to search it myself?" Thinking they could deceive her easily, she lightly chanted a spell. Xiwu Tengan screamed in agony, curling up on the ground. Gu Qin looked at Xiwu Gui Zi. "Want your father to die painfully? Keep stalling."


    "I... I..." Xiwu Gui Zi was both shocked and terrified, recalling his grandfather''s instructions and worrying about his father''s endurance. He had no choice.


    Xiwu Tengan couldn''t endure it anymore. "Quickly... Bring them back..."


    Xiwu Gui Zi didn''t delay further and rushed to have the people brought back, then called his grandfather. Xiwu Zhengyi was silent for a moment before saying, "Bring them to the women first. The contract will be delivered soon. What did your father do this time? He hit a wall, didn''t he? I''ve told him countless times to be cautious. This time, who knows what kind of people they are..."


    Xiwu Gui Zi said, "Grandfather, they seem to be xuanxue masters from China. You have Mr. Yoshida here..."


    Before he could finish, Xiwu Zhengyi interrupted, "Enough. Let''s talk about this when I arrive."


    After hanging up, Xiwu Gui Zi ordered the people to be brought forward. Looking at the Chinese people, he felt uneasy. One middle-aged man was bound, giving him a cold glance without speaking.


    Soon, they brought the group to the front hall. Seeing Lin Xinxin, Gu Qin breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn''t been mistreated, thankfully.


    Lin Xinxin was stunned at first, then exclaimed in disbelief, "Qin Qin? Qin Qin... How did you end up here?"


    Gu Qin freed her and the others. "Your team leader found me..."


    Lin Xinxin was somewhat nervous. "I... I didn''t mean to hide it from you."


    Gu Qin freed the rest of the group and sighed. "I know, it''s just protocol. Are you hurt? By the way, where are the artifacts?"

 Loyalty of the Black Panther

    While they spoke, the room was quiet. After Gu Qin''s question, Xia Cheng, the middle-aged man, stepped forward and shook hands politely with Gu Qin. "Comrade Gu, hello. I am Xia Cheng, the team leader for this mission. We appreciate your help. Regarding the artifacts..."


    He glanced at Xiwu Gui Zi but remained silent.


    Xia Cheng was the team leader for transporting the cultural relics back to China. He had come with Lin Xinxin and another member. Just as they left the auction hall, they were knocked out in the elevator. They had undergone rigorous training to join the security team, making them resistant to most drugs. Two others in the elevator had also been knocked out without smelling any unusual odors. Whatever method they used to knock them out was odorless.


    They didn''t know exactly what happened after they woke up. They were confined in a basement, and their artifacts were missing. Their dangerous items had also been confiscated.


    They had no idea who their captors were or what their motives were. They were neither mistreated nor tortured but kept in isolation. They couldn''t contact anyone until they were rescued and met Gu Qin.


    Xia Cheng knew some of the team''s members were aware of Gu Qin''s background, especially since they had been warned about her when investigating Lin Xinxin. They decided not to disturb her, but now she had to intervene.


    Upon hearing about the artifacts, Xiwu Gui Zi said, "They''re somewhere else. Really! We won''t lie to you. My grandfather has already brought them."


    Gu Qin raised an eyebrow but didn''t say anything.


    She searched and confirmed that the artifacts were not nearby.


    The group waited while...


    They waited in the lobby, while Lin Xinxin and the others found their seats. Nishiwaki Tensho was supported to sit down by Nishiwaki Kikuko. Nishiwaki Tensho still felt very uncomfortable and did not dare to beg for mercy. He just sat there, sweating coldly.


    About half an hour later, Nishiwaki Kikuko''s phone rang. After answering it and speaking for a few moments, his eyes showed a hint of smugness as he glanced at Gu Qin and the others. Hanging up, Nishiwaki Kikuko said, "The items have been brought here. Can you now remove the witchcraft from my father?"


    Gu Qin moved her finger slightly, and Nishiwaki Tensho started screaming again. Nishiwaki Kikuko was dumbfounded, "You... You..."


    Gu Qin said, "Don''t waste words. Hurry up and bring the items over."


    Nishiwaki Kikuko choked, unable to speak for a moment.


    Xia Cheng, the squad leader next to him, watched in astonishment.


    Nishiwaki Kikuko dared not speak rashly. When someone came to report, he went to the entrance to receive his grandfather. Seeing the stern old man, Nishiwaki Kikuko recounted everything that had happened and said fiercely, "Grandfather, we will give them a taste of their own medicine. You don¡¯t know how arrogant they were."


    The stern old man was the current head of the Nishiwaki family, Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi. Next to him was another seemingly ordinary old man, somewhat short, dressed in a black robe with white hair.


    Nishiwaki Kikuko turned to him respectfully and said, "Mr. Yoshida, we need your help later. These people do not understand gratitude. Even your two disciples were immobilized by their magic."


    Yoshida looked at him and said indifferently, "To the people of China, this is not witchcraft but esoteric arts. I have some knowledge of Chinese esoteric arts. Although they are somewhat similar to our yin-yang arts, they belong to completely different schools. If they can subdue you, their skills must be considerable."


    "Yes, yes, Mr. Yoshida is right."


    A few people arrived at the lobby. Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi and Yoshida looked at the young girl and two men sitting nearby and frowned slightly.


    Yoshida was also trying to figure out how powerful these two people were. Nishiwaki Kikuko had said that everything was done by the girl? Then what about the other two men? Could they be masters of esoteric arts too?


    Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi looked at Yoshida. Yoshida closed his eyes, and Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi knew he had already tested these people.


    But after a few seconds, Yoshida suddenly changed color, took a step back, and his face turned pale.


    Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi¡¯s expression also changed. He realized that even Yoshida could not match these people. He quickly stepped forward and said, "I apologize for any inconvenience. Please forgive us, honored guests. Is there any misunderstanding?"


    Gu Qin said, "You detained our people, and now they have been found. What else can you say? Also, the contract for Brother Qin''s company was obtained through improper means. There is no misunderstanding."


    Wanshou Yanzhi translated this for them. Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi remained silent for a long time before saying, "This is all the fault of the Nishiwaki family. I will immediately return the cultural relics of your country and destroy the contract for your company. Please do not take offense."


    No one spoke. Nishiwaki knew that this loss had to be accepted. If even Yoshida, a master of yin-yang arts, could not match them, what could he do? The items had been brought over, so Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi had someone fetch them. The cultural relics were placed in a wooden box carved with ancient patterns, emitting a faint fragrance. The long wooden box revealed a scroll when opened. Gu Qin casually glanced inside and saw that it contained a scroll, emitting a faint auspicious aura.


    After a glance, Gu Qin knew the relics were genuine. However, several Chinese officials did not trust them, so they brought an appraiser. They opened the box and took out the scroll. The two men carefully unrolled it.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The appraiser was an elderly man in his sixties who had been in a state of shock since being brought over. Now that the scroll was opened, he regained his senses and began examining it with a magnifying glass and other tools.


    Seeing the elderly man''s trembling hands, Gu Qin knew he must be excited to see the cultural relics.


    She understood the significance of Chinese history and the importance of these relics to China. She couldn''t help feeling a sense of reverence. She walked a few steps toward the old man and looked at the scroll.


    The scroll was four meters long, depicting a landscape painting with towering mountains, steep cliffs, beautiful rivers, and a harmonious atmosphere. The scroll exuded a sense of tranquility amidst its grandeur. Gu Qin felt a sudden buzzing in her head, and layers of ripples spread through her mind. Her cultivation, which had been stuck for a long time, seemed to have found a breakthrough, with something stirring and wanting to emerge.


    Gu Qin knew that as she progressed, breaking through became increasingly difficult. Sometimes, it required deep contemplation, and sometimes, seeing or experiencing something could lead to enlightenment and breakthrough. This was exactly her situation now.


    Gu Qin took a deep breath and, despite the current circumstances, knew that the yin-yang master behind Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi had already been injured and posed no threat. She stood up and approached Qin Xiansheng, looking at him with a radiant expression. "Brother Qin, take care of things here. I need to go out for a bit."


    Qin Xiansheng and Wanshou Yanzhi had noticed the fluctuation in her aura and knew she was about to break through. Qin Xiansheng naturally did not worry about her going out alone. He glanced at Wanshou Yanzhi, who said, "Master, go with her. I''ll handle things here."


    "Then Brother Qin and I will leave first." With that, they left the villa without delay and ran into the distance.


    Everyone was puzzled, watching them leave the hall and vanish within seconds.


    Only the elderly professor was still engrossed in appraising the scroll. Wanshou Yanzhi grinned and said to Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi, "Where''s the contract? Let''s finish this and get back to our country." He muttered softly, "I don''t like this place and want to leave as soon as possible."


    Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi had someone bring the contract. Even though the two had left, he did not dare to be careless and certainly would not try any tricks, given that even Yoshida had lost to them.


    After the contract was brought over, Wanshou Yanzhi read it and destroyed it. The elderly professor finished his appraisal and exclaimed excitedly, "It''s genuine, it''s genuine!"


    Wanshou Yanzhi thought, of course it was genuine; otherwise, how could Gu Qin have broken through just by glancing at it? He glanced at the scroll and felt deeply impressed. The painting on the scroll gave a sense of peace, despite its grandeur. He roughly understood why Gu Qin had suddenly gained insight.


    Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi sighed with relief as these people finally left. He smiled and escorted them out.


    At the villa entrance, Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi planned to have someone escort them down the mountain. Wanshou waved his hand and asked Xia Cheng, "Can someone come to pick us up?"


    Xia Cheng nodded and called someone using the phone returned by the Nishiwaki family.


    Wanshou Yanzhi turned to Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi and said, "Alright, there''s nothing more for you to do. Go back."


    Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi nodded with a smile but immediately frowned as he turned away, forcing himself to hold back.


    Returning to the hall, he found everyone gone. He asked, "Where''s Yoshida?"


    Nishiwaki Kikuko had a pale face, "Grandfather, just as you left, Mr. Yoshida vomited blood and has been taken to rest."


    "And your father?" Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi asked again.


    "He was sent back to his room," Nishiwaki Kikuko replied with a grim expression. "Father is still the same. Grandfather, shouldn¡¯t we ask those people to heal Father first?"


    "This time, we''ve hit a brick wall," Nishiwaki Sh¨­ichi sighed. "Ask Yoshida if he has any solutions. Anyway, let''s end this matter here. Never mention it again, and never trouble those people."


    Nishiwaki Kikuko remained silent but couldn''t help but think, given the situation, how could they bother others.


    Outside the villa, Lin Xinxin asked worriedly, "Sir, where did Qianqian go?"


    Wanshou Yanzhi looked back at her and smiled, "Worried about her?"


    Lin Xinxin nodded.


    "Don''t worry about her," Wanshou Yanzhi said, playing with a string of Buddhist beads on his wrist absentmindedly. "She''s fine. She''ll be back in a few days. Let''s go back."


    Lin Xinxin didn''t speak, knowing she was on a mission and needed to follow orders. She looked at Xia Cheng, who said, "We''re heading back to the country immediately to return the cultural relics."


    The car arrived quickly. On the way back to the airport, Xia Cheng asked, "Mr. Wanshou seems to dislike the country."


    Wanshou Yanzhi made a noncommittal sound and didn''t speak further. He naturally disliked the country. He and his master were around the same age, and he had experienced that not-so-good era. Even in the current peaceful times, he knew there were good people there, but he still didn''t like the country and was unwilling to stay longer.


    Their group went directly to the airport and returned home.


    At this point, Gu Qin was not far from the Nishiwaki family, in a nearby mountain. She chose a spot and sat cross-legged in meditation without saying much.


    Qin Xiansheng wasn''t idle either, setting up a formation centered around Gu Qin.


    All they needed to do now was wait.


    In a week, Gu Qin finally opened her eyes, her gaze clear and bright. She turned to look at the man beside her and said warmly, "Brother Qin, I broke through."


    Qin Xiansheng stepped forward, holding her hand and kissing her lips. "Congratulations, Qianqian."


    Gu Qin smiled. "Brother Qin, what about Xinxin and the others? Did they go back first?"


    "Yes," Qin Xiansheng said, taking her hand and walking down the mountain. "They went back after finishing things. Shall we go to the city to clean up and eat something, then return tomorrow?"


    Gu Qin nodded, turning to look at the villa in the mountains. "Brother Qin, wait a moment. We should leave them a gift as well. I won''t let the Nishiwaki family off so easily."


    For them, yin-yang masters weren''t a threat and were not considered seriously. Yin-yang masters originated from China but did not have the broad range of powers that esoteric arts had. They did not understand feng shui as well as the formations.


    Gu Qin intended to set up a formation around the Nishiwaki villa, ensuring their decline.


    Qin Xiansheng naturally understood her intentions and said, "Setting up the formation requires materials. Let''s go back to the city first."


    In the city, they checked into a hotel, washed up, bought supplies for the formation, and returned to the hotel. The next day, they went to the Nishiwaki villa and set up the formation together. It was a simple Yin Gathering Formation, making the area extremely yin. Living in such a place, the Nishiwaki family would suffer.


    Living in such an environment would cause irritability, illness, and mistakes, which were unacceptable for a family like theirs. Their misdeeds would lead to such consequences.


    Living in such conditions for half a year would gradually lead to the decline of the Nishiwaki family. The formation would only last for half a year.


    After setting up the formation, they had no more involvement. They booked flights and returned to Beijing the next morning.


    Back in Beijing, Cheng Yinxiang scolded them for not calling for nearly ten days and worrying excessively.


    Gu Qin stroked her protruding belly and smiled. "Mom, don''t worry. I''m safe with Brother Qin. By the way, Mom, did you go for your checkup?"


    Cheng Yinxiang smiled warmly. "Yes, everything is fine. We just have to wait a few more months until the baby is born. But we still need monthly checkups. The due date is in June, about three months away."


    After returning, Gu Qin got busy. Wang An''s treatment was almost complete, and today was the last session.


    She went to Wang An''s house, where his mother and wife were waiting. Gu Qin nodded and entered to perform the final treatment. After an hour, she said to the flushed man, "Done. Today is the last treatment. Your illness is cured. Please don''t talk about this outside, and transfer the payment to my account."


    Wang An stood up and nodded. "Thank you. I will transfer the payment once I sell the house. I promise not to tell anyone about your help."


    Gu Qin said, "Good. If you still don''t trust me, you can get a check-up at the hospital. I''ll leave now."


    Gu Qin went to the living room and saw Wang An''s wife with a gloomy face. She ignored her and left, telling the women, "Wang An''s illness is fully cured. You can transfer the money to my account anytime."


    Wang An''s mother nodded, embarrassed. Wang An''s wife''s face darkened even more. Gu Qin smiled and left.


    Once she left, Li Lisi couldn''t help asking her mother-in-law, "Mom, are we really selling the house? Where will we live? Persuade Wang An to reconsider. Selling the house means losing everything."


    Li Lisi couldn''t bear to lose the money so easily. "Besides, she treated Wang An so easily, coming every few days, just waving her hand. Why..."


    "Shut up!" Wang An walked out, interrupting her. "Do you know the survival rate for late-stage cancer? Zero. At most, it''s controlling the cancer cells to prevent spreading and extending life a few years. She made me, who had terminal cancer, have no cancer cells. Do you know what that means? This Miss Gu is like a living deity. Do you want to offend her?"


    Wang An''s mother nodded. "Yes, I agree. We definitely need to pay. But five million..."


    "I''m not saying it''s expensive," Wang An sighed. "Mom, do you think five million is too expensive to save my life?"


    "No, of course not!" Wang An''s mother suddenly woke up and sighed. "Anzi, I¡¯m not saying five million is too expensive. It¡¯s just that once we sell the house, we¡¯ll have nothing left."


    Wang An sat beside his mother, feeling ashamed. "Mom, I used to be irresponsible, earning dirty money and losing it all to gambling. After this big illness, I¡¯ve realized I need to live honestly. What¡¯s important is having a healthy body and past connections. Mom, I promise I won¡¯t do illegal things anymore. I plan to start a small business. We can sell the house for about five million. Five million will be enough to repay Miss Gu and cover expenses."


    Wang An''s mother cried, nodding repeatedly. "Alright, alright. Whatever you say. I¡¯ve saved some money, and I¡¯ll give it to you for your business. Let¡¯s do it properly this time. No more illegal activities, no more gambling. As long as you and your sister are doing well, I¡¯ll be happy."


    When she saw her friend at that moment, Bao Lanchu''s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

 Mission of the Feng Shui Master

    Wang An decided to sell the house, which he hadn''t sold earlier because he was monitoring the real estate market. The value of the house had increased significantly over the past few months. He sold it for around 5.2 million, selling it at a lower price of 2.15 million not just to repay Gu Qin faster but because he wanted to buy a shop that might disappear if he delayed.


    The house was in a good location and well-maintained. It had been recently renovated, and it was sold within days. All contracts were signed, and Wang An moved his family out, transferring the money to Gu Qin immediately.


    Gu Qin didn''t keep the money. A recent flood in the north had caused disasters. She donated five million to charity and bought supplies to send to the affected areas.


    Online posts about the incident gradually faded from public attention. Gu Qin wasn''t a celebrity and wasn''t often followed by paparazzi. The heat lasted about half a month before cooling down, and it would occasionally resurface but never reach the same level of interest.


    However, because of the posts, Gu Qin''s business improved. Many people sought her for feng shui consultations. She still adhered to seeing one case per day, usually visiting clients after school. Fees ranged from tens of thousands to millions.


    After returning, the security team specially thanked her. Lin Xinxin seemed to have been assigned another task and only called Gu Qin a month later, suggesting they meet on Sunday.


    On the phone, Lin Xinxin seemed a bit embarrassed. "Qianqian, I¡¯m bringing someone else for you to see."


    "Sure," Gu Qin chuckled. She guessed who Lin Xinxin was bringing based on the slight movement of her red phoenix star. It suggested that Lin Xinxin had a boyfriend. She guessed it was someone she knew from high school.


    They met at a Western restaurant, eating first and then going out to play.


    Gu Qin arrived first, not wanting Lin Xinxin to feel awkward, so she didn''t bring any other friends. After about ten minutes, Lin Xinxin arrived, holding the arm of a tall man. He was handsome and familiar to Gu Qin¡ªJi Ziyu, the heir of Zhenbaozhai, a family that owned antique shops.


    Their friendship stemmed from Jang Ni''s introduction, and Gu Qin had helped Ji Ziyu find his parents'' remains, leading to their becoming friends. They occasionally kept in touch during their studies in Beijing. Gu Qin had noticed their close relationship and Ji Ziyu''s feelings during high school.


    Ji Ziyu was a decent person, and Gu Qin approved of their relationship.


    Without using her supernatural abilities, Gu Qin guessed that Ji Ziyu had proposed to Lin Xinxin, and they had been together for about two to three months.


    Seeing Gu Qin, Lin Xinxin seemed embarrassed, almost retracting her hand but held by Ji Ziyu. They sat down at the table, and Lin Xinxin blushed, calling out Gu Qin''s name.


    Gu Qin tapped the table and laughed. "Xinxin, you seem like you¡¯re introducing your ugly bride to the in-laws."


    "Stop saying nonsense," Lin Xinxin blushed, no longer embarrassed.


    Rangrang said, "I just brought him to see you. Hey, we''re back together."


    "Congratulations," Gu Qin gave the most sincere blessings, "Xinxin, congratulations to both of you."


    Ji Ziyu smiled and said, "She was too embarrassed to tell you before. She felt it was because of you that we met and got together again, so she felt particularly embarrassed."


    Gu Qin laughed, Xinxin was usually very straightforward, but now she was really quite embarrassed.


    "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore. Today I''ll treat you all. Qinqin, what do you want to eat?"


    The three of them had dinner, then went to a bar for a while, and then they each went their separate ways. Gu Qin knew that Ji Ziyu was still spending more time in Daisan City, but the antique shop business was gradually shifting over here. Gu Qin told him if he needed any help, to just say so. Ji Ziyu smiled and said, "There''s nothing else, but Jiang Ni and the others really miss you. They said they want to gather when you go back to Daisan next time. Jiang Cheng also came back to the country recently; he''s changed quite a bit."


    Jiang Ni and Jiang Cheng were siblings. When Gu Qin first arrived in this world, he helped the Jiang family, which led to his friendship with these two siblings. Back then, Jiang Cheng was a playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. He finally woke up and went abroad for further studies, spending three years there before returning this year.


    Since Gu Qin went to university, he had less contact with them.


    When he returned to Daisan City, he should gather with these old friends.


    After more than a month, Gu Qin happened to be going back to Daisan to check the feng shui for someone, and took this opportunity to gather with those friends from Daisan. They were all around the same age, and had a great time. It could be seen that Jiang Cheng had changed a lot, no longer the clumsy boy from a few years ago, but now a courteous gentleman.


    As June approached, a few days away was Cheng Yinxiang''s due date. Lu Qingrong had already postponed all work and was staying at home to accompany his wife. Gu Qin could tell that both of them were nervous. Cheng Yinxiang was worried about her advanced age making childbirth difficult, while Lu Qingrong was concerned about her health after giving birth.  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Gu Qin couldn''t comfort them, knowing that a body nourished by qi would be in better condition than Cheng Yinxiang''s when she was younger, and having a child wouldn''t be a problem.


    On the 20th, Cheng Yinxiang suddenly went into labor. She felt her stomach starting to cramp and pushed Lu Qingrong beside her, taking a deep breath, "Honey, it seems like it''s time to give birth."


    Lu Qingrong immediately threw off the blanket and picked up Cheng Yinxiang, planning to take her to the hospital. Cheng Yinxiang stopped him, "No, don''t carry me. The contractions just started; just help me down to the car to go to the hospital." They had already reserved a room, so they could go straight there.


    Gu Qin had been sleeping at home during this time and knew everything that happened even with the slightest sound. Gu Jia was also worried and hadn''t stayed at school during this period. When he heard the door open next door, he woke up.


    Coming out, he saw Lu Qingrong supporting Cheng Yinxiang with things in hand, preparing to leave. Without hesitation, Gu Jia stepped forward to take the items, "Mr. Lu, support your mother, I''ll take care of the things."


    The four of them took the elevator downstairs, and Lu Qingrong drove them to the hospital.


    It was late at night, and there were still doctors on duty. Lu Qingrong called a doctor, who examined her and made Lu Qingrong sign several surgical consent forms. As Lu Qingrong signed, he looked closely at the form, his hands trembling. He asked coldly, "Is it written here that giving birth can lead to these situations?" Seeing the various potential risks and dangers listed, he felt anxious.


    The doctor said, "Don''t worry, sir. Everything will be fine. Your wife has been regularly checked at our hospital, and I remember her well. She is in good health and is suitable for a natural delivery. These listed situations are only a small part of possible accidents. Don''t worry, signing is just a hospital rule, hoping you understand."


    Doctors are not omnipotent and cannot solve medical challenges that haven''t been conquered yet. Therefore, death is normal and unavoidable. At such times, someone might come to cause trouble, hence the need for such agreements.


    Gu Qin stepped forward, "Mr. Lu, don''t worry, I won''t let anything happen to Mom."


    Lu Qingrong nodded, calmed down, and signed the form.


    Not long after, the doctor came over and said, "The mother''s condition is very good, and she''s doing well. She''s already dilated six centimeters, and the baby should be born soon. Have you prepared everything? Baby clothes, milk powder, bottles..."


    Lu Qingrong nodded, "Everything is ready."


    The doctor continued to reassure them and then returned to the operating room to assist.


    About twenty minutes later, a nurse came out to notify them that the mother had dilated to ten centimeters and was almost ready to give birth.


    Lu Qingrong was extremely nervous, his hands shaking and sweat on his forehead. This was the anxiety of a father-to-be worrying about his wife and child. Gu Qin and the others didn''t offer any more comfort.


    Less than twenty minutes later, the doctor wheeled the baby out on a cart, "Congratulations, the mother has given birth. It''s a boy."


    "Is my wife okay?" Lu Qingrong immediately rushed over, looking frequently towards the operating room.


    "Don''t worry, the mother still needs some time to recover from the wound. She''ll be sent back to the ward shortly. You can push the baby to the ward first. A nurse will bathe the baby later."


    Lu Qingrong glanced at the baby, his eyes soft, then handed the baby carriage to Gu Qin, "Take him to the ward first, I''ll join you once she comes out."


    "Okay." Gu Qin pushed the baby carriage with Gu Jia and went to the ward first. Looking at the wrinkled, red little bundle in the carriage, Gu Qin found it incredibly interesting. This was the continuation of life, flesh and blood, and hope, truly amazing.


    Gu Jia also stared unblinkingly at his new brother. After a while, he couldn''t help asking, "Qinqin, what name should we give him?"


    Gu Qin smiled, "Mom and Mr. Lu already decided on names. For a girl, it would be Lu Tang, and for a boy, Lu Tang. Both names use homophones of the character ''tang,'' meaning ''hall.'' They hope that when they grow up, they can live uprightly." Before getting pregnant, the couple indeed didn''t know the gender of the child, but Gu Qin had figured it out from the appearance.


    Lu Tang, their youngest brother, despite not sharing the same surname, would still be the most cherished brother by his brothers, sisters, and parents.


    As the youngest in the Lu family, Lu Tang was destined to receive much affection from his brother, sister, parents, and grandparents.


    The two of them, excited, surrounded the baby. Soon, a nurse came and said they needed to bathe the baby first. This was a high-end VIP ward equipped with various facilities, including a separate room for bathing babies. It was a transparent small room, and the two stood outside to watch.


    Ten minutes later, the nurse finished bathing the baby. Lu Qingrong then pushed Cheng Yinxiang into the ward with the doctor''s assistance, and after much instruction and another check, they left.


    The entire ward was now filled with just the five of them.


    Cheng Yinxiang stayed in the hospital for two days. Feeling uncomfortable and without any signs of weakness, her health was good overall. Unlike when she gave birth to Gu Jia and Gu Qin, where she felt weak for months afterward and struggled to recover, she expressed a desire to be discharged. She felt more comfortable at home than in the hospital. Gu Qin agreed, as their home had a gathering array, which was beneficial for recovery.


    Lu Qingrong called a doctor, who examined Cheng Yinxiang and declared her fit for discharge. Once they were gone, the doctor sighed, never having seen a high-aged mother look so good after giving birth. The medical record showed she was in her forties, yet she looked like she was in her thirties. Truly remarkable.


    After being discharged, Cheng Yixin''s grandparents came to take care of her.


    Gu Qin liked his grandparents-in-law. He had previously invited them to visit, but they always felt too old and worried about being a burden to their children and grandchildren, so they never came. This time, they came because Cheng Yinxiang had given birth.


    Grandpa and Grandma Cheng were actually in pretty good spirits. Gu Qin had been sending them honey and fruit wine continuously, and the whole family enjoyed it, maintaining good health.


    This time, when Grandpa and Grandma Cheng came, Gu Qin went all out to help them improve their health. Besides the gathering array, he slowly nourished their bodies with food and drink.


    A month later, Cheng Yinxiang had completed her confinement period and celebrated her son''s full moon party.


    The little one, from the wrinkled appearance at birth to the rosy, soft-haired infant, had changed significantly. His eyes were wide open, with double eyelids.


    Every day, Gu Qin and Gu Jia would return home to see the little one, waiting for him to wake up and look around with his black, grape-like eyes. Then they would say, "Little Tang Tang, I''m your sister."


    Gu Jia: "Little Tang Tang, I''m your brother."


    Usually, Little Tang would stare at them for a while, yawn, pout, and then cry, indicating he was hungry.


    Cheng Yinxiang planned to breastfeed until he was about a year old.


    During the first half-year postpartum, Cheng Yinxiang rarely went to the company. The beauty salon was managed by the vice president, and she occasionally attended meetings. Lu Qingrong was very responsible, often returning home to be with his wife and child. When he had free time, he cooked and took care of the child himself. With Grandpa and Grandma Cheng helping out, and Little Tang being well-behaved, overall, their lives didn''t change much.


    Grandpa and Grandma Cheng stayed for half a year, and their health improved significantly. Their faces became ruddy, and their white hair decreased. They noticed the changes themselves, attributing it to seeing their youngest daughter happy and content.


    In the past month or so, Gu Qin wasn''t too busy, except for occasional feng shui cases and treating a few patients at the hospital. She continued attending school as usual.


    Now it was late January, and Gu Qin was in her second year of college. Winter break had begun, and in twenty days, it would be the Spring Festival. This year, the Gu family planned to spend the holiday at the Chengs'' place. Gu Qin hadn''t seen her uncle, aunt, cousins, and cousins for a long time.


    However, she communicated more with her cousins, mainly through online channels. Especially after the post about her surfaced online, her two cousins called her specifically. Upon learning that the post was true, they were thrilled. Now, knowing that Gu Qin and the Gu family were returning for the Spring Festival, they were beyond delighted.


    During the winter break, when she had free time, Gu Qin also helped out at the beauty salon. Cheng Yinxiang really found it difficult to go to the company, especially when the baby was six months old and becoming more active.

 Whirlpool of Fate

    Bao Lanchu looked at her daughter''s carefree face and couldn''t help sighing. Almost a year had passed since the car accident. Liang Jun had already been sent to prison.


    After recovering from her injuries, she immediately began dealing with Liang Jun. Bao Lanchu considered herself not heartless, but facing her husband of over a decade, recalling his cruelty, his willingness to orchestrate the car accident for the sake of his mistress and his property, nearly sacrificing her daughter as well, her heart turned bitter. She wished Liang Jun dead.


    After leaving the hospital, she gathered more evidence and had the badly damaged car tested, confirming that the brakes had been tampered with. Combined with the other evidence collected, it was enough to file charges.


    Bao Lanchu immediately filed charges against Liang Jun for murder and attempted robbery. The case was exposed to the Bao family, who were furious and worried about their daughter. In the end, they secretly supported her efforts. Liang Jun was sentenced to life imprisonment, and the mistress, who was in the same school as Liang Jun, received a sentence of over ten years.


    This news could not be hidden from Liang Mi, who was now a teenager. Her father''s conviction was public knowledge. Bao Lanchu informed her of the truth, and Liang Mi was severely affected, developing depression. Bao Lanchu felt both heartbroken and regretful, wishing she had kept the truth from her daughter.


    Eventually, she had to seek help from a psychologist for Liang Mi.


    The psychologist was of little help, so Bao Lanchu remembered the encounter with Gu Qin in the hospital right after the accident. If it weren''t for Gu Qin''s reminder, she wouldn''t have noticed Liang Jun''s abnormalities.


    Bao Lanchu originally planned to visit Gu Qin after resolving the matter to express her gratitude. But for her daughter''s sake, she had to visit earlier. She knew Gu Qin was a feng shui master and hoped she could help her daughter, as Liang Mi had developed tendencies toward self-harm.


    Bao Lanchu chose the right person. Within a month, Gu Qin cured her daughter, and seeing her daughter restored to normal, Bao Lanchu was deeply grateful to Gu Qin.


    They thus became acquainted, and Bao Lanchu liked Gu Qin''s personality, becoming friends.


    Occasionally, they would chat, and Bao Lanchu learned from Gu Qin that their survival in the car accident was due to the jade pendants they wore.


    Speaking of the jade pendants, Bao Lanchu recalled that it was an elderly man she had accidentally helped who gave her the pendants. He told her to wear them always, saying they would save their lives.


    Initially, Gu Qin said, "No wonder, the old man must be a feng shui master like me. He saw your predicament and helped you. Luckily, you listened to his advice and carried the pendant. This is a low-level defensive artifact, usable only once, during the car accident. Otherwise, the impact... "


    Gu Qin didn''t finish her sentence, but Bao Lanchu understood that without the pendant, they would have perished.


    At the time, Bao Lanchu told Gu Qin, "Initially, I didn''t take it seriously and put the pendant away. But then I started having dreams, dreaming of the old man repeatedly telling me to wear the pendant. I had the same dream for several nights. I felt strange and gave one pendant to Liang Mi. We each wore one. After wearing them, I never had those dreams again. It turned out they saved us."


    Gu Qin smiled, "It wasn''t the pendants that saved you, but your kindness. There''s cause and effect. Kindness is the cause, and the outcome is the result."


    Gu Qin also mentioned that the pendants had fulfilled their purpose after the accident and were now cracked. Initially, she thought it was due to the accident''s impact, but now she understood that their mission was complete.


    Despite this, Bao Lanchu did not remove the pendant. It was a reminder of her kindness.


    As she stroked the pendant, reminiscing, her phone rang. Bao Lanchu answered, and her friend Wan Jing''s voice came through, "Lan Chu, how is Mi Mi?"


    Bao Lanchu laughed, "Mi Mi is fine. It''s winter break, and she''s watching TV at home. Ajing, we haven''t seen each other in a while. How are you?"


    Wan Jing was her classmate in her youth, and they remained close friends from middle school through university. They had always studied at the same school, and their friendship was unquestionable.


    The Wan family was a true scholarly household. Her mother was a professor at Beijing University, and her father was a renowned cultural relic appraiser.


    Wan Jing was fortunate. After graduation, she met a man and married him. Only after marriage did she realize how wealthy his family was. The Wan family''s wealth was so vast that they didn''t need to arrange marriages. The Wan family''s descendants could simply choose whom they loved.


    Wan Jing''s husband''s family, the Lis, were among the top ten wealthiest families in Beijing. They were even richer than the Bai family, which wasn''t even in the top ranks of wealthy families in Beijing.


    The Li family had risen to prominence through politics, but by the time Wan Jing''s husband Li Yunze''s father came along, they shifted to business and seized opportunities, becoming well-known within a decade.


    Wan Jing only realized how wealthy the Li family was when she married Li Yunze. She was surprised and slightly angry at first, as she preferred a simple life with a loving husband. However, she later realized that aside from being rich, Li Yunze met all her other criteria. She came to appreciate him, finding him a loving and respectful man.


    Their marriage was happy, and she bore two sons. Having sons in such a family was ideal for her.


    Over the years, her in-laws treated her well, and she lived happily. She and Bao Lanchu maintained regular contact, often meeting in Beijing.


    But over the past year, Bao Lanchu had been preoccupied, so they hadn''t met, communicating mostly by phone. Bao Lanchu shared her personal matters with Wan Jing, who remained silent for a long time before sighing, "I never imagined Li Jun would be seen as such a good man... Forget it, no point in talking about it. He received his punishment."


    Wan Jing called because she was worried about Mi Mi. She was Mi Mi''s godmother and had no daughters of her own, so she cared deeply for Mi Mi. Hearing that Mi Mi was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief, "Good that Mi Mi is fine. I''ve been feeling unwell lately. I''ll visit her once I feel better."


    "What''s wrong?" Bao Lanchu was alarmed, "What''s wrong with your health?" Just over a year ago, they had met and Wan Jing was in good health, living a comfortable life and looking much younger than her peers.  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Wan Jing sighed over the phone, "Before, Yunze told me he wanted a daughter, but at my age, it''s impossible. Seeing how much he wanted a daughter, I tried, but unfortunately, it didn''t work out. I was too old. The pregnancy ended when the baby was four months old, and I developed some health issues. Yunze feels very guilty and built a villa for me in the suburbs, saying the air is good there. He doesn''t mention having a daughter anymore."


    "This, Yunze is really clueless." Bao Lanchu didn''t want to say too much. The Li family was wealthy, and wanting more children was understandable. But Wan Jing had already given birth to two sons and had waited over a decade to consider having a daughter. How could she bear it?


    Wan Jing didn''t want Bao Lanchu to blame her husband and laughed, "He knows he was wrong and regrets it. He specially sent me to this place to recuperate. The air here is indeed good, with a large lake nearby. Mi Mi is on winter break, why don''t we bring her here to play for a few days?"


    "Sure, I''ll bring Mi Mi tomorrow." Bao Lanchu also wanted to see this beautiful place.


    "Friend."


    After chatting for a while, Wan Jing started coughing, her voice also sounded somewhat tired. Bao Lanchu could only tell her to rest well and hung up the call.


    The next morning, Bao Lanchu packed some things, drove with her daughter to Wan Jing''s place.


    The Fifth Ring Road of the capital city was on the outskirts, and beyond the mountains was even more remote. However, the road had been improved, and the car drove smoothly. After taking a detour, Bao Lanchu arrived at the foot of the villa.


    The villa covered a large area, mainly because the front yard and back yard were big. The villa was a four-story small villa, with an area of about two hundred square meters. Including the front yard and back yard, it was roughly over a thousand square meters.


    Bao Lanchu first noticed not her friend but the villa. Unlike ordinary small villas which were usually three or four stories tall, this one had eight floors. The overall design of the villa was somewhat peculiar. Generally, small villas were square, round, or in European styles. This villa, however, resembled a city skyscraper, appearing narrow, tall, and thin. It wasn''t a perfect rectangle but seemed slightly concave from the front, with protrusions on both sides. Whether it was an illusion or not, the building looked odd.


    She didn''t pay too much attention to the villa, finding it merely strange and couldn¡¯t help but look at it twice. There was also a sense of fear within her, though she couldn''t understand why.


    Before she could think further, Bao Lanchu saw her friend come out. At that moment, her heart skipped again.


    A year and a half ago, when they met, her friend had rosy cheeks, fair skin, bright eyes, and no one would believe she was forty. But now, her friend¡¯s complexion was sallow, with faint dark circles under her eyes and obvious wrinkles.


    "Wan Jing." Bao Lanchu walked up, her heart pounding, her voice trembling. "How did you end up looking like this?" Her friend was still in a wheelchair, being pushed by a woman.


    There was a metal gate between them. Wan Jing raised her hand, signaling the woman behind her to open the gate. She said, "I had a miscarriage and injured my body. Yunze also had people check, saying I was seriously hurt. Now, I have a nutritionist and a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to take care of me. Alas, I don''t know if I can recover. My body is too weak, so I always use this thing."


    "But..." Bao Lanchu was puzzled. "Even if you had a miscarriage and injured your body, how could you not recover? This seems too serious."


    Wan Jing sighed. "Traditional Chinese medicine says that due to my age and the miscarriage, it''s normal to need several years to recover. The city is too noisy. This villa was just built, and I thought it would be good to move here to adjust my mindset."


    The woman, presumably Chen Ma, had already opened the gate. Bao Lanchu and Liang Mi walked in, and Bao Lanchu pushed the wheelchair into the villa. Liang Mi worriedly said, "Mom, please be careful."


    Wan Jing held Liang Mi''s hand, turned her head, and smiled. "Mimi, don''t worry. Mom will be fine soon."


    Liang Mi''s hand suddenly pulled back. "Mom, your hand is so cold." Extremely cold, sending shivers down Liang Mi''s spine.


    Upon hearing this, Bao Lanchu reached out to hold her hand, her face changing. "Wan Jing, your hand is so cold."


    "It might be because of winter. Ever since the miscarriage, my body has always been cold."


    But this kind of cold... Bao Lanchu felt her whole body tremble. Her friend''s hands felt completely lifeless, not just from the cold.


    Entering the villa, which had central heating, Bao Lanchu and Liang Mi took off their coats and hung them up. Wan Jing was still wrapped in a down jacket, showing no intention of taking it off. Bao Lanchu sighed; with such cold hands, she would need to wrap herself up thickly even in a heated room.


    "Sister Chen, prepare lunch, no need to worry about me. I haven''t seen Lan Chu in a long time and plan to chat for a while."


    The woman should be Sister Chen. She said, "Madam''s health isn''t good, remember to rest later."


    Wan Jing nodded. When Sister Chen entered the kitchen, she had Bao Lanchu push her into the elevator, going up to the second floor. She introduced, "The second floor is where I live. The third floor has a study, coffee lounge, and bar. The fourth floor is for fitness, guest rooms are also on the second floor. You and Mimi can choose a room later. The upper floors have entertainment equipment, a home theater, Mimi can watch movies upstairs, and the rooftop is a golf course, but it''s too cold to go up now."


    Bao Lanchu noticed that the villa was covered with wooden floors, similar in color to the tiles outside. The wooden floors were slightly brownish, and most of the furniture in the villa was made of wood.


    Entering Wan Jing''s room, Bao Lanchu asked Liang Mi to go pick a room and explore the third and fourth floors. Liang Mi nodded and went out, closing the door behind her.


    Bao Lanchu stayed in the room with Wan Jing, chatting for half an hour, after which Wan Jing grew tired and fell asleep.


    At lunchtime, Li Yunze returned specifically to accompany Wan Jing for dinner. He knew Bao Lanchu and greeted her, asking her to keep her company. Seeing that Li Yunze was still as caring as before, Bao Lanchu felt relieved. She was afraid that her friend''s illness would make her husband turn his back on her, but he hadn''t.


    Accompanying Li Yunze and others for lunch, he left for work, informing Wan Jing that he would be traveling the next day, leaving early in the morning and wouldn''t come back to accompany her that night.


    After he left, Wan Jing sighed, "This place is great, but it''s too far from Yunze''s company. He doesn''t often come back at night, but he does come for lunch sometimes."


    "He''s busy, this is still good. I see he cares for you just as much as before. Take good care of your health. Once you''re better, you two can live happily together."


    Wan Jing smiled warmly.


    In the afternoon, they sat on the balcony to bask in the sun. Wan Jing fell asleep again, and after dinner, she went to bed earlier.


    Although there were many guest rooms, Liang Mi insisted on sharing a room with Bao Lanchu. That night, they whispered to each other. Liang Mi whispered, "Mom, I feel something''s off in this house. It feels oppressive. I went up to the upper floors today and it was empty..."


    Bao Lanchu didn''t think much of it. "Don''t be afraid. It''s just because this place is too big and there aren''t enough people living here."


    Liang Mi couldn''t help but mutter, "Why build such a huge place for just one person?"


    Bao Lanchu was also puzzled. Ordinary villas were two or three stories high, but this one had eight stories. Although each floor had different purposes, with a small golf course on the top, she still felt that living in such a building alone was too spacious and gave her a sense of oppression.


    That night, Bao Lanchu didn''t sleep well, having nightmares. In the morning, she had dark circles under her eyes, and noticing that her daughter didn''t sleep well either, Liang Mi said, "Mom, is there something wrong with the feng shui here? Did Uncle Li consult anyone when he built the house? I didn''t sleep well last night, it felt so oppressive, I kept waking up."


    "It might be because we changed places," Bao Lanchu hesitated.


    Liang Mi pouted. "Mom, I heard from Sister Gu that feng shui is very important for houses. If we''re uncomfortable living here, it must be due to the feng shui. Auntie''s health isn''t good, and she won''t be able to recover if she doesn''t sleep well."


    "You''ve become quite superstitious," Bao Lanchu laughed. "Have you learned a lot from Sister Gu?"


    "Not really, Sister Gu didn''t teach me directly, she just talked about it sometimes."


    Mother and daughter chatted for a while. Breakfast was ready, and they went downstairs to eat. Wan Jing was already sitting at the table, greeted them, and let them sit down.


    Bao Lanchu sat down and asked, "Wan Jing, how did you sleep last night?"

 Hope in the Darkness

    "Pretty well," Wan Jing hesitated. "Did you two sleep poorly? Strange, the nurse who took care of me said she couldn''t sleep well either. Ma served me for a month and then left. Chen Ma, who used to take care of my mother-in-law, said she couldn''t sleep well either. But I slept well..."


    Strange, Bao Lanchu didn''t understand. If it was a feng shui issue, Wan Jing should also be unable to sleep well. Why were only they sleeping poorly?


    After breakfast, Wan Jing exercised a bit on the balcony and planned to rest at ten. Bao Lanchu went up to the fifth floor with her daughter to watch a movie.


    While watching, Liang Mi couldn''t help but say, "Mom, let''s ask Sister Gu to come over. Sister Gu knows about feng shui and is a doctor. She healed me before, and you saw how my wrist scars disappeared. I think if Auntie''s body is truly injured, Sister Gu can heal her. And you''ve seen how powerful she is."


    Bao Lanxin was secretly impressed by Gu Qin''s abilities.


    Bao Lanchu was moved. Yes, Gu Qin was so capable and could treat illnesses. Maybe she could cure Wan Jing.


    "Mom, shall we call her?" Liang Mi suggested.


    Bao Lanchu couldn''t help but call Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin received the call while dining and shopping with friends. It was officially winter break, and all her friends were returning home, so they arranged to meet for dinner and shopping.


    Currently, they were shopping. Seeing it was Bao Lanchu''s call, she answered, "Aunt Bao?"


    "Qin Qin, it''s like this," Bao Lanchu said. "I have a friend around my age. She recently had a miscarriage and injured her body. The doctors couldn''t do much, and she''s been slowly recuperating, but there''s no improvement. Do you have any way to help?"


    "No problem, I can cure it. It''s not a big deal. What''s the address? I''ll come tomorrow."


    Bao Lanchu gave her the address. "Do you need me to pick you up? I''m still with my friend."


    "No need, I''ll go myself. Aunt Bao, I''ll hang up now."


    After a full afternoon with her friends, Qin Xiansheng insisted on driving Gu Qin over, and they went together.


    Arriving at the location according to Bao Lanchu''s address, they found a newly paved road and drove to its end, where the tall building stood. Seeing the building, Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng couldn''t help but exchange glances, both seeing shock and concern in each other''s eyes.


    At the villa''s entrance, they parked the car aside. Gu Qin didn''t rush to ring the doorbell but examined the high-rise villa thoroughly, checking the surroundings and layout carefully. She couldn''t help but sneer and pressed the doorbell.


    Qin Xiansheng grabbed her arm. "Be careful, whoever built this villa must have considerable power. But¡ªwhat a wicked mind."


    Gu Qin thought for a moment and didn''t rush inside. She told Qin Xiansheng, "Let me take a few photos first." Ignoring the doorbell, she easily jumped over the iron gate, found a good angle in the courtyard, and took several photos.


    It still wasn''t enough, so she used a flying technique to hover in the air, snapping a few more shots. Flying techniques weren''t difficult; at her level, she could use advanced flying talismans or chant a spell. However, it consumed a lot of energy, so most cultivators rarely used them for travel.


    She flew to the roof, where the color of the tiles matched those on the exterior of the villa. Taking a few photos from above, she came back down to the door and rang the bell.


    Soon, a woman around fifty came to open the door. Knowing she was there to see the lady, she warmly welcomed her in.


    Bao Lanchu was in the hall, seeing Gu Qin arrive, she rushed forward. "Qin Qin, you''re here."


    Liang Mi also ran over excitedly. "Sister Gu, you''re here."


    Gu Qin patted Liang Mi''s shoulder and greeted Bao Lanchu before carefully examining the interior. The more she looked, the more her brows furrowed. Bao Lanchu glanced at Qin Xiansheng, unsure who he was. Qin Xiansheng introduced himself, "Hello, I''m Qin Xiansheng, Gu Qin''s boyfriend. I''m here with her today."


    Bao Lanchu responded, "Mr. Qin, please sit. My friend is still resting. I''ll go wake her up."


    "No need," Gu Qin said. "Aunt Bao, let''s go to her room together and talk to her."


    Then, she said to Liang Mi, "Mimi, I''ll go diagnose Auntie. Wait for us downstairs, okay?"Stolen novel; please report.


    Liang Mi nodded obediently.


    Gu Qin didn''t rush upstairs but toured from the second floor to the top, taking many photos before going to Wan Jing''s room with Bao Lanchu.


    They went upstairs, and Wan Jing was still resting. Bao Lanchu gently called out, "Wan Jing, Wan Jing, the person I mentioned yesterday is here."


    Wan Jing woke up drowsily, seeing Gu Qin, she was somewhat dazed, but after a while, she regained her senses. She pulled her coat over her shoulders and sat up, looking very tired. Gu Qin said, "Lean against the bed, I''ll take your pulse first."


    Wan Jing didn''t underestimate Gu Qin because of her young age. She had already heard from Bao Lanchu about Gu Qin''s identity and capabilities. Wan Jing had even seen the online posts, amazed at how young and talented this girl was.


    Gu Qin quickly took her pulse and put Wan Jing''s hand back under the covers. "Indeed, it''s because of the miscarriage that your body is injured. But it''s not a major issue. With proper care, you''ll recover."


    Wan Jing was stunned. "But other doctors said it would take years to recover."


    Gu Qin smiled. "That''s true, but if other doctors treated you, it would take a long time. With my help, you''ll recover in at most two months. From an outsider''s perspective, you could even die from exhaustion."


    Bao Lanchu and Wan Jing were confused, not understanding Gu Qin''s meaning.


    Gu Qin continued, "Don''t understand? Let me show you something." She turned to Wan Jing. "What I''m about to show you may be harsh, but please bear with it."


    "What, what do you mean?" Wan Jing felt a sudden surge of fear.


    Gu Qin took out her phone and showed them the photos she had taken. As she scrolled through the images, their faces grew increasingly pale. Gu Qin asked, "Can you recognize what this looks like? This is the overall appearance of the building you live in. Doesn''t it look like a coffin? An upright coffin?"


    Their faces turned deathly pale. Wan Jing stammered, "This... This must be a coincidence, how could the designer...?"


    "Not a coincidence," Gu Qin dispelled her illusions. "In feng shui, this architectural layout is called a coffin house. Coffins are widely used in feng shui architecture. ''Coffin'' means promotion and wealth, but it doesn''t apply to upright coffins. Upright coffins prevent the dead from resting in peace, indicating extreme bad luck."


    "How could this be?" Bao Lanchu''s face paled, unable to comprehend. She looked at Wan Jing. "Wasn''t Li Yunze tricked?"


    Wan Jing nervously pulled out her phone to call Li Yunze. Gu Qin held her hand. "I think you should hear me out before deciding whether to call him."


    Wan Jing abruptly stopped, realizing Gu Qin''s meaning. She looked at Gu Qin in disbelief, exclaiming, "No, this can''t be true..."


    Gu Qin cast a calming spell on her. "Listen to me first. In architectural terms, an upright coffin is extremely unlucky. Combined with other buildings or trees around it, it can form an array that brings great misfortune. People living here will gradually decline and die. Even after death, their souls cannot rest peacefully. Weak souls trapped here can be suppressed and imprisoned. Do you understand? Someone wants you dead and wants to ensure you never have a chance to recover."


    The two were speechless. Gu Qin continued, "If these pictures don''t convince you, all the furniture in your house is made of willow wood. Do you know what willow wood is used for? Willow wood is specifically used for making coffins, and it carries strong yin energy." She lightly touched the bedside table without actually touching it, revealing the wood underneath. "This is willow wood. The redwood furniture below is also painted willow wood, and the flooring is also willow wood."


    Gu Qin took out her phone again, showing them more photos. She pointed to a decoration hanging from the ceiling on the top floor¡ªa bronze coin strung with red string, resembling a sword hanging like a chandelier. "Do you know what this is?"


    Wan Jing''s face turned pale. "This... This is something my husband put up. He said it was a decoration and could ward off evil spirits."


    "Ward off evil spirits?" Gu Qin laughed. "He probably took advantage of your lack of knowledge in feng shui. This is called a money sword, used to ward off evil spirits. For ordinary people, it doesn''t cause harm, but for someone with poor health, it can be harmful. Combined with all the willow wood furniture and this coffin-like building, you''ll quickly weaken and die. Your soul will be trapped here and completely destroyed by the money sword. These things and arrangements are impossible for ordinary people to set up."


    She had already seen through the facade with her spiritual eyes; Li Yunze was just an ordinary person.


    Gu Qin asked, "Does your husband want you dead?"


    "No, no..." Wan Jing shook her head, her face pale. "My husband loves me. He might just not know about these things. Maybe he was tricked. The Li family has many enemies, it''s normal..."


    Gu Qin asked, "Then why wouldn''t his enemies use this layout in his real estate projects instead of in this mountain villa for you?" She paused. "Ms. Wan, Bao Lanchu calls me ''Qin Qin.'' Since you''re her friend, I''ll call you ''Ms. Wan.'' Do you want to know the truth?"


    Wan Jing''s lips trembled, unable to speak. Finally, she managed to whisper, "Yes..."


    "Wan Jing..." Bao Lanchu patted her hand, unsure how to comfort her friend. She understood that Li Yunze likely wanted to harm her. Having experienced her husband''s betrayal, Bao Lanchu knew that once a man decided to turn his back on you, he could be ruthless. Most men who changed their minds would want a divorce, but some, with the right push, could develop murderous intent.


    She and Liang Jun were a prime example. Wan Jing, with little wealth, was easier to understand.


    Wishing to kill her for the sake of robbing her, let alone Li Yunge, such a wealthy man, if he really wanted to divorce Wan Jing because he had a mistress outside, he would be afraid that Wan Jing would take half of his property in the divorce.


    But what Bao Lanchu can''t figure out is that according to Wan Jing''s character, even if Li Yunge really wanted a divorce, Wan Jing would only feel sad and wouldn''t want any of his property; Li Yunge should also know Wan Jing''s personality, so he shouldn''t need to make Wan Jing die, and even go to such lengths, wanting her soul to dissipate after death.


    Gu Qin said, "I can currently only tell you that your husband indeed has murderous intentions toward you, but I don''t know who is behind him. Therefore, I need to see him. Can you get him to come here?"


    Wan Jing''s face was pale as she replied, "He seems to be on a business trip, but I''ll call him and ask."


    Gu Qin nodded. Wan Jing took out her phone. She had been somewhat devastated earlier, but when the girl touched her, she felt much better. The phone soon connected, and Li Yunge''s voice came through, "A Jing, what''s wrong?"


    Wan Jing maintained a cold expression while speaking with gentle words, "Yunge, are you still on your business trip? When will you be back?"


    Li Yunge chuckled softly, "I''ll be back this afternoon."


    Wan Jing continued, "Yunge, can you come over for dinner tonight? I miss you."


    Li Yunge hesitated for a moment, "Alright, I''ll come over for dinner tonight, but after dinner, I have to return to the company as there''s some work to be done."


    "Alright." Wan Jing hung up the phone and looked at Gu Qin, "Is it really him?"


    "Probably." Gu Qin nodded. "But I still need to confirm it. I want to know why he did this."


    Opening her Heavenly Eye could only show her things related to her and Li Yunge. It could only confirm that Li Yunge was an ordinary person and couldn''t build such a building. Trying to look through Wan Jing to see what happened to Li Yunge would be too exhausting. Whoever built such a layout must have received guidance, and she didn''t want to waste her essence here.


    Gu Qin added, "When he comes over for dinner, I won''t go down but will stay upstairs to observe him. Once he leaves, I can tell you the reason. If it''s indeed him working with someone else, this place definitely can''t be lived in, and you''d better find an excuse to move out, without letting him suspect anything. Don''t expose it until we''ve identified the mastermind, okay?"


    "Okay." Wan Jing clenched her fists tightly.


    "But it''s strange. From Auntie Bao''s account, you''ve been living here for nearly two months. According to the logic, you should have... " Gu Qin suddenly noticed the wooden beads on Wan Jing''s left wrist. She paused, "Can you extend your left hand for me to see?"


    Wan Jing extended her left hand. Gu Qin examined the string of prayer beads and smiled lightly, "So it''s because of these beads. These beads were worn by a high monk for many years and have become a treasure. They have a calming effect. That''s why you''ve been able to endure this far, even sleeping soundly in such a place. However, your body continues to weaken, and these beads won''t last long either. Look, there are already tiny cracks appearing on the beads."


    "Beads..." Wan Jing was stunned. She gently stroked the beads, "These beads were given to me by my father. He was an antique appraiser and picked them up from a small vendor a long time ago. Later, Dad gave them to me, hoping they would keep me safe forever."


    As she spoke, tears welled up in Wan Jing''s eyes.


    Gu Qin didn''t say much more, gesturing for Bao Lanchu to accompany her. She went downstairs to inform Brother Qin that she would stay for a while and asked Qin Xiansheng to leave first, returning in the evening. This way, Li Yunge wouldn''t notice any cars parked outside the villa.


    After agreeing on the timing, Qin Xiansheng left.

 Soul

    The next few hours, Gu Qin stayed in the room with Wan Jing. When dinner was ready, Chen Ma prepared the food, and Li Yunge returned home. Chen Ma thought Gu Qin had left, not knowing she was still in the room. Gu Qin had observed that Chen Ma was indeed someone sent by Wan Jing''s mother-in-law to take care of Wan Jing and knew nothing about what Li Yunge had done to Wan Jing.


    From the Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin saw that Wan Jing''s mother-in-law had no idea about her son''s actions towards Wan Jing.


    In fact, Gu Qin was also puzzled. After spending the afternoon together, she understood Wan Jing''s character well. If Li Yunge had proposed a divorce, Wan Jing would never demand any money from Li''s family. Li Yunge should also understand this. Since it wasn''t about money, Wan Jing had even given birth to two sons for him. She didn''t understand why he needed to kill Wan Jing.


    Fortunately, she would know the reason soon.


    Upon hearing the commotion, Li Yunge had returned. The four of them ate dinner downstairs in the dining room. Gu Qin stayed in the kitchen, standing at the corner of the stairs, concealing her aura.


    Below, Li Yunge was serving food to Wan Jing, "A Jing, eat more. Take good care of your health. Before, it was all my fault. I shouldn''t have made you bear children again. Oh..."


    Wan Jing lifted the corners of her mouth, "Husband, don''t worry, I will take good care of myself and will definitely recover."


    Li Yunge paused, sensing something different about his wife today, but seeing her expression was calm and unchanged, he dismissed it as an illusion.


    Bao Lanchu remained silent, unable to speak kindly to the man who wanted to harm her friend. Liang Mi, reminded by Bao Lanchu, didn''t mention anything about the incident in the afternoon.


    Gu Qin opened her Heavenly Eye upstairs and soon saw the truth in her mind. She raised an eyebrow, laughed coldly, turned around, and returned to her room, waiting for the man to leave.


    After dinner, Li Yunge told Wan Jing, "Wife, I still have some unfinished business at the company. I''ll go now and won''t be able to join you for dinner. I''ll visit you tomorrow."


    Wan Jing nodded with a smile, "Go ahead and handle your work."


    Li Yunge left, turning back at the door, "How is it?"


    Wan Jing shook her head, "Nothing, I just wanted to call you."


    "Alright, dear, you be good. When you recover, I''ll take you on a vacation when I''m free."


    "Alright." Wan Jing stopped talking. Li Yunge then left.


    After he left, Wan Jing and Bao Lanchu exchanged glances. They sent Liang Mi upstairs to watch a movie and then went to find Gu Qin. They didn''t want Liang Mi to know about this matter. After the incident with Liang Jun, she had suffered severe depression and had only recently recovered. They didn''t want to upset her again.


    Inside the room, Gu Qin didn''t hide anything and directly told Wan Jing the truth, "Your husband has a mistress outside, and that woman is no simpleton. She is a feng shui master, and this building was designed by her for your husband. In short, that woman isn''t easy to deal with. Originally, Li Yunge only wanted to divorce you, but the woman insisted on your death. At first, your husband was hesitant, but eventually, he gave in under her persuasion. The woman told your husband that she needed a silver soul sacrifice, and he probably loved her deeply. Eventually, he agreed to her demands..."


    Wan Jing''s face turned ashen as she swayed, almost falling. Bao Lanchu quickly supported her, both feeling angry and fearful.


    Gu Qin then asked, "What do you plan to do? Living here will surely end your life. Those prayer beads won''t protect you for long. What are your plans? Even if I can help you regain your health, the woman still wants your life, and it''s easy for her to achieve."


    Gu Qin hadn''t seen that woman yet and didn''t know her true intentions or why she wanted Wan Jing''s life. But she was sure that the female feng shui master wasn''t a good person. Perhaps she simply didn''t want Wan Jing, or perhaps she truly needed an yin soul sacrifice. Regardless of the situation, Gu Qin wouldn''t let this person off.


    Wan Jing lowered her head, taking a full minute before looking up. Her voice was hoarse as she said, "I want to move out first, then regain my health. I hope Master Gu can help me. I also want to divorce Li Yunge and will not give up any part of what I deserve."


    Gu Qin nodded, "Alright, move back in with your parents first. The rest is up to me. I''ll inform you of any progress."


    "Thank you, Master Gu." Wan Jing looked haggard.


    Gu Qin then left, but Bao Lanchu stayed to accompany her friend, waiting for Wan''s family to pick her up the next day.


    Wan Jing also called her father to tell him about the miscarriage and how her health had been affected. However, she didn''t reveal the truth about Li Yunge''s intentions to her family, as it might cause trouble. Her father was furious, thinking her husband was foolish for making his daughter bear children at her age. He had planned to confront Li Yunge but was persuaded otherwise by Wan Jing.


    Her father agreed, "Tomorrow, I''ll go with your brother to bring you back home. Rest for a while."


    Wan Jing provided the address.


    The next day, her father and brother arrived. Upon seeing the building, her father frowned. As they drove her away, he asked, "A Jing, did Li Yunge build this house specially for you?"


    Did he sense something? "Dad, why do you ask like that?"


    Her father frowned, "Just a feeling. Something feels off about the design. I haven''t seen the complete floor plan, so I can''t be sure. But this building gives me an oppressive feeling, which isn''t comfortable to live in."


    Her father was an appraiser and had some knowledge of metaphysics. He sensed something was amiss.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Wan Jing''s heart sank. If her father, who was an expert, could sense something wrong, then what the young girl said was likely true. After twenty years of marriage, he was truly ruthless.


    Seeing her pale face and weak body, her father and brother felt heartache. "A Jing, what happened to you?" her brother asked.


    "It''s alright," Wan Jing slowly raised her head. "Everything will be fine."


    At home, her mother was heartbroken seeing her condition. Her father even invited an old acquaintance, an experienced traditional Chinese doctor, to examine her. The doctor took her pulse and glanced at her silently. Her father, realizing something, pulled him aside, "What''s wrong? Old Peng, our close friend for decades, what''s wrong with my daughter?"


    "She miscarried and hurt herself, but she didn''t properly recuperate. She seems to have been exposed to extreme cold. Based on my examination, it doesn''t look good..."


    Though they spoke in low tones, Wan Jing heard enough. Indeed, she thought bitterly. Initially, the doctor said her injuries weren''t serious and could heal in a few years. Now, after two months in that building, her body had deteriorated significantly. Extreme cold meant yin energy. The term ''standing coffin'' referred to attracting yin energy.


    Li Yunge, you''re truly wicked-hearted.


    They spoke a bit more before her father entered the room. Wan Jing noticed he held a prescription slip. Her father looked grim.


    Wan Jing said, "Dad, don''t worry. A doctor I know said she could treat me. She should arrive later."


    Her father knew she had heard their conversation and sighed, "Old Peng is already remarkable. If even he doesn''t have confidence..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence.


    Wan Jing said, "Dad, let''s try. Maybe she can cure me."


    She had great faith in Gu Qin. After experiencing so many events, she knew this young girl was extraordinary.


    Gu Qin arrived that afternoon with Bao Lanchu. Wan''s parents didn''t expect this young girl to be there to treat their daughter. They thought she was just a friend of Bao Lanchu and let them in.


    Gu Qin took Wan Jing''s pulse and used acupuncture needles to help her. Ten minutes later, she removed the needles and gave her two prescriptions, "This one is for medicine that needs to be boiled and taken orally. The other one requires a large amount of water to be boiled, mixed with warm water in a ratio of one to ten for a bath. Soak for half an hour and rinse thoroughly. Do this once a week, but only after acupuncture. Have someone fetch the medicine tonight and you can start bathing tomorrow."


    "Thank you, Master Gu." Wan Jing held the prescriptions gratefully.


    Gu Qin said, "Since you''re Auntie Bao''s friend, just call me by my nickname. Leave the rest to me. I''ll come once a week. I need to go back now to prepare some things. Auntie Wan, remember not to let Li Yunge and others suspect anything."


    Wan Jing nodded. After they left, she looked at her phone on the bed, hesitating before dialing Li Yunge''s number. The call was quickly answered, "Wife? Is there something?"


    Wan Jing held the phone, "Husband, I''m back home."


    Li Yunge didn''t understand her meaning, "Wife, where did you go back to?"


    "To the Wan family home." Wan Jing calmly replied, "My parents know about my miscarriage and my weakened state. They insisted on bringing me back to rest for a while. I didn''t want to hurt their feelings, so I let my father and brother bring me back."


    "That..." Li Yunge was flustered, "How can that be? Didn''t I specially arrange for you to recuperate in that place? The doctor said you need quiet and rest. How can it be noisy in the city?"


    Wan Jing felt anger but remembered Gu Qin''s advice. She calmed herself, "Don''t worry, Husband. My parents will take good care of me. The house is high up, and the neighborhood is quiet. No one will disturb me. If it''s uncomfortable, I''ll come back."


    "That''s fine." Li Yunge was frustrated but couldn''t do anything. He couldn''t force her back, as it would raise suspicions, "Stay at your parents'' place and rest. I''ll visit you when I''m not busy. If you want to come back, just call me."


    "Alright." Wan Jing hung up the phone, lowering her head for a long time. After a very long time, she wiped away her tears.


    Gu Qin left behind a prescription for medicinal baths. Wan Jing handed them to her mother and told her to follow the instructions to recover quickly. Wan Jing''s mother asked, "A Jing, where did you get these?"


    "Mom, don''t worry. They''re prescriptions from the doctor I mentioned earlier. Let''s try them."


    She didn''t tell her parents that the prescriptions were from the young girl who visited earlier. Her parents wouldn''t believe a young girl.


    Wan Jing''s mother had learned from Doctor Peng that her daughter''s condition was difficult to treat and that she might not have much time left. Now, seeing these prescriptions, she decided to try them out.


    That night, Wan Jing took a medicinal bath. Despite the cold weather, she sweated profusely after soaking for half an hour. After rinsing with warm water, she felt warm all over.


    Gu Qin didn''t idle. She hired someone to investigate Li Yunge''s situation. From the Heavenly Eye, she knew that Li Yunge and the woman were staying in the penthouse of a skyscraper owned by the Li family. Most of the floors were commercial and entertainment facilities, while the top floors were occupied by a hotel and private quarters.


    The penthouse was luxurious and had a private elevator, so no one knew Li Yunge was hiding there.


    Gu Qin didn''t act rashly. She calculated the woman''s identity using ordinary divination methods and found that she seemed to have some connection with someone from the past. Who could that be?


    Thinking about the past, she knew several people in the field of metaphysics, including Brother Qin and his sect, Wan Qiuyan, and those met during the Changbai Mountain trip. Even the deceased Yan Zhen could count as someone from the past. The divination didn''t clearly point to anyone, but it narrowed down the possibilities. Gu Qin then opened her Heavenly Eye.


    Without meeting the person, Gu Qin usually avoided opening her Heavenly Eye, as it consumed a lot of essence and spirit even with her current cultivation. She only opened it to identify the woman''s background.


    Opening her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin soon knew who the woman''s connection was: it was Yan Zhen.


    When Yan Zhen was killed, she knew he was from Brother Qin''s sect. Later, he fled with a magical item and met Brother Qin''s master, following an old man. If this woman knew Yan Zhen, she must have known Brother Qin''s master and might be one of his subordinates.


    Gu Qin felt that everything seemed to lead back to the old man. She would eventually confront him. But solving the old man''s issues was necessary, and they would grow stronger before doing so.


    Even if the woman was connected to the old man, Gu Qin had to confront her. Wan Jing''s situation was urgent. If Li Yunge discovered anything, it could endanger Wan Jing. Thus, they needed to act first.


    Gu Qin recalled that Li Yunge called the woman Xiao Xiao. From the Heavenly Eye, she saw that the woman rarely left the penthouse and mostly practiced dark arts. She had many yin spirits around her, indicating she had caused many deaths. Her desire to sacrifice Wan Jing might be genuine.


    Two days later, Gu Qin''s essence had recovered enough, and she prepared some items. She informed Qin Xiansheng and planned to visit the penthouse. Qin Xiansheng was naturally worried and wanted to go with her. Wan Qiuyan also insisted on joining.


    Gu Qin reluctantly agreed, and the three went to the skyscraper. Their cultivations were high, ensuring a favorable outcome.


    There was only one elevator leading to the penthouse, and only Li Yunge and the woman had access. The elevator required fingerprints to operate, but for them, it wasn''t a problem. Using their essence, they unlocked the elevator and entered, pressing the button for the top floor.


    The fingerprint lock was similar to a regular lock with a slot that could be opened to unlock it.


    The elevator quickly reached the top floor. They concealed their auras and walked to the entrance of the room. The entire top floor was transformed into a large open space with kitchens, various lounges, and entertainment rooms.


    Gu Qin approached the door and knocked. Li Yunge was surprised, wondering who could be there since no one else could reach the penthouse.


    Xiao Xiao was meditating and oblivious to the outside world.


    Li Yunge went to the peephole and saw three strangers, a younger girl among them, whom he didn''t recognize.


    They naturally wouldn''t open the door, but what was strange was that just as he was about to turn back, the door suddenly opened with a click.


    Li Yunge looked at the three people outside and his expression changed slightly. "Who are you? How did you get in?"

 Soul

    The next few hours, Gu Qin stayed in the room with Wan Jing. When dinner was ready, Chen Ma prepared the food, and Li Yunge returned home. Chen Ma thought Gu Qin had left, not knowing she was still in the room. Gu Qin had observed that Chen Ma was indeed someone sent by Wan Jing''s mother-in-law to take care of Wan Jing and knew nothing about what Li Yunge had done to Wan Jing.


    From the Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin saw that Wan Jing''s mother-in-law had no idea about her son''s actions towards Wan Jing.


    In fact, Gu Qin was also puzzled. After spending the afternoon together, she understood Wan Jing''s character well. If Li Yunge had proposed a divorce, Wan Jing would never demand any money from Li''s family. Li Yunge should also understand this. Since it wasn''t about money, Wan Jing had even given birth to two sons for him. She didn''t understand why he needed to kill Wan Jing.


    Fortunately, she would know the reason soon.


    Upon hearing the commotion, Li Yunge had returned. The four of them ate dinner downstairs in the dining room. Gu Qin stayed in the kitchen, standing at the corner of the stairs, concealing her aura.


    Below, Li Yunge was serving food to Wan Jing, "A Jing, eat more. Take good care of your health. Before, it was all my fault. I shouldn''t have made you bear children again. Oh..."


    Wan Jing lifted the corners of her mouth, "Husband, don''t worry, I will take good care of myself and will definitely recover."


    Li Yunge paused, sensing something different about his wife today, but seeing her expression was calm and unchanged, he dismissed it as an illusion.


    Bao Lanchu remained silent, unable to speak kindly to the man who wanted to harm her friend. Liang Mi, reminded by Bao Lanchu, didn''t mention anything about the incident in the afternoon.


    Gu Qin opened her Heavenly Eye upstairs and soon saw the truth in her mind. She raised an eyebrow, laughed coldly, turned around, and returned to her room, waiting for the man to leave.


    After dinner, Li Yunge told Wan Jing, "Wife, I still have some unfinished business at the company. I''ll go now and won''t be able to join you for dinner. I''ll visit you tomorrow."


    Wan Jing nodded with a smile, "Go ahead and handle your work."


    Li Yunge left, turning back at the door, "How is it?"


    Wan Jing shook her head, "Nothing, I just wanted to call you."


    "Alright, dear, you be good. When you recover, I''ll take you on a vacation when I''m free."


    "Alright." Wan Jing stopped talking. Li Yunge then left.


    After he left, Wan Jing and Bao Lanchu exchanged glances. They sent Liang Mi upstairs to watch a movie and then went to find Gu Qin. They didn''t want Liang Mi to know about this matter. After the incident with Liang Jun, she had suffered severe depression and had only recently recovered. They didn''t want to upset her again.


    Inside the room, Gu Qin didn''t hide anything and directly told Wan Jing the truth, "Your husband has a mistress outside, and that woman is no simpleton. She is a feng shui master, and this building was designed by her for your husband. In short, that woman isn''t easy to deal with. Originally, Li Yunge only wanted to divorce you, but the woman insisted on your death. At first, your husband was hesitant, but eventually, he gave in under her persuasion. The woman told your husband that she needed a silver soul sacrifice, and he probably loved her deeply. Eventually, he agreed to her demands..."


    Wan Jing''s face turned ashen as she swayed, almost falling. Bao Lanchu quickly supported her, both feeling angry and fearful.


    Gu Qin then asked, "What do you plan to do? Living here will surely end your life. Those prayer beads won''t protect you for long. What are your plans? Even if I can help you regain your health, the woman still wants your life, and it''s easy for her to achieve."


    Gu Qin hadn''t seen that woman yet and didn''t know her true intentions or why she wanted Wan Jing''s life. But she was sure that the female feng shui master wasn''t a good person. Perhaps she simply didn''t want Wan Jing, or perhaps she truly needed an yin soul sacrifice. Regardless of the situation, Gu Qin wouldn''t let this person off.


    Wan Jing lowered her head, taking a full minute before looking up. Her voice was hoarse as she said, "I want to move out first, then regain my health. I hope Master Gu can help me. I also want to divorce Li Yunge and will not give up any part of what I deserve."


    Gu Qin nodded, "Alright, move back in with your parents first. The rest is up to me. I''ll inform you of any progress."


    "Thank you, Master Gu." Wan Jing looked haggard.


    Gu Qin then left, but Bao Lanchu stayed to accompany her friend, waiting for Wan''s family to pick her up the next day.


    Wan Jing also called her father to tell him about the miscarriage and how her health had been affected. However, she didn''t reveal the truth about Li Yunge''s intentions to her family, as it might cause trouble. Her father was furious, thinking her husband was foolish for making his daughter bear children at her age. He had planned to confront Li Yunge but was persuaded otherwise by Wan Jing.


    Her father agreed, "Tomorrow, I''ll go with your brother to bring you back home. Rest for a while."


    Wan Jing provided the address.


    The next day, her father and brother arrived. Upon seeing the building, her father frowned. As they drove her away, he asked, "A Jing, did Li Yunge build this house specially for you?"


    Did he sense something? "Dad, why do you ask like that?"


    Her father frowned, "Just a feeling. Something feels off about the design. I haven''t seen the complete floor plan, so I can''t be sure. But this building gives me an oppressive feeling, which isn''t comfortable to live in."


    Her father was an appraiser and had some knowledge of metaphysics. He sensed something was amiss.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Wan Jing''s heart sank. If her father, who was an expert, could sense something wrong, then what the young girl said was likely true. After twenty years of marriage, he was truly ruthless.


    Seeing her pale face and weak body, her father and brother felt heartache. "A Jing, what happened to you?" her brother asked.


    "It''s alright," Wan Jing slowly raised her head. "Everything will be fine."


    At home, her mother was heartbroken seeing her condition. Her father even invited an old acquaintance, an experienced traditional Chinese doctor, to examine her. The doctor took her pulse and glanced at her silently. Her father, realizing something, pulled him aside, "What''s wrong? Old Peng, our close friend for decades, what''s wrong with my daughter?"


    "She miscarried and hurt herself, but she didn''t properly recuperate. She seems to have been exposed to extreme cold. Based on my examination, it doesn''t look good..."


    Though they spoke in low tones, Wan Jing heard enough. Indeed, she thought bitterly. Initially, the doctor said her injuries weren''t serious and could heal in a few years. Now, after two months in that building, her body had deteriorated significantly. Extreme cold meant yin energy. The term ''standing coffin'' referred to attracting yin energy.


    Li Yunge, you''re truly wicked-hearted.


    They spoke a bit more before her father entered the room. Wan Jing noticed he held a prescription slip. Her father looked grim.


    Wan Jing said, "Dad, don''t worry. A doctor I know said she could treat me. She should arrive later."


    Her father knew she had heard their conversation and sighed, "Old Peng is already remarkable. If even he doesn''t have confidence..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence.


    Wan Jing said, "Dad, let''s try. Maybe she can cure me."


    She had great faith in Gu Qin. After experiencing so many events, she knew this young girl was extraordinary.


    Gu Qin arrived that afternoon with Bao Lanchu. Wan''s parents didn''t expect this young girl to be there to treat their daughter. They thought she was just a friend of Bao Lanchu and let them in.


    Gu Qin took Wan Jing''s pulse and used acupuncture needles to help her. Ten minutes later, she removed the needles and gave her two prescriptions, "This one is for medicine that needs to be boiled and taken orally. The other one requires a large amount of water to be boiled, mixed with warm water in a ratio of one to ten for a bath. Soak for half an hour and rinse thoroughly. Do this once a week, but only after acupuncture. Have someone fetch the medicine tonight and you can start bathing tomorrow."


    "Thank you, Master Gu." Wan Jing held the prescriptions gratefully.


    Gu Qin said, "Since you''re Auntie Bao''s friend, just call me by my nickname. Leave the rest to me. I''ll come once a week. I need to go back now to prepare some things. Auntie Wan, remember not to let Li Yunge and others suspect anything."


    Wan Jing nodded. After they left, she looked at her phone on the bed, hesitating before dialing Li Yunge''s number. The call was quickly answered, "Wife? Is there something?"


    Wan Jing held the phone, "Husband, I''m back home."


    Li Yunge didn''t understand her meaning, "Wife, where did you go back to?"


    "To the Wan family home." Wan Jing calmly replied, "My parents know about my miscarriage and my weakened state. They insisted on bringing me back to rest for a while. I didn''t want to hurt their feelings, so I let my father and brother bring me back."


    "That..." Li Yunge was flustered, "How can that be? Didn''t I specially arrange for you to recuperate in that place? The doctor said you need quiet and rest. How can it be noisy in the city?"


    Wan Jing felt anger but remembered Gu Qin''s advice. She calmed herself, "Don''t worry, Husband. My parents will take good care of me. The house is high up, and the neighborhood is quiet. No one will disturb me. If it''s uncomfortable, I''ll come back."


    "That''s fine." Li Yunge was frustrated but couldn''t do anything. He couldn''t force her back, as it would raise suspicions, "Stay at your parents'' place and rest. I''ll visit you when I''m not busy. If you want to come back, just call me."


    "Alright." Wan Jing hung up the phone, lowering her head for a long time. After a very long time, she wiped away her tears.


    Gu Qin left behind a prescription for medicinal baths. Wan Jing handed them to her mother and told her to follow the instructions to recover quickly. Wan Jing''s mother asked, "A Jing, where did you get these?"


    "Mom, don''t worry. They''re prescriptions from the doctor I mentioned earlier. Let''s try them."


    She didn''t tell her parents that the prescriptions were from the young girl who visited earlier. Her parents wouldn''t believe a young girl.


    Wan Jing''s mother had learned from Doctor Peng that her daughter''s condition was difficult to treat and that she might not have much time left. Now, seeing these prescriptions, she decided to try them out.


    That night, Wan Jing took a medicinal bath. Despite the cold weather, she sweated profusely after soaking for half an hour. After rinsing with warm water, she felt warm all over.


    Gu Qin didn''t idle. She hired someone to investigate Li Yunge''s situation. From the Heavenly Eye, she knew that Li Yunge and the woman were staying in the penthouse of a skyscraper owned by the Li family. Most of the floors were commercial and entertainment facilities, while the top floors were occupied by a hotel and private quarters.


    The penthouse was luxurious and had a private elevator, so no one knew Li Yunge was hiding there.


    Gu Qin didn''t act rashly. She calculated the woman''s identity using ordinary divination methods and found that she seemed to have some connection with someone from the past. Who could that be?


    Thinking about the past, she knew several people in the field of metaphysics, including Brother Qin and his sect, Wan Qiuyan, and those met during the Changbai Mountain trip. Even the deceased Yan Zhen could count as someone from the past. The divination didn''t clearly point to anyone, but it narrowed down the possibilities. Gu Qin then opened her Heavenly Eye.


    Without meeting the person, Gu Qin usually avoided opening her Heavenly Eye, as it consumed a lot of essence and spirit even with her current cultivation. She only opened it to identify the woman''s background.


    Opening her Heavenly Eye, Gu Qin soon knew who the woman''s connection was: it was Yan Zhen.


    When Yan Zhen was killed, she knew he was from Brother Qin''s sect. Later, he fled with a magical item and met Brother Qin''s master, following an old man. If this woman knew Yan Zhen, she must have known Brother Qin''s master and might be one of his subordinates.


    Gu Qin felt that everything seemed to lead back to the old man. She would eventually confront him. But solving the old man''s issues was necessary, and they would grow stronger before doing so.


    Even if the woman was connected to the old man, Gu Qin had to confront her. Wan Jing''s situation was urgent. If Li Yunge discovered anything, it could endanger Wan Jing. Thus, they needed to act first.


    Gu Qin recalled that Li Yunge called the woman Xiao Xiao. From the Heavenly Eye, she saw that the woman rarely left the penthouse and mostly practiced dark arts. She had many yin spirits around her, indicating she had caused many deaths. Her desire to sacrifice Wan Jing might be genuine.


    Two days later, Gu Qin''s essence had recovered enough, and she prepared some items. She informed Qin Xiansheng and planned to visit the penthouse. Qin Xiansheng was naturally worried and wanted to go with her. Wan Qiuyan also insisted on joining.


    Gu Qin reluctantly agreed, and the three went to the skyscraper. Their cultivations were high, ensuring a favorable outcome.


    There was only one elevator leading to the penthouse, and only Li Yunge and the woman had access. The elevator required fingerprints to operate, but for them, it wasn''t a problem. Using their essence, they unlocked the elevator and entered, pressing the button for the top floor.


    The fingerprint lock was similar to a regular lock with a slot that could be opened to unlock it.


    The elevator quickly reached the top floor. They concealed their auras and walked to the entrance of the room. The entire top floor was transformed into a large open space with kitchens, various lounges, and entertainment rooms.


    Gu Qin approached the door and knocked. Li Yunge was surprised, wondering who could be there since no one else could reach the penthouse.


    Xiao Xiao was meditating and oblivious to the outside world.


    Li Yunge went to the peephole and saw three strangers, a younger girl among them, whom he didn''t recognize.


    They naturally wouldn''t open the door, but what was strange was that just as he was about to turn back, the door suddenly opened with a click.


    Li Yunge looked at the three people outside and his expression changed slightly. "Who are you? How did you get in?"

 Destiny of the Yin Beast

    Gu Qin raised her eyes to look at the refined-looking man. "We''re looking for someone inside."


    "Get out!" Li Yunge''s face darkened. "This is private property. If you don''t leave, I''ll call the police."


    Gu Qin sneered. "Move aside!" She really didn''t want to talk to such a despicable person.


    The commotion outside had already woken Xiaoxiao, who walked over in a pair of fluffy slippers. This woman was very beautiful, with long black hair that shone brightly. She wore no accessories, and it flowed down her back to her waist. She was dressed in a black cotton dress, giving her an air of mystery that made her even more attractive.


    Xiaoxiao came over and saw the three people. Her expression changed slightly when she saw Wanshi Yan, but quickly focused on Qin Xiansheng. She barely glanced at Wanshi Yan, not letting anyone notice her abnormality. She said, "Who are you!"


    Since that person was here, Xiaoxiao knew that the other man and woman were definitely not ordinary people and must be from the realm of mysticism, but she couldn''t see their cultivation level. To be able to be with that person, their cultivation must be quite high. That person was someone even her master didn''t dare provoke... What could they possibly want now?


    Gu Qin was straightforward. "Do you know Wan Jing?"


    Wan Jing? Xiaoxiao naturally recognized her; she was the wife of this man. Living longer, she became more greedy for all the things in the human world: power, money, and men. Although she wasn''t particularly old compared to her master or that person, she had good talent and was already at the early stage of transforming qi into spirit.


    Gu Qin actually saw through her cultivation level; it wasn''t high, but in the eyes of many schools of mysticism, it was already rare.


    Xiaoxiao knew Wan Jing was Li Yunge''s wife. So what? She had set her sights on Li Yunge; he was handsome, rich, and powerful, and could give her everything she wanted in reality. She had a strong possessive streak and would never let him have any other women. After hearing Li Yunge''s words, she thought it was fine if they divorced, but after seeing Wan Jing once, she realized that this woman was born at the same time as her. If she were to refine her, it would be greatly beneficial to her.


    She was never a kind person, having killed countless people for cultivation, treating ordinary people like ants.


    So these two people were here to take revenge for Wan Jing? Did they know Li Yunge had another woman? At this moment, she didn''t know that the matter of the coffin building had been discovered by these few people, only thinking that they knew about Li Yunge and her affair, so Wan Jing had hired helpers. However, if they were hired helpers, why was he also here?Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Xiaoxiao quickly scanned Wanshi Yan.


    Xiaoxiao quickly said, "Wan Jing? Oh, then you can find him. This matter, ask him." Before she could turn around to leave, Gu Qin said, "Why rush away? It has nothing to do with you? Li Yunge, an ordinary person, how could he build a coffin building? What, after stealing someone else''s husband, you still want to kill them?"


    Li Yunge and Xiaoxiao were both stunned. Li Yunge hurriedly said, "What nonsense are you talking about? I don''t understand your meaning."


    Gu Qin sneered. "Don''t understand? On the surface, you''re devoted to your wife, but secretly, you hide a beauty."


    Li Yunge felt embarrassed and didn''t know what to say. Gu Qin continued, "Since you want to harm Wan Jing, you should be prepared to be found out. We indeed came for her."


    Li Yunge was speechless for a moment, finally remembering his wife''s unusual behavior recently. Why did she insist on staying at her parents'' house? She must have known long ago about their secret plan to harm her.


    Xiaoxiao lowered her head, her thoughts swirling. Facing him, the other two might not be easy to deal with. It would be better to lower her attitude. After all, it was just a person born at the same time as her; losing one wouldn''t matter much. Realizing this, she looked up and said, "I''m sorry, I know I made a mistake, and I will correct it. I will re-renovate that building."


    Since they could tell it was a dangerous building, it meant they were also from the realm of mysticism, and since they couldn''t see through their cultivation, their cultivation levels must be higher than hers. Lowering her attitude was the best way, as nothing was more important than life.


    Gu Qin glanced around the room, silent.


    Xiaoxiao thought she agreed and smiled. "Meeting is fate. We are all fellow practitioners. Why don''t I treat you to a meal?"


    Gu Qin sneered, looking straight at her. She had killed so many people, and all their spirits were still trapped within her. How could she easily forgive her?


    Wanshi Yan seemed to read Gu Qin''s mind and raised his lips slightly. "Let me handle this."


    Xiaoxiao''s face changed dramatically. What did they mean? And him, his gaze fell on Wanshi Yan, filled with fear.


    Wanshi Yan didn''t say a word, quickly striking a talisman on Xiaoxiao''s shoulder, catching her off guard. She flew several meters away, spitting out blood.


    Xiaoxiao was caught off guard and stared fiercely at Wanshi Yan. "You..." Before she could finish, Wanshi Yan''s next move struck her chest.


    With Wanshi Yan''s cultivation level, Xiaoxiao had virtually no chance of fighting back. After a few moves, Xiaoxiao could hardly move, collapsing on the ground, unable to beg for mercy even if she wanted to.


    Wanshi Yan turned to look at Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng, seemingly asking for their opinion on whether to leave her alive or not.


    Qin Xiansheng said directly, "Finish her off."


    "No, don''t, killing me, you will regret it. My master won''t let you off," Xiaoxiao pleaded desperately, her hand slowly reaching behind her to pull out a talisman from her pocket, her fingers gently moving until the talisman ignited...


    Gu Qin and the others noticed Xiaoxiao''s movement and their faces changed. Wanshi Yan coldly struck Xiaoxiao, ending her life instantly.


    This happened too suddenly. From the start of the fight to resolving Xiaoxiao took less than a minute. Li Yunge hadn''t even reacted yet. By the time he heard Qin Xiansheng say it was done, he tried to stop it, but Wanshi Yan moved too fast. Before he could even speak, the man had struck Xiaoxiao''s chest, and she lost consciousness immediately.


    Li Yunge exclaimed in shock, "You, you killed her?"


    Gu Qin looked at him. "Didn''t you also want to kill your wife?"


    After saying this, she walked to Xiaoxiao''s body and found the burnt talisman behind her, her expression not looking good.


    "What now?" Wanshi Yan asked. "I was careless just now, I didn''t expect her to pull out something like this. The talisman should be an illusionary talisman, which means that our killing her has been reported to her master?"


    "Master?" Gu Qin asked. She couldn''t help but glance at the burnt talisman again. An illusionary talisman was not used to confuse people but was closer to a communication talisman, recording the scene the owner wanted to record and transmitting it to the person who made the talisman.

 Fate of the Black Panther

    Xiaoxiao''s cultivation level was not high, so she certainly couldn''t make an illusionary talisman. Therefore, this talisman must have been given to her by someone else, probably her master, whom she mentioned earlier. This talisman should have been drawn by her master. An illusionary talisman belonged to the category of high-grade superior talismans, and she could draw such talismans herself, but using up all her yuanqi could only produce three or four such high-grade superior talismans. In other words, such high-grade superior talismans were extremely difficult to make.


    With her previous experience in drawing talismans, even with all her yuanqi consumed, she could only guarantee success in drawing three or four such high-grade superior talismans. Generally, few people drew such talismans, as they were less practical than other life-saving talismans.


    Since her master helped her make such a talisman, it showed that he favored her greatly. And her master could draw such grade talismans, indicating his cultivation level was not low. This time, however, they were careless.


    But according to Wanshi Yan''s words, Master?


    Wanshi Yan approached Li Yunge and struck a talisman on him, making him freeze in place, unable to move or perceive anything outside.


    Wanshi Yan entered the house and said, "I know this woman, named Xiaoxiao, she is also my master''s disciple. After the senior apprentice left, my master took in many disciples. Xiaoxiao should be part of the third batch of disciples. I stayed with my master for thirty years, and the last few years before I left, my master took in Xiaoxiao and several others."


    "The second batch of disciples were not talented, and in the end, they all exploded. The third batch of disciples, my master did not use all of them as containers for yin beasts, but kept some to teach them. Xiaoxiao was one of those kept. My master also took in disciples later, but I am not familiar with them, I only know Xiaoxiao and her batch."


    Wanshi Yan sat on the sofa. "Sit down first, we can''t rush this. Let me tell you about the past."


    Indeed, they couldn''t rush it. Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng could only sit and listen to him recount the past. "Xiaoxiao''s talent was not bad, but certainly not as good as ours. I remember Xiaoxiao was brought back by my master when she was about ten years old. I left when she was around eighteen, and I haven''t seen her much in the past few decades."


    In other words, Xiaoxiao was quite old. For cultivators, age didn''t matter; reaching a certain cultivation level made it easy to maintain one''s appearance. One could live for hundreds or thousands of years. According to Xiaoxiao''s age, she was just a teenager in terms of ordinary humans.


    Of course, it was said that breaking through the Refining the Void and Merging with Dao stage, entering the Great Transcendence stage, could lead to eternal life and becoming an immortal, passing through the heavenly tribulation, and entering the world of immortals.


    Of course, this was hearsay; Gu Qin had never personally witnessed anyone reaching the Great Transcendence stage.


    Wanshi Yan suddenly laughed. "Actually, since I found out that my master intended to use me as a container for a yin beast, my personality changed significantly. Back then, to vent my anger, I killed many of my master''s disciples, and Xiaoxiao and the others probably feared me. I killed those designated as yin beast containers because they wouldn''t live long anyway. I just wanted to let them end their suffering sooner. Sometimes, I would rather die than live like that, enduring such pain..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence, but Gu Qin understood the pain he described. She had seen the suffering of two people tormented by yin beasts, a pain even cultivators like them could not endure.


    However, Gu Qin still felt something was off. Even if those people suffered, it wasn''t right for him to decide their fate.


    Gu Qin turned to look at the corpse of Xiaoxiao at the door, activating her Heavenly Eye to verify Wanshi Yan''s words.


    Minutes passed, and she withdrew her gaze. Her Heavenly Eye had no effect on Wanshi Yan, but it worked on Xiaoxiao. She saw Wanshi Yan and confirmed that the things he said were true; Xiaoxiao and the others truly feared him.


    "Will your master come looking for us?" Gu Qin pondered. Recalling Qin Jiu''s encounter with the old man, despite their best efforts, they only managed to injure each other. With three of them now, it was uncertain who would win if they faced him.


    Wanshi Yan laughed. "I think even if my master saw us together with the senior apprentice through the illusionary talisman, he wouldn''t dare trouble us. If alone, he might come, but facing both of us, he doesn''t stand much of a chance. That old man is afraid of death, and I doubt he''d come looking for us."


    This matter could only be put on hold. Even if that old man came, they would have to deal with it step by step. There were other matters to attend to now. Gu Qin''s gaze landed on Li Yunge and the corpse at the door. "How do we handle the body?"A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Qin Xiansheng stood up and took out his phone. "Leave it to me." He knew Mu Lao, and dealing with such matters was relatively easy.


    As for Li Yunge, Gu Qin went over, removed the talisman from his body, and prepared to call the police. Gu Qin didn''t stop him but said, "If you want to call the police, go ahead. But how do you explain the woman hidden in your house? How do you explain the coffin building? How do you explain your wife living in such an eerie building? If you claim you didn''t mean to harm your wife, do you think anyone will believe you?"


    Li Yunge paused, his fingers trembling as he stared at Xiaoxiao''s lifeless body on the ground. He genuinely loved Xiaoxiao, and the thought of never seeing her again pained him deeply.


    Gu Qin sneered. "You love her? Do you know pain? Then do you know what your wife is going through? Do you know how your two sons will react when they find out the truth?"


    Sons? Li Yunge snapped back to reality. "Don''t tell my sons about this."


    Gu Qin said, "If you don''t want your sons to know, I won''t interfere. I won''t bother anymore, but if your wife wants anything, you must fulfill her every wish."


    "Alright." Li Yunge hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing. He genuinely loved Xiaoxiao, but his sons were his blood, and he didn''t want them to know his ugly side.


    Qin Xiansheng called someone to handle Xiaoxiao''s body.


    The next day, Gu Qin told Wan Jing that the matter was resolved and that Li Yunge would comply with any requests she had.


    Wan Jing''s request was simple: divorce. She didn''t ask for any money from Li Yunge, only that he tell their children that he was at fault and destroy the coffin building.


    Li Yunge breathed a sigh of relief. He didn''t really want his two sons to know about his infidelity, but there was no other choice. After much hesitation, he told them the truth. His sons were disappointed in him, but eventually agreed to their mother''s divorce.


    The coffin building was demolished a few days later.


    The Wan family also learned about Li Yunge''s infidelity. Wan Jing''s younger brother even had Li Yunge beaten up.


    A week later, Gu Qin went to give Wan Jing acupuncture and continued her medicinal baths.


    A month later, Wan Jing recovered almost completely. Instead of accepting the payment offered, Gu Qin asked her to donate the money to help others in need.


    Seeing their daughter recover, the Wan family was overjoyed. As Wan Jing''s health improved, her sons began to miss her. Having not worked for years, she found employment as a teacher at a school.


    Li Yunge''s mother, Wan Jing''s former mother-in-law, visited several times, pleading with Wan Jing to forgive her son. She claimed he had made a mistake and begged her to forgive him for the sake of their grandchildren.


    Li Yunge''s mother didn''t know that her son had wanted to kill his own wife. She only heard the story her grandsons told her, believing that Li Yunge had cheated on her. She even went to ask Li Yunge, who confirmed he had broken off with the mistress. She then came to plead with Wan Jing to forgive her son.


    But how could Wan Jing forgive someone who wanted to kill her?


    Her former mother-in-law came several times, and upon learning that Wan Jing would not forgive her son, sighed and left, never returning.


    But Gu Qin would not easily let Li Yunge off. She had left a trace of yin energy in his body, and he would suffer for it later.


    By year-end, the matter was finally resolved. Gu Qin had initially worried that Qin Dage''s master might come looking for them, but she needn''t have worried. Just as Wanshi Yan predicted, the old man was too afraid to come.


    Another year passed, and everyone was happy. Gu Qin put the matter behind her.


    That year, they were going to spend the New Year at Grandfather Cheng''s home in Liangping City, Southern Province. Cheng Yinxiang had an older brother who was married with two children¡ªa niece and nephew. They were Gu Qin''s cousin sister and cousin brother, Cheng Chuchu and Cheng Yueguang.


    Two days before New Year''s Eve, the family drove to Liangping City with Lu Tang.


    Cousin sister and cousin brother were very excited about Gu Qin''s arrival. After all, she was the hero who had been featured online. They even took her out to dinner with friends and classmates, which was a bit like showing off among friends.


    Gu Qin was somewhat amused and bemused.


    Cousin sister and cousin brother were both very nice, and Gu Qin mostly went along with them.


    Cheng Yinxiang''s younger brother was reassured that his parents were doing well living in Beijing.


    Cheng Yinxiang hoped that after the New Year, her parents could return to Beijing with her. Her parents were comfortable in Beijing and visibly healthier, so they agreed, mainly wanting to take care of their grandson.


    After the New Year, everyone returned to Beijing. After the Lantern Festival, school resumed. Gu Qin got busy with feng shui consultations, including some related to architectural feng shui. One case involved a trapped building, a typical Beijing courtyard house. Originally, there was nothing wrong with the courtyard house, which the homeowner had given to his son for marriage.


    The daughter-in-law found the courtyard too old-fashioned and decided to renovate it. Not only did she renovate it but also altered the layout, blocking one wall and changing the entrance to another side. Unfortunately, the new entrance faced a large wall a few meters away, creating a direct view of it upon exiting.


    Furthermore, she modified the courtyard''s landscape. The original small flower bed in the corner contained various flowers and plants, with a small osmanthus tree nearby. She disliked it and demolished the flower bed, replacing it with a large garden in the center. She transplanted a tall pine tree and planted some flowers and shrubs around it. The tree, already several decades old, grew taller and larger within a few years, its branches lush and dense.


    Afterward, family members started experiencing health issues, and the children often encountered work-related problems. Living together, the elders felt it might be due to altering the land, disrupting the feng shui.


    When they mentioned this to their son and daughter-in-law, the couple remained silent. Though they originally didn''t believe in these things, the elders sighed and said, "Ever since we altered the courtyard, Xiao Bao has been falling sick frequently. The doctors can''t figure out why. This can''t go on forever. Maybe we should consult a feng shui expert."


    Thinking of their hard-won son, who had always been frail since birth, and the frequent illnesses affecting the family, they realized this was not a sustainable situation. Hospital check-ups yielded no results, and hearing the elder''s suggestion, they became inclined to seek help.


    Those who could afford such a courtyard were generally well-off. Naturally, they wanted a skilled feng shui expert.


    They found one through a friend''s recommendation, and the person had previously been a client of Gu Qin. Since altering the courtyard''s feng shui, things had gone smoothly for the family.


    The couple directly called Gu Qin, and she visited the next day.


    When they saw Gu Qin, the couple and the elders were somewhat skeptical. After all, this feng shui master looked very young. If not for a friend''s assurance, they would have dismissed her.


    Upon seeing Gu Qin, the couple and the elders were somewhat doubtful, considering her young age. Without a friend''s assurance, they would have dismissed her.


    Gu Qin entered the courtyard and observed the layout carefully. She noted the changes made to the courtyard, especially the relocation of the pine tree to the center. She concluded that the alterations had disrupted the natural flow of qi, leading to the health issues.


    After explaining the issues, Gu Qin suggested several solutions, including rearranging the courtyard and removing the pine tree from the center. She also recommended placing protective talismans and conducting rituals to restore the balance of qi.


    The couple and the elders listened intently, trusting her expertise. They agreed to follow her recommendations, hoping to improve their family''s health and well-being.

 Breaking of the Feng Shui Array

    Gu Qin spent the next few hours working on the courtyard, placing talismans and performing rituals. By the time she finished, the atmosphere in the courtyard felt different, more harmonious and peaceful.


    The couple and the elders thanked Gu Qin profusely, relieved that their problems might finally be resolved. Gu Qin assured them that it would take time for the full effects to manifest, but she was confident in her methods.


    As she packed up her tools, Gu Qin reflected on the importance of maintaining harmony in one''s environment. She knew that feng shui was not just about aesthetics but about creating a space where energy flowed freely and positively.


    Returning home, Gu Qin felt satisfied with her work. She had helped a family in need and restored balance to their living space. Such moments reminded her of the profound impact that understanding and applying the principles of feng shui could have on people''s lives.


    The quilted person walked away.


    When Gu Qin entered the courtyard, she said, "Your family is always sick and things don''t go well for you, right? There was some earthwork done in your house four years ago, wasn''t there?"


    The couple was surprised and nodded.


    Gu Qin looked around and pointed to the exit, saying, "There''s work done here." Then she pointed at the flower bed, "And here too. Actually, it wouldn''t be a problem if not for the fact that the exit faces a wall directly. What does that make?"


    Seeing their blank expressions, Gu Qin explained, "That turns into a tired, which means being trapped. Being in such a place can lead to health issues, and the owner will always face misfortune. To break this, it''s quite simple: just change the direction of the exit back to its original position. The cypress tree in the middle isn''t good either; it could be dug up and replaced with a pomegranate tree, which brings prosperity and is good for grandchildren." She then took out an amulet from her pocket, "Hang this in your room during the earthwork period, and it will keep you safe. After the earthwork, those previous symptoms will gradually disappear."


    Inside the amulet was a low-grade spirit gathering talisman. Besides guiding the couple on the feng shui of their courtyard, Gu Qin also advised them on where to place certain objects, which they wrote down.


    After finishing the guidance, Gu Qin said, "There''s nothing much I can do about the feng shui, but for the amulet, you need to pay me 200,000 yuan."


    Her price was indeed high; 200,000 yuan was a lot for ordinary people, and for the couple, it was several months'' income. Although hesitant, they transferred the money to Gu Qin''s account. After she left, the couple asked their friend, "Why is this feng shui master so young? And why is the fee so high? Are we being cheated?"


    Their friend laughed, "Don''t worry, 200,000 yuan isn''t too high. It''s said that this feng shui master has charged millions for consultations. You can trust her. Look, Miss Gu even gave you an amulet. Hang it in your house, and you''ll see that no one in your family will get sick again, and everything will go smoothly."


    The couple still didn''t fully believe it, but since they had spent 200,000 yuan on the amulet, they decided to hang it anyway.


    Unexpectedly, their son''s cold improved the next day. Before, he had trouble breathing at night, but in the morning, they found out he had slept soundly. They finally believed that Gu Qin was truly capable and quickly contacted workers to follow her advice and modify the courtyard entrance and replace the cypress tree with a pomegranate tree.


    Another job Gu Qin took on was similar to Wan Jing''s mortuary building, both being mortuary buildings, but Wan Jing did it for human life, while this person did it for wealth.


    This person was a boss from Hong Kong, a city surrounded by sea on three sides, considered a developed secondary city, about five hundred kilometers from the capital. This boss''s surname was also related to the city, called Xiang Chengjun.


    It was likely that a business acquaintance introduced Gu Qin to him.


    Gu Qin flew to Hong Kong the same day, unaware of what the matter was.


    Upon arrival, she saw Xiang Chengjun and couldn''t help but frown.


    Xiang Chengjun probably didn''t expect Gu Qin to be so young and wondered if this young girl could solve his problem. But he had to try, as he had consulted many feng shui masters before who couldn''t solve his issue.


    Xiang Chengjun said, "Master Gu, I have booked a room in the hotel ahead. Since you''ve come all the way, why don''t we eat something first and rest a bit?"


    Gu Qin replied, "No need, tell me what happened first." In fact, she already knew most of it from her Heavenly Eye.


    Xiang Chengjun then said, "Master Gu, I''ve been feeling unwell recently and not sleeping well. I hope you can help me figure out what''s going on."


    Gu Qin glanced at him, "Are you not telling the truth? Boss Xiang, if you don''t tell the truth, I won''t be able to help you."


    Xiang Chengjun was stunned, "M-Master Gu, how could you say such a thing?"


    Gu Qin said, "Are you really just feeling unwell? If you''re unwell, wouldn''t it be better to go to the hospital? Why consult a feng shui master? Or do you think it''s your home''s feng shui causing the problems? Or maybe you''re hoping it''s just a feng shui issue and not something else?"


    Xiang Chengjun''s heart skipped a beat, smiling without answering.


    Gu Qin said, "Forget it. Since you''re unwilling to admit it, let''s go check the feng shui at your house first."


    They went to Xiang''s house by car. Xiang''s house was a separate villa, and upon seeing it, Gu Qin knew it wasn''t a feng shui issue. Seeing Xiang Chengjun looking at her eagerly, Gu Qin shook her head, "There''s no feng shui problem at home, Boss Xiang. If you''re not willing to tell the truth, I''ll leave."


    Xiang Chengjun actually knew where the problem lay. He had consulted several feng shui masters but didn''t reveal much. They suggested moving things around, but it didn''t work. At that time, he realized it wasn''t a feng shui issue but rather... karmic retribution.


    "Master Gu, please don''t leave," Xiang Chengjun knew this girl was truly capable, "I''ll tell you everything." But how could he admit his own mistakes?


    Gu Qin didn''t rush, sitting quietly on the sofa, waiting for him to speak.


    After a few minutes, Xiang Chengjun sighed, "Master Gu, about ten years ago, I received an engineering project to build residential areas and a mall in a planned zone. There were some setbacks, but eventually, it was completed. But every year, accidents started happening. I began to feel something was off."


    Gu Qin asked, "Did you not expect these accidents, or did you know all along that accidents would happen after construction?"


    Xiang Chengjun was speechless, realizing he couldn''t lie to Gu Qin. He had known all along that accidents would happen.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Do you know what you''re dealing with?" Gu Qin asked.


    Xiang Chengjun''s eyes widened, wondering if he was indeed being haunted by those souls.


    Gu Qin said, "Take me there first." Although she had already seen the situation through her Heavenly Eye.


    Xiang Chengjun dared not hide anything and immediately took her there. They stopped in front of an old, dilapidated neighborhood surrounded by high-rise buildings.


    The neighborhood was called Sunshine Community, with eight eight-story buildings standing tall. Inside these buildings was a mall, which now looked old and deserted, mostly used for wholesale businesses. Floors above the fourth were for dining, clothing, and entertainment.


    Gu Qin immediately recognized that the buildings were arranged in an octagonal pattern, forming eight mortuary buildings. However, these buildings weren''t inherently evil; they were designed to trap the mall, trapping the spirits of those who died there.


    Even though these eight buildings weren''t inherently evil, they were still mortuary buildings. People living inside might not die, but their lives would never be smooth. Most residents were unlucky and struggled.


    The mall, combined with the surrounding buildings, formed a special array called the Octagonal Trapping Yin Array. Such a structure was eerie, causing deaths, and was a form of ill-gotten gains. People would die there, and the spirits would be trapped, making the place increasingly yin.


    Moreover, Gu Qin didn''t think this array was solely for ill-gotten gains or to trap a few spirits. There must be something else buried underneath.


    Gu Qin frowned, wanting to use her Heavenly Eye to see what was really there, but Xiang Chengjun grabbed her arm, "Master Gu, have you seen anything strange?"


    Gu Qin turned back, "Since you used this array for ill-gotten gains, you should know the consequences."


    Xiang Chengjun''s eyes flickered, grabbing Gu Qin like a lifeline, "Master Gu, you can save me, right?"


    Gu Qin looked at the buildings and mall, "Let''s go back first. Tell me everything in detail, including when and from whom you got this land."


    They returned to the hotel where Gu Qin was staying. After eating, Gu Qin listened to Xiang Chengjun explain everything.


    Fifteen years ago, Xiang Chengjun was a penniless loafer. His wife urged him to find a job, but he always complained about the low pay and refused to work steadily. He dreamed of making a fortune through business but failed multiple times.


    His wife grew increasingly disgusted with him, thinking he was idle.


    One day, while wandering the streets, Xiang Chengjun overheard a conversation about the development zone project in Hong Kong. Rumors were circulating about the site being cursed, having changed hands twice. The first owner bought the land and hired architects, but the first building collapsed, killing two workers, and the owner met an unfortunate end.


    The first owner''s death was mysterious. He went to inspect the site and stumbled, falling through a safety net and dying from head injuries.


    A month later, a new owner took over, but he also met an untimely death within a month. Workers continued to have accidents, and the owner died under suspicious circumstances, apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning.


    Construction halted again, and rumors spread that the site was cursed, bringing death to anyone who worked there.


    Xiang Chengjun heard rumors about the land being sold at a very low price due to a government initiative. Intrigued by the low price, he thought he could make a fortune by developing the area.


    He lacked connections but remembered a friend working in the government and asked him to investigate. His friend brought news that the government would support a loan for someone willing to take the project.


    Xiang Chengjun seized the opportunity and took the project. The government was relieved someone took it, fearing further accidents.


    Construction began, but accidents continued. Xiang Chengjun felt something following him and considered selling the project. One morning, he found a jade pendant and a note on his bedside. The note assured him he''d be fine if he wore the pendant and followed the design plans, warning him to act soon or face death within a month.


    Reluctantly, he wore the pendant, and no accidents occurred to him. However, workers continued to have accidents. Xiang Chengjun pushed through the pressure and completed the project.


    Despite the rumors, the area eventually filled with residents due to low prices and his efforts to dispel the rumors.


    Xiang Chengjun became wealthy, built a villa elsewhere, and moved out. The mall opened but faced tragedies. People committed suicide, leading to more rumors.


    Each year, deaths occurred, and Xiang Chengjun paid compensation. Despite the tragedies, the mall remained profitable. He also ran wholesale businesses within the mall, which thrived.


    Over time, he forgot the rumors and believed the deaths were coincidental. Until recently, he felt something following him, nightmares, and fatigue. A fall down the stairs made him realize the warnings were real. The jade pendant was cracked, indicating its power was fading.


    He feared and sought feng shui masters, but none helped until he met Gu Qin, who pinpointed the problem.


    Gu Qin frowned after hearing his story. She had seen the overall layout was the Octagonal Trapping Yin Array. She didn''t believe the array was merely for trapping spirits to make money. Something else must be trapped beneath.


    "What can you do to save me?" Xiang Chengjun pleaded, "Name your price."


    Gu Qin looked at him, silent.


    Xiang Chengjun''s situation wasn''t complicated; it all stemmed from the Octagonal Trapping Yin Array. Breaking the array was challenging, as it would release whatever was trapped underneath.


    As the owner of the array, Xiang Chengjun would be affected. Ordinary people couldn''t handle such an array, which explained the deaths of the previous owners. The letter and pendant given to him were likely from the person who set up the array, ensuring he wouldn''t die and abandon the project, leaving it unfinished.


    The array generated ill-gotten gains to appease people and prevent the project from being abandoned.


    Gu Qin examined Xiang Chengjun''s jade pendant, confirming it was a powerful artifact, sustaining for ten years but now useless. If he had come to her later, he might have been in grave danger.


    She confirmed through her Heavenly Eye that Xiang Chengjun''s story was true.


    Gu Qin asked, "You must know that this place attracts death, making money from ill-gotten gains by using the deaths of others, right?"


    Xiang Chengjun had long suspected but denied, "Master Gu, I didn''t know. I don''t understand feng shui enough to know that."


    Gu Qin humphed softly, not revealing his lies. "If you want my help, I have conditions."


    "What conditions, Master Gu? Just say it."


    "I want half of your company''s shares."


    "What?" Xiang Chengjun jumped up, "Master Gu, that''s highly immoral."


    He expected a high price but never imagined such a demand, "Master Gu, do you know how much half the shares are worth?"


    Gu Qin knew, "Around several hundred million."


    Seeing her calm demeanor, Xiang Chengjun was infuriated, "Master Gu, you know that half the shares are worth hundreds of millions. How can you..."


    "Brave enough to say it?"


    "Gu Qin smiled instead. ''Boss Xiang, how do you think your life compares with these hundreds of millions?'' Moreover, she wanted half the shares just to use that money to atone for Xiang Chengjun''s sins; she wasn''t really greedy. He used such sinister methods to make money, even if he didn''t want to kill people, by knowing this place could only thrive on deaths and not stopping it, he was wrong. Logically speaking, with so many lives on his hands, Gu Qin wouldn''t bother with him, but she found out that he treated his wife and children very well."


    "So rich, yet there was only one woman in his life. Even though his wife sometimes acted like a shrew, yelling at him and not being particularly gentle, he had never strayed."


    "Gu Qin knew his nature wasn''t bad, but he truly watched many people die just for money."


    "That''s why she asked for so much, to help those in need according to market prices, which would also be a form of atonement for Xiang Chengjun."


    Xiang Chengjun laughed bitterly after hearing Gu Qin''s words. "Master Gu, whether you can really save me or not, even if you can, half the shares is too much. How about this, if you can really help me, I''ll give you fifty million when we''re done."


    "No." Gu Qin stayed seated. "There''s no negotiation for half the shares. I''m going to rest now. Think it over and answer me later, Boss Xiang." With that, she got up and opened the door, standing there to indicate he should leave and not disturb her rest.


    Xiang Chengjun was infuriated. He got up and left the room, staring at Gu Qin for a moment, hesitating before leaving without saying anything.


    "Boss Xiang," Gu Qin called out suddenly. "Be careful when you go back, watch out for the sky. Here," she handed him an incense pouch. "It contains a talisman that might save your life."


    Xiang Chengjun was stunned, his face turning pale. He didn''t understand why Gu Qin suddenly said this. After some hesitation, he took the incense pouch from her. When Gu Qin closed the door, he stood outside for a while before leaving with the pouch in hand.


    On the way, Xiang Chengjun guessed at the meaning behind Gu Qin''s gift. Was it similar to the jade pendant that had protected him for ten years, now losing its effect, leading to all his troubles?


    But why did she have to give it to him now? And what did she mean by watching out for the sky?


    The car turned a corner, moving further away from the hotel. Xiang Chengjun planned to go home. As they passed a construction site, the car suddenly stopped. He was puzzled; he hadn''t stepped on the brake, so why had the car stopped? He pressed the clutch, but the car remained motionless. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to get out and check when a loud bang came from the front.


    Xiang Chengjun looked up, his pupils contracting. Ten meters ahead, a thick steel bar was firmly embedded in the ground. The sound must have been the steel bar hitting the ground. It sank deep into the ground, suggesting it had fallen from at least the tenth floor.


    Xiang Chengjun trembled. If the car hadn''t stopped, the steel bar would have struck it. He couldn''t understand how the car had stopped. At that moment, the incense pouch hanging on the car front caught fire and quickly burned to ashes, falling onto the car carpet.


    Xiang Chengjun''s face changed dramatically. He realized the talisman had saved his life. So, Master Gu had predicted his danger?

 Awakening of the Soul

    He was terrified, realizing the true horror of what he had experienced and the value of life. He knew few possessed such abilities as Master Gu, and finding another would be difficult. Even if he managed to find someone, he might not survive long enough.


    The car remained stationary. After much thought, Xiang Chengjun made a decision and turned the car towards the hotel.


    Back at the hotel, when Xiang Chengjun knocked on the door, Gu Qin opened it without surprise. She invited him in.


    "Master Gu, did you see that I would encounter danger?" Xiang Chengjun asked.


    Gu Qin nodded. "Yes, I saw it. If I hadn''t helped, you would have been seriously injured, but not dead."


    Xiang Chengjun was speechless, feeling both fear and admiration for Gu Qin.


    After much deliberation, he asked, "Master Gu, is there really no room for negotiation? Must it be half the shares?"


    Gu Qin nodded. "No negotiation. To be honest, it''s hard to find someone to save you now. I don''t have much confidence either, because I don''t know exactly what''s trapped down there. If we don''t resolve it, you might not last three days."


    Xiang Chengjun didn''t respond immediately, then finally said, "Fine, if you can save me, I''ll give you half the shares."


    What mattered most was his life, not the money. Gu Qin replied, "For the next few days, don''t go back home. Stay with me. Go to the next room to rest, and I''ll visit the neighborhood tonight."


    Xiang Chengjun called his family, booked a room at the hotel, and Gu Qin set up an array to ensure his safety for a few days.


    Xiang Chengjun temporarily stayed at the hotel. It was still afternoon, and Gu Qin wasn''t in a rush to investigate. She prepared some items and left once it was dark, not wanting Xiang Chengjun to accompany her due to the unknown dangers.


    This time, Gu Qin only brought the Flowing Light artifact and didn''t bring the White Tiger General. The general rarely accompanied her anymore, usually staying with Cheng Yinxiang.


    Since the incident at Changbai Mountain, Gu Qin felt uneasy about the Flowing Light, fearing someone might covet it and use her family to threaten her. That''s why she kept the White Tiger with her family.


    However, surprisingly, no one had come looking for her since Qin Xiansheng had declared their engagement in front of everyone a year ago.


    Gu Qin carried some items and went directly to the residential area, finding an open space and opening her third eye.


    When she saw what was below, she frowned. It was a yin beast, more like a place where the beast was nurtured rather than trapped. Somehow, Gu Qin felt this place¡¯s yin beast might be related to Big Brother Qin¡¯s master. The old man had devoted his entire life to raising a truly vicious yin beast, using such sinister methods. This place was probably his creation.


    The yin beast was not fully grown, but Gu Qin was confident she could release and destroy it. The only difficulty was breaking the array. It needed to be destroyed to release the yin beast. The beast looked like a black panther, quite fierce.


    Gu Qin was wary because if the array was indeed set up by the old man, it might not be easy to break. If she were injured while breaking the array, she wouldn¡¯t be able to control the yin beast, potentially allowing it to escape and harm others.


    The yin beast had been suppressed for ten years, and Gu Qin was certain it would attack immediately if it could.


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t act rashly and returned to the hotel. She specifically opened her third eye to identify who set up the array, confirming it was indeed the old man.


    She had to take it seriously. The old man¡¯s cultivation level was higher than hers, making breaking the array difficult and risky. There was a high chance of injury, which would not only endanger Xiang Chengjun but also many others. This matter required caution.


    Gu Qin called Qin Xiansheng, explaining the situation. Qin Xiansheng advised her not to act alone and to wait until morning.


    The earliest flight was at six, arriving in Xianggang at seven and reaching the hotel by seven thirty.


    Gu Qin slept, setting up an array in Xiang Chengjun¡¯s room, not worrying about immediate danger.


    In the morning, Qin Xiansheng arrived. They went to the residential area again, examining the array. Gu Qin said, ¡°Brother Qin, if I¡¯m injured breaking the array, please handle the thing below.¡±


    Qin Xiansheng shook his head. ¡°I think this array was set by my master. Although you¡¯ve improved, his arrays are sinister, making it nearly impossible to escape unscathed. I know him better, what do you think?¡±


    Gu Qin revealed it was indeed her master¡¯s array. Qin Xiansheng smiled. ¡°Then it¡¯s even more reason to listen to me. I¡¯ll break the array, and you handle the creature.¡±


    Gu Qin hesitated, fearing his injury. She had her third eye, giving her an advantage.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Qin Xiansheng kissed her forehead. ¡°I trust you too. You¡¯ll tell me where it¡¯s dangerous, right?¡±


    Gu Qin finally agreed.


    They prepared everything by afternoon. Breaking the array involved destroying several key points. Gu Qin used her third eye to locate them and told Qin Xiansheng. As they prepared to act, Gu Qin felt nervous.


    As night fell and the mall closed, security guards left, and Xiang Chengjun was also sent away. The yin beast would emerge near the center of the mall. Gu Qin waited here, where Qin Xiansheng would destroy the final array point.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Qin Xiansheng meditated for about half an hour, appearing slightly pale but otherwise fine. Gu Qin breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Xiansheng nodded, quickly forming hand seals and striking the array point with a palm. A loud explosion echoed, shaking the ground.


    It was midnight. Nearby residents felt the tremor, thinking it was an earthquake and rushing to evacuate. But the sensation vanished quickly, and silence returned. Many returned to bed after a moment.


    With the final array point broken, Qin Xiansheng couldn¡¯t hold on, spitting blood. Gu Qin focused on the dense yin qi at the array point. When the black shadow emerged, she shouted, ¡°Beast, surrender!¡±


    A talisman hit the shadow, causing it to scream. Instead of fleeing, it turned and charged at Gu Qin.


    Gu Qin drew Flowing Light, meeting it head-on. Flowing Light struck the shadow, which screamed and fell.


    Flowing Light, a high-tier artifact, had absorbed much yin qi and digested it for half a year. Now it was stronger, far surpassing a yin beast suppressed for ten years.


    With Flowing Light, the black panther was helpless, soon lying on the ground, wounded and bleeding.


    The panther looked at Gu Qin with tearful eyes, whimpering like a crying baby.


    Gu Qin intended to finish it off, knowing its hatred of humans. This black panther, barely months old, was captured by the old man, tortured, and killed. Its resentment grew, and it died with a hatred for humans.


    The black panther hated humans, causing the previous owners¡¯ deaths. Unlike Baihu, it couldn¡¯t be trusted.


    Gu Qin hesitated to strike, seeing its tears. Qin Xiansheng approached, noting his minor injury. ¡°Finish it. It can¡¯t be trusted, unlike Baihu.¡±


    Gu Qin agreed, but the panther whimpered, showing remorse. Qin Xiansheng suggested, ¡°Let it live for now. If it doesn¡¯t change, we can deal with it later.¡±


    ¡°Whatever Brother Qin says,¡± Gu Qin agreed, checking his injuries. ¡°How are you?¡±


    Qin Xiansheng replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just some internal injuries. I¡¯ll recover in a few days.¡±


    Seeing he wasn¡¯t pretending, Gu Qin relaxed.


    They resolved the array and the panther, returning to the hotel. The panther, despite injuries, followed obediently.


    Xiang Chengjun rushed over. ¡°Masters, how did it go?¡±


    Gu Qin stopped the panther from attacking. ¡°Forget my instructions. Revenge is for the guilty. Find the one who cut your head off.¡±


    Xiang Chengjun was confused. ¡°Gu Master, who are you talking to?¡±


    Gu Qin waved. ¡°Nothing. Most buildings will need renovations. The mall stairs and rooftop need rework, and eight residential floors need changes. I¡¯ll detail the plan. Follow it.¡±


    Xiang Chengjun sighed. ¡°Gu Master, am I safe now?¡±


    Gu Qin warned, ¡°Do good deeds, avoid black money.¡±


    The panther growled, showing its sharp claws, clearly still hostile.


    Xiang Chengjun understood nothing, asking, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your plan.¡±


    The black panther, enraged by its captors, especially those who cut its head off, had a vendetta against Xiang Chengjun. It watched him with hatred.


    Xiang Chengjun didn¡¯t understand but followed Gu Qin¡¯s advice, agreeing to the renovations.


    Back at the hotel, Xiang Chengjun was relieved. Gu Qin reminded him to do good deeds and avoid black money.


    The black panther, despite being subdued, still harbored ill will.


    Gu Qin suggested keeping the panther with her, but Qin Xiansheng disagreed. He would take it back to the sect to tame it first.


    Gu Qin agreed, noting the panther would eventually join Qin Xiansheng.


    After discussing the panther, they talked about Qin Xiansheng¡¯s master. ¡°Brother Qin, don¡¯t you think our encounters with your master are too coincidental? Everything seems connected.¡±


    Qin Xiansheng reflected. ¡°Ren Bushou was obsessed with yin beasts, studying them all his life. It¡¯s no coincidence we keep encountering things related to him.¡±


    The next morning, they flew back to Beijing, the black panther following quietly. It seemed content, albeit reluctantly.


    On the plane, the panther behaved, showing hostility but not harming anyone. Gu Qin noted the suicides in the mall were due to design flaws, exacerbated by the heavy yin qi.


    Back in Beijing, Cheng Yinxiang went to work, and Cheng¡¯s grandparents were cared for by a nanny. Baihu accompanied Cheng Yinxiang.


    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng went to the study. Gu Qin worried about the panther¡¯s future. She proposed keeping it with her, but Qin Xiansheng disagreed, suggesting taking it to the sect first.


    The panther submitted silently, understanding its fate.


    Gu Qin agreed, noting it would eventually join Qin Xiansheng.


    This kind of suppressed Yin Beasts have much weaker strength compared to those raised in containers. Moreover, setting up the array is extremely difficult, and most importantly, these Yin Beasts, after being raised, harbor great hostility towards him and definitely won''t serve him. Therefore, after the Yin Beasts mature, he needs another method to erase their memories and make them into killing machines that only listen to his commands."


    "Ren Boshou is Qin Xiansheng''s master."


    "I guess he should know that it''s very hard to raise Yin Beasts using containers. After all, the Yin Beasts inside the container are almost as powerful as the container itself, mutually restraining each other. Previously, he took apprentices who were very talented; otherwise, they couldn''t endure the pain of Yin Beasts entering their bodies. Even if they had talent, after becoming containers, they still couldn''t withstand it. So far, only my junior brother and I have endured. Therefore, he probably gave up on using humans to raise Yin Beasts and resorted to using arrays."


    "However, the Yin Beasts raised by the array grow very slowly. Perhaps it will take many, many years for them to become powerful. Making these Yin Beasts obey him is even more difficult. Although setting up the array is also very difficult, selecting the location is hard, but it''s not certain if there''s only this one place. In the future, we need to pay more attention. Now that I''ve broken his array, he should have also sustained internal injuries, similar to mine, which aren''t severe."


    Gu Qin asked, "Brother Qin, should we just let him continue like this?"


    Qin Xiansheng understood what she meant and said, "I would also like to find out where he is, but his whereabouts are unpredictable, and we haven''t received any news from him recently."


    Gu Qin lowered her head, frowning. She always felt something was off, but she couldn''t pinpoint exactly what.


    In the evening, Baihu General came back with Cheng Yinxiang, and upon seeing the prostrate black panther, the general snorted and ignored it, returning to its den.


    It was clear that the black panther was very afraid of the general. The difference in their power was too significant. The general was raised as a container along with Qin Xiansheng, starting with roughly the same cultivation level. The black panther, which was only decades old, had a cultivation level less than half of Gu Qin''s, and thus could be easily subdued by her. Facing the general, the black panther naturally felt fear.


    After having dinner with his family, Qin Xiansheng accompanied Gu Qin downstairs, taking the black panther down with them.


    Once they arrived at the parking lot, the black panther got into the back seat, while Gu Qin sat in the passenger seat. She reminded Qin Xiansheng to be careful on the way back and then turned around to see the black panther lowering its head. She laughed and said to Qin Xiansheng, "Brother Qin, it doesn''t have a name yet. Let''s think of one together."


    The black panther''s ears twitched.


    Gu Qin said, "How about ''Black Cat''? Look, it''s like a big cat."


    The black panther looked up, bared its teeth, and let out an ''Awooo,'' clearly dissatisfied with the name.


    Gu Qin said, "So you don''t like it? But I like it. Let''s call it Black Cat, Brother Qin, what do you think?"


    Qin Xiansheng laughed, "It''s all up to you."


    "Let''s call it Black Cat."


    The black panther in the back was furious, its whiskers crooked. It bared its teeth at Gu Qin fiercely. Qin Xiansheng turned his head, and the cold light in his eyes made the black panther instantly cower.


    Gu Qin told Qin Xiansheng almost the same thing and got out of the car to go back.


    Qin Xiansheng watched her get into the elevator before driving back to Jiumen. Upon arriving at Jiumen, Zhu Xi said, "Master, you''re back."


    Qin Xiansheng nodded. "If anything happens, we''ll discuss it tomorrow."


    Zhu Xi waved. "There''s nothing important. Did you solve everything with Miss Gu?"


    "Yes, solved it. Zhu Xi, stand guard outside my door. No one is allowed to enter."


    After saying this, he led the black panther into the study.


    Upon entering the study, Qin Xiansheng closed the door and sat on the sofa, casually leaning back with his legs crossed. He relaxed in his private space, letting his cold expression show freely.


    The black panther clearly sensed how formidable the man was and shrank into a corner, feeling the coldness emanating from him.


    Qin Xiansheng looked at it and said, "Come here." His voice was cold, not at all like the gentle man from earlier.


    The black panther hesitated but eventually walked over and lay down at Qin Xiansheng''s feet.


    He looked down at it, closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and said in a cool tone, "I¡¯ll say this once. Remember, Qian Qian is your master. No matter whom you hate, she is your master. From now on, you must be loyal to her. As for your enemies, they are Ren Boshou. I will help you. Qian Qian doesn¡¯t like you harming others recklessly, so you¡¯re not allowed to. I¡¯ll give you one month to get used to her. I¡¯ll return you to her side, where you¡¯ll follow her orders. During this month, you need to control your wild nature. Do you understand?"


    The black panther moved but didn¡¯t react.


    Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t say more. Suddenly opening his eyes, he leaned forward, forming a hand seal, and placed a mark on the black panther¡¯s forehead. "Don¡¯t think about escaping. This mark will allow me to know your whereabouts wherever you are. Only when your strength surpasses mine can you remove it. You should understand what to do."


    The black panther finally reacted, lifting its head to bare its teeth at the man. However, sensing his different demeanor, it reluctantly closed its mouth.


    Qin Xiansheng leaned back against the chair again, his face cold. He rubbed his forehead again. Thinking about it, he had indeed changed since Kong Xiaoyue tried to harm Gu Qin and her family. Originally, he still had some feelings or humanity toward others, but now he had none. Toward outsiders, he only showed indifference.


    The only person or thing he cared about was related to Gu Qin. He was well aware that he wasn¡¯t Qin Jiu, the easygoing and indifferent Qin Jiu, but he did feel some changes in his personality. These changes suggested that his personality might have merged with Qin Jiu¡¯s. That is, the two personalities might have fused.


    Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t know whether this was good or bad. He knew he was Qin Xiansheng, but the changes brought by Qin Jiu¡¯s personality did affect him. However, these changes weren¡¯t necessarily bad; they at least made him more ruthless.


    Regardless, the only person he cared about never changed.

 Choice in the Darkness

    One month later, Black Cat returned to Gu Qin¡¯s side. Seeing the docile black panther, Gu Qin was quite surprised. Brother Qin was quite resourceful. Compared to the General, Black Cat was actually harder to tame. The reason was simple: the General grew up alongside Qin Xiansheng, understanding his sentiments, and thus harbored less animosity toward him, even having a sense of camaraderie. Therefore, taming the General was easier.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Black Cat to be so easily tamed.


    If Black Cat knew Gu Qin¡¯s thoughts, it would surely be frustrated. It had no choice but to submit, spending a month under this man, who was terrifying beyond imagination.


    Regarding the matters with Xiang Chengjun, Gu Qin had already informed Lu Qingrong, who sent someone to sign a contract with Xiang Chengjun.


    Subsequently, there was no need for Gu Qin to manage much. Lu Qingrong had people for such tasks, and he dispatched one to handle it.


    The fifty percent shares were all under Gu Qin¡¯s name. She set up a charitable account, using the profits for charitable purposes.


    With these matters resolved and Black Cat behaving well, Gu Qin let it stay with the General. Mainly, she was concerned it might not be fully tamed yet. If it intended to cause trouble, the General could restrain it.


    The General had lived with them for so long that it was practically family, albeit a family known only to Gu Qin.


    Cheng Yinxiang and the others were unaware.


    When Qin Xiansheng was free, he mostly stuck close to Gu Qin. On weekdays, when she attended classes, he handled some company affairs. In the evenings, he would pick her up, and they would dine together. If there was nothing else to do, they might watch a movie.


    Occasionally, they would visit Qin Xiansheng¡¯s home. There wasn¡¯t much to do there, so they would listen to music in the study. Gu Qin would read, while Qin Xiansheng worked at his desk. Most of the time, however, he spent watching her.


    Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, July arrived. Gu Qin was on summer break, and she would start her third year in September.


    On the first day of her break, Gu Qin went out with friends to play all day. At nine in the evening, Qin Xiansheng picked her up.


    They went to Qin Xiansheng¡¯s house. It was still early, so Gu Qin planned to read in the study.


    Occasionally staying at Qin Xiansheng¡¯s place, even if she didn¡¯t spend the night, she kept some toiletries and sleepwear here. After a day of shopping, she was sweaty, so she went to freshen up and changed into a dress before heading to the study.


    Qin Xiansheng was indeed there, working on his computer. Not wanting to disturb him, Gu Qin opened her book and continued reading.


    After a while, she noticed his gaze fixed on her. She was used to it by now and looked up, smiling at Qin Xiansheng.


    His eyes darkened, and he stood up, walking over with long strides and lowering his head to kiss her lips.


    He licked her lips repeatedly, seemingly unsatisfied, and then pried open her lips to explore further.


    Gu Qin was nearly lying on the sofa, overwhelmed by Qin Xiansheng¡¯s kisses, her hands clinging to his neck. When he kissed her earlobe, she gasped for breath, "Brother Qin..."


    Her body felt weak, and Qin Xiansheng s*ck*d on her earlobe, causing her to inhale sharply. Her heart pounded.


    Feeling his breathing grow heavier, Gu Qin pushed him away, but it was no use. He even tore open her collar and kissed her collarbone repeatedly. His icy hands traced the edge of her clothing, gently caressing her waist.


    Gu Qin¡¯s body became increasingly soft, and her mind grew hazy. When her clothes suddenly lifted and he bit her, Gu Qin¡¯s mind cleared instantly. She tried to push him away, "Brother Qin, stop."


    Previously, he had only kissed her, but this time he seemed not to hear her. His lips pressed harder, making her shiver.


    She pushed him several times, but his strength was immense, and ordinary force couldn¡¯t move him, "Qin Xiansheng!"Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Finally, Qin Xiansheng looked up, his eyes red, displaying a look of desire that Gu Qin had never seen before.


    Gu Qin was stunned. She suddenly remembered that they had been together for four or five years. When she was in high school, he had always restrained himself, never kissing her until she turned eighteen. Was he struggling?


    But Gu Qin was conflicted. Culturally, she had been influenced by traditional ancient values, where couples didn¡¯t even hold hands before marriage, let alone kiss. Suddenly, she realized that if they truly wanted to adhere to those traditions, they shouldn¡¯t have been so intimate before marriage. They had already held hands, hugged, and kissed¡ªwhat was the difference in going one step further?


    Moreover, she was twenty-one, and they were both committed to each other. This age seemed appropriate.


    Looking at Qin Xiansheng¡¯s reddened eyes, Gu Qin felt a pang of tenderness. She removed her hand from his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting her head to kiss him.


    Qin Xiansheng immediately understood Gu Qin¡¯s intention. His heart raced as he kissed her forcefully.


    After a while, Qin Xiansheng thought the sofa was too narrow and carried her to the bedroom.


    Gu Qin woke up the next day at noon. Looking at the gray curtains, she felt dazed for a moment before regaining her senses. She had never spent the night at Qin Xiansheng¡¯s house before. What time was it?


    Gu Qin sat up abruptly, wincing as she touched her lower back, remembering last night¡¯s passion.


    Last night had been painful. Her first experience was excruciating! Qin Xiansheng had kept her up all night, though it did ease up later. She fell asleep as dawn broke.


    Oh no, school was on break, and she hadn¡¯t called her family last night. Would they suspect something?


    Gu Qin felt guilty as she glanced at the bright sunlight. It must be midday.


    She grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom for a shower, then dressed and went out. Qin Xiansheng was waiting for her outside.


    Qin Xiansheng¡¯s expression was natural, with an unmistakable smile. He took her hand and led her to the living room, "It¡¯s late, let¡¯s eat first."


    Gu Qin didn¡¯t feel particularly embarrassed. They had been together for years, embracing and kissing frequently. They were the closest of lovers, practically family.


    However¡ªGu Qin ate absentmindedly, "Mom, did my mom call?"


    Qin Xiansheng smiled, "She called this morning, but you were still sleeping, so I didn¡¯t answer."


    Gu Qin breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing she hadn¡¯t answered. Otherwise, her family would know she¡¯d spent the night at Qin Xiansheng¡¯s.


    After eating, Qin Xiansheng drove her home. They embraced passionately again at the building entrance.


    As soon as Gu Qin entered, Qin Xiansheng¡¯s phone rang. He had to go deal with some company business.


    Gu Qin returned upstairs. Lu Qingrong wasn¡¯t there, but Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Tang were, and Gu Jia seemed to be at work. Gu Jia had graduated and was working at Lu Qingrong¡¯s company.


    "Mom, I¡¯m back," Gu Qin said guiltily.


    Cheng Yinxiang was feeding Lu Tang porridge. The little one saw his sister and clapped his chubby hands, calling out, "Sister, sister."


    Lu Tang was about a year old, very smart, and could already say words like father, mother, sister, brother, great-grandmother, and great-grandfather.


    "Be good, Tang Tang," Gu Qin said, reaching out to pinch his rosy cheeks, making him laugh.


    Cheng Yinxiang couldn¡¯t help asking, "Why didn¡¯t you come back last night?"


    Gu Qin hurriedly replied, "We graduated yesterday, so I stayed out with Shan Shan and the others. I slept outside."


    Cheng Yinxiang nodded, not pressing further, waiting until Gu Qin entered her room before saying softly, "Shouldn¡¯t you and Xiansheng set a wedding date?"


    Gu Qin stumbled, nearly falling, and rushed into her room. It seemed her mother knew she had spent the night at Qin Xiansheng¡¯s.


    Qin Xiansheng arrived at the company and signed a document. After a meeting, his secretary said, "Mr. Qin, someone is looking for you outside."


    "Who?"


    "Mu Jingjuan."


    Qin Xiansheng frowned, "Not seeing her."


    But he hadn¡¯t expected her to storm into his office, looking disheveled. She shouted, "Xiansheng, help the Mu family."


    Qin Xiansheng pretended not to hear. He owed the Mu family a favor, but it was long settled. Even during Mu Xiaoyue¡¯s troublemaking, that favor had soured. Though he occasionally visited Old Master Mu, he wouldn¡¯t interfere with Mu family matters.


    "Why didn¡¯t security stop her?" he asked.


    Mu Jingjuan was on the verge of tears, "Xiansheng, please help the Mu family. Someone is targeting us, and even Grandfather says not to bother you, but we really can¡¯t handle it anymore."


    "Take her away!" Qin Xiansheng ordered!


    Mu Jingjuan was stunned. She probably understood why Qin Xiansheng was unhelpful toward the Mu family, due to Xiaoyue¡¯s actions against Gu Qin. Indeed, he cared deeply for that girl, enough to confront the Mu family.


    Security swiftly escorted her out.


    Qin Xiansheng showed no emotion, continuing to review documents.


    Around five, Qin Xiansheng went to pick up Gu Qin¡¯s family. They bought groceries and cooked together, like a typical young couple, though more people were present: Gu Qin, Qin Xiansheng, Cheng Yinxiang, Lu Qingrong, Grandpa Cheng, and Grandma Cheng.


    After eating, Qin Xiansheng suddenly said, "Uncle and Aunt, I have something to discuss with you. I plan to get engaged with Qianqian."


    Gu Qin was taken aback but not surprised. Given their intimacy, engagement was natural, and they could marry after graduation.


    Cheng Yinxiang and Lu Qingrong exchanged glances, smiling. They asked, "How do you plan to celebrate the engagement?"


    Qin Xiansheng looked at Gu Qin, seeking her opinion.


    Gu Qin said, "Mom, Uncle Lu, I think we should keep it small, just inviting relatives and friends. I don¡¯t want a big celebration."


    Lu Qingrong originally wanted a larger event.


    Gu Qin explained, "No need, just a small gathering for relatives and friends."


    Qin Xiansheng seemed to understand her concerns, holding her hand.


    Although they planned a modest engagement, they booked a large private room at a hotel for two tables, inviting only relatives and friends.


    After the engagement, Gu Qin had plenty of free time during her break, aside from practicing and doing fengshui readings.


    By August, they were watching TV with the family. A news segment mentioned Mu Jingjuan being interrogated. The news didn¡¯t reveal much but hinted that details would be released later.


    Mu Jingjuan was in trouble? Gu Qin was shocked. As the daughter of a prominent figure, Mu Jingjuan¡¯s situation was concerning. Could the Mu family¡¯s troubles stem from this?


    Gu Qin called Qin Xiansheng to ask about the news. Qin Xiansheng said, "I¡¯ll come over and explain."


    Half an hour later, Qin Xiansheng arrived, and they went to the study.


    Gu Qin asked about the Mu family situation.


    Qin Xiansheng replied, "Someone is targeting the Mu family. A month ago, Mu Jingjuan came to me, asking for help."


    Gu Qin nodded, waiting for more.


    Qin Xiansheng looked at her, "I had her removed."


    "Mmm?" Gu Qin asked, "Is it because of Kong Xiaoyue that you don¡¯t want to help the Mu family? Actually, there¡¯s no need. Xiaoyue didn¡¯t gain anything from targeting me and was sent abroad. You and Old Master Mu are like family. If the Mu family falls, it might not be good for us either."


    Qin Xiansheng kissed her lips, smiling, "No problem."


    Gu Qin bit his lip, "Brother Qin, let¡¯s still help figure out what¡¯s happening with the Mu family. I feel something¡¯s wrong. With their extensive connections in Beijing, who would dare to target the Mu family?"


    This matter


    So, E Jia actually paid attention and told Gu Qin, "It''s the E family. The E family also has considerable power in the capital; Old E was once the top leader in politics, and after retirement, the younger generation of the E family also holds various positions in the military and political fields. However, compared to the Mu family, the E family still falls short, and it would be difficult for them to shake the Mu family''s position."

 Cycle of Fate

    Gu Qin found it strange why the E family dared to challenge the Mu family. After a simple calculation, she frowned at the conclusion that someone was backing the E family.


    Gu Qin couldn''t help but want to use her Heavenly Eye to take a look. Speaking of which, she had been feeling uneasy recently, not sure why.


    "Brother Qin, are you really not going to help the Mu family? I think there must be someone behind the E family. Otherwise, how could they possibly match up against the Mu family?"


    Qin Xian Sheng said gently, "Don''t rush, we can discuss this later. Didn''t you say you wanted to buy some gifts?"


    Gu Qin exclaimed, "Right, I almost forgot. But what kind of gifts should I buy?"


    She was buying gifts for her future sister-in-law, right, meaning Gu Jia¡¯s girlfriend. Gu Jia had started dating in his junior year and had been together for two years. He hadn¡¯t brought her home because he hadn¡¯t mustered the courage until now. Since graduation, he felt their relationship was stable and thought she was a good match, so he decided to introduce her to the family.


    Because of this, Cheng Yin Xiang was excited but also a bit worried, asking Gu Qin if she was afraid the girlfriend might dislike Xiao Tang. After all, both children were grown, and she herself was old. Having had a son late in life, she feared the son¡¯s girlfriend might look down on him.


    Gu Qin had to comfort her for quite a while. Actually, Gu Qin didn¡¯t know much about the girlfriend either, but considering how mature and steady Gu Jia had become over the years, she believed his judgment was sound. Seeing Gu Jia¡¯s demeanor, she assumed the girlfriend was likely a good person.


    Since Gu Jia was bringing his girlfriend home, Gu Qin naturally wanted to show some appreciation and decided to buy a gift. She had mentioned this to Qin Xian Sheng yesterday, and today he came early to accompany her shopping, nearly forgetting about the Mu family incident.


    However, Gu Qin was troubled. "I can''t decide what gift to get." It was her first time giving a gift to her future sister-in-law, so she wanted it to be special.


    Qin Xian Sheng remained silent. He had no experience with such matters, and besides, it wasn''t a gift for Gu Qin. If it were for Gu Qin, he would have made something himself rather than bought it.


    Unable to decide, Gu Qin dragged Qin Xian Sheng to go shopping. They ended up buying a limited-edition jewelry from a brand she liked. She simply couldn''t think of anything else, having never given gifts before.


    Since Gu Jia had mentioned that his girlfriend¡¯s name contained the character for bamboo, Gu Qin immediately picked out the bamboo-themed jewelry, finding it very beautiful and suitable as a gift.


    Two days later, Cheng Yin Xiang got up early and specially invited a hotel chef to cook at home to properly entertain her son¡¯s girlfriend.


    Around ten o''clock, Gu Jia brought his girlfriend, Yi Xiaozhu, over.


    Although Yi Xiaozhu''s name was quite neutral, her personality was very gentle, unlike her name. She was also very pretty, appearing very virtuous and at ease with the family, even making Lu Xiaotang laugh heartily.


    Gu Qin didn''t dare to use her Heavenly Eye to peek, but just by looking at her face, she could tell that this girl was indeed nice. She didn''t want to invade anyone''s privacy.


    Yi Xiaozhu''s father was a doctor, and her mother was a professor at a school. Her upbringing was excellent, and she clearly came from a scholarly background. Cheng Yin Xiang liked her very much.


    Moreover, Yi Xiaozhu was straightforward and helped with whatever needed doing when she visited, showing a composed and genuine character.


    Gu Qin admired Gu Jia''s choice in partners. This time, he had chosen well, unlike during high school when he dated someone else.


    At the dinner table, Cheng Yin Xiang couldn''t resist asking when they planned to get married.


    Gu Jia replied, "Mom, it''s too early. We''ve just graduated and plan to wait one or two years, but we hope to have an engagement first."


    Cheng Yin Xiang smiled, nodding, "If you''re not rushing into marriage, then an engagement is appropriate. Discuss the details with your family, Yi Xiaozhu, and let us know how we can help."


    Gu Jia added, "Mom, no need for you to worry about it. We''ll handle it ourselves."


    "Yes, Aunt," Yi Xiaozhu said, "Gu Jia and I agreed to keep things simple. We''ll have a small engagement ceremony and invite both families for a meal."


    "Alright, everything is up to you."


    Yi Xiaozhu had an older brother who was already married, and their family had excellent manners.


    The engagement was kept simple, with both families gathering in a hotel in Beijing for a few banquets five days later to formalize the engagement.


    Apart from this, something happened to the Mu family again. This time, it was the eldest son of the Mu family who was taken away by the inspection team, and the details were still unclear.


    Gu Qin felt increasingly uneasy. That night, she even dreamed. In her dream, she saw a white-robed girl and an elder.


    She woke up in the middle of the night, sitting up abruptly. The dream was so vivid; she saw the white-robed girl and the elder kill Qin Xian Sheng.


    In the dark, Gu Qin took a while to calm down. She tried to rationalize that it wasn''t a dream but perhaps a long-lost Heavenly Eye vision like the original owner of this body had experienced. No wonder she felt so exhausted.


    If it was through the Heavenly Eye, these events were real. Qin Xian Sheng would be killed by the white-robed girl and the elder. She didn''t recognize the girl, but the elder was familiar¡ªMaster Ren Bushou, Qin Xian Sheng''s teacher.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Most importantly, she and Qin Xian Sheng''s fate had always been unpredictable, and this was the first time she used the Heavenly Eye to see something about them, specifically about Qin Xian Sheng.


    Gu Qin clenched her fists tightly, her face pale. In the dream, Qin Xian Sheng did not help the Mu family, leading to their downfall three months later. Even Grandpa Mu was not spared, dying abroad. They couldn''t touch Grandpa Mu, who was more of a symbol and a source of faith. Thus, they sent him abroad where he died shortly after.


    After the Mu family''s demise, the news of Liuguang was exposed, but no one targeted the Gu family in the dream. Did this mean the Gu family was safe? After the news broke, the white-robed girl and Master Ren Bushou appeared, followed by Qin Xian Sheng''s death.


    Thinking about the final scene of Qin Xian Sheng lying silently, she felt fear and her body trembled involuntarily.


    Gu Qin closed her eyes. No, she couldn''t let this happen. She was almost certain that Master Ren Bushou was behind the Mu family''s troubles, and the white-robed girl was likely involved with him. Although she didn''t know their exact relationship, she knew they were working together.


    This was likely Master Ren Bushou''s attempt against Qin Xian Sheng. First the Mu family, then her. Clearly, he had known about their relationship for a long time.


    But Gu Qin couldn''t understand why, despite Qin Xian Sheng fighting Master Ren Bushou to a standstill and injuring them both, Master Ren Bushou still risked targeting Qin Xian Sheng. Was there a compelling reason? There must be, but what was it?


    Regardless of the reason, Gu Qin knew the first step to changing what she saw in the Heavenly Eye was to prevent the Mu family from falling. She was grateful for her Heavenly Eye, knowing the future and potentially changing it. She hoped that her and Qin Xian Sheng''s fate could be altered like others she had seen.


    Awakened in the middle of the night, Gu Qin couldn''t sleep and decided to meditate. Since breaking through, her cultivation had been steadily increasing, but now she wished for a sudden leap to protect her family and Qin Xian Sheng.


    In the morning, Gu Qin joined her family for breakfast and immediately went to Qin Xian Sheng''s place.


    He had called her earlier, asking her to wait at home.


    When she arrived, Qin Xian Sheng had just finished eating and noticed her serious expression. He asked, "Qin Qin, what''s wrong?" This was the first time he saw her like this, and he instinctively hugged her.


    "Brother Qin," Gu Qin wrapped her arms around his waist, "Help the Mu family."


    Only by helping the Mu family could Qin Xian Sheng realize that Master Ren Bushou was behind it all and take precautions. This way, the events she saw in her Heavenly Eye wouldn''t come true.


    "Alright, whatever you say," Qin Xian Sheng embraced her.


    With the decision to help the Mu family, they went to visit in the afternoon. Grandpa Mu was somewhat moved when he saw Qin Xian Sheng, "Xian Sheng, I thought you..."


    He thought Qin Xian Sheng would never help the Mu family again. But here he was.


    Qin Xian Sheng didn''t explain much, sat down with Gu Qin, and asked, "Grandpa Mu, what''s the current situation?"


    Mu sighed, "The E family deliberately targeted the Mu family. Jing Juan and Jing Chang didn''t accept any bribes. The extra money and assets in their accounts were due to malicious actions... Grandpa Mu had always taught his children to be frugal and honest."


    Red families like theirs most feared corruption and bribery. Grandpa Mu had always watched his children closely to ensure they didn''t make mistakes, so he knew their situations well.


    Grandpa Mu continued, "No idea how this happened, but they''ve been struggling lately and fell into the E family''s trap..."


    Qin Xian Sheng concluded, "If my guess is right, there must be someone behind the E family, probably another feng shui master. Gu Qin and I will investigate and update you."


    Grandpa Mu nodded.


    Gu Qin had already opened her Heavenly Eye upon entering the neighborhood. There were no significant changes or arrays set up. Given that Grandpa Mu lived there, any array would affect him. Grandpa Mu mentioned that the Mu family had been experiencing mental fog recently. Could it be that the Mu family''s ancestors'' graves were disturbed?


    If the feng shui of the Mu family''s ancestral graves was tampered with, they could have suffered severe consequences. Why go through the trouble of involving the E family, using political scandals to deal with the Mu family? Perhaps such methods drew attention from people with ulterior motives. Hence, the mastermind behind the scenes couldn''t directly harm the Mu family but chose a roundabout method.


    Regardless, Gu Qin now knew who was behind it all. The immediate priority was to protect the Mu family and then deal with the white-robed girl and Master Ren Bushou.


    Leaving the Mu family, Gu Qin whispered, "Brother Qin, there''s nothing unusual around here. It seems the problem lies with the Mu family''s ancestral graves. Should we check there?"


    Qin Xian Sheng had also noticed. Though he lacked a Heavenly Eye, his cultivation allowed him to sense the subtle fluctuations of qi or yin energy nearby. Everything seemed calm.


    They informed Grandpa Mu and headed straight to the Mu family''s ancestral graves.


    The graves weren''t far, located in the mountains on the outskirts of Beijing. Qin Xian Sheng had personally chosen this spot due to its excellent feng shui. The Mu family''s ancestors were buried here to ensure the prosperity of their descendants for a hundred years.


    Upon arriving at the gravesite, Qin Xian Sheng realized something was amiss.


    Originally, this plot of land had excellent feng shui, but someone had tampered with it. Qin Xian Sheng sensed no change because this was a natural feng shui treasure, not an array he had set up.


    From an ancient perspective, this site could be considered a minor dragon vein, which explained the Mu family''s status and smooth sailing over the decades.


    The Mu family''s ancestors were buried along a minor dragon vein, facing a mountain that resembled a dragon''s head.


    This was a minor dragon vein, not a major one. Altering a major dragon vein would have drastic effects on Beijing and the entire country. No one dared to touch a major dragon vein, and few could even find one.


    Minor dragon veins existed in various places, differing from major ones. These formed naturally under specific conditions. For example, this minor dragon vein was created by the mountain resembling a dragon''s head.


    Thus, minor dragon veins had visible traces.


    Qin Xian Sheng had searched for major dragon veins before but found it extremely challenging. Many feng shui masters spent their lives without success, unable to even approach one.


    Major dragon veins formed naturally over millennia, blending seamlessly into the earth. Detecting the true dragon aura was incredibly difficult.


    Gu Qin also noticed the minor dragon vein and recognized the profound impact it had on the Mu family''s descendants. This was the best feng shui site she had ever seen.


    After observing, she identified the issue: the Mu family''s ancestral graves were located in the center of the minor dragon vein, with the mountain resembling a dragon''s head in front. Originally, a river had been artificially diverted at the neck of the dragon, severing its head.


    A severed dragon vein would naturally weaken. However, the river was not deep and had only recently been dug, affecting the Mu family mainly in terms of health and spirit. This allowed the E family to exploit the situation.


    There were no arrays set up, explaining why the Mu family''s ancestral graves hadn''t been severely affected.


    The solution was simple: fill the river and set up a spirit-gathering array nearby to restore the minor dragon vein.


    Qin Xian Sheng explained this to Grandpa Mu, leaving the digging to him and setting up the array themselves.


    To avoid disrupting the array while filling the river, they waited until it was done and then set up the array the next day.


    Next, they needed to deal with the E family. Honestly, if the E family was falsely accusing the Mu family, this would be easier to resolve. Finding evidence would suffice. With Qin Xian Sheng and Grandpa Mu''s efforts, the matter was quickly handled, and within a few days, evidence of the E family''s false accusations against the Mu family was found.


    If the Mu family''s ancestral graves hadn''t been disturbed, they could have handled this themselves. However, the disturbance affected the entire Mu family''s physical and mental well-being. This shouldn''t be underestimated; a collapse in health and spirit was a severe blow.


    The matter also involved business interests. Qin Xian Sheng had the manpower to investigate quickly, finding evidence within days.


    Once the evidence was found, the matter was resolved. Moreover, it caught the E family off guard. Two members of the E family were released, while several were arrested. Additional evidence of bribery and corruption among the E family was discovered.


    Thus, the E family was thoroughly dismantled. Even if some remaining members remained clean, they were significantly impacted and unlikely to regain their former status.


    Previously hesitant individuals quickly showed support, visiting the Mu family.


    Grandpa Mu politely declined, citing poor health and declining visitors.


    All Mu family members gathered at the old house. Mu Jing Juan sat silently on the sofa, shaken by recent events. Despite her dedication to serving honestly, she had to admit that some relatives profited indirectly from their connections. This was normal, though.


    After the incident, she believed Qin Xian Sheng wouldn''t help the Mu family anymore. Only after someone returned did she learn Qin Xian Sheng had intervened. She was initially confused but later realized Qin Xian Sheng''s reluctance stemmed from Xiaoyue''s actions against Gu Qin.


    Perhaps her father had pleaded with him.


    Now, she truly understood Gu Qin''s significance to Qin Xian Sheng.


    Mu Jing Juan remained silent, while Mu Jing Chang, who had also been detained, looked haggard and thanked Qin Xian Sheng.


    Qin Xian Sheng nodded but said nothing.


    Grandpa Mu also expressed gratitude, deeply sighing in the end.


    Since the Mu family was safe, Qin Xian Sheng didn''t stay long. Compared to previous close calls, this was relatively minor. The adversaries had merely exploited feng shui vulnerabilities. For him, it was akin to an ant bite.


    As they left the Mu family, the sky had darkened. Qin Xian Sheng suggested, "Shall I buy some groceries and cook at my place?"


    Gu Qin responded absentmindedly, "Sure."


    They went grocery shopping and headed to Qin Xian Sheng''s place. After cooking and cleaning up, it was already past eight. They went to the study, where Qin Xian Sheng worked at the desk while Gu Qin casually flipped through a book, her mind elsewhere.


    After a while, she made up her mind and sat beside him, holding his hand. "Brother Qin, I have something important to tell you."


    Qin Xian Sheng instinctively pulled her closer. "Qin Qin, what is it? Don''t worry, just tell me."


    Gu Qin asked, "Brother Qin, do you think the person behind the Mu family''s troubles is Ren Bushou?"


    Qin Xian Sheng''s eyes flickered, sensing she was about to reveal a secret. "We can''t be sure. There are many feng shui masters, and the E family likely knows a few. So we can''t be certain."


    "I know," Gu Qin looked directly at Qin Xian Sheng. "Brother Qin, I''m sure." She squeezed his hand tightly.


    Qin Xian Sheng noticed her nervousness; she was ready to share her biggest secret. She was genuinely anxious.


    "Go ahead, I''m listening. Don''t worry, tell me everything."

 Loyalty

    "Don''t die, don''t die." Gu Qin poured her energy into Qin Xiansheng, tears streaming down her face. Her vision blurred, everything becoming a blank, her ears ringing.


    The black panther paused for a moment, turned its head to look at Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng, roared, and then charged towards Ren Bushou again.


    "Overreaching!" With a wave of his hand, the black panther was thrown four or five meters away, unable to move.


    The black panther was originally a product he had created, but he found that the Yin Beasts raised in the encampment grew too slowly and were not fierce enough, so he stopped using this method. Such a black panther naturally did not intimidate him.


    Wanshi Yan glanced at Ren Bushou, his eyes cold. He liked Shu Shu, but he also despised this old man. No one would be grateful to a master who treated them as vessels, even if he was the father of the woman he loved.


    Ren Bushou looked at the pale-faced Gu Qin crying uncontrollably in the distance and laughed. "Do you know why? We originally planned to deal with him first before dealing with you. Unexpectedly, you came looking for us earlier. But it doesn''t matter; the yin-yang worms have almost grown into adults and are sufficient to deal with him. It''s truly a pity; if it were another two months, we could have killed him on the spot, but now he still has a breath left."


    Even if Gu Qin couldn''t hear anything at the moment, Ren Bushou continued speaking. "The yin-yang worm is a type of gu poison. I predicted that this boy would harm me, and at that time, I happened to get a pair of gu worms. Don''t underestimate the yin-yang worms; they might seem harmless when young, but I placed the young yin worm in his heart to feed on his blood, while the yang worm was fed outside. I took a lot of his blood, one drop per month, enough to keep them alive until now."


    "All these worms were cultivated using his flesh and blood. Now that the yang worm is dead, the yin worm inside him cannot survive either. As the owner of these worms, you will also not survive. It''s truly a pity; they could have fully grown into adult worms in another two months..."


    He had calculated that Qin Xiansheng would be his greatest threat, so he went to great lengths to obtain this pair of gu worms to counteract Qin Xiansheng. These worms posed no threat when young, but as time passed, their threat increased. That was also why he hadn''t used this method against Qin Xiansheng before, as the worms weren''t mature enough to kill him then, which would have been a waste.


    Now was perfect. Although Qin Xiansheng still had a breath left, he would definitely not survive.


    In a blink of an eye, ten minutes passed, and the surrounding aura became increasingly abundant, enveloping Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng. This made the others watching from afar more and more astonished.


    Wanshi Yan lowered his head and kissed Shu Shu''s forehead. "Be good, don''t be afraid. In the future, you can live a healthy life, and we can be together forever."


    "But, senior brother..." Shu Shu''s eyes reddened. "Is this worth it? To harm so many people for my sake, I don''t want this..."


    "Why isn''t it worth it? For you, dying in the hands of many is worth it," Wanshi Yan said, hugging her tightly.


    Shu Shu''s eyes welled up with tears, she remained silent, and hugged Wanshi Yan tightly.


    It was useless, why was it still useless? Brother Qin, wake up quickly! Gu Qin became increasingly anxious. So much aura had entered Qin Xiansheng''s body, but there was no change.


    "D*mn, all of you should die, I want you to die with me..." Gu Qin muttered, staggering to his feet, staring intently at Ren Bushou.


    With the flow of light already stirring in his hand, Gu Qin swung it towards Ren Bushou.


    "Don''t!" Shu Shu grabbed Wanshi Yan''s clothes and shouted.


    Wanshi Yan hesitated for a moment, but out of concern for Shu Shu, he wanted to help Ren Bushou.


    "Get out of the way!" Gu Qin shouted, waving his hand, sending a surge of pure aura towards the two.


    While Wanshi Yan wouldn''t be seriously harmed by such an impact, Shu Shu, being very weak, would only have a death sentence if hit by the aura. Without hesitation, Wanshi Yan turned around, protecting Shu Shu by lying down with her in his arms.


    Ren Bushou''s face changed drastically. He tried to move but suddenly found himself immobilized, as if something had grabbed his ankles, pinning him down. Even the aura within his body couldn''t be used at all. What was going on? Ren Bushou seemed to realize something, turning to glare at Wanshi Yan, opening his mouth to question, but Gu Qin''s attack was already upon him.


    Gu Qin''s attack was already upon him. Without thinking, the flow of light stabbed deeply into his heart.


    Ren Bushou''s eyes widened, glaring fiercely. He was unwilling to accept his fate. Even though Gu Qin could control him with the yin-yang qi, they were equally matched in cultivation, and he shouldn''t have been caught off guard like this. However, he couldn''t mobilize any aura within his body, clearly indicating someone had tampered with him. The only ones who had contact with him were Shu Shu and Wanshi Yan, and it was clear who had done it.


    Ren Bushou fell to the ground, dying with his eyes wide open.


    Gu Qin was surrounded by a heavy aura of yin-yang qi and aura, two opposing energies that didn''t mix well, creating a significant whirlwind around her. After pulling the flow of light out of Ren Bushou''s chest and tossing a fire talisman onto his body, Gu Qin stared intently at the fallen Wanshi Yan.


    Wanshi Yan stood up, holding Shu Shu in his arms. "Don''t look," he said softly.


    Shu Shu cried uncontrollably. "Father, save him..."


    Wanshi Yan glanced coldly at the burning remains of Ren Bushou. He could see the calculation in his eyes.


    Perfect, everything was under his control. By eliminating two enemies at once, as long as they agreed to swap bodies, he could be with Shu Shu forever, with no one else able to interfere.


    ***


    Gu Qin''s bloodshot eyes glared fiercely at Wanshi Yan. All she could think about was killing him, she must kill him. Her thoughts intensified, and the aura of yin-yang qi and aura surrounding her became more agitated.


    Wanshi Yan''s expression remained unchanged. He chuckled. "You''ve spent quite a bit of aura just now. Are you sure you can defeat me? Or do you want to end up both injured, leaving your family vulnerable to questions about the whereabouts of the Flow of Light? Or perhaps we both suffer, and after I leave and recover, I threaten you with your family?"Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Shu Shu was too sad and exhausted, having used up too much energy, and had fainted in Wanshi Yan''s embrace.


    Gu Qin''s face changed dramatically, glaring at him.


    "You know," Wanshi Yan smiled brightly. "And you think I haven''t prepared? If you dare to hurt me, your family will immediately join me in death. Do you really believe a mere Yin Beast, the White Tiger, can protect so many people? Your mother, Uncle Lu, your younger brother, your grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends like Lin Xin Xin, Qian Shan Shan, Yang Ting, and Du Fei, do you wish for them to die because of you?"


    Gu Qin clenched her fists tightly, her face pale. She rasped, "What exactly do you want?"


    "What do you think I want?" Wanshi Yan replied. "Of course, I want you to voluntarily swap bodies with Shu Shu. My demands or wishes have always been simple: I only hope Shu Shu can be healthy." Everything he had done was solely for the woman he loved.


    Gu Qin gritted her teeth. "I might be able to cure her..."


    Before she could finish, Wanshi interrupted her. "No, no. If you''ve examined her, you''d know how severe her condition is. She has no cultivation, and over the past hundred years, to keep her alive and maintain her appearance, her body has been severely damaged. Unless she swaps bodies, there is no other solution. Moreover, soul transference is extremely difficult; with your Heavenly Eye, the success rate would be much higher."


    Gu Qin looked at him coldly.


    Wanshi Yan laughed again. "You don''t need to look at me like that. I know what you''re thinking. Don''t think about using the opportunity of the body swap to devour Shu Shu. If it fails, I''ll make sure everyone dies along with you."


    He wasn''t worried about Gu Qin refusing. Through their two years of interaction, he understood her too well¡ªher family was her only weakness, and she would definitely agree.


    Gu Qin clenched her teeth. "Shouldn''t you have tampered with Ren Bushou? Don''t you fear the woman in your arms will find out?" Ren Bushou''s cultivation level was similar to hers. When she attacked, she clearly felt he couldn''t mobilize his aura. Thus, he could only be killed in one blow. The best person to tamper with him would be Wanshi Yan.


    Wanshi Yan''s expression remained indifferent. "So what? He deserved to die. If it weren''t for these plans, I wouldn''t have kept him alive until now."


    "Do you not fear she will find out?"


    Wanshi Yan looked down at the woman sleeping in his arms, his gaze soft. "As long as you don''t tell her, no one will know. If you let her find out, I''ll personally kill every member of your family and friends."


    Gu Qin looked back at Qin Xiansheng lying on the ground, unresponsive. Her heart trembled violently, and she began to shake. Big Brother Qin, you must hold on. I won''t let you die.


    She turned back, her eyes cold. "Alright, I agree. But you know swapping bodies requires an array and considerable time. My current state is definitely not suitable. I need to take him back to the capital first."


    Wanshi Yan glanced at Qin Xiansheng. "Still hoping to save him? It''s useless. Aura can''t save him, nor can it repair the internal injuries. The yin worms have mostly grown, damaging nearly all his organs, including his heart. He''s doomed. His injuries can''t be healed by aura. I advise you to leave him here."


    "No, I must take him back to the capital!" As long as there''s a breath left, there must be a way. There must be.


    "Fine, it''s good timing to return to the capital to start preparations," Wanshi Yan didn''t insist. He pulled out his phone and made a call.


    An hour later, a helicopter arrived. Gu Qin carefully carried Qin Xiansheng onto the helicopter. Throughout the journey, she continuously channeled aura into his body, but there was no effect.


    What exactly is this yin worm? Why is it ineffective? Even ordinary people can save someone with ruptured organs as long as they haven''t died. Why can''t I save Big Brother Qin? Gu Qin wanted to cry, but she knew she couldn''t afford to now. She needed to think of a way. Wanshi Yan would need about a week to prepare the array and other items, and she had to come up with a plan within a week.


    But what should she do? Her heart was too chaotic to calm down and think clearly.


    After four hours, the helicopter returned to the capital. She dared not bring Qin Xiansheng back directly, nor did she dare return to the Nine Gates. Given Wanshi Yan''s knowledge of their information, she didn''t know if there were traitors among the Nine Gates and dared not take risks. She returned directly to Qin Xiansheng''s residence, tears streaming down her face as she looked at the unconscious man lying on the bed.


    Even though she was capable, at twenty-one, she was still just a young girl. She felt scared, worried, and confused.


    She knew she must remain calm and find a solution.


    For the next day, she neglected to contact her family. At least during this time, they were safe. Throughout the day, she continuously channeled aura into Qin Xiansheng''s body, but it had no effect.


    Yin-Yang Worms, Ren Bushou said this was a type of gu poison.


    Miao ethnic group, right! She could ask Grandma Ling Ling. Back then, Qin Jiu and Ren Bushou fought each other, both heavily wounded, with Qin Jiu disappearing. Qin Xiansheng was saved by Ling Ling from the mountains, and she subsequently helped save Ling Ling''s parents.


    Ling Ling was Miao ethnic group. When she went to save Ling Ling''s parents, Grandma Ling Ling accompanied her. That elderly lady was a skilled gu master.


    At the time, they exchanged contact information. Now, like grasping a lifeline, Gu Qin pulled out her phone and dialed the number.


    The call was quickly answered by Ling Ling''s grandmother. "Grandma..." Gu Qin''s voice was choked with emotion.


    Ling Ling''s grandmother clearly remembered Gu Qin. "Qin Qin?"


    "It''s me, Grandma. I have something I need your help with. Grandma, do you know what a yin-yang worm is?"


    "Yin-Yang Worm?" Ling Ling''s grandmother was surprised. "This kind of gu poison is probably extinct. It hasn''t been seen for many years, and there likely aren''t any yin-yang worm larvae left. This thing is extremely dangerous. In its larval stage, it poses little danger, but as it grows and becomes an adult worm, the threat increases greatly. It''s fatal; there''s never been anyone who survived. There''s no known cure. Qin Qin, why do you ask about this?"


    "Grandma..." Gu Qin''s voice trembled. "Is there really no way? If, if it hasn''t fully grown into an adult worm, just short of a couple of months, what would happen?"


    Ling Ling''s grandmother said, "There''s no difference. Even if there''s a last breath, it''s impossible to survive. This gu poison is extremely difficult to cultivate. From larvae to adult worm, it may take decades or even centuries. I''ve never heard of anyone using this gu poison; it''s been lost for many years. Qin Qin, who has been infected with this gu poison?"


    Gu Qin couldn''t hold it in any longer and burst into tears.


    Ling Ling''s grandmother seemed to understand who had been infected and sighed, hanging up the phone.


    Gu Qin cried herself out, then lay down beside Qin Xiansheng on the bed, holding his icy hand, motionless.


    Until night fell, Gu Qin''s heart finally calmed down. She knew she couldn''t give up.


    Aura couldn''t save him, so what else could?


    Aura, yang qi, essence qi, yin qi, yin-she qi, dragon...


    Gu Qin sat up abruptly. Dragon qi! Yes, that was it. Besides aura, yang qi, essence qi, dragon qi could also heal and cultivate. However, no one had ever seen dragon qi, and to find it, one had to locate the true dragon vein.


    True dragon veins were integrated into the earth, vastly different from lesser dragon veins.


    Lesser dragon veins were considered auspicious sites, but compared to true dragon veins, they were insignificant, a thousand times inferior.


    Generally, geomancers who could find lesser dragon veins were considered highly skilled. Families buried in lesser dragon veins would gain significant power, such as ancient emperors and modern generals and prime ministers. The Mu family''s rise to power was closely tied to their ancestral graves being located on a lesser dragon vein.


    However, lesser dragon veins contained only auspicious qi and aura, not dragon qi.


    To find dragon qi, one had to locate the true dragon vein.


    Therefore, if there was anything that could save Qin Xiansheng, it was dragon qi. Dragon qi was omnipotent, and cultivating on a true dragon vein could achieve twice the result with half the effort. Hence, she had to find the true dragon vein.


    Finding a true dragon vein was incredibly difficult, even with her Heavenly Eye, she couldn''t be certain she could find it.


    But she had to try.


    But how should she go about finding it? Finding a true dragon vein wouldn''t be accomplished in one or two days, possibly not even in one or two years. She couldn''t abandon her family for such a search. If she were gone too long, Wanshi Yan would surely target her family. What should she do?


    Gu Qin looked down at the black panther lying at her feet. Since returning, the black panther had been obedient, quietly lying beside the bed and looking at Gu Qin. Seeing her looking at it, it licked her hand.


    Gu Qin gave a bitter smile. The black panther''s cultivation was too low to be of much help.


    Unless... there was someone incredibly powerful who could protect her family and ensure her safety during her search for the true dragon vein.


    But who? Who in this world had a cultivation level surpassing hers, making Wanshi Yan fearful?


    Powerful, fearful, Gu Qin''s mind suddenly sparked with an idea.


    She looked at the black panther. Too weak, definitely not. She had to find the General.

 END

    Gu Qin had an idea, but she needed the General to help. She couldn''t leave Qin Xiansheng''s side and couldn''t return to summon Baihu. Looking at the black panther lying on the floor grooming itself, Gu Qin said, "Black Cat, I need your help. Can you go back and fetch the General for me?"


    The black panther looked at her, stood up, nudged her hand with its head, and softly called out, then went out the door.


    Gu Qin turned back and held Qin Xiansheng''s hand, her brows furrowed with worry.


    The world was vast and full of wonders. This gu poison was something Gu Qin hadn''t anticipated. She wondered if they hadn''t helped the Mu family and acted prematurely, they might not have found them in time. Because of this, the outcome had slightly deviated, and Qin Xiansheng still had a breath left. This might be their last chance, and it was precisely due to the foresight of her Heavenly Eye that they had this final opportunity.


    Thus, she must find the true dragon vein and make sure Qin Xiansheng survives.


    An hour later, both Black Cat and Baihu arrived. Seeing Qin Xiansheng lying on the bed, Baihu''s black eyes instantly moistened. It tilted its head, seemingly asking what had happened.


    Gu Qin explained the situation in a hoarse voice. The general roared and turned to rush out.


    "Come back!" Gu Qin shouted. "You can''t defeat him now. And without absolute certainty of killing him, if he returns, your family, Qin Xiansheng''s sect, and friends will all be targeted for retaliation. I can''t bear it, so we need a foolproof plan. Therefore, our current priority is not to seek him out, but to find a way to save Qin Xiansheng."


    The general turned to look at her, his eyes filled with confusion, as if asking if Qin Xiansheng could be cured.


    Gu Qin whispered, "Yes, I have an idea. You and I will go to a place. Black Cat will stay behind to guard your family. If we succeed, Qin Xiansheng might be saved."


    The general nuzzled her hand.


    Gu Qin quickly found a spot rich in spiritual energy and set up an array, ensuring common venomous snakes and beasts wouldn''t approach. Actually, with the general guarding, she wasn''t worried at all.


    Of course, she didn''t think a place rich in spiritual energy...


    ...would not suffice for her needs. She needed to find the true dragon vein, where the aura was unparalleled and could potentially save Qin Xiansheng. She had only a few days left before Wanshi Yan completed his preparations, and she needed to find the answer within that time.


    Guang Bei''s gaze fell on the yinshou (negative spirit beast), and she said with a smile, "Thank you very much. After this is over, I will tell you the location."


    The yinshou was surprised, "You... You really found the location of the dragon vein?"


    "How could that be..." Wan Shuyan was struck by lightning, his face filled with shock. But even if she had found the dragon vein, it wouldn''t save Shu Shu. Shu Shu''s body was just an ordinary person without any cultivation. Over the years, it was already against the natural order to keep her alive and preserve her appearance. Even if they found the dragon vein, it would not be able to repair her body.


    Guang Bei turned around, "Wan Shuyan, today is your end." She had once regarded him as Qin Xian Sheng''s junior brother and even considered him a friend, but now things had come to this.


    Wan Shuyan sneered, "If you want to kill me, then kill me. Today, it is simply because my skills are inferior to yours." He no longer had the ability to resist. Whether it was Guang Bei, his senior brother, or that white tiger yinshou, their cultivation levels were all above his, leaving him powerless to resist.


    Guang Bei''s Li¨²gu¨¡ng (a magical weapon) was aimed at Wan Shuyan''s throat.


    Seeing that he was about to stab him in the throat, the elevator door suddenly opened, and Ren Shushu walked out from inside. She shouted, "Don''t..." She stumbled over and knelt down beside Qin Xiansheng, hugging his legs tightly as she cried, "Senior Brother, please, spare Second Brother. He did all these things for me. If I die, Second Brother will no longer do such things..."


    "Don''t you dare come out!" Wan Suyan roared. "Who let you come? Go away! Get out of here!" He couldn¡¯t bear to watch her die now. If he died, at least she would still live for a few more months.


    Ren Shushu shook her head. "It¡¯s all my fault. If it weren¡¯t for me, Senior Brother wouldn¡¯t have made such mistakes. If I die, maybe you can turn over a new leaf..."


    Gu Qin said coldly, "Even if you die, he must still die. All the sins he committed for you, do you really think they can be wiped clean just because you die? Have you not seen how he has hurt others for your sake? If you truly feel guilty, why don¡¯t you end your own life? Or is it that you don¡¯t want to die at all? You¡¯d rather sacrifice other people¡¯s lives for yours!"


    "I... I..." Ren Shushu¡¯s face turned deathly pale, unable to speak.


    "Enough!" Wan Suyan shouted. "Why torment her?"


    Piercing through Wan Suyan''s throat, a ray of light stabbed him. Gu Qin said coldly, "Shut up! Take care of yourself first."


    "Don''t!" Ren Shushu screamed. "Miss Gu, please spare him. If I die, he won¡¯t bother you anymore, won¡¯t ask for your body, and won¡¯t cause trouble for the Gu family."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    But Gu Qin remained silent, as if she had no interest in further conversation. The ray of light pierced Wan Suyan¡¯s throat, sending dense Yin energy into his body.


    Blood gushed from Wan Suyan¡¯s throat as he stared at Gu Qin with intense hatred, his gaze finally falling on Ren Shushu.


    "Don¡¯t, don¡¯t..." Ren Shushu¡¯s face was as pale as paper. She crawled towards Wan Suyan, trying to cover his wound, but the blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing. Due to the invasion of Yin energy, her body became unbearably cold, and her skin started to darken.


    Cheng Yinxiang had already taken the children inside, leaving only Lu Qingrong at the door.


    "Senior Brother, Senior Brother..." Ren Shushu cried pitifully, watching as Wan Suyan died before her eyes. Unable to bear the grief, she collapsed onto him.


    Qin Xiansheng checked his breath. "He¡¯s dead."


    Ren Shushu, who was already in poor health, was almost exhausted. The sudden shock caused her to die suddenly.


    Finally, it was over. Gu Qin looked at the two corpses on the ground, her lips pressed tight without a word.


    Qin Xiansheng threw two fire talismans onto the bodies, which soon caught fire. He then muttered a spell to prevent the smell from spreading.


    Wan Suyan¡¯s body still contained a Yin beast. Without the container, the Yin beast could not survive. Furthermore, extracting the Yin beast from the body was extremely difficult. Qin Xiansheng had only managed to extract General due to a lucky find of the Dragon Stone.


    The corpses burned quickly. With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind swept away everything, leaving nothing behind.


    Everything was over.


    "Qin Qin..." Cheng Yinxiang came out holding Lu Tang. As soon as she spoke, tears streamed down her face.


    "Mama," Gu Qin said, feeling deeply pained. She took Lu Tang, who was chubby and very cute. Gu Qin kissed her cheek softly. "Does Tang Tang remember me?"


    Three years ago, the little one didn¡¯t remember anything. He shook his head and looked at Gu Qin several times before suddenly extending his chubby hands to hug her. "Are you my sister?"


    "Yes, I am your sister." Gu Qin shed tears. After three years, she was finally reunited with her family. It was wonderful.


    Several people entered the house. The dragon couldn¡¯t enter but squeezed its huge head through the window.


    Only Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng could see the dragon.


    Cheng Yinxiang asked her daughter where she had been for the past three years. Gu Qin briefly recounted what happened, naturally omitting the hardships she endured. During the first year of searching for the Dragon Vein, she barely ate or slept, often waking up abruptly from short naps due to her worries.


    Fortunately, everything had passed, and everything was well.


    Hearing there was something protecting them, Lu Qingrong looked around. Gu Qin smiled and said, "Uncle Lu, do you want to meet it?"


    Lu Qingrong nodded. Gu Qin muttered a spell and waved her hand in front of him. He saw the dragon¡¯s head blocking the window and was startled, even though he was prepared.


    Gu Qin quickly said, "Uncle Lu, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s fine."


    The dragon¡¯s head moved and asked Gu Qin, "Where is the Dragon Vein? I¡¯ve been here for three years. Now that everything is resolved, I should leave."


    Gu Qin went over and gently stroked the dragon¡¯s head. "Thank you. I¡¯ll tell you where the Dragon Vein is. I hope you achieve enlightenment soon."


    After Gu Qin gave the specific coordinates, the dragon nodded and thanked her before leaving through the window. The young dragon without horns swam away in the clouds.


    Lu Qingrong also approached the window and watched the legendary dragon swimming in the clouds, his awe uncontainable.


    The family talked for a long time. Lu Qingrong shared the situation at home over the past three years and the people who helped the Gu family. Gu Qin felt touched. Her efforts were not in vain; those she had helped extended their support when the Gu family faced difficulties.


    That evening, Cheng Yinxiang booked a banquet at a hotel. Gu Jia returned from work. Over the past three years, Gu Jia had worked hard in the company, and his fianc¨¦e Yi Xiaozhu had provided much assistance. Even when the Gu family nearly went bankrupt, she stayed by his side, comforting and caring for him.


    Now that Gu Qin was back, the family was incredibly happy. They had dinner together and then rested. Qin Xiansheng stayed in Gu Qin¡¯s room. After so many events, the family felt that it was enough that they were safe and sound. Since they were both back, it was time to consider getting married.


    Yi Xiaozhu and Gu Jia had already registered their marriage. Due to the Gu family¡¯s difficulties over the past three years, they hadn¡¯t held a wedding ceremony. With Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng safely back, they planned to hold the wedding.


    Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng lay in bed. Qin Xiansheng hugged her from behind and kissed her neck and back. After a while, he said hoarsely, "Qin Qin, thank you."


    Gu Qin turned around and kissed his lips. "As long as Big Brother Qin is safe and sound."


    Qin Xiansheng kissed her again. "Qin Qin, let¡¯s get married."


    Gu Qin nodded. "After Big Brother¡¯s wedding, it will be ours. Big Brother mentioned that they might hold the wedding next month. We can set the date now. I¡¯ll send out invitations to thank everyone."


    "Good, I¡¯ll go with you," Qin Xiansheng said.


    Over the next month, they were quite busy. Gu Jia and Yi Xiaozhu¡¯s wedding was scheduled for a month later, and theirs would be after spring.


    During this period, apart from sending invitations, Gu Qin visited Mount Dai to thank the friends who had helped the Gu family. She played in Mount Dai for a few days, then returned to Beijing and thanked many people. Finally, she went to Mu Family.


    This time, the Mu family had helped a lot, including Kong Xiaoyue, who had returned from abroad. She had changed significantly, losing the aggressive aura, appearing reborn, and becoming much gentler. She started calling Qin Xiansheng and Gu Qin "Big Brother Qin" and "Sister-in-law."


    Knowing she had genuinely changed, both were pleased. Not only that, the Kong family and Mu Jingjuan were grateful to the two for helping Xiaoyue, who might have become someone else without their intervention.


    Moreover, Kong Xiaoyue had met a boyfriend during her studies abroad, a Chinese student who had helped her a lot. It was because of him that she completely changed.


    After Gu Jia¡¯s wedding, Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng didn¡¯t have any urgent matters and traveled around the country. They also went to see the young dragon, which seemed deeply engrossed in cultivation and showed no reaction to the outside world. They didn¡¯t disturb it and left.


    Regarding cultivation, they didn¡¯t plan to rush it. It was a necessity back then, but Gu Qin now intended to take it as it comes. Moreover, reaching the Great Void realm meant enduring a heavenly tribulation and ascending to immortality, leaving this world for another place. In truth, she had too many attachments: family, relatives, friends. She didn¡¯t want to reach the Great Void realm now and would continue to cultivate without using the Dragon Vein, staying with her family until they grew old.


    Over the next few months, Gu Qin and Qin Xiansheng traveled around the world. When they returned, the wedding date was less than half a month away.


    Everything was arranged, and the hotel and custom-made wedding dress were ready. Gu Qin tried on the dress to check if any adjustments were needed.


    In half a month, makeup artists arrived early in the morning to prepare Gu Qin. Once the makeup was done and she put on the pristine white wedding dress, she felt a sense of dizziness. Through her past and present life, she had found her true love and the most important family and friends. This was the perfect and complete ending.


    After finishing the makeup, the artist left. Cheng Yinxiang entered, holding her daughter¡¯s hand, with countless words unspoken, and finally kissed her forehead.


    At ten o''clock, Qin Xiansheng came to pick her up. He carried Gu Qin to the car and arrived at the church. Under the witness of all relatives and friends, Baihu and Heibao stood guard on either side of the couple.


    "Qin Xiansheng, do you take Gu Qin as your wife, to become one with her, to love her, comfort her, respect her, and protect her? Whether she is sick or healthy, rich or poor, will you remain faithful to her until the end of your life?"


    "I do."


    "Gu Qin, do you take Qin Xiansheng as your husband, to become one with him, to love him, comfort him, respect him, and protect him? Whether he is sick or healthy, rich or poor, will you remain faithful to him until the end of your life?"


    "I do."


    (The End)