Chapter 45: The Schemer Gets Outschemed

Wen Mingrui didn't accompany Zhu Shian all the way to Guangzhou—he only saw her onto the plane before leaving. He said he needed to personally invite that master from Chongqing to Zhenshan County.

"Master Zhu, don't worry. We have people waiting for you at the Guangzhou airport."

"Thank you."

The cabin door closed. It was Zhu Shian's first time on a plane, and she had been feeling quite novelty about it. The aircraft they were on was a military cargo plane with no windows. Once the cabin door shut, it became pitch black, and after takeoff, the cabin grew extremely cold.

The comrade sitting on the small stool across from them pulled two army coats from the supplies box behind him and handed them to Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan: "Put these on quickly. You'll warm up once you have them on."

After thanking him, Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan wrapped an army coat over their cotton-padded clothes before feeling slightly warmer.

From the darkness across from her, a young man spoke in accented Mandarin that Zhu Shian could only half understand: "Guangzhou is贼拉暖和—super warm. You won't need the cotton coat after you land."

Zhu Lan engaged him in conversation: "You guys go to Guangzhou often?"

"Not that often. It depends on the organization's arrangements." The man asked Zhu Lan: "Sister, what are you two going to Guangzhou for?"

"We don't know. We follow arrangements too."

"Ah, that's how work is. We have to listen to command."

The cabin was cold and noisy. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhu Lan stopped talking. Everyone huddled in their coats, eyes closed, resting.

Inside her wide sleeve, Zhu Shian closed her eyes and slowly calculated. This trip was auspicious.

After an unknown amount of time, half-asleep and half-awake, Zhu Shian felt her ears going numb from the noise when the cabin suddenly lurched forward. Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan, unprepared, nearly fell off their small stools.

"We're landing, sister. We're here."

They arrived in Guangzhou at night. Zhu Shian didn't feel well—her head hurt. Getting off the plane, she saw Ye Dan and two male comrades standing in front of a car. Ye Dan hurried over when she spotted her.

"Master Zhu, hello. It's been a while."

Zhu Shian smiled and nodded: "How have you been lately?"

Ye Dan laughed: "Thank you for asking. I'm doing well."

Ye Dan quickly introduced the other two people present, saying: "This is Nie Lei, captain of the National Security Investigation Department, and this is cultural relics expert Professor Gong Qihua. The leadership sent the three of us to assist with your work."

After examining Nie Lei and Professor Gong's faces, Zhu Shian said: "You're too polite. I don't understand matters here. As for how to arrange the trip to Port City, you decide. I'll do my best to cooperate."

Ye Dan looked at Nie Lei. Nie Lei stepped forward and said in a low voice: "If Master Zhu doesn't mind, I'll coordinate and command this operation."

"I don't mind."

Nie Lei checked his watch and said: "Master Zhu, you've had a hard journey, but we can't rest yet. We must go to Port City now. We'll make further arrangements once we arrive. What do you think?"

Zhu Shian had no objections.

Zhu Shian introduced Zhu Lan to the three people: "This is my family member, Zhu Lan."

Zhu Lan greeted the three people naturally.

Nie Lei said: "It's late. Let's go now."

Ye Dan said: "Wait a moment."

Nie Lei asked: "What's the matter?"

Ye Dan pointed at Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan, smiling: "Let Master Zhu change into some proper clothes first."

Zhu Lan unbuttoned her cotton coat—it was getting warm.

Ye Dan had brought Zhu Shian two sets of clothes suitable for this region. She had originally thought Master Zhu might want to choose, but now it was perfect—Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan each got a set.

There were empty rooms in the terminal building not far away. Ye Dan took them to change, and then they prepared to depart.

The vehicle they brought was a military jeep. Nie Lei drove, Professor Gong sat in the passenger seat, and Zhu Shian, Zhu Lan, and Ye Dan sat in the back.

The car left the airport heading for the wharf.

The young man who had chatted with Zhu Lan on the plane watched them drive away and said: "Captain, those two sisters look like high-ranking officials. Not ordinary."

His captain patted his head: "Stop talking nonsense and help unload the cargo."

In the car heading to the wharf, Ye Dan handed Zhu Shian a folder with the latest information and said: "Our colleagues from the National Security Investigation Group found that a batch of cultural relics that recently left the country are in Ye Facai's hands. We've tried to contact him, but he seems to know why we're looking for him and completely refuses to respond. Moreover, he's transferred some of the relics from the warehouse to his hillside villa under his name."

Ye Dan handed Zhu Lan a flashlight and turned it on, smiling: "Could you hold this for me?"

By the light of Zhu Lan's flashlight, Zhu Shian flipped to Ye Facai's information. Staring at his photo, she studied it carefully and said: "This person's forehead is narrow, his triangular eyes press down covering his pupils, his eyeballs are exposed, his cheekbones spread outward, and his jawbone turns outward. Looking at his face, he's an extremely ambitious, unscrupulous, and treacherous person. Unless you can offer him a benefit he can't refuse, contacting him is useless."

Ye Dan sighed: "Ye Facai rose through organized crime. He had a protective umbrella in the Port City police force's upper ranks. Five years ago, when Port City established the Independent Commission Against Corruption, they knocked out his protective umbrella. Over the past few years, he's been whitening his business through donations, road repairs, supporting education, and other means to build a positive image. We thought perhaps—"

Zhu Shian held up the photo toward the light and asked Ye Dan: "Is this a recent photo?"

"Yes, recent."

"He owes too many life debts. His luck has run its course. It's too late to start making amends now." Zhu Shian said with certainty: "He must have used Xuan Sect methods to cover his fate. Otherwise, he should have died violently on the street long ago."

"Have you found out who helped him change his fate?"

Ye Dan looked at Zhu Shian with admiration: "A master lives in Ye Facai's hillside villa. That master should be the one who changed Ye Facai's fate. Our people haven't found specific information on this master, only that the wealthy circle calls him Yimu Dashi. Ye Facai came from a rough background and never touched cultural relic businesses before. We suspect that his sudden involvement in cultural relic Magic Implement business must be related to this master."

One member of the investigation group was from the Action Team. A few days ago, he detected Yin spirit aura leaking from the villa's door. He said that if he faced that master, he would definitely not be a match, which is why he requested backup from headquarters.

Soon they arrived at the wharf. A speedboat was waiting for them.

Ye Dan boarded first, then turned back to help Zhu Shian. Everyone got on and found their seats. The boat sped toward Port City.

On the Port City side, Niu Wang from the National Security Investigation Group and Chen Anbei, the contact person from Hong Kong, were waiting for Nie Lei and the others arriving today.

Niu Wang lit a cigarette for Chen Anbei. Facing the night wind, he took a deep drag, then turned to Chen Anbei and tilted his chin up: "Your direct supervisor still scolding you these days?"

Chen Anbei shrugged indifferently: "Let him scold. It's not like he hasn't scolded me before. It'll pass in a few days."

Chen Anbei was a police officer. He joined the police force in 1972, right when corrupt cops were at their most rampant. Police openly collected protection fees from illegal establishments and ordinary shops in their jurisdictions. Besides that, other money-making methods were endless. Back then, police were more like cop-gangs.

Later, after the Independent Commission Against Corruption was established in 1974, police corruption improved somewhat, but the long-standing corruption didn't disappear immediately. Now, four or five years later, protection fee collection still exists, just through more covert means.

Chen Anbei strongly disapproved of the police not acting like police and criminals not acting like criminals. He never participated in the under-the-table dealings his colleagues in the police force engaged in. Occasionally, when he saw them going too far, he would intervene. Because of this, Chen Anbei was very unpopular in the police force.

Corruption and贪污 were systemic. The money these kinds of police officers embezzled was层层上缴—passed up through layers internally. Chen Anbei's direct supervisor also got a share. Not only did Chen Anbei not fit in, but he also caused trouble. Being scolded by his supervisor was his own fault.

A few days ago, a noodle shop in Chen Anbei's jurisdiction accidentally offended someone in the police force. Because the owner didn't recognize the plainclothes police officer and asked for payment for the noodles, he was targeted. Police officers came to cause trouble at the shop three times daily. Not only did they make it impossible for the shop to stay open, but they also pursued relentlessly, appearing determined to destroy the family completely.

Chen Anbei couldn't stand by and helped. His supervisor berated him severely, calling him a rotten apple.

Niu Wang laughed: "You don't know, do you? Your supervisor has a lover. That lover's younger brother took a fancy to the shop and wanted to get it for free. That's why all that trouble happened. You're bold, offending your supervisor like that. Do you want your life?"

"It's not like before. They won't dare be so obvious. At most they'll scold me a few times."

Niu Wang finished his cigarette and spoke seriously: "You should still be careful. You only have one life. Cherish it more."

Chen Anbei said: "Your work is much more dangerous than mine. You have time to advise me, why not advise yourself?"

Niu Wang shook his head: "I'm different from you. I have brothers behind me whom I can trust with my life. When I charge forward, I'm not afraid of someone shooting me in the back."

That really hit home. Chen Anbei was silent for a moment before asking Niu Wang: "Do you think I could join your unit?"

"You're already one of us. Why would you need to join?"

Chen Anbei irritably smiled: "You know that's not what I mean."

Niu Wang was from Guangzhou. He came to Port City through illegal means. To gather information, he constantly moved among all walks of life. Niu Wang met Chen Anbei after he offended someone and got beaten up. Niu Wang saw he seemed like a good person and casually saved him.

Later, the two gradually got familiar. After Chen Anbei learned what Niu Wang did, he also joined the organization.

Chen Anbei asked Niu Wang: "You've been in Port City for about ten years now, right? Don't you want to go back?"

"I want to, but I'm more useful staying here." Niu Wang looked at him and said: "If you want to go to the other side, I'll write you a recommendation letter."

Chen Anbei thought about it and shook his head: "I grew up here since childhood. I'm used to it."

Even if he didn't like it here, it was where he was born and raised. For a moment he wanted to escape, but it was only a moment.

If he could stay, he would continue staying.

Hearing the speedboat cutting through waves, both looked toward where the boat was coming from.

A few minutes later, the boat docked. Nie Lei threw a rope to the shore. Niu Wang and Chen Anbei pulled the rope and tied it to a post. Nie Lei stepped over the gunwale and jumped ashore, asking: "How's the situation?"

"There was no movement in or out of Ye's hillside villa today. The items should still be in the villa. The wharf warehouse is also normal."

Professor Gong, Ye Dan, Zhu Shian, and Zhu Lan got off the boat one after another. Professor Gong urgently asked: "Are the cultural relics safe?"

"Ye Family's warehouse is guarded and patrolled twenty-four hours a day. The hillside villa is the same. The relics should be safe."

"Where is Ye Facai?"

"Ye Facai went to the hillside villa tonight. The villa has increased security with bodyguards patrolling. Our people outside can't see inside the villa."

"Keep close surveillance. I'll go check the situation later."

"Yes."

By this time it was past midnight. Zhu Shian had left early in the morning and traveled all day, exhausted. Nie Lei was going to handle business. He arranged Niu Wang and Chen Anbei to take Zhu Shian and the others to rest.

After arranging personnel, Nie Lei said: "Master Zhu, wait for me. We'll discuss in detail when I return."

Zhu Shian nodded.

Chen Anbei hadn't carefully looked at the three women who came with Nie Lei earlier. He thought they were Niu Wang's colleagues from the mainland. Only when he heard Nie Lei address her as "Master Zhu" did he carefully examine Zhu Shian.

Young, beautiful, with a temperament like a fairy. He had never seen this type of beauty in Port City.

But was this little girl really a master?

Niu Wang patted Chen Anbei's shoulder and said: "I'll drive. You sit in the front. If we get stopped by police, you help handle it."

Chen Anbei nodded. No problem.

When Chen Anbei looked at Zhu Shian, Zhu Shian was also examining him. She saw his forehead was dark, two horizontal lines piercing his Life Palace, and he was surrounded by gloom. It was the face of a major disaster approaching.

Zhu Shian didn't speak rashly. After getting in the car, Zhu Shian listened to Ye Dan talking with Niu Wang and Chen Anbei. When Chen Anbei turned around, Zhu Shian directly saw the black Qi on him and asked: "Sir, do you believe in fate?"

Chen Anbei hesitated and said: "I suppose I do."

Zhu Shian gave him a Peace Talisman: "Keep it close to your body. It might save your life."

Chen Anbei didn't refuse Zhu Shian's offer and smiled as he took it: "Then thank you, Master Zhu."

Zhu Shian looked at him and said: "Avoid places near water lately."

Chen Anbei smiled: "That might be difficult. We're surrounded by water on all sides here."

"I'm not joking with you. Believe it or not is up to you." After saying this, Zhu Shian didn't speak further.

Chen Anbei didn't take it seriously, but Niu Wang immediately thought about the troublesome matter Chen Anbei had recently encountered. This kid wouldn't have really offended his supervisor severely, would he? Was the supervisor going to throw him into the sea to feed the fish?

Niu Wang's expression darkened.

The accommodation Niu Wang arranged for Zhu Shian and the others was in a public housing unit. The small house had several bunk beds. When Ye Dan took Zhu Shian there, there were also two women in their forties or fifties sleeping in the room.

Ye Dan lowered her voice: "Many people come and go here every day. It's a mixed crowd. Even if strangers appear, there's no particular attention. It's suitable for us to conceal our identities."

Zhu Shian made a sound of acknowledgment and asked where the washing area was before going to freshen up. After cleaning herself, she found a bed and slept.

Zhu Lan slept on the bunk above Zhu Shian. If she sat up even slightly, she would hit the ceiling. She lay down, turned over, and also fell asleep.

Niu Wang also lived in a nearby public housing unit. After delivering the others, Chen Anbei wanted to go home. Niu Wang wouldn't let him, asking him to stay and squeeze in for the night.

Chen Anbei smiled: "Brother, are you really worried I'll drive the car into the sea and drown?"

"Aren't you tired at night? It's this late, why go home? Hurry and lie down and sleep. You have to go to work early tomorrow morning." Niu Wang pushed him toward the washing area: "Hurry, don't waste time."

Chen Anbei couldn't win against him, so he took a new toothbrush from Niu Wang and went to freshen up.

When a person is truly tired, they can sleep anywhere. Zhu Shian slept deeply. If the two women in her room hadn't gotten up and woken her, she could have continued sleeping.

Zhu Shian sat up. One of the women smiled and complimented Zhu Shian: "Who's this girl? Fair skin, black and shiny hair. She really is pretty."

The woman spoke Mandarin, which Zhu Shian understood. She smiled politely.

Over there, Ye Dan was talking with another woman in Cantonese, which Zhu Shian couldn't understand.

After a while, Ye Dan came over and said: "Aunt Chen said she works at the Seafood Restaurant on the street in front. The restaurant's owner has the same surname as you—also Zhu."

Zhu Lan poked her head out from the upper bunk: "What a coincidence. Are there many Zhu families in Port City?"

Ye Dan laughed: "Very few. That's why Aunt Chen found it surprising."

Aunt Chen spoke Mandarin to Zhu Lan: "Most Port City residents' ancestral homes are from Guangdong, so surnames are quite concentrated. The top five surnames are Chen, Lin, Huang, Li, and Zhang. The Zhu surname is very rare."

The woman who had complimented Zhu Shian's looks was Aunt Lin. Aunt Lin said: "The Seafood Restaurant where Aunt Chen works used to be very popular, and the food was delicious. If you have time, go take a look. Have a meal."

"What does 'used to be very popular' mean? Is it not good now?" Zhu Lan asked.

"Yes. The restaurant owner had a stroke at the end of last year. Now his son manages the restaurant. Business hasn't been as good these past few months."

Aunt Chen said: "If the restaurant business collapses, I'll have to quit this job and find another popular restaurant to work at."

Aunt Chen and Aunt Lin, like Niu Wang, were from National Security. They worked and lived in Port City like locals, and gathering information was incidental.

Ye Dan said: "If we have time, we'll definitely go take a look."

Aunt Chen and Aunt Lin were rushing to work. After chatting for a while, they packed up and left.

Ye Dan went out to buy breakfast. During this time, Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan also got up and freshened up.

When Ye Dan came back with breakfast, she brought a message: "Nie Lei says now is not a good time for action. Please wait, Master Zhu."

"Is there a new development?"

"Everything is normal at the warehouse. The hillside villa is a bit unusual. Our colleagues in the investigation group are still observing."

Zhu Shian nodded: "I'll follow your arrangements."

There was nothing to do today. After breakfast, Zhu Shian read a book about formations for a while. It was almost noon when Ye Dan said she would take Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan out for lunch.

Zhu Lan hesitated: "Eating out must be expensive. Why don't we buy food and cook ourselves?"

"Don't worry. The organization approved activity funds for us. We can afford one meal." Ye Dan asked: "What do you two want to eat?"

Zhu Shian didn't care what they ate. Zhu Lan said: "How about we eat at the Seafood Restaurant where Aunt Chen works?"

"Good. Aunt Chen said it's on the street in front, so it shouldn't be far. Let's walk."

The three walked and asked along the way and soon found the Seafood Restaurant where Aunt Chen worked. Ye Dan looked at the restaurant across the street with people queuing to eat, then at the Seafood Restaurant whose main hall wasn't even full. The business really was not good.

Zhu Shian was also looking at the restaurant across the street. The pair of stone lions opposite the restaurant were wrong. They were clearly inanimate objects, but the stone-carved eyeballs were emitting Sha Qi, which was directed straight at the Seafood Restaurant's entrance.

Zhu Shian walked through the Seafood Restaurant's entrance and immediately saw a pot of money bamboo placed on the right side at the bright wealth position by the door. The bamboo had yellow leaves, the water was foul, and there was a rotting smell.

What a coincidence. The Seafood Restaurant's bright wealth position and that pair of stone lions across the street emitting Sha Qi formed a diagonal. It wasn't hard to see who was afflicting whom.

Zhu Zhenshan, the owner of the Seafood Restaurant, was checking the accounts at the counter. Seeing guests enter, he hurried to greet them: "Please come in and sit, all three of you. What would you like to eat?"

Ye Dan took the menu and looked at it with Zhu Lan. Zhu Lan pointed at a dish and said to Ye Dan: "What do you think of this one?"

Hearing them speak Mandarin, he also spoke Mandarin: "Our restaurant's fish and shrimp are all fresh. They're all very delicious when cooked."

Zhu Zhenshan's Mandarin had an accent from Zhenshan County. Zhu Shian found his appearance familiar, especially the shape of his nose—high, straight, and narrow. Many Zhu family members had such a nose.

"I heard you surname Zhu? Where's your ancestral home?"

"I surname Zhu. My hometown is in the mountains—a remote small place." Zhu Zhenshan casually answered and waited for them to order.

Most people would stop at such small talk, but Zhu Shian pressed on: "Which specific place?"

Only then did Zhu Zhenshan turn to examine Zhu Shian. Seeing her, he found her face familiar and was willing to say more: "Zhenshan. My grandfather's generation came to Port City. After I was born, my father named me Zhu Zhenshan to commemorate our hometown."

Ye Dan and Zhu Lan stopped looking at the menu upon hearing this and stared at Zhu Zhenshan. Zhu Lan also noticed his nose at this moment: "My goodness. What a coincidence. Could you be from the same family as us?"

Zhu Zhenshan didn't understand what she meant. Ye Dan said: "Boss, these two also surname Zhu, from Zhenshan County at the border of Sichuan and Guizhou."

Zhu Zhenshan was surprised: "There can't be such a coincidence."

Zhu Lan quickly asked: "What are your father and grandfather's names? Do you remember your great-grandfather's name?"

"My father is Zhu Chunquan. My grandfather is Zhu Fuliang. I'm not sure about my great-grandfather."

Zhu Lan said: "That's not right. The Zhu family generation characters are in order: Yongguang Xiande, Zhi Zhi Yannian, Fushou Changkang. Your grandfather followed the family generation characters. How is it that you and your father don't have generation characters?"

"My grandfather said that when he joined the army and left his hometown to go elsewhere, he later married my grandmother. After moving through several places, they finally settled in Port City. I've heard the family mention generation characters, but I'm not clear about the naming matter."

After Zhu Lan finished explaining the generation characters, Zhu Zhenshan confirmed that he had indeed encountered his old hometown people.

Zhu Zhenshan didn't wait for them to order. He said: "Don't order. I'll order a few of the restaurant's signature dishes for you. Today's my treat."

"Okay, you treat. I'll give you a gift later."

Zhu Zhenshan smiled and didn't take Zhu Shian's words seriously.

After the dishes came, Zhu Zhenshan came to keep them company. When Zhu Shian was half-full, she asked about family matters: "I heard your father had a stroke?"

Zhu Zhenshan sighed: "Yes, more than three months ago. We've seen both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine doctors. No improvement."

"Take us to see your father later."

Zhu Zhenshan smiled happily: "That would be wonderful. My father will be very happy to see you."

Zhu Zhenshan's house was on the street behind the Seafood Restaurant. It took a few minutes to walk there. When Zhu Shian and the others arrived at Zhu Zhenshan's home, his mother Zhang Xiafei was giving his father water to drink.

"Zhenshan, are these your friends?"

"Mom, these aren't my friends. They're my father's old hometown people."

Zhu Chunquan roused himself and turned to look at Zhu Shian, making a whimpering sound. Everyone couldn't understand what he was saying.

Zhu Shian sat in the chair in front of his bed and said: "Let me feel your pulse."

As soon as Zhu Shian touched his pulse, she knew he hadn't actually had a stroke. He had been harmed by the Feng Shui setup across the street. She said to Zhu Zhenshan: "I brought Golden Needle. If you agree, I can give your father acupuncture once. It might have an effect."

What? She looked so young. Was she capable? Don't make his father worse.

Zhu Zhenshan was still hesitating. His father Zhu Chunquan made louder whimpering sounds, excited to the point that saliva was flowing out.

"Dad, don't be anxious. Be careful not to choke on your saliva." Zhu Zhenshan hurried over and took a handkerchief to wipe his father's mouth.

Ye Dan said: "Let Master Zhu give your father acupuncture. Since you're Zhu family, you must know—the Zhu family has practiced medicine for generations. Their medical skills are very powerful."

Zhu Lan said: "In the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine examination, our family's eldest daughter came in first."

Zhang Xiafei saw her husband was so excited. She turned to Zhu Shian and said: "I agree.辛苦您帮我丈夫扎一回针吧—I'm sorry to trouble you to give my husband acupuncture once."

Zhu Shian came to offer medical treatment voluntarily, entirely because they were fellow Zhu family members. She said: "Then let's prepare and begin."

As mentioned, Zhu Chunquan didn't truly have a stroke. He had been schemed against. When Zhu Shian performed acupuncture, she used Spiritual Energy to stimulate his meridians through acupuncture. One needle inserted, a slow stream of cold Qi emerged from the acupuncture point.

After completing the entire Positive Yang Evil-Removing Needle technique, the Yang Qi in Zhu Chunquan's body started circulating. Soon, he broke into a fine sweat. Gurgling sounds came from his mouth, and suddenly he uttered a clear word: "Hot."

Zhang Xiafei and Zhu Zhenshan hurried to the bedside. Zhu Zhenshan quickly asked: "Dad, Dad, you just said hot? Say it again?"

"I... hot."

He said another word. Zhu Zhenshan was overjoyed: "Dad, your old hometown people are really amazing!"

Zhu Shian and the others were still there. Zhang Xiafei gave her son a slap to remind him: "What do you mean your dad's old hometown people? They're also your old hometown people. Don't forget you also surname Zhu."

Zhu Zhenshan laughed loudly: "Yes, yes, my old hometown people. My mistake. I'm just too happy."

Zhu Shian didn't say much. Seeing it was enough, she removed the needles and said: "This set of acupuncture is enough. You've been lying in bed for so long. Practice slowly on your own. You'll recover gradually."

Zhu Chunquan said: "Okay."

Only then did Zhu Shian tell them about the restaurant across the street setting up a Feng Shui formation to harm them: "Not all Feng Shui formations are good. This kind that harms people will sooner or later face backlash."

Zhu Zhenshan was angry: "I knew it. My father's health was always good. The day before his stroke, he was still cooking in the kitchen. How could he suddenly become so ill?"

"Your father's Eight Characters must have been taken, right?" Otherwise it wouldn't be so precise.

Zhu Chunquan himself wasn't sure.

Zhu Shian gave the three of them Peace Talismans: "Since we're family, as the head of the family, I always wish you peace and health."

Zhu Zhenshan didn't expect Zhu Shian, so young, to be the Zhu family head. Zhu Chunquan wasn't surprised. When he was little, he heard his father mention that the Zhu family selected their family head in a very special way. Today he witnessed what his father meant by special.

Zhu Shian didn't stay long at their house. Returning to the Seafood Restaurant, Zhu Shian told Zhu Zhenshan to replace the money bamboo with a new green plant. She placed a yellow Talisman under the new plant's pot.

"Let's go take a look across the street."

There were still customers queuing at the restaurant across the street. Zhu Shian and Zhu Lan walked to the opposite side of the street. In the distance, Zhu Zhenshan watched Zhu Shian pull something from the gap in the stone lion across the street.

When Zhu Shian returned, he saw a piece of blood-stained yellow paper in her palm. The yellow paper had his father's name and birth date."

Zhu Zhenshan was so angry he wanted to go fight someone. Zhu Lan stopped him: "Don't get agitated first. Listen to what our eldest daughter says."

She lit the yellow Talisman and burned it. Zhu Shian said: "Wait. Wait for them to come beg you."

Zhu Zhenshan wanted to ask the reason, but Zhu Shian didn't explain. She said: "Just do as I say."

It had been so long. It was getting late. Zhu Shian should return.

Zhu Zhenshan walked them to the door. Aunt Chen suddenly appeared from somewhere and asked: "Young boss, is Master Zhu really from your family?"

"Yes, Aunt Chen. How did you know?"

Aunt Chen smiled: "Your family, whenever something happens, noble people appear to turn danger into safety. What good fortune."

Zhu Zhenshan wasn't entirely convinced about Zhu Shian's breaking of the Feng Shui formation. That afternoon, the restaurant's business started improving. A few days later, the son of the restaurant owner across the street came and, the moment he saw Zhu Zhenshan, knelt and kowtowed, begging him to let their family go. Zhu Zhenshan knew it was absolutely true.

Zhu Zhenshan knew Aunt Chen knew Zhu Shian. He asked Aunt Chen to pass a message to Zhu Shian, saying he wanted to thank her and invited her to eat at the restaurant.

Aunt Chen told Zhu Zhenshan: "She left long ago."

Zhu Zhenshan regretted: "Why did she leave so quickly?"

Actually, at this time Zhu Shian was still in Port City, on the way to the Ye Family hillside villa.

The car arrived near the hillside villa. Zhu Shian leaned against the seat and rested her eyes. After it got completely dark and everyone was asleep, the car slowly drove to outside the villa.

The streetlights outside Ye Facai's villa were broken for some reason. It was pitch black everywhere, nothing could be seen clearly. But Zhu Shian's eyes clearly saw Yin Qi and Resentful Qi seeping from the villa's doors and windows, even denser than in the Mountain Valley behind Zhenshan County.

Such heavy Resent Qi—how many fierce ghosts were hidden in this villa?

"Master Zhu, how is it?"

Zhu Shian took out the Peach Wood Sword she carried with her and held the Soul-Suppressing Handbell. As she walked toward the villa, she said: "All of you retreat far away. Don't come over."

"We can follow behind to assist you."

"No. You'll only hold me back."

Zhu Lan quickly called out: "Eldest daughter."

Zhu Shian said: "You retreat with them too."

Niu Wang asked Nie Lei: "How far should we retreat?"

Ye Dan said: "Retreat from this street."

Ye Dan knew Zhu Shian's abilities. She said to Nie Lei: "The people secretly watching the villa have all withdrawn. Be quick."

Nie Lei took out a bird whistle and blew twice. The people secretly surrounding the villa immediately left.

Chen Anbei was also there tonight. He retreated with Niu Wang to the street corner and said: "It's strange. Ye Facai has always valued his life. Even if he doesn't live in his house, there are many subordinates guarding it. Why is there no one outside the villa today?"

Niu Wang stared at the villa and said: "It's not that there's no one. A few days ago, the bodyguards outside the villa were called inside. None have come out since."

"The bodyguards are all inside? Then can the Master Zhu you invited defeat them?"

"Of course a human can't defeat them. But if they become ghosts, Master Zhu can wave her hand and blast them to nothingness."

The speaker was a Xuan Sect person specially transferred from the Action Team. He grinned: "Yesterday I pretended to be a gardener and entered the villa's backyard. Through the window in the backyard, I saw a pile of corpses—pieces here, pieces there. Two had their heads severed, and three were split in half. Tsk."

Chen Anbei was instantly terrified, his whole body covered in goosebumps. How could someone say such things and still laugh?

Zhu Shian kicked the door open and walked in. A pile of corpses had already started decomposing. The smell of rotting flesh lingered at the tip of her nose. She walked two steps and found that none of the dead had Yin souls. That wasn't normal.

Zhu Shian followed the direction the Yin Qi disappeared. The Yin Qi went down the stairs. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped. Her Peach Wood Sword stabbed into empty air, and a familiar Dragon God Coiling Waist Formation appeared before her, emitting a faint light.

Ha. This thing didn't look like a dragon at all. It was clearly just a fat snake.

She slashed open the fat snake's fatal spot with one sword, then reversed and cleaved back. The formation's eye was smashed by her into two pieces.

"What high master is here!"

Zhu Shian walked down step by step. A swarm of resentful spirits suddenly rushed toward her. The Soul-Suppressing Handbell appeared, and a hundred ghosts knelt in submission.

With no resentful ghosts blocking the way, Zhu Shian could finally see the full basement. In the middle of the basement, on the altar, sat a bare-chested man. Zhu Shian had recently seen his photo—Ye Facai.

Ye Facai's body was covered with green dragon and white tiger tattoos. But what caught Zhu Shian's attention more than his tattoos were the Talismans crawling from his limbs toward his heart. Seeing this Mind Control Spell wrapped in Yin Qi and Resentful Qi, Zhu Shian suddenly smiled.

She glanced at the bald wizard staring at her: "That fat snake formation outside, and this Mind Control Spell—who taught you these? Did that idiot who taught you even understand it themselves?"

"How dare you insult our Divine Dragon Sect's sect leader!"

The wizard swung his sleeve. A ghost head rushed toward Zhu Shian with its mouth open. There were even蛊worms—poisonous insects—wriggling inside the withered ghost head. It was so disgusting that Zhu Shian wanted to close her eyes.

Zhu Shian didn't even want her Peach Wood Sword to touch this ghost head. She struck with a Five Thunders Talisman. The ghost head flew into the air and exploded. Half a skull rolled onto the altar. The man there opened his eyes and looked around: "Yimu Dashi, did it succeed?"

Yimu ignored Ye Facai. He suddenly waved the ghost banner vigorously. A hundred ghosts poured out. Before Zhu Shian could use her Talismans, she was submerged by evil ghosts. The Peach Wood Sword in her hand was wielded into an impenetrable defense. Each time she swung the Soul-Suppressing Handbell, the evil ghosts' movements slowed. Within a few breaths, she had cleared a clean space around her.

Yimu stared at Zhu Shian's Peach Wood Sword and Soul-Suppressing Handbell with greed. Good items.

"Ha. Your life, your Magic Implement—this master wants them all. Leave them here for me!"

Zhu Shian's vision suddenly went black. She felt her soul being pulled by invisible hands. Zhu Shian slightly raised her head and saw the fat snake's soul transform into a dragon claw, grabbing her soul and pulling hard outside her body. The scales that had formed on the claw stood up from the strain.

Yimu was shocked: "What's wrong with your soul?"

Zhu Shian reached out and grabbed the dragon claw in mid-air. With a fierce pull, the dragon claw's soul body exploded. Yimu spat a mouthful of blood and fell backward, lying on the ground.

Zhu Shian stepped forward quickly and stepped on him. She used her Peach Wood Sword to lift his shirt. Seeing the same Talisman as the one on Ye Facai's chest on him, she coldly asked: "Who lent you soul power?"

Black blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. Yimu bit his back molars tight and struggled to escape: "Since you know this is a Mind Control Spell, you should know that as soon as I die, the Divine Dragon Sect leader will know you killed me. Your death date is set."

Zhu Shian coldly smiled: "You know Liu Xuan, don't you? Tell me where it is."

Yimu's eyes filled with blood. His eyeballs suddenly burst. The Talisman on his heart was like sulfuric acid poured on a lump of pork, burning the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones into black charcoal.

Ye Facai was shocked. He couldn't sit still anymore. He didn't want this life-borrowing Talisman. He didn't want it!

"You thought borrowing life from the devil was so easy? Once you fall under the Mind Control Spell, you're a living corpse. The person behind tells you to do something, you do it." Zhu Shian slightly smiled: "If the person behind thinks you should die, then you must die."

Ye Facai rolled off the altar. Without the formation on the altar suppressing it, the Yin souls and Resentful Qi from the torture and life-borrowing lost control and suddenly surged toward him. His limbs and bones, his seven orifices smoked. Rolling Resentful Qi pierced his lungs and stomach. Yin Qi covered his fearful eyes. He wanted to scream for help but couldn't make a sound.

Zhu Shian shook the Soul-Suppressing Handbell. The Yin Qi stopped. Zhu Shian asked him: "Where are the cultural relics you obtained? Think carefully before answering. If you answer wrong, you die immediately."

"In the wharf warehouse. They're being shipped out today. Master, master, save me!"

"The Magic Implements are in your villa?"

Zhu Shian had checked. There was no Golden Thunder Whip she was looking for in this basement.

"Also in the warehouse. The boxes sent to the villa were all empty. Those Magic Implements are what the Divine Dragon Sect specifically asked for. I didn't dare not give them."

Ye Facai's will to survive was extremely strong. He trembled, trying to crawl toward Zhu Shian: "Master, as long as you save me, I'll listen to everything you say."

"Listen to everything? Then go pay people's debts with your life."

Zhu Shian turned around. A Five Thunders Talisman precisely hit the center of the altar. The altar exploded. The unjustly killed souls underneath rushed toward Ye Facai. Ye Facai was torn by evil ghosts, in unbearable agony, yet unable to die, only rolling in agony on the spot.

Zhu Shian walked out of the villa. Outside, it wasn't dawn yet. The Resentful Qi rising from the villa shot straight into the clouds. Suddenly, a thunderbolt struck down, and together with the thunder came a torrential downpour.

Ye Dan drove the car to the villa's entrance. Zhu Shian stepped into the car and said: "Hurry to the wharf. Ye Facai's warehouse—the cultural relics and Magic Implements are in that warehouse. He's shipping them out today."

Ye Dan quickly said: "An hour ago, Captain Nie received the news and took our people to the warehouse. How's the situation inside the villa?"

"That Ye Facai was schemed against by the master he hired. It's called borrowing life, but actually someone wanted to use his life."

"Ah, then what happened in the end?"

"They all died."

"Is that the end of it?"

For the Action Team, retrieving the Magic Implements and cultural relics was the end of it. For Zhu Shian, it wasn't. She had to find out what was behind the Divine Dragon Sect. She wanted to see if that Divine Dragon Sect leader was really Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan was once a white snake with enlightenment that resided on the mountain behind the Taiyi Sect. Because her master Li Qingfeng saw that it had ordinary talent but was single-mindedly seeking the Dao, he felt compassion and accepted it as a spiritual pet.

In those times, wild creatures that entered the Dao were called demons and evil. Xuan Sect people saw them like walking Magic Implement materials. There were many Xuan Sect people who fought fiercely to seize them.

Right. The Golden Thunder Whip her master gave to her senior brother was made from the tendons and bones of an enlightened black snake that caused havoc everywhere.

After her master accepted Liu Xuan as a spiritual pet, it soon revealed its true nature. It no longer pursued advancement and only wanted to eat and wait for death at the Taiyi Sect. Moreover, it called itself Little Master Uncle every day in front of disciples like Zhu Shian.

Initially, her master still lectured it, telling it to cultivate properly. Later, seeing it was truly hopeless, he let it be.

After the great battle between humans and demons a thousand years ago, the entire Taiyi Sect died. How did that dog thing Liu Xuan survive?

Could its meager cultivation allow it to live to a thousand years later?

Zhu Shian didn't believe it.

Zhu Shian guessed that the most likely possibility for it surviving from a thousand years ago until now was that it took some shortcut.

Unfortunately, that Yimu Dashi died too quickly, leaving her no way to know what the hell the Divine Dragon Sect leader really was.

Zhu Shian hoped the Divine Dragon Sect leader had nothing to do with Liu Xuan. But that familiar Dragon God Coiling Waist Formation, the Mind Control Spell, and senior brother's Golden Thunder Whip—all clearly indicated that everything was connected to Liu Xuan.

Zhu Shian's expression was terrifyingly cold. Ye Dan didn't dare ask more, only urging Niu Wang to drive quickly to the wharf.

When Zhu Shian and the others arrived at the wharf, it was already daylight. It looked like a fierce battle had occurred around the warehouse. Where the flashlight light shone, fresh bloodstains on the ground and bullet marks on the warehouse walls were clearly visible.

"Where are the items?" Zhu Shian asked Nie Lei as soon as she got out of the car.

Nie Lei said: "We've just loaded all the cultural relics onto the ship. Professor Gong is checking them on the ship."

"Where did the ship come from?"

"The Tan Clan's ship."

Ye Dan was surprised: "How did we get involved with the Tan Clan?"

Nie Lei smiled: "The Tan Clan rose through shipping. Among the Southeast Asian shipping giants, the Tan Clan ranks at least in the top three. It's not strange they have ships at Port City's wharf."

What Nie Lei didn't say was that the Tan Clan's power wasn't in Port City. They only started developing in Port City in the past two years, and it wasn't going smoothly.

The Tan Clan was large and powerful, but even so, they couldn't overpower the local snakes in Port City. People like Ye Facai who whitened their business through shipping, besides local power, had connections with British, Southeast Asian, and Japanese forces. People with ordinary backgrounds couldn't touch him.

Unless he brought about his own destruction.

Tan Pingzhang, the young master of the Tan Clan, sent a message to Nie Lei an hour ago, saying that Ye Facai had crossed a line. The British Governor wouldn't protect him anymore. Nie Lei and the others estimated that once Zhu Shian could handle the master behind Ye Facai, Nie Lei would immediately lead people to the wharf to seize the cultural relics.

Zhu Shian boarded the ship. She didn't look at the various sized boxes that had been pried open. She walked toward the ship's hold. When she reached a box, she said to Niu Wang behind her: "Pry this open."

"Please step aside a little."

Niu Wang found a crowbar. He pulled out the nails fixing the cabinet on all four sides, then used the crowbar to pry the cabinet open.

Zhu Shian stepped forward and rummaged through the cabinet. She found a long wooden box inside. When she opened the box, there was exactly her senior brother's Golden Thunder Whip.

The handle of the Golden Thunder Whip was engraved with the two characters "长生" (Changsheng), which was exactly her senior brother's Dao name.

Gripping the Golden Thunder Whip, Spiritual Energy condensed in her hand. She gently swung the whip. Niu Wang, Ye Dan, and the others suddenly felt like a thunderbolt exploded in the air. A sense of awe-inspiring righteousness rushed toward them.

Slaying demons and destroying ghosts, specifically countering all Yin evil in the world—the Golden Thunder Whip was that explosive. No wonder it was called the Golden Thunder Whip.

This Golden Thunder Whip had always been Liu Xuan's nemesis.

Once this Magic Implement was in her hand, it would eventually serve its purpose.

Professor Gong had roughly checked. All the cultural relics were authentic.

"Since they're authentic, let's leave now. We can sort through them slowly after returning."

"Ask someone to sail the ship. I'm afraid delays will cause trouble."

Zhu Shian naturally left on the ship. Niu Wang and Chen Anbei also didn't stay, leaving the wharf separately.

Chen Anbei was planning to take海滨路—Beach Road—and circle back to the police station. When he had driven halfway, his chest suddenly felt burning hot. He quickly stepped on the brake.

At that moment, a large truck came rushing toward him from the opposite direction. He quickly opened the door and jumped out, falling into the sea.

Chen Anbei was struggling in the sea when he suddenly remembered Master Zhu's warning: Beware water!

Chen Anbei tried to swim toward the shore. Suddenly, his leg cramped. A thought flashed through his mind: I'm done.

Splash. Someone didn't know who jumped into the sea, immediately embracing the sinking Chen Anbei and pulling him toward the surface.

The moment his face broke the surface, he instinctively took a deep breath. Returning from the edge of drowning, Chen Anbei felt incomparably fortunate.

Niu Wang cursed him: "Are you stupid? I told you to stay away from water. How dare you take this road?"

Chen Anbei didn't argue back. He was pulled ashore like a dead fish.

The car Chen Anbei had been driving was crushed flat by the big truck. It was obvious the other party was after his life.

Niu Wang patted his shoulder: "A mortal enemy. I think you should stop fighting people. Leave. While it's not dawn yet, take a boat to the other side."

Chen Anbei was a bit cold. He felt the Talisman in his chest pocket. It was empty—he couldn't feel anything. Maybe it fell into the sea.

He shivered from cold and sneezed. He looked at the dark sea, unable to see any light.

"I wonder if there's sun today?"

"There should be. Half an hour until dawn. Comrade Chen Anbei, you still have half an hour to escape."

Chen Anbei smiled slowly and stood up. It was time to leave.