Forcefully Doting On You - v3c11

 

Chapter 67

In the spacious hall on the first floor, there was an atmosphere of subtle tension. It was already autumn, but Yandi was located in the southern region, where the heat was still intense.

The air conditioner was on inside the villa, but Mr. Zhang Rongfa's chubby face was still covered in sweat. He greeted the Heavenly Masters sitting on the leather sofa with a flattering smile on his face.

A woman with her hair tied up and wearing a simple Taoist robe took a sip of the tea placed in front of her. Although she had an ordinary appearance, her movements were elegant, and her demeanor was transcendent, like someone from a different world. However, when she put down her tea cup, her words were very worldly: "Mr. Zhang, you've called us all here and had us waiting for such a long time. What is your intention? Do you know how much business and money you've caused us to lose?"

Zhang Rongfa quickly apologized with a smile, "Master Li Kun, please don't be angry. I assure you all that I will compensate for the time I've wasted."

Upon hearing this, everyone's displeased expressions lightened up a bit. Although their livelihood involved dealing with ghosts and spirits, they were still ordinary people living in the secular world. They needed money for food and clothing. Moreover, being a Heavenly Master was a high-risk profession, and without seeking more financial gain, they couldn't justify their efforts.

Everyone had been waiting for a long time and was dissatisfied, but they simply didn't want to bring it up directly. Now that someone had taken the lead in voicing their concerns and securing their interests, they were naturally delighted.

Seeing that the woman's anger had subsided and her satisfaction had surfaced, Zhang Rongfa was finally relieved and wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief from his pocket.

However, his relief came too soon. The bespectacled man sitting opposite Master Li Kun flashed a light at everyone from behind his glasses. His face was pleasant, and he was smiling, but the question he asked was rather pointed, "Mr. Zhang, your generosity is our fortune. But there's something I, Chen, am not quite clear about. You have invited Elder Yang, the most respected and esteemed individual in the Jiangnan region. Can the person you invited be superior to Elder Yang?"

At the end of the bespectacled man's statement, the attention of the Heavenly Masters on the leather sofa subtly shifted towards the head seats.

An aged man, who was seated in the center of the couch with a white beard, a face marked by lines of age, and a stern expression, responded with a heavy "hmm".

In the world of the Heavenly Masters, due to differing heritage and sect divisions, it is often taboo for one patron to simultaneously invite several masters for a meeting. Just like Mrs. Li Kun and the bespectacled man, for instance. Li Kun is from Erseng Taoist Temple, adhering to strict religious rules in lifestyle, practicing the ancient lineage regarded as the most orthodox among the many Taoist sects. He is not one to readily divine fortunes, let alone advocate for it.

On the other hand, the bespectacled man hails from a longstanding family of Heavenly Masters, known for their more open practices. Having received education abroad, he has fused Western mysticism with his family's traditional teachings, creating a mixed eastern-western methodology.

Should these two be invited to perform rites together, the scene would be hard to imagine; a chaotic mix of talismans flying in exorcism and even potential fights between the two. Overall, with the plethora of sects and mutual discord in the current world of Heavenly Masters, seeing colleagues could incite rivalry. It's only because Zhang Rongfa offered a high price that the open conflict was suppressed and covert.

But there is one unspoken taboo in the world of the Heavenly Masters, "kings do not meet kings." Just like how a renowned Heavenly Master from the northeast would avoid taking on cases from the southwest to prevent potential clashes with the local masters.

Elder Yang is the most authoritative grandmaster in the Jiangnan area. However, even with his arrival, Zhang Rongfa didn't express any intentions of convening the meeting immediately. This indicates that Zhang Rongfa invited another heavy hitter.

This fact greatly displeased Elder Yang. His invitation was not enough; another invitation was made, this indicates that Zhang Rongfa didn't trust him, he didn't respect his ability! Yang Dechang felt his authority being challenged and while he was angry, he chose to bide his time to find out who this arrogant youth had also invited.

Sweat trickled down Zhang Rongfa's forehead, he forced a smile. Just as he was about to say something to placate Elder Yang, his phone rang in his pocket. Seeing it was his assistant, who had been sent to pick up the guest, he immediately answered the call.

Still present, the Heavenly Masters watched as the pudgy middle-aged man answered the phone and murmured a few phrases like "They've arrived? Alright, I'm coming!" He then quickly rose, bowed slightly towards them as an apology, and headed towards the door, exposing the urgency in his expressions.

A skinny man with a bony face and protruding chin then sarcastically remarked, "I wonder who they've invited with all this fuss."

Although the bony-faced man had some reputation, he was still not a powerful Heavenly Master. He was invited by Zhang Rongfa's assistant and seeing Zhang Rongfa personally going to meet the guest incited some jealousy which led him to speak sourly.

He made this comment hoping for others to join the conversation, but no one responded. After all, among the Heavenly Masters sitting on the sofa, only Elder Yang had been personally ushered in by Zhang Rongfa. The others had been brought in by assistants of varying ranks.

The bony-faced man had solicited no response and so, he shut his mouth awkwardly.

________________________

When Qin Zhongjin stepped out of the car, Zhang Rongfa was already waiting at the entrance.

The weather was clear today, and it was midday when the sun was at its peak, causing Zhang Rongfa to break out in a sweat. He was eagerly waiting for Elder Qin from the capital, but he saw two young men get out of the black sedan.

One walked behind, carrying a small case, while the other walked ahead, with eyes closed yet moving without any hindrance. There was a bright red sword mark between his eyebrows, and he wore a black iron ring on his wrist. He held a scroll in his hand, and despite wearing black Tang clothing in this hot weather, he didn't seem to be sweating, exuding an air of nobility.

Zhang Rongfa was dumbfounded, exchanging a glance with his assistant before stepping forward to ask the young man with closed eyes, "Are you... Elder Qin?"

He had received the news that this man was part of Elder Qin's party, but he appeared far too young. Wasn't Elder Qin supposed to be over ninety years old?!

Qin Zhongjin continued walking, replying, "Yes."

His voice was low and cold, sending a shiver down Zhang Rongfa's spine, even in this hot weather. He dared not say more and could only follow behind.

Upon entering the mansion's courtyard, Qin Zhongjin immediately commented on the central pond, "A Triple Yang wealth-gathering formation?"

Zhang Rongfa quickly put on a smile, saying, "Elder Qin has a good eye... and is truly amazing! I had this specifically designed by someone, who claimed it would bring a continuous flow of wealth to me."

Su Yao, who carried his own tool case, followed behind Qin Zhongjin, only noticing the central pond upon hearing the exchange. The pond was quite large, and glancing inside, he could see several fish with tails as black as their red bodies, likely koi being raised there.

A few meters away from the pond, three peach trees were planted. The trees, already past their blooming period and seemingly having most of their peaches picked, were tall and strong.

The imaginary line connecting the three peach trees formed an equilateral triangle, standing in a tripod arrangement, encircling the central pond. This was the so-called Triple Yang wealth-gathering formation, considered a superior method in wealth-attracting formations.

Upon hearing Zhang Rongfa's words, Qin Zhongjin didn't react but continued walking. Zhang Rongfa couldn't continue the conversation and could only awkwardly keep his mouth shut.

However, Su Yao was curiously looking around. This was his first time visiting as a Heavenly Master, hence his inexperience—he wouldn't have noticed the formations had Qin Zhongjin not pointed them out. Now, having a second look at the courtyard, he realized it was filled with many hidden elements.

Many small details, even a handful of grass or a miniature rock mountain, were carefully arranged according to formation principles. And without exceptions, all these formations were wealth-attracting.

Su Yao couldn't help but comment internally—just how greedy was Mr. Zhang to have so many of these formations designed and implemented? But the axiom of the extremes meet—moderation is the key to sustain. With so many wealth-attracting formations placed together, should there be any changes in the house or any overlooked aspects, these could all become potential hazards.

However, after looking at Zhang Rongfa, he realized that the latter must have disregarded the designer's advice during the planning process. Although Su Yao didn't possess the divine sight like Qin Zhongjin, he could discern the moral aura emanating from individuals.

At first glance, he noticed that Mr. Zhang was entwined with numerous negative deeds, his soul faintly darkened. It was likely that while this man was wealthy, he hadn't always earned his money in an upright way, probably overlooking the possible consequences in the pursuit of wealth.

The people in the living room, who had been craning their necks waiting for a while, finally saw Zhang Rongfa return with the guests. They all hurriedly glanced over, seeing a very young man among the guests, who surprisingly had his eyes closed with a bright red mark between his eyebrows.

Qin Zhongjin was well aware that many people were observing him. Still, he remained undisturbed, calmly accepting everyone's gaze.

He didn't often descend from the mountains and mostly resided in the capital city. The households he usually visited belonged to the rich and powerful to an indescribable extent; thus, very few had seen the famous Qin Laozu from the world of Heavenly Masters. Nonetheless, faced with so many people, Qin Zhongjin showed no signs of nervousness.

The man with the monkey cheeks was the first to lose patience, "Is this... a blind man? A blind Heavenly Master is quite rare, and even fewer are famous. Even among those famous ones, none can compare to Yang Laozu..."

As he muttered to himself, Yang Dechang's expression deteriorated. Had this person invited a mere child? Or was there something more to this child?

Yang Dechang subtly glanced at the black iron ring on the other man's hand and the scroll in his grasp. He rose, leaning on his cane, and solemnly inquired, "This humble one is Yang Dechang, may I know this young friend's name?"

"Qin Zhongjin," Qin Zhongjin succinctly replied.

Everyone in the direction of the leather sofa widened their eyes in disbelief.

They hadn't misheard, right? Qin Zhongjin?! Wasn't he the only one in the world who had opened the heavenly eye and seldom left the mountains? Wasn't he already a ninety-year-old man?!

Yang Dechang almost fumbled his cane. The latter was older than him. What did he just call Qin Zhongjin? A young friend?!

Meanwhile, Mu Cai, who resided in a painting, held the little peach tree that had insisted on coming with him and observed this scene through a skylight specifically opened by Qin Zhongjin. He couldn't help but marvel at how fitting the scene was for a leading character like Qin Zhongjin.

The renowned Heavenly Master made an impressive entrance, with a bearing and appearance several degrees more exceptional than the others, leaving a group of lesser Heavenly Masters' jaws dropped!

Qin Zhongjin was reluctant to leave Mu Cai alone at home. More importantly, he wanted to be with Mu Cai at all times. Therefore, he persuaded Mu Cai to accompany him to Yongdi.

Qin had initially prepared himself for a lengthy persuasion, but Mu Cai agreed almost immediately to accompany him. Delighted, Qin Zhongjin quickly began making arrangements to bring Mu Cai along.

Since Mu Cai, a beautiful ghost, wore peculiar attire, it wasn't appropriate for him to appear in public. Qin Zhongjin attentively added a few soft cushions to the painting's courtyard for Mu Cai to sit more comfortably. Knowing that Mu Cai couldn't eat or drink regularly, Qin Zhongjin added a kitten to the painting to keep him entertained on their journey.

Qin Zhongjin even installed a skylight in the painting, allowing Mu Cai to observe the outside world. He even wore a matching black iron ring with Mu Cai so they could communicate directly.

Unfortunately, Mu Cai hadn't spoken to him during the entire journey.

Qin Zhongjin's mood darkened when he thought about this. Turning to Zhang Rongfa, he coldly asked, "What exactly happened?"

Zhang Rongfa, who had gone through great lengths to invite the Venerable Qin, dared not neglect him. Paying no heed to the astonished Heavenly Masters nearby, Zhang immediately explained, "Recently, objects in our house have been mysteriously moving from their original positions. The maids and family members all claim they haven't touched them. Moreover, my wife and daughter say they can hear voices from time to time. My mother was in good health before, but a few days ago, she suddenly complained of stomach pain. Now her belly has swelled significantly, and even the hospital hasn't been able to help."

Zhang Rongfa was sweating profusely and took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his sweat. He muttered to himself, "It's been so hot lately, I've been constantly sweating. On the bright side, I've lost some weight."

Mu Cai looked through the skylight and saw a small embroidered heart on the corner of the handkerchief held by the chubby man with big ears.

Qin Zhongjin listened to what Zhang Rongfa had said without any expression and continued, "Let's go and see your father first."

Zhang Rongfa quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, please follow me, Master Qin."

In doing so, he almost completely ignored the other Heavenly Masters present. However, no one seemed to have any objections, and they all followed Qin Zhongjin up the stairs.

The group ascended the red-carpeted staircase, following Zhang Rongfa through the dimly lit corridor. Before they even reached their destination, they could hear angry shouting from inside the room:

"You trash! Are you trying to scald me to death when the water is so hot! You vicious woman, I will let Rongfa divorce you tomorrow and let you sleep on the street!"

Suddenly, there was a sound of heavy objects hitting the door, and the sound of cups and saucers breaking. Zhang Rongfa hurried over to open the door, and a thin, withered-looking woman stumbled out.

Zhang Rongfa roughly pushed her and scolded angrily, "How dare you take care of my mother like this? I provide you with food and drink, and even though you can't bear me a son, you can't even do this simple task?!"

The woman fell to the ground, and Zhang Rongfa didn't even glance at her as he ran into the room. From inside, there was a scream that could shake the ceiling: "Rongfa! My son! That wicked woman wants to kill me again, drive her out! Out!"

As the scream echoed, a cup and saucer flew out from the room, aiming straight at the woman on the ground.

Everyone else was quite a distance from the door except for Zhang Rongfa, who had run over, and no one could help her. Just as the cup and saucer were about to land on the woman's head and add another wound to her already frail body, the scroll in Qin Zhongjin's hand suddenly shone brightly.

In the blink of an eye, a red figure appeared in front of the woman.

She had given up on trying to escape and instinctively covered her head with her thin, bony arms. However, the expected pain didn't come. When she opened her eyes and slowly looked up, she saw a beauty in red clothing standing in front of her.

The beauty had long ink-like hair and eyes that were stunningly beautiful, shining like the stars in the sky. He held the thrown cup and saucer in one hand, and his lips curled into a charming smile. The warmth in his eyes, similar to a spring breeze, was enough to bring someone to tears.

The woman looked at him, momentarily forgetting where she was and the circumstances she was in. All sounds faded away like the tide, and the whole world seemed to consist of only the person before her. She unwittingly sank into his smile, oblivious to everything else.

It was as if he was a beam of light, illuminating her entire gray world at this very moment.

A pale, delicate hand reached out to her, and a gentle, pleasant voice sounded in her ear:

"It's alright, come on, let me help you up."

Author's Note: 

Qin Zhongjin: "My wife heroically saved someone. I'm worried about what will happen if she offers herself in gratitude."

Assistant: "... Sir, that person is already in their forties, a withered, motherly figure. Can you please not be irrationally jealous?"

Qin Zhongjin, looking serious, replied, "But I'm already over ninety years old. I still want to enjoy some 'young grass'."

Assistant: "..."

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