Chapter 60
Note: Early chapter release, thanks to Sakuradahl's support on Ko-Fi
Apart from the man holding the sword, everyone else in the room was amazed by the stunning beauty.
They originally thought that just one glance at the painting would be worth living for. But when the person in the painting actually began to move and step out, they realized that this person was a walking masterpiece amongst mortals. His every move, every frown, and smile captivated people's minds, making them sink into infatuation.
The reason the man holding the long sword remained calm even with such beauty in his arms, was simply because he could not see him!
Despite being blessed with various magical artifacts, Su Yao couldn't help feeling a faint jealousy rising from the bottom of his heart when he saw the beauty in red snuggling affectionately with the tall figure.
Initially, the sultry ghost in red wrapped his arms around the man's neck, but when he got a clear look at his face, he quickly withdrew his hand. The expression on his face turned cold; only leaving his ethereal and pleasant voice echoing in the man's ear: “Sir, this little peach tree just gained spiritual awareness and can't discern good from evil. It bore fruit solely for me. I haven't eaten any of these fruits, so you can take all of them, just spare the life of the little tree, please."
As the sultry ghost spoke, he brought out a handful of rosy, chubby peaches from who knows where.
The pink, tender baby peach tree was excitedly babbling and trying to reach out for an embrace since it first saw the beauty. But, it was firmly held by the man in front of it, unable to break free. Angrily, it left bite-marks and drool all over the man's hand.
When it saw its hard-earned peaches that it bore for the beauty, being given away, the little peach tree became even angrier. It desperately tried to break free to defend its fruits, but it was stopped by a mere glance from the beauty.
Immediately, the little peach tree wilted. It looked very wronged, with teary eyes fixed on the beauty, hoping to be comforted.
Mu Cai felt overwhelmed by the tender baby peach tree.
At such a crucial moment, when its life was being held in someone else's hands, the little guy had no sense of crisis at all! Instead, it was obsessed with the peaches it had produced. However, this was understandable. Just now, when it was dragged out, its head was almost chopped off, yet it still dared to bite people. Truly a case of a newborn calf not fearing the tiger!
But while the little peach tree was brave, Mu Cai could not dismiss the situation lightly. According to the information given by the system, the seemingly blind man before him was the male lead of this script, Qin Zhongjin. Also, he belonged to Qin family, known for their lineage of exorcists, and was revered as the elderly ancestor by the Qin family. He was the only person in the world currently possessing the "Heavenly Eye".
Qin Zhongjin's demon extermination skills were profound. Not only the small peach tree, even Mu Cai – a ghost that had been trapped in a painting for hundreds of years – could disappear from this world without a trace if he was careless around him.
After speaking, Mu Cai, holding a peach, saw that Qin Zhongjin in front of him hadn't spoken for a long time. He was standing in front of him as silent as a mountain, his hand gripping the small peach tree remained tight.
It seemed that these peaches were not enough to save the life of the little peach tree, Qin Zhongjin likely wanted to raise the stakes.
Apart from the painting where he resided, having only three scenes, Mu Cai had nothing else he could offer, so he had to ask: "Is there anything else you desire, Sir? Feel free to speak it out, anything within my reach, I will strive to fulfill it."
Only then did Qin Zhongjin open his precious mouth. His deep voice echoed in the room, "My yard is missing a peach tree.”
Mu Cai understood. Qin Zhongjin wanted to take away the little peach tree and plant it in his courtyard for his formation.
According to the original plot, this little peach tree was not an object from within the painting, but a peach tree seed that followed the soul of the original owner into this painting. Peachwood had the power of warding off evil, being a symbol of positive energy. However, after staying with Mu Cai for a long time, the little peach tree was deprived of sunlight and unable to absorb positive energy. As a consequence, it began to absorb energy in another way and ended up becoming harmful.
The little peach tree had already gained spiritual wisdom. If it could follow Qin Zhongjin and receive proper guidance, its future prospects would be significantly better than staying with Mu Cai.
Most importantly, this would ensure the survival of the little peach tree. Although Mu Cai was reluctant to interfere with its growth, if he didn't do so now, the tree might lose its life entirely.
The beautiful ghost in the red dress nodded decisively: "It's the little peach tree's fate to follow Sir. I hope you will take care of it."
Before Qin Zhongjin could reply, the little peach tree, gripped tightly by someone, burst into tears. It rubbed its eyes with its short chubby arms, crying hiccups shaking the small leaves on its head. It sobbed and whimpered, "Wu... Don't want to go! Don't want to go! Wu wu... Want... Want Cai Cai..."
At this moment, Mu Cai felt both a headache and heartache.
Even when he frowned, he looked stunning. His slender figure and shimmering eyes, gazing at the baby peach tree, were simply heartbreaking.
Su Yao couldn't help but step forward involuntarily: "Esteemed senior, I see that this child has some bad karma on him but shows no signs of killing intent. It's probably because he is still young and ignorant that he has made mistakes. A little guidance should suffice - there's no need to force them to part. If you're in need of a peach tree, I happen to have some seeds..."
Upon hearing this, the man across turned to face Su Yao. Only then did Su Yao see a red sword-like pattern flashing between the other's brows. Despite Qin Zhongjin's closed eyes, Su Yao felt as if he had just been scrutinized thoroughly by him.
Qin Zhongjin said, "So you are the descendant of Su Lianzhou."
Su Yao immediately fell silent.
This person, who looked to be in his early twenties and extraordinarily mature and stable, actually knew his grandfather and called him by his name!
Who the heck was he?!
Qin Zhongjin continued, "You are correct in your analysis. However, you need to understand that your friend's current state is due to the negative karma of this peach tree."
Su Yao glanced at Director Jin, who was being restrained by Uncle Zhang in the corner. In just one week, the formerly rotund Director Jin had now become as thin as a skeleton, eyes bulging out, cheeks sunken, and his hands were like sharp claws, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a skeleton.
But even in this horrifying state, his gaze was still tightly locked onto the beauty in red.
Su Yao was at a loss for words.
The piercing gaze of this human-shaped skeleton made Mu Cai shiver, and he couldn't help but recoil into the arms of the person next to him.
Qin Zhongjin accurately tightened his grip around his waist. Even without any overt display of emotion or movement, his mere presence was overwhelming to both Zhang Jianjun and General Jin on the floor, causing them to involuntarily step back.
He continued, "That being said, this little peach tree is young and innocent. All it did was regularly absorb a small amount of positive energy from another person. This wouldn't have any significant effect on an ordinarily healthy person. The real culprit who ruined him was himself — he got too obsessed with superficial beauty, stopped eating, drinking, sleeping. His willpower was far too weak."
Su Yao: "..."
Zhang Jianjun: "..."
In this moment, the two of them silently looked at the red-clothed beauty and simultaneously thought the same thing:
Talking nonsense without a care in the world!
Upon hearing this, Mu Cai had a sudden epiphany. Suppressing his excitement, he asked, "If that's the case, sir, as you've said, this whole situation doesn't really involve the peach tree all too much. Would you perhaps be able..."
Qin Zhongjin calmly interrupted, "The last owner of this painting was a rich merchant from Yongdi, who has already turned to dust."
Mu Cai fell silent.
Unaware of the days and nights passing in the painting, he didn't know that a life had been taken because of it. In this matter, it seemed he truly didn't have a say.
Qin Zhongjin said, "I must take this peach tree back for discipline. However..."
Given his previous behavior of either keeping silent or speaking concisely, his sudden pause made Mu Cai unable to resist asking, "However what?"
Qin Zhongjin, as composed as ever, replied, "However, it's not a task for one person to educate a child, as you can see, it's very attached to you. You'll have to come back with me."
Zhang Jianjun: "..."
No matter how Zhang Jianjun listened to this, something seemed off. Why did this conversation feel so familiar?
Suddenly, a snicker echoed around them.
The audience watched as the red-clothed beauty, his hair as dark as spilt ink and his slender neck resembling a swan's, lifted his head high. His eyes, filled to the brim with disdain and defiance, he taunts, "You're still the same... what if I say no?"
The first part of his sentence was nearly a whisper, but the latter part felt like it was forced out of his chest, his countenance tinged with a hint of ferocity.
A beauty getting fierce — his eyebrows furrowed like far-off mountains, eyes wide and filled with shooting stars, and his neat teeth biting down on his crimson lower lip. Even this simple expression had people utterly captivated.
There was no trace of the terror of a malicious ghost. On the contrary, such a vivid expression on his face made his delicate features seem to glow, utterly impossible to ignore.
Qin Zhongjin paused.
He held up the pudgy little doll in his hand, and solemnly declared, "Your Cai Cai doesn't want you anymore."
The little peach tree froze, and the crying which had just stopped began anew. Teardrops as large as beans rolled down its cottony cheeks. Its chubby small hands reached out towards Mu Cai, crying out in a garbled voice: "Wahh... want, want Cai Cai... wah..."
Qin Zhongjin turned to Mu Cai: " I can't do anything about it, but he's going to cry."
Mu Cai: "...Despicable."
According to the original script, he was supposed to be taken away by the other party at this point. But as far as the storyline goes, the original character had some grudges with the other party a few hundred years ago, and they had spent quite a long time on it here.
Mu Cai was originally following the script, but he never expected that the protagonist could be so shameless!
Qin Zhongjin remained silent, calmly accepting the description.
Mu Cai glanced at him and said, "I can go with you, but--"
Here, he suddenly chuckled.
Slim fingers grazed the man's broad chest, his cold and soft body leaning into the other's arms. The tinkle of a jade belt and the dragging of iron chains echoed around them. An ethereal and pleasant voice, tinged with an unclear charm, whispered into the man's ear: "I want you to carry me."
After saying this, Mu Cai arched his eyebrows high, looking up at the other party.
Without any hesitation, Qin Zhongjin's hand turned and the long sword he was originally holding disappeared.
His hand opened wide, and the other end of the black chain rose into the air, landing in his hand. Qin Zhongjin pushed the pudgy doll in his other hand into Mu Cai's arms and then horizontally lifting the latter. “Keep an eye on the child. Let's get moving."
Mu Cai: "???"
This was not how it was described in the script! It was clearly stated that he would tease the other party, and the protagonist would remain unmoved!
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Author's Notes:
Zhang Jianjun touched his chin: The more I listen, the more it seems like the plot of how I pacified my wife during a quarrel by using our child as a peace offering...?
The initial outline hasn't been fully written, leaving a bit of suspense. But stopping here isn't bad either - it's quite thrilling =w=
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