Chapter 47 Yin God Tattoo ⑩·The Contract Their first encounter...

The following morning, Lan Shuyin went to the address given by Chang Jingyu as agreed.

The taxi wound its way up the mountain road, the lush greenery on both sides gradually receding. Halfway up the mountain, an ornate iron gate blocked its path. Fortunately, Chang Jingyu had given prior instructions, and the security guards allowed them to pass after verifying her identity.

After rounding the last bend, a magnificent villa suddenly came into view. It stood like a modern castle on the hillside platform, its floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall shimmering with a cool luster in the morning light, overlooking the bustling scenery of Gangzhou.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Chang Jingyu, who had been waiting on the porch, quickly came to greet her. She was wearing an elegant beige dress today, but her face looked somewhat haggard, with faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept all night.

"Sister, you're here." Chang Jingyu forced a smile, took Lan Shuyin's arm and walked towards the house, her voice unconsciously lowering, "I don't know what happened, but several groups of guests suddenly came to the house today, it's quite lively now."

When she said the word "lively," there was no joy in her eyes, but rather an undisguised anxiety and unease, as if something unpleasant was happening in her home.

"Miss……"

As they were talking, they stepped into the high-ceilinged and magnificent foyer, where an old butler dressed in a dark gray Chinese-style stand-up collar uniform with his hair neatly combed blocked their way.

His gaze swept over Lan Shuyin, from her plain face and simple clothes to her calm eyes.

His face wore a formulaic, gentle smile. He bowed slightly to Chang Jingyu, his tone respectful yet authoritative, "Master and Grand Master are entertaining distinguished guests in the inner hall, and it's really inconvenient to disturb them at this moment. Why don't you and your friend rest for a while in the garden tea room on the side?"

Chang Jingyu hurriedly explained, "Uncle Li, this is Master Lan, whom I specially invited to treat my grandfather. She might have a solution..."

Uncle Li's expression remained unchanged, not even the curve of his smile. "Master and Grandfather are well aware of Miss's filial piety. But today we have distinguished guests, and I'm afraid your friend can't be of much help."

"Uncle Li!" Chang Jingyu grabbed the old butler's sleeve, her voice trembling with tears, her eyes instantly reddening. "Just let me take her in for one last look, just one look! What if... what if Master Lan really has a way? I beg you!"

Looking at Chang Jingyu's red eyes, Li Bo remained silent for a moment before his rigid expression finally softened slightly.

He sighed almost inaudibly and instructed, word by word, "Alright. But... once inside, please be sure to keep quiet and don't make any unnecessary noise that might disturb the distinguished guests inside."

Although these words were addressed to Chang Jingyu, his gaze was fixed on Lan Shuyin. He was clearly giving her a warning.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't say a word you shouldn't say."

...

Inside the magnificent mansion, the servants, heads bowed and eyes lowered, moved about silently and busily.

The luxurious and spacious inner hall was dimly lit, and the air was filled with a calming fragrance—a blend of top-quality agarwood and several soothing herbs. The aroma was rich and lingering, but it could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere in the room.

Old Master Chang leaned against layers of brocade pillows, his body thin and his face ashen. An oxygen tube was inserted under his nose, and an IV needle was stuck in the back of his withered hand. His weak breathing was almost imperceptible.

The few people standing around the bed created a delicate and tense atmosphere.

Chang Jingyu's father, Chang Yanbo, stood at the head of the bed, his face anxious and uncertain. The elderly man with vertical pupils from Mangshantang, known as "Immortal Chang," sat beside him with his eyes closed, as if in deep meditation.

Fang Huan stood in the shadows a little distance away, his lips pressed into a pale line, his eyes lowered, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.

On the other side of the window, Wei Li leaned leisurely against the closed window frame, his posture calm and serene, completely out of place with the solemnity around him.

On a velvet sofa not far away, Wang Kui and two other special bureau personnel, dressed in civilian clothes, sat seemingly casually, but their eyes repeatedly scrutinized the Chang family members and another figure, filled with distrust.

That figure was striking. He stood alone against the wall, completely wrapped in a black cloak, his face mostly obscured by a thick mask, revealing only a pair of downcast, sinister eyes. Despite his best efforts to conceal his presence, Lan Shuyin recognized him almost instantly—Yao Huaiyu.

Before Chang Jingyu and Lan Shuyin stepped in, the people in the room were locked in a silent standoff, wary of each other, not communicating, and strangely sharing the room.

Sensing the subtle and strange atmosphere, Chang Jingyu subconsciously gripped Lan Shuyin's arm, hesitating to move forward.

Lan Shuyin gently patted the back of her hand, her gaze sweeping over the strange crowd in the room before finally meeting that of the handsome young man by the window.

Kui Li met her gaze, blinked almost imperceptibly, and a faint smile curved his lips.

"Jingyu?" Chang Yanbo was slightly surprised to see his daughter bring in a stranger, and then displeasure rose up. "Didn't we say that the elders are discussing serious matters? How can you be so ill-mannered? Take your friend out!"

Chang Jingyu bit her lip hard and stubbornly raised her chin, "I'm here to bring the master to treat my grandfather!"

"Nonsense!" Chang Yanbo's face darkened, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "Get out!"

“Hey—” Chang Xian, who was sitting to the side, slowly raised his hand to stop Chang Yanbo.

His vertical pupils swept over Lan Shuyin, and his voice was old and calm, "Since you're already here, let's keep you here for now. It would be better if the young lady caused a commotion outside, which would be unsightly."

Upon hearing this, Chang Yanbo immediately suppressed his anger and respectfully replied, "Yes, I will obey Master Sheng." He then glared at his daughter, gave her a wink to his side, and gestured for her to come over.

Chang Jingyu pretended not to notice her father's meaningful look, and nervously clutched Lan Shuyin's sleeve, her voice extremely low, "Sister, it seems my eyes can only see those things that day. Now, is there a ghost in this house...?"

Lan Shuyin shook her head.

The room was filled with a mixture of energy, but there were no obvious ghostly creatures. The most unusual presence, however, was none other than Chang Xian himself, who was known as "Master Sheng".

However, Chang Yanbo's rebuke was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly breaking the already taut string in the air.

"Ten minutes have passed," Wang Kui suddenly said coldly. "You should give me an answer by now."

"This matter concerns the great path of life and death, how can it be treated lightly?" Chang Xian's withered fingers tapped lightly on the rosewood armrest, his vertical pupils gleaming with a ghostly light. "Old Master Chang's fate is already predetermined. Forcibly preserving his life is already going against the will of Heaven, and he must pay the corresponding price. This is the cycle of cause and effect, which cannot be easily changed by human power."

Wang Kui said calmly, "Chang Xian, do you really think the Special Bureau knows nothing about what you've done all these years? You planted a life-giving foundation for Old Master Chang and seized his spiritual veins, using other people's lives to extend his lifespan—a life that should have ended at thirty, but you forcibly extended it to this day. The karmic debts you bear are already countless."

"Article 7 of the Provisional Regulations on the Management of Special Affairs clearly stipulates that any form of spiritual trafficking and illegal life extension is prohibited. Now, as long as you tell us what we want to know, all the past transgressions can be wiped clean—"

Her cold gaze swept over Chang Yanbo, whose face was pale, and even over the unusually silent Yao Huaiyu, before finally settling on Chang Xian's face.

"Wasn't this deal worth it?"

Chang Xian slowly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing in his vertical pupils. "Ignorant child, how dare you presume to discuss Yin and Yang? Every sip and every bite is preordained. To force the lamp to burn out, one must use the lives of others as fuel—this is the most fundamental law of heaven and earth, how can you so easily shake it?"

Wang Kui sneered, "But as far as we know, there was indeed a secret technique in this world that truly touched the source. It was not about prolonging life through feng shui arrangements or spirit sacrifices, but a kind of ancient Taoist and witchcraft incantation that could bind the underworld, forcibly change the Book of Fate, and even command the God of Death to do its bidding, achieving true life extension without harm or calamity."

She emphasized the words "no loss, no calamity" very heavily.

"Absurd!" Chang Xian's voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous rage. "Binding the Underworld? Commanding the God of Death? Do you think the Netherworld is your backyard? Forcibly using such a heaven-defying technique will offend the laws of the world, and you will never be able to be reincarnated!"

"So, this is why you dare not use such Taoist sorcery on Old Master Chang?" Wang Kui's tone was calm, yet every word was piercing. "Immortal Chang, do you really think the Special Bureau is unaware of these secrets? Our seniors have personally witnessed someone using such abilities. If the records are accurate, that person came from the Feng Zhi family of Qiangquan. And you—"

She paused deliberately, observing Chang Xian's sudden change in expression, before slowly uttering the most crucial sentence, "You were once a spirit python kept by the Feng Zhi family head. How could you not know such a secret?"

"You—!" Chang Xian's withered body trembled violently, and his vertical pupils suddenly shrank to slits. The calm aura around him instantly became dangerous and violent, as if the deepest old wounds had been torn open.

But he quickly suppressed his surging emotions, his voice unusually hoarse, "You can't reason with a damned ghost. If you insist on seeking death, I won't stop you. But I'll tell you, the person who used this forbidden technique back then ultimately met a terrible end—he was left with a disfigured face and no trace of his body."

After he finished speaking, there was a deathly silence in the air.

Lan Shuyin was deeply shaken.

She finally understood the root cause of today's bizarre situation.

This has long since transcended simple medical treatment or pursuit; it involves ancient secrets, power struggles, and even deeper matters.

She subconsciously held her breath, her gaze involuntarily drifting towards Wei Li by the window.

Kui Li had stood up straight without anyone noticing, no longer in that lazy, leaning posture.

The faint smile that usually graced his face, a smile that seemed to know everything yet remain indifferent, vanished without a trace.

His eyes were slightly lowered, his long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them, making it impossible to discern his emotions. But the tightly pursed lips and the taut curve of his jaw revealed an unusual solemnity and… loneliness?

He was no longer a detached bystander.

This subtle change was more alarming than Chang Xian's fury, which was so intense it threatened to tear the roof off.

Wang Kui remained silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Chang Xian, we must get our hands on that spell."

Chang Xian closed his eyes, waved his hand as if brushing away something dirty, "Then let's do it later. I'll go to the Special Bureau myself." His voice was hoarse, with a resigned compromise, "Now, please leave. The old man needs to rest."

That's considered an agreement.

Wang Kui gave him a deep look, as if trying to determine the truthfulness of his words. After a moment, she turned around decisively. "Let's go."

After the three from the Special Bureau left, the suffocating atmosphere in the air eased slightly.

Chang Yanbo then cautiously looked at Chang Xian and tentatively asked, "Master Sheng, does such a domineering spell truly exist in this world? It can actually bind the underworld, forcibly alter the Book of Fate, and even... command the Grim Reaper?"

Chang Xian slowly opened his eyes. The mania in his vertical pupils had been replaced by a deep weariness, and there was even a hint of fear in them.

"Any technique that attempts to forcibly control Yin and Yang and shake fate will come at a price far beyond your imagination." His voice was deep, each word carrying a warning. "Do you think you've summoned a Grim Reaper who obeys your commands?"

He let out a very soft, almost mocking laugh.

"Perhaps what you kidnapped wasn't a soul-reaper at all, but some kind of colder, more absolute being. It doesn't represent death, but the 'rules' themselves."

When asked again, Chang Xian said no more, but simply told Chang Jingyu, "Baby, the adults have important things to do now. Take your friends out."

Chang Jingyu pulled Lan Shuyin along the corridor, and only when they entered the garden on the side of the villa and were bathed in the warm sunlight did she feel as if she could finally catch her breath.

Sunlight filtered through the lush foliage, casting dappled patterns on the neatly trimmed lawn. The roses in the flowerbeds were in full bloom, their vibrant energy slightly dispelling the gloom that had hung over the room.

"I'm so sorry, sister." Chang Jingyu turned around, her face filled with guilt, but her eyes shone with an astonishing light. "I never expected it to be like this... They, they actually wanted to kidnap Death? That's insane!"

Lan Shuyin gazed at her quietly.

This girl seems to possess a remarkable mental resilience. Having just experienced such a harrowing scene, she was able to adjust so quickly, accepting and processing that mind-blowing information. Although her focus has strayed from the main point.

In comparison, his own shock just now seemed rather unsettling.

"It's nothing." Lan Shuyin shook her head gently. Her purpose for coming here was not simple to begin with, so she took the opportunity to steer the conversation in a more practical direction, "By the way, is Wu Yang also a student at Hong Kong University?"

“Wu Yang?” Chang Jingyu couldn’t help but purse her lips at the mention of him. “Why would he need to go to university? He graduated from a prestigious foreign university a long time ago. His father and my father are old friends; we practically grew up together.”

Her tone carried a hint of habitual complaint, "That's just how he is. He's never been able to stay still since he was little, always running around the world, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. This time his return was particularly sudden, and then out of nowhere he said he wanted to join our adventure club. Who knows what he's thinking..."

Chang Jingyu casually flicked the leaves of the bushes beside her, then suddenly remembered something. With a teasing and gossipy expression, she leaned closer to Lan Shuyin and said, "Sister, you seem to know him quite well? You even call him 'Wu Yang' directly?"

"Hmm?" Lan Shuyin was slightly taken aback. "Isn't his name Wu Yang?"

“His name is indeed ‘Wu Yang’,” Chang Jingyu blinked, her tone becoming somewhat subtle. “But his surname is Jiang, Jiang Wu Yang. Usually, only elders in the family, or very close friends, would call him by his name so directly…”

Chang Jingyu said something else, with the unique associations and teasing about intimate relationships that are characteristic of a young girl, but those voices seemed to be instantly blocked by an invisible barrier.

In Lan Shuyin's ears, only that crystal-clear sentence echoed repeatedly—

His surname is Jiang, and his name is Jiang Wuyang.