Chapter 10
The rain, carrying a damp scent, pattered against the window late at night, causing the temperature to drop along with it.
Jiang Zhuochen went out after taking a nap, but Xu Xing was no longer home. He didn't know when the man had left.
When he arrived at the restaurant, in addition to Chinese breakfast items such as soy milk and steamed buns, there was also an extra small cake on his plate.
Jiang Zhuochen blinked and silently finished his breakfast, feeling a pang of heartache as he thought of the Taoist temple that had died without a trace.
This world is filled with ghostly energy, and since the master's spirit has appeared in a vengeful ghost's body, he must be dealing with ghosts. It would be too much trouble for him to search for them himself; it would be much better to open a Taoist temple and wait for people to come to him.
Not wanting to reap the benefits without effort, Jiang Zhuochen thought for a moment and then took out his phone. He had only been taken in by his master at the age of fifteen, and had only been reading and writing for three years. He couldn't even recognize all the traditional Chinese characters, let alone the simplified ones. Unable to send a text message, he made a phone call to Xu Xing.
Hearing the automated reply from the mechanical female voice inside, Jiang Zhuochen hung up the phone. He had intended to tell Xu Xing that he was out and about, but since the other party wasn't answering, he decided to leave it at that.
But he hadn't been here long, and even if he wanted to open a Taoist temple, he didn't know how to do it. After wandering around, he ended up in the city center, which he knew best.
After Zhao Li and the others found out, they enthusiastically told him a lot of things to pay attention to. Although money might be a big problem, they were willing to keep an eye out for him.
Jiang Zhuochen was about to nod in agreement when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw that the caller ID showed Xu Xing. He answered the call, and the others left without disturbing him.
Xu Xing: "My phone was on silent during the meeting. Is there something you need?"
"No." Jiang Zhuochen sat down on the sofa. "I just wanted to let you know I was coming out."
Generally speaking, in a simple cohabitation relationship, there is no need to report one's whereabouts to the other party, but Xu Xing did not say it out loud, and casually asked, "What are you going out to do?"
Jiang Zhuochen didn't think much of it and answered directly, "Li Hui was arrested, so the shop he gave me is gone. I have to open my own."
Xu Xing remembered what Li Hui had said yesterday, "A Taoist temple?"
"Oh, right."
The other person didn't reply immediately, but seemed to be whispering something to someone. Jiang Zhuochen waited patiently for a while before hearing a response.
"I'll take you there this afternoon."
Jiang Zhuochen asked in confusion, "Where are we going?"
Xu Xing explained, "The shop he gave you is with me now. I'll take you there this afternoon."
"It's with you?" Jiang Zhuochen was even more confused. "Why is it with you?"
"It's been passed to me."
Xu Xing didn't say it explicitly, but he hadn't rested since last night. Li Hui was insignificant to him, but he wouldn't pass up a windfall, and he was determined to take what he was owed before Li Hui went to jail.
Jiang Zhuochen couldn't understand the operating rules of these companies, and he couldn't get any answers no matter how much he asked, so he simply said "oh" and stopped asking.
He hesitated, but the other person didn't hang up, so he asked the question that had been bothering him: "Didn't you sleep well, or is something bothering you again?"
Otherwise, why would he feel that the other person's voice was softer and lower than usual as soon as he answered the phone?
"fine."
This time, his voice was a bit louder. Jiang Zhuochen asked, still concerned, "Should I go over and take a look?"
"No need," Xu Xing refused. "I'll just rest for a while."
"Okay, then you can go to sleep."
Jiang Zhuochen hung up the phone. Since nothing serious had happened anyway, he activated his consciousness, and the Longevity Lamp materialized. He smiled and quickly walked to the lounge, where he sat cross-legged on the bed, holding the Longevity Lamp in both hands.
Under the intense light of the incandescent bulb, the pale blue flame inside was barely visible. Jiang Zhuochen moved closer and reached his hand inside.
The flames had no heat and couldn't burn his skin, and as he touched them, his spirits sank. How much longer would he have to search before he could find his master?
When Xu Xing arrived at Ruyi Barbershop, Jiang Zhuochen was asleep in the lounge. He pushed open the door, and Jiang Zhuochen, who was awakened by the noise, sat up in a daze and rubbed his eyes.
Are you done with your work?
"Hmm." Xu Xing stood in front of him, his head half-drooping with a head of fluffy hair that he had just woken up, making him feel for some reason that it must feel very soft to the touch.
"Let's go then." Jiang Zhuochen kicked off his shoes and stood up, instantly recovering his full strength.
Unexpectedly, the Taoist temple that Li Hui prepared for Jiang Zhuochen was very close by. Walking forward, it was at the end of a commercial pedestrian street.
The bluish-gray concrete walls appeared even more solemn in the twilight, and the copper bells hanging from the eaves tinkled softly in the breeze. Red candles, incense burners, yellow talismans, and a wooden sword were all present on the altar, perfectly in line with traditional imagery. However, a closer look revealed a brand-new refrigerator and sofa, and an electronic screen on the wall continuously displayed paid services; even the donation box had been replaced with a QR code.
It's incredibly disjointed. I never imagined that the traditions left by our ancestors would have to adapt to the development of the new era.
Jiang Zhuochen was quite satisfied. He circled around and returned to Xu Xing. "I'll be working here from now on."
He needs a source of income; otherwise, the money will keep flowing in and he won't be able to spend it all, which will attract a lot of attention.
"I've never earned money on my own before." This doesn't include the times I cheated or swindled people.
"Really?" Xu Xing took out his phone and scanned the QR code. "Then I'll be your first customer."
"good!"
Jiang Zhuochen's eyes flickered, and he grabbed Xu Xing's forearm to lean closer and look at his first pot of gold. Xu Xing raised an eyebrow, and Xu Xing immediately put on a 'why are you so slow' expression.
Xu Xing didn't hesitate and entered the password right in front of him. But after entering the last digit, the loading circle spun, and suddenly a message popped up—
The recipient has not verified their identity, so the transaction cannot be completed.
Jiang Zhuochen tapped the screen. "What does this mean?"
Xu Xing let him dab around, "You didn't tie your ID card?"
"Oh..." Jiang Zhuochen unconsciously pressed the inside of Xu Xing's wrist with his fingertip, and mumbled a response. "I don't have an ID card."
Xu Xing lowered his eyes, while the other person's fine eyelashes fluttered up and down frequently. She didn't look up at him, looking like she had done something wrong.
Even a young monk abandoned in a remote temple now has an ID card; yet there's still an unregistered person in this bustling metropolis.
"Is it not there or is it lost?"
"Then just pretend I'm lost." Jiang Zhuochen suddenly looked up. "Aren't you amazing here?"
Given Li Hui's obsequious manner, it was hard for him not to suspect that Xu Xing was some powerful and influential official.
"Want me to help you get an ID card?"
Jiang Zhuochen nodded.
Xu Xing then asked, "Can't you do it yourself?"
Jiang Zhuochen lowered his head and touched his nose. Xu Xing didn't show it on his face, but he saw through Jiang Zhuochen's expression.
"Okay, I'll take care of it for you."
"Sir, you are very righteous." Jiang Zhuochen clasped his hands in a fist and then gave him a cheerful bow. "I'll treat you to dinner later."
However, Xu Xing still paid for the dinner. He suppressed a laugh and put the gold back into Jiang Zhuochen's palm, telling him to play with it whenever he wanted.
A few days passed, and Jiang Zhuochen, presumably having forgotten, never heard the other party mention exorcising evil spirits for him again. Unable to find out, he secretly took a look at the feng shui of the villa.
This place is auspicious, surrounded by living trees, and the main gate faces an auspicious direction, clearly a layout that brings prosperity to people.
He was clueless and worried about the matter. Xu Xing wouldn't let him stay any longer; the doubts about the other party hadn't been resolved, and he wasn't willing to leave. Therefore, if Xu Xing didn't speak, he kept his mouth shut as well.
That day, Jiang Zhuochen arrived at the Taoist temple, propped his head up with one hand, sat on the grand chair, and twirled a calligraphy brush in the other. He was dreaming; in reality, in the few days since the temple opened, no one except Xu Xing had entered. Everyone was just peeking in from outside, taking a picture at most, and then leaving.
He stretched his neck, bit the straw, and gulped down his milk tea, making loud slurping noises as he drank. The next second, the light from the door was blocked, and before Jiang Zhuochen could even look up, his excited voice came through.
"Brother, so you've been here all along!"
What brother?
Jiang Zhuochen then recognized the person in front of him; it was the boy he had met on his first day here, now accompanied by another person.
Chen Sheng braced his hands on the edge of the table, a wide grin stretching to the back of his ears.
"Finally found you. Do you remember me? I'm Chen Sheng, the one who played football at the cemetery the other day."
What kind of outstanding description is this? Is this something to brag about?
"It's you." Jiang Zhuochen drawled, "I'm so happy to see you so lively and energetic."
"Thanks, thanks a lot, you're amazing!" Chen Sheng chuckled, scratching the back of his head, then looked around. "Why is it so deserted, brother? You don't know how to do business."
"No need for thanks, it was nothing." Jiang Zhuochen drew a line on the paper with his pen. "Let it be cold, Buddha helps those who are destined to be helped."
"I still have to thank you. Brother, I've brought you a big deal." Although Chen Sheng didn't agree with his business philosophy, he had more important things to do. He pointed to the boy next to him, "This is my good brother Wu Duo. Something strange happened to his family."
When Wu Duo first heard Chen Sheng recount his complete experience, he was skeptical. What kind of ability could someone of similar age have?
However, he had witnessed some of the things that had happened to the other party recently, so he had no choice but to believe it. After thinking it over, he decided to give it a try and come along to see for himself.
"Hi."
The request will be delivered to your door!
Jiang Zhuochen straightened his posture and said, "Tell me what you have to say."
Wu Duo's grandmother had fallen and fallen seriously ill a while ago, and was hospitalized. The doctor said she only had a few days left to live and told the family to start making funeral arrangements. Unexpectedly, the grandmother suddenly recovered and moved around like a young person. She even insisted on moving back to her hometown.
His family went to many hospitals but couldn't find anything wrong. They all felt that his grandmother was possessed by something, so they had no choice but to ask someone to come and exorcise the ghost.
When Chen Sheng learned of this, he clenched his right fist and slammed it down. Coincidentally, just a few days ago he had met a powerful Taoist priest who cured all his ailments.
He patted his chest to reassure Wu Duo that he had brought him to this area to wait for them to come to him, and unexpectedly they actually found them.
Jiang Zhuochen stroked his chin, taking this opportunity to test whether it was a coincidence or if Xu Xing could really weaken ghosts. "Where is your hometown?"
“It’s not far, it’s in the next city.” Wu Duo estimated, “It’s about a four or five-hour drive.”
"Okay, but my fees are very high."
Wu Duo proudly raised his head and said, "Money is not a problem; my family is not short of money."
Since he wasn't short of money, Jiang Zhuochen had nothing more to say. "Then give me an address, and I'll go there in the next couple of days."
Chen Sheng was overjoyed. "How can we let you go by yourself? His family can send a car to pick us up."
Jiang Zhuochen said leisurely, "Don't worry, of course I'm not alone."
He waved goodbye to the two, but he was the kind of person who only worked sporadically. He glanced at the time and slowly packed his things.
Back at the villa, Jiang Zhuochen was still thinking about how to get Xu Xing to go with him, considering that Xu Xing didn't return until late at night.
Xu Xing went up to the second floor, looking surprised. "Still not asleep so late?"
Jiang Zhuochen yawned, "You're back really late today."
Xu Xing stepped forward and straightened the other person's swaying body, saying softly, "I wasn't finished with my work, so I'm a little late. Were you waiting for me?"
"Mmm." Jiang Zhuochen was still sleepy. At first glance, he thought his master was in front of him, so he hugged him and rubbed against him. As he rubbed against him, he woke up and let go, thinking he had done so discreetly.
Xu Xing looked down. The other person's unguarded coquettishness and then stiffening in his arms was too obvious, so he suppressed a laugh and didn't expose her.
Jiang Zhuochen's throat bobbed as he quickly changed the subject. "Business matters?"
"Okay." Xu Xing replied, "I'm going on a business trip tomorrow. If you need anything while you're on your own these next few days, feel free to contact me."
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com