Unlike Song Lin, who was focused on his career, the other second-generation heirs were once again shocked by bizarre events.
[Peng Peng: Damn it! Du Jiaming and Yang Su also got hit with the aging syndrome? Something’s not right!]
[Qian Kun: My mom says it’s definitely not aging syndrome—it’s some kind of curse.]
[Sun Yu: Is Aunt Ma always this funny? Don’t tell me the guy who cured Zhang Chengyan was actually some kind of Taoist priest? Give me a break.]
[Su Nuanuan: orz]
[Qian Kun: Sister Su, care to share your thoughts?]
[Sun Yu: No way Sister Su would believe that. Didn’t the Su family just storm the Qi family’s gates before?]
[Qian Kun: @Qi Yuan, Bro Yuan, someone’s sabotaging our unity here.]
Qi Yuan didn’t respond for a long time.
[Peng Peng: Seriously, haven’t you guys heard?]
[Qian Kun: Spit it out already!]
[Peng Peng: Screw you, I’ll just DM someone else.]
[Qian Kun: …]
[Sun Yu: Hahahaha serves you right for running your mouth!]
[Su Nuanuan: Just say it.]
[Peng Peng: Fine, for Sister Su’s sake. I heard Du Jiaming and the other two were all after the same girl. That fight at Royal Club last time? It was over her.]
[Sun Yu: Three playboys suddenly turning into love-struck idiots? That’s some fantasy-level stuff.]
[Qian Kun: Definitely a curse!]
[Sun Yu: Stop letting your mom brainwash you! Move out already!]
[Qian Kun: Soon—I’m heading to college at the end of the month.]
[Sun Yu: Damn, now that I think about it, it is soon. Just left high school, now diving into college life. Bet there’ll be tons of pretty girls there, heh!]
[Peng Peng: Pretty? None as pretty as Sister Su. Too bad she’s going to college in Longjing City—miles away from us. Sister Su, stay safe out there.]
[Qian Kun: What kind of nonsense is that? Bro Yuan’s also going to Longjing City for college.]
[Peng Peng: Oh right, they’re flying off together, leaving us behind.]
[Su Nuanuan: Screw off.]
[Qi Yuan: Screw off.]
[Sun Yu: Bro Yuan’s here! You’ve been MIA lately—got a girlfriend?]
[Qian Kun: Obviously.]
[Sun Yu: And you know this how?]
[Peng Peng: Breaking news! The Du and Yang families are transferring them to a hospital in Longjing City!]
[Qian Kun: Transferring? Didn’t they say Zhang Chengyan couldn’t be transferred before?]
[Peng Peng: Rumor has it their condition isn’t as severe as Zhang Chengyan’s—might last a few more days.]
[Sun Yu: Terrifying.]
As the group chattered away, the Zhang family had already purchased a massive stock of talisman paper and cinnabar, delivering it all to the lakeside villa.
The boxes nearly filled the storage room—enough to last decades.
Qi Quan: "Thank you for your trouble."
Father Zhang cautiously asked, "Master, when can we receive the protective talismans?"
Qi Quan raised her hand slightly. "Wait a moment."
Su Rong, standing nearby, immediately presented fresh talisman paper and a cinnabar brush, placing them on the table before her.
The Zhang family trio: ???
Impromptu talisman drawing?
Weren’t Taoist priests supposed to fast, bathe, and meditate for days before drawing talismans?
Unaware of their thoughts, Qi Quan lifted the brush, hovering the tip over the paper. With a brief focus, the cinnabar flowed like a dragon’s dance—complex, intricate symbols formed in one fluid motion, flawless and powerful.
As the final stroke landed, the talisman faintly emitted a golden glow, fleeting but unmistakable to the Zhang family.
Incredible! Truly a master!
All doubts vanished from their minds.
Qi Quan set the brush down. Su Rong handed the talisman to Zhang Chengyan. "Keep this on you at all times."
Zhang Chengyan accepted it with reverence, unsure how to carry it properly.
Father Zhang spoke up, embarrassed. "Master, I know how rare such a talisman is, but… could you bless my wife and me with one as well? We’ll pay any price!"
Qi Quan glanced at them. "No need."
She repeated the process, swiftly drawing two more talismans. "Three talismans in exchange for all this paper and cinnabar."
Overjoyed, the Zhang family bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
They knew the paper and cinnabar were cheap and easily bought, but a life-saving talisman like this? Priceless. In truth, they were the ones getting the better deal.
Still uneasy, they showered The Diary of the Elite with more deep-water rewards.
By now, The Diary of the Elite had firmly secured the top spot on the tipping charts, untouchable by any competitor.
The system kindly reminded her: [Big shot, you took a break yesterday. Skipping today too?]
Qi Quan: [Updating today.]
She drew two different talismans and called, "Wang Hua."
Wang Hua floated over immediately.
Qi Quan handed both talismans to Su Rong for safekeeping, instructing them: "The one with the triangle in the upper right can make ghosts visible. Wang Hua, you can now visit your sister. Tell her everything Huang Qifeng has done over the years. If possible, have her report him anonymously. And if you want, enjoy a good meal from her. Su Rong, go with him."
Wang Hua hesitated. "What if my sister refuses?"
Qi Quan replied calmly, "You’re a ghost."
"So?"
"Fear of ghosts is a natural reaction."
"But I’m her brother, she wouldn’t—" Wang Hua trailed off, uncertain.
Even if his sister still remembered him, he couldn’t be sure she’d accept seeing him like this.
"If she refuses," Qi Quan turned to Su Rong, "you handle it."
"Understood." Su Rong nodded. "What about the other talisman?"
"In a few days, when the time is right, place this on Qi Yuan."
Su Rong didn’t question it, simply agreeing.
The two ghosts left the villa, drifting toward Wang Hua’s sister’s home.
Qi Quan returned to her room and started typing. Before long, an intense surge of emotion erupted from Su Rong—a seething, murderous rage, quickly suppressed.
Sensing no danger, Qi Quan resumed writing.
At the Huang family villa, Su Rong remained invisible, his gaze locked onto a car parked in the yard.
In the driver’s seat sat a man in a crisp white shirt, clean-shaven, hair neatly styled—the picture of respectability.
But Su Rong would never forget those eyebrows, those eyes.
This was the man who had killed him, tied him to a rock, and dumped him in the river under the banyan tree.
He’d thought it would take years to find him. Never had he imagined their paths would cross here.
Even with age altering his appearance, Su Rong was certain—this was the human trafficker who had murdered him.
For a moment, he nearly lost control, wanting nothing more than to tear the man apart. But he held back.
Master’s mission came first. And he refused to dirty his hands with scum like this.
Wang Hua, too excited to notice his companion’s turmoil, led him to the second floor.
In the bedroom, Wang Qin was taking a nap.
Years of insomnia left her exhausted, prone to dozing off during the day—though even then, sleep was fleeting.
Eyes closed, she listened to the wind howling outside, its mournful wail scraping against the window like a ghost’s whisper.
The villa was spacious. And empty.
Aside from her and the servants, few ever stepped inside.
Her marriage had long been a hollow shell.
"Big sis... big sis... big sis..." A faint voice suddenly called out in her ear—it was Wang Hua's voice.
Wang Qin thought she was dreaming until she jerked her eyes open and saw the young man standing by her bed. He was dressed in clothes that had been popular over a decade ago, his hair cut in a rough, delinquent style, no different from the street thugs back then.
This was a face she could never forget in her lifetime!
"Wang Hua!" Overjoyed, she scrambled out of bed and rushed to embrace him.
...
Wang Hua instinctively took a step back.
"Wang Hua? Don’t you remember me? I’m your big sis!" Wang Qin called out anxiously.
Wang Hua scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly. "Big sis, I’m a ghost now. Being too close to me isn’t good for your health."
"I don’t care!"
The two had lost their parents young and relied on each other, forming an unbreakable bond. Wang Qin was nearly ten years older, practically a mother figure to him.
Su Rong, remaining invisible, said to Wang Hua, "You have a talisman on you, so it should be fine. But the talisman has a time limit—make it quick."
"Got it."
Wang Hua nodded and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Wang Qin. The two clung to each other, weeping bitterly. If not for the soundproofing of the house, the servants downstairs would have been startled awake.
Fortunately, Wang Hua still remembered his mission.
"Big sis, I came today because there’s something important I need to ask of you."
Wang Qin immediately asked, "Are you hungry over there? Cold? Short on money? Don’t worry, I’ll burn offerings for you right away—as much as you need!"
"Big sis," Wang Hua stopped her, "this is about Huang Qifeng."
Wang Qin’s fingers trembled. "What about him?"
"I’ve been a ghost for many years now, always following Huang Qifeng around. I’ve seen so many of his secrets. The way he’s treated you—I wanted to beat him senseless! But as a ghost, I couldn’t do anything."
Tears instantly spilled from Wang Qin’s eyes. "You’ve suffered so much. Why... why didn’t you move on to the next life?"
Wang Hua also wept. "I couldn’t bear to leave you and the kids."
"You’re so foolish."
"Big sis, I don’t have much time left. I know about many of Huang Qifeng’s hidden crimes—he’s hurt so many people. I want him to face justice. Big sis, will you help me?"
Wang Qin hesitated. "But... he’s the children’s father."
Having a criminal for a father would greatly affect their future.
Wang Hua also wavered.
"Wang Hua, ask her who that driver in the courtyard is and what his relationship with Huang Qifeng is," Su Rong interrupted, cutting through his indecision.
Wang Hua repeated the question.
Wang Qin visibly relaxed and answered, "He used to work for your brother-in-law. Later, he became our family driver, mainly driving for me."
"What’s his name?"
"Niu Qiang."
Su Rong clenched his fists, his handsome face tense as he asked, "Where is he from?"
"Big sis, where’s he from?"
Wang Qin smiled. "From the same village as your brother-in-law. Remember? Just five miles from our village—Chihe Village."
Boom—
Su Rong swayed slightly, his spirit nearly destabilizing.
If he weren’t a ghost servant, sustained by Qi Quan’s power, he might have already succumbed to rage and turned into a vengeful spirit, hunting Niu Qiang down.
He dug his nails into his palms, his voice low and hoarse. "Wang Hua, time’s almost up. Ask her one more time."
"Big sis, you probably don’t know this, but Huang Qifeng has many women outside. He’s betrayed you—he’s no good man. He’s done countless evil deeds. Someone like him deserves to be punished by the law! Big sis, will you—"
"Wang Hua!" Wang Qin’s eyes brimmed with tears, as if a layer of her skin had been torn off in front of her closest kin. "What he does doesn’t concern me anymore. I just want my children to be safe and happy."
"But—"
"Wang Hua, whatever you need, I’ll burn it for you. Just... don’t meddle with your brother-in-law’s affairs anymore, alright?"
Wang Hua stared at Wang Qin, stunned and heartbroken.
His sister wasn’t like this before.
The talisman’s time ran out, and Wang Hua’s figure vanished before Wang Qin’s eyes. She instinctively reached out but grasped only empty air.
Remembering the sorrow and disappointment in her brother’s eyes before he disappeared, Wang Qin covered her face and sobbed, "I’m sorry... I’m so sorry..."
Wang Hua hovered in the air, silently watching her with his head bowed.
The bold, righteous sister he once knew was gone.
He understood her difficult choice—but he couldn’t agree with it.
Su Rong steadied his emotions and said coldly, "Let’s go."
The two ghosts drifted back to the villa, standing before Qi Quan to report.
"Master, my sister... she didn’t agree," Wang Hua mumbled dejectedly.
This was within Qi Quan’s expectations.
She had sent Wang Hua mainly to fulfill his wish of seeing his sister one last time.
"And you? What happened?" She turned to Su Rong.
Su Rong’s eyes were dark as ink, a storm of fury swirling in their depths. His voice was rough as he said, "I saw the man who killed me—the human trafficker. He’s in the Huang family villa."
Wang Hua: ???
He suddenly remembered and gasped, "Is it that Niu Qiang?!"
Su Rong didn’t answer, keeping his gaze fixed on Qi Quan as he continued, "Wang Qin said Niu Qiang has always worked under Huang Qifeng. Back then, the traffickers weren’t just Niu Qiang alone. I suspect Huang Qifeng might have been part of it too—his initial wealth was likely built on dirty dealings."
"What do you want to do?" Qi Quan asked.
Su Rong gave a bitter laugh. "There’s nothing I can do now."
Qi Quan smiled faintly. "Why not?"
"I can’t harm anyone..."
"Only the innocent."
Qi Quan’s eyes held encouragement. "Making sure the wicked face justice—that’s the ending I prefer."
Wang Hua: The master truly has a kind and righteous heart!
The gloom in Su Rong’s eyes dissipated, replaced by deeper gratitude toward Qi Quan.
The master was his benefactor—he couldn’t let her be implicated in the slightest.
Before, he had wanted to tear his enemies apart with his bare hands. But now? He found them too filthy to touch.
If the master wanted Huang Qifeng’s crimes exposed to the world, then Niu Qiang would be the perfect starting point.
If Huang Qifeng was truly involved in human trafficking seventeen years ago, once he was in police custody, all his hidden sins would be dragged into the light.
Su Rong quickly formulated a plan.
