Lakeside Villa.
Last night's successful defense of the home was entirely thanks to Ling Sheng's spiritual power output, so early this morning, Su Rong made a lot of delicious food to reward him.
Ling Sheng didn't quite understand the way they were looking at him, but it didn't stop him from enjoying the feast.
After breakfast, it was study time.
Xue Hong said with a beaming smile, "You performed a great service last night. I'll reward you with ten sets of high school entrance exam past papers. Finish them today."
Ling Sheng: "..."
"Last night I said I would impart all my lifelong learning to you. I won't go back on my word."
Before she could finish speaking, Ling Sheng had already finished the multiple-choice questions with swift strokes.
These questions required no thought; he knew the answers at a glance.
Xue Hong secretly marveled: Such a monstrously talented seedling—who on earth was the damned one who imprisoned him! Otherwise, he would have been shining brightly in the world's academic forest long ago!
The villa's telephone rang.
Su Rong drifted over to answer it.
"Hello, Lakeside Villa."
A woman's voice came from the other end of the line, soft and gentle.
"Hello, is Qi Quan at home?"
Su Rong frowned. Nowadays in Longjiang City, hardly anyone addressed the Master by her full name.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"I'm her mother."
Su Rong's expression turned cold. "If I remember correctly, after Master revived Qi Yuan, she severed ties with the Qi family."
Moreover, this mother had never once visited Lakeside Villa, showing how little she cared for the Master.
Gu Qiao was taken aback for a moment but continued, "I'd like to see her. Is that possible?"
"Master is in cultivation and is not receiving guests." Su Rong hung up directly.
Gu Qiao: "..."
She glanced at Qi Yingxue beside her.
Qi Yingxue lowered her eyes. "Go there directly."
Gu Qiao actually didn't really want to go, but she had been frightened by Qi Yingxue's words.
If the current Qi Quan wasn't the previous Qi Quan, then who exactly was she?
Where did all her bizarre abilities come from?
The two took a car to Lakeside Villa.
Outside Lakeside Villa.
The Talisman Master and Formation Master, having hit a wall here, had already returned to Longjing City. Only Yan Wu persisted.
He sat on a bench not far from Qi Quan's home, silently pondering how to deal with her. He was already certain that Ding Ji's death was her doing.
He had reported to his superiors, and their instruction was—prioritize control, eliminate if necessary.
This stumped him.
Even the Celestial Master Association couldn't do anything about her, what else could he possibly do?
Yan Wu was in a somber mood.
Equally somber was Gu Qiao, who was being stopped outside the villa.
"Ms. Gu, my apologies. The Master is truly in cultivation and is not receiving outside guests." Su Rong's voice came from the video intercom.
Gu Qiao's face burned with shame.
Having been Mrs. Qi for so many years, few people had ever refused her so bluntly and without consideration.
And this person was her own biological daughter's butler.
Her pride wounded, she had no choice but to turn back after being rejected, but was called to stop just as she was about to get in the car.
While Yan Wu was deep in thought, he heard voices not far away and his mind stirred.
He had gone over Qi Quan's biographical information and social connections repeatedly.
He recognized Gu Qiao.
"Wait, you're Celestial Master Qi's mother, right?"
Gu Qiao turned around. Seeing his ordinary appearance and sincere smile, she instinctively replied, "Who are you?"
"I'm from the Celestial Master Association. This is my Celestial Master certificate." He showed her his ID. "I'm here to discuss official business with Master Qi."
His voice wasn't low, and Qi Yingxue, sitting unseen inside the car, also heard.
Celestial Master Association?
Gu Qiao said, "She's in cultivation and not receiving guests. You should head back for now."
"I know." Yan Wu sighed. "Actually, I came to see Celestial Master Qi before, hoping to persuade her to join the Celestial Master Association. There are rules in our line of work; those without a Celestial Master certificate cannot handle paranormal cases. She has already violated the association's regulations, so... However, Master Qi doesn't seem very welcoming of me."
Gu Qiao frowned. Facing a stranger, she still defended her family.
"I don't understand these things."
She turned to get into the car.
"Wait, Ms. Gu," Yan Wu took out a business card and handed it over. "You are Celestial Master Qi's mother. Surely she will listen to your advice. I hope you can help me. Otherwise, the Celestial Master Association will resort to coercive measures against her. I imagine you wouldn't want to see that happen, right?"
"Coercive measures?" Gu Qiao stopped. "What kind of coercive measures?"
"It's quite similar to official law enforcement. If you violate the regulations, you naturally have to accept punishment." Yan Wu smiled. "After you persuade Celestial Master Qi, please inform me promptly."
He offered the card again.
Gu Qiao didn't take it.
The car window suddenly rolled down. Qi Yingxue reached out and took it. "Thank you for the reminder. We will do our best to persuade her."
Yan Wu smiled and left.
Gu Qiao returned to the car absentmindedly, worriedly saying, "How did it come to this?"
Qi Yingxue said, "The Celestial Master Association sounds like a powerful department. Perhaps Qi Quan isn't unwilling, but afraid. If she really is a Celestial Master, why wouldn't she comply with the Association's rules and regulations?"
"If she's not a Celestial Master, then what is she?"
Qi Yingxue said with a deep, obscure expression, "We'll only know after we ask clearly."
Meanwhile, Qi Quan, who was still on her way back, suddenly opened her eyes.
[Big Shot, what's wrong?]
Qi Quan glanced casually out the window, smiled, and asked: [System, when you bound me and entered this body, could it be detected by others?]
Her intuition had always been sharp. Just a moment ago, she sensed a trace of malice.
Her cultivation was high; almost no one could harm her. If it were just a normal attack, it wouldn't trigger her intuition. Only something targeting her "soul" would put her on alert.
System: [Of course not! Your compatibility with this body is absolutely perfect. You could say you are the original person.]
Qi Quan believed it.
This body looked exactly like her previous life's. If not for the completely different experiences, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were the same person.
Same name, perfect physical compatibility, and also... fortune—
If she remembered correctly, the reason Ding Ji went through such convoluted means to have the "real heiress" die accidentally from fright was precisely because the "real heiress" had extraordinary fortune and couldn't be easily dealt with.
But if the "real heiress" truly had overwhelming fortune, how could she have died so easily?
Fortune...
Could the System's sudden binding be referring to this fortune?
Qi Quan felt she might have touched upon the truth of her transmigration.
This could also explain why, in her previous life, she was free from illness and disaster, possessed astonishing talent, and had profound cultivation, yet only lived to twenty-two.
Qi Quan suddenly felt a bit of affection for the System.
Perhaps it was the embodiment of "fortune," using this unique method to allow the "real heiress" to be reborn from the hands of an evil cultivator, granting her a chance to extend her life.
Qi Quan couldn't help but curve her eyes in pleasure.
If the System truly was "fortune," then this body was actually her original self. After the accident, with the help of "fortune," she gained rich experiences in another world. At the age of twenty-two, her destined time of death, she returned to her world of origin.
But "fortune" couldn't be without limitations.
Her memories of the world of origin were blocked. She became a newborn in another world. From confusion and ignorance to the turning point of life at twenty-two, how much "experience" she could gain depended entirely on her own efforts.
Even if she had talent, if she didn't work hard, it would all come to nothing in the end.
This perfectly explains why, when she transmigrated to this world, she was able to bring all her cultivation with her.
The existence of the system was merely to rationalize the "fortune" and guide her on how to use this "fortune" after her return.
The doubts buried deep in her heart suddenly cleared.
The car left the national highway and entered the territory of Longjiang City.
Qi Quan received a call from Han Mian.
"Qi... Master, the victim's identity in the Longjiang University dismemberment case has been confirmed, and the suspect has been identified."
Qi Quan hadn't asked about Xue Hong's cause of death before and was somewhat curious: "Go on."
"Her name is Xue Hong, 29 years old. She obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Longjiang University at 28 and subsequently taught in the Biochemistry department there."
"She was a strict teacher. Before her disappearance, a student who failed her final exam had a dispute with her. Three days later, a post appeared on her social media saying she was heartbroken and planned to leave this place of sorrow to study abroad. She also submitted a resignation letter to the university via email. After that, she vanished without a trace."
Qi Quan's eyes darkened slightly: "And no one noticed anything was wrong?"
"She devoted all her energy to her studies and work, had almost no friends, and minimal social interaction. No one really knew if she had ever been in a relationship."
"What about the student who failed the exam?"
"He graduated successfully."
Qi Quan frowned. To kill and dismember someone just over failing an exam?
The hatred seemed excessive.
Or perhaps, there was an inherent tendency towards depravity.
"What's his name?"
Han Mian: "His surname is Wei, Wei Tao. He's the grandson of Wei Guangchang from Fengmao Group in Longlin City, and the youngest son of Wei Tianbao."
Qi Quan: "..."
What a coincidence!
But it's not impossible.
Years ago, Wei Guangchang and Wei Tianbao stole a prestigious university spot from someone else, stealing their future. Thirty years ago, Wei Tianbao brutally murdered Wei Hao and dumped the body in the mountains. Five years ago, Wei Tao, driven by resentment and rage, killed Xue Hong and disposed of her body in the woods.
This is a true "family tradition"!
Even the system was trembling: [If Wei Tao really did it, then this family is too terrifying!]
Qi Quan asked: "Is it confirmed to be Wei Tao's doing?"
Han Mian: "I'm about to take a team to Longlin City to investigate."
"Alright."
"There's also some good news."
"Oh?"
Han Mian said with slight excitement: "Over in Longtan City, following the lead from Wu Liang, they've uncovered part of the low-end ghost marriage business chain. Evidence shows this chain has a wide reach, with girls from multiple areas like Longjiang City and Longxi City having been victimized."
"That's good," Qi Quan said. "As for the participants from the metaphysical community, leave them for the metaphysical authorities to handle."
Han Mian: "With your word, I'm reassured."
The ghost marriage case involved too wide a scope and too many regions to be fully exposed quickly, but at least there was a lead now. Many suspects in Longtan City and Longjiang City had already been apprehended.
Qi Quan hadn't forgotten what Qin Ruo said.
The senior who introduced her to the path back then was Yan Wu. Yan Wu was involved in the ghost marriage case years ago and, following orders from a malevolent cultivator organization, caused the death of Officer Qi Zheng. That was already ten years ago.
In ten years, that network would only have spread wider.
She originally wanted to use Yan Wu to lure out bigger fish. Unfortunately, members of the malevolent cultivator organization were cunning and tried to use the Celestial Master Association's influence to suppress her.
The person behind it all was deeply hidden.
After hanging up, the car had already entered the suburban area of Nanhu District, approaching the lakeside villa.
Li Guoyan said, "Master Qi, I'll get off here. I will deliver the letter of appointment to your residence later."
"Alright."
Longlin City.
In a luxurious villa, a young man clutching his phone hurriedly knocked and entered the study.
"Grandfather!"
The old man inside was practicing calligraphy and didn't even look up. "What's with this rashness? It's unbecoming."
"Grandfather," the man said, his face pale, "That matter... it seems to have been discovered. What should I do?"
The old man didn't pause his hand, smoothly finishing the last stroke. The paper clearly bore the character "Chang" (Prosperity).
This character was good; it could ensure their Wei family's prosperity for generations.
Seeing he had finished writing, Wei Tao said impatiently, "Someone discovered those bones, I don't know who. They've been dug up now, people are discussing it online, the police are investigating. I heard from a friend in Longjiang City that... the police already know I had a conflict with her. What if they come to question me?"
"What's there to panic about?" Wei Guangchang glanced at him. "So many years have passed, what evidence could remain?"
Wei Tao's anxious mood was instantly soothed. He let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. "Right, it's been several years. Who could possibly find out?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, another person rushed into the study in a panic.
"Dad, something happened at Yaoshan," Wei Tianbao said, his face even paler than Wei Tao's. "It seems there's something unclean inside. Do you think it could be, could it be..."
Wei Guangchang frowned.
Why were things happening one after another all of a sudden?
He looked down at the freshly written character "Chang." He hadn't noticed before, but now he saw one stroke was slightly crooked.
An inexplicable sense of foreboding struck his heart.
All these years, his intuition had never been wrong.
Wei Guangchang immediately dialed a number. It rang for a long time before being answered. The voice on the other end was lazy, carrying a hint of arrogance.
"Wei Guangchang? What do you want?"
Despite his age and high status, Wei Guangchang wasn't angered by being addressed so directly. He chuckled, "Celestial Master Wei, are you free today? I have some newly arrived top-grade jade. Shall I personally deliver it to your residence later?"
"Fine, come over."
Wei Guangchang hung up, glared sternly at his son and grandson, and sighed heavily. "Later, you two come with me. Let Celestial Master Wei take a look."
"Dad, are you talking about the one from the Hengfeng Sect?" Wei Tianbao asked eagerly.
Wei Guangchang nodded, his expression one of yearning and melancholy.
"Speaking of which, going back three or four generations, we share the same lineage with Celestial Master Wei. How did their branch produce a Wei Huanyang?"
As Wei Guangchang grew older, he often lamented, wishing he could also practice metaphysical arts.
He heard many masters were much older than him but looked younger than his son.
Unfortunately, their family hadn't produced a promising seedling.
Not long after, the three of them, carrying the precious jade, headed to a luxurious mansion in the suburbs.
A young acolyte opened the door, with hair tied in a high topknot, wearing a Taoist robe, looking delicate and cute.
He spoke in a clear, crisp voice: "Master is bathing and changing. Please wait in the living room."
The three sat waiting in the living room. No one attended to them.
Wei Tao was young and didn't know much about the metaphysical world. He only knew his family members all possessed priceless protective talismans bought from Master Wei.
He had never met Master Wei. Judging by the title, he should be an ethereal, immortal-like master.
"Grandfather, was that Master's disciple who opened the door?"
Wei Guangchang: "You could say so."
Wei Tao: "..."
What did that mean?
He was about to ask more when a figure suddenly appeared outside the door. Footsteps silent, dressed in loose casual clothes, expression calm, he walked in.
He was a very young man, handsome and of extraordinary bearing. He didn't look like some master, but rather like a young master from a wealthy family.
Wei Tao: ???
Seeing his grandfather and father simultaneously rise and respectfully step forward to greet the man, he had to swallow the words in his mouth and follow behind them.
"Master Wei, pardon the intrusion." Wei Guangchang signaled to Wei Tianbao.
Wei Tianbao hurriedly presented an exquisite box, filled with the finest jade stones. Over the years, the resources the Wei family had provided for Wei Huanyang's cultivation could be described as an astronomical sum.
"Master, this is a small token of our Wei family's esteem. We hope you will accept it."
Wei Huanyang sat on the sofa, opened it for a glance, and casually set it aside.
The quality of these jade stones was quite good; they could be used to curry favor with the sect elders. Jade could be used to craft higher-grade talismans, their efficacy far surpassing that of paper talismans.
Take spirit talismans, for instance. A paper talisman could store only a fraction of the spiritual power a jade spirit talisman could. A jade talisman could be life-saving at a critical moment.
Although he couldn't enjoy spirit talismans of that level himself, he could use these jade stones to exchange for more cultivation resources.
"Speak. What do you want from me?"
Wei Guangchang said, "Master, could you please take a look and see if the two of them might..."
...
"No need to look," Wei Huanyang said, idly toying with a peach pit in his palm, his tone indifferent. "They have the look of death about them."
The three members of the Wei family: "..."
Wei Guangchang's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, "Master, is there a way to resolve this?"
"To be perfectly honest, if you were being haunted by evil spirits, I could handle it for you. But if you're about to be arrested by the mundane police, I can't help you."
He had no reason to go against the police.
Wei Tianbao's heart trembled, his face paling with anxiety.
"Master, save me! Please, look, if Tao Tao and I get arrested, what will happen to the Fengmao Group in the future? If Fengmao is gone, won't you stop receiving..." His gaze fell on the box full of jade stones.
Wei Huanyang's fingers paused slightly. A crack appeared on the surface of the peach pit. He looked coldly and arrogantly at Wei Tianbao and sneered, "Do you really think I can't do without your Wei family?"
He had more than just the Wei family under him.
Wei Guangchang promptly slapped Wei Tianbao across the face. "If you can't speak properly, then shut up!"
He then turned back to Wei Huanyang with a smile. "Master, please don't be angry. He's just lost his mind and is clumsy with words. As long as you can guarantee their safety, our entire Wei family will follow your lead!"
Wei Huanyang tossed away the cracked peach pit and finally revealed a smile, saying dismissively, "Now that's a pleasant thing to hear."
He wasn't interested in the three Wei family members, but he was very interested in the wealth of the Fengmao Group. That wealth could be exchanged for a great many cultivation resources.
Wei Guangchang bent at the waist, flattering with a smile, "Then what about the two of them..."
"I happen to have two slots for registered disciples left. I'll give them to you." Wei Huanyang instructed a young attendant to bring two identity tokens. "With these, you will be members of my Hengfeng Sect and are not subject to mundane laws."
He was a Level Four Celestial Master.
Generally, Celestial Masters of Level Three and above could accept disciples.
There were also limits on accepting disciples.
A Level Four Celestial Master had quotas for two formal disciples, four registered disciples, and six unofficial disciples.
As long as one obtained an identity token, even if they hadn't personally stepped into the field of metaphysics, they were considered half a member of the mystic community. Mundane laws held little binding power over them.
This was one of the privileges of the mystic community.
Not an official privilege, just something the authorities couldn't do much about.
The three Wei family members were overjoyed, hastily storing the identity tokens and leaving the residence with a thousand thanks.
Longjiang City, Lakeside Villa.
Qi Quan's return was met with a warm welcome from everyone.
Su Rong: "Master, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."
Xue Hong: "Do you want to bathe? I'll draw a bath for you."
Qi Zheng: "I... I'll cut some fruit for you."
That left Ling Sheng. He didn't say a word, simply handing her a new sparrow jade token, filled with abundant spiritual energy.
Qi Quan: "..."
Oh no. Last night, she had instructed Yue Lin and Zheng Guangming to find the sparrow jade token and return it to her. But she had left the meeting in a hurry today, so those two probably hadn't found a suitable opportunity.
Having lost the jade token, she felt a tiny bit guilty. She waved her hand and said, "No need, I've already recovered."
The hopeful light in Ling Sheng's eyes instantly dimmed, tinged with a hint of grievance. He hung his head dejectedly, looking at the token in his hand, seemingly unable to understand why she didn't like it.
"Master, Ling Sheng performed a great service last night," Su Rong said with a smile.
Xue Hong nodded in agreement. "Yes, if he hadn't defended the house, we would all have been done for."
Those Celestial Masters outside wouldn't have been polite to ghosts like them.
Qi Zheng scratched his head, unsure what to say.
Qi Quan looked at Ling Sheng and smiled. "You did very well, helping me defend our home. Maintaining the operation of an array requires a lot of spiritual energy. You consumed so much; keep this spiritual energy for your own use."
Ling Sheng didn't move.
"Be good," she said.
Ling Sheng glanced up at her, then withdrew the token, though he still seemed a bit sullen.
After the meal, Su Rong reported to her again.
"Ms. Gu Qiao visited this morning, saying she wanted to see you. I refused, saying you were in seclusion cultivating."
Qi Quan's expression remained calm. "I see."
[Big shot, what did she come for? Aren't you already cut off from them?]
Qi Quan: [Probably because what I said last time wasn't clear enough.]
She never shied away from assuming the worst about people, especially in matters related to Qi Yingxue.
Gu Qiao cared about face. She wouldn't come to Lakeside Villa for no reason. The most likely possibility was that Qi Yingxue had urged her to.
What reason did they have for specifically paying a visit?
Qi Quan thought of that trace of malice.
Returning to her room, she pondered for a moment before starting to write a new chapter of "Diary of a Wealthy Family."
Longjing City.
As soon as Ning Zhi stepped out of the high-speed rail station, he ran into two people. Judging by their aura, one was a Level Four Celestial Master, and the other was slightly higher than him, probably Level Five.
Even though he was prepared, his heart still felt somewhat heavy.
"Ning Zhi, right? Come with us." The two showed their Association work IDs, their expressions serious.
Ning Zhi offered no resistance and got into the car with them.
The Longjing City Celestial Master Association oversaw branches across the country, holding a supremely high status. The Association was filled with numerous experts, mostly elite figures from various families and sects.
This wasn't Ning Zhi's first time here, but it was his first time arriving as a detained Celestial Master.
His face expressionless, he stepped through the Association's doors.
The Celestial Master Association was built in the suburbs of Longjing. On the surface, it looked no different from an ordinary factory, but the interior was vastly different.
The talisman patterns on the walls were intricate and mysterious, and there were small spirit-gathering arrays in the corners, making the spiritual energy inside the building particularly abundant.
The interrogation room was on the third floor.
As Ning Zhi stepped onto the stairs, he encountered another group descending from the second floor.
At their head was a young man, exceptionally handsome, with a cold expression. A red cord was tied around his wrist, from which dangled a miniature peachwood sword.
He was the leading figure among the younger generation of the mystic community, the champion of the previous Mystic Arts Grand Competition, Yan Huai.
It was said his swordsmanship was peerless. He rarely drew his sword; even during the Grand Competition, no one had managed to make his sword leave its sheath.
Such a brilliantly talented individual would normally have a multitude of admirers.
However, Yan Huai's temperament was exceptionally cold and aloof. His heart held only cultivation; he never formed friendships and never spared anyone's feelings, which resulted in him having very poor relationships within the celestial master community.
But no one dared to provoke him.
Not only because of the powerful family behind him, but also because of his own formidable abilities.
A sixth-level celestial master at merely twenty-seven years old—who would dare to offend him lightly?
Ning Zhi withdrew his gaze and went upstairs.
The two groups passed each other by.
Yan Huai was followed by two people, one fat and one thin, both disciples of the Yan family from this generation.
Once outside the association, the two couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"Was that the little genius from the Ning family just now?" the fat one asked.
The thin one said, "Yes, that was indeed Ning Zhi. What a pity."
"Pity what?"
"I heard he colluded with an evil celestial master. Now the entire Ning family has had their celestial master certificates revoked, and he has to undergo interrogation."
The fat one was astonished: "An evil celestial master? Who?"
"Reportedly, it's someone from Longjiang City, a sixth-level celestial master. Not only did they refuse to join the Celestial Master Association and spoke insolently to its members, but they also privately kept ghost servants."
"Hiss, that audacious?" The fat one looked gossipy. "And now? Ning Zhi is here, but what about the one he colluded with?"
"Who knows? Probably couldn't apprehend that one, so they're just squeezing the soft persimmon, Ning Zhi." The thin one shrugged. "To be honest, Ning Zhi is quite a righteous and stubborn person. I don't believe he could collude with any evil celestial master."
The fat one nodded with an air of seriousness. "So what exactly did he collude in? Did he actually do anything wrong?"
The thin one: "Who knows? We'll have to wait for the interrogation results."
Interrogation Room, Celestial Master Association.
Ning Zhi was forced to sit in a Spirit-Restraining Chair, unable to move his entire body. The chair was specially made; once seated, the spiritual power within one's body would be suppressed and unable to circulate...
This feeling of being a fish on the chopping block, completely at another's mercy, was truly suffocating.
Two people were interrogating him, one man and one woman.
"Ning Zhi, why did you collude with the evil celestial master?"
Ning Zhi's face was expressionless: "What evil celestial master?"
"Qi Quan from Longjiang City. She refused to accept the supervision of the Celestial Master Association, injured a sixth-level celestial master, violated the association's regulations, privately kept ghost servants, and even personally dealt with a fifth-level red ghost in front of the president of the Longtan City Celestial Master Association, despite knowing she was unlicensed. Were you aware of all this?"
Ning Zhi's eyes darkened: "May I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"There have been multiple 'Peach Blossom Mark' cases in Longjiang City, and several instances of ghost marriages. Did the Celestial Master Association even know about them? A fifth-level red ghost appeared in Yao Mountain, Longtan City. Why wasn't it detected by the association's monitoring? People went missing after entering the mountain. The association knew evil ghosts were harming people, so why wasn't there a timely rescue? There was even a Celestial Master Chu who fled the scene! Did you handle any of these matters?"
This was the first time he had ever used such a cold, sharp tone to deliver such a long string of accusations.
The interrogators: "..."
The male interrogator's eyes turned severe: "Ning Zhi! Right now, we are interrogating you. Do you or do you not know about Qi Quan's violations of the celestial master regulations?"
Ning Zhi was utterly disappointed and began to doubt himself. For a moment, he didn't even know what he had been doing with his life for the past twenty years.
He lowered his head and said hoarsely, "I don't know."
"Are you sure?" the male interrogator said. "According to our investigation, you frequently visited Qi Quan's residence in Longjiang City and had a very close relationship with her. Moreover, when association personnel went to her door that day, you were present. Ning Zhi, lying will add to your charges!"
Ning Zhi was silent for a moment, then smiled. "If you can answer the questions I just asked, then I will answer yours."
"..."
The female interrogator said, "Lock him up for a while first."
The two left the interrogation room and turned off the lights.
Ning Zhi's world was instantly plunged into complete darkness.
He couldn't see, couldn't move, couldn't hear any sound—all his senses were rendered useless.
They were trying to break his will through this torment.
Ning Zhi closed his eyes, his expression resolute.
The two interrogators went to report to their superior's office and ran into a colleague who looked travel-worn and ashen-faced.
"Weren't you sent to arrest Qi Quan?"
The Talisman Master sighed heavily, shaking his head, not wanting to say anything. The Array Master hadn't lost anything, but failing in their mission was embarrassing to talk about.
The four of them entered the office together.
They all belonged to the Enforcement Division of the Celestial Master Association, specializing in arresting, interrogating, and punishing evil celestial masters.
The head of the Enforcement Division was a sixth-level, third-tier celestial master, a man over a hundred years old but with a youthful face.
Seeing the Talisman Master and Array Master, he was somewhat surprised.
"You didn't bring her back?"
The Array Master said, "Her protective array was too high-level; I couldn't dismantle it."
The Talisman Master: "I used up all my attack talismans and still couldn't deplete the array's spiritual power."
"So, you're saying you didn't even get to see the person?" The Division Head could hardly believe it. "You, a sixth-level, first-tier Talisman Master, and you, a sixth-level, first-tier Array Master, are the most capable officers in our Enforcement Division. How could you not handle a young celestial master?"
The Talisman Master, already heartbroken over his lost talismans, felt wronged: "That Yan Wu from the Yan family couldn't do anything either, and even got beaten up. He's probably holding a grudge and wants to use the Enforcement Division to get revenge."
The Division Head: "..."
He frowned in thought for a moment, then asked again uneasily, "Was the array really that powerful?"
The question gave the Array Master a bit of heartburn: "Yes."
"Alright, I understand. You two go back and get some proper rest."
The Talisman Master: "But my talismans..."
"I'll put in a request for you," the Division Head waved his hand.
The Talisman Master finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After the two left, the interrogators reported the interrogation situation to him.
The Division Head said with a headache, "Then keep him locked up for—"
A knock on the door interrupted his words.
"Division Head, officials from the government are here."
The Division Head: "..."
In the dark interrogation room, Ning Zhi couldn't sense the passage of time. It might have been short, or it might have been long.
He thought of Yuan Qing.
In the past, he only focused on capturing ghosts, never taking the time to empathize with the victims.
But now, he understood the fear Yuan Qing must have felt in that dark room. The darkness, like a festering bone disease, could devour a person's will and soul.
Though reluctant to admit it, Ning Zhi himself had realized that he used to be somewhat arrogant.
He thought he had mastered unique laws and could control the existence of ghosts. But now, thinking back, he was no different from ordinary people, perhaps even inferior to them.
Yuan Qing endured torment and could persevere for five long years, which showed the incredible strength of her willpower.
He was not her equal.
Suddenly, the door to the interrogation room opened.
"Ning Zhi, you can come out now."
The Spirit-Restraining Chair lost its effect. He regained his freedom, yet felt the weight on his shoulders had grown heavier.
The person who came to take him out was someone he didn't know.
He guessed this person's purpose, but got into the car without hesitation.
Longjiang City, Lakeside Villa.
Qi Quan had just finished writing when Li Guoyan arrived with a letter of appointment, along with a detailed list of rights, obligations, and terms.
She quickly skimmed through them, quite satisfied with the sincerity shown and deeply impressed by the government's decisiveness.
"Good, I agree."
She picked up a pen and swiftly signed her name.
Li Guoyan smiled brightly and said, "It's been a pleasure working with you. I look forward to your guidance in the future."
After he left, Qi Zheng drifted over.
The young policeman seemed somewhat embarrassed to speak.
Qi Quan sipped her tea and asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Master Qi," Qi Zheng said anxiously, "I'm going to reincarnate."
The ghost marriage case in Longjiang City had come to an end, and he had no more regrets. He just wanted to see his family one last time before his reincarnation.
"Qin Ruo said the one who killed you was Yan Wu. Yan Wu is still alive. Don't you want to see the person who harmed you get punished?" Qi Quan asked.
Qi Zheng, however, shook his head. "The one who truly caused my death is the person behind him, but I probably won't live to see that day. Master Qi, thank you, truly."
[Ah, Officer Qi died so unjustly.] The system sighed with heartache.
Qi Quan respected his decision. She shot out a stream of spiritual energy, which merged into his soul. Qi Zheng felt a warm, comforting sensation all over, as if soaking in a hot spring.
Wearing his crisp police uniform, he solemnly saluted Qi Quan, then turned to face Su Rong, Xue Hong, and Ling Sheng.
"Thank you for taking care of me these past days."
Lakeside Villa had filled the lonely decade of his afterlife; he had grown very fond of this place, but now he had to leave.
"Master Qi, if you see Han Mian, please tell him for me: thank him for his efforts back then. I hope he can solve many more cases and have a safe and peaceful life."
Qi Quan smiled gently. "Alright, I'll pass on your message."
The autumn wind swept through the courtyard, carrying Qi Zheng's soul drifting into the distance.
It was the direction of his home.
He would see his white-haired parents and his lovely younger sister, and then, with no regrets left, proceed to his reincarnation.
At ten o'clock in the evening, a new chapter of "Diary of a Wealthy Family" was updated.
[A single ordinary comment forced me to go on a business trip.
I don't understand why a master capable of divining an address couldn't see through the girl's fortune through physiognomy.
Even if they truly couldn't discern it, why did they have to broadcast the address publicly?
Private messages are free.
Cases involving the mystical realm naturally require the mystical realm to handle.
The events of this day and night could fill tens of thousands of words, but here I will only provide a brief summary.
"Please, kind people, help me" was a scam online, impersonating parents, attempting to trade a girl's future and fate for wealth.
How is this any different from what the Hei couple did?
Ghost marriages are not isolated incidents. I hope everyone remains cautious and protects...
themselves and their loved ones.
Although this matter left me feeling heavy-hearted, another story touched me deeply.
It was about a ghost burdened with the karma of many killings.
His life was stolen by another person. He once sought justice but was murdered.
After his death, to seek revenge, he killed many innocent people.
Knowing his sins were grave, he was willing to accept any punishment, but his only wish was to restore justice for his mother.
When he died, his mother was only in her forties. Thirty years have passed since then.
Thirty years ago, this frail yet resilient woman lost her husband and couldn't find her son. Under this double blow, she resolutely embarked on a journey to find her son.
Dragging her ailing body, she survived by scavenging through trash in another, unfamiliar city.
After several years, she finally learned everything her son had endured.
She wanted to demand justice.
But villains run rampant precisely because they feel they have nothing to fear.
She was destined for disappointment.
Yet she didn't give up. She spent her entire life, decade after decade, pursuing a nearly impossible goal.
This maternal love moved me deeply.
My adoptive parents passed away when I was very young. I can't even remember their faces clearly anymore.
When I was in school, I often saw classmates around me throwing tantrums, crying, begging, and making scenes with their parents.
I didn't understand why children who were already so fortunate would still cry and make a fuss; I also didn't understand why disobedient children could still receive so much love.
These childhood memories deeply affected me.
Until my biological parents found me.
I was anxious yet hopeful, worried they wouldn't like me, yet desperately longing for them to give me care and affection.
Unfortunately, I neither possessed a lovable appearance nor a pleasing personality. I was just a quiet, dull country bumpkin. How could I possibly win the love of strangers who were my relatives?
Could it be because I was too quiet, so they didn't notice my existence?
I've heard that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I couldn't help but recall those childhood memories—how those children would get all their parents' attention and care just by crying and making a scene.
Foolishly, I tried to copy that tactic.
But I forgot I was no longer a child.
With an adult's face, I engaged in irrational behavior, trying to gain my relatives' attention.
But it didn't work.
They only grew more disgusted with me.
I seemed trapped in a vicious cycle: the more they ignored me, the more I acted out; the more I acted out, the more they despised me.
Finally, one day, a remark from my biological elder brother woke me up.
He said, "Your mind isn't clear."
It dawned on me. He was right; my mind wasn't clear. I had become obsessed with gaining my family's affection.
That wasn't my true nature.
From that day on, I decided to let go of this obsession.
From the moment I was switched at birth, it was destined that I and my relatives had no true bond.
The senior who guided me into the mystical realm once said that some people are born with shallow familial bonds.
That must be my fate.
Those in the mystical realm are destined to maintain distance from their mundane relatives; otherwise, they will only hurt each other.
I saved my invisible younger brother's life once, and I also warned about the dark aura at the North Suburb factory, helping them avoid a disaster.
I have repaid the debt of giving me life. From now on, there is no connection.]
After reading the new chapter, the small group chat erupted.
[Qian Kun: What's going on? Did something happen to the Master? Did someone in your family bully her again? @Qi Yuan]
[Su Nuanuan: I just called and asked. Today, Aunt Gu and Qi Yingxue went to Lakeside Villa.]
[Sun Yu: What did they go for? Was it because of the identity leak?]
[Peng Peng: What does that have to do with the Master? Do they want the Master to step forward and tell the netizens she forgives Qi Yingxue?]
[Su Nuanuan: @Qi Yuan, maybe you should ask...
your mom.]
In another group chat, Qi Lin was also being constantly tagged.
[Du Jiaming: @Qi Lin, did the Master really cut ties with your family? When did this happen?]
[Yang Su: I guess the Master made that decision the day she moved to Lakeside Villa?]
[Zhang Chengyan: If the Master would take me as her disciple, I'd give her endless care and affection! @Qi Lin, tell us, how did your family offend the Master this time?]
[Du Jiaming: As if she needs your care? Keys are ten yuan for three, are you worthy?]
[Yang Su: Am I the only one curious about who the senior who guided the Master is?]
[Zhang Chengyan: They must be extraordinary. They say a great teacher produces brilliant students, no wonder the Master is so amazing!]
[Du Jiaming: If the Master is so amazing, why did she live in poverty before?]
[Zhang Chengyan: She probably didn't have the opportunity before; she was too young, clients likely didn't believe her. If it weren't for "Diary of a Wealthy Family," we wouldn't know how incredible she is either.]
Qi Lin, who was being tagged, had a headache.
He sat in the Qi family's living room. Everyone except Qi Yuan was present, each holding a phone.
"I didn't even see her today, I didn't get to say anything at all," Gu Qiao said, feeling somewhat wronged.
Qi Changrong sighed lightly, "Then what was your intention in going?"
"I, I..."
She couldn't help but lower her head.
Originally, after hearing Qi Yingxue's words, she had indeed harbored doubts. But after reading the new chapter, she realized how foolish she had been!
Wasn't it perfectly normal for a girl who lacked love since childhood, upon returning home and finding herself neglected, to be stimulated into those unsavory actions in an attempt to attract her family's attention?
Even if she possessed some mysterious abilities, she was ultimately just a girl hoping for her parents' affection. Before the Du family's birthday banquet, there was no need for her to resort to those methods.
She hadn't changed; she had simply returned to her normal self after being disappointed by them.
Gu Qiao felt deeply remorseful.
She suddenly realized she didn't understand her biological daughter, and understood her adopted daughter even less.
Yingxue, she...
"It was me who begged Mom to take me there," Qi Yingxue suddenly spoke up, her eyes reddening. "I wanted to apologize to her in person."
Qi Lin's gaze turned probing.
He hadn't understood or paid much attention to Qi Yingxue before, but ever since the incident saving Qi Yuan, when he heard the things she said, he knew she wasn't as harmless as she appeared on the surface.
He said coldly, "She already stated last time that she has no further relationship with us. If you wanted to apologize, you could have done so in the comments section or on Weibo. Why, with your leg injury not yet healed, did you insist on going to Lakeside Villa? What were you trying to do?"
Qi Yingxue was taken aback for a moment, then quick-wittedly replied, "I... I just wanted to beg her to help A'Lin. I know she must hate me, but I really can't just ignore A'Lin. I'm truly at my wit's end!"
Qi Lin frowned, "What's wrong with Song Lin?"
Tears streamed down Qi Yingxue's face. "He keeps having accidents lately. First it was his forehead, then before that his shoulder, and last time he was almost pierced by a falling steel bar!"
"What?!" Qi Changrong asked in surprise. "Is he still frequently going to the northern suburbs?"
Qi Yingxue said helplessly, "I've tried to persuade him, but he says the project is his responsibility and he must see it through..."
"Anything else?" Qi Lin didn't truly believe her explanation.
If that were really all, Mrs. Gu Qiao wouldn't have shown a guilty expression earlier.
Qi Yingxue said, "There really isn't anything else."
She looked pleadingly at Gu Qiao.
Gu Qiao turned her head away uncomfortably and said sullenly, "It was just Yingxue and I feeling something was off. Xiao Quan never mentioned anything about entering the Mystic Arts world to us after coming home. After the Du family banquet, she seemed like a completely different person all of a sudden. We just wanted to go and ask..."
"Ask what? Ask her how she became utterly disappointed with this family?" Qi Changrong asked, his face dark.
The final sentence of the new chapter had ripped off the fig leaf completely, leaving no room for face-saving.
Gu Qiao's face turned pale. "I..."
A ringing phone suddenly interrupted her.
It was Qi Changrong's phone.
Seeing the caller ID, a chill ran down his spine... He answered and put it on speakerphone.
"In-laws!" Mrs. Song's grief-stricken, sobbing voice came from the other end. "A'Lin and his father have both had an accident! Can you please help me!"
Qi Changrong sprang to his feet.
