The resort backed against a mountain forest. The grassland used for picnics occupied the best vantage point, offering a view of a small waterfall on the mountain. The water tumbled vertically down, merging into the stream below and kicking up sheets of sparkling spray.
Qi Quan chose a spot out of the surveillance cameras' view. For extra insurance, she deliberately set up a concealment spell to hide the three ghosts' forms.
The autumn sunlight possessed a unique kind of warm intensity, glaring yet not overly unrestrained.
Xue Hong lay flat on the grass, sighing contentedly. "With a ghostly life like this, what more could one ask for?"
The trio of Du, Yang, and Zhang were in high spirits, completely unafraid of the three ghosts. Instead, they clinked cups and exchanged toasts with them, a lively back-and-forth.
"Teacher Xue, you should indulge in more enjoyment in the future. Academia is good, but leisure is also essential," Du Jiaming suggested with a smile.
Xue Hong nodded with great seriousness. "You make a very valid point."
"Damn!" Zhang Chengyan, scrolling through his phone, suddenly exclaimed. "Have you guys seen the news? An orphanage was exposed for..."
"Exposed for what?" Yang Su leaned over. "Don't leave us hanging..."
His voice trailed off, his expression turning equally grave.
Du Jiaming tossed an empty drink bottle at him. "What's with the riddle?"
"It's... the kind that's an orphanage on the surface but runs a flesh trade in the shadows," Zhang Chengyan said with difficulty.
He shot a glance at Qi Quan.
The contents of the latest chapter of "Diary of a Wealthy Family," updated last night, were still fresh in his memory.
The novel didn't explicitly state what kind of violation the ghost friend had suffered, but everyone had their vague suspicions, just not something they could easily voice aloud.
Who would have thought that merely a night later, such news would really break in reality? It was utterly chilling.
How old were the children in that orphanage?
It was just too vile!
"They're all worse than beasts!" Xue Hong said with disgust.
Ji Shengzhe added, "Truly disgusting."
[Big Boss, do you know something? Did you write that chapter on purpose? Everyone who's read 'Diary of a Wealthy Family' is now saying you divined it.] The system asked curiously.
Qi Quan: [No.]
It was just a coincidence.
In this world, similar events always occur within the same timeframe. If one were to statistically analyze the data, they'd find coincidences everywhere.
Her phone chimed. It was a message from Li Guoyan.
After testing the abilities of the "Luck-Bringing Immortal," she had sent Li Guoyan a message, asking the Investigation Department to look into the resort's background.
The Investigation Department's efficiency was quite impressive.
She opened the file.
The first thing that caught her eye was a photo of a man. Calling him plain would be generous.
His eyebrows were a disorderly mess, he had triangular eyes, a bulbous nose, thick lips—there wasn't a single redeeming feature on his entire face.
Of course, Qi Quan never looked down on others for their appearance. What she despised was this greedy, cunning physiognomy.
Judging by his facial features, this man had no fortune to speak of, yet in reality, he owned this highly profitable, money-making resort.
Clearly, he had used unconventional means.
She read the detailed information.
Seven years ago, Sun Yong, then a local hoodlum, came into a windfall and leaped to become a wealthy man in Changshun County. From then on, his rise was meteoric. He became a major boss in Changshun County, even founding a real estate company and building this resort there.
Initially, no one was optimistic about this resort.
What kind of tourist flow could a remote little county town attract?
But who would have guessed? After the resort was built, its business grew more prosperous by the day. A steady stream of visitors came and went, rooms were fully booked daily. Even Du Jiaming's tickets were obtained through connections, bought at a high price from someone else.
What kind of magic did such an utterly ordinary resort possess?
Online reviews of the resort were also overwhelmingly positive.
[Big Boss, he probably used that Luck-Bringing Immortal to change his fortune, right?] The system said, heart aching. [If this Luck-Bringing Immortal is really connected to Ji Shengzhe, how much merit must have been consumed?]
Qi Quan: [It will come back.]
She put down her phone and leisurely enjoyed the food and sunshine.
Longjing City Investigation Department.
Di Meng received his new assignment and was momentarily stunned.
"Longjiang City, Changshun County? Is that right?"
Li Guoyan said, "Correct. This case might be related to a Level Six major ghost. The person behind it is likely not simple. Your cultivation is high, so I need you to go personally."
"But doesn't Longjiang City have an expert?" he asked in surprise.
Li Guoyan: "..."
He glanced at Di Meng. "You figured it out?"
Di Meng grinned lazily. "Was it hard to guess? It's pretty obvious."
"She's the Investigation Department's chief consultant, not part of the field team. We can't trouble her every time something comes up. This is a training opportunity for you all! Moreover, this case was forwarded by her. You might even get to meet her in person when you go."
Di Meng's handsome features instantly brightened. "I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
"Good. We've found that Sun Yong is currently in Changshun County. Follow his lead and trace the origin of the Luck-Bringing Immortal. I'll have others investigate whether other Luck-Bringing Immortals exist."
"Yes, sir!"
Longjiang City Film and Television Studio.
He Yang led Qi Yingxue to the dressing room.
His status in the industry was high, granting him a private dressing room. Once the door was closed, no one would disturb them.
"Teacher He?" Qi Yingxue felt somewhat flustered.
He Yang smiled gently. "Don't be nervous. I just need to invite the Great Immortal out."
He opened his bag and carefully brought out a Taoist statue about the length of a forearm. "This is the Luck-Bringing Immortal. Would you like to give it a try?"
Qi Yingxue: "..."
A major celebrity suddenly turning into a mystic was a bit disillusioning.
But then, this world was already quite fantastical. Having a Luck-Bringing Immortal seemed almost normal.
She asked, "How do I try it?"
He Yang said in a low voice, "First, pay a 9999 yuan membership fee. I've sent the official account to you."
It was only ten thousand yuan. Qi Yingxue didn't mind the cost.
She gritted her teeth and did as instructed.
He Yang pointed to the reply she received. "See, you've already gained 100 luck points. This is a trial. If you genuinely feel your luck has improved, you can come to me to buy one to take home."
"Isn't it enough to just pay the official account?" Qi Yingxue asked. "What's the use of buying it?"
He Yang's expression remained unchanged. "Because it is the Luck-Bringing Immortal. Buying one to place at home means it will always watch over you."
"No need to keep paying?" Qi Yingxue was skeptical.
He Yang said unhurriedly, "When you feel you need more luck points, you pay a certain fee as needed. Then, facing the Luck-Bringing Immortal, say three times, 'Great Immortal, bestow luck upon me,' and send the name and birth date of the person you dislike."
"Why?"
He Yang replied casually, "As long as you can obtain luck points, why bother knowing so much? You're a smart person. Even if I don't say it, you can probably guess, right?"
Qi Yingxue's heart pounded wildly.
She asked with difficulty, "Can it really change one's fortune?"
"You just gained 100 points. Go try it and see for yourself?"
Qi Yingxue stared at him. "Why are you helping me?"
"I just feel you need it," He Yang sighed softly. "When I was at my lowest point, it saved me. I want more people to revere it."
Qi Yingxue: "..."
Even so, she still felt there was something a bit off about He Yang.
She took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll give it a try."
Leaving the dressing room, it was just time for her scene.
Whether it was psychological or a stroke of luck, her shots this time went incredibly smoothly. The director not only didn't call for a retake but also praised her with great satisfaction.
Even the crew's attitude towards her shifted slightly.
The entire day continued like this!
"I think Qi Yingxue's acting is quite good, and she's pretty too. She seems alright."
"Yeah, you can't always believe everything you see online."
"It's normal to get angry when you hit a pet peeve in a novel. Was her issue really that big of a deal?"
Hearing these whispered comments, a look of pure delight flashed in Qi Yingxue's eyes.
She was truly experiencing the benefits brought by the luck points.
She decisively sought out He Yang.
"I want a Fortune Immortal statue."
He Yang wasn't surprised at all and said with a smile, "One million."
Qi Yingxue was shocked. "One million?"
For an ordinary stone statue? Was this robbery?
He Yang: "You can also choose not to buy it."
Qi Yingxue gritted her teeth. "I'll buy it!"
Once she made a comeback, what was a mere million?
Resort.
After the picnic, everyone lay on the grass, too lazy to move.
Zhang Chengyan browsed the web on his phone, frowning. "Master, I've searched everywhere but haven't found any comments about the resort's Fortune Immortal. Logically, if the Fortune Immortal was really that effective, someone would have mentioned it."
"There's only so much luck in the world. Who would want to tell others where they can buy it?" Yang Su said. "If I could buy gambling luck here, I definitely wouldn't tell anyone."
Zhang Chengyan nodded. "That makes sense."
"Another possibility," Du Jiaming raised an eyebrow, "is that there's something wrong with this Fortune Immortal. Those who bought it feel guilty and don't dare to talk about it."
"What kind of problem?" Yang Su asked.
Du Jiaming: "Why don't you buy one from the staff before you leave and find out?"
Yang Su: "..."
Was he supposed to be the sucker again?
He turned to Qi Quan: "Master, you told me to try the Fortune Immortal before. Did you notice any problems?"
Qi Quan nodded. "There is a problem."
"Please enlighten us, Master."
Everyone, living and spectral, listened attentively.
Qi Quan: "What is the calculation method for one hundred luck points? Luck is intangible. How much effect do one hundred points actually have? No one knows."
"Oh right, I spent ten thousand, but I have no idea how much he actually gave me." Yang Su instantly felt ripped off.
Qi Quan: "Also, where does the Fortune Immortal's luck come from? Every product has a complete supply chain. You are the buyer, the luck points are the product. So what is the raw material used to produce this product?"
"Exactly," Du Jiaming agreed. "You have no luck, yet you can buy luck. That purchased luck must have an origin. Is it someone else's luck?"
Yang Su: !!!
His face immediately paled, and he hurriedly asked Qi Quan, "Master, then... have I committed a sin? Will there be karmic consequences? I don't want to harm someone unknowingly."
"It's nothing. At most, your gambling luck will just get worse," Qi Quan said nonchalantly.
Yang Su: "..."
...
Du Jiaming and Zhang Chengyan couldn't stop laughing.
"Master, would you like to go boating?" Su Rong, having packed up the picnic tools, asked with a smile.
Qi Quan gave an indifferent nod.
There was a river beside the resort, specifically set up for boating. The river, formed from mountain streams, was extremely clear. Under the sunlight, you could see the stones on the riverbed. The water surface was calm and ripple-free, perfect for a wooden raft.
The raft could carry six people. The three ghosts didn't count towards the weight, so Qi Quan and the other four living people all boarded, plus the raft poler, making exactly six.
The boatman had a weathered face, a simple and honest smile, and spoke with a strong local accent, his voice booming, "All passengers, please sit tight! Setting off now!"
The raft drifted on the river. Up close, the water was a translucent green; in the distance, the forest was dense. You could even see the lightning rods on the resort villas' roofs.
"So refreshing and relaxing!" Yang Su sighed.
Zhang Chengyan: "This place really is well-developed. Look, fish!"
Fish swam around the raft, wagging their tails. He reached out to catch one, but it darted away instantly, showing no mercy.
"Let me try!" Du Jiaming rolled up his sleeves.
Men's competitive spirit could emerge anywhere.
He plunged his hand into the water, focused on a fish, and made a grab. The fish swished its tail, slapped the back of his hand, and swam away proudly.
"Hahahaha!" Yang Su laughed at the two of them. "You guys are so childish!"
The system complains: [They really are childish.]
Qi Quan couldn't help but curve her lips into a slight smile.
Silly antics brought more joy.
Ling Sheng sat beside her. Seeing her relaxed, happy smile, he tilted his head, then mimicked the others, reaching his hand into the water.
"Don't copy them," Yang Su advised upon seeing this. "There's no way you'll catch a fish—"
A small fish lay obediently in the young man's palm, its scales shimmering red, looking extremely beautiful under the sunlight.
Ling Sheng held the little fish out towards Qi Quan.
Zhang Chengyan and the other two stared, mouths agape, in disbelief.
What was going on?!
Qi Quan's gaze moved from the fish to the young man's hand.
His knuckles were just the right size, fingers long and slender like bamboo stalks, holding the fish with a gentle, almost pleading gesture.
She looked up into Ling Sheng's eyes.
The young man was backlit. His amber pupils, light and translucent, held a hint of anticipation.
Qi Quan said calmly, "Let it go."
She wasn't a cat; what did she need a fish for?
Ling Sheng was momentarily stunned, then returned the fish to the water. Unexpectedly, the fish seemed attached to him, chasing after the raft and staying close to him, refusing to leave.
"How strange. What kind of charm do you have? Or has this fish become sentient?" Zhang Chengyan looked puzzled.
Du Jiaming laughed. "Maybe it's a fish that judges by looks."
"..."
The raft drifted quietly forward. The wind brushed against their faces, carrying the scents of the forest and river, refreshing and pleasant.
"Hel...p... me..."
Suddenly, a faint, intermittent cry for help drifted over with the wind. Listening carefully, it disappeared again.
Qi Quan instinctively straightened her posture.
Seeing her reaction, Ling Sheng's gaze turned towards the direction the cry for help had come from.
The sound was too faint. Apart from Qi Quan and Ling Sheng, no one else heard it.
Du Jiaming and the other two were still chatting and laughing.
The long pole plunged into the river bottom, lifted, and broke the surface with a splash of water.
"Help... me..." The weak cry for help sounded again.
Qi Quan communicated telepathically with her ghost servant: "Xue Hong, go check the woods in the eleven o'clock direction. Someone is calling for help."
...
Upon hearing this, Xue Hong immediately floated away from the raft.
"Master, can we go into the mountains?" Qi Quan asked aloud.
The boatman replied, "Sure can! There's a landing up ahead. Once you disembark, you can go play the jungle adventure project. But there are restricted areas in the mountains, some places you can't go."
"Alright, please stop at the landing."
The boatman complied, dropping them off at the landing.
"Master, are you going to play jungle adventure?" Du Jiaming loved this kind of activity.
Qi Quan: "Yes."
At that moment, Xue Hong sent a message: "Master, there really is a person. He fell down a slope, his thigh was cut by a sharp branch, and he's lost quite a bit of blood. His phone is broken, so he can't call for help."
Qi Quan: "Good. Wait for us to arrive."
She quickly changed into her jungle exploration gear and, without waiting for Du Jiaming and the other two, headed straight into the jungle.
Ling Sheng followed her closely, with Su Rong and Ji Shengzhe floating along behind them.
"Master! Wait for us!" the three of them called out urgently, but all they saw was Qi Quan's merciless back as she abandoned them.
A staff member chuckled, "What are you following them for? To be a third wheel?"
The three men: "..."
It suddenly dawned on them.
"Yeah, well, the Master is so powerful anyway, she doesn't need our protection," Du Jiaming said.
Yang Su nodded in agreement, slowing his movements. "Should we just go explore on our own then?"
"Let's not disturb the Master," Zhang Chengyan nodded in agreement.
This mountain forest was largely undeveloped, with dense, deep woods. Once inside the forest, you couldn't see anyone at all.
Qi Quan's goal was very clear.
A thigh injury, lots of blood loss, unable to move, likely in life-threatening danger.
She couldn't just stand by and watch a life fade away.
She had died young in her previous life, so she cherished life all the more.
Qi Quan moved swiftly, arriving at the scene in moments.
The person calling for help heard the commotion and instantly burst with immense joy, straining his voice: "Help! Help me!"
He was already feeling chills all over. If he didn't get to a hospital soon, he feared he would go into shock from blood loss.
Under extreme terror, tears streamed down, blurring his vision.
Through that blurred vision, two figures entered his world.
At that moment, light pierced the gloomy, despairing forest.
The man choked out, "Please, call an ambulance for me, I'm dying."
Qi Quan glanced at him. A face marked by clinging misfortune, yet with a fortune that turns peril into safety.
He wouldn't die.
Qi Quan calmly called an ambulance and notified the resort's management.
System: [Big shot, his leg is still bleeding.]
It would take time for the ambulance to arrive, especially here in the mountain forest where it wasn't easy for vehicles to get in. Emergency doctors wouldn't arrive that quickly either.
Fortunately, the resort had a first-aid station. The management, having been notified, should dispatch doctors from there to come as soon as possible.
Ling Sheng's gaze swept indifferently over the man, settling on Qi Quan's calm face.
Though calm, her eyes still held a hint of intent to save someone.
He lowered his head in thought, walked over to the injured man, squatted down, and pressed his fingers a few times around the man's wound.
Imperceptible spiritual energy probed into the wound.
Qi Quan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
She clearly saw that, under the young man's control, subtle spiritual energy nourished the flesh of the wound in an extremely precise manner, but it only slowed the bleeding, not healing the wound completely.
What incredibly precise control of spiritual energy!
But then she remembered he had been imprisoned in a cave, enduring for over a decade with shackles deeply embedded in his flesh, and her surprise faded.
Over a decade of self-healing was enough for him to master such fine control.
The injured man's eyes widened.
His sensation was the clearest. The wound that had been bleeding continuously just moments ago had almost stopped, all because this extraordinarily handsome young man had pressed a few points around it.
He blurted out, "Did you study traditional Chinese medicine? Was that acupressure to stop the bleeding just now? You're a miracle doctor!"
Ling Sheng: "..."
Qi Quan: "..."
Xue Hong, taking advantage of her ghostly form, laughed heartily without restraint.
Seeing that he was out of immediate danger, the man's panicked mood gradually calmed, and he even started chatting with Qi Quan and the other.
But Qi Quan rarely spoke, and Ling Sheng never spoke, so he ended up chattering to himself in lonely solitude.
"I'm really unlucky. I was walking just fine, then suddenly my foot slipped for no reason, I fell down, got my leg pierced by a branch, almost died. If you hadn't shown up in time, I'd probably be gone by now."
"This forest is really weird. Can a project like this really guarantee tourists' safety?"
"No way, I'm going to file a complaint... Ah!"
A dollop of bird droppings landed squarely on his forehead.
"Pfft." Xue Hong couldn't help but laugh again. "He really is quite unlucky."
The man felt like crying but had no tears. He pulled out a wet wipe from his bag and wiped it off, feeling like a foul smell lingered around his nose.
"Is this resort cursed or something? I heard people who come here get lucky! How come I'm the only one so unlucky?"
Qi Quan spoke up abruptly, "Who did you hear that from?"
"Huh?" The man looked confused. "Just... from people talking."
There was no mention online about the resort affecting luck, yet this man knew about it. Strange.
"The internet only says the resort is nice, it doesn't mention luck," she guided his train of thought.
The man instinctively replied, "I didn't see it online. I heard it from people around me. To be honest, since I got to the resort, I really haven't felt anything special about this place. How did it get so popular?"
Qi Quan studied him carefully.
A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes, but more prominent were feelings of resentment and confusion.
"Master!" Du Jiaming's voice came from not far away. "So you came here too."
The three of them walked over cheerfully, pausing when they saw the injured man on the ground.
"Buddy, you okay?" Zhang Chengyan walked over and asked with concern.
The man shook his head, looking at Ling Sheng with gratitude. "This miracle doctor here stopped my bleeding just now. I'm fine now, just a bit dizzy and cold."
"Miracle doctor?" Du Jiaming approached curiously.
The man finally got a clear look at his face, paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "You... are you the eldest son of the Du family?"
"You know me?" Du Jiaming looked him over carefully, no recognition. "You're from the city too?"
The man smiled, "Yes. I saw Chairman Du at a cocktail party once. You were standing right beside him then."
The Du family was a giant in Longjiang City's business world, with plenty of people currying favor. This man was likely among them.
Du Jiaming didn't dislike such people. In business, it's business—whether the other party flatters or acts aloof, as long as there's mutual benefit and profit to be made, they were a potential partner.
Du Jiaming asked with interest, "Then we really are fated to meet. What do you do?"
Hearing this, the man felt he'd hit the jackpot, running into the Du family's eldest son deep in the wild mountains. He grew excited and said hurriedly, "I'm in real estate development. I even discussed a cooperation project with Chairman Du before. A shame I didn't win his favor."
Real estate development again.
Du Jiaming asked, "Which specific area? Residential? Office buildings? Or something else?"
"Well... I previously developed a vacation villa resort. Unfortunately, no customers came. Lost my shirt, sigh!"
Xue Hong tutted: "No wonder he's criticizing this resort. He's just jealous of their customer traffic."
System: [So he's just jealous. Then I don't sympathize with him.]
Qi Quan curved her lips slightly: [Even if he's jealous, as long as he hasn't caused actual harm, he shouldn't have such terrible luck.]
If she hadn't heard his cries for help, if Ling Sheng hadn't stopped his bleeding, he probably would have gone into shock long ago. He wouldn't be here trying to cozy up to Du Jiaming.
System: [You mean?]
[The Luck Immortal is very interesting. It can protect its owner from any adverse effects and reflect them back.]
Probably this man, filled with resentment, must have cursed the resort, and as a result, suffered a backlash of bad luck.
System: [Ah, this... it's too sinister. This isn't an immortal, it's a ghost, right?]
"So you came here to seek enlightenment?" Du Jiaming saw through his little scheme. "And ended up getting hurt by accident?"
"I think this place is really shady. Before I came, I clearly heard that people who enter would have good luck. Looking at it now, it's all just 'stepping in dog poop' kind of luck!"
Yang Su asked in surprise, "You don't know about the Fortune God?"
"What Fortune God?" The man was confused.
"When you came in, didn't the staff explain it to you?" Yang Su thought of something and glanced at the man's clothes.
A real estate boss, with his entire outfit worth less than five hundred bucks. It seemed he really had lost a lot of money.
The staff judged people by their appearance, figuring he couldn't afford the membership fee, so they couldn't be bothered to waste their breath.
The man: "No, no one mentioned any Fortune God to me. Damn it, is Sun Yong involved in some crooked, shady path?"
"You know Sun Yong?" Qi Quan asked.
The man nodded: "We're in the same line of business, of course I know him. And it's not just because of that; actually, I knew him even before he made his fortune. We used to live across the street from each other."
"Who's Sun Yong?" Yang Su asked.
"He's the owner of this resort," Zhang Chengyan answered him, then turned back to the man. "So you're not doing as well as him now."
The man said sourly, "I was in the business before him! After I made a small fortune, he came begging me to take him on, to give him a job. I softened up and let him try, but a slacker is always a slacker. He was always slacking off and cutting corners. I got angry and fired him. Who would've thought that bastard would suddenly hit the jackpot one day, won ten million, and also got into real estate, competing directly with me."
"You really had it rough," Yang Su sighed.
From Sun Yong's perspective, it was a classic story of comeback and revenge. But for this man, it was undoubtedly a humiliation.
He must have been mocked by Sun Yong plenty of times.
System: [Sun Yong probably surpassed him after his fortune changed.]
Qi Quan didn't comment.
Things might not be that simple.
Soon after, the ambulance arrived. The man was taken to the hospital. The resort manager repeatedly apologized, saying they would cover all medical expenses and compensate for various losses.
He also bowed in thanks to Qi Quan and the others.
"Honored guests, thank you so much for your timely rescue. Your visit today is completely free. Here are our resort's gold cards. From now on, whenever you grace us with your presence, no need to book in advance, and all expenses will be 30% off."
The manager's attitude was extremely sincere.
Du Jiaming and the other two took the gold cards and casually tucked them into their pockets. After the manager left, they joked, "There's a reason their business grew so big."
Outside the resort...
...Yan Geng, who had been waiting for an opportunity, suddenly stood up.
"Brother Huai, it seems someone got injured inside. They've already taken an ambulance. Does that mean there's a vacant room now?"
Yan Huai strode off immediately.
There was indeed a vacant room, but not the injured man's. The resort also wouldn't dare to move his luggage while he was being sent to the hospital.
The two paid and smoothly entered the resort.
As core disciples of the Yan family, the two were dressed in understated luxury, all high-end custom-made. The staff couldn't recognize the brands and couldn't make assumptions. They simply led them to a villa suite, not mentioning the Fortune God.
However, Yan Geng had sharp eyes. He spotted the statue on the narrow console table in the entryway and felt something was off.
"Brother Huai, look at this."
Yan Huai's gaze fell on the eyes of the Fortune God statue.
He possessed extraordinary talent, majored in sword techniques, and his sword energy was vast and pure, a natural bane to sinister, ghostly entities.
This statue looked ethereal and immortal-like, yet it gave people an uncomfortable feeling.
"There's a problem," he trusted his intuition.
Yan Geng: "What do we do?"
"Take a photo, send it back, investigate."
"Yes."
The Yan family had deep roots and channels for investigation. This Fortune God, able to appear openly before people, would surely have left clues.
At the same time, the Longjing City Investigation Department found some leads.
"Director Li, we haven't traced the origin of the Fortune God yet, but we discovered that this Fortune God appeared ten years ago. At first, it spread only within small circles. After establishing a public account five years ago, the number of believers in the Fortune God surged dramatically. Moreover, a single Fortune God statue sells for one million."
Li Guoyan: "..."
Isn't this just another cult-like pyramid scheme?
With such a large scale of fortune-changing, even if there really was some great immortal, that immortal would be worked to death.
He said, "Investigate the high-level leaders."
"Yes!"
Longjiang City Film Studio.
Qi Yingxue had an incredibly smooth day and became even more convinced of the Fortune God's power.
But on the way back to the hotel after filming, the car almost crashed into a road sign, frightening her terribly.
Back in her hotel room, she took out the Fortune God statue, placed it on the bedside table, pulled out her phone, and opened the public account.
Inside the public account, the prices were clearly listed.
One hundred points of luck required ten thousand yuan. The previous 9999 yuan was just a first-time membership discount.
Qi Yingxue was speechless.
A discount of one yuan? That's too stingy.
She thought for a moment, transferred twenty thousand over, and said to the statue three times, 'Great Immortal, please grant me luck.' She waited for a while, but there was still no reply.
Did she really have to send the name and birth date of someone she disliked?
Qi Yingxue's mind conjured up Qi Quan and her own birthday.
She hesitated for a moment, then hardened her heart, typed into the dialog box, and clicked send.
One second passed.
Five seconds passed.
Ten seconds passed.
The public account still showed no reaction. Qi Yingxue felt she had been scammed and was about to call He Yang to question him when suddenly—
Boom!
A huge explosive sound blasted in her ears. Her eardrums buzzed, nearly deafened by the explosion.
Qi Yingxue was scared out of her wits, frozen in place, unable to even scream.
The statue, with its immortal and dignified demeanor, instantly turned into dust.
The statue was made of ordinary stone, relatively hard in texture, yet it shattered into powder right before her eyes.
It was impossible not to be terrified.
...
After regaining her senses, Qi Yingxue quickly called He Yang.
He Yang's voice was still warm and gentle: "What's up?"
"I just used the Fortune God, and it suddenly exploded! Shattered to pieces! What on earth is going on? Isn't it a counterfeit?"
He Yang said in surprise, "How could that be? Take a photo and show me."
Qi Yingxue took a picture of the pile of powder and sent it over.
[He Yang: ...]
[Qi Yingxue: No way, refund my one million! And the twenty thousand I just sent to the public account!]
[He Yang: Let me ask for you first.]
A moment later, Qi Yingxue received a reply.
[He Yang: Did you say a name you shouldn't have? This might be a backlash. Be careful these next few days.]
[Qi Yingxue: What do you mean?!]
[He Yang: It means you've provoked someone you shouldn't have. Your luck might become extremely bad from now on. Take care.]
[Qi Yingxue: What about my money!]
[Message sent, but rejected by the recipient.]
Qi Yingxue: ...
Resort.
Qi Quan, having finished a day of fun, was sitting on the bed cultivating when suddenly a chill ran down her back. A wisp of black energy inexplicably descended, swirling and hovering above her head. However, due to the presence of her protective spiritual energy, it dared not land.
She opened her eyes.
System: [Big shot, what's wrong?]
Qi Quan raised her head, reached out, and grabbed that mass of black energy. She kneaded it with her spiritual power, and with a soft poof, it burst apart.
Someone was plotting against her.
[Big Boss, what is that?]
Qi Quan: [Something that steals luck.]
[Ah? Who dares to steal your luck? Not only are they bold, but their face is bigger than the sky!]
Qi Quan performed a quick divination with her fingers, not feeling surprised in the slightest.
As the counterpart to the "true heiress," the false heiress Qi Yingxue had an extraordinary destiny.
Qi Quan couldn't divine her own fate, but she could see that Qi Yingxue's destiny was inherently in conflict with that of the Qi family.
From this perspective, Qi Yingxue should be her nemesis.
Calling her a nemesis might be giving her too much credit, but at the very least, Qi Yingxue was born with a certain purpose.
They were opposites.
Therefore, very often, the actions Qi Yingxue took happened to harm her in just the right way.
For example, the targeting after returning to the Qi family, being used by Yan Wu to deal with her, and this current attempt to steal her luck.
It was only because the Qi family had always treated her well and hadn't provoked her "influence" that things had been smooth sailing all these years.
Once she harbored resentment towards the Qi family members, she might very well subconsciously do certain things that "countered" them.
Qi Quan gained a deeper understanding of the "painstaking efforts" of the mastermind behind all this.
Finding a person with such a "uniquely favored" destiny must have taken immense effort.
To orchestrate a timely "mix-up at birth," preparations had to be made in advance.
Could it be that the hidden hand had long since calculated her immense fortune?
The deeper she dug, the more interesting this matter became.
Without hesitation, Qi Quan sent a message to Li Guoyan: [Arrest Qi Yingxue. Get clues about the Luck Transfer Immortal from her.]
She had already tested the waters today.
This Luck Transfer Immortal indeed possessed the ability to alter luck, but—
The sheer volume of luck being supplied was not something that Ji Shengzhe's nine lifetimes of merit could sustain.
For "founding members" like Yang Su, obtaining one hundred points of luck might have been transferred from the Luck Transfer Immortal's own reserve, but the subsequent supply of luck absolutely could not be.
No individual or organization could afford such a massive quantity of luck, leaving only one possibility—
Borrowing luck.
Judging by his facial features, the injured man from today should have had a destiny of wealth and honor. Yet, he was nearly driven to bankruptcy by Sun Yong's oppression, and just because he criticized the resort a few times, he had a terrible stroke of bad luck, almost bleeding to death.
It was hard for Qi Quan not to suspect that Sun Yong, out of resentment for being fired back then, used the Luck Transfer Immortal to transfer his enemy's fortune to himself.
The black energy targeting her just now further confirmed this.
Who else but Qi Yingxue could do such a thing?
She was quite confident that Qi Yingxue had encountered the Luck Transfer Immortal.
Her phone chimed.
[Li Guoyan: Okay. I've already instructed the Longjiang City Investigation Department to proceed with the arrest.]
A certain hotel.
Qi Yingxue was fuming with anger, gnashing her teeth, when her phone rang again. She hurriedly looked down.
It wasn't He Yang, but Song Lin.
Her expression changed slightly. She waited nearly ten seconds, pressing answer just as the ringtone was about to end.
"A-Lin? Is something wrong, calling so late?" Qi Yingxue deliberately made her voice sound hoarse, pretending to be extremely sleepy.
Song Lin's voice was low. "Yingxue, I hope I'm not disturbing you? I asked around and found out you just finished shooting and returned to the hotel, so I called."
Qi Yingxue: "..."
She gave a light cough. "It's fine. I said too many lines today, my throat is sore."
Song Lin said with concern, "Take care of yourself. Buy some throat lozenges."
In the past, he would have personally paid to have someone buy and deliver them, but now, he didn't have the means.
Qi Yingxue's expression was indifferent, but her voice remained unchanged from usual. "Mhm, I know. You should rest more too."
"Yingxue, could you... help me with something?" Song Lin finally got to the point.
"Go ahead," Qi Yingxue said.
"Could you lend me five million? I promise I'll pay you back in a month, with interest," Song Lin's tone was somewhat awkward. He really had no other choice but to ask his fiancée for a loan.
To make a comeback, he needed capital. Five million was truly pocket change to his former self, and it wasn't a huge sum for Qi Yingxue either.
Qi Yingxue gave a light laugh. "Why be so polite with me? But A-Lin, you know how it is, the entertainment industry is all about fame and fortune. I've earned quite a bit before, but it all went on gowns, jewelry, things like that. I haven't saved much at all. If I had the money, I would definitely give it to you!"
What she said wasn't entirely false.
She had indeed earned a lot after entering the industry, but her expenses were also high. She didn't have much cash on hand, having just spent a million today. She really couldn't come up with five million.
Song Lin: "..."
"How about this," Qi Yingxue suggested, "I'll have my assistant sell all my bags and jewelry. I'm sure we can scrape together five million. I'll give it to you then, okay?"
In truth, the gifts Song Lin had given her in the past were worth far more than five million.
Song Lin, who had once been capable of managing major projects single-handedly, was no fool. It was just that having known Qi Yingxue for over a decade, he was unwilling to believe his fiancée could change her attitude so quickly.
He covered his face, gripping the phone tightly.
It had taken immense courage for him to make this call, only to hear her seemingly concerned yet actually cold words.
How ironic.
He said hoarsely, "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."
The call ended.
"A-Lin, are you okay?" Mrs. Song looked at him worriedly.
His face was far too pale.
Song Lin shook his head, smiling self-deprecatingly. "Mom, Dad... let's call off the engagement with the Qi family."
Mr. Song wasn't surprised.
Their family had fallen to such a state; they really were no longer suitable to be in-laws with the Qi family. The Qi family hadn't brought it up yet, only out of consideration for saving face.
But they couldn't drag it on any longer.
Taking the initiative to bring it up would show more backbone than being forced into it.
He sighed. "Your mother and I had this thought before, but considering your good relationship with Qi Yingxue, we were afraid you'd take it hard, so we didn't mention it."
Song Lin was stunned. So he had been naive.
He had still been thinking about starting from scratch, not letting Qi Yingxue suffer with him. He had even asked her to wait for him. Thinking back now, he had been presumptuous and lacked self-awareness.
Rather than waiting for his uncertain future, it would be better for her to find another "Song Lin."
He confessed frankly, "I just asked her to lend me five million, but she refused. I think... she probably doesn't want to be with me anymore."
"Mhm." Mr. Song, having experienced more, saw things more clearly. "Since she's made her attitude clear, you shouldn't contact her anymore in the future."
Mrs. Song was more emotional. "Was your over-a-decade-long relationship fake? No matter how busy you were before, you never forgot to spend time with her, spent so much money on gifts for her. How could she be so heartless!"
"Only sharing prosperity, not adversity. We've seen plenty of people like that. No need to be heartbroken over it." Mr. Song hadn't had much interaction with Qi Yingxue and was quite objective.
Mrs. Song said angrily, "She just looks down on our family now that we're drowning in debt, thinks we can't rise again! I'll make sure she sees clearly!"
Knowing his wife, Mr. Song couldn't help but frown. "A-Mei, are you planning to..."
Mrs. Song, named Zuo Mei, was from Longjing City. In her youth, she could be considered a wealthy heiress. However, during university, she fell in love with a poor young man named Song Weisheng—Song Lin's father.
Song Weisheng came from a poor family but was handsome, talented, and highly capable. The two were a perfect match, one with beauty and the other with talent.
Unfortunately, the Zuo family looked down on Song Weisheng. Furthermore, as the family needed Zuo Mei for a strategic marriage alliance, they firmly opposed the relationship.
Zuo Mei, however, was resolute. She was willing to sever ties with her family to be with Song Weisheng.
The couple left Longjing City and came to Longjiang City to build their lives.
Many years had passed. Song Weisheng had achieved success and fame, but Zuo Mei still held a grudge in her heart and had never initiated contact with her natal family.
Now, however, she had no choice but to take this step.
She smiled and said, "It's been decades. It's time to let go. Face isn't important now; what's important is our family."
Song Weisheng held her hand, his eyes moist. "It's my fault for not being capable enough."
"It's fine. Big Brother used to dote on me. If I go to him, he'll surely be willing to lend us the money."
The Zuo family was a prominent household in Longjing City; coming up with a few million or even ten million would be effortless.
Song Weisheng also smiled. "Yes, Big Brother did care for you deeply. He even punched me back then."
The couple reminisced about the past and couldn't help but laugh together.
Song Lin chimed in with a smile, "Mom is so beautiful, of course she was well-liked."
"Not bad," Zuo Mei said modestly. "But if we're talking about beauty, it has to be the one back then—"
Her words cut off abruptly.
"The one back then what?" Song Lin asked curiously.
Zuo Mei suddenly stood up, her face filled with astonishment. "I know why she looks familiar! I remember now!"
She was stunned for a long moment, then murmured, "But how is that possible? It can't be..."
Father and son: ???
Inside the hotel, Qi Yingxue heard the call end, and a trace of reluctance welled up in her heart, but it was quickly suppressed by her inherently self-serving nature.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
An inexplicable panic arose in her. She didn't respond.
The knocking continued.
"Excuse me, is the guest in the room there? We are the police. Please open the door."
Qi Yingxue: ?
...Why were the police looking for her?
She looked through the peephole. A male officer and a female officer stood outside; the one speaking was the female officer.
It was unlikely someone would impersonate police inside a hotel, right?
She asked through the door, "What is this about?"
The female officer said, "You may have been involved in an illegal pyramid scheme organization. Please cooperate with our investigation."
Pyramid scheme?!
Qi Yingxue whirled around and looked at the statue that had turned to dust.
She really had been scammed!
"Ms. Qi, please cooperate with the police investigation," the female officer said sternly again.
Deep down, Qi Yingxue felt some fear of the police. She had no choice but to open the door, her eyes reddening as she said, "I was tricked!"
The female officer, however, didn't look at her but turned her head towards the back.
A girl with dreadlocks suddenly stepped forward, produced her credentials, and said with a serious expression, "Hello, Special Case Investigation Division. Please come with us."
Qi Yingxue: "..."
