FI Ch7: The First Client

Inside, another slap echoed crisply.

Lin Su, with a look that was like a lotus flower fresh from rain, leaned at the doorway. Director Li was sweating, trying to keep his voice soft and gentle.

“Is that so… well, hurry to the infirmary, then.”

The noise from inside quieted, as if Zheng Fei’s mom had been persuaded to calm down. Lin Su straightened up at an appropriate moment, leaning slightly against the doorframe. “Alright.”

Director Li sighed in relief and was about to open the door.

Just as his hand touched the doorknob, He Zhenling suddenly spoke. “Where does it hurt?”

Director Li: “…”

Lin Su: “…”

He raised his head and met He Zhenling’s gaze. The latter’s lashes were long, his lowered eyes shadowing the color in his gaze. Paired with his cool expression, there was an inexplicable allure.

Maintaining his character, Lin Su answered slowly, “A headache.”

“A headache?”

“Mm.” Lin Su pressed his lips together. “I studied too hard.”

A quick burst of laughter erupted in his mind: 【Ha!】

The people in front of him also seemed to pause for a second.

Then He Zhenling’s gaze flicked over the school badge on his chest. He praised in an ordinary tone, “So young, and already so diligent.”

Lin Su: “…”

He looked back in admiration, shyly saying, “Because I want to be like you. At your age, already a leader.”

He Zhenling: “…”

Director Li’s smile was almost about to crack.

It seemed there was noise inside again, and he quickly turned, pressing down the door handle. He said to He Zhenling, “Let’s go in quickly, Mr. He.”

He Zhenling finally looked away, giving a slight “Mhm.”

The two entered the office, and the door clicked shut.

…

Lin Su had watched enough of the scene and turned to head downstairs.

He mused, “Didn’t you say He Zhenling was cold as ice? I see he has plenty to say.”

【That has nothing to do with being cold or not.】

Xue Nima, with a numb tone: 【Anyone who hears your words feels they just can’t let it go without a reply.】

“…”

Lin Su: “So if someone were to hear me speak right before passing, would it extend their life?”

Xue Nima shut his eyes again in pained silence.

The awkward topic didn’t linger too long.

Lin Su had just reached the bottom of the stairs when some noise suddenly came from above. It seemed the door to the Academic Affairs Office had opened, and people were slowly coming out.

He stopped and looked up.

Pei Jin was the first to come down.

Seeing him, Pei Jin looked briefly surprised, then smiled as he approached.

“Junior Lin.”

Lin Su hadn’t even opened his mouth before a few more people followed down behind.

Zheng Fei and his group were now completely silent, their previous arrogance utterly gone. Zheng Fei looked the worst, with slap marks on both cheeks.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, nearby students stopped and eagerly gathered to watch.

Zheng Fei’s face burned even more. When he looked up and saw Lin Su, he clenched his teeth. “…What are you staring at!”

Lin Su raised both hands. “To congratulate you.”

“Congratulate me for what!”

“Congratulations. Now, it’s not just the girls,” Lin Su clapped his hands, “even the boys, dogs, the whole school—no one can pass by without stopping when they see you.”

“…” Zheng Fei was about to explode! But he suddenly caught onto one word, curiosity overtaking his shame, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Where did the ‘dogs’ come from?”

Lin Su realized, “Oh, Wei Dong already dropped out.”

Everyone: “……”

Zheng Fei suddenly felt that he hadn’t been insulted too harshly and even found a subtle sense of balance. He said nothing further, turned his head, and walked away.

The surrounding students also dispersed reluctantly, still savoring the drama.

Lin Su and Pei Jin stood by the staircase.

Now that the issue was fully resolved, Pei Jin looked visibly relieved, his face showing hints of the confident look he used to have.

“Junior Lin, I have you to thank for this.”

Pei Jin paused, looking slightly embarrassed but spoke earnestly, “I probably can’t pay you the commission fee right now. If you give me a receipt, I promise to pay you back after I get into college and start earning money.”

“No need for the commission fee. Let’s just consider it making a new friend.”

Lin Su said, “Besides, I also received the ‘compensation’ I needed.”

Pei Jin thought about it and said, “Then if you ever need my help in the future, just let me know.”

Lin Su smiled. “Alright.”

–

With the matter wrapped up, Lin Su returned to his classroom and sat down. Xue Nima was perched on the windowsill, resting his front paws as he asked:

【What are your plans next?】

“I haven’t received any new orders, so I’ll take a few days off.”

As for running into He Zhenling today—

It had surprised him initially, but, well, everyone in their line of work had a few alter egos.

Just like his first alter ego at the moment, a student at Xun City First High School.

Lin Su didn’t think much of it. Just then, his phone vibrated, and a notification popped up: [Hey, got news!]

His attention shifted as he glanced at it.

Xue Nima: 【Who’s knocking on your pop-up?】

“It’s Bai Wuchang, our friend who loves to sneak in through windows. He found the Heavenly master I asked him to track down last time, who, it turns out, is part of the Heavenly Masters Association. He suggested we meet this weekend outside to discuss the situation.”

As Lin Su explained, he sent a quick response: [Approved.]

…

The weekend meeting place was a coffee shop.

As the door chimed, Lin Su stepped inside. The atmosphere was clean and bright, with sunlight streaming gently through a glass window on one side.

Lin Su spotted the man he was meeting at once.

A man in his thirties sat near the window, fidgeting as he anxiously looked around.

Lin Su walked over and pulled out a seat. “Ge Lili?”

The man across from him looked up in surprise, confirming, “Are you the ‘Sir’ Seventh Lord mentioned?”

Seventh Lord, of course, referred to Bai Wuchang.

In their line of work, there was a rule: in most cases, ghosts didn’t reveal their true forms, and divine envoys didn’t expose their divine ranks.

So, Lin Su had decided to take on a “Heavenly Master” identity to make it easier to accept future assignments.

“Yes. Bai Wu… didn’t he tell you what I looked like?”

Once those two syllables left his mouth, Ge Lili already seemed certain. “It’s not that he didn’t…” He hesitated, pulling out his phone and swallowing. “Seventh Lord drew me a sketch.”

The phone screen lit up—

Two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

Lin Su: “…”

Xue Nima: 【…】

In his mind, Lin Su marveled. “Nima… his sketching truly reduces things to the bare minimum.”

Just what was necessary—no extra lines at all.

Xue Nima, taking a mediator’s stance: 【That’s fine. A few more lines, and it’d look like a wanted poster.】

They both immersed themselves in admiring the masterpiece.

Ge Lili, unable to see the spiritual presence, could only watch the unusually handsome young man across from him, who hadn’t moved for a long while. His face, as pale as white jade, revealed faint blue veins along his upraised wrist.

He might have been a “sir,” but Ge Lili was finding it hard to believe.

However, he still sat respectfully and carefully, until Lin Su returned the phone and said, “I’d like to apply for a Heavenly Master’s certificate.”

He’d had one in the past, but seventeen years ago, corruption in the Feng Shui world led to a total reshuffling of the Heavenly Masters Association.

His previous “alter ego” likely got revoked along with it.

“It’s doable, but the Association is currently preparing for events and competitions, so the process is a bit complex. If you’re looking for help, everyone’s temporarily too busy.”

Ge Lili offered, “If you’re not in a rush, how about I take you there next weekend?”

Lin Su nodded and then asked, “Who’s the current chairman?”

Ge Lili gave him a name.

“Does the Association have any rules, like mandatory team-building activities?”

“…No, no.”

Lin Su continued with a series of questions.

After being dormant for so many years, he asked all the basics. After a few rounds, although Ge Lili’s respectful attitude hadn’t changed, there was now a bit of suspicion and a hint less reverence than at the beginning.

【He must be thinking, “How can you be a ‘sir’ who knows so little, even less than an ordinary Taoist priest?”】

Lin Su replied, “He doesn’t understand the saying ‘the noble often forget things.’”

Xue Nima shook its head: 【If every noble in the world were like you, I can’t imagine how chaotic things would be.】

“…”

Lin Su ignored it and didn’t say much more to Ge Lili either.

Before long, he’d gathered the essential information. He stood up to say goodbye to Ge Lili, but after taking a step, he suddenly turned back and said,

“Your spirit is slightly dislocated, and you have some minor misfortunes nearby. The aura’s beginning at your noon palace; when May’s fire qi peaks, it’s best to avoid water, or else you’ll encounter an element clash with earth.”

Ge Lili, “?”

Having said his piece, Lin Su left.

The door’s bell gave a soft chime. Ge Lili snapped out of his daze, baffled, “Just how ‘urgent’ is ‘urgent’? Readings are usually good for three months, so how am I supposed to ‘rush’?”

He shook his head, got up, and prepared to leave.

When he reached the door, he saw that the floor nearby was damp. Normally, he would have walked right over it, but that word “urgent” flashed in his mind.

Ge Lili hesitated for a second, then decided to take Lin Su’s advice and detoured around.

As soon as he stepped aside, he heard a sudden “bang!”

Turning back, he saw a clay flowerpot that had fallen off the wall and shattered into pieces on the wet floor.

“…”

Ge Lili stared in shock. After two seconds, he solemnly pulled out his phone and reverently bowed to the simple sketch on it.

“Sir, your spirit works quickly.”

–

The coffee shop wasn’t far from the apartment.

Lin Su walked home at a steady pace. Passing through a residential area, he entered a quiet network of alleys with only a few people around.

His steps echoed rhythmically on the cement.

Looking ahead, his brows subtly shifted. At the same time, he heard a voice in his mind: 【Over there…】

“Someone’s following me. I’m aware.”

【You sensed their presence?】

“Actually, their 八 character popped up over the wall. I saw it.”

【…】Xue Nima.

Lin Su pretended not to notice and continued walking until he turned into a deserted alley. Several figures hesitated briefly before following him.

Ten seconds later.

“Heaven’s Gang and Earth’s Fiends, order of spirit guardians—settle!”

“Flames of the Eight Directions, burn spirits and dispel demons—ignite!”

“Dual energies of yin and yang, limitless heavens and earth—transform!”

…

A few fiery flashes like umbrellas lit up the alley, accompanied by scattered, miserable cries. After a few muffled thuds, the dust settled, and silence returned.

Lin Su walked out of the alley without a speck of dust on him.

Ha, scum.

…

Returning to his apartment, he closed the door behind him.

He caught a faint scent of burnt talismans on his clothes, so he shrugged off his clothing and headed for a shower.

In the steam and warmth of the bath, with the water up to his chest, Lin Su leaned his head back against the edge of the tub and exhaled comfortably.

【Who were those people earlier?】

Xue Nima curled up on his head, giving him a scalp massage.

“Several groups, not together.”

Lin Su recalled the 八 characters he’d seen, “All Feng Shui practitioners—there were people from the Qi family, the Zhou family… yes, a bit to the left, press my Baihui acupoint. Besides the family names, there were also a few from unusual backgrounds.”

“Judging from the talismans and charms they brought, like spirit-evoking flags, three-purity bells, and soul-suppressing charms… they were all related to spirit-calling and resurrection.”

The pressure on his scalp paused.

【…Such a familiar déjà vu—it suddenly reminds me of that night you cosplayed as Qi Yuheng the ‘Unmovable Tenant.’】

Lin Su glanced approvingly upward. “It must be that he said something to the outside world, and those people came to test the waters. But the abundance of spirit-evoking tools suggests the target isn’t Qi Yuheng’s soul.”

Xue Nima poked its head over: 【So their target is?】

“If it really is for resurrection, the body chosen by the Qi family’s head must have something extraordinary about it.”

Lin Su patted himself with a hint of pity, “Exactly—their target is this decrepit and battered body of mine.”

【………】

The bathroom light glowed from above, mist veiling the air. The room fell silent for a few seconds before Xue Nima gathered itself and adjusted its tone:

【Then, may I ask, do you, with your decrepit self, have any sound ideas?】

Lin Su reached for his phone nearby. “Since the Qi family’s man was taken by the Inspection Association, I haven’t checked up on what’s happened since. I also don’t know how he’s been meddling behind the scenes.”

“And then there’s the connection among these groups—any secrets or gossip—”

“Let’s start by asking He Zhenling.”

As he spoke, he opened up a contact in his messaging app and sent a message: “Inspector He, an urgent matter requires discussion. Please come by my residence.”

He included the address as well.

Within just two seconds, a reply came back: “Understood.”

–

He Zhenling arrived swiftly.

Since Lin Su had mentioned an urgent matter, He Zhenling was still wearing his usual neat, tight-fitting attire, with a Tang sword slung over his back.

At the door to the apartment, he pressed the doorbell.

After about ten seconds, footsteps sounded from inside, and the door swung open—

Lin Su stood at the entryway, one hand on the doorframe.

His dark hair was damp with steam, his loose outer robe hung casually, and a damp spot had formed on his shoulder as he looked up.

Before He Zhenling could say a word, Lin Su cut straight to the point, “Here’s the thing—lately, there are a lot of people who are craving my body. Do you have any clues about that?”

“…”