FI CH16: The Second Client

“… Why is no one saying anything?”

As soon as Qi Jiachu appeared, all eyes in the room were drawn to him.

Jiang Yafei’s face turned even paler than before, and she questioned in shock, “You… How could you be here? How could you all appear here!?”

Lin Su smiled lightly, his tone pointed, “Why couldn’t we appear here?”

Everyone around them looked at Jiang Yafei with suspicion.

Jiang Yafei snapped back to reality, biting her lip before asking, “Where is Jiayuan? What have you done to him!”

Lin Su spoke lightly, “Isn’t it you who did something?”

Jiang Yafei’s shoulders shook instantly, a chill running through her heart. She looked frantic for a moment, then suddenly turned her gaze to Qi Jiachu, who had been silent, and rushed toward him in two steps.

“And you! Tell me, what happened to Jiayuan? You traitor—”

“…Traitor?”

The people around immediately caught the key word, exchanged glances, and began whispering.

The appearance of someone resembling the head of the Qi family, combined with the subtle hints in his words about the relationship with the Qi couple…

The visitor’s identity became clear.

Qi Zhuang grabbed Jiang Yafei, shooting her a resentful look.

Under the various gazes around them, he steadied himself and forced a smile, “Please forgive me for the disturbance. This is actually another son of mine, who has been ill since childhood and has always been kept at home, away from public view. Who would have thought…”

“That he was momentarily confused by outsiders.”

Qi Zhuang looked at Qi Jiachu with a subtle warning, “…Jiachu, come here quickly.”

Qi Jiachu didn’t move, simply watching him indifferently.

Qi Zhuang’s anger flared as he took a step forward. But before he could make a move, a voice rang out:

“My disciple was confused by someone?”

Turning around, they saw Xue Zhibai, dressed in simple robes, with a faint smile, “Why wasn’t I aware of that?”

A disciple? The crowd gasped.

—This is Master Xue’s disciple!?

In an instant, the people’s gazes toward Qi Jiachu changed. Some even moved a little closer, subtly indicating their desire to get on his good side.

Qi Zhuang stared at him in disbelief.

Before he could react, Jiang Yafei spoke up first, “Mr. Xue, you must have been misled!”

She glanced at Qi Jiachu and, suppressing her disgust, continued, “This child is destined for disaster. He only survived because of his brother’s good fortune. If you want to take on a disciple, Jiayuan…”

Lin Su interrupted, “Did you hear that, Lao Xue? She’s saying you’re blind.”

Qi Zhuang and his wife were stunned into silence.

The onlookers murmured, “…!”

Xue Zhibai gave the two of them a cold laugh.

While they were still embarrassed, some guests in the crowd had already noticed how Lin Su addressed Xue Zhibai and began to quietly discuss it:

“Lao Xue… Who is this person, daring to call Master Xue ‘Lao Xue’?”

“Don’t you know? At the Qi family banquet a few days ago, he made President He speechless.”

“…Hiss! That’s terrifying.”

A wave of respectful glances fell on Lin Su.

Lin Su seemed to sense it and glanced to the side.

Xue Nima had already been released from his punishment and resurfaced: [Why is everyone looking at you with such awe? Ah, a lot of mental energy is pouring toward you.]

Lin Su, with an elegant posture, responded, “It must be because they admire my courage to stand up to the Qi family’s power and fight against evil forces.”

[… But I feel it’s more because of that ‘Lao Xue’ comment.]

“… That might be a small factor.”

Lin Su earnestly advised, “Don’t say that in front of Lao Xue, or you’ll end up flattering him for no reason.”

Xue Nima gave him a side-eye, impressed by his meticulousness.

…

Meanwhile, Xue Zhibai had already pulled Qi Jiachu beside him and loudly announced, “From now on, this will be my only direct disciple. As for whether this is a blessing or a curse—”

He glanced at Qi Zhuang and his wife, “My eyes are not so blind that I can’t tell the difference.”

His words landed like a slap across their faces.

Qi Zhuang’s face turned red and white in turns, while Jiang Yafei ground her teeth, muttering to herself, “It can’t be wrong, we didn’t make a mistake…”

The guests were now completely immersed in the drama unfolding. They had come to attend a scholarly event, but first, they had discovered that the Qi family had another son. Then, they learned he was Master Xue’s direct disciple.

Soon, hints about luck, misfortune, and blessings began to surface, along with the Qi couple’s strange expressions. Those with sharp ears and eyes had pieced together most of the story.

Disdainful and rejecting glances began to fall on them.

Qi Zhuang quickly realized what was happening and immediately exerted the authority of the family head, loudly declaring, “Everyone! This matter shall be put aside for now, but the Qi family has never done anything that harms heaven or reason—”

Lin Su interjected, “Don’t put it aside, and you’re still talking nonsense.”

Qi Zhuang, “………”

Qi Jiachu couldn’t hold back and let out a chuckle.

Qi Zhuang glared at him darkly, about to speak again, when a figure suddenly rushed in:

“Sir, sir, something’s wrong!”

The Qi family servant’s face was pale as they rushed through the crowd to Qi Zhuang.

The servant whispered a few words, and Qi Zhuang’s expression suddenly changed! His body even swayed for a moment, causing him to not immediately hold Jiang Yafei back.

Jiang Yafei seemed to have been greatly startled, screaming as she rushed toward Lin Su, “What did you do!? Where is my son’s soul? The one in the bed is—”

Qi Zhuang snapped back to his senses, “Jiang Yafei!”

However, the words “soul swap” had already clearly reached the crowd. Immediately, the entire venue was in an uproar.

“Soul swap!? What is Madam Qi talking about?”

“What exactly is the Qi family doing!? Qi family head, didn’t you say you’ve never done anything that harms heaven or reason!?”

Qi Zhuang was still caught in a storm, but Jiang Yafei, as if going mad, rushed up to Lin Su, her long nails swiping at his face.

Slap—!

A broom suddenly struck her face.

Her scream stopped, and the scene grew silent.

Qi Jiachu stood beside Lin Su, holding a broom in his hand, smiling faintly as he turned to Lin Su, “Master, the filthy thing just passed by again.”

The crowd: “………”

Jiang Yafei fell backward onto the ground, stunned for a second by the slap. She looked disbelievingly at the son who had obediently endured for over twenty years, and soon a surge of anger rose within her!

Just as she was about to get up, Lin Su casually took the broom from Qi Jiachu’s hand and said, “This broom was used to clean the toilet this morning. Don’t get it on yourself.”

Jiang Yafei, “………”

The crowd: “…………”

At this moment, Jiang Yafei looked disheveled, her dignity completely gone. She trembled in anger, and then, recalling the information she had just heard, she lost control and stood up, pointing at Lin Su as she screeched:

“He knows black magic! He used a paper effigy as a substitute, and he’s trying to kill my son!”

…Paper effigy!?

The surrounding area fell silent for a few seconds, all eyes turned toward Lin Su.

Lin Su calmly met their gazes, “Yes, I made a life-sized figurine of myself. What’s the problem? Don’t you know how to make paper figurines?” He raised an eyebrow slightly, “Then who cleans the house usually?”

“………”

The crowd was stunned: So that’s how paper figurines work!?

Xue Nima shook his head in disbelief: “A bunch of useless busybodies.”

Lin Su restrained the urge to correct its worldview and smiled slightly at the stunned Jiang Yafei.

“However, Madam Qi, do you want to explain how the substitute I made for myself harmed your youngest son?”

Jiang Yafei was left speechless, her face paling in shock.

—

Around them, questions rang out.

Various condemnations and gazes flooded in, toppling the image that Qi Zhuang had built for many years.

He forcefully pulled the irrational Jiang Yafei back, almost wanting to slap her, “Shut up!”

Jiang Yafei was almost mad with rage, unable to care about anything else, “Then what about Jiayuan!? Is he going to be trapped in the paper effigy for the rest of his life? He’s my only precious son, how can you just stand by and watch—”

Only one precious son.

Jiang Yafei was used to saying it, and at this moment, didn’t think much of it.

When the people around heard, a sense of disdain and realization grew:

“Madam Qi, did you only have one eye? There are two sons in front of you, and you can only see one?”

“Heh, that broom might actually be a form of karmic repayment.”

“They haven’t even explained the soul swap properly yet!”

Jiang Yafei whipped her head around, agitated, “What’s there to explain?” She pointed at Lin Su, finally regaining some of her stance, “Aren’t they both still alive and well? The one whose life is uncertain now is my Jiayuan!”

“They are the ones who are hurting him!”

Lin Su suddenly spoke, smiling, “Don’t worry, your precious son is doing just fine.”

Jiang Yafei and Qi Zhuang froze, staring at him.

Lin Su continued, “I’m quite skilled. The paper effigy’s lifespan is exactly 22 years. However, the effigy’s capacity is limited, and when you swapped the soul into it, the fortune that Qi Jiayuan had stolen was returned to its rightful place.”

—22 years.

Qi Jiachu had been locked in a small attic for 22 years, continuously supplying Qi Jiayuan with fortune and life energy without rest.

Now Qi Jiayuan was trapped inside a paper effigy, experiencing the gradual passing of life for 22 years, just like his twin brother did.

Xue Nima coldly remarked: [Letting him live for 22 more years is still a favor to him.]

“But didn’t he say that if he were to live like Jiachu, it would be better to die?” Lin Su’s gaze was calm, a trace of fate’s trajectory crossing his eyes. “That can’t be ignored. I always keep track for others.”

…

Qi Zhuang, in extreme anger, growled, “You dare!”

Jiang Yafei, unable to catch her breath, fainted and collapsed.

She fell to the ground with a “thud.”

Qi Zhuang squatted to help her up, his eyes quickly flashing with a thought. He was far calmer than Jiang Yafei. Since the soul swap couldn’t be explained, he could only try to divert attention, and it would be best to drag Lin Su into the mess!

His thoughts shifted, and Qi Zhuang suddenly had an idea.

He immediately adopted a sorrowful expression, “Madam, Madam!”

He raised his head and addressed the crowd, “The Qi family did indeed use forbidden techniques, but it’s a complicated matter, and I can explain it in detail later—”

Once back home, he would immediately destroy the evidence.

“Right now, my wife is emotionally distressed, and my son is trapped inside a paper effigy,” Qi Zhuang said sorrowfully. “Such a vicious method, shouldn’t it be investigated?”

He spoke with reddened eyes, and the listeners were moved to tears.

Lin Su, standing aside, watched the drama unfold, then casually handed a broom to a nearby servant.

“Quick, help your master wipe away the crocodile tears.”

Servant: “…”

Qi Zhuang: “………”

Qi Zhuang swallowed his words, standing up abruptly.

Lin Su glanced at Jiang Yafei, who had fallen back to the ground, then heard Qi Zhuang speak slowly:

“Normally, when ordinary people make paper figurines, they only resemble the person about 40 or 50 percent. But the paper effigy you made in my Qi family looks indistinguishable from a real person, even fooling fellow Feng Shui masters.”

Lin Su, still watching Jiang Yafei lying like a crime scene, absentmindedly responded, “Mm.”

Xue Nima commented in dissatisfaction: [It wasn’t made out of nothing, it was made from cookie paper.]

However, his paper figurines were indeed different from normal ones. With just a cut into shape, they could be blown into a life-sized person. After every big party cleanup, he’d cut a bunch in one go, very efficiently.

Lin Su turned his attention back to Qi Zhuang, who seemed unsure of how to proceed. After thinking for a moment, Lin Su humbly said, “Craftsmanship, nothing to mention.”

Qi Zhuang choked on his words, then his gaze became more intense. “This method is so strange, it’s unheard of. I’ve never seen anything like it in a legitimate Feng Shui master.”

Lin Su slightly narrowed his eyes: “Oh…”

It seemed the old man was leading him around in circles before getting to this point.

He patiently waited, “So?”

Qi Zhuang pressed on, “Do you have proof of your identity as a Heavenly Master?”

During his investigation, he had confirmed that Lin Su was not registered in the Heavenly Master Association.

When Lin Su didn’t respond, Qi Zhuang’s confidence grew.

He turned to the crowd, adopting a righteous expression, “As for using forbidden techniques, I’ll accept the punishment. But for such a mysterious and deceitful sorcerer, everyone should be cautious.”

A few people in the crowd exchanged hesitant glances.

Xue Zhibai suddenly sneered, “Hmph! The distinguished guest I invited, and you say his origins are unknown?”

Qi Zhuang, now caught between a rock and a hard place, also scoffed at Xue Zhibai, “Then please, Master Xue, explain the origins of your ‘distinguished guest.’”

In the sudden silence, Xue Zhibai’s smile grew colder.

Lin Su glanced over and saw that Xue Zhibai had quietly reached for his talismans. Meanwhile, the broom… Wait, how did the broom get back into Qi Jiachu’s hands?

The situation was on the verge of descending into chaos.

Lin Su timed his words perfectly, “In that case, congratulations. By associating with me, the ‘unknown,’ you’ve already offended four people here.”

Qi Zhuang frowned, his eyes scanning the room.

Other than Xue Zhibai and Qi Jiachu, he didn’t see anyone else supporting Lin Su.

Qi Zhuang sneered, “If you count yourself and your accomplices as these ‘four,’ then to be fair, I’ve offended enough people too.”

Lin Su smiled, “Is that so?”

Just as he finished speaking, a subtle sound came from the door.

Lin Su turned his head, “Oh, they’re here.”

Everyone’s gaze followed him to the door, where a figure entered. With a solemn, handsome face and a simple long robe, a badge embroidered on the collar—

It was none other than Meng Yuanping, the president of the Xun City Heavenly Master Association.

Meng Yuanping walked directly toward Lin Su, smiling, “Sorry, Lin Xiao-you, I’m a bit late, there was a traffic jam on the way…”

He reached Lin Su and turned his head,

“…Hey? Why is no one speaking?”

__

Author’s note:

Lin Su (on the phone): Hello, Xiao Meng…

President Meng: It’s so quiet here.

The paper figurine foreshadowed in Chapter 13, with references in Chapter 14.