FI CH48:  A Gathering of Masters

He Zhenling stared at the text message, speechless for a long time.

A careful voice came from the side: “…President, are you sweating?”

Didn’t you say you weren’t hot?

“…”

He suddenly looked up, his gaze cold and heavy. The subordinate shuddered and quieted down. “I, I saw wrong.”

He Zhenling took a deep breath.

After a moment, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sent Lin Su a Weixin message: What are you doing?

The message was sent, but there was no reply for several minutes.

He paused for a moment, then made a voice call. After two “beeps,” the call disconnected, showing it couldn’t connect.

He Zhenling: “?”

After a pause, he exited Weixin, found Ge Lili’s number that he had saved from his last visit to the Tianshi Association, and called it. It connected quickly, and a voice said:

“Hello?”

He Zhenling: “What is he doing now?”

The other end took two seconds to react. “He…?”

“Lin Su.”

Ge Lili opened his mouth, knowing this time what should and shouldn’t be said. He didn’t mention the invitation at all, just shook his head and sighed meaningfully:

“Sir said… you are too possessive.”

“?”

After speaking, he hung up with a sigh.

He Zhenling: “…”

He stood there silently for a long time.

Turning his head, he looked at the subordinate who had been eavesdropping for who knows how long and frowned:

“Why are you still here?”

The subordinate suddenly stood up straight, perked down his ears with a glance. “…You haven’t said anything about this report yet.”

He Zhenling remembered. “Mhm, rewrite it.”

He turned and left after speaking.

Subordinate: .

…

On the other side.

Lin Su arrived at the meeting point and put on his mask again.

The bright sun shone down on a somewhat desolate open space. He looked up at his phone; there was no signal. Even Weixin was just spinning slowly.

He watched for a while and gave up. “There’s something here that interferes with the magnetic field.”

Xuenima: [Is it man-made or ghost-made?]

“Both. Forget it, this is also part of the game’s fun.”

Lin Su casually put his phone away.

Not far away, there was a table with a sign that said [Supernatural Journey Event · Sign-in]. The staff member sitting behind it also wore a pure white smiling mask.

He walked over. “Sign-in.”

The sign-in sheet was handed over. Five or six names were already signed on it, and it was hard to tell if they were real or fake. Lin Su paused: But a name like “Hao Niu Bai” (Very Awesome) was most likely a pseudonym.

He signed quickly and sighed: “Ni Ma, I regret it a little. I should have picked a cooler name, like ‘Lin Lin Qi’ (Lin-Lin-Seven).”

Xuenima comforted: [Your naming skills may not be cool, but they are certainly lame.]

Lin Su didn’t want to hear it: “Shh.”

Xuenima: [Do you think He Zhenling will know the pseudonym you gave him?]

“…” Lin Su was silent for a moment, then turned his head guiltily. “Probably not. An emergency contact is someone who is only contacted in an emergency. Besides, they usually just call him ‘Mr. He’.”

[Heh, hehe… maybe.]

By now, many people had arrived at the meeting point one after another.

They were talking in their consciousness.

Suddenly, they heard some discussion from not far away: “The one with the mask… that’s him.”

“Huh? Who?”

Among the low murmurs, an unsuppressed voice came through, tinged with disdain:

“The one who does livestreams, relying on traffic for a living.”

Lin Su turned his head and saw a young man in a yellow t-shirt, carrying a bag and holding a luopan compass, looking very professional.

He looked over with an air of self-righteousness.

Their eyes met. The young man wasn’t intimidated at all. He looked Lin Su up and down and said resentfully, “Wearing a mask for some gimmick, plus a rich background, and he can get invited to this kind of event.”

Lin Su looked at him in amazement: …Ni Ma, the feng shui world has angry youths too.

The person discussing with him was a bit embarrassed and tried to smooth things over. “Um… but he has a privileged rank.”

The young man said with a bit of superiority, “So what if he has a privileged rank? My uncle and my cousin are also privileged rank.”

After speaking, he looked at Lin Su provocatively.

Lin Su tried to understand. “…So, what does that have to do with you?”

“…”

Someone in the crowd chuckled softly.

The young man’s face turned beet red. After holding it in for a long time, he squeezed out, “Just you wait. This event is a gathering of masters. If you’re not strong enough, just wait to be eliminated. We’ll see who makes a fool of themselves in the end!”

He turned and left after speaking.

Eliminated?

Lin Su narrowed his eyes slightly: So there’s that rule.

…

The commotion died down, and the surrounding gazes moved away.

He was standing on the side, basking in the sun.

A girl with a high ponytail walked towards him. She had two red gourds tied on top of her head.

The girl walked up to him and greeted him straightforwardly, “Hey, I watched your livestream. I didn’t expect you to come to this event.”

She then asked mysteriously, “That tap you made in the air, did you really hit a dead person’s bone?”

Lin Su nodded. “Mhm.”

The girl’s eyes showed amazement.

Then she said, “I think you’re very powerful. I’ll extend an olive branch to you first. My name is Hao Niu Bai.”

“…”

So you’re Hao Niu Bai!

Lin Su: “My name is Lin Kun.”

After a pause, he couldn’t help but say, “Your name is great. It sounds very awesome.”

Hao Niu Bai returned the favor. “Your name is great too. It sounds… like it has a relaxed feeling.”

Lin Su cast an admiring glance: What high EQ wording.

After a short wait, everyone had arrived.

Looking around, there were twenty to thirty people in total. From their clothing to their artifacts to their schools of thought, it was a diverse group, each looking formidable in their own way.

The staff member with the smiling mask stood up and walked to the front, bowed slightly, and began: “Good afternoon. Everyone has arrived, so now I will announce the rules of the event.”

“This event will use a point system and a bottom-two elimination system. After each competition, the two people with the lowest scores will be eliminated. The person with the highest cumulative score will be the winner.”

“The winner will receive a mysterious ultimate reward, which will be personally presented by the president of the Tianshi Association headquarters.”

As he finished, a stir went through the crowd.

Lin Su looked around and found that most people’s focus was not on the prize itself, but on the “Tianshi Association President.”

“We can meet the president in person?”

“Is there a chance to enter the headquarters…”

He raised an eyebrow slightly: So that’s the gimmick.

Xuenima floated in the air, looking down disdainfully: [Heh, when Little Bai was learning to talk in your arms, they weren’t even born yet!]

Lin Su caught it and brought it back, saying gently, “I’ve told you, there’s no such plot.”

[Hehehehehehehe…]

He looked up again: But, if it’s not officially organized, how will it end? What’s the purpose of holding such an event?

But whatever it was.

Lin Su was full of interest: At least his holiday wouldn’t be boring.

In front, several tables had been set up.

The staff member showed the objects placed on them to the crowd: “For the first competition, please choose an object and state the identity information of its owner. The more detailed, the higher the score.”

After he finished, a few people had already rushed forward to choose.

Lin Su watched the crowd surge forward, waited on the side for a few seconds, then moved to a less crowded spot.

…

When he got there, he saw that only a rock was left for him.

A small one, looking like it had been picked up from the ground.

The other claimed objects, like a mirror, a watch, a book… had more tangible aspects from which one could guess more information.

For a moment, several sympathetic or gloating glances were cast his way.

Lin Su casually placed his name tag next to it.

After placing the tag, he noticed that diagonally opposite him was the angry youth from before. The youth had chosen a watch, and his name was also placed next to it: Tang Yin.

Lin Su: “Ni Ma, his name sounds like it has an accent.”

[What?]

“Could his real name be Tang Ren (Chinese Person)?”

Xuenima repeated it and couldn’t help but laugh: [Hehehehe…]

Lin Su also: “Giggle giggle…”

He was chuckling softly here.

Tang Yin, diagonally opposite, looked over at once and frowned. “What are you laughing at?” After asking, his gaze fell on the rock in front of Lin Su, and his frown tightened even more.

“Why did you choose a rock?”

Tang Yin was actually a little angry. “Don’t you know to choose an easier one? If you chose an easy one and lost, it would at least show you’re not good enough. But if you lose after choosing such a difficult one… I don’t even know what to say about you!”

Lin Su: “…”

The crowd: “…”

Lin Su looked at him and said warmly, “Are you… missing a screw?”

“Ah!?” Just as Tang Yin was about to explode with anger, a voice from the staff came from the side: “The competition begins.”

Everyone immediately retracted their gazes and focused.

The competition was timed for ten minutes.

Everyone whipped out their various artifacts.

Lin Su only glanced at the rock, a faint golden light flashing in his eyes, before looking away.

He casually scanned the objects held by the other participants. Tang Yin had a watch; his ability should be spiritualism and sensing. Lin Su looked at the watch, his eyebrow raised, then he looked away.

Ten minutes passed quickly.

As the staff announced the end of the competition, everyone began to state their answers on the spot according to their registration number.

Lin Su’s registration number was 18, placing him in the middle-back.

He listened to the answers of the participants in front of him while chatting with Xuenima in his consciousness:

“You see, even in this event, I’m a benchmark.”

Xuenima played along: [Oh? How so?]

Lin Su pointed to his number 18. “Above me is 18+, and below me is 18-.”

Xuenima sighed: [Then the event is quite clean.]

After all, there was no 18+ to be found.

Lin Su pursed his lips demurely. “As my spiritual consciousness, you shouldn’t be so good with words.”

As they were talking, a voice from the front announced:

“Next, number 18, Mr. Lin Kun.”

The staff member with the smiling mask looked up, and the surrounding gazes all fell over.

Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Su picked up the rock. “This rock belongs to a mother.”

A stir went through the crowd, and they looked at each other.

Under the mask, the corners of the mouth curled up a bit. Just as the staff member was about to say “Completely wrong!”, he heard Lin Su say in a serious tone:

“It belongs to Mother Earth.”

“…”

Lin Su ignored the frozen staff member and the silent crowd and continued, “That’s right, it doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s just a rock picked up randomly from the ground.”

The smiling mask faced him, silent for two seconds before speaking. “Oh? Is that all? Then we’ll count you as having said the owner is: none. You still have the lowest score in the entire field.”

This rock was indeed one he had picked up casually.

This event was a gathering of masters, and the first round couldn’t be too difficult. To ensure there would be candidates for elimination, the organizers would play a little trick with the questions—

First, eliminate a “chosen” unlucky one.

Their eyes met. Lin Su asked, “Should I say more?” He was a bit surprised. “Is this something I can say?”

Behind the smiling mask, an eyelid twitched. “What?”

Lin Su slowly completed his answer. “This rock was picked up yesterday at 3:15 in the afternoon under the Erlang Bridge in Jinping Town. The picker, male, 43 years old, 1.76 meters tall, weighs 72 kg. Second marriage, divorced because his ex-wife complained he couldn’t do housework. He is now in a similar marital crisis…”

“That’s enough—!”

A wave of sweat broke out behind the mask, and he was hastily interrupted.

Lin Su: “Didn’t you say the more I say, the higher the score? I can still say…”

“That’s enough, that’s enough…” The surrounding gazes had already started to size up his figure. The mask trembled as he wrote down a score on the paper.

“The score you have now is already at the maximum.”

Lin Su smiled with satisfaction. “Ah, that’s good then.”

…

The first maximum score appeared.

The way everyone looked at him had changed.

Tang Yin’s mouth was open, staring blankly.

Lin Su turned to face him, the silver pendant under his mask brushing against his cheek. “Something wrong?”

Tang Yin closed his mouth and turned his head away.

The answers were announced quickly on the field, and soon it was Tang Yin’s turn. Tang Yin was a bit nervous. He took a deep breath with the watch in his hand and said:

“The owner, female, 32 years old… an artist. Height… around 1.7 meters…”

A voice suddenly came from behind the smiling mask: “Wrong.”

Tang Yin’s face turned pale. “What?”

“The basic information is already wrong.” The staff member said, “The owner is male.”

“Impossible! I sensed it—”

For basic information like gender and identity, once it’s wrong, a large number of points are deducted. The staff member had already raised his pen to deduct points when Lin Su suddenly spoke:

“You can’t say he’s completely wrong.”

Tang Yin and the crowd all looked at him.

Lin Su said, “His ability is sensing. And the owner is a man with long hair who dresses as a woman.”

The information he gave was even more detailed.

The staff member paused and looked at the answer in his hand. After a moment of consideration, he said, “Then deduct half the points.”

Tang Yin was immediately granted amnesty. He turned to look at Lin Su. He opened his mouth, then turned back with a flushed face.

Xuenima popped its head out: [Why did you help him?]

Lin Su tapped his fingertip on his arm. “To shame him with my kindness.”

[…]

“And,” he glanced at the dazzling array of objects on the table and curved his lips. “the organizers have too many little tricks up their sleeves. We need a straightforward angry youth like him to stay and shake them up from time to time.”

Xuenima had an epiphany: [So he’s Tool Yin.]

A hand patted its head in appreciation.

The results of the first round came out quickly.

One of the two eliminated was due to a mistake, and the other was ridiculously wrong. There were two full scores on the field, one was Lin Su, and the other was named “Yu Yixun.”

The eliminated people were quickly sent away.

The remaining people followed the staff member inward for a while and arrived in front of a hotel.

The hotel was located at an intersection.

It looked a bit old, with a sense of decay. At a glance, it seemed uninhabited.

They were all experts in the field, and a commotion immediately started among the crowd.

“This feng shui is extremely ominous!”

Lin Su also looked around and couldn’t help but be amazed: Five roads converged, forming a scissor sha. The hotel was a hexagonal long shape, with the middle floor slightly protruding at two corners, like an upright coffin.

There were also four signposts on both sides. Three for gods, four for ghosts, it looked like it was honoring ghosts.

Xuenima was also stunned: [A design genius. You should be discharged from the hospital!]

Lin Su was precise. “Ghosts should have funerals.”

[…]

Amidst the chaotic chatter of the crowd, the staff member standing in front spoke with his hands behind his back:

“Welcome everyone to the hotel where you will be staying for the next few days, which is also the main venue for this event. If you feel uncomfortable, you may leave now.”

The smile on the mask widened. “Please ensure your own safety.”

The noise subsided.

They were all peers, and all had a bit of a competitive spirit, so no one left for the time being.

The staff member nodded. “Very good. Now, please choose your rooms according to your scores from the first round.”

“The two with the highest scores, please come to the front.”

Lin Su gracefully walked forward.

When he arrived at the front, he saw another figure walk out from the side. It was Yu Yixun, who had also gotten a full score. The answer he had given was well-organized—

It was almost like a standard answer sheet.

Lin Su’s gaze fell on his eight characters, then moved down: twenty-nine years old, dressed in expensive clothes.

Yu Yixun spoke first, seeming casual. “I don’t mind.” He tilted his chin at Lin Su. “You first.”

Lin Su looked for two seconds, then retracted his gaze. “Then I’ll go first.”

The hotel in front of them clearly had bad feng shui.

The participants waiting behind were all quietly sizing up the rooms while nervously waiting for Lin Su to choose.

Lin Su: “I want the presidential suite.”

“…”

The crowd: ?

Lin Su said with anticipation, “It also needs to have floor-to-ceiling windows and a large bathtub.”

Behind the mask, silence fell again.

After a moment, the staff member’s mouth seemed to twitch as he handed over a room card. “I wish you a pleasant stay.”

Lin Su pocketed it and stepped back with satisfaction.

“Ni Ma, this is the advantage of going first.”

[Yes, but they don’t seem to be jealous of you.]

It was more than not being jealous.

Hao Niu Bai rushed over to him after choosing her room and shouted in a hushed voice, “Ahhhhh what’s wrong with you! Are you completely here on vacation!”

…Yes, I am.

Lin Su met her gaze and swallowed his words.

Hao Niu Bai pointed behind her. “Look at that Yu Yixun who was with you. He chose 306! It’s obviously a carefully selected room.”

Lin Su glanced over and smiled. “…Mhm, it is indeed a very precise selection.”

Choosing the best room without a second thought.

Hao Niu Bai didn’t think too much about it and let out a heavy “Aigh!”

By now, everyone had chosen their rooms.

Half of the gazes directed at Lin Su looked at him like he was a lunatic, the other half like he was a fool, with a few scattered gazes holding a wait-and-see attitude.

The staff member collected the remaining room cards and raised his hand:

“Everyone, please follow me into the hotel.”

Lin Su took a step and was about to enter with the crowd when a voice suddenly came from behind, “Wait!”

Turning around, he saw another staff member rush over and stop them. “A participant has been added at the last minute. They have already passed the test.”

He said, and amidst the clamor of the crowd, he turned his head: “Number 31, Mr. He Da Niao! Please come this way.”

As his voice fell, a handsome and cold figure came into view.

Half a mask covered the lower half of his face.

Lin Su looked up and met He Zhenling’s cold, smiling eyes: “…”

__

Author’s Note:

Su (hands clasped in prayer): It’s probably just someone who looks like He Zhenling.

He Zhenling (softly): You guess.

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