Chapter 28: Going Home
The plane landed in Chongqing. Jiang Hong never expected to return home so unexpectedly. His roommates originally didn't plan to bother his family; firstly, his parents were ordinary people, and it was best to avoid involving them in such matters to prevent any slip of the tongue; secondly, returning home now was quite strange.
But Jiang Hong genuinely wanted to host his roommates, appreciating their usual care. Thus, he still led the three back home. Mr. Jiang drove to pick them up, and Mrs. Jiang prepared a whole table of dishes, warmly thanking Jiang Hong's three roommates.
"Are you going for social practice tomorrow?" Mr. Jiang asked. "Do you need help?"
"No, thanks," Jiang Hong replied. "We can manage on our own."
"Jiang Hong has troubled you all," Mrs. Jiang said with a smile.
Everyone unanimously expressed that it was no trouble at all, as it was they who were taken care of by Jiang Hong.
"Dad," at the dinner table, Jiang Hong suddenly asked curiously, "Was our family's great-grandfather ever a Feng Shui master?"
"What?" Mr. Jiang was surprised that his son would be interested in this. After thinking for a while, he said with confusion, "Where did you hear that?"
Zhang Xiting chuckled, "Was it during the time when the National Government relocated, from Nanjing, right?"
Mr. Jiang reminisced, saying, "I'm not sure, no, it should be from when people from Huguang filled Sichuan, right?"
The relocation in 1937 was nearly a hundred years ago, so it's normal to be unclear about it. The migration from Huguang to Sichuan was even more distant, over three hundred years ago.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Jiang Hong asked, "Then does our family have any books on Feng Shui or something like a compass?"
Mr. Jiang laughed heartily, "That was hundreds of years ago, who knows? If you're interested, I'll look it up for you some other day."
"Baby," after clearing the table, Mrs. Jiang pulled Jiang Hong aside and whispered, "Should I prepare some hawthorn pills or digestive tablets for your roommate, that tall guy named Jin?"
Jiang Hong: "No need, he's fine."
Mrs. Jiang: "He ate six bowls of rice and three big bowls of braised pork. I'm worried he might have overeaten."
Jiang Hong: "He eats like this at school too, you don't need to worry about us, just do what you need to do."
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were going out to play mahjong tonight, so Jiang Hong and Jin would share a room, while He Jian and Zhang Xiting would sleep in the guest room.
"Dad, can I use your car for the next few days?" Jiang Hong asked again.
"Sure," said Mr. Jiang, "Just be safe."
"I really envy your family," Jin sighed, saying, "Ah."
Jiang Hong laughed, "What's there to envy? I actually envy your family."
Jin grew up without his parents around, who were both scholars. He was raised by his grandfather, a man who expressed his emotions in a reserved manner and was quite strict with Jin, hoping he would grow into a capable 'Lion King'.
Unlike Jiang Hong's parents, who showed their love for their son directly and passionately.
"What do you want to do in the future?" Jin asked, lying side by side with Jiang Hong on the bed.
Jiang Hong, facing away from Jin, was messaging Lu Xiu, who asked him about the magical artifact. Jiang Hong replied that things weren’t going smoothly, but he was trying to find a way. Jiang Hong hadn't asked Lu Xiu for help, so Lu Xiu didn’t probe further.
According to their plan, they were supposed to meet in two days anyway. Whatever issues there were, they could discuss them in person.
Jiang Hong started to check the photos sent by Wang Leqin, which showed a dark compass, the Xuan Guang Jin Dou.
Jiang Hong answered, "I don’t know, my dad wants me to come back and take over the family business, but due to some mix-ups, I ended up learning exorcism. Now, I’m quite lost about it."
Jin laughed, and Jiang Hong remembered a conversation with Lu Xiu – Will you stay with me for a long time? No, I won't.
Even He Jian's fortune-telling told Jiang Hong that they were destined to part ways, with fate but no destiny.
What about his roommates? Perhaps after graduation, they would also go their separate ways soon.
"What about you?" Jiang Hong turned his head and asked Jin.
Jin answered, "I want to dedicate my life to Buddhism."
"Wow," said Jiang Hong, "That's really impressive."
Jin added, "I want to see the Buddha, understand the Buddha, but as it seems now, I am still far from it."
Jiang Hong didn't quite understand this wish, neither grasping its difficulty nor being able to imagine the final state of enlightenment, but regardless, he thought Jin was very impressive.
"You will definitely succeed," Jiang Hong encouraged.
Jin turned his head and smiled at Jiang Hong.
"Chongqing is really warm."
He Jian, coming to the south, felt light and easy. Everyone could now move around in sweaters, though it always rained in winter here, a constant drizzle.
"Don't wander around aimlessly." Zhang Xiting was anxious, needing to find the exorcist named Mai Qing as soon as possible to retrieve the Xuan Guang Jin Dou within three days. He Jian was still looking around, interested in the staircases up and down the old town of the mountain city.
"I've only been here once," Jiang Hong said, "and I don't remember it clearly."
"Let's give it a try," Jin suggested, "and if it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."
Following the path Lu Xiu had taken him on last time, Jiang Hong found the hotpot restaurant and asked the lady boss, "Is it here?"
"Yes," the lady boss, eating peanuts outside, said, "Just go through the alley."
So Jiang Hong led his roommates through the dining tables in the middle of the alley, back to the Eighteen Steps.
"I don't remember anything beyond this point," Jiang Hong said, "We can only wait here and try our luck."
The four sat on the Eighteen Steps, with Jiang Hong occasionally glancing towards the adjacent alley. Sure enough, not long after, a delivery guy wearing a helmet emerged.
"Hey! Hi!" Jiang Hong immediately stood up.
"Hey!" The guy, with his electric bike, greeted Jiang Hong. They recognized each other at a glance. Jiang Hong thought to himself, how lucky! He knows him! His luck is really good!
This person was Xu Xuyang, who had previously joined Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu in subduing demons!
"Long time no see!" Jiang Hong greeted warmly, "How's your hand?"
"All done!" Xu Xuyang sized up the three people and nodded in greeting. He asked Jiang Hong, "Why didn't you come in to sit? Where's Teacher Lu?"
Uh... Jiang Hong had no idea how to get in and couldn't let Xu Xuyang know he came here rashly.
"I actually came to inquire about someone," Jiang Hong said.
"Go ahead!" Xu Xuyang had fought alongside Jiang Hong before. He had broken his hand underground that day and it was Jiang Hong who half-carried him forward, taking care of each other, which had created a bond between them.
"Mai Qing," said Xu Xuyang, "Of course, I know him. What do you want with him?"
Jiang Hong only mentioned they had some business. After a moment of thought, looking at the three people behind him, Zhang Xiting said, "Senior, just tell us where he lives, we'll contact him ourselves."
Xu Xuyang said, "Mai Qing is no longer an exorcist. His certification has been revoked. He lives on Nanshan, behind the Botanical Garden."
As he spoke, he took a small takeaway receipt, wrote an address on the back, and said, "This is the Mai family's address. If you have any grudges..."
"No grudges," Zhang Xiting interjected, "just a visit."
Xu Xuyang looked at Zhang Xiting skeptically for a while, then smiled at Jiang Hong, leaving his phone number and indicating they could call him if needed.
Jiang Hong drove his dad's Mercedes, taking his three roommates to Nanshan.
"We can't just go and demand things from him," Zhang Xiting said, "What if he sees us as four students and refuses?"
"Right," Jin agreed, "We should go in pairs at most, leaving some room for maneuver."
"Then I'll be your driver," Jiang Hong suggested, "I won't show up first?"
Jiang Hong always felt a bit cowardly, fearing that as an exorcist, one could easily discern his ordinary nature, potentially hindering his teammates and making them less respected.
"Okay," Zhang Xiting pondered for a moment, then said, "It's also best not to appear as students."
He Jian proposed, "I can use my brother's name. Although he is no longer an exorcist, people still respect him."
"So, you two will go?" Jin, sitting in the passenger seat wearing sunglasses, looked like a bodyguard.
Zhang Xiting: "Let me organize the pretext first. Should we use the guise of artifact recovery, or say we're acting on Old Man Wang's commission?"
He Jian suggested, "Can we say that Old Man Wang has posted a task with the Exorcism Committee to retrieve his Xuan Guang Jin Dou?"
Jiang Hong, not fully understanding, listened as Jin explained, "Although the Exorcism Committee is a permanent organization, it also functions to issue commissions. Registered exorcists nationwide, if not working at a branch, are essentially free agents. They can accept tasks at local Exorcism Committees, ranging from demon hunting to finding lost items, similar to a law firm. Depending on the difficulty of the task, the client provides a certain remuneration."
"Oh," Jiang Hong recalled Lu Xiu's collaborative mission last time.
After driving to the Nanshan Botanical Garden and turning into a small road, they reached a whole area of villas on the mountainside.
"It's actually a bit rash," Zhang Xiting said, "We haven't even investigated who the other party is."
"Let's go," He Jian said, "and test the waters first."
The security guard asked, "Which house are you looking for? Please register. Do you have an appointment?"
The rear car window rolled down, revealing Zhang Xiting's face. He beckoned the guard over, who approached with a registration form and a walkie-talkie.
"You're tired. Take a nap, a ten-minute sleep is healthy," Zhang Xiting said.
Security Guard: "…"
"Go back to your booth and sleep, and kindly open the gate for us, thank you," Zhang Xiting added.
The gate opened.
"Endless Dream is so convenient," Jin remarked.
Laughing, Jiang Hong drove the car into the community.
"It's this house," Jiang Hong curiously asked, "Do we just go and ring the doorbell?"
In a secluded part of the community, several detached villas stood, lavishly decorated, far wealthier than Jiang Hong's home.
"Let's go," Zhang Xiting and He Jian got out of the car. He Jian adjusted his clothes and wrapped his scarf, looking calm, while Zhang Xiting acted as his assistant, pressing the doorbell for him.
Jiang Hong was very nervous, seeing the two successfully enter the Mai residence. Now, he could only hope for Zhang Xiting's intelligence.
Jin rolled down the car window, tapping his fingers lightly against it.
"Don't be afraid," Jin suddenly said.
Jiang Hong glanced at Jin, realizing he was indeed a bit nervous, still gripping the steering wheel.
"It's not fear, I just always feel like, as a mortal, I might hold you back," Jiang Hong said self-deprecatingly.
"Not many people can tell you're a mortal," Jin comforted, "Look, before the spiritual vein identification, nobody in our dorm, not even Principal Cao, Director Xuan Hezhi, or Lu Xiu, had noticed, right?"
Jiang Hong thought about it and realized it was true. So far, the only person who had truly recognized his lack of magical power was Old Man Wang, who sold magical artifacts and seemed to have quite a background.
Jiang Hong sighed again. Jin turned his head and smiled at Jiang Hong. They were each other's first friends after entering university, sharing a unique understanding. Jin was not talkative, but every time he spoke, Jiang Hong felt a warmth.
"I've been studying Feng Shui outside of class lately," Jiang Hong said.
Perhaps to compensate, or maybe because of his family's Feng Shui heritage, Jiang Hong sought to fill this knowledge gap. This semester, he had borrowed many works on geomancy from the library.
"Oh?" Jin said thoughtfully, "Found anything interesting?"
Jiang Hong perked up, "If Mai Qing is a Feng Shui master, then here's the thing: Geomancy is only a part of Feng Shui. A skilled Feng Shui master also includes predictions about the future. This varies from person to person; some master Qimen Dunjia, others prefer using the Six Lines."
Jin suddenly understood what Jiang Hong was getting at, his expression turning serious.
Jiang Hong continued, "If the other person is really a Feng Shui master, just casting one divination could reveal our intentions today in retrieving the artifact. Whether or not he returns the artifact depends entirely on him, right? Even if he doesn't hand over the Xuan Guang Jin Dou, our next plan would also be within his predictions…"
Jin removed his sunglasses and leaned out the car window, gazing at the house across the small road.
"So, according to Mai Qing's calculation, there are only two outcomes today. One, the Xuan Guang Jin Dou will be taken. The best solution is to hand it over directly to avoid wasting time and unnecessary talk. Two, the Xuan Guang Jin Dou won't be taken, and there's no need to worry about the two people coming for the artifact…"
"You're right," Jin glanced at his watch and decisively interrupted Jiang Hong's analysis.
He Jian and Zhang Xiting had been inside for nearly half an hour.
Jiang Hong: "What should we do? I think Old Man Wang also knows that with our abilities, it's impossible to get the Xuan Guang Jin Dou."
Jin muttered, "No, I get it now, we need to go in and see for ourselves."
Jiang Hong became even more nervous in an instant: "Is it going to be that thrilling?"
Jin said, "Don't turn off the car, follow me."
They got out of the car, and Jin, after ensuring no one was around, led Jiang Hong over the garden fence. Jin leaped over the railing with ease, followed nimbly by Jiang Hong.
"Not bad with your movements," Jin commented.
"I've been taking physical training classes with Principal Cao lately," Jiang Hong whispered.
This was a villa of over two thousand square meters, with the garden taking up almost half of the area. There was also a security booth outside. Jiang Hong reminded, "Be careful, there are cameras everywhere."
Jin, clearly used to a more primitive environment, replied after being reminded, "Lucky you noticed. These high-tech products are impossible to guard against. How do we deal with them?"
"Move through the blind spots," Jiang Hong estimated quickly. They circled around the back garden, which was filled with strangely shaped rockeries and irregularly distributed ponds.
Jin said, "Let's go up to the third floor from the back, come on, let's go take a look."
Just as Jiang Hong and Jin rounded the corner, they unexpectedly ran into a young boy!
The boy was about the same age and build as Jiang Hong, feeding fish by the pond, staring at the water. He caught sight of them out of the corner of his eye and just as he showed a shocked expression and opened his mouth to shout, Jin swiftly moved behind him and pressed on a major artery in his neck.
The boy didn't seem like a bodyguard, likely a family member of Mai Qing.
The boy immediately lost consciousness and collapsed. Jin placed him behind the rockery and whispered, "Jiang Hong, do you think this Feng Shui master could have predicted us taking action?"
"Uh..." Jiang Hong said, "Theoretically, he should be able to."
Jin: "If he did predict this, then Mai Qing wouldn't have let this guy come to the backyard, right? Because it's dangerous."
That seemed logical, Jiang Hong thought, a bit confused himself: "Could it be that there's too much going on, and he couldn't predict everything?"
Jin said, "That’s why they say, man's calculation is inferior to heaven's. Come on, can you climb up?"
Jiang Hong looked up at the villa's exterior wall and remarked, "For an undergraduate, this is asking too much…"
Jin bent down, indicating for Jiang Hong to jump up. Jiang Hong quickly stepped on his back and leaped.
Jin followed closely, scaling the wall with agility. As Jiang Hong was falling mid-air, Jin firmly caught his wrist and grabbed onto the second-floor windowsill with his other hand.
Jiang Hong clung to Jin's shoulder, and Jin, using one hand, slowly pulled them both up to the higher level. They peered inside from the windowsill.
Jiang Hong saw a person, their back to the window, dressed in a shirt and trousers, a figure somewhat familiar.
"Why does he look familiar?" Jiang Hong felt he recognized the silhouette but couldn't recall where he had seen it before. "Could it be a teacher from school?"
While he was lost in thought, Jin waved his hand, signaling not to disturb the person inside.
"Are we technically being burglars now?" Jiang Hong whispered. "Breaking into someone's house isn't exactly great, right? What if they call the police?"
Jin also whispered back, "I'm a nationally protected animal, I have immunity. Think about it, if a panda breaks into your house, the panda doesn't break the law, right?"
Jiang Hong: "You might not break the law, but I'm a human, big brother! I'm under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China's criminal law."
"Shh," Jin gestured to be quieter. "If discovered, just say you're here to catch me and return me. You might even get credit for a good deed."
Jin climbed from the second floor to the third and saw a study through a window, quickly signaling Jiang Hong to look inside.
Jiang Hong peered out, holding his breath for a moment.
He saw another person, feeling both surprised and delighted at the sight.
At this moment, Lu Xiu was standing in Mai Qing's study, examining the surroundings.
Once Jiang Hong confirmed that Lu Xiu was alone in the study, he gently tapped on the window. Lu Xiu instantly turned around, alert, their eyes meeting.
Lu Xiu: "......"
"Hi!" Jiang Hong smiled, waving at him from outside the window.
Lu Xiu's expression turned to disbelief, seemingly finding the situation rather amusing, and he suddenly laughed.
Wow! He's laughing! Jiang Hong never expected to see Lu Xiu laugh at such a moment! So handsome! So warm.
But almost immediately, Lu Xiu's smile disappeared as he seemed to remember something serious. He first looked around to check his surroundings, then quickly approached the windowsill.
"What are you doing here?!" Lu Xiu frowned, "Who let you come?!"
Jiang Hong, still being carried by Jin, gestured for silence with a "shush" motion and said, "We'll talk later. My car is parked across the complex, it's a Mercedes. You'll see it when you go out. We'll wait for you in the car."
Lu Xiu: "Leave here as soon as possible!"
Jiang Hong waved his hand, tugged at Jin's arm, and Jin leaped horizontally to another room on the third floor. Lu Xiu moved to the side of the windowsill, watching every move of Jiang Hong with puzzlement in his eyes.
The third window on the third floor led to a private sitting room.
Jiang Hong finally saw the main character, a chubby, not very tall middle-aged man, conversing with He Jian and Zhang Xiting. The three were sitting on the sofa, and on the coffee table in front of the middle-aged man was a black compass.
Jin listened carefully and said, "That must be Mai Qing."
Jiang Hong carefully opened a crack in the window and heard Mai Qing speaking in a soft voice, "…I have great respect for Teacher Wang Guoliang. Although he only taught me for a short time, he…"
He Jian and Zhang Xiting, expressionless, looked at Mai Qing, and behind him, at Jiang Hong waving outside the window.
Jiang Hong turned and saw Lu Xiu still watching him with a puzzled look.
Jiang Hong whispered to Jin, "Keep an eye out for a while, can I go next door?"
"Go ahead." Jin, holding the windowsill with his left hand, effortlessly plucked Jiang Hong off his back with his right and tossed him over to Lu Xiu without looking.
Jiang Hong almost screamed, but Lu Xiu, with quick reflexes, caught him, holding his waist and pulling him into the adjacent study.
Lu Xiu, with a very serious expression, asked, "What exactly are you doing here?"
Jiang Hong stammered a few words and explained the situation, causing Lu Xiu's expression to change instantly.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
Lu Xiu fell silent, deep in thought. Jiang Hong asked again, "And you? What are you doing here?"
Lu Xiu looked up at Jiang Hong, thought for a moment, and answered, "The Exorcism Committee is preparing to arrest him."
"Ah?" Jiang Hong said, "Did he break the law? What did he do? Isn't he a Feng Shui master?"
Lu Xiu pieced together the cause and effect, speaking sarcastically, "This case, as it turns out, involves you too. Remember the incident with Yang Feiyao?"
Jiang Hong had almost forgotten about that incident from two months ago, only recalling it after Lu Xiu's reminder.
"Yang Feiyao's identity was that of an undercover agent sent to the Exorcism Committee by a special organization. Coincidentally, it was you who discovered it."
Even with no one around, Lu Xiu kept his voice low, placing a hand on Jiang Hong's shoulder. They stood side by side at the windowsill, and Lu Xiu explained in a hushed tone, "The true intentions of this organization are still unclear. Currently known members include Chen Shun in Xi'an, who has been taken into custody."
Jiang Hong: "Oh…"
Lu Xiu: "Chen Shun had close relations with Mai Qing for a considerable time and there was a significant amount of financial transactions between them. Mai Qing withdrew from the Exorcism Committee last year, and now the Beijing authorities have decided to detain him for interrogation."
Jiang Hong: "Hmm, is it the 'enemy hidden in the dark' that Chairman Chen Zhen mentioned last time?"
Lu Xiu spread his hands, gazing out the window, deep in thought.
Lu Xiu: "Wang Guoliang in the Xi'an branch has already received news about Chen Shun's detention. Soon, Mai Qing's properties will be seized. They may not be cohorts, but they wanted to retrieve the Xuan Guang Jin Dou before the incident, to avoid losing it when Mai Qing's assets are frozen by the Exorcism Committee."
Jiang Hong made a sound of realization, "I've always been puzzled why Old Man Wang... Teacher Wang, would send us four students to retrieve the item."
"Did you tell the artifact seller that you're a Feng Shui master?" Lu Xiu asked suspiciously.
"Seems like it," Jiang Hong said, "Why?"
After Lu Xiu explained, Jiang Hong finally understood the trickiness of it all — because they "claimed" Jiang Hong was a Feng Shui master, the artifact seller, Old Man Wang, believed that Jiang Hong could disrupt Mai Qing's arrangements on a "predictive" level!
A skilled Feng Shui master like Mai Qing could predict someone coming to "retrieve the artifact" and their motives. Thus, even if Wang Guoliang personally went to ask for it, the artifact might not be successfully retrieved.
But what if another Feng Shui master was involved in the operation? Colleagues in the same field could naturally use certain techniques to disrupt Mai Qing's predictions. Therefore, Wang Guoliang believed Jiang Hong might be able to use his skills to nullify Mai Qing's predictions, thus successfully retrieving the Xuan Guang Jin Dou.
"I see!" Jiang Hong was baffled, having not understood any of this before.
Chapter 28: Going Home
The plane landed in Chongqing. Jiang Hong never expected to return home so unexpectedly. His roommates originally didn't plan to bother his family; firstly, his parents were ordinary people, and it was best to avoid involving them in such matters to prevent any slip of the tongue; secondly, returning home now was quite strange.
But Jiang Hong genuinely wanted to host his roommates, appreciating their usual care. Thus, he still led the three back home. Mr. Jiang drove to pick them up, and Mrs. Jiang prepared a whole table of dishes, warmly thanking Jiang Hong's three roommates.
"Are you going for social practice tomorrow?" Mr. Jiang asked. "Do you need help?"
"No, thanks," Jiang Hong replied. "We can manage on our own."
"Jiang Hong has troubled you all," Mrs. Jiang said with a smile.
Everyone unanimously expressed that it was no trouble at all, as it was they who were taken care of by Jiang Hong.
"Dad," at the dinner table, Jiang Hong suddenly asked curiously, "Was our family's great-grandfather ever a Feng Shui master?"
"What?" Mr. Jiang was surprised that his son would be interested in this. After thinking for a while, he said with confusion, "Where did you hear that?"
Zhang Xiting chuckled, "Was it during the time when the National Government relocated, from Nanjing, right?"
Mr. Jiang reminisced, saying, "I'm not sure, no, it should be from when people from Huguang filled Sichuan, right?"
The relocation in 1937 was nearly a hundred years ago, so it's normal to be unclear about it. The migration from Huguang to Sichuan was even more distant, over three hundred years ago.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Jiang Hong asked, "Then does our family have any books on Feng Shui or something like a compass?"
Mr. Jiang laughed heartily, "That was hundreds of years ago, who knows? If you're interested, I'll look it up for you some other day."
"Baby," after clearing the table, Mrs. Jiang pulled Jiang Hong aside and whispered, "Should I prepare some hawthorn pills or digestive tablets for your roommate, that tall guy named Jin?"
Jiang Hong: "No need, he's fine."
Mrs. Jiang: "He ate six bowls of rice and three big bowls of braised pork. I'm worried he might have overeaten."
Jiang Hong: "He eats like this at school too, you don't need to worry about us, just do what you need to do."
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were going out to play mahjong tonight, so Jiang Hong and Jin would share a room, while He Jian and Zhang Xiting would sleep in the guest room.
"Dad, can I use your car for the next few days?" Jiang Hong asked again.
"Sure," said Mr. Jiang, "Just be safe."
"I really envy your family," Jin sighed, saying, "Ah."
Jiang Hong laughed, "What's there to envy? I actually envy your family."
Jin grew up without his parents around, who were both scholars. He was raised by his grandfather, a man who expressed his emotions in a reserved manner and was quite strict with Jin, hoping he would grow into a capable 'Lion King'.
Unlike Jiang Hong's parents, who showed their love for their son directly and passionately.
"What do you want to do in the future?" Jin asked, lying side by side with Jiang Hong on the bed.
Jiang Hong, facing away from Jin, was messaging Lu Xiu, who asked him about the magical artifact. Jiang Hong replied that things weren’t going smoothly, but he was trying to find a way. Jiang Hong hadn't asked Lu Xiu for help, so Lu Xiu didn’t probe further.
According to their plan, they were supposed to meet in two days anyway. Whatever issues there were, they could discuss them in person.
Jiang Hong started to check the photos sent by Wang Leqin, which showed a dark compass, the Xuan Guang Jin Dou.
Jiang Hong answered, "I don’t know, my dad wants me to come back and take over the family business, but due to some mix-ups, I ended up learning exorcism. Now, I’m quite lost about it."
Jin laughed, and Jiang Hong remembered a conversation with Lu Xiu – Will you stay with me for a long time? No, I won't.
Even He Jian's fortune-telling told Jiang Hong that they were destined to part ways, with fate but no destiny.
What about his roommates? Perhaps after graduation, they would also go their separate ways soon.
"What about you?" Jiang Hong turned his head and asked Jin.
Jin answered, "I want to dedicate my life to Buddhism."
"Wow," said Jiang Hong, "That's really impressive."
Jin added, "I want to see the Buddha, understand the Buddha, but as it seems now, I am still far from it."
Jiang Hong didn't quite understand this wish, neither grasping its difficulty nor being able to imagine the final state of enlightenment, but regardless, he thought Jin was very impressive.
"You will definitely succeed," Jiang Hong encouraged.
Jin turned his head and smiled at Jiang Hong.
"Chongqing is really warm."
He Jian, coming to the south, felt light and easy. Everyone could now move around in sweaters, though it always rained in winter here, a constant drizzle.
"Don't wander around aimlessly." Zhang Xiting was anxious, needing to find the exorcist named Mai Qing as soon as possible to retrieve the Xuan Guang Jin Dou within three days. He Jian was still looking around, interested in the staircases up and down the old town of the mountain city.
"I've only been here once," Jiang Hong said, "and I don't remember it clearly."
"Let's give it a try," Jin suggested, "and if it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."
Following the path Lu Xiu had taken him on last time, Jiang Hong found the hotpot restaurant and asked the lady boss, "Is it here?"
"Yes," the lady boss, eating peanuts outside, said, "Just go through the alley."
So Jiang Hong led his roommates through the dining tables in the middle of the alley, back to the Eighteen Steps.
"I don't remember anything beyond this point," Jiang Hong said, "We can only wait here and try our luck."
The four sat on the Eighteen Steps, with Jiang Hong occasionally glancing towards the adjacent alley. Sure enough, not long after, a delivery guy wearing a helmet emerged.
"Hey! Hi!" Jiang Hong immediately stood up.
"Hey!" The guy, with his electric bike, greeted Jiang Hong. They recognized each other at a glance. Jiang Hong thought to himself, how lucky! He knows him! His luck is really good!
This person was Xu Xuyang, who had previously joined Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu in subduing demons!
"Long time no see!" Jiang Hong greeted warmly, "How's your hand?"
"All done!" Xu Xuyang sized up the three people and nodded in greeting. He asked Jiang Hong, "Why didn't you come in to sit? Where's Teacher Lu?"
Uh... Jiang Hong had no idea how to get in and couldn't let Xu Xuyang know he came here rashly.
"I actually came to inquire about someone," Jiang Hong said.
"Go ahead!" Xu Xuyang had fought alongside Jiang Hong before. He had broken his hand underground that day and it was Jiang Hong who half-carried him forward, taking care of each other, which had created a bond between them.
"Mai Qing," said Xu Xuyang, "Of course, I know him. What do you want with him?"
Jiang Hong only mentioned they had some business. After a moment of thought, looking at the three people behind him, Zhang Xiting said, "Senior, just tell us where he lives, we'll contact him ourselves."
Xu Xuyang said, "Mai Qing is no longer an exorcist. His certification has been revoked. He lives on Nanshan, behind the Botanical Garden."
As he spoke, he took a small takeaway receipt, wrote an address on the back, and said, "This is the Mai family's address. If you have any grudges..."
"No grudges," Zhang Xiting interjected, "just a visit."
Xu Xuyang looked at Zhang Xiting skeptically for a while, then smiled at Jiang Hong, leaving his phone number and indicating they could call him if needed.
Jiang Hong drove his dad's Mercedes, taking his three roommates to Nanshan.
"We can't just go and demand things from him," Zhang Xiting said, "What if he sees us as four students and refuses?"
"Right," Jin agreed, "We should go in pairs at most, leaving some room for maneuver."
"Then I'll be your driver," Jiang Hong suggested, "I won't show up first?"
Jiang Hong always felt a bit cowardly, fearing that as an exorcist, one could easily discern his ordinary nature, potentially hindering his teammates and making them less respected.
"Okay," Zhang Xiting pondered for a moment, then said, "It's also best not to appear as students."
He Jian proposed, "I can use my brother's name. Although he is no longer an exorcist, people still respect him."
"So, you two will go?" Jin, sitting in the passenger seat wearing sunglasses, looked like a bodyguard.
Zhang Xiting: "Let me organize the pretext first. Should we use the guise of artifact recovery, or say we're acting on Old Man Wang's commission?"
He Jian suggested, "Can we say that Old Man Wang has posted a task with the Exorcism Committee to retrieve his Xuan Guang Jin Dou?"
Jiang Hong, not fully understanding, listened as Jin explained, "Although the Exorcism Committee is a permanent organization, it also functions to issue commissions. Registered exorcists nationwide, if not working at a branch, are essentially free agents. They can accept tasks at local Exorcism Committees, ranging from demon hunting to finding lost items, similar to a law firm. Depending on the difficulty of the task, the client provides a certain remuneration."
"Oh," Jiang Hong recalled Lu Xiu's collaborative mission last time.
After driving to the Nanshan Botanical Garden and turning into a small road, they reached a whole area of villas on the mountainside.
"It's actually a bit rash," Zhang Xiting said, "We haven't even investigated who the other party is."
"Let's go," He Jian said, "and test the waters first."
The security guard asked, "Which house are you looking for? Please register. Do you have an appointment?"
The rear car window rolled down, revealing Zhang Xiting's face. He beckoned the guard over, who approached with a registration form and a walkie-talkie.
"You're tired. Take a nap, a ten-minute sleep is healthy," Zhang Xiting said.
Security Guard: "…"
"Go back to your booth and sleep, and kindly open the gate for us, thank you," Zhang Xiting added.
The gate opened.
"Endless Dream is so convenient," Jin remarked.
Laughing, Jiang Hong drove the car into the community.
"It's this house," Jiang Hong curiously asked, "Do we just go and ring the doorbell?"
In a secluded part of the community, several detached villas stood, lavishly decorated, far wealthier than Jiang Hong's home.
"Let's go," Zhang Xiting and He Jian got out of the car. He Jian adjusted his clothes and wrapped his scarf, looking calm, while Zhang Xiting acted as his assistant, pressing the doorbell for him.
Jiang Hong was very nervous, seeing the two successfully enter the Mai residence. Now, he could only hope for Zhang Xiting's intelligence.
Jin rolled down the car window, tapping his fingers lightly against it.
"Don't be afraid," Jin suddenly said.
Jiang Hong glanced at Jin, realizing he was indeed a bit nervous, still gripping the steering wheel.
"It's not fear, I just always feel like, as a mortal, I might hold you back," Jiang Hong said self-deprecatingly.
"Not many people can tell you're a mortal," Jin comforted, "Look, before the spiritual vein identification, nobody in our dorm, not even Principal Cao, Director Xuan Hezhi, or Lu Xiu, had noticed, right?"
Jiang Hong thought about it and realized it was true. So far, the only person who had truly recognized his lack of magical power was Old Man Wang, who sold magical artifacts and seemed to have quite a background.
Jiang Hong sighed again. Jin turned his head and smiled at Jiang Hong. They were each other's first friends after entering university, sharing a unique understanding. Jin was not talkative, but every time he spoke, Jiang Hong felt a warmth.
"I've been studying Feng Shui outside of class lately," Jiang Hong said.
Perhaps to compensate, or maybe because of his family's Feng Shui heritage, Jiang Hong sought to fill this knowledge gap. This semester, he had borrowed many works on geomancy from the library.
"Oh?" Jin said thoughtfully, "Found anything interesting?"
Jiang Hong perked up, "If Mai Qing is a Feng Shui master, then here's the thing: Geomancy is only a part of Feng Shui. A skilled Feng Shui master also includes predictions about the future. This varies from person to person; some master Qimen Dunjia, others prefer using the Six Lines."
Jin suddenly understood what Jiang Hong was getting at, his expression turning serious.
Jiang Hong continued, "If the other person is really a Feng Shui master, just casting one divination could reveal our intentions today in retrieving the artifact. Whether or not he returns the artifact depends entirely on him, right? Even if he doesn't hand over the Xuan Guang Jin Dou, our next plan would also be within his predictions…"
Jin removed his sunglasses and leaned out the car window, gazing at the house across the small road.
"So, according to Mai Qing's calculation, there are only two outcomes today. One, the Xuan Guang Jin Dou will be taken. The best solution is to hand it over directly to avoid wasting time and unnecessary talk. Two, the Xuan Guang Jin Dou won't be taken, and there's no need to worry about the two people coming for the artifact…"
"You're right," Jin glanced at his watch and decisively interrupted Jiang Hong's analysis.
He Jian and Zhang Xiting had been inside for nearly half an hour.
Jiang Hong: "What should we do? I think Old Man Wang also knows that with our abilities, it's impossible to get the Xuan Guang Jin Dou."
Jin muttered, "No, I get it now, we need to go in and see for ourselves."
Jiang Hong became even more nervous in an instant: "Is it going to be that thrilling?"
Jin said, "Don't turn off the car, follow me."
They got out of the car, and Jin, after ensuring no one was around, led Jiang Hong over the garden fence. Jin leaped over the railing with ease, followed nimbly by Jiang Hong.
"Not bad with your movements," Jin commented.
"I've been taking physical training classes with Principal Cao lately," Jiang Hong whispered.
This was a villa of over two thousand square meters, with the garden taking up almost half of the area. There was also a security booth outside. Jiang Hong reminded, "Be careful, there are cameras everywhere."
Jin, clearly used to a more primitive environment, replied after being reminded, "Lucky you noticed. These high-tech products are impossible to guard against. How do we deal with them?"
"Move through the blind spots," Jiang Hong estimated quickly. They circled around the back garden, which was filled with strangely shaped rockeries and irregularly distributed ponds.
Jin said, "Let's go up to the third floor from the back, come on, let's go take a look."
Just as Jiang Hong and Jin rounded the corner, they unexpectedly ran into a young boy!
The boy was about the same age and build as Jiang Hong, feeding fish by the pond, staring at the water. He caught sight of them out of the corner of his eye and just as he showed a shocked expression and opened his mouth to shout, Jin swiftly moved behind him and pressed on a major artery in his neck.
The boy didn't seem like a bodyguard, likely a family member of Mai Qing.
The boy immediately lost consciousness and collapsed. Jin placed him behind the rockery and whispered, "Jiang Hong, do you think this Feng Shui master could have predicted us taking action?"
"Uh..." Jiang Hong said, "Theoretically, he should be able to."
Jin: "If he did predict this, then Mai Qing wouldn't have let this guy come to the backyard, right? Because it's dangerous."
That seemed logical, Jiang Hong thought, a bit confused himself: "Could it be that there's too much going on, and he couldn't predict everything?"
Jin said, "That’s why they say, man's calculation is inferior to heaven's. Come on, can you climb up?"
Jiang Hong looked up at the villa's exterior wall and remarked, "For an undergraduate, this is asking too much…"
Jin bent down, indicating for Jiang Hong to jump up. Jiang Hong quickly stepped on his back and leaped.
Jin followed closely, scaling the wall with agility. As Jiang Hong was falling mid-air, Jin firmly caught his wrist and grabbed onto the second-floor windowsill with his other hand.
Jiang Hong clung to Jin's shoulder, and Jin, using one hand, slowly pulled them both up to the higher level. They peered inside from the windowsill.
Jiang Hong saw a person, their back to the window, dressed in a shirt and trousers, a figure somewhat familiar.
"Why does he look familiar?" Jiang Hong felt he recognized the silhouette but couldn't recall where he had seen it before. "Could it be a teacher from school?"
While he was lost in thought, Jin waved his hand, signaling not to disturb the person inside.
"Are we technically being burglars now?" Jiang Hong whispered. "Breaking into someone's house isn't exactly great, right? What if they call the police?"
Jin also whispered back, "I'm a nationally protected animal, I have immunity. Think about it, if a panda breaks into your house, the panda doesn't break the law, right?"
Jiang Hong: "You might not break the law, but I'm a human, big brother! I'm under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China's criminal law."
"Shh," Jin gestured to be quieter. "If discovered, just say you're here to catch me and return me. You might even get credit for a good deed."
Jin climbed from the second floor to the third and saw a study through a window, quickly signaling Jiang Hong to look inside.
Jiang Hong peered out, holding his breath for a moment.
He saw another person, feeling both surprised and delighted at the sight.
At this moment, Lu Xiu was standing in Mai Qing's study, examining the surroundings.
Once Jiang Hong confirmed that Lu Xiu was alone in the study, he gently tapped on the window. Lu Xiu instantly turned around, alert, their eyes meeting.
Lu Xiu: "......"
"Hi!" Jiang Hong smiled, waving at him from outside the window.
Lu Xiu's expression turned to disbelief, seemingly finding the situation rather amusing, and he suddenly laughed.
Wow! He's laughing! Jiang Hong never expected to see Lu Xiu laugh at such a moment! So handsome! So warm.
But almost immediately, Lu Xiu's smile disappeared as he seemed to remember something serious. He first looked around to check his surroundings, then quickly approached the windowsill.
"What are you doing here?!" Lu Xiu frowned, "Who let you come?!"
Jiang Hong, still being carried by Jin, gestured for silence with a "shush" motion and said, "We'll talk later. My car is parked across the complex, it's a Mercedes. You'll see it when you go out. We'll wait for you in the car."
Lu Xiu: "Leave here as soon as possible!"
Jiang Hong waved his hand, tugged at Jin's arm, and Jin leaped horizontally to another room on the third floor. Lu Xiu moved to the side of the windowsill, watching every move of Jiang Hong with puzzlement in his eyes.
The third window on the third floor led to a private sitting room.
Jiang Hong finally saw the main character, a chubby, not very tall middle-aged man, conversing with He Jian and Zhang Xiting. The three were sitting on the sofa, and on the coffee table in front of the middle-aged man was a black compass.
Jin listened carefully and said, "That must be Mai Qing."
Jiang Hong carefully opened a crack in the window and heard Mai Qing speaking in a soft voice, "…I have great respect for Teacher Wang Guoliang. Although he only taught me for a short time, he…"
He Jian and Zhang Xiting, expressionless, looked at Mai Qing, and behind him, at Jiang Hong waving outside the window.
Jiang Hong turned and saw Lu Xiu still watching him with a puzzled look.
Jiang Hong whispered to Jin, "Keep an eye out for a while, can I go next door?"
"Go ahead." Jin, holding the windowsill with his left hand, effortlessly plucked Jiang Hong off his back with his right and tossed him over to Lu Xiu without looking.
Jiang Hong almost screamed, but Lu Xiu, with quick reflexes, caught him, holding his waist and pulling him into the adjacent study.
Lu Xiu, with a very serious expression, asked, "What exactly are you doing here?"
Jiang Hong stammered a few words and explained the situation, causing Lu Xiu's expression to change instantly.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
Lu Xiu fell silent, deep in thought. Jiang Hong asked again, "And you? What are you doing here?"
Lu Xiu looked up at Jiang Hong, thought for a moment, and answered, "The Exorcism Committee is preparing to arrest him."
"Ah?" Jiang Hong said, "Did he break the law? What did he do? Isn't he a Feng Shui master?"
Lu Xiu pieced together the cause and effect, speaking sarcastically, "This case, as it turns out, involves you too. Remember the incident with Yang Feiyao?"
Jiang Hong had almost forgotten about that incident from two months ago, only recalling it after Lu Xiu's reminder.
"Yang Feiyao's identity was that of an undercover agent sent to the Exorcism Committee by a special organization. Coincidentally, it was you who discovered it."
Even with no one around, Lu Xiu kept his voice low, placing a hand on Jiang Hong's shoulder. They stood side by side at the windowsill, and Lu Xiu explained in a hushed tone, "The true intentions of this organization are still unclear. Currently known members include Chen Shun in Xi'an, who has been taken into custody."
Jiang Hong: "Oh…"
Lu Xiu: "Chen Shun had close relations with Mai Qing for a considerable time and there was a significant amount of financial transactions between them. Mai Qing withdrew from the Exorcism Committee last year, and now the Beijing authorities have decided to detain him for interrogation."
Jiang Hong: "Hmm, is it the 'enemy hidden in the dark' that Chairman Chen Zhen mentioned last time?"
Lu Xiu spread his hands, gazing out the window, deep in thought.
Lu Xiu: "Wang Guoliang in the Xi'an branch has already received news about Chen Shun's detention. Soon, Mai Qing's properties will be seized. They may not be cohorts, but they wanted to retrieve the Xuan Guang Jin Dou before the incident, to avoid losing it when Mai Qing's assets are frozen by the Exorcism Committee."
Jiang Hong made a sound of realization, "I've always been puzzled why Old Man Wang... Teacher Wang, would send us four students to retrieve the item."
"Did you tell the artifact seller that you're a Feng Shui master?" Lu Xiu asked suspiciously.
"Seems like it," Jiang Hong said, "Why?"
After Lu Xiu explained, Jiang Hong finally understood the trickiness of it all — because they "claimed" Jiang Hong was a Feng Shui master, the artifact seller, Old Man Wang, believed that Jiang Hong could disrupt Mai Qing's arrangements on a "predictive" level!
A skilled Feng Shui master like Mai Qing could predict someone coming to "retrieve the artifact" and their motives. Thus, even if Wang Guoliang personally went to ask for it, the artifact might not be successfully retrieved.
But what if another Feng Shui master was involved in the operation? Colleagues in the same field could naturally use certain techniques to disrupt Mai Qing's predictions. Therefore, Wang Guoliang believed Jiang Hong might be able to use his skills to nullify Mai Qing's predictions, thus successfully retrieving the Xuan Guang Jin Dou.
"I see!" Jiang Hong was baffled, having not understood any of this before.
