This was blatant favoritism.
Zhuo Zhongqiu curled her lips, not the least bit surprised—she had expected this.
It was dinner time. As Jiang Luo and his two companions entered the hall, a rich aroma of food greeted them. Zhou Wudu and Wang Santan were devouring their meals. When they heard someone enter, they lifted their heads from their bowls and, upon seeing Jiang Luo, their expressions turned instantly ghost-like, eyes almost popping out.
“Holy sh*t, y-y-you—what are you doing here?!”
A registered disciple calmly explained, “Senior Brother Jiang is here to see Master.”
Zhou Wudu gulped. Wang Santan immediately stood up, wiped the grains of rice from the corner of his mouth, and said politely, “Junior Brother, come with me. I’ll take you to Master.”
Jiang Luo replied, “No need to call me Junior Brother. I’m no longer a disciple of the Heavenly Master Residence.”
Everyone present knew Jiang Luo wasn’t someone who lacked social tact. For him to say something so pointed now was clearly deliberate—to draw a line between himself and the Heavenly Master Residence.
Wang Santan’s expression grew complicated, but he turned and headed upstairs. “Follow me.”
Jiang Luo stepped to the foot of the stairs and looked down at the familiar wooden steps before steadily ascending, one step at a time.
When Zhuo Zhongqiu and Wenren Lian tried to follow, Zhou Wudu stopped them. “Master agreed to meet Jiang Luo. He won’t see you two.”
Wenren Lian frowned. “Why not?”
Zhou Wudu shot them a glare. “Why all the questions? Just wait down here.”
The two exchanged a look. Zhuo Zhongqiu asked, “Is the old Heavenly Master at home? As juniors, we should pay our respects.”
Upstairs.
Wang Santan knocked on the door, glanced back at Jiang Luo, and said, “Master, Senior Br.. Jiang Luo is here.”
Jiang Luo stood tall, unflinching, waiting calmly for the door to open.
It only took a few seconds before the door swung open. A tall figure loomed in the doorway, casting a shadow.
Feng Li stared intently at the man before him.
Since this was a business negotiation, Jiang Luo was not wearing his usual combat attire but had instead donned a formal suit for once. Now 23 years old, he had shed his youthful immaturity and begun to transition into maturity. The tailored suit fit him perfectly; his black hair fell freely over his shoulders. He looked striking, poised, commanding without being overbearing.
The once obedient, quiet demeanor he had shown Feng Li was a thing of the past.
Feng Li’s gaze darkened, as if trying to devour Jiang Luo, but eventually calmed, cold as a frozen lake. “Why have you come to the Heavenly Master Residence?”
Jiang Luo smiled faintly. “Won’t the Heavenly Master invite me in for a seat?”
Feng Li turned. “Come in.”
Once Jiang Luo entered, Wang Santan quietly shut the door behind them. Jiang Luo calmly took a seat in front of the desk. Feng Li sat down across from him. After a moment of silence, Wang Santan brought over two cups of tea.
The fragrant steam from the tea eased the tension in the room.
Jiang Luo maintained a courteous, controlled smile. “Mr. Feng, you should know the reason I’ve come to the Heavenly Master Residence.”
Feng Li took a sip of tea and, instead of answering, asked, “How is your time at the Research Bureau?”
Jiang Luo replied politely, “Thanks to you, everything is well.”
Feng Li lowered his eyes, watching the swirling tea leaves, then asked, “How did the Fated One die?”
It wasn’t a secret that the Fated One had died at Dazhao Temple.
But who killed him and how he died—no one knew.
Feng Li didn’t know either.
After Ji Yaozi told him about the strange circumstances surrounding the Fated One, Feng Li’s consciousness had become hazy. When he came to again, he was still in his study, as if he had simply taken a nap.
But Ji Yaozi had vanished, it was mysteriously nighttime, his shoes were caked in mud from the mountains, and by the next day, news of the Fated One’s death had spread.
Feng Li’s first thought was that Chi You had controlled him.
Chi You’s puppet soul-manipulation technique was nearly impossible to guard against. In this world, the only person capable of controlling Feng Li was Chi You.
Feng Li had spent an entire week examining himself and investigating Ji Yaozi and the Fated One’s deaths. But even now, he had found little.
Jiang Luo smiled. “You’re asking the wrong person. Even you don’t know—how would I?”
Feng Li raised his eyes and looked at him, his gaze calm but heavy with authority. “If the Bureau wants to do business with the Heavenly Master Residence, you’d best show some sincerity.”
“Cooperation is a two-way street,” Jiang Luo replied sharply. “If you force me to answer what I don’t know, how can I give you an answer? Mr. Feng, if you’re not interested in collaborating with the Bureau, then let’s call it off.”
He stood without hesitation to leave. Feng Li turned the jade ring on his thumb, his eyes narrowing. “Jiang Luo, I can’t see through you anymore—but you’re no longer human.”
Jiang Luo’s smile didn’t waver. He took a step toward the door but suddenly stopped and looked down.
At his feet, a golden formation glowed to life—its power activating the moment he stepped onto it.
He instantly recognized it: a corpse-capturing array, meant to trap malicious ghosts.
Jiang Luo’s expression turned cold. He looked back at Feng Li. “What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Feng?”
Feng Li looked at the formation. “So you really are no longer human.”
He sneered. “What, Chi You didn’t protect you properly, and now you’ve become something ghost-like too?”
Suddenly, Feng Li stood and strode forward, seizing Jiang Luo’s chin. His face darkened ominously, aggression bristling beneath the surface. “You followed him, left the Heavenly Master Residence, and still didn’t become any better.”
Jiang Luo responded coolly, “Is that so?”
Under Feng Li’s tightening glare, Jiang Luo calmly stepped out of the formation. What could trap countless vengeful spirits seemed like a child’s toy to him. With ease, he broke free and, in a flash, grabbed Feng Li’s wrist and bent it back mercilessly.
A cracking sound echoed. Cold sweat broke out on Feng Li’s forehead, but he quickly composed himself and reset his bones.
“You…”
“Mr. Feng,” Jiang Luo said, “you clearly don’t want to negotiate. Striking a government official—bold of you. Boldness isn’t a bad thing, but you have to use it in the right place.”
In Feng Shui circles, no one had dared talk to Feng Li like this in thirty years.
And the person doing it was once his own disciple.
This was the first time Feng Li truly realized that Jiang Luo had become a soaring eagle—utterly beyond his control. No longer afraid of him, his claws and beak now posed a genuine threat.
That obedience from before had never been genuine. It had simply been due to weakness. Now that he had power, no one could cage him.
For a moment, Feng Li felt a surge of bitter jealousy toward Chi You.
Jiang Luo continued, “You crossed a line today. I can’t pretend not to see it. But you were once my teacher, and also my current Master’s brother—I won’t do anything excessive. But, Heavenly Master, do you know there’s a basement beneath the Manor’s confinement chamber?”
Feng Li snapped back to alertness and stared at him.
The black-haired young man smiled gently, as if idly bringing it up—no hostility in his tone.
Did Jiang Luo know the secret, or was he bluffing?
Jiang Luo added, “I suppose the outside world doesn’t know you have a mother, do they?”
Feng Li’s expression tightened. His heart sank.
“You know,” he said.
Jiang Luo just smiled in silence.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open. The old Heavenly Master entered, voice loud and trembling with suppressed fury. “The Heavenly Master Residence agrees to the collaboration. But you must never tell anyone about this matter!”
Jiang Luo turned his head. The old Heavenly Master slammed the door shut and, upon seeing the formation on the floor, his face turned red with rage. He raised his cane and struck Feng Li hard on the back. “Step back!”
Feng Li said nothing and, after a long pause, backed away.
Facing Jiang Luo directly, the old Heavenly Master forced a smile. “Chief Jiang, the Residence’s position is clear. Since the agreement is reached, we won’t keep you for dinner.”
Beneath the confinement room was Feng Li’s mother—the old Heavenly Master’s cousin. Years ago, after she drugged the Fated One and became pregnant, the entire Heavenly Master Residence was thrown into turmoil. She was locked away for her safety, so she’d never appear before the Fated One again—not just to protect the Residence, but to protect her life.
Even if the Fated One didn’t kill people himself, his presence caused many deaths—especially his devotees and infatuated lovers. They would’ve torn her apart.
After giving birth, the child was handed to the old Heavenly Master and raised as part of the Feng family. His surname was changed, and the cousin remained imprisoned ever since.
Though the Fated One was now dead, his sins were still infamous. Countless people hated him. No one could know that the Heavenly Master Residence had ties to him—that the famed Heavenly Master Feng Li was his son.
The old Heavenly Master had just kicked Jiang Luo out, but Jiang Luo wasn’t quite done. “Thank you for your cooperation. I do have one more favor to ask.”
“Speak.” The old man’s tone was cool.
Jiang Luo smiled. “The Heavenly Master Residence once obtained a vial of female venom-tail scorpion blood. I’d like to purchase some—just half a bathtub’s worth will do.”
The old Heavenly Master took a deep breath. “I’ll have someone send it to you later.”
Jiang Luo responded sincerely, “Thank you.”
He politely nodded to both elders and strode out, closing the door behind him. Outside, he saw Wenren Lian and Zhuo Zhongqiu waiting.
Jiang Luo gave them a thumbs-up and mouthed, “Perfect timing.”
No doubt they had gone to summon the old Heavenly Master.
Zhuo Zhongqiu winked. Wenren Lian smiled reservedly. “Let’s go.”
