Chapter 16

Shen Ze secretly complained in his heart, then sat down alone on the opposite side of the dining table.

The waiter brought in the menu. While Shen Yanchen was busy ordering and not paying attention to her, Xia Sheng quietly dragged her chair closer to him.

The Baleful Qi in the air instantly grew denser.

Xia Sheng discreetly took a breath, and seeing that Shen Yanchen didn’t seem to notice her little move, she edged even closer to him.

Shen Yanchen focused on the menu, the thin curve of his lips revealing a faint, helpless smile.

Sitting across from them, Shen Ze took in all the interaction between the two.

He hadn’t even eaten yet, but already felt full.

After ordering, Shen Yanchen finally looked at the young girl beside him, who was almost pressed up against him.

“Miss Xia, are you absorbing the Baleful Qi from me?”

The girl, caught in the act, stiffened and quietly moved a little farther away. “So you knew?”

“I can vaguely sense it.”

Xia Sheng looked at him curiously. “How did you know you carry Baleful Qi?”

Shen Yanchen explained in a clear, cool voice, “When I was young, I was gravely ill. An Old Gentleman saved my life and taught me the ability to sense Yin Evil Qi.”

Xia Sheng hadn’t understood before why she couldn’t see through this man’s life, but now she had the answer.

Normally, someone with such heavy Baleful Qi as Shen Yanchen shouldn’t have survived past five years old. The fact that he lived to twenty-five was likely thanks to the Old Gentleman he mentioned.

And the reason she couldn’t see through his life was probably because that highly skilled predecessor had cast a Spell on Shen Yanchen.

Xia Sheng asked, “Can you see the Ghosts and Monsters that gather around you?”

Last night, this man went out in the middle of the night, and several Ghosts gathered around him.

If it were an ordinary person, seeing that would probably scare them out of their wits.

But Shen Yanchen was bold enough to ignore them completely. She wondered if he truly couldn’t see them, or simply wasn’t afraid.

Shen Yanchen replied, “No, I can only occasionally see blurry shadows.”

He could only vaguely see a bit of black mist from the Baleful Qi on himself.

Xia Sheng understood, then asked, “You were born with Baleful Qi, so you easily attract Ghosts and Monsters. But I’ve noticed those Ghosts don’t dare get close to you. Can you tell me why?”

Shen Yanchen didn’t intend to hide anything. He rolled up his suit sleeve, revealing a string of Buddha Beads carved with Runes.

Several beads were already cracked, clearly corroded by the Baleful Qi on Shen Yanchen. Now, only a faint trace of power remained to protect him.

“That Old Gentleman once said this string could protect me for twenty years. When the Buddha Beads are all cracked after twenty years, a destined person will protect me for the rest of my life.”

The reason Shen Yanchen went to the Ancient Street that day was specifically to meet Xia Sheng.

He had originally intended to state his purpose directly, but seeing that Xia Sheng was just an eighteen-year-old girl, he felt some doubt and wanted to observe her abilities and confirm her identity first.

Ever since meeting Xia Sheng on the Ancient Street, he had someone monitor her every move.

He had already heard from his subordinates about Xia Sheng subduing the Fierce Ghost in the hospital room today.

After confirming the girl’s extraordinary skills, he finally decided to lay everything out.

After hearing his words, Xia Sheng immediately guessed that the destined person he mentioned was probably her.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “I can repair these Buddha Beads for you. If they get damaged again in the future, I’ll provide after-sales service. But I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

“You have to stay with me for at least ten hours every week, within five meters at all times. Can you do that?”

She’d been hungry for years and never had her fill. Now that she finally had a free lunch, Xia Sheng was determined to make the most of it.
Hearing this, Shen Yanchen was slightly taken aback, while Shen Ze across from him wore a gossipy expression.

Was the Little Celestial Master trying to force Uncle Nine to be with her?

Was this the legendary forced love?

Shen Yanchen was silent for a moment, then agreed, “Alright.”

He didn’t dislike the feeling of having this young girl around him, so there was nothing wrong with agreeing.

Seeing how readily he agreed, Xia Sheng beamed with joy, took a Talisman from her pocket, and placed it in Shen Yanchen’s hand.

“Keep this Talisman for now. While I’m repairing the Buddha Beads, it can temporarily keep you safe.”

Shen Yanchen nodded and handed the Buddha Beads back to Xia Sheng.

After lunch, Shen Yanchen asked the driver to take Xia Sheng home, while he got into Shen Ze’s car.

With a living Buddha sitting in the back seat, Shen Ze felt immense pressure.

But recalling what had happened at the dining table, he couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle Nine, do you pay attention to the Little Celestial Master just because of your constitution?”

Shen Yanchen lowered his eyes to look at the emails on his tablet and replied without looking up, “What else?”

Shen Ze said, “I thought you liked the Little Celestial Master…”

Shen Yanchen’s handsome brows furrowed. “She’s only eighteen.”

The subtext: He’s not a beast; he wouldn’t make a move on a young girl.

Shen Ze muttered, “But it seems to me that you clearly have feelings for her…”

Shen Yanchen’s finger paused slightly on the tablet. “Just your imagination.”

That young girl was indeed lovely and likable, but he only regarded her as a junior.

Shen Ze scratched his head.

Was he really overthinking it?

But why did he always feel that Uncle Nine’s gaze at the young girl wasn’t entirely proper…

…

After leaving the restaurant, Xia Sheng didn’t go straight home but went to a traditional medicine shop to buy some herbs before returning.

When she arrived home, Fang Rong was cleaning the house.

Seeing her mother’s hunched back, Xia Sheng felt a pang of heartache. “Mom, you don’t have to work so hard anymore. Leave the cleaning to me.”

With just a Cleaning Talisman, the whole house could be spotless.

Fang Rong was mopping the floor. Hearing this, she straightened up, rubbed her sore waist, and smiled, “I’m used to being busy. If I don’t have something to do, I just can’t settle down.”

“And you? Was work smooth today?”

Xia Sheng nodded. “It went pretty well.”

She put the bag of herbs she was carrying on the coffee table, walked over, and placed a Talisman on Fang Rong’s waist.

The soreness in Fang Rong’s waist instantly disappeared.

Her leg had almost fully recovered by now. Even though she had witnessed her daughter’s abilities more than once, Fang Rong still found it miraculous.

After a brief chat, Xia Sheng took out a newly issued bank card and handed it to Fang Rong.

“Keep this card. The password is your birthday. Don’t worry about spending money-buy whatever you want. If you use it up, I’ll transfer more to you.”

Xia Sheng had already donated half of the money she earned today. The remaining ten million was all deposited into this card.

Fang Rong took the card and asked, “How much is in here? Do you have enough for yourself?”

“There’s not much in the card. I kept enough for myself.”

Hearing her daughter say this, Fang Rong assumed it was just a little money for household expenses, so she accepted the card.

After chatting for a while, Xia Sheng was about to study the Buddha Beads and said to Fang Rong, “Mom, I have something to do later. Please don’t come into my room for now.”

Fang Rong nodded in agreement. After tidying up the house, she took her shopping basket and went downstairs to buy groceries for dinner.

As soon as she got downstairs, she saw a familiar car parked by the roadside.

The car door opened, and sure enough, Jiang Zhongqing got out.

He stood tall and straight as a pine, his handsome and resolute features adorned with a polite smile.

“Ms. Fang, is the Little Celestial Master at home now?”