Later, on their way back, Luo Qiu, Song Ying, and Zhang Qianrui ran into Song Haoran.
"Wolves?" Song Ying opened her mouth in surprise.
"Or maybe wild boars or sothing like that. But it's nothing serious," Song Haoran said casually. However, considering he had lost his entire shirt and was now only wearing pants, it was hard to believe that "nothing serious" had happened.
Despite his appearance, there were no visible wounds on his body, which at least reassured Song Ying.
"Really? Little Ying and Miss Zhang got trapped in a cave? What a coincidence," Song Haoran chuckled. "What about you, Luo Qiu? Where did you end up?"
"I was just wandering around nearby," Luo Qiu replied casually. "I heard so strange noises, so I found Song Ying and Zhang Qianrui."
Of course, this was just an excuse. If Luo Qiu really wanted to find soone, he wouldn’t need to rely on sothing as simple as "hearing sounds."
For so reason, when Song Ying and Zhang Qianrui heard the phrase "strange noises," their expressions both changed slightly. Zhang Qianrui, being the more reserved one, blushed, pulled up her collar, and tucked her neck inside.
Song Haoran glanced at the two won suspiciously but couldn’t figure out anything. He had his own encounters in the thick fog, and that mysterious person had even left him with an ancient book.
Aside from Mr. Blind, this was the first ti he had t soone he couldn't defeat at all. Even after exhausting many of his resurrection chances—over a hundred tis—he was still powerless against them. Just that alone made him extrely interested in the ancient book the mysterious person had left behind.
Eager to get back and study it, Song Haoran didn't pay much attention to whatever had happened between Song Ying and Zhang Qianrui in the cave, nor to the subtle shift in their relationship.
"Since everyone is fine, let's head back," Song Haoran, taking charge, said. "Otherwise, Dad is going to lose his temper."
"Put on a shirt first," Luo Qiu said, pulling a long-sleeved shirt out of his backpack. He didn’t take out a jacket as well—after all, he had already pulled out quite a few things, and adding more large items would seem suspicious.
However…
"Where did you buy that backpack? Can it really fit so much stuff?" Song Haoran asked, casually putting on the shirt.
"If you fold things properly, you can always find a way to fit them," Luo Qiu answered steadily.
"Alright, enough with the chit-chat. Let's go back. It's completely dark now!" Song Ying pushed Song Haoran forward. She didn’t care about the backpack—she just wanted to get ho, take a good bath, and sort out what had happened today.
Just like in those outdated martial arts novels, she had consud sothing strange and then ended up… with another Miss.
And yet, she herself was also a Miss…
But none of them—Song Ying, Song Haoran, or Zhang Qianrui—paid any attention to one crucial thing: Why was the thick fog so strange? Why did everyone, originally gathered at "Dragon Gazing Pavilion," suddenly get separated? And what about the terrifying black shadow that Song Ying and Zhang Qianrui had seen in the mist?
It was as if none of it was particularly odd, as if it was sothing best left buried in their hearts, as if it wasn’t even worth ntioning… as if the thought "Ah, isn’t that normal?" had taken root in their minds.
They walked in silence.
…
—"You'll stay in your room for the night and reflect. Also, no dinner for you!"
That was Old Master Song’s verdict when they returned to the Song Family’s ancestral mansion. Since they had co back so late, it was only natural that Song Haoran, as the eldest, took the bla.
Song Haoran accepted the punishnt with a grin, then sauntered off to his room.
As a guest, Zhang Qianrui wasn’t reprimanded. As for Song Ying, Old Master Song just scolded her lightly and let it go.
"Luo Qiu, you must be tired after running around all day. Uncle Wu saved so food for you—have so before heading to your room to rest," Old Master Song said kindly.
"Ah, alright," Luo Qiu nodded.
Song Ying rolled her eyes—this guy must be the real favorite grandson here.
She wasn’t in the mood to complain, though.
She glanced at Zhang Qianrui. Earlier, Zhang Qianrui had said she was tired, excused herself, and returned to her guest room.
Song Ying only ate a few bites before heading to her room as well, leaving Luo Qiu and Old Master Song alone in the dining hall.
…
After dinner, Song Tianyou brewed tea himself and said, "Luo Qiu, there’s sothing I’d like to discuss with you."
"Go ahead."
Song Tianyou hesitated for a mont before saying, "Before returning to China, Mr. Blind asked for a favor. He’s looking for sothing and hopes you can help him."
"?" Luo Qiu asked in surprise. "I heard Mr. Blind is an expert in feng shui and divination. Why would he need my help?"
Song Tianyou chuckled. "Mr. Blind left China many years ago due to certain matters. He hasn’t been back in a long ti. He must have sothing important to do this ti… He specifically asked for your help, and I couldn't refuse. If not for Mr. Blind back then, the Song Family wouldn’t be where we are today. So, what do you think?"
"I don’t mind helping," Luo Qiu nodded. "But why ?"
Song Tianyou answered frankly, "Do you rember when Mr. Blind first t you at the morial hall? He said you were blessed with extraordinary fortune, sothing beyond ordinary people’s comprehension… He probably wants to borrow so of that luck. Of course, whether you find what he’s looking for or not, he won’t let you help for nothing."
Saying this, Old Master Song carefully took out a small box and opened it in front of Luo Qiu. The box was quite old, and inside were three wax pills, each the size of a longan.
Song Tianyou explained, "These are miraculous pills personally refined by Mr. Blind. They can extend lifespan, cure diseases, and even heal injuries. There are only three, and each one costs over a hundred million dollars to make. This is his advance paynt."
Luo Qiu sat silently for a mont, then took the box but removed one of the pills. "I’ll take just these two. The last one is my gift to you."
"This… this isn’t right," Song Tianyou hesitated.
Luo Qiu said softly, "During the New Year, isn’t it normal to give a little sothing to the elder of the family?"
—"The elder of the family."
Song Tianyou carefully accepted the pill from Luo Qiu’s hand.
This miraculous dicine was sothing even Mr. Blind might not have easily given away. There was no subordinate-superior relationship between him and Mr. Blind—at most, it was a cooperative relationship. Or rather, it was the Song Family that relied on a mysterious figure like Mr. Blind.
Old Master Song was well aware of his physical condition, so he was naturally tempted by such a miraculous dicine. Now, receiving it from Luo Qiu’s hands, he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
"I’ll head back to my room now," Luo Qiu said, taking his leave.
Old Master Song nodded, watching Luo Qiu leave. He remained seated in the dining hall, brewing tea and sipping it slowly. From ti to ti, he glanced at the wax pills in his hand, feeling that even though the New Year had not yet arrived, the festive atmosphere was already present.
However, his private phone rang at that mont. The caller was soone he deeply respected—Zhang Qianrui’s grandmother, Zhang Lilanfang.
"Madam Li, good evening!"
"Little Song, my granddaughter is at your place. She hasn’t been mistreated, has she?"
"Hehe! I might dare to offend ten thousand people, but I would never dare to offend you, big sister." Song Tianyou was in a good mood and joked, "Your granddaughter is practically being worshiped like a deity here."
"Enough with your nonsense." On the other end of the line, Zhang Lilanfang's voice turned serious. "I got a call from Qianrui this morning. Here’s the deal—I’ll be coming over for the New Year myself. I won’t be going to your old ho. But there’s sothing I need you to start preparing."
Song Tianyou was montarily stunned, then asked, "Big sister, are you referring to…the tomb matter?"
"I received news today from the Suzuki family in Japan, our collaborating partners. Their people have arrived, and they hope you can get in touch with them as soon as possible. I’ve already spoken to Ah Qi over the phone. He will lead the eting when the ti cos."
Song Tianyou frowned. "Big sister, I don’t an to delay things, but I already arranged for my n to be in place ahead of ti… It’s just that tomorrow night is New Year's Eve. Can’t we wait until after the New Year?"
"This is what the other party requested, and I can’t change it," Zhang Lilanfang said helplessly. "Their reasoning is that because it’s the holiday season, all the major governnt departnts are preoccupied with various matters, making it the perfect ti to act. No one would expect soone to dig up an imperial tomb during the New Year."
"That’s true..." Song Tianyou nodded, then sighed. "Still, it feels a bit unlucky."
"You, the head of a rcenary-founded family, care about bad ons?" Zhang Lilanfang sneered. "Enough with the nonsense. The Suzuki family has agreed to increase the collaboration fee by 30%, and they also agreed to split the treasures found in the tomb evenly with us."
"That must be thanks to Madam Li’s negotiation skills." Song Tianyou chuckled. He suspected that Zhang Lilanfang had been locked in negotiations with the Japanese partners these past few days, even when her granddaughter had gone missing.
"Since you’ve spoken, big sister, I have no objections," Song Tianyou agreed.
The increased collaboration fee didn’t matter much to him—money was no longer sothing he actively pursued. What truly mattered was whether the tomb contained treasures beyond monetary value.
"Good. Ah Qi will contact you on the second day of the New Year," Zhang Lilanfang said swiftly. "Also, there’s sothing else I need you to pay extra attention to."
"Go ahead, big sister."
"I know that the relative you recently recognized has so connection to my granddaughter." Zhang Lilanfang hesitated for a mont. "If possible, I hope they don’t get too close."
Song Tianyou’s previously pleasant mood darkened. He said indifferently, "Madam Li, you’re referring to Luo Qiu… What, do you think my newly found grandson is unworthy of your family?"
"Little Song, you know that my granddaughter is all I have," Zhang Lilanfang said coldly.
"Very unfortunate." Song Tianyou’s tone also turned icy. "My brother only has this one descendant left. If anyone looks down on him, they are looking down on . And those who look down on … don’t live long enough to see another New Year."
"Song Tianyou, are you threatening ?"
"I would never."
Song Tianyou’s voice remained calm. "I just hope you rember what happened back then. How did you escape Beijing? How did you survive your darkest days? And who helped you through it all? Over the years, I have never asked for repaynt. You made a promise back then, and you should know it well… I see Luo Qiu as my own grandson. Whatever he wants, I will give him. I hope you understand that."
After a long silence, Zhang Lilanfang suddenly asked, "If he asked for the entire Song Family, would you give it to him?"
Without hesitation, Song Tianyou replied, "Yes."
"Let’s not discuss this for now," Zhang Lilanfang finally said after another long pause. "For now, focus on completing this collaboration first."
"That suits just fine," Song Tianyou responded indifferently.
---
Thousands of miles away, in the Zhang family’s estate, inside a study.
She was already quite old, her health deteriorating day by day, yet the vast Zhang and Li families still needed her to hold everything together.
She wasn’t entirely exhausted, but she was getting close.
In another two or three years, who knew what things would look like?
Zhang Lilanfang sighed, leaned back in her chair, and murmured, "Inheriting the Song Family… If that happens, it might not be a bad path after all. What a tangled fate..."
Feeling weary, she took off her reading glasses, rubbed her temples, and glanced at the frad photograph on the desk.
It was an old, black-and-white, yellowed photograph of a young couple.
The old lady murmured softly, "You had it easy. You just left, and everything was over for you… But ? When will it all finally end? Zhang Ruhui, you bastard… you heartless man…"
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