This was the first rain after New Year's.
The temperature in the south dropped by six or seven degrees with the arrival of the rain, finally bringing a hint of winter.
Shi Shijie wrapped himself tighter in his long gray trench coat as he stepped out of the car. After telling the driver how long to wait, he pressed the doorbell of the Zhang family estate.
A servant quickly appeared and led him to the study of Madam Zhang Lanfang, the matriarch of the Zhang family.
"Mr. Shi, I won’t go in. The madam is waiting for you inside," the servant politely said before leaving. "I’ll get you a cup of tea."
"Thank you," Shi Shijie replied. "No need to be so formal, though."
Shi Shijie, a senior figure in the Zhang family’s company, had been around since the generation of Zhang Qirui’s father. Now serving as the company's general manager, visits to the Zhang family were as routine as ever for him.
He knocked on the door, and after hearing the madam's response, he adjusted his clothes and entered the room, walking straight to the desk.
Since Madam Zhang had injured herself months ago, she had been resting at ho. Apart from an earlier birthday celebration, she had not appeared in public for a long ti—although, for years now, she had led a rather reclusive life.
Many people still wished to visit her daily, but the servants had turned them away ti and again.
"Madam, you're looking much better," Shi Shijie said.
"Shijie, you're here. Please, sit down," Zhang Lanfang smiled.
"Where's Miss?" Shi Shijie asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
"She’s at school, preparing for her final exams. She recently transferred departnts, so she’s fallen behind and has been working hard, coming ho quite late lately."
Soone like Shi Shijie, in older tis, would have been considered part of the family’s trusted inner circle—a loyal and devoted retainer.
In today’s fast-paced, profit-driven world, it’s rare to find soone as loyal and committed as Shi Shijie, which is why he holds such a high position in the company.
However, it also highlights the fact that the Zhang family is struggling to find capable people.
Shi Shijie seed close to reaching the board of directors of the company.
Zhang Lanfang had so thoughts flash through her mind but kept a calm expression. She closed the Buddhist scripture she had been reading and remained silent for a mont.
Shi Shijie, skilled in reading the madam's mood, imdiately asked, "Madam, is there sothing troubling you?"
Zhang Lanfang shook her head. "Not exactly trouble, just sothing unexpected... or rather, it’s as they say, the world is full of uncertainties."
"Madam?"
Zhang Lanfang moved the scripture aside, revealing a photo underneath. She pushed the photo forward, and Shi Shijie, understanding her intention, quickly picked it up and glanced at it, his expression suddenly turning to surprise.
"This young man, isn't he the one connected to Miss...?" He looked at the old lady in surprise.
He recognized the young man in the photo, having even investigated his background before. The young man’s na was Luo Qiu, a classmate of the Zhang family's young lady.
That particular class was sowhat unusual, with only the young lady and the young man attending. The old lady had her suspicions about this young man and secretly investigated him.
However, the class was later disbanded, Luo Qiu dropped out, and it seed he had no further contact with the Zhang family’s young lady. The investigation was left unfinished. If the old lady hadn’t suddenly brought out the photo, Shi Shijie would have nearly forgotten the existence of this young man.
"Madam, why is this? Has the young man reconnected with Miss?" Shi Shijie frowned.
"If it were just that, it would be easier to handle," Zhang Lanfang said with so helplessness. "Yesterday, an old friend of mine visited and ntioned that they had found the descendant of a long-lost relative. They asked to help investigate so things."
"Him?" Shi Shijie was startled as he looked again at the young man in the photo—the surroundings didn’t look like a dostic setting, appearing to be sowhere abroad. It wasn’t imdiately clear where the photo was taken.
The photo was taken from the side, almost as if it had been snapped in secret.
"My old friend has already confird it," Zhang Lanfang said, counting the prayer beads on her wrist. "I need you to look into it thoroughly, especially about his father. According to my friend, Luo Qiu’s father died in an accident, but the details aren’t clear. I need you to find out more."
Shi Shijie nodded, though puzzled, and asked, "Madam, wouldn’t it be better for A-Qi to handle such an investigation?"
The Zhang family had a complex network behind the scenes. On the surface, the Zhang family was in business, an industry that had grown after Madam Zhang married into the family. However, the old lady had also co from the Li family, which had its own hidden enterprises. The inco from the Li family’s hidden businesses likely far exceeded the revenue of the Zhang Group.
A-Qi, whom Shi Shijie ntioned, was currently managing the Li family’s affairs and controlled an extensive intelligence network.
"His father was a public servant," Zhang Lanfang replied calmly. "Did you forget?"
"Oh… right, I rember now. He was a police officer," Shi Shijie nodded. "Coincidentally, our company is about to donate so funds to the bureau. I can speak to their leadership and ask around."
"Ask discreetly, but don't draw too much attention," Zhang Lanfang advised. "My old friend’s identity is sowhat sensitive, and it’s better not to reveal too much."
Shi Shijie was startled and then nodded seriously. If the old lady described soone as "sensitive," that person was definitely no ordinary figure.
"Go, and let know as soon as you have any information," Zhang Lanfang waved him off.
Shi Shijie nodded and left. He had originally planned to return to the company for a eting, but after the old lady's instructions, he got into the car and imdiately called the office to cancel the eting.
"Also, arrange for to et Director Chen. Tell him I’d like to invite him to dinner."
"Yes, Mr. Shi."
...
Zhang Lanfang remained in the study, counting her prayer beads and silently reciting the Heart Sutra of Guanyin. After finishing a segnt, she picked up the phone.
"Madam, what can I do for you?" ca an old, deep, and sowhat ominous voice.
"A-Qi, I need you to take care of sothing for ," Zhang Lanfang said calmly.
"Madam, please go ahead."
"In a little while, an old friend of mine may return to the country," Zhang Lanfang paused briefly before continuing, "His identity is sowhat special, though he should have his own way of entering. But I want you to make so preparations just in case."
"Understood, I’ll arrange for a special passage imdiately. As soon as your friend arrives, I’ll have soone pick him up."
"Hmm, go ahead." Zhang Lanfang nodded and then asked, "Anything unusual recently?"
"Madam, all our businesses are running smoothly. Additionally, we’ve received a new offer, and I’m considering whether or not to take it. I wanted to gather more information before bringing it to your attention for a decision."
"Let’s hear it," Zhang Lanfang said.
"The offer cos from a Japanese individual," A-Qi quickly replied. "He claims to have a special map that can lead directly to the main burial chamber of the real tomb of the First Emperor of Qin. He’s proposing a collaboration to develop it."
"The Qin Emperor's tomb?" Zhang Lanfang was visibly surprised. "People are still interested in that… Is the map authentic?"
"Not sure yet. Our people are still verifying it. Several experts have suggested the map could indeed date back to the Qin Dynasty, but the structures it shows don’t match any known layouts of the Qin Emperor's tomb."
"Hmm..." Zhang Lanfang fell into deep thought.
A-Qi added, "Madam, the governnt issued a long-standing order, both overt and covert, prohibiting any active developnt of the Qin Emperor's tomb. How do you think we should handle this offer?"
"If the map is real..." Zhang Lanfang's eyes glead for a mont.
As descendants of an ancient family of tomb raiders, the Li family had amassed unimaginable wealth. Even though the family continued this trade more to preserve their craft and adhere to ancestral teachings, the allure of the mysteries surrounding the Qin Emperor's tomb had always held a special place in their hearts. Generations of the Li family had dedicated themselves to unlocking the secrets of that legendary tomb.
Of course, even if the tomb were successfully excavated and rare treasures were unearthed, Zhang Lanfang was not interested in the material rewards. What mattered to her was solving the puzzle that had consud the Li family for generations.
"A-Qi, bring the map to have a look," Zhang Lanfang ordered slowly.
The Li family had already made significant inroads into the Qin Emperor’s tomb as far back as the Song Dynasty, and they had inherited vast amounts of data. This trove of information even surpassed what the official records held.
This was a closely guarded secret—one Zhang Lanfang thought she would carry with her to the grave, only to pass it down to Zhang Qingrui in the end, without it ever seeing the light of day.
But now... perhaps it was worth a try.
In her lifeti.
...
...
An elderly nun pushed open the door to a room in the monastery, carrying a bowl of freshly made fish soup.
Inside, a younger nun sat by the bed, taking care of the little girl they had found unconscious beneath a tree after last evening’s storm.
"Has she not woken up yet? How is she, Chalty?" The elderly nun placed the bowl of fish soup on the bedside table.
The young nun, Chalty, shook her head. "She still hasn’t woken up, Sister Delan."
"Poor child." Sister Delan placed her hand on the little girl's forehead and slowly closed her eyes. "May the Lord bless her."
At that mont, the girl, still unconscious, showed a trace of pain on her face, and beads of sweat began to form on her neck.
"Is she having a nightmare?" Chalty gently took the girl’s hand, as if hoping to give her so strength to get through it.
Sister Delan sighed. "I don’t know why we can't get through on the phone. Otherwise, we could call a doctor. She seems to have a fever—her forehead is burning hot."
"Who could be so cruel?" Chalty muttered angrily, as she reached for the silver collar around the girl’s neck, which was attached to a broken chain.
"Feed her so fish soup," Sister Delan suggested softly. "I’ll see if I can find soone to help us take her to the village clinic."
Chalty nodded.
After Sister Delan left the room, Chalty took a spoon and tried to feed the fish soup to the girl, but no matter how hard she tried, the girl wouldn’t swallow it.
With no other choice, Chalty drank the soup herself, then leaned down and pressed her lips to the girl’s, slowly transferring the fish soup from her mouth to the girl’s.
It was no easy task, and it took more than ten minutes to feed her the bowl of soup this way.
Whether it was her imagination or not, the girl’s complexion seed to improve slightly after taking in the soup.
Chalty then brought a basin of warm water, soaked a towel, and lifted the girl up to wipe her face and neck. They had already changed her into clean clothes the night before.
However, after her recent nightmare, the girl had broken out in a cold sweat again. Chalty decided to undo her clothes and started wiping her back.
The girl's skin was smooth and delicate, like a freshly peeled egg, without the need for any skincare products.
As the warm cloth gently passed over the girl's back, Chalty suddenly froze, her face showing fear as she quickly withdrew her hands. She stared at her trembling hands in shock.
Hurriedly, Chalty made the sign of the cross over her chest, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes. "Lord, please forgive your sinner."
Chalty bit her lip and hastily redressed the girl, covering her with the blanket. Without daring to look at the girl again, she rushed out of the room.
She needed to go to the chapel to pray and repent. Otherwise, she felt she could never be forgiven.
How could she have done sothing like that?
My God! I must have been tempted by the devil!
...
Chalty didn't know that after she hurriedly left, a strange rift suddenly opened in the room—a distortion in space.
A woman dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit stepped out from the rift and stood beside the bed: it was the maid from the club.
She cast a sidelong glance at the still-unconscious little girl, her face devoid of any expression. The cold, indifferent gaze made her look like a statue.
"You hurt the Master... I never said I would let you off for that."
The maid placed her hand on the little girl's forehead. "Morning Star... the Sin of Pride. Since you've chosen to fall here, you might as well feel the glory of your father."
Black flas suddenly ignited in the maid's palm, imprinting a black lotus mark on the little girl's forehead. The mark sank into her skin and vanished completely.
"Enjoy your vacation."
After finishing, the maid returned through the rift, which closed behind her. The only one left in the room was the sleeping little girl.
She no longer seed to be having nightmares.
...
"Ha! Ha... Ha!! Ha—!!!"
In an abandoned building, Bucky was wearing a crown of olive branches, gripping his wrist and repeatedly swinging his arm.
On his finger was a silver ring.
"Ha—!! Ha—!!!"
He kept swinging, and after more than an hour, Bucky was already drenched in sweat.
"What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, an emotionless voice ca from behind him, startling Bucky. He quickly turned around—only to see the maid from the club.
"Didn’t you tell to practice?" Bucky nervously swallowed. "So I thought that shouting like this might make it more effective."
The maid replied indifferently, "All you need to do is practice the ditation technique I taught you to strengthen your ntal power. The activation of the Blessing Ring and the Gospel Crown only requires ntal power."
"I-I see." Bucky nodded, still feeling that this beautiful maid might suddenly rip him apart, transforming into a bloody figure.
Hmph! Even if you look better than Lucifer, you won't fool !
The maid then waved her hand, and a chair appeared in the air. She sat down and with a flip of her hand, a booklet appeared.
Bucky, with sharp eyes, noticed it looked like... a cookbook? A cookbook...?
The maid opened the cookbook and began reading it. "ditate. My master is away on a business trip, and until you show so progress, I’ll be supervising and assisting with your soul harvesting."
But I’d rather practice alone…
Bucky looked at the maid with a bit of back pain… Doesn’t she know that this makes people feel a lot of pressure?
Suddenly...
"By the way," You Ye raised her head and said to Bucky nonchalantly, "I will leave during breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. You can move around freely… starting today. Right now, there's one hour and thirty-seven minutes until afternoon tea."
Oh! Praise God!
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