Chapter 26: The Rules

The old man paused, then said with surprise, "You are truly impressive, young man. Everyone who came before only saw that her soul had been captured in the mirror, but they failed to realize there was more to it than met the eye."

I was taken aback. It turned out that those who had come before were no better than I was; they had only scratched the surface, which was why they couldn't solve the problem.

The old man continued, "Daoist Qingyi also attempted to summon her soul back, but he was severely injured by the end of the ritual. He claimed he suffered a backlash, and ever since then, no one has dared to intervene."

I sighed and said, "They were too focused on the ritual itself, never suspecting that the antagonist was hiding within the soul. He was ambushed; his injuries must be quite serious."

Just then, two cars screeched to a halt at the villa entrance, and a group of people walked in.

Leading them was a middle-aged man wearing a Daoist cap. As soon as he entered, he looked at me and said, "Old Master Wan, my senior brother will be here soon. Do not let yourself be deceived by these charlatans and let the situation spiral into an unmanageable state."

I frowned as I looked at the newcomer. This must be the Daoist Qingyi. After his own failed attempt, he had clearly called for his senior brother.

Qingyi looked at me and said rudely, "Kid, do you not understand the rules of our trade? I have already taken the case. What is the meaning of you showing up now? If it gets cured, who gets the credit?"

I was momentarily stunned. His point was valid—it is indeed a rule in our profession—but right now, he was simply being unreasonable, as the client had already begun seeking someone else.

Old Master Wan stood up and said, "Daoist Qingyi, please do not misunderstand. This is a friend of the Fourth Young Master, a member of the Five Families of the Northeast. He identified the issue with Alan."

Hearing this, my heart sank. It seemed this old man was buckling under pressure, and I was being relegated to a mere passerby.

The Daoist looked at me with a sullen expression and said, "Kid, you should have checked your facts. Old Master Wan is no ordinary person. If you were just planning to make a quick buck and leave, you have miscalculated."

As he spoke, he formed a hand seal, and an invisible ripple of energy surged toward me.

I was startled; the old man was trying to intimidate me. I immediately channeled my power into my palms. I didn't know many of his fancy Daoist seals, but my grandfather always said: if you don't like it, fight back!

With my energy gathered, I clenched my fist and struck out against the incoming ripple.

A sound like a muffled pop echoed through the room, and I shattered his attack.

A look of shock crossed Qingyi's face. He clearly had not expected that I, a youngster, was truly one of his own, that I had already begun my cultivation, and most importantly, that I could hold my own against him.

Qingyi frowned and asked, "Which sect do you belong to, young man? Did your elders not teach you to follow the rules before letting you out?"

I frowned as well and replied, "I know the rules, but I believe the current situation requires Old Master Wan to make his own judgment."

I understood perfectly well that he was bullying me because I was a newcomer, and Old Master Wan was too afraid to offend him. He was trying to scare me off, but this wasn't a matter for him or me to decide; the client had to make the choice.

Watching Old Master Wan look back and forth, his face full of hesitation and unable to make a decision, I realized he still didn't trust me and was afraid of offending Qingyi.

If I were to slink away now, I would lose face. I needed to handle this with clear professional decorum.

I cupped my hands and said, "Daoist Qingyi, since you have not withdrawn from the case, I will not interfere. One affair should not trouble two masters. I shall take my leave."

I had no choice. Since Old Master Wan wouldn't ask me to stay, it meant he still wanted to rely on Qingyi. I had to withdraw.

I sighed inwardly. If my grandmother had been here, this would have been finished long ago, and we wouldn't be standing here listening to Qingyi bark orders.

Qingyi seemed momentarily stunned by my words, but his expression softened. He stroked his chin, touched his three-pronged beard, and nodded. "At least you know the rules. Come to my Daoist temple when you have time; I acknowledge you as a junior in the craft."

I was dumbfounded by his words. My mind was flooded with frustration; this Qingyi was putting on such an arrogant act, stepping all over me to elevate himself.

I glared at him, but with the client being so unsupportive, I had no choice but to let him continue his charade.

Just then, the sound of hurried high heels echoed down the staircase.

"Daoist Qingyi, you're finally here. I was worried this kid would swindle my grandfather."

As Xiao Ping came down the stairs, she pointed at me and said, "That’s the one! Quickly, check if he's one of those charlatans you mentioned."

A surge of anger rose in my chest. Damn it, this woman was dead set on labeling me a fraud.

However, I didn't have the leverage to get angry. I was in a strange city, my reputation was nonexistent, and my skills were still unrefined. I regretted not learning more from my grandfather over the years.

I wanted to be like the heroes in the shows, who, after being mocked, reveal their true power and slap their detractors in the face. But I was a novice—I knew the theories, but my practical experience was zero. In this line of work, everything relies on strength and reputation. After that brief exchange, I knew Qingyi did indeed have some genuine skills.

I sighed and nodded at Old Master Wan. "Old Master, until we meet again. As a junior, I dare not break the rules. Farewell."

I started toward the door, and Old Master Wan immediately said, "Young man, don't go!..."

"Old Master, do you not trust me? I have already contained the soul. Besides, my senior brother will be here soon. His power far exceeds mine; he will certainly resolve the problem." Qingyi stepped forward, blocking Old Master Wan’s path.

Old Master Wan froze.

Although he told me not to leave, he showed no genuine intent to keep me. He didn't move an inch. If I stayed now, Qingyi would only trample me further.

I strode to the door and heard Old Master Wan shout, "A-Gui, see the young man out. And give him his tea money."

The old man named A-Gui, who was standing by the door, smiled and opened the car door for me.

I knew this would be the outcome; Old Master Wan had no intention of keeping me.

Once the car started, A-Gui smiled and said, "Young man, don't blame Master Wan. This Daoist Qingyi comes from a prestigious background; it is a difficult situation for him."

I looked out the window and said coolly, "I understand the rules. If he doesn't step down, and I take over and succeed, it would only create an unnecessary mess."

As the car entered the city, A-Gui asked, "Young Master Fang, where shall I drop you off?"

I frowned. I had no place to stay here, but sitting in the car felt awkward. I said, "Just here is fine. I’ll walk."

A-Gui stepped out and opened the door for me again. "Young Master Fang, Master Wan asked me to apologize on his behalf and to offer you ten thousand yuan for your time. He hopes for your understanding."

Seeing that I didn't take the money, A-Gui continued, "Young Master Fang, this is the rule. It is just 'tea money,' nothing more."

I hesitated for a moment before taking the money and saying, "Since it is just for tea, I will not refuse."

Without looking at A-Gui again, I turned and walked away.

After walking for a block, I took out my phone. The only person I knew in the provincial capital was Li Si, and since he was the one who brought me here, I felt quite annoyed. I thought to myself: Li Si, you dragged me all the way here, so I’m definitely going to make you pay for it.