Chapter 93: Dead Leaf Butterfly?
Xin Liu had thought that these words would make Feng Xuexiang ecstatic.
But he didn’t show any expression, nor did he speak. He just quietly watched him.
His gaze was so strange that it sent chills down Xin Liu’s spine.
Xin Liu wondered if he had made the wrong move, and after a while, he finally heard Feng Xuexiang slowly ask, “Really? What kind of method?”
So he was still interested, just pretending he wasn’t.
Xin Liu lowered his head, feigning respect. “It’s about those jade scrolls. They appeared at Chi Heng’s tomb before, and also in the hands of that person at Changhe Hospital.”
Xin Liu waited for him to ask about the jade scrolls, but instead, he said, “Isn’t that your tomb? How could it be Chi Heng’s?”
Unable to suppress his astonishment, Xin Liu looked up and met Feng Xuexiang’s gaze.
His expression was curious, and he even appeared somewhat innocent.
But Xin Liu dared not believe that he truly knew nothing.
If he really knew nothing, how could he so confidently expose Xin Liu’s origins?
Even Feng Zaiyin, who had gathered so many high-ranking exorcists to deal with him, suspected he was Chi Heng, but Feng Xuexiang outright declared that he wasn’t.
Xin Liu only hesitated for a moment before he bitterly smiled and said, “I am indeed not Chi Heng; I’m merely one of his disciples.”
“So the tomb in the snow mountain, does it also bury one of Chi Heng’s disciples?”
Hearing this from Feng Xuexiang made Xin Liu’s heart skip a beat. He almost blurted out something about the Snow Mountain Tomb but quickly realized that the other party knew he had also been there.
This was a test, to see if he would lie.
“Yes, that’s also a disciple’s tomb.”
Feng Xuexiang curled his lips into a smile. “So how many such tombs are there?”
“There are nine in total,” Xin Liu became wary, fearing he would immediately ask how many of them he had visited.
But Feng Xuexiang, with that knowing smile as if he could see through Xin Liu’s thoughts, didn’t press further. Instead, he said:
“So, there are nine jade scrolls. The method you’re talking about is related to these jade scrolls, and you want to collect all nine?”
“Yes, when the nine jade scrolls are combined, they form a single magical artifact. It can suppress the parasitic objects within spirit demons.”
Xin Liu kept his explanation simple, knowing that the more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake. Every word he spoke was carefully considered.
“There’s a legend that Chi Heng could command and control demons, and it’s related to the jade scroll artifact?” Feng Xuexiang asked.
“Yes, but I’m not nearly as knowledgeable as my master, not even one-thousandth of his ability. I’ve rarely dealt with such artifacts before. I only know that it’s powerful, but I don’t understand how to use it.”
This statement was half true and half false.
Feng Xuexiang pondered for a moment, then said, “Alright, I’ll take care of Feng Zaiyin for you and ensure your safety.”
Xin Liu’s expression relaxed with relief. “Thank you, Ninth Master Feng!”
But inwardly, he was furious, feeling like a dragon trapped in shallow water being mocked by small fish. These ignorant youngsters—when the time comes…
“And what else can you do for me?” Feng Xuexiang asked again.
“I can help you locate the other disciples’ tombs,” Xin Liu replied with a bitter smile, lowering his stance. “I’m now just a wandering soul, fortunate enough to awaken in a living body. My strength is lacking; I can’t even handle an ordinary high-level exorcist.”
“I’m willing to work for you, Ninth Master, without any other desires—just to live a stable life.”
Feng Xuexiang chuckled softly but said nothing more.
Both of them understood many things without needing to say them aloud, leaving them both in good spirits. But this wasn’t good news for Feng Zaiyin.
Just when he was on the verge of subduing the fierce ghost, Feng Xuexiang suddenly intervened and stopped him.
If it were only that, it would have been fine. But whatever the two had discussed, when they reappeared before the Feng family, Feng Xuexiang suddenly declared, “From now on, let my second brother be the head of the Feng family.”
Everyone present turned pale with shock, except for Second Brother Feng, whose face lit up with wild joy.
On the surface, the Feng family was managed by Eldest Brother Feng, but in reality, it was his son, Feng Zaiyin, who was in charge, with a loyal following composed of people who had once served Feng Houzhan.
Now that Feng Xuexiang had seized power, they were naturally unwilling to accept it. The others all secretly looked at Feng Zaiyin, waiting for him to speak up.
Feng Zaiyin was also unwilling to concede. He wanted to stand up and oppose this immediately, but he found himself unable to take a single step or utter a word.
To others, it seemed like he was just gritting his teeth and struggling to suppress his anger, but only he knew the terrifying pressure that Feng Xuexiang was exerting on him.
No one could hear his Ninth Uncle saying to him within the illusion, “Why that expression? Feng Houzhan was stronger than me, so he could control me. I am stronger than you, so I can control you too. Isn’t that perfectly normal?”
“This isn’t… fair!” Feng Zaiyin managed to force out a few words through clenched teeth.
“Hahahaha,” Feng Xuexiang laughed and said, “But our Feng family has always been this way.”
Everyone saw Feng Zaiyin suddenly drop to one knee and cough up blood.
His subordinates rushed forward to try to help him up.
“What’s happening, Old Ninth? What’s wrong with Zaiyin?” The eldest brother, helpless against his younger brother’s actions, asked in a flustered manner.
A demon exorcist assisting Feng Zaiyin couldn’t help but speak with a hint of sarcasm, “Isn’t it obvious, family head? This is clearly Ninth Master’s doing!”
Second Brother Feng, basking in his newfound authority, chimed in, “Ah, ah, you’ve got it wrong. I’m the family head now, not the eldest brother.”
“Feng Zaiyin was disrespectful to his Ninth Uncle. What’s wrong with giving him a little lesson? Does he dare to feel dissatisfied?”
Yu Shi returned, carrying a bunch of things, only to find the villa crowded with people, all arguing noisily.
These were the same people who usually held themselves in high regard, admired wherever they went. Now, they were just short of breaking into an all-out brawl.
“You’re back. What took you so long?” Feng Xuexiang asked as he noticed Yu Shi wearing an apron. He reached over to help tie the strings, finishing it with a bow.
“Your seventh brother sent another large package, so I had to sign for it.” Yu Shi began preparing the fresh chicken, planning to make some chicken soup later.
He glanced outside at the two groups who seemed on the verge of fighting. “What are they doing?”
“They’re fighting over the position of family head,” Feng Xuexiang replied indifferently.
Second Brother Feng was greedy and malicious, so he wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by. Let them fight it out.
“Feng Kuo… Seventh Brother, what did he send this time?”
“A few old ginseng roots, sweet potatoes, dried bamboo shoots, cured fish, and some dried chili peppers. Your seventh brother travels around a lot; these are all local specialties.”
Yu Shi briefly explained, “Today, I’ll make some old ginseng chicken soup to nourish you.”
Without realizing it, Feng Xuexiang had already wrapped his arms around Yu Shi, clinging to him. “Mm.”
“There are also some black goji berries. I’ll make some tea for you with those.”
“Mm… Hmm?” Feng Xuexiang suddenly sensed something was off. “What are these for, exactly?”
Yu Shi remained silent.
“Tell me, what are they for?” Feng Xuexiang gently nibbled on his shoulder.
Yu Shi shifted his shoulder slightly, resigned. “Haven’t you noticed that you’ve lost weight recently?”
He really needed to pace himself. It wasn’t so bad before, but once he started, he couldn’t stop.
Yu Shi didn’t mind the affection between them as lovers, but it couldn’t be endless, as if they were clinging to each other like there was no tomorrow.
“… It’s all Seventh Brother’s fault,” Feng Xuexiang muttered after a long pause.
“He cares about you,” Yu Shi replied.
“But every time I see him, I feel uncomfortable,” Feng Xuexiang said quietly, leaning against Yu Shi’s shoulder.
He had no memories of Feng Kuo, but whenever he saw this Seventh Brother, a thought would cross his mind: This person will eventually fear me and run away from me.
His voice lingered from some moment in the past, warning him: Don’t get too close to him.
*
On the other side, the two groups were still arguing, with Xin Liu standing behind the father of the body he now inhabited, watching him lead the charge.
Xin Liu’s focus wasn’t on these members of the Feng family; instead, his attention was on Feng Xuexiang.
This man was difficult to read. At times, he seemed deep and ruthless, but at other times, he acted like nothing more than an ordinary man who didn’t care about anything, appearing almost foolish.
After watching for too long, Feng Xuexiang noticed Xin Liu’s gaze and turned to look at him.
Startled, Xin Liu forced a stiff smile and quickly looked away.
The two groups eventually dispersed, and with their departure, new unrest was sure to arise within the Feng family.
Second Brother Feng, full of ambition, led his followers and Xin Liu back, declaring, “The winds have shifted, and it’s my turn to take charge of the Feng family!”
“You did well. Make sure to build a good relationship with your Ninth Uncle. Whether I can secure my position as the head of the Feng family depends on you, Zaixing,” Second Brother Feng said to Xin Liu, his tone heavy with meaning. “No matter what, I won’t treat you unfairly. No matter what anyone says, you’re my outstanding son.”
Xin Liu smiled, “Of course, I’ll help you, Dad.”
This man might very well know that he wasn’t actually Feng Zaixing, but rather than having a true son, he preferred to have someone capable and strong enough to challenge Feng Zaiyin and his father.
This Feng family is truly laughable, devoid of any real familial affection.
…
Second Brother Feng, using Feng Xuexiang’s influence, began suppressing the eldest brother’s faction within the Feng family, creating chaos for everyone involved.
Feng Zaiyin, let alone dealing with Xin Liu, was struggling just to protect himself. His branch of the family was inexperienced, relying on him to handle everything.
*
Meanwhile, Xin Liu followed Feng Xuexiang in the search for the remaining disciples’ tombs.
“I’ve sensed two disciples’ tombs—one is in the Xue family cemetery, and the other is near the ancestral home of the Mei family.”
Besides the tombs that had already been discovered and the ones he had secretly located, there were still four disciples’ tombs remaining.
Sensing the locations of the other disciples’ tombs wasn’t an easy task for Xin Liu; it required a great deal of effort.
He had long known about the tombs on the Xue family and Mei family lands but had been unable to explore them.
The Xue family cemetery held the graves of Xue family members from generations past, making it nearly impossible for non-family members to enter.
The Mei family ancestral home, although uninhabited, was still heavily guarded, making entry difficult, let alone locating and digging up a tomb.
Thus, Xin Liu had already planned to use Feng Xuexiang, and this time, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Feng Xuexiang, possessing Xue family blood, was expected by Xin Liu to visit the Xue family first. However, to his surprise, Feng Xuexiang chose to go to the Mei family first.
Among the four great families, the Mei family was considered the weakest.
Their current generation was somewhat lacking in the field of exorcism, with most of the family members not skilled in this area, opting for a different path.
They operated ordinary commercial ventures, with shopping malls and nursing homes spread throughout the southern region, earning them a substantial fortune.
With Feng Xuexiang leading the way, things went more smoothly for Xin Liu than expected.
In just a few days, they managed to obtain the jade scroll from the Mei family’s ancestral home.
The Xue family proved to be more troublesome, but in the end, he succeeded there as well.
By late November, the weather had grown colder, and Feng Zaiyin’s faction, having been suppressed, had temporarily fallen silent.
Xin Liu, accompanying Feng Xuexiang to retrieve the jade scroll from the Mei and Xue families, sensed that his mood was worsening by the day.
“Have you not sensed the locations of the other tombs yet?” Feng Xuexiang asked, his gaze intense.
Xin Liu’s heart skipped a beat.
The remaining two tombs were either hidden too deeply or too far away, and he hadn’t found them yet.
He had originally thought that the difficulty of locating the Mei and Xue family tombs would delay Feng Xuexiang for some time.
He planned to delay things a little longer, waiting until Feng Xuexiang fell asleep. Once that happened, he could gradually proceed with his own plans.
However, he hadn’t expected these two tasks to be accomplished so easily, nor had he anticipated the immense pressure Feng Xuexiang would impose on him.
At first, Xin Liu appeared outwardly respectful, but he wasn’t truly afraid.
When he first began spending time with Feng Xuexiang, he thought this young man was somewhat scatterbrained.
But over time, as they interacted more, Xin Liu occasionally felt that Feng Xuexiang’s subtle madness bore a striking resemblance to his master, Chi Heng.
This resemblance brought back memories of the past and stirred a sense of unconscious fear and caution in Xin Liu towards Feng Xuexiang.
“I’ll give you three more days. No matter what, find the next disciple’s tomb, okay?”
“…Alright, I will do my utmost.”
Yu Shi, holding a sweater, came downstairs and saw Xin Liu leaving.
Recently, he and Feng Xuexiang had visited Mei Ye Yao at the Mei family and Jiang Mang at the Xue family, with this “Feng Zaixing” nephew accompanying them.
“You’re out and about in such thin clothing again. Put on the sweater.”
“But I’m not really cold,” Feng Xuexiang replied, though he still took the sweater from Yu Shi and put it on.
“Not cold? Let me check.” Yu Shi reached out to touch Feng Xuexiang’s face, and Feng Xuexiang instinctively flinched.
Yu Shi asked, “You don’t want me to touch you?”
Feng Xuexiang lowered his gaze, looking a bit aggrieved. “You’re the one who said I need to take care of myself and practice restraint.”
Yu Shi thought back and realized that ever since that conversation, Feng Xuexiang had stopped clinging to him as much.
A few days ago, Feng Xuexiang would still cuddle him to sleep, but last night, he had slept properly on his own side of the bed.
“Are you upset?” Yu Shi straightened the shoulders of Feng Xuexiang’s sweater. “I’m sorry, Xuexiang, I didn’t mean it that way. I enjoy being close to you too, I’m just a little worried about your health.”
“I’m not upset,” Feng Xuexiang said with a smile, raising his head to look directly into Yu Shi’s eyes. “Do you notice anything different about me today?”
Yu Shi observed him for a moment. “What’s different?”
Feng Xuexiang held onto his arm. “Don’t I look a little better?”
Yu Shi chuckled. “You do look good, but even if you didn’t, it wouldn’t matter.”
He gently touched Feng Xuexiang’s face.
When Yu Shi left to grab something, Feng Xuexiang’s smile faded as he looked down at his hands.
They were a pair of beautiful hands—Yu Shi had once remarked that he found them very attractive.
But now, the skin on these hands had started to wrinkle. It wasn’t just his hands; his face had begun to show signs of aging too.
However, due to the illusion, in Yu Shi’s eyes, he remained as beautiful as ever.
Autumn leaves withered and decayed, but in Yu Shi’s eyes, he would never wither.
