Chapter 76: Invitation

Everyone seemed to sense the chill emanating from him. They had originally hoped to approach and curry favor, but now found themselves involuntarily stepping back.

Qi Yun was surprised as well, but quickly noticed something following Chen Yuyi’s gaze.

She didn’t know exactly why, but her intuition told her that Chen Yuyi’s sudden change was because that mother and daughter had vanished.

“Mr. Huo, please send someone at once to find that mother and daughter who just left. Hurry, we must find them!” She immediately sought out Huo Songxian.

Huo Songxian understood at once, dared not be negligent, and immediately dispatched people to pursue the pair. Even feeling uneasy, he went himself.

Seeing this, the crowd realized what had happened.

They grew deeply concerned; if Mr. Chen truly became angry, the consequences could be dire. They could only hope the Huo family would find those two quickly, for they all felt the icy aura surrounding Chen Yuyi.

Some even dashed out to search proactively, hoping to impress Mr. Chen.

If Luo Songxing were not so advanced in years, he would have run out himself.

He plucked up his courage and approached Chen Yuyi, “Mr. Chen, please be at ease. So many people are searching; surely the mother and daughter will be found soon. To think, you’ve shown them such kindness, and yet they left without even a word of thanks—what kind of behavior is that?”

“Get out!” Chen Yuyi didn’t even look at him, snapping coldly.

Luo Songxing’s old heart nearly jumped out of his chest. He clutched at it, pale-faced, retreating to the side, never daring to speak rashly again.

Of course, Chen Yuyi understood why Yuan Xiang had slipped away quietly. Perhaps he had truly frightened them. He sighed inwardly.

Compared to these worldly wealthy people, he much preferred the company of the mother and daughter—little Rabbit and her mother. He was even considering how best to settle them, so they could live a better life.

His intention wasn’t solely out of sympathy. He sensed their honesty and kindness, found peace in their presence, and wanted to share his thoughts with them. Especially little Rabbit—so adorable he wanted to care for and dote on her, to treat her as a younger sister. It felt like fate.

Time passed.

Huo Songxian returned, drenched in sweat.

“Mr. Chen, I’m terribly sorry. We couldn’t find the mother and daughter. We even went to their home, but they weren’t there. I’ll send people to search the whole city at once.”

“No need.”

Chen Yuyi turned away calmly. Since they were avoiding him, he didn’t wish to make things difficult for them. He only hoped they could live happily.

The crowd watched Mr. Chen turn away, seemingly about to leave. They wanted to stop him, but dared not.

Qi Yun stared at his back and suddenly remembered something. “Mr. Chen, please wait!”

She hurried to Luo Songxing, saying, “Sir Luo, didn’t you say you’d bring some aged medicinal herbs for auction? Mr. Chen came especially for those—quickly, offer them to him!”

Luo Songxing quickly responded, “I’ll fetch them right away!” Despite his age, he trotted off to retrieve the herbs.

Chen Yuyi paused, since he’d come this far, he shouldn’t leave empty-handed.

Soon, Luo Songxing returned with a brocade box in hand, breathing heavily as he presented it to Chen Yuyi. “Mr. Chen, you’re seeking these aged herbs? You should have said so! Don’t worry, with my experience in the field, obtaining herbs like these is easy. In the future, let me gather them for you.”

He seemed to have discovered a new way to ingratiate himself with Chen Yuyi, barely concealing his joy, hoping Mr. Chen would reward him as before with a miraculous pill.

Chen Yuyi merely glanced at him, refusing to accept the box. “Not even five hundred years’ worth—how can you call it aged?”

He looked no further. Today had been fruitless—or not entirely, for at least he’d met the mother and daughter.

Luo Songxing was shocked. Though the herbs were short of five hundred years, they were nearly four hundred—already rare in the secular world. Yet Mr. Chen didn’t even look, and identified their age with ease, inspiring even greater respect.

Qi Yun shot him a resentful glance. The old fox tried to pass off a few centuries-old herbs as thousand-year treasures—truly cunning.

She felt guilty for bringing Mr. Chen here only for him to leave empty-handed, wanted to say something, but Chen Yuyi had already departed, leaving her to sigh to herself.

The others shook their heads in regret. They hadn’t expected Mr. Chen to leave so soon; it felt like a missed opportunity. Yet the scene they’d witnessed today would surely remain unforgettable. All they hoped now was to win his favor someday—if only to obtain one of his miraculous pills.

Not long after Chen Yuyi left, a sudden, inexplicable gust of sinister wind swept through.

“I heard there’s an auction here—why isn’t anything happening?” A strange, almost demonic-looking man strode in, hands behind his back, surrounded by several well-dressed, wealthy followers.

With his arrival, chilling winds swept the hall, causing everyone to step back involuntarily.

“May I ask who you are?” Huo Songxian, as host, stepped forward, noting he hadn’t invited this man.

“I come as a representative of Master Zhong,” said the stranger coolly. “I’m here to inform you that, three days from now, Master Zhong will hold a grand ritual aboard the luxurious cruise ship, the True Master. All manner of miraculous pills and magical implements will be offered for sale!”

Huo Songxian was startled.

The announcement stirred the crowd. Everyone had heard of Master Zhong, rumored to possess the power to heal broken bones and revive the dead. Magical implements blessed by his rituals were said to bring good health and ward off evil.

Many were tempted.

Though Chen Yuyi had just displayed two mysterious pills—curing a girl and rejuvenating an old woman—Mr. Chen had already left. Who knew when they might meet him again? They could only hope to win his favor someday. But the promise of Master Zhong’s openly available treasures seemed far more practical.

Only Qi Yun felt a sudden unease. She remembered that day at Dragon Pool Manor—Chen Yuyi had broken the arms of Master Zhong’s chief disciple, and told him to bring his master for a reckoning. Worse, Master Zhong’s youngest disciple had perished at Mr. Chen’s hands. This was a bitter feud; she hadn’t expected Master Zhong to appear in person.

Yet she sighed inwardly. For someone like Mr. Chen, who spoke so confidently, such threats were surely beneath his concern. She could only wait and see what tricks Master Zhong might play.

“We followed Master Zhong down the great river, arriving at the heart of the city to invite you all. Master Zhong’s goodwill is clear. But someone dared offend him—injured his chief disciple, and, we hear, killed his most beloved young disciple. Master Zhong will await the arrival of this person aboard the True Master.”

Those wealthy followers, clearly Master Zhong’s devoted believers, strutted about, addressing the crowd.

The guests at the Huo estate tensed. Sister Yun had kept the Dragon Pool Manor incident secret; none of them knew what had happened.

Hearing someone had so gravely offended Master Zhong, they began speculating about the culprit.

As they pondered, they all thought of Mr. Chen.

Yet it was only a guess; they dared not confirm. Regardless, they had already decided to attend the cruise three days hence.

The demonic-looking man kept his hands behind his back, surveying the crowd coldly. “Three days from now, we await you all aboard the True Master!”

Suddenly, the hall was swept by an even fiercer chill. The crowd staggered and stumbled; and when they regained their footing, the strange man and his entourage had vanished...