Chapter 23: Repaying the Debt, Trending on Social Media
“...anus.” The old man’s words faltered briefly, but he ultimately couldn’t hold back the crude expression.
The sudden appearance of the elderly man rushing out of the house left everyone exchanging uneasy glances, several pairs of eyes meeting in silent question.
There was an outsider present.
Bai Zhenrui calmly surveyed the scene before finally turning his gaze to the young woman clutching a flowerpot in the middle.
His brows furrowed.
Fu Qiqi held her head high, unbothered by his scrutinizing stare.
Bai Zekai, who was used to being on the receiving end of blows, showed no fear now. Brimming with confidence, he introduced unabashedly, “Grandpa, this is the master I told you about.”
He stepped forward with a grin, only to be mercilessly pushed aside by his grandfather.
“Grandpa, you’re pushing—”
Without even turning around, Bai Zhenrui stepped in front of Fu Qiqi and delivered a precise palm strike that knocked Bai Zekai down once more.
Bai Zekai: ???
Helpless and pitiable, he sat on the ground in a daze.
After a moment of silence, Bai Zhenrui took a step back and gestured politely, “Master, please come in.”
Fu Qiqi gave a soft “hmm,” producing a pair of sunglasses from somewhere and slipping them on. Her crimson lips curved into a faint smile. “Let’s all go inside. Don’t just stand there.”
A master must carry herself like one.
Yue Yi, standing silently by the side, seemed to understand now—Bai Zhenrui’s family must also be disciples of Miss Fu.
Only Bai Zekai remained disheveled and confused on the floor.
...
A few minutes later.
The group settled in the main hall. Besides the venerable Bai Zhenrui, Bai Zekai’s parents stood anxiously off to one side.
“Master, please have some tea.” Bai Zhenrui personally poured a cup and placed it on the table, then took a seat beside Fu Qiqi.
The two seats of honor flanked the table, one on the left and one on the right.
No one dared speak out of turn—not even Bai Zekai, who shrank silently behind his parents, wary of another sudden strike from his grandfather.
Curiously, Bai Zhenrui’s demeanor was unlike last time.
Fu Qiqi lifted the cup, sipping lightly before asking, “Village Chief Bai, how did you recognize me?”
Bai Zhenrui smiled, “That IOU note you’re holding—I remember it well. My father specifically warned me about it.”
The head of the Fuyun Taoist temple owed their family money—more precisely, money pooled by the entire village.
However, he hadn’t expected the master to be... ahem. He forcibly tore his gaze away from the small face behind the sunglasses.
As the saying goes, the moment of repayment is always one of pride and gratitude, throwing the money out in thanks to the benefactor.
Fu Qiqi did precisely that.
On the table, she laid down the cash, tapping her chest. “Eighty-eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight yuan and eight mao, excluding interest. Please count.”
Bai Zhenrui shook his head firmly, “No need to count. The amount is correct. But regarding the contract we agreed upon back then, Master, when might you have time?”
Fu Qiqi was momentarily stunned—what contract? She hadn’t been informed.
Thankfully, with her sunglasses shielding her eyes, she could review the karmic threads by studying Bai Zhenrui’s expression.
In their line of work, there was an ironclad rule: one must never casually read a person’s fate or past without permission.
Most practitioners would subtly hint by noting facial irregularities—such as a darkened forehead—to urge the person to seek divination.
Fu Qiqi, however, was an exception. Fearless and bold, she dared to see all, while carefully safeguarding privacy.
After a long pause, Fu Qiqi lifted her sunglasses, grit her teeth, and said softly, “The debt you owe must be related to a divination for the village, right?”
Indeed, when the loan was taken, they agreed on no interest—but that interest had transformed into a divination, and not just for Bai Ze Village, but for every village.
Such is a hard fate.
Bai Zhenrui’s expression grew serious. “Exactly. We don’t know which deity we offended that caused the divine punishment upon the villagers.”
“I came this time to resolve the village’s issues.” Fu Qiqi was surprised. “Your grandson, Bai Zekai—didn’t he tell you?”
Bai Zhenrui’s smile froze. “W-what?”
Fu Qiqi glanced at Bai Zekai, who was already preparing to flee, his exaggerated look of shock betraying him. “Has he really never told you?”
“No way, that can’t be. Really?”
It seemed he had never mentioned it.
She was not the only one with a hard fate; misery shared is misery halved.
Bai Zhenrui recalled their last visit to the phone shop and then cast a deathly glare at his grandson.
Everyone’s eyes followed.
Bai Zekai resembled a thief caught in the act, stiffly turning around and waving his hands while shaking his head to protest.
“Grandpa, didn’t you say all masters are nonsense, untrustworthy?”
“...”
An immediate silence fell over the hall.
Yue Yi rubbed her nose, wishing she couldn’t see or hear anything.
Bai Zhenrui’s smile nearly broke as his fingers twitched with restraint.
Yet his shameless grandson continued, “And you wouldn’t even let me bring the master home. Otherwise, you’d chase us out with a broom...”
Wham!
Bai Zhenrui snatched up a broom and, looking formidable, began striking Bai Zekai’s backside repeatedly.
“Ah! Grandpa, why are you hitting me? Mom, save me—ah—”
His mother smiled faintly, helpless.
Bai Zhenrui was still not appeased. “Save you? I can’t kill a brat like you. Why didn’t you tell me the master’s name? You wanted me to guess?”
He was furious. If he had known earlier, why would he have lost sleep these past few days?
He could have prepared in advance—unlike now, when the master arrived and there was nothing to eat or drink.
The two chased each other around the courtyard, raising a ruckus like a lively New Year celebration.
Once things settled, Fu Qiqi turned to Le Zhengmei, Bai Zekai’s mother, and said, “Could you take me to find someone first?”
Le Zhengmei, a straightforward woman, nodded shyly at her request.
...
Unlike the lively Bai Ze Village, the Ye family was steeped in tension.
When Ye Zhixuan descended the stairs, the butler was still arranging tasks.
“When will the Second Elder arrive? We should prepare to welcome him.”
“Half an hour yet.” The butler hesitated, then pulled out his phone. “Sir, I saw something about the Second Miss online. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you, but I figured you ought to know.”
After the police announced the arrest, Shi Botao posted a video online.
It had already gone viral.
The Ye family, unaware of the truth, dismissed it as fake.
Glancing at the posts filled with words like “metaphysics,” “park fortune teller,” and “fairy master,” Ye Zhixuan scoffed, “Nothing but a publicity stunt, a poor imitation.”
They thought An An was a member of the Metaphysical Association and wanted to imitate her—ridiculous. They believed this would get her into the Ye family. What a dream.
The butler bowed his head, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Sir has keen insight.”
Ye Zhixuan looked around but found no trace of Yu Fanrou, his dissatisfaction evident. Not bothering to hide it, he spoke bluntly.
“Send Madam down to receive our guest.”
“Yes, sir.”
Half an hour later, the Metaphysical Association’s vehicle arrived, slightly delayed.
Yu Fanrou stood expressionless by the side, not a hint of a smile.
“Second Elder.” Ye Zhixuan smiled and stepped forward to greet him. “Sorry for the poor reception. I hope you will forgive us.”
The Second Elder stopped, scanning the surroundings with a gentle smile, speaking in a casual, conversational tone.
“I’ve heard that my disciple is not your biological child?”