Chapter 3: Owing Ten Million on the First Day After Arrival

Page 1/3

Fu Qiqi rolled up her bare sleeves, her voice nearly echoing through the valley.

Xiao Tao timidly grasped the hem of her skirt, afraid to grab Fu Qiqi’s sleeve, and could only weakly say, “Master, it seems like someone over there is watching you.”

Unable to accept the once-glorious celestial sect now reduced to a fallen Taoist temple, Fu Qiqi’s anger surged. With a sharp glare, she saw an old man with a head full of white hair turn and flee from the corner.

Wen Yanfeng held his cane firmly in his arms, moving swiftly as he suddenly darted into the temple and shut the door behind him.

Just as Fu Qiqi exhaled deeply in relief, he turned around but dared not open his eyes.

His mind screamed wildly: How did this woman get in here?!

Xiao Tao clung to the edge of the wall, too afraid to enter, only peeking out with wide, hollow eyes.

Meanwhile, Fu Qiqi surveyed her surroundings. The courtyard looked far better than outside, with an ancient, serene elegance more fitting of a secluded paradise than a temple.

But what did it matter? Nothing could compare to the grandeur and splendor of a celestial sect.

The angrier Fu Qiqi became, the more she thought about it. She reached out, grabbed Wen Yanfeng’s face, and pressed her thumb hard to force him to open his eyes and meet her gaze.

“Tell me, who are you? And what’s the story behind the Floating Cloud Taoist Temple?”

Wen Yanfeng looked at the stunning yet fierce woman before him, feeling somewhat lost, but instinctively answered honestly.

“I’m the temple’s guardian. As for the Floating Cloud Taoist Temple, it’s been here for hundreds of years. It used to be magnificent. My grandfather said our ancestors were immortals. You didn’t know that?”

At the last sentence, he even gave Fu Qiqi a doubtful look.

Heard of gravekeepers, gatekeepers, village guardians—but temple guardians? That was a first.

Fu Qiqi scoffed coldly: “So where’s the grandeur?”

“That’s only in recent decades. It’s only fallen on hard times lately,” Wen Yanfeng retorted.

Fu Qiqi didn’t want to hear his excuses. “I just want to know how a celestial sect became a Taoist temple. No more nonsense.”

“You even know about this?” Wen Yanfeng was even more surprised.

“I know everything, so don’t even try to hide it.”

That confidence startled Wen Yanfeng. Then his whole body trembled as he recalled his father’s last words before passing.

“I’m old and probably won’t see that day. Yanfeng, you must wait until the destined one appears and hand over the temple to them intact.”

Could the destined one his father spoke of be this very woman?

Thinking this possibility, Wen Yanfeng struggled free and grabbed Fu Qiqi’s arm, his eyes sharp.

“What else do you know? Tell me everything.”

Not understanding his sudden excitement, Fu Qiqi was somewhat speechless.

“What, you want me to explain why you look so old at only twenty? That, I really don’t know and don’t want to.”

Her words were merciless, but Wen Yanfeng stepped back a few paces, first stunned, then bursting into loud laughter. Anyone unaware would think he’d just lost his mind.

Page 2/3

“It really is you.”

Two seconds later, Wen Yanfeng wiped off his smile and shifted expression swiftly.

Fu Qiqi: ?

He didn’t mind the dumbfounded look she gave him and smiled bitterly.

“It’s a curse—one that ensures we don’t live past twenty-five.”

Over the next while, Fu Qiqi and Xiao Tao sat together and listened to a deeply sorrowful story.

The Wen family appeared five hundred years ago, originally sweeping the floors of the Floating Cloud Temple. The temple was once bustling with incense and worship, but after the death of the founding master, it steadily declined.

Eventually, few came, the Taoist priests either left or passed away, leaving only the Wen family waiting on what seemed an impossible last wish.

Since then, each generation of the Wen family hasn’t lived beyond twenty-five, aging much faster than normal. Thus, they emphasized progeny, ensuring three to five offspring per generation. Yet, not everyone could marry and have children, leading to the family’s gradual dwindling to the present.

“The founding master’s last words mentioned that after five hundred years, a destined one would appear to save the temple from ruin. That must be you.”

Wen Yanfeng looked at Fu Qiqi with hopeful eyes.

Xiao Tao, puzzled, reached out. “Then why don’t you come down the mountain to wait? Maybe it’s the temple that’s cursed, not the Wen family.”

Wen Yanfeng shook his head. “No, we tried. Perhaps the moment you decide to be the temple’s guardian, that becomes the family’s fate.”

“Aren’t you afraid of dying?” Xiao Tao was shocked.

“Of course. At first, I was scared too. But after staying here so long and seeing so much, I’m no longer afraid. It’s the guardian’s destiny.”

Xiao Tao was speechless. She certainly couldn’t do it and didn’t understand, but she admired the Wen family’s resolve.

The mood was somber. Fu Qiqi stroked her chin. “What was the founding master’s name?”

“Wu Congling.”

Fu Qiqi frowned. The name felt both familiar and strange.

For now, the celestial sect vanished five hundred years ago. She didn’t know if her senior brothers or sisters were still alive. Since there was no rush, she would slowly uncover the truth.

As for saving the temple, she had more than enough skill for that.

“Fine. Starting today, I’m the head of the Floating Cloud Taoist Temple.”

Wen Yanfeng jumped in fright, avoided looking at Fu Qiqi’s encouraging hand, and nervously glanced everywhere except at her.

“What’s wrong? Not happy?”

Wen Yanfeng immediately raised his voice. “No, no, I’m not unhappy. Haha, I’m very happy, really very... happy.”

His face was wrinkled, his smile forced and insincere.

“Master, he definitely has secrets,” Xiao Tao said, not one to stay out of trouble.

Wen Yanfeng: “... You really don’t need to say that.”

Page 3/3

A few minutes later—

Fu Qiqi stared at a pile of IOUs and bills, her heart sinking completely.

No, she couldn’t breathe.

Meanwhile, Wen Yanfeng recklessly spoke up beside her, “Head, the temple hasn’t had income in a long time. We had no choice but to borrow money from others.”

Fu Qiqi took a deep breath, unsure whether to be impressed—they still managed to borrow money. What could she do? Accept her fate; the land of the celestial sect still belonged to her family.

“Tell me, how much exactly? Let me prepare myself.” No matter how bad, it couldn’t be too much. Lenders aren’t foolish; they don’t just give money away.

Wen Yanfeng swallowed and raised one finger.

“One hundred?”

That was acceptable—just a bit painful.

Unexpectedly, Wen Yanfeng’s eyes instantly widened in disbelief. He shook his finger from side to side.

“No, not one hundred. Ten million!”

“Oh, a thousand would’ve been barely acceptable…”

“How much?!” Fu Qiqi’s face was incredulous.

Ten million?!

She hadn’t seen such a sum in her entire life. Did he think he was adorable?

Wen Yanfeng fell silent immediately.

After a long while.

Fu Qiqi looked up at the sky, pondering life. “Fine, fine. At least you’re still alive.”

“Actually...” Wen Yanfeng murmured, “The head can also make money with skill.”

“That sounds easy for you to say. Where am I supposed to earn that kind of money? Find some big troublemaker…”

Wait.

Both suddenly turned their gaze to Xiao Tao, who was chasing butterflies.

Xiao Tao’s hand passed through a butterfly. Frustrated, she turned and caught their intense, predatory eyes. Instantly, she crossed her arms tightly. She wouldn’t sell herself!

—

11 PM.

Silver Mist Mountain, also the scene where Xiao Tao was attacked, where a person and a ghost moved forward at a turtle’s pace.