Chapter 79: The Restorer

Chapter 79: Asking for Benefits

Jing Shizhen was extremely knowledgeable and had handled at least a hundred magical artifacts in his lifetime.

Among them were not only mid-grade magical artifacts but even high-grade ones. Under normal circumstances, a single magical artifact would never be enough to make him lose his composure.

However, the dragon-shaped jade pendant Su Xiaofan had taken out was somewhat different.

After sensing the spiritual power within the pendant, he was certain that it was a mid-grade magical artifact.

Yet the feeling it gave Jing Shizhen was that it was in no way inferior to a high-grade magical artifact. It was somewhat similar to his own white jade gourd, possessing exceptionally high quality.

Moreover, magical artifacts in the form of pendants were particularly precious. Su Xiaofan's dragon-shaped jade pendant might not even be exchangeable for a high-grade magical artifact.

Low-grade magical artifacts could occasionally be encountered, but mid-grade magical artifacts were usually kept highly secret and were extremely difficult to find outside.

"Master is really intimidating when he gets serious."

Seeing Jing Shizhen's expression, Su Xiaofan suddenly felt a chill run through his entire body, as though he were being stared at by a ferocious beast ready to devour him.

"Master, this magical artifact was given to me by my father!"

Su Xiaofan immediately shifted the blame without the slightest pressure. What he said was true. His younger sister had also been there when his father gave him the item.

"Your father gave it to you? He... where did he get it?"

Jing Shizhen had not expected that answer at all and was stunned.

So this was a family heirloom?

"My father said he picked it up overseas."

Su Xiaofan scratched his head. Even he was beginning to wonder about the origin of this jade pendant. Could it really be that antiques were scattered all over foreign countries, just waiting for someone to pick them up?

"Picked it up overseas? Why don't you just say he found it lying in the middle of the road?"

Jing Shizhen was nearly choked to death by the answer.

It was one thing for Su Xiaofan to have an exceptional talent for cultivation, but could it be that he also had a father with even greater luck?

"That's actually hard to say."

Su Xiaofan glanced at Jing Shizhen and said, "Master, why don't you call him and ask?"

His father hadn't called him in more than ten days. Su Xiaofan had no idea where on this planet the old man was hiding. Whenever he tried calling, nine times out of ten, the call couldn't get through.

"Now that you have this thing, why do you still want my Vajra Bodhi bracelet?"

Jing Shizhen played with the jade pendant for a while before returning it to Su Xiaofan. When he saw the Bodhi magical artifact around Su Xiaofan's wrist, his anger immediately flared up again.

"A gift from an elder cannot be refused."

Su Xiaofan happily took the jade pendant and put it around his neck. As for the Bodhi bracelet, he naturally wasn't going to return it. He had earned that as his apprenticeship gift after kowtowing to his master.

"You also have a divining wind chime at home, don't you?"

Jing Shizhen began counting the magical artifacts Su Xiaofan possessed, unable to stop himself from grinding his teeth in frustration. When he had been Su Xiaofan's age, he hadn't even seen a magical artifact before.

"Master, I bought the divining wind chime from you."

Su Xiaofan reminded his master.

He had paid real money for it. Surely his master wasn't going to ask for it back?

"Look at you. I don't want it back."

Seeing the car leave the parking lot, Jing Shizhen said, "Take me home first. I'll pack some things, and then we'll go to Fengcheng."

"Master, what are we going to Fengcheng for?"

Su Xiaofan had heard Jing Shizhen mention it briefly before, but he hadn't explained at the time.

Actually, Su Xiaofan wasn't particularly willing to go out this time. He had just opened up the Great Heavenly Circuit, and every day he was immersed in the exhilaration of cultivation.

"You said magical artifacts were useless, didn't you? I'm taking you there so you can see what magical artifacts are actually good for."

Jing Shizhen replied before falling silent. He took out his phone, entered an address into the navigation, and held it out in front of Su Xiaofan.

Jing Shizhen's home wasn't far from the high-speed railway station. It was located in a villa community on the outskirts of the city. After driving for only a little more than ten minutes, Su Xiaofan parked the car in front of the villa.

"Master, you have villas all over the country?"

After taking out the suitcase, Su Xiaofan looked at the villa in front of him with envy.

He had only just gotten his first villa, yet compared to his master, Su Xiaofan felt like a poor man.

"Living in an apartment isn't convenient for cultivation."

Jing Shizhen waved his hand. His words immediately struck a chord with Su Xiaofan.

After entering the villa, Jing Shizhen told Su Xiaofan to sit in the living room and rest while he went upstairs.

About ten minutes later, Jing Shizhen came back down. He had changed his clothes, and he was holding another item in his hand.

"Master, what are you doing?"

Seeing Jing Shizhen dressed in a blue Taoist-style robe, Su Xiaofan couldn't help but stare.

"Didn't you say we're not Taoists, but merely inheritors of Taoist traditions? Why are you wearing a Taoist robe? Are you planning to convert to Taoism?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. This is just a blue long gown. What does it have to do with a Taoist robe?"

Jing Shizhen shot Su Xiaofan a sideways glance and said, "Remember this. A Zhuangzi cap, cloud socks, Ten Directions shoes, and a Taoist robe—that's the standard Taoist outfit. Don't pretend you know what you're talking about and go spouting nonsense outside."

"Oh, got it, Master."

Su Xiaofan nodded. There was nothing embarrassing about not knowing something and learning it.

"Master, is that a magical sword you're carrying?"

Su Xiaofan cautiously asked.

In Jing Shizhen's right hand was a wooden-sheathed sword about fifty centimeters long. From the fluctuations of spiritual power coming from it, Su Xiaofan could tell that it was probably a magical artifact.

"Yes. It's a peachwood sword, a low-grade magical artifact."

Jing Shizhen nodded.

And he says he's not a Taoist.

Su Xiaofan secretly complained to himself.

A Taoist-style robe and a peachwood sword—wasn't that exactly the usual equipment of a Taoist who went around exorcising ghosts?

Jing Shizhen opened the suitcase and placed the peachwood sword inside. Su Xiaofan had sharp eyes and noticed that the white jade gourd and the coin sword were also inside.

"Master, are we going ghost hunting?"

Su Xiaofan couldn't resist and asked again.

The moment he heard the words "ghost hunting," Su Xiaofan became excited.

He had lived for more than ten years at the foot of Mount Mang, a place famous in legends for being associated with ghosts, yet he hadn't even seen a ghostly shadow.

Su Xiaofan had long wanted to see what a ghost actually looked like.

"I told you that you'll know when we get there. What's the point of asking so many questions now?"

Jing Shizhen closed the suitcase and stood up.

"Let's go. First, we'll stop by your place and pick up the divining wind chime. Then change into some sportswear. Oh, and bring a few extra sets of clothes. We'll drive to Fengcheng."

"Okay!"

Since it only took two or three hours to drive to Fengcheng, Su Xiaofan figured he could suppress his curiosity for a few hours.

When they returned to his residential complex, Jing Shizhen didn't go upstairs. He stayed in the car and waited for Su Xiaofan.

Su Xiaofan packed several changes of clothes into a suitcase and hurried back to the car.

Naturally, Su Xiaofan was the driver. After getting onto the highway, it took them a little over two hours to reach Fengcheng.

During the two-hour drive, Su Xiaofan asked his master many questions about cultivation.

Jing Shizhen answered every question and even said that once he had some free time, he would teach Su Xiaofan a technique.

However, Jing Shizhen didn't say much about the cultivation method beyond the Great Heavenly Circuit stage. He merely told Su Xiaofan to consolidate his current realm first and that he would naturally pass on the next part to him when the time was right.

This made Su Xiaofan somewhat suspicious.

Could it be that their inheritance only goes as far as the Great Heavenly Circuit?

The car stopped in front of a five-star hotel on the outskirts of Fengcheng.

As soon as Jing Shizhen opened the car door, several people waiting outside the hotel came over to greet them.

"Huh? Isn't that President Tong?"

Through the car window, Su Xiaofan recognized the person walking at the front.

It was Tong Dongjie, the man who had bought his brush holder in Beijing. Later, when they had gone singing, Tong Dongjie had even helped him get the bill waived.

"Xiao Su, come down. Let him park the car for you."

After shaking hands with Jing Shizhen, Tong Dongjie noticed Su Xiaofan sitting in the driver's seat. He turned around and instructed one of the people behind him. That person immediately walked over.

Su Xiaofan didn't refuse. He unfastened his seat belt and got out of the car.

Someone had already taken the two suitcases out of the trunk, but Su Xiaofan quickly took them back.

There was no way he would let them carry the cases.

The suitcases contained several magical artifacts worth tens of millions of yuan. If anything went missing, he wouldn't know how to explain it.

"Uncle Jing, I've already arranged the rooms. Let's go upstairs and talk."

Tong Dongjie led the way.

If Su Xiaofan hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have thought that Tong Dongjie had become a completely different person.

The President Tong he had seen at the club had always been surrounded by people, with an extremely grand entourage.

Tong Dongjie's respect for Uncle Jing wasn't merely reflected in the reception.

When Su Xiaofan entered the room, he was stunned.

Good heavens—the room was actually the hotel's presidential suite.

President Tong still certainly knew how to put on a grand show. As soon as they entered the room, someone immediately opened the windows to air it out, while another person went to boil water and prepare tea.

After inviting Jing Shizhen to sit on the sofa in the living room, Tong Dongjie said, "Uncle Jing, there are three bedrooms here. Xiao Su can stay here as well. If you're not comfortable with that, I can arrange another room for Xiao Su."

"No need to go to all that trouble. Xiao Su can stay here."

Jing Shizhen waved his hand.

"Dongjie, you're also considered my junior. Why bother with all these formalities?"

"Uncle Jing, my father repeatedly instructed me to make sure you were properly taken care of."

Tong Dongjie smiled as he watched his subordinate bring over the freshly boiled water. He waved his hand, dismissing the others from the room.

Once only Tong Dongjie, Su Xiaofan, and Jing Shizhen remained, Jing Shizhen asked, "What's the matter in Jiaocheng? Why did you come all the way to Fengcheng?"

"Uncle Jing, there's not even a decent hotel in Jiaocheng."

Tong Dongjie poured a cup of tea for Jing Shizhen and Su Xiaofan before explaining, "If we stay here, it's only about an hour's drive to the place."

"You..."

Jing Shizhen shook his head.

"I'm here to get things done. What difference does it make whether the accommodations are good or bad?"

"That won't do. You need to get proper rest."

Tong Dongjie smiled when he heard this.

He knew that Jing Shizhen was also extremely wealthy. Although he wasn't surrounded by an entourage everywhere he went like Tong Dongjie was, his standards for food and accommodation were still quite high.

"Then we'll head over first thing tomorrow morning and enter the village around noon."

Jing Shizhen nodded and didn't dwell on such trivial matters.

"All right."

Tong Dongjie stood up.

"Uncle Jing, you and Xiao Su should get some rest. I'll come back later and take you both out for dinner."

"Wait, President Tong. I still don't know anything!"

Seeing Tong Dongjie about to leave, Su Xiaofan hurriedly stopped him.

His master had refused to tell him anything. After driving for several hours, he was still completely in the dark.

"You don't know anything?"

Tong Dongjie turned his gaze toward Jing Shizhen.

"That's right. I haven't told him yet. Dongjie, you explain it to him. Start from the beginning."

Jing Shizhen took a sip of tea.

"My disciple isn't an ordinary person. His cultivation is only slightly weaker than mine. Dongjie, if you want him to come along, negotiate the terms with him yourself."

"Huh? Is Master telling me to ask for benefits?"

Although Su Xiaofan still didn't understand what exactly this trip was about, he could already make out some clues from their conversation.

President Tong clearly had something he needed Uncle Jing's help with.

But this matter originally had nothing to do with him. If President Tong wanted to include him, then he would have to pay him a share of the compensation.

(End of Chapter)

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