Earth’s Redemption: Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Feng Shui Treasure Cave (3)

Proofread by Cloud Chip Cake

Discovered!

The moment their eyes met, Ning Buwen knew he couldn’t just sit back and wait any longer—he had to take the initiative.

Ning Buwen instinctively jumped down from the beam. The next second, as Xing Fangfang let out a startled cry, he lunged straight at her.

Xing Fangfang tried to dodge, but how could she be faster than Ning Buwen’s swift actions? Within moments, she was subdued.

Her skin was warm—definitely a living person.

Ning Buwen breathed a small sigh of relief. If he’d grabbed her neck only to find she was already a corpse, that would have been terrifying.

“Shh.” Ning Buwen placed his left hand on Xing Fangfang’s neck, while his other hand covered her mouth.

Lowering his voice, he whispered, “If you want to live, don’t make a sound.”

Xing Fangfang struggled fiercely, even biting Ning Buwen.

And it wasn’t light, it drew blood.

If only Xiao Xin bit this hard.

The thought flashed through Ning Buwen’s mind. That stupid dog was nowhere to be found—if it had really turned into hot pot meat, well, that’d be something.

Hiss, that hurts.

Damn, she really isn’t afraid of death.

Ning Buwen quickly pulled his hand back. To his surprise, Xing Fangfang didn’t scream but instead shouted toward the empty space behind him, “Kill him!”

The moment her words fell, the air around them grew oppressively heavy.

There really is something here.

A bone-chilling cold swept over Ning Buwen, eerily similar to when Zhao Shutong had possessed him.

I can’t stay and fight.

Ning Buwen tapped his chest lightly, activating the talisman’s warmth. The heat temporarily pushed back the sinister chill.

He tried to make a run for it, but the eerie statue had somehow moved to block the doorway, forcing him back.

The Buddha statue’s expression seemed to have subtly changed. But the darkness of the night, combined with his earlier bewitchment, made Ning Buwen wary of looking too closely at it.

This is bad.

There was an invisible entity behind him and a menacing statue ahead of him. It was just a matter of choosing which death might be less painful.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

“Miss Xing, I didn’t expect you to be worshiping an evil god and raising a ghost in your own home.” Despite the tense moment, Ning Buwen adopted an air of inscrutable calm. “Your family’s ancestral rites are just around the corner. I wonder—when the time comes, will this thing you’ve raised be discovered? Will your family’s feng shui suppress them?”

The Buddha statue took a step forward.

Ning Buwen readied himself to pull out the talisman for an attack.

If he could avoid it, he didn’t want to use this talisman now—it was his only reliable weapon in this instance. Wasting it now would be a pity, especially since he still didn’t know where the Xing family’s feng shui treasure was.

“Buddha, stop,” Xing Fangfang finally spoke. “Who are you? Why have you come here?”

“Why am I here? Miss Xing, don’t you already know?” Ning Buwen deflected the question. “With your family’s unique feng shui, who wouldn’t be curious? I was just unlucky—barely managed to sneak in, and you caught me.”

“Feng shui?” Xing Fangfang gritted her teeth. “You people are also after my family’s feng shui treasure?”

“What else does the Xing family have that’s worth mobilizing people for?” Ning Buwen neither confirmed nor denied her accusation. “Even if you attack me now, you may not be able to kill me outright. But the commotion will definitely be significant. Let me be honest with you, Miss Xing—besides us, even the nearby warlords have their eyes on you. The Xing family has enjoyed a century of prosperity and accumulated vast wealth. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that?”

Ning Buwen began weaving a tale. Though rather, it wasn’t entirely a fabrication.

After all, it was the chaotic Republican era. Warlords were everywhere, and they’d do anything to fund their armies. Tomb raiding was minor in comparison. With the Xing family’s mysterious reputation and wealth, it’d be stranger if they weren’t being targeted by warlords.

And judging by Xing Fangfang’s reaction, his half-truths were proving highly effective.

In just a few sentences, Ning Buwen had transformed in Xing Fangfang’s eyes—from a petty thief to a formidable Daoist hired by a warlord.

Ultimately, it was Xing Fangfang who had more to lose, not Ning Buwen.

“A-Liang, don’t act just yet,” Xing Fangfang whispered to the presence beside her. “We can’t kill him.”

If they killed him, the ones they send next might be a fully equipped army.

Would these supernatural arts stand a chance against a hail of bullets and artillery?

“That’s the right decision, Miss Xing.” Ning Buwen chuckled. “If you let me leave today, I promise not to spread word of what I’ve seen here.”

“And why should I trust you?”

“Because I can’t beat you.” Ning Buwen replied without hesitation. “To be honest, much of our Daoist techniques have been lost. Your ability to command gods and spirits far surpasses ours. Since I can’t win against you, we won’t trouble you again. If you could catch me once, you could catch me twice. Rather than us both going down, wouldn’t it be better to let me leave? Don’t you agree?”

Xing Fangfang’s expression showed hesitation.

“Miss Xing, you’d better decide quickly,” Ning Buwen urged, his tone carrying a hint of pressure. “If you wait too long, my companions might realize something’s wrong and come looking for me.”

Xing Fangfang bit her lip lightly. “Buddha, let him go. I’ll offer you a new tribute tomorrow.”

“Miss Xing is a wise woman.” Ning Buwen felt a weight lift from his heart. “I’d appreciate it if the Buddha could step aside.”

The statue reluctantly moved out of the way.

“The night is deep, and the dew is heavy. I’ll take my leave.” Ning Buwen walked out of the room, cupped his hands in mock politeness, and carried himself with an air of importance.

Climbing over a wall as he left, he burned the restraints on his body off one by one. Once he’d resumed his appearance as a servant, Ning Buwen snuck back into his room.

When he finally returned, he realized his back was soaked in cold sweat.

“Good thing I had this talisman,” Ning Buwen exhaled deeply. “I shouldn’t tempt fate so easily. You can’t fight something you can’t even see.”

Seriously, why couldn’t these game instances rely on logic and science instead of all this supernatural nonsense? It was utterly exasperating.

Back in her room, Xing Fangfang suddenly snapped back to her senses. “He tricked me!”

If he truly were sent by a warlord, he wouldn’t have come after her first. There were so many people in the Xing household, and she wasn’t particularly significant. Moreover, he hadn’t noticed A-Liang’s presence at first, which meant he wasn’t the Daoist he claimed to be.

At that moment, a small scrap of fabric drifted through the air.

“A-Liang, what’s this?” Xing Fangfang picked up the cloth and examined it curiously.

“Hm? You’re saying this fell off that person?” Xing Fangfang ran her fingers over the material. “It looks like it got snagged on something. The fabric seems similar to what our servants wear. Before I married you, I helped manage the household for a time—I’m very familiar with what the servants wear.”

As she spoke, Xing Fangfang tightened her grip on the cloth. “He must still be somewhere in our household. Don’t worry, A-Liang. I’ll find him, and I’ll never let your existence be exposed!”

Meanwhile, Ning Buwen slept soundly.

“Still sleeping?” The elderly woman burst into the room without warning.

“Oh, it’s you, Granny!” Ning Buwen quickly sat up and began dressing. “Did I oversleep and delay the cleaning? I’ll get up right away. I was a little nervous yesterday and didn’t fall asleep until late—I’m terribly sorry.”

“Don’t worry, you don’t need to clean today,” the granny said casually.

“Huh? Why?” Ning Buwen was stunned. “I didn’t finish sweeping the courtyard yesterday.”

“Last night, there was a theft in the young lady’s room. Several precious dowry items she kept were stolen, including a gift from her late husband with great sentimental value,” the granny explained angrily. “Did you hear anything unusual last night?”

“No,” Ning Buwen thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Is the young lady very upset? Shouldn’t we report this to the authorities?”

“It’s an inside job. What’s the point of calling the authorities?” The granny scolded. “Those policemen only know how to take bribes and do nothing else. Besides, if word gets out, it’ll damage the young lady’s reputation. She’s already a widow, and there’s enough gossip as it is.”

“True,” Ning Buwen replied, hanging his head in feigned dejection.

“My tone might have been a bit harsh earlier,” the granny said with a hint of guilt, stepping forward to hold Ning Buwen’s hand. “I’m just worried about the young lady. Don’t go spreading this around, understand?”

“Don’t worry, Granny, I won’t,” Ning Buwen nodded earnestly.

“Your hands are calloused,” the granny remarked, letting go of his hand. “I have some excellent ointment. I’ll bring it to you later.”

“Thank you, Granny,” Ning Buwen said with a more genuine smile. “Though it’s really not necessary. Us country folk are used to living rough.”

“I’ll fetch it for you now,” the granny said, turning to leave.

As she left, Ning Buwen glanced at his left hand and let out a slight sigh of relief.

It seemed Xing Fangfang had started to suspect him after all—not surprising, given he was the newcomer.

However, the piece of cloth he’d discarded should serve as a good distraction.

Ning Buwen had anticipated an inspection the previous night and had spent hours disguising the bite marks on the back of his hand.

It wasn’t difficult, really—just a layer of glue to cover the marks, topped with a thin film and some black powder. Xing Fangfang, being a young woman in her prime, wouldn’t inspect him personally for propriety’s sake. That left only the granny to check his hand, and her eyesight wasn’t exactly sharp.

“Not even a single misstep is allowed here,” Ning Buwen muttered to himself. “If even an insignificant young lady can set up something like this in her household, I can only imagine what the more influential ones might be scheming behind closed doors.”

———

Meanwhile, Xing Fangfang, after discussing with her father, had mobilized the Xing household to investigate thoroughly.

The fabric Xing Fangfang held was indeed from a servant’s clothing. Each servant was issued a specific number of garments every month, so matching the torn piece to its owner was just a matter of process.

It wasn’t long before Guo Zhu was caught.

Ning Buwen joined the crowd to watch the commotion.

“Master, Master, I swear I didn’t steal it!” Guo Zhu cried, tears and snot streaming down his face. “I was on night watch last night—everyone saw me!”

“Even if you didn’t steal it, that doesn’t mean you didn’t let the thief in,” the Xing family head said sternly.

The Xing patriarch was a serious-looking middle-aged man. Despite it being the Republican era, he still wore a traditional long robe and gown. Were it not for his short haircut, he’d look like a textbook Qing Dynasty landlord.

Though he appeared rigid and upright, his entourage of concubines painted a different picture. Each one was dressed in the latest fashion—cheongsams with high slits and perfectly styled wavy hair.

Ning Buwen kept his head lowered, suppressing a smirk. The old man clearly wasn’t as proper as he pretended to be. If he didn’t like how his concubines dressed, would they dare wear such outfits?

“Confess honestly, and I might spare your life,” the Xing patriarch said coldly. “If not, I’ll deal with you using the family rules.”

“Master, it really wasn’t me.” Guo Zhu knelt on the ground, banging his head against the floor. “Master, I’ve been with the Xing family since I was a child and have never stolen anything. Lately, with the ancestral rites’s preparations, I’ve been busy and always accompanied by another wherever I go. I hardly have any time alone—how could I contact outsiders?”

“Master, what he’s saying does make some sense,” the steward interjected. “Perhaps the thief framed him on purpose to make a getaway. After all, the fabric used for the servant’s clothes isn’t expensive. Buying another piece wouldn’t be an issue, so how could he be caught red-handed?”

“Then why would the thief frame him and not someone else?” The Xing patriarch, though finding the steward’s reasoning plausible, was still unwilling to let Guo Zhu off lightly. “In any case, he can’t stay here. Beat him with a few planks and throw him out. The Xing family has no need for such disloyal servants.”

“Well, aren’t you going to thank the master?” the steward said to Guo Zhu. “It’s just a beating; the master is already showing mercy.”

Guo Zhu knew there was no point in arguing further. Holding back his grief and anger, he reluctantly complied.

“You’re useless too,” the Xing patriarch scolded his daughter next. “You couldn’t even keep an eye on your own dowry. After the ancestral rites, I’ll have your mother find you a better match.”

Xing Fangfang remained silent, her head bowed in a pitiful posture. Even after being reprimanded, she didn’t utter a word.

“Eh? Uncle, Da Jie, why are you all gathered here?” Just then, another voice rang out.

The servants immediately parted into two rows, clearing a path for the speaker.

From the distance came a young man in a suit and vest, complete with a hat, leather shoes, and a watch.

It was none other than Xing Tianyou, the Xing family’s only male heir.

Xing Tianyou looked to be barely in his twenties, with sharp features and an air of confidence—an undeniably handsome young man.

The Xing family’s children were all exceptionally attractive. Based on appearance alone, each was like a dragon or phoenix among mortals, which explained why rumors outside claimed that the Xing family’s feng shui was particularly good.

Following Xing Tianyou were several young men of similar age, said to be relatives of the various concubines. Since Xing Tianyou was the future head of the Xing family and the concubines themselves were childless, they naturally worked hard to curry favor with him, bringing any suitable young relatives to be his companions.

“Why are you all still standing around here? Go back to work!” The steward, noticing the patriarch’s expression had softened with Xing Tianyou’s arrival, promptly dismissed the servants.

Ning Buwen had no choice but to leave with the rest.

Halfway down the corridor, someone started following him.

Ning Buwen, sensing the pursuit, pretended not to notice and continued walking, gradually quickening his pace.

“Wait!” The person behind him, realizing they couldn’t catch up, called out loudly.

Only then did Ning Buwen stop.

“Hello, were you calling me?” Ning Buwen turned around to see one of the young men who had been accompanying Xing Tianyou standing behind him.

“Uh, yes, it’s me—Liang Fei,” the man introduced himself immediately. “I’ve been observing you for days. Are you An Buli or Ning Buwen?”

Liang Fei?

Ning Buwen let out a small sigh of relief and walked up slowly. “I’m Ning Buwen. How did you figure it out?”

A slight smile appeared on Liang Fei’s face. “We all arrived around the same time. So, among the new arrivals in the Xing family, it was likely one of them would be my comrade. You blended in so well that I didn’t recognize you at first. If it weren’t for Guo Zhu being beaten and driven out, I wouldn’t have been sure you were my ally.”

True enough.

Ning Buwen glanced around cautiously. “It’s not convenient to talk here. Come with me.”

“Alright.”

The two walked to Ning Buwen’s room, where they finally relaxed.

“What’s your current cover?” Ning Buwen asked without delay.

He had been racking his brain trying to deal with Xing Fangfang. She wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice, and investigating alone, though feasible, would be slow.

Instinctively, Ning Buwen wanted to resolve the matter before the ancestral ceremony.

Xing Fangfang alone was already so eerie. If they waited until the ancestral ceremony, things would undoubtedly worsen. He had to clear this instance before matters spiraled beyond recovery—that was the safest course of action.

Liang Fei’s arrival was undoubtedly a timely rescue.

“My current identity is the younger brother of the third concubine,” Liang Fei sighed. “Because Xing Tianyou was about to return, they brought me along as his assistant. I’ve observed Xing Tianyou for several days now, and he’s definitely not a player. In these story-driven instances, the likelihood of a key character being a player is negligible. I originally wanted to make a move on Xing Fangfang, but my position is too awkward—I have no reason to approach her.”

“Xing Fangfang is very suspicious,” Ning Buwen said, recounting in detail what he had discovered the previous night.

Liang Fei fell into deep thought.

“Based on what you’ve said, the ‘A-Liang’ Xing Fangfang mentioned is likely her husband, and the evil deity she worships might be her accomplice. Ordinary people can’t communicate with spirits. Even for us, without the aid of items, it’s difficult to see ghosts.” Liang Fei analyzed. “You were right not to act last night. Talisman-related item cards are rare; we must use them wisely.”

“What about you? What have you found on your end?” Ning Buwen asked curiously.

“Xing Tianyou is oblivious, but I did learn something from the third concubine,” Liang Fei said, exchanging information. “The third concubine mentioned that every year during the ancestral ceremony, the family invites Taoists from Wuyang Temple to preside over the rituals. However, the women are strictly prohibited from attending. Additionally, she mentioned that the Xing family has a feng shui treasure site, but no one except the Xing family’s patriarch knows where it is. Even she was punished for asking about it once.”

“That secretive?” Ning Buwen was surprised. “No one knows its location?”

“No one. The Xing family patriarch’s first wife has already passed away, and the current head of the household is the second concubine,” Liang Fei confirmed. “It’s said that the location of the site only becomes known during the ancestral ceremony.”

“We absolutely cannot wait until then,” Ning Buwen said immediately. “Dealing with Xing Fangfang alone is already difficult enough. If the ancestral rites formally begins, we’ll likely be in serious danger.”

“I think so too,” Liang Fei nodded. “By the way, have you noticed that some of the servants have started coughing recently?”

What?

Ning Buwen genuinely hadn’t noticed.

The eldest daughter’s quarters were so quiet that hardly any servants came by.

“Some people have already been isolated,” Liang Fei said grimly. “This afternoon, I’ll find an excuse to investigate. You should keep an eye on Xing Fangfang. As the eldest daughter of the Xing family, she must know something.”

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