Chapter 38

…

The weekend came, and Yun Zouchuan had a holiday. She first mailed the letter she had written to her hometown, then returned to the Little Fire God Strange News Studio.

She put down her backpack and heard faint sounds coming from the training room.

“I’m back!” Yun Zouchuan opened the door and peeked in, seeing Zhu Ming, face pale, savagely attacking a punching bag.

She suddenly remembered what date it was. As usual, at the beginning of every third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth month, Zhu Ming had to return to the Zhu Family Old Residence. Every time she went and came back, she would be abnormal for a few days: physically weak and emotionally manic in the extreme.

Yun Zouchuan couldn’t help but quiet down, going off to do her own things. A moment later, Zhu Ming came out the door and kicked aside a broken kettle. “You’re back? Go check on your little vegetable garden. I didn’t know how much to water it.”

Yun Zouchuan waved a hand in front of her face. “Boss, are you alright? It’s already the 6th.”

Zhu Ming squatted in front of the fridge, eating a popsicle, and pushed her hand away. “Mm, I entered a dungeon a few days ago. Went in a bit late this time.”

Yun Zouchuan crouched beside her, reaching out to feel her forehead, worried. “Should I call Sister A-Tu over?”

“Why call her? She’s busy.”

Yun Zouchuan said with righteous logic, “Call her to fight with you. I’m afraid if your emotions don’t get a release, you’ll end up wrecking the house.”

Zhu Ming: “…”

She had no retort. But before she could contact A-Tu, the other party came knocking first.

“Finally on holiday.” Wenren Tu stretched languidly and dragged Zhu Ming into the training room. After so many years of friendship, she was equally aware of Zhu Ming’s routine regarding returning home. She used to accompany her to vent like this before, but recently, starting work at the Management Bureau had kept her busy.

Wenren Tu took off her jacket and crooked a finger at Zhu Ming, electric currents flickering between her digits. “Tsk, Wenren Bai is even busier than me. Otherwise, we should’ve called her over.”

Back when they first met, Zhu Ming was still a fledgling country girl new to the Flower Capital. She’d undergone no formal training, and every fight between them ended with Wenren Tu pinning her down.

But Zhu Ming improved at a flying speed. Her physique was naturally better than average, and she tortured herself with a diligence a hundred times greater than ordinary people. Gradually, Wenren Tu could no longer suppress her using purely physical techniques.

During that time, no one understood Zhu Ming’s talent better than Wenren Tu. She realized that no matter how much she sparred with her, it wouldn’t compare to finding someone stronger to temper Zhu Ming. Wenren Tu could rely on her Supernatural Ability and didn’t need to care much about her shortcomings in martial technique. But Zhu Ming couldn’t. To protect herself within the Zhu Family, Zhu Ming had to have martial skills she could rely on.

For this, Wenren Tu went to find Wenren Bai. Privately, she pleaded with this woman she least wanted to deal with—whom she most disliked, the head of the Wenren Family—to become Zhu Ming’s coach, to train her, to temper her, so she could learn to protect herself.

Year after year passed. Zhu Ming grew stronger and stronger. It couldn’t be separated from Wenren Bai.

This year, since the Dark Realm space incident emerged, the entire Management Bureau was overwhelmed. Wenren Bai, as both Bureau Director and Wenren Family Head, hadn’t had a break in ages. She’d once wanted her secret little disciple and Wenren Tu to intern together at the Bureau. Wenren Tu, after years of unemployment, had finally come around, but Zhu Ming preferred freedom.

“If you’re this busy, Coach must be even busier.” Zhu Ming habitually called Wenren Bai “Coach”. She urged, “No need to hold back. Use your Ability when you need to.”

Even if Wenren Tu was no longer Zhu Ming’s match in pure martial arts, her trump card was her Supernatural Ability. She could still use her electricity to shock Zhu Ming until she looked like a broom.

Wenren Tu laughed. “All these years, you’ve gotten more and more shock-resistant. I’m afraid one day this move will be useless against you.”

Wenren Tu’s highest-frequency electrocution target: Zhu Ming.

Without further words, Zhu Ming charged forward barehanded. Wenren Tu’s heart lurched. She turned and ran. Coming on that fiercely right off the bat—Zhu Ming’s condition this time was really bad.

Her judgment was correct. The sliver of reason Zhu Ming had held before they started vanished as the fight went on. Left with no choice, Wenren Tu had to shock her unconscious early.

When she woke up, Wenren Tu said, “Your big sister here is getting old; I really can’t take this kind of beating from you. I have a good idea. Let’s go hunt ghosts.”

Zhu Ming: “?”

Wenren Tu waved her mobile phone, smiling mysteriously. “Got a job to introduce you to. The old boss of Tangxin Real Estate offended something unclean, and it’s affected their newly developed property. Construction has stalled. They’re willing to pay five hundred thousand to resolve it.”

Zhu Ming shot upright without a moment’s hesitation. “I’ll take it!”

Nothing was more important than earning money. If there was, it was earning even more money!

She scrambled up nimbly, hugging Wenren Tu with a grin. “You really get me.”

President Tang lived in the suburbs. Wenren Tu drove, taking Zhu Ming and A-Zou. She didn’t appear as a Management Bureau employee, but as a consultant for the Little Fire God Strange News Studio.

Sometimes, in certain gray areas, one had to turn a blind eye. Taking private jobs to earn extra income was all too common.

“President Tang is so polite, actually coming out to greet us personally.” Wenren Tu called out, “I’ve brought the Master to you.”

President Tang was around fifty. He wasn’t surprised that they were all young women. He’d interacted with Awakened before and knew that a person’s ability wasn’t determined by age or gender.

“Then I’ll be counting on you three. So, the thing is, a week ago, during construction at our artificial lake…”

Finding the key point made solving this matter simple. Late at night, the three went to the artificial lake, used President Tang as bait to lie in wait, caught the ghost causing trouble, and directly eliminated it. There you go. Helpless against ghosts for ordinary people, for Awakened, there was an extremely simple, brute-force solution: kill it.

President Tang solved his problem. Zhu Ming vented her emotions. Yun Zouchuan earned money. Everyone was very satisfied.

But not everyone was satisfied. For instance, President Tang’s daughter, Tang Qiaoqi.

“Father! I heard you hired some Master to perform rituals?” Just as Zhu Ming’s group of three was about to leave, a young woman rushed in from outside. “Why didn’t you tell me!”

President Tang had a headache. “Qiqi, leave this matter alone. Father will handle it. You three Little Masters, the payment has been transferred. Xiao Zheng, escort the three Masters to rest. Make sure they are well looked after.”

As President Tang’s assistant led them away, Yun Zouchuan could still hear the girl saying to President Tang, “Dad, this world is materialistic. You have to believe in science. Ghosts could be someone in disguise. And these days, scams exploiting feudal superstition are rampant. Don’t fall for it.”

…

After the weekend, Yun Zouchuan returned to school. Once the military training period was over, she truly experienced a student’s life for the first time.

It was a very novel experience. She wanted to record every little detail to tell her mother. Of course, some of the less favorable parts would have to be edited out. Keeping the good parts was enough.

Another weekend arrived. Yun Zouchuan returned to the studio. Just as she was about to start cleaning, she saw a young woman with a chestnut bob, diligently mopping the floor.

“Wah—”

Looking at the spotlessly clean studio, Yun Zouchuan couldn’t help but gape. She had thought, given her boss’s laziness and stinginess, she’d wait for her return to clean up. That had been their agreement, after all: Zhu Ming paid Yun Zouchuan a base salary, and she would come back to work during holidays.

Why suddenly hire someone else?

Wait, isn’t this person President Tang’s only daughter, Eldest Miss Tang Qiaoqi?

Seeing Yun Zouchuan return, Zhu Ming turned to Tang Qiaoqi. “Qiqi, go to the braised food shop on the street corner and buy some pig’s ears. To celebrate our little Chuanchuan’s return.”

Tang Qiaoqi looked at the weather outside, not very willing. “But it’s really hot out there…”

Zhu Ming shook her head and sighed. “Can’t even pass this little test. Are you really sincere about learning here?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll go.” Tang Qiaoqi resigned herself to her fate, put down the mop, and went out with a parasol.

“Boss, did we not resolve their issue completely?” After Tang Qiaoqi left, Yun Zouchuan asked dutifully, “Should we go back there?”

Zhu Ming, whose emotions had stabilized, smiled cunningly. “No, no, no. She’s here purely because she doesn’t believe us.”

Tang Qiaoqi, firmly convinced that there were no ghosts nor Masters in the world, saw her father ignoring her advice and insisting on superstition. In a flash of inspiration, she decided to personally come to the Little Fire God Studio to find its flaws.

A studio like this was definitely not just scamming her father. If it were merely about money, fine. But what if their superstitions delayed medical treatment for someone? How wicked would that be?

She wanted to observe closely. The moment she found evidence of their deceit, she would make these scammers pay!

Tang Qiaoqi tracked down the Little Fire God Studio’s address. When she arrived, she said her father had greatly admired the Master after her guidance and that she wanted to volunteer here to earn merit and study metaphysics on the side. Zhu Ming generously agreed.

So whenever she had free time, she’d come running over. Unfortunately, to this day, Tang Qiaoqi had found no clues, nor had she uncovered any mystical secrets.

Yun Zouchuan was puzzled. “You know she has ill intentions, yet you let her stay? Boss, how about I just show her my Ability? Once she sees it, she’ll understand.”

“Don’t!” Zhu Ming grabbed her. “Are you dumb? If she deeply realizes her mistake, repents, and runs off, are you going to replace her as my new volunteer?”

Yun Zouchuan was shocked. “Boss, you…”

Zhu Ming spoke with conviction. “Ever since you started school, I’ve been alone in the studio. So lonely and bored every day. Have you considered the feelings of this left-behind boss? And most importantly, once you left, who’s going to clean this big house? Who’ll run errands for me? I can’t always save it up until your holidays. Hiring an hourly cleaner is too expensive. But now, with her, cleaning duties are handled, and I don’t even have to pay! Do you know how beautiful the world is? You’ll understand once you experience it for a couple of days. So, strictly forbidden to demonstrate your Ability in front of her.”

Yun Zouchuan was deeply awed by her boss’s shrewdness. To avoid having her bonus docked, she obediently complied, suppressing her guilt and joining the ranks of those exploiting Tang Qiaoqi.

But… watching someone else clean the place was, indeed, quite satisfying.

One month later.

Tang Qiaoqi still hadn’t given up. She stubbornly continued her “volunteer” work at the Little Fire God Studio, simultaneously vexed by their lack of ambition. “Boss Zhu, don’t you have any new business coming in?” Couldn’t they be a bit more driven so she could catch their tricks faster?

Zhu Ming was sprawled out like a salted fish. “These things rely on fate. Besides, what your dad gave us last time was plenty. Enough to live on.”

Tang Qiaoqi was internally spitting blood but maintained a forced smile. “Is that so? But your lifestyle seems rather… frugal.”

She hadn’t seen where Zhu Ming spent her money. The things she ate and used were very casual, she rarely went shopping, and she was usually either on her phone, reading, or in the training room.

Sometimes, she even admired this con artist. Training like mad in the training room day after day. Looking down at her own little belly, then at the other’s abs, Tang Qiaoqi felt a bit embarrassed.

Pity she was a swindler.

With that physical fitness and perseverance, she could do so many great things. Why insist on superstition?

Zhu Ming tilted her head. “You bored?”

Tang Qiaoqi quickly nodded. “Mm-hmm, a little.”

“You can read any of the books on my shelf. Didn’t you want to delve into metaphysics? There’s a lot of related content up there.” Zhu Ming had a large bookshelf. She smiled sweetly. “And dust the shelves while you’re at it, little volunteer.”

Tang Qiaoqi: “…”

She knew there’d be no good coming. Ugh!

She didn’t like reading those books anyway. Dry and dull. No idea how Zhu Ming could stomach them.

…

National Day was approaching. Yun Zouchuan had been somewhat anxious lately.

Zhu Ming saw through her worry at a glance. “Worried about the monthly exams coming up?”

Yun Zouchuan hung her head guiltily. “Yes.”

Because her foundation was somewhat weak, she couldn’t keep up with her studies as well as other students. She didn’t know what results she’d get on this monthly exam. If the results were terrible, wouldn’t it be a letdown after two years of tutoring classes? And the money spent on them?

“What’s there to worry about? Exams are just there to check your learning progress. One monthly exam decides nothing. Knowing your results helps you identify and fill gaps.” Zhu Ming waved grandly. “Come on, I’ll take you somewhere.”

Yun Zouchuan followed her out, puzzled.

Wenren Tu hadn’t come over to hang out this week. Without her, they could only use the studio’s own transport: a little electric scooter for Yun Zouchuan to shuttle between school and the studio, and another, more domineering blue electric three-wheeled motorcycle.

Yun Zouchuan sat in the bike’s sidecar. Zhu Ming gripped the handlebars. Vroom vroom vroom.

The breeze blew against their faces. Half an hour later, the two arrived at a small temple in the city.

It was a simple little shrine, quite common in tourist spots. Inside stood three deity statues and a large incense burner. Space within the temple was limited; there wasn’t even a main gate, and just around the corner was a snack street.

“The three must-worship deities before exams: Wenchang Dijun, Kui Xing, Wenquxing.” Zhu Ming scanned a QR code at a self-service stall nearby, buying a pack of incense, and handed it to Yun Zouchuan. “Here, start praying.”

“Is this really useful?” Yun Zouchuan was skeptical. “Boss, how do you know about this place?”

Zhu Ming hemmed and hawed. “I came here to pray last year.”

Yun Zouchuan was curious. “Last year? How come I don’t remember?”

Zhu Ming scolded, “A little kid like you, minding so much business? Hurry up. Once you’ve prayed, stop overthinking. Whatever the result, it’s fine. I’m not going to scold you.”

Yun Zouchuan held the incense. “But if I’m too dumb, I won’t be able to make lots of money and buy a house.”

If she couldn’t buy a house, how could she convince her mother to come down the mountain?

Zhu Ming almost burst out laughing. “Before you graduate university, don’t overthink it. Just honestly work for me.”

Yun Zouchuan sighed, old beyond her years, and earnestly offered incense to the three deity statues.

In the afternoon, back at the studio, after finishing dinner, Yun Zouchuan prepared to return to her room to review her lessons. She was heading back to school tomorrow. Exams would follow right after, and once the three days were over, it would be the National Day holiday.

But just before she left, she suddenly spotted something that hadn’t appeared for a long time, once again right before her eyes.

“An Invitation Letter.” She picked it up in surprise and immediately asked, “Boss, I got an Invitation Letter. Did you?”

Zhu Ming frowned and raised her hand. “I got one too. Just my luck.”

Opening it, she saw there was no totem on the back of the cover this time. Instead, there was a phrase every student knew by heart: Exams, exams, exams—the teacher’s magic artifact. Scores, scores, scores—the student’s lifeline!