Chapter 5
As soon as class ended, several people gathered around Xie Yubo, asking in disbelief, “Xie Yubo, have your eyes healed too?”
Xie Yubo shook his head.
“Then how did you…”
The Grand Imperial Astrologer smiled faintly and lied to the child, “I’ve memorized it all.”
The classmates from Class Two gasped in unison, “You’re so amazing!”
After two history classes, Liu Fei was woken up, still dazed, as those around him scrambled to fill him in on what had happened during the lesson.
“Something like that actually happened?” Liu Fei exclaimed in surprise. He then patted his pockets and turned to Xie Yubo to discuss, “I have a long-term, stable business opportunity…”
Xie Yubo: “No.”
Liu Fei was speechless. Of course, the Xie family was incredibly wealthy; he had been momentarily dazzled by Xie Yubo’s generosity.
“Youth with black hair knows not to study early.” Xie Yubo glanced at the young man with disappointment. “I agreed this morning because you haven’t slept for two days and need rest.”
At first, Liu Fei paid no heed to the first sentence, but when Xie Yubo pointed out that he had stayed up all night for two days, he suddenly felt a palpitation in his heart.
During morning reading, hadn’t his heartbeat been a bit too fast and his breathing somewhat labored?
Liu Fei’s thoughts leaped wildly, frightening him so much that his legs went weak. He stayed up late with extreme caution; even his parents, who lived under the same roof, remained unaware.
His parents were strict. Liu Fei dared not sleep in class, as being called to the principal’s office would inevitably expose his all-nighters.
Liu Fei suddenly grabbed Xie Yubo’s wrist and pressed it against his own pulse, asking anxiously, “Quick, check my pulse! Is my heartbeat normal?”
He was convinced that Xie Yubo, having long suffered from illness, had become an adept healer; surely, he could detect Liu Fei’s irregular heartbeat even from a meter away!
Xie Yubo withdrew his hand, somewhat speechless: “Don’t overthink it.”
Liu Fei felt reassured; the worse the doctor’s attitude, the healthier the patient must be!
Seeing Xie Yubo picking up his schoolbag to return to his seat, with his slender, pale fingers strained by the shoulder strap making it look heavy, he eagerly took it: “Let me carry it for you. Watch your step—ah, I mean, mind where you’re walking!”
..
At noon, when Wang Ping arrived to pick Xie Yubo up from school, the car’s trunk was packed full of books. He had visited six of the largest bookstores that morning, now beaming with satisfaction and walking with steady composure. The sales assistants at the chain bookstores, noting his luxury car, mistook him for a boss conducting an undercover inspection and thoughtfully introduced various introductory books.
This one is needed by the young master! This one is also needed!
Wang Ping frowned. Why didn’t the bookstore provide shopping carts?
After buying the books, he went to purchase fortune-telling tools. These were not easy to find; he had to drive out of the city and make a detour before finally gathering everything he needed.
As soon as Xie Yubo got into the car, he spotted a pile of yellow talisman papers on the back seat. He raised the partition between the front and back seats, picked up a stack of the papers, dipped his brush in ink, and began drawing talismans with fluid, effortless motions.
One must always keep a bundle of these things in their pocket, ready to be used whenever needed.
The Grand Imperial Astrologer had never discussed talisman-drawing techniques with his peers; however, he possessed a unique style of wild cursive script, with characters overlapping one another. The actual content mattered little—if it couldn’t be deciphered, that was precisely the point.
He drew twenty talismans in succession. Once exhausted, he waited for the ink on the paper to dry before folding them up and carrying them with him.
It is no exaggeration to say that these are his talismans for survival, ensuring that his use of spiritual power goes undetected by the Heavenly Dao.
Wang Ping and Xue Jing reported on Xie Yubo’s day at school, saying he got along well with his classmates and even had someone help carry his schoolbag after dismissal.
Xue Jing said happily, “It’s wonderful that our little Bo has made friends.”
Wang Ping added, “At noon, the young master said he wanted to treat his classmates to a meal.”
“Alright, alright, take them to a nice place for dinner and send the bill to A-Chen. This is Xiao Bo’s first time treating guests; don’t be stingy.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Wang Ping ended the call, beads of sweat on his forehead. For a man who had served the Xie family loyally for twenty years, lying felt nothing short of a crime.
Xie Yubo smiled brightly as he handed Wang Ping a hundred-yuan note. “Here’s the first hundred back.”
“No need—”
Today, Wang Ping spent a five-figure sum on books, all of which were deluxe editions.
Xie Yubo said, “I’ll earn it back very soon.”
Eager to find a blind massage parlor, Xie Yubo had lunch in the car. Blind massage parlors are scarce in this city, and finding a reliable owner to partner with makes the search even more challenging. After some thought, Xie Yubo decided to expand his search to include ordinary massage parlors as well.
After visiting two massage parlors that secretly operated illicit businesses and being mistaken for a foolish, wealthy second-generation heir, Xie Yubo remained unfazed, but Wang Ping’s face had turned green with embarrassment.
“Young Master, you still have classes this afternoon. Perhaps we could try again another time?” Wang Ping suggested.
Wang Ping’s weathered face burned with shame. He had previously worked for Mr. Xie, responsible for driving him around the city for business meetings.
He had never accompanied Mr. Xie to any establishments of ill repute, yet today he had actually taken the innocent young master, who knew nothing of such worldly matters, into two of them! The young master was precious, only in his final year of high school. As the saying goes, “事不过三” (things should not happen three times); if this occurred once more, Wang Ping felt he ought to atone with his life.
Next time, he’ll risk getting beaten by his wife to scout out all the massage shops first before taking the young master along!
Xie Yubo: “Uncle Wang, let’s visit just one more place.”
These are all the ones near the school; we’ll check out the farther ones this weekend.
Wang Ping gritted his teeth. “Fine.”
This was an unassuming massage parlor with a weathered sign and yellowed walls. It might have once employed blind practitioners, but after a recent renovation, the characters for “blind” had simply been painted over on the advertisements. All in all, the decor showed a distinct lack of care.
As Xie Yubo stepped inside, he sensed a chill of yin energy. Ignoring this anomaly, he surveyed the interior furnishings.
On the wall directly ahead, an elaborate account of the massage parlor’s rise to prominence was displayed: claims of being a century-old established brand, seven generations of family heritage, and visits from various dignitaries.
The furnishings are quite complete, just a bit old; the most obvious sign is that there are no customers.
As soon as Xie Yubo entered, he was handed a cup of hot tea. “This way, please, sir.”
Xie Yubo said directly, “Thank you. Is the boss in?”
“The boss?” the receptionist shouted at the top of their lungs, “Someone’s here to see you!”
Shortly after, a middle-aged man came downstairs. He was plump with the appearance of wealth, yet dark circles shadowed his eyes, as if he had been troubled by miscellaneous affairs for a long time.
“Do you have some business?”
Xie Yubo asked respectfully, “I came to ask if you are still accepting apprentices? I noticed your signboard previously listed blind massage services.”
Only then did Wang Fuyang carefully examine Xie Yubo. Staring at his lifeless eyes for a moment, sudden realization dawned on him.
He was worldly enough to recognize that the clothes Xie Yubo wore were all designer brands, and the middle-aged man standing beside him was likely a driver or something similar.
What’s going on? Is a wealthy young master out here experiencing life? Blind massage is a viable path for the blind, but not for the children of the rich.
Wang Fuyang felt that this young man carried an air of nobility and was well-mannered; under different circumstances, he would have welcomed him to try his services.
But now…
Wang Fuyang sighed, “It’s not that I don’t want to take you on; it’s just that our shop is on the verge of closing down.”
Xie Yubo’s face showed sympathy.
Wang Fuyang took a sip of tea and sighed with nostalgic sorrow: “Back in the day, our Wang family massage was renowned far and wide. No matter if you suffered from rheumatism, sore muscles, back pain, or leg ache, one session would cure it all! Without an appointment, you’d have to queue; business was so booming we bought out the entire building—ground floor for the shop, upper floors for living. When my father passed it down to me, we were at the peak of success. Who could have imagined that just a few years later…”
Poor management led to fewer and fewer customers; this month, we haven’t even opened once.
After all, this was a heritage business, the culmination of generations’ hard work. Wang Fuyang couldn’t bear to close the shop. He struggled through two years of losses until finally, reaching this point, he had no choice but to shut down.
Xie Yubo proved an excellent listener. Although Wang Ping kept anxiously checking his watch, Xie remained calm and composed, attentively listening throughout.
Wang Fuyang was deeply moved and spoke at length about his ancestors’ entrepreneurial journey. Even though he was on the verge of closing his shop, he recounted the past with the tireless, rambling detail of an elderly person reminiscing about their twilight years.
“My youngest aunt was completely blind, so my grandfather specially created a set of massage techniques for the blind to teach her, ensuring she would always have a way to make a living! However, you’ve come a bit too late; my aunt passed away a few years ago, and now there’s no one left to teach you these methods.”
Xie Yubo sighed, “What a pity.”
Wang Fuyang said, “Meeting is fate. Since you’re here today, I’ll demonstrate our Wang family’s massage techniques. Young friend, I rarely offer my services personally, but this time, no charge.”
Xie Yubo hesitated, “I’m not feeling well today. Could Uncle Wang come instead?”
Wang Fuyang replied, “He also bears the surname Wang? We were one family three hundred years ago. No problem.”
Wang Ping couldn’t figure out what the young master was up to this time; Boss Wang had already been recounting his rags-to-riches story for half an hour, and it was nearly 1:30.
Xie Yubo signaled Uncle Wang to follow the boss inside.
Behind the main hall lay a series of private booths decorated in an elegant, traditional style. Wang Ping removed his clothes, lay down, and asked Boss Wang to give him a massage.
After about three minutes, Wang Ping couldn’t help but remark, “Boss Wang, why is it so cold in here?”
Wang Fuyang let go of his hand dejectedly. “You feel the cold too.”
Xie Yubo chimed in, “I think it’s fine?”
Seeing Xie Yubo’s innocent demeanor, Wang Fuyang thought for a moment and decided not to explain the reason, afraid of scaring the young boy.
He forced a laugh. “There’s another kind of chill on the bed.”
Xie Yubo exposed the truth: “Actually, the problem lies here. Regardless of the season, every guest feels a sudden chill and their spine turns cold as soon as they take off their clothes, as if possessed by a ghost. This is also why you have no customers.”
Observing the boss’s terrified expression, he cut straight to the point: “Perhaps, the problems go even beyond this.”
Wang Fuyang was speechless for a long while. Over the past two years, he had invited numerous monks and Taoist priests, yet the ominous chill only grew heavier, until today when he was on the verge of giving up.
A spark of hope ignited in his eyes, like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline; the Wang Family Massage Parlor was his very life!
“Yes, yes, that’s not all. I’m afraid you’ll be scared if I tell you.” Wang Fuyang wanted to invite Xie Yubo to go upstairs and take a look, but he hesitated, worried the young man might not be able to handle it.
Xie Yubo said, “Uncle Wang, wait for me in the car; I’ll be out shortly.”
Wang Ping firmly refused, “No way.”
“Alright then. In that case, come up with me and see for yourself.” Xie Yubo turned toward the stairs.
Wang Fuyang immediately rushed ahead to lead the way, astonishing everyone by even knowing that the other problem was located upstairs.
The upper floor of the massage parlor felt even more sinister; apart from the boss, no one else dared to come up. Wang Ping stared vigilantly at Wang Fuyang, looking as though he were ready at any moment to carry the young master out.
When Wang Ping opened the door, although the movement was extremely slight, a gust of wind swept through the room, causing objects to sway and collide with sharp clicking sounds.
Xie Yubo turned his gaze toward the ancestral altar. This old massage establishment had been operated for generations; consequently, the upstairs housed ancestral tablets, while portraits and biographical sketches hung on the walls, imbuing the space with a profound sense of heritage.
Wang Ping stood beside Xie Yubo, his eyes nearly bursting from their sockets: “It moved again! It moved again!”
He glanced upward, met the gaze of the photograph, and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
The picture frame slammed violently against the wall; every pair of eyes within the photo seemed to have come alive, emitting a sinister, gloomy stare that followed whoever looked, swirling like a vortex. The memorial tablets swung back and forth, clattering against one another, as if someone were weaving repeatedly between them.
Boss Wang, initially shocked and terrified, had now grown utterly numb to the scene before him.
Performing rituals would be futile; could he possibly drive out all the ancestors? Truthfully, he dared not. This building’s ownership originally belonged to those very people depicted on the wall.
The disturbance spread throughout the entire floor. The indoor temperature dropped steadily, accompanied by faint, ghostly wails and mournful cries.
Xie Yubo slowly drew a talisman from his pocket, took two steps forward, and swiftly affixed it onto one of the ancestral tablets.
The eerie commotion vanished instantly, and the sunlight streaming through the windows grew warm once more.
Boss Wang jolted awake from his numbness, feeling as though he had suddenly been transported back two years.
The memorial tablet Xie Yubo had placed was precisely that of his own father. Boss Wang grew slightly nervous and hinted, “I’m actually quite filial.”
He had absolutely never committed any unfilial acts that would disturb his father’s soul and cause it to linger unwillingly.
“Is this enough?”
Xie Yubo said, “This treats the symptoms but not the root cause.” He instinctively felt that this matter was inextricably linked to the filial Wang Fuyang; the reason still needed investigation.
Wang Fuyang: “Then what should we do? If you help me, the Wang Family Massage Parlor can reopen, and I… I’ll give you half of it!”
Xie Yubo: “I must go.”
Wang Fuyang wanted to rush forward and hug his leg, feeling like crying but having no tears—how could he just leave?
Xie Yubo explained, “It’s time for class; I’ll come back tonight.”
Wang Ping, who had been so terrified that he’d completely forgotten about class: “…”
It was truly considerate of the young master to still remember.
Wang Fuyang saw Xie Yubo off with great reluctance, his gaze filled with longing as if Xie Yubo were his own father. “You must come!” he insisted.
“Mm.”
At a certain business Western restaurant.
Xie Chenbo had invited Shang Yange to lunch, partly to thank him for his help on the anniversary celebration day.
The business partners primarily operate in the capital and have only recently invested in this city; all are young elites, leaving Xie Chenbo feeling a regretful sense of having met them too late.
After just a few exchanges back and forth, they finalized their preliminary cooperation intentions. In high spirits, Brother Xie suddenly received five mobile location tracking records.
Since the person responsible for forcing Xiao Bo to jump from the building had not yet been found, Xie Chenbo remained uneasy. He had specifically set the location protection level on Xie Yubo’s phone to the highest setting. Any abnormal movement outside the route between home and school would be reported to his phone immediately, one instance at a time.
Upon seeing the five messages, Xie Chenbo’s smile froze, and he nearly lost his breath.
Five locations: one unknown massage parlor, and the other four are exclusive clubs! Three of them are places Xie Chenbo has heard rumors about being involved in illicit affairs!
How could Xiao Bo go to such places? Isn’t he supposed to have classes today? What is Wang Ping doing?
Thinking of his younger brother’s beauty, Xie Chenbo felt a surge of worry.
Shang Yange casually asked, “What’s wrong? Is there anything I can help with?”
Xie Chenbo blurted out impulsively, “Xiao Bo went to the club!”
He stood up and called Wang Ping, who claimed that Xiao Bo was heading to class after lunch, though his tone sounded noticeably weak.
Xie Chenbo, still uneasy, said, “Apologies, President Shang; I must excuse myself for a prior matter.”
Shang Yange replied, “I’ll drive you there.” Only after speaking did he realize the urgency in his tone—how absurd. Why would he tag along when Xie Chenbo was merely going to see his younger brother?
He quickly attributed this to a gesture of goodwill before the collaboration.
Hmm, typical businessman nature.
“Alright, it’s just nearby.”
“Mm.” Shang Yange responded half-heartedly, walking briskly with a grave expression, as if catching someone in the act of infidelity.
After Xie Chenbo got into the car, he suddenly felt puzzled: why did Shang Yange act even more like a feudal patriarch than he did?
Whose younger brother was he, anyway?