MMJWQC Chapter 20

Translator: Moonlit

Editor: kiki

---

There aren’t many who can be called Heavenly Masters by Hua Zhen, and the primary condition is whether the other person can discern his identity.

“How have you been?” Hua Zhen found himself threatened, yet the other still looked like a rather young Heavenly Master.

“It doesn’t matter,” Chu Ruochun’s hand remained on Lu Qing’s shoulder, “Let’s just chat about the baby you’ve put so much effort into creating.”

“Baby? That’s my child.”

The man in white just chuckled softly, then called out to Lu Qing, “Qingqing, come here.”

Lu Qing was still trying to accept the fact that his boyfriend was not really human.

Was he really not human?

He had a headache over this. Why?

Chu  Ruochun smiled at Lu Qing and gave him a multiple-choice question: “If you want to go, then go.”

Lu Qing felt like he was avenging the grudge for not helping him back then; the amusement in his eyes was too obvious.

He subconsciously explained, “My manager told me at the time that things were being handled by her and your company, and I shouldn’t get involved.”

Chu  Ruochun whispered in his ear, “Go back and recite the Seven-Seven Forty-Nine Days of Liberation Mantra in front of my picture.”

Lu Qing said, “Isn’t that for chanting to the departed souls?”

Chu  Ruochun replied, “Can’t it be?”

Lu Qing nodded, “Of course, it can.”

Hua Zhen watched as Chu  Ruochun and Lu Qing were being affectionate in front of him, and the two seemed to be having a conversation he couldn’t understand. If they were ordinary people, he would listen if he wanted to, but this Heavenly Master seemed to possess something. There was an aura around him that kept him and Lu Qing apart.

Lu Ming felt the temperature dropping around him. He stood in front of Lu Qing, his voice trembling slightly. “Senior, why have you come to find Lu Qing? He’s still young. If you need anything, you can discuss it with me. We will do our best to accommodate as long as our family can fulfill it.”

At first glance, Hua Zhen had a striking appearance, looking like a refined young gentleman. No one would suspect his identity.

Hua Zhen’s gaze never left Lu Qing. “Isn’t it true that Qingqing likes me? We are mutually attracted to each other, and no one is forcing anyone.”

Lu Ming indeed couldn’t see any signs of coercion on Lu Qing. “But, but his belly…” He wanted to say “ghost child,” but those words just wouldn’t come out.

The group of people remained at the entrance of the Lu family’s house. A cargo truck loaded with pigs broke the tranquility, emitting a strong and pungent odor.

Lu Qing immediately vomited.

Hua Zhen suppressed his ghostly aura, but he still couldn’t get closer to Chu  Ruochun. He was a bit worried about Lu Qing, so he took two steps back and said, “Let’s continue the discussion inside.”

Chu  Ruochun nodded. He released Lu Qing and turned to stand beside Feng Qi. “Feng ge, are you okay?”

Among all the people present, Feng Qi was actually the one most affected by the ghostly aura. His entire body had frozen, and he couldn’t utter a word.

Feng Qi felt like his teeth were numb, and he couldn’t speak. His brain had stopped functioning. When Chu  Ruochun held his hand, it was as if he had been rescued from an ice cellar, and he came back to life.

“I’m okay.” The safety charm hanging around his neck fell to the ground in response, breaking into two pieces.

Chu  Ruochun picked up the broken safety charm and saw inscriptions on it. “I’ll carve another one for you later. This one seems to have been used for quite a while.”

Feng Qi, who had worn the safety charm for several years, had a scientific explanation for why it broke. But Chu  Ruochun said to him, “Feng ge, you shouldn’t have come along. The malevolent spirit’s aura is too harmful to you.”

Feng Qi struggled to say a word for a while.

While everyone else’s bodies weren’t cold, he was shivering from the cold. It was hard to explain for a muscular man with an eight-pack.

Hua Zhen let out a cold snort upon hearing Chu  Ruochun’s words and then entered the house.

Unlike the others, Hua Zhen seemed more like the homeowner.

Everyone followed inside. Chu  Ruochun held Feng Qi’s hand and said, “Let’s draw a talisman for you as soon as we get inside.”

Lu Ming finally noticed the posture of Feng Qi and Chu  Ruochun. “When did you two…”

Feng Qi regretted showing up here. He hadn’t thought to let go of Chu  Ruochun’s hand, which was indeed warm.

Chu  Ruochun didn’t bother to explain and allowed Lu Ming to misunderstand.

Feng Qi came up with a lame excuse, “I have a poor physical constitution. I got dizzy from the sun, so he just helped me.”

Lu Ming glanced at them a few times but ultimately didn’t say anything. His younger brother had already gone inside with the old ancestor, so he hurried to catch up.

After Chu  Ruochun entered the house, he drew a talisman and handed it to Feng Qi. Hua Zhen was watching his every move closely.

Feng Qi felt much better after receiving the talisman, and the bone-chilling coldness was no longer as intense.

Hua Zhen, on the other hand, didn’t dare to get too close to Lu Qing.

Hua Zhen was displeased. “What kind of talisman did you give to Lu Qing?”

Chu  Ruochun replied, “Of course, it’s a talisman to deal with malevolent spirits. You being near him every day is draining his vitality. I reckon it won’t be long before you can reunite with him.”

Hua Zhen remained silent.

Chu  Ruochun continued, “You surely know that a ghost child can’t be raised inside a human body. Do you want to endanger his life?”

Hua Zhen said, “No, I just want a child that belongs to both of us.”

The Lu family’s old mansion was a traditional brick and tile house with a spacious hall where even slightly louder voices would echo.

Lu Ming’s parents were traveling the world and hadn’t returned, and his grandfather had long passed away. Before returning to the old mansion on special occasions, they would only have it cleaned by someone else before coming back. Who would have thought that the old mansion still had a “person” in it?

Lu Ming placed all his trust in Chu  Ruochun.

While Chu  Ruochun was drawing talismans for Feng Qi, he also drew two more talismans. “This ghost child must not be born.”

Hua Zhen responded, “This is not something you can decide.”

Chu  Ruochun retorted, “I could say the same to you.”

Hua Zhen said, “Then that will be a dead end for you.”

The smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.

Hua Zhen couldn’t get close to Lu Qing, and his mood was extremely poor. He remained highly vigilant throughout, fearing that Chu  Ruochun would stick a talisman on him.

Chu  Ruochun looked at Lu Qing and said, “What do you say? Do you want the child or not? I’ve said before that you can discuss this matter among yourselves, and I respect your decision.”

Lu Qing was initially frightened when he learned that Hua Zhen was not human, but when he looked at Hua Zhen’s face, he hesitated. In the end, he shook his head.

Once he made his decision, Chu  Ruochun spoke, “A ghost child is against the natural order. His existence will only bring suffering to the world. Mr. Hua has a longer lifespan than me, there’s no reason he wouldn’t understand. What is your purpose?”

Hua Zhen fell silent. Nurturing a ghost child consumed a considerable amount of his power, and to say he had no ulterior motives was impossible. He was a malevolent spirit and not a benevolent being by nature.

This Heavenly Master was indeed different from the rest. He didn’t immediately attack with thunder and talismans but spoke kindly. It was precisely these kinds of individuals who were difficult to deal with.

Hua Zhen asked, “Then why don’t you just eliminate me directly? I’m curious.”

Chu  Ruochun had nothing to hide. “The Lu family set up a formation many years ago, and this formation has been in use ever since. You can’t leave this place because of it. So, if you want to escape using the ghost child, you were left here by the ancestors of the Lu family, and it wasn’t voluntary. Furthermore, you died unjustly.”

Hua Zhen listened without rebuttal. “So what’s your point?”

As a malevolent spirit who could walk among humans like an ordinary person, he had been dead for at least a hundred years.

“You want to leave the Lu family.”

“Obviously.”

Lu Ming asked, “Can’t you just leave directly?”

Hua Zhen sneered at him. “If I could leave, why would I stay here for hundreds of years?”

Lu Ming was puzzled. “But why can’t you leave?”

Wasn’t he a ghost?

Hua Zhen was no different from a human, and Lu Ming couldn’t really treat him as a malevolent spirit. He wasn’t nervous or scared when speaking to him.

Hua Zhen couldn’t be bothered to explain to Lu Ming. He directed his conversation towards Chu  Ruochun. “Heavenly Master, release me, and what are your conditions? As long as I can gain my freedom, the ghost child will naturally cease to exist.”

Chu  Ruochun said, “Master Hua, you are from the Hua family.”

Hua Zhen fell silent. “How do you know I’m from the Hua family?”

Chu  Ruochun replied, “A hundred years ago, the head of the Hua family passed away, and shortly after, his only heir died mysteriously. The rise of the Lu family followed. Do I need to continue?”

Hua Zhen suddenly chuckled. “I didn’t expect someone in this world to know my background, but I have no idea who you are.”

“Well, I’m Chu  Ruochun, a nobody,” Chu  Ruochun smiled calmly and didn’t change the topic. “The Hua family was renowned throughout the country as tea merchants at that time. You were the eldest son of the Hua family, and you had studied abroad. Upon your return, you were preparing to inherit the family business.”

“Exactly.” Otherwise, a person from a hundred years ago wouldn’t prefer wearing a suit; they would most likely wear traditional robes.

This is a simple yet complex story.

The simplicity lies in the fact that both the Hua and Lu families were once prestigious, but the complexity lies in the human heart.

In those days, the descendants of the Hua family were in decline, and Hua Zhen’s paternal lineage was rather unremarkable.

Hua Zhen was born with intelligence and an exceptional memory. He was the most scholarly among the Hua family members and was sent abroad by his grandfather, who had a different mindset.

Upon returning from his worldly travels, Hua Zhen naturally wanted to expand the family business and export their tea overseas. However, as soon as he took over the family business, his grandfather suddenly passed away. His father was not cut out for business, and Hua Zhen had to take over directly. It was then that he discovered that the Hua family had long been in disarray. The family’s rivals, especially the Lu family, took advantage of the situation, aiming to ruin the Hua family and establish their dominance.

Despite his overseas experience, Hua Zhen was not ambitious. He was known for favoring his relatives, which was a flaw. He conducted his affairs systematically, and although the Lu family attempted to interfere with the Hua family’s business, they were unsuccessful. So, the Lu family came up with a new plan: they decided to form an alliance with the Hua family by marrying off their daughter to Hua Zhen.

While Hua Zhen had the ability, his parents were still traditional in their thinking. After meeting the Lu family’s daughter, they immediately arranged the marriage.

However, Hua Zhen naturally hoped for a love match and had met the Lu family’s daughter, but he had not yet developed romantic feelings for her. Naturally, he was not happy about the arranged marriage.

At that time, the head of the Lu family was the father of the young lady. He tried to convince Hua Zhen with both reason and emotion, proposing a powerful partnership in their business endeavors.

Considering the family business, Hua Zhen agreed to the arranged marriage.

But little did anyone know that the head of the Lu family was not as kind and friendly as he appeared on the surface. He had ulterior motives – to swallow up the Hua family’s business throughout the country.

It was thought to be a good thing, but who could have guessed that the young lady of the Lu family also had someone she liked. When Hua Zhen discovered this, he approached the head of the Lu family to propose canceling the marriage. However, the head of the Lu family refused to agree.

One day, Hua Zhen went alone to discuss the matter of canceling the marriage with the head of the Lu family. Naturally, the head of the Lu family disagreed, and a dispute arose between them. Hua Zhen never left the Lu family again after that.

The head of the Lu family calmly summoned the Taoist priest whom he had long revered. This Taoist priest was the mastermind behind everything that had transpired. He kept Hua Zhen within the Lu family and suppressed him beneath the ancestral hall. Due to Hua Zhen’s auspicious birthdate, he could bring prosperity to the Lu family.

Afterward, the Hua family’s eldest son went missing, and the Lu family continued to maintain a semblance of alliance with the Hua family while gradually eroding and absorbing their business. Meanwhile, Hua Zhen remained trapped within the Lu family. Due to the malevolent priest’s array, he could never be reborn, and in his resentment, he transformed into a malevolent spirit. However, because of the array, he could never harm anyone from the Lu family.

It’s quite ironic.

After hearing the story, the three siblings from the Lu family didn’t know how to react, especially Lu Qing; he was utterly bewildered.

“Do you harbor resentment towards the Lu family? Why did you stay with me? Were you deceiving me? Are you using me?” Lu Qing asked, his expression a mix of complexity.

Hua Zhen glanced at him without answering, essentially confirming Lu Qing’s suspicions.

A malevolent spirit has no heart, so it doesn’t understand love or lack thereof, where feelings of palpitations and attraction come from. Its original intentions are always driven by utility.

However, Hua Zhen’s plan was discovered by Chu  Ruochun only halfway through.

Chu  Ruochun wasn’t interested in their love-hate relationship. “I can break the array for you.”

Hua Zhen raised an eyebrow. “You have conditions.”

Chu  Ruochun was straightforward. “I want the Hua family’s Divine Beast Sword, and only you know its whereabouts.”

He had deduced the situation when he saw the ghostly aura around Lu Qing on the day they first met.

“The Divine Beast Sword is our Hua family’s heirloom. We’ve been without it for so many years, and you’re not even twenty yet. How did you find out?” Hua Zhen inquired.

“That’s my concern, Mr. Hua,” Chu  Ruochun replied calmly.

From the very beginning, Chu  Ruochun knew that Hua Zhen’s last name was Hua, and Hua Zhen had a feeling that he was being manipulated.

“What do you want it for? It’s said to be a protective sword from the Han Dynasty,” Hua Zhen said.

Chu  Ruochun, of course, didn’t reveal his true intentions. “Consider it my reward for saving you. Deal?”

He had no intention of engaging in a power struggle with a malevolent spirit. He had only recently returned to the mortal realm and didn’t want to expend his spiritual energy on this matter.

Hua Zhen nodded in agreement. “Deal.”

The three siblings from the Lu family hadn’t expected this outcome at all. It was a surprisingly friendly and peaceful resolution, completely devoid of the typical storyline of a Taoist master battling a malevolent spirit.

Feng Qi tried his best to perceive their conversation as a storytelling session, wondering if the events and people from a hundred years ago were real or fictitious.

“May we open the doors to the ancestral hall, Mr. Lu?” Chu  Ruochun finally turned his gaze to Lu Ming.

Lu Ming could sense the gap between him and Chu  Ruochun. As an ordinary person, he could be influenced by money, but here, it was Chu  Ruochun’s status that held sway. They were not on the same level, a level beyond the reach of ordinary people.

“Sure,” he replied, glancing at Hua Zhen, still feeling somewhat uneasy.

They knew the history of the Lu family’s rise to wealth, but they had never mentioned the Hua family before.

One thing puzzled him, though. “Mr. Hua, if our ancestors did such things to you, why do we continue to offer sacrifices to you every year?”

Hua Zhen exclaimed, “Do you know about the River God? Do you know why ancient people built temples and offered sacrifices? It’s because they were afraid. Your ancestors were certainly afraid too. He may have killed people, but he permanently suppressed my soul here, using me for your benefit!”

A chilling aura emanated from him, causing Lu Ming to feel uneasy.

Lu Ming apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, Mr. Hua, we had no idea.”

Hua Zhen didn’t spare the Lu family any sympathy. “If you knew, you’d be in for a shock.”

Chu  Ruochun interjected, “Well, we’ve encountered a ghost, haven’t we? Let’s go to the ancestral hall.”

Feng Qi and the others wanted to follow, but Chu  Ruochun stopped them.

“You all should stay here. It’s not suitable inside, especially you, Feng ge,” he said, giving Feng Qi a meaningful look.

So, only two people and one ghost headed to the ancestral hall.

Hua Zhen was seeking release, and Lu Ming, the eldest son of the Lu family, had to go.

Watching them disappear into the hall, Feng Qi paid no attention to the disheartened expression on Lu Qing’s face. Since discovering that he had been manipulated by the malevolent spirit, he had worn a despondent expression.

Feng Qi then turned to Lu Jie and asked, “Is what Mr. Hua said true or false?”

Lu Jie replied, “My grandfather mentioned some of it when he was alive. A hundred years ago, the Lu family’s business was quite stagnant. Then, our ancestors made a significant decision to merge with a failing company. After that, the Lu family’s development never stopped. We’ve always treated this as part of our corporate culture, praising our ancestor’s brilliant decisions in the company’s history. Who would have thought it was all embellished.”

This is far more than embellishment; it’s a path paved with blood.

Feng Qi began searching on his phone and indeed found some information related to the Hua family.

The Hua family, a century ago, was a prominent figure in the tea industry. However, their decline began when their heir went missing, and they vanished into the river of history. Following their fall, the Lu family rose to prominence, becoming an industry leader overnight.

Why did Chu Ruochun know all of this?

Feng Qi began to feel that Chu Ruochun had an air of mystery about him. However, he didn’t sense any significant difference in their statuses. Instead, he was filled with a curiosity to explore further.

Is he really a Daoist priest?

The thought of Chu Ruochun potentially wearing a traditional Daoist robe and waving a peachwood sword like his father made him uncomfortable.

㇐

Breaking the formation wasn’t difficult, but first, they needed to locate the formation’s core. Once that was destroyed, the formation would collapse. However, it was easier said than done, or else Hua Zhen would have escaped long ago. He could have guided someone to break the formation.

Therefore, only Chu Ruochun could handle this task.

Lu Ming led Chu Ruochun to the ancestral hall.

Chu Ruochun could sense a powerful formation in place when he stood in front of the ancestral hall.

“Before we break the formation, Mr. Hua, we need to make a pact,” Chu Ruochun stated.

“You don’t trust me,” Hua Zhen replied.

“You are a malevolent spirit,” Chu Ruochun stated plainly, identifying his current status. “If I were to recklessly release you and you committed wrongdoings, then the karmic consequences would fall on me.”

Chu Ruochun had no choice but to keep a close eye on Hua Zhen.

“Alright,” Hua Zhen had no choice.

As soon as he agreed, Chu Ruochun seemed to pull a thread, extracting a strand of darkness from Hua Zhen.

“I’ve taken a strand of your soul. If you ever wish to be reborn, I will return it to you,” Chu Ruochun explained.

Hua Zhen’s already pale face grew even paler. Lu Ming stood to the side, not daring to blink.

Could a Daoist priest casually extract a spirit from a malevolent spirit like this?

In truth, malevolent spirits were initially just regular spirits. They became malevolent by devouring other spirits. However, Hua Zhen was different; he was nurtured by the Lu family.

In the front hall of the Lu ancestral shrine were the tablets of their ancestors, and behind that, there was a hidden compartment. Chu Ruochun saw a portrait of Hua Zhen.

Chu Ruochun asked, “Didn’t you have cameras in your time? Why is it a painting?”

Hua Zhen looked at the portrait with a hint of nostalgia and replied, “This painting was done by the young master of the Lu family for me.”

Lu Ming said, “I didn’t paint it; my younger brother is quite good at painting.”

Hua Zhen gave him a sarcastic look and said, “Of course, it wasn’t you.”

Chu Ruochun pulled a chair and said, “Help me take down the painting.”

Lu Ming and Hua Zhen removed the portrait together, revealing a vermillion formation on the wall. In the center of the diagram were five nails. Chu Ruochun slapped the wall with his palm, and the five nails were pulled out of the wall, turning into ashes as they hit the ground. The vermillion on the wall gradually lost its vitality.

Chu Ruochun remarked, “Mr. Hua, you have exceptionally good fortune. It’s no wonder the Lu family sought to harness your luck to protect their century-old business.”

With the nails removed, Hua Zhen’s bonds with the Lu family were severed.

Lu Ming felt deeply sorry for Hua Zhen, saying, “Mr. Hua, I will do my best to fulfill any request you have.”

Hua Zhen, without hesitation, replied, “I want to marry Lu Qing and have a wedding.”

He never thought about starting a family and a career when he was alive, but as a ghost, he wanted to get married.

Hua Zhen pondered for a moment and added, “I want a Western-style wedding. The traditional Chinese one would be too frightening for Lu Qing, I’m sure.”

Lu Ming: “…” You’re a ghost! You’re the one who’s frightening!

Finally realizing Hua Zhen’s true intention for coming here, Lu Ming firmly refused, saying, “I refuse! That’s my brother! A human can’t marry a ghost!”

Hua Zhen grinned wickedly and threatened, “Well then, the Lu family will lose all their assets, my little thief.”

Lu Ming: “…”

Chu Ruochun, not concerned with the family disputes, asked Hua Zhen, “Mr. Hua, where is the Divine Beast Sword?”

---