As soon as Xu Zifan returned to the Taoist temple, his second uncle Xu Wuguo and second aunt Deng Qin came to visit.
The young Taoist priest was already experienced; he immediately calmed the two guests who looked like troublemakers and led them to the backyard to avoid disturbing the worshippers' prayers.
Xu Zifan was talking to Jiang Tianxin. He was finally able to control himself from looking at other people's past and future, and he could finally hold his girlfriend's hand properly. But he was interrupted after only two sentences. He said unhappily, "I have nothing to say to them. Send them away."
The young Taoist priest said helplessly, "Master, they come every day. Knowing you're not here, one of them waits at the foot of the mountain and the other at the entrance of the temple. Today, they must have seen you return, which is why they're making such a fuss about seeing you. If we send them away, they'll probably come up with other ways to get a visit."
"What a hassle," Xu Zifan muttered, releasing Jiang Tianxin and saying, "Wait for me a moment, I still have a surprise for you."
Jiang Tianxin smiled and winked at him, "I have a surprise for you too, I'll take you somewhere later."
"Okay." Xu Zifan's mood improved immediately. After the little Taoist left, he kissed Jiang Tianxin before going to see his awful relatives.
Xu Wuguo and Deng Qin learned Xu Zifan's identity and how capable he was from their daughter, but they were still somewhat dazed and couldn't quite recognize him when they saw him. This tall, handsome young man, who looked like a scion of a wealthy family, was their nephew? Where was his former gloomy and timid demeanor? They'd heard that all the rich kids fawned over him; it seemed it was true!
A surge of anger rose within Xu Wuguo, and he pointed at Xu Zifan, cursing, "You think you're all grown up now! I raised you, provided you with food and clothing, and sent you to school, and you just ran off spouting nonsense, now you've caused such a huge mess and harmed your younger siblings, have you lost all your conscience?!"
Xu Zifan was too lazy to waste words with him. He took out a handful of soybeans and casually scattered them at Xu Wuguo's feet. Before Xu Wuguo could react, the soybeans turned into little soldiers and surrounded Xu Wuguo, beating him up!
Xu Wuguo screamed in agony, clutching his head and curling up on the ground, cursing and angrily demanding that Xu Zifan stop. Deng Qin stood by, too afraid to pull him away, and questioned Xu Zifan in shock and anger what he was trying to do.
Xu Zifan chuckled and casually sat down on the stone bench, leaning against the table as he said to Deng Qin, "When I got my ID card, I said I had nothing to do with your family anymore. What, you don't take my words seriously? Do you still want to bully me like before? Haven't you learned enough lessons from your son and daughter?"
"You did this on purpose?!" Deng Qin stared at him in surprise and doubt. Remembering her purpose for coming, she hurriedly said, "If you cure Xiaoxiao and Xiaozhe, we'll sever all ties and have nothing to do with each other. Otherwise..."
"What else can you do?" Xu Zifan looked at them with a half-smile. "For the past twenty years, you've been treating me like a slave, and you still can't shake your arrogant attitude. Do you really think you're some kind elder who has been kind to me? I've investigated thoroughly. My father used to own a large plot of land and an orchard, and later he received a large sum of money in compensation for road construction and demolition."
"You used that money to buy houses and start businesses. Everything you have now came from my father's inheritance. And you talk about how hard you worked to raise me and send me to school? That's just self-aggrandizement."
Deng Qin never expected that after so many years, he would know the truth and become so domineering, showing no regard for family ties whatsoever, completely different from before. She nervously gripped her bag, her voice trembling with fear, and shouted, "Aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation? If you don't save them, I... I'll post your ungrateful behavior towards my second uncle's family online, and you even assaulted your elders!"
Xu Zifan gestured for her to follow. "Go ahead. Do you think anyone will believe this? He's been screaming for so long and no one has come over. Why do you think that is? I've set up a barrier here. No one but you and me can hear anything here." He deliberately stared at her and lowered his voice. "If I wanted, I could lock you both in this barrier forever, without anyone noticing. Even the police wouldn't find a trace. Do you believe me?"
Deng Qin screamed and backed away in terror, but twisted her ankle and fell to the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.
Xu Zifan stood up and walked towards her. She was so frightened that she kept backing away. Xu Zifan smiled and said, "I donate a lot of money to charity every day, but I won't give it to you. I see many patients every day and treat them, but I won't treat you. Do you know what retribution is? You can enjoy the rest of your lives as retribution for your greed, meanness, cold-bloodedness and shamelessness."
Xu Zifan left with his hands behind his back, and the beans vanished instantly. The couple, however, collapsed to the ground, too weak to move, breathing heavily and filled with terror. Xu Zifan had just been like a vengeful ghost, sending chills down their spines and filling them with dread from the bottom of their hearts. He truly had the power to wipe them off the face of the earth; his abilities were too great.
The young Taoist priest threw them out the back door, and as soon as they recovered, they scrambled down the mountain. They had never witnessed such fantastical methods before. In their minds, Xu Zifan had always been that gloomy boy who let them beat and scold him. But after personally experiencing such terrifying abilities, they no longer had any thought of retaliation. They only hoped that Xu Zifan would not seek revenge.
Xu Zhe became a vegetable, and the doctor said there was almost no hope of waking up. Xu Xiaoxiao was extremely weak; she would turn pale and gasp for breath after walking just a few steps and could only lie there, unable to do anything.
The son and daughter are ruined. Xu Wuguo's business is in trouble and he has to pay expensive medical bills. His family will spend the rest of their lives in bitterness, paying back all the enjoyment they stole in the first half of their lives. Just like Xu Zifan said, it's all retribution.
Xu Zifan scared the person away and went back to find Jiang Tianxin.
She drove him onto the highway and stopped three hours later, blindfolded him, and led him slowly out of the car.
[Shaohua: Host, would you like me to scan the surrounding environment for you?]
[Xu Zifan: No need, thank you. Don't ruin the surprise my girlfriend made for me.]
Xu Zifan held Jiang Tianxin's hand as they walked along the pebbly path, up the steps, and arrived at a door. Jiang Tianxin placed his hand on the combination lock and said with a smile, "The password is the date we first met. Do you remember?"
Xu Zifan thought for a moment and then pressed the date directly. "Of course I remember."
The door opened with a sound, and Jiang Tianxin led him inside. They stopped at a spot, and she removed the black veil from his eyes. "Take a look!"
Xu Zifan opened his eyes and found himself standing on the balcony, facing a vast ocean. The sea was sparkling, the sand was golden, and seagulls were flying around. It was very, very beautiful.
He was somewhat surprised and looked around. "Is this a seaside villa?"
Jiang Tianxin nodded, a little nervously, and said, "This is the home I decorated. Do you like it?"
Xu Zifan smiled and took her hand, "Of course I like what you arranged."
He led her into the room. The living room was decorated very warmly, with many photos of them hanging on the photo wall, adding a layer of sweet romance to the room. The room had a dedicated gym, game room, and media room, it seemed that Jiang Tianxin still remembered how he used to enjoy life at the Jiang family home.
There was a large swimming pool in the backyard, and a very beautiful garden. The villa was enormous; it was a truly pleasant place to escape the hustle and bustle of the world and enjoy the beauty of life. They returned to the balcony, and Xu Zifan hugged Jiang Tianxin from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, and whispered, "I love it. When we're free at the Taoist temple, we'll come here to live. Actually, I've also prepared a home for you, but it's not permanent."
Jiang Tianxin was slightly taken aback. "Not fixed? What do you mean?"
Xu Zifan flipped his palm, and a small house-shaped pendant appeared in his hand. This was the result of his refining and shrinking it, and it could be used as a necklace. "Try it."
Jiang Tianxin held the house pendant and used her spiritual energy to probe it. Suddenly, a courtyard house appeared in front of her!
The courtyard house was right in front of her, yet it didn't take up any actual space. Others couldn't see or touch it, but she could go inside and use it as a real house. She looked at Xu Zifan in astonishment, finding it unbelievable, "Is this a house you can carry around with you?"
Xu Zifan laughed, "That's right, want to go in and take a look? I've also made some arrangements."
Jiang Tianxin led him into the courtyard house, where some trees were planted, their lush greenery vibrant, and birds chirping in the trees. The rooms were filled with fresh flowers, each decorated to her liking, both beautiful and comfortable. There was also a backyard with a small rockery surrounded by a pond, and water even flowed down the rockery like a miniature waterfall.
Golden and red fish swam nimbly in the pond, and in the corner there was a pet house. A little puppy wagged its tail and ran out, circling around them and barking in its babyish voice.
Jiang Tianxin looked at Xu Zifan with surprise, "This is for me? You've prepared a home for me too?"
"This shows we're on the same wavelength." Xu Zifan took her hands and looked down at her. "With this, no matter where we go, we can always stay at home. Do you like it?"
"I love it! I love it so much! This place feels so homey, I don't want to leave!"
"Then don't leave." Xu Zifan lifted Jiang Tianxin's chin and kissed her red lips.
This place is like their "fairy grotto," secluded from the world, where couples live together, and the entire courtyard, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, is filled with an atmosphere of happiness.
Their relationship was blessed by everyone. Whether it was a job taken by Qingfeng Temple or a mission assigned by the Special Affairs Bureau, they always worked together, completing the task perfectly and also traveling around, eating, drinking and having fun everywhere.
Because of their success, the Taoist temple became increasingly popular, much to the dismay of Jiang Dong and Luo Chen, who remained there. They complained incessantly, yet were also content, feeling their lives had become much more meaningful than before.
Xu Zifan's abilities were known to everyone in the upper class. No one looked down on him because of his age anymore, and no one doubted his strength. Xu Zifan's connections and status rose sharply. He was no longer relying on the help of the Xu and Luo families; rather, he was protecting them.
As the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Tianxin occasionally attends banquets. Her strength should not be underestimated. No one would regard her as a simple merchant's daughter, especially since she and Xu Zifan are in a romantic relationship.
If the host could invite the two of them to a banquet, the host would gain immense prestige within the entire social circle.
The Xu family dared not offend Xu Zifan and could not afford the exorbitant medical expenses, so they had long since closed their company and returned to their hometown to live a life of hardship. Yu Cailan learned from them that Xu Zifan was her eldest son, and she was filled with resentment. She was even more convinced that this child was born to bring her bad luck, and she had no intention of acknowledging him at all.
When Cheng's father found out about this, he was at a crucial juncture in his career and had a premonition that he might be deposed. He forcefully demanded that Yu Cailan acknowledge her son and asked Xu Zifan to intercede on his behalf. If Xu Zifan protected the Cheng family, they could once again enjoy three generations of prosperity, just like before.
Yu Cailan had no choice but to go to the banquet with Cheng's father. The farce that happened when Cheng Zhuang went on a blind date had already been spread. People in the circle all knew that Yu Cailan had a very shady past. Although they wouldn't gossip, the way they looked at her made Yu Cailan wish she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
She steeled herself and went to find Xu Zifan, but as soon as she opened her mouth to try and appeal to his emotions, Xu Zifan took a sip of red wine.
With a slight smile, she said, "Mrs. Cheng seems to have forgotten the vow she made to sever ties with her eldest son."
You don't know, but the kinship among us in the Xuanmen sect is protected by the Heavenly Dao. Madam Cheng willingly severed this relationship. In the eyes of the Heavenly Dao, you and I are now two strangers who have nothing to do with each other.
Even under current laws, since you haven't raised me, I have no obligation to support you, and I could even sue you for abandonment. Therefore, Mrs. Cheng, please stop bothering me."
Xu Zifan was already the center of attention, and everyone wanted to strike up a conversation with this master, so naturally everyone was watching them. Since Xu Zifan didn't deliberately lower his voice, their relationship was immediately exposed. But it was clear that Xu Zifan didn't acknowledge Yu Cailan, and that Yu Cailan had abandoned him and severed ties with him!
The crowd was shocked. Those far away whispered among themselves, while those close exchanged glances. Their gazes toward Yu Cailan were filled with astonishment and disdain. They were astonished that she didn't cherish such a good son and had even severed ties with him. They despised her for abandoning her own child, and now that her son had gained power, she was clinging to him again.
How could the hosts of the banquet let Xu Zifan be unhappy? They immediately stepped in to smooth things over, leading Xu Zifan and Jiang Tianxin to chat with some bigwigs. Yu Cailan's face turned pale, utterly ashamed, and she hurriedly retreated to a corner. Cheng's father also hated her for being so foolish, unable to even handle such a small matter. The two of them reluctantly stayed for a while, but unable to bear the gazes of everyone, they made an excuse and hurriedly left.
Some people present tested Xu Zifan and, after confirming that he only felt disgust for Yu Cailan and no affection for her, many felt they had found a shortcut to please him.
Cheng's father's hopes for an opportunity naturally vanished, and he was even demoted to a remote place where it was difficult to achieve results.
As for Yu Cailan, if it weren't for the sudden discovery that she was Xu Zifan's biological mother, Cheng's father would have sent her abroad long ago to avoid embarrassment. But now, Yu Cailan has lost her usefulness and has even dragged him down. He was so angry that he no longer cared about saving face and directly divorced Yu Cailan, finding some reasons to make her leave with nothing.
After that, Cheng's father lowered his head and went around asking people to plead for him, but the higher-ups no longer gave him any face. After all, it was his elders who had saved the old commander; it wasn't him. He hadn't achieved anything significant in recent years, yet he was so arrogant and conceited.
In the past, people didn't bother with him because of that little bit of affection, but now that Xu Zifan has happened, it seems like they have a reason to take action against him. Naturally, they will seek revenge and beat a dog when it's down. He still has to go back to that godforsaken place to live.
Later, unable to endure the hardship and with no hope of returning to Beijing, he simply resigned and asked Cheng Zhuang to come back and support him. Cheng Zhuang, having lost his status as a "red third generation" (a descendant of high-ranking officials), and with his family bankrupt, had no choice but to make a comeback and re-enter the entertainment industry.
Half of his past success was due to his background and connections. Now that he's lost those connections and disappeared for so long, his situation is far from ideal. His company got him a variety show to try and regain some popularity, but his bad personality attracted a lot of criticism, making him extremely unpopular with the public. Now he has even less access to good resources.
Yu Cailan saw him on TV and went to confront him, only to be scolded and beaten by Cheng's father, who called her incredibly foolish. If Xu Zifan is truly a jinx, how come everyone even remotely connected to him has risen to great heights?
The reason these so-called relatives were cursed was because they treated Xu Zifan terribly, and Xu Zifan was unwilling to help them. As for the fire back then, it could very well have been an accident, otherwise why didn't her own mother die in childbirth due to being cursed?
Yu Cailan had been deceiving herself for a long time, but when her father exposed her, she burst into tears and completely collapsed!
Ever since she learned Xu Zifan's true identity, she had been filled with regret. If she hadn't abandoned Xu Zifan back then, wouldn't she be enjoying a life of luxury and wealth today? Wouldn't all those rich wives and officials' wives be trying to curry favor with her? Even Cheng's father, whom she had been trying to please for many years, would have to bow and scrape before he could even get an audience with her.
But she threw all of that away. She thought her eldest son was a jinx, but he was actually a true lucky star. Her life had been full of ups and downs; even as Shangguan's wife, she lived in constant fear, never experiencing a single day of true peace. Was it all because she abandoned Xu Zifan?!
When Xu Zifan heard news of Yu Cailan again, she had already returned to her hometown to fight the Xu family for their inheritance. Years ago, in her haste to escape, she only took all the cash and a little jewelry. Now, old and faded, she had nothing left. Upon learning that her family's former land and orchard were being demolished, she naturally wanted to claim the compensation money. Since she and Xu's father were husband and wife, the majority of that property should belong to her!
Xu Wuguo and Deng Qin were afraid of Xu Zifan, but not of Yu Cailan. In fact, they hated Yu Cailan, feeling that if she hadn't abandoned Xu Zifan, they wouldn't have adopted him and thus wouldn't have offended this wicked woman. Therefore, they showed her no mercy; what could such a helpless woman possibly do to them?
These three were all selfish and shameless, arguing and fighting every day, their lives in complete chaos. They were entangled in this mess, finding pleasure in causing each other pain, venting all their frustrations on one another, and tormenting each other even more.
Xu Zifan, on the other hand, was riding high. On the one-year anniversary of his relationship with Jiang Tianxin, he proposed to her, held a wedding of the century, and married her. Then he took his wife on honeymoons all over the world, which lasted for a whole year.
The house they prepared is now in use. Whenever they travel, they stay in the courtyard house, and whenever they return to Beijing, they stay in the seaside villa, which is only a three-hour drive from Yanjing. It is very convenient for others to find them.
Because they were always traveling around, they naturally took care of any injustices they encountered, which led to a sharp decrease in paranormal events, leaving the Secret Service with almost no work.
Xu Zifan and Jiang Tianxin's abilities grew stronger and stronger. After Uncle Liao retired, Jiang Tianxin took over his position as the deputy director of the Special Affairs Bureau. The director of the Special Affairs Bureau was a figurehead from above, so she controlled the entire bureau and was in charge of all special affairs nationwide.
This incident can be considered as fulfilling my original aspiration to become a police officer.
Xu Zifan was practically revered as a national advisor, receiving expedited access to all his affairs and top-notch treatment. This couple became the most respected and envied couple in high society.
Xu Zifan also completed the original owner's mission, using his talent to do good deeds so that others would not dislike him, would no longer treat him as a jinx, and would treat him sincerely, and he also got rid of his unlucky constitution.
Aside from the first two years of his life when things got busy, he spent most of his time enjoying life. He had status, position, and cultivation, and he also had a beautiful wife and children. It could be said that he was living a very good life.
When Jiang Tianxin passed away at the age of 120, he too left this world. He didn't take any of those magical treasures with him, leaving them all to his children and the disciples and grand-disciples of Qingfeng Temple. He only took the jade thumb ring, feeling that it was destined for him and that he might discover its significance in a future life.