the old woman, but the fat guard actually stopped me and even rubbed his belly against me on purpose!"Little sister, don't run around here. The elderly people in here like it quiet, don't disturb thei...Shen Qingrui and I are still at odds.

But our cold noodles have been together for a relatively long time, and she has gradually accepted my identity.

I am not only the head of the Shen family now, but also her "master."

Anyway, since we avoided each other, over time, we all got used to this state of mutual dislike and didn't care as much anymore.

"Anything" I closed my folder and asked her straight away.

She wouldn't appear before me even if nothing happened.

"It's a small matter, but it depends on whether the master is busy or interested in hearing about it." She snorted coldly.

I nodded. “Speak in the study.”

The Shen family estate was vast. In front, the mountain gate led to a large courtyard flanked by corridors, pavilions, and small gardens. In the center, after ascending a two-tiered platform, stood the main hall and on either side, the flower halls, where the Shen family's manager worked.

Behind the main hall are study rooms, a tower, and so on. In short, it's like a miniature version of a film set for ancient costumes.

The study is usually off-limits to others. Shen Qingrui followed me in, and I sat down. She didn't follow any rules and casually settled into a nearby armchair.

I don't feel like talking about her, anyway I don't really care about so-called "status".

She crossed her legs and sat sideways, like a professional woman.

"Just spit it out, what's your report" I wasn't in the mood for beating around the bush.

She didn't want to stay with me any longer and went straight to the point: "I just finished a commission, and I heard some things that I feel it's necessary to tell you."

Shen Qingrui's professional skills still live up to the title of "Shen Family Heir." These past two years, while I've been in charge of the Shen family, she's taken the title less seriously. Though she's still as unpleasant as ever, her temperament has improved somewhat.

She made a condition when she took on cases: her retainer fees started at seven figures, so the commissions the Shen family gave her were all dangerous and complex.

This time she went out to a certain province in the north, where she encountered a Taoist priest while chasing a ferocious beast.

“A Taoist” I was a bit confused. Our family practices the Kun Dao, so meeting a fellow practitioner is perfectly normal. What's there to make a fuss about

Shen Qingrui's beautiful eyebrows furrowed, and she let out a cold snort: "That Taoist looked down on me and interfered, solving the ferocious beast I was handling."

"... "

I couldn't help but facepalm, already knowing how the rest of this was going to go.

Within the circle, it is taboo to kill and steal treasures, and it is also taboo to interrupt someone else's religious ceremony. The former is considered unethical, while the latter has the suspicion of overpowering others.

All of these are things that easily lead to grudges and feuds.

What kind of temper does Shen Qingrui have I think half the reason Shen Jiakun's reputation for domineering is because of her.

She must have made an enemy! She might even have cast a spell on someone!

Shen Qingrui sneered: "That Taoist is extremely pedantic, saying that women shouldn't touch anything ominous. What a joke! He hasn't even heard of the reputation of my Shen family!"

"...Don't cause any more trouble," I said helplessly. "Isn't there enough going on at home already"

In the house, this word caused Shen Qingrui's eyebrows to twitch imperceptibly.

No matter how much she dislikes me, the Shen family is my mother's home and also my current home. Similarly, it's also where her, Shen Qingrui, was born, grew up, and will spend her whole life.

She hummed softly: “I didn’t cause you any trouble, I just gave him a good scolding to teach him a lesson.”

I'm speechless, what are you going to do about it With your domineering personality, you probably bullied the other person, which is easy to make enemies.

"Anyway, don't worry about my business! There's something else I want to tell you!" She frowned, her eyes flickering slightly.

She seemed a little guilty, and I didn't miss it.

My brother once said that I'm good-natured, even meek, but that doesn't mean I lack the means.

Having been in charge of the Shen family for these years, I've had to attend numerous meetings every year as a special advisor and interact with many people in my circle. Through observing their words and deeds, I've long since learned how to read between the lines.

"What do you want to tell me" I let her finish her story first.

She let out a slight sigh and pulled something out from the small handbag hanging from her wrist.

Layers upon layers of runes, encasing something small.

When it was handed to me, it was still a bit heavy.

"This belonged to that Taoist priest, I found it. I heard whispers in the village saying they were looking for a small bronze Buddha engraved with strange talismans, could this be it" She said with a hint of pride.

My heart skipped a beat. I peeked at the corner of the talisman and sure enough, it was a small bronze Buddha!

"This isn't our family crest," I said, my brow furrowing slightly.

Shen Qingrui said: "Of course, when it fell from that Taoist priest, it was already sealed layer by layer like this. He seemed to have an injured companion, and he was in a hurry to find his companion, so he didn't notice that this thing ended up in my hands."

You, you, what's the difference between this and stealing...

I really don't know what to say——we were looking for Little Buddha, yes, but this method... it's just too...underhanded.

No, no…

I thought carefully for a moment, then asked: “The Taoist who had a feud with you, was he a middle-aged man Not too old, perhaps in his thirties or forties. He was tall and composed, not very talkative, but seemed somewhat menacing”

Shen Qingrui was slightly taken aback and blurted out, "How did you know"

"Is his surname Zong! Claiming to be secluded in his sect's mountain for cultivation, he doesn't know the current situation in the Yin-Yang circle!" I pursued.

Shen Qingrui's legs came down from her crossed position, she stood up from the armchair, looking at me in some surprise.

Looking at her expression, she's definitely right!

It's that old geezer who took the weird talisman and bronze Buddha from my brother and me, Master Zong Dao. He also mentioned his younger disciple went down the mountain for training, whose name is Xiao Shan Ming. We've met before!

It must have been him escorting the strange old man back to his hometown, north of the mountains. As fate would have it, he ran into Shen Qingrui.

After twists and turns, this little Buddha has somehow ended up in my hands again!

But...

"Shen Qingrui, I remember this Master Zong very much values this little Buddha. He must have kept it close to him, cherished it dearly. This is meant to be taken back to revive his master's life. How could you have found it so easily"

Shen Qingrui's face was pale and uncertain. She frowned and said, "What does it have to do with you Do I have to report to you when I deal with him It just fell off in the struggle, he didn't notice, I picked it up."

Tug-of-war

My eyelid twitched, a bad feeling creeping into my heart: “….you…wouldn’t take someone’s clothes off, would you…”

Shen Qingrui's face was slightly embarrassed. It seemed something unexpected had happened, causing such an important thing to end up in Shen Qingrui's hands.

In short! I found this thing for you!" Shen Qingrui interrupted angrily: "And I also got news about the Six Pole Ghost Artifact!"

Six-pole Ghost Device.

This was a method that Cheng Banshen came up with when he previously checked on Lin Yanhuan and Chenyan's situation.

He told me that the Underworld has six ghost instruments, all of which can gather souls, calm souls, receive souls, and summon souls. These six instruments are scattered in the world. If we could find one or two, it might be very helpful to Lin Yanhuan and Chen Yan.

Jiang Qiyun also acquiesced to this statement. This ghostly artifact was useless in the Underworld, but it had great use in the mortal world. It had been lost from the Underworld for an unknown amount of time, so finding it depended on luck.

I let out a long sigh. I still recognize Shen Qingrui's abilities, and I also recognize her ability to cause trouble.

"Shen Qingrui, you're not young anymore. I'll remind you again, when you go out and do things, don't overdo it. If you make enemies, the Shen family will be the one to bear the burden."

"Hmph! I told you I have no grudges!" She stood up, grabbed her handbag, and in her high heels went back to her own courtyard to change.

I was holding the small bronze Buddha amulet, pondering what to do with it, when a disciple came in to report.

"Master, a young Taoist priest has come to the mountain gate and respectfully presented a visiting card. He says he's here to find someone in our family."

"Huh" I took the calling card and glanced at the name, unable to stop myself from wanting to facepalm!ained smile playing on his lips: "It's nothing, Qiao. You shouldn't have come. It's disgusting. The stench of death is overwhelming."The man standing opposite him had been terrified out of his wits....