Chapter 21: Stewed Wenray Fish Congee

Yun Tao barely got a chance to complain about getting a stiff neck when Tai Sui picked him up—exactly like you’d carry a puppy.

Tai Sui tilted his head. “This high enough for you?”

Yun Tao flailed his little legs in midair, puffing up like an angry pufferfish. “Put me down already! What kind of brother does this?!”

When Luo Zheyan-gege carried him, he’d let him ride on his shoulders! And Fenghe-gege? So gentle! Tai Sui’s behavior only made it clear—some brothers were just total dogs in comparison!

Tai Sui let out a nonchalant “Oh,” then tucked Yun Tao under his arm like a loaf of bread. “Better now?”

Yun Tao: …

After ruffling his little brother enough to make him bristle like a hedgehog, Tai Sui finally adjusted his grip and carried him properly. He turned to Father Lin and said, “Father Lin, your son brought us here to help ‘clean up’ that blood well of yours. My little brother’s bedtime is coming up, so let’s not waste time—lead the way.”

“Clean up the blood well?” Father Lin’s face paled. “Do you two even know the details? The Lin family’s blood well is sealed with eight layers, each trapping a malicious spirit. The deeper you go, the darker and more dangerous they become.”

In other words, the three they’d dealt with earlier? Just the weaklings.

That blood well, steeped in a thousand years of blood and bones, had claimed countless sacrifices. The Lin family had paid a heavy price for generations just to keep it contained.

Father Lin glanced at the peculiar duo. Yun Tao looked like an innocent little boy, while Tai Sui came across as a rebellious youth. Could these strange brothers really solve a problem that had plagued their family for centuries?

Yun Tao perked up at the mention of the seals. “Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease! Honestly, those three earlier were nothing more than appetizers.”

Two kinds of appetizers, to be exact.

Father Lin: “???”

At this point, he started to believe Yun Tao was some kind of incredible master.

Not wasting another moment, Father Lin drove them to the Lin family estate.

Nestled near a bamboo forest, the Lin family ancestral home was intentionally secluded to guard the blood well and minimize its effect on the villagers.

Yun Tao’s earlier claim about the Lin family being wealthy wasn’t wrong. Their estate was more like a private garden, complete with a feng shui barrier built from century-old trees, streams, and ornamental rock formations. This barrier served as their final line of defense. If an evil spirit ever escaped, the array would trap it temporarily.

The moment they stepped into the Lin estate, Yun Tao felt the oppressive chill of dark energy. Living in a place like this for generations? The Lin family must have some serious skills.

Hearing that Lin Jiuyuan had brought outsiders to inspect the blood well, the elders gathered in the main hall, Clear Reflection Pavilion, where the family held all major discussions.

When Father Lin arrived, the family rose to greet him but quickly noticed something unusual about Lin Jiuyuan.

Second Uncle Lin couldn’t hold back and blurted out, “Jiuyuan, the ghostly handprint on you—it’s gone! What happened?”

Father Lin also looked at Lin Jiuyuan, clearly wanting answers. “Explain.”

Lin Jiuyuan broke into a cold sweat. How was he supposed to explain? Should he just come out and say, Oh, my boss is a gluttonous beast spirit incarnate?

No way. Some truths were better left unsaid. He deflected, “Where’s Uncle Linchen? Let him and me handle this. I’ll explain everything once it’s over.”

“I’m here.” Lin Chenchuan entered the pavilion, drawing everyone’s attention.

He was tall, dressed in a black t-shirt and work pants, with a baseball cap pulled low over his face. His left hand was tightly wrapped in bandages, even covering each individual finger. Despite not showing much of his face, his frailty was evident—the cost of resealing the blood well.

Lin Chenchuan wasn’t much older than Lin Jiuyuan, but his once-youthful vigor had completely faded.

Seeing his uncle in such a state, Lin Jiuyuan felt a pang of guilt. He pressed his lips together, struggling to find the words.

A small yawn broke the tension. Yun Tao, clearly sleepy, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. “Hey, Xiao Lin, can we eat first?”

Lin Jiuyuan snapped back to reality. “Of course, Little Boss. I’ll take care of it right away.”

The Lin family stared in shock at his deferential tone. They didn’t even have time to ask questions before Lin Jiuyuan turned to his father. “Dad, let’s settle the payment first. When I hired Little Boss, I promised him my entire savings.”

Father Lin hesitated for a moment before speaking solemnly. “If this young master can truly solve the problem of the blood well, I’d gladly give up the family fortune.”

The Lin family gasped collectively. So, Lin Jiuyuan had brought these two to deal with the remaining malicious spirits? They all turned to scrutinize the brothers.

Father Lin addressed Yun Tao. “Young Master, what do you think? Should I tally up an amount for you?”

At the mention of money, Yun Tao’s sleepiness vanished. His eyes sparkled as he took in the lavish estate—Father Lin was clearly much richer than Lin Jiuyuan.

But…

Yun Tao counted on his fingers and sighed regretfully. “No need. I promised Lin Xiao an 80% discount for being a regular client. Four grand will do.”

Lin Jiuyuan froze. Wait, Little Boss wasn’t joking earlier? He turned down a fortune just to honor a promise? Lin Jiuyuan was deeply moved. A person who kept their word like this was truly admirable!

“Little Boss,” Lin Jiuyuan whispered, leaning down, “you should ask for more. My dad’s way richer than me—no need to hold back.”

Yun Tao pointed at Lin Chenchuan. “I won’t go back on my word, but I can take on a side gig. Your uncle seems like he could use some help.”

The yin energy on Lin Chenchuan was even heavier than it had been on Lin Jiuyuan. If left unchecked, he might end up as salted duck eggs sooner rather than later.

Lin Chenchuan, intrigued by Yun Tao’s demeanor, smiled faintly. “So, kid, my life is worth four grand too?”

“Yep. Employee discount for Juiyan-ge’s family.” Yun Tao’s throat felt dry from all the talking. He looked at Tai Sui. “Ge, I want some water.”

Tai Sui pulled out his panda thermos, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Yun Tao.

Holding the thermos with both hands, Yun Tao drank eagerly, his long lashes drooping as he sipped. The room full of adults watched in silence, caught between being charmed by his cuteness and worrying if it was really okay to entrust a blood well to this kid.

While Yun Tao drank, Tai Sui spoke for him. “Take us to the well.”

Father Lin, ever thoughtful, said, “The young master mentioned eating earlier. Shall I bring some food first?”

Tai Sui chuckled knowingly. “When he said ‘eat,’ I don’t think it meant what you’re imagining.”

Lin Jiuyuan’s expression turned complicated. He patted his father’s shoulder. “Dad, just leave this to us and Uncle. Whatever happens, don’t come near, no matter what you hear.”

Father Lin frowned. “If anything goes wrong, the backyard array will activate automatically. You understand that, right?”

Lin Jiuyuan smiled faintly. “Dad, you really don’t need to worry. My boss is beyond your comprehension. You’ll soon see just how effortless this is for him.”

Hearing his subordinate praise him to his face, Yun Tao puffed up with pride, making a sweeping gesture. “That’s right—I’m super mysterious and powerful!”

Their appetites were bottomless. That’s the only way to describe it. Heh.

After all that back-and-forth, we finally got a look at the infamous Blood Well.

It was hidden deep within the Lin family estate, sealed tight with eight iron chains and covered in talismans painted with red cinnabar. No one lived in the surrounding houses, and the chains extended into underground mechanisms that led to who-knows-where. In these end-of-days times, such a high-level spirit-sealing formation was an extreme rarity.

Lin Chenchuan stood there, hands in his pockets, and glanced at Yun Tao. “What do you need me to do?”

“Break the seals,” Yun Tao said as he approached the well. “We’ll do it layer by layer.”

Thinking back to Lin Jiuyuan’s reaction last time, Yun Tao added, “Oh, and don’t look at me when I’m working. I’d rather not have you pass out.”

Lin Jiuyuan, who knew exactly what that meant, quickly chimed in, “Uncle, he’s serious about that. It’s important.”

Lin Chenchuan didn’t fully get it, but he nodded anyway. “Got it.”

As the formation activated, the chains groaned painfully, and the talismans on the well cover began to glow blood-red. Slowly, the heavy cover shifted, revealing a thin gap. From within, an intense wave of sinister energy erupted, accompanied by chilling wails that could freeze anyone’s blood.

The first layer of the seal broke, and with it, the fourth-tier ghost imprisoned within was released. It didn’t waste a second, instinctively surging out of the Blood Well. It must’ve thought it had escaped into a world ripe for slaughter.

What it didn’t expect was… a massive maw from the abyss waiting for it.

Yun Tao stood casually at the edge of the well, his small hands loosely draped over its rim. Above him, a towering phantom of a gluttonous beast hovered in the air, snapping up the ghost in one bite and swallowing it whole.

Smacking his lips, Yun Tao muttered, “Definitely stronger than the last three.”

Lin Chenchuan kept his head down the entire time, avoiding the scene. But as the most talented member of the Lin family, his sharp instincts pieced together what had just happened.

A terrifyingly malevolent beast had devoured the ghost that escaped.

A cold bead of sweat trickled down his brow as Lin Chenchuan closed his eyes, formed a hand seal, and unlocked the next level of the seal.

One by one, the ghosts broke free—and one by one, they were swallowed in an instant. Even the oppressive negative energy that had accumulated in the Blood Well for years was consumed.

Lin Chenchuan never once opened his eyes. By the end, his clothes were drenched in cold sweat. The eerie silence around him was almost suffocating. After a while, he felt a small hand grip his wrist.

“Uncle, don’t open your eyes yet.”

A slight sting radiated from his wrist as the dark energy inside his body was drawn out. For the first time in ages, Lin Chenchuan felt a hint of warmth.

When he was finally allowed to open his eyes, he saw Yun Tao curled up in Tai Sui’s arms, wrapped snugly in a small blanket, fast asleep. Tai Sui had even put a tiny cap on his head, complete with a pair of childish little horns.

Lin Chenchuan tried to get a better look at the horns, but Tai Sui walked past him with the boy in his arms. “You handle the cleanup,” Tai Sui said lazily. “Jiuyuan, show us to a place where we can rest.”

“Make sure the little one doesn’t catch a chill while he’s sleeping,” the local land deity had warned as they left earlier.

Lin Jiuyuan quickly followed after them, giving Lin Chenchuan a pat on the arm. “Uncle, I’ll come back to help later.”

“Go on,” Lin Chenchuan replied, watching them leave before turning back to the well.

No, it wasn’t really the Blood Well anymore. Now, it was just an old, ordinary well.

He’d known since he was a child that the Blood Well came first, and the Lin family came later. The family had built their estate here, weaving countless layers of formations around it and even establishing their ancestral grounds nearby—all to suppress the well.

Now, with all the ghosts purged and the danger neutralized, the heavy gloom that had hung over the Lin family for years had finally lifted.

Lin Chenchuan removed his hat and rubbed his forehead. The mark left by the Blood Well had vanished.

He unwrapped the bandages on his left hand and saw that the dark energy etched into the lines of his palm was gone, too. His pale hand was slowly regaining its color.

“I owe that kid a massive favor,” Lin Chenchuan muttered, pulling his hat back on. Biting his fingertip, he drew a new seal on the well cover. Until the area’s feng shui was rebalanced, it was best to keep the place locked down to avoid attracting any more trouble.

Yun Tao slept like a rock, and when he woke up, his bank account had eight grand more in it.

After habitually counting his balance, he couldn’t help but smile. “This family’s so broke, they’re turning me—an honest-to-goodness glutton—into a stingy treasure-hoarder!”

“What are you mumbling about? Hungry?” Tai Sui asked, peeking into the room with his phone in hand. “The Lin family prepped us some breakfast. Eat up—we’re heading back after that. Your brother’s already on the phone hounding me.”

The call was still live, and Yun Fenghe’s voice came through. “TaoTao’s up? Don’t listen to Tai Sui. Take your time eating—no rush.”

Yun Tao climbed out of bed, tiptoed over to grab Tai Sui’s wrist, and sweetly said into the phone, “Good morning, big brother~! I’ll be good, I promise!”

The night before, after Yun Tao fell asleep, Lin Jiuyuan had explained everything to the Lin family elders, conveniently skipping over Yun Tao’s true identity. He also asked them not to dig too deeply into things. Seeing the Blood Well so thoroughly “cleaned up” left the Lin family dumbfounded.

What shocked them even more was Lin Chenchuan’s apparent recovery.

Two impossible tasks, completed in one night. Who on earth was this kid? The Lin family was dying to know, but they also understood that sometimes it’s better not to ask. They wouldn’t pry, and they certainly wouldn’t spread word of it.

Instead, they treated Yun Tao and Tai Sui like VIPs, going all out on breakfast.

After eating, Father Lin invited Yun Tao to his study and offered him an expensive jade stone as a token of gratitude.

Yun Tao understood—it was the elder’s way of ensuring he wasn’t shortchanged. But honestly? Between the extra meal, the free breakfast, and the double pay, Yun Tao felt like he was already swimming in benefits.

His eyes swept over the jade before drifting around the room. His nose twitched. Nope, not his imagination—there was a faint trace of dark energy in the study. He followed it to a wooden box sealed with a talisman. Clearly, whatever was inside wasn’t pleasant.

Not as strong as the ghosts from the Blood Well, but… enough for half a meal.

Pointing to the box, Yun Tao said, “If you’re gonna give me something, give me this.”

By the time he left the study, wooden box in hand, Father Lin had already sent him another round of payment. That box alone would’ve taken ages to purify.

The elder personally drove them back to Shanhai Street.

Yun Fenghe was waiting at the door, and the moment Yun Tao stepped out of the car with his panda-print backpack, he sprinted forward and leaped into his brother’s arms.

“How was it?” Yun Fenghe smoothed down his little curls.

“Pretty full,” Yun Tao said, patting his stomach.

Yun Fenghe caught a faint trace of dark energy lingering in Yun Tao’s backpack. Leaning in, he whispered, “What did you bring back?”

Yun Tao blinked innocently. “Snacks.”

Yun Fenghe turned to Tai Sui, his gaze questioning: Snacks? With such unique energy?

Tai Sui replied lazily, “Relax. Let him eat it. He won’t get sick.”

Finally reassured, Yun Fenghe smiled at Father Lin. “Thank you, Uncle, for bringing them back. Why don’t you come in for some tea?”

It was Father Lin’s first-time meeting Yun Fenghe. This young man radiated a gentle warmth, with eyes so clear they seemed to reflect the heavens themselves. Despite his youth, there was an otherworldly air about him. Standing next to his two siblings, they seemed so different, yet somehow fit perfectly together.

Clearly, this one was extraordinary, too.

The elder dared not impose on someone like him and quickly declined. “I’ll head to my son’s place instead. Don’t want to trouble you.”

Yun Fenghe, ever considerate, nodded. “Then have Lin Jiuyuan bring you over for lunch.”

At first, the elder had been worried when Lin Jiuyuan said he was applying for a job. But after tagging along to a staff meal, his concerns disappeared—and he was, in fact, a little jealous.

He wanted to work at Taotie Delicacies too—QvQ.

Yun Tao gave Lin Jiuyuan a day off and told him to officially start work tomorrow.

With one person missing, the bakery’s output was a little lower than usual today. But luckily, there were no new orders, so they could slack off a bit.

That night, Yun Tao leaned against his headboard and pulled out the wooden box that Father Lin had given him. He peeled off the seal in two quick moves—it was way too low-level to do him any harm. Opening the box, he found yet another jade inside, but this one was different. It was an evil jade, faintly glowing with streaks of red light.

The moment the seal broke, whatever was trapped inside started stirring restlessly. Yun Tao held the jade up and, just like eating a snack, chomped it down in one bite.

Honestly, these things didn’t taste all that great—kind of like drinking ice water, cold and flavorless. But they were incredibly filling. After supplementing his meals with them for the past couple of days, he could feel his unruly demonic energy settling down significantly.

“Host, I’m back!” The system suddenly popped up.

Yun Tao kept it short and sweet: “Pay up.”

“Host, you’re so straightforward—I like it.”

“Now processing your rewards!”

[Mission complete. Rewards delivered!

Level up! You are now Level 4 (0/800 Shanhai Points).

New Shanhai resource unlocked: Wenray Fish!]

Yun Tao had wished for fresh seafood not long ago, and now it was here! He was beyond thrilled and immediately opened the Shanhai Market.

[Shanhai Ingredient: Wenray Fish

Origin: Guanshui Farm

Grade: SR

Effects: Causes euphoria upon consumption; wherever Wenray Fish appears, a bountiful harvest follows.

Price: 5 Shanhai Coins per fish]

It was priced the same as the Guanguan Chicken. Wenray Fish were generally plump and fatty, so the price was actually pretty decent. Sometimes, Yun Tao wondered if the system had him running this shop just for fun instead of profit.

Wenray Fish looked a bit like carp, except they had wings and beaks like birds. Their calls sounded like those of wild chickens. The Shanhai Market only sold them pre-processed, and at first glance, they resembled lotus flower fish.

Staring at the freshly prepared Wenray Fish in the market, Yun Tao suddenly realized how tasteless that jade snack had been. He was now seriously craving a steaming pot of fish porridge.

And since he wanted it, he was going to make it.

He bought four Wenray Fish, had the market slice them up before shipping, and then went to gather his big brothers and sisters for a late-night cooking session.

Tai Sui, always the reliable one, was still in his pajamas as he took charge of making the fish porridge.

Lin Xiao gave his stomach a squeeze and sighed. “At this rate, my abs are gonna merge into one big slab.”

Tai Sui scoffed. “Then don’t eat. I’ll cook one less pot.”

“No way.” Lin Xiao grinned. “This is Wenray Fish we’re talking about!”

The porridge bubbled away in the pot, thick and rich. Tai Sui carefully dropped in the fish slices. The moment they hit the boiling broth, the meat turned a beautiful milky white, and an enticing aroma filled the kitchen.

Lin Xiao smacked his lips. “Damn, that smells way too good. Who could possibly resist?”