Chapter 1: The First Business

Thirty kilometers outside of Jiang City, in a rundown little Taoist temple.

Yan Qiao sat cross-legged beside her master, palms together, chanting under her breath.

An elderly man with gray hair was lying on the ground. He slowly opened his eyes and said weakly,
“Ah Qiao, your master’s end is near. You don’t need to chant anymore. This is fate.”

“Do you remember what I just told you?”

Yan Qiao opened her eyes, placed her hands on her knees, and with a face void of emotion, calmly responded,
“No.”

The old man felt like his final breath would be from being angered to death by this girl.

“Then I’ll say it one last time. You must remember this time.”

“In a moment, your family will come to find you. Follow them home obediently.”

“Find the person I mentioned to you earlier, the one with the special fate, and help him overcome his tribulation. Then your merits will be complete!”

…

…

“This matter must be completed! Although it’s difficult, your master believes in your ability! Once your merits are complete, your tribulation will be lifted!”

After speaking, the old man looked at Yan Qiao.

This disciple of his was good in every way, except that she carried a karmic tribulation. Every month, there were always a few days when she had to suffer terribly.

“I understand,” Yan Qiao replied calmly.

“After I’m gone, take all the ancestral tablets and offer incense daily. You are the last successor of our Longyu Temple. I hope you can carry it forward.”

“Mm.” Yan Qiao nodded again. She didn’t speak much.

“All right, I’ve said everything I needed to say.”

“Then please die quickly.”

The old man twitched at the corner of his mouth. There was no need to rush…

“Do you have any more questions for your master?”

“No.”

The old man clutched his chest. He was already used to it. His disciple was terrifyingly rational.

A moment later, Yan Qiao’s master passed away.

Yan Qiao simply handled her master’s funeral, made a tablet for him, packed it with the others, and descended the mountain.

As soon as she reached the village at the foot of the mountain, a luxury car pulled up next to her.

Soon, three people got out—a couple and a handsome young man.

The three of them bore some resemblance to her.

Upon seeing her, the elegant woman’s eyes filled with tears before she even spoke. When she did, her voice was choked:
“Ah Qiao, I’m your mother! Do you remember me?”

She walked over, held Yan Qiao’s hand, and looked at her with tearful eyes.

However, Yan Qiao remained calm as always:
“I don’t remember.”

Madam Yan’s expression dimmed:
“I know you must still blame us—for sending you to the Taoist temple when you were so young. But we had no choice. If we hadn’t done it, we would have lost you forever!”

“I don’t blame you.”

Madam Yan became anxious:
“Then come back with us, okay? Taoist Yuzhen said that once you turned eighteen, we could bring you home! I’ve been waiting for this day every single day!”

“Ah Qiao, I’m your third brother, Yan Hao! I missed you a lot. Welcome home!” Yan Hao smiled brightly, like a cheerful sunshine boy.

But Yan Qiao frowned slightly when she saw him.

She spoke lightly,
“Your luck hasn’t been good the past two days. Be careful.”

“I have some talismans. Do you want to buy a couple?”

…

First meeting and she’s already trying to sell talismans? That’s some serious business instinct.

The three of them looked at each other speechlessly. Sure enough, raised in a temple. The moment she saw them, she started reading fortunes.

But Yan Hao didn’t believe in these things. He never understood why his parents had sent their sister to a Taoist temple.

Look at her now—she’d become all mystical, like some fortune-teller on the pedestrian bridge.

“No need, no need. Thanks for your concern, Ah Qiao!”

Before he could finish speaking, his mom smacked him:
“Brat! Your sister said to buy, so buy! Quit talking nonsense!”

Yan Hao shrank his neck. His mom was scary.

“All right, Ah Qiao, I’ll buy! However many you say, I’ll buy them!” He surrendered quickly.

Their dad had already warned the three brothers: never make Mom angry!

She hadn’t been well these years, likely from missing their sister too much. Now that she was finally back, they wanted Mom to get better.

Yan Qiao could see that he didn’t sincerely want to buy them—just giving in to their beautiful mother’s pressure.

“If you’re not sincere, I won’t sell,” Yan Qiao said lightly.

At that moment, her father, Yan Zhengtian, spoke in a deep voice:
“Ah Qiao, let’s go home first. We’ll talk when we get there.”

“Your big brother and second brother will be back tomorrow. We all missed you very much.”

“Okay,” Yan Qiao responded.

Compared to the three of them, who were moved to tears, her calm demeanor was a little too much.

Yan Qiao didn’t try to sell the talismans to Yan Hao again.

Madam Yan felt sorrowful. They hadn’t seen their daughter for eighteen years—hadn’t given her love or care. It was understandable that she was indifferent to them.

Yan Zhengtian gently held his wife’s shoulders and comforted her:
“Don’t be sad. She’s home now. Let’s take our time and make it up to her. She’ll come around eventually.”

Madam Yan nodded. That’s all they could do for now.

Yan Hao drove.

The three adults sat in the back seat.

Yan Zhengtian said,
“Ah Qiao, it’s really great that you’re willing to come home. Your mom has missed you so much. Taoist Yuzhen told us we couldn’t see you before the time was right.”

“She hasn’t been in good health these past few years.”

“By the way, how is Taoist Yuzhen now?”

“He’s dead.”

Taoist Yuzhen was her master.

“What? When did that happen?” Yan Zhengtian was a bit shocked.

“Before you came.”

“Sigh, that’s really unfortunate. We didn’t even get the chance to thank him properly.” Yan Zhengtian sounded regretful.

But Yan Qiao was indifferent:
“Not unfortunate. He was a hundred years old. He died of natural causes.”

Madam Yan didn’t see any sadness on her daughter’s face.

This child was too rational—almost cold. But she thought, maybe it was because she hadn’t received enough love. She understood and would make it up to her.

Two hours later, the car stopped in front of the Yan family villa.

As soon as Yan Hao got out of the car, he accidentally misstepped and almost fell. He barely managed to steady himself, but after a few more steps, he tripped again.

This time he wasn’t so lucky—he fell hard.

“Ow…” He sucked in a breath from the pain.

Yan Zhengtian frowned:
“How can you be twenty and still this careless? Falling on flat ground?”

Yan Hao himself was confused.

“All right, let’s go inside,” Madam Yan said. She didn’t have time to care about her son—her mind was full of her daughter.

Just as they were about to enter, a voice called out anxiously:
“Ah Hao, wait!”

The speaker was Young Master Liang of the Liang family, the same age as Yan Hao, and a good friend of his.

Hearing this, Yan Qiao looked over and, seeing Young Master Liang’s face, the corners of her lips curled into a faint smile.

Looks like her first business after coming down the mountain had arrived.